This is my first fanfiction for the Ouran High School Host Club, taking off from the most recent Chapter 65.
Would you go out with me?
Kanoya had asked him almost pleadingly and he had given her an answer. But Tamaki still remained unsure if it was the right answer. His mind still reeled with thoughts that he couldn't figure out, or at least he thought he hadn't figured out.
He reached the door of the third floor music room, sighed, unconsciously held the book in his left hand tightly, and opened the door.
"Everybody, I am back!" He threw his arms wide open as if expecting an embrace from the members only to be met with silence—absolute silence.
"Huh? Where is everybody?"
"They left." Kyouya was the only one in the room, typing as usual those notes that no one ever gets to see in his PineApple notebook. "Hunny senpai and Mori senpai agreed to an exhibition match at the karate club. Hikaru and Kaoru got bored waiting for you and left with Haruhi. So, the buddy trio might be at the library."
"Library? What would the twins want to do at the library?" Tamaki sat on the chair opposite Kyouya, who had stopped typing and was eyeing him with a disinterested look. "Ah, Haruhi."
"Catching up quickly, aren't you?"
Tamaki then laid the book on the table.
"What's this?"
"A book."
"Idiot, I know it is a book. What am I supposed to do with it?"
"Please give this to Haruhi. She dropped—"
"Why don't you give it to her then?"
"I…She got mad at me for no reason."
"Hmm?" Kyouya stared hard at his friend whose face had gone from a happy fool to a dejected one.
"I just said we were completely different and she stormed off. I wanted to return the book to her, but I couldn't leave Kanoya-san behind."
"Kanoya-san was with you?"
Tamaki nodded.
"I see."
"So, please." Tamaki gave Kyouya one of those looks that would melt anybody's heart. A pitiful creature indeed.
"Fine, leave it here." Tamaki's puppy dog eyes seemed to have worked its magic on Kyouya…or maybe not. "For making me do this errand, in the next club activity I'll make you wear a costume worse than a loincloth."
Tamaki did not respond. He was lost in thought, a regular occurrence these days.
"You've been spending quite some time with Kanoya-san. That and your business meetings have taken quite a lot of your time that we hardly ever see you at club activities anymore."
"Hey, Kyouya, how about taking over the club?"
***** *** *****
Hikaru and Kaoru left with Haruhi but didn't accompany her to the library; they left immediately for home. The car ride back home was usually a joyous occasion as it meant the twins would look forward to another day of torturing the hapless Suoh Tamaki. While the twins were initially annoyed with Tamaki's antics, they grew to respect and love the person who enlarged their world. Sadly, this was not one of those rides.
"To Tamaki, Kanoya Megumi-san is the ideal, perfect woman. Moreover, I'd say they can probably relate to each other," Kaoru said under his breath.
"Huh?"
"I was just repeating what Kyouya senpai said. Did we go too far, Hikaru? What we did with Tono—didn't we just open his eyes to—"
"That stunt we pulled was just a one time thing. He alone decided to be by her side."
"What would happen if he chooses Kanoya-san over Haruhi?"
Hikaru tried to think how Haruhi would feel but found it difficult to do so. Lately, Haruhi had not been her usual self, having switched from lazy to hyperactive mode to somewhere in the middle. Her newfound energy still baffled him although he knew who the source had been.
"I never asked her about what she thought about the rumors regarding Tono and Kanoya-san's relationship. For sure, it's a topic she wishes to avoid."
"We didn't see this coming, Hikaru. Now Tono is drifting away."
I should be happy about this, right? Tono's attention is now on Kanoya-san. Why do I feel so rotten then?
Somehow the ride took longer than usual.
***** *** *****
Mei had given up on Tamaki the moment she realized the idiot was in love with Haruhi without being fully aware of his own emotions. Since then, she regularly dropped by the Fujioka household to, in her own words, "keep abreast of things." This night was no exception.
"HARUHI!" Mei-chan shouted as she let herself in. She sniffed the air. "What's this? It smells good." She followed the scent to the kitchen.
"You're here. Perfect timing, Mei-chan. I'm just about finished." And Haruhi put the dish on a plate.
"Isn't that chicken cordon bleu?"
"Yes. I'm trying out recipes from this book I borrowed from the library." Haruhi handed her the Gourmet Meals in a Flash. "I've finished the other dishes as well. Look—" On the table were laid out a variety of dishes ranging from appetizer to dessert.
"Eh, you really went all out. But who's going to eat them?"
"We are, of course. I haven't tasted any of them before so I don't know if they taste right. I did follow the recipe closely though so it should be fine. I've set aside dad's portion, and as for leftovers, there's always the host club."
"Yeah, the twins and Tamaki will definitely love these."
At the mention of Tamaki's name a cloud descended over Haruhi's face but it quickly disappeared. Mei's trained eyes, however, caught the subtle change.
"Did you get into a fight with Tamaki?"
You and I are completely different.
"N-no. Why would you say that?"
"If you didn't fight, something must have happened between the two of you. I can tell, Haruhi."
Haruhi had female friends back in middle school, but she couldn't confide in any of them. At Ouran, she was regarded as a boy. The only people who knew she was a girl were the members of the host club. Confiding in them would only bring more trouble. Mei was the only female friend she has right now who could probably understand what she was going through.
"Tamaki senpai hasn't been around the host club lately."
"You did mention that he's been going to whatsitsname hotel to attend to matters related to the Suoh business." And after a significant pause, Mei added, "Or, could you be worried that he's spending more time with the restaurant heiress, Kanoya Megumi?"
The name Kanoya Megumi seemed to shock Haruhi back to life. "How did you know about Kanoya-san?"
"The network, of course." (The network being the Hitachiin twins and Hunny.)
And a lightbulb switched on in Mei's mind.
"Ne, Haruhi, did you cook—"
"What are you getting at?" Haruhi was so flustered she almost couldn't speak coherently. "…try different dishes… experience all kinds of things…you know."
"Eh, that again. Well then, let's experience gourmet food together." And Mei took a huge bite of the chicken cordon bleu. "Wow! It's delicious!"
Thankful for not being pressed on the matter, Haruhi took a bite of the same dish.
"This IS good! I borrowed a good book from the library then." And Haruhi proceeded to taste all the variety of dishes in quick succession.
But Mei understood things that were often left unsaid.
***** *** *****
It was very late when Hunny and Mori returned to the third floor music room to change back into their school uniforms. The room was deserted, except for Usa-chan sitting by its lonesome on the couch.
"Sorry, Usa-chan," said Hunny. "It must have been very lonely, but I couldn't take you to the match. You might have gotten hurt." And he hugged his favorite plush tightly.
"Here." Mori handed Hunny a triple chocolate cake which the latter gratefully took. "You should get dressed after you finish that." Mori then went into the changing room.
A few minutes later, Hunny had cleaned his plate. "There, I'm done!" As he was about to go into the changing room, his glance landed over a piece of paper lying on the table Kyouya normally used.
"Eh? What's this?"
"What are you looking at, Mitsukuni?" Mori had appeared beside Hunny. Hunny showed him the piece of paper.
"Kyo-chan is amazing, isn't he?"
"Ah."
"But he's a very tidy person. What could have made him leave this here?"
***** *** *****
The following day saw the Host Club members, with the exception of the King, gathered at the third floor music room. Haruhi's bento of gourmet dishes broke down whatever tension the room had witnessed the previous day. The twins Hikaru and Kaoru took first dibs at the dishes and uttered without shame just how much they loved Haruhi's cooking. Hunny chimed in as well. Mori, as usual, did not say a word but it was obvious that he was silently enjoying the dishes that Haruhi prepared. Only Kyouya did not join in the festive mood.
Kyouya had dealt with Tamaki's requests, no matter how outrageous they were. He had accepted the fact that his best friend was an idiot through and through as well. But this time, this one request did not agree with him. This time, his anger had welled up inside him before he could give thoughtful consideration to his friend's action. He slammed his PineApple notebook shut.
"Kyouya."
"Tamaki, stop this foolishness. Your selfishness is hurting others. When are you going to face reality head-on?"
"I AM facing reality."
"YOU ARE NOT!" The Kyouya before Tamaki was unlike the Kyouya he angered over a football game. "The Host Club was your idea. You handpicked the members. Made us do all sorts of activities even against our will. And now you are leaving everyone. Just like that."
"But I am leaving it to you. You are more capable than—"
"Then why did you become more interested in managing the host club these past few days?"
Tamaki's silence only fueled Kyouya's anger. Before it escalated into something irreparable, Kyouya took his laptop and rushed to the door, leaving a piece of paper in his trail. Without turning his face to Tamaki, he asked, "What are you afraid of, Tamaki? Until you can give me an honest answer…" And Kyouya disappeared behind the door.
That idiot.
"Kyouya senpai, here." Haruhi had placed chicken cordon bleu on a plate. "You ought to try it before Hikaru and Kaoru finish them off. It might not be according to the taste you are accustomed to, but—"
"Haruhi, no matter what happens believe in him." Kyouya's words stunned Haruhi, but before she could ask what he meant, Tamaki appeared.
"Tamaki senpai!"
"Tono, you're late. We've almost eaten all of the gourmet dishes Haruhi made," Hikaru said.
"They're delicious!" Kaoru added. "It's so delicious that Hikaru had already proposed marriage to Haruhi on his first bite."
A remark such as this would have sent Tamaki on a rampage in the past. Instead, Tamaki smiled at the twins and said, "Sorry, I won't be staying. I just wanted to see you guys."
"Will you be attending another meeting?" Hunny asked.
"Ah, no. I'm working on something else."
"Haruhi, this is really delicious," complimented Kyouya. "Thank you for saving me a portion. That was very thoughtful of you."
Kyouya's tone was unmistakable, but Tamaki pretended not to hear.
"Eh, thank you." Haruhi was unsure if it was indeed a sincere compliment, or if there was a catch to it. After all, this was Kyouya.
"Go on a date with me."
Haruhi was caught off guard that she immediately said yes. Her response surprised Tamaki, but he feigned disinterest. Tamaki glanced at Kyouya, who by now had finished eating and was looking at him with an evil eye. Just then, his cellphone rang. He left without saying a word.
As soon as Tamaki closed the door, the twins cried out in unison, "Why are you going on a date with Haruhi? Did you see Tono's face?" And facing Haruhi, "and YOU, why did you say 'yes'?"
"Forget what I said. We have a bigger problem at hand. Tamaki is going out on a date with Kanoya-san." With that, Kyouya silenced the twins and everyone else in the room.