Chapter 2
"I've got it!" Haruhi exclaimed happily. Smiling in triumph. Quickly everyone came out of their stupor and looked at her unaware that a question had been asked.
"You've got what exactly Haruhi?" Kaoru asked.
Startled that she had exclaimed out loud what should have remained in her head she blushed prettily and looked at Kyoya unintentionally making him swallow his granola hard.
"Well earlier you were all talking about something that we could do to increase club profits. And I've got it!" Haruhi explained. Everyone continued to look at her waiting for her to elaborate. Thinking quickly she said. "The only deal is since I'm the one coming up with this plan I want a third removed from my debt." She said stubbornly before explaining her plan.
"Let's hear what this plan is before we decide anything." Kyoya said with a smirk. This was the first time Haruhi was showing an interest in club planning at all so of course he already intended to do as she asked. But he could not show that favoritism toward her so openly; he was the shadow king after all.
Haruhi let out a huff of air but proceeded to explain her plan. "Well see, these girls pay a lot of money to do things with us on a daily basis. And we are already always here early before school. Why don't we charge them a moderate amount more to have breakfast with us where I will cook with some help from the other host's and while those girls are waiting to eat on girl with pay extra to help me in the kitchen learning how to cook but also spending quality time with one of their favorite host's." with that she sat back calmly and smiled at them all as they seemed to process what she had just said. Suddenly Kyoya's glasses gleamed and he smirked.
"I think that just might work. We would need a daily shopping list and someone to go get the food the after club activities. But if you are willing to shoulder the majority of the responsibility for these events it will up our entire quota and more than triple our profit margins. No Haruhi I don't think I will take a third from your debt, that –"at Haruhi's quick intake of breath he paused only to shake his head to make her wait for him to finish. "Is not quite the deserving amount, if I see that you are putting your effort in to this and showing the project your special care I shall knock 25% of the daily profits off your debt? Which in case your concerned is substantially more money, then a third." He finished, and eyed her confused expression but then became amused as she showed a bright look of delight crossed her small features. Everyone at the table cheered in their own way at their delight in her coming up with a way to increase profits but also impress the Shadow King.
"thank you Kyoya-Sempai I really appreciate that. Alright then, I will get started with things today starting by shopping for food after club activities today." She said with a grin, thinking of all the amazing things that she could make over the next several weeks.
"and we've lost her" Hikaru said in amusement, while everyone proceeded to pick up their dishes and walk them to the kitchen to be cleaned. With out thinking Honey approached Haruhi and tapped her lightly on the shoulder startling her out of her musings. "yes Huni-sempai?" she asked turning to face him noting that he didn't have his faithful Usa-chan in his arms, and sported a bit of a blush on his cheeks.
"Ne, ne, Haru-chan, could I come with you to the supermarket today? I could help you carry the groceries home, I could even drive you if you wanted me to!" He asked her looking down slightly trying to hide his open expression. Haruhi thought this over for a moment then nodded. "alright then it's a date then!" she said replied happy to have the company. Even thought she was a rather independent person and was used to making those trips by her self she decided that she had better accept the help, knowing that they would have to purchase a lot more food then she was used to purchasing, and an extra arm or a set of wheels might actually be helpful. And she usually enjoyed Honey's company even if he did seem childish she knew that most of that was just a mask, and when not hosting or around the majority of the host club members he was a lot more calm and collected then most gave him credit for. All in all she could not ask for a cuter, more polite, or more enjoyable shopping partner, knowing that his bright mood and sunny attitude would be welcomed.
At the mention of a date Honey nearly destructed. His face lit up a beautiful red shade as he looked down scuffing his shoe slightly on the floor imagining what things they would do on a real date. Honey was snapped out of his thoughts as Haruhi stood from her chair standing merely inches from him and looked at him, they were both slightly surprised that she didn't have to look down but in fact had to gaze up slightly to look in his eyes. Honey opened his mouth slightly, thinking to say something to her when the school bell interrupted making them both sigh for some reason.
Class went by quickly that day between all the normal things like the twins embarrassing her and endless amounts of homework she needed to do, it was time for club activities. She found that day that she was almost excited about going to club and had yet to figure out why. During her lunch break she had managed to write up a list of simple ingredients that she could use to make several different dishes out of for the rest of the week, and had even made the effort to put together a mock up of a suggestion card and also come up with an estimated total of what those groceries would cost and doing some research on different themes that she could put together that did not need costumes that they didn't already have. Instead they would be replaying what they have done in the past but in a breakfast fashion. A new twist on something old that was what her motto was for this event.
Soon she was steered by the twins her constant escort to the host club and through the doors to greet the other members.
"GET YOUR HANDS OFF MY DAUGHTER!" Tamaki screeched racing forward and latching around Haruhi's waist and started trying to drag her away from the twins, who only tightened their hold on her saying,
"Ne, Tono what do you-"said Kaoru as
"Think you're doing? Haruhi is our toy and not-"added Hikaru,
"Your daughter." they finished together. This comment effectively sent Tamaki to his corner of woe, growing mushrooms and muttering things like "devil twins" and "no one understands me!" making the twins laugh and run to torture him some more, to Haruhi's relief leaving her to herself so that she could speak with Kyoya. Walking toward her sempai she waited patiently for him to look up and acknowledge that she was standing there. After a few minutes he looked up at her.
"Yes Haruhi?" Kyoya asked. She handed him a small stack of papers with all of the specifics and research that she had put together, awaiting his approval. He looked at her after scanning over the papers, and was surprised that she had put as much work into this as she had. " this is all very good Haruhi, to say the least I am impressed, I had not thought you would work as fast as you have, but this is all very good." He said approvingly.
"Thank you sempai. I really like to put all of my effort into the things that I'm doing. Even if it is going to be a lot of work, I think I can manage it." She said smiling. After a moment of Kyoya typing on his laptop he looked back up at her. "I've taken the liberty of opening a tab for you that the supermarket you normally frequent. I thought this way you would not have to worry over the cost the host club budget more than covers anything you could possibly order, and since you plan to use former costumes for the hosts, it opens up your budget in particular. Also if there are any bake ware that you may require that we do not please make a list and instead of buying them we can simply ask the cooks at out estates to have the needed items sent to the music room." With that Haruhi smiled and gave a nod and a quiet thank you, before hurrying away to do as he asked. By the time club started she had her new list for the week including some serving dishes and flatware that they did not have.
After attending the guests and club duties had ended Haruhi placed the list of needed items on the table in front of Kyoya and smiled. "See you tomorrow sempai." She said and waved her goodbyes to everyone else. After leaving the room and heading toward the stairs Haruhi had this nagging feeling she was forgetting something when two strong arms wrapped around her waist clinging to her.
"Ne Haru-chan did you forget our date?" Honey asked sweetly. Haruhi froze, that's right she had promised to take Honey with her to the store so that she didn't have to carry everything herself. "Sorry Honey-sempai, I was just so excited to go to the store." Haruhi said trying not to disappoint the Lolita. He seemed to buy the hasty excuse and smiled happily. "Ano, where is Mori-sempai?" she asked looking around.
"I told Takashi that he could go home he wanted to start a new practice regimen with Sato-chan. You don't mind spending time with just me do you Haru-chan?" Honey asked that last part with a slightly hopeful look on his face. Haruhi was surprised at the question, dose she mind? NO! But there was no way she was going to tell him why, when she could not even say it to herself. Instead she simply smiled. "Not at all I'm happy that your coming with me."
Hunny smiled brightly and Haruhi realized their position a few seconds after he did. His arms were still wrapped securely around her waist and was pressed to her back. Haruhi blushed but did not make to move away. Realizing this Honey blushed but after realizing she had not moved away he decided to see how she would react if he relaxed a bit. He unclenched his hands instead laying them flat against her torso, pulling her if possible a little closer to him, and although this may have surprised her she was more surprised when he laid his head to the side resting it on her shoulder facing her neck and snuggleing a bit and breathing her the smell of clove and cinnamon that he recognized as a sent that he had chosen for her for a spa bath package he had gotten her for Christmas last year. He found himself pleased that she had actually used it. Breathing in deep one last time he backed away and took her hand pulling her toward the doors of the school and down to his waiting town car. After helping Haruhi in side the car he settled himself next to her. While he was giving the driver their destination, Haruhi was freaking out in side.
'he…he…wah…what the hell was that!' she asked herself. Honey had just snuggled her, she was sure that was what had just happened. But she was confused 'why would he do that? Its not like I'm one of those pampered puffs we entertain every day. There is no way that Mitsukuni Haninozuka had feelings for her like that. That was just how he was there was no anterior motive. He was simply Honey and that is why she loved him. She was snapped out of her thoughts minutes later when they pulled to a stop at her apartment so as to allow her a chance to change before their trip to the market. Getting out Honey followed her to the door and waited, she noticed immediately that he was still with her and when she turned to mention that she would not be long, she noticed a small duffle bag in his hands.
"Brought a change of clothes if I can use your bathroom?" Honey explained.
"Of course what was I thinking you wouldn't want to go to the store in your uniform either? At the end of the hall sempai. I'll just be in my room a moment while I change. Honey nodded and bounded to the bathroom ready to change. Haruhi in turn went to her own room and started to undress. Removing everything but her underwear she picked out a cute Sage Green tank and a pair of black pants, then decided to change her mind, several times.
After about ten min of throwing things around her closet she still could not decide what to wear and she was finding it difficult to concentrate on clothes when it dawned that Honey was in the bathroom right now naked. For some reason that thought alone was enough to give her pause. She didn't understand this was just a grocery shopping trip with Honey; cute, loveable, snuggly, sexy-!. Wait WHAT! No, no, no, there was no way she could think like that. Though a small evil part of her mind wondered if he tasted as sweet as all of those cakes that he ate so frequently.
"ARGH!" she grumbled to herself a bit louder then she had intended. 'Why am I thinking like this? It's just Honey! It's not like he had feelings for her right? Nor did she have feelings for him, right! Well how was she supposed to know? she avoided thoughts like that because she didn't want to be distracted from school work. But now that she was actually starting to feel funny inside she wasn't so sure that would be the case this time. She couldn't deny to herself at least that she was even a little attracted to Honey, but those thoughts would get her no where she had chores and home work to do plus shopping and cooking dinner for her dad before he got home.
Shaking her head to clear her thoughts she started looking around again for something to wear, while she was in the process of bending to pick something up off the floor there was a knock at her door.
"Haru-chan, are you alright? I've finished dressing." Honey called from the other side of the door. Haruhi who had been bent over, picking up a shirt from under her desk, when he startled her. Hence the great cause and effect. The cause Honey surprising Haruhi the effect sent Haruhi's head into the underside of her desk, which sent little spots floating around her vision, and caused her to stumble and land on her back half under the desk and after second realization half naked too.
Welcome the most embarrassing moment of Haruhi Fujioka's life. No sooner had she hit the floor looking at the little birdies floating around her head did Honey come barging in worried that she was hurt. What he found however made him light up like a prize winning tomato.
Haruhi had not put a different bra on yet so her upper half was completely bare. The lower half was covered in a pair of tight black Capri's her arms where covering her assaulted noggin groaning the effect was causing her cleavage to push together in a rather appealing way. And Honey instantly knew she was affecting him because his pants were suddenly a lot tighter.
Haruhi grumbled and sat up seemingly not noticing a blushing Honey standing at the door. Honey recovered some of his control and swiped up a light blue tank top and cleaning his throat handed it to her. Haruhi was startled by the noise and looked up to see Honey's blushing face and her eyes nearly popped out, her face lit up a bright red as she snatched the top and quickly pulled it on while he was looking away.
"I'm so sorry Haru-chan, I didn't know-"Honey started, when Haruhi cut him off.
"It's ok Sempai I know, I hit my head on my desk is all. I know it was most likely not your goal to see me naked. Sorry to put you in that position." She told him sincerely.
Honey was surprised that she thought so little of herself, and then became even more surprised that she didn't think he thought of her in that way. He had thought that she would have figured out by now that he thought of her as more than a friend, as in he was attracted to her. But instead of telling her these thoughts he simply helped her pick up her clothing depositing them all back in the closet and turned to face her.
"We should get going Ne, Haru-chan." He asked trying not to make her blush even brighter, even if it was kind of cute.
"Hai! Let's get going then shall we?" Haruhi suggested grateful for the distraction. She grabbed her food list and met him in the living room. Leaving the apartment then headed down the stairs and to the waiting town car.
The drive to the store was spent quiet, in which Honey filled the silence with eating a cake he produced seemingly from thin air. Haruhi realized it was harder to concentrate on the shopping list in her hand as she was being distracted by the image of him slowly cleaning the spoon with his pink tongue and how his lips looked as they wrapped around the spoon giving him a look of bliss. Thankfully she was snapped out of her thinking as they pulled to a stop in front of the supermarket.