The ride to the hospital was unbearable for Hiro. His friends' questions were relentless, but he shut his eyes and tuned them out, desperate for some peace. GoGo almost started shaking him, but Honey stepped in, suggesting he probably needed rest.

What Hiro truly needed was solitude. Rest would be a bonus. His head was pounding, and the voicemail he had received two months ago replayed in his mind.

"Help, I'm alive!"

Tadashi's voice.

He's alive.

He needs me.

At the hospital, the doctors whisked Hiro away, leaving his friends behind in the waiting room. At last, he had a moment's peace, free from their concern and questions.

The doctors X-rayed his arm, put it in a cast, and stitched up his cuts. Hiro let them work on him, his thoughts elsewhere. When they finally left him alone, he clung to his worry.

Tadashi needs me.

I need him.

I have to find him.

I miss you, Tadashi.

My big brother.

Hiro drifted into a restless sleep, Tadashi's voice echoing in his thoughts.

He wasn't sure how long he had slept, but when he woke up, he still felt exhausted.

"Do you think he's awake?"

"His eyes are closed, idiot!"

"Shh! He's waking up now."

Hiro opened his eyes to find his friends and his Aunt Cass gathered around him. Panic surged through him. She wasn't supposed to find out. He had to play it cool.

"W-Where am I?" he asked, feigning confusion and adding a touch of nervousness to his voice.

"Hiro, sweetheart," Cass gently stroked his hair, "You're in the hospital. You've been asleep for a few days. Do you remember what happened?"

A few days? Hiro had to keep up the act to protect them.

"A little... I remember looking for Tadashi," he sniffled, "You told me not to, but I went anyway. Then these scary men chased me, and I—I," he began fake crying, perfecting his performance.

Everyone looked at him with sympathy. Aunt Cass even hugged him. But GoGo's sharp gaze revealed that she wasn't convinced. At least she wasn't calling him out in front of everyone.

Hiro knew he needed to come up with a new strategy to convince her. Involving anyone else in this mess had to be a last resort.

Given GoGo's look, Hiro knew convincing her wouldn't be easy.