Chapter 8

Haruhi starred up at the ceiling of the simple, yet modern bedroom that she was currently staying in at her grandfather's home in Atami. Picking up her cellphone from where it was lying on the nightstand, she flipped it open to see what time it was – midnight.

Sighing, she sat it back down. She had too much on her mind to be able to get to sleep.

Thinking back over the events of the last few hours, she should had known that there was something else behind the simple invitation other then just a reunion between a grandfather and his granddaughter. Never in her mind would she had thought that she would be told that her grandfather was sick. And never would she had thought that she would be told that she would eventually be running one of the largest companies in Japan with her cousin one day in the future – well 30% of said company. That was only if she wanted it.

'Don't worry, since Aimi has the controlling interest, she will make most of the decisions in the future and you will need to attend a meeting here and there. It would have been what your mother would have done.' Osamu had said to assured her at dinner that night when Haruhi and Ranka had not only found out about Osamu's illness but also about Haruhi's inheritance. Yet when Haruhi had looked over at her cousin, she could tell that something was wrong with Aimi. The look in Aimi's eyes at the mention of Haruhi not having to run Daishiro Global while she did was deadening, almost to the point that Haruhi wanted to asked out loud in the middle of dinner what was wrong with her. Yet she knew that she should hold her tongue until a later time.

Between her grandfather's illness, her new inheritance and something bugging her cousin, too many things were circling in Haruhi's mind. Perhaps a cup of tea would help her get to sleep.

Slipping out of bed and quietly out of the guestroom, Haruhi made her way down the hallway, down the stairs and into the massive kitchen where she was greeted with a surprise sight sitting at the counter. Stirring a cup of something, sat Aimi with her head resting on one of her hands that was propped up the counter. She seemed to be lost in thought as she absent-mindedly stirred her drink.

"Mind if I join you?" Haruhi asked as she quietly moved to stand next to the counter.

"Hun?" Aimi asked looking up at her cousin, who seemed to be lost in a daze from her thinking. She shook her head for a moment to regain her thoughts as she yawned. "Sorry Haruhi. It's been a long day. Sure, that's fine. I have some more warm milk on the stove if you'd like some."

"Warm milk?" Haruhi asked moving towards the stove and looking at the small saucepan that was sitting on the stove.

Aimi nodded as she pointed out where the cups were located to her cousin. "Yeah, mom would make it for me when I couldn't sleep. It's basically hot chocolate, but without the chocolate. It helps me go to sleep."

Haruhi poured herself a cup before moving to sit at the counter next to her cousin. She took a sip of the warm beverage. It was different – yet also soothing. She would have to remember this for the future.

"So why can't you sleep?" Aimi asked.

"I'm still trying to process everything from dinner. What about you?"

"I just sometimes over think things. That's all," Aimi said, almost forcing a smile before taking a sip of her warm milk.

"You know you can talk to me about anything. Don't ever feel that you can't."

"Thanks," Aimi replied, this time giving her cousin a real smile.

Haruhi returned her smile as the two girls finished their cups of warm milk before returning to bed.

The rest of the weekend was a lot better then the beginning had been. On Saturday, Aimi and Haruhi spent most of the day either shopping in Atami or away from the house. Then late Sunday morning, it was time to return home, with promises of dinners as a family whenever Osamu was not traveling for business. In the end, everyone had been glad for the weekend away.


As Monday rolled around, Haruhi could still tell that something was on Aimi's mind – something more then her eventual role as head of Daishiro Global. Perhaps Kyoya would know something. She would just have to wait until after Host Club that afternoon to talk to him. And that was if she got a chance to do so. Besides that afternoon, the Host club would be cosplaying. That meant that everyone would be a bit busier then normal with getting ready for their guests that afternoon.

Yet Haruhi was a bit surprised when it came time to welcome their guests that afternoon to the Host Club.

Aimi was one of the first guests to arrive.


AN: I know that this wasn't a very long chapter – but it was a good place to end it. So let me know what you think is wrong with Aimi! I love hearing from you!