Nobody drives you crazy like family (BH6 Aftermath Sequel)

by Marie Thompson

When the Hamadas get an invitation to visit the Kambe family, who they are related to through Cass, they decide to head to Japan. Awkward at first, Daisuke Kambe and the Hamadas start to bond when the party is attacked by enemies unknown. Not knowing who is the actual target is bad enough, but Daisuke begins uncover things about Hiro the teen would rather others not find out about.

5. Check 4 - Formal education will make you

Check 4 - Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.

To say the grounds matched the vastness of the mansion would be an understatement. Probably on a similar scale to New York's Central Park, Hiro couldn't help but feel somewhat overwhelmed under the canopy of trees. How could a family be so rich as to own the basic equivalent of a small city? Dumb question, his thoughts told him as he strolled forward. Fred's family owned a whole island.

Something rustled in the undergrowth and the teen paused. Whatever it was couldn't be too big. In fact, he was certain of it before the creature in question showed itself to be a rabbit munching on the greenery. It quickly hopped away upon noticing them.

Hiro let out a deep breath. It felt nice to breathe air that wasn't necessarily polluted by everything. San Fransokyo definitely had cleaner air than the airport, despite modern technology. And, even though the limo's cabin had filtered air, not to mention the mansion, it just didn't quite feel or smell the same. That and nature hummed differently than electricity in a conduit did. There was something almost calming about it. Having discovered this difference, he could better appreciate why GoGo liked to go bird watching.

He could also understand why Aunt Cass might think he'd get lost. His experience with the great outdoors was indeed limited in comparison to others. Street savvy was not the same as wilderness experienced. Even though some of his more recent ventures had happened in the great wide open, he hadn't exactly had the opportunity to partake of the goodness nature had to offer. In fact, the last time he could recall going out into nature, without it being a mission or a crisis, was possibly their last family trip to the beach. Though he wasn't sure that it exactly counted.

A faint hum filled the air, a bit distant but still present, and Hiro turned his head to look in that direction. A faint hint of reflected sunlight confirmed the presence of a drone of some type. He supposed they were used for security purposes. It made sense, especially with such a large area to patrol. It would be easier to keep tabs on things using technology as opposed to physical guards, though he supposed there were those somewhere as well.

The humming rose in pitch for a moment before fading away into the distance, confirming his suspicions. There were likely cameras in the occasional lighting as well, but drones were likely more efficient. Well, at least they knew he wasn't up to anything.

Baymax had, in that short amount of time, come across a butterfly and was holding it on one extended finger. It seemed as though all his attention was focused on the insect.

"What you got there, buddy?" Hiro inquired, already knowing the answer.

The robot looked somewhat dejected as the yellow creature fluttered away. "Goodbye," he said to no one in particular. He turned to scan his number one patient, content to find his readings were within normal parameters. In fact, Hiro was probably in the least stressed state he'd observed in a week.

Figuring this was as good a place as any, Hiro flopped down onto the ground, facing the sky. Thanks to the trees, he didn't need to shade his eyes from the sun, but could still see the blue above them without any trouble. He didn't know if HEUSC was fully integrated in the mansion like JARVIS was at Stark Tower, but he wasn't sure he wanted to deal with that possibility just yet. He'd find out soon enough, he was sure. The energy he'd felt humming there was more likely from all the electronics in use. The place did have a lot going on, after all, with more than one elevator.

Baymax seemed to realize Hiro had settled for the time being and therefore found what might be considered a comfortable spot not too far away, where he could continue to observe his friend. If he got distracted by the occasional butterfly, it was of little consequence. He had a fairly good idea of what Hiro might attempt to do, but a more certain knowledge of what was likely to happen.

"Let's do this," Hiro said under his breath as he closed his eyes. Nature seemed to be less inhibiting on his initial excursions. At least there were fewer distractions out here, which was a must when he didn't have someone who could help guide him into the relaxed state he knew he needed. Recalling Loki's original instructions given back when he was guiding him through various memories, Hiro breathed in deeply, willing his body to relax with each exhalation.

It was getting easier to at least reach this state, he mildly observed as he felt his body seemingly sink into the ground, rooting his soul. He'd learned the hard way that not doing so could cause his spirit to wander. And though Baymax, and even Loki, could probably call him back to his body, it was better to be safe than sorry. Not to mention this was a relatively unknown area and it was best to take things slow. So he focused on anchoring his soul to the ground just beneath him, remembering to breathe in and out.

Hiro could feel his detachment to the flesh diminish, everything feeling much more light around him as he let himself float above his body. He mentally checked the lifeline he'd created, much like the rope Rose had helped the Doctor tie around himself before leaping out of the TARDIS in the middle of outer space. He didn't intend to go far, but one never knew what might happen once he really stepped outside of his body's magnetic field.

This was something completely different from the usual meditation he tried to practice. Allowing his consciousness to float in the ether was a dangerous thing best left to places with fewer distractions. He usually focused on trying to define different types of energy. He'd discovered, quite by accident, that different people had different soul colors, as some called it. Some were so flagrant it was hard to ignore them, like the miasma of the woman who'd held him and Kally Carmichael hostage in that Hydra facility. Hers had been like inky black tar, saturating everything it touched, almost drowning anything that could sense it.

His friends had much gentler auras. Sometimes they presented as more than colors, partly depending on their mood. GoGo had a tendency towards something spiky, while Honey Lemon's was more soothing, like a throat lozenge. Hiro had picked up on hints of what Tadashi's was like from his possessions, but couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness he'd never get more than the faint echo of the complex blues that had composed his surrogate father's soul. Baymax, as usual, hummed with an energy all his own.

Allowing himself to float higher, Hiro broke above the trees without so much as disturbing a leaf. He thought he saw a squirrel pause to scold him but wasn't sure. Squirrels were jittery animals at the best of times. He pushed past the canopy and allowed himself to float in place, taking in the warm sunlight and mostly cloudless sky.

There was something regenerative about the light, pure, almost. He didn't really have words to describe it, let alone understand it on a basic level. And, for the moment, he was content to let it be. He mentally inhaled, tasting the air around him.

Faint trails of different workers' auras filtered around him. Most seemed on the green side, like tender grass or newly budding flowers. Those had to belong to groundskeepers. Wisdom dictated there would be a few around, gardeners, trimmers, tree surgeons, or whatever they called them. Arborists? He wasn't sure. He probably should have paid better attention to GoGo's nature talks.

If he focused towards the mansion, he could pick up the faint peach hints of Aunt Cass. A concentrated burst of her energy focused on the area where their assigned rooms were. Chances were good she was taking advantage of his absence, as well as the lack of anything else pressing to do. It was one thing he loved about her.

Various other trails of colored energy swirled in and around the main floors of the manor, some darker than others. A more distinct royal purple swirled in and out with an almost majestic, no-nonsense manner. It was smooth, like someone pouring grape juice in a commercial. And, now that he thought about it, it almost had a grape taste to it that could go either way in the typical flavor spectrum. He supposed it depended greatly on the mood of the person.

A color not unlike dandelions wafted in and out of his focus. He'd caught hints of it while on the drive up to the mansion. That had to belong to Suzue. She seemed like a rather energetic person, kind, caring, but also capable of getting down to business. So that must mean the purple aura belonged to Daisuke. That one intrigued him more, mostly because it was more elusive while still being more than present. He'd not encountered many like that, outside of Loki and a few others. It wasn't inherently arrogant, just strongly there. Confident came to mind. And yet there were hints of darker blue, indigo, in the mix, if one really stopped to study it.

Something streaked across his view, too quick to really get a taste of it, let alone see it. It was almost like a fly buzzing past his face, there one moment, gone the next. Confused, he lost focus on everything else, trying to grasp the elusiveness of whatever it had been. He doubted it was mechanical. He'd know the difference. Could it have been a bird? He wasn't sure and it made him feel a little on edge.

There was a sharp nudge on the cord holding him anchored to his body and Hiro found himself pulled back down to earth, almost like a child yanking on a string. There was no real spring to the tug, just a one-sided force that pulled him back down. Subconsciously, he settled back into his body, soul reattaching to flesh. A faint groan escaped his lips as he rubbed at his eyes, a shadow leaning over him.

"Oh good," Suzue said. "You're awake."

Hiro couldn't help but look around in some confusion. He didn't think he'd been gone that long, but the shadows had decidedly changed. And the fact they'd sent someone out to find him said he'd probably been out longer than intended. However, Baymax still sat nearby, unconcerned. "What time is it?" he asked. He sat up and immediately felt light-headed. One of his legs had apparently also fallen asleep. He'd apparently somehow partially turned to his side while exploring the ether.

Suzue leaned back on her heels, almost kneeling next to the teen. When the drone she'd sent to check on him seemed to indicate the teen was still out of it, several hours after heading out, she'd felt more than a little concerned. After voicing her concern to Daisuke, he'd simply told her to check on him if she was so worried. "It's just after five in the afternoon," she responded.

The teen rolled back onto his back and covered his eyes with one hand. "Musta been more tired than I thought," he muttered. It was the only explanation. While he was soul gazing, his subconscious must have caught up to the realization he hadn't gotten enough sleep. That little blip at the end was likely more dream than anything. He glanced over at Baymax. "Why didn't you wake me, buddy?"

Baymax tilted his head to one side. "I saw no cause for concern," he stated. "Your vitals remained stable and I saw no reason to disturb you."

And that was probably best Hiro was going to get from him. It made sense. The robot knew what he'd been about. He'd probably reasoned Hiro more than needed the not exactly impromptu nap. And he'd be right on the money if that were the case. While still a bit groggy from the unexpected means of coming back to the waking world, Hiro did feel more rested than he had earlier. "I think my leg fell asleep," he groaned, the pins and needles announcing themselves in a rather uncomfortable manner.

Realizing it was best to give the teen some room, Suzue backed up a bit, standing as she brushed her hair back behind one ear. The earring she wore buzzed.

"Did you find him?"

A little more sheepish than was perhaps necessary, Suzue responded. "Yes. We will return shortly."

"Good."

Perhaps it was her imagination, but Daisuke might have sounded just a hint worried in his initial inquiry. Though she could just be putting her own feelings into his intentions. Cass Hamada had also dozed off in her room, though she was presumably awake now, or she would have consulted her about the matter before going after her nephew.

Hiro glanced over at Baymax, who had also returned to his feet. "A little help, buddy?" He sat up, reaching for help to stand, his one leg almost buckling from the returning circulation. For the briefest of moments, he saw not the trees and shrubs around him but a sterile medical lab as he leaned against a cabinet, which was an odd image. Even though he'd done a number on himself inside that Hydra base, he couldn't recall actually collapsing inside the lab they'd incarcerated him in. He'd been out of it at the time, but the image was still there. Maybe it was from one of the many other timelines he'd had to reintegrate instead. Either way, he didn't want to explore it too closely at the moment.

"I have got you," Baymax informed as he steadied his charge. It didn't take a full body scan to realize what had just happened. And, before Hiro could protest, he scooped the teen up in his arms. "Please lead the way," he said to Suzue, who looked a bit confused at the sudden change in atmosphere.

The Kambe mechanic checked herself, turning towards the mansion. "Sure. This way." She headed forwards at a decent pace, not sure if the robot was keeping up with her nor, but was reassured by the sound of his vinyl steps behind her.

When they were within viewing distance of the mansion, Hiro insisted Baymax put him down. There was no reason to alarm anyone over pins and needles. Besides, by that time, the pain had subsided. "I'm good," he assured at a look from Suzue. He felt he owed her no explanation as she shrugged it off and continued on to the back of the mansion.

From the doorway, Daisuke's silhouette was momentarily visible, along with a waft of his purple energy. It was gone just as quickly, almost as if he had the ability to erase his presence.

…..

Even though it didn't really feel like lunch had been all that long ago, Hiro was more than ready for the plate placed before him. It wasn't quite as fancy as lunch. At least he didn't think it was. Some kind of variation of curry, he thought. Either way, it looked and smelled delicious. And, from what he could tell, the meat was some kind of beef, and there was a lot of it, more so than there were potatoes. In fact, he kind of thought that might have been on purpose.

In comparison, Cass's plate seemed to have not quite as much meat, though there were plenty of vegetables there. And a lot of rice. A quick glance at Daisuke's plate revealed a similar portion. Well, he wasn't going to complain as he dipped his spoon into the broth and gave it a slight taste to test the temperature. It was hot enough to send steam up into the air, after all. But either the chefs were just that world-class, or it had cooled some on the way into the dining room, because it was the perfect temperature.

As before, Daisuke was careful about how he ate. Honor dictated a sense of decorum at all times when in public. And while he was indeed inside his home, he did have guests. It helped that he was able to go on a sort of auto pilot when it came to manners. Severe training through the years had made that possible, even if he was less than thrilled with some of the other experiences he'd had during that time.

Out of the corner of his eye, he noted that Cass seemed to be enjoying this meal just as much as, if not more so, than she had lunch. Further research into her background revealed a short soiree into the underground cooking competitions, which he couldn't help but be mildly curious about. There were no official reports, of course, but he had heard a thing or two from the chefs and their assistants in the kitchen. And, with a few inquiries here and there, his estimation of her culinary skills had gone up a notch, even though he'd yet taken the opportunity to peruse her wares.

Deciding it might not be a bad time to do a little harmless digging, Daisuke looked towards Cass, who was, once again, sitting to the right. "I understand you and Chef Antonio Manzoni are acquainted."

Cass dabbed at her lips with her napkin, cheeks coloring a bit in embarrassment. "You could say that."

Here we go, Hiro's expression stated with a bit of an eye roll. Apparently this was a good choice of conversation. Daisuke couldn't help but feel somewhat amused, careful to not let it show. "Why don't you tell me how you met?"

There was a gleam of something in her eye, pleasure? Pride? Something almost giddy in nature. "I took his knives!" she declared with an almost squeal.

"Excuse me?"

Her declaration could be taken in several different ways. He just wasn't immediately sure in what direction he should take it. While it was true Hiro had a bit of a record, he hadn't found any on Cass. So, unless she was now publicly declaring a successful theft, he wasn't entirely sure how to take that. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Hiro roll his eyes again.

Before giving any further explanations, Cass settled back in her chair, practically buzzing with excited energy. "It was a close battle! Despite pulling out every trick in the book, I was able to beat him fair and square!"

"I see."

From a quick glance, Hiro could tell that explanation was far from enough to give the whole picture. "Aunt Cass stumbled on the Food Fight competition in Good Lucky Alley one night when she went out looking for me. She thought I'd gone bot fighting and accidentally stumbled on the competition. Isn't that right, Aunt Cass?"

Cass's expression softened as she recalled that night. "I admit I had no idea there were such events. And, even though I was wrong about Hiro's location that night, I'm not sad I stumbled on it. I ended up going up against Bolton Gramercy in a no holds barred cooking competition, only hours after he'd insulted my cooking. And then, later, he acknowledged me as a chef."

"Not to mention you helped take down the notorious criminal, Momakase," Hiro inserted.

A funny smile filled Cass's face as she shrugged. "That was only after I beat her. At the time, she was considered the best chef in all of San Fransokyo. I had no idea she was considered a dangerous thief. I admit I did stop going to those competitions after that, but I kept in contact with all the other chefs I beat."

The fact that Cass had been able to beat several renowned chefs, not to mention the best in her own city, spoke volumes. She went up a few more notches in Daisuke's estimations. "And just how many chefs did you beat?"

Cass had to think about that one. "To be honest, I'm not exactly sure," she admitted. "But the back room of the café was filled with their knives for the longest time. In fact, I think a few sets might still be there. I'd like to think those chefs were too embarrassed to ask for them back."

That explained a few things, Daisuke thought. And it definitely flushed out her character a bit more. She obvious had a bit of a wild streak in there that was normally kept under wraps. He supposed it was only natural. Everyone had a bit of a rebel in them. Speaking of rebels, he turned his attention to Hiro. "And were you at a bot fight that night?"

Hiro's heart gave a little flutter, something Baymax probably picked up on, but it was quickly controlled. "Not that night, no," he answered as calmly as possible. "But I did used to get in trouble for it. I started out legally enough, but that got boring so I transitioned to back alley bot fighting. I gotta confess, I did find it kind of lucrative."

Ah, Daisuke mused. Money. It was inevitable, he supposed. The question was how much influence did that have on the Hamada family. But he could afford to be a little patient there. "I understand you graduated high school at a young age but didn't immediately go into college. Was bot fighting part of the reason for that?"

The teen glanced over at his aunt, who was busying herself with her meal. Well, technically he'd never discussed that with her so he supposed he was on his own there. "Nah. I just bored with everything. I thought I knew all I needed to know and that college didn't really have much to offer me. I mean, I gave the first level coursework a look when Tadashi wasn't around, but it was all too easy so I figured I already knew enough that it didn't matter. Boy was I wrong."

Interesting. The Kambe head tightened his eyes as he re-evaluated the teen sitting to his left. Humility was not a bad quality, though he couldn't help but wonder at what cost.

"Tadashi didn't approve of my activities, though," Hiro continued in a thoughtful tone. "He tried to talk me out of it many times. "They were too dangerous. I'd only end up getting hurt." Blah blah blah. I thought he was just trying to get me to go to college. But then, one night, I got in over my head with a guy called Yama. I'd played the usual novice con on him, only to have him turn around and try to pummel the crap out of me. Luckily, Tadashi was there to save the day, but we both ended up getting arrested for it. And I lost whatever money I'd made that night."

There it was again, the mention of money. Daisuke knew he'd have to tread carefully. There was no way of knowing how easily he, or his aunt, could be bought. He'd need a lot more information before he could ascertain that.

Hiro sat back in his chair, his plate now empty. "Tadashi knew me better than I ever gave him credit for," he reminisced. "Even after I tried to go back to another bot fight after Aunt Cass bailed us out of jail, he had an ace up his sleeve to put an end to it all. He took me to see his lab at the university, where I got to meet my idol, Robert Callaghan. After that introduction to the school, I was hooked. And the rest, as they say, is history. I haven't so much as touched a back alley bot fight ever since, though I have participated in a few school-related ones."

"Like the one earlier this year?" Daisuke had looked at the basic reports of the Los Angeles incident. He knew he needed to tread lightly with this one. At least for now. There were too many unknown variables. While Hiro's name did appear as a person of interest on at least one police report, a possible witness in another, there was no real telling what had happened there other than several bombs and some help given to the authorities in charge of the investigation. One thing was certain, there was definitely a lot more to this Hiro Hamada than what met the eye. And, by extension, that meant there was likely more to Cass Hamada as well.

Of course, there was a lot more to the story, as Daisuke was aware. Callaghan had been later arrested for the murder of one Tadashi Hamada, as well as for terroristic activity that had destroyed a Krei Tech campus. While Krei Tech was a small fry in the grand scheme of things, Daisuke didn't like the idea that its founder might somehow be involved in Hiro's life. The man was as dirty as most came. Even his grandmother had refused to work with him or his company, which was saying something. He'd have to dig into that connection a bit later as well.

Their entire conversation had given the head of house a lot to think about, on top of the other items that afternoon had already added to his "to do" list. HEUSC would be kept busy all night looking up any and all data related to that conversation, as well as the few little, seemingly insignificant but somehow not incidents from earlier.

"If you will excuse me," Daisuke spoke up after a moment of silence. "There are a few things I need to attend to. If you need anything else before retiring for the night, please let my butler know." He stood from the table and headed out of the room.

Cass watched him leave with mild curiosity. "Must be rough leading such a large company," she thought out loud. Realizing she was basically talking to herself, she checked herself. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night."

It was starting to get dark outside. And while they'd slept on the plane, and had a nap each, the stress of travel was catching up to her. That and she didn't exactly have anything to keep her on her feet. But it was nice to not have to worry about that, to give in to the need for relaxation. Her bathroom was equipped with a Jacuzzi tub and part of her contemplated making use of it. "Hiro?"

The teen looked thoughtful as he sat back against his chair, arms folded. "I think I'll just step outside for a breath of fresh air. Promise I won't go far."

Cass glanced over at Baymax with a stern expression.

"I will make sure Hiro does not wander too far," he assured the aunt. They had had a chance to explain to Cass about the impromptu nap following Hiro's attempt at meditation, though without any details. It would have come up anyway and so was best not left unspoken.

With a nod, Cass got up, the butler clearing her plate as she left the table. "All right then. Just don't stay up too late. Tomorrow's going to be a big day." She'd already conveyed any necessary information to Suzue about Tadashi for the memorial. She'd even managed to provide a picture from her phone, which Suzue had promised to have ready in ample time for everything in the morning.

...

Daisuke stood out on the veranda, a cigar in one hand. He blew a stream of smoke from between his lips as he stared out towards the sunset. He wasn't sure he was any closer to understanding the whole of the situation than he was before their meal. But at least he had plenty to think about. He'd have to ask more probing questions soon, though. Most people could be bought. He needed to know if these relations could be too. Were they valuable allies, potential pawns? Or maybe a threat to the Kambe Group as a whole? He wasn't sure and it made him a bit uneasy.

And then there was the whole incident with Hiro earlier that afternoon. He'd thought nothing of it at first, his cousin going out for a stroll and taking a nap on the grounds. He'd done that plenty of times as a child. But what really made him wonder was a few little things that had happened during that time, things he wouldn't have noticed if it hadn't been for Suzue.

After Hiro hadn't come back for several hours, Suzue sending various drones over the area at different intervals, she'd voiced concerns about the teen's wellbeing. At the time, Daisuke had been glib in his response that if she were so worried, maybe she should look into it herself. A few minutes after that, he'd felt curious enough to pull up the data collected during several of those flyovers.

The drones were military quality or better, capable of scanning vital data, as well as seismic activity, energy readings, and anything else that might present a threat to his home. According to several of the flyover logs, when they'd scanned the teen's vitals, there was something outside the usual. Most people, when sleeping, tended to have stable, albeit lower pulse and respirations. Hiro's had been practically non-existent. And yet, despite that, his healthcare companion had just sat there like nothing was wrong. Either there was a glitch in the robot's protocols or this was somehow the norm, though that seemed unlikely.

And then there was that weird blip of vital activity upon Suzue's waking the teen. It was an almost imperceptible spike of energy he would have missed if HEUSC hadn't pointed it out, like a random but pronounced blip on radar that might have been a bird or some unexplained weather phenomena.

He'd studied the footage, paying close attention to the readings for what seemed like a full half hour before switching his attention to the actual recorded image of the teen as he stumbled before his robot scooped him up into its arms. If he focused and zoomed in, it became evident that Hiro's eyes had momentarily changed colors from dark brown to an almost golden color. That couldn't be normal.

Couple that with the admissions of at least some of the events he'd noticed on the more extensive background check he'd run on the teen, there was plenty to be concerned about. The fact that his cousin had a record, confessed at basically running a con on back alley bot fighters to get money… well, that certainly didn't bode well. Granted, that had happened several years ago, and there wasn't much in regards to negative activity since then. Unless he counted the reports from the Los Angeles incident, and a few hints of some kind of involvement with something out in New York with one Tony Stark and The Avengers.

He groaned internally. He'd never actually become involved with them, but as one of his status in society, and as part of his training in England, he had heard of them. The fact that the Hamadas had been guests of Stark for close to a month was certainly cause for thought. Medical reports indicated something had happened to Hiro during that time. And there were the police reports of at least one break-in to the café during that period. Just what had gone on?

There were other incidents, hints of things not quite recorded, that begged for more attention. If one read between the lines, one could easily fathom that Hiro and company had been more involved in various incidents than said reports actually stated. Again, it bore further investigation. The unfortunate thing was most of those were from shadow reports, rumors, and piecing together seemingly unconnected information.

Daisuke took another puff at his cigar, blowing out the smoke. He'd put on his glasses, scrolling through the reports, but looked past the information scrolling on the lenses as Hiro joined him on the veranda.

Hiro paused, seeing the cloud of smoke. If movies had taught him anything, it was that gentleman of certain wealth used cigars as a means to either relax or distance themselves from others in the room. It was a decided sign of status and wealth. But since Daisuke had been the only person the porch, he figured it was more because the man was looking for some alone time.

"Sorry," the teen apologized. "I didn't realize you were out here." He turned to go, pausing as Daisuke addressed him.

"How much?"

The teen crinkled his eyes in confusion as he contemplated the question. "I'm sorry. What?"

"How much?" Daisuke repeated as he turned to fully face his guest.

It was such an open question, easily pertaining to any number of subjects that Hiro wasn't sure what to make of it. "How much what?" His body stiffened ever so slightly, a faint hint of anger creeping up his neck.

Either Hiro was truly confused about the question or he was playing dumb. Daisuke wasn't sure which. Either way, the reaction was interesting to say the least. He'd definitely put him on his guard and he couldn't help but wonder at that. Baymax was barely visible in the failing light, standing next to the door.

Daisuke let out a sigh as he lowered his cigar. "How much money would it take?"

Surely his cousin, a man he barely knew, wasn't asking what he thought he was asking. A second glance at the eyes behind the glasses indicated he probably was. Hiro's body stiffened more. "Are you seriously asking me that?"

"You used to bot fight for money. It's not that unreasonable a question." Blue-gray eyes scrutinized the much darker brown ones. "How much?"

Hiro forced himself to calm down, feeling his lungs trying to expand far too quickly. If he wasn't careful, he'd trigger another reintegration, and that was definitely not wise. "For real? What kind of person do you take me for? I was young and stupid back then. I don't care about your stupid money. Do you think it could bring Tadashi back? Do you think it would have changed anything?"

Now they were getting somewhere, Daisuke thought, watching the bevy of emotions on Hiro's face. He wasn't entirely sure what was behind them, but there was that flash of gold again in his eyes. "Most people would say it does."

"Well I'm not most people," Hiro retorted. "I would have been just as bullied if I were rich as when I didn't have much. I still would have been stuffed into lockers on a daily basis, just not always for the same reason. And there's no way Aunt Cass would have let it go to my head like it did when I thought no one knew about it. It was a GAME back then!"

The force of his words gave Daisuke pause. He knew about such games all too well. Having been raised in boarding schools, albeit private, elitist ones a good chunk of his adolescent life, he had experienced various forms of bullying. It was no fluke he'd ended up in Haru's tub that one night he'd stayed over after a tiff at home. It was one of the few "safe" places from his school days. He hadn't even thought about the why until now.

"Do you have any idea what it's like to be bullied because you're different?" Hiro demanded, his cheeks going blotchy with emotion. "I'm ashamed to say it wasn't because I wanted to improve my life. The money didn't really mean anything outside of some extra pocket change. It was just part of the thrill. One that almost got me killed." He said this last bit under his breath, several timelines converging in his mind as he closed his eyes in pain and shame.

Soft vinyl rubbed together as Baymax waddled closer. "Hiro," the robot said in a low, calm voice. While he was keeping an eye on his companion, he took the opportunity to scan Daisuke as well, noting slightly elevated vitals.

Daisuke barely caught the last comment from Hiro's lips and couldn't help but ponder on it. Was he speaking metaphorically? Figuratively? Or had something really happened that might have led to his death? The one police report about such an instant never said anything about anyone getting hurt.

When Hiro looked up again, there was that flash of gold once more, but something more: pain. It was so intense that it made Daisuke's heart stop for the briefest of moments, his eyes widening. There was decidedly something more there. This teen had seen things most adults never would. Of that he was sure.

"You are all right," Baymax said in a quiet voice.

The teen shook almost imperceptibly before taking in a deep breath and letting it out slowly, steadying himself. "Tadashi set me on the right path," he explained, looking now at the ground. "I put all that behind me when he died that night in the fire. No amount of money could bring him back. Nothing could change what had happened. From that point on, I vowed to not let myself get too caught up in such mundane things."

Daisuke slowly removed his glasses, tucking them into his suit coat pocket. It was hard to miss the tears now streaming down Hiro's face, even with the sunlight now almost gone. Several lamps had come on, replacing the sun's light. This was a young man who knew pain, who knew loss. Someone who, like Haru Katou, knew the value of life, something he was still learning.

Hiro looked up, eyes now defiant. "Don't you dare bring this up to Aunt Cass," he warned. "She bends over backwards to make sure I'm taken care of, that the café and her staff are taken care of. So, unless you want a bruise that will last at least a month, don't ever ask her that question."

Now more than a little intrigued, Daisuke took a step forward, not exactly towering over Hiro, but still standing taller by close to six inches. "You would go that far?"

A dry chuckle escaped Hiro's lips, one without humor. "No, she would. You should have seen the bruise she gave Tony Stark after she—"he paused.

"After she what?" Daisuke prompted. Obviously there was something potentially scandalous tied to that statement, or some secret Hiro didn't want out.

But Hiro only shook his head. "It's not important. What is important is that your question would make her mad enough she'd probably deck you."

Daisuke's eyes widened once more. "I see. Perhaps it would be best, then, to not antagonize her."

For his part, Baymax shuffled back half a pace to give Hiro room, now that his vitals had stabilized. "It is time to go to bed," he announced.

Hiro let out his breath. "Yeah, I am getting tired," he agreed. "Excuse me." Without another word, he turned and followed his robot back inside.

Daisuke watched them leave, his thoughts racing even more than they had before.