Guide:
(Y/N): Your Name
"What a beautiful day," you thought as you strolled through the busy streets of San Fransokyo to your favourite place in the city, the San Fransokyo Institute of Technology. The sun was shining high in the clear azure sky amongst the white wispy clouds, the birds were singing melodiously as they flew through the sky, and the familiar sounds of people bustling around brought a smile to your face.
Busy, but peaceful. This was how you like it.
As the familiar blue glow of the robotics lab reached your eyes, you grinned as you climbed up the stairs and pushed the door open into the long hallway. But suddenly, happiness turned into shock as you realized there were people talking amongst themselves as they looked at a poster on the wall. Or something.
A familiar face stuck out from the crowd—an African man with a strong muscular build and brown dreadlocks. You smiled as you made your way to your best friend Wasabi, who also stood shocked at what he was seeing.
"Wasabi?" You called out for his attention, and Wasabi turned to you.
"Oh hey, (Y/N)," Wasabi greeted you with a smile. "What's up?"
"Let me ask you that question," you replied, gesturing to the whole mass of students piling around and talking to themselves. "Honestly, what is going on?"
"Oh," Wasabi said. "I don't know! I mean, I was just walking down the halls when I saw this. Apparently the rumours are true."
You stood puzzled. "What rumours?"
"You know how we kept mentioning Tadashi Hamada dying in the fire that happened the same night Hiro got accepted?" Wasabi asked you.
You nodded. "Touchy subject. I know Hiro didn't want to talk about his death too much. I mean, I noticed that after I got here, and keep in mind, I got here after Big Hero 6 got rid of Callaghan. I don't even know who Tadashi was, except for the fact that he was your best friend and Hiro's older brother." You then looked back at Wasabi, slightly mortified. "Um. Sorry. What was it you were going to say?"
"That's alright. Well, (Y/N), thing is, Tadashi survived," Wasabi said. "He somehow escaped the fire."
Now you stood shocked. "But...how?"
Wasabi shook his head. "I don't know. I didn't read the headlines properly."
You nodded. "Ah. I see."
"Students, please go to your classes!" An announcement on the PA sounded, and you turned your head around in shock as students started to disperse either to classrooms or labs.
"I'll see you later then," Wasabi said to you with a wave.
"Yeah. See you later," you slowly intoned as you departed for your lecture, your feet dragging you now. You couldn't focus all day, even as the professor droned on about your favourite subject. Your mind kept wandering towards the headlines posted on the wall this morning, and in your heart you were already dying to know who Tadashi is.
**********
Locking up your lab for the day near the evening, you finally exited the stuffy building and inhaled deeply. The cool air brushed on your skin lightly, making you sigh in relief as you started heading home. Suddenly, as you turned a corner, a strange sight greeted your eyes.
A man about your age was rolling out of a store in a wheelchair, trying to balance many bags of groceries on his legs. However, as you watched, the pile of bags overbalanced and toppled all over the ground, causing the man to groan.
Immediately, you rushed over to help.
"You alright?" You asked immediately upon arrival as you started to pick up the bags of things for the man.
"I guess," he said uncertainly. "I mean it sucks to end up like this, but who knew I would after something stupid I did?"
"Stupid?" You were intrigued and looked directly into his brown eyes. "What do you mean?"
The man sighed and shook his head. "Why should I even tell you? I don't even know who you are, or why you are helping me."
"Someone has to help, right?" you retorted, taken aback by your sudden harshness but not in that instant regretting it. "Though maybe now you mention it, I probably shouldn't have gotten involved. I'm sorry." You put the bags by the man's feet and started to walk away.
"Wait."
You froze at the sudden request, turning back to him.
"What?"
"What's your name?" The man asked, gently.
You stepped towards him. "I'm (Y/N). I recently got into SFIT, though I don't know if that matters to you."
The man laughed, and you had to admit it did send shivers down your spine. "I remember SFIT," he said. "I used to be a student there. But then because of an accident...I..."
Your eyes widened. "Accident? A fire by any chance?"
Now it was the man's turn to be shocked. "How do you know?"
You knew it. It had to be him. It had to be whom Wasabi told you about earlier. "Um...I have friends at SFIT you know. My friend, Wasabi, told me that the news have spread. It's gone city-wide, bro. You're alive."
"Then there's no need to introduce myself, right?" The man inquired sadly.
"Correct me if I'm wrong. Are you Tadashi Hamada by any chance?"
The man nodded meekly and hung his head, his blackhair exposed to you. "Yes." He sighed. "I'm ugly, am I."
You suddenly felt sorry for him. "No you're not."
"Be honest," he said, glaring at you. "I mean l, look at this!"
Tadashi immediately ripped his blazer off of him and you gasped. There were so many burnt scars on his chest, neck, and probably his back.
You gawked. "Uh..."
Tadashi then wheeled himself to you. "And that's also why I'm in a wheelchair. A fallen beam trapped my legs. I don't know if I'll be able to walk anymore...or go back to SFIT like I used to."
"Have you, uh, gone back to your family at all?" You asked, wondering just how awkward the situation could get.
Tadashi nodded. "That's why I was in that store. Aunt Cass made me do errands."
"I suppose she runs a cafe? I think I have heard of her name somewhere."
"Yeah, she runs the Lucky Cat Cafe."
You nodded. "Ahh. I see." Then you picked up the bags again. "I'll bring these back there with you."
"You sure?" Tadashi asked.
You smiled ruefully. "Hey, I already have your stuff in my hands. What do you think I'd do with it?"
"Okay okay!" Tadashi chuckled. "You know where the cafe is from here?"
"Positive," you said confidently, holding the bags in your hands and at the same time pushing hard on Tadashi's wheelchair, heaving it up a hill and down another slope and through the winding streets until you reached the Lucky Cat Cafe, wheeling him through the entrance.
"Tadashi!" Aunt Cass cried, running over to her...nephew, was it?
"Hi Aunt Cass," Tadashi greeted her. "Oh, I'd like you to meet—"
"(Y/N)?" Aunt Cass asked in shock, seeing you holding some of Tadashi's things.
You nodded. "I somehow stumbled across him on the way home from the lab," you explained, shrugging. "So I thought I helped him...though mind you, he needs work on social skills. He tried to shut me out. Well, somewhat."
"Hey, that was at the beginning!" Tadashi protested.
"Argue with me again and you would wish I never helped you," you seethed, and that shut Tadashi up.
"Now now, it's about time we just put that behind us and start anew," Aunt Cass reprimanded, seeing that you two were now facing opposite directions with arms crossed.
You huffed. "Thanks for the suggestion, but I don't think so." You quickly put the things down and exited the Cafe, but then Tadashi wheeled after you as fast as he could.
"(Y/N)! Please, wait!"
You turned to him in frustration. "WHAT?!" you screamed.
"I just want to say thank you," Tadashi sighed in exasperation.
You froze. "Well, you're welcome." You turned to leave again but then he called for you again.
"Seriously, Tadashi, I'm a busy girl," you protested.
"Look, I think we both started on the wrong foot," he finally said, sticking a hand out and looking at you in the eye. "Can we...can we start over?"
You took a good look at him now, moving your head to look at him in his wheelchair, his burns barely healed. Maybe, just maybe, you would give him a chance, a shot at being friends. Who knew, maybe what happened in the beginning was a fluke after all.
"Sure," you eventually gave in, shaking his hand slowly. "I'll come by tomorrow if that helps you."
Tadashi nodded. "Thanks. I'll, um, see you tomorrow, I guess."
You nodded. "Alright. See you then."
The two of you then headed in separate directions and headed back to your respective places. You couldn't help but nod at yourself thinking through the events that happened. Were you going to tell anyone? You weren't sure. You couldn't help but feel a slight burn in your cheeks, your stomach feeling slightly weak. Oh no. You weren't going to fall for anyone who almost rejected your help...but yet that look...
You shook your head and continued your way home, eyes narrowed in determination. You were not prepared to fall for Tadashi Hamada.
*****************
Over the next few days you continued spending time with Tadashi, and no matter how much you told yourself to stop falling for him, you couldn't help yourself. This started to scare you—who would ever want to date with someone in a wheelchair, paralyzed from waist down? Besides, apart from SFIT things and "taking care" of Tadashi, you were wondering whether you were doing the right thing at all, after all this time.
At one point, a few weeks later, you talked to Wasabi and the rest of the gang about you meeting Tadashi during a lab break. They, of course, almost overreacted.
"MAN!" Fred cried, making you smile. "Tadashi and (Y/N), now how did I not see that coming? (Y/N), you're literally a carbon copy of him."
You shrugged. "I don't know. I mean, me and Tadashi...that was impossible when he was still presumably dead. Besides, I didn't know who he was until I had to help him pick up something as simple as groceries. But that's not what I'm worried about..."
Gogo immediately picked up on your wistful look. "What's up?" she asked.
You sighed. "I don't even know why but every time I look at him I...fall for him. It's not a good thing, trust me. Who would ever want to fall for a guy who has sustained so many burns and scars on his body and has to spend a lot of time in a wheelchair? Every time I see him I feel...paralyzed."
That brought everyone round. Honey Lemon gasped.
"He's...in a wheelchair?" she whispered in shock.
"What do you expect? Some SFIT debris fell on him, according to what he told me," you said.
"Has he checked in with Baymax?" Wasabi asked.
"Whoever Baymax is, I hope so," you said.
"Oh the poor thing," Honey Lemon cried.
"Who knew what Tadashi would end up with," you agreed.
"(Y/N), let me just give you some advice," Fred finally spoke up, approaching you as he put his sign down. "Who cares what Tadashi looks like? If he's nice and all to you, you could trust him. And if you do fall for him, do it. No one will stop you—not even the fact that he's in a wheelchair would stop you, right?"
You shrugged. "Dating someone in a wheelchair is what I'm most worried about though."
Just as you said this, in walked his younger brother Hiro, who gawked at you.
"(Y/N), are you saying that you are falling for my BROTHER?!" Hiro cried in panic.
"Whoa, I don't even know!" you admitted. "I'm confused! My feelings are messed up!"
"Hey, it's okay," Hiro softened, going over to you as you started freaking out. "I don't hold anything against you and my brother. You're our friend, (Y/N). You could tell us anything."
"I was sure you'd be against it though," you said. "Who would ever want to fall for someone who was recently reported alive?"
"I would," Honey Lemon spoke up, standing boldly. "Tadashi's a great guy. Who can't love him?"
You smiled. "Then I guess I can trust myself. And I guess I can trust you."
"That's the spirit," Hiro smiled, patting you on the back. "Don't be afraid to talk to my brother. He's been...talking about you for the past while too when you weren't around in the Café."
Now that was news to you. Your ears perked up. "Really?"
Hiro nodded. "I do sense it from the both of you. It's okay, (Y/N). Go for it."
You smiled again and gave Hiro a hug. "Thank you, Hiro."
Hiro chuckled. "Any time, (Y/N)."
**************
That same day you went to the Café to drop in and see Tadashi, Hiro walking beside you. But what you didn't expect as you entered the Café hearing the jingling bells above you was for Aunt Cass to rush over to you.
"(Y/N), it's Tadashi," she said breathlessly.
You raised your eyebrows. "What is it about him?" you asked in suspicion.
"He..."
"Hey."
You turned to see Tadashi...walking towards you. Getting down the stairs now and walking slowly, step by painful step, towards you.
Your eyes widened. Hiro's did too.
"Tadashi..." you said in awe, running over to your best friend now with a smile, while Hiro stood gaping. "You...you can walk. YOU CAN WALK!"
"I know, (Y/N)!" Tadashi cried in relief. "It feels great! I mean, wow, I would never imagine finally getting myself out of that...wheelchair..." He faltered as you looked wistful, your eyes downcast.
"What's wrong?" he asked you.
You shrugged. "Tadashi I'm happy for you and all but...would you still be the same guy in the wheelchair I first met and hung out with for the past couple of weeks?"
"(Y/N), you seriously don't need to be bothered by that," Tadashi said firmly. "I will always be the same person inside out, wheelchair or not."
You nodded. "I figured. It's just...well..." You took a deep breath. "Okay this might sound crazy, but...I can't believe I fell for a guy sitting in a wheelchair asking me to start things over when he almost shut me out at a grocery store. Tadashi, I don't even know what to feel anymore."
"Confused?" Tadashi asked.
You glared at him. "Not helping."
"Whoa, okay," he said. "You fell for...wait, are you talking about me?"
You nodded slowly. "But now that he's out of the wheelchair, I don't—"
"Hey. I'll always be that guy in the wheelchair who almost pushed you away," he whispered to you. "For a girl like you, you've got some fire. (Y/N)...you wouldn't leave my mind for the last few weeks now."
Awkward silence ensued before he finally whispered, "I love you too, (Y/N)."
You looked up at him now, shocked to hear those words come out from him, and you smiled. Tadashi smiled back before he suddenly collapsed and you caught him in your arms, almost toppling over at the overbalance.
He's heavy! you thought.
Eventually you heaved him up and the two of you looked eye to eye, the queasiness in your stomach just increasing as time passed.
"Can I just look away?" Hiro groaned, turning away respectfully, and you gave his back a shifty smile before Tadashi took hold of your face and brought your face to his, the distance diminishing until you felt his lips make contact with yours.
You couldn't do much since he was still leaning on you pretty heavily but you still managed to kiss him back with equal fervor, adrenaline rushing through you and easing your limbs up again, no longer making you feel paralyzed like you normally would be every time you looked at him. Your arms were wrapped around his neck, his on your waist, and he righted himself up again as time passed.
When the two of you finally let go, you put an arm around his waist and brought him in a tight embrace. "Wheelchair or no wheelchair, you're still you. I love you, Tadashi."
Tadashi smiled and closed his eyes as he returned the embrace, being absolutely aware of your presence. "Love you too, (Y/N)," he breathed softly into your ear, and the two of you held the embrace for a long time.
Hi. Sorry for no update. Ahhhaaa I finished 2/5 exams (but I feel like I screwed my math one up big-time!) and I still have another tomorrow so let's get to work.
THIS TOOK ME 3 EFFING DAYS! NO judging, k.
That's it for now. Peace out.
-clara_hamada