[Sometimes you just need that. Rei's grip tightens a little when she notices the shaking.] You already know how to do that. Just show up outside a window riding Baymax.
[Her hands making rubbing gestures up and down his back, trying to call up some sort of matronly instinct. It's weird, being that person...]
[The nice part is he isn't crying. He's not really sure what to do at this point but at least with Rei talking to him he's forcing himself to respond and stay connected to the conversation. There's a "heh" at the idea of showing up on Baymax's back as a superhero entrance, but the image quickly disappears.]
...what am I supposed to do now? I was supposed to save him.
[She wouldn't care if he did cry. It helped sometimes to let all that out. She knew, she'd cried for days after Minako had vanished, but he wasn't her.
His question hits her harder than he probably knew. It was something she'd thought about the minute she'd seen the app notification, too. He was going back into oblivion, to where the dead went. Not home, not really. At least, that was what she'd initially thought. It'd taken time, and she'd been trying to come up with a preemptive answer for this very question since then. Planning for it and being asked it, thought, was a bit like taking that first hit in a boxing match.
She flounders for words, but not letting her hold on him break one bit, as if she could will away his sadness with touches. When she does speak, it's in a low voice, closer to his ear.]
You still can. He's still in the Nexus Code. Tadashi-san has no magical talent, and that means he'll be there. Eventually, we'll find a way to reach that place...and then we can take people out. Just like him.
[He's not much of a crier, truth be told. It had taken time and a much-needed message from beyond the grave for Hiro to properly grieve Tadashi's death back home. He'd cried a few times since in Cerealia when things were at their worst, but it did nothing. It only served to make things worse, he's found, and so he's doing his best not to allow himself to cry in the vicinity of other people.
It's not a fair question. But none of this is fair. He ends up sniffing and turning to stare at Baymax instead, tone growing more dejected.]
He doesn't want to come home, Rei. He told me so. And I know he's right, but...[...saying goodbye is hard. It was hard the first time. He's not sure how to do it the second time.] He and Dipper are both in there. And Wasabi, too. You think they're maybe safe?
I know he doesn't. I don't understand why he doesn't, though. It seems strange, to just embrace an end so young. [Rei turns to look at Baymax as well, letting one hand go but keeping an arm wrapped around him.]
I think they're safe, though. With Ami and Minako, and everyone else in the code. [She can't accept that it's anything less than safe. It'd take too much out of her, worrying about it. Still, she can always ask a professional's opinion.]
Baymax, is it likely that computer data in a protected environment is going to be in any physical danger?
[Hiro's content to be curled up against her at the moment, but Baymax seems to ponder that question well enough.]
The only damage that will occur to the data will be physical damage to its casing. If the Nexus is damaged, all data inside will be in danger. However, there have been no signs of damage to the Nexus or people who come out from the Nexus.
I had Baymax scan Honey Lemon when she came back. Seemed like it made sense.
[Then looking down at Hiro, she rubs his back some more. That's good at least.]
It did, and that was smart of you. You've got a control in Honey Lemon, and you can check readings against other people who've come and gone like Yosuke-kun or Mabel-chan.
Well, he’s the same Yosuke Hanamura as the last two. [Her words are dry, amused…and she’ll let him in on the little joke.] I can tell because he’s wanted to date me every time he’s been here, and he always reacts the same way when I tell him I like girls.
No offense, Rei, but I can't really see you dating boys anyway. [A shrug. As far as he's concerned pseudo-sis is too strong to deal with boys being dumb.] Maybe I'll touch base with him later. There's been a lot happening lately.
Well, that's because I generally don't want to. [She'd consider it, yes. If the absolute right boy came along but as that had yet to happen, she'd pretty much just focused on life.] Especially not Yosuke Hanamura. I don't date clowns. [Except Minako.]
You should, but you should also rest. That's why I'm here. To make sure you rest.
[There's a tiny, amused snort. Somehow he's not surprised at all. However...she mentions resting and he frowns softly, shaking his head again.]
I'll be fine. I need to get back to work tomorrow but I'm not doing anything today I guess. [Seeing how today's pretty much over.] ...it's weird, you know? It doesn't feel like he should be gone at all. I just saw him.
It is weird. I know that feeling pretty well. [Pulling back, she lowers herself to his eye level, gently touching his cheek.] Minako and I went to bed, and when I woke up, I was alone in bed.
It is sudden, and it hurts. But he's gone. That won't get any less painful, but in time? It will become easier to bear.
[How to know Hiro Hamada's feeling terrible: he's leaning into her hand instead. It's comforting, at least, and he knows she understands. It's kind of awful that way.]
...I know you're right. It got a little easier back home, too. But then I came here and he was here and it sort of felt like going backwards? But now he's gone again. So...just gotta go forward again...right?
[Rei nods, letting her fingers slide down to his shoulder and holding onto that tightly. She knows this is hard, she knows it so, so well. It's a familiar ache, and she'd hoped that he'd never feel it for his family but this was unavoidable.]
Yeah. You do. Moving forward is really the only option if you want to do more than wallow. [And she knows you. You do wallow sometimes but not when there's more at stake.]
You're not alone in moving ahead, though, Hiro. You won't be, as long as you keep being you. You've got a gift for bridging gaps, and I know Tadashi would be proud of that.
Wallowing gets pretty boring. [It's said like he's considering it, but she's not wrong. Then again, he avoids wallowing because he knows sometimes he has bad days, and those bad days make it even harder to come out of that state. Having people like her around helps tremendously.]
I'm going to have to do my best to make sure I don't disappoint anybody. Not just Tadashi, but you guys, too. You're my friends and I don't want to leave anybody else behind. And...I know you'll back me up. So thanks.
Yeah. I will. I’m not going anywhere willingly, and I’m not leaving you behind. As if I could. [From somewhere, she pulls out a basket.] I brought something. If you feel like ice cream, anyway.
[Magic basket! He actually looks a little mystified as if it really were magic and he grins just a little. The world sucks, but Rei knows how to drive a hard bargain.]
I think that depends on what kind of ice cream it is...but since you brought it all this way it'd be pretty rude not to eat it right? I think there's still clean dishes in the kitchen. [Honestly he'll probably just. Eat it out of the container with a spoon. But he can pretend he's civilized.]
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[Her hands making rubbing gestures up and down his back, trying to call up some sort of matronly instinct. It's weird, being that person...]
Hiro, I'm so sorry.
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...what am I supposed to do now? I was supposed to save him.
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His question hits her harder than he probably knew. It was something she'd thought about the minute she'd seen the app notification, too. He was going back into oblivion, to where the dead went. Not home, not really. At least, that was what she'd initially thought. It'd taken time, and she'd been trying to come up with a preemptive answer for this very question since then. Planning for it and being asked it, thought, was a bit like taking that first hit in a boxing match.
She flounders for words, but not letting her hold on him break one bit, as if she could will away his sadness with touches. When she does speak, it's in a low voice, closer to his ear.]
You still can. He's still in the Nexus Code. Tadashi-san has no magical talent, and that means he'll be there. Eventually, we'll find a way to reach that place...and then we can take people out. Just like him.
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It's not a fair question. But none of this is fair. He ends up sniffing and turning to stare at Baymax instead, tone growing more dejected.]
He doesn't want to come home, Rei. He told me so. And I know he's right, but...[...saying goodbye is hard. It was hard the first time. He's not sure how to do it the second time.] He and Dipper are both in there. And Wasabi, too. You think they're maybe safe?
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I think they're safe, though. With Ami and Minako, and everyone else in the code. [She can't accept that it's anything less than safe. It'd take too much out of her, worrying about it. Still, she can always ask a professional's opinion.]
Baymax, is it likely that computer data in a protected environment is going to be in any physical danger?
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The only damage that will occur to the data will be physical damage to its casing. If the Nexus is damaged, all data inside will be in danger. However, there have been no signs of damage to the Nexus or people who come out from the Nexus.
I had Baymax scan Honey Lemon when she came back. Seemed like it made sense.
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Thanks, Baymax.
[Then looking down at Hiro, she rubs his back some more. That's good at least.]
It did, and that was smart of you. You've got a control in Honey Lemon, and you can check readings against other people who've come and gone like Yosuke-kun or Mabel-chan.
[When in doubt, science.]
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Yeah, exactly. [...he grins sheepishly.] I haven't actually talked to Yosuke since he got back. I've been a little distracted.
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You should, but you should also rest. That's why I'm here. To make sure you rest.
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I'll be fine. I need to get back to work tomorrow but I'm not doing anything today I guess. [Seeing how today's pretty much over.] ...it's weird, you know? It doesn't feel like he should be gone at all. I just saw him.
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It is sudden, and it hurts. But he's gone. That won't get any less painful, but in time? It will become easier to bear.
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...I know you're right. It got a little easier back home, too. But then I came here and he was here and it sort of felt like going backwards? But now he's gone again. So...just gotta go forward again...right?
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Yeah. You do. Moving forward is really the only option if you want to do more than wallow. [And she knows you. You do wallow sometimes but not when there's more at stake.]
You're not alone in moving ahead, though, Hiro. You won't be, as long as you keep being you. You've got a gift for bridging gaps, and I know Tadashi would be proud of that.
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I'm going to have to do my best to make sure I don't disappoint anybody. Not just Tadashi, but you guys, too. You're my friends and I don't want to leave anybody else behind. And...I know you'll back me up. So thanks.
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I think that depends on what kind of ice cream it is...but since you brought it all this way it'd be pretty rude not to eat it right? I think there's still clean dishes in the kitchen. [Honestly he'll probably just. Eat it out of the container with a spoon. But he can pretend he's civilized.]