でんしゃ

which means "Trains"

"Wait . . . are you telling me you wouldn't give your seat to an elderly person?!" Kira asked incredulously.

Dearka looked nonchalant, staring ahead at the posters above the seats opposite the four.

"The way I see it, I can gain more by staying seated," he replied.

"But, but," Kira spluttered, " What about respecting your elders?"

"For once, I agree with Kira—" Athrun began.

"What do you mean 'for once?!'" Yzak interjected, obviously still bitter.

"—and also that if I were old then I'd want to sit even more than now," Athrun finished.

Kira and Athrun looked expectantly at Dearka for an explanation. Yzak stared purposefully into space, unwilling to join Kira in anything, especially if they were trying to gang up on Dearka, his most trusted second-in-command.

"Well," Dearka started, "If I were to give up my seat, then I'd be standing, right?"

"Obviously, " Yzak snorted, unable to contain his contempt for Dearka's stupidity. Athrun and Kira nodded.

"So, the train must be full of other people, right? There'd still be lots of other people who aren't old, pregnant, or handicapped who are sitting."

"So you'd get one of them to move?" Athrun asked curiously.

"But what if they don't?" Kira asked, worried about the imaginary elderly.

"Well, I always have to travel with . . . well, you know. Military rules and all," Dearka finished, jerking his head towards a certain white-haired boy.

Athrun nodded in agreement and understanding. Kira looked at Athrun, then to Dearka.

"So . . . you just let . . . someone else get up?" Athrun asked, smiling.

"Yes," Dearka nodded, "That's really the biggest benefit."

"I don't think I get it," Kira grumbled, perplexed.

"That way I can tell that . . . someone . . . is nice. And caring." Dearka smiled. Athrun looked pointedly at the back of Yzak's head. Kira suddenly was hit over the head by a flash of insight.

"Ooooooh. You mean that Yzak's nice enough to move for elderly people? That's so good of him."

There was a pause as Dearka and Athrun held their breath and Kira smiled good-naturedly. After about a count of three, Yzak realized that Dearka had been making a fool of him and that Kira had just said that it was 'so good of him,' and whatever frivolity had been apparent in the mood before abruptly ended.

"WHAAT?!!

"You never get up because you expect me to, Elsman?! And you—" he pointed accusingly at Kira, "Are still inferior to me!!"

Kira gave him the Jesus-look, meaning that he softened his eyes and filled them with absolute forgiveness. Yzak let out an unintelligible howl and attacked.

Dearka looked at Athrun, dodging Yzak's fist that may or may not have been directed at his face.

"You know, I'm beginning to see why Yzak hates Kira."

"I guess," Athrun began, "I mean, I suppose it's okay if you hit him once or twice. He'll just forgive you anyway. Even if you blow him up or something; he'll still forgive you."

The train stopped and the doors opened like a floodgate. Yzak stopped punching Kira as an elderly woman hobbled in front of them with a disapproving look. She looked down expectantly. Kira immediately tried to stand, but Yzak had given him a thoroughly dead leg. The woman, seeing Kira's apparent injury, shushed his protests and motioned for him to continue sitting. She turned to Yzak, who narrowed his eyes.

The silence in the car lasted three seconds.

"Fuck this."

Yzak stood, allowing the old woman to sit next to Kira, and forcibly removed Dearka from his seat. Yzak sat in Dearka's newly vacated spot.

Dearka smiled and promptly sat on Yzak's lap. Before Yzak could protest, Dearka leaned in towards his ear, whispering.

"I love . . . trains."

"FUCK YOU, ELSMAN!"