The first test did NOT go as expected.

Tadashi sighed as he tirelessly tinkered with the prototype's mechanical voice box. 'Well what did I expect?', he thought, 'No test ever went right the first time, why's this one any different? I just have to keep trying.' Tadashi Hamada was like any other student in San Fransokyo Tech in their first week of testing: anxious, jittery and a good way towards sleep-deprived. As he continued working on his machine, explosions, yelps and crashes could be heard on the other side of the divider has his friends continued their tests on their projects that morning.

Chuckling at hearing Wasabi's unintentional girlish shriek and everyone's laughter, Tadashi made a few more turns with the wrench and readied himself to re-attatch the voice box. It was an idealistic and crudely vague dream, "to help a lot of people", and he didn't blame the other students when they looked at him weirdly when he was asked about it in class. But it was what he wanted to do, what he wanted to create and help make the world better. 'It's what mom and dad would've wanted.'

After attatching the part, Tadashi was ready for a second test when Professor Callaghan, his adviser and mentor, came in knocking. "Tadashi, are you busy?" Turning to his professor, the young man beamed, "Professor Cal! Didn't think you'd be at the lab today. I was just about to run a second test, it would be great to get your input while you're here.", Tadashi said. Other than noticing his professor's knowing smile, he also noticed a queer buzz from the other side of the divider. It wasn't the typical screaming and cursing he was used to hearing while his friends were working, which was odd.

"That sounds wonderful, son, but I'd first like to introduce you to somebody.", Callaghan said gesturing to someone in the other side of the room. A young lady walked in, around the same age as he and his friends, long dark hair pulled back in a bun by a dainty scrunchie, short and willowy with pink rosy cheeks, a nervous smile and, to Tadashi, she was gorgeous.

"Tadashi, this is Lily Huang." Calaghan started, already noticing the look on his student's face, "Lily, this is Tadashi Hamada, the student I was talking to you about."

"Hi." Lily smiled with a small wave.

'Wow..', he thought with an unconsciously dopey smile. Noticing Lily's smile fade into a look of concern, Tadashi thoght, 'Crap, idiot, say something!'

"Uh, hi, Lily!" He said somewhat too enthusiastically, "I'm Tadashi haha..."

"Pfft!" He heard his friends hold back giggles as they hid behind their professor. 'Ugh, great!', Tadashi mentally slapped himself.

"Tadashi," Professor Callaghan said, holding a smirk Tadashi definitely couldn't miss, "Lily here will be the consultant you asked me about for your project this year. She was the only one in her class who agreed to help us so you better treat her well, alright?" The professor ended, firmly emphasizing the last five words.

"Uh, yeah! Definitely! Yeah!" Tadashi quicky said, stiffly holding out his hand, "I look forward to working with you!"

Lily eventually smiled and lightly grasped his own with her smaller one, "I'll be in your care, Tadashi."