"I want to pour it, Tadashi!" ten year old Hiro exclaimed, running over to his older brother's side. Tadashi smiled and handed a vial of clear liquid to the child. Hiro peered into the beaker in front of them and poured three drops from the vial into it. The liquid immediately turned from dark red to white. "Wow!" Hiro shook from excitement.
"See, the Phenolphthalein turned the water clear again," Tadashi explained. Hiro looked up at Tadashi and grinned. "Acid to base."
"When I get big, I wanna be smart like you" Hiro declared. Tadashi smiled.
"You already are, Hiro. You'll be in high school before you know it," he said.
"Yeah, but won't they make fun of me?" Hiro asked nervously.
"I won't let that happen. No one messes with my little brother. Except for me," Tadashi scooped the little boy up and held him upside down.
"No, Tadashi! Stop, I'm ticklish!"
"Oh where? Here?" Tadashi poked the giggling boy's side, making him howl in laughter.
"Stooop! Hahaha, cut it out!" Hiro flailed, but Tadashi pulled him up and set him on his feet. "You're a buttface, Tadashi."
"Takes one to know one," Tadashi replied, rubbing Hiro's head. Hiro looked up and grinned.

Hiro's eyes fluttered open. His face was wet from tears. He sat up in bed and looked at the clock. 2:08am. He flopped his head back onto the pillow and rolled over. No use. He was awake. Why? He thought. Why tease me with such a nice memory, but not let me go live it again? He punched his pillow and stood up. He remembered that day so clearly. Tadashi was working on an experiment for Chemistry. Having skipped four grades, Hiro was allowed to help. They were almost in the same grade. Tadashi was a freshmen, Hiro in 7th grade. But he was allowed to skip 8th grade. It was late spring, the year before Hiro would start high school. He was terrified.
"Don't worry, kiddo. It's really not bad. You get through the first few days, then you get used to it. Chin up," Tadashi had told him.
"But what if no one likes me? Or what if they try to beat me up cuz I'm small? I won't even know anyone. Where will I sit at lunch?" Hiro looked at the floor.
"Always food on your mind, huh?" Tadashi joked. Hiro punched his arm. "Well, you can sit with me and my friends. I won't leave you, bro."
"But you did..." Hiro said to the clock, now beaming 3:15am. No use sitting around, he thought. He stood up and crept downstairs. He could hear the TV on. He peeked around the corner and saw Aunt Cass in front of it. Moshi, the cat, was on her lap; purring. He tried to step carefully back upstairs, but it squeaked. "Hiro?" Aunt Cass called.
"Hi..." Hiro said.
"What are you doing up?"
"I.. I had a weird dream and couldn't fall back to sleep."
"Oh hun, come here."
Hiro walked over and sat on the couch next to his aunt. She wrapped her arms around him. He wanted to pull away. To go back upstairs and curl up and cry. But he resisted the urge and hugged her back. She stroked his hair and rocked him like when he was little. A tear escaped him.
"Are you crying, hun?" she asked.
"No..." Hiro sniffled.
"It's okay, peanut," she looked down at him, tears falling down her cheeks. Hiro lay his head on her shoulder and closed his eyes. All he wanted was to be little again and be able to curl up in her lap like he used to. And Tadashi. He wanted Tadashi too.


So I wanted there to be a certain closeness between Hiro and Aunt Cass. There are more chapters coming that really show the dynamics of their relationship. Again, hope you like it and much love!