Author's note: Hmm, happy 10th chapter everybody! Yeah, I know, I feel really silly today. I decided that I need to introduce myself you guys, after all we'll probably be at it for at least 15 more chapters. So here are some facts about me:

My name is Myca, and I am 15 years old. I live in the Philippines. I have raven black hair, brown eyes, fair skin and I like to think that I am part Japanese. My interests include reading a million books, writing fan fiction, forum hopping, and hanging out with my friends at the mall. Some say that I am very intimidating as a first impression; I prove them wrong every single time. :D

Now let me guess, you skipped that part? Good for you! Now on with the chapter!

Claimer: I now own my first ever OC! Though I can't really copyright Takemoto Ayatsumi, I now plaster my name all over her imaginary face. :D

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TEN

"What's your favorite color?" I asked one particularly early morning. Kyouya-senpai looked at me, his eyes surprised at my question.

"I presume… White," he said dully. I blinked.

"White," I repeated.

"What about you?" he asked back, looking at me briskly. I looked at my hands thoughtfully.

"Probably… Red," I replied, saying the first color that popped in my head.

"Why?" he asked, truly curious. I smiled.

"I really don't know," I admitted. He scoffed.

"This is not particularly interesting," he said, waving his hand in dismissal.

"Fine, when was the last time you cried?" I conflicted back. He grimaced at me.

"I don't have to answer that," he pointed out. I looked at him sternly, but he ignored me.

"That's not fair, senpai," I said. He looked at me for a moment, and then he smiled.

"We're here," he said. I raised my eyebrows.

"Thank you for the ride," I said, but I looked at him disdainfully. He grinned his smooth and evil smile at me, knowing that he won the argument.

"It's nothing," he said, pushing me out of the door with one finger before I could say anything else.

--

Today felt like a usual day, as if the routine with Kyouya-senpai finally sunk in. I stopped questioning myself as to why he was driving me to work every day. I guess some things don't really need to be asked to be known.

It's not the same as before, now. Ever since I decided to tell him the story about my mom and after he told me about the girl he used to like, we spend time together telling each other about ourselves. It turned into an unwritten rule that way, and I guess I can't deny the fact that I enjoy talking to him.

"Haruhi-chan, will you please listen to me?" spoke an angry voice behind me. I turned around and grinned bashfully at my manager, Takemoto Ayatsumi, who looked like she was going to start juicing the fruit in her hand if I didn't listen to her.

"Sorry, I was a little distracted," I replied, feeling slightly embarrassed to be caught daydreaming. She glared at me, her practically violet eyes narrowed into slits.

"A little she says!" she exclaimed, her hands rose up in annoyance. I looked at her in apology again, and she sighed. "After you are done stacking the boxes in the back, please start counting the money. Oh, by the way, it's almost your graduation, right?"

"Yes," I said happily, graduation was one of the most important events in my life, "It's in six weeks."

"Have you applied for college yet?" asked Ayatsumi-san. I sighed heavily.

"No, I haven't gotten around it yet," I said, and then added gravely, "I also do not have the money for it."

"What are you talking about, you idiot?" she asked loudly. "You can get a scholarship."

"Scholarships are only for the first term," I muttered under my breath. She looked at me in shock.

"No way! I didn't know that," she said. I rolled my eyes, but nodded just the same.

The Takemoto family has been handling management and business for years, so they have a bountiful amount of money. It's not as much as the students at OH, but they have more than I will ever have. That's why Ayatsumi-san went to college without any problems with money. She didn't have to fret about scholarships as much as I.

"Well anyway," she said uncertainly, "I'm giving you a vacation the week before, so you can be relaxed until then!"

I shook my head rapidly. She looked at me like I was an idiotic simpleton.

"I don't need a vacation! I really need the salary," I said, my voice an octave higher. Ayatsumi-san put her hands on her hips, her long blond hair falling smoothly on her shoulder.

"Sweetie, when I was your age I made the most out of vacations. And by the way, you've been working hard. I'll give you a bonus," she said, smiling at me.

"I-I—you don't need to do that," I said timorously. She wagged a finger at me, then looked around her, as if anyone was watching or even listening at us and then winked surreptitiously.

"Don't be stupid, you worked hard for it! Without you, I'd probably be stuck with another dallying laggard." she said, "Now get your ass moving. It's getting late."

I nodded, feeling grateful that I had a kindhearted manager. Sure she was loud, but she was really generous.

"Yes, manager!"

--

When I got home that evening, I almost wanted to run back to the drugstore and hide under the boxes I just stacked. There, standing like a couple of glittering brazen of princes, were Tamaki-senpai and the other host club members except for Kyouya-senpai. Where was he?

"HARUHI!" screamed Tamaki, tears of joy streaming down his pink cheeks. I shifted to the right, avoiding his coming—possibly painful—hug. As predicted, he fell on the floor, a big bang erupting bellow him. I rolled my eyes.

"What are you guys doing here?" I asked, trying my best not to ask where Kyouya-senpai was. Honey-senpai bounced forward, clutching on to my leg like a puppy dog.

"We're going to plan something!" he exclaimed, his miniscule voice ringing in my ears. I smiled weakly.

"Plan… Something? Why didn't you do it somewhere else?" I asked the others through gritted teeth. Hikaru smirked, and Kaoru put a hand on my shoulder.

"Ha-ru-hi, I don't believe it. How could you not know the incoming event?" he asked, his voice pretending to be shocked. I glared at him.

"Is it graduation? Because if it is, it's a little too ear—"I said, but Tamaki-senpai bounced up and put a hand softly on my lips.

"Ah, my daughter, it's Kyouya's birthday this weekend!" he cried. Everyone raised their hands up in celebration. I bent my head, looking at the window outside.

"And so? I don't think I'd be invited over—"I started to say, but Tamaki-senpai put his hands softly on my lips again. I pulled it off, anger boiling in my stomach.

"Now everyone! Gather over here!" he announced, pointing on the small coffee table. I looked at it, knowing that they probably won't be able to squeeze around it.

They all sat around it, their bodies pressed together in the 'Tamaki pose'. I scratched my head.

"I'll get the tea," I mumbled. Hikaru and Kaoru snapped his fingers.

"I'd rather have coffee," they ordered rudely. I glared at them.

"Chocolate cake!" shouted Honey-senpai. Mori-senpai nodded.

Tamaki-senpai bonked them all on the head in such a fast speed—I wasn't able to see it quickly.

"We are not here for coffee and cake—though I would have wanted some tea—but we are here to discuss Kyouya's birthday—but tea sounds excellent right now," he said angrily. I pursed my lips and dragged my feet to the kitchen.

"I'll get the tea," I said again, this time sulkily. Nobody seemed to have heard, though. They all were gathered in a circle, their heads together. I sighed heavily.

As I served them all the freshly brewed tea, everyone didn't seem as enthusiastic as they were before. I sat down next to Mori-senpai, who moved an inch away to give space.

Tamaki-senpai picked up his cup of tea, he looked at me thoughtfully.

"What is it?" I asked. He placed his cup down, looked at me deeply, and then entwined his fingers together. He looked unbelievably professional.

"We are having trouble with our plans, you see," he said gloomily.

"So what does that have to do with me?" I asked, watching as the Hitachiin twins rose from their places and sat down on either side of me. They both had identical evil looks on their faces.

"We plan on having his birthday over at his mansion, so that his brothers and sister can join in and return to their work at whim. The problem is Kyouya himself. If we arrange to have it in his home, we must keep him away for at least six hours after his class," said Tamaki-senpai. He too, now rose from his seat.

"Simply put, if Kyouya stays with any of the host club, it would be obvious immediately. But you, who wouldn't look like someone who'd want to join fortuitous gatherings such as these, would be able to lure him away," he said, giving me a thumbs-up to his plan.

"Well, I—"

"You wouldn't want us to use up a lot of money to have it wasted, right?" asked Hikaru, his face near and dark. Kaoru snickered.

"And we already paid up the pastry chef and the entertainment planner," said Kaoru, looking at his side carelessly. I glared at them both.

"But, I—"

"Haru-chan, Kyouya hasn't had a birthday party since his 12th birthday," added Honey-senpai, giving me a sad look, worthy of children's charity advertisement.

"What do you mean?" I asked, looking at Tamaki-senpai, who sighed.

"It's true that he has had a lot of presents in his past birthdays. But don't forget, his family has been busy with work and commission. I wouldn't be very surprised if they forgot that his birthday is coming soon," he said, then added as he saw my questioning look, "His sister gives him the presents."

"Oh," I said, not knowing what else to say. Honey-senpai turned to me.

"You just have to keep him out of his mansion, and then we'd call you," he said sweetly.

"But I have work," I said malevolently.

"We'd pay you for your services, if the money is what you need," said Hikaru and Kaoru in a chorus. Tamaki-senpai leaned over the table, close enough for me to punch.

"Haruhi, will you do this for me… Please?" he breathed, reaching for my chin.

"Idiot," I muttered. He disappeared into his corner. "Okay, I'll do it. But what do you suppose I do?"

"Simple," said the twins. I looked at them, and they grinned at me.

"You both go on a date."

--

Author's note: That was a short chapter, wasn't it? I just did this in the computer shop, anyway, so I guess I had to cut it short there. But I promise, the next chapters will be much better with a lot more drama and suspense. This will probably be the first time you'd see Haruhi crying because of someone. But that someone isn't Kyouya.

Please review! It makes me extremely happy when I see them, that I actually start writing chapters with unrelenting vigor. :D Take care, everyone.