With a donut in his hand and a pencil in the other, Hiro sat in the Lucky Cat Café doing his homework. It was a little past noon and not many customers were there. There was a college student here and there lounging away, procrastinating, but that was all. Aunt Cass was sitting down by the counter playing some game on her phone, occasionally looking up to see if a customer needed service.

Hiro took a quick glance around the café and sighed before taking a chomp from the pastry in his hand. The pencil continuously tapped his head as he pondered. He was trying his best to solve the equation and normally he would solve it with ease but there was just too much going on his mind.

He groaned loudly, gently dropping the pencil into his pencil case.

I'll study later… He thought to himself, finishing up the donut. He pulled his phone from his pocket and read the time.

1:20.

There's still a lot of sunlight until its night time…

His lips tightened into a straight line as he returned his phone.

Last night was indescribable.

Somehow, against all laws of nature, he was reunited with his family for a fleeting moment. He can finally describe how his parents look without referring to the photos hanging by the staircase. It was just such an elating feeling.

That happiness made up for the pain he felt when he woke up that morning.

He remembered it so clearly.

Moments before he woke up he felt his mother's hand resting on his shoulder. It felt all too real to be a simple hallucination from the pain medicine gave him. Besides, with Tadashi's expert programming, there's no way Baymax would give pills that had such bad side effects.

Ah…

Hiro clenched his chest, gripping his shirt tightly.

There was that pain again. That pain always creeps up on me whenever I think of…

The teen quickly gathered his things before making his way up to his room.

He tossed his book bag and books across the floor before jumping onto his messy bed. Deeply, he breathed in and out, trying to calm his racing heart. His eyes fluttered closed as he ran a hand through his hair.

"Tadashi…" he whispered in a weak voice. "I really need you right now."

There weren't many cases where he didn't know something but when he was younger and not a full fledge genius, Tadashi would always patiently explain them to him. Even if they were stupid questions like why are Tadashi's socks green while his were striped, Tadashi would give him an answer.

When Hiro needed him most, he was living in the realm of the dead.

Hiro's chocolate eyes stared directly at the ceiling.

"Realm of the dead…" He mumbled. "Does…that mean hell?"

He shook his head and scolded himself with cursory.

There's no way someone as kind and amicable as Tadashi could end up in hell. God wouldn't allow it, hell Hiro wouldn't allow it. He died trying to save Professor Callaghan, someone he greatly admired. He basically sacrificed himself for him. The realm of the dead can't be hell. Even Tadashi admitted himself that it wasn't a bad place to live.

That wasn't the only time Tadashi risked his life trying to save others.

Tadashi saved Hiro in more ways than one. Sure he helped him out with bullies and such but he physically saved his life when Hiro was only five.

Hiro closed his eyes, reminiscing in the nostalgic memory.

"Tadashi, Hiro," Aunt Cass said handing each of them a fruit popsicle. "Here's your ice cream. I'm going to talk to Mrs. Kusakabe for a few minutes. Tadashi, watch!"

Tadashi nodded reassuringly before popping the ice cream in his mouth.

The two sat on the plastic chairs in front of Kusakabe Market. The shade from the sign covered them up to their feet. The sound of cars whizzing past them seemed to echo off the wall and loudly into their ears.

Tadashi took a quick glance at Hiro, making sure he was safe, before looking at the couple a few feet next to him. They were in a heated argument and the guy looked extremely flustered and uncomfortable.

Hiro, on the other hand, was enamored by a passing yellow butterfly. His mouth hung agape, showing his baby teeth. An adorable smile graced his lips as it gently perched on the edge of his nose. His eyes nearly crossed as he tried to focus them on the insect before him.

Using his free hand, he tried to catch the butterfly but only made it flutter away.

"Oh…!" Hiro babbled before jumping off the plastic chair and walking after it. His hands extended out as he beamed.

Tadashi was too engrossed with the fight to even notice the absence of Hiro's presence. It wasn't until Hiro released a squeal of delight that Tadashi finally returned to reality.

His bored eyes quickly widened as he saw his smiling baby brother toddling towards the rushing street with his hands extended out.

"Hiro!" He shouted, dashing out his chair and roughly gripping Hiro's collar and pushing him back. Hiro's popsicle slipped out his hand and fell into the street. The two collided onto the sun soaked concrete, leaving scrapes and cuts on their legs. At that moment, an eight wheeled truck zoomed by, crushing the ice cream like a leaf and leaving a gust of musky air trailing behind it.

Tears began to pool in the toddlers eyes as he watched the butterfly fly higher in the sky. He wailed as he pushed Tadashi away from him, oblivious to the severity of what could've been.

"Dashi! You! Ice cream! Butterfly!" He sobbed, pointing at the sky. Tadashi parted his lips, ready to chastise him but looked up to the clear azure sky and noted the butterfly was long gone.

Hiro opened his eyes and smiled wistfully, lifting his body off his bed. He began to fiddle with his fingers as he breathed out through his nose.

"That would explain yesterday…" He muttered.

The day before, he was too focused on his tablet working on some upgrades for Megabot. He wasn't planning on entering anymore bot fights, he just wanted to work on one his best inventions.

He was meandering down the streets of San Fransokyo, barely dodging the citizens and looking up. One hundred percent of his attention was on his work.

History seemed to have repeated itself that day; Hiro would've walked into the rushing unforgiving traffic if it wasn't for Baymax being a good nurse bot.

After Hiro caught his breath, his heart had started to accelerate painfully, as if it was going to burst. His once steady breathing was rapid and uneven. His whole head felt dizzy and heavy, as if he were going to pass out. There were hot flashes coursing through his fragile body as he struggled to breathe on the pavement. All he saw was Baymax's face near his. Even though the robot couldn't change his expression, Hiro felt as if it looked worried.

"I probably experienced that anxiety attack because it was so similar to that time."

Even though Baymax was no Tadashi and could never replace him, they were identical in so many ways. Then again, without Tadashi creating Baymax, Hiro would've been run over by the traffic.

Hiro smiled to himself.

Even when Tadashi isn't here he's always looking over me…

It was a reassuring feeling that seemed to engulf his body.

"Why did I enter the realm then…after the incident?" Hiro questioned. He gently bit the inside of his cheek and closed his eyes; this always helps him focus better.

Realm…of the dead.

Dead…

I almost died.

Something clicked in his mind, a lightbulb flickered on, the cobwebbed gears began to turn.

"Was…I supposed to die yesterday?"

Hiro opened his eyes and was immediately welcomed by his family.

"Guys," Hiro breathed with a smile on his lips. "You're here…"

Tadashi chuckled. "Actually, it's more like you're here."

"Hah, yeah."

I don't belong here but was I supposed to? Hiro wondered.

Maemi gently pushed Hiro and began to walk towards the house that suddenly appeared before them. She smiled as she pushed the door open.

Like a river, memories started to flood the young teen's mind. He silently stood awestruck, giving the house a 360.

"This…is where I grew up…right?" Hiro asked, astounded.

"Yep. A lot of your first memories were here in this house." Tadashi said as he gently nudged Hiro.

"I can't believe I'm here…"

"Well believe it, kiddo. Against all odds we're together, for now." Tomeo said with a genial smile as he took off his jacket and hung it on the coat hanger.

"Right…against all odds." Hiro mumbled as he followed his family through the nostalgic halls and into the kitchen. There was already a steaming meal placed in the middle with utensils and plates surrounding it. There was a huge plate with multiple chicken katsu and an assortment of vegetables. The smell wafted up to his nose and almost immediately he beamed. Again, it was nostalgic. He's eaten plenty of chicken katsu in his life but none seemed to smell like this one but then again it smelt similar to a faint memory.

Maemi pulled a seat for Hiro before sitting across from him next to her husband. She extended a hand to the food. "I prepared this especially for you. I know how much you adored chicken katsu, Hiro." She sweetly smiled.

"Eat up knucklehead. You gotta get some meet on your bones." Tadashi jested as he sat next to him.

Hiro smiled bashfully, reaching over for the chopsticks.

Even though it was nothing to get embarrassed or happy about, inside he felt so merry that his own mother remembered his favorite food.

He picked up a piece of katsu and brought it to his plate.

"Could…I ask you guys something?" He said, dropping his chopsticks on the holder.

"Of course, Hiro." Tomeo said.

Hiro fidgeted in his seat. Even though he was completely comfortable with Tadashi and these people are his family, they were so distant.

"I um…I was thinking today about how I'm here…in the realm with you." He softly said.

"Hiro," Tadashi interrupted. "There's no need to be shy. We're your family."

Hiro nodded. He knew that but they were so close yet so far; they were in a completely different world than him.

"Don't you find it weird that I'm here?" Hiro watched his family's expression, expecting them to look worried or anxious.

"Honestly," Tadashi cleared his throat. "We were confused beyond words when you first appeared. You were still asleep but we were all over the place."

Tomeo laughed a bit. "You should've seen us, we were in absolute panic. You should've seen your mother."

Maemi playfully rolled her eyes. "Haha. Says the man who was about to pull out all of his books and start reading them for answers."

Her husband cleared his throat sheepishly. Tadashi smirked at his parents before returning his attention to Hiro.

"You see, we don't know why you were here but we decided just to go with it. We all missed you, Hiro. More than you could ever imagine. We were more elated than confused to see you."

"B-But…" Hiro stammered.

"When we first saw your body, we were horrified. We thought you died." Tadashi said, his bright eyes growing a little dark. "But we felt your hands and they were warm."

Hiro's eyebrows furrowed together as he analyzed his hand. "Warm?"

The elder nodded and sighed, looking at his own hand before clenching it in a fist. "Even though we never encountered a living person here, we've never met someone who was warm."

"I don't get understand."

Tadashi placed his hand on Hiro's with a thin smile. Hiro's eyes shot open as he removed his hand from his brother's weak grip. There was a lingering chill on the back of his hand.

"Tadashi…your hand is ice cold…" Hiro said, his lips quivering.

How come I never noticed it before? Was I too caught up in seeing them again to even notice?

"Oh sorry…That was rude of—"

Tadashi shook his head and waved it off. "Don't worry about it. I'd do the same." He exhaled, slumping his shoulders.

The silence stayed stagnant in the room. Maemi, clearly distressed, was leaning onto Tomeo, who was trying his best to hide his anxiousness.

"Tadashi…Mom, Dad. I have to tell you something." Hiro slowly piped up.

All eyes focused on him, making him a little uncomfortable. It was even worse than presenting his microbots at the expo.

"I think…I was supposed to belong here…"

Tomeo's eyebrows furrowed together. "What do you mean, Hiro?" He said sternly.

Hiro flinched a bit but continued. "Yesterday was the first day I came here. That morning, I almost got ran over but it barely grazed me." He looked to his older brother. "Baymax saved me."

"So what are you implying, honey?" Maemi whimpered, fearing the worst.

"Mom…I think I was supposed to die yesterday. But there was an abrupt change in fate and I survived…" He ran a hand through his hair, agitated. "I know it doesn't make sense, I don't get it either but…" He froze when he saw how flustered his family was. They all looked like they were on the verge of crying, except Maemi, who already was crying.

"Hiro…you—You were going to die?" Tomeo whispered so soft Hiro barely heard. "But you have your whole life ahead of you. You're only 14." A tear streamed down his tear.

They say there is nothing more painful than seeing your own father cry and Hiro quickly came to understand that. He bit the bottom of his lips, hard enough to leave a bruise, and hesitated before nodding. He said nothing; he had absolutely no idea what to say.

"My baby…" Maemi wailed, her teeth chattering. "No, no. That's not fair. My baby shouldn't have to die so young." She sobbed into Tomeo's shoulder, releasing muffled screams.

Tadashi grabbed Hiro's shoulder; Hiro nearly flinched from the sudden cold on his body. "Tell that's not true, Hiro. Tell me that accident didn't happen." His eyes were wide and red rimmed.

Hiro stammered as he felt his heart pump achingly. Not once in his life did he ever see Tadashi like this. He was always cool and collected but now, he was a mess. His whole family was a mess.

"Life is too cruel…" Tadashi said, crestfallen.

It felt as if his heart just plummeted into a pit. He never saw Tadashi cry and he knew he wouldn't be able to handle it, not now.

"T…Tadashi!"

Hiro opened his eyes to see that he was no longer in the realm but instead, again, was in his room alone.

"No…"

He darted off his bed and ran towards Tadashi's side of the room. He slid the tatami door open and saw the empty room. There was a layer of dust over Tadashi's things but his SFIT hat was still placed in the middle of the bed. It hadn't been moved from it place other than when Cass cleaned the sheets once a month.

Hiro's stomach churned painfully as he panted.

"I can't leave them alone like that…not like that…" He blubbered.

An image of his frustrated sobbing family flashed in his mind. His body gently slid to the cold wooden floor. Hot tears dropped onto the smooth surface as Hiro breathed heavily against it.

"Damn it." He whispered under his breath.

"My baby shouldn't have to die young…"

"You're only 14…"

"Life is too cruel."

Hiro slammed his fist against the floor so fiercely it shook.

"DAMN IT!" He roared. It seemed to repeat over and over in the teen's head. He wiped a tear from the corner of his eye. "If I can't be with them…I'll cry with them…"

Cass silently watched from the crack of Hiro's door. She placed a hand over her mouth as she tried her best to hold back her tears.

She couldn't fathom what Hiro just went through, she was just passing by when she heard a loud thump. All she knew was that he was distraught but she had no idea how to approach him. Should she run in and embrace him or should she let him have this moment alone?

Her eyes locked onto the gilded picture frame that encased a portrait of Maemi and Tomeo.

"Maemi…Hiro is…Help me." She pleaded in a desperate whisper as tears cascaded down her cheeks. "What do I do?"

Good night guys! Happy Easter! Leave a review if you liked it :)