It took a while but (Y/n) released her grudge against the gang, accepting their apology the moment they surrounded her. Honey Lemon was in hysterics and (Y/n) would have felt guilty if she didn't forgive.

The gang, Hiro and her had spent the day going around their beloved city, introducing her to S.F.I.T. The building at first glance was enough to make her squeal and gasp. The glass reflection sparkling from the sun seemed to make the campus look as if it were made of glittering jewels and diamonds in her opinion but Hiro only laughed at her fantasy like imagination.

"Come on (N/n)!" Fred giggled, pushing the girl through a glass door that led to a lab. Every corner was filled with the murmur and life of machines that (Y/n) had never seen. "This is what Hiro calls, "the Nerd Lab"." He explained, causing (Y/n) to giggle.

"I figured you would call this something as cheesy as that." (Y/n) poked Hiro's cheek before taking a glance at a chemistry table.

"Oh! This is my station! I haven't got any current projects but I have managed to successfully create a substance that allows tungsten carbide to dissolve into dust." Honey Lemon set up some vials and handed a pair of goggles to (Y/n). "You're smart no? Graduating soon right? At least that's what Hiro told us- so... I challenge you to create a chemical energy source!"

(Y/n) smiled at Hiro, "You told them that?". Hiro went red before nodding. She laughed as she cracked her knuckles, pulled out a set of gloves and sat at the stool. "This is eighth grade science!" within minutes, she had gathered natural and manmade elements to create- "Gasoline! A petroleum-derived liquid substance that has the primary use of fuel for internal combustion engines!" Wasabi's eyes widened.

"Gasoline?! Isn't that...explosive!?" he cowered behind Fred for shelter as Honey Lemon clapped her hands and disposed of the substance.

"Clever! She is sure a smart cookie but we will be careful." She replied before packing up her kit.

"So... what do you guys do?" (Y/n) turned to the rest of her friends.

"Well Gogo is working on a bike with electromagnetic suspension, maglev for short, Wasabi is doing stuff with  laser induced plasma and Hiro has this challenge of creating a survival kit compact into a robot...I just sit over there and read, sleep and eat." Fred explained.

"A robot huh?" (Y/n) folded her arms and smile at Hiro. "Like Baymax?" Hiro shook his head.
"No, Baymax is a healthcare companion, I mean like if you are lost in the wilderness or a natural disaster occurs, this robot would know the basic skills for survival."

(Y/n) nodded her head as she nudged him with her elbow. "Following in Tadashi's footsteps eh? I'm sure he goes crazy about taking the right path." She didn't notice the gang's stiffened looks nor the atmosphere's change but she felt different. She felt drawn to Hiro, behind the masked smile... She felt different. "You...okay?" she asked slowly.

"Huh? Yeah I'm fine! So um anyways-" (Y/n) placed a hand on Hiro's shoulder.

"There is something you aren't telling me..." She knew it deep down and whatever it was had to come out sooner or later.

"I'm fine (Y/n)." Hiro said agitated. (Y/n) frowned at his response and opened her mouth to retaliate but found GoGo place her hand on her shoulder. Hiro pretended to check his phone before sighing heavily. "It's getting late, we better get home for lunch, and we promised Aunt Cass we'd be back ten minutes ago."

So that's how the girl found herself questioning her best friend on the quiet journey home. He stared straight ahead and didn't acknowledge her presence once. It was as if she weren't there. And it hurt. "Hiro?" (Y/n) called out to what she felt like the wind, her voice being carried away. She didn't try communicating with him the rest of the way back. An odd presence told her to back off so with nothing but that as a guide, she followed.

Lunch time was quiet to, Aunt Cass didn't seem to notice the rough line between the two so she didn't ask. The silence bothered (Y/n) greatly. She was anticipating whatever Hiro had in store. What cards was he thinking about playing? What was his strategy? (Y/n) couldn't find anyway of predicting his game tactics which scared her.

Hiro had suddenly taken an interest to his hoodie more, probing it with screw drivers and some objects that looked like a cautery tool. Perhaps he decided to play the silent game? It wasn't until a small beep and a spark from the navy hoodie that the boy took note of his waiting friend. He picked something off his clothes and stared at it.

(Y/n) recognised it as a bug, so small that it was almost microscopic, how did Hiro know to look for it was a mystery. "I found it." He drew a breath. "I found the GPS tracking system Tadashi installed... I knew he had to use something like this..." The girl looked at her friend who stared up from the bug and to her. "This is how he had been doing it... finding me at bot fights... he sewed tracking devices into all my cloths." Hiro stared.

"I guess so- wait, you bot fight." (Y/n) was right- she had certainly missed A LOT while away. She couldn't believe her friend was STILL participating in illegal activity. Hiro shook his head.

"No... I stopped that ages ago..." Hiro's voice had become shaky, he blinked more frequently and averted his gaze from his friend. (Y/n) looked at him confused. Why did he like changing the subject when it came to the older Hamada?

"What made you stop?" she asked. Hiro went silent for what seemed like hours.

"T-t-tadashi...um...made me stop." (Y/n) went silent. This was the first time Hiro acknowledged his brother since she had arrived. She remembered him always changing the subject when it came to the older Hamada. The gang never spoke of him to, causing the girl to wonder how Hiro met them- surely they knew Tadashi?

In her mind, she always thought Tadashi had moved out or was still on that camp or something but now, it seemed to be something else. Hiro's body image was telling a different story.

"Hiro?" she asked gently. Hiro stood up and grasped her hand, leading her out the café without a word and towards a building. "Hiro?! Where are we going?" she asked confused. Hiro stopped at the entrance and sat on one of the stairs.

"He...he's here..." (Y/n) gazed up at the building. A golden plaque was stuck on the top.

"Tadashi Hamada Hall"

(Y/n) looked at her best friend who was quiet. "Hiro?" she asked gently. The boy just looked at the sky. Slowly, she pushed the doors aside and walked into the dimly lit room. In front of her was a podium with another plaque.

"Here lies Tadashi Hamada-"

(Y/n) didn't want to read the rest. She finally understood. She knew why Hiro had said he was away on the day he invited her over. Why an extra bed was available, why Hiro's behaviour changed at the mention of his name, why the gang never confirmed his location...

He was dead.

He was not here, he didn't exist anymore, he was gone.

(Y/n) didn't want to believe her own eyes. She couldn't. The feeling of pity, guilt and anger all fell upon her.

Many times she had seen others mourn loved ones, whether in real life, movies or books but to actually experience having someone you know drop off the face of the earth- that feeling was different compared to her thoughts. It was indescribable. And to think of what Hiro had gone through!

You could never truly feel like this unless you've experienced it. The dread and agony of finally realising that that person was no longer a person. A person to hug, touch or speak with, they were gone.

(Y/n) fell to her knees and looked over the plaque that was written out neatly before her.

He was gone.

She never even got to see him before his demise- would he have remembered her? Helped her? Teased her for liking his brother? Did he know how close he was to death? (Y/n) couldn't find the energy to speak or cry. Silence bestowed her as she just stared, wishing that if she stared long and hard enough, perhaps he would come back.

Footsteps echoed behind her as she silently prayed she was dreaming. The touch of someone's hand made her realise it was no dream, it was all too real.

"He was...amazing," Hiro's voice choked out. He sat down beside (Y/n) and looked at the memorial with teary eyes, "And I took that all for granted." (Y/n) did a double take before looking at her friend. "It's my fault he died...I should have." Her eyes widened. "It was the night I got into SFIT...supposedly the best night ever...only to be the worst..." By now, Hiro had stood up once more, (Y/n) followed in pursuit.

"Hiro... th-this isn't your fault, you know that..." (Y/n) muttered.

"Do I?!" Hiro spat, catching the girl off guard. "There...there was a fire...our professor...he got stuck- if only I held Tadashi back and ran in instead of him-"Hiro sighed heavily, holding back tears.

No one spoke for a while as (Y/n) endured the sounds of Hiro holding back his emotions. "It's okay to cry..." (Y/n) said, letting tears fall herself. "When a boy cries, it doesn't mean he is weak- it means he is becoming a man."

Hiro looked up to her to see tears streaming down her face. And all at once, he let his tears fall to. The emotions he had bottled up after so long were finally released. No longer did he feel the need to hide this secret, (Y/n) knew and she helped him. Sometimes crying just helps, crying washes our eyes to help clean them so we can see another point of view in life.

And that's what both of them needed.

It was a while before either of them spoke again, looking down at the ground and feeling numb. Hiro just sighed and grasped her hand lightly before leading her away from the building. "The only way to play this game is to have another turn no?" Hiro said.

"What turn Hiro... we've lost this stupid game, it's just a stupid metaphor Tadashi used to get us "Inspired", look where that led us! We are broken Hiro." The words just flew out of her mouth before she could stop them. Before she could realise what she had said, Hiro let go of her hand and stared at her in disbelieve.

"Don't go around telling me that! I had to put up for months with that! And pretending he was okay in front of you hurt so much!" Tears were falling once more, this time not for his brother but for his friend.

"You could have told me, "Oh yeah (Y/n), my brother died!" and then I would have known!" (Y/n) retaliated.

"It wasn't that easy! You have no clue what it's like to lose your mom and dad then your only brother!" Hiro defended. "I'm going home...of all people I thought YOU would understand..." His voice grew quieter and deeper. "I guess I was wrong..." And with that, he left his best friend behind. He didn't look back. He didn't turn to see the shock on her face. He didn't even hear the small cry she let out.

He wouldn't be able to move on from Tadashi with her around, after all, she was what was holding him back.

So he walked home, empty handed and trudged to the garage. The face of his best friend waving into his mind. He didn't turn back.

He didn't see her reaction or the fact that she was hesitant to pull him back and apologise.

He was so focused on himself that he walked out of the door his friend had given him.

(Y/n) was upset to. She could have stopped him leaving but she didn't. By the time she had the courage to, he was too far away to hear her yell to come back, or the "I'm sorry" She called out to him.

She was already left in the dirt.

She was too late.