Chapter 11

Honey, Gogo, Wasabi and Fred sat at their spot in the garage, listening to what Hiro had to say. Hiro had told them most of the stories from Asch. He didn't know what to do, so he was forced to seek his friends' help. All four of them glanced up at each other. They were discussing via eye contact.

Gogo was the first to speak up, "I think we should turn her in, Hiro."

"What? No... Anything but that, guys..." Hiro muttered.

He looked more messed up than ever now that he knew his girlfriend was involved.

"Think about it, Hiro. She might get the weapon back and keep on killing them," Honey suggested.

"I love her...I can't do that..." the boy said.

Wasabi tapped his shoulder and said, "It's because you love her that you should turn her in..."

Baymax blinked a few times as if he was thinking about something.

"I will have to break up my promise to Alicia..." he spoke up.

All eyes were on him and Fred asked, "What do you mean, Baymax?"

"Alicia confessed to me that she is the murderer, that she is the one killing these people. She also told me about Ashley...her twin sister," Baymax explained.

"Baymax...what did Alicia tell you?" Hiro demanded.

"Ashley used to love playing with sharp objects. She was the one who taught Alicia how to handle a knife. She taught gymnasium to Alicia. Alicia said that Ashley thought she may need the knowledge in the future. Alicia used to be a quieter before Ashley's death..." the robot explained.

"Was Alicia the one who killed Ashley?" Gogo asked.

Baymax blinked once before answering, "I do not know. She looked as if she was in doubt herself. She mentioned that her memories of the time were vague..."

Hiro looked away from the group. He was thinking hard of what to do. He didn't want to turn his girlfriend in. He loves her. Gogo, Honey, Fred and Wasabi discussed it among themselves. They knew it was hard on Hiro and it could be harder on Alicia since she didn't know she was the culprit behind the murders. Hiro decided to beg them to hold their thoughts about turning the girl in. They gave him 3 days to decide. Hiro paid a visit to Alicia that night. He asked her family's permission to take her out for some fresh air. Since Asch had told them everything, they let Hiro have Alicia for the night.

"Is there anything particular that you want to talk about?" she asked as they got down from his motorbike.

Hiro stared at the night sky. There were no stars at all that night. He didn't know how to start what he was about to say. Alicia waited for him to speak up. The cold breeze hit her cheeks and she shivered a bit. Hiro stood closer to her. She blinked at her boyfriend a few times before smiling sheepishly. Without thinking twice, the boy pulled her into a hug.

She returned the hug, asking, "Hiro...is there something wrong?"

Hiro took a deep breath before whispering, "I knew..."

Widening her eyes, the girl pushed him away. She was stunned. She stared at the ground. Hiro didn't say anything. There was silence in the air for a couple of minutes. Hiro waited for Alicia to say something but she just stood there.

"Asch told me...and Baymax, too. He blurted everything because he was worried about you," the black haired explained.

"So...are you turning me in?" was the first sentence that came out of her mouth.

"My gang suggested I should, but...I love you. I can't bring myself to do that..." Hiro replied, sighing.

"Please, break up with me..." she muttered.

Hiro, stunned by her words, didn't reply. It was getting late. He decided to send her back and then, go home himself. After Hiro left, Alicia went to her room. Kate wondered what happened but Asch stopped her from asking. He could guess what had happened. He didn't want anyone to bother Alicia for the time being. Knowing their oldest son, the parents agreed to his decision. Alicia locked herself inside her room that night, crying herself to sleep.

"Where are you going, Asch?" Mr Koizumi asked his son.

"I need to go see Hiro. He needs me as much as my sister does," Asch replied calmly.

"Be sure to come back," his father said.

Asch nodded. He was on his way to the café after that. When he got there, Hiro was about to set off with Baymax to clear his mind. Asch smiled to him.

"Can I join you?" he asked.

"I guess…" Hiro muttered.

Asch climbed on Baymax's right arm. The robot titled his head at the smiling guy. He took off once Hiro gave the cue. The fourteen-year-old didn't say a word as they flew. Asch didn't know how to start the conversation either. He just knew that he had to discuss the matter with the leader of Big Hero 6. He kept on staring at Hiro's face.

Hiro asked, "Is there something you need?"

"It's about Alicia…" Asch replied calmly.

They stopped at the beach on the east side of the city. Asch got down and so did Hiro. The boy took off his helmet, looking at the sunrise. He turned to Asch with a solemn face.

"Did she tell you what happened between us?" he asked.

Shaking his head once, the brother replied, "Nope, but I could guess. She's not good at hiding her feelings."

Hiro sat down and replied, "I see…"

Asch sat beside him, gazing at the sunrise too. "I think you should turn her in," he suggested.

"Are you sure? She's your sister…" the teen said, glancing up at Asch, "Her punishment could be severe…"

"I know… We all do. I think father can work that out," Asch replied, sighing, "The fact that she is my sister makes me want to turn her in. There is a high chance she would continue this if we let it be anyway…"

"Last time you said she will use the same weapon and since it was taken away, she can't murder anyone at all. That weapon is some kind of drive to make her kill," Hiro replied, protesting Asch's idea.

Sighing, Alicia's brother replied, "I know my sister. She'll find a way…and if you tell her that it was my decision to turn her in, she'll accept it."

"Well, I don't! I don't want her to be locked in a jail because of me!" Hiro shouted angrily.

"Someday, this information will leak and the whole city will know that she is the murderer! AT that time, you can't do anything to save her," Asch said.

"I can! I am the hero! They'll listen to me!" the boy replied.

"They will start looking at you as the person who takes advantage of your job as a hero. You just want to save her because she is someone you love…" the red haired explained.

"I do love her!" Hiro insisted.

"Well, you don't love her enough to save her!" Asch shouted back.

Silence was in the air after that. Hiro looked down at the sand. The sun had risen, and it was the beginning of a new day. Asch told Hiro that he would take a cab back to the café to get his motorbike. He left the boy with Baymax. Hiro contemplated for a few minutes. Baymax stood beside him, analysing his condition. The robot didn't say anything, though.

"Baymax…did I make the wrong choice?" Hiro asked.

"You did what you think is right, Hiro. I do not have the power to make decisions according to your heart," Baymax replied.

"Hmm…" Hiro muttered.

They went back to the café. The gang was there when he arrived. All eyes were on him as he entered the garage.

"Hey, we heard from Asch," Honey Lemon started.

"Hmm…" Hiro replied, not even looking at them.

"You should decide soon Hiro… We really need you to," Gogo spoke up.

"I know… I still have two days, right?" the boy asked.

The gang nodded to his question. They left him alone after that. Hiro decided to help out at the café that day. Since there were no more murders going around, most parts of the town had become peaceful again. More people came to their café like always. Aunt Cass was relieved but she knew her nephew had a lot in his mind. He was smiling at all of the customers that came by. Most girls his age would flirt with him, seeing that Alicia was absent. He ignored them. His thoughts were on Alicia. Suddenly, a familiar girl came by.

"Welcome!" Aunt Cass said like always.

Kate smiled and nodded to her. She went straight to Hiro who was at the counter at the time. He didn't even look at her. She tapped the counter a few times to grab his attention.

"K-Kate?! What are you doing here?" Hiro blurted.

"So like you to not notice me… I know I'm small and all…" Kate muttered angrily.

"Who is that little girl?" a girl whispered.

"She's like in elementary school… Who does she think she is, asking Hiro to notice her…" another was heard.

Kate turned to them with a death glare. "Yeah…you might wanna keep it down a bit. Even if I am a slut who thinks I'm important to Hiro, it is none of your business whatsoever…" she shot at them.

The girls turned to leave after paying. Hiro sweatdropped at her words while Aunt Cass laughed. Who would have thought Kate was that smart.

"I have to protect Alicia sometimes because any girl who saw her would pick on her for being your girlfriend," she explained.

"I see… Why are you here today?" Hiro asked.

Kate's expression turned sad. "Alicia won't come out of her room at all. I asked Asch what happened but he won't give me all the details…" she sighed.

"So you came to me…" the black haired guessed.

"You won't tell me, right?" she guessed.

Hiro nodded and replied, "All I can say is that give your sister time. I need time as well…"

"Okay then. One vanilla creamed doughnut and a cup of tea please…" she sighed again.

She went to sit at the right corner of the café. She put on her headphones and stared out through the window. Hiro served her orders and left her alone. Kate had had her own ways of dealing with her curiosity. Since she is a prodigy almost like Hiro, she developed her own way of ignoring her thoughts and her surroundings so that she would not be dwelling on them. Hiro continued minding the cash register after that.

"Is Kate alright?" Aunt Cass asked him.

"Yeah, she's fine. She wanted me to show some more of my inventions to her. I told her not today…" Hiro lied.

"You should be a little nice to the girl. Are you trying to make Alicia angry again?" his aunt remarked, teasing him. "By the way, how is she doing?"

Hiro smiled and replied, "She's doing fine. I went to see her last night. She's doing great."

Aunt Cass was oblivious of the fact that Alicia was the murderer. She nodded to Hiro's words and continued serving the customers as usual. Hiro kept on thinking of what he should do about Alicia. He loves her and would never want to make her sad.

"Alicia, it's lunch time. Come and help out," Asch called for his sister.

Alicia reluctantly opened her door. She dragged herself to the kitchen. Their parents were away for three days starting that day. Asch and Alicia had to take care of their two younger siblings, especially Joey. Asch glanced up at his sister. Her eyes were swollen and her cheeks were puffy from all the crying she did the whole night as well as morning. He didn't want to ask her. The girl would tell him anything once she is ready. They decided to make vegetable soup and fried chicken that day. They were quite simple and would not take much time, which meant Alicia would not have to be out of her room too long.

"I'm back…" Kate announced, closing the door behind her.

She turned to the kitchen to see her two older siblings. She blinked a few times, walking to the living room after that. Joey was colouring a book she had just bought for him. He was smiling as he did. Kate sat beside him.

"What are you doing there, Lil' bro?" she cooed.

"Colouwing…a wabbit…" Joey muttered.

"That is…a unique colour for a rabbit. Pink?" she asked.

"Shish Awicia loves pink…" he replied absentmindedly.

Kate smiled. Joey is still young but he understood when his siblings have problems. He would try to find ways he is capable of doing to cheer them up. Kate sat there with him until he was done colouring the rabbit.

"Kate, lunch is ready. Bring Joey with you…" Asch called.

Kate turned to him, replying, "Okayyyy…"

She picked Joey up. When she got to the table, Alicia was not there. Asch told her that she took her lunch to her room. Kate nodded.

"Shish Awicia okay?" Joey asked.

"She's fine, Joey. She just wants to watch a movie while eating…" Asch replied which was an obvious lie.

"I just hope everything will be okay soon… It's lonely without her…" Kate muttered.

"I know. I hope so too," Asch replied.

They ate their lunch quietly.