"Tadashi... Tadashi passed away."

"There was an awful incident last year... Part of the institute was caught on fire... Tadashi went back to save his professor... And... And then.. there was an explosion."

Himitsu rolled over onto her side, these words recorded into her memory. Tadashi was dead. Gone for a whole year. She had gone a whole year, unnoticing of her unread e-mails and video mail. Why hadn't that worried her? She had gone a year absolutely clueless that the one person who truly understood her on this planet was no longer there to understand.

"Himi... I'm so sorry."

Her assumptions had been that he was busy. He had a life, too, after all. He was a genius in a college for geniuses, he had expectations to live up to. She got that. She didn't get that he was no longer at a college for geniuses. He was no longer there to exceed expectations. She didn't get it at all.

"Things will be better in the morning, I promise."

Morning came and the empty gnawing was still there in her chest; making itself comfy and cozy. The same was the next morning and the one after that. It made her feel so alone, hoping to wake up from the nightmare the next morning, but it was always the same. It was always the same because it wasn't a nightmare, it was reality.

GoGo would coax her to go out and do things with her. They bought things for her room and supplies for her school. They settled her into her room, decorating the walls with her posters and her bookshelf filled with knick-knacks. From her ceiling they hung stars and symbols. Himitsu had laughed and smiled, but she couldn't hide from GoGo that she wasn't okay. She couldn't cover up her wound as well as GoGo could. GoGo was just like her nicknamed described her, on the go and moving forward.

There were a few nights GoGo went off to her classes and didn't come back until it was late. Himitsu was unsure of how to spend the time. She would use the street map on her phone to learn the route to the Lucky Cat Café. She'd sit there with Mochi weaving his plump cat-self around her legs and occasionally ending up in her lap. And she was content sitting there, stroking Mochi and eating cobbler that Cass brought out. When it was a slow day, Cass would sit down to talk with her and Tadashi was their main subject. It picked at her newly formed wound, but at the same time the memories made her happy.

"Oh, did you know he created a medical robot?" Cass gushed with a light in her eyes, always impressed with the things Tadashi could do. "It is the most wonderful thing! He knows just how to heal all my aches and pains. Or when a customer comes in with an illness, he gives a remedy. Ah! I wish you could see it! But he's always out with Hiro... I bet you haven't seen him either?"

Himitsu shook her head. Last time she had seen Hiro he was completing middle school homework in second grade with no effort. He had missing teeth and had a bad hair cut. Himitsu bit her lip to hide a giggle as Cass began to boast about him, too.

This was how she had spent her free week. Then the morning came that all of that was over...

"Good morning, San Fransokyo. I'm investigative reporter Melita Garner coming to you live from downtown San Fransokyo." Himitsu yawned, forcing her eyes to stay on the moccha skinned woman on the television as she curled up on the couch. It didn't take the news report to catch her attention... "Just moments ago, a newly formed group known as the Big Hero 6 had been at this scene as a child was taken from their home by a mysterious swarm of black figures... Here is a clip of what a bystander had recorded and will shortly be followed by more information."

The screen switched to the street Melita was standing in prior to her even being there. There was an exclamation as a body covered in an indigo suit was slammed down against the concrete road by literal darkness. There was a colorful blur and a foam exploded onto the street, trying to trap several of the figures. Another shout and a muffled cry of a boy as shadows passed across the screen, his hands flailing in the air. A distraught mother and father screaming as the chased the agile mass of shadows down the street. In that instant the group of six were after them, disappearing into the dawn.

"Hey, you're gonna be late." GoGo said, throwing her messenger back onto her lap. Himitsu stared quietly at the bag then looked up at her sister with eyes full of dread.

"I don't wanna."

GoGo rolled her tired eyes and made her way out of the apartment, down to the garage. She was swinging her keys around her finger and blowing bubbles with her gum. "Suck it up, buttercup."

Himitsu sat there for a while longer, trying to collect herself. Even if she was happier, she wouldn't enjoy having to try to make new friends. It had already been hard enough to try to keep her old friends, let alone make friends with anyone. Now she was back at square one.

She peered at the digital clock on the wall, deciding she should probably get moving. Himi got up, shuffling to her shoes, and hurried after GoGo to the bike.

"Finally!" GoGo cheered- with a hint of sarcasm- as Himitsu placed her helmet on her head, jumping on to the bike. She held on for dear life and never wanted to let go.