A/N: Well, this is a late holiday update. Belated happy holidays to everybody, and thanks to everyone who read, reviewed, watched, and added this story to their favorites. I don't want to keep you any longer, so here it is.

CHAPTER 3: PROGRAMMING

WORD COUNT: 3,510

"Hold your hand out."

"Like this?"

"Yeah... Wait. A bit higher."

Tap tap tap. Click.

"Now go through some of the movements again."

Tap tap tap tap.

Tadashi and Flip were at his side of the lab, working on his dynamics project. It was day three of the software testing, and the robotics student was working out some of the kinks in his coding.

The robotic arm he was working on was supposed to follow the movements Flip was making through a glove and sleeve that the student had embedded with sensors. Sure enough, the arm followed the motions- waving, bending at the elbow, and making a fist. However, the movements weren't smooth, the mechanical replica lacking the grace that Flip put into the actions.

The joints locked every few minutes as well, making Tadashi groan in frustration. His project assistant watched him sympathetically, having seen the amount of effort and dedication he put into his work. Flip looked on as the Hamada ran a hand through his hair, readjusting his cap, before he focused his attention fully back to his laptop screen, fingers flying over the keyboard.

The choreographer sighed. She wished she could be more help, but she wasn't sure exactly what she could do.

At one side of the lab, the rest of Tadashi's college friends had convened, observing the two as the robotics student continued tapping away at his laptop, the redhead sitting on a metal table several feet from him, stretching her arm. A few minutes passed with Tadashi's eyes still glued to his screen.

"I told you this wouldn't work." Gogo said, chewing her gum.

"I'd usually tell you not to be so skeptical, but you have a point. That guy is stuck in his head again." Wasabi shook his head.

"But look, she's worried about him." Honey Lemon cooed, smiling softly.

"That guy hasn't eaten anything since lunch! Who wouldn't be worried? It's almost three-thirty!" Fred said it like it was the most heinous thing imaginable.

"Looks like Flip might actually try to kick Tadashi out of his little bubble." Gogo commented.

The others immediately looked back to the other side of the lab. Flip had hopped off of the table, walking behind the Hamada, peeking over his shoulder at his work.

"Tadashi?" The redhead tried to catch his attention, but he was still focused on his coding.

"Tadashiiii..." She dragged her speech a bit, leaning both her hands on the back of his chair. No reaction.

Walking to the other side of his laptop screen, she waved both her arms, momentarily forgetting about the active sensors all over her left arm. Tadashi's eyebrows shot up, noting the activity on the software program he was working on, his head following suit to look at what was going on with his base model.

It was a second earlier that Flip had decided to try to shock the robotics student out of his little work daze, putting her face right behind the top of his laptop screen and pursing her lips with her eyes crossed.

The next moment found the bill of Tadashi's cap flicking at the girl's nose, earning a surprised yelp from the redhead. She stumbled back, tripping on her own feet and landing on her bottom, with the Hamada gaping.

"Ow..." She winced, but looked to the stock-still robotics student and smiled through the slight pain and embarrassment she was feeling. "Fred warned me how you can space out when it comes to your work. But I didn't think it could be this bad." She said humorously.

Gogo, Wasabi, Fred and Honey Lemon couldn't help but be somewhat amused at how Tadashi remained frozen while Flip continued to smile at him from the floor.

"Come on, dude!... Move!" Fred chanted. Maybe, if he thought it hard enough, his friend would snap out of it. The fanboy even went so far as to put two fingers to each of his temples, leaning forward as if to mentally will his friend into action.

Tadashi finally scrambled around his work table, apologizing profusely to Flip, who shrugged and let out a chuckle. The redhead was pulled up by the dark-haired student, rubbing at her sore tailbone while the Hamada flustered in front of her.

"It's almost three-thirty. The next batch of students will be coming in the lab in the next five minutes." Flip reminded patiently, showing the robotics student her watch.

Tadashi seemed to panic even more, turning in place, not sure whether he should try working on the wiring of the robotic arm, or scramble to try and finish one more test with his program. "But I almost have the coding done. Just a few more tweaks-"

The jittery robotics major suddenly found the his project assistant holding onto his shoulders, directing his gaze at her. She squeezed lightly as she said, "Breathe, fritzy." Her face a serious mask.

Something about her tone and her expression calmed him a bit, but his thoughts were still a bit frazzled.

"Breathe." Flip repeated when Tadashi's eyes darted again to his project and his work table, head starting to turn.

"Nah-ah, Hamada." This time Quinn squeezed his face between her hands, making his warm brown eyes meet her stormy grey ones straight on.

"Breathe..." She repeated a third time, inhaling and exhaling slowly.

The action seemed to work, making Tadashi imitate her. Breathe in, breathe out.

"Calm now?" The redhead asked gently.

"I'm..." The Hamada took one more deep breath in reply before nodding. "I'm calm."

Flip smiled. "Okay." She nodded. "Now you should clear your stuff before we get an earful from Professor Callaghan again." She stepped back from Tadashi, about to move for her backpack, when he pouted. The puppy like expression on his face surprised her, making the tips of her ears turn pink.

"But I'm so close to getting the coding right." Tadashi mock whined.

It was Flip's turn to gape, though she did so half mentally.

'He looks so... cute... Wait. What?'

"Ummm..." The redhead pulled at a lock of her hair, pushing the thought out of her head. "Is- Isn't there any other place you can work?" She stuttered slightly.

The two didn't notice, but their four friends were silently cheering.

"Well..." Tadashi thought while he saved his work, shut off his laptop, and slung his messenger bag over his shoulder. There was always the garage...

"I sort of have a lab at home..." The robotics student started slowly as he placed the robotic arm on a cart, securing it.

Flip shrugged. "If you're really close to finishing, and you... ummm... still need me, I don't mind dropping by and putting in an extra hour or two." She said smiling, though a bit awkwardly.

'It's just a science project... Just for school.' The Hamada chanted to himself mentally, steeling his resolve as Fred's ridiculous text came back to taunt him. He honestly really wanted to get his coding right ASAP, and he was pretty sure the extra time Quinn was willing to give would assure that he would have some significant progress. Maybe he would even have the software ready for a full model test by the next day. Being able to spend more time with the girl he considered 'kinda cute' didn't hurt either, he admitted to himself.

"If you're sure I won't be keeping you from anything." Tadashi, ever the gentleman, wanted to be sure.

Flip thought about it for a moment. She didn't have any scheduled classes today and she wouldn't need to be home till about eight...

"Yup. I'm pretty sure." She gave him a small smile.

The four observers were going wild in their little corner... Well, maybe Gogo not as enthusiastically. However, Honey Lemon was particularly giddy.

Tadashi couldn't help the smile that plastered itself on his face. He ignored Fred and Wasabi who not so subtly exchanged high fives and gave him sly grins when he and Quinn walked out of the SFIT lab together, his confidence building.

"Whoo! That was fun!" Flip gushed, jumping off the back of the moped, grinning at Tadashi. "I honestly thought I was gonna fall at one point... but really..." She continued like a child retelling her favorite part of a story, not noticing how the guy she was talking to was still sitting tensely on his moped.

The Hamada keenly felt the blush on his neck, and the place on his stomach where Quinn's arms had been wrapped around. He could still feel how tightly she held on when she had almost fallen off when he had swerved to avoid a jaywalking pedestrian. How she was stuck close to his back...

Sure. He was mature beyond his years, but sometimes, Tadashi hated how awkward being a hormonal male teenager could make him.

'Ugh...' It would be a miracle if he could focus on his project now.

"Lucky Cat Cafe?" Flip asked, pulling the Hamada out of his thoughts, looking at the cat statue propped above the entrance.

Tadashi swung off his moped while answering, "Yup. My aunt Cass runs it. We live just above the cafe, actually." He was glad for something to talk about to keep his mind from falling into the gutter, and avoid creating any awkward situations. "So I do all my lab work in the garage. This way." He waved, directing with one hand as he walked his vehicle to the side of the building.

He reached the garage, heaving the door open and flipping the light switch before he realized that his supposed project assistant hadn't followed him.

Great. You spooked her, Hamada. He groaned to himself.

"Quinn?" Tadashi called out, looking from side to side.

Just before he was about to give up and sulk a bit, he heard a soft tinkling sound and saw the redhead peek around the corner and jog towards him.

"Sorry for disappearing like that!" She apologized when she reached him, holding a paper bag in her hands. Flip looked through the large opening, into the garage, curious, and somewhat amazed with the setup. There were a few screens and a computer on one side, and some cool looking equipment she couldn't name laid out against the two remaining walls.

"Wow. So this is where you work, huh?" She said, walking around the space. Tadashi nodded in agreement, flipping on another light switch before closing the garage door.

"It took a while for my aunt Cass to agree to converting the garage into a lab. In the end, she gave in. At least I could make a mess here and she wouldn't have to worry about accidentally throwing out a project." The robotics student informed while picking up a few pieces and parts that were on the floor, and arranging a few things to make the area look a little less cluttered. It was usually that way until he had the summer to seriously clean up.

Flip continued wandering, almost touching several things, but keeping her hand hovering over them instead, afraid that she might accidentally damage something, or end up hurting herself.

"Are all of these your inventions?" She asked in awe, turning to look at Tadashi.

He seemed to straighten with pride, gaze going over various contraptions. "Well, some of them are mine. Others are my brother's. Some we worked on together." He explained, a glaze clouding his eyes as he remembered all the trouble that he and his brother had gotten into with their tinkering- creating all kinds of gadgets and gizmos.

"Wait. 'Brother'?... I think I might have seen him at the cafe." Flip perked up. "Short kid, gap tooth, and messy black hair." The choreographer gestured her description with her hands.

"Sounds about right." Tadashi nodded. "Hiro must be helping out at the counter." He smiled at the thought. However, the cheery expression slid down his face with what the redhead said next.

"Hiro... That's a unique name. Sounds like 'hero'." Flip let out a giggle. "Honestly... He's absolutely adorable."

Tadashi felt a pang of jealousy. What the hell?

'Are you seriously feeling jealous of your little brother?' He mentally kicked himself... repeatedly. He reasoned that girls found a lot of things "adorable"- like puppies and kittens. Puppies and kittens!

"I bet you have to beat the girls back with a stick whenever he goes out."

Tadashi simply chuckled awkwardly. "That would be something." He said, not knowing what else to say, gesturing to the old, slightly beat- up couch that was one side of the garage, changing the subject.

Flip straightened, grinning as she walked over, holding up the paper bag she had in one hand. "I was thinking we should snack on something before we... well mainly you get back to work . Honey Lemon said you didn't have lunch yet." She fixed him with a hard look. "You can't work on an empty stomach."

'Honey..." He mentally groaned.

Tadashi's stomach chose that particular moment to let out a loud rumble. The Hamada blushed, even more so when Flip chuckled at the sound.

"Well, that's a definite 'yes'."

Sitting down, she pulled out a large strawberry donut and a cheese roll, along with two rippled paper cups. "It was actually your brother who suggested the black coffee for you, and your aunt said you like the strawberry cream."

Tadashi took a seat and looked at the snack gratefully. "You really didn't have to... but... Thank you." He didn't mention how it felt somewhat awkward for Quinn to have bought him food.

She took a bite from her roll, doing her best to ignore the fluttering in her chest when Tadashi had smiled so warmly at her. "Well, I usually bring snacks for the gang when I drop by the lab." She shrugged.

Tadashi just nodded, not saying how it felt different because this wasn't for the gang, it was for him. Maybe it was silly for him to think that... but regardless... It felt different.

"I think that does it. Try again."

Flip went through the motions with her arm again. Tadashi eyed the robotic replica critically as it whirred to life.

Bend.

Stretch.

Wave.

Wiggle.

Clench.

Punch!

"YES!"

Tadashi yelled out triumphantly when the mechanical arm moved smoothly this time. He danced around the room, pumping his arms, too elated to really notice how amused his project assistant was at his actions.

Flip watched him, smiling. She was glad that the robotics student had succeeded in his effort.

"High five!" She called out to him, raising the arm wearing the glove and sleeve.

The Hamada paused his little victory dance to do just that, slapping his open hand with the metal palm of the robotic arm.

Tadashi seemed even giddier after the little display. His elation was infectious, and Flip soon found herself bouncing around beside her friend.

"This is great! We can do a full model test by tomorrow!" He gushed excitedly, putting his arms on Flip's shoulders. The redhead laughed, amazed how hyper Tadashi could get when it came to his projects. It was cute.

Flip's ears turned pink when she realized what she was thinking. This was the second time today that she had caught the thought running through her mind. She felt the blush spread to her cheeks, and was glad that the redness could be blamed on how much she had laughed, and that some of her hair had fallen over her face with her jumping. Her thoughts were pushed to the back of her mind when she heard a door open. Both teens turned in the direction of the sound.

"Hey there! I brought dumplings!" Cass Hamada walked through the side door to the garage, holding a steaming plate.

"Aunt Cass!"

Tadashi and Quinn seemed to realize just how close they were standing together, and immediately jumped apart, putting distance between them.

"I thought I'd bring you something to eat after working for practically three hours! You guys must be starving!" The brown haired lady stepped over to the a table and set down the plate. "How's the science project going?" She smiled widely, looking intently at her nephew and his friend.

"It's been going well. We might actually be ready for more advanced testing tomorrow." Tadashi informed his aunt, turning to throw a smile at his assistant. Flip returned it with a grin.

"That's great!" Cass clapped her hands together. "Dinner will be in about an hour. Why don't you stay, Quinn? It's the least I could do to thank you for helping Tadashi out. We're having cur-ry." She sang the last word invitingly.

"I'd love to, Miss Hamada but-"

"Just call me Cass. 'Miss Hamada' makes me feel old." The woman laughed good naturedly, waving her hand.

"The invitation is really welcome," Flip then looked at her watch, jumping slightly as she noticed that it was almost 7:30. "...But I need to get home to my dad." Tadashi noted how Quinn's smile turned a bit strained.

"Oh, maybe next time. Take some dumplings with you then, at least."

The redhead was about to politely decline, but Cass had already skittered out of the garage- probably back to the kitchen.

"She's nice." Flip said, still a bit stunned by Tadashi's aunt's whirlwind appearance... and disappearance.

"That's my aunt Cass for you." The Hamada said, chuckling. "By the way. How did she know your name? Have you two met before?" He raised an eyebrow.

"I just met her a few hours ago, actually. I introduced myself when I asked for a recommendation at the cafe." The ginger replied.

"Ah-"

"Hey, Tadashi!" Another voice cut through the air as the door to the garage opened again. This time a short, gap toothed, dark haired boy entered. "Aunt Cass said to give this to you." He said, handing a takeout box to his older brother. He glanced at the other person at the room curiously. The redhead simply smiled and gave a small wave at the boy.

"Thanks, bonehead."

Hiro suddenly yelped when the teen ruffled his already messy hair. "Tadashi!"

Flip would have been happy to just stay and watch the brotherly display, but then her phone buzzed in her pocket.

"Uhmmm..." She shuffled and scuffed the toe of her shoe on the floor. The two froze. The smaller Hamada trapped in a headlock. "Tadashi, not that this isn't extremely amusing... But I really need to get going." She said sheepishly, shouldering her backpack.

"Oh. Yeah. Of course." The elder Hamada cleared his throat, straightening and realizing how childishly he had been acting moments before.

"Are you sure you don't want to stay over for dinner? I'm pretty sure Ta-" Hiro's sentence was cut off with an elbow to the ribs.

"Sorry, 'Hero'. I have a curfew to stick to." She grinned at the small boy as she headed out of the garage, the brothers following her to the sidewalk as she waited for a tram to pass.

"It was a nice change of pace, helping you with your science project, Tadashi." The redhead faced him now, smiling.

"Well..." The robotics student gathered his courage. The tightness in his chest increased when the lights of the tram turned the corner just down the street. "It was nice having a partner. Maybe during the next project...?"

Quinn's smile widened, a pinkish tinge dusting her cheeks once more. "During the next project." She agreed uncharacteristically softly.

Just before the streetcar stopped by the side of the cafe, Tadashi remembered the dumplings. Part of his heritage seemed to take over when he stiffly, almost formally, presented the takeout box to the redhead with two hands. He froze, mortified with his actions.

Flip simply giggled and went with it. She bowed slightly, before taking the box with two hands as well. "Arigatou." She said as she stepped on, waving before moving to take a seat inside.

Tadashi waved back, and continued waving heedless of the fact that the tram had disappeared at the top of the steep road.

'During the next project...'

Tadashi was pushed roughly out of his thoughts when Hiro said slyly, "You like her don't you?" The boy had a large, silly grin plastered on his face as he looked at his older brother. The elder Hamada tensed at the statement... A statement that he was still in denial of... Mostly...

"'Dashi has a crush! 'Dashi has a cruuuush!~" Hiro laughed as he chanted repeatedly, dodging his older brother's move to grab him, his face turning beet red.

"Come here, bonehead! You know I'm not a fan of black coffee!" Tadashi yelled out, still in denial.

A/N: Thoughts? How's the pace so far? We might be time skipping between chapters soon, so heads up. Oh yeah, I'm curious... Any ship names you've come up with?

-NS