5986 & ALL SPECIAL ONESHOT ~ HARU SURPRISE DAY
Pairings: 5986
Time Slot: 2nd of May = the day prior to Haru's birthday
Topic: Surprise Date | Theme: Fluff | POV: Haru's
NAMIMORI TOWN ~ MIDORI MIDDLE SCHOOL ENTRANCE GATES
"Say say, don't you think this guy is too handsome, giggle!" "Must be posing for some magazine or fashion catalogue, right? He's just like the model from this gothic male fashion blog so popular these days… Huh, but I can't see any photograph or anyone around…?" "Uhnyaaa, he looks so hot! Completely totally exactly my type!" "... isn't your type is just about anyone good-looking..." "Hmm, girls, since he looks our age, isn't he waiting for someone…?" "Pfff, impossible! And don't say our age for someone so cool! Look look, isn't that a cigarette? A cigarette and an aloof pose... Such a striking cool guy can't be our age, you know!" "Aloof...? Well, he sure looks good, but don't you feel like he's glaring at us, rather…?"
The commotion near the gates of Midori Middle School is growing louder and louder as more exiting students stop to join it. The crowd and gossips even make Haru curious, although she usually only has in mind to run to Tsuna's house and leave this suffocating elite school where everyone is looking down on her upbeat personality and hobbies – costumes making – while being frustrated at the same time to watch her rank into the school Top3 at each exam session.
"Ahiii…? Gokudera-san…?"
Haru startles of surprise at finally catching a glimpse of the centre of attention after having worked her way amidst the onlookers to face the cause of the commotion.
It really is Gokudera-san… But why does he look so different from usual, strange-desu… His silver hair is all combed back: it gives a very neat shine to it, huh... Ahiii, had Gokudera-san's hair always looked that silky, beautiful-desu… The white shirt he's wearing is different too, not the one from his uniform: it's a fashionable gothic style one, and it looks amazing with this sleeveless vest in black velvet… perfect match... But had Gokudera-san's shoulders and arms always looked that square and strong, unexpected-desu… His usual skull and leather accessories too: when he is wearing them together with these tailored black pants and these leather gothic black shoes, the impact is really different, huh... Dashing-desu… just like the gravure model in the magazines from where Haru's getting the material for the costumes… Ahiii, why is Gokudera-san looking this good when he's trying… Haru almost wants to kidnap him to make him wear her costumes and promote them to the world… Hum, no no, the SkyTree Tower costume would be wasting Gokudera-san's handsome looks and… w-wait, did Haru just think 'handsome'... Ahiii, impossible-desu…!
"I've come to pick you up."
The words leaving Gokudera's lips as he stares straight-forwardly in her chestnut eyes give Haru and the crowd an electric shock, pulling Haru from her inward monologue.
"A…hi…?"
"I said I've come to take you with me."
"…?"
"… too slow…!"
"Ahiii?!"
Gokudera has already grabbed her wrist to pull her after him and exit campus, leaving behind them a stunned second of shocked silence, before gossips start fusing and fusing about how the rumoured handsome Italian thug from Namimori Middle School actually looks that good and wait more important he came for Miura Haru, THAT Miura etc. etc.
"Huf huf, w-wait Gokudera-san! W-why are you… and just slow down, Haru can't keep up!"
BIBIIP. "Ah, wait a sec'."
Gokudera pulls out his pager from his pocket with his free hand to read the message he's just received. He freezes at the words and scans their surroundings with a puzzled annoyed expression.
"Damn it, a phone…? Ah, wait here!"
And he runs to the phone cabin across the street, leaving Haru some well-deserved minutes to catch her breath. When he's back, Haru can definitely tell he's bothered by how he's massaging his neck while seeming to think hard about something. He stares at her as if about to speak, but his mouth close again before uttering a single word, and he avoids her eyes with a troubled expression, before seeming to give up inwardly on something and coming to grab her hand again to make her follow after him, but in a different direction than before.
"Ahiii, wait, Gokudera-san, where are you bringing Haru…?!"
"… in town…"
"Ahiii?!"
Why in town… Why in town with Gokudera-san… Why in town with Gokudera-san looking so different than usual…
Haru has fallen deep in thoughts again and only comes back to her senses when a familiar voice calls her attention away from a hardcover menu.
"Oy…?"
"Ahiii?"
"Your pick?"
"Ah, hum… Haru will take the Strawberry Parfait…"
"Black Coffee. Straight."
Ahiii… why is the waitress leaving…?! Don't leave Haru alone sitting here with Gokudera-san…! Too strange, too stressful, too much trouble-desu!
Haru digs her nose in her glass of water while staring nervously at the one sitting in front of her at the chic Café she has seen mentioned in many girly magazines as the perfect place to start a date with your boyfriend. Somehow, she can't manage to meet Gokudera in the eyes. Something is feeling definitely weird inside of her and his attitude is not helping.
Why did he come to pick up Haru…
But just as Haru is about to ask him, Gokudera disappears to go and have a talk with the waitress – making a couple female clients gaze after him dreamingly as he walks across the tables to reach the back of the Café.
Haru tilts her head on the side, slightly puzzled, at seeing him borrowing the phone for a few minutes.
When he finally comes back to sit in front of her and sip his coffee, he avoids her eyes awkwardly, making her feel quite aggravated but also hesitant into questioning him.
"… you have all your time but it's ice-cream, you know. So just starts digging in, already, tsk…"
"Ah, hum… thank-you-desu…"
"A… After that, let's go… shopping, okay?"
TILT. Haru freezes with a mouthful of strawberry in her mouth, raising her eyes in complete disbelief towards Gokudera's annoyed face.
"Don't just look at me like that!… I… I said we go shopping. It's your damn school uniform, right? So let's just buy something else, you got it?!"
Haru's already big chestnut eyes widen even bigger as she tries to process what is happening.
Being stared at in silence apparently isn't making Gokudera more at ease and he snaps with a ranting shameful blush when she finally mutters to him to repeat what he just said, grabbing the spoon of her parfait to dig it between her lips to mute her.
But mute only until the blush of having a handsomer-and-quieter-than-usual Gokudera-san feeding her is overcome by her usual stubbornness. The waitress are even obliged to put them at the door with a business-like smile as their level of noise rise below what is generally tolerated in a cosy Café.
"Ahiii! Haru is so mad! Are you taking Haru for a pet or something?! What is your problem, annoying Aho?! And first of all, why did you come to pick up Haru and decided to bring Haru with you?! Suspicious-desu!"
"I… Don't… Just… Raah! J-just stay with me, okay?"
DOKI. Haru startles as Gokudera's serious-yet-embarrassed green-eyes stare into hers with a lot more determination in asking than she has in refusing.
It feels so tight inside her to have him say it like that when looking like that… so embarrassing… and now that she thinks about it, aren't all the passer-by looking at them insistently… aren't these whispers wondering how such a little girl can be arguing so loudly against her handsome older brother, because he can only be her brother to bother about her when she's looking so plain standing next to him while still in uniform…
Haru's eyes fall under the shadow of her hair as she turns silent for a while.
"… Haru is going home…" She finally says while turning heels to walk away.
GRAB. A warm familiar pressure around her wrist stops her on her track.
"Wait, Stup… Raah, tsk, damn it! I mean, wait… please!" "…?!" "J-just come with me! Stay with me for a while and I'll bring you to a place you'll like, okay?"
Why is Haru feeling so hot… Ah, no, wait, he said a place she likes…?
"Ahiii, true! Haru needs to go to the tailor place!"
"Aah…? Tailor, how usel… kof hum, I mean, yeah, great. Then let's go together."
Haru turns to look at Gokudera, tilting her head on the side with a perplexed and indecisive expression. It seems to make Gokudera panic a little and he grumbles while looking left and right uneasily, before spotting what his hand is still holding and letting go of her wrist gradually, watching out in case she would run away like a bird you release from its cage. The thought can't help but make Haru smile, her natural enthusiasm back at seeing Gokudera so clumsily trying to tell her to stay.
The little part tingling inside her in confusion at wondering why he would ask her out is put under check and soon forgotten under the multitude of fabrics and materials of the haberdashery. Gokudera can only sigh wearily at seeing her run around the shop like a kid in wonderland, but the temptation to belittle the shop disappears as soon as he spots in a corner numerous metal accessories destined to customize clothes and leather goods. A little sparkle of inspiration even switches on as he starts comparing the different spikes shapes and skull buttons diameters.
Half-an-hour later, they're finally out of the shop with grins on their face at their purchases. Haru doesn't even complain when Gokudera drags her to another shop, having not forgotten his original plan.
"… what…?"
"N-nothing-desu! Don't just stare at Haru like that, it feels weird!"
"It's not my fault if you have zero notions about colours, tsk! How come you're so good at picking and matching stuff for costumes but not for your own clothes…"
"Ahiii! Mean-desu! Haru is just… well…"
Haru can't help blushing while pulling on the curtain of the fitting room, the little something tingling in her chest having come back to play the samba.
Why is Gokudera-san standing here, in this shop, waiting for her to show him how the outfit they chose together fits her… How did it come to that…
Haru's eyes escape the cover of the curtain and can't help but detail the silhouette in the shop still checking onto other items.
Ahiii, he truly looks dashing… The shop ladies are obviously agreeing as they all ditched other work to come and 'assist' him. This shop is quite high-standards to have so many staff crowding over a single client, really… Haru never entered even when her father had offered to buy her something as reward for ranking second at her school, so… Maybe she should have accepted, and then show Gokudera-san she knew the shop, the brands, the colours and even accessories… Frustrating-desu… She had to let the shop ladies choose everything for her from shoes to hairpin and, in the end, Gokudera-san had given all the instructions according to complete metaphysical concepts such as the perception of colours under artificial light…
Haru sighs when passing the second outfit suggestion over her shoulders, adjusting everything in dread of not looking right when exiting.
Gokudera-san will be waiting to see, again, probably… crossing his arms in some handsome annoyed waiting pose while leaning on the back of a shelf and waiting for her to appear…
Haru's cheeks are feeling way hotter than usual, and she takes a couple minutes before exiting the fitting room, only to find the cause of her trouble out of sight.
"Your boyfriend asked to borrow our phone, Miss." "Ah, hum, Haru is… I mean…" "Oy!" "Ah, G-Gokudera-san!" "Looks good, let's take it and go." "Eh?" "I'll pay so just ask the staff to remove labels and we're out." "Ah, wait!" "What?" "T-that's… Haru can't let Gokudera-san pay! No-reason-desu!"
TILT. Gokudera walks two steps closer to come and stand just in front of Haru, so close that she can see every hint of annoyance and stubbornness in his green eyes looking deep into hers.
"I said I pay, so don't mess with me. At least shut it up when it's your birthday, tsk. And let's go." He frowns with annoyance while checking his watch and pager with a crooked glance.
Haru has not yet defrost from the shock when the shop ladies see them to the door with a happy business smile insisting to see them again soon, and she lets Gokudera drag her after him with a lost-in-thoughts expression.
Gokudera-san… knows… my birthday is tomorrow…?
Something holds her back from asking as she follows after him in the streets, not snatching her hand away. Maybe Haru has become used to it, used to his hand larger and warmer and stronger than hers guiding her towards the promised destination 'she'll like', used to walk by his side in an outfit not shaming his and causing false rumours about 'girlfriend' instead of 'little sister', used to hear him talk to her more softly than usual, without the usual 'stupid' or 'annoying' bickering.
BIBIIP. BAM. Haru bumps into Gokudera's back when he stops instantly at reading the characters on his pager. When he turns to face her, Haru can't help but blush at realising they are way too close, or at least way too close for a handsome-and-nicer-Gokudera-san comparing to her usual bickering partner.
"L-let's walk… a bit more…"
DOKI. Haru's heart has skipped a beat at hearing his uneasy tone – his green eyes even looking away from hers – and she can only toddle by his side as he guide her to the park instead of following the sidewalk.
Ahiii… Why…?! Why is Haru sitting with Gokudera-san on a bench in the park at sunset…?! Why sitting here alone when there are only couples cuddling all around us…?! Nerve-breaking-desu!
Gokudera is apparently not feeling more at ease than her, and he doesn't even know where to look to avoid witnessing the display of affection of the neighbouring couples: a hug on the left, a kiss on the right, something sounding a little hotter than a kiss behind them…
Ahiii…! Haru starts panicking with an embarrassed pout while looking for something to occupy her attention, something like the haberdashery items she just purchased.
"Oy…"
"Ahiii…?"
"Talk to me."
"Ahiii?!"
"Just anything, tsk. Get talking, already!"
"…?! Ahiii?! No but what is your prob…?!"
BAM. Haru feels her body sliding horizontally on the bench, as is air-cushioned all along from the moment Gokudera's hand has grabbed her until the moment his arm has closed around her completely.
"I said talk to me."
DOKI. Haru can't help but feeling completely numb by the combined effect of a strong hand still holding her back and a pair of serious green eyes shining of gold under the vacillating light of the park streetlights.
A…hi… W-w-what to do… what to say…
"E-Em… Emeralds… Emeralds are really beautiful, aren't they…? They're not even completely pure crystals, but still, beautiful-desu… D-doesn't Gokudera-san a-agree…?"
Kyaah, why that?! Stupid, stupid, stupid me!
"Gemmology? Fine with me: hope you know your topic…"
Haru's eyes widen of disbelief at hearing Gokudera keep on with the conversation.
Why… It was just something that had popped into her mind at losing all other thoughts a second before when meeting with two insistent green eyes… Why is he sticking with it… Why is he being so considerate…
Minutes succeed to minutes in the calm dim-lit park, as the conversation follows its course on the geological issues of gem formation, making Haru feel warmer and warmer inside for some unknown reason.
Why is Gokudera-san speaking so normally with Haru… Haven't he always said Haru is annoying, noisy and stubborn and… So why… Why is he not letting go of Haru too…
"… Gokudera-san…?"
Haru pauses with a quiet surprise at hearing stop talking gradually, although his eyes are not letting go of her.
Why is Gokudera-san saying nothing all of a sudden… just gazing at Haru like this… Ahiii, it makes Haru feels too hot, why… No wait, doesn't it feel like he is slowly getting closer…
"Gokudera-san?"
A-Ahiii… Wait, wh-wh-why…?!
BIBIIP.
Haru has already stopped breathing when the pager ringtone stops Gokudera at about five centimetres from her face, before he pulls away to stand and shoot a glance at the trouble-maker.
Haru has not yet defrost – again – that her hand is snatched from her and she almost has to run after Gokudera who walks down the streets at full speed, not sparing her a single glance or a single word as they pass Namimori shopping district without stopping to catch their breath.
"Huf huf… G-Gokudera-san, wh…? A… hi…? Yamamoto-san's Sushi Restaurant, why…?"
But Gokudera makes no answer, his expression impossible to get under the shadow of his hair. Haru's eyes widen slightly at feeling his fingers slowly let go of her hand. The next thing she feels is the rough push grabbing her shoulders to make her pass the door that has just slided open.
BANG BANG BANG. "SURPRIIIIISE!"
Confetti from the party crackers fall in stunned silence as Haru gazes at the crowd surrounding her.
Everyone is here…?! Reborn-chan, Kyoko-chan, the children, and most important: Tsuna-san. Where did they get these fancy masquerade costumes from… so blinding, stupefying, fantastic-desu…! Haru wants to know who is the costume genius who made all of this! Ahiii, Tsuna-san and Kyoko-chan all wrapped in twin gift-boxes with ribbons are so great! The room is all decorated too… so many colours, so pretty… They even wrote 'Haru-chan's Birthday Party' with colour crepe-paper on the large poster at the back near the table… touched-desu… moved-desu… Ahiii… Haru must not cry…
"Mission complete, 10th!"
TILT. Haru turns to stare in awe at the one who has come back to her side after having put back the fangs and cape originally going with his costume.
"Well done, Gokudera-kun!" "It was nothing, 10th, really really nothing! You know you can always count on me, shishi…! Nothing passed my lips: a perfect secret mission, just like you instructed, 10th!" "Sorry for the delay, Haru-chan… We had a couple little things to sort out here so we sent Gokudera-kun to meet with you since his costume was the easiest one to remove." "But now that everyone is there, let's celebrate, hahaha!" "HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HARU!"
BANG BANG BANG. Another round of party crackers pours confetti all around her stun Haru.
The usual realisation time, moved moment and group glomp sprinkled with tears of happiness later, Haru is finally able to think and speak properly again.
"Ahiii…! Tsuna-san as a birthday gift… Haru can die happy-desu…" "… don't you dare die now after all my efforts, Stup…" "GOKUDERA-KUN!" "Ugh, s-sorry 10th, I really didn't mean to… it slipped, it just slipped, tsk! I promise I kept my word, damn it, y-you can ask her!" "Really…? Haru, how was Gokudera-kun with you today?"
DOKI. "G-Gokudera-san?! T-today?!" "Haru-chan… are you still angry at him? You're quite red." "A-ah, n-no of course! No-problem-desu!" "Really no problem, Haru? The truth is Gokudera-kun promised not to call you bad names today since it's your birthday, so…" "A… hi…? … call Haru…?" "Yeah, I can't help thinking it's mean to always call you stupid or annoying when it's not true and… Anyway, that was the deal but, you know Haru, if he couldn't keep his word, please don't be too angry at him. He's just, you know… I'm sure he doesn't mean it, inside of him." "W-what a-are y-you talking about 10th…?! I'll always make you honour! It's completely unrelated to my… h-heart… d-damn…!" "… so it was a promise, I see… T-thank you, Tsuna-san! Haru is touched that Tsuna-san thinks about me! About today… the truth is… Gokudera-san…" "Hum Haru, is something wrong?" "… nothing-much-desu… Haru just wanted to say… well, yes, to say that he kept his promise to Tsuna-san so Tsuna-san can have faith in Gokudera-san. No-problem-desu, h-hohoho!" "Ah, Haru-chan…?" "S-sorry Kyoko-chan, H-Haru needs… something to drink… too-hot-desu…"
But a now-familiar hand around her wrist stops Haru in her tracks.
"Wait, we didn't finish so don't run away now, damn it…" "G-Gokudera-san…?" "What you said just now, did you mean it?"
DOKI. Haru can't help forgetting to breathe. Gokudera's green eyes are serious, and this tiny embarrassed blush on his cheeks feels too unusual and unsettling to suppose no meaning. It can't help but makes her worry suddenly that the words she spoke and the disturbing words locked inside her chest has somehow swapped without her knowledge.
"Oy, what you said just now about the 10th trusting me, do you mean it?" "… A… hi…?!"
A long moment of silence falls as Gokudera starts losing himself in a monologue devoted to his allegiance to the 10th and how touched he is that someone finally realises it – while Tsuna is sweat-dropping wearily at how the topic ended up on such dangerous proves of loyalty again. Haru can't help freezing into a cold polite façade smile – glad to hear compliment about Tsuna but something else tingling inside her when reviewing their entire afternoon across the lens 'Gokudera-san did all of that as a favour to Tsuna-san' and how it was all only 'a diversion for the surprise party'.
"Haru really needs something to drink…" "Ah, Haru-chan, let's take something together! Yamamoto-kun's father prepared fruit juices and…" "Ah, wait, damn it!" "… what? Another testimony you need from me to show-off to Tsuna-san? Haru wants to have fun now, so no need to ask anymore. Tiring-desu!" "That's not it, tsk. Always so annoy… Hum hum, I mean, well, you were nicer this afternoon so why now, damn… Anyway, here!"
Haru stares dumbfounded at the small packet wrapped in the haberdashery kraft paper.
"Happy birthday, Haru."
DOKI.
More than the gift from her favourite shop he picked for her, more than the handsome gothic vampire costume he's wearing for her, more than the rare straight-forward smile he's making for her… more than anything else, hearing her name from his lips sends a warm shiver down her skin.
Has the word 'Haru' ever sounded as magical on Gokudera-san's lips as now…?