08. TADASHI


The car radio was on, and louder than it usually was. Still low so it wouldn't go over their voices, but Honey Lemon had it up higher than usual.

"[Y/N] has a really cute house. It's only her mom and her?" She inquired.

"Yeah, quotes and all everywhere. Ever since her dad went. . Away, her mom always needed some aid and sometimes [Y/N] wasn't there. So, she painted the walls brightly, got plants everywhere, and tried to make the house as happy as it could look." Tadashi elucidated.

It was getting late, and he was pretty sure Honey Lemon was going to miss her family time.

"Has Hiro ever been there?" She questioned, and checked over at Hiro, who was breathing on the window and drawing something.

"Many times, he use to get mad because [Y/N] and I would third wheel him there." His lips went into a line for his word choice. "I mean, we left him out often."

"I bet you made [Y/N] leave him out, she's too nice for that. You're such a mean guy." Honey Lemon taunted, mouthing bully to him when he looked at her.

Hiro stuck his head between the two front chairs.

"Tadashi would spend money on snacks for only him and [Y/N], and she would sneak some to me." He stuck his tongue out at Tadashi.

"I'm so going to fight you later, liar." Tadashi whispered, though Honey Lemon could easily hear him.

She ended up laughing, punching Tadashi's shoulder gently. "You aren't beating anyone up." She said, her eyes twinkling.

Tadashi didn't say anything, and stopped the car. They were at Honey Lemon's house already.

"Wow, that was fast. You scared of my dad?" Honey Lemon's front door opened and out stepped her tall and built father.

He nodded, making eye-contact with her dad.

Honey Lemon laughed, and gave him a peck on the cheek before getting out.

"I'll call you after I'm done with this! Okay, bye, love you!"

Tadashi didn't have time to say it back, because her dad was stomping his way down the steps and Tadashi swore he was going to pee his pants if he didn't get out of there in time.


In the cafe, Aunt Cass was reading the newspaper while a plate full of pastries was in front of her. She was sitting there waiting for them to come.

When they arrived, she got up and hugged them both. With a doughnut in her mouth, she said, "How are my boys?"

"Pretty good, we bought pizza for [Y/N] and she was too sick to eat it." Hiro replied, taking a cookie from the plate behind her back and sitting down on one of the chairs.

She released them, and had to move her head up to look at Tadashi.

"Always spending money on food for her." That was the single thing she disapproved about you and Tadashi's friendship really. She hated that he was always buying you food, when she could always provide for you those if you asked. "And she doesn't even ask you to sometimes!" Aunt Cass stuffed the doughnut in her mouth all, her cheeks like a chipmunk.

Tadashi grabbed a cookie too, and sat on the chair next to Hiro.

"It wasn't just for her, it for everyone. Honey Lemon, and Hiro too." He stated.

Aunt Cass sat back down, closing the book and then watching the Hamada brothers eat.

"Does she like Honey Lemon, after finally meeting her one-on-one?" She asked, her hands cupping her cheeks with her elbow propped on the table. Doing that, she could pass as an mid-twenties adult.

"I haven't exactly asked her alone, she doesn't like being honest with a lot of people around." He knew that about you very well. "I'll ask her the next chance I get."

Hiro picked at his teeth, and licked them. "[Y/N] will say she likes her, I bet." He spoke.

"How do you know?" Tadashi questioned, eyebrows down with a skeptical expression.

"Oh, trust us, she will." Aunt Cass agreed.

Tadashi wanted to ask them again, however, something on their faces said they were right, and then he even agreed with them.


It was late at night, and again, he couldn't fall asleep. There was an intense feeling in his chest, and Tadashi couldn't confirm why he felt that way.

The car ride home earlier had a weird atmosphere in it, it wasn't quiet. Him and Honey Lemon were obviously chatting, but, it wasn't as bright as it should have been.

He called Honey Lemon once he got on bed, and the conversation lasted a couple of hours. They talked about their day, GoGo and her birthday party, the pizza, your house, and so many other topics.

Now, he was laying on the bed with the blankets kicked off and a hand under the pillow. The phone still in his other hand, as he was contemplating to call you or not.

After a long time, he turned it on, narrowing his eyes at the brightness. He clicked onto your name, and took a deep breath before clicking to call you.

It rung for a little while, then it went to voicemail. So, he decided to call again. At the third attempt, you picked up.

"Hmm?" You murmured, he could hear blankets being shuffled around.

He was glad you were sleeping, not drunk.

"Did I wake you up? Sorry." He whispered.

You nodded, then remembered he couldn't see that. "Yeah, but it's fine." You yawned, and at your house you closed your eyes but opened them right back.

Tadashi played with his own hair, picking at it out of boredom.

"You had a good day?" There was something he still wanted to bring up, though it didn't seem like the right time yet.

"Great, actually. How about you? Hiro was a bit hushed today, less than usual."

"Really? I didn't notice." He responded.

"You don't notice a lot of things," you joked, then realized that you also seriously meant it. "A lot." You emphasized.

Tadashi used his feet to pull the blanket over his legs, and faced up to the ceiling and window, the moonlight shining through. Hiro snored loudly, and Tadashi glanced at him before replying.

"I think I noticed that, so far." He chuckled.

You didn't say anything, only breathing lightly into the phone as he did the same. It went for a few moments before you heard him exhale heavily.

"How do you feel about Honey Lemon? A best friend's opinion always counts." Tadashi wanted to really know, he needed to ever since the last phone call.

You stood up, and walked to your window, opening it, and resting your forearms on the window sill. The wind blew and you had to think about your answer thoroughly before responding to such a big question. Finally, you thought about it and opened your mouth, "Honey Lemon is a wonderful person."

Tadashi felt a jab in a stomach, as if your answer actually wasn't something he wanted to hear. He thought so too, it just felt uncomfortable for you to admit it also.

"Is she really?"

"Yeah," you laughed to yourself, wondering why he was so invested in your simple, honest answer. "She's cheerful, funny, optimistic, caring. Perfect for you. I am happy for you, truly." This was your closure, you were positive.

"She is an awesome, beautiful person. You sound genuine." He said.

You rested your chin on your forearm. "Yeah, she is beautiful." You felt regretting about at your previous thoughts of this being closure. You were being truthful, but something was still eating you up.

"We have lots in common." Tadashi closed his eyes, not to go to sleep, but because he was enjoying the tranquility at that moment.

"I'm sure you guys do."

"It's just. ." His silence dragged on, and he had no idea on what to day. It felt wrong? Different? He had no intention to tell you that, he didn't even know it was on his mind.

Tadashi dug his nails into his palm, so that crescents were imprinted on his skin.

You chose to not let him stay silent in awkwardness, and gazed into the scenery in front of you. "Hey, Tadashi?"

"Yeah?"

"Can you answer one question, it's important." You said.

"Go ahead, [Y/N]." Tadashi was sort of nervous, no clue as to why.

Lately, that was all he had been feeling, confusion mixed with caution. Possibly, he simply needed to relax at your house again, just you two. Your home was like his sanctuary growing up. He felt safe and okay there. You two had spilled secrets and laughed until your stomach hurt there a handful of times. Tadashi reminisced to himself.

"Do you love Honey Lemon?" You asked very quickly, regretting it the second it was all out.

"I think," Tadashi stopped his voice to reflect on that question more.

"You think?" You were up straight now.

"I like her, a lot. A lot, a lot. Like how kids go 'Do you like-like them? Or like them?' I think it's like-like." He laughed at himself, then covered his mouth, remembering that the rest of the house was sleeping.

You chuckled, "I am quite in love with someone."

Tadashi's eyes grew wide, and the jab came back in a rush. This time, it hit his ribcage and and he found himself gasping for a moment.

"But thank you for answering my question, you helped me in finding my answer now." You told him, returning back onto your bed, snuggling yourself in.

"Was he the one that broke your heart?" Tadashi felt that in reality, he was the reason you were so bad on some days.

"Well, if it was meant to be, it will be." You sighed, eyes wide opened. "However, I don't think it will be."

A depressing feeling sunk into Tadashi, when he listened to the sound of an ebbing confidence in your voice.

"Goodnight, Ham." It was what you used to call him in the past, to cheer him up. This time, it soothed him and he laid there after you hung up.

As he tried to sleep, one thing kept running through his mind.

What if he found someone new, but still fell asleep to the thought of you?


A/N: Want a more sweet Tadashi x Reader fanfic? Check out my other fanfic 'Bittersweet'! This story is also on Quotev!

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