A/N; if you're still here to read this then you have the patience of a saint, and I don't deserve you.
Un-Beta'd as always! I had trouble getting this chapter right, among other things, so I'm sorry for the wait and thank you for your patience. Big thanks for all the support this fic is receiving!
"I, uh, I think I get it so far?" Aria said, somewhat uncertainly. "So, you're club is back together, but there's still some tension between you guys."
Haruhi snorted under her breath. "That's putting it mildly. Plus Éclair seems to have made it her personal mission to antagonize me." She mumbled, drawing her knees up to her chest. "Everything just… seems so much harder than it needs to be."
The brunette winced as she turned to her old friend. "Sorry; you came over at such an awful time and all I'm doing is complaining." Haruhi mumbled, shooting him an apologetic smile through tight lips.
Arai laughed quietly. "It's fine, Haruhi."
A silence settled between them, and Haruhi felt her frazzled nerves calm, just a little.
"Hey, remember back in our second year of school? We were close to taking our final exams, and I was uh, struggling a little." Arai began. Haruhi looked at him questioningly – she didn't really understand why he wanted to reminisce all of a sudden.
Arai himself was looking out her window, a wistful smile on his face. "Learning has never really been my strong point, you know. I was gonna flunk out if my grades didn't skyrocket, and I felt like calling it quits. Remember?"
He turned to face her, giving her a gentle smile. "When I told you that the studying was too hard and that I was gonna leave school, you hit me upside the head for giving up so easily." Haruhi flushed at the memory but said nothing. "You told me that nothing worth doing is ever easy. I… I think you need to take your own advice now." Arai finished, looking serious.
Ah. Haruhi thought to herself. Now it makes sense. She suddenly felt rather foolish – of course Arai was right. Rebuilding relationships will obviously be tough but all her hard work and effort will pay off in the end; she just had to remember that.
Haruhi flashed him a smile. "You're right. Thanks Arai." She sighed deeply, running a hand through her bangs in frustration. "I should've figured this out sooner."
Arai laughed, and tousled her hair affectionately. "You're just as hard on yourself as you were back in middle school. Some things never change, huh?"
Kyoya, as the host club's administrator, was always concerned about keeping the club's loyal customers (and their hefty allowances) in the know of any new information. And so he wasted no time in sending out hundreds of invitations informing them all of the club's grand reopening.
With 'Prince' Tamaki back in top form, the twins hosting together again now that there wasn't an empty spot to fill, and the addition of two exciting new hosts, it didn't surprise anyone that the whole school was abuzz with giggling girls. The sounds of their enthusiastic squeals were barely concealed by the double doors to the music room.
A quick look at the clock told Haruhi that she only had fifteen minutes of prep time left before the doors opened. She'd already finished placing arrangements of red tulips on every table, as well as organising the place settings (using the latest Ginori tea sets, of course), and making sure that all the desserts out in the store room were of 'host club' quality.
Tamaki had arrived late, babbling apologies and something about Éclair demanding that he shouldn't leave her alone. Of course, no one was surprised that she tried to pull something like that. Haruhi was just happy that he turned up at all.
The club had sat down for a meeting together, and it was unanimously decided that Chika was the perfect 'little brother' type (by everyone but Chika himself, who looked like he was considering jumping out the nearest window) and Satoshi had a playful enough personality to pull off the 'boy-next-door' type. Haruhi was sure that both boys would be hits with the girls.
When it was finally time for the doors to open, each host huddled around Tamaki's throne. Haruhi took a deep breath and calmed her nerves. We can do this. We've worked so hard, if we can just get through today then everything will be fine.
The bright pink doors swung open, and the hosts' chorus of 'Welcome!' was drowned out by the thundering of footsteps as a flood of yellow-clad girls swept into the room. All chairs in each host's section were filled in a flash, and the sight made Haruhi grin. God, I've missed this.
While entertaining her own guests (she was currently swapping recipes with Renge), Haruhi took discreet looks at her friends. The twins had ramped up the brotherly love to new heights to make the duo of girls with them squeal in delight, Tamaki lulled in the ladies with his piano skills, and Satoshi was dishing out equal amounts of jokes and smooth one-liners to make a bunch of first-years laugh and blush.
Haruhi saw Kyoya zipping from table to table flogging all sorts of merchandise (including limited edition photos of Honey and Mori that were selling like wildfire), and she overheard Chika telling stories of himself and Honey as children, leaving the girls in awe at the 'hidden love' for his brother. Even Haruhi felt herself blush a little.
Haruhi sighed, feeling the stress that had been building up in side of her subside. Something about this felt so relaxing – having the club up and running again felt like being reunited with an old friend, and with everything running so smoothly she felt as though maybe she could forget about her troubles for a little while.
All too quickly the festivities were over, and once the final lingering customers had been sent on their way for the evening Haruhi collapsed on the nearest sofa, legs swung up over the arm to give her aching feet some relief.
The twins were soon at her side, leaning over her in curiosity.
"Still alive?" Hikaru asked playfully.
Haruhi laughed. "Just about."
Kaoru stretched his joined hands over his head. "Today went pretty well, huh?"
Haruhi nodded with a contented smile. "Better than I had hoped." She rolled over onto her front and peered over the back of the sofa at Satoshi and Chika who were sat nearby. "You two were a hit, you're going to do great here."
Satoshi grinned widely. "As to be expected! Did you see, Fujioka? I had those girls wrapped around my finger so easily."
Chika frowned in disapproval. "That's not a very gentlemanly thing to say." he grumbled. Satoshi just poked his tongue out in response.
"How were the numbers?" Haruhi called out to Kyoya.
Typing away as usual, Kyoya didn't so much as blink before responding. "Respectable. Our newest product," he paused, sending a crooked smirk at Chika and Satoshi, "have increased request rates by 45%, a lot of freshman by the looks of things. I can only see profits going up from here."
Haruhi laughed. "It's not just about the profits you know." She said mockingly.
"For some." Kyoya said with a grin.
A quick look around the room and Haruhi lost her smile. While the other hosts were still here, she couldn't spot a certain mop of blond hair.
"Anyone seen Tamaki-senpai?" she asked.
Satoshi piped up. "I saw him leave with the last wave of guests. Something about meeting Éclair in the library and being late." He said, waving a hand dismissively.
Haruhi groaned and sank back down in her seat. "She's got him on a tight leash, huh? And I thought I was supposed to be the club's dog." She muttered bitterly.
The twins sat down on either side of their brunette friend, taking an arm each in a shared embrace. "Aw, Haruhi," they said in unison, "don't be sad! You have us to keep you company!" they finished playfully, stage-whispering the word 'company' into her ears.
Haruhi squirmed under their warm breath, and was ready to push them away when someone finished the job for her. Looking up, she saw Chika standing rather menacingly overhead, his hands pushing away a twin each. When he spoke his voice was gruff and thick with envy, his eyebrow twitching slightly. "Could you two, just maybe, not get so friendly with another guy's girl?"
Silence. Haruhi felt the gazes of her friend's turn to her in shock and confusion and she didn't blame them, she felt a little taken aback herself.
Kyoya spoke first, his gaze cool and assessing. "And who's 'girl' are you implying Haruhi is?"
Chika raised an eyebrow in what could only be described as triumph. "Mine, of course." He said smugly.
Satoshi grinned and whooped, giving his friend a slap on the back. "Way to go, buddy!"
Hikaru was tense, his grip on Haruhi's arm tightening. "Hikaru…" Kaoru said warningly, but Haruhi knew this wouldn't help. Hikaru had always been possessive over her, his 'favourite toy', and it was starting to get a little irritating.
"We," Haruhi said, looking at Chika, "will discuss this later. Hikaru, come with me please?" she said, and cringed. She sounded like a mother about to scold her child. She had to be careful, Hikaru was sensitive after all.
Hikaru just nodded, allowing himself to be dragged out of the room. Haruhi closed the double doors, and in the quiet of afterschool hours the click of the closing doors was deafening.
When she faced her friend, Hikaru's expression was open – all she saw was hurt. "So you guys are… together?" Hikaru asked, gulping and scratching the nape of his neck (a nervous habit of his).
Haruhi shrugged and smiled. "Apparently so."
Hikaru's eyes flickered to her smiling lips before focussing on the ceiling. "He's a little young for you, don't you think?" his voice was strained.
Haruhi narrowed her eyes. So this was the game he was going to play. "He's one year younger." She deflected back. "Besides, it's what's on the inside that counts, Hikaru, age is just a number."
Her auburn-haired friend looked at the floor, his fidgeting feet, out the window, down the corridor, anywhere but directly at her. He was quiet for a while, before he spoke again. "…Do you love him?" he asked, then he took a step back, as if he was afraid the answer might come as a physical blow.
The girl in front of him sighed. Her voice was gentle, almost pleading for him to understand. "It's a little too soon to tell, but I know he makes me happy."
Hikaru let out a sharp exhale of breath as if he'd been winded. His stance was widened and his brow was furrowed; Haruhi thought he looked like a cornered animal getting ready to run. Hikaru let out a growl of frustration. "I really don't want you to be with him." He said abruptly.
Now Haruhi was getting unimpressed. "What?" she said bluntly.
Hikaru's shoulders tensed up, he flinched, and then sighed. His whole posture slumped over slightly as if he'd resigned himself to something. "I'm going to be honest okay, Haruhi, so please listen. I don't want you to be with anybody." He said with emphasis, fixing his gaze to hers finally. "Not Chika, not Kyoya, especially not Tono, anybody. You don't need them, you…" he paused, giving her a beseeching look. "You only need me." He finished quietly.
Haruhi didn't know whether to feel pity or anger. Scared at what the pity may bring, her brain resorted to the latter. She frowned, poking a finger into her friend's chest. "You have no right to decide who and who not I can be friends with, who I hang out with, or who I may end up loving." She enforced each statement with another push of her finger. Hikaru tensed again, winding up like a coil. "That's my business, Hikaru, not yours." She announced, raising her voice.
Hikaru uncoiled, marching forward towards his friend. Haruhi stumbled back in shock, allowing herself to be pinned between his arms up against the doors. He bowed his head, his nervous breaths disturbing the stray strands of her hair. Raising a shaking hand, Haruhi carefully gripped one of his arms, trying to placate him. "Hikaru…?" she asked, her voice small and meek.
"Haruhi, everything to do with you is my business." He said bluntly. His voice was hoarse. "How can it not be? I mean I… I love you, you know?" he forced out his words, lifting his head to meet her stunned gaze.
Apparently shock wasn't what he was hoping to see, as he backed away. Hikaru used a shaking hand to cover his eyes – Haruhi was sure she saw tears, but hoped she was mistaken.
"I love you, okay?" he breathed. "That's why I don't want you to love anyone else because I want to be selfish and I know you don't feel the same so don't say anything please." He gushed, swiping angrily at his own tears.
Haruhi felt her own eyes start to sting – how had she not noticed his feelings, was she that dense? Her indifference had hurt him – was still hurting him. Her heart ached in guilt. Not knowing what else to do, she reached out to her friend, wrapped her arms around him tightly, and hushed him gently.
His shoulders were shuddering, but when he returned her gesture his embrace was fierce. Hikaru breathed her in, and calmed himself. "Is there any way I can make you love me too?" he asked hopelessly, grip so tight Haruhi thought he might never let go.
Haruhi was overwhelmed. All she could do was shake her head, trying to ignore the tears falling from her own eyes. The twins were her best friends and she loved them in the sense, but she'd never considered anything more. Either way, she couldn't risk losing them.
Hikaru sighed, and his grip loosened. Placing his hands on her shoulders, he tried to smile. "I guess I'll just have to be happy for you then. It may take a while, but give me time okay?" he said. "But just so you know, I don't think I'm ever going to stop loving you."
Haruhi could feel his resolve as he spoke. She watched him walk away until he disappeared back into the club room. Once he was out of sight, Haruhi sank back against the doors, slipping down to the floor. Her hands covered her mouth to keep her sobs quiet.
She could only pray that he would forgive her.