To those wondering yes, Jack's friend was meant to be Hiccup.
December 21: Sunday
Theme: 19. Ham
It was quite possible that Hiro liked Tadashi.
Hiro dropped the ham sandwich he had been eating as the realization hit him. Then he proceeded to slam his head into the table.
"This." Slam. "Can't." Slam. "Be." Slam. "Happening."
Hiro rested his chin on the table, slumped over. He squeezed his eyes shut as thoughts swam in his head. Late last night, Hiro had been researching romantic relationships, signs to know you were in love and much much more. If anything, it had left him more confused and hadn't helped in any way. Hiro had stumbled off to bed, mind restless and sleep did not come easily.
Then this morning as he made a simple ham sandwich for breakfast, his mind whirled in a different direction.
'Could I see myself in a relationship with Tadashi?'
The subconscious immediate reaction to that was yes.
Hiro groaned. Why did Jack have to tell him that? Hiro would have been happily ignorant of it. 'But if Tadashi likes you back, this is something that would have happened sooner than later. At least you'll be aware now,' his mind argued. If Hiro was aware, then he could process his thoughts now instead of later.
Hiro opened his eyes and took a deep breath. "Okay, let's try something different. What's the difference between my friendship with Jack and my friendship with Tadashi?"
Hiro had known Jack for longer, even if he wasn't aware they had been friends all that time. Jack was comfortable to be around, always willing to impart advice whenever Hiro needed it. Hiro felt… grounded around Jack, like a support he could lean on. Jack seemed to know when to push, when to leave Hiro be. He seemed to know when to cheer up Hiro up, always ready to distract him when the dark thoughts of guilt and sorrow threatened to consume Hiro.
Tadashi… Tadashi brought a smile to Hiro's face. Hiro was happy to see Tadashi. Hiro enjoyed the conversations they had. Tadashi also understood the seemingly technical babble that Hiro subconsciously sprouted, even throwing in his own input. Without even trying, Tadashi would sweep Hiro away, pulling him along on a different adventure. That was evident in the way Hiro had gone out sledding, had endured a shopping trip just because Tadashi asked. Tadashi with his easy acceptance and his wide smile. Hiro felt warm around Tadashi, like being wrapped in a warm blanket, safe and sound.
Both of them didn't care about Hiro's status as a child prodigy, didn't care about the incident in New Yosaka.
Tadashi saw.
And maybe Jack did too.
But there was something, just something, about Tadashi that clicked into place. Like a missing piece of a puzzle that slotted neatly into place just by being near Tadashi. It made Hiro's heart aflutter and felt… right. As lamely as it sounded, that was the best Hiro could come up with.
"Okay…" Hiro said to himself quietly. "Okay. So based on that and what I read last night on the internet… it is quite possible that I like Tadashi. It's a reasonable hypothesis and..." Hiro took a deep breath, cheeks flushing red at the memories of the time Tadashi had caught him in the café and cradled Hiro in his arms. "There is… reasonable evidence to support that claim."
And if Jack was to be believed, Tadashi liked him back?
Hiro's breath hitched as he flushed an even brighter shade of red. He went back to slamming his head against the table. "Why." Slam. "Me?" Slam.
Hiro ran a hand through his hair before picking up the ham sandwich he dropped to toss it away. What a mess this was turning out to be. Hiro let out a heavy sigh.
"What am I gonna do?"