Things had been weird since the trip was first announced.

They'd been instructed to choose their own roommates ("Same-sex rooms only." "That's kind of unfair, Aizawa-sensei! Why should same-sex couples get to room together!?" "I said the same thing, Kirishima, but my concerns were ignored. Deal with it.").

At the time of the announcement, Izuku had immediately begun nibbling on the fingernail polish he'd applied just that morning. He'd only been wearing the frankly loud shade of orange for a few days at that point, but it had grown on him. Only Izuku knew what the color meant, of course, but at least it was a constant reminder every time he looked down that for the first time in his life, he was taken. Midoriya Izuku had successfully convinced someone to tolerate him enough to become his boyfriend.

A boyfriend that refused to let him tell anyone about their relationship, but a boyfriend nonetheless.

Ironically, all of the girls in the class had accepted his half-baked (no pun intended) excuse for why he suddenly took a liking to wearing nail polish but one. And it wasn't Ochako, sweet Ochako who was always in Izuku's corner no matter what.

No, it was Mina who saw right through him.

"Hmm," she'd hummed when she first saw his nails. "You sure about this, Midoriya?"

She'd flounced away before he could formulate a reasonable response. But Izuku could sometimes still feel her eyes on him, when Katsuki was in a particularly bad mood for one reason or another. He did his best to avoid her gaze. Something about it made Izuku feel guilty, like he was doing something his mother wouldn't approve of by dating a boy (which his mother would never fault him for, thank you very much).

The nail polish thing has been a trend at UA for as long as Izuku's been a student. Because they have to protect their identities and refrain from wearing anything that might interfere in a fight, the ever-popular initial necklaces that normal couples favor aren't an option for fledgling Heroes. So, someone had decided to start painting their nails the same color as their significant other's Hero costume. It was a simple gesture, and very discreet in public, but at UA, you might as well carry around a sign with your relationship status if you show up to class with brightly painted nails.

Izuku couldn't help himself when Katsuki furiously said, "Fine, we can be fucking boyfriends if it's that damn important!" and shoved him off of his couch. Izuku wasn't even mad to have ended up on the floor. He'd sped out of the dorm and cruised right to the store to buy himself a bottle of bright orange nail polish. He had been ecstatic to do it.

So when Aizawa had made the announcement of a graduation trip to Kyoto for all of the third years, Izuku had of course looked to his boyfriend first. Sleeping in the same room, something Katsuki never ever allowed, for three whole nights with no one the wiser? It seemed like the perfect opportunity.

But he hadn't even glanced in Izuku's direction. Katsuki had stared straight ahead with his arms crossed, and when Denki asked him who he'd be rooming with after class, he'd loudly replied, "Shitty Hair, who else?"

And Izuku has a lot of flaws, but shitty hair is not one of them.

"Midoriya?" Shouto's voice had broken through his funk like sunlight breaking through murky water, that day. "Are you ready for our sparring session?"

"Oh, yeah. Sorry!" Izuku had shot up from his desk, repeating to himself over and over that he was fine, fine, fine. "Let's go! I wanna work on hand to hand today, if that's alright with you…"

Now, almost a month after that very sucky day, Izuku's nearly used up his bottle of orange nail polish. He'll have to buy another one in Kyoto, once they get there…

"Midoriya?"

Izuku glances at his friend. The bus has quieted down again now that the fun with his impromptu nap is over, and there's still a few hours left to go.

"Yeah?" Izuku leans his head against his seat, curling up on his side so he can face Shouto directly.

Shouto looks down at Izuku and for some reason, bites his lip. "I was just wondering what time you're planning to shower, tonight."

Oh. Oh, yeah, that's right. When Izuku agreed to be Shouto's roommate for the trip, he hadn't exactly considered the fact that sharing a room with his friend means sharing a shower with him, too. Maybe Izuku hadn't thought that one all the way through….

But what was he supposed to say, when Shouto had pinned him down during their after-school sparring session and asked all out of breath in that cherry red voice, "Do you want to be roommates on the field trip?"

Izuku had said yes, of course. And then he'd asked if Shouto could get off of him.

"...Midoriya?"

"Sorry," Izuku smiles. "I was just thinking about how we haven't sparred lately as much as we used to."

Shouto frowns. "I believe that's because you were busy with your internship duties."

Internship duties? More like his daily screaming match with Katsuki that if he was lucky, ended in a furious makeout and if he was unlucky, ended in a door slammed in his face.

"Well, I'll be less busy when we get back. Promise."

"Alright," Shouto agrees. "Then we will. Have you thought about your plans after graduation?"

"You mean, have I decided which agency to go to?" Izuku snorts. "The answer's still no. I still can't decide between Endeavor and Hawks, no matter how many powerpoints I make."

Shouto's eyebrows disappear into his bangs. "My father's agency's still in the running?"

"Of course!" Izuku exclaims, sitting up. "He might be a total asshole, but he's still number one. I could learn a lot from his agency, and I wouldn't be working directly with him, anyways. You know as well as I do that rookie Pros sidekick for the lower-ranked Heroes to start. Plus, joining his agency would let me keep an eye on you!"

And then, as rare as a shooting star, a tiny smile graces Shouto's lips.

"He is a total asshole," he agrees. "But you realize that both of those agencies are in the same district of Tokyo?"

Izuku hums. "Oh, yeah, I guess so…"

"And that I've already committed to working for my father. At least for a few years."

Izuku grins. "Yeah, silly, didn't you just hear me?"

Shouto looks at him like he's missing something very obvious.

Izuku nibbles at his thumbnail. "Something wrong?"

"No. I just thought if this trip goes well that maybe we should get an apartment together."

Izuku's hand drops into his lap. "Really?"

Is he crazy, or does that look like a faint blush on Shouto's cheeks?

"If we make good roommates this week, I figure it only makes sense." Shouto pauses. "That is, if you don't agree…"

"No, no, I think that's a really good idea!" Izuku smiles. "Let's see how the trip goes and make a decision on the way home."

"That's fair," Shouto agrees. "Did you see the fight between Kamui Woods and the meteor shower Villain?"

"No! Do you have the video?"

"Yes, I saved it in case you hadn't seen it..."

The rest of the ride passes surprisingly quickly, but Izuku figures that's only to be expected once he and Shouto fall down the rabbit hole of analyzing old Hero archives.

Especially once Izuku gives in and they switch to his phone to watch his favorite All Might biopic (purchased long ago, so the quality's better than the shaky fights they'd been squinting at). Izuku says all his favorite lines under his breath, and Shouto doesn't once yell at him to shut up. Before they know it, Aizawa's standing up and telling everyone to exit the vehicle in an orderly fashion. He slurs his words just a little, and Izuku wonders if that sleeping bag's hiding more than just snacks.

Shouto pauses beside him, eyes flicking around the unfamiliar scenery. "Do you need help carrying anything, Midoriya?"

There's a long line of classmates in front of them waiting to be handed their luggage from underneath the bus. Ochako seems to be at the helm of it all, touching bags and sending them out towards their respective owners.

"Oh, no, Todoroki, that's okay…hey, do you wanna finish watching that tonight?" Izuku asks hopefully.

Shouto doesn't even blink. "Of course. We can watch it after dinner."

"Cool!" Izuku smiles.

Then what feels like a boulder barrels into him, and he nearly brains himself on the curb as the heavy backpack already balanced on his shoulders causes Izuku to topple over. Shouto snatches the collar of Izuku's shirt, pulling him back with a stormy expression. Izuku raises his eyebrows as he stumbles into his friend's chest, wondering what could possibly make Shouto look like that.

"Out of my way, dumbass," Katsuki grunts.

Ah, that would be what.

Denki and Hanta scoot by next, glued to their phones, and Eijirou and Mina bring up the rear.

"Sorry!" Eijirou tries to grin. "You okay, buddy?"

"Yeah," Izuku rubs his neck as he finally regains his footing and Shouto lets go of his shirt. "I'm fine!"

Mina stays quiet, but her eyes seem tattooed to Izuku's face as she passes. She has no business knowing as much as she does.

"Alright, get inside. Send one roommate up to the front desk to get your keys. Dinner will be in the hotel restaurant at seven pm, and do not so much as attempt to leave your rooms before that time."

"Yes, Sensei!" they chorus.

Shouto gets their room key while Izuku chats with Ochako and Fumikage, and then they wave a quick goodbye to their friends before departing up to the fourth floor together.

"I believe I overheard Yaoyorozu saying the girls are intentionally assigned to a different floor," Shouto speaks up.

"Not like that'll stop anyone," Izuku laughs. "Some of them have quirks that are way too suited for late night trysts."

Shouto raises an eyebrow, his lips quirking. "What sort of trouble are you imagining they'll get up to?"

And, back to blushing for Izuku. "Oh, um—I didn't mean, like, n-nothing like that..."

Then he pauses right outside their door and scowls up at Shouto. "Are you making fun of me?"

"Only because I like seeing you pout," Shouto deadpans, unlocking the door and walking casually through like he didn't just end Izuku's life.

Izuku's phone buzzes, and he looks down and suppresses a groan. He is in so much shit tonight with Katsuki...

"Midoriya? Are you coming in?"

"Yeah, sorry…"

They take turns changing into fresh clothes for dinner in the bathroom, and then Shouto joins him on the bed. Izuku's so exhausted from the day of traveling and emotional turmoil that not even he can find a way to twist Shouto laying next to him into anything panic-worthy. They're both just so damn tired.

"Hey," Shouto interrupts his thoughts. "Wanna watch the rest of the movie now?"

"Do we have time?" Izuku yawns.

"We have over an hour. I'm going to fall asleep if we don't do something," Shouto admits.

Izuku thinks, hoooo boy, better break out that movie then! and whips out his phone with speed even Tenya would envy. "You got it."

Shouto shuffles closer until their shoulders press together and their feet brush against each other on top of the covers. Izuku prays his hand won't give out as he holds the phone above them.

"Let me know when your hand gets tired." Shouto reads his mind yet again, voice strawberry syrup lazy.

Izuku doesn't dare look in his direction. "Yes, Sir."

Shouto tenses, but doesn't say another word, and soon enough, Izuku gets too drawn into the movie to worry about much of anything.

So focused is he, Izuku fails to notice precisely when Shouto slumps against him. He opens his mouth to make a comment about costume design and finds himself frozen as he watches Shouto's eyelashes flutter against his obscene cheekbones. It takes another five minutes before Izuku gathers the courage to nudge him.

"Todoroki…hey, um, Todoroki…"

"Hmm?" Shouto hums, rolling onto his stomach and propping up on his elbows. His hipbone digs into Izuku's limp arm. "Are you okay?"

Shouto's eyes focus in on Izuku sleepily, and then sharpen into awareness once he sees the look of horror on his face.

"What? What's wrong?"

"I—" Izuku wheezes. "Oh, God, nothing. It's time for dinner. We should do that."

Shouto raises an eyebrow, and Izuku quickly backtracks.

"Do dinner, I mean! With our classmates. Downstairs. Cause that's where we should be right now." Izuku miserably says.

"Alright. Let's go." Shouto slides off the bed and lifts his arms over his head to stretch.

Izuku hopes to the powers that be that he'll be spared these fatalities soon enough. Seeing the strip of pale skin that peeks out between Shouto's boxers and the hem of his shirt is just…devastating. Izuku's honestly not sure how much more he can take.

"Midoriya?"

"Yep, let's go!" he quickly agrees.

Dinner is, comparatively, fine. Once they're seated with the rest of their friends, it's much easier for Izuku to stop feeling perpetually embarrassed around his roommate. Especially once he recalls that his boyfriend is currently super pissed at him, and that ends up taking precedence over his awkward attraction to Shouto (which is nothing new).

Katsuki is quite obviously doing his best to ignore Izuku the entire meal, even though his table sits only a few feet away. He demands that Eijirou and him switch seats so he doesn't have to face Izuku's direction, for one. He also talks loudly about how dumb people who pay for Hero merch are, causing Izuku to shrink down in his seat.

Izuku's literally wearing an All Might sweatshirt. It's not one of his more embarrassing ones (this one at least doesn't have a hood with attachments), but still.

Luckily, the rest of Katsuki's friends disagree, and he ends up in a screaming match with Mina, who apparently goes nowhere without her Midnight bracelets (conveniently themed to look like BDSM cuffs). If Katsuki gets his yelling out of the way now, perhaps he'll spare Izuku that honor tonight.

"It's sweet how Kirishima always puts himself in front of Mina when they argue," Tsuyu comments, eyes locked on the escalating altercation. "Protectiveness is very romantic."

Ochako hums in agreement. "They make a pretty cute couple. Kirishima seems like a good boyfriend. He always has an eye on her, making sure she's okay."

"Not like Ashido needs it. She's more than capable on her own," Izuku points out, just as Mina dumps a bowl of cold soup over Katsuki's head.

Tenya sighs like he expected things would come to this, muttering about proper guest behavior. They all watch as Aizawa swoops in and pulls the friend group apart, hissing at the lot of them. Katsuki looks too angry to speak.

"Still. Just because someone's capable doesn't mean they have to be strong all the time." Ochako raises an eyebrow at Izuku. "Wouldn't you find it romantic if there was someone who was super protective over you, Deku? Someone who can share the load when things become too much? Maybe even someone who would run into danger without hesitation, if you asked them to? I think that's really the pinnacle of romance. If there was someone out there who liked you like that, I mean," she quickly adds.

"I agree. Especially since we're going to be Pros," Tsuyu pipes up. "It never hurts to reevaluate your options. Someone you've previously written off might be the perfect person for you."

Both girls stare pointedly at Izuku. Neither would make very good underground Heroes, he thinks privately, even if he doesn't know what they're getting at.

"Wait, are we still talking about Ashido and Kirishima?" Izuku asks.

"Yes." Shouto jumps in. "Have you eaten enough?"

"Who, me?" Izuku points at himself. "Oh, yeah, of course."

"Nice save," Ochako mutters, rolling her eyes at her plate. Tsuyu gives a small ribbit of commiseration. Tenya just continues polishing his glasses, as he's been doing the last two minutes.

What the hell is going on with everyone, today?

"Let's go up and get ready for bed, then." Shouto's tone leaves no room for argument.

Izuku only shrugs as he climbs to his feet. He's still mulling over the mysterious conversation and Mina and Katsuki's hostility as he and Shouto troop out of the restaurant. Ochako, Tsuyu, and Tenya call out warm but confusing goodnight wishes after them.

"What was all that about?" Izuku asks Shouto once they're in the elevator, watching him slam the button for their floor. "Since when are they so obsessed with romance? And Iida stayed completely quiet, which is so not like him."

"I would tell you if I knew," Shouto mutters, glancing down at Izuku with a slightly nervous expression.

"...What?" Izuku bites his lip.

"Nothing." Shouto exhales. "Come on. You can shower first."