Okay, so I know Christmas was over a month ago, but can't I celebrate it a little late? I really like this story and didn't want to wait eleven months to publish it. If you don't like it, you can wait to read it until next December, I promise I won't take offense. I don't own anything.
There was only one word to describe Music Room #3 that day: mess. Ribbons lay strewn across the floor, a number of reindeer figurines and fake snowman had fallen over, the fancy holiday cups with pictures of holly and mistletoe on them were piled high, dirty with instant coffee (holiday blend), and covering nearly everything was a trail of gingerbread crumbs that led to a small boy licking frosting off his fingers.
"Well," Tamaki said, pulling the fake white beard and red hat off, "It looks like our holiday party was a success." He, as the president of the host club, insisted on dressing up a Santa Claus, while the rest of the club dressed as elves, with green tunics, hats and curled shoes with bells on the end, and striped sleeves and stockings.
"That depends on your definition of success." Kyoya said, crouched over his clipboard. "We might have been all right with the decorations if only you hadn't insisted on buying a present for EVERY girl. It will take us weeks to make up this debt."
"Oh, come now, Kyoya," Tamaki said. "Get into the Christmas Spirit!"
"He doesn't have any!" The twins said in unison. Kyoya glared at them.
Tamaki smiled, "What kind of hosts would we be if we didn't give a few gifts?"
Kaoru started, "And besides, it's not as though—"
"We didn't get gifts ourselves." Hikaru finished. The both of them were playing with the little toys that their customers had given them.
Behind them, it appeared that Haruhi was wrestling with her own foot. "Haruhi!" Tamaki said, exasperated, "Don't take your shoes off, you look so cute!"
"I can't walk in these, senpai!" she nearly fell over as the belled shoe finally came off.
"I love Christmas!" Honey said, dancing around the room with Usa-Chan. "There are so many yummy treats!"
"Are you still hungry, Honey-Senpai?" Haruhi asked, now struggling with her other shoe. "You ate an entire Gingerbread House!"
Honey gave her a huge smile. "Yeah, and tomorrow, on Christmas, our cook says she'll make me and Takashi all the cake we want!" Mori nodded in confirmation.
"Really?" Hikaru asked.
"We usually spend Christmas day playing with all the presents we get." Kaoru said.
"Yeah, we're supposed to get a robot this year!" the twins gave each other a high-five, and they weren't sure, but they thought they heard Haruhi mutter "rich people."
Tamaki smiled. "I bought Antoinette some new toys, so I was going to play with her for most of Christmas. What about you Kyoya?"
Kyoya raised an eyebrow over his clipboard. "I plan on studying."
The group looked over at him in surprise. "Studying?" Kaoru said.
"But it's Christmas!" Hikaru shouted.
"Christmas nowadays is mostly used as an excuse for businesses to sell cheap little toys and candy." Kyoya adjusted his glasses. "Don't get me wrong, I appreciate it from a financial standpoint. In fact, my family's business flourishes this time of year. You would be surprised at how many people get injured on Christmas."
"Come now, Kyoya!" Tamaki said, "Christmas is a time for people to show how much they love one another! A time for family!"
Hikaru inhaled deeply and pointed at Kyoya as though he was a ghost.
"What is it, Hikaru?" Kaoru said, instantly concerned for his twin.
"It's—It's—the Grinch who stole Christmas!" The both of them began circling Kyoya saying "The Grinch! The Grinch!" while Kyoya gripped his clipboard tightly, and seemed as though he would explode if he was so much as touched.
"What about you, Haru-chan?" Honey asked over the twins chanting, "Any plans for Christmas?"
Haruhi nodded. "Every year, my Dad and I go to a Soup-Kitchen on Christmas."
The twins stopped chanting and a silence fell over the room. Nobody seemed to move or even breath.
"Uh-oh." The Hitachiins said.
In an instant, Tamaki had grabbed ahold of Haruhi and held her so tight she couldn't breath. "Oh, my poor, darling, daughter! Starved of food and forced to beg on the floor with the rats on Christmas! Huddled under scratchy and holey blankets just for warmth, spreading commoner germs in the most unsanitary places!"
"Ow, Senpai—Senpai, let me go!" Haruhi struggled out of Tamaki's grip, and then stumbled to the floor as she tripped over the large shoe she had only gotten half-off. "I don't go to soup-kitchens to eat." Haruhi kicked the shoe off with a jingle. "I go there to serve other people food. People who actually are homeless and starving, as you apparently think I am."
"That's so nice of you, Haru-chan!" Honey smiled.
"Yeah." Tamaki said slowly, "Yeah, that's a great idea!" Tamaki gave that smile that warned everyone he was planning something. "We can all go to the commoner soup kitchen with Haruhi on Christmas morning!"
"What?" Everyone (except Mori) shouted.
"But what about our Robot?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked.
"And our cake party?" Honey was nearly crying.
"We'll still have time for all of our individual plans later in the day." Tamaki said, confident that everyone would love his idea.
Haruhi looked in pain. "But Senpai-"
"No need to thank me, Haruhi!" Tamaki interrupted, "It's decided then. We're all going with Haruhi tomorrow."
They all exchanged glances for a second.
"All right, We're in Tono." The twins said.
"Us, too, Tama-chan!" Honey said, as Mori nodded in agreement.
"Well, whether I agree or not, you'll all show up anyway." Haruhi sighed.
Everyone turned to Kyoya. "No."
"But Kyoya-"
"I refuse. Going there has no practical purpose. I will stay home and study."
He heard the twins mutter "Grinch" under their breath. That only made him grip his clipboard tighter.
"Well," Tamaki said, "I wish you would join us, Kyoya, but I won't let it stop our plans. Operation Help the Homely is underway!"
"Homeless." Haruhi said, slapping a hand to her forehead.
Somehow, the fact that they didn't try and convince him, or maybe the fact that they gave up on the idea he would come so easily, only made Kyoya angrier. He stood up, adjusting his glasses. "I'm going home." He stormed out, shouting, "Clean this mess up," over his shoulder.