The class was silent as students dragged their paint brushes across canvases. Sienna was so focused on applying blues that she tuned out the rest of the world. I can't believe I didn't believe David about the Mayoi. Her boyfriend was skeptical of them, and she had fallen for their charm and didn't believe him.

At least he was understanding afterwards, but it was still on her mind, well mostly the Mayoi, and Sparkles. Is the same guy responsible for trying to kill Slow-Clap-Cat and Katie the Talking Cat really behind the monsters?

Sienna might be an art student, but being surrounded by scientists got her to pick up some things. Like doing it for attention makes sense… but how'd he be able to turn people into monsters?

There had to be someone else pulling the strings, and Sparkles was just the face of the operation.

"Sienna?" She nearly dropped the paintbrush. Her teacher was standing in front of her night sky canvas. "How's that going?"

"Great." She gestured to the canvas. "Just lost in my thoughts."

Her teacher, Professor Brooks, nodded in understanding. "Recent events have made everyone lost in their thoughts, I predict that'll reflect in their paintings."

"Hm." Sienna didn't blame her peers, everyone at her campus had been gossiping about the recent superhero events, she used to participate in said gossip last semester, but recent events felt less appropriate to gossip about.

The bell rang. "That's it for today's class!" Professor Brooks stated as she and her peers started packing. "See you tomorrow!"

"Bye Professor Brooks!" A few students chimed while leaving, Sienna one of them.

She didn't feel like going back to her dorm, so she decided to chill on the campus gardens while some of her peers were hanging as well.

"Hey, so did you guys see the news last night?" One of the music students was talking to a classmate Sienna knew, Ralph from her digital artwork class. "Apparently the old host of Maximum Insane Obstacle Challenge is behind the monsters!"

Another music student scoffed. "C'mon, do you seriously believe that?"

"He said it himself! That's the same guy that tried killing two cats for attention, of course he'd create monsters to get the city's attention!"

"Well what about what that kid at the interview with Liv said?" Sienna nearly choked on air as Ralph referred to Hiro. "About Sycorax?"

Both music students looked at each other and scoffed. "Liv's the one helping people!" The more vocal of the two protested. "That kid is paranoid."

"Hey!" All three of them looked at Sienna. "He was just worried about the whole monster situation."

Her opinions of Sycorax were mixed, Hiro had a point, and he wouldn't accuse Liv without reason, but it was hard for her to doubt the otherwise charming CEO she sometimes saw at social gatherings.

Her classmate nodded. "Yeah, you're right Sienna. But I don't know why he'd think Liv is behind it all."

"I mean that thing he brought up about Muirahara was interesting…" The other music student mumbled.

"Liv's the best thing that happened to the city, there's no way she's behind it!" Their friend protested. "It's gotta be Sparkles!"

Sienna raised an eyebrow. "And your reason is?"

"Who else would hurt people except villains themselves?" They gestured. "Sparkles probably told them they'd get their fair share of fame by causing terror, I mean just look what happened at that high school!"

"Dude, don't mention that." Ralph scolded them. "That's Sienna's high school."

The other music student shot Sienna a look of sympathy, but their louder companion didn't stop. "It ended up getting attacked by mutated villains! None other than villains like Sparkles." They hissed. "Villains who care nothing about attention and hurting people-"

"You take that back about High Voltage!" Sienna snapped. She did like them for their musical performances, despite their tendency to steal people's wallets as well as their hearts, but bringing up the crime-dancers was a sore subject these days. "At least they didn't try killing people for being more popular than them!"

She got a glare in response. "Okay dude, let's just go." Their friend picked up the gossiper. "Sorry!" They meekly apologized while dragging their friend away like the misbehaving kitten they were.

Ralph scooted up to Sienna. "You okay? I know you like High Voltage, but I didn't realize that Bridgeton was that much of a sore subject."

"You have no idea." She wheezed.

Meanwhile…

"Oh, why do you have to wake me up at seven?" Hiro was rubbing his tired eyes, he just wanted to sleep in since it was the weekend. However, having a little sister prevented that, especially this morning.

"Because! The cafe doesn't open until eight, and this is very important." Ari clenched her teeth.

Baymax waddled up to her. "I do not understand how waking up an hour before the Lucky Cat opens is important."

"Well, it's so there isn't a public audience for this." She chuckled. "For about half an hour, and I hope this doesn't take too long to the point where Aunt Cass wakes up. If she gets here already…"

"What was that?"

"Oh, nothing!" Their attention turned to a knock on the door, Ari ran to open it. "Come in! I've been expecting you!"

"That sounds kind of creepy, Ari." Oh no, it was Karmi. "Uh…" She made eye contact with him, her reddish-brown eyes showcasing conflicting emotions.

"Well, we better give them some space, Baymax." His sister started dragging the healthcare companion into the living room.

"Goodbye." He waved, leaving the teen geniuses alone.

Hiro groaned. "Not cool sis!" He yelled at her.

"You'll thank me later!" She yelled back, then she closed the door.

"Uhhhg." Hiro brought his hand to his face. "I swear, I'm gonna have Aunt Cass talk to her about the shipping. It's driving me up a wall."

"I feel like that's my fault." Karmi winced. "Being exposed to the Big Hero 6 fandom has turned her into a fangirl."

"Well I don't think you saw it-" Hiro blinked. "There's a Big Hero 6 fandom?!" Fred would die at the news.

"Yeah!" She pulled out her phone. "Everyone is all big fans, no pun intended. And there's a lot of different names people use. I actually got the idea of 'Speed Queen' and 'Flame Jumper' from another artist." She showed a few pictures people drew of them online, it was kind of impressive.

"Huh."

Karmi then put the phone away. "Uh, I actually came over because… I'm sorry."

"For?" Hiro raised an eyebrow.

"Scratching your nose, and getting violent during our argument a few days ago." She explained. "While you were wrong-"

"Was not!"

"You didn't deserve to get your nose scarred."

Hiro traced the scratch. "It's not a scar, it'll go away in a few days." He saw Karmi sigh with relief. "It takes more than you to scar me for life… physically."

"What?"

"Nothing!" He cleared his throat. "I forgive you, and sorry for calling you a 'stupid loser.'' Hiro did not want to mess this up, so he tried to sound genuine, which he was, and kept his temper in check.

"I… I know you really love your internship and being close to your idol, but the way she put you down when we were trying to help Knox was wrong. I know I can't convince you she's behind the monsters, but please be careful at Sycorax, even if I'm wrong, which would be impossible." He ignored Karmi's eye roll. "There's still something odd about them, remember the patch I showed?"

The biotech genius stared at him intensely before responding. "Okay, I forgive you, and I'll try to be cautious."

Now that he brought up the patch… "Maybe you do have a point, my product has been used in some projects, maybe the true mastermind managed to get their hands on it? I think you're overreacting to think it's Liv… it's nice knowing you at least care about me." She winked. "Crush much?"

"I do not have a crush!" He yelped. "And don't say that where Ari can-"

"Did someone say crush?!"

"Hear…"

His sister was grinning from ear to ear. "This has worked perfectly! You guys are over the dumb argument and now my ship is canon!"

"And that's my queue to leave!" Karmi went for the door. "Bye Hiro, see you at school!" The door closed behind her like the wind.

Hiro groaned. "You are the worst, sis."

"You're welcome!"

"Oh my gosh, your friend did not!"

Sally looked up from the kitchen, Sienna had come over, looking a little stressed before explaining that her peers had been gossiping about recent monster attacks.

David had immediately given her something to drink and they were talking on the couch about other things, he also had heard gossip at SFIT and both were glad to talk about something else.

"Yeah! Lisa got so mad that Kevin messed up her drawing that she snapped." Sienna pulled something up from her phone. "She went to the other side of the room, picked up a bucket of red paint. And then threw it at him and his drawing, but her aim was off and everyone next to Kevin got splashed. It looked like a bloodbath if it wasn't for the paint smell."

David howled with laughter. "Did she get in trouble?!"

"Oh yeah." She sighed. "She and Kevin both got detention."

"This happened in high school, right?"

"Yep."

"Did Lisa go to SFAI with you?"

"Nah, she went to a college overseas." Sienna shrugged. "Wanted to see more of the world, and with money like her folks, it wasn't hard."

David raised an eyebrow. "Are all of your friends rich people?"

"Yeah, most of them, they were from the same social gatherings as I." Sienna nodded. "Does that weird you out?"

"No, you're not like my dad's boss, who's a rich jerk." He gestured.

"He works at Krei-Tech, correct?" Sienna questioned.

David nodded. "Unfortunately…"

"Yeah, I've heard stories about Alistair Krei. Remember that their new office buildings got attacked by a supervillain?"

He winced. "Yeah, I remember." He was lucky his dad didn't get hurt at the press conference. "You remember that the supervillain who attacked Krei-Tech was my school's old dean right?"

Sienna paled. "I forgot about that, I'm so sorry!"

"It's okay, but a lot of us don't like talking about him because of what happened…" David recalled the fire that had taken away a close friend of his, but he didn't want to relive that memory today. "Hey, do you know what Silent Sparrow is?"

His girlfriend shook her head. "Was that mentioned in the news?"

"A little, it's part of why Calla-Yokai did what he did." David explained. "His daughter was the test pilot for Silent Sparrow, which was the codename for some portal technology Krei-Tech was working on. My dad actually worked on that project."

Sienna's eyes widened in surprise. "He did?!"

"Yeah, it's so scary… what if they didn't shut down the portal in time and more people got sucked in? Would the government have tried rescuing them or just left them to rot in the portal dimension?" David rambled.

Sally flinched, she also had that fear when Steven woke up from nightmares of the failed testing. I didn't know David felt like that… but I'm glad he feels comfortable talking to someone about it.

"You blame the government for the Yokai thing, don't you?"

"I mean my sister blames Krei, Mikan blames the other people who worked on Silent Sparrow. But they commissioned Krei to make the tech in the first place! And when things had gone to the dogs they could've started a rescue mission to get the pilot out of there, but no, they just wrote her as a lost cause!" It was a struggle to keep his voice low, but the pain his voice was clear.

"If they had just tried… Maybe Callaghan wouldn't have gone evil, and my friend and good classmate would still be alive." David sighed. "I'm sorry to unload all that, I've just been thinking a lot since my mother went all nuts."

Sienna just hugged him. "Hey it's okay, you can talk to me whenever you're feeling down, because I love you."

David smiled back. "I love you too." He then figured it was a good time to change topics. "By the way, when are your parents coming back from uh..."

"Frandon."

"Yeah, Frandon on their business trip so I can meet them in person. They're nice, and your older brother. He's cool."

"Well, I mean he's not the best baseball player for the San Fransokyo Ninjas for nothing." Sienna giggled. "That's just my opinion though."

Sally then cleared her throat, and both of them turned to her. "Hi sweeties." She smiled at them. "Are you two doing better?"

The artist in the room gave her a thumbs up. "Yeah, thanks for letting me come over!"

"No problem. Sally hummed. "But I did hear some of your conversation."

David winced. "Sorry for bringing up Yokai…"

"Sweetie, you don't have to apologize for talking about stuff." Sally waved it off, she then clapped her hands. "Why don't I start with supper instead of talking about the past? I'm making matzah ball soup tonight."

"Yay!" David clapped. "I love matzah!"

"You're allowed to stay too, Sienna." Sally told her. "Have you had matzah ball soup?"

"Once when I was invited to a friend's Passover dinner, it tasted nice."

She chuckled. "I'm sure I can outdo your friend, I have a secret recipe. Spices!"

"Ooooh." Sienna waved her hands. "Hope they're not expensive, my mom orders really pricey saffron for special dinners."

"What is so good about saffron?!" David gestured.

Sienna replied with a shrug. "The taste?"

Ferns and Nerds group chat:

Fredzilla: Reminder to y'all that movie night is at my place!

Rachel Rosemary: Yayy

Hiro Hamada: I'm bringing donuts

TheLittleMermaid: I'm bringing more donuts!

Sara Ferns: I'm not going, I don't feel well

Wasabi: Aww, we'll miss you!

Mikan Ferns: Yeah I don't feel like going either

David Ferns: You will go. That's a threat

Mikan Ferns: ?

Sara Ferns: Please go, you should get out more often!

Mikan Ferns: Fine guess I'm going lol

Honey Lemon: Yay!

Hiro Hamada: Wait Rach are you going?

Rachel Rosemary: Yes? But my dad is driving me. I'm not bringing Katie though.

Sienna Kline: We'll miss Katie

Rachel Rosemary: She's tired.

Wasabi: Mood

Hiro Hamada: Yeah I feel that, sometimes I get tired of my sister and her snack stealing!

TheLittleMermaid: Hey, I'm not even going!

Fredzilla: You're not? I thought you were bringing donuts D :

TheLittleMermaid: My chest still feels funny from allergies

Rachel Rosemary: I feel ya, please do not touch me I am still itchy

Honey Lemon: Noted

"Honestly, I wish you had a better time to invite your friends over." Fred's mother was talking to him before his friends came over to watch movies, it wasn't a sleepover, just a fun night with snacks and films. "Orso Knox is coming over in a few days."

His eyes widened. "Mr. Knox? Is he okay?"

"Well, I've spoken to him a few times after he was cured. He still seems shaky, so he's coming over for tea." Mrs. Frederickson explained. "And I want the house to be in the best condition."

"Does that mean I should cancel?" Fred frowned, he'd hate to do that on such short notice, but it was for his mom...

She shook her head. "No dear, It's good that you're having friends over." She smiled fondly. "I remember you were worried about them judging your social status."

"Yeah." Fred nervously chuckled. "Tadashi was the only one I told back then, and he reassured me that they wouldn't. I miss him a lot."

"I know dear." Mrs. Frederickson hugged him. "Your father and I will be there if you need someone to talk to."

"Even if dad's on the moon?" He looked up at her.

She chuckled. "I'm surprised he hasn't been there yet." Then the doorbell rang. "That must be your friends, I'll be sure to let them in." She excused herself out of the room.

Mini-Max hopped onto his shoulder. "Friend Fred, are you alright?"

Fred chuckled and tapped his head. "I'm fine."

"Woah." Sienna chuckled as she sat down on the couch. "That's a lot of comic merchandise."

"I know, right?" Mikan whispered to her. "Fred is a legend."

The comic fan puffed out his chest with pride. "Thank you! I love my collection."

"How's your movie collection though?" Rachel asked him, she was holding the remote, since she got to pick the first movie.

"Pretty decent."

"Hey, Rach." Hiro scooted over to her. "You doing okay?"

"Meh." She shrugged. "Been having bad dreams."

"Being thrown over a building after surviving a Hibagon attack would do that." Gogo bluntly stated.

Her girlfriend gave her a look. "Gogo!"

"What?" She turned to Honey Lemon. "That did happen."

"It's fine." Rachel shrugged. "I'm just… dreading school, if someone asks me about it I might stab someone with a pencil."

"Please do not." Baymax told her. "That may cause a bacterial infection if the pencil is dirty."

"Noted."

Wasabi's eyes were wide. "I'm never looking at a pencil the same way ever again."

"Same." Sienna and Gogo chorused. Then the artist smirked. "Jinx."

Hiro shuddered. "I'm getting flashbacks."

"You mean that time when you had to buy Karmi a soda?" Rachel said, her voice a little muffled by the glazed donut she was eating. "I don't think I could forget."

"What movie do you want to watch?" David asked her.

"Hmm." She scrolled through Netflix before picking a movie. "What's Oklahoma like?"

Sienna shook her head. "No, don't watch that one! The protag is a total villain!"

"He is not!" Honey Lemon protested.

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

Rachel winced and just put on a random romantic comedy that she saw.

To say that she picked an odd choice was an understatement. The entire movie was just full of cheesy one liner jokes and ridiculous love triangles. "This could be solved if they communicated properly!" Wasabi argued every five minutes.

"I'm so glad this didn't go to Heathers level of romance drama." David stated.

Honey Lemon winced. "Yeah I've heard about what happens in that, glad it's not in here."

"Why are we even watching this?" Hiro questioned. "I don't get the romance in this film."

"I do not understand romance in general. I am a robot." Baymax added.

"I only have one love in my life." Mini-Max stated. "And that is my love of justice!"

Fred pouted. "You don't love me?"

"And Fred too."

The comic fan squealed. "I love you too Mini-Max!"

"At least this doesn't happen in real life." David sighed. "Much…"

Wasabi turned to Honey Lemon. "Hey remember that one guy that cheated on two different girls in high school?"

"Yeah, that was so mean of him!" Honey Lemon exclaimed. "At least there's no cheating in this movie."

"Does being accused of cheating count?" Sienna questioned. "Why is the main character still trying to get with the love interest when the love interest accused them of cheating with their friend?!"

"Just drop it Sienna, just drop it." David shook his head.

After the movie was over, Fred took the remote and selected the Captain Fancy movie. "Enjoy a masterpiece!"

Wasabi sighed. "Here we go again." Everytime they picked a favorite of Fred's, he'd be very hyper and react to everything.

One superhero movie later...

"And did you see the part where-"

"We know." They all chorused.

"And then Dandy Boy-"

"We're aware, Fred." Everyone chorused again.

He lowered his hands. "Am I that predictable?"

"You have been reciting your favorite scenes for twenty minutes after the movie has ended." Baymax told him.

"Sorry." Fred chuckled. "I just like Captain Fancy, a lot."

"You don't say?" Rachel rolled her eyes. "I mean, I'm one to talk. I really like Scooby Doo."

"Why?" Hiro asked her.

"Because!"

Mikan's eyes lit up. "How about that's the next movie we watch!"

"There's a lot of those movies." The scruffy brunette chuckled. "Flip a coin?"

"Wait, we were supposed to bring one?!" Wasabi checked his pockets.

"I can serve as the coin!" Mini-Max exclaimed.

Baymax stared at him. "Please do not."

They all chuckled, and the rest of the hang-out was filled with laughter, silly movies, and friends.

AN: This chapter is a lil' Sienna centric, I think I need to give her more screen-time!

If I ever get to rewriting Ferns and Nerds, I'll probably also give her depth there, but it was fun writing her presence this chapter!

And a little bit of Karmi and Hiro making up after last ep, Karmi still doesn't believe him about Liv, but she does take his warnings to be careful in Sycorax seriously.

And another hangout with the squad n.n, next 2 chapters will have some interesting plot :3c, be sure to keep an eye out!

QOTW: If you were a citizen of SF, would you believe Sparkles' claim he's behind the monsters? Why or why not?