To Stay (Hiro X Reader--A Sequel to "A Helping Hand")

Chapter 22--A Happily Ever After Worth Living for

Final chapter guys! And no, don't ask me to do a third book. I'm already stressed out with other works as I am right now. UNGH WELL...

"Congratulations to the graduating class of 2018!" the principal finally shouted in conclusion to your high school graduation. 

All around you, a million graduation hats instantly flew up in the air and everyone cheered loudly. You grinned; finally, after so long, you have reached your graduation day, and you had managed to graduate along with the rest of the class--despite all that happened before.

"FINALLY!" Melanie squealed, running over to you and hugging you hard, and behind you, you felt Sean wrap his arms around the both of you in a huge group hug. A strong feeling of excitement and happiness and even relief surrounded you as you eagerly hugged them back. 

"I know!" you cried. "Here's to the future!"

"A future worth living for!" Sean added, breaking the hug and looking at you with a smile.

"Hey! Let's get a photo together, shall we?" you heard Mr. Lacitier call out as he held up his camera, a cheeky grin spread wide across his face.

The three of you obliged as you threw your arms around each other, and Mr. Lacitier snapped a photo of you all together. 

"Hey! Aren't you forgetting someone?"

Your heart skipped a beat as you recognized the voice that spoke just now, and you nodded, beckoning him over. "Come on in then!" And you threw your arm around Hiro, who showed up simply wearing his prom tux, as another photo was taken.

"And after all this time," you finally admitted to Hiro, while Melanie and Sean went ahead to get some refreshments. "I thought I would never be here."

"But you are," Hiro murmured. "I'm so proud of you, (Y/N)," he added, embracing you quickly. "Now how about those snacks? Something's telling me gummy bears might be on that table!"

"Oh you!" you cried, but you agreed all the same as the both of you caught up with your friends.

************************

"Hey (Y/N)!" you heard Hiro call you a few months later as you were working hard on your project in your lab at SFIT.

You grinned as he entered. "Hey Hiro," you smiled in greeting. "What's up?"

"Not much. Just here to see you," he grinned. "Ah, I remember that project," he added cheekily, pointing to the small prototype you were working on. To this, you laughed.

"Oh I'm sure you remember everything, Hiro," you said cheekily.

Hiro nodded. "Really, though. I was working on this...when you first came in," he murmured quietly. 

"First came in?" you asked, puzzled. Then it hit you. "Oh. That day when I showed up to your Cafe, soaked to the skin?"

"Mhmm," Hiro nodded. "I mean, I was done, but...I don't know, it just so happened that, well..." His voice trailed off as he glanced up at you. It was in that simple glance where you saw all that happened before, all leading up till now. The brutal reality of things still made you feel really bitter at times, but now whenever the memories were brought up, it just hit you like dull wave. 

"I still really miss them," you admitted in a low voice, glancing over now at a small photo frame, where a photo of you and your parents by the lake, arms around each other, was carefully framed after some resizing and photo editing by Mr. Lacitier. 

Hiro nodded. "I think about it too," he murmured. "But hey, we have each other." With that, he wrapped an arm around you and pulled you close, and you smiled slightly as you leaned onto his shoulder. 

Of course, you were grateful that Hiro was still here with you. In fact, throughout the last few years, there were times when you thought you would be completely lost and hopeless, but he was always here to help you up. And you also, in a way, helped him too, in ways that he never imagined. 

Things happen in life, and they were not always good, as you realized. Lives of the loved ones that you thought you would never lose were lost. The last few years had been so full of fear, with Callaghan on your trail as he vowed to kill you for power. But no matter how bad the losses, there would always be someone to help you up again, and help assure you that your life is definitely worth fighting for. Hiro had helped you more than once, over and over, since that dreaded day after your father died. 

It wouldn't help to have only shown up once by someone's side to aid them through thick and thin. Being someone's superhero required more than just a bit of sacrifice--it was worth everything. To stay by someone's side like this for a long time.... You glanced up at Hiro now, and not for the first time you felt so happy that he was always there to help you, that he had become your superhero, and that he was willing to stay by your side, so that you didn't have to go through all those troubles alone. 

"Yeah," you finally agreed, smiling at him. "You don't even know just how much I love you right now, Hiro."

"Oh no. I do know," Hiro murmured, kissing you softly. Admittedly, that took you off guard, but it was only a gentle touch, nothing more. You smiled as you reciprocated it, eyes slowly closing.

"HEY LOVEBIRDS! We're heading off to the Cafe right now! You wanna come?"

The sound of Honey Lemon's voice made the both of you turn to her, and you nodded. 

"I'm in!" you both called out, and hand in hand, you both left the lab as you headed out into the sunshine.

And for the first time, you never looked back. 

That, in your humble opinion, was the happy ending worth living for.

DONE! WHEW! YES! YAY! I'm finally done! And I know this might be a bit below par, but oh well! I might edit this book later. 

Guys. You don't know how much fun I had writing this short series. When I started "A Helping Hand" back in March 2015, I didn't even know how far I'd go until I got here--lots of amazing comments, some comments that threw me off (in many ways...), and in the end, I have received so much love throughout the short series that I am glad to say I'm happy to have written it all. Despite all of the bumps in the road, you guys have helped me pull through. That in itself is absolutely admirable.

I don't want to show a hell ton of favouritism, but for those of you who were here since the beginning, thank you. You don't even know how much I have enjoyed writing these stories, and your constant support had helped me in more ways than one.

For those who had only just caught on in years to come, well, thank you for reading. It took me over a year to finish these two books, but it's been a good year while I was at it. :)

Alright, so for the last time, I'm going to sign off. But hey, who knows if I might start another Hiro X Reader story in the near future? I will definitely let you know if I have. 

That's it for now! Until next time!

And once more, thank you.

-magic_mockingjay