3. The Hamada Home

Tadashi Hamada really liked being in Norway. It was a chance of a lifetime: Getting accustomed to a different lifestyle in a totally different country. He liked almost everything about it, except perhaps the weather in the far north where he was living. Although it was late summer, the sun seldom shone, and when it did, it was not for long. The people were nice here as well, although he missed his college friends from back home. They had sent him all good wishes for his intern year here, and his colleagues were incredibly welcoming and nice, but he missed having people around him on his age that he could chat with on both serious matters and in a more loose tone. The only people on his age were high school students, which had shocked him at first - had he been in the US, there would have been a more clear age difference. Some of the female students had asked him flirtatiously how old he was, and he would have to stammer awkwardly that he was in fact still in university. They would laugh with each other and blink with their long eyelashes, which made him feel rather uncomfortable. First time it had happened, he had consulted Mr. Callaghan - Robert; he forgot the first name rule - and Robert had told him to ignore those comments. However, it was terribly difficult for Tadashi, as especially one girl, Charlotte, seemed to be horribly inappropriate.

Robert had been an incredible help for him in many other ways as well, making him feel comfortable with work and instructing him on how to approach the students in that very casual way as they did in Norway. Tadashi was proud of having Robert, a world famous robotics engineer, as his mentor. He had become a mess during summer school, unfocused and with a loss of inspiration. It was crucial with some sort of motivation as he was moving into the last years of his studies and desperately needed to come up with an idea for his final robotics project. It needed to be original and thought-through, otherwise he couldn't be calling himself a grade A SFIT-student on his way to change the world for the better, as he desperately wanted to be. Robert had offered him the internship as a break, and he had gladly accepted. Luckily most of his friends were a year behind him at home, so that when he returned to San Fransokyo, he would be in the same year as them. He hadn't expected for the whole family to move with him, but Hiro wanted and needed a change of scenery and new challenges (he had been bullied by some idiot jocks in high school) and Aunt Cass thought it to be nice as well. For a year, she left the Café in the safe hands of her assistant, Muriel. Aunt Cass had then applied and received a job at the first place she had applied to in Arendelle - a world renowned restaurant called Havet (the Ocean.)

Tadashi sat in a corner in the back of the class, observing Callaghan as he continued talking about the power sources used in robots. The intern had a habit of sometimes losing track of what happened in the lectures, as the level was quite easy, and it was not very hard for him to answer the following questions from students while they did peer work. Unfortunately, this led to a quite disturbing habit as well. Every few minutes in Robert's fourth period, his eyes would be drifting to the back of the platinum blonde student sitting in the very middle of the classroom. He understood why Robert liked her so much as a student. She was adequate in her speech, gentle in her thoughts of others, clever in every aspect he could think of, and lastly, her grace was extraordinary. He wondered how she would be like had she not been a queen-to-be. What other remarkable qualities could she possess? After their meet yesterday, her soft words and mystical ways were intriguing to a point he could not fathom. He felt so much sympathy towards her, and in a way, she almost felt like a friend after mysteriously trusting him with her family's tragic story. Sometimes, he could sense the deep sorrow behind her proud eyes that were not easy to read, and he felt humble and honoured that he had been trusted so easily. She was special and -

"...could you do that, Tadashi?"

Tadashi had to blink a few times to realise that he was being asked a question by his mentor. At once his face blushed furiously when all the students turned their attention to the back of the class and looked curiously at him. What just happened? Right at this moment, he could have slapped himself.

"I am so sorry, what did you say?"

Robert narrowed his eyes at him and gave him a weak smirk. He probably thought Tadashi had almost fallen asleep.

"Fetch us seven lead acid batteries, will you?"

Tadashi jumped out of his chair and almost sprang to the back door to quickly get away from the embarrassment, still completely red in his face. When he came back with what his mentor wanted, the students were paired up with partners sitting next to one another, and he quickly handed each pair a lead battery. He ended with Elsa and a guy with reddish-mahogany hair. Elsa was looking rather annoyed.

"Here you go," Tadashi said and gave a small smile to the two students. For unknown reasons, the guy made a bored sigh and took the battery out of Tadashi's hands in a mildly aggressive way. Tadashi raised an eyebrow at the rude gesture, but received no reaction from the said student. What's his name again? Henry? Ha... Hans, that is the name.

"Thank you, Tadashi." Tadashi looked to the other student and smiled, almost forgetting the irritating redhead.

"You're welcome, Elsa."

She smiled back at him politely before he turned around to help one of the student pairs who raised their hands to ask for help.

Tadashi hurried through the teacher's room when the last class of the day had finished, but was stopped by one of the office ladies, who had to almost yell after him in his hurry. He wanted to get home as quickly as possible and go for a run. If he was quick, he could get home, have the run, take a shower before Hiro got home and before Aunt Cass had to leave for an evening shift at work. However, Gertrude stopped him.

"Mr. Hamada!"

For some unknown reason, she called him by his last name. He assumed it was because she was a fair bit older than some of the other colleagues. He made a quick turn on his heel and stopped to listen to her.

"Yes, sorry Gertrude -?"

The woman came up to her and handed him an envelope. She looked a bit nervous and bit her lip. It was strange to see a woman of this age acting like that.

"Your colleagues were wondering if you wanted to help with the coming school party. It's a celebration of the forthcoming fall," she said, still with this uncomfortable vibration in her voice.

Tadashi opened the envelope and scanned the invitation that was clearly intended to the students, but the date and times were there and it gave a good impression of the formal theme.

"We realise you aren't paid for these things as the permanent teachers are, you're young and sponsored by your university in the U.S and Professor Callaghan only, and you might have better things to do, but - I think I speak on behalf of the rest of the colleagues - we really want you to be there. It's a great party, it really brings the students together for the year. And, dare I say, the teachers like to throw their own little party as well after the students have left. The only thing we can't promise you is your pay for the evening."

Tadashi took a last look at the papers and chuckled. "Were you really afraid I was going to say no? Of course I'll do it."

Gertrude sighed relieved, but then started to stammer nervously again. "No, not really. I was merely hoping you could ask if Mr. Callaghan would like to join as well? You see, since he came here to Arendelle last year from San Fransokyo, he has not always seemed so happy. Sometimes even sad. But not when his prodigy - you - are around. He's been better. I... - I mean... we, thought he might like... to have som fun?"

A weak smile tried to hide the laugh that Tadashi almost made. Gertrude... a crush on Robert? Tadashi tried to contain himself.

"Sure, I'll see what I can do."

Message from: Elsa

To: Anna

Hei der. I'll be late for dinner, I'm trying to figure out this Robotics. Should never have picked the subject. Wait for me - would you? I have some news.

...

Message from: Anna

To: Elsa

Wait, what? Who are you studying with? Jasmine? Elsa I ate alone yesterday while you were in the hills - you better be home before 8. Kai told me there'd be chocolate mousse for desert.

...

Message from: Elsa

To: Anna

I'll try. See you then.

...

Message from: Anna

To: Elsa

Uh - I forgot! I have something exciting to tell you as well. See you. XXX.

After a short, but hard run in town for only half an hour or so, Tadashi returned home with sweat running down his forehead stinging his eyes with disgustingly salty water. He had sprinted the entire way, and when he entered the front door still gasping for air he was in terrible need for a shower. However, he didn't get to the shower before he had to stop in his tracks on his way upstairs from the kitchen.

"Hey, 'dashi!'" Hiro yelled from the living room. This was highly unusual, one would usually find Hiro in their own room. Even more unusual was the happy tone in his voice.

Tadashi turned towards the living room from the hallway with a suspicious and raised brow. When he saw why Hiro had the mysertiously happy tone in his voice, Tadashi turned pale in spite of his lack of breath.

"Elsa?"

Tadashi was in awe of the situation. Had he known she would be sitting on the couch in their house at this time in her so very formal-however-not-too-formal clothes, he would have made him and the house more presentable. He looked horrible in his ragged, sweaty t-shirt, basketball shorts, and -

"Hi Tadashi."

Elsa smiled warmly at him, not moving from the couch next to Hiro with a thin book - clearly in Norwegian - in her hands. Hiro had a goofy grin on his face. Tadashi made himself more visible, stepping completely into the room.

"Hiro," Tadashi then asked, somewhat with a raspy voice as he was still catching his breath, "do you mind telling me what Elsa is doing here?"

Elsa didn't let Hiro answer, as she might have sensed a bit of distress in Tadashi's voice.

"I am teaching Hiro Norwegian - "

Hire joined in by laughing: "Jeg hedder Hiro!"

"- and... he will help me with a couple of things in robotics. This, ahem... for example the homework for today with the lead acid batteries and their application."

Elsa blushed shyly at him when she mentioned the last thing, probably because she felt uncomfortable telling her teacher's intern about her problems. Tadashi didn't know she had problems with his subject, her questions and arguments in class were usually always razor sharp. It seemed not like her to seek help for anything. She was independent - through and through. Tadashi found that about her so incredibly fascinating - such things could turn out to be the most beautiful trait by women or the very worst. However, it did seem to fit her to help others with their work - especially people who were enthusiastic, like Hiro. He wondered if she had the time to do that in her... position. He wouldn't ask her though, as he had a very strong feeling she wouldn't feel comfortable talking about it.

"Okay-," Elsa silently said to Hiro after a small silence, after taking a last glance at the newcomer - making him feel uncomfortable in his messy outfit yet again, "-do you want to read more of the Ugly Duckling, or should we perhaps do some gramm-"

Hiro shook his head. "No grammar for me. Not yet, anyway."

Tadashi rolled his eyes at Hiro's last remark. He should be more grateful for her proposals.

The two of them decided to start with Elsa's homework, and Tadashi told them he'd have a shower. When he returned, feeling a little more comfortable and relaxed in proper clothing, Elsa sat by herself in the couch typing a few things on her cellphone.

"Where's Hiro?"

Elsa looked up at him, a bit surprised "Oh - he's getting some of his old Lego stuff out for us."

Tadashi chuckled. "Lego? Haven't played with that since... -"

Elsa turned red in her cheeks again. Tadashi mentally slapped himself for first making the suggestion that Elsa was dumb, second for stopping mid-sentence.

"Yes," she said shyly (it was truly strange to see her like this,) "I guess... I need to know the very basics. Hiro told me you used to practice with Lego when you were little."

Tadashi nodded. "Clever one, that kid. Think one of our old Lego robots actually was powered by a lead acid battery. Didn't know Hiro brought it with him - he shipped quite a few things with him, actually. How is the teaching going?"

"I'm afraid the problem really is me. I can't seem to stay focused... I've... I don't know. Had trouble sleeping lately. Hiro is very talented though. He's really helping me."

The first thing that struck Tadashi when Elsa mentioned her sleep issues, was a list of sleeping disorders. (Bedamned science brain!) Insomnia - probably that. He knew there would have to be something bothering her, otherwise she would never have it. She seemed to look like the type where everything had to planned out - her sleep schedule as well. He was afraid it had something to do with her parents - although when he saw her in the hills yesterday, she looked as though she was taking that part well.

"Are you okay?"

Elsa nodded slowly, but looked to the ground. "It's nothing, really."

Tadashi didn't want to dwelve on it too much, as it might upset her. So he decided to change the subject. He walked a bit closer to the couch, so that she didn't need to rise.

"Did you hear about the school party in two weeks?"

Elsa nodded with a weak smile. "Yes. I help arrange those things. You know, as student president."

Tadashi felt dumb. Of course she knew. But he tried to keep the conversation going, trying to lead it to a more humorous conversation.

"So, you are going to it, I'm assuming?"

Elsa shook her head very firmly. "We go very seldom. I'm been to two formal parties during my time in high school, only for a couple of hours. Anna would like to go more often, but I don't like it."

Tadashi sat on the opposite side of the couch arm top. Her voice was not shaking, not nervous, not shy as before. She seemed to be very certain on this issue, but he couldn't help himself, he needed to ask.

"Why?"

"Someone always finds out we're going and the tabloids go crazy. A horde of them show up at the entrance those evenings. It's destructible for the school and I... I'm just not a fan of that."

Tadashi nodded understandingly, feeling somehow a bit disappointed that he wouldn't be seeing her at the dance. And when he discovered that his mind had trailed off down that road, he had to mentally slap himself yet again.

"Are you going, Mr. Hamada?"

"I shouldn't really, but I am. It's Mr. Callaghan who needs to show some dance moves - I'll have to convince him to come."

Elsa chuckled. "I think it would be good for him. He's not very sociable outside of school."

Tadashi nodded. "That's a quality my dear brother possess as well. Maybe I should convince him as well."

She chuckled again. Tadashi enjoyed the sound of that. "Hiro seems quite content here. There is no chance you'll get him to go to a dance."

He shrugged his shoulders. "Nah, maybe not. I wonder what would be easier - convincing him or you? If you went, I'm sure he'd go as well. You are one of the few people who actually interests him."

"I'm flattered," she said in a ironic voice. "Then maybe he should be my date. How about that?"

"I warn you though. He's a nerd."

Elsa glanced at him with annoyed, but playful eyes. "And you're not, hm?"

"Not the slightest," he laughed sarcastically.

Elsa's lips curved up mischieviously before Hiro returned with small Lego bricks, a few batteries, and a huge grin on his face.

"Alright, let's do this."

-.-.-

Hello. Thanks for tuning in. I appreciate your reviews, follows, favs. It makes writing so much more enjoyable, so please continue doing that.

Question from huaanle: I should probably not tell you from where I got the idea for Malinn, as that would sort of... answer some of the plot. However, I can tell you that I used her as a character in another Frozen fanfic I once did...