Sorry this chapter is kinda short! I'll try to post at least two updates over the weekend and one tomorrow :-) I didn't have a lot of time to write tonight because of homework...I can relate to Hiro in this chapter, lol.
BH6 Fan: Omg your review nearly had me in tears! Thank you so so so much! 3
SweetWritingIsMyLife: OMG I kinda had a fangirl moment when I saw your review because 'A Real Hiro' is one of my favourite BH6 stories and when I realised you wrote it I was like, the author of that amazing story likes my story?! Anyway, thanks to you too! ^-^
~princess
Hiro ended up falling asleep on the sofa, his head resting on Tadashi's shoulder and his feet on the older male's lap. Tadashi let him sleep, soothingly running his fingers through the boy's black hair as he watched the last ten minutes of the film.
As the credits appeared on the screen, Tadashi switched off the TV and stood up, holding Hiro effortlessly. He met Aunt Cass on her way upstairs from closing up the café.
"Still up?" she said quietly, noticing the sleeping boy in Tadashi's arms.
"Yeah, we watched a film," whispered Tadashi. "As you can see, someone needs to go to bed…"
Aunt Cass giggled, smiling at her youngest nephew. "Well, goodnight," she said in hushed tones, as Tadashi leaned down and kissed her cheek. "And Tadashi…look after him, won't you? College is tough at any age; it can't be easy, going so young."
"Of course I'll look after him, Aunt Cass," reassured Tadashi, subconsciously holding Hiro closer to him as if someone would suddenly appear and kidnap his brother there and then. "I always do."
Aunt Cass smiled at him lovingly, happy tears in her eyes. "And you always have."
Page break
Tadashi placed Hiro gently on his bed, his mind racing as he gazed protectively at the younger Hamada. He had a gut feeling that something bad was going to happen to his little brother, and that there was something Hiro wasn't telling him. He growled, tiredly pushing back his hair and leaning down to plant a soft kiss on Hiro's forehead before going to his own bed.
Time skip
The next morning, Hiro and Tadashi were eating breakfast when Hiro's phone buzzed. Frowning, Hiro swallowed his Weetabix and put down the spoon before checking the device.
"It's Ty," he said hesitantly. "He's offering to give me a lift to school."
"Do you want to go with him?" asked Tadashi, watching Hiro's face carefully.
"Uh…I don't know, we-"
"Hiro, you are allowed, you know," said Tadashi in amusement. Seriously, he added: "Don't worry about hurting my feelings or anything like that. I don't mind."
"Are you sure?" Hiro searched his brother's face anxiously; he really felt a little guilty for just abandoning him.
"Yes," chuckled Tadashi. "Don't be so silly, bonehead."
The ride to school in Ty's car was awkward and tense. Ty chattered nineteen to the dozen, but Hiro was too shy to respond with extensive answers.
Computer science was the first class. Hiro doodled in a notebook as usual, only half listening to Professor Hammond. He had read about this lesson in a university book when he was eight.
However, a jolt of fear went through his entire body when the professor made an announcement, and he froze.
"You'll choose any component of a computer and make a presentation about it," explained the professor. "You must also construct the component you present. Work in pairs and present to the class next week on Monday."
Hiro gulped. Not to his surprise, Ty instantly suggested they paired up.
"I'm sure we'll do a great presentation!" said the older boy enthusiastically.
"Y-yeah," replied Hiro, giving a small smile. "Uh…I was thinking, maybe if I did more work on actually putting together the presentation or whatever, you do most of the actual presenting? I'm, um, not that cool with presenting…"
"Really?" Ty raised an eyebrow. "You presented your own invention to get here in the first place."
"Yeah, but I was nervous as hell!" Hiro was sweating slightly. "Please…"
"Relax, dude," said Ty firmly. "Sure I'll do most of the talking. Don't worry."
Hiro sighed in relief and beamed at Ty. "Thank you!"
Time skip
Hiro groaned and sighed, putting his face in his hands. The physics homework was impossible! How could he not understand something?!
"What's wrong, bonehead?" asked Tadashi in concern, putting down his magazine.
"This!" Hiro scrunched up the assignment and threw it on the floor. "I can't do it!"
"Whoa, whoa! Slow down." Tadashi kneeled in front of his brother's chair to be face to face with Hiro. "Look at me."
Hiro raised his chocolate brown eyes to Tadashi's identical ones. The younger boy looked angry and frustrated.
"First of all, calm down. You won't get anywhere by losing your temper like that."
Hiro took a deep breath, trying to calm himself.
"That's it, bro." Tadashi reached over and picked up the sheet of paper, smoothing it out. "Right, let's have a look at this."
Hiro tapped his fingers on the chair, staring at the floor as Tadashi examined the questions.
"I remember doing this last year. It's tricky, but I know you'll get the hang of it." Tadashi moved so he was next to Hiro rather than in front of him, placing the sheet on his little brother's lap and leaning down.
Hiro paid close attention as Tadashi explained the topic.
"I get it now," he said happily, and his older brother beamed at him. "Thanks dude."
"Anytime, bonehead," said Tadashi fondly, ruffling Hiro's hair as he straightened up. "Just because you're a genius, you're not expected to know everything, okay? You can always ask me for help."