Haruhi slipped on her shoe as she ran out of the door, still shouting her last morning goodbyes to her father. She knew she had to make something special today for Tamaki. Her senpai had done so much for her all year, and today was the day she would make up for it: Tamaki's birthday.

She already knew what she was going to get him. He asked for it every day at lunch, and much like all of his other requests, she plainly refused. She knew she had to use the school kitchen for this; otherwise her dad would get suspicious and overly protective with questions.

She passed Kyoya in the hallway leading to the old abandoned music room they used for the host club. He pushed up his glasses like he did every time he was about to say something cold or strict. "Haruhi," he began in his usual tone, "just where do you think you are going at such a time?"

She paused for a moment and turned back to him after a short thought of defense. "I-I have to turn in a late assignment…" she said, "I was supposed to turn it in yesterday, but I had some other things to do…"

"Oh, really?" he said.

"Y-yes…"

"But I seem to recall seeing you turning it in early in the morning yesterday. Am I wrong?"

Haruhi nodded hesitantly. "Y-yes well…there is something I need to change on the paper." She said. She waited for him to come up with something else clever to say.

"Smooth." He said writing something down on his clipboard and turning into the music room. "No further questions."

She sighed and went into the school-owned kitchen. She viewed the entire fancy ingredient display for a moment and admired the fine-dining products the school had displayed neatly in glass cases and refrigerators. She spread out the ingredients she needed and went to work on her box-lunch for Tamaki. It wasn't too much long later when she finished that she needed to step back and admire her work. She never understood why Tamaki wanted one so bad. It was just a bento after all.

She carried the lunch with a cloth wrapped around it. She meant to buy fancy wrapping paper before school, but forgot on her way there. She was always messing things up, but if not for that, she wouldn't be in the host club.

Haruhi made her way toward the music room. As she opened the door, she noticed something odd about the lighting in the room. She took one step in and finally realized what the boys had cooked up today. The theme for Tamaki's party was commoners.

She stopped in her steps and blinked for a moment. "Welcome!" the host club said in tune.

"Ohhh…" the twins said together, each putting an elbow on either of Haruhi's shoulders.

"Wow Haruhi," Kaoru said, "we thought you were the boss coming in for his surprise!"

Hikaru nodded in agreement. "Yea, we did all of this décor for his arrival!"

Haruhi looked at their ridiculous attire. They were all wearing raggedy clothes.

"We have games planned, too!" Hunny chimed on Mori's shoulders. "We need your help though, Haru-chan! You know more about these games than we do!"

Haruhi flinched. "G-games…?" she said as if offended. "What kind of games do you think I know most about?"

The twins snickered devilishly.

"Commoner games." Mori answered.

Haruhi looked down offended.

Kaoru laughed fiendishly, "If the boss were here he would stand up for you for sure!"

Hikaru removed his elbow from her shoulder and crossed his arms. "Well he isn't, Kaoru, so there isn't any mean to talk about him in such a way!" he said in an offended tone. Kaoru was the only one who expected this. Hikaru's odd behavior around Haruhi was getting worse and worse.

Everyone fell silent for a moment.

Kaoru finally broke the silence. "Speaking of…" he began awkwardly, "when is the boss arriving?"

Kyoya stepped forward in his "poor-person" outfit. "Any moment now." He said, glancing at his watch. "We should prepare the gifts."

Boxes filled the wooden old table that was supposed to represent a commoner's eating space. "So what'd you get the boss?" Hikaru asked, still sounding annoyed from earlier.

Haruhi held up the boxed lunch. "I suppose I should give it to him at lunch." She said.

Kyoya took it from her hands. "That wont be necessary." He said, setting the gift on the table, "Tamaki's presents will all be given at the same time. All after the ladies get here to celebrate at noon. Just about lunch time, I believe."

Haruhi stared at him for a moment as if to process this.

Hikaru put an arm around his brother. "Well," he said as if satisfied, "it isn't that bad. You don't have to give it to him in person…" He smirked with his head bowed down.

Kaoru gave him a concerned look. He tried talking to Hikaru about what was making him act so odd about Tamaki lately. He thought of it as jealousy. It was obvious he had feelings for Haruhi that he wasn't ready to understand, but sometimes he showed his feelings the wrong way.

"Hikaru," Kaoru said quietly to his brother, "would you mind toning it down a bit on the…well…jealousy?"

Hikaru glared at him. "Why should I be jealous of anyone? Do you think I'm jealous of the boss?" there was a hint of anger in his voice.

At about this moment, Tamaki walked in, almost as if on queue. Hikaru's eyes widened and he realized he didn't even want Haruhi to be in the same room as Tamaki. An odd feeling of anger and envy shot through him and his teeth clenched. Kaoru put a hand on his shoulder, and he simmered down a bit. "Why don't we sit and eat the first cake with him? It is his birthday after all…" Kaoru offered.

Hikaru smashed his palms against the table. "What makes you think that I'm jealous of him?" he yelled.

Everyone, even Tamaki, looked in their direction.

Kaoru gave a long and heavy sigh. "Hika—"

"Just stop talking to me!" Hikaru yelled, pushing him away. He stormed passed Tamaki, bumping shoulders with him it the process. With his head hung low, he began running down the hall.

Kaoru tried chasing him, but stopped by the door. "Hikaru…" he said softly.

Haruhi ran swiftly past him. Somehow, in her confused mind, she thought it had something to do with her.

"Be right back!" she yelled halfway out the door.

Tamaki looked slightly confused, but Kyoya put a hand on his shoulder as if to say, "Just let them go."