Primal Instinct Izuku

Supermarket Fiasco

Izuku thought back on the day as he headed into the boy's locker room to change out of his hero suit. Todoroki and he had done very well, and Todoroki was listed as the MVP due to Izuku giving into his... unfortunate weakness.

The other matches were somewhat predictable, but Izuku still paid attention, because Aizawa and Nezu had told him to observe the other students and write up reports on their weaknesses, strengths, quirks, physical, mental and emotional capabilities, abilities, and more!

Nezu said it was for analyzing practice, and also that Izuku was one of the most impressive minds he had met, and Nezu needed Izuku to report on the students so Nezu could help them... improve.

Izuku finished changing into his UA uniform and walked out to where Todoroki was waiting for him. It was a good thing that Aizawa had decided to cancel that afternoon's training, because then Izuku wouldn't be able to walk home with Todoroki.

"Hey" Todoroki greeted Izuku, and they walked along the pathway silently. Izuku noticed that Todoroki would snatch glances of Izuku while he thought Izuku wasn't looking, and when Izuku turned towards him, Todoroki would quickly look back straight ahead at the pathway, as if it were the most interesting thing in the world.

'Hey, everyone has their quirks, right?' Izuku thought to himself. 'Oh, no pun intended.'

"Hey, Todoroki" Izuku piped up, after what seemed like a long, stretching silence of walking. "Don't you have to go home also?"

Todoroki's expression darkened, and his fists hardened. "I would prefer" Todoroki said, with obvious strain and tension in his voice, "To go home as late as possible. There is... something I want to avoid."

Oooh kay? Izuku could see a lot wrong with that sentence, the way Todoroki paused, and how his voice was tight and full of barely-withheld anger. Thanks to Nezu's classes, Izuku noticed that Todoroki's tone, speech, and body language all screamed that something was amiss. But Izuku did not pry. 'If he doesn't want to share, then he won't. Everyone's got their secrets...' Izuku thought.

"Midoriya?" Todoroki's voice brought Izuku out of his thinking. "You were mumbling again" Todoroki explained.

"O-oh! Sorry, I do that sometimes... It's a bit of a habit," Izuku apologized, scratching the back of his head sheepishly. The two walked on in silence, Izuku leading the way to his house, and Todoroki following by his side.

All of a sudden, Todoroki stopped dead in his tracks and looked at Izuku, wide-eyed. "Todoroki? What is it?" Izuku asked, but Todoroki just stared at him.

"What?" Izuku asked again quizzically, and Todoroki just mumbled "Cat."

"Wha-OH." Izuku reached to the top of his head, feeling around, and touching something warm and fluffy. "...Kammin?" Izuku called softly to the fluffy thing perched atop his head, and a light "Mrow" replied.

"Again? What are you doing up there, Kammin?" Izuku asked Kammin. "Meow meow mrrow mew!" Kammin answered matter-of-factly.

(Reminder - Kammin is the black cat that Izuku adopted in chapter two to three, "Cat Parade" and "Izuku and Aizawa Meet!")

"Oh I see, you wanted more screen time." Izuku nodded his head as if that made sense.

"Um, excuse me? I'm still here..." Todoroki said.

"Meow. Mrrowww! Mew meow mew" Kammin meowed profusely.

"Yes, I understand I hog the spotlight, and I will try to include you more..."

"MeeOWW!" Kammin protested.

"...fine, I'll also pick up that spicy tuna deluxe you like to eat from a supermarket on my way home." Izuku gave in to Kammin's protests.