Chapter Three

Some weeks had passed since the presentation.

Tadashi was still working on Baymax to make sure he was the perfect health care companion he wanted to be. Only this time it was without Masashi's assistance. Much to his chagrin, Hiro was still Bot fighting and Masashi still went out with Professor Ackerman for coffee. Whenever they saw one another that week, they would but simply give a weak 'Hello' or 'Hey' and carry on their separate destinations.

On this particular heaving, Masashi didn't know how but he actually agreed to go to a bot fight with the younger Hamada sibling heaving a heavy sigh. Luckily, Tadashi was running late with some errands for Hiro's sake.

"How I let you drag me into this is beyond my understanding." Masashi grumbled, waiting patiently for Hiro at the café entrance.

"C'mon: Think of it as us bonding." Hiro commented with a wide grin, grabbing his Megabot and controller. "We barely get to spend time together, you're usually off with Tadashi."

Masashi was already starting to feel guilty, pulling the hood of his sweatshirt up over his head as they snuck out avoiding his and Tadashi's Aunt Cass. If Tadashi were here, there was no way they'd be doing this. No way. Nada. Zero. Zilch chance. And yet, why did he feel a tiny hint of excitement at the same time?

He had never snuck out before in his life for anything. Well, he supposed there was that one time back in New York where he did sneak out with a school mate to some rock concert with a band performing they both really liked-learned his lesson after that when his mother found out…not a pretty picture-.

Man. Tadashi is going to kill me for letting Hiro go…wait. Why do I care how he'd react? I'm ticked at him still aren't I?

They soon found themselves in a dingy part of the city, Masashi scrunching up his face at the awful smell that flooded his nostrils reminding him strongly of feces and other unmentionable things no one should smell. "I do feel a little bit like an AWOL." He muttered.

Hiro grinned. "That's the way to think of it."

A fist bump was shared between them as a little grin crossed Masashi's face. Already they could hear shouts of excitement and sounds of bots clashing against one another. "You got the cash right?"

"Yup." Hiro held up a wad of it from his pocket. "You gotta pay to play."

"Not like this is the first you've dragged me here kid." Masashi hissed, ignoring Hiro's snicker.

The place was full of nothing but thugs or people who…weren't of nicest of neighbor hoods let's say. He looked down at Hiro's tiny robot and frowned thoughtfully, glancing at the two larger robots in the arena preparing for round two.

How Hiro was going to win with Megabot was beyond his understanding. The thing wouldn't last but a second.

The fighters were a pink haired/punk looking girl and the other was a larger fellow named Yama. The announcer grinned keeping her parasol spinning between them.

"Two bots enter, one bot leaves."

"Oh yeah: How'd your date with that Ackerman guy go?" Hiro whispered.

"It was NOT a date." Masashi whispered back, perhaps a little harsher than he intended to be. "It was only for coffee."

"The way Tadashi acted it sounded like you two went out together."

"…How upset was he?"

Hiro shrugged, his eyes fixated on the Bot fight taking place noting the girl was kicking Yama's butt pretty good at first. "He was kind of 'moping'. Looked like a 'little lost puppy' according to Aunt Cass anyway: He's been focusing his attention on your 'nerd invention' the whole week."

Damn. I didn't think it would bother him that much going with Professor Ackerman… Masashi bit the inside of his cheek letting out a weary sigh. "I knew this would happen," he muttered. "We…kinda snapped at one another the night after our presentation ended."

"Ah he'll get over it," Hiro said with assurance. "You know how Tadashi is. He doesn't stay mad at someone for too long."

But this was a little different. The last thing he wanted, was to make Tadashi feel jealous over one evening with Ackerman. "Victor by Total Annihilation! YAMA!"

Yama was already boasting as he sneered at his fallen opponent's robot, prideful of the girl's crushed expression holding Little Yama up as if the Bot were a weapon. "Who's next? Who else has the guts to step into the ring with Little Yama!?"

"Can I try?"

They all focused their attention on Hiro, a smile of that of 'innocence' plastered on his face with Masashi standing beside him holding Megabot in his hand. "I have a robot, I built it myself."

This caused the crowd to roar with laughter. "Go home kid, house rules, you gotta pay to play." The female announce growled.

"I have my money." He showed a wad of cash he took out from the café.

"What's your name little boy?" Yama asked with a smirk.

"Hiro! Hiro Hamada."

Yama just laughed at him. "Prepare your bot ZERO."

Masashi growled as a crowd began to form around the two competitors. As much as he hated to admit it, playing the role of a mere child of innocence seemed to be working on Hiro's end…he just hoped that Yama was too stupid to figure it out.

"Two bots enter, one bot leaves. Fighters ready and… FIGHT!"

Megabot began waddling over towards Little Yama, that stupid smiley face Hiro put on it seen clearly. It was only a second, not even a smidgen of a second, before the poor thing was literally tossed in the air by Little Yama sliced in half.

Hiro gasped. "That was my first fight! Can I have another try?" Although he was devastated, Masashi could see the kid was pumping with adrenaline. Oh. Hiro was only starting. Yama had no idea what he was going to get himself into.

"No one likes a sore loser little boy." Yama sneered, taking the boy's wad of money counting it with greed. "Why don't you take your little girlfriend and go home."

Then. Something inside of Masashi seemed to snap. As soon as he heard Yama's cronies snicker at the 'girlfriend' remark towards him, his hand balled into a tight fist after taking some of his work money out of his pocket, too pissed off at the current to care about it now slapping it in Hiro's hand. "Make. Him. Pay." He snarled out.

Just as the same as before, the announcer twirled her parasol in front of them. "Fighters ready!" She removed the parasol. "FIGHT!"

Hiro's once smaller controller grew into a semi bigger one surprising even the 'almighty Yama' himself as Megabot repaired itself. Masashi's usually calm expression was now revealing a twisted, even what some might call 'disturbing' smirk clasping a hand on Hiro's shoulder.

"Megabot… Destroy." The younger Hamada sibling commanded.

Megabot's cute yellow smile then turned into that of a red rage sneering look making a lunge for Little Yama. Yama was losing his cool as he tried to fend the smaller robot off Little Yama but it proved to be a futile attempt. Were Masashi and Hiro in their glory right now? Oh you better believe they were, watching Megabot duck and dodge with ease before finally dismembering Little Yama's arms, legs and finally its head.

Yama stared mortified.

"No more Little Yama." Hiro commented with a smirk, taking his money from the silver platter from the stunned announcer.

Masashi actually let out a tiny cheer, ruffling his friend's hair grinning down at him. "Hiro you little genius! That was epic. Maybe I was wrong about you and Bot fighting after all."

"Ah knock it off Masashi, you're embarrassing me!" Hiro laughed.

Yama stood however, towering over the now gulping younger ones.

"Uh…Yama?"

THUD

Masashi let out a pained hiss when he was slammed against the wall by one of Yama's goons and Hiro by Yama himself. "No one hustles Yama!" His face was a mixture of purple and red white hot anger taking Hiro's Megabot.

"Hey!" Hiro shouted, making a move to take back his robot but the others prevented him from doing so dropping the boys back onto their feet, Masashi rubbing the back of his head tenderly.

"Uh…Heh. C-Come on guys, fellas. Is there really a need for all this now?" Masashi tried, getting into a defensive position regardless knowing there was no use talking to a bunch of thugs. Five against two. Not exactly fair…then again when are bad guys fair right? "Well. Looks like we're going to have to fight our way through little buddy."

"Guess so…it was nice knowing ya Masashi."

A young man soon rides in on the scene with his moped, kicking a few of the thugs out of the way tossing each of the boys a helmet. "Hiro! Masashi get on!"

"TADASHI!" Oh. Words cannot describe the relief they felt when Tadashi tossed them each a helmet. Tadashi and Masashi locked eyes with one another, both pursing their lips having not forgotten the night of their argument but now was not the time to dwell on such things. With Masashi in the front, holding onto Tadashi's waist and Hiro in the back they sped out of the alley.

"Are you okay!?" Tadashi yelled over everything.

"Yes!"

"Are you hurt!?"

"NO!"

"THEN WHAT WERE YOU THINKING!?" Tadashi reached back to give Hiro a few good whacks, even some at Masashi tugging on his hair.

"OW!"

"This is abuse I tell you!"

"You KNUCKLEHEADS!" He made a sharp turn down the alleyway.

"Uh Tadashi: Our little friends are back!" Masashi cried, pointing at the raging bot fighters.

"I know, I know!" He groaned, speeding up towards a ramp. "Hang on!" He sped up further, aiming for a piece of wood propped up by the dumpster. Masashi squeezed his eyes shut whereas Hiro cheered looking at his reflection.

"Hiro, you graduated high school when you were thirteen, THIRTEEN! And Masashi: What the hell were you doing with him?! Don't you realize you can get expelled? I thought you hated Bot fights!?"

"Bot fighting is NOT illegal, betting on it…" Hiro paused shrugging. "Yeah that's illegal but so lucrative. I'm on a roll big bro and so will Masashi and THERE IS NO STOPPING US!"

"You're not my father Tadashi: I'm old enough to make my own choices."

"If you WERE my son. Oh. I would give you such a spanking!" Tadashi hadn't realized how wrong that actually sounded until crickets began chirping and Hiro and Masashi were both quiet. "…Not one word. From either of you."

"I didn't know big brother was into THAT."

"I said not one word Hiro!"

Tadashi slowed to a stop as flashing lights came into view. The Hamada brothers and Masashi gulped.

"Oh no…"

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Due to his age, Hiro was tossed in a cell with no others inside it waving shyly at a rather furious Tadashi and because it was so crammed in poor Tadashi's cell Masashi was put with Hiro even though he was over age.

Oh Masashi could only imagine his father and Aunt Cass's reactions when they learned of the news. Although Masashi had his own apartment and was pretty much an adult now that never stopped his mother from scolding him when he did something stupid.

A groan escaped his lips as he rested his head against the wall, shaking his head in disbelief. "A felon…I'm officially a felon. Mom's going to kill me…"

"Masashi: You're over dramatic side is showing again." Hiro said, trying to be light about the situation.

Masashi gave him a glare before palming his forehead. "I'm such an idiot! Now your brother probably disapproves of me even more. Worse than the Professor thing."

"Are you kidding? Tadashi is more ticked at me I bet then he is you. Besides, the whole professor thing was completely innocent right?"

"It was. Nothing happened." Masashi spoke loud and clear for Tadashi to get the hint across the room, watching Hiro's older brother sigh heavily and press his forehead against the bars. His shoulders slumped.

So…they really did just go out as friends after all. Well don't you feel like a complete ass Hamada?

"Hamada's! Nishino: You three are out for bail!"

"Oh thank God!" Masashi hopped up from the bench with Hiro chuckling at his reaction.

Xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

Aunt Cass was a nervous wreck pacing outside the police station. Bot fighting. Illegal? Tadashi and even Masashi were arrested on top of everything! Were they encouraging Hiro into this? Those negative thoughts decreased however the minute she saw the trio walk sulking out of the building.

"Oh thank goodness." She murmured, pulling all three of them in a hug. "Are you guys okay? Are you hurt?"

"We're fine Aunt Cass." They said in unison.

"Good…" Aunt Cass said in a sweet, mild mannered tone. Always the calm before the storm Masashi thought, swallowing as she then grabbed Tadashi and Hiro in a seemingly iron grip by their earlobes. "Then what were you knuckle heads thinking?!" While they were 'pre-occupied', Masashi had tried sneaking off but he yelped when Aunt Cass snatched the back of his jacket somehow.

"Oh no mister: Don't think you're off the hook! You better be prepared for a good, long lecture from your mother on the phone tonight!" "For ten years!" She started as they drove home, poor Tadashi and Hiro holding onto their ears. "I've raised you, taken care of you as my own! Do I know anything about children!? No!"

And the ranting continued as the trio sulked behind the still ranting Aunt Cass, watching her un lock the door to the café. "Should I have picked up a book on parenting? PROBABLY!" She sighed out of frustration. "Where was I going with this?"

'We're sorry." Tadashi said sincerely.

"We love you Aunt Cass." Hiro chimed in.

"You're like a second mom to me." Masashi added.

"Well I love you too!" She snapped at them, grabbing a donut from its case. "I had to close up early because of you felons-"

Masashi winced at the word, feeling Tadashi squeeze his shoulder in comfort.

"On Beat Poetry Night!" She continued to snap, waving the doughnut at them. "Stress eating! BECAUSE OF YOU! Mhmmm. This is really good! Come on Mochi."

The trio watched as the Calico cat waddled off after the woman leaving the brothers and Masashi to sigh with relief that she was finally gone and made their trek up to Tadashi's room.