55Eye of the Storm
by: RoyaleDeuce
A/N: Dedicated to Kemi-chii. (:))
Target 1
Confection Confession
Haru believed that she perfectly knew what she wanted. Her aims were in her line of sight, and all that was needed to be done was to pursue them. And Miura Haru prided herself with the will and determination which can put even the Vongola Guardians to shame; she was someone who wouldn't easily be swerved by circumstances, no matter how groundbreaking they are. However, that particular afternoon she dropped by in Namimori Middle School in pursuit of her dear Tsuna, an unforeseen storm drove her off course.
Haru was positive there was something wrong with her ears at the moment.
"What?" she breathed, her eyes wide.
Gokudera broke the eye contact and huffed, his cheeks tinged pink. After a few moments, he repeated what he said with fervour equal to the first time he said it.
Despite the colouring of her cheeks, signifying that she had processed what he had said, Haru still couldn't help but sputter the same response, "W-What?"
"DAMMIT, WOMAN! HOW MANY TIMES DO I HAVE TO REPEAT MYSELF BEFORE IT WOULD PENETRATE THAT THICK SKULL OF YOURS!"
"Hahi!" Haru jumped with a start, her face as red as Gokudera's. "Well, how do you expect Haru to respond to something unexpected like this?"
Gokudera, who was akin to a ticking time bomb the entire exchange, restrained himself from exploding yet again and left her to her thoughts. "Fine, have it your way!"
Haru was left dumbstruck at the sudden turn of events.
"That idiot," Haru walked out of school after she composed herself, unawares that she was unable to fulfil her original purpose for that afternoon as Gokudera's words rang inside her head over and over again.
'I like you, Haru.'
Gokudera's mood was mutinous the next day. Apart from Tsuna, he snapped at everyone within a five-meter radius. The rest had their own conclusions as to why their silver-haired classmate was in a rage, but no one dared question him for fear of an explosive afternoon. Yamamoto, who was oblivious to the dangers of provoking Gokudera, good-naturedly asked whether he was having problems with a girl.
The temperature in the classroom instantly dropped below zero degrees.
"A-Aha-aha-ha! P-Perhaps if you're talking about Bianchi-san, Yamamoto! But I don't think that's what's bothering Gokudera-kun," Tsuna laughed weakly, all the while shooting Gokudera furtive, nervous glances. "Right?"
Gokudera stiffened but nevertheless nodded his head without looking Tsuna in the eye.
"Remember we're just here if you need us," Tsuna assured firmly.
At this, Gokudera met his gaze and gratefully said, "Thank you, Juudaime."
Dismissal came, and Yamamoto had to stay for baseball practice while Gokudera accompanied Tsuna. They were past the school gates when they were suddenly greeted by Haru, who seemed to have been leaning by the wall, waiting all afternoon.
"Hahi! Tsuna-san!" she exclaimed pleasantly, purposely ignoring Gokudera's eyes which downright pissed him off.
"Haru!" Tsuna smiled, oblivious to the mounting tension between his two companions. "What are you doing in here?"
To the surprise of both, Haru blushed crimson. "Actually, Haru was wondering whether you can help her look for materials for the costume she's currently making." For some reason, she looked painfully awkward.
"A-Ah." It was evident that Tsuna looked reluctant to acquiesce to this request, knowing that his friend had unbelievable tendencies when it came to her costumes.
"Don't bother Juudaime with your petty problems, woman," Gokudera growled, glaring daggers at the girl in question.
Haru looked affronted. "Don't put words in Tsuna-san's mouth and let him answer for himself!"
Gokudera huffed and looked away.
Tsuna was relieved when things calmed down a bit. "Well... I do have a pile of stuff to do at home, but I guess—"
"I'll go," Gokudera interjected through gritted teeth, a faint blush on his face. "So you can go home early and finish your schoolwork, Juudaime."
"Gokudera-kun!" Tsuna snapped his head towards the Storm Guardian, clearly taken aback by the offer, "Are you sure?"
Gokudera nodded curtly, hiding the blush on his face by beginning to walk towards the town centre.
To add to Tsuna's surprise, Haru bade him farewell and trailed after Gokudera without further ado.
The walk to the town centre was enveloped in a thick, uncomfortable silence. Gokudera had directed his gaze on the road all-throughout while Haru attempted to lighten the mood with her humming but failed, so she resorted to keeping quiet which contributed to the ill at ease amble. They reached the town centre not long after, where Haru led the way through the crowded boutiques and Gokudera wordlessly tailed behind.
The silence was only broken when they arrived in front of a cake shop.
"I thought you wanted to buy materials for your stupid costume," Gokudera muttered, looking at Haru for the first time since parting with Tsuna.
Haru turned to him, "Haru decided she wanted to eat first!" She smiled.
"I didn't come with you to eat cake!" Gokudera fumed, his cheeks starting to stain red.
"Hahi! Haru's hungry, come on!" Haru exclaimed, ignoring Gokudera's comment, and dragged him inside.
"You're planning something," Gokudera snapped as soon as they found themselves a vacant table by the window and took a seat. He glared at the girl sitting across him.
"Haru's here to buy cake, of course!" Haru retorted and smiled innocuously, which predictably incensed Gokudera. "Don't you want to eat?"
"No," he spat out, narrowing his eyes even more before gazing out the glass window. "Geez, this is such a waste of time."
As soon as he said that, Haru's expression was unreadable. She suddenly pushed her chair backward and stood up. "When Haru returns from the comfort room, she expects you to be gone then."
Gokudera grasped her wrist before she could walk away. He still had his face turned away from her. "I was joking."
Haru stood still for a moment, contemplating and boring a hole on the back of his head. Unnerved by the silence, Gokudera turned to face Haru and was surprised to see her grinning knowingly. He blushed and immediately let go of her wrist as if it burned him. Haru returned to her seat, smiling at the highly flustered boy in front of her.
"What?" Gokudera asked, annoyed.
Haru shook her head, the maddening smile still on her face. "Nothing!"
Gokudera was about to prolong the verbal rally when a waitress approached and asked for their orders. After the girl left their table, another uncomfortable silence reigned over them. Gokudera preoccupied himself by fixing his gaze – more like glaring – at the random passersby while Haru busied herself by making origami with the coloured napkins on the table.
"Gokudera-kun!"
"What?" Gokudera turned to Haru.
She pushed a heart-shaped napkin towards him, looking thoughtful. "Haru was bored."
"It's a heart." His expression was a mixture of hope and solemnity all of a sudden.
Haru smiled. "That's the only shape Haru can do!"
Gokudera did a back track. "Don't just randomly give out stuff like this, stupid!" he shouted, blushing fiercely.
Haru's smile was wiped off her face. "Hahi! Don't call Haru stupid!"
Their bickering was interrupted by the arrival of the ordered strawberry shortcake, treacle tart, and glass of milkshake. For the third time that afternoon, awkwardness hung in the air. Haru took her time finishing her cake in silence, taking a sip from the milkshake situated in the centre of the table at short intervals. On the other hand, Gokudera absentmindedly poked what was left of his tart then shifted his gaze towards the other patrons.
The nearest to them was a couple who were spoon-feeding each other. In another table, another couple was seated so close to each other, locked in a tight embrace. Gokudera blanched when he realized that they were surrounded by lovesick teenagers. After witnessing a couple eat each other's face – that's what it looked like to him anyway— he returned to his table and was surprised to see Haru regarding him so seriously.
"What?" he asked yet again.
At his question, her face broke into another smile. "Can Haru try some of your treacle tart?"
He pushed the plate towards her, and upon looking up, saw Haru looking expectant.
"Can Gokudera-kun help Haru eat?"
"WHAT?"
Several heads turned to their table.
"What are you, disabled?" Gokudera's face was bright red.
"No," Haru replied serenely, her cheeks slightly pink. "But everyone's doing it."
"And that's a good enough reason because...?" Gokudera looked ready to explode.
Haru's blush darkened, but she held Gokudera's gaze nevertheless. "You like me."
Gokudera abruptly stood up and dropped some bills on the table. "Let's go. It's getting late, and we still need to buy those damn materials." His face was still burning.
"Gokudera-kun."
"What?" he snapped over his shoulder, his temper surprisingly at bay.
"Haru suddenly remembers she already bought materials for her costume," she said unabashedly.
Gokudera harrumphed and headed for the door. "Then hurry up, I'll bring you home."
Haru quickly got to her feet and followed him, looking tremendously pleased.
A/N: The first instalment in a series of one-shots. Well, I hope you enjoyed it! Comments/ suggestions/ constructive criticisms are greatly appreciated. (:))