Tadashi Imagines

Exchange Gifts (Tadashi Hamada)

A/N: HELLO READERS!!! SORRY FOR MY LONG ABSENCE, LAST SENIOR YEAR'S GOING CRAZY ON ME, BUT I HAVE A TREAT FOR MY FELLOW FANS OF DANIEL HENNEY AND TADASHI HAMADA FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASONS! (IF YOU ALSO ARE A FAN OF BEN&BEN, SHADOW AND BONE BOOKS, YOU WILL SCREAM AND WISH YOU LIVE IN THIS LMAO)

TADASHI HAMADA

Holiday season is just right the corner; the soft, mellow spirit of Christmas is upon San Fransokyo as buildings have decorations all over their spaces. The cold, crisp winter winds blow softly, but is enough to keep you tightly clinging on your coat. Despite that cold feeling of snow, Winter season has become your favorite season of the year alongside Autumn. Winters and Christmases give you a feeling of comforting warmth of presence, especially the presences of your family and peers.

Exchange gifts, also known as Secret Santa are the most awaited traditions of your class with Professor Callaghan. Everyone gets to pick who'll they give a gift to, and every Friday, which starts on the third Friday of November, you get to secretly give little trinkets to that person until the Friday year-end party, which happens on the third Friday of December. So, yes. Everyone is into Christmas, and Christmas starts on November in your class. As your turn comes, you swiftly fish through the bowl, and you get your crush's name. Little do you know, Tadashi "hot snacc" Hamada got your name too.

The four small Friday gifts you get really has a connection to who you are. A small snowflake brooch to define your love for Christmas, a set of brush pens for your creativity in hand-lettering, an e-ticket to your favorite book sale for your love for books, and lastly, a Ben&Ben necklace of your favorite song to show your love for that band. In return, you gave him a mistletoe brooch for his mischief every Christmas, a new pair of fake eyeglasses to show his handsomeness whenever he puts on his old fake glasses, a tea subscription voucher to use every month next year whenever he gets his favorite tea, and lastly, a t-shirt of Ben&Ben he wanted to show how much he loves Ben&Ben. 

On the day of the year-end, you wore the same style of t-shirt you got Tadashi, but this time it's black, with matching pair of wide denim pants and white Keds. You also wore the brooch, placing it on the left chest part of your shirt. You also tied your hair to a simple pony tail, and just applied minimal make up, good enough to show off your beauty. Letting out a breath you were unaware of holding, you went on your way to Ito Ishioka Robotics Lab, with the grand Secret Santa gift on your bag and two Tupperware boxes of sushi. 

Tadashi Hamada stood around, subtly looking for you as he mingled with your other friends. He wore the shirt and brooch you gave him along with the new fake eyeglasses you got him. For the first time in your stay, he didn't wear his San Fransokyo baseball cap, but instead styled his hair the way he thinks you liked it to be. His eyes still roam around, wishing you are here already. His eyes widen as he watches you burst through the main lab. His heart pumps wildly at the sight of you, pumping so fast that he could literally feel it burst out his chest towards you. 

The Santa exchange marks the end of the holiday party. The students scurry around the labs, looking for their Secret Santa. Your hands holding tightly the gift for your crush, you peek around for Tadashi, hoping you would catch him somewhere, alone. Your feet leads you to his lab, where he is fiddling with one small gift he has for you. His face shows a soft smile as you invite yourself in his lab, feeling his heart pound louder than it has been since you arrived.

"Tadashi," you said under your nervous, staggering breath. You cannot believe you have now the chance you be alone with Tadashi; not in some more intimate meaning, just the disbelief that you finally can have the chance to be alone with him. It was rare that you get chances like this, and you decide not to mess this one chance. You silently hand him your gift, afraid to say something you don't want to say. 

"What's the matter, (y/n)?" You hear Tadashi, worry lacing his rich baritone voice as he comes closer to get his gift from you.  

You decide to not say what you feel anymore, fearing he won't return the same feelings as yours. "Ah, nothing. Just came here to give you your gift. Merry Christmas and Happy holidays, Tadashi." You smiled. "I should get going, my Secret Santa might be-"

You were cut midsentence when you feel his hand hold yours tightly but in a gentle feel. His smile softens more as he hands you your gift. "Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you too, (y/n)." 

"Open your gift, Tadashi." 
"(Y/n), wow. How much is this concert ticket?!"
"Doesn't matter. Now you get your dream to see Ben&Ben in live too!"
"Please tell me you got your own too."
"Don't worry, silly. I got mine too."

"Open yours then, (y/n)."
"Tadashi..." 

Your eyes widen as you open yours. In a red velvet box laid a small, (birthstone) ring. The box also has the small words, "Dos oruguitas, enamoradas." Your lips form a soft smile, understanding the Encanto reference. You look at Tadashi, who also has the same soft smile. 

"(Y/n). I never understood love until you walked in that lab. I was so stoic towards love, but you made my heart soft towards it. That moment told me what my other dreams are, and that is to navigate this world with you, no matter how hard things may become in the next coming moments of our lives. This world will keep changing, but I know my love for you will never stop and change. I hope you accept me in your life, so that we can be two caterpillars in love. Please be my Alma to my very own Pedro. I really love you, and I cannot hold it any longer. "

You felt tears fall down on your cheeks in happiness. Another wish has been granted. Your wish to be with Tadashi Hamada has been granted by the fates. You are in love with him for his love and passion with everything he does, and add this dorky side of his. He is the one who makes you smile like a thousand suns, makes your heart beat a thousand beats in a minute, and who you see your future with.

"I love you too, Tadashi. I will be your Alma."