Ari tapped her leg nervously as the motorcycle sped through the city. Then it stopped, she got off. "Thanks again Gogo." Ari told her as she took off her helmet.
"No problem kiddo." The engineer shrugged. "But why'd you ask me to bring me here?" Gogo gestured to the San Fransokyo prison. "Doesn't Hiro or Mikan take you? I don't mind. But I'm skeptical."
"Calm down." She waved it off. "I just want to ask a person for advice, because Hiro is starting to worry me!"
"I don't blame you."
"Seriously, he meets this girl, and all of a sudden he's like 'I'm gonna go bot-fighting woo!'" Ari rambled. "I am freaking out here!"
Gogo winced at her reaction. "So, do you need me to pick you up later?"
"Nah I'll just take the bus."
"If you're sure, don't stay too long Ari." She put her helmet on, got back on her motorcycle, and left. Ari just stared at the building with a heavy heart as she went in.

"So I have this problem."
"A problem?"
"With my brother." Ari chuckled nervously. "Though sorry for starting off like that. Hi, great to see you again Barb." She gave an awkward wave.
The older woman waved back. "It's always nice whenever you visit, even if most of the time it's you venting your problems."
"I can't help it." She groaned. "You listening makes me feel a lot better." And she didn't have a whole lot of options, her friends were worried themselves, the Fern kids would just tell her to not get involved, and she didn't want to know Karmi's response if she told her… So she had no other options but to vaguely question Juniper's mom for advice. "You're welcome." Barb smiled at her. "Now what's this problem with your brother?"
Ari exhaled. "He's been making pretty bad choices." She rubbed her arm. "And I think he's gonna do something really bad tonight."
"Bad?" There was a grave look on Barb's face.

"Jeez I'm making it sound like he's gonna murder someone, but something morally questionable." Ari huffed. "And I don't know what to do. He won't listen to me, and there isn't a forceful bone in my body." She buried her head into her arms. "I don't know what to do."
"Do you know why he's doing this bad thing?" The woman raised an eyebrow.
"Yeah, but he's been distracted, because of this girl." Ari guestured. "I think she's been encouraging him to… make bad choices."
Barb had a look of realization. "Ohhhh, I see. Well I don't know what to tell you sweetie. People can make bad choices for the sake of love."
"He just met this girl." Ari groaned. "It's not love, but she's a bad influence. I have this feeling." She gestured with her hands. "And I need advice, please?"
"Hmm." She crossed her arms. "You two live with your aunt, correct? Perhaps you should tell her what's going on."
"Oh." Ari facepalmed. "Should've thought of that before." And I can just add a few white lies to not reveal the real reason why Hiro went, better in the long run.

"From my own experience, sometimes it's better to have an adult to assist in the situation." Barb explained. "Otherwise it could get ugly."
"From your own experience?" Ari raised an eyebrow, "like…?"
Barb sighed. "Long story, it was back in my college days, that's personal information."
"Awww." She pouted, her curiosity wanting more details. "But, thanks for the help." Ari got up from the chair. "I hope it works."
"And I hope things work well with your brother." She replied. "From what you've mentioned. He sounds like a good person."
You might not say that if you found out about his day job. Ari thought.

She felt the heavy feeling again when Hiro left for the ring, this time bringing Megabot. "I'll promise to be careful," he said as he left, and Ari felt like he dropped a stone in her stomach when he was gone.

Okay Ari. She thought as she walked to Cass's room. You're doing this for his own good. She had heard enough bot-fighting stories the last few days to know that Hiro didn't need this in his life.
"Aunt Cass?" She poked her head through the door. Cass had yet to go to sleep, she was reading a small book while Mochi was curled at her side.
"Hmm?" Cass looked up. "You okay Ari? Did you have another bad dream?"
"I don't get those as much anymore." She glanced away. "I have bad news."
"Bad news?" Cass frowned.
"It's about Hiro..." She took a step forward. "He-"
"Is he hurt?" Concern flashed in her aunt's green eyes. "Did something bad happen?"
"He… he..." She struggled to get it out of her throat. "Went bot-fighting!"

Mochi's ears pointed upwards, his fur fluffed up at the words. Cass had a similar reaction.

"He did what?"
"I tried to stop him, I did!" Tears poured down her cheeks. "But he wouldn't listen plus there was this peer pressure thing and I'm scared something bad's gonna happen and-"
"Shhhhh." Cass wiped her tears. "You did nothing wrong Ari. But I'm going to have some choice words with your brother when he gets home or I have to pick him up at the station."
"Is he in trouble?" Ari flicked the rest of her tears away.
"Yes." Cass noticed her downtrodden look. "It's not your fault, but there's a reason bot-fighting is illegal."
"Because so many fights happened because of bets and stealing spare parts so people made it illegal?"

"Yes, how did you find that out?"
"Internet." Ari shrugged. "I got tired of not knowing what it was."

Meanwhile with Hiro…

"You. You're blacklisted. Yama's orders." When he walked it with his hood down the ref was already grilling him.
"I am?" Hiro faked shock, Megabot in his grip. "I had no idea." He sighed as the ref snapped her fingers and two guards tried pulling him away. "Too bad. A rematch between me and Yama, that would draw a big crowd."
"A rematch would be good for business." She hummed, a whistle from her and guards dropped him. "Fine. Pony up your buy-in. Stay out of trouble."

"Deal." He handed a wad of cash on the plate she offered.
"Welcome back, Zero." The ref smirked. "Your first match starts." And pointed to his future opponent.

"Hamada, you coming or what?" Trina held up her bot.

He replied with a grin. "I won't go easy on you, Trina." They took their seats.
"You really think you're gonna win with that ancient relic of a bot?" Trina moved her bot, the wormlike bot curled around Megabot and crawled back to it's spot. "That's adorable."
He just replied with a shrug, and stretched his bot. The gong rang, the match was on. Hiro felt a fire coarse through his blood, he had never felt so alive in months!

But as their bots leapt at each other-

"San Fransokyo PD! Nobody move!" The police burst through the door!

Hiro pled. "Trina, we gotta get-" but the bot-fighter and many others had already escaped. He then felt an arm grab his jacket sleeve and pull him out the window. He yelped and shut his eyes as he felt his mysterious rescuer save him from arrest.

"Calm down dude." He recognized that voice, and looked up to see a familiar snow-haired girl staring back at him with her sharp green eyes. "We're in the clear."
"Mikan?"

"Yep it's me, here to rescue you from the fuzz." She grinned. "Haven't seen you in awhile Hiro."
She let him go and he dropped onto the ground. "What are you doing here?" Hiro observed their surroundings. They were hiding behind a dumpster as cops tried rounding unlucky bot-fighters, he always fell into that group.
"Well, I sometimes bet on bot-fighting." Mikan confessed, his eyes widened as she continued. "It's pretty easy money. My sister fights, I bet, we're rolling in dough!"
"Your sister?" He raised an eyebrow. "Sara's here?" Are all of the Fern kids living a double life under my nose?

"Nah, my sister from my dad's side."
"Oh, did she escape?"
Mikan laughed. "She always does!" She pulled out a wad of cash from her pockets. "So, I heard you rejoined the fights. What changed your mind?"
"I-I uh..." He stuttered. "Got bored?" It felt like nails on a chalkboard trying to lie to the observant Mikan.
She didn't react, but raised an eyebrow. "Fair enough. Word of warning, I don't think your sister would approve of your new hobby." She shrugged.
"I don't care what Ari thinks." She knows I'm doing this for the greater good. So why is she freaking out like the others?

Mikan whistled at his reaction. "Wow. There's that teenage rebellion I know and love, thought you lost it when you went to nerd school."
"You go to SFIT too." Hiro pointed out.

"True." She handed him the wad of cash. "Here, buy yourself a treat."
He questioned it, but wasn't going to deny free money. "Thanks, and thank you for saving me."
"You're welcome," Mikan hummed, "And hey, if your friends and sister give you grief, you can talk to me. Maybe I could introduce you to my sister too."
Hiro chuckled. "Yeah, I wouldn't mind, is she the same age as you?"
"Nah, she's around your age, a little older though." Mikan gestured. "Do you want me to walk you home?"
"No thanks, I'm good."
"Suit yourself." Mikan crawled out of their hiding spot. "And by the way, I missed seeing your fights."

Hiro waited for a few minutes before leaving. Good thing I'm not getting another bot-fighting charge. He thought to himself, it was always good nights when he got away with it, and he could spend his winnings on all the candy and video games in the world. Trina did have a point, why did he quit in the first place? He never felt so ali-

"When are you going to start using that big brain of yours?"

He stopped, Tadashi's words echoing in his mind. What am I thinking?! Hiro shook his head. I gave up for a reason. It's illegal, it's dangerous, people have been seriously injured and maybe died over these fights. I gave up that life to learn at SFIT, and build a career to help people like Tadashi wanted.

So why am I feeling so conflicted?

He kept mentally battling himself as he got to the cafe. The sooner we bust Yama, the sooner things get better. Hiro opened the cafe door and to his surprise, the lights were on.

"Hiro." He yelped and turned to the counter. "Care to tell me where you've been all night?" His aunt's green eyes were narrowed.
"I was uh..." He glanced away. "Hanging with Ari?" A hand gripped his shoulder.
"Try again buddy." That was his sister, she carried the same angry look Cass had.
"Um, what's going on?" Hiro raised an eyebrow. Why were they acting so weird? Then it hit him, he turned to Ari. "You didn't-"
"Yep." She nodded.

Cass stepped away from the counter. "Ari told me that you've been sneaking off who-knows-where to go bot-fighting!" She exclaimed. "I thought you were past this!"

"No I didn't!" Hiro attempted to lie, but Cass noticed the wad of cash in his pocket.
"Then explain where you got the money from?" She frowned. "Where else but from bot-fighting!?"

"It was from Mik-"

"Hiro!" But his aunt was too angry to hear the truth.
"I-I..." He could only feel guilt. I was past this… but it was supposed to be one time.

"You were starting to scare me, I just don't want you to get hurt." Ari added, he felt his blood boil at her words.

"You snitch!" He turned to her. "I can't believe you told Aunt Cass!"
"Well it's not my fault you decided to go back to a criminal lifestyle!" Ari bristled with anger. "what is your problem?!"
"Oh so when I do something I'm the criminal?" Hiro was getting sick of her hypocrisy. "When you constantly sneak out and write letters to your little crush, who's a supervillain behind bars!"
"Wait, what?" Cass raised an eyebrow, glancing back and forth between their bantering.
"Don't you dare bring up Juniper! She's different!" Ari screeched, anger and betrayal flaring in her blue eyes.
"Really? At least I don't constantly swing around lightning that could kill someone and treat it like a show!" Hiro countered. "And you know why I was doing this, I trusted you!"
"Well you broke your word!" Ari hissed. "Hiro, I only told Aunt Cass because I was worried about you! You're my brother and Ii-"
But in his anger, in his rage, Hiro said what he would forever regret.
"The only reason you're even here is because I took PITY on you!" He cut her off. "You! The naive amnesiatic girl who's always butting into other people's business! If it weren't for me you'd be on the road!"
She flinched, but was too stubborn to back down. "Hiro I worry about you! You didn't have to do this!"
"Don't even pretend to act like Tadashi! You're not him and you will never be like my brother! At least he was related to me!" He then realized when he said, Hiro gasped and covered his mouth. "Ari-"
But it was too late for apologies, Ari had a heartbroken look on her face, she sniffled, her nose scrunched, and she bolted out the door.

"Hiro." He turned to Cass, there was no emotion on her face. "You're grounded, maybe some time alone will help you remember what's important."

He sighed, dejectedly. "Yes Aunt Cass…"

Baymax was waiting for him when he got upstairs. "Hi buddy..." He collapsed into his bed.

The robot blinked at him. "Hiro. I am concerned about your recent behavior."

"I know, I know..." He sniffled. "I hurt Ari, I said the things she feared the most. I'm a terrible big brother."

Hiro stiffened when he felt Baymax's warm vinyl arms scoop him up. "I don't deserve your hugs Baymax, I'm a horrible person."
He just blinked at him. "You are my patient, I would like to help."
Hiro just dissolved into sobs as the robot held him tight. "There there, you are going to be alright."

Ari wasn't doing much better. She had stopped sobbing, and was just twirling around puddle water as her throat burned.

A knock interrupted her bending and she dropped the puddle. "Ari?" It was Cass, her aunt then opened the garage door. She didn't react as Cass took a seat next to her. "You alright sweetie?"
"Why…" Ari's voice sounded hoarse. "Why are you checking up on me? I don't..."
Cass stared at her quizzically. "Don't what?"
"Deserve it." She buried her face into her arms. "I just make things worse, I always do!"

"Ari..." She felt a hand placed on her shoulder, and then pulled her into a soft, welcoming hug. The tears poured down her cheeks. "It's not your fault sweetie, I'm proud of how much you care about Hiro." Cass told her.
"B-but he's right." Ari sniffled. "I'm not really his sister, I'm just a replacement."
"Don't say that, he didn't mean it. Trust me, Hiro will apologize for what he said."
"Aunt Cass?"
"Yes." she tilted her head. "Do you want me to get you a glass of milk? Cookies?"
"No, but..." Ari hugged her chest. "If Tadashi was still here… would you still want me in the family?" She honestly didn't think they would, she was just there to fill the void. Even if nobody said it aloud, Ari knew that's what the others thought of her. She was just there to make them feel better, if Tadashi was still around, they wouldn't want to see her at all.

"Tadashi would've been the first to accept you," She whipped her head around at the words.
"What?" Ari scrunched her nose. "You're just saying that to make me feel better."
Cass shook her head. "No, he sometimes told me he wanted a little sister. Not that Hiro was too much of a handful, but Tadashi just wanted one. And you know what Ari?"
"Mhmm?"
"He would've loved you."

She just continued to hug Cass, sobbing into her chest for what felt like hours.

Eventually, her tears dried up, and Ari was back to twirling around puddle water. "Still not used to doing this."
Cass snickered. "Ari, can I ask you something?"
"Sure."
"Who's Juniper?" And then she started choking on air.
"I um-she's..." A blush grew on her face. "Someone I know?"
"Hmmm." Cass raised an eyebrow. "You like this girl, don't you?"
"Yeah well two problems with that." Ari held up two fingers. "One, she's kind of in prison for uh… stuff-not murder before you go all overprotective parent on me! And two, I confessed once and got friend-zoned."
"Oh." Her aunt frowned. "Is she the girl who you're pen-pals with?"
"...Maybe? It's completely safe!"
"And do you go visit her? Is that what Mikan takes you to do instead of shopping?"
"Yes…?" Ari squeaked. "Please don't be mad."
Cass narrowed her eyes. "I'm gonna admit I'm a little disappointed you kept this from me and I'm going to have to ground you-"
"Nooooo." She groaned.
"But, if you promise to tell me next time you visit your friend. You won't get in any more trouble," Cass held up her pinkie. "Promise?"
"Pinkie-promise." Ari returned the gesture. "Is the cookie offer still standing? I'm hungry."
"Of course Ari." Cass ruffled her hair. "Always."

Ferns and Nerds group chat:

Sara Ferns: So another Noodle Burger got robbed today

TheLittleMermaid: Is it the one you work at?

Sara Ferns: No it's one my manager also… manages at

Sara Ferns: He was there and got scared half to death, lol

Wasabi: Why is that funny?

Sara Ferns: He yelled at me when the Noodle Burger I work at got robbed, and blamed me

Mikan Ferns: Deserved the jumpscare tbh then

Wasabi: Wow, rude

Sara Ferns: Ikr?!

TheLittleMermaid: Did someone get a video of it?

Sara Ferns: Sure did! Sent!

TheLittleMermaid: XD, that makes me feel better

Mikan Ferns: Why?

Sara Ferns: Aw, why are you sad?

Wasabi: Long story, tell you when I'm at school.

For the entire morning and half of lunch, Hiro was pretty quiet. He couldn't bring himself to talk to Ari, who had spent the night in Cass's room to avoid him. Not that he'd blame her he would avoid himself too.

The rabble of the food court felt numb to him, all he could think about were the awful things his lips had uttered. He decided to toss his half-eaten lunch into the trash, he wasn't that hungry anyways.

At another table, he saw Gogo, Wasabi, Honey Lemon, and Fred. The four pairs of eyes who noticed him getting up, tossing his food, and returning back to the table without a single word.

"I'm starting to get really worried." He heard Fred whisper to Wasabi, who nodded. Hiro pretended he didn't hear that.

"Hiro?" Honey Lemon poked his shoulder. "Are you doing okay?"
"Mmh." He groaned, burying his face into his arms. The chemist got the gesture and left him alone, but Hiro imagned the intense worry she always carried for her friends, he didn't deserve that.

Without a word, he got up from the table. The group glanced with caution as he began to exit the food court, and ignored the passing glances from students as he silently exited. Hiro didn't stop walking until he was a few footsteps away from a hall.

The Tadashi Hamada Hall, named in honor of his beloved brother. And the one person he just wanted to talk to but he couldn't.

"I..." He rasped. "I really messed up big brother." Tears threatened to pour down his cheeks. "Sometimes I wish you were here… instead of me, maybe you'd know how to fix things now."

Black flats rustling through the grass caught his attention, he didn't turn his head. But a tuft of dark brown hair in the corner of his eye and familiar presence told him who followed.
"What do you want, Karmi?" He croaked.

She sat next to him, her reddish brown eyes held the faint hint of anger. "Ari told me what you did, what you said, and how it made her feel." Her voice held back the rage bubbling in her throat. "You really broke her heart."
"I know, and it broke mine knowing that."
"Well, I didn't come out this way to lecture you." Karmi's hand went to his shoulder. "You don't really feel that way, do you?"
"About?" Hiro frowned.

"Not being here." Was that concern in her tone?

He turned away. "Didn't think you'd care."
"Well you've been pleasant for the past few days so I'll let that comment slide." Karmi huffed. "I'm just checking on you for your sister's sake, even if you don't deserve it."
"Oh really?" He doubted that.
"Yuh-huh." She glanced away. "But you shouldn't say stuff like that."
"I know." Hiro bowed his head down.
"I'd miss you..." Did he hear that correctly?"
"What was that?" He turned to Karmi, who had turned a faint shade of red embarrassment.
"You heard what I said." She hid under her sweater. "I'm not repeating it."

Hiro just laughed. "Thanks Karmi."
"You're welcome, I guess."

The two spent the rest of lunch sitting by the hall in silence, listening to the wind rustle, but it felt like eternal bliss to Hiro.

Later that night…

"Aunt Cass is usually asleep by now."
"Her current, melatonin levels are consistent with wakefulness." Hiro was pacing back and forth in his room, Baymax watching him like a hawk. He glanced over to the picture of him and Tadashi on his desk and picked it up.
"Do you think Tadashi would understand why I'm doing this?" Hiro questioned, he felt like nobody did. Not even his friends who were reluctant to let him go again, it upsetted him.

The robot blinked. "I am uncertain. However, Tadashi has made one reference to bot-fighting in my archives." He turned around, and saw his brother on the screen.

Hiro walked up to the screen. "I'm worried about Hiro, Baymax. He's so smart, but he's wasting his talents bot-fighting."

His eyes widened as the video went on. "You know, I don't know what I can do to help him." Tadashi sighed. "Well, anyway, I guess I just have to remember that Hiro's a good kid. And in the end, he'll do what's right."

Hiro felt his eyes watering as the video ended. "I still do not understand bot-fighting." He looked up at Baymax. "But Tadashi was right. Hiro, you are a good kid."

He smiled up at the robot, who said just what he needed. "Aunt Cass is now asleep, Ari is also asleep."
"Right." Hiro nodded, preparing to head down the stairs. "I'll see you later buddy."

He went downstairs and in the living room was Cass, Ari, and Mochi fast asleep on the couch. A Kentucky Kaiju movie was playing on screen. The bowl of popcorn was empty, and several cartons of mint-chocolate chip ice cream, courtesy of his sad little sister. Hiro paused the movie and gently lifted up the calico who was sleeping on top of Megabot. He then placed the remote as a decoy, he turned to his aunt and Ari, and gently placed a blanket over them.

"M' sorry Ari, I never wanted to make you cry." He softly whispered to his sister as he tucked her in. "I promise that after this is over. I'm gonna make sure you never get hurt again." As silent as a mouse, he softly kissed her cheek goodnight. And as he crept away, a pair of blue eyes stared at him.

Superhero Squad chat:

Captain Cutie: I'm almost at the fights

Chem Girl: I really wish you wouldn't do this : (

Captain Cutie: But it's for the greater good, sorry HL

Speed Queen: "Greater good" my neck

Chop Chop: Don't jinx it

Flame Jumper: Maybe next time you're a spy, you can wear the mustache I got you!

Captain Cutie: Thanks..

Flame Jumper: You're welcome!

Captain Cutie: I was being sarcastic

Chop Chop: Might wanna add a /s at the end there buddy

Captain Cutie: Thanks! /s

Speed Queen: Heh

Chop Chop: That is just cold

"Hamada." He looked up, seeing Trina walking up to him as he fiddled with Megabot. "I wasn't sure you'd be back after the cops showed up." She held her bot in her hands.
"Well I'm here, guess I just wanted to see this through." He glanced away.

Trina took her position. "How inspiring, defeating you is gonna be a real honor."
The gong rang and the fight began. He had to admit, Trina put up a good fight, but luckily after coming up with a clever solution, the match was easy as pie.

"What? A counter current?" She exclaimed when her bot went down.
"I had to neutralize your new weapon somehow." He explained.
She dropped her controller. "You let yourself get wrapped up so you could damage my focusing coil."

"Yeah." Hiro walked up to her. "Things aren't always as they seem."

Trina sighed. "At least I was beaten by the best." She playfully punched him on the shoulder, he chuckled. Then as he attempted a playful punch back, Trina gave him a peck on the cheek. He gasped, his face turning bright red. "Good luck with the rest of your bracket." And she walked away before he could respond.

"Huh." Hiro rubbed his cheek. I did not expect that. Hetried to calm the fast paced beating of his heart and the fluttering in his chest. Hiro shook it off, he had to focus.

Meanwhile as he mowed through the competition, the others awaited outside for the signal, dawning their superhero suits in case things went south.

"What's taking so long?" Fred glanced back and forth.
"I'm sure it'll be soon Freddie." Honey Lemon patted his shoulder. "Be patient."
"Yeah, but the sooner we finish, the better." Wasabi commented.

Gogo's phone chimed with the signal.
Hiro: Coast Clear

"Let's go." She pocketed the phone and prepared to skate into Yama's room, the group followed her.
"Spy time!" Fred exclaimed, as they snuck into the ring, the crowd paid no attention to them. They were too busy focused on the rematch between Hiro and Yama, the group cringed as they overheard the sounds of scraping metal and the shouts of various bot-fighters.

Gogo opened the sliding door, they began to investigate. "If I was a super-secret hidden tool for a crime wave, where would I be?" Fred questioned, glancing around the room.

"Oh, I don't know, in a biometric safe under the desk?" Gogo sarcastically replied.
He laughed. "That's way too obvious Gogo." But he turned to her and saw a biometric safe, under the desk. "Oh, Yama. I expected so much more."
"We need Yama's fingerprints." Honey Lemon pointed out, seeing that was the key to open the safe.

"That would be great, but he's not here." Wasabi huffed.
"Or we could get a sample from something he's touched."
"That works too."
"Hm." Gogo glanced at the trash can, she picked up a soda can, grabbed a piece of tape, and grabbed a sample.

Fred hummed spy music as she placed the sample onto the key, and it opened. "Ow!" The door hit him on the nose. Inside was a flash drive, and also a pair of red shoes for some reason.

"That has to be it, right?" Honey Lemon questioned as Gogo picked up the flash drive.
"Hm, one way to find out."

She plugged it into the computer, the screen turned on.

They all screamed and bristled upon seeing… that

"I want to look away, but I can't!" Honey Lemon's honey-blonde hair was fluffed up at the sheer horror of what they were watching.

Yama samba dancing.

They'd need a gallon of brain bleach for that. Or two. Or five. Or extensive therapy.
Gogo immediately yanked the flash drive out and shoved it back into the safe. "Well, I'm not looking at him the same way ever again."
"Agreed." They all nodded.

"The only good thing to come out of that was that it's evidence, at the very least." Fred pointed out.

"But it's evidence that doesn't connect him to the robberies." Wasabi gasped.

"Hiro's not gonna like this." Honey Lemon shook her head.

They awaited with silence as Gogo sent Hiro a text to come outside. The teen genius had an eager smile on his face when he saw them.

"What's up guys? Did you get the proof?" Oh was he in for a surprise.

"Actually, no." Honey Lemon spoke first. "But, we did just see a really... interesting video… that clears him."
"And let me just say it's not something you can ever unsee." Wasabi added. The look of trauma on his face.
"Okay?" Hiro raised an eyebrow. No way in hel-heck were they ever going to describe the contents of that video.
"Yama's class was at the exact same time as the robberies." Fred explained.
Gogo nodded. "and gives him an alibi. And me nightmares."
Hiro just looked even more confused. "I don't even want to know."
"Good. Let's keep it that way." Wasabi flashed him a thumbs up. "This means he's innocent!"
"Never thought I'd hear 'Yama' and 'innocent' in the same sentence." Fred hummed. "Considering what he did to Ari."
They all nodded in agreement. But the teen genius was frowning. "Does that mean my spy mission was in vain? But losing to Yama is the only thing all the hijacked bots have in common."

It can't be all for nothing, the heartbreak, the temptations, just to prove the innocence of the scariest bot-fighter in Good Luck Alley?

"Sorry, Hiro. The evidence says it's something else." Honey Lemon's words did nothing to comfort the bitter feeling in his chest.

"Like who? The only other possible connection is-"

He paused, then his eyes widened.

"You've fought every night this week, and you haven't made it past the first round once!"

"Unless the bots got infected in the first round." He had been turning a blind eye to her hacking away on her computer, and brushed it off as she tweaked her bot.

Not anymore. "Guys, I have to tell you something."

He felt his heart grow cold as he walked into the room. Trina turned around, a smirk on her face. "Hamada. Gotta say, that fight with Yama was a thing of beauty."

Hiro flashed her a deadpan look, the warmth he once showed to her gone. "What?"

"I know about the bots, Trina." He kept a steady voice. "I know it's you."
She didn't turn to him, continuing to work on her bot as if he didn't spill the beans. "So, the boy genius finally figured me out."

"Why are you doing this?" He walked up to her, as Trina clicked her phone. Hiro just couldn't understand. "We had a connection, and you robbed my aunt's place of business!"
"To be honest, that was my sister's idea." She shrugged. "She just relayed a bit of info about your sister's guard plans. In her defence she protested, but the more you and Ari grew distant, the more you and I grew close."
His eyes narrowed. "Mikan." He snarled. She didn't save me just to be nice. She just did that to plant evidence. I always thought Ari's prison visits were skeptical, turns out I should've been distrustful of her "driving buddy" this whole time.

"Shoot. She's gonna get ticked knowing I'm the one who ratted her out." Trina grumbled. His sudden realization of the deceitful snow-haired girl aside, Hiro was more angry at the homewrecker in front of him.

"What is wrong with you?!" He felt anger coursed through him. "You think it's funny pinning me and Ari against each other like that?"
Trina didn't comment on that. "Can't say. But the robberies are lucrative, and fun. I thought you of all people would understand."
"And I thought you of all people would understand how important family is to me."
She shrugged. "Family can weigh you down, Mikan's an idiot for attaching herself to those softhearted weaklings called David and Sara. At least David's bloodline connections make him more valuable than the blonde deadweight."

Hiro growled at her insults to the kind siblings. I definitely don't want to meet your sister now "Mika." But a small part of him tried reaching out to Trina. "Look, I do understand. My brother got me out of bot-fighting, and into SFIT." He placed a hand on her shoulder. "You're smart Trina, you could turn your life around too."

She nudged him away, and he felt his heart crack at that moment. "People like us never really turn around, Hamada. We just pretend to."

"That's not true!" Hiro argued. He had changed from the arrogant teen genius he once was before attending SFIT.

"Isn't it? I saw you earlier." She turned to him. "You still love bot-fighting as much as I do." As much as he could protest, Trina was right. It was like an addiction, many times he had always been tempted to go back when work on the microbots got too hard. But luckily, he had a supportive brother and friends to help him out. "It's not worth it."

Unfortunately, Trina and her big sister seem to badly influence the other. "Stop holding yourself back!"

"That's it." Trina whipped her head to see the rest of the Big Hero 6 team (minus Baymax) surrounding her. "We're taking her in." Gogo had her disks armed and she wasn't afraid to use 'em.

"It's so cute that you think you can." Trina flashed a smirk, clicking a button on her phone.

All the bot-fighter's bots powered up, and began merging. Even Megabot wiggled out of Hiro's grasp to join the combined bot.

They all gasped, except Fred who continued to hum spy music until Gogo hit his shoulder. "Ow!"

The giant robot made out of little bots felt straight out of those Power Ranger shows Hiro watched when he was younger, except this time the Megazord was being controlled by a crime wave mastermind.

"Uh oh." They all ducked out of the way of it's laser, but Hiro noticed someone running through the exit door. "Huh?"

"Go! We got this!" Gogo told him, he nodded and ran after Trina.

But as soon as he ran outside, a pair of legs tripped him up.

Her laugh mocked him. "Can't believe you fell for that Hamada."
Hiro responded back with a leg sweep. "Did you even feel anything for me?!" His mind went back to the peck on the cheek.

"Oh, get over it. Seriously, is being gullible over love a family trait of yours?" Trina sneered. "It's cute that you think you had a chance."
Nothing felt so hurtful before, he felt the smallest of tears blur his vision.
"That's it!" A familiar voice cried out, and a blur tackled Trina even further into the ground, Hiro gasped. "I will not let you insult my brother even more!"
"Ari...?" You followed me? Even after what I said?

Trina threw her off quickly. "Get off of me, freak!"

"Woah!" Ari stumbled, Hiro helped her to her feet.
"You do not get to insult my sister like that." He narrowed his eyes. Hiro looked down at his sister. "I-"
"I know." She sighed. "Not now."
"Alright."

"Aww, it's cute seeing your disgusting sibling bond." Trina growled. "What are you gonna do? Throw water at me?"

Ari, water bottle in hand, glared with blazing anger at the bot-fighter. And she bended the contents at Trina so hard she fell to the ground. "Yes." She huffed. "That's what you get!"
Hiro snickered, then high-fived her. "Nice one!"
They were cut off by Wasabi screaming. "We don't got this! We don't! We really don't!" Accompanied by the sound of whirring saws and Fred yelling "Everything hurts!"
That distraction was enough for Trina to slip away, Hiro clenched his teeth. "Stay here." He told Ari, and ran inside.

He ran in just in time to push Wasabi out of a laser's path, as he tumbled to the ground Hiro saw the piece of the giant bot that the team managed to slice off. An idea formed in his head. That's it!

"Guys, hold it off! I have an idea!" He grabbed the piece and ran off.
"Got it!"
"Okay!" Gogo and Honey Lemon chorused as Fred was tossed into a pile of debris.
"Please hurry." Wasabi whimpered upon seeing the giant bot looming over him with saws at the ready.

Hiro went to the computer, plugging in the piece and typing away. "If I can rewrite Trina's code in this bot, then transfer it to mine, I can take back control."

The others gasp as they're knocked into the ground and a laser aimed at them. Just as Megabot regains control and spins out of the grasp of a robotic limb.

"Is that-?" Wasabi gasped.
"It is!" Honey Lemon was cheering.

The giant bot turned its attention to Megabot, who dodged the blows with ease. Megabot knocked one of the legs over and climbed into the bot's back, Hiro concentrated as he commanded his bot to tear down the giant one from the inside. The little robot snickering as it dismantled parts inside, the giant bot fizzled as Megabot burst out of it's head. Fred chuckled as it went down, only for it to land on him. "Great work, Hiro! But for real though… ow!"

He got a little bow from Megabot in response.

Superhero Squad group chat:

Ariel: Can someone ask Hiro to stop apologizing plz.

Captain Cutie: SORRY

Ariel: *sigh*

Speed Queen: Did you just type your sigh in the chat

Ariel: YES

Chem Girl: We're all in the car we can just talk out loud

Flame Jumper: Except Wasabi, bc he's driving

Speed Queen: Don't you mean texting?

Flame Jumper: Right.

Ariel: Talking hurts my throat

Captain Cutie: Sorry

Ariel: Dude knock it off!

"Guys, I just wanted to say I'm sorry." This time Hiro wasn't apologising in Wasabi's car, he was apologizing in his room. Their superhero gear was off, and to the side, Ari was watching from the other bed like a hawk. Baymax was out of his charger and was staring as well. "I got so carried away with the bot-fighting, I didn't notice what Trina was doing."
"Oh Hiro..." Honey Lemon frowned. "Don't beat yourself up."
"Aah! She disguised herself in a fake mustache of fake friendship." Fred pouted as he held an ice pack to his cheek. "Which is the biggest face lie of all!"
"Even worse, I think I was beginning to feel feelings for her." They all gasped. "After that, I'm now done with bot-fights."
"Phew." Ari sighed. "That's a relief."
"Ari," Hiro turned to her. "I am so, so sorry that I hurt you." But she waved it off.
"I'm just glad you've got your moral compass straight." Ari smiled.
"Yeah." He nodded. "I could've ended up just like Trina if it weren't for Tadashi, and Aunt Cass, a-and you guys." Hiro nervously rubbed his arm. "So thanks. For worrying about me."
The group exchanged glances and went into a group hug, he felt the warmth of his sister's arms the most.

No matter if they didn't see eye-to-eye at times, Ari was a good sister. He was lucky to have her in his life.

However, far from this heartfelt moment was another family meeting going on. This time with Trina, she emerged from the shadows, one of her bots holding a diamond. "Good haul today Father."

"What? No greeting for me?" Her sister Mikan whined.
"Hush." Their father held up a hand. Obake had an uninterested look when seeing Trina's bot crawl up to him holding the gem. "You've been collecting trinkets? What a grand waste of time."
"That'll make money!" Mikan exclaimed. "Since I moved back home, I still wanna send some money to Steven and Mo-I mean Sally."
Trina rolled her eyes. "I don't even know what you see in them."
"Amusement?" She shrugged. "So, can you show us what happened?" Mikan gestured to the small sparks coiling off of her. "I'm assuming you had a run in with the waterbending gal I told you about."
Her sister nodded, then she opened her face, revealing the true robotic parts underneath. She showed a video of Hiro trying to talk her out of it.

"Look, I do understand. My brother got me out of bot-fighting, and into SFIT."

"Typical Hiro behavior." Mikan rolled her eyes.

Obake seemed to agree with her. "We offered him freedom, and he chose to leash himself again."

Trina nodded, and she closed her eyes, her father hugged her tight and stroked her hair. "It's time to move forward."
"Oh no, you don't mean that..." Mikan winced. "That's too far Pops."
"Don't worry." Obake turned to her, the left side of his face glowing purple. "You won't be getting your hands dirty, although having Ari away from her brother as much would be helpful."
"I don't like the sound of that." But she was a good sister, and she'd do it for Trina, and her dad. No matter what the uncomfortable feeling in her gut told her.

"Do I have to do this?"
"You wanna make it up to me? Then do it."
"Fiiiine."

Hiro gritted his teeth as he walked to a table, a script in his hand.

"Ahem." He cleared his throat, in the corner of his eye his little sister snickered. Next to her, Sara started rolling the tape. Note to self, never use the term 'I'll do anything' ever again.

The reddish-brown eyes of Karmi stared up at him with a neutral expression. "What do you want now Hiro?"
He held up the script in his hands, and she noticed Ari and Sara taking footage of this moment and realized what was going on. "Oh my gosh no-"

"Dear Karmi, since I have been quote-on-quote 'the biggest jerk on campus' I, Hiro Hamada have to read aloud this paragraph about the best-" He said that through gritted teeth. "Biotech student in SFIT."

And as Karmi kept giggling and shooting him pity looks as he read his script, Hiro learned his lesson.

He also learned Ari was very creative in punishments, which also concerned him, just a little.

AN: And that's the Bot-Fighter!

Mikan why... So yeah, Hiro was a dumb noodle this chapter.

Like bruh, why'd you have to pull the "you're not my brother" card Ari. Poor gal, though she got even at the end XD.

Now he knows Mikan's a mole, whether he confronts Mikan about this himself remains to be seen. But it was fun writing Trina! She... I have mixed feelings, I like her as a villain but I don't like her personally for playing Hiro like a fiddle this ep. No offense to you Trina fan though, n.n we're all a chill fandom here.

QOTW: Do you think Ari should've waited a little longer to forgive Hiro for the argument? Or do you think the end of the chapter was punishment enough

See you all for Halloween :))), it's gonna be 2 days a week! HAHAHAHAHA!