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.

"Meow." Kammin meowed satisfied, and then sat down on Izuku's head, relaxed.

"Uh, hi? Still here... still." Todoroki mumbled. He wasn't used to being rejected or ignored.

"Oh, sorry, Todoroki! I was just talking to my partner, Kammin." Izuku apologized again. "You can talk to animals?" Todoroki looked shocked. "No, I can only talk to cats, since I can become one. It's because of my quirk - with my quirk, it's like its apart of me. I am neither human, nor feline."

Todoroki stared blankly. It wasn't often that Todoroki didn't understand something, but Todoroki was a little confused. "Okay...? I think." Todoroki continued walking with Izuku.

"It's okay if we make a stop at a nearby supermarket, right? I promised Kammin I'd pick up his favorite food there..."

"Yeah, sure." Todoroki complied, and the two headed towards Vinny's Super Supermarket.

"Greetings, Midoriya. Todoroki." An authoritative voice sounded behind the pair, and they turned around to see Iida.

"Oh hi Iida." Izuku monotoned, his voice as sleepy as ever. Todoroki wondered why it was always like that, strangely akin to Aizawa's own voice.

"Just so you know, Midoriya, I understand why you deceived Uraraka and I during the entrance exams. You were only following direct instructions from Aizawa-sensei and Principal Nezu-sensei." Iida spoke. "I also respect you for your impressive skills. I believe you will become a great hero. I would like to be your friend, so I can learn from you more."

"Well... thanks, Iida. Sure, we can be friends-"

"Excellent!" Iida cut Izuku short, placing his hand on Izuku's shoulder.

"Meow!" Kammin piped up, reminding everyone he was there. Iida looked a little surprised, but quickly warmed up. "You have a pet cat? Of, course, what with your quirk and all... Mind if I pet him?" Iida asked respectfully.

"Sure." Izuku replied, and Iida reached towards Kammin and stroked his soft, black fur. Kammin purred and leaned towards Iida's touch. "He's only ever been kind towards Aizawa and I... He usually hisses and bites at other people, much less strangers..." Izuku replies, shocked.

'So that's why the cat was giving me the devil's eye and sticking out its tongue at me..." Todoroki thought to himself, suddenly understanding.

"You see, I have two cats at home. I love cats, and you could say they feel equally attracted to me." Iida explained, while continuing to pet Kammin. Izuku smiled slightly - a genuine smile. Todoroki and Iida caught hold of Izuku's true smile.

'So bright and adorable... its beautifulness is blinding...' Todoroki thought.

'Wow... Midoriya has a really nice smile, even if it's small. He should smile more often...' Iida thought.

(no, Iida is not a potential love interest for Izuku. Unless you guys want a love triangle like that... comment if you want that, I guess. I feel like Iida should be a good friend)

"Iida, I can see us becoming good friends in the future." Izuku said pleasantly. "We're actually about to go to Vinny's Super Supermarket to get Kammin food. Want to come?"

"Sure. I need to pick up some cat food for my cats back home anyway." Iida accepted.

The trio walked into the supermarket.

Izuku, Todoroki and Iida hadn't even taken a few steps into the store when the manager came running towards them frantically. "No, no, no, no, NO!" The manager cried out.

'Whaaa...?' The three thought simultaneously.

"YOU TWO!" The manager pointed towards Iida and Izuku accusingly. "You must be related closely to Tensei and Shota! You look exactly like Shota, you with your cat, your long, messy hair and your tired eyes!" The manager wheeled on Izuku, who just stood, bored and slightly surprised.

"And YOU!" The manager then rounded on Iida. "You are no better, with your neat glasses and sophisticated dark blue hair!" The manager looked very angry, while also desperate and frightened, like he was remembering something horrific.

"YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED HERE!" The manager screeched at them. "NOT ALLOWED, I SAY!!"

Iida took a step forward, earning himself a glare from the manager. "Please, sir, I don't know what we've done wrong, but all we want is to buy-"

"CAT FOOD, IS IT?" The manager interrupted with another screech. "Yes, that's what they said before! And the time after that, and the time after the time after that!"

"What?" Todoroki asked, confused. "AARGH! IT DOESN'T MATTER!" The manager yelled. "YOU GET OUT NOW!" The manager pushed them towards the exit, and once they were outside, he slammed the door behind them and stood there, guarding the door.

"...what was that!?" Izuku said, shocked. "I don't know, but he seemed to know my brother and Aizawa-sensei. Come to think of it, he said you were related to Aizawa!" Iida said,  turning towards Izuku.

"What? No, I'm not related to him. We just look similar, I guess." Izuku defended.

"Well, even so, this doesn't solve the problem. He clearly didn't want us anywhere near his store, and we still need to buy cat food. The next closest supermarket is four miles away - we can't walk that." Todoroki added. Izuku and Iida turned towards him.

"No... The manager was very clear that he disliked Iida and I, but he didn't say anything against you, Todoroki. You can go get the food for us!" Izuku announced, like he solved a mystery.

"Splendid!" Iida approved with equal enthusiasm, as if he had just come across an amazing discovery.

"Meow!" Kammin agreed happily, as if he could already taste the Spicy Tuna Deluxe in his mouth.

"Why are there so many similes and metaphors?" Todoroki asked, as if we wanted to grab the flex tape, gorilla glue, and/or duct tape that he surely had in his school bag.

"Nevermind that, Todoroki. Go on inside and be our ambassador! Our messenger! Our savior-" Iida was cut off as Todoroki nodded affirmative. "I got it." Todoroki assured them, and walked into the store. He came back with a bag full of Spicy Tuna Deluxe, which Kammin meowed appreciatively, drooling slightly from his mouth.

"Mission success!" Izuku announced, and after a small discussion, the three boys departed ways. Each one of them bound to be good friends. They would be inseparable. They would be known as the next Big Three of UA.

Cool. I finished.

I might update this weekend, and I might not. It depends whether I'm 50% lazy or 90%-100% lazy.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter of Primal Izuku. Thanks for reading!

Author-san signing off!