Welcome back! I'm istening to Chameleon Circuit (whoops). So here we gos Chapter 2! {so apparently Kaori is pronounced COW-Ree. i dont like that, so the pronunciantion for my character is Kay-or-ee. and Shibata she-ba-ta. simple. Kao is simple Kay-o}

The train was long, but Kaori was to excited to care. Her father had moved them to the family estate in New Yorea after her accident, believe the massive yet secluded grounds to be better for a healing 13 year old than a apartment in The middle of the city.

After having settled into the dorm on campus, Kaori decided that there was no better way to get re-aquatinted with her old city than to walk around. Walking up and down the many hills, she could feeling the curious glances of some at her floor length red dress in summer, but Kaori paid them no mind, simply straightened her blue jean jacket and carried on. After about an hour of walking, she came across a quaint little coffee shop called the Lucky Cat.

She quietly swept in, going directly up to the counter. A coffee and a slice of cake would be fine.

Only, Kaori was not prepared for who the woman behind the counter was. "Aunt Cass?" She asks incredibly, baffled.

"Wha- Kaori? Kaori Shibata?!" The woman was just as baffled as the teen.

Aunt Cass quickly recovered, and rushed out from behind the counter to give the girl a hug, only to find that the black haired girl was at least three inches taller.

"You've grown so much!" She gushes, taking a step back to inspect Kaori. "It's been what? Five years?"

Kaori nods, and Cass shakes her head and jumps at a thud overhead. She glares at the ceiling, muttering 'boys.'

She blinks, looking at Kaori sharply. "Boys!"

"Hold on one moment!" Cass pivots on her toes, holding one finger out in front of her and sort of dancing backwards. The woman disappears up a flight of stairs, leaving Kaori behind.

She returns not a moment later with two boys behind her. One was short, not much shorter than Kaori herself had been at the time of the accident. The other was taller than Cass, and had his hands stuffed in his pockets.

With a start, Kaori realized she was looking at Tadashi and Hiro Hamada, her two best friends when she had been living in San Fransokyo.

"Tadashi?!" She gasps, at the same time the elder boys says "Kaori?"

"Oh man, it's good to see you Kaori." Tadashi rubs the back of his head nervously, while Hiro just smiles.

"Hey."

"I forgot your aunt owned a café. Complete shock when I went up to order and there she was!" Kaori laughs.

"You came to get something! What would you like, Kaori?" Cass exclaims.

"Strongest coffee and a slice of chocolate cake, please. I need to make it back to campus before I pass out." Kaori chuckles. "Can't be tired for class tomorrow."

"Campus? You came back for university?" Tadashi asks.

By now, the Hamada brothers and Kaori had occupied one of the corner tables, not wanting to block any patrons.

"Yep." Her grin was a mile wide. "Father decided to let me go. I'll be starting at the Institute of Technology in the morning."

"SFIT?" Hiro asks. "Tadashi goes there."

Kaori graciously accepts the coffee Cass was offering to her, and smiles at the slice of thick chocolate cake. "Of course, you and all your robots."

"I can take you around campus if you want." Tadashi offers, and Kaori brightens.

"Really?" Kaori cheers. "Yes!"

"Nerds." Hiro snarks.

"Yep. This nerd is taking as many classes as possible." Kaori chirps. "I'm at SFIT during the day but night classes at San Fransokyo University of Design."

Tadashi looks flabbergasted. "Kaori, just how many classes are you taking?"

Kaori takes a sip of coffee, the strong black liquid scorching her throat a bit. "Well I have Higher Programming, Higher Robotics, and Chemistry at SFIT." She pauses, trying of think of more. "Oh! And Intro to Quantum Physics. But that's just for fun of course. And then Animation, Painting and Digital Art at SFUD."

"Whoa." Hiro looks amazed. "How are you supposed to do all of those?"

Kao grins, one that reminds Tadashi of all the times Kaori got the two of them in trouble for a crazy scheme when they were kids. It was a smile that meant really bad planning. "With Cass's strongest coffee and no sleep."

Hiro and Tadashi roll their eyes in sync, and Kao is reminded how alike the brothers are.

Polishing off the cake and coffee, Kao stands, leaving a twenty note tucked under the plate. "If it's not a problem, I'll take you up on that tour now."

Tadashi grins, also standing. "Of course, Kaori." He turns to Hiro. "If I find out you went bot fighting…" The brother leaves the threat hanging.

Hiro knew better than to disobey when Tadashi threatened him. Didn't mean he couldn't work on his bot. Hiro scampers up the stairs, almost tripping over Mochi.

Kao rolls her eyes at the retreating Hamada, and falls into step next to Tadashi as they make their way to campus.