Aunt Cass sighed tiredly and glanced back at the hunched over nephew who remained uncharacteristically quiet. "Hiro," she practically pleaded, "Please don't pout..."
"I'm not pouting," Hiro pouted, drawing his knees up to his chin. He glared at the unfinished pieces of robot he had long given up working on. "I'm expressing my feelings."
Baymax paused from clearing the table and turned toward Hiro before raising his finger and stating in his mechanical fashion, "Expression of emotion is advised as it clears possible antagonistic misunderstandings. However, it is also suggested that when stating emotions, one should also consider the opposing sides argu-"
"I'm satisfied with my care," Hiro growled, sliding from the wooden kitchen chair and stomping up the staircase.
Baymax made to follow him but Hiro slammed the door in his face. Aunt Cass sighed again and resumed washing the dishes.
Leaning against the wooden door, Hiro waited until he heard the mechanical hum of Baymax toddling down the stairs before slumping to the ground. He rubbed his forehead with a groan. How immature could he get, pouting and then slamming the door on his best friend?! Deep inside Hiro knew he was the one at fault and if anything he should have seen it coming. But instead of noticing how tired Aunt Cass had looked lately, Hiro had been completely wrapped up in the management of Big Hero 6.
"Some Hero," he muttered bitterly, "Can't even take care of his own family..."
At last, when the chilling cold of the wooden floorboards began to seep into his bones, Hiro stood up-and flopped down face-first onto his bed. When he ran out breath, he turned on his side. Hiro stared blankly at Tadashi's side of the room. Or what used to be Tadashi's side of the room.
Tadashi had always been somewhat of a neat freak so there hadn't been much to clean up. But now, what few posters had hung on the walls where taken down and the sheets were replaced with newer crispier ones. All of Tadashi's textbooks and manuals were stored in a cardboard box under Hiro's bed. Even the yellowed screen-wall that used to divide the room had been replaced by a new white one. Aunt Cass had even mentioned repainting the walls a more appealing color. It looked like a bedroom straight out of a interior decor magazine. Spotless and unlived in. Hiro hated it.
He turned on his side and faced his cluttered desk instead. Maybe if he ignored that part of the room it would still feel the same. Messy and...homey. Hiro wrapped himself deeper in his thoughts until it was all just another normal day with Aunt Cass moving around downstairs, the electric hum of Baymax trying to help, and the sound of footsteps as Tadashi crept up the stairs trying to not disturb Hiro-.
With a frustrated growl, Hiro pulled his pillow over his head. He would not think about it. He would not think about it. He could not think about it.
Hiro heard a sob that he didn't register as his own until he felt the dampness of tears rolling down his cheeks. "Dammit..." he whimpered, "Dammit all..."
He was supposed to be healing. He was supposed to have already accepted it. He should have gotten over it by now. So why?
"Why does he keep coming back?!" Hiro hissed to himself.
Everyone else, Honey Lemon, Fred, Wasabi, GoGo, Aunt Cass, heck even Baymax had gotten over it. They were moving on and he was left behind. It wasn't fair. He was the leader. He should be strong. He needed to be strong. It wasn't fair!
Letting out a yell, Hiro ripped the pillow off his head and launched it at his desk. It hit the wood with a dull thud causing some chaotically placed action figures and bolts to clatter to the floor.
Hiro was furious. Furious at himself for being unable to move on. And furious at everyone else for being able to.
His eyes darted around the room until they landed on Tadashi's baseball cap-black with an orange brim. On it where an embroidered S, F, and N. The San Fransiskyo Ninjas. Tadashi's favorite team.
Body moving before his mind, Hiro snatched up the cap and a pair of scissors. Maybe, just maybe, if he destroyed it then all these irrational feelings would leave. With a crazed smile plastered on his face, Hiro raised the scissors preparing to tear the cap to shreds-and stopped.
He couldn't do it. Hiro just couldn't. He was weak, so weak, for holding on. And he couldn't stop.
Scissors dropping to the floor, Hiro cradled the cap as a fresh wave of tears hit him. "What do I do?" he whispered to the cap, "I can't move on. I can't forget. It's hurting me and it's hurting everyone around me as well. What do I do Tadashi?"
Suddenly, Hiro's bedroom door burst open and Aunt Cass bolted inside, followed closely by Baymax. Aunt Cass glanced at the cap in Hiro's lap, her eyes widening. "Oh Hiro..." she whispered, at loss for words. Baymax shuffled past her and swept Hiro up in a cushioned hug. "There there," he said rocking side to side. "It will be alright." Hiro simply pressed his face against the robot's vinyl, avoiding Aunt Cass's gaze. He was surprised to feel a pair a second pair of significantly slimmer arms encircle him.
"Hiro," Aunt Cass's voice trembled with emotion, "I'm so so sorry...I thought you had fully accepted well you know. But...oh honey." Her grip tightened.
Hiro bit his lip. Why wasn't Aunt Cass mad at him for being so weak? And why was she apologizing?
Aunt Cass continued shakily, "Hiro I'm so sorry for not understanding and I know that I've already done some remodeling but.."
At this Hiro's eyes widened. Aunt Cass couldn't possibly be saying...
"They don't arrive until next month so I can still tell them no," Aunt Cass said firmly "I know the reason that I considered this in the first place was because we're short on money but I guess I can always take that loan Krei mentioned." Hiro was facing her now and she met his eyes with a grim gaze of determination. "I have always been too prideful but family comes first."
Hiro was ecstatic. This was perfect! Life would remain normal with just Aunt Cass, Baymax, Mochi, and him. He opened his mouth to let out a happy "Yes!".
But then he took a closer look at Aunt Cass. She had always been pretty but recently, stress and age had began to take over. Hiro spotted a couple of gray hairs as well as the faint worry line worn into her previously smooth brow. Dark circles had settled underneath her eyes and Aunt Cass's seemingly strong gaze flickered with worry.
Glancing down at the baseball cap in his lap, Hiro knew what he had to do.
"No," he said quietly, "I can't make you do that Aunt Cass." Aunt Cass's eyes widened in surprise as he continued.
"It's pretty obvious that I don't like the idea of someone else I don't know well living in the same room as me especially since...Tadashi's gone. But I can't just wallow in self-pity. I know that you also suffered Aunt Cass. Besides I read somewhere that change is good for the soul or something. So yeah, if it helps you, bring in all the boarders you. Just...not to many. And this sounds super sappy but uh yeah."
The entire time Hiro rambled Aunt Cass's lips had gradually curved into a smile. When he stopped and looked at her sheepishly, she beamed and hugged him even tighter.
"Thank you Hiro," Aunt Cass said happily before cautiously adding, "I think Tadashi would be proud."
Hiro froze and then relaxed before agreeing, "Yeah...and uh Baymax you can stop that now." The entire time, the robot had rocked Hiro back and forth. He now looked at the teen in his arms. "Are you alright Hiro?" he inquired. Wiping some excess tears with his shirt sleeve, Hiro sent him a watery smile. "Getting there."
Satisfied, Baymax, gently released the teen. Aunt Cass smiled softly at Hiro before ruffling his hair excitedly. "Oh I'm sure you two will get along just fine! In fact, I think she's going to the same college as you!"
Hiro' mouth dropped open in shock. "Wait it's a girl?!"