Dedicating this chapter to a special friend/supporter. After reading our old messages, she actually gave me the inspiration to give Big Hero 6 a second chance. Honestly, I left the fandom as soon as the popularity ended. I moved on to RWBY, Loud House, and My Hero Academia fandom. Although I have 'moderate' popularity with those fandoms, it was Big Hero 6 that gave me that first start into fandom. So, I think it is best tie loose ends with these stories and come back to my roots. So, to that dear special friend, as well as many others who enjoyed my Big Hero 6 fandom, thank you!
The moment the gang left for their afternoon classes, the cafe was swamped with customers. People from all walks of life filled the cafe. Without a second to spare, Aunt Cass tossed Hiro an apron and a notepad. Hiro exchanged his Americano coffee and beignets for ordering and catering to any customer who set foot in the establishment. Recently, his aunt began implementing music in the establishment. She thought having music would create a local buzz, get people to come and stay; whatever the middle-aged brunette can do to establish money. Hiro was indifferent. Eat and go was his philosophy. He knew he was a college student, but he didn't how much longer can he sustain a living off minimum wage and catering to people that didn't appreciate any of his efforts.
"Hiro, pick up the dishes from that table. Be sure that table four has their food by the time you set the plates here," said Aunt Cass loudly as she, too, was swamped in taking care of orders.
He gave her a thumbs up for confirmation. He wiped his eye with his finger but got irritated when a bit of soap entered his eye. Wasn't the first time, but continued to his task at hand. Once again, he imagined the day when minimum wage will become the day of the past. Tucked away under his bed is his notebook. Within that notebook are the dreams the young boy have desired since acquiring it when he was ten years old. It was one of the tangible things he received from his mother before his parents were killed in a car accident over four years ago.
In his most recent page, he began drawing a logo for his company. He was quite uncertain of his future company, but he knows that he wanted to involve robotics. Baymax was a prime example of their current engineering. With Baymax being used in the lab, he wants to create something within that caliber. Besides the images of the logo of his future company, he had drawn sketches of his unrequited love.
Much of his notebook portrays the brunette as his muse. Most of the images displayed them being together. Much of his sketches showed GoGo rooting for the young genius; having a date; kissing on the beach. He refused to write or draw anything of a sexual manner. It's an odd mindset he had, but he believed if he thought sexually of a girl he actually desired, then the girl doesn't come into his life. Love over lust is his philosophy. His most recent sketch showed he and GoGo holding hands, while he was cutting the ribbon for the grand opening of his future company, Hamada Industries. A generic title, but he figured out something in the future.
"Hiro, please return to Earth. We miss you." Aunt Cass shoved the tray at his chest, and at the same time, retrieved the dirty trays. "I have told you the first time, table four wants their food now." Hiro sighed through his nose. He rather that instead of his mouth. He wasn't in the mood for another earful from his tyrant aunt.
He called his aunt a tyrant whenever he got frustrated.
Recently, Aunt Cass has been very cautious and hard on the young genius. From stricter curfews, hour-filled advice, more work time at the restaurant, things that he didn't imagine when entering college. Tadashi was lucky. She wasn't as hard on his older brother. Tadashi came and went as he pleased. He didn't work as often as Hiro, if not at all. She never bothered to ask Tadashi if she wants a helping hand. Tadashi can come home whenever he wanted to. She was always easier on the older Hamada. He released a defeated sigh. He cracked his knuckles and went to get table four their order.
Table Four had an order of a chicken noodle soup and kale chips and chicken wings with French toast; the latter of which was Hiro's favorite. He furrowed his eyebrows, biting his lips. The usual dish belonged to certain people he didn't care for and has the misfortune to acquaint. He whispered a prayer of patience as he carried the tray to the table.
Making his way toward the table, he saw the familiar patrons of the restaurant. They were classmates of his. They shared a couple of classes that focused on thermodynamics and microbiology. Microbiology was an elective of Hiro's as he needed the credit. A credit in which he regrets as the girls in question became his lab partners.
Be as it may, he didn't care for the girls.
The first girl to his left, he nicknamed her Slim. He laughed to himself for her name didn't reflect her true self. She was short and husky. Her body was well-rounded like a balloon. Slim reminded Hiro if Margaret Cho and Amy Schumer were to procreate. She always stayed on her cell phone, texting and laughing. However, she was more of the silent type compared to her other friend. The second girl, on the other hand, his feelings and patience were little to none.
She was the unmistakably beautiful, young, tanned-skinned brunette named Karmi. She was average height, but still tall for a woman, standing at five foot six inches. Her eyes reminded Hiro of a soft, brown gem. Her hair was like a river of wheat, even with the ponytail, it was stretching below her shoulders. What made Karmi stood out was her bust. Her bust looked like abnormal size cantaloupe. A poor example, as admitted the young genius, but he wasn't great at making similes and metaphors. His grades succeed in engineering, math, and science, not in the liberal arts.
Unlike the first girl, Hiro knew her name. As he approached the table, he can say that she had her weapon ready to aim for him. She released a smile, spreading from ear to ear. She was firing at will.
"So, look what the cat dropped in," she said to her friend. Her friend snickered but didn't bother looking away from her cell phone. It was business as usual to her.
"Karmi." That was Hiro could say. As much as he wanted to curse, spit, or lash out on the brunette. He must keep his composure. Despite how he felt, he must maintain or else suffer the wrath from his aunt. He already had priors with his aunt with his customer service, and Karmi was the last person that set off his aunt.
He put the food on the table. "So, for you, you had the chicken noodle soup with kale." He didn't look at Karmi, staring at the window instead. "And for you, you ordered the chicken wings and French toast." The chubby friend gave Hiro a slight nod, putting the phone down and began slaughtering the poor soup. Meanwhile, Karmi couldn't take her eyes off of Hiro. Hiro knew the brunette had more to say but didn't want to elaborate further.
"I hope you guys enjoy the food," he said casually. "Let me know if you need anything else." He was preparing to head away but felt his apron being pulled from the (b)witch he called Karmi.
"Yeah, I do have something else," snickered the brunette, trying her best to contain her laughter.
"What is it, Karmi," he said with much frustration in his voice.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa," said Karmi. "Remember, customer service is everything." She tilted her head to Aunt Cass who was giving Hiro a watchful eye. "Do we need to complain to management again?"
He sighed heavily, feigning a smile. "What can I assist you with?"
"A booster seat for your nice ass," she said, slapping his butt. Hiro's eyes widened. He became embarrassed. He took a few steps before bumping onto another table. He was fortunate that nothing spilled this time. But it didn't go without some laughter from the crowd. Hiro was flushed, turning beet red.
"Thanks for the entertainment, kid," said Karmi, raising her glass. No longer can hold the embarrassment, he walked away from the dining area and made his way to the stairs.
"Hiro, where are you going? We have orders that need to be done," responded the swamped and frustrated aunt as she placed her hands over her hip. Hiro paused, staring at his aunt. His fists were balled, surprised of her nonchalance and lack of sympathy for her nephew's embarrassing moment in the restaurant. "Hiro, can you hear me?! I said…"
Hiro took off his apron, angrily slamming it to the ground. Upon doing so, he clenched his teeth. Within his mind, he didn't want anything more than to shout and to curse at his aunt. What has he done over the past year that enabled her to treat him like this?
No matter how much he wanted to tell his aunt his true feelings. The anguish, the stress she was giving him, he was too respectful to stoop to that level. Instead, he picked up his apron. He didn't look at his aunt as he neatly put it on the counter.
"I am going on break. An extended break." Hiro put his hands in his pocket and proceeded his way to the stairs. As he walked, he felt cowardice, weak, and hurt. The perfect opportunity to lash out and he didn't take it. It was his mother's words that sink into his brain as he stood in front of his aunt that hindered him from reacting. Quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. Those nine words are the reason he hasn't 'blown his gasket.' It was like his mother was standing beside him, informing her son to not subject to that level of frustration.
Hiro slapped the walls, he wanted to cry. He wanted to shout. Something to release this tension. Nevertheless, it resides back into the bottle he called his heart. It was moments like these he wished his mother was here. He knew she wouldn't barge orders at him. She will be something he would love to have right now.
A listening ear.
A few hours have passed and it was close to closing time. Since the engagement between Hiro and Karmi, Aunt Cass didn't bother Hiro for the rest of the day. He spent that later part of the day on the internet looking at YouTube videos, any tutorials on building confidence.
He stood up from his desk, staring into the mirror. He was average height, standing at five foot four inches. He was looking at his body. It was slender, lacking muscle tone. His shoulder blades protruding from his body. He looked at his trademark chipped-tooth. He wanted more. Something that people can appreciate. Some days he liked himself, some days like today, he didn't.
He put back on his shirt and pulled some money from his pocket, today's tips. He stepped into the closet. He turned on the closet light. He opened the false floorboard. Inside was a Nike shoebox. Inside contained money. It was his savings fund. Inside of the shoebox was a picture. It was an image of an orange 1986 BMW E30 M3, his dream car. He fell in love with the car after listening to Frank Ocean's Nostalgia, Ultra album. Since seeing the image, Hiro couldn't stop seeing the car. It stayed in his dreams. Checking through various sites, he had found dealers that still had the car available. But unfortunately, this dreamer didn't have $5000. With only $350 in his shoebox, at least he was at a start. He counted the cash and including the change, he was now at $389. 45.
This is the car I want to pick up GoGo as soon as I can buy it. Those very words became scriptures to Hiro. Important to his lips, his thoughts, his character. He put the money inside and put the shoe box back in its domicile. He covered the loose floorboard with his laundry hamper and stepped out of the closet.
He checked the time on his phone and saw that it was a few minutes after eight, closing time. By now, Aunt Cass would have come to get him. Judging by earlier, she knew better, he thought. He was still upset at Aunt Cass for not defending him. He hoped that he didn't have to encounter his aunt for the rest of the evening.
During the time between his issue with Karmi and now, his brother left him a text telling him that he was going to pick him up around 8:30. The concert began at nine that evening. For the last few nights, Tadashi has been staying with GoGo. Not once did his aunt question it. If that were Hiro, a flat out no would have been the answer.
He decided that the post-grunge look was his style of choice. He went into his drawer and found the black Sublime shirt he acquired from the thrift shop. He put on his blue, acid-wash jeans. He wouldn't be Hiro Hamada without his Chuck Taylors. He got his ID and a few dollars in his pocket. Instead of dealing with his aunt, he used the fire escape to wait on the gang.
He stepped out where the cool, San Fransokyo night greeted him. It was nippy, but not enough to wear a jacket. Even if he wanted one, he was midway through the fire escape to return. When he managed to get off, the restaurant was closed and he didn't see any sight of Aunt Cass. He walked a few blocks down the street when he received another text message. It was from Tadashi.
Tadashi: Hey, bro. We are coming through to get you. Where are you?
Hiro: A few blocks away from the house. I am at the arcade.
Tadashi: Arcade? Why there?
Hiro: Don't worry about it. Just pick me up there, okay?
Tadashi: Did something happen earlier, bro?
Hiro: Don't worry about it. I just wanted to do something different.
Tadashi: K. Anyway. Me, GoGo, Wasabi, Chigusa, Fred, and Honey are with me in the Escalade. It is kinda a tight fit. We will put you in the middle with Wasabi and Chigusa. Is that cool?
Hiro: Yeah, I am okay.
Tadashi: You won't be offended that all of us are couples right? You won't feel left out?
There was a moment of a pause. This wouldn't be a Tadashi conversation without bringing up relationships. Hiro took a moment to think.
Hiro: I am cool. Why does it matter?
Tadashi: I just don't want you to feel left out is all.
Hiro: Bro, this is a concert. Not a dance. I came to have fun.
Tadashi: Don't want you to be jealous. I still remember how you were with me and GoGo.
Hiro: As I said, I am not. Look, if you don't want me to come, then just say so.
Hiro was sitting on the bench in front of the arcade. He hated when Tadashi kept reminding him of his unrequited crush on GoGo. You won. You have GoGo and yet, you still continue to feed me this bullshit. Why do you keep doing this to me? To yourself? If you don't feel comfortable with this, then why continue it. I know why. Because something you possess that I can't have gives you a sense of power and then you feel guilty? What the hell, man?
Thoughts that Hiro dearly want to perpetuate into words. Time after time, he wanted to go into his ear and say those words. However, he never could. He took it like everything else that was occurring in his short, fourteen-year-old life.
And of course, the words for his dearly departed mother.
He received another message.
Tadashi: I want you to come. I just don't want you to feel left out.
Hiro: I won't be. I am with you, the group. We will have fun. Let's leave it at that. Learn how to relax if you can't trust GoGo or yourself.
He decided to erase the latter part of the text. I won't be. I am with you, the group. We will have fun!
Tadashi: OK. We will be around the corner. Love you, bro.
Hiro: Love you, too. I am here.
Hiro pulled his headphones from his back pocket. He scanned his phone to his music gallery. "Lucid Dreams," by alternative hip hop musician, Juice Wrld, was the song of choice as he waited for his ride. It wasn't long when the black Escalade ESV pulled along the curve.
From the lights hovering over the Escalade, Hiro saw the gang wearing matching outfits. They were shirts, he guessed, from the early Something Stinks era. He overlooked it for this concert wasn't about the others. It was about feeling like an adult and spending time with GoGo Tomago.
To be continued….
