This was the first time Karmi hadn't wanted to go to SFIT.

It was Hiro's first time too.

But since they didn't want to worry their parents, they had decided to hope not to run into the other at school. They were going to avoid each other.


One week later Karmi still hadn't released the next chapter of her fanfic. She was inundated with fanmail, pressing her to write the next chapter, encouraging her and assurring her that they were her biggest fan. A few were concerned, wondering if everything was ok, while others accused her of not taking her writing seriously. Karmi did not reply to any of them.

How could she write about Captain Cutie when she knew exactly who he was?

She was in the middle of running test 5 on her pathogens when she pulled her laptop towards her and began reading all the chapters she had ever written about Captain Cutie. Only this time, she knew she had been writing about Hiro.

It struck her just how obsessed and, frankly, irrational, she had been. Captain Cutie was perfect in ways Hiro could never be, because half of his identity had been constructed by her imagination. Hiro could never live up to that. No one could.

She sighed as she remembered every time her hero had ever spoken to her. And she frowned as she remembered the times Hiro had spoken to her. Or tried to speak to her before she cut him off or insulted him. But she liked insulting him! It was fun! And he was so young, it was easy. She would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy their rivalry, even a little bit. But she wondered if she would enjoy their friendship more.

As she reached the end of chapter 11, she gagged. Audibly. For that was when she had written that she and Captain Cutie shared a blissful kiss. Ew! What had she been thinking?!

Karmi slammed her laptop shut and pushed it away. This was why she was destined to have no social life. No doubt, Hiro would have hated her after she wrote this! But he never told her to stop. Karmi wondered what it must be like to be humiliated, yet not allowed to stand up for yourself.

Enough reminiscing. Karmi reached for G2-9 and continued running the test.


One week later, Hiro was ready to confront her.

"Look, Hiro, I know how much she means to you, and hurting her like that must have really taken it out of you..." comforted Honey Lemon.

Hiro nodded. He knew now that he really did care about Karmi. Not like that, though. Like a person you wished was your friend.

"But think about it this way," Honey Lemon continued. "She had two main parts to herself: being the youngest student at SFIT and being an almost-celebrity fanfiction writer. You took the first one away, and that wasn't your fault, but you've taken her writer status away too. And I know that isn't entirely your fault either, but there is something you can do to help. Talk to her, Hiro."

Hiro nodded again. He had already thought about everything his friend said, but it was easier said than done.

"And she hasn't published a chapter in a whole week!" moaned Fred. "I don't know what to do with all my free time anymore!"

Abruptly, Hiro stood from the cafeteria table and walked over to Karmi. It was more like a march, since he didn't want to give up on his self-resolve and go back to his seat. Time to face the bear, he sighed.

"Hey, Karmi," he said, waving. Though he couldn't bring himself to smile; he was too nervous.

"Hi, Hiro," greeted Karmi, but she wasn't smiling, either. She sighed, rubbing her forehead. "I'm sorry I wrote all those things about you. I was re-reading them today and I realised how they must have made you feel. I was delusional. No matter who Captain Cutie was, I would have been disappointed. Thanks for being cool about it though. And you saved my life once- I'm indebted to you. And all those times you praised my work... you were just pretending. Can we just not talk anymore? It's too awkward."

"But Karmi, I want to. And we never spoke to each other in the first place. It was more like an exchange of roasts." Karmi smiled weakly at that. "I never hated you, Karmi. I never pretended either. Well... except maybe I fabricated that deep voice?" Hiro switched to his Captain Cutie voice to cheer her up. "As long as there is a Hiro Hamada, there will always be a Captain Cutie." He spoke normally. "Although please tell me you don't still have a crush on me."

She laughed. "No, don't worry about that, Genius Boy. I need to reign myself in sometimes; I must have made Captain Cutie really uncomfortable."

"You have no idea."

"But I still think you're amazing. As Captain Cutie. As Hiro, you're dumb. But I guess I like you that way too."

"Heh. Back at you." He rubbed his neck.

Just then, Professor Granville decided to join their conversation. "Excuse me for a moment, Mr Hamada, but I was notified of a breach in security recently as a certain civilian-" she nodded at Karmi, "found out about your alternate identities."

"Uh, yeah. But don't worry, Professor Granville. We've worked it out."

"I assume you've been negotiating the terms of her keeping her lips sealed?"

Karmi suppressed a smile, giving Hiro a sideways glance. "Not- not exactly," the boy genius replied.

That only caused Granville to smile. "I see our two youngest geniuses are finally getting along. I was wondering if I'd have to spend all my money giving you cafeteria treats. I knew it'd work out in the end. Though heaven forbid it took this long." She left.

Hiro placed both hands on Karmi's lunch table, and looked her in the eye. "Karmi. Friends or rivals?"

"Mmm... being rivals was kind of fun... but I'm going to have to go with friends." Her eyes twinkled. She had acquired her second friend, after Liv Amara. Or maybe he had been her friend all along, with her just refusing to accept him.

"Great!" Hiro pushed off the table, sending it a few centimetres backwards along with Karmi. "Hmm... maybe you could be the next member of Big Hero 7? I'll have to check with the team. You're a biotech major after all, and that's certainly a skill we're missing, especially with recent villains..." Hiro thought aloud.

"What did you say?! You're not still suspecting Liv, are you? Hiro!"

"But what do you say to the offer? I could make you a suit. "

"Mmm... I don't think I'm suited to that level of physical activity. I'd have to take time out of my studies too, and it's kind of dangerous... So thanks, but no thanks, Hiro. I'm happy the way I am. Writing fanfic, locked up in my lab..." she listed.

"Ok then." Hiro made to leave. He turned suddenly. "Wait, writing fanfiction? You're not still on about that, are you?"

Karmi grinned mischievously. "My new chapter is about how Karmi found out who Captain Cutie really was, and learned a lesson about obsession over real love. She and Captain Cutie become friends but... Captain Cutie has a new love interest."

Hiro's face contorted into one of confusion. "Huh? Who?"

Karmi's face lit up. "Speed Queen!"

"AARGH." And with that, Hiro just left.

But he turned around again. Karmi grinned, "Can't keep away, can you? I knew you had a crush on me."

"I don't-" Friends, not rivals, Hiro. Friends, he had to remind himself. "Karmi, I'm trusting you to keep our identities a secret. Do not tell anyone. Like, ANYONE. Please."

And then Hiro left.

For real this time.


Hey everyone, thank you for reading my story! Just to clarify (in case it wasn't clear), Karmi and Hiro are friends. I friend-ship them.

*Grins mischievously* For now.

Also, in my opinion, I think the reason Karmi thinks Hiro has a crush on her is because she doesn't see a reason for him to be nice to her other than that. She can't accept that he's just being nice, because he's nice.

Please review if you liked this story, and check out my other story Bio Bessies.