She was going to be late.
There was a cable car creating a crater in the middle of the road.
And she was going to be late.
The girl squeezed her way off the bus, trying to get past all the people who were running in a panic. She could see figures in colorful costumes.
Looks like I have a valid excuse. Ms. Cheyenne never, EVER, questions when someone says Big Hero 6 is why they're late.
She still felt bad however, as she took off running trying to make sure she didn't trip on the way. Her school was still twenty minutes away on foot.
Gah why did that cable car have to pick TODAY to get wrecked!?
It wasn't bad enough that she was up late studying the night before worried about how her test was going to go. It wasn't bad enough that her rabbit was out of food and she had to run to the petstore on the way home so her rabbit had to deal with just one carrot for its breakfast.
But now she was late.
Peachy.
Just gotta get to school… Get to school and deal with it…
oooooo
Hiro sighed as he hurried to get ready for his day at the cafe. It was a rough morning with the accident victims and the press trying to get involved. It's a miracle we got out in one piece…
Okay bit dramatic but man can the press be scary… He thought tying on his apron and running a hand through his hair before going out to the cafe to start working.
"See Aunt Cass? No rocket boots this time!"
Cass looked up to the ceiling. "Arigatou Kami-sama…" She murmured.
Hiro chuckled rolling his eyes before starting to wait on tables running orders back and forth. Was just another day. He was grateful for no classes today. Exhaustion was still hanging on to him.
Work should wake me up…
"Don't push yourself too hard Otouto." a voice whispered to him.
"I'll be fine Nii-san." Hiro whispered back, grinning a little. "Nothing I can't handle."
"Alright." the voice chuckled. "I'll be in the kitchen with Baymax if ya need me."
Hiro shook his head, focusing back on his task.
Let's see no one else has come in yet-
THUD!
He jumped a little looking over to one of the tables seeing a young girl slumped over it, her backpack on it as well. Her long brown hair was pulled back into a bun and she had some dark circles under her eyes.
Oh dear… looks like Kathleen is having another rough day. When the hair is pulled back you know it's a stress day.
He made his way over, tapping on her shoulder.
"Rough day?"
She nodded. "Yeah…" She mumbled. "I was late… And I had a sub who wouldn't believe me when I tried to explain why…"
"Yikes… sorry Kat…"
The girl sighed sitting up, leaning her chin on her hand. "It's okay… Can't exactly expect everyone to believe the "Big Hero 6" excuse every time… Even if it's a valid one."
Crap she must've gotten cut off due to the cable car accident… Yikes…
"Well… yeah… What can I get ya?"
Kathleen smiled. "How about you surprise me this time?" she challenged, giggling a bit. "You got just as bad a sweet tooth as I do."
"Challenge accepted." Hiro jotted down a small note before heading behind the counter. "Hey Nii-san. Kat asked for a surprise again… and she's been having a really bad day today."
Tadashi looked over from his work station shaking his head. "Oh boy. Failed test, dropped her books in the fountain or late?"
"Late and subsitute teacher wouldn't believe her. She got cut off by the cable car accident."
Tadashi cringed. "Oh that mess was just BAD… Alright one Kathleen special coming up… All chocolate and caffeine."
Hiro nodded. "Coke should help…" He took down one of the soda cans… also grabbing a small bag of gummy bears. And a little something from me.
Tadashi got the rest of the order ready including a slice of cake and a few house made chocolate truffles adding a bit of powdered sugar on top. "Alright there we go… Ready."
Hiro stacked the order on to a tray saluting to his bro. "Thanks bro!"
He headed back out, right back to Kathleen.
"Surprise from the house." he said as he set the tray down in front of her.
Kathleen's eyes lit up as she saw what was on it. "Oh this is just what I needed! Thank you!" She smiled taking her food and popping one of the truffles into her mouth. She sighed happily closing her eyes. Food here is always so good… "Thanks Hiro." She smiled after swallowing it. "You always know just what to get."
"I have some help." He smiled, pulling out the bag of gummy bears. "And a little extra, on me." He set the bag down before heading off with his tray.
Kathleen smiled watching him go before going back to her food. Note to self, leave a little extra in tips… He deserves it.
Didn't take long before Hiro was resting against a post near the cash register.
"Thank goodness for slow days." Hiro sighed in relief.
"Yeah. You've been working around the clock." Cass commented looking her nephew over. "You've been so busy with work and school." And saving our town from itself… "You can have tomorrow off if you want it Hiro."
"I'll be fine, don't want you running everything by yourself now." he gave a reassuring smile. "Family helps each other."
Cass smiled ruffling his hair. "That's my boy."
Hiro chuckled, smoothing his hair out a little. He took note some other customers came in.
"Oops, be right back." he hurried over, taking their orders. While he did Kathleen walked up to the register, handing in the money she owed for the meal.
"Thank you very much for the meal, really put me in a good mood."
Cass took the cash. "Glad to see hear it Kat. Rough day?"
"Yeah… but this place always has a way of bringing my spirits up." She handed over some extra cash. "A tip for Hiro… he gave me some gummy bears…"
Cass smiled. "Alright, I'll be sure to get it to him."
"Thank you." Kathleen headed back to her table, pulling out one of her books munching on the rest of her sweets.
"Your fan like her snacks?" Tadashi whispered in Hiro's ear when he passed by the kitchen. There was a teasing tone in the spirit's voice. I can't help it. I'm his brother!
Hiro gave an unimpressed look.
"This again? Really Tada-nii?"
"Yes Otouto. Again. She's always perking up whenever you go over to her. I could tell that even when I was alive."
Hiro shook his head. "It's not like THAT."
"Hiro, do you not talk to her a lot when there is not much work?" Baymax commented.
BAYMAX YOU TRAITOR!
Hiro turned red as he gave a little growl of frustration. "She's nice! And she doesn't mind! She… I've known her since I was little! It's not like that!"
"Oh he's yelling. Good note of a certain ailment only guys get when they like someone." Tadashi smirked.
"Denial." Baymax chimed.
"Darn right." He fist bumped the robot. "Fwoosh!"
"Ba-la-la-la."
"Guys…." Hiro groaned. "Cut it out!"
"I don't know… considering all the teasing you gave ME about Honey."
"Oh suddenly you don't like her? Cause I'm sure she's got a line of better looking guys-"
WHACK
"Don't put words in my mouth, bonehead."
"Ow!" Hiro winced, rubbing his head. "You summon the mocking, you get what you sow knucklehead."
"And I'm doing just that."
The teen rolled his eyes. "Just get me Mrs. Matsuda's order so I can take my break."
"Right away Otouto~" Tadashi put the order together, handing it to his brother. "What's the new try to be hip method today?"
"She's trying cosplay. Lemme tell ya… She does not make a good ninja." Hiro shook his head in disbelief. "On top of that purple lipstick that looks like that one sign off of Maine."
"Good grief." Tadashi shook his head chuckling. "I expect some photos."
Hiro smirked holding the tray in one hand and holding up his phone with the other. "You know it Nii-san."
"That's my Otouto." Tadashi ruffled his hair before going back to work, Hiro heading out.
He snuck a few photos before giving Mrs. Matsuda her order, nodding to her when she said thanks. He hurried behind the counter, dropping off his tray.
"Alright, be back in ten." he said, stretching a little.
"Alrighty, don't go too far." Cass replied before turning back to her customer. "Alright so-Andy you know Rena's gonna get me if you keep buying all of my cinnamon rolls instead of eating whatever she's offering."
"I know I know, team run today, I swear."
Hiro rolled his eyes.
Same old Andy… Cinnamon Muncher extraordinaire.
Hiro wandered around the shop, passing by Kathleen, stopping momentarily to see what she was reading.
She had Unsouled in her hands looking at the pages intently. "No way…" She whispered as she read. THAT DID NOT JUST HAPPEN!
"Unsouled huh? Good choice."
Kathleen jumped a little looking to Hiro. She smiled. "Thanks, started this series after you told me about it, I'm really enjoying it."
"Glad to hear, I'm actually rereading through the final book." He sat down in the other chair that the table had. "Can never get over all the stuff that happens."
"If this book is any indication of what's gonna happen, I can't wait." Kathleen grinned. "Though… I can't.. Stand… Starkey. He's such a creep!"
"No one likes Starkey." Hiro dead panned. "If I ever met a guy like him I'd punch his lights out."
"I would too. Or let my brother's tarantula bite him." Kathleen gave her best impression of an evil look. "Tarantula bites aren't fun."
"Devlin right?"
"Yep. My brother couldn't take him with to the dorms - His roommates freaked out - So he asked me to spider sit."
"Got guts Kat." Hiro smirked a little. "Rare I meet a girl who doesn't shriek over spiders."
Kathleen blushed a little smiling sheepishly. "I've just been around 'em since I was little. Tarantula's can live up to twenty years so Devlin's been around…. I'm just used to him."
"I'm sure your brother appreciates that… How he's doing by the way? And your sister?"
"Charlie's doing good, he's been excelling in his classes and he's of course on the football team, so now he's talking big about going pro… And Alice has her drama major, she met a guy recently… Just about gave my father a heart attack!"
Hiro threw his head back laughing.
"Hahaha! That's right your dad is the protective type!"
Kathleen giggled. "Yup, he said and I quote: "You're too young! Nineteen isn't old enough for men to come by! You're forbidden until you're thirty!"
Hiro shook his head. "Man I haven't seen much of your family in awhile but I still have a good memory of them."
"They're hard to forget… Charlie still boasts about when he won that wing eating contest a few years back… Even if it left him on the couch whining for a few days."
"Have I mentioned enough times how dangerous Aunt Cass' hot wings are? Because I swear one time Tadashi almost caught fire when eating one."
Kathleen giggled. "I've heard. I can't really handle spicy food so I've never tried 'em. But from what you and Charlie have said they would probably knock me out."
"Probably down with one bite."
"I'd probably take two bites before downing water." Kathleen giggled. "Just how it is."
"Milk would be a better option for cooling a mouth that just had contact with hot wings… Oh… chocolate milk would be even better."
At this both teens sighed. "Chocolate…"
They looked at each other, staring a bit before laughing.
"Great minds think alike." Hiro chuckled.
"Especially minds who like the sweet stuff." Kathleen giggled.
"Amen to that."
"Yep… Thanks for sitting with me Hiro… It's nice to catch up… How's your fancy tech school been?"
"Been good, Kokoro is still being a bit of a pain though. He just doesn't want to work." Hiro rubbed the back of his neck. "He nearly whacked me last time."
Kathleen cringed. "For a robot named for heart it sure lacks it… You sure you wanna keep working on that? What if it knocks you out?" Then again didn't it do that once?
"Only on the 25th test, my brother took 84 with Baymax. I'm sure I can get Kokoro to work."
"I'm sure you can too. All the good things took time right? The cafe wasn't built in a day."
"Exactly." Hiro grinned.
She smiled. "You're so smart Hiro, I can't wait to see how it turns out."
"Well, all in good time." He got up stretching. "I better go… Good luck with whatever school work you have today."
"I'll need it, I got talked into some new classes because it'd look good on college apps." Kathleen went back to her book. "For now, fun time."
"Alright, catch ya later." Hiro gave a wave walking off.
Baymax had been watching the whole time, hurrying back into the kitchen before Hiro could notice.
"I watched the whole thing just like you asked Tadashi." Baymax said as he finished up something he had been preparing.
"And what happened?" Tadashi asked as he washed some dishes.
"They were very happy, their neurotransmitter levels higher than average, due to all the laughter."
"Knew it." Tadashi smirked. "He has it bad…"
"Kathleen's neurotransmitter levels in particular were higher. She also had blood rushing to her face, diagnosis: embarrassment."
"She's a blusher, but it got worse when she and Hiro got older…" Tadashi chuckled. "I knew it…"
"Has it always been like this?"
"No…" Tadashi smiled, feeling nostalgia. "Been friends with her family for a long time. Just…. ya know… kids… just being kids."
"Understood… So Kathleen was the first to show signs of affection?"
"Yup. Just happened one summer, Hiro had just graduated high school, Kathleen was still in middle school and she just… Kind of opened her eyes as it were." Tadashi paused in what he was doing looking over to Baymax. "Started stammering, blushing when he complimented her on something, nothing huge like: "Nice hair" or saying he liked her jacket if she was wearing something that had something of his interest. And she was hanging out with him when he was sketching up Megabot's design… Hiro of course was being himself…"
"I guess the saying that "girls mature faster than boys" is what fits this case."
Tadashi laughed. "Oh yes."
"Whatever Hiro does plan to do… I just want him in good health along with Kathleen."
"I'm sure he will… But if she breaks his heart, no more free food."
"Noted."
