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Screams. Gunshots. Mechanical bugs. Those were the first things he remembered. He felt like he couldn't remember anything else. It all played vividly in his head, as if it happened yesterday, tormenting him relentlessly.
The sun was shining, beating down on their backs, and the air was hot and muggy. It had been his turn to carry the eggs, fair and square, but he was still going to gripe about it. Tadashi got to carry everything else. But he had to carry the eggs. They both hated it, knowing that the flimsy carton wouldn't shield the thin shells from cracking, so if either of them jostled too much, Aunt Cass would freak. Tadashi had just said something funny, making him laugh, but when his chuckle left his lips, a shrill scream pierced the air. Both of them froze. Other screams and frightened whimpers were joining in, the people around them getting anxious. Then, the giant mechanical bugs emerged from behind the skyscrapers and down the street.
There were millions of them.
Everyone suddenly turned and ran, screaming, but some were rooted to the ground, petrified. The two brothers could only stare. Metal bugs were gorging on everything in sight. People included. Horrific, the wave of bugs was growing larger and larger by the second. The eggs slipped out of his hands and cracked on the cement with a yellow splat. He couldn't care less. They turned and ran. The screeches of the bugs were getting closer and everyone was shoving and pushing. Tadashi stumbled next to him, but kept his feet. He pulled him up desperately and ran, his heart pounding as they burst into their Aunt's cafe. She gave a cry of relief when she saw them and quickly pulled them inside, locking the door. Grabbing both of them by the arm, she asked them what was going on, but neither of them could answer. They didn't know, anyhow.
Then they reached the cafe. The sound of mechanical bugs ripping apart the house and ramming against the door was deafening. And they were just outside. Aunt Cass had been screaming something, drowned out by the sounds of the mechanical bugs ripping apart the door. The gun had been in the drawer, right next to his hand, and he couldn't bring himself to grab it. Then the mechanical bugs broke in, and that's when Tadashi ripped open the drawer, scooped up the gun, and fired. The sound of metal hitting metal filled the air and Aunt Cass was dragging him by the arm, trying to get out the back door. But he couldn't leave Tadashi with those things. He whirled around and tried to grab Baymax, who was in the living room. Mochi was yowling. The gun was shooting. Aunt Cass was screaming. The mechanical bugs were screeching. It all swirled together into a vibrant picture of chaos and turmoil. He felt his hand slip out of Aunt Cass's and he fell to the floor, hitting his head. Everything suddenly blacked out and every sound was replaced by the blood rushing and the high-pitched ringing in his ears. He could feel Tadashi pick him up, holding him with one arm, firing the gun with the other. The mechanical bugs were flooding into the house and Tadashi was retreating. He felt them fall back to the ground and stumble out the back door. The bugs were everywhere, swarming the house. Noise returned to his ears and he could hear the sounds of wood breaking and the mechanical bugs screeching. Tadashi dragged him away, and the two brothers ran into the vast expanse of San Fransokyo.
The bugs were so many, flooding the entire city. People were screaming and running for their lives. Even young children were left on their own in a desperate attempt to escape the sharp metal teeth at their heels. He couldn't help but notice in the chaos a small girl with a magenta dress on the sidewalk, screaming and crying out. Terrified. Tears were flowing down her little rosy cheeks, and her brown eyes were so frightened. She looked around, and her eyes locked onto Hiro's. He could feel himself stop as someone hit his shoulder, running by. He wanted to grab her. He wanted to, so badly. Then he gritted his teeth and turned away.
Mechanical bugs were ripping apart houses, buildings, cars, even the once tall skyscrapers were laid low. He couldn't believe that his home was getting destroyed in front of his own eyes. Aunt Cass was gone. Baymax was gone. Mochi was gone. They were on their own. And nothing stood between them and the mechanical bug infested remains of San Fransokyo. That was the day Hiro Hamada lost everything.