Hiro didn't register what happened at first. It was like his brain was working in slow motion. He was on the ground and he couldn't remember how he had fallen in the first place. He opened his eyes and tried looking around. All he could see was a haze of blindingly bright red. He tried to breath and almost choked when he inhaled smoke. He was faintly aware of a crackling sound. And the roar of something that sounded like a waterfall.

No, wait. Not water.

It was –

Hiro shot up immediately, eyes wide with fear. He pushed himself off the pavement and got up on his trembling feet.

"Tadashi!" he screamed.

Hiro watched in horror at the flames engulfing the doorway to the SFIT Showcase Hall. The doorway where his brother had been in just seconds ago.

"Tadashi!" he repeated but the only reply he got was the blaring sound of flames. His heart was hammering against his chest.

"Tadashi!" he tried again, his voice coming out like a desperate plea.

Come on Tadashi! Please, please tell me you're OK.

He scanned the ruins for a sign, even the tiniest hint that his brother was alright.

But all he could see and hear was the fire destroying everything.

He ran towards the blaze, not caring about the heat or the blinding light of the fire. But before he could get any closer, he was pulled back by a strong grip. Hiro whirled around and saw a girl around his age who was tightly holding on to his arm with one hand. In her other hand, she was clutching a stuffed bear.

"Are you out of your mind!" the stranger yelled. She stared at him in disbelief. It could have been just the glow of the fire, but her hair and eyes seemed to be a striking shade of orange.

"My brother's still in there!" HIro cried as he tried to pry himself away from her. But she was surprisingly strong, even though she was holding him with one hand.

The girl refused to let go. "It's too dangerous for you," she warned.

She dragged Hiro back away from the fire.

"I'm sorry," she apologized.

Hiro could do nothing but watch the burning building. Helpless to save his only brother.

In the distance, a white catlike figure silently watched the scene.

Hiro had lost track of the days after Tadashi's death. Whether it had been weeks, months or just a day, it didn't matter. The pain felt as raw and fresh as ever. He shut himself off in his room and kept the blinds down.

Outside, the world kept turning. The hustle and bustle of San Fransokyo hadn't slowed down. And Hiro couldn't understand how. How could the rest of the city go about its day as if nothing had happened? How could life continue on around him when his world was absolutely shattered? He couldn't bear to go outside. He couldn't bear to see all those people who would go on living, blissfully unaware and uncaring of the death of one person.

He was slouched on his seat when heard Aunt Cass' footsteps coming up the stairs. He turned to look at the plate of food she had brought up for him. Aunt Cass had been doing her best to get him to eat something. But everything just tasted like ashes in his mouth. He had left the last plate of food that she left for him untouched on the desk again.

"Hey," she said as she held the plate in her hands. She smiled at him though he could tell it was strained.

"You know Mrs. Matsuda's down at the café and she's wearing something totally inappropriate for an eighty year old," she joked. "Why don't you come down for a bit?"

"Maybe later," Hiro muttered.

She took the plate of cold food and replaced it with the freshly cooked meal.

"Oh by the way, the college called again," Aunt Cass piped hopefully. "It's been a few weeks since class started but they say you're still welcome to enroll."

She pulled the blinds open to let the sunlight in.

"I'll think about it," Hiro replied halfheartedly, still sitting in a slump.

"Alright," Aunt Cass hesitated for a moment before going back downstairs.

He looked out the window for a moment before getting up. He padded over to the window and lowered the blinds down, throwing the room into darkness again.

He moved to reach for Megabot on his desk when a saw something from the corner of his eyes. He turned around and for a moment, he thought it was Mochi plopped on his bed. But he instantly realized that whatever it was that he was looking at, it was definitely not their furry fat cat.

It looked feline but unlike Mochi, this one looked small and lithe. Its fur was as white as snow and its tail was bushy, like a fox's. It had pointy ears like a cat. But it seemed to also have a pair of long floppy rabbit-like ears coming out from the pointy ones. A gold hoop hung suspended around each of its rabbit-like ears.

It looked straight at Hiro with its pink eyes. If Hiro hadn't been caught off guard by such an unfamiliar appearance, he would have thought it was cute.

Hiro's first instinct was to shoo the animal away. Or maybe run away from this uncanny thing. But as his eyes met with the cat creature, he couldn't help but feel drawn to it.

Hiro eyed it warily, standing in the middle of his room.

"Hello," he heard a child-like voice say.

It sounded like it came from the cat creature. But Hiro was sure that was impossible because a) cats couldn't talk and b) even if they did, the cat creature didn't even move its mouth. It just stared at him with that unchanging expression.

"Wh-what?" he stammered. Hiro tore his gaze away from the feline on his bed and started searching around to find whoever was talking.

"Hiro Hamada. It's nice to finally speak to you face to face," came the voice again.

His eyes fell back on the not-cat and he blinked nervously.

"You're talking?" he blurted incredulously.

"Yes," it replied curtly with a small nod.

"How did you know my name? What are you?"

"My name is Kyubey," it continued. "And I came here because I have a request for you."

"A request?" he said. He tried to think of what this kind-of-but-not-really-a-cat creature could possibly want from him. But what it said next was something that never would have crossed his mind.

"Yes. I want you to make a contract with me. And become a magical boy," Kyubet stated nonchalantly.

"Wait, what?" came Hiros' dumbfounded reply.

"I can grant you one wish - any wish you desire. And in exchange for that wish, you will become a magical boy."

If Hiro didn't have more pressing things on his mind, he would have snickered at the words 'magical boy'. It sounded so silly. And yet he clung to one thing it said.

"A wish?" he said.

"Yes. Anything you want, I can make it true," it said as it wagged its fluffy tail.

"Really? Anything?" he pressed on.

This was a dream right? I mean, wishes and magic? That was the stuff of fantasies. And yet here was a creature that was unlike anything he had ever seen. And it looked as solidly real as anything else in his room. And if Kyubey was real, then maybe- ?

For the first time in weeks, he felt a spark of hope. Of course he knew what he would wish for. He could wish for Tadashi to be brought back to life. He could have is brother again. He could be with him, just as it should have been.

But doubt wormed its way into his thoughts. Be realistic Hiro, he berated himself. Even with all the advancements of science, even with all his brains - bringing the dead back to life was impossible. How could he wish for something impossible and think for even a second that the laws of the universe would bend to his will. He felt a surge of frustration. How can this thing dangle false hope in his face?

"Stop it. You can't." he said.

"I can't what?" Kyubey asked. It tilted its head questioningly.

"Look, I don't know where you came from but you can't grant my wish. It's impossible," Hiro whispered miserably.

"I can grant even the most impossible miracles," it said matter-of-factly.

"You can't make miracles happen because they're not real," he countered.

"But I speak only the truth," Kyubey assured him.

"Even reversing death?" Hiro challenged. "Can you do that too?"

"Yes. If that is what you wish for." Kyubey said, "You're outside of the target demographic whom I usually form contracts with. But I sense great potential in you. Such a wish would be no problem for you."

"Alright," Hiro humored it, "Let's say it you really can grant wishes. There's gotta be a catch, right?"

"Indeed, it does come with a price," it agreed. "When your wish is granted, you'll become a magical boy. You would have incredible magic powers. And as a magical boy, you'll need to fight beings known as witches with your new power."

"Wait. Magical boy? Witches? You're kidding right?" he said suspiciously, "Magic isn't real!"

But even as these words left his mouth, Hiro was aware that was talking to a creature that he would have sworn just moments ago did not exist. Who knew what other unthinkable thing could turn out to be real?

"Witches are as real as the dangers they posses, "Kyubey said. "They are malicious creatures that prey on unsuspecting humans. There are also warlocks who are much rarer but are just as dangerous as witches. In fact, the fire at SFIT was caused by a witch."

"What? But they said it was an accident," Hiro said. "My brother was in that fire. He-"

He died in an accident, Hiro wanted to say.

But he paused in hesitation and instead said, "He died in an accident. That's what they told me."

"Ordinary humans can't see witches. And so, they perceive the disasters they bring upon humans as accidents or natural disasters," Kyubey explained. "They usually stay out of sight in the hiding places they create. We call these places labyrinths."

"So you're saying my brother's gone cause of a witch?" Hiro asked.

"Perhaps the witch did not directly target your brother," Kyubey considered, "But the ensuing fire that it caused did lead to your brother's death. So, yes. In a way, a witch was responsible for your brother's fate."

Hiro clenched his fists in frustration. All this time, he thought it was an accident. That there was no one he could blame. For weeks, he was holding back directionless anger. And now, he had something more concrete to shower all his pent up fury.

"If you became a magical boy, you could fight these witches and prevent them from harming anyone. You could protect everyone you love," Kyubey pointed out.

Hiro could barely keep up with what he was hearing. He could feel resentment welling up inside him. So a witch was responsible for his brother's death? And they could hurt even more people if they went unchecked? But if he could become a magical boy, he could protect everyone. No would die because of them.

But he wasn't ready to trust Kyubey just yet.

"If I wished for you to bring back someone from the dead, how do I know you won't twist my words? That he won't end up a zombie?"

"I would gain nothing by not giving you exactly what you wish for," it said. "I wouldn't ask you to fight witches if you I didn't fulfill my end of the contract."

It didn't seem to be lying. And at this point, what choice did he have?

Hiro was aware of how surreal it was talking to – well, whatever Kyubey was. It all sounded too good to be true. But if he could see and hear something as fantastical as Kyubey, then Hiro dared to hope for more. Even if Kyubey couldn't grant him his wish, he still wouldn't lose anything more than he already had.

In his despair, here was a second chance. A chance to get things right this time.

His brother had devoted his life to helping others. He was always there to protect him. Now it was time someone was there to protect him.

"This all sounds absolutely crazy," Hiro admitted. "But if it means I get to see my brother again, then I'll take it."

Kyubey flicked its tail.

"Now then," it said. "Hiro Hamada, what is your wish?"

He thought for a moment, trying to find the right words. Something that Kyubey couldn't misinterpret, purposely or not.

Then, he got it.

"I wish my brother hadn't died in that fire and that he gets to live a long, healthy and happy life."

AN

This is my attempt at writing a crossover fanfic with Big Hero 6 and Puella Magi Madoka Magica. I've decided to nudge the established canon around a bit to fit this crossover. But aside from making Kyubey form a contract with a boy, I'm keeping things mostly the same.

Sorry for the exposition heavy first chapter. I'm trying to write this in a way so that people who haven't seen PMMM can still follow it.

If you have seen the anime though, you might recognize who the orange haired girl in the first part was.