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Hiro's day started off like any other day. He woke up, got dressed to be ready for school, had breakfast down at the Lucky Cat Cafe with the gang and off to San Fransokyo Institute of Technology like he always did.
But the day did not end anywhere near like his days usually did.
Because if it was up to him Karmi would never know that he, Hiro Hamada, is Captain Cutie (the name she gave him). Unfortunately, it isn't up to him. And she now knows and it wasn't his fault.
It went like this. He was in his class with Granville, which he shares with Karmi and everything was going well, he was paying attention to the lesson that she was giving until a robot started to terrorize San Fransokyo. So of course that was his cue to get suited up and go fight it.
He managed to get out of class because Granville cut class short since everyone wasn't paying attention to her anymore (and to help ease his way to get out of class without raising suspicion).
But that of course meant that not only did he get out of class everyone else did as well. As the rest of the students ran for cover, only one student decided to run straight for the danger, and it wasn't Hiro.
Karmi was standing off in the alleyway trying to get a good view of Captain Cutie in action and maybe get a little conversation in there as well.
Big Hero 6 was focused on defeating the robot and getting civilians out of the way that they didn't notice her. More specifically, Hiro didn't notice her.
So when one of the robot arms knocked him into that same alley that Kami was in, he was in trouble and he didn't realize it until it was too late. Because during his landing his helmet came off and was down by the shoes that looked awfully familiar, so familiar that he knew who they belonged to.
And he hoped he was wrong but once he looked up he was met with the shocked face of Karmi.
"Karmi," he breathed.
She stared at him for a few more seconds in silence until she quietly stuttered. "Hi. . .ro."
He panicked. Of course she was going to recognize him. Even in a darkened alley it was hard not to see who the other person was.
They had been finally trying to get along better and Hiro thought that maybe, maybe they were finally getting there. But with this he knew that this would set them back to being frenemies. And he didn't want that.
He tried to articulate everything he wanted to say but his tongue felt heavy and he couldn't speak. And he didn't need to anyways because Karmi ran out of the alley a few seconds before she could say anything.
So that was that he had lost her completely now.
It was disheartening. He was starting to like her.
Later that night, Hiro was in his room replaying everything that went wrong today. He was laying on his bed staring at the ceiling hoping that everything had been a dream. He knew it wasn't.
He had his phone on his chest, he had been staring at it ever since he got home. Aunt Cass questioned him about his sour mood; he just said he wanted to be alone.
Even after they defeated the robot that was rampaging the city earlier, the team knew something had happened. But not all the questioning in the world could make him say what was bothering him. The team let it go for now.
Hiro wished he had Karmi's phone number, he kept unlocking his phone and going to the contact list hoping that Karmi's phone number would just appear so he can know her thoughts about this.
Being Captain Cutie was never supposed to come out. He always tried to be extremely careful anytime they went out to fight crime but of course during a moment of weakness everything crumbled.
He needed to know what Karmi has done since she found out. Know whether she told anyone. Whether she's ok with him being the superhero that she likes and admires. That last thought came as a surprise to him.
When Karmi had started writing fanfiction about him and her in a romantic setting, it was horrifying. He couldn't believe anyone could write such an abomination and post it on the internet for everyone to read. And the part that was more surprising was the fact everyone liked it, and shipped Karmutie.
At the time it bothered him, he was annoyed. And he let Karmi know. She just took his annoyance as jealousy, which it wasn't.
He didn't know why he was so annoyed with it. Despite, Honey Lemon's advice on accepting Karmi has a crush on him. It still didn't sit right with him. And he later realized it wasn't the fanfic he was annoyed with, it was who she had a crush on. He knows that he and Captain Cutie are one in the same, but she doesn't. And therein lies the problem. Karmi likes Captain Cutie because she thinks he's some heroic fearless leader. But if she knew that Hiro was said superhero, she would be appalled at such a revelation and that's what bothered him the most.
Her not accepting him.
It frightened him to realize that. He had started to develop feelings for the biotech genius and that surprised him. Because he couldn't imagine himself with someone so stubborn and headstrong and smart and pretty and everything he never knew he wanted in a partner.
He just wished Kami would reach out to him. He would try to find her but he doesn't even know where she lives or where he could find her.
"Hiro can you come down for a second." He heard his Aunt Cass call out. He groaned didn't she understand that he wanted to be left alone. But he knew he would get her wrath if he didn't listen. He got up, reluctantly and headed for the stairs.
When he got downstairs he was met with Aunt Cas and Karmi.
He straightened up immediately, Aunt Cass noticed.
"Karmi," he exclaimed surprised.
She was in her normal attire, hair in a low ponytail, beige sweater, orange skirt, black tights and same black shoes, so why did it feel this was the first time he saw her.
"Hey, uh. . . Can we talk?" Karmi asked as she shifted her weight from foot to foot, she looked a little uncomfortable.
He was still staring at her. "Hiro." Aunt Cass took him out of his stupor.
"Umm yes," he answered. He motioned to a table.
"Umm," she glanced at Aunt Cass. "Privately."
Right. Of course. They were going to talk about what happened.
"We could go up to my room or the roof," he offered.
"The roof is fine," she replied.
He led the way up the stairs but not before turning his head to cast one more look at his aunt in case she had any objection, she just had a knowing look. He felt his face warm up before he focused on going to the roof.
Once on the roof, the night was warm, the sky was sparse of any clouds, the stars could be seen. They were standing by the ledge Karmi on his left. Hiro would sometimes come up here if he ever felt like getting some fresh air.
Now with Karmi here he felt like he was suffocating, he was waiting to see what she would say. He wanted to say so many things to her. That he was sorry that she found out this way. That he was planning on telling her but when he was ready. That she can't tell anyone anything. That he hopes they can still be friends. All his thoughts were a jumbled mess.
She broke the silence first. "So you're. . . Captain Cutie." It wasn't a question.
This was his chance to change her mind. To make her think she's mistaken in what she saw. He turned to look at her and he knew that he couldn't lie to her, not anymore.
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Karmi-" He tried, but she put her hand up to silence him.
"I want to ask you something and I don't want you to interrupt me, got it?"
He nodded.
"I'm not gonna ask you why you didn't tell me because it's obvious you don't trust me-"
"It's not that I don't trust you," he interjected.
"What did I just say Genius Boy?"
He closed his mouth.
"I know we're not friends, so of course I can't expect you to tell me anything, so I just want to know why do you do it?"
Out of everything he expected her to ask him that was the last thing he would've thought.
"Don't get me wrong," she continued. "What you do is amazing and admirable, but you're 14 years old, Hiro. That's a bit young to be risking your life like that everyday." She looks away. "What if. . . Something were to happen to you. What if-" she stops there.
"I do it because someone has to." She turns back. There are tears in her eyes. "I do it because I couldn't help Tadashi, so I want to make sure I help everyone else, or well try to."
He laughs. "I know I'm risking my life, Karmi. Believe me. I think about it all the time, but when I save someone that feeling of knowing that the city is safe just for one more day it's worth it. Even if there are people that write fanfiction about us."
She smiled at the last part. "Now I get why you were so against my fanfics. Yeah, sorry about that."
She apologized. Karmi Khan actually apologized. This was a crazy day.
He waved her off. "It's fine, once you get past all the romantic parts it's not that bad. You're good writer Karmi."
She looked down at the ground as he complimented her. Hiro couldn't be sure but he thinks she's blushing, but it could be just the moonlight.
"Also, it's not that I don't trust you Karmi. I do trust you. It's just I want to keep you safe. You didn't even know I was Captain Cutie and you got kidnapped. I don't know what I'd do if something were to happen to you because of me."
She looked out over the ledge. "I understand."
"I know this goes without saying but I need to make sure you know that you can't tell anyone about this Karmi."
She scoffed. "I know that Genius Boy. I'm not stupid."
"I'm being serious, Karmi."
"I am too. Besides who am I gonna tell? I don't have any friends."
"I am your friend." He said. "I know you may not consider me yours but I consider you mine."
The silence stretched on for a few seconds. He was starting to think that maybe she hadn't heard him. The roof was pretty windy and she didn't say a word.
"Thank you," she finally said.
He was taken aback. First she apologizes and now she's thanking him.
"For what?"
"For being my friend. I've never had any before, so I'm not really sure how to do this." She was wringing her hands together. He placed his hand on hers. She looked up at him surprised, he was surprised as well.
"You don't need to thank me. I know we didn't get off to a great start when we first met. But now that I've gotten to know you better. I know that I want to be your friend."
She pulled one of her hands out of his grip and the hand she still had in his she interlocked their fingers.
Hiro's heart leaped in his chest. She was holding his hand. He hoped his hand wasn't sweaty, or that she could feel his racing pulse.
"I also want to thank you for trusting me with all this. I know that probably this wasn't the way you wanted me to find out." She stopped. "You were planning on telling me, right?"
"Uhh," he fumbled. "Yes?"
"You hesitated." She let go of his hand.
"Look Karmi I was going to tell you," he reached out to her. "Eventually."
She scrutinized him, trying to decide whether he was telling the truth.
She shrugged. "It doesn't matter anyway. I know now."
She grasped his hand again. Her phone pinged with a text. She checked it.
"It's my mom," she explained. "She was waiting for me outside. I told her Iwas going to pass by the cafe and grab a snack. I better get going."
"Ok bye." He really didn't want her to go.
Before he realized what happened. Karmi leaned forward getting close to his face and her lips pressed against his cheek. "See you around Captain Cutie," she whispered in his ear before turning around and winking before heading for the door.
Hiro was left in a daze. His hand went up to his face touching the cheek that she kissed. He walked toward the edge of the building, he saw Karmi enter her car, but she looked up at him and waved.
He waved back.
Ok so maybe it wasn't so bad that Karmi found out. And maybe things are going to change between them and for the better he hopes. Now he just has to explain to the rest of the group that he has been unmasked.
Well that could wait until tomorrow.