"Goodbye, Haru-chan!" Hunny said, as he skipped out of the room, followed by Mori, who mumbled his farewell.
They were the last to leave Music Room 3 that Tuesday evening after seeing off the last batch of girls for the day. Haruhi stretched and rubbed her golden eyes- today had been a thoroughly exhausting day. Between Tamaki's melodrama and the twin's mischievous antics, she longed for the warm comfort of her own bed.
No, she thought to herself. I still have to go grocery shopping and finish those dishes. Not to mention finish that History report that's due Friday.
She gathered up her books and was about to exit the room, when something caught her eye. Lying on the floor in the corner was a notebook. Not just any notebook. This notebook belonged to Kyouya Ootori. It was the same notebook that he recorded every single figure of her debt, down to the last yen.
She picked up the notebook, and a feeling of unease swept over her. If she could just change some of the numbers, preferably with a couple less zeros on the end... That could never hurt anyone, could it?
Again, that feeling of foreboding.
"Get real, "she told herself."It's a stupid notebook. It's not like he has the thing booby trapped, right?" she laughed nervously, trying to shake off that creepy feeling.
She took a glance around the room- no one was there. Quickly, she leafed through the pages to the part where he had stuck a pen as a bookmark. She scanned the three words quickly and then turned, fear sending chills up her neck.
I see you.
"It's rude to look through other people's things," a clipped, all too familiar voice said.
"Kyouya-sempai! W-what are you doing here?"
"Isn't the real question: what are you doing here, looking through my personal belongings?" He said, taking a step toward her. There was an unusually cold note in his voice that made her shiver.
"Um, well, I, um," she started. Kyouya was closer to her now: she could smell his minty breath on her face. His dark hair fell across his forehead and the evening light cast shadows across his face.
His bitter onyx eyes shone with some fierce emotion, weather it was passion or hate, she could only guess.
Haruhi gulped and tried to speak again. "Kyouya-sempai, I-I'm really sorry about your notebook, I swear I didn't see anything."
He smirked, and it was the kind of smirk that you imagined the Devil giving to one of the condemned.
"Ah, but we can't be sure, now can we? If someone sees something they shouldn't... Well, let's just say the consequences will be dire. Debts will be raised, quotas...increased."
They were even closer, and it was then Haruhi realized that she was backed up against a wall. Their faces were inches apart.
"I don't think that will be necessary, really." It was now that Haruhi realized that she was nervous. Her palms were sweating and her breath came in short, uneven bursts. They were so close...
And then, finally, Kyouya Ootori closed the gap between their mouths and Haruhi's world exploded. She could feel the soft curve of his lips against hers and she felt herself go limp, overwhelmed by this unfamiliar sensation.
After a few seconds he let go, and all Haruhi could do was stand there, eyes closed, doing absolutely nothing. For the first time in her life, Haruhi Fujioka's mind was void of opinion, of thought.
"Thank you, Haruhi, for returning my notebook. I can't imagine what would have happened if somebody else had gotten their hands on it."
A few more quiet footsteps, the sound of a door closing, and Haruhi was alone as if nothing had ever happened. Finally after a few moments of stunned silence, Haruhi stretched and rubbed her eyes.
It had been a long day.