"We're really proud of you, 'Setsi'!"

"Mom! Not in front of everyone!" I said, in the middle of a death grip hug from my Scottish mother.

It was the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology Showcase, and I was hoping to receive an acceptance letter from one of the professors. I spent all summer, and a bit of my senior year in high school, working on my invention, and after weeks of testing, it was ready to be shown. Thankfully, this year's showcase was set outdoors, which helped in my favor.

My father, Katsuro Mizushima, of Mizu Technology, and my mother, Moire, an aviary expert, offered help when they could. But I really wanted to get into this college to prove that all of their help wasn't for nothing.

"We are very proud of you, Gavina."

"Thanks, dad."

"Next up, Adam Akiyama. Gavina Mizushima, please prepare for your presentation," a voice over a loudspeaker said.

"Well, I guess I better get backstage."

"Good luck, dear!" my mother said, in her thick Scottish accent.

"Thanks, mom."

"Remember, I'll be backstage helping with the video."

"Thanks, dad. Bye!" I said, walking to the backstage prep area.

Passing through a curtain, I set down the cage onto the makeup table.

"You okay in there, Pumpkin?" I asked, moving the curtain a bit.

She just stared at me with her giant orange eyes.

"I'll take that as a yes," I murmured to myself, and moved the curtain back into place.

I looked into the mirror. My long, straight auburn hair was pulled back into a bun with two chopsticks helping to hold it in place. A snowflake clip pinned my side swept bangs back. My eyes were dusted with light purple eye shadow and shimmery gold eyeliner outlined them. I had bright red lipstick on my lips with cherry lip-gloss made them stand out a little more. My outfit was black dress slacks and a dark green button up shirt that complemented my figure. I wore black flats, despite the fact that I was already considered short by a lot of people.

I reached into my pocket, grabbed my tube of mascara, and went to reapply it. My hand was shaking yet I tried to steady my breathing.

"Nerves got you down?"

I yelped and the mascara went to the table.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you."

I looked to my left at the person who startled me, and tried not to stare.

He was tall, slender, slightly muscular, had fair skin, black hair, and large brown eyes. He was Asian American and he wore a black baseball cap with red-and-gold San Fransokyo Ninja lettering on it. He had a blue gray blazer with a white crew neck t-shirt, brown jeans, and mint green high-tops. He looked like he was twenty—just a year older than me.

"Oh, no, that's okay. Just, a bit nervous about my presentation," I said, grabbing the mascara and trying to reapply my top lashes.

"A lot nervous more like it," he said, walking over to me.

"It's just-" I started, putting the mascara back in my pocket, and putting on my falconry glove. "I really want to go to school here. If… if I don't get in…. I…"

I couldn't think about what would happen if I didn't make it to this school. My parents were prominent figures in their respective fields; I had to look good for not only my sake, but for theirs.

"Hey," he said, placing his hand on my shoulder, which caused me to look into his warm, brown eyes. "Are you passionate about your project?"

"Yes, I spent months on it."

"Do you believe in it?"

"Well…"

"Do you believe in it?"

"Yes."

"Then you'll be okay. I don't know what it is, but as long as you're confident about it, you'll be fine."

I smiled and said, "Thank you."

He smiled in return and held out his hand.

"Tadashi Hamada."

I shook his hand and said, "Nice to meet you. I'm-"

"Next up, Gavina Mizushima. Alica Akiyama, please prepare for your presentation."

I sighed and said, "Well, that's my cue."

As I grabbed Pumpkin's cage, the butterflies returned to my stomach.

"If you want, I'll be watching in the crowd," Tadashi said.

I turned to him, said with a smile, "I'd like that," and turned to walk up the stairs.

When I got the top, one of the technicians fitted me with a wireless microphone to the side of my face.

I took a few deep breaths before I walked out onstage. There were only three professors and a small group of people that I could make out from the bright lights.

I set Pumpkin's cage on the table next to the covered dress mannequin. I looked for my dad and found him across the way at the projection kit. He smiled and nodded his head, encouraging me.

I took a few more deep breaths, swallowed my saliva, and started to speak.

"Good evening, everyone. My name is Gavina Mizushima, and I've been working on something that could help not only military efforts, but transportation, and tourism as well. Please, enjoy."

Okay, so far so good. I double checked my glove, and nodded to my father. He dimmed the stage lights and I slowly lifted the cover to the cage, revealing Pumpkin's identity. The crowd gasped and watched as I lifted my flying fox bat out of her cage and she hung upside down from my glove.

"This here is Pumpkin. She is a flying fox, native to tropic areas. They eat nectar and fruit."

I lifted one of her wings and continued the lesson.

"A flying foxes' wingspan can reach up to 4 feet, 11 inches, and the largest recorded weight is 3.5 pounds."

I could see a few crowd members leaving, partially freaked out by the bat. I instantly started panicking. I hadn't thought about this!

I combed the remaining crowd for my mother, and instead found Tadashi. He looked on with worried eyes, but he soon made eye contact and motioned me to breath.

I can do this. I took a deep breath, and started putting Pumpkin back into her cage.

"But, I'm sure none of you came to learn more about bats," I said, feeding Pumpkin a bit of fruit. "So why did I bring her here today? Well, she served as the inspiration for my invention."

I covered her cage, moved the mannequin, and uncovered it. More looks of shock appeared as they saw what lay under the sheet.

"This is the Flying Fox Glider Suit," I said, gesturing to the black and orange body suit with a black helmet.

"This suit has an 8 foot wingspan, and the helmet is equipped with night vision and glare reducing visors," I said, pulling on the arm revealing the wings and gestured to the helmet.

"The wings are not just for flying. The boots and wings have retractable hooks, which allow for climbing on any surface. But don't take my word for it; this video will show this suit's many uses."

As the lights dimmed once more and the video played, I quickly grabbed the suit and put it on. After, I put on the helmet, I moved to the rigging that was installed by the side. Using the dark, I climbed up using the hooks on the suit. As soon as I got settled, the hooks at my feet tightly gripped onto the rigging. I slowly leaned back until I was hanging upside down.

Finally, the video was over, and the lights came back up, but now the thought going through everyone's head was where I was.

"Up here!" I said, spreading my wings.

Everyone looked up in shock to see me hanging upside like a vampire.

"As you can see, there is nothing you and the suit cannot climb. Now, if someone could so kindly bring out the wind generator."

I managed to glide down on the attached jetpack as other college students brought out a very large skydiving simulator.

"The jetpack on the back is both solar and lunar charged from panels sewn into the suit. Now, I will show you how the suit functions in flight," I said, stepping into the roofless simulator.

I kneeled, waiting for the fans to start up. The visor came down over my eyes and the fans started up. I slowly rose up and then started flying around the showcase, catching pretty much everyone's attention.

I finally landed back at the stage.

"The powers of flight are still being unlocked, but this invention is a step in the right direction. Ladies and gentlemen: the Flying Fox Glider Suit!"

After the flight, I drew in much more people than I started out with. About a hundred people applauded as I took a bow. I saw my father nodding proudly at the back and my mother ecstatically cheering. But seeing Tadashi clap with a smile and a look of awe on his face made me feel on fire.

I quickly grabbed Pumpkin's cage, ran off stage, and peeled off the suit.

"That was great, Gavina!" said Tadashi, making his way over to me.

"Thank you!" I said, shrugging off the last of the suit, and gently stuffing it in a duffel bag.

"Indeed, it was more than great," said another man, walking over to us with an assistant.

"I take it you are Mr. Krei," I said, lifting the bag onto my shoulder.

"You are right. This glider suit would fit in nicely at Krei Tech, don't you think?"

"Are you making me an offer to sell my invention to you?"

"I know that your father turned down my offer to buy his company, but perhaps you think differently than him."

"… Thank you, Mr. Krei, but my suit is not for sale."

"Hmph, I thought you were smarter than your father," Krei said, before walking away.

I took a deep breath, relieved that the confrontation was over. Krei was always insulting my father, especially since he turned down his offer, which always got onto my nerves.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I just hate that guy. Anyway, thanks for encouraging me," I said with a smile.

"No problem," Tadashi said, smiling back.

"Well…. Bye," I said, turning to walk away.

"Wait, Gavina! Uh, I was just wondering—well, the college is showing some Miyazaki films next week. Uh, I was wondering if you wanted to go to them with me?"

"… I'd like that," I replied, smiling.

That was my first date with Tadashi. It lead into a year long relationship. We both worked together in the same lab, and we inspired each other when it came to inventions.

I was there the day that everything changed. I stood alongside Hiro as Tadashi ran into the burning building to save Professor Callaghan. We both watch as the building exploded, claiming both of their lives.

We both lost someone important to us. Hiro lost a brother. I lost the only man I ever loved.

After the funeral, Hiro and I went into depression. Whenever I was around him though, I tried to look strong for him. But when I was alone… Well, to this day, I'm surprised that I didn't start cutting. I was that miserable. Now, everyone told me to move on with my life. Some people told me that he was just a guy and that there were plenty more out there. I ended up slapping those people in the face.

They just didn't understand. Tadashi and I were as close as two people could be. Losing him was the worse thing that had ever happened to me.

It turned out that Professor Callaghan survived by stealing Hiro's microbots, but he didn't save Tadashi, despite the fact that he gave his life to save him. To be honest, a dark part of me did want to kill Callaghan, but I knew that wasn't what Tadashi wanted.

I didn't suit up to fight Callaghan like everyone else. I ended up staying behind and running a database for the team: making sure they were able to hear each other, etc. In the end, Callaghan was apprehended and is still awaiting his trial.

However, these recent events had me thinking.

If Callaghan survived the fire, is it possible that Tadashi survived as well?

Thank you to all of my lovely followers and reviewers!

I know that I haven't been very faithful with my updates, but let me explain.

I'm almost done with my first semester of college, I've been inducted into a sorority, my family is getting ready for the holidays, and I've been trying to make time for friends and family outside of my college life.

I'm working on new updates right now, but I don't know when they'll be posted yet.

So, stay tuned. And just know that I'm not giving up on you... or these stories. All of them will be completed, just give me time.

So, anyway...

I SAW BIG HERO 6 TWICE AND I CRIED AT BOTH TIMES! OH TADASHI, WHY DID YOU HAVE TO DIE!?