Check 3 - Risk comes from not knowing what you are doing.
Baymax activated with a soft whoosh of air. Instead of the usual verbal greeting, he swiveled his head around to scan the room he found himself in. "Hello, Hiro. I take it we have arrived in Tokyo."
The teen genius stood from his position on the corner of the bed. His hair was still wet from his recent shower, breath minty fresh. Despite having bathed before their trip, he'd needed the solid pressure of the shower on his back. While the plane had been comfortable, he hadn't exactly gotten the best of sleep, though he hoped he'd fooled Aunt Cass into thinking otherwise. He'd definitely dozed off for a few hours while she was occupied with a book. The rest of the time, he'd remained with his eyes closed, breathing regulated, while he'd contemplated the information he'd gleaned about the Kambe family over the past few nights.
One of the richest families on the planet, the Kambe group wasn't without its share of scandal, including the more recent investigations for potential corruption shortly after the matriarch of the family was arrested for the murder of her daughter-in-law, Sayuri, Hiro's aunt. Most of the information he'd managed to get read like an informational flyer. Not even the security codes he'd kept from Jack Harkness had given him much more than that.
He knew Daisuke had undergone education in London, shortly before returning to his homeland. And he knew his cousin was instrumental in discovering the true murderer of his mother. There were some records of boxing clubs, indicating that Daisuke wasn't afraid to get physical should the need arise. But all the media he'd found on the man read like a PR docket. At least it was no secret that the older man was also somehow a detective with the Metropolitan Police, so Hiro felt certain the man was at least on the right side of the law. Most of the time. Not that Hiro was one to talk, being a bit of a vigilante in some areas, super hero in others. It was all a matter of perspective, after all.
Baymax waited patiently for his number one patient to respond to his initial question. He knew it was common for Hiro to get lost on some train of thought. Quick scans indicated that the teen's mind was busy mulling over something. It was also obvious to him that Hiro probably needed a nap sometime in the not too distant future. While Hiro could fool his aunt, he couldn't fool Baymax.
Looking up, Hiro recalled where they were, and that Baymax had asked him a question. "Yeah, sorry. We arrived a few hours ago, but it took a while to get away from the airport. That and I needed some time to adjust."
The vinyl robot stepped clear of his case and waddled over to the bed. "Indications suggest you did not receive the required amount of sleep." Internally, he checked the local time, synchronizing his inner clocks to their current time zone. Considering the amount of time it had taken them to arrive, he supposed things could have been worse. Hiro could have gone on a sleep strike.
Nothing got past Baymax, Hiro thought with some amusement. "Can't pull the wool over your eyes can I?" He didn't wait for an answer, hoping the robot understood the question was rhetorical. They'd been together long enough he should. "I just couldn't help but think about how things are going to be out here. I don't know what to expect. And I'm honestly not sure if I'll really connect with this pop-up cousin. He is twelve years older than I am."
All things considered, the robot could understand his concerns. Twelve years was quite the gap. One could say the two belonged to two separate generations. And, considering the differences in upbringing, their finding common ground might be difficult, though chances were good that was one of the points Hiro had already contemplated.
Before they could get any further on this line, however, a knock sounded from the adjoining room before Cass opened the door. Having not heard any protests, she felt it safe to enter. "All cleaned up?" she asked her nephew. She'd taken the time to blow dry her hair and apply fresh makeup, along with the shower. She'd chosen to go with the usual solid colors. "I don't know about you but I'm tempted to see what kind of food they have to offer."
Breakfast had been a while ago. And while the food on the plane had been pretty good, especially for airplane food, that had been several long hours ago.
In answer to her hint, Hiro's stomach growled and he gave a nervous laugh. He checked his phone, which had switched to the current time zone the moment he'd taken it off airplane mode. Technically speaking, it was closer to lunch time than it would have been. And while breakfast had been great, he was still a growing boy, or so he hoped. The last time he'd been measured, he'd only added half an inch to his stature. Fingers crossed that wasn't a sign he was forever to remain on the shorter end.
"Come on, Baymax," Hiro encouraged as he followed his aunt's lead and headed to the door. He doubted there was any need to keep his robot hidden away in his room. At least not where they were. It was possible his cousin might even appreciate it. The man wasn't without some technological knowledge, though he hadn't found anything to say the older cousin was exactly technologically minded. But that didn't negate the possibility. Besides, Suzue already knew about Baymax and it might be weird for him to leave him behind after hearing a bit about their relationship.
Somewhat turned around, both Hiro and Cass glanced down the wide hallway with a bit of confusion. "Maybe it's this way?" Hiro reasoned, pointing towards the right side. They were facing the inner section of the manor, their rooms appearing to be on the outer wall. A balcony was visible down the side he'd indicated, though it would probably take them a minute or two to reach it. "Not gonna lie, I kinda wish they'd given us a tour before just ushering us to our rooms."
For whatever reason, he couldn't remember the route they'd taken to get there. Maybe it was due to a preoccupation with the energy he felt around him. It was something he'd become more aware of after the last few months. That and the whole building was distracting in an almost absurd kind of way. He wasn't sure how much was glass and how much was steel. One thing was sure; the outer walls had a lot of stained glass, mostly in colors reminiscent of gold and bronze. He supposed it was cheaper than actual gold, but still seemed excessive, a constant reminder of the wealth of the Kambe family. Not even Fred's house was this ostentatious.
With no other indications of direction, Cass decided to just follow Hiro's lead. She'd been too overwhelmed to pay attention, other than that they'd gotten into an elevator to get to the floor they were on. She followed him down the hall, until they reached the balcony. There, she took the opportunity to lean out over the railing, realizing it overlooked the main foyer. "Well, at least we're not too far from the entrance," she said under her breath.
A man approached them from behind, clearing his throat lest he startle them too much. "If you would be so kind, Master Daisuke asked that I escort you to the dining room." He indicated they should move towards a visible elevator not too far from their location.
"Oh," Cass exclaimed. Faint memories stirred as she recalled visiting the Kambe house the one time in her life prior to today. It had been so long ago, she'd completely forgotten it until that moment. The house was much different back then. That or it was a different one. She wasn't sure on that point. Something nagged about the architecture being more traditional Japanese than Western in nature. Perhaps there was another mansion on the grounds. From their trip in only an hour or so earlier, the possibility certainly was plausible. The forest alone could hide another large housing area, not to mention a good chunk of San Fransokyo.
The elevator took them down a floor, depositing them just off the main entryway. From there, they followed the butler to a dining room closer to the back of the mansion. It was tastefully furnished, but still on the grand size.
Daisuke stood at one end of the table, waiting for them. "Please join me," he invited, one hand out to indicate two places on one side of the end of the table. A third setting was across from them, next to where he stood.
Cass sat to Daisuke's right, the butler pulling out her chair for her, while Hiro took the one on the left. He didn't wait for help, but no one seemed to mind in the moment. Thankfully, the chairs weren't too low or the teen would have felt the need to call for a phone book, or possibly to kneel. Baymax settled behind him, like a footman waiting for his lord to order him into action.
Once his guests were seated, Daisuke took his seat as well, indicating for the meal to be brought in. He unfurled a napkin and placed it on his lap, noting the other two following his example out of the corner of his eye. "I hope you've had sufficient time to freshen up," he said politely. "I apologize for not giving you more attention earlier."
Knowing what it was like to run a successful business, and not sure how much Daisuke was involved in running the Kambe Group, Cass waved it off with only mild protest. "Not at all. I know how it is."
"You're too kind," Daisuke responded, sounding almost distracted.
At that moment, the butler returned with a tray bearing three plates of food that looked like they'd come from a four or five star restaurant. All the same, it was somewhat obvious this was a fancy representation of a bento box meal, with rice, veggies, and a protein. There were even chopsticks next to the fork and knife of each place setting.
"I hope this is to your liking," Daisuke added while the food was placed in front of his guests. He'd done some research and figured something slightly more common would be the safest route to start things off, especially with a teenager in the mix. It wasn't often he put in an express request for a meal, but he'd felt it warranted. It helped that he'd learned San Fransokyo was a mix of mostly Japanese and American cultures, albeit more casual than he was used to.
Cass smiled. "This looks amazing." She picked up her chopsticks, bowed slightly, hoping Hiro was doing the same. While this wasn't part of the Japanese culture they practiced at home, it was good to remember it when abroad. "Thank you for the meal."
Hiro quickly took the hint and mumbled his thanks before taking a hearty bite of the protein, which turned out to be a marinated chicken breast. His eyes lit up at the flavors and he began eating in earnest.
Used to seeing others outside of his more elite class, Daisuke easily ignored the less than formal manners of his table-mates. Cass was decidedly more refined in her style, indicating she'd had some training on etiquette. He could only surmise teaching a teen, especially as a single parent with no other help, would make passing such traditions down a bit more difficult and found it easier to forgive the oversight. After all, the data they'd collected on the small family indicated that Cass had never married. At least they knew the basics.
A slight sound of pleasure escaped Cass's lips as she tasted the food, and her eyes lit up. "This is exquisite!" She dabbed at her mouth with the napkin before placing it back on her lap. "I don't suppose I could get the recipe?"
The teen rolled his eyes a bit, shaking his head with a slight smile. It was just like his aunt to ask. Her passion for food and new recipes was part of what inspired him. Especially after her cook off with various master chefs. It helped him more than words could express to see her finding her groove again, too. He had his robots and physics. Cass had her passion in the kitchen. And, between the two of them, their joy in creating kept each other going when times got tough.
"I'll see to it," Daisuke promised, looking more than a little intrigued. A slight smile curled his lips almost into a smirk with his amusement as he gave a nod to his butler. He'd learned that she loved to cook, but to see such passion in such a short outburst was interesting to say the least. He felt certain he knew how best to entertain her. Now if only he could figure out Hiro, though part of him felt it wouldn't be quite that easy.
With that promise, Cass found she could relax and enjoy her meal fully, trying to decide what the combinations were in what she tasted. She probably correctly guessed most of the flavors, but it was the manner of preparation that intrigued her the most.
Silence filled the dining room as they ate. Daisuke kept a careful watch on his guests' mannerisms and expressions. Every detail could give him some new information about the two Hamadas. It was only a matter of deciphering the information his eyes, ears, and nose took in. He knew Suzue also watched, just from HEUSC's control room. He'd insisted, wanting a chance to see what these Americans were like without outside influence. But a second opinion never hurt, either.
"I noticed you have a robotic companion," Daisuke said, breaking the silence.
Baymax appeared to bow slightly, not having been formally introduced earlier. "I am Baymax," he stated. "Hiro's healthcare companion."
Apparently rumors were true then, Daisuke decided. "Daisuke Kambe," he introduced.
The teen glanced back at his vinyl friend. "Baymax and I have been buddies for several years. I guess you could say he's kind of like family now."
It made sense, in a way, Daisuke supposed. HEUSC had become an integral part of his everyday life. Though it was interesting that a teen so young could afford such a costly invention. He briefly recalled reports indicating Hiro's older brother had created the robot. Perhaps he'd used scholarship funds, though it didn't seem too important at the moment. He'd have Suzue look into it, just to be safe. But later.
"I can see that. I take it he goes wherever you do?" It wasn't hard to recall just how quickly the teen had pounced on the case presumably carrying the robot earlier. There was a decided attachment there that might go beyond that of his dependence on HEUSC. And thinking on that line, he couldn't help but remember the suggestion Suzue had mentioned the day after the Hamadas had gotten their invitation.
Daisuke cleared his throat as he turned to address Cass. "I understand you had an older nephew who passed away a few years ago." He waited a moment to see what kind of reaction that would prompt, not surprised to see hints of moisture fill her eyes. "I hope I am not being too bold, but I would like to suggest a joint memorial, for the cousin I never met, as well as for my mother."
Eyes blinking a bit more rapidly than normal, Cass had to school herself, pressing down on the well of grief that suddenly threatened to rise up. "I would appreciate that," she managed, her throat feeling a bit thick. She glanced over at Hiro, who seemed to ignore the conversation in favor of stuffing his mouth full of rice. She supposed she couldn't blame him. Tadashi's death had been more than a sore point for the younger Hamada.
"Excellent." Daisuke set his chopsticks down, his meal miraculously finished in what seemed such a short amount of time. It probably helped that his portion was technically smaller. He'd probably have a snack later. "Please give any details you feel relevant to Suzue for the service."
Hiro looked up from his now empty plate, remembering that was the whole reason they'd gone to Japan. "When is that supposed to happen?"
Daisuke exchanged a glance with Cass, possibly gauging to see if she remembered or not. "Tomorrow," he answered shortly. "I thought it best to give you a day to settle in before any formalities."
The teen's lips formed into a line as realization hit. It made sense. He placed his chopsticks in a manner similar to Daisuke's, sub-consciously copying him. "Do you think I could look around outside for a bit? I usually try to get some exercise in between classes back home."
The Kambe family head couldn't recall any type of physical education classes on Hiro's list. HEUSC had indeed gone that far in his research. But that didn't negate the possibility of the teen going somewhere with his friends to "get the wiggles out", as it were. Clubs weren't always required to report guests and it was possible he'd visited one of several on campus, or simply taken long walks. From what he could recall, the San Fransokyo campus was quite large. "That should be fine."
Cass turned to face Hiro across the table. "You sure you won't get lost?" While her nephew was used to back alleys and the like, his experience with the outdoors, more natural to be exact, wasn't exactly that large. Though there were wild areas outside of the city limits, they didn't visit them as often as they probably should.
A large grin plastered itself on Hiro's face. "With Baymax with me?" The GPS they'd build into Baymax was more precise than most commercial apps one could download on their phone. Not to mention probably more up to date since the robot could connect directly to any satellite in orbit above them. He thanked Jack Harkness for that. He offered the necessary expressions at the end of the meal before leaving the table, Baymax behind him.
Daisuke watched the two leave, noting the stark contrast of size between teen and robot. In comparison, Hiro was a reed, nothing more than skin and bones. No wonder he'd eaten with such a hearty appetite. He'd have to make sure to have the chef informed of the teen's needs.
The man of the house turned back to his remaining guest. "And what would you like to do for the rest of the afternoon while we wait on your nephew." He somehow felt it odd to call her aunt just yet. They were, after all, still in the introduction phase. And it was more than a little weird to think of her as blood kin.
Giving a moment of thought, Cass leaned back in her chair. "I think I'll use this time to finish my book." She'd gotten to an interesting part before having to put it down on the plane, and hadn't thought to pull it out on the drive over. But now that she had more than ample time to herself, she felt more than okay with surrendering herself to the tales of horror it held. The only thing that would be better was an old-school horror movie fest, something that might be possible later.
"Very well," Daisuke acknowledged. It freed him up to do other things, like check in with Haru Katou. The lead he'd been following might be nothing, but it never hurt to check. "Do you need assistance in returning to your room?"
Having paid better attention the second time around, Cass shook her head as the butler removed her plate. "I'm sure I can manage." She gave him an almost maternal smile, probably more out of habit than anything, and left the room.
Daisuke stood, watching her leave. He hadn't offered any assistance to Hiro in order to find a door leading outside. Somehow he hadn't felt it necessary. But he might have Suzue keep an eye on him through the various cameras on the property, just to be safe. In the meantime, he had things to do.
