silent No one can beat Little Yama You cheated and I want to know how Give me that bot Several of Mr Yama’s large associates suddenly moved toward Hiro I can see you’re upset Here’s what I’m gonna do I’ll teach you everything I know about high-torque micromotors Hiro said as the huge men backed him into a corner I charge an hourly rate it’s pricey but worth it Before you know it you’ll be making robots that aren’t totally junky First class is free Hiro was really starting to sweat when a scooter came out of nowhere and tore down the alley It skidded to a stop knocking Mr Yama and his goons to the ground Get on the rider yelled to Hiro 4
Chapter 2 Tadashi Hamada reached back and shoved a helmet on his little brother Hiro’s head He gunned the scooter’s engine and took off through the crowd It was hard for Tadashi to be patient with his little brother sometimes He turned and smacked the top of Hiro’s helmet You graduated high school when you were thirteen and this is what you’re doing You’re wasting that big brain of yours It was well known that both the Hamada brothers were tech prodigies but Hiro he was something special He was a bona fide genius Not that he did much with his brain other than build fighting bots I’m on a roll big brother Hiro replied grinning There’s no stopping me now Just then a police car with its red lights flashing pulled up and blocked the end of the 5
alley Oh no Tadashi groaned realizing they’d been caught up in a gambling raid It wasn’t long before he and Hiro were headed to jail along with Yama and everyone else the cops were able to catch A short time later Tadashi sat in his cell staring across the hall at Hiro Because of Hiro’s age he was given his own cell while Tadashi was locked up with Yama and his goons Hiro could see that Tadashi was furious Finally a police officer yelled Tadashi and Hiro Hamada The boys stepped out of their cells and glanced sheepishly at their aunt Cass She’d come to pick them up and she looked worried Uh hi Aunt Cass Tadashi said She rushed to embrace them both Are you guys okay Tell me you’re okay We’re okay Hiro said ducking his head She twisted both their ears Then what were you two knuckleheads thinking It was a long ride home Aunt Cass started in on them as soon as she got behind the wheel For ten years I’ve done the best I could to raise you Have I been perfect No Hiro and Tadashi nodded They had expected her to lecture them and they knew they deserved it They hated making her upset 6
Is it like the blind raising the blind Yes she continued as she parked her pickup in front of the café she owned the Lucky Cat It was on the first floor of an old Victorian and they all lived together in the apartment upstairs We’re sorry Tadashi said as they got out of the truck love you Aunt Cass Hiro knew he had to say something too We Hiro and Tadashi cringed at the Closed sign hanging in the window They knew she’d had to close up to get them out of jail Well I love you too she grumbled as they entered the café She grabbed a giant pastry from the counter and took a bite Stress eating Because of you she mumbled with her mouth full Then she walked upstairs to their apartment with her fat cat Mochi following her Hiro and Tadashi also went upstairs to the bedroom they shared Hiro gathered some tools that were scattered on his desk while Tadashi watched I hope you’ve learned your lesson Tadashi finally said Absolutely Hiro said You’ve got your priorities straight I really do Hiro replied making an adjustment 7
