Chapter 6 (Hiro's POV)

Today that stuffy little teacher's lounge at SFIT was actually welcoming. The greasy bag of chips I was eating was a little less so. Karmi was working at Viro Tech today, which left the sub desk empty. Now if only my brain could be just as empty. But I'd have no such luck, instead she was the main focus of my worries. I didn't like anything about tonight's art sting. Least of all that Karmi insisted on going… Fred and even Gogo seemed to like the idea, but it didn't sit right with me. If anyone got hurt, I'd never be able to forgive myself…

I heard the door open, but it didn't do much to pull my brain to the here and now. Or at least until I heard Granville. "I assumed a young man of your intelligence would understand basic facts of nutritional value, Mr. Hamada?"

I quickly lifted my feet off my desk and sat up straighter. "O-Oh this?"

She smiled, shaking her head. "What's on your mind, Hiro?"

It was the question I'd been expecting for a while now, it was the one she always seemed to ask me. Of course, I usually gave her reason to…

Turning her back to me she poured herself a cup of coffee, waiting for my answer. We were alone, so I let myself speak freely.

"We think we have a lead on the incident at the museum."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, it's still just a hunch, but we have a guess about what her next target might be."

"Another painting?" she guessed.

I nodded. "That's the idea. Surprisingly, all the paintings that were targeted in the attack had previously almost been lost in fires. Have you heard of the Misaki exhibition?"

She thought for a second before nodding. "Yes, I was quite a bit younger then, but I remember reports on the fire."

"Honey Lemon read up on it, apparently, there were only two paintings that survived. One of them was destroyed in the museum attack, and the other is owned by the Fredericksons, believe it or not."

"Interesting. What are you proposing to do with that information?"

I ran a nervous hand through my hair, not sure she'd approve of the idea any more than I did. "Fred suggested we set up an art exhibition event featuring the piece. Possibly lure the villain in where we get the jump on her."

She took a thoughtful sip of her coffee. "That seems a logical plan, so what's bothering you concerning it, Mr. Hamada?"

I glanced toward the empty sub table, not only thinking of Karmi, but anyone who could lose someone they loved there tonight.

"Real people are going to come. Aren't we putting them in danger? Danger they never consented to? We were desperate for a breakthrough, but I still think we should have done this some other way."

"Hmm, yes I see your point. So what are you going to do, can you call it off?"

I sighed. "I wish I could. Even if everyone in Big Hero 6 agrees, Mrs. Frederickson is dead set on the idea of the party. All the invitations have already been sent. It's too late at this point to do much about it."

"I see your dilemma. But it also means your next course of action is obvious."

"It is…?" I asked a little less convinced.

"You'll have to see your decision through, be it good or bad."

"I know…" I whispered with a sigh. "I have to make sure everyone is protected."

"And how is your hand healing?" she asked, as if to abruptly change the subject. But in reality, it was the subject. My injury not only made protecting everyone harder, but it was also a reminder of how useless I'd been in the museum encounter.

"Slowly," I said with a frown.

"Luckily," she emphasized. "You won't be alone." She looked at me carefully before saying exactly the words unspoken between the lines. "Protecting this city and her people isn't your sole responsibility, Hiro. If you behave as though it is, the weight will be more than any one man can bear on his shoulders. Big Hero 6 is a team effort."

Her eyes softened. "As is marriage, Hiro."

Without another word, she left me alone with my thoughts. I knew she was right but…

I looked back at that empty desk.

Maybe it wasn't quite the same, but it just reminded me of Tadashi's half of the room. Even filled with his things it still felt empty. Because he was…gone. And part of me still thought that was my fault.

I couldn't be to blame for anyone else dying.

I couldn't…

"Hiro you seem…tense," Baymax stated matter of factly.

I tried to smile at him. "I'm wearing a tux how can I not feel tense?" I stared at my reflection in the bathroom mirror, trying for the thousandth time to get my hair to cooperate.

"I have noted that formal clothing can have a somewhat stressful effect on the human nervous system."

"It's basically our Achilles heel," I sighed, giving up on getting my hair to lie down.

Pushing past Baymax in the hallway, I made my way to the living room. Five minutes went by without hearing so much as a hint from Karmi.

"Uh, we're kinda running late here?" I called toward the direction of the bedroom. "You know, I'd really hate for the evil supervillain to come and kill everyone before I even show up, Karms."

"Don't rush me, Hiro Hamada!" was all I heard back.

"Right…" I mumbled. "Woman rule number one…"

With nothing else to do, I turned my attention to straightening Baymax's bowtie. It was a little ridiculous looking, but also kinda funny in a charming sort of way. I was kinda hoping my messy hair would get half the mercy he would.

Another five minutes passed in tense silence before Baymax raised his finger in a matter-of-fact gesture. "We are late."

"I know, I'm coming, Baymax," Karmi answered in a much sweeter tone.

"Why is she nicer to you?" I asked, with no little playful frustration.

"I do not know," he answered innocently.

I was opening my mouth to snark back at her, but I closed it as soon as she appeared from the doorway.

"Okay, I'm ready."

I blinked, a little taken aback. But that moment of weakness would quickly be exploited. "And what are you staring at, Nerdboy?" she teased me, knowing she had the upper hand as always.

"You look…" I cleared my throat and smirked back at her. "A little less than ugly."

She playfully rolled her eyes. "Wow, how romantically worded. You're not too hideous yourself. Except for this hair, what is even going on here?" She tried to playfully swat the stray locks into place, but it was as hopeless as always.

"Don't talk about it please, let's just go."

"Okay fine, I was just going to say it gives you that crazy professor look."

I sighed as we headed for the door. "Great, what I've always wanted to embody…"

Jokes aside, I still didn't feel at ease about this party. Maybe in a small way, I was hoping the bait wouldn't work. We could be wrong about the paintings, couldn't we? We spent the walk to the exhibition in mostly silence. By the time the lights came into view, my heart was honestly hammering.

"Okay," I whispered to Karmi. "Remember the plan, at the first sign of trouble, head for the exit. Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

"That's my line, Hiro," she quipped back, squeezing my hand.

With that, we plunged headlong into the crowd. I'd seen some of the upper crust that Fred's family knew before, but never from so up close. Between jewelry and other valuables, no criminal in their right mind would break in just to destroy one painting. It was obvious she wasn't in it for the money. That just made things feel even more dangerous…

I'd learned it the hard way from Obake, from Di Amara, and even from Callghan himself, how dangerous deeper motivations could be.

So what did she really want? Who was she in the first place?

"Hiro, Karmi!" I looked up to see Fred waving us over.

I knew the undercover mission called for it, but it was still strange seeing Gogo wearing anything formal. Maybe even a little stranger to know she was Fred's date. But one thing life had taught me, was to expect the unexpected.

"You guys have got to try these little cocktail sausages, they're awesome!" he shouted excitedly.

"Do you always think with your stomach?" Gogo grumbled, clearly awkward about being seen wearing the formal getup.

"Not always, but why not enjoy the evening?"

"We'll we're undercover for one…" she whispered back.

He smiled at her. "The way I see it, we can do both. So, why don't we try to blend into the dance floor?"

She cringed. "I don't dance."

"But we're undercover?" he pressed, like a kid asking for arcade money. "And when in Rome…"

"Don't push it," she grumbled.

His face softened into a slightly more serious look. "If it's not me asking, it'll just be some other guy." He smiled matter-of-factly. "You're too beautiful to leave on the sidelines!"

She blushed and I admit, I almost laughed. Because for once, it wasn't me and Karmi caught in the awkward emotional crossfire.

"Fine," she said shoving him forward. "But if the attack doesn't happen soon, I'll trash the painting myself just to get out of this."

"Well," I said with a playful sigh. "She's not making it easy on Fred."

"It's just an outward show," she scoffed. "It's a typical relationship dynamic for their personality types."

I rolled my eyes. "Oh, sorry I doubted your infinite shipper wisdom."

She elbowed me in the side, and I almost forgot anything but our banter. "Don't make that mistake again, Hiro, or you'll regret it."

I smiled. "Yes, ma'am."

"Speaking of shipper wisdom…" she whispered a little shyly. "Did you mean what you said before?" She laughed awkwardly. "Because I feel kinda stupid in this dress…"

Even with us being married, I still expected moments like this to be a little awkward. But somehow, it wasn't, because there was a part of us that was still first and foremost best friends…

"Let me think…" I teased.

"Hiro!"

I kissed her cheek. "You look beautiful. And hey, at least you don't have your hand in a tacky cast like some people."

She grinned at me. "I'm thinking of saying I broke it when you got on my nerves."

"Ha ha, very funny."

For just a second, I almost forgot what we were waiting for. Maybe it was selfish, but suddenly I just wanted it to be an evening like any other. An evening I could spend with her. But I knew better than to let my guard down. Looking around, I realized we'd lost Baymax in the crowd. Not that a walking pillow, as Karmi always said, was all that hard to spot. When he finally broke through the crowd he was holding a tiny glass of champagne.

"I do not drink," he stated matter of factly. "But the waiter seemed insistent on extending hospitality."

"I'll take it off your hands, Baymax," Karmi chuckled.

I sighed. "I could probably use a drink, but I've got to stay on my toes. No time to relax..."

"By the way," Karmi asked, eyeing the crowd. "Have you seen Honey Lemon or Wasabi?"

"No, not yet. But the plan was they'd mostly keep an eye on the other side of the venue. This place is so big you can hardly see from one end to the other. When the Fredericksons host, they really host."

Karmi took a sip of the champagne. "Even without this being a sting, I'd still feel uncomfortable in this crowd. I've seen fewer gems in a jewelry store window."

I smiled at her. "Still feeling out of place? I told you, you look amazing."

"I know, you're set on getting on my good side tonight," she teased before turning thoughtful. "I was just thinking how great a robbery opportunity this is. It would be crazy if all they go after is the painting."

"I know, I thought that too, even crazier if they just torch the painting instead of stealing it. I mean, it's got to be worth a fortune itself."

"Yeah, not that villains ever make much sense in San Fransokyo…"

"True," I agreed as I tried to eye the display the painting was kept in. With the crowd flocking around it, I'd have to fight to even get a glimpse, but I still thought I should. What if the clue really was in the subject matter after all?

"You stay with Baymax, I'm gonna try and get a look at that thing."

Karmi nodded as I plunged back into the crowd.

As expected, it was about as easy as wadding through jewel-studded pudding, but I finally managed to make it to the display. Also as expected, the painting didn't make any sense to me. It was just a…

I titled my head to one side and then the other.

Okay, I had no idea what it was.

"It's captivating, isn't it?" I heard a voice suddenly ask me.

I turned to see a young woman smile back at me. All at once my pulse froze. Because that voice, that face… Even without the visor, I knew…

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out. Just that same sick sense of powerlessness choking me.

Tucking a lock of black hair behind her ear she vanished into the crowd. I was frozen for what felt like an eternity, but in reality, the shock lasted no more than 5 seconds. 5 seconds, too long…

Pushing my way through the crowd I tried to follow. Just when I'd thought she was gone I caught a of glimpse of her slipping out an exit. "Hey wait!" I shouted as I raced after her.

I pushed my way through the exit doors and out into the night air. But like smoke through my fingers, she was just, gone.

Staggering, I tried to look in every direction at once. But all I could see was the empty night; my heart hammering in my ears. Then from behind I heard a sudden rustling. I swung back around just in time to see her standing on the roof, a smug smile on her face.

"You have no idea what I'm after…" she hissed between her teeth. "And try as you might to stop me, everything will still end up in flames."

"W-Who are you!" I demanded through gritted teeth.

She smiled again. "Call me Enkei."

Without another word, she was gone. Which just left me standing there, wondering what I'd done wrong.

Again.