5986 & 77 SHORT-STORY ~ RUSH-HOUR ISSUES

"Arara… I am really sorry to have and ask you when you're coming all the way to enjoy the tea, but Tsu-kun said it's really too heavy to bring back on his own, and I can't leave the children alone…" "Of course, of course! Let me be of service and go and help the 10th. My honour, Ma'am!" "Haru will do her best! I will bring back Tsuna-san and the important parcel for sure. Please leave it to Haru!" "Awww, the both of you are so sweet! Then here: this map will show you how to reach the parcel office. The closest station is…"

About ten minutes later, the enthusiasm of Gokudera and Haru at being able to lend a hand to the 10th/Tsuna-san withers at reaching the train station and realizing it is now rush hour.

"Buuh, no-way-desu…" "So that's the legendary Japanese rush-hour…?!" "Now is not the time to be impressed, Gokudera-san! Tsuna-san is waiting for us! Fight-desu!" "Tsk, this damn crowd of good-for-nothings… thinking they can get in my way when the 10th needs me… just you see!"

But what Gokudera can see is that the tight lines of passengers trying to squeeze into the train are not to belittle, even comparing to a mafia fight, and he can't force his way through.

"Ahiii, Gokudera-san, that way!"

Hopefully, Haru and her more easy-going approach helps them to slip between shoulders and reach the doors just in time for them to close a centimetre behind their backs.

"Phew, safe-desu! From now on, the doors will only open the other side, so if we manage to stay… Kyaaah!"

BAM. The starting of the train interrupts the explanation and Haru has to grab onto Gokudera to avoid the shock.

"S-sorry-desu…" "Don't mind…"

But they can't help minding more and more as the motion of the crowd flowing out and in forces them to leave the safe support of the doors wall and swallows them in the suffocating middle space.

"G-Goku… dera… san!" "Damn!"

Gokudera nails his elbow in a passenger's ribs to make him move and leave space to breathe for Haru who has been swallowed away from him.

"O-oy, Stupid Woman, where do you think you're going?!" "H-Haru can't… Haru's feet are not touching anymore…" "Tsk!"

GRAB. Gokudera grabs Haru's arm to try and pull her to his side, but only ends up being pushed in turn towards her, powerless against the crowd of adults surrounding them.

"A… hiii…" Haru can't help but blush a little at ending up stuck face to him.

Gokudera himself feels too angry against the crowd to really mind anything else and he just gazes with a pissed expression in the chestnut eyes of the one down onto his chest.

"Oy!" "A-ahiii?" "Can your feet touch, now? Can you at least reach mine?"

Haru never thought before that one could become self-conscious of their feet. But at this moment, she can't help but feel really hot at every contact on her legs and feet, from the uncomfortable pressure of a leather schoolbag on her left to the warmth of Gokudera's skin across his uniform in the front. She can't help blushing more and more while gazing up in his serious frowning green eyes, her fingertips brushing under her in slow motion to try and make contact with his but only ruffling the fabric of his pants.

"We'll need to run out as soon as we'll reach the 10th station, so try harder, tsk…"

His words feel as harsh as usual, but with a hint of tsundere forgiveness typical from the moments when he knows the other has no other choice even if it doesn't please him, and it makes Haru feel more troubled than a real reproach would have made.

His arms move around her to try and push away the shoulders and backs of the other passengers squeezing her upwards. Himself would have moved if he had been able to, but it is already taking him all his strength to just stand his ground and not squeeze onto her more.

As his hands fight centimetre by centimetre to gain ground, he can't help thinking: since they're already pressed onto the other so closely, would it even be possible to squeeze more… Physical laws say there is a maximum to how much one mass can be compressed, don't they… But this Stupid Woman has a lower mass than him, so does it mean she would be the first one to be crushed… If he loses ground, will she be crushed, just like that, with him unable to help it…

TILT. Gokudera's frown unknowingly transforms into a wincing expression as he gazes at the one onto him barely filling the space between his arms.

Damn, why are this Stupid Woman's shoulders so frail… why is her height so tiny that even without touching floor she's still smaller by a head comparing to the surrounding passengers… why isn't he taller himself, damn… Someone like this Baseball-Nut wouldn't have any trouble and would even be able to help out… Damn, why isn't he taller…

"G-Gokudera-san…?" TILT. "… what…?" "Ah hum… Haru means… i-it's nothing-desu…" DOKI.

Damn it… is this train ever going to reach the station where the 10th is waiting… why is time passing so slowly, like suspended, and exacerbating each and every nerve under his skin… why… Too hot, it just feels too unusually hot… Just wait until he becomes taller and he'll never let a damn crowd pressure them like that… crushing them like that… making them boil like that… because it can only be the crowd's fault, right…