2. Pride.
—
The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride
—
With privileges and title stripped, Kyouya saw how people's treatment change. The Host Club, of course, would have happily helped him, but his pride would not let them do that. He vowed to rebuild his empire by his own two hands.
"Akiito"
"Yes Father?"
The Ootori patriarch distastefully took a piece of daikon with the fine silverware. The reality of their situation contrasted greatly with the luxurious summer house they were currently residing in (one of the smaller one—they've sold the rest to keep the company going), the fine silverware they were using, and the mercedez parked in the garage. These were the only thing that they had yet to sell, and would soon have to sell if they continued the way they were right now.
Pride. Much good it does.
"You've talked to Honda-san today?"
"Yes Father."
"And his reply?"
"Unfortunately he's unable to help at this moment."
Normally at this point, Yoshio would have nodded calmly, though Kyouya knew better. The way he clenched his fist white every time he heard a rejection suggested the total opposite of calm.
Kyouya was not surprised when he heard his father bang his fist on the dinner table.
"This treatment—How dare the lowlife—"
"Father!" Fuyumi glanced warily at her 2 years old daughter Yui.
Dinner was always a messy affair. Much tension, and too little good news. A small dining room that was conjoined with the pantry was a stark contrast to what they used to have.
Maids were laid off; instead Fuyumi graciously decided to help poor Tachibana with domestic affair while her husband was working. Her skills had significantly improved since giving birth to her first daughter and for that Kyouya was glad.
Kyouya checked his watch (a Cartier; pride really was his downfall), and decided that it was time for him to leave.
"Please excuse me, I will be leaving first."
"Kyouya? It is work?" Fuyumi asked.
"An old friend." He smiled and adjusted his glasses, hiding thoughts behind his cool facade.
—
"Haruhi"
"Kyouya-senpai"
Haruhi was still wearing her working attire. A simple pencil skirt, blouse and shirt combo. Even now, Kyouya couldn't imagine anyone mistaking her as a boy.
"Did you wait long?"
"No, I was just done with work."
Commoner's coffee place. The smell of what they'd like to think as fine roasted coffee wafted the air, and Kyouya for once agreed the scent was calming. He might just learn to love it.
"How was work? What do you do now, Haruhi?"
At that, she smiled wistfully. Immediately Kyouya knew that she had achieved her dream to be a lawyer, just like her mother did. Kyouya felt a small pang of jealousy but promptly discarded it. Even if he was poor now, he would not have the petty mindset of the poor. Haruhi deserved what she had earned.
"I'm a lawyer now. Work has been.. tiring at best, but rewarding." Haruhi finished contently, confirming Kyouya's guess.
"Indeed. There's a shortage of lawyer in Japan after all, the reward must be quite significant."
Just like the shadow king, Haruhi mused. Always seeing everything in terms of profit.
"I don't mean that kind of reward."
Just like Haruhi, Kyouya thought. Always, always untouched by greed.
Some things doesn't change after all.
"I must say Haruhi, struggling for rent is rare for a lawyer. I had to assume that you haven't been picking your case all that wisely?"
"Mm. Not all that really needs help are able to pay."
"Hm." Kyouya hummed in agreement.
There was silence then, but a comfortable one. Unlike what Haruhi thought, Kyouya didn't even raise a statement about her working pro-bono. He had changed, even if a bit.
Haruhi, despite her laser like focus to her work, and perhaps because of it, had been quite alone. Her friends she kept at an arm's length with her aloofness, her father's line of work demands that he was only home when she was already asleep.
Kyouya, despite his calm appearance, was tired of everything. His family became commoners. His bestfriends became people he could not meet, out of his own volition. His friends.. well, he never had them to begin with. Haruhi is Haruhi. The eye of his storm, the only variable that remained unchanged in his life. And so he held onto her, fast.
And just like that, an unspoken agreement had been formed between them.
Kyouya would often meet her after work, at first once, then twice a week. Occasionally he would even visit her house, and Haruhi would always, always make time for him.
They would talk about politics, work, ouran, or none at all.
They were both busy people.
They were both lonely people.
—-
Three months since their meet up. However, there was something different today.
He was smiling. A good news.
"Haruhi!
"Someone is willing to buy out our Zaibatsu!"
"That's great, senpai! How did your dad take it?"
"Hn. He'll get over it. We've been trying to make it survive on our own and it wasn't working. We don't have enough money for that, and so many people had to be laid off. I'd rather see the fruit our our labor become someone else than perish to nothing." Kyouya shrugged.
"What will you do with the money?"
That's where the good news really was.
"A new start."
There was the possibility that he could flunk at his only chance to redeem himself. He had always liked challenge. He had always been afraid of challenge.
"I'm sure you can do it, senpai"
What is it about Haruhi that could make him believe in himself?
"I'm sure it's time to start calling me by my given name. I'm no longer your senpai, Haruhi"
To his surprise, Haruhi chuckled.
"You'll always be my sempai."
Today he realized two things at once.
That chances are not really made like he had always believed. The acquisitor of his company was someone a humble janitor at his place referred him to, over an impulse lunch at the company cafeteria. He had deigned himself to talk to the old man. Chance fell out of nowhere, and it was up to his own hands to work with what was given. Pride did not help one bit.
He also realized that he didn't like Haruhi calling him sempai. That he had a preference at all also surprised him.
"Kyouya"
"Hm?"
"Please call me Kyouya"