Schrödinger's cat

The cat is dead and alive

"There are all kinds of addicts, I think. We all have pain. And we are all looking for ways to make the pain go away. "

- Sherman Alexie, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian

Todoroki became a common face during Izuku's training.

Aizawa made it count as an extracurricular activity, but the truth was that Endeavor had not been happy about his son having to train after class, because this would make him unable to train with him at home. Nedzu spoke to the hero, who eventually had to agree with him.

Izuku was right, Nedzu was good into getting what he wanted.

Todoroki seemed especially happy to do something that had irritated his father and yet freed him from the training that he clearly did not want to attend.

The funny thing was that Todoroki wasn't exactly helpful in the training.

They had tested why Izuku's quirk was fixed with Todoroki's, but nothing was conclusive besides that his quirk was weird. Evenmore, Todoroki refused to use his fire to test anything and the insistence only drove him away for a few days and lead to him not answering Izuku's messages. So apart from when he activated his quirk by accident, Todoroki didn't really do much but participate in the warm-up, unleash bizarre theories about Izuku's quirk, and act as a weight when Aizawa made Izuku lift him in the air.

Aizawa let him stay for perhaps the same reason as Todoroki: to annoy Endeavor. He didn't seem to be much of a fan of the other hero. Or maybe it was because the other teenager's company was an incentive for Izuku to socialize.

Izuku would have laughed in his face if he had no control, because the thought that Todoroki would help him socialize was hilarious.

Izuku, however, had nothing to complain about it. He was very fond of Todoroki's company, even when he insisted on trying to make combo attacks with him, as if Izuku would one day need it.

"I'm not training to the heroes class, you know that right?"

They walked across the nearly empty campus, Aizawa falling behind to pack up and talk to Power Loader about something they couldn't know.

"Then why are you doing this?"

Izuku wrinkled his nose.

"Because if I can't control it, I could destroy everything. This thing is broken."

Todoroki looked at him sideways, a curious expression on his face.

"Do you hate your quirk or are you afraid of it?"

Izuku didn't answer, turning his face away and looking at the lights of the main building, or he would call the only friend of his age a hypocrite on his face.

"Izuku-"

"Deku."

They both turned at the same time, seeing Bakugou leaning against the wall of the building. Waiting for him, even though the class had ended two hours ago.

Izuku expected to be defensive but he was too tired. Days avoiding Bakugou did that to you.

"Bakugou."

"Half-and-half, what are you doing here?"

"He is with me. What do you want ?"

Bakugou took a deep breath. When he lifted his head, his expression was the most neutral Izuku had seen in years. Or ever.

"Can we talk?"

Maybe it's the fact that Bakugou didn't ask for anything, he just demanded what he thought he was entitled to. This was something new.