Chapter Summary: Stanwick reveals important secrets to Big Hero 6, while drama arises in the Hamada family.
Disclaimer: Big Hero 6 and its characters belong to Disney. Any non-canon characters, however, are mine.
Chapter 13
In one of the lower labs of Shiragiku's main base, Tadashi has just finished creating a blue cartridge chip, with an unknown program downloaded from his computer.
It's time to test it out, he thought, glancing towards Baymax's lifeless body.
He then eyed up to the security camera watching him above his door. It has been broken for several hours and nobody has noticed it. Mukuro should focus more on maintenance of the base and less on plotting.
Tadashi walked over to Baymax and opened the access port on the robot's left chest. There was already another chip, colored white, inside. Tadashi removed that chip and replaced it with the blue one. Mukuro had criticized to him that the white chip has a 'weak' security system and demanded a new one to be made as soon as possible.
Tadashi inhaled and closed the port, and then waited. He stood waiting there in stony silence …
Baymax's eye scanners lit up.
"I need to introduce you guys to someone," Abigail said, pointing her head towards the door of Big Hero 6's secret base and command center.
Everyone turned around to see Fred's father dressed in fancy clothing and aviator sunglasses who gave Fred a proud clap on the shoulder.
"It's good to see you. Welcome, Big Hero 6," Stanwick greeted them. "We have a lot to talk about."
"I'll say!" Hiro shouted. "We have questions and we demand answers!"
"Hiro," Wasabi calmed him down.
The younger boy took a deep breath and began again in a calmer tone.
"Sir, I didn't mean to disrespect your choices," Hiro said slowly. "But why didn't you tell us about Mukuro and Shiragiku a long time ago? We could have prepared ourselves and learn how to deal with them. And…" He stopped and swallowed any burst of rage. "Why didn't you want my friends to tell me that my brother is alive?"
Hiro's friends looked back and forth between at their leader and Stanwick, waiting for this tense moment to be solved quickly but without any trouble. Stanwick seemed to expecting this from Hiro since he pulled up a seat and urged everyone to do the same.
"Hiro, I understand how you feel and you deserve to be frustrated," Stanwick said. "I will say this: withholding important information from you and your team isn't because you kids are young and could not handle a dangerous criminal organization like Shiragiku."
"Then why weren't we told about Shiragiku before they showed up?" Gogo asked.
"It's because I wasn't even sure if Mukuro will return to San Fransokyo," Stanwick replied. "This city isn't the only territory of Shiragiku. They used to have their original headquarters in Japan but it was abandoned a long time ago. My few undercover agents could only gather rumors of Shiragiku reforming but not where it will make its public appearance. I originally planned to tell you kids from the very beginning but I didn't want to make you feel paranoid that they'll show up any time. At the very least, I only told my son what I know."
"Then why didn't you come back immediately when Shiragiku finally showed up?" Wasabi asked.
"I was in Japan, trying to find clues about their new plans but the new Shiragiku have never set foot in the original organization's headquarters and it was difficult to find any information regarding them. However, I did manage to learn of a mysterious assassin who leaves behind white chrysanthemum flowers next to the bodies of people he killed. And those flowers are usually the calling card of Shiragiku."
"And this mysterious assassin was Tadashi, right?" Hiro cringed. "How did you know it was him? You never met Tadashi before, so how do you know who he is?"
"I know all about him and know what he looks like, since Fred talks about him through e-mails," Stanwick chuckled a little before his face became grim. "And I also learned about his supposed death."
"So, do you know how he survived?" Hiro asked, leaning close. "I know Professor Callaghan survived the fire because he had my microbots, but Tadashi had nothing to protect himself."
"I have theories. I believe the reason he survived is because someone pulled him out of the fire and took him away to make it look like he died."
"Mukuro," Hiro suddenly said. Eyes turned to him. "Tadashi told me that he owed a debt to Mukuro and I didn't know what he meant by that."
"Make sense if Mukuro was indeed the one who rescued Tadashi," Abigail spoke up. "Otherwise he wouldn't train Tadashi to be his lieutenant and do his dirty work for him."
"Sir," Hiro turned to Stanwick again. "Why didn't you want Fred and the others to tell me that Tadashi was alive?"
"Isn't it obvious? I wanted to protect you from the terrifying truth," Stanwick replied. "If you found out your older brother is alive and is working for the villain, you'd go out and find him. But that would also lead you right into Shiragiku's hands and get you killed."
"But why would Tadashi join Shiragiku?" Hiro demanded. "He always cared about people, it's not like him to do a complete 180 degrees switch. Mukuro must have forced him by threat or something…"
"Hiro, how do you know there's still good in Tadashi?" Honey asked.
"He stopped being our friend the moment he attacked us," Fred said.
"I don't know," Hiro admitted sadly. "I just wanted to know the truth."
Stanwick removed his glasses and clean them with a hankerchief. "You remind me so much of your father, Hiro," he said with a warm smile. "You have doubts but you're not willing to abandon someone you loved."
"You know Hiro's dad?" Wasabi asked.
"He does!" Hiro said, perking up. "Dr. Ishioka told me that my dad used to be a former member of Ronin Rangers."
"WHAAAAAT?!" Hiro's friends screamed in unison, almost falling over anime-style.
"You didn't tell me about this!" Abigail shouted at Stanwick.
"I'm only an old man, Abby," Stanwick shrugged. "I AM getting a bit senile."
"Hiro, if both our dads were former superheroes… that means we were fated to become superheroes together!" Fred exclaimed, his eyes bulged with excitement. "I'm so amazed, I could crap my britches!"
"DON'T," Gogo warned him.
"I should have seen this coming. It's no wonder why Mukuro has Tadashi working for him," Abigail grumbled, smacking her head. "Only Mukuro would find it ironic to get his former enemy's son to become his right hand man. Oh wow…" Sweat drops roll down her face. "… It makes sense now…"
"We don't know what you're talking about if you don't tell us," Wasabi said.
"It's regarding the Izanagi System files," Abigail said quickly, going through the papers she brought with her.
"The what?"
"She's referring to a trio of supercomputers designed by Dr. Ishioka during his research into bio-computers and A.I. intelligence many years ago," Stanwick explained. "He was part of a secret government project, and his team included Hiro's father and Robert Callaghan."
"Professor Callaghan?!" Big Hero 6 cried with surprise.
Hiro remembered something and pulled out the old photo from his pocket. He showed it to Stanwick and everyone else.
"I found this at the warehouse where Callaghan was producing my microbots," he said. "I was going to tell you guys about it but it slipped off my mind when Baymax was kidnapped."
"This looked like it was taken many years ago, but I recognized Dr. Iosama in the picture," Abigail observed. "He's the scientist who gave me the blueprints of Izanami."
"What is Izanami?" Gogo asked, frowning. "I'm getting all confused now with all this revelations."
"Should we tell them, Stanwick?" Abigail turned to her mentor, looking reluctant to indulge any more information to the young heroes.
"We owe them the truth, Abigail." The old retired superhero cleared his throat. "Izanami is the name of a superweapon capable of mass destruction."
Deathly silence filled the room as everyone hang on to every word from his mouth.
"It was constructed long ago in Akuma Island and it had the power to reduce an entire city to ashes. The blueprints to it remained in existence even after the weapon was built, whoever possessed the blueprints would have the potential to awake the monster and bring ruin to the world. The blueprints had been preserved as a means of bringing Izanami back into existence. At this point, however, the blueprints are kept in safe hands while Izanami itself is still asleep."
"M-my dad… helped built a superweapon?" Hiro stammered, feeling his heart pounding. "I thought he was just a medical doctor!"
"People live double lives, Hiro, and your father is no exception."
"That's the reason why Mukuro sent his lackeys after me," Abigail added. "He wants to get his hands on Izanami. But while the weapon was built, it was never completed. The Izanami Project was shut down because it was seen too dangerous and many lives were lost during one tragic accident. Mukuro wants the blueprints so he could finish the job."
"But!" Stanwick holds up a finger. "He has one disadvantage. The weapon cannot be activated without the Izanagi System. The files for Izanagi are split in four different parts and hid by the four scientists who developed Izanami. Right now, we have one of them and unfortunately, Mukuro may have gotten at least one part since he murdered Callaghan for it."
"How do you know all these stuff?" Hiro asked.
"We have a secret spy working close to Mukuro under the disguise as one of his members," Stanwick said. "I don't know who they are but they've contacted me several times in the past and shared important secrets to us."
"But you know Shiragiku deals with secrecy, how you can trust someone you don't know?"
"I don't, but they're the only inside source we have to get the basic details of Mukuro's next plans. The good news is that Mukuro isn't in a hurry to get Izanami started without the blueprints and program files. According to our spy, Shiragiku is currently working on secret plan called Operation Warlord."
"What is Operation Warlord, dad?" Fred asked.
"I don't know, Fred. Our spy couldn't give me the full details because they're now under careful watch by Mukuro, who now discovered he has a traitor in his organization. It might take a while to get more news from them."
Hiro became silent and looked over to his friends. They felt the weight of this job became heavier now they know what Mukuro's goal is.
"What can we do now?" Hiro demanded.
"Right now, is just to continue patrolling the city for more Shiragiku activities. The best we can do is hinder any progress the organization makes and try to discover what Operation Warlord is before making countermeasures against it," Stanwick replied. "On your next semester break from college, I'll have Heathcliff take you kids to the family island for your training."
"Training?" Gogo repeated.
"I haven't been to the family island in years!" Fred grinned. "This is so cool!"
"In one week on the island, Abigail will be training you to become stronger and there'll be modern equipment provided to upgrade your weapons."
"Would Dr. Ishioka be coming with us?" Hiro asked hopefully.
"Weeell…" Stanwick rub the back of his neck. "I asked Ishioka to join us, but he said he's working on something important for his company and it'll be hard for him to leave his lab."
Hiro was disappointed but he understood. Then he remembered something.
"Wait, who will be watching over Ishioka if he's targeted by Shiragiku?"
"I will!" Stanwick said, pointing a thumb at his chest. "Besides, the two of us have a lot of catching up to do."
Wasabi suddenly bolted up with a panicky yelp which made everyone jump. "I just remembered that in nine days, we'll be having our final exams at our school!"
"I forgot!" Honey gasped, dropping her purse. "I haven't studied lately."
At this, Gogo began to grow pale. Stanwick got up and the rest followed him.
"I think you kids should head home and get some rest," he said with a kind smile. "Superhero duty is hard job but it's not worth neglecting your personal life and education."
"It's not that bad, Mr. Lee," Hiro snickered.
"Please, call me Stanwick," the old man said. "And where do you get the idea of calling me Mr. Lee?"
"But isn't that your last name…?" Honey blinked in confusion. She turned to Fred for answers.
"Yeah, well…" Fred grew sheepish. "Lee is just a shortened version of Lebur."
"Lebur-Leb… Wait, does that mean you're related to Dr. Lebur?" Wasabi asked. His jaw dropped.
"Bingo!" Fred gave him a thumbs up but he doesn't look happy about it. "He's my uncle but I don't want to be associated with that jerk. … No offense, dad."
"I don't like him too, son, even though we're related," Stanwick shrugged. "He never liked my underwear recycling method."
"Ugh! Too much information!" Wasabi screamed in disgust.
This is some weird small world we lived in, since almost everybody knows each other, Gogo thought as she shook her head.
Stanwick and Abigail bid everyone goodnight and they left the room with the Izanami blueprint to put away for safekeeping. Before the team can leave as well, Gogo turned to everyone with a desperate look.
"Listen, I feel embarrassed asking you guys this," she said slowly, as her voice became quieter. "But I need help… studying for the final exams…"
To her relief, nobody laughed.
"Of course, Gogo!" Honey smiled. "We can form a study group!"
"I don't mind, actually," Hiro nodded. "I am wondering why you brought it up."
Gogo sighed and her face went red. "I wasn't doing so well with my studies weeks ago and my grades were dropping since I was more preoccupied with my superhero job."
"So, that's why you were hiding your test papers," Honey said, remembering that day. "But you said you got a high score on our last test…"
"I lied, okay!" Gogo snapped. "I didn't want to look like an idiot. Recently, I've been sacrificing sleep to gradually raise my grades, but I'm worried that in the upcoming final exams, if I don't pull up some good scores…"
"We're not going to let that happen to you, Gogo," Wasabi told her. "We'll help you, and we're gonna pass all our exams together."
"Cuz Big Hero 6 sticks together!" Fred exclaimed.
"Freddie, you're not a student at our college," Honey reminded him, a single sweat drop rolled down her face.
"Yeah, but I wanna support Gogo too!" Fred grinned as he wrapped an arm around their friend, pulling her into a hug.
Gogo punched him (not too hard, though) in the side and he let go.
Hiro watched his friends laughing together, and he laughed a little too. Hours ago, the team was separated due to his brash actions but everyone is now acting like it never happened. Frankly, he doesn't mind it.
He stared at the huge space in the middle of the group, and imagined Baymax standing there, confused but ready to support the team.
The Banzai Brothers returned to Shiragiku's headquarters along with the Fujitas they broke out from jail.
"I can't believe all three of us were taken down by a little brat!" Sayuri complained. "When I find him, I'll cut him up!"
"Calm down, sister," Natsume said. "You could wake the entire base with all that shouting."
"I think we deserve a little reward for busting you ladies out," Komeiji stated. He inched closer to Fujita and waggled his eyebrows. "It starts with a 'k'."
Fujita forcefully pulled his ear and he yelped in pain.
"Bro, help! She's gonna tear my ear out!"
Dominguez, however, just ignored him.
They entered the meeting room where they're supposed to find their boss. Instead, they found Yama and Karasu, alone in the room, standing in front of a screen on the wall. The image shows Mukuro, still wearing his attire, sitting in a dark room in a location unknown to everyone.
"Boss, we've returned with the Fujitas just like you wanted," Dominguez said. "And, we returned in less than one hour… j-just like you wanted!"
"Master Mukuro, we apologize," Fujita came forward. Her expression is full of fear and she's ready to brace herself from any punishment. "We were defeated by the leader of Big Hero 6 because we miscalculated his skills."
"It doesn't matter," Mukuro said on the screen. "I will overlook your blunder this time. Right now, I received news that Stanwick of the former Ronin Rangers has just returned to San Fransokyo. We will halt all further actions to steal the Izanami blueprint for now until the time is right. For now, I want all Shiragiku members to stay low but keep spreading fear in the city. As for you, my officers… I hope you all remember your assignments for Operation Warlord."
Every criminal in the room nodded. Mukuro dismissed the Banzai Brothers and the Fujitas, while his two lieutenants remained behind.
"Yama, what news do you have for me?" Mukuro asked.
"We have a new total of fifty criminal gangs enlisted, mostly from Spider-Lily Avenue. We managed to put several dirty cops in the police force to destroy any evidence against us. Also, just early this morning, my men managed to steal the hi-tech equipment from KreiTech and Ishioka Industries just like you ordered. They also informed me that Hiro Hamada is seen visiting the famous Dr. Ishioka's home."
"Good. That's all for now," Mukuro said, though he doesn't seem that fully interested what Yama said. "How is our prisoner Dr. Iosama, Karasu?"
"He's healthy and finally cooperating with us. I've placed him in the lower lab to work on the machines for Operation Warlord," Tadashi (in his new identity) answered. "The Baymax robot is syncing properly with the new personality chip I gave him. And for the Mimicroids, they are only half-way finished."
"How soon will they be?"
"I give it roughly around the end of this month."
"And what about… those three mechas, the Akujin?"
"They are finished and ready to be used on your command."
Mukuro is pleased with this. "We're on a good schedule. Speaking of which, I won't be available tomorrow night. I have to be… somewhere."
Yama, hiding his irritation that Karasu is subtly getting praised, spoke up.
"Boss, remember what you said before that we're not allowed to attack Big Hero 6 until this guy Stanwick returns to San Fransokyo?" he asked.
Mukuro just stared at the large man, his expression unreadable due to the mask concealing his face.
"What about it?" Mukuro quietly asked.
"I think it's time we finally act," Yama demanded, motioning one hand to form a crushing gesture. "We can use the Baymax robot and the Akujin, find their base and destroy all of Big Hero 6 and their allies!"
"… Not yet."
Yama froze, speechless. "What was that?" he demanded, holding back his fury.
"They have the Izanami blueprint and we need them to lead us the location of the last file for Izanagi."
"I see…" Yama grumbled.
"You will have your chance," Mukuro told him coldly. "Yama. Karasu. I'm giving you both full control of this operation. Don't disappoint me."
The tv screen went dark. Tadashi noticed Yama's face tinted red.
"You heard him, Yama," he said. "Big Hero 6 is still untouchable, and we must obey master. Whether you like it or not."
"How dare you talk to me like that!" Yama roared and shoved his colleague with one hand.
Tadashi sensed a hostile attack and disappeared in a blink of an eye. Before Yama could find him, he felt a sharp blade of a knife pressed against his neck and heavy weight on his back. Tadashi had climbed on Yama's back with fox-like speed. He removed the invisible cloak from his suit and glared at Yama.
"Attack me again, and I won't hesitate to spill your blood," Tadashi whispered at his ear.
Yama tried to grab him but the latter released a smoke bomb which engulfed the two of them. Yama coughed and tried to grab his rival again but he is already gone.
As he rubbed his neck where the knife had touched it, his eyes move down and they notice a card key lying on the floor. He picks it up and remembers seeing Karasu used it to access the underground labs to work on the robots. He thinks Karasu must have accidentally dropped it.
A thought came to Yama and his mouth formed an evil smile. He will have his revenge no matter what Mukuro says.
Peeking through the narrow space of the door, a mysterious masked person in black was spying on Yama.
The following day, Hiro and his friends spent the morning patrolling the city together until noon where they'll part ways. Hiro wanted to spend the rest of the afternoon designing their new suits as well helping his aunt prepare the dinner tonight when his uncle arrives.
"Wasn't he that guy who shouted at your aunt at Tadashi's funeral?" Fred asked the young boy genius.
The team are putting on their civilian clothes inside the public bathrooms in San Fransokyo Park. Hiro, Fred, and Wasabi are in the men's room which they have locked to prevent anyone from walking in to see them.
"That's him," Hiro sighed. "He's my dad's older brother."
"What's he like?" Wasabi questioned as he placed his suit inside a huge duffel bag.
Hiro racked his brain. "You know what Dr. Lebur is like, right? Well, Uncle Aiji is almost like him… but he's stricter rather than mean."
"Man, why our uncles gotta be jerks?" Fred muttered, scratching his head. "Hiro, when you get married someday, your own kids will have their own jerk uncle too."
Hiro laughed at Fred's bad joke with a flat tone. Yet after what Tadashi has done to Big Hero 6 lately, the kaiju mascot is not far off it.
The team left the restrooms and Hiro hurried to the nearest bus stop. Several minutes later, he got off from the bus and walked in to closed café. His aunt is mopping the floor.
"Hey, Hiro!" she gave him a cheerful smile. "Had a nice Sunday morning with your friends?"
"Yeah, I did," Hiro grinned, tugging the straps of his backpack which is carrying his suit. "I'm going upstairs and study. Let me know when you need me."
"I left a couple of tuna sandwiches in the kitchen," Cass told him as he walked past her. "That will be your lunch."
"Thanks, Aunt Cass!" Hiro said as he disappeared to the back of the café.
Hiro made his way upstairs to his bedroom, carrying a plate of the sandwiches. On his desk next his computer is Baymax's battered green chip and the daruma robot given to him by Yasuo. Hiro started up his computer and began to work hard trying to come up a new design of suits for his team. Inspired by Dr. Ishioka's idea, Hiro tried out different ways to make his microbots to transform into a suit armor. He tested out his ideas by creating 3D models which played on his screen but no matter how durable he makes the theorized microbot-suits, they easily shatter on impact.
Hiro paused his work and ponder again; he was encouraged to combine the microbot technology with another. But how will he make that work.
Sighing, Hiro leaned against his chair and closed his eyes. He opened them again when he noticed how bright his new desktop lamp is. He was about to turn it off but he stopped. He stared at lamp's light over his schoolbooks and memories of Dr. Ishioka's presentation flashed before his mind.
Hiro immediately began studying basics of hard light technology and after several hours of research, he might finally have a way to produce a hi-tech armor. He needed to test his theory through further experiments by accessing his 3D printer in the garage as soon as possible.
"Hiro, can you come down and help me?" he heard his aunt called for him. "It's almost seven o'clock!"
Hiro glanced up to his clock and saw it was only an hour until his uncle arrives. He hurried downstairs and he was immediately given a broom and duster.
"Clean up the best you can," Aunt Cass told him urgently. "I have to take care of the dinner."
Hiro began to work but he looked around the room as though it was missing something.
"Aunt Cass, where's Mochi?" he asked.
"He's probably sleeping somewhere. If you find him, don't disturb him."
Shrugging after that odd answer, Hiro began sweeping around the living room while Aunt Cass hurriedly began chopping onions and button mushrooms. He noticed a bottle of red wine on top of the kitchen table. Is his aunt going to serve that for dinner?
About half an hour later, Hiro managed to clean the entire living room and the delicious smell of rice and the stew began to waft out from the kitchen area.
"That smells good, Aunt Cass," he spoke up as he puts away the broom and duster. "What are you making?"
"Hayashi rice," Cass replied as she checked the sauce of her stew. "It'll be ready in twenty minutes."
Just then, the doorbell downstairs rang and Cass froze.
"He's early? No way…" she muttered in shock. "He didn't say anything about it. It's too late to think about it now… Hiro, can you get that?"
Hiro slowly descend the stairs and reached the door at the bottom. He carefully opened it and saw a tall, strict-looking Japanese man standing right outside.
It was his uncle.
Aiji Hamada is wearing a dark blazer over a gray plaid button-down shirt. He has his black hair (with tinges of gray) neatly combed. Under one arm, he's carrying what appears to be a flat, rectangular object wrapped in brown package paper.
"It's been a while, Hiro," Uncle Aiji stated with a cool, firm tone. He used one finger to push back his glasses along the ridge of his nose.
"H-hey, uncle," Hiro greeted him, trying not to let his shyness show. "Come right in. Dinner isn't ready yet…"
"I'm not surprised to hear that," Aiji scoffed. "I brought something for you and your aunt, Hiro. I think you will like it."
Hiro is mildly curious to see what is inside the package but he decided to bring his uncle upstairs first.
"Hello, Aiji!" Cass forced a cheerful smile when she saw him. "I'm so glad you came! Food will be ready soon, so go sit down and make yourself comfortable."
Aiji looked around to see the living room and made no comment. He then went to sit on a chair while Hiro quickly sat opposite of him.
"Uncle has brought us a gift, Aunt Cass," Hiro told her.
"Open it now, I'm dying to see," Cass said as she moved away from the stove to take a quick peek.
Aiji gave Hiro the package and the latter pulled apart the paper; he is holding a rectangular framed photo pf his parents standing outside of building. They both looked young and his mother was heavily pregnant.
"Oh, Mae…!" Cass sighed, staring sadly at her late sister.
"This was taken before Tadashi was born," Aiji stated. "I thought it was lost after your parents have died but a cousin of mine found it. I thought it would look nice on your wall... if there's any room left."
"Thanks, uncle," Hiro said with a little smile. He sets the picture aside and continue to sit in awkward silence.
"How have you been doing in school?" Aiji asked. "Still top of the class?"
"I'm doing okay in school," Hiro replied. "I have final exams next week."
"Just… okay?" Aiji said slowly.
"W-well, I miss a couple of quizzes and assignments before. And—and the stuff they teach at SFIT can get really tough," Hiro stammered. "But I still get better grades than anyone in my class."
"Just doing 'okay' isn't good enough for a scholarship student," Aiji said in a hard tone.
Hiro has forgotten his uncle is a high school teacher and is serious about education and formal schooling on obsessive levels.
"I know your aunt tells me you go out often to hang out with your friends… I think that's why you're not paying more attention to your studies. Your friends are distracting you from what's important. I've taught over three hundred students and only less than half of them would rather study than fool around. Your classmates at college are going to do more than 'okay' and graduate to pursue good careers while you'll be left behind."
Hiro grimaced from this unnecessarily harsh lecture; he wished he could disappear into the couch. He had really hoped his uncle didn't have to bring up school…
"I think Hiro's fine at where he is," Cass spoke up, casting a filthy glare at Aiji's direction. "Who cares if there are other kids get better scores than him?"
"Oh, of course," Aiji muttered. "But nephew graduated from high school at thirteen, so I have hopes for him… Though if it were up to me, I would have enrolled him in the school I teach in and he would have gone to a medical college to become a doctor. I don't see the appeal with making toys like robots…"
"One more word out of you, I'm kicking you before dinner is finished," Cass warned him.
Aiji glared at her and shifted his glasses again before he became quiet. Hiro wished he could get away from his uncle but he remained frozen in his spot.
It felt like hours has passed when Cass announced the food is ready. Everyone gathered in the dining table and Hiro saw she made some kind of beef stew with white rice on the side.
Hiro took his first bite and discovered how delicious it is. "It's very good, Aunt Cass!" he complimented. "What's the name of this stew?"
"Hayashi rice," Aiji answered before Cass opened her mouth. His stern expression relaxed with a hint of nostalgia and melancholy. "This was my brother's favorite food…"
"My sister made this for him when they started dating," Cass told him. "I had to help her make this to impress him."
Hiro realized why his aunt made an effort to make special dinner; now that she managed to get on Aiji's good side, his uncle started to show his smile and he began chatting with her, sharing stories of their siblings. Hiro might never know his parents but he knows what it's like to lose a beloved sibling. He felt his stomach twisted in knots, now thinking of his big brother Tadashi and wondering where he is currently.
"Do you remember the time Tomeo and your sister snuck out of her house the night before their wedding?" Aiji asked. He was trying not to smile so much by covering his mouth with his hand and keeping a stiff posture.
"I still do!" Cass exclaimed. "Those two were like crazy teenagers in love despite both being adults! They wanted to go out to get drunk one last time! My father had to go out and find them. There's no way he'd have his daughter have a hungover on her wedding day."
Hiro's cellphone rang which interrupted the conversation. Hiro excused himself from table to take the call.
"Hello?" he said.
"Hello, Hamada," a familiar soft voice spoke up. "It's me, Yasuo."
Hiro could feel his heart doing gymnastic flips. "Y-Yasuo? How did you get my number?"
"I called Mirin, and she managed to get me your number from her brother Wasabi since he happens to be one of your close friends."
"Oh, o-okay," Hiro said. He kept his voice low while his aunt and uncle wait for him to finish. "So, why are you calling me?"
"I found your notebook in my dad's basement lab," Yasuo replied.
"Ah! I must have accidentally left it behind then."
"I can come over to your house and bring it to you. I know where you live, so is eight thirty a good time for you?"
Hiro could feel his heart pounding faster. "Y-yeah!"
"Then I'll see you then."
"Alright, it's a date, sweetie!"
After a quick nano-second, Hiro realized what he just said and he nearly shrieked in horror. There was only awkward silence in Yasuo's end before the line went dead. Hiro wished he could burst into flames into that spot.
"Hiro, who was that?" Aunt Cass asked him.
"It's Yasuo, that boy who came to the café one time," Hiro said, blushing. "He'll be coming over to return my notebook I left behind at his home…"
"Wait, Yasuo?" Uncle Aiji inquired. "As in, Yasuo Ishioka, the son of Dr. Ishioka?"
"You know him?" Hiro asked.
"He's a student of mine, and I also know his father," Aiji replied. "How did you meet him?"
"We met during a lunch out," Hiro replied. "I also met Dr. Ishioka. He's really smart and he showed me his lab when I went to his home!"
Aiji's face suddenly darkened. "Hiro, I want you to stay away from that boy Yasuo."
The teen prodigy was taken aback. "What, why?"
"A couple months before he moved to San Fransokyo, his father told me that he attacked a student at his last school. He was carrying a knife during that time. The student survived with only shallow wound, but it earned Yasuo a bad reputation."
Hiro couldn't believe what he just heard; every time he has seen and interacted with Yasuo, the latter doesn't behaved like a disturbed individual and had preferred either to be kept alone or went along with someone's whims if bullied. Then again, it explains why Ishioka was acting oddly cold to his own son.
"It doesn't make sense," Hiro said slowly. "Yasuo has some health problems, he doesn't seem like the type to hurt someone…"
"People are not what they seem, Hiro," Aiji told him. "I don't want you to visit Dr. Ishioka anymore."
"What?!" Hiro cried angrily. "Okay, I understand why you don't want me to see Yasuo, but you can't tell me to do the same for Ishioka! He's a smart whose inventions inspire and help people! We both like to build machines and he wants me to work for my company after I graduate from college!"
"Hiro, that's wonderful!" Cass exclaimed.
"No!" Aiji yelled, standing up. "I don't care he's a genius. There's nothing good about the Ishioka family, all they do is bring misery and misfortune."
"You don't know him!" Hiro found himself yelling at him too. "He happens to be dad's old best friend!"
"I knew that… because I was the one when I introduced them together many years ago," Aiji said coldly. "And I'm not going to repeat the same mistake again."
Hiro was shaking. "At least he's a better father than my own dad whom I never met!" he spat out before running out of the living room. Aiji froze, his face went pale and his eyes widen behind his glasses.
"Hiro, wait!"
Aunt Cass shouted him to stop but Hiro kept running down the stairs and escaped into the dark.
He ran to the back until he made it to the garage, and closed it behind him. He reached for the red couch in corner and plopped on top of it. He lay down on his side and curled into a fetal position. He didn't cry but he was still angry that his uncle said those mean things about his mentor and Yasuo. He felt his stomach grumbling and he remembered he hasn't finished his dinner yet, but he didn't feel like coming back inside the house yet.
He heard the garage door open and sensed Aunt Cass approaching him.
"Hiro?" she called out to him gently. She sat down next to him. "Your uncle left a few minutes ago. He apologized for his behavior…"
Hiro was pulled into a hug and he could feel his aunt's warm around him.
"Hiro, it's time you know the truth why your uncle hated me for a long time," she said quietly. She pulled away and took a deep breath. "It's because… I don't want him to be raised by the brother of the man who abandoned his kids."
"Abandoned?" Hiro was confused. "W-what do you mean? Dad… abandoned me and Tadashi?"
Cass was quiet, her expression pained.
"Aunt Cass, what are you talking about?" Hiro demanded. "Tadashi told me a long time ago, that dad left us in your care so he can visit relatives!"
"Tadashi only told you that because he didn't want you to know the truth," Cass explained. "After my sister died, your father would go on mysterious trips, leaving you and Tadashi alone in the apartment for days with barely enough food to survive."
She paused to take a deep breath and her eyes was brimming with tears.
"One day, he didn't return after a few weeks and Tadashi was forced to take the both of you to my home. You two were so sick… And then I learned that your father had died in a bus accident and his body was never recovered. Your uncle wanted to adopt you and Tadashi, but I decided to raise you two instead. Because you came to me, not to him… And a part of me felt I was doing it out of spite because the man who married my sister neglected his own children!"
She turned to Hiro and she looked several years older.
"I don't even care that your uncle calls me an unfit foster parent because I'm single and immature! Your father may be a good doctor, but he didn't love you enough to raise you and your brother. I did, for more than ten years! You and Tadashi are MY children… And yet… I wasn't there to stop Tadashi that night of the fire. Twice I failed to save my family…"
It was Hiro's turn to hug Aunt Cass and two embraced each other, never letting ago.
"Aunt Cass, you didn't anything wrong and my uncle is wrong about you," he whispered to her. "I wouldn't know what to do without you."
Cass broke the hug and brushed Hiro's messy hair with affection. She tried to smile but she became sad again.
"Hiro, you asked before where Mochi is," she began quietly. "He passed away early this morning. I found him lying dead in my bedroom."
"Mochi's dead?" Hiro gasped. He couldn't want to believe their calico pet, affectionate and always sleepy, is gone. He remembered seeing the cat alive the other day. "Aunt Cass, I'm so sorry… I didn't know!"
"It's alright, he was very old but he led a good life," Cass sniffed, wiping away her tears. "His body is in the garden right now, I'll bury him soon."
Hiro held her hand and gave it a comforting rub. "I love you, Aunt Cass," he said.
"I love you too, Hiro," she replied with a smile. "You and Tadashi are the best things that happen to me. Please live a long and happy life for me."
Hiro stared at her, the woman who gave him so much love for many years; he couldn't keep his superhero secret from her and letting her worry when her nephew will be coming home safe.
"There's something I have to tell you, Aunt Cass," he spoke after thinking carefully what to say. "Just don't get mad or freaked out…"
"Hiro, you're like a mad scientist who build a lot crazy inventions using your wildest imaginations," Cass chuckled. "There's nothing to be freaked out anymore."
Suddenly, the garage door was blasted apart without warning. Wood parts flew everywhere. Wood parts flew everywhere.
Hiro and his aunt saw a huge, terrifying robot in dark armor standing in the destroyed entrance. Its red eyes glowed dangerously.
"Baymax, what are you doing here?!" Hiro demanded, recognizing the robot.
Aunt Cass' eyes went wide with shock and confusion. "That's Baymax? … Hiro, what is going on?"
Baymax shot a blast at their direction. Hiro had to push his aunt out of the way as dust and debris fly above them. Hiro had to reach for his neurotransmitter and microbots.
Before he could act, he saw Aunt Cass being lifted above him. Baymax had grabbed her and is taking her away.
"NO! LEAVE HER ALONE!" Hiro screamed. His mind is racing in a frantic mess; why would Shiragiku want to kidnap his aunt?
"Hiro, forget about me! Just run!" Cass yelled, trapped in the strong grip of the robot.
Baymax, like a mindless slave, shot another blast at the ceiling which buried Hiro. Cass shrieked, scared for nephew more than her own safety. Wings sprouted from Baymax's back and he flew away. Hiro emerged from the wreckage to see his aunt getting away from him.
"AUNT CASS!" Hiro screamed after them. "BRING HER BACK, BAYMAX!"
But since his robot is still under Shiragiku's control, Hiro decided it's time save both the people he loved. He grabbed his cellphone and contacted his friends.
He hoped he won't be too late.
((Sorry for ending this with a terrible cliffhanger, but I'm so excited because I can't wait to write the next chapter which will mark the end of Act 2 of this story. Yay!))
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