"Tadashi, stop worrying." Jøss, the irony of me telling him that…
"Tadashi, you are experiencing increased adrenaline levels, typically indicating a fight or flight response. Are you in danger?"
"No, no I'm not in danger. Well. I might be if Callaghan's mark isn't high enough, and then I'll have to pull a miracle outta the bag to not flunk and-"
"Tadashi!" Elsa timed his pacing and grabbed him by the upper arms just as he turned around. When she was happy he wasn't going anywhere, she smiled, "Tadashi, it will be fine. Baymax is amazing. What you have created is better than anything else that Callaghan or any of the other people in here are going to see. Stop worrying. Okay?" She looked directly at him, trying to see the same confidence his eyes were filled with before they'd set up for the fair. It took her a few moments to realise that her hands had slid down his upper arms to his forearms, their hands almost touching. She immediately let go.
Looking down, Tadashi let out a sigh, "Okay… okay. Right. It's going to be fine. It's going to be great!" He smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes.
"That's the spirit," Elsa smiled back, "I'll be back in a few minutes,"
Tadashi watched her go, sinking into the nearest chair when she was out of sight.
"You know," a voice said behind him, making him jump slightly, "You could just ask her out."
"And what do you know about starting off relationships, little brother."
"Enough to know that you're doing a lousy job of starting one, big brother." Hiro hopped up and sat on the edge of their display table. "I know you like her. We all do."
"We?"
"Fred, Wasabi, Honey, GoGo and me. Ever since she started here, you've been all…" Hiro sighed dramatically, clasping his hands over his heart, his eyes looking dreamily up to the ceiling. Tadashi chuckled nervously. "No, I haven't."
"Tadashi, when Elsa is in close proximity to you, your heart rate increases, your pupils dilate and your attention span seemed significantly lessened if not engaged in direct conversation with her. These signs are also present, albeit to a lesser degree, when Elsa is mentioned by others. I have noticed this occurs quite frequently in the lab."
"See? Even Baymax can see it! Why can't you?"
Tadashi groaned, pulling his cap over his face, then dropping it into his lap, "Fine. Fine! Yes. I like her. But what would be the point in asking her out – half the time I don't know if she feels the same way or wants to get as far away from me as possible."
"Tadashi, I have noticed the same physiological effects on Elsa's heart rate, pupil dilation and concentration, though she seems far more able to focus on other tasks in addition to interacting with you. I have noticed this is a common ability in both Honey and GoGo as well."
Hiro chuckled and slid off the table, "It's called multitasking, Baymax. Aunt Cass is a mast-"
"Wait. Elsa… she reacts the same way?"
"Yes, Tadashi."
Tadashi leaned back against the table, stunned. Elsa… might like me too? … nah, come off it, 'dashi. You can't diagnose that sort of thing… but you're a scientist, it's a theory. Test it.
"Very good, Mr. Hamada. Very good." Callaghan nodded, walking around Baymax slowly for what felt like the hundredth time, "This could revolutionise nursing. And you say you have blueprints for a smaller version?"
"Yes, well, the design is very similar to Baymax, but the functionality would need to be tailored for the user's needs. However, given the smaller size, it could be used in a home environment, so there are a whole host of different applications."
Callaghan continued his methodical inspection of Baymax. He asked Baymax about his functions and his technical specifications; he asked Baymax to scan him, and then Tadashi agreed to be scanned himself (Callaghan found the raised blood pressure to be rather amusing). After several more questions put to Tadashi, and a couple to Elsa – who had taken a back seat given that her own project had already received a passing grade – Callaghan spent a few minutes filling in a checklist, before turning back to Tadashi.
"Excellent work, Mr. Hamada. I've not been able to give that comfortable an A in a long while." The professor smiled, with a hint of pride, patting Tadashi on the shoulder before moving to the next display. For a few moments, Tadashi didn't move, his grin getting wider and wider, until he turned, jumping on the spot much like he had done when he and Elsa had finally gotten Baymax to work. Repeating his actions to the letter, he swooped in to pick Elsa up… but he stopped himself, stood in front of her with his arms outstretched, "I uhm… I won't kiss you on the cheek this time." He smiled warmly, but shifted from foot to foot rather awkwardly, as if he was regretting his decision to open his arms up, but couldn't back out.
Elsa didn't quite know what possessed her to give him a hug, but she stepped forward and gingerly put her own arms around his waist. "Told you it would be fine." She wasn't sure if she was reassuring Tadashi or herself. But when she felt his arms wrap around her, holding her tight enough that she could feel the warmth of his body radiating through his t-shirt, she felt… safe.
He kept it brief, and Elsa felt slightly saddened at the loss of contact. She looked up at him and smiled, then stood up on tip toes, doing what he promised he wouldn't, and kissed him on the cheek. "Well done, Tadashi."
She was grateful when Aunt Cass arrived with Hiro; the news of his A grade had spread quickly. She quietly slipped away while his family and friends were congratulating him, the feeling of safety slowly being replaced by dread.
You can't stay. You'll end up hurting him, too.