"Haruhi, what are your plans for New Year's?" Kyouya asked suddenly. It was December 30, and they were alone in the music room, Kyouya entering figures for the day and Haruhi rinsing off the dishes.
"Hmm?" she replied, "Not much. Dad has work that night, and I made plans with Arai when we were all in Karuizawa, but he had to cancel them for his new girlfriend." She brushed a stray strand of hair away from her face, and sighed lightly. "New Year's isn't usually much of a holiday for me. Most of the time I'm asleep right after midnight, like every day."
Kyouya raised an eyebrow. "You spend the one holiday that the whole world celebrates together... alone?" he said.
She smiled wryly. "Haven't got much of a choice, right?"
"How true." They returned to work then, each completing the necessary tasks in silence.
"What about you?" Haruhi said after a few minutes, "Got any plans?"
He blinked in surprise, then answered. "As a matter of fact, I do. Subject to change, though, depending on my mood."
"Family?" She looked over at him curiously.
"Family, unless my sister changes her plans and spends New Year's with her in-laws, in which case I'll be spending it alone." He looked up at the ceiling for a moment, then took a breath and returned his gaze to his computer screen. "Kami, I hope she comes over."
"Why's that?" she asked. She'd just finished washing the last teacup, and was walking over to the couch where he sat. She sat down next to him, then glanced at him nervously, waiting for a response.
"Just...reasons. Reasons I wouldn't even tell Tamaki, let alone anyone else."
"I know you don't appreciate your siblings and father much, but spending New Year's with them could be fun. And your mother too, right?" She smiled at him and eased herself into the backrest of the couch.
"My mother passed away when I was young, Haruhi. I haven't got any family left in the house but my brothers and father." He shut the lid of the laptop and placed it on the coffee table in front of them. "They aren't much fun either—especially my father."
"I'm sorry about your mother; I had no idea she was gone. It must be awful for you," she said, scooting slightly closer. She put a hand on his shoulder, and he turned his head to look at her.
"I've grown to be okay with it, just as you have," he said, shrugging her off of his shoulder, "But it's late now, we should head home."
She swallowed. "Yeah, we should. Happy New Year, since I won't see you for a few days." She stood to leave, then turned and slipped out the door quietly.
Kyouya waited for the door to click shut, then gathered his books and laptop. He flicked off the lights, then left. "I almost wish something was different about this year," he murmured quietly.
Thank you for reading! This is a two-shot, but I'm not quite done with the second half yet. Sorry for not uploading in such a long time, I've just been trying to balance working on my new fic with schoolwork.
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