Brothers

14

Ages

Hiro: 12

Tadashi: 17

Hiro's POV

In my defense, it seemed like a pretty good idea at the time. Also, if Tadashi could do it, I figured I could too. Boy was I wrong. Way off. Like if the answer to a math problem was 24, I got 900/32. That's how jacked up this was. You're probably wondering what the heck I'm talking about and if not, too bad I'm going to tell you anyway.

It all started when Tadashi so foolishly claimed that he was smarter than me. Let's go back a bit.

About 30 minutes ago

Normal POV

Hiro was quietly working on a robot and Tadashi was just as silently watching in fascination. The silence was then broken by Tadashi's knowing chuckle. Hiro glanced up from his bot to look at his older brother. Tadashi didn't say anything and looked away on purpose to confuse Hiro.

The younger Hamada rose an eyebrow. "Yes Tadashi? Is there something you want to say?" he questioned, hand on his chin. Tadashi looked at him with a smile.

"I just think it's funny that you think you're so smart when you made a rookie mistake." He said, clearly amused. Hiro raised both his eyebrows. "Oh yeah big shot? Enlighten me, what'd I do?" Hiro asked. Tadashi shrugged. "Hey, you're the super genius. I think you can figure it out." The older Hamada said plainly, retreating to his bed. Hiro looked frustrated, but none the less, checked over his robot. Finding absolutely nothing wrong or anything he could improve, he walked over to Tadashi, who was biting back an amused grin. Hiro waited for an explanation.

Out of nowhere, Tadashi started laughing. Hiro did not look amused. "Tadashi, I seriously couldn't find anything wrong with it. What did I do?" Hiro asked. "Wow Hiro. I didn't think you'd fall for it, but you did. This is hilarious." Tadashi said, his laughter dying down. Finally, Hiro realized he was being doped. "Real mature Tadashi." Hiro said, walking back to his robot.

"Hey, it's not my fault I'm smarter than you little bro." Tadashi said playfully. Hiro turned to face his older brother, a look of utter disbelief playing his features. "Tadashi, that's ridiculous. I think the entire world knows that I'm way smarter than you'll ever be." He retaliated. Tadashi raised an eyebrow.

"Oh is that so?" the older Hamada asked. Hiro nodded in confirmation, going back to working on his robot. "Prove it." Tadashi said simply. Hiro stood up and pointed a finger at his older brother. "There is nothing that you can do or understand that I can't." he said confidently.

"Go to college, be an older brother, look like this, drive a moped." Tadashi said, listing things off. Hiro scoffed as it the things he mentioned were mere child's play.

"I totally COULD go to college, I CHOSE not to. I can be an older brother and look like you, because of that machine I built." Hiro said satisfied. "Hmm, okay, but what about that last one?" Tadashi asked. "Totally COULD drive your moped." He said nonchalantly. "Oh really Hiro? Prove it." Tadashi said, knowing Hiro both couldn't and wouldn't.

Too bad he was WRONG.

"Alright." Hiro said, heading out the door to the outside world. Tadashi widened his eyes. "Unbelievable." He said, running after him.

Tadashi's POV

I went outside only to see Hiro firing up my moped, looking determined. "Hiro, get off of that now!" I cried, getting worried that he was serious. Hiro looked back to meet my concerned gaze. "Don't worry Tadashi, I've got my helmet on like you forced me to remember to wear every time I get on." He assured. My eyes widened more as if it were even possible.

"Hiro please! You're not thinking clearly. Get off!" I plead. Hiro shakes his head. "Not until I prove that I'm smarter." He said, revving up the engine. I blink and see a flashback of mom and dad getting in a car crash, ending their lives. I couldn't let that happen to Hiro.

"Hiro, you're smarter, way smarter. I'm sorry I ever even competed against you. Just please get down." I beg, down on my knees now. Hiro looks me over. He looks like he's considering getting down and I feel a spark of hope. He's off of the moped and I smile in relief. "Thank god Hiro. What were you thinking?! You could've been seriously injured. You don't even know how to ride one!" I scold.

Hiro then hops back onto the moped and I get a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. "Hiro?!" I question. "You still don't believe I can do it, so I have to prove it to you." He said, pride taking over his face.

My heart starts beating at an uncontrollably unhealthy rate and I start running over to the moped. I nearly grab the hoodie of my idiotic brother's jacket when he drives off. Panic overtakes me and I'm at a loss for a full 30 seconds when I remember that Aunt Cass has a car and I scramble to get into it and drive off after Hiro.

Hiro's POV

Well, that's the beginning anyway. Now you're gonna see what the real deal is. So here I am, driving in Tadashi's moped. It really isn't that hard. I bet a 10 year old could do it. It's ridiculously simple. Suddenly, I hear someone honk behind me and I turn around (Since I'm at a red light, so it's safe, don't worry) to see Tadashi in Aunt Cass's car?!

He's saying something to me, but I can't hear him. He looks frightened out of his mind and frustrated like crazy. He rolls the window down and screams again. "HIRO GET OFF OF THE MOPED NOW! YOU PROVED YOU CAN DRIVE IT ALREADY SO GET OFF. YOU WERE RIGHT!" he yells like crazy. I decide to mess with him since he's such a stick in the mud. I put a finger to my chin and pretend to think.

"I don't know Tadashi, now that I think about, this is actually pretty fun. That, and it's a green light so I kind of have to go." I say, speeding off away from him.

Despite the fact that I'm doing this to mess with Tadashi, it really is fun to drive. Now I know why Tadashi didn't get a car instead of a moped. The feel of the wind as you zoom across the city is unbelievably breathtaking. I could do this all day, every day.

Tadashi moves his car to the lane next to me and tries to get me off again. "Hiro please. I can't watch you do this!" He reasons. I sigh. Deciding I've scared him enough, I plan to stop. "Alright worry wart. I'm stopping at the upcoming gas station!" I yell to him. "Thank you!" he cries in relief.

There's a red light coming up and I press the breaks, only the moped isn't slowing down. I feel fear and panic and a whole other bunch of emotions swirling into my mind at unhealthy paces. "Hiro stop the moped, there's a red light!" Tadashi cries. I feel tears pricking my face. This was a stupid idea. I never should've done this. It's exactly what Tadashi was afraid of. I don't have the heart to tell him. This is going to break him. I wipe the tears away and try to talk to Tadashi, but my voice cracks regardless.

"T-Tadashi I'm s-so sorry." I say, tears welling up again; only this time, I don't try to wipe them away. I run the red light just as a car crashes into the side of the moped, barely missing me, but causing me to go flying across the street. I scream in terror and shield my face, not wanting to see anything. I feel immense pain shooting all over my body and I can't do anything. I slowly move my hands away from my face and see a car coming for me again. I finally come to my senses and move away, toward the curb just as it's about to make impact with my body.

I try to wipe the ever coming tears away, but new ones just come back too fast and I can't stop. The feeling I got when I was younger just flew past me and I had a flashback. The time my parents and I were in a car crash. The break stopped working and I couldn't do anything. This was the second time I came to a near death experience. My heart can't take it and I can't stop the tears from flowing. I manage to hear frantic footsteps approach me despite my heavy and loud sobbing. I look up to see a beyond worried Tadashi.

He rushes to me and cradles me in his arms, making me feel a bit safer. I snuggle into him and can't meet his gaze. His hurt look would only make it worse.

I saw the fear in his eyes when he begged and pleaded for me to not drive the stinking moped. How can I face him now?

"D-Dashi, I'm sorry. I'm so so sorry." I hiccup. Tadashi shushed me and held me tight, not showing any signs of letting me go anytime soon. I clench onto his shirt tighter and feel anger surge through me. How could I have been so stupid? I ruined Tadashi's moped and more importantly, probably caused him all sorts of pain.

"Dashi, I'm so sorry I ruined your moped." I whisper. He simply shushed me again, rocking me back and forth soothingly. "Hiro, I don't care about the stupid moped. You're okay. That's all that matters." He said softly. His voice sounded somewhat broken, making me feel horrible.

"Dashi I- "You don't have to say anything Hiro. I was still proven wrong. You can ride the moped. The break not working wasn't your fault." He said, cutting me off. I looked down. That didn't make me feel better at all. I didn't know what to do or say, so I just stayed close to Tadashi, trying my hardest to get over the shock of it all.

After what felt like hours, Tadashi got up, but to my surprise, he picked me up. He must've been pretty strong to do that now. The last time I remembered him picking me up was when I was 10, and that was only because I sprained my ankle.

"Tadashi?" I ask. "Hiro, I think you're too banged up to walk. Where does it hurt?" he asks me. I touch my arms and legs. "I'm just sore in places. Nothing feels broken. I think I have some bruises near my ribs, but nothing too serious." I report. "Thank god." Tadashi said.

When we get home, I tug at Tadashi's shirt. He looks at me with concern. "You're not gonna tell Aunt Cass about this are you?" I ask carefully. Tadashi looks at me. His lips are tightly pressed together. "Hiro, you know I have to." He says patiently. "Dashi please?" I beg, using the nickname to try and wheedle out of it. Tadashi looks away from me.

"Hiro, you almost got killed. I can't just not let Aunt Cass know what happened. Besides, she'll find out that my moped's missing." Tadashi reasoned.

We're standing at the door and I'm getting cold feet. "Dashi, I'm scared." I say as he lets me down on the ground. He pats me on the shoulder. "I know Hiro, but this is for the best." He says. He's about to open the door when I grab his arm and pull him back. He looks at me with a tired expression.

"D-do you ever wonder what it would've been like?" I ask carefully.

"What?"

"I-if I died in that car crash too. Or if mom and dad survived but I didn't?" I ask, voice cracking. Tadashi pulled me into a mandatory hug. "Don't even think about things like that. I don't and neither should you. I'm happy you're here. I don't question why fate chose to keep you alive, but if I had to guess, I would say it's because we need each other. Don't dwell too much on these things though bonehead. I'm just happy you're safe." He says quietly.

"Tadashi, you're obviously a lot smarter than me." I say.

"Hiro, if I had to choose between being slightly intelligent and your safety, I'd choose the latter in a heartbeat, you know that right?" he asks. I gulp. "I do now." I say.

He pulls out of the hug and I let him open the door, bracing myself for Aunt Cass's yelling, questioning, and fussing over the both of us in a few seconds. But walking with Tadashi, I think I can handle it.

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