three seconds
Three more seconds.
That’s all he can think of. Every time someone tells him it wasn’t his fault, there was nothing he could do, he just thinks about those three seconds. Three seconds.
Whenever he has a panic attack and is reminded to breathe. Count out the seconds with me. Inhale. Exhale.
One.
Two.
Three.
It never works - just makes everything worse. He expects an explosion of light and sound and heat after every count. Can feel his brother’s arm slip out of his grasp. See the expression on his brother’s face as he runs to his death.
Instead he recites the Hamada Brothers Rules in his head.
Hamada brothers never use something as lame as a notebook.
Hamada brothers don’t judge notebooks by their covers.
Incoming trolleys don’t scare Hamada brothers!
Hamada brothers laugh in the face of trolley danger.
Hamada brothers’ projects have to be CRAZY AWESOME.
Hamada brothers only show their work to the outside world when it’s ready.
They become the only thing that can calm him down when his chest feels tight, like his ribcage is three sizes too small, and there’s a steady, pounding thud thud thud behind his temples.
One.
Two.
Three.
That’s all the time Hiro needed to save Tadashi. If his grip was stronger. If he was less shocked. If he didn’t hold on to the childish belief that his brother would always be there - that he was invincible. Together the Hamada brothers could conquer anything.
Maybe if he followed him into the flames they would have conquered death, too.
One.
'There wasn't anything you could have done.'
Two.
'It wasn't your fault.'
Three.
'Boom.'
"Hey, little dude, you okay?"
Fredzilla is on his left, voicing the concern he can read on all of his friend’s faces. Nodding reassuringly, he quickly gives them the rundown of each of their roles. Once they’re all set, he climbs up Baymax’s waiting arm and locks himself into place.
Never again will anyone be lost to a mere three seconds. It’s more than enough time to make a world of difference, he knows.
"Ready?"
A chorus of affirmatives greets him.
"Three,
"Two,
"One!"
Hiro smiles.