Chapter 10
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Tadashi only finishes dressing and brushing his teeth when he remembers that the doll is in his room. He thinks that he can feel its large black eyes burning into the back of his head, but when he turns around he's surprised to see that the toy is not sitting patiently on his nightstand where he'd left it last night with his pain killers and medications and vitamin C supplements, but all the way across the room on the rickety desk among all of his papers. It is facing the old cork board with his reminders and notes, his open textbook, and most unsettling- it stares down the photograph of him and his parents, Mr and Mrs. Hamada.
He turns the photograph away.
Picking up the doll and leaving the room, he eyes the mini-Hiro in his palms as he navigates through the Pink Palace's hall, and he can't help it as he feels a twinge of guilt about last night. Baymax looms over his shoulder, even pulls the big brother's chair out for him to sit on when he gets to the dining table where Aunt Cass is setting their breakfast. Hiro is not present.
Contrary to what people might assume of his irresponsible, restless little brother, Hiro actually makes habit of waking up particulary early in the mornings to finish whatever project he's working on. Tadashi wonders if this stunts his growth, what with Hiro staying out with his shinanigans late into the night and waking up early to make up for the time wasted. "Where's Hiro?"
"Oh, he must still be sleeping." Aunt Cass says over her back, the sizzle of bacon almost over powering her voice. She shakes her head in amusement. "That boy, I swear, I heard him running around at, like, three in the morning!"
Tadashi raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. Hiro was probably just taking his nervous energy and agitation out on the busted television again.
They decide to let the little Hamada sleep in, and he finally enters the room when they're about finishing off their breakfast, looking a little lost. He walks past his brother's seat to get to his chair, and Tadashi is confused when he thinks that he gets a whiff of the scent of barbeque and chili clinging to Hiro's pajamas. The calico cat Ms. Hamada has actually let inside mewls and cuddles up to him. Baymax waddles up to the younger one as usual for the morning, asking to scan Hiro to keep tabs on his healing scrapes and poison oak from the second day. Hiro hesitates and says yes. Baymax scans him. The skin between Tadashi's eyebrows crease immediately.
"It appears that your injuries are completely healed, and without scarring," if a robot can be surprised, Baymax is. "You have been a good boy. Have a lollipop, but I suggest on eating breakfast, first."
Hiro takes the lollipop and tucks it into his hoodie pocket. He does not help himself to breakfast.
"Sweetie? Are you feeling okay?" Aunt Cass asks, bringing hers and Tadashi's plates to the kitchen sink. "Why don't you eat ? I made chorizo and omeletes!"
Hiro looks concentrated on something else, and it's the doll Tadashi has forgotten he'd even brought down with him. He picks it up with cautious hands and has to keep it away from the cat as it paws and hisses at it. "I'm, uh, not hungry... I ate a lot last night... Mochi, what is your problem?"
Mochi (Tadashi has chosen to ignore the fact that Hiro had even thought to name the cat) seems very upset, yowling at Hiro and baring its teeth when the doll is brought close to the boy's chest in protection. Tadashi interjects, the smokey smell on Hiro's pjs arguing against him. "No you didn't. You skipped dinner last night. And lunch."
Hiro just rolls his eyes at him. "Whatever. I'm going upstairs. Thanks for breakfast anyway, Aunt Cass."
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