The Hope Kids 𓆉 // A New Beginning

ch: 4 // plane rides

Hiro tightened his backpack straps as he stood by the boarding gate, feeling a mix of dread and anticipation weighing on him. Aunt Cass hugged him one last time, her warmth grounding him for just a moment.

"Remember, don't lose your boarding pass again," she teased, ruffling his hair. "And be nice to everyone! It's a new adventure, Hiro."

He rolled his eyes but smiled. "Yeah, yeah. I'll try to survive two weeks without getting into too much trouble."

Baymax waved in his signature slow, robotic way from beside Aunt Cass. "I will miss you, Hiro."

"Miss you too, Baymax. Recharge while I'm gone, okay?"

With a final wave to his aunt and friends—GoGo, Honey Lemon, Wasabi, and Fred all shouting their goodbyes from behind the security line—Hiro finally boarded the plane, trying to push aside his nerves. Baymax had to stay behind for this one, but he wasn't alone. Besides, what could really go wrong in Toronto?

As he made his way down the aisle, he couldn't help but notice that the plane was already buzzing with people, many of them chatting in Spanish. It looked like the exchange program was more popular than he thought. He scanned his boarding pass: Row 17, Seat B.

When he reached his row, his heart stopped for a moment. Sitting in the window seat was a boy—no, a really cute boy—with dark tan skin and jet-black hair that curled slightly at the ends. He had these deep, almost soulful eyes that glimmered with excitement as he gazed out the window. Hiro swallowed, suddenly feeling flustered.

"Uh, excuse me," Hiro managed, trying to keep his voice steady. "That's my seat."

The boy turned, blinking up at him with a smile that could melt anyone's nerves. "Oh, right! Sorry, let me move my stuff." His voice had a slight accent—Spanish, maybe? He quickly grabbed his bag from the seat, making room for Hiro.

"Thanks." Hiro slipped into the seat next to him, his palms a little sweaty as he shoved his backpack under the seat. He glanced sideways at the boy, noticing the guitar case tucked beside him.

The silence felt too awkward for Hiro's liking, so he cleared his throat. "So, you headed to Toronto for the exchange program?"

The boy's face lit up, and Hiro couldn't help but notice the way his eyes sparkled with excitement. "Yeah! I'm actually going for a music program." He grinned, shifting a little so he could face Hiro more directly. "I'm Miguel, by the way. From Mexico."

"Hiro," he replied, feeling himself relax. "I'm from San Francisco."

Miguel's smile widened. "Nice to meet you, Hiro! So, what are you going for?"

"Some science and tech exchange program," Hiro said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Honestly, I got talked into it by my aunt. I'm not sure it's gonna be my thing."

Miguel chuckled, his laugh deep but warm. "Sounds familiar. My parents were all over me about it. I love music, but I wasn't sure about spending two weeks away from home. I've never been to Canada before."

"Same!" Hiro said, feeling the ice between them start to melt. "First time leaving the States for me, actually."

They fell into easy conversation, talking about everything from the differences between San Francisco and Mexico City to their hobbies. Hiro found himself glancing at Miguel more than once—he couldn't help it. Miguel had this effortless way about him, his confidence laced with a gentle sincerity. Hiro's heart raced a little faster every time their eyes met.

"So," Hiro asked after a lull in their chat, "what part of the city are you staying in?"

Miguel rummaged in his backpack, pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. "I've got this temple address. It's kind of weird though—I thought I'd be staying somewhere more... I don't know, modern?" He handed the paper to Hiro, his fingers brushing against Hiro's hand for just a second longer than necessary.

Hiro's breath caught at the slight touch, but he played it cool. He scanned the address, and his eyes widened. "Wait, are you staying at a temple near the cherry blossoms, like in the old district?"

Miguel nodded, a curious glint in his eyes. "Yeah, that's the one. Why? Are you familiar with it?"

Hiro couldn't believe it. "I'm staying at the same place!" He grinned, unable to hide his excitement. "It's part of my program too."

Miguel's eyes lit up again, and his smile was so genuine it made Hiro's stomach flip. "No way! That's awesome. Looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other, huh?"

"Guess so," Hiro said, trying to play it off casually, but inside, he was buzzing. Not only was he sitting next to the cutest boy he'd ever seen, but they were going to be staying at the same temple in Toronto. This trip was turning out to be way more interesting than he'd expected.

Miguel tilted his head, his eyes studying Hiro for a moment. "You don't seem like the type to be into temples. Or is there more to you than meets the eye?" he teased, a playful smirk tugging at his lips.

Hiro felt his face heat up, but he quickly recovered, smirking back. "You'll just have to find out."

Miguel chuckled, but his eyes softened. "I think I'd like that."

As they continued talking, Hiro found himself subtly flirting—throwing out little comments, playful nudges, and lingering eye contact that Miguel didn't seem to shy away from. Hiro was careful, though; he wasn't sure how much Miguel knew about his own feelings, but there was definitely a spark between them.

"Music, huh?" Hiro said, changing the subject as the flight attendants started the safety demonstration. "What kind of stuff do you play?"

"Mostly guitar," Miguel replied, his fingers tapping absentmindedly on his knee as if strumming invisible strings. "I like a mix of things, but folk music's my favorite. There's something about the way it tells stories, you know?"

Hiro nodded, genuinely intrigued. "Sounds cool. I'd love to hear you play sometime."

Miguel's grin returned, brighter than before. "Maybe when we're at the temple, I'll play something for you."

Hiro smirked, his heart skipping a beat. "I'm gonna hold you to that."

As the plane took off, Hiro leaned back in his seat, glancing sideways at Miguel, who was gazing out the window, the city shrinking below them. A small smile crept onto Hiro's face. Maybe this trip wouldn't be so bad after all.