The park rumbled with the sound of the various rides surrounding them, along with the constant shrieks of the passengers on each. Gokudera and Haru held the child's hands as they tried to squeeze their way into the bustling crowd.
As unpleasant as it may seem, but Tsuna had only planned to go with just Haru and Sora. He wanted to spend some quality time with them outside, like a genuine happy family. But Sora requested Gokudera to come along, and Tsuna couldn't refuse.
"Let's ride that one!" the child shouts.
All afternoon they went from one ride after another, occasionally stopping to eat or take a bathroom break. Then they'd move on to the next game or ride, whichever comes first in the child's demand. It was tiring yet it was worth it as they were all enjoying themselves.
"It's refreshing to see you wearing regular clothes, Tsuna-san" Haru commented as she observed the simple blue jacket with a huge number '27' printed on it. His favorite number. She remembers. He also wore plain black pants with blue converse. It was so casual that no one would think that his man was a boss of a powerful famiglia.
"Well I didn't go to work today," Tsuna says. "You look cute in that dress, Haru"
Haru held the skirt of the yellow floral dress she was wearing and felt the heat rushing up to her cheeks. "T-thank you" she mutters.
The two adults turns to see Gokudera and Sora who were energetically throwing several balls to the pyramid on the opposite side of the booth.
It didn't feel awkward at all, contrast to Haru was expecting. She didn't feel any tension between them, rather it felt like they were back to being teenagers casually hanging out, with a child coming along.
"AH!" They hear a girl shriek. Turning to its source, they spot a girl crying as it clung onto her mother's legs, pointing out to a certain stuffed toy that was suspended on one side of the booth.
"Namahage?" Haru's eyes immediately widened as a smile crept to her lips; recalling the past when she used to dress up in one if her Namahage costumes.
Tsuna immediately took notice of this and approached the booth. Haru watched as he was given the toy gun that he skillfully used to knocked over the figurines of the far side of the tent. Haru couldn't help but express her amazement by cheering him on.
He looks so cool. She thought to herself. Once he was done he pointed towards the stuffed toy and handed it over to her.
Haru's eyes widened.
"Do you not like it?" Tsuna thought. "We could exchange it for another one, if you want."
She shook her head abruptly. "No! This is fine. Thank you," she smiles sheepishly.
He felt his heart skip a beat and the heat began rushing up to his face. He turns to hide his reaction only to realize that his son and right-hand man we're no longer around.
The whole place was jam-packed, probably not the best idea to go to the amusement park on a Sunday. They've been walking for nearly ten minutes and they still couldn't find them. They've already tried messaging Gokudera but hasn't gotten any response from the bomber-man.
"Ouch—sorry!"
It's been the fourth time since Haru bumped into someone. Finally Tsuna stepped in and wrapped his arm around her shoulder.
"Tsuna?!" Haru exclaims. "What're you doing?"
"I know this is weird, but just bear with it for a moment until we reach the Ferris wheel. I think it'll be easier to find them from up there. So until we get there it's best if you stay close to me or you'll just keep on bumping into someone."
His reasons were logical but Haru still gave him a doubtful stare.
"What? I'm just worried that you might get yourself hurt next time."
"I'm not that fragile you know," she said and puffed her cheeks.
Tsuna chuckles. "I know, I know. But accidents happen and I don't want Sora getting mad at me again if he sees you with a bruise. So just… bear with me."
Haru's shoulders relaxed as she let herself slightly lean onto him, her hand unconsciously clutching on his jacket every time Tsuna hugs her closer to prevent her from colliding into someone. She could hear he heart hammering inside her chest every time and she silently wished that he doesn't feel it despite their close proximity.
She began to be painfully aware of how much his physique had changed, he used to be only a few inches taller, but now he completely towered over her and she'd have to arch his neck in order to meet his eyes. She also noticed that his perfume became muskier, nothing too strong for her but still fitted the likes of a man like him.
The boy he used to love had grown into this man who can she knew could still make her heart go crazy like it did once before.
And she hated herself for that.
Finally they reached their destination and Haru wanted to smack herself for feeling disappointed for a second. Luckily yet odd at the same time, the line wasn't that long despite the fact that the park was full and after a few minutes they finally got inside the compartment.
As soon as the door was closed and they slowly ascended, the noise gradually faded. They both peaked through the window, looking for the lad and silver-haired man.
Though every now and then, Haru couldn't help but glance at the brunette.
She didn't feel awkward to be around Tsuna, but she still doesn't like the notion of being alone with him especially in complete silence and judging by the speed that they were going she would have to constantly think of a conversation to break the growing awkwardness between them.
But as she made up her mind, Tsuna began to speak.
"Remember when I first took you here?" he says. "To fulfill the promise I made when we were stuck in the future"
His question got her taken a back, and for a moment there Haru was at loss for words.
"Yeah…" she replies.
"You were so keen on the idea of going here, that you reminded me almost every day about my promise." He chuckles.
Tsuna hadn't seem notice how Haru clenched her fist when he reminded her how she obliged him to do as he promised.
A promise that he never really made, and was only forced to agree on.
"I didn't really expect you to take that promise seriously, I mean I know I surely did, but you never really swore on that. I kind of forced it on you… you know?" Haru explains as she tried to laugh out her discomfort on the conversation. "Well thinking about it, I did force a lot of things on you when I was younger… including myself" She mumbles the last words as he downcast eyes stared blankly on the table. "I know you didn't really like me or anything that I did, you were just too kind to reject me. But I knew, I just thought that maybe If I stuck around... you'll finally give me a chance"
Realizing how humiliating her statements were she quickly held her hands over her reddening face. "Mou~ stop making me say such embarrassing things!" she mumbled through her hands.
Tsuna chuckles at her reaction. How cute. He thought.
"On that day I realized something" he uttered. Haru gradually held her hands lower and looked at him as he spoke.
"I shouldn't've let myself be blinded by one thing and end up being incapable of seeing what was beside me," He stated. "I knew you liked me so much back then but didn't acknowledge you because I was too focused with my feelings on Kyoko, which never got reciprocated. But then things changed, we started hanging out a lot, I've began to know more about you and before I knew it, I found myself getting accustomed to your presence that whenever you're not with me... It feels like something's missing" He looked up into her as he spoke the last statement, making her heart quaver a bit.
Though Haru had already made up her mind. She wouldn't let herself be swooned by his sweet words—No. Not anymore. These are all just pretty words he's throwing at her. A way to probably win her back. But these words shouldn't matter because she's already over him, after all these years it's inevitable that her feelings would have been eradicated by now. So his words don't matter to her anymore. It shouldn't.
But his words seemed to find its way into the holes of her broken heart.
Haru's eyes frustratingly searched through the crowd that looked nothing more like ants from where they were seated. Then she heard Tsuna speak again.
"I wasn't sure what I was feeling at first, but when it all became clear to me I prepared for the day that I'll finally tell you, during Haru's appreciation day"
Memories of that day came flashing back into her like a movie being played inside her head. She recalls seeing Tsuna at her doorstep, which she found odd for they usually met at the Namimori Shopping District for Haru's appreciation day and when he told her that they were going someplace else, she felt thrill filling up her veins.
"It took me almost three months of saving up just so I can take you to one of the exquisite cake shops in the third district you know, but you didn't want to spend too much and we only ended up buying two slices of strawberry shortcake"
Haru suddenly recalls how much she loved the taste of that cake. It was nothing like the ones she had eaten before. It was so mouthwatering that the taste lingered in her mouth for a day or two. She would say that she still remembers the taste even now. But that would be exaggerating it.
"And then I got all nervous that I almost peed in my pants... I think" He jokes.
She giggles. "That's gross Tsuna" Haru realized she had called him Tsuna and her smile faltered.
Tsuna noticed her reaction and felt saddened to see her so restrained around him. He could see how hard Haru is trying conceal her true feelings unlike how she proudly declares it before. She's like a flower that gradually blooms but shuts back when you get too near.
This wasn't like the Haru he knew. Had he shattered her too much that it ruined who she was?
Nevertheless, he continued to speak, hoping that throughout this conversation, he'll get her to warm up to him again. "I thought you wouldn't say yes, I kept on thinking 'what if she doesn't like me anymore?' and that made me so anxious that almost didn't ask you," he says. "But of course I did and it made me so happy when you said yes. I think I even cried a bit," he turned to haru. "Did I? Though I'm certain you did" he teased.
Haru jerks her head up and glares as she leans towards him. "Hahi! Are you saying that Haru was a crybaby?"
Ah there it is! Her catchphrase; how nostalgic to hear it again. Tsuna thought. "N-no of course not!" he waved his hand in front of him as he shook his head.
Haru leans back on her seat and folded her arms across her chest.
"It's actually the opposite. You're strong and it amazes me how you can manage to be cheerful even at the toughest of times" He clarifies. "It even makes me wonder sometimes if those smiles were true, or it was just a mask you put on just so we wouldn't worry about you"
Haru had perfected the habit of covering her negative feelings with her bright smile that only those who would really observe her would notice. It was surprising that he was one of those who had perceived through her façade as she thought that he only had his eyes set on her best friend.
"That's why when you cry it makes me want to punch the person responsible for that," he utters. "I mean, how someone hurt a person as wonderful as you,"
Now he's just bluffing. Haru smiles and laughs shortly.
"Then shouldn't you punch yourself?" She voiced it out as a joke but when she saw his face began to dim she knew he had taken her joke more seriously than he should have. "A-ah I didn't mean like that— "
"I probably got a good beating during my battles in Italy, but I know that doesn't equal the amount of pain I caused you. You had to bear the grief of losing your parents and raising our child alone when I should be there for you." He says. "I'm sorry Haru"
Tsuna's eyes were fixed onto the table, feeling ashamed to even look back up at her.
"We've talked about this and I forgive you, honestly" Haru sighed heavily, feeling frustrated every time he would bring up that certain topic. "Just because I'm not throwing myself back into your arms doesn't mean I'm still holding any grudge against you. Please understand that it hadn't been easy for me to forget you and I'm not throwing away all the efforts that I've made just because you suddenly decided to come back" she said a bit harshly that she planned, letting her emotions get to her. She sighs once more, trying to calm herself. "I'm sorry, it's just—"
"I understand," Tsuna cut her off. "I'm sorry too for being insensitive about your feelings" He smiles sheepishly.
Haven't you always been? Haru thought bitterly.
The sun's warm rays hit their faces as they both realize that the sun had begun to set. She didn't have to try, but the image inevitably flashed into a mind.
Their first kiss back when they were still seventeen.
The wonderful view of the sunset and the soft blowing of the cold wind, everything was perfect just like before, except that the kiss wasn't going to happen and that they were no longer lovers.
After the ride was over, they both got off the compartment and was surprised to see the two people they were looking for, standing a few feet before them.
Haru immediately rushed to her son's side. "Where did you two run off to? We've been looking everywhere for you."
The child began telling Haru each and every ride they've been to and she tried to listen intently. But couldn't help but notice the look Tsuna and Gokudera shared and how Tsuna mouthed a short 'Thank you'.
Was this all planned? She thought to herself.
Shortly after that, Tsuna received a call. Conversing with the caller for a moment before turning to Haru.
"That was Bianchi, she wanted me to ask you if you're free tomorrow? Around lunch maybe? they need to take your measurements for your gown," Tsuna informed her.
"Ah yes, of course, for the wedding. I'll be there." She nods.
They ate afterwards, listening to the young lad's stories for a couple of minutes before the child began to feel drowsy and they decided to call it a day. Tsuna carried the boy in his arms and carefully rested him inside the backseat of Gokudera's car.
"Thank you for today, Haru. I hope you had fun, both of you." Tsuna says as he opened the car's door.
"Well, sora's pretty much fast asleep and I could hear him snoring from all they here, so i'm definite that he had fun." She jokes. "And I did too, it's fun acting like teenagers again."
"You say it as if we're that old"
"Aren't we?" She says before getting inside.
They bid their farewells before Tsuna closed the car's door and watched as Gokudera drove his family back home.
Hello! sorry if it took me ages to update again, i've been very busy and procrastinated a bit(not gonna lie), i hope this chapter wont feel rushed and if there are any mistakes please please pm me. Again sorry for the late update, I'll try to compensate and upload 3 chapters (i hope i can do it) this week.
You know the drill, Review, favourite and follow! :D