I'm spoiling you guys. This is one of five updates (7 if you read my Avengers stories too) for New Year. :*:.｡.:*(´∀｀*)Д Ндррч Йёш Чёдя*:.｡.:*:

Hiro Age: 3

Tadashi Age: 18

Wasabi blinked in surprise as he approached the kitchen of the Hamada household. It looked like a hurricane had passed through. Pots and dirty dishes were everywhere, food was tossed about and bowls of different color liquids lined the counter.

Worse of all, Tadashi looked dangerously upset as if he was just moments away from punching something.

"Tadashi," Wasabi asked gently. "Is something wrong?"

"I can't remember my mom's recipe for ozoni," Tadashi said tightly. His eyes squeezed shut as he let out a frustrated sigh. "Why didn't I write it down? Why didn't she write it down?"

Wasabi hid his wince. Last year Tadashi had explained to him how Ozoni recipes were passed down from family member to family member. Getting the recipe off the internet wasn't the same because every family made it differently, evolving over the years. With his parents gone, Tadashi must have been feeling devastated.

"Hey c'mon buddy," Wasabi said, laying a gentle hand on Tadashi's shoulder. "Look, I'll be your taste tester until you find one that at least remotely tastes similar okay? Where would we be today if we gave up every time we hit a roadblock?"

Tadashi gave Wasabi a watery smile. "Keep moving forward right? Thanks Wasabi."

"No problem. I'll even do a supply run for you too. Let's get these dishes washed, you write up a list of ingredients and we'll call Honey Lemon over if Hiro isn't awake from his nap by then. There's still three days before New Year's. We'll find a recipe that tastes exactly like your mom's," Wasabi said.

Tadashi nodded, grabbing the first dirty dish.

Wasabi looked at his friend, feeling exhausted. How Tadashi was coping with the death of his parents was beyond amazing. Wasabi made a note to go home tonight and get every recipe his mother had written down.

xXxXx

"Tadashi what is this?" Honey Lemon asked, poking at the strange dishes in front of her. They decided to have dinner over at the Hamada's house, mostly because no one wanted to leave Tadashi and Hiro alone for their first New Years without their parents. Tadashi had cooked most of the traditional dishes (or at least the ones he remembered his mother making… thankfully there were recipes cards for that).

"Kuromame, black beans. Suppose to be for good health," Tadashi said.

"And this one?" Fred asked.

"Kuzonoko. For fertility," Tadashi answered.

"Kinako for later?" Hiro asked. His eyes bright and wide, expecting his treat.

"What's that?" Gogo asked.

"Just mochi," Tadashi said. "If anything, you guys will like that one. I actually made kinako mochi before."

"Let's eat?" Wasabi said.

Tadashi nodded. "Let's eat."

xXxXx

"Fireworks!"

Tadashi laughed and handed Hiro the small sparkler. His little brother stared at it with wide eyes, watching the tiny spark move up.

"Be careful," Tadashi said. "It can get hot, so don't touch it."

Like all sparklers, it died out too soon.

Hiro looked up at Tadashi. "Another one, please!"

"Haha, of course!" Tadashi handed Hiro another one. Dinner was finished, the food was packed away and the table cleaned. Now they were waiting for the firework show to start. Midnight was just minutes away.

Just as Hiro's sparkler died once more, a loud ringing boom could be heard. In the distance a firework exploded into a bright explosion of red sparks.

"Oooo! Guys look!" Honey Lemon said. "The firework show has about to start!"

They rushed upstairs to the rooftop garden where they had set out chairs earlier. Tadashi placed Hiro on his shoulders, giving his younger brother a better view.

"Pretty," Hiro said, amazed by all the colors.

Tadashi was a little surprised Hiro had managed to stay up until midnight, but he figured it was New Years. It was one time Tadashi didn't need to enforce a bedtime.

"10!" Fred started.

"9!" Everyone joined in counting down.

"8!"

"7!"

"6!"

"5!"

"4!"

"3!" The grand finale of the show started as thousands of fireworks were launched into the air. They exploded, lighting the sky in red, blues, whites, and greens.

"2!"

"1!"

"Happy New Years!"

Hiro wrapped his tiny arms around Tadashi's head. "Happy New Year, big bro."

Tadashi smiled. "Happy New Year, little bro."