Tadashi pondered on the latest diagram for Baymax, scrubbing his tired eyes. So far, his idea seemed to be solidifying perfectly, and if everything were to go to plan, Baymax would be operational in a few weeks.
He glanced at the carbon fiber skeleton with a fond smile. The young man walked up to the robot and patted the top of its head.
"You're gonna work perfectly, buddy," he said, goofy smile growing. "I just know it."
He felt lighthearted today, as if everything was in place and could not get any better. He glanced at the computer screen, noting the GPS trackers that he placed on Hiro were blinking a comforting green within the vicinity of the cafe.
His brother's graduation was coming up in a few days and Hiro, naturally, was elected valedictorian and would be giving a speech on the big day. Tadashi didn't even hide his smile of pride when he received the news from Aunt Cass.
His baby brother was finally going to graduate high school, and with luck, use his talents for the bettermen of the world. Tadashi could barely keep the excitement in and he wanted to head back home to congratulate his brother.
Tadashi closed the lab down, switching off the lights and placing Baymax's spare parts in a separate cardboard box. He threw a cloth over the unfinished skeleton of the nurse bot, heading out of the lab and shutting the door behind him, hearing the automatic lock click in place.
He walked with a lightness in his step and even hummed a tune under his breath as he headed for the college car park.
Tadashi made his way back home, just in time to see the street lights switch on for the evening. He entered the house and was greeted by the smell of chicken wings baking. Aunt Cass was probably whipping up some of her famous hot wings in celebration of tonight's news.
He walked up the steps, calling out a greeting to his aunt who called back a warm hello from the kitchen.
The steps creaked as he made his way to their room, finding Hiro sitting on his bed, relaxing on the sheets as he perused a comic book. Normally, Tadashi would ask him if his homework was done or if he had completed his chores but he decided that tonight, the young boy deserved a break.
"Hey, look who became the school's valedictorian," Tadashi teased, sitting himself at the edge of his brother's bed.
Hiro looked up at him with a wide smile. "Yeah. It was a surprise."
Tadashi snorted. "Please. Your grades are perfect, there was no doubt about it."
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm trying to be humble here," Hiro replied with a smirk.
The older Hamada grinned. "Humble doesn't really suit you, bro."
Hiro shrugged, grinning cheekily. "Don't say I didn't try."
Tadashi chuckled and ruffled his brother's mused hair. "Anyway, congratulations." His expression was sincere, open when he said, "I'm so proud of you, you know that?"
His younger brother fidgeted but nodded. "Yeah, thanks."
Tadashi grinned and stood up from the bed, heading to his part of the room.
"Oh, and you had a text message today," Hiro remarked, returning back to his comic book. "Just heard it beep on your device."
The young man's heart rate picked up slightly, something like a bird soaring in his chest. Could it be her? Maybe he could break the good news to her.
He knew that Ayako and him had never shared anything particularly personal on their first meeting when he introduced his line of work to her, but he harbored hopes to get pass that. After all, she did seem like a pretty interesting girl and he definitely wanted to know more about her.
~~O~~O~~
Today, she decided, was a good day.
Ayako had awoken with a light feeling in her heart and a spring in her step as she prepared for a day of classes. The young woman had no idea what could've caused this emotion but she happily went along with it, switching on her music device and connecting it to the speakers as the mellow tunes and happy beats filled the room with sweet-sounding melodies.
After getting ready, she headed down to the Art Institute, humming a song under her breath as she approached the sprawling campus. The sunshine was warm on her face, like a gentle caress and her books weighed next to nothing as she clutched them close to her chest.
She felt like someone had placed high definition glasses over her life; everything was suddenly more brighter and louder. The colors on the leaves that were beginning to turn brown were more vivid, the birdsong was twice as euphonious and even the air seemed sweeter somehow than it was before.
Her friends had also begun to notice the change in her attitude, judging from their curious stares.
"What's got you all hyped up?" Her best friend asked casually as they were seated next to each other during traditional art class. Ayako looked up from the drawing that she had been sketching absentmindedly.
"You said something?" she asked. Her friend – a tall red head by the name of Lucy – smirked and gestured to her, as if she already had her answer.
"Exactly. You seem pretty out of it today."
Ayako shook her head, smiling. "Don't know what you're talking about. I feel fine."
"Oh, sure you look fine. In fact, more happier than usual."
"And is that a problem?" she asked, eyebrow raised as she studied her friend. Lucy shook her head, toying with her red plait.
"God no, it's a nice change, really."
Ayako snorted.
"But just wondering what caused the change."
"What?" she asked, all innocent. "Can't I be gloriously happy for once."
Lucy stifled a laugh, eyes twinkling mischievously. "Okay, spill."
Ayako spread her hands, as if to say, 'what do you mean?'
"Did your mom stopped nagging?" Lucy was well aware of her mother's disapproval and on any other day, she would just roll her eyes and spout something that went along the lines of 'after hell freezes over'. But today, she just shrugged, and this might've alerted Lucy that something was up more than her breezy attitude.
"Then? Come on, you can tell me anything," she prompted. Lucy placed her pencil down, glancing surreptitiously at their lecturer, hopping that the eccentric Professor Kipton wouldn't catch them gossiping in his class.
Ayako pressed her lips together to keep from smiling. "Told you, it was nothing."
"Doesn't seem like nothing."
Their whispers were quiet enough not to be heard over the din of the classroom but Ayako wanted to make sure. She peeked up, looked left and right before leaning down.
"It's a guy," the petite girl whispered. "I finally went out with him... well, not technically but we hung out."
Lucy's eyes widened comically and she leaned even closer to hear. "What?" she hissed excitedly. "And you didn't even think of telling me?"
She had to press a hand to her mouth to smother the giggle that threatened to bubble out of her lips. "Sorry, but I was just distracted."
The red head smirked. "That's an understatement."
After a moment, she asked, "so, who is he?"
This was the part where she stalled and found herself unable to share with her best friend. Lucy had once teased her for eyeing Tadashi at the Lucky Cat Cafe the very first time they went there for a cup of coffee. Ayako had tried to not make it so obvious the rest of the subsequent times that they had visited the place.
She didn't want her friend to know that she had developed an interest in the cute waiter less Lucy started teasing her.
Would her friend know whom she was talking about just by the mention of him?
Ayako wouldn't know until she tried.
"It's... do you still remember that cute waiter we once saw at the Lucky Cat Cafe?"
Lucy frowned as she tried to recall. "That cafe that we went once with Keiro and her other friends?"
She nodded. "The same one."
The red head's eyes widened. "You mean that cute waiter with the baseball cap and that seriously charming smile."
Ayako nodded, trying not to let her excitement show. She must've failed for Lucy immediately started laughing and whispering, "shut up, no way!"
"Yeah," she replied bashfully.
"You went out with him?" The disbelief on her friend's face annoyed her but she let it go. After all, she couldn't believe it too.
Ayako cringed and dropped her eyes to her drawing, unsure if she should divulge further.
"Ayako Sorokin, tell me what the hell happened or I swear you we're not sisters by covenant anymore," Lucy stated solemnly although her grin detracted from the warning.
"I don't recall ever signing a covenant with you?" she replied, amused.
Her friend scoffed. "Well, now you did. So, tell me all about your date with him."
"It wasn't a date per se," she muttered. "He just invited me over to check out his inventions."
"His...inventions?"
The crestfallen expression on her friend's face made her hastily explain.
"Yeah, but hear me out. You know that wicked cool coffee machine we saw behind the counter where they use to drain the coffee grinds?"
"Yeah?" Lucy's brow wrinkled, as if she couldn't understand the direction where her friend was heading. "What about it?"
Ayako didn't mean to sound smug when she answered but she couldn't help it. "Well, he and his brother actually invented that."
"You're serious?" she exclaimed. "Wow, he must be really smart then."
"Yeah. He's a student at S.F.I.T."
"Whoa! For real?"
"For real."
Her friend cracked a wide grin. "You're dating a super genius?"
She shook her head. "We barely even talked about ourselves at all. He just showed me his work and we set another date for Wednesday."
Lucy looked impressed. "I can say that I'm officially proud of you right now."
"And why's that?"
"Because he doesn't really date much," Lucy confided. "Miko told me that he's one of the guys that didn't seem really interested in romance."
Ayako thought it over, to his friendly disposition and wondered why. Tadashi was obviously good-looking and had a brain to match. Why didn't he date around?
Maybe she could ask him.
Lucy was looking at her with something akin to awe. "This is legendary. Wait until Miko hears that you managed to get some - ahem - one on one time with him."
Warning bells sounded in her mind and she shook her head vehemently. "Please, don't," she said, clasping her hands together in a dramatic rendition of a plea. "Don't let anyone know. I'm not even sure what's between us and I don't want word to spread to him and make him think that I'm some psychotic-"
"Hey, relax," her friend interjected. "I was just kidding. If you're not comfortable at all, I won't tell."
"Promise?" she said, lifting her pinkie finger up with an expression of seriousness.
Lucy sighed and Ayako knew she must seem completely immature right now but her best friend nodded and wrapped her pinkie finger around hers.
"Promise."
"Great. Now, I need your help."
"With what?"
"Do you really think I need to brush up on my biology and smart talk to impress him or should I just wing it and act like a total dork?"
Lucy seemed to think this over, tugging on her braided hair. "Hmm. I think just let him see you for who you are. That should be enough," her friend stated.
"Pretending like you're someone you're not would just ruin the trust. So yeah. Continue acting like a total dork. I'm sure he'll find it endearing."
Ayako heaved a sigh of relief. "Thanks, Luce," she said in her most grateful tone and meant it, "I don't know what I'll do without your advice."
"Probably mess up real bad," she commented breezily.
The artist smirked at her best friend. "Probably."
A/N: Was thinking of writing a scene where Tadashi meets Lucy and Ayako's other friends in the later part of this story. Does that sound interesting?
Tell me what you think?