Tadashi had hoped Hiro would make more friends once he started school, but it seemed Hiro and Ezra only talked to each other. He knew he shouldn't worry, they hadn't been in school all that long, but it was hard not to. At least Hiro had someone unlike him when he was in school. Though he was worried about the amount of time Hiro was spending with Ezra, he was more worried about how he was becoming less outgoing.
After moving into the mansion, Hiro had been slowly warming up to Fred and Heathcliff and getting more comfortable talking to strangers, ever since he started school though he started getting nervous again when with people he didn't know. Tadashi knew he should be more concerned, but all his energy was spent bouncing between school and work. On days he had school he would drop Hiro off for school, head to school for his first two classes, go pick Hiro up then head back to school for an evening class before heading back to the mansion to work on homework or work around the house. It was only a month into the school year and Tadashi was already exhausted.
Though Tadashi struggled to balance everything out, Hiro excelled in his classes. Hiro's teachers even talked about having him skip a grade or two. Hiro was smart, probably even smarter than Tadashi was and his ease of doing his schoolwork showed that. Hiro's teacher and the school insisted that Hiro skip at least one grade. As they drove back to the mansion, Tadashi could tell Hiro was nervous, thought about what Tadashi had no idea. Once they arrived, Tadashi led Hiro up to their shared room.
"Hiro I'm really proud of how well you've been doing in your classes," Tadashi said once they were in their room.
"Really?" Hiro asked, looking hopeful and scared. Of what Tadashi wasn't entirely sure.
"Yea and your teachers too. They want to have you skip a grade so you can do work that will be a little challenging for you. Isn't that exciting?"
"Will Ezra move with me?" Hiro asked making Tadashi's heart sink a little.
"Well…no. He'll be moving up normally," Tadashi explained.
"Then I don't want to skip a grade!" Hiro declared, crossing his arms.
"Hiro, skipping grades will be good for you!" Tadashi exclaimed. He really thought Hiro would be happy about this.
"I want to stay with Ezra though!" Hiro exclaimed. "He's my friend!"
"You can make other friends though," Tadashi countered. "If you'd try talking to the other kids I'm sure they'd lo-"
"Why do I have to skip?" Hiro demanded.
"Hiro you're not learning anything right now so they think you'd do better advancing to a higher grade," Tadashi explained. "Aren't you bored in your classes?"
"No…" Hiro said, but Tadashi knew he was lying. Hiro's teachers told him about how Hiro never paid attention and usually was drawing or distracting Ezra in class. Though Hiro was able to do well in his class without paying attention, Ezra didn't have that same luxury.
"Hiro you can still be friends with Ezra, me and Fred are dating and we go to different schools!" Tadashi reasoned, but Hiro wasn't having it.
"Why can't I stay in the same grade like all the normal kids!" Hiro shouted. Normal kids? What did he mean by that?
"You're a really smart kid Hiro, the school wants to put you in a place where you can learn and want to pay attention in class," Tadashi said, fighting back a groan. Tadashi pictured this conversation going a lot better.
"I don't need to though!" Hiro argued.
"Hiro as long as you're doing so well in your classes, the school will want to put you in a higher level and I agree," Tadashi said. "We're just trying to do what's best for you and I want you to be in an environment where you can be interested in learning. Does that make sense?" Hiro glared at Tadashi before huffing,
"Yes." And storming over to his bed and lying down in it facing away from Tadashi. Groaning, Tadashi collapsed into his own bed, praying that this would be the end of it.
Unfortunately, Tadashi's prayers where not answered. Two days later Tadashi got another call from Hiro's teacher asking for him to come in for an emergency meeting. When Tadashi arrived Hiro was sitting out in the hallway with his teacher, Mrs. Mathews, waiting with him.
"Mr. Hamada thank you for coming on such short notice."
"It's no problem," Tadashi assured.
"Hiro, wait out here while I talk to your fa-"
"He's my brother," Hiro huffed.
"I know I'm sorry," Mrs. Mathews said, sounding genuinely apologetic. Hiro didn't respond and refused to look at either of them as Mrs. Mathews ushered Tadashi into her classroom.
"What's wrong?" Tadashi asked once the door was shut.
"Please have a seat," She said, so Tadashi awkwardly leaned against one of the desks near the front, and Mrs. Mathews sat down behind her desk. "Is there anything going on at home that could affect Hiro's schooling?"
The question momentarily confused Tadashi. "Um…no not really…" Tadashi slowly said. "We talked about him skipping a grade and he was pretty upset about that…well he was upset about not being in the same class as Ezra and mentioned wanting to be 'normal'."
"That's what I was afraid of," Mrs. Mathews sighed, picking up a piece of paper and handing it to Tadashi. "This is the quiz Hiro took yesterday." Confused, Tadashi glanced over the paper, shocked to find a large F written across the top. Tadashi scanned the paper, and to his surprise found that Hiro got every answer wrong. And the questions where for very basic addition and subtraction, he knew how to do that long before he got into school.
"Do you think he failed on purpose?" Tadashi asked.
"I'm almost positive," Mrs. Mathews said. "Hiro has gotten perfect scores on exams like this before and with how he's been acting lately…."
"How has he been acting?" Tadashi asked in concern.
Mrs. Mathews sighed and said, "Well…Hiro has been getting picked on lately…it hasn't gotten physical yet but I am concerned."
"You think Hiro would hit someone?" Tadashi asked, stunned.
"No, but I think Ezra might," Mrs. Mathews corrected.
"Really?" Tadashi asked, surprised.
"He's already threatened violence against some of the children bullying Hiro," She explained. "I've set up a meeting with his parents but I believe it's probably why Hiro doesn't want to leave. He's clinging to his only friend. He won't go near any of the other children, even those who were nice to Hiro before in fact the only student he lets near him is Ezra and now he won't talk to anyone besides Hiro."
"That doesn't sound healthy…" Tadashi said.
"It's not," Mrs. Mathews sighed. "I believe that having Hiro skip a grade will be beneficial for them both. He needs to be in an environment where he can actually learn and not be afraid of ridicule, and maybe if Hiro is in a different class Ezra might actually pay attention as well."
"How will skipping a grade help with teasing?" Tadashi asked.
"I hope that if he's surrounded by students learning the same things he is, he can fit in a little better." The whole thing didn't sit right with Tadashi, but who was he to argue with a teacher?
"I do agree Hiro should be challenged at school," Tadashi agreed.
"Good," Mrs. Mathews said. "I'll bring Hiro inside and see if we can talk to him about all of this." Tadashi nodded his head and Mrs. Mathews stood and walked over to the door to call Hiro in. He shuffled inside the room, refusing to look at Tadashi or Mrs. Mathews and sat down in the desk next to the one Tadashi was leaning against. Tadashi sat down in the chair and said,
"Hey Hiro…um…we need to talk…"
"I'm sorry I'm stupid," Hiro said, shrugging. "I know you wanted me to skip a grade." Tadashi wanted to yell and scream at Hiro but he realized that wouldn't get him anywhere. So instead he decided to try a different approach.
"Hiro if you're having so much trouble with such basic math we may have to hold you back a grade." Tadashi informed Hiro.
"What?" Hiro asked, looking completely shattered. Tadashi hated to do this to him, but he needed to get Hiro to understand this wasn't the solution.
"Yea, kids who can't understand the subject get held back a year. So if you failed you also would not be in the same grade as Ezra." Hiro sniffled and started to cry, making Tadashi's heart clench.
"Why can't I be friends with Ezra?" Frowning, Tadashi slid off of the chair and kneeled down next to Hiro and asked,
"Hey wait why do you think you can't be friends with Ezra if you're not in the same grade?"
"The other kids said that freaks like me get taken away and can't ever see their friends and family again," Hiro said, sniffling. Worried, Tadashi wrapped an arm around Hiro and whispered,
"Listen to me buddy that's not true. You will not get taken way. All that will happen is you'll be in a different class room. I promise you can still be friends with Ezra and see him whenever you'd like okay?"
"Really?" Hiro asked, looking up at Tadashi hopefully.
"I swear those kids lied through their teeth," Tadashi assured. Hiro nodded and tried to wipe away his tears as Mrs. Mathew added,
"And sweetie, you won't be moved until the end of the year okay? The school won't let you be moved until then." Hiro nodded, but he could tell Hiro wasn't happy about this.
"Is it okay if I take him home?" Tadashi asked.
"Of course," Mrs. Mathews assured. "I'll talk to him tomorrow." Tadashi nodded and picked Hiro up, carrying him back outside to the car. Tadashi hoped that by the time the jump had to happen Hiro would be more okay with this.