Despite the fact that Shoto said it was for 'comoners' he agreed to take the bus to the ramen shop as no uber would pick them up this late.

The Ramen shop was rather quiet. Then again it was nearly one in the morning by the time Izuku and Shoto got there. So, yeah. The smells in the air was nice, the salty smell of of the broth and cooking meat. "Welcome!" The shop owner greeted the two of them when they walked in. Both Todoroki and Izuku sat at the bar next to one another.

The man, the cook, was pudgy with a big round belly and he had about three chins. He had on thick round glasses that were splattered with little dots of he smiled at them and his two front teeth had a large gap in between one another. It made Izuku smile back at the man.

Satoshi was the name on the man's nametag. "Hello there, Shoto, your old man giving you hell again?" Satoshi asked jovially as he placed one of his big hands on the countertop. He lightly tapped a pudgy finger, not in irritation but as a stim.

"No, not tonight." Shoto spoke softly. Satoshi eyes went from Shoto to Izuku.

"Oh~" The man grinned. "I see, say no more. What will it be for the young man who caught Shoto's eye?"

Both boys turned scarlet.

"Ah-...Just a tokontsu ramen please." Izuku whispered while trying to get his face to go back to it's normal color.

"Tokontsu, coming on and Shoto? I'm assuming it's your usual?"

"Yes, please." Shoto then eyed up the ramune sodas sitting on a shelf. "And two Shirakiku ramune soda's as well."

"Coming up." The man reached down and pulled two Shirakiku sodas per requested. Shoto handed on to Izuku.

"Here." Shoto offered and Izuku happily took it.

"Thank you, I didn't even think of a drink…" Izuku quickly unwrapped the soda and popped the marble down causing the soda to fizz to life. He raised his drink up, Shoto watched him for a moment. He popped his own marble down and then just continued to look at the soda.

"What?" Shoto tilted his head (rather cutely) in confusion.

"We toast." Izuku smiled.

"..." Shoto looked at Izuku's drink then back at Izuku. "Toast?"

Izuku gave a soft smile. Without putting his drink down, he then reached over and grabbed Shoto's hand, the one that held the soda, and raised it up to meet Izuku's soda. The glass lightly clinked! Together. Shoto's confusion did not subside. "Why?" He asked after a few seconds of silence.

Izuku only shook his head and put his glass down. "It's just something people do. I just thought it was something funny to do." He rubbed the back of his head. "Forgive me, I'm just…I'm tired." He turned away from Shoto. Izuku grabbed the wooden chopsticks and broke them apart.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Shoto inquired in a soft tone as he grabbed Izuku's hand.

"I do…but I don't know if I should. It's all so complicated and… I don't want to freak you out." Izuku ran his fingers through his hair before resting his face against his palms. He was tired and exhausted and… betrayed….

"Well…how about you start with what makes you comfortable? You don't have to tell me everything, but you shouldn't keep it bottled up." It felt weird for Shoto to be saying this. After all he knows a thing or two about bottling up emotions until the inevitable burst.

Izuku looked at Shoto. He felt his mouth twist a little before he sighed in defeat. "There's so much… I…" He trailed off before wrapping his arms around his chest. "It just feels like everything I know is a lie." He admitted in a weak voice. He couldn't look at Shoto, instead, he looked down at the bar counter. "Hitoshi lied to me. And I don't mean a little white lie, I mean he…he's been lying to my face for as long as I knew him."

"I see. That must be terrible." Shoto whispered and he reached over to lightly pat Izuku's shoulder.

"It is… before you came in, I told him I needed space. That I… I just can't be around him for a while. He started crying- and then so I did I and I feel awful!"

"Ah… welcome to your very first sibling fight." Shoto nodded in a bit of knowing. Izuku looked at him with a startled look.

"Huh?" Izuku looked at Shoto confused.

Shoto sipped his drink. "I mean I'm surprised this is the first time you've ever experienced a sibling fight. Then again my family isn't as healthy as yours. But, it's pretty common for siblings to fight and want space afterwards. The fact that for the last eight years you've never wanted space from Hitoshi is, if I can be bold here, unhealthy. I understand that what Hitoshi did was earth-shattering to you. So, needing space isn't just a want but it's a need at this point and you shouldn't feel upset for needing some time away from him. Hell, it might actually do you both some good. Saying you want space isn't unloving and don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

Izuku listened to Shoto's words. He then mused on them. As he thought about what Shoto said Satoshi came back with two big piping bowls of ramen. "Alright, the Tonkotsu ramen for the strapping Greenbean and the Shio ramen for my favorite peppermint!" Satoshi grinned as he placed both bowls down in front of them.

"Shio? I'm surprised." Izuku changed the subject as he watched Todoroki blow on the broth. "I thought you said Soba was your favorite."

"It is, but Satoshi doesn't sell Soba, so…Shio. It's not too rich nor is it too fatty with oils." Todoroki shrugged and picked up his chopsticks.

The two boys ate in complete silence. Ramen was the perfect comfort food for Izuku. Even though it went way off of his muscle diet. Hell, even his father made so they wouldn't have ramen too often as it was insane with how calorie and sodium heavy it was in total. Izuku wasn't complaining. No, this thick, rich, fatty, oily, delicous soup was just what he needed. He slurped the noddles down with tenacity he didn't even knew he had. The hot broth warmed Izuku's insides and made him forget about everything for just a small while. Still, he knew than to run for food for comfort in the future, that was a slippery slope.

Eventually his noodles ran dry, as did his pork and other toppings. Izuku was left with the broth. He put his chopsticks and spoon down then he grabbed the bowl.

"Can you handle it? It's a big bowl?" Shoto asked. "I usually can't finish the broth."

Izuku looked at Shoto before he started to drink. He tipped the bowl to his lips and before he knew it he was chugging the fatty broth down. Granted he was starting to feel full by this point, but he wasn't going to let that stop him. He was going to finish this soup if it was the last thing he did. He guzzled that broth down until there was nothing left but an empty bowl.

Satoshi whistled. "Colored me impressed. Didn't think a small boy like you could put away food like that!" He laughed while he took the bowl from Izuku. Izuku hiccuped a small little hiccup before planting his forehead against the counter top.

"Nobody move me. I might explode…" He groaned. 'I definitely ate wayyy too much.' He wrapped his arms around his stomach.

Shoto gave Izuku another pat on the shoulder.

Izuku ate too much and now wanted to lay on the floor for an hour or two, but he couldn't. So, he just stayed with his head on the counter until Shoto was done. "Thanks again, Satoshi. It was amazing as always." Shoto handed the man his father's credit card.

"It was delicious." Izuku commented as Shoto helped him off of the stool. "Urg… I'll go easy next time…" He hugged his stomach. Satoshi gave a hearty laugh as he handed Shoto the card back.

"See you two again!"

"Likewise." Shoto nodded a tiny smile on his lips. "C'mon, Izuku, let's get you home before anyone knows you're gone."


The bus was delayed. They didn't get back to Izuku's home until four in the morning. They both nearly slept on the bus and almost missed the stop they needed to get off of. "Seriously, Shoto, you didn't need to come with me." Izuku whispered as they made it back to his window. "By the time you get home you won't have time to sleep."

"I need to make sure you get home fine."

"But, Shoto-"

"Sh." Shoto put his finger to Izuku's lips. Izuku looked at the finger before blushing. "Just go inside and get some sleep. Don't worry about me-"

Izuku grabbed Shoto wrist and pulled it down. "Sleep with me?"

"Eh?!" This time Shoto blushed along with Izuku.

"That came out wrong!" Izuku urgently whispered-yelled. "I mean…sleep in my room for tonight."

Shoto tapped his fingers against his leg. The offer was pretty tempting. "But I didn't bring a school uniform, there's no way I can make it back home in the morning-"

"You can borrow mine! I just…I don't want you to stay alone on the bus. You can sleep here for the remainder of the night, borrow my uniform in the morning, and take the bus, or an uber, to school. It's not ideal, but it's better than staying out anymore than we already have."

"Your father-"

"Won't know. I'll lock my door. He respects my privacy."

Shoto really didn't need much more convincing. Truth be told he was tried and was unsure if he could take the bus alone without falling asleep. His half-asleep brain told him this was a pretty solid idea. "Okay."

Izuku opened his window and both boys quietly tumbled in. Izuku closed his window before turning on his light briefly. Tora, who had been sleeping on Izuku's bed this whole time, perked his head up with a sleepy 'mrreh?'

"Shhhh…." Izuku shushed the elderly cat. Tora's ears went back in irritation before he laid his head back down on his paws. "Okay, I'll take the floor-" Izuku double-checked that his door was locked, it was, and he was cut off by Shoto.

"No, no, you can't. It's your bed. I'll sleep on the floor." He whispered to Izuku.

"You're a guest. I can't have you sleep on the floor." It seemed they had reached in impasse already. The two boys stared at one another. "Lets share the bed. I don't mind, I'm use to sharing a bed." Izuku relented almost instantly.

"Okay… I'm…I'm okay with that."

Izuku shut the light off, he didn't care that he was still in his day clothes. He simply kicked his shoes off and laid down. He grabbed Tora, who grunted in protest at this, and laid as close to the wall as he possibly could. Then he lifted the covers up and patted the empty space next to him. Shoto was a little more hesitant. He wiggled in close and their arms brushed against each other. Izuku threw the thick blanket over Shoto and let Tora rest between them.

"Mmm." Izuku hummed in contentment as he rested his head on his pillow. "This is nice… I had a lot of fun, Shoto." He smiled a sleepy smile at his friend.

"Yeah, I did too. I'm glad you liked Satoshi's. It's my favorite place to go."

"I could tell. It was really good and I hope to go again…" On instinct, Izuku wrapped his arms around Shoto's torso and pulled him in close. "...Is this okay?"

"Uh…" Shoto felt his left side get dangerously close to heating up and setting the place ablaze. "I mean…if it makes you comfortable-" Izuku put his head on Shoto's chest. "Hehhn…" A noise he was sure he could never replicate left Shoto's mouth. Izuku was so close that his bushy curls were tickling the inside of Shoto's nose.

"Dad said I can't sleep like this with Hichan anymore….but you're not Hichan… So dad can't complain… I'm… glad…Cujo…stayed quiet…" Was the last thing Izuku whispered before he trailed off falling into a much needed sleep.

'...Who in the world is Cujo?' Shoto thought a little confused before he brushed it off. Sleep was already coming for him and… he needed to rest his eyes.


Morning came absolutely too soon for either of them. They woke to Shouta knocking on the door. "Izuku! It's seven, get up!" Izuku groaned. It was a loud groan. He rubbed at his insanely tired eyes. His head was foggy from lack of sleep. Shoto moved when Izuku did. Only Shoto grabbed the pillow and shoved it over his own face.

There was another harsh knock. "Izuku!" Shouta called again as he tried the doorknob but it was locked.

"I'm up, Dad!" Izuku groggily called to his father to make the knocking stop. The knocking did stop.

"Breakfast is on the table." Shouta said in a softer tone before he retreated.

This left Shoto and Izuku alone. "The morning came too soon…" Izuku whispered as he moved Tora. Tora huffed at this. Izuku started for his closet. He pulled two blazers down and two pants.

"You're telling me…" Shoto whispered weakly as he slowly sat up. The pillow sliding off of his face. Izuku started to strip out of his clothes from the day before. Not even caring that Shoto was right there. Shoto respectfully looked away. It didn't take Izuku long to get dressed, but it was a little harder than normal with his groggy brain. Still, he was soon dressed in his uniform.

He then turned around and waited for Shoto to get dressed-

"This isn't going to work." Shoto stated the moment he stepped into Izuku's pants.

"Huh? Oh-"

Izuku did not think of the big thing between them. Their height difference. Izuku's pants were roughly four inches too short and it showed. Izuku grabbed the blazer and threw it at Shoto. "Try that. I just need to see if it fits."

So, Shoto did, Thankfully, the blazer did fit a little better than the pants did. They were maybe an inch too short. "Izuku, I can't go to school in my jeans. I'll get dress-coded and they'll call my dad. I told you he's been a time-bomb since he became quirkless." Shoto urgently whispered to Izuku.

The quirk that I took. That trashpile didn't deserve it.

'Not now, Cujo.'

"Well… Hichan." a lightbulb went off over Izuku's head.

"What about him?"

"You two only have an inch difference in height. The pants won't show that much if you borrow a pair of his pants but… how am I-" Izuku stiffened a little at the knock.

"Zuchan? Dad told me to come and get you-...forget it." Hitoshi grumbled weakly on the other side of the door. "I don't know why- I just…" There was a sigh. "Breakfast is on the table. Hurry up."

Izuku walked up to the door. He looked down at the small gap between the door and the floor. Hitoshi was still on the other side as his shadow hadn't vanished. With a hard swallow, Izuku put his ear to the door. He had a feeling that Hitoshi was doing the exact same thing. There was silence say for the soft shuffling on the other side. Then:

"Why'd I bother?…" He heard Hitoshi's very soft whisper on the other side before his brother started to stalk away. Izuku waited with baited breath as he heard Hitoshi's retreating steps. Once he was sure he was in the clear; he cracked his door open just a peek. He swiftly looked around the hallway, making sure it was abandoned. When nobody else was seen, he opened his door just a tad more before bolting into his brothers room.

Izuku's heart was racing. He was honestly thankful he knew how Hitoshi had his bedroom set up. Unlike Izuku, who hung his pants to prevent wrinkles, Hitoshi liked to fold his school pants up in his drawers. The question was…which one?

Are we really doing this? Cujo whined. We might see something we're not meant to, you know.

"Shoto needs some school pants. I'm too short, Hichan is only an inch shorter. Shoto going back to his trash father isn't an option. So…" Izuku started to frantically open and close drawers. He wanted to be quick and thankfully, by the third drawer he found what he was looking for. Snatching the pants up he ran back to his room. Shutting the door.

Izuku sucked in a breath as he held his brothers pants to his chest. "Here…" He whispered before handing them off to Shoto.

"This feels…wrong."

"I agree, but it's all we can do for now."

"Alright…" Shoto quickly put the pants on. "It'll just have to do-... even if it is a little snug."

"Its snug?" Izuku was a little surprised by that as he pulled on one of the belt loops for himself. Yes, the pants looked to seem to be a little taught around Shoto's waist. "I shouldn't be too surprised. Hichan is lithe, he has to be as he uses dad's capture weapon-"

Speaking of his father. "Izuku!" Came Shouta's slightly impatient bark from down the hall. "You're not going to have time to eat if you don't get a move on."

"I'm coming, dad!" Izuku called back loudly so his father wouldn't approach his door. He grabbed Shoto and started to usher him away. "I-...I didn't sleep well last night! Sorry!" It wasn't a whole lie. "Go." Izuku whispered urgently as he started to push Shoto towards the window. "Go. I'll see you at school!"

"Okay, okay, I'm going-" Shoto jumped out of the window. He then turned around. "I'll see you again tonight. I'll return Hitoshi's pants."

"Okay." Izuku smiled at Shoto. "I look forward to it." he whispered. Shoto blushed before he turned and started jogging away from the house. Izuku watched him go until Shoto became nothing more than a little speck. "Hmmm…" He sighed happily then turned towards his door. "Alright…" He ran his fingers through his hair. "Let's get the day started."