I decided to update this today since I'll go to school tomorrow and won't be able to write at all. Transition chapters are a little boring to write, but they are necessary for the story to happen. Well, I hope you like it!
The sun was starting to rise when Tadashi's alarm clock started to beep at 6:30am. He rolled on his bed, sleepy, and buried his face on his pillow after letting out a tired moan. He started to tap the night stand beside his bed, trying to find the alarm clock without opening his eyes. After a few failed tries, he finally managed to hit the button to turn it off.
He rolled over again to lay on his back and rubbed his eyes, looking to the ceiling. It was when realization hit him and he gasped awake on the bed, his heart beating fast as he turned his head to look at Hiro's bed. Tadashi wasn't sure of what he was expecting; but a small part of him was still hoping to find his brother with fourteen years old like it should be, and the night before would have been a dream. He gulped when he saw that Hiro's bed was empty, the blanket was on the floor and the pillow was still crumpled, so Hiro had just left it.
"Hiro?" Tadashi called, looking around the room. He stood up and walked to Hiro's part of the room, and soon realized that his brother wasn't there. He ran to the bathroom, only to find that it was empty. "Hiro, where are you?" Tadashi bit his lip and took a deep breath. He was starting to get worried when he heard a familiar beep coming from the kitchen. He glanced at the room door and realized it was open, meaning that Hiro had left the room.
Tadashi frowned and jogged downstairs. He was still trying to comprehend that Hiro, his younger brother, was now five years old. He couldn't help but be scared of that situation. When they were younger, Tadashi made a promise to himself: that he would take care of his brother no matter what. But how was he supposed to do it now when he had no help at all and no experience with kids whatsoever?
Tadashi sighed in relief when he finally got to the bottom of the staircase. He saw that Hiro was five years old - which meant it hadn't been a dream, after all - but he was fine. He was sitting on the table... Reading a book? The older brother tilted his head in confusion. Not only Hiro was drinking milk that he had prepared himself, but he was also reading a book. The younger didn't seem to notice his brother standing behind him until Tadashi started to walk toward the table.
"Hiro?"
"Dashi? Dashi!" Hiro left the table and ran toward his brother, jumping happily and reaching out, grasping at the air in his hands as Tadashi raised an eyebrow and dodged his little brother, going to the table where Hiro was sitting before. The younger frowned in annoyance, folding his arms. Tadashi leaned on the table and closed the book Hiro was reading to look at its title.
"A Christmas Carol?" Tadashi said, holding the book and turning to his brother. "You were reading A Christmas Carol? The classic version?"
Hiro nodded, still frowning, but unfolding his arms. Tadashi knelt down and looked Hiro in the eye.
"Are you telling me you can read?" Tadashi said, looking at the book and at his brother several times.
Hiro tilted his head and frowned more, nodding again. Tadashi opened his mouth in surprise, refusing to believe that. Before he could do anything else, Hiro took the book off Tadashi's hand and put it back on the table, opening his arms and smiling. "Dashi!"
Tadashi shrugged and hugged his younger brother, standing up and sitting in a chair with Hiro on his lap. He rubbed his eyes and looked at the clock: 6:42. He needed to go to college and find a way to take care of Hiro. He didn't know if it was ok to take his brother with him, but he couldn't leave a five year old alone. Tadashi sighed and stood up again; grabbing the phone and dialing Wasabi's number while Hiro wrapped his arms around Tadashi's neck.
The phone rang three times before Tadashi heard Wasabi's voice on the other end. By his sleepy tone Tadashi could tell that he had just woke up.
"Hello?" Wasabi said, after a yawn.
"Hey, Wasabi." Tadashi said as Hiro put his head on his brother's shoulder. "Sorry if I woke you up."
"No problem, I was about to wake up anyway. Is everything alright? Did anything happen to Hiro?"
"No, no, we're ok. I just want to know if you can give me a ride to college today. Because I had to leave my motorbike there yesterday."
"Sure. I'll be there in fifteen minutes. What are you going to do with Hiro?"
"Well..." Tadashi sighed as he looked to the boy in his arm. "I think I'll just take him with me. I mean I took him there when he was fourteen, why should there be a problem with taking him there now that he's five?" Tadashi blinked. "Yes, I know that sentence is weird. But there's nobody to take care of him and I can't leave him alone. Also, we have to start working on a way to bring him back to normal."
Tadashi could hear Wasabi sighing and stretching on the other end before finally saying. "Yes, good plan. How hard can it be, right? I'll be there in no time."
"Thank you, buddy. I'll just brush my hair. See yah."
"See yah."
Tadashi hung up and put the phone down. Then he put Hiro on the floor, looking down at him. "Ok, young man, looks like you and I are going to college today. We need to get ready. Can you please help me and do your best to obey your brother?" He said, showing Hiro his fist. "Fist bump."
"Fist bump!" Hiro repeated the gesture.
"Good." Tadashi smiled. "Now come on, buddy. We can't go to college without brushing our teeth." He said as he took Hiro's hand and went upstairs again.
Tadashi was brushing his teeth in the bathroom and Hiro was sitting on his bed as he put on his sneakers. He fought with the shoelaces, never managing to make a good knot. He punched the mattress in annoyance.
"Dashi! Help." He called.
The older brother wiped his mouth with a towel before entering the room again.
"What's it, Hiro?"
"I can't tie. My shoe. Help." He said, pointing at his untied shoelaces.
"Ok, ok." Tadashi said as he knelt down in front of Hiro. The little boy watched in curiosity and admiration, like if his brother was about to make a scientific discovery rather than tie a shoe. "There." Tadashi said, standing up when he had finished. Hiro stood up as well and looked down at his feet before jumping out of bed and wrapping his arms around Tadashi's legs in a hug.
"Thank you. You're the best brother ever! Dashi."
Tadashi looked down at the boy hugging his legs in surprise. He had already noticed that Hiro seemed to be a little more talkative that morning. Unlike the previous night, he was speaking a few more words than just 'Dashi' and he was starting to speak full sentences. Well, at least he seemed to be trying. But at the same time, he didn't seem to be accomplishing it the way he should be. Being 5 years old, Tadashi expected him to be able to speak better. Did it mean there was something wrong with Hiro? If so, was it because of Fred's invention or was it just about Hiro?
The older brother snapped back to reality when Hiro released his legs and looked up at his brother, smiling. Tadashi shook his head and turned around to grab his backpack on the corner of his bed, taking Hiro's hand and leading his brother downstairs. Tadashi opened the door that led to the café and felt Hiro's hand slip from his. He turned his head and saw that Hiro was staring at the balcony.
Tadashi tilted his head and slapped his forehead. "Oh, no. I forgot to give you something to eat!" Tadashi was used to go to college without having breakfast. He preferred to wait and eat something there in the snack bar. But he should have known Hiro wasn't going to be as patient. "Are you hungry?" Hiro looked at his brother, nodded and looked back at the balcony. He was practically eating the treats on the display with his eyes.
"Fine." Feeling guilty, Tadashi walked around the balcony and grabbed a donut for Hiro. "Don't tell Aunt Cass, ok? I promise I'll pay for this later. And don't assume these treats here are for you just because you're cute." Tadashi giggled. He watched as the infant jumped happily and grabbed the candy, eating it happily as his mouth got smeared with chocolate.
"I never knew you liked sweet things, Hiro. I mean, except for Gummy bears." Tadashi laughed when Hiro's head perked up at the mention of his favorite candy, but he quickly went back to eating his donut when he realized there were no real Gummy bears there. "If I knew it when you were still fourteen, I would have invited you to eat some candies with me, you know."
As Hiro finished his treat, Tadashi wondered what was going on his brother's mind. Did Hiro comprehend that he wasn't a 'normal' five year old boy? Did he know he should be fourteen? Or for him it was like he had never been a teenager? He sure wasn't acting like he used to when he was fourteen. For one thing, he never hugged Tadashi. Teen Hiro hated human touch or even feelings for that matter. But that very morning he had called Tadashi "Best brother ever", which was an unusual saying for someone like Hiro. Well, at least for someone like teen Hiro.
Tadashi couldn't help but think how Hiro was all fussy the previous night, but calmed down when Tadashi was the one holding him. Why? It could just be that Hiro wanted to be held by someone he knew instead of being held by a total stranger, but was there something else to it? After all, he did ask Tadashi to hold him quite a few times already, even when there were no strangers around.
"Dashi?"
"Hum? Oh." Tadashi shook his head, trying to keep those thoughts out of his mind. He looked down at Hiro and laughed, grabbing a paper towel on the balcony and kneeling down. He held Hiro's face with one hand and wiped the chocolate in the boy's mouth with the other, making Hiro let out a complaining grunt and turn his head from side to side as he tried to make his brother stop. "Dashi!"
"Sorry, young man, but you can't go to college with your mouth like that." Tadashi laughed as he threw the used paper towel in the trash can. Hiro folded his arms and pouted, wiping his mouth with his sleeve. It was when they heard a car horn and Tadashi looked to the door. Through the glass, he could see Wasabi's car and his friend waving, calling him. Tadashi nodded and turned to Hiro.
"Well, young man, time to go!"
"Dashi!" Hiro jumped again, taking his brother's hand as they finally left the café.
Tadashi was on the front seat beside Wasabi. He had accommodated Hiro on the back seat, and the little boy looked to the window, amazed by the view he was having. He thought San Fransokyo was quite beautiful. After Tadashi put on his belt, Wasabi turned the key and started to drive.
"I guess Hiro is doing fine?" The driver asked, looking back at the smiling boy.
"Yeah, he is. But I've been thinking a lot." Tadashi said, looking at the window by his side.
"About what?"
"Well, this morning I woke up and found Hiro downstairs reading."
"Hum, that's good, I suppose? He's five now, isn't he? That's when they start to read."
"No, you don't understand. He was reading my copy of 'A Christmas Carol'. The classic version. And when I asked if he could actually read it, he nodded."
"The classic version? Wow. Even I have problems reading that old English." Wasabi said, skeptical.
"Exactly. And I was wondering, do you think he knows he isn't a normal five year old? Do you think he knows he should be fourteen? I mean, there's no way a kid could read and understand that book, right?"
"He could be a fourteen year old in the body of a five year old boy, I guess. I still don't know how Fred's invention worked or what it did to Hiro. It would make sense, but then why would he be acting like a kid? If he knew he is supposed to be fourteen, shouldn't he be behaving like a teenager?"
Tadashi slowly nodded as he thought more. He glanced at the boy on the back seat and realized Hiro was still looking through the window.
"This morning, he couldn't tie his shoes without my help. And... He doesn't seem to be speaking like a five year old should be. At this age, I think he should be able to formulate full sentences, but he barely speaks as it is. But at the same time, he was able to make himself milk and read a book I wasn't able to fully understand until I was sixteen. I just don't understand how old he is right now on his mind."
"I see." Wasabi said as they stopped at a red light. "Well, he could be somewhere in between... Or maybe... No, I guess not."
"What?" Tadashi asked.
"Well, this is just a theory, but... You told me once he graduated high school when he was thirteen, right?"
"Yes, he did. Why?"
"Because... What if he has always been a prodigy? Was he that smart when he was five? Hum, when he was five for the first time, I mean. Weren't you like nine years old back then? What do you remember?"
"Hum, not much. I never spent much time with Hiro before he was ten. And all we did together was play. I don't remember anything about him that wasn't related to his abilities to play soccer." Tadashi sighed. "I should call Aunt Cass and ask her if he was a prodigy later. But how can I do it without sounding suspicious? Do you know what would happen if she knew what happened to Hiro? She would die!" He put his hand to his forehead and sighed again. "Better saying, she would come home, kill me and then she would die."
"It wasn't your fault, Tadashi. And more, we are going to fix this. Honey Lemon and GoGo are already there and they might be analyzing the gun by now. Who knows, we may get there and they'll have the cure already." Wasabi smiled.
"Yeah, who knows, maybe."
"Dashi." Hiro called from behind.
"Yes, buddy?" Tadashi said, turning his head to look at his brother.
"Are you alright?" He asked, forcing his tongue to pronounce the 'r' correctly.
"Hum, sure. What about you? Are you alright?"
Hiro nodded before looking at the window again. Tadashi blinked in confusion, but shrugged.
"Well, we're here." Wasabi said when they finally saw the college and he started to park the car.
Tadashi held Hiro in his arms and entered the college, Wasabi by his side. He hoped nobody would ask about the kid or tell him that he couldn't take him there. He tried to ignore that looks the other students were giving him; some in confusion or curiosity, others were rather judgmental. He rolled his eyes and walked straight to the Nerd's lab.
The older Hamada let out a relieved sigh when he saw that the only students in the lab were his friends. Probably because it was still so early. He put Hiro on the floor and walked up to GoGo, who was trying to develop a new wheel for her bike. He glanced at her table and saw that familiar gun there.
"Hey, GoGo. What's up?"
"Tadashi. Good to know you could come today, despite what happened."
"Yeah, it was kind of easy to take care of Hiro for the night. So, did you take a look at the gun already?"
GoGo sighed, and Tadashi knew she couldn't be about to say anything good.
"I did. I was waiting for Wasabi to arrive so he could help me to disassemble it to see how it works. But I can see that it's very complex already. Who would ever guess that Andy 'Knucklehead' could do something like that? But once we have it disassembled, Honey Lemon can try to figure out what's in that formula. Whatever it is, it can't be easy. Or good. Or legal." She said as she popped her gumball. She then glanced aside. "By the way, you should watch your brother."
"Hum? What do you m..." Tadashi trailed off as he turned around and saw that Hiro was walking toward Wasabi's work area, approaching the laser-induced plasma panel. The older brother gasped and ran, grabbing Hiro's shirt before he could cross the line on the floor.
"Hiro! We don't walk near things that can kill us!" Tadashi said, sighing. Hiro tilted his head and looked up at his brother. "Just... Don't walk around here when I'm not near you, ok? There are some things here that could hurt you." The younger one frowned and looked back at Fred's working area, still confused. "Ok, Dashi." He then reached out, tugging on his brother's shirt.
"Do you want me to grab you again?" Tadashi asked as Hiro nodded. He took the boy in his arms while Wasabi approached them. "Hey, Wasabi. Do you think you can help GoGo and I to disassemble the gun?"
"Hum, I would love to, but... I have to finish this by the end of the day for one of my classes. Do you think we can start it later?"
"Later? But..." Tadashi trailed off and sighed. He knew his friends couldn't stop what they were working on to work on that gun, but at the same time, he was afraid he wouldn't have enough time to bring Hiro back to normal if they didn't start it right away. "Ok. I understand. I have to work on a project myself, so... I'll go to my lab. When you guys are done, can you please go there and tell me?"
"Of course." Wasabi said.
"We will." GoGo assured. "In fact, I'm even curious to see how that gun works. I'm going to finish this as fast as I can."
"Same here." Honey Lemon waved happily. "Don't worry, Tadashi. We're going to help you."
Tadashi smiled and nodded as he looked to his brother. "What do you say, buddy? Do you want to see where you big brother works?"
"Dashi!" Hiro smiled, wrapping his arms around Tadashi's neck.
"I'll take that as a yes." He said as he put Hiro down and took his hand, walking up to GoGo's table and grabbing the gun. "Hum, I'm going to take this with me, by the way. I don't want it wandering around a lab full of people that don't know what it does. We can't risk losing it before we turn Hiro back to normal. I may even try to analyze it myself."
"Ok, but be careful. Don't pull the trigger and don't let this boy here play with it. If you turn into a baby as well, I'm not going to change your diapers. One little Hamada is more than enough for me." GoGo said, giggling as she caressed Hiro's head.
"Don't worry." He laughed. "I won't pull the trigger. Young man, don't even think about touching this, ok?"
Hiro looked at the gun his brother held. "Purple gun."
"Yes, pretty much. But don't touch it, ok?" Tadashi started to walk as Hiro held his hand and jumped by his side. The older one waved goodbye to his friends and nodded before leaving the room. Hiro smiled and looked up at his brother all the time, only breaking eye contact to look around at the college and the several machines and gears that were carried by the other students.
"Dashi works here?"
Tadashi blinked and looked down at his brother, surprised that he was actually asking him something.
"Hum, yes, Dashi... I mean, I work here. Pretty cool, isn't it?"
Hiro's jaw dropped as he nodded. Tadashi couldn't help but smile. He released Hiro's hand to open the door of his lab once they had arrived, careful not to take his eyes off his brother long enough to allow him to run away or escape. Hiro kept looking at the opening door, excited to see what there was behind it.
"Well, Hiro, this is my lab. This is where your big brother works."
The young boy gasped as he blinked and looked around, entering the room even before Tadashi could do it. He ran to the several boxes and sketches, curious and eager to touch and see everything. Tadashi laughed as he entered the room and closed the door behind him, putting the gun on the highest shelf before grabbing Hiro and sitting in a chair with the boy on his lap.
"Now, now, Hiro; let's get to the rules. I know you're very smart boy and I know you can understand me. Rule number one, no touching things I didn't say you can touch, ok? Rule number two, you can't leave this room without me. If you need to go to the bathroom or something, tell me. Rule number three... Actually, there are only two rules. You should be fine if you obeyed those. Ok?"
Hiro nodded and Tadashi sighed.
"Hey, we're doing this, buddy. We're doing this. I don't think we'll have any kind of problem." The older one smiled as he tapped Hiro's back. The silence was broken when Tadashi's phone started to ring. He reached out for it on his pocket and pulled it out. His smile faded away and was replaced by a panic expression when he saw who was calling him on the screen.
Aunt Cass.
He looked at Hiro, who nonchalantly bobbed his head along the ringtone.
"Yeah, I take that back. This could be a problem." Tadashi said as he bit his lip.
I was going to write more, but I decided to finish this chapter here. Thank you guys for all the support! If you like this, please check my other Big Hero 6 fanfics. They were the reason I decided to write something that wasn't a one-shot for once. I'll try to update this soon, because it's really relaxing and fun. Upcoming holidays may help me!
Thank you for reading, I hope you liked it!
