Hiro Hamada hastily walked passed the turnstile and went the several paces from the foyer into another hallway of the building to enter the laboratory. It was the first time he had return to lab since his brother's death. Although it had been a month since Tadashi had departed from this world, but the wound remained fresh. Hiro walked the familiar hallway that led to the lab. Each step he made sounded like a dancer performing tap. It echoed and bounded through the empty hallway. Never in his life had he felt the feeling of loneliness.

"I want to go home." The moment he felt the uneasiness of entering the lab, those words came exactly into his head. He didn't know exactly where what home he wanted to go to, but certainly not where he came from. He couldn't begin registering in his mind that in order to go to his room, he must pass by his brother's. If he had to sit at the dinner table, his space, which was across from him, would be empty. When they would watch television in the living room, the indentured that Tadashi made on the couch would soon become an aberration. It was more than the bereaved Hiro could bear. Nevertheless, Hiro managed.

There was one important detail that Hiro did not forget about his fear of returning to the lab: GoGo Tomago. At the funeral, GoGo played the role of the grieving widow. A handkerchief in one hand and the other donning the ring that her Tadashi gave her for their impending marriage. Her lip quivered, but remained still in the pew. Hiro made a few glances at her, to see if she was okay; for they both had a deep connection with Tadashi.

Then, he remember that fateful evening at the restaurant. He never forgot the smile she gave Hiro when she claimed his lips. He never forgot the cold feeling of her hands when she grabbed him. Her eyes were a dark shade of black.

I am going to make sure that you pay for this, little brother.

His stomach churned upon those words. Like a code phrase to warrant misery. He wished he had ask her that day on what she meant by those words. However, he never got the chance as Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and Fred returned with Aunt Cass from the kitchen. They sat at the round table eating dessert that his aunt had made. Throughout that time frame, GoGo never stopped staring at Hiro. Those ill-omened rang through his eyes. Like a wake-up call, he became alert of GoGo Tomago. Something in his spirit was alerting him that an evil seed was planted that day at the Lucky Cat Cafe.

He slowly turned the knob as he entered the laboratory. He sighed with tension as he pushed the heavy metal door into the lab. The coolness brushed through his body when walking into the sterile environment. From afar, he saw the robotic equipment that he became adapted on his first week at SFIT. Down the row of desk, which were their stations, was the laser probe that was a prototype. Wasabi and Honey Lemon have been testing the experiment for a few months. With Wasabi's background in lasers, they have hoped that the prototype would be ready for the upcoming presentation. However, dust began collecting around it. Hiro wouldn't be surprised if they all were feeling a certain lost within them.

He made his way to his station. Surrounded by grieving cards and small gifts to sympathize his loss, he gently placed them aside for his laptop. He thought if he consume his mind with work, then everything else would fade away. Tadashi's death, Aunt Cass's budding alcoholism, and his sorrow.

"Hey guys, Hiro is back." Hiro had the familiar voice from afar. He turned to see the familiar friends entering the lab. In his sights were the smiling faces of Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and Fred. Honey Lemon hastily ran to Hiro and tightly embraced him.

"My little brother," she faintly said. Hiro closed his eyes to feel her hug. She smelled of strawberries and honeydew. He reached for her shoulders as he felt a wet kiss from his cheek. "I am so happy that you came back. We've missed you." She wiped her eyes with her hand. Hiro knew that she wanted to cry. He didn't blame her. If she did, he would have joined her.

"Welcome back, Hiro dude," said Wasabi as he did the same thing to Hiro and wrapped his arm around him. "Welcome back, dude, welcome back." Shortly thereafter, Fred came and hugged Hiro as well. "Glad that you are back, Hiro."

Hiro looked at the floor as he was too shy to face the friends that sincerely noticed his absence. "It's okay, Hiro," said Honey Lemon as she grab his hands. She kneeled to the floor so that she can see Hiro. "There is no need to hold back. It is still fresh. You are not alone and you know we will be there to support you, no matter what."

"Thanks," said Hiro with a soft tone. Honey Lemon let go of his hands and went to her station. Wasabi and Fred patted Hiro on his back and went back to their station.

"You have no idea on how appreciative I am to have you as my friends," said Hiro. "I am touched. I am really am."

"We were worried, Hiro. You are our family," said Fred.

"If you need anything, just talk to us," said Honey Lemon.

"We have your back, dude, always," said Wasabi.

"I appreciate that," said Hiro.

"We haven't heard for you in quite awhile that we got worried," said Wasabi.

"There was nothing of concern. We are just slowly readjusting," said Hiro.

"Giving them space was the best idea, guys," said Honey Lemon. "If we got on their nerves too much, then grieving would have been difficult."

"Sure, but it is best that they need someone for support, Honey," said Fred. "Tadashi was much of our friend just as Aunt Cass and Hiro."

As the trio were talking, the voices faded into a blur. Hiro couldn't tell the aftermath of what was occurring in his home. He opened his phone and saw the screenshot of his aunt and his brother. A bittersweet smile spread on his face. He touched the phone and cherish the image like he would a true love. He was trying his hardest to pick up the slack for his aunt. It was something that Tadashi would have done.

It was because his aunt was carrying the burden for the both of them.

Every morning and every evening, Aunt Cass was to be found in her bedroom. Closed away from the world, her domicile of a bedroom became a protective shell. Not allowing anyone or anything to come inside. 'Leave me alone, Hiro.' Hiro remembered when she was in a drunken stupor. 'Leave me alone and let me wallow in peace.' Peace was far from her vocabulary as she emptied the bottle of Wild Turkey like there was no tomorrow. For in her mind, there was no tomorrow.

Tadashi made a huge impact in her life. He carried the torch of responsibilities and acted more of a counselor to Aunt Cass than as a guardian. As a young adult, Tadashi took on more things because of the proclivities that were handed to him. Something that his younger brother admired that Tadashi never expressed his emotion. Confiding inside, he never argued about what they did not have, but what did they have deemed useful.

When Aunt Cass was asleep or passed out, Hiro enter the brewery that was her bedroom. He smelled a strong scent of alcohol and body odor. He closed his eyes as he reached for the trash bag and collected bottle after bottle of whiskey from the floor. Aunt Cass, a lightweight, was a social drinker and never really enjoyed the sensation of alcohol. She opted for a glass of wine seldomly on dinner dates, but her feelings of alcohol contrasted now than it did then.

Seeing Aunt Cass in that predicament made Hiro wanted to cry. Crying was something that he, himself, became accustomed since his brother's death. His pillow was the sponge as the river of tears flowed from his eye ducts. His mind was consumed on his brother and his aunt. His brother was the bridge that held the pair together. The bridge was destroyed and the villages are now separated.

Once he cleared the floor of the empty bottles, he moved on the bed where he found Aunt Cass asleep. The bed was a dispensary of used tissues, more empty bottles, prescription painkillers, and Aunt Cass. He knew as he cleaned the bed he would smell her body odor. Foul as a deceased skunk, she coped so bad that she began to miss bathing, especially coming from a woman who bathed in cleanliness.

This became routine: wake up and check on Aunt Cass; prepare meals and managed the restaurant; check on her again and leave food beside the door; leave for a couple of hours to head to evening class at SFIT; return home and cook dinner; check on Aunt Cass before going to bed. After that, repeat. It brought much despair to him, but he cared about Aunt Cass too much than to worry about himself. Stress showed on his callous hand, in his yellowish red eyes. He had lost weight and can be seen by how loose his clothes fitted. Throughout that time, he did not allow a single soul to know what went down at the Hamada household. Despite the many calls and texts of assistance, pride was the major factor in Hiro's equation.

In the midst of the conversation, Hiro interjected. "How has GoGo been?" The trio immediately feel silent. They looked at each other as if they were deciding on who was going to speak first.

"GoGo has not been the same since Tadashi's passing," said Wasabi frankly. Wasabi was not much of a sugar coater or a script writer. His personality would not allow him to euphemize anything. "The GoGo that we know and love died that day as well. She has been nothing but a wreck, Hiro."

"Yes," concurred Honey Lemon as her eyes averted to the office in the back of the laboratory. Within that office was the former office of her lover and the now the dark core of GoGo.

"GoGo has not spoken to us since then. She has locked herself in that office," said Wasabi. "She does her work and leaves. It is the same thing everyday since you've been gone."

"Have you tried talking to her," asked Hiro. GoGo may have been a tough girl, but she should not have been much of her fear to them as she was him.

I am going to make sure that you pay for this, little brother.

Hiro became certain that he was not the only one that felt that aura at the restaurant.

"One evening, I went inside of her office to hand her some files for our project," said Honey Lemon. "As I enter, I felt a shiver going through my spine. Something in my senses were telling me to leave while I still could. But I didn't. I went in and I saw GoGo sitting in her desk. Her face was deep in a notebook. She was writing something, but I couldn't read it. It was nothing but scribbles."

Honey Lemon swallowed her lump as she continued to tell her story. "I went behind GoGo and slightly tapped her on her shoulder. She jumped from behind and grab me back the throat."

'What the fuck do you want,' she screamed.

'I just wanted to give you a file,' I said.

'Do you know what happens to bad little girls when they don't knock,' she questioned.

'No, I don't want to know,' I said. I was pleading for my dear life. I swore I was hanging off the floor by the way she grabbed my throat.

'Good. Because you don't want to know,' she said. 'Now get the fuck outta here.'

"Without hesitation, I ran out of the office," said Honey Lemon. "The odd part was that when she came out, she acted like nothing happened. She came to me and even ask me out for some Thai food. I thought to myself that a few moments ago, you tried to kill me, and suddenly, you asked me out?"

Hiro's stomach churned by hearing Honey Lemon's tale. A thought came to mind saying that he needed to leave. However, he did not get the chance. The door opened from the office and out came the figure from her protective shell.

GoGo's beauty was an understatement, perhaps it was because even she was unaware of her prettiness. She wore her trademark black leather pants, white midriff and her leather jacket. Her purple streak of her black hair hid behind those eyes. She stood in center as they watched in the odd combination of worry and awe.

Footsteps broke the silence as she marched her way to the crowd. They all watched from the distance. Like it was a fashion show, GoGo swayed her hips and walked with confidence. Her eyes sparkled from the hanging lights in the lab and her facial expression turned into a smile. That smile, that haughty smile. It was the same smile that Hiro saw when she kissed him. He can still taste her as she made her way to his station.

"My precious Hiro has returned," said GoGo. She went and wrapped her arms around him. Hiro felt the tightness of her hug which made him flushed. He looked at the others. They were surprised by the transition of her behavior as it contrasted on what they have said earlier.

"How have you been, my little fishy," asked GoGo. "You seem to be okay. Look like you lost weight. Has Aunt Cass been feeding you lately?"

She sounded like a mother. It was nurturing. Something that GoGo from the past never did. "It can be hard especially losing a loved one. It is, but we are all trying to move on."

"Move on? It is easier said than done, GoGo," said Hiro, "But we are managing."

"Good," she said as she smiled. She faced the others. "Hey guys, the professor called. He said that he need you all for lab assistants for his thermodynamics class this afternoon. Could you guys head over there?"

"Yeah, no problem," said Wasabi.

The trio grab their things and were exiting the lab. GoGo waved them off being turning her eyes on Hiro. "Why not come inside of my office and we can catch up."

"I don't mind that," said Hiro with eeriness coming from his voice.

Hiro followed GoGo as they entered her office. He hasn't stepped foot into that office since Tadashi's death. Before he died, that office belong to Tadashi. Tadashi worked in the office for he was an adjunct professor for the university. At the time of his death, he was working on his doctorate to become a professor.

It was strange returning to an office that now belong to GoGo. It was very lavish and well-furnished. She had kept it the same on how Tadashi left it. It just had a tad of a feminine touch. Everything in the office was updated and state-of-the-art. There were whiteboards on every corner of the office. An old fashioned executive desk was there. It had a few laptops and two business phones. It also included a leather couch; a water cooler; a small bar; and a refrigerator. Everything in the office was neat.

"Have a seat, Hiro," said GoGo as she took her jacket and placed it around the armchair behind her desk. Hiro blushed when seeing her body. Her stomach was showing and it exposed the belly button ring. When she turned around, he slightly saw her panties peeking from her pants. They were red, one of his favorite color of panties.

"Would you care for drink, my little fishy," asked GoGo. He noticed the bottles of whiskey and bourbon on the bar. He shook his head in disagreement. "No alcohol for you? That is fine, my dear," she said with such grace.

She walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a bottle of ginger ale. "If I remember correctly, you are a fan of ginger ale, correct?"

"Yeah, I am," said Hiro. She walked to the couch where Hiro sat and gave him the glass. Without a second thought, he drank the ginger ale. Hiro enjoyed the refreshing taste of ginger ale. It was something he liked during his early days of illegal bot-fighting. Underage and never cared for alcohol, he wanted something he called 'atypical.' He had came across ginger ale and has enjoyed it since.

"Made you another glass," said GoGo. He exchanged his finished glass with a fresh one. She poured herself a glass of bourbon and sat on the couch next to Hiro. The couch was a love seat. It belonged to his brother. His brother got the couch from a rummage sale. GoGo got herself comfortable as she sipped her drink. It made her face turned red as she took a sip. Hiro blushed and became flustered on how she looked. He would be a liar if he didn't admit that GoGo can be cute.

"Let's talk, shall we," said GoGo. "I am glad that my little brother has returned."

I am very surprised for you to use such a term. Yet again, you were engaged to my brother. Hiro kept those thoughts to himself.

"How has your aunt been," asked GoGo.

"She's been better. Taking some time off from work," said Hiro.

"Oh, I see," she said as she took another drink.

"It has not been the same since Tadashi, you know," said Hiro. "She is still taking it hard. It worries me. She has been a wreck. It's been hard."

"I know, my little fishy," replied GoGo. "For all of us. We were supposed to be wed. He was supposed to be my shining knight. I was the princess that he rescued. It hurts me, but I am trying my hardest to move on."

She took another sip before emptying the glass. She then pour another glass of bourbon and began drinking it. Once she took another sip, she focused herself on Hiro.

"Hiro, it is okay to mourn, but you must move on. It is not healthy to stress over things," said GoGo.

She finished her second glass before placing it on the table. She grazed her finger through her hair before moving before getting closer to Hiro.

"I do miss my dear Tadashi, but I have tried my hardest to move on from him," said GoGo. "I missed our talks together. We were planning to become a family, Hiro. I really wanted a family."

She slid closer to Hiro that they were hip-to-hip. She put her around him and started to rub his hair. "I miss his smile, his laugh, his everything. I wanted something that I couldn't get from my family. When I met him, he became my family. You all became my family."

"Yeah." That was all that Hiro could say. GoGo was rubbing her fingers through his hair. He felt her breath hovering over his ear.

"Am I making you uncomfortable like this," asked GoGo as she playfully slid her hands through his hair.

"No," he responded in fear and confusion.

"Good," said GoGo as she continued.

"One thing about his absence is that I have felt quite, quite lonely," she said. "I miss the comfort of being with somebody dear and near to me, my little fishy."

He felt the wet sensation of her lips kissing his ear. She lightly nibbled his ear and licked around the lobe. He stood motionless as she concentrated on his ear and continued rubbing his hair. With her free hand, she sensually slid down to his chest. She started encircling his nipples before pinching it. Hiro let out a slight moan from it.

"I miss your brother, my little fishy," said GoGo as she thrust her tongue inside of his ear. "I miss what we have together." Hiro became limp by the feeling of GoGo's affection. She used her hands to wrap around Hiro's waist. She grabbed his body and situated it around her lap.

"There, you are within my reach," said GoGo. "It's okay. Just let yourself go. The medicine should be taking effect any minute."

"Medicine," questioned Hiro.

"That's right, my dear. The second glass had a kick, didn't it," said GoGo with a smile. "It's okay. Vets have been using this for years."

"You anesthetized me," asked Hiro before he tongue started slurring. His hands were going limp. His legs were going numb. Before he knew it, his entire body was paralyzed by her concoction.

"Do you want to go to heaven with me," asked GoGo as she rubbed both of his nipples through his t-shirt. "Don't fight it, my little fishy. Just let yourself get lost. Do it for Tadashi."