Buahaha, Yuuna, you crack me up.
I loved writing this chapter, though I am anxious to get to the inn scene, I need to get through a reveal with this next couple of chapters, then we're off to the races with that one. Hehehehe. Isn't that just terrible. I stayed up wayyyy too late, but I was too excited to sleep without posting this. So...goodnight everyone. Happy reading!
Edited: 01.07.2016
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Chapter Ten
On Point
With the start of hosting hours delayed, Haruhi watched, amused, as the guests flocked around Takashi, offering birthday wishes and bountiful presents of chocolate, handwritten cards, and homemade snacks. Every girl blushed as Takashi accepted their gifts, with a once small stack slowing growing into a dangerously leaning tower. When Tamaki successfully encouraged all of the guests to settle down and sit with their respective hosts, the teetering pile of gifts rained down on their recipient and engulfed him completely. Takashi was still fighting his way out of the avalanche as the doors to the music room opened wide.
Houshakuji Renge sauntered into the room, her face brightening at the mayhem. She wore a charming pink dress with a small bow in front, and as she called, "Kyoya-sama!" with obvious affection, she rushed over to him. Kyoya greeted her with an indulgent smile, cordially inviting her to take a seat at the twins' table. At her enthused nod, he retrieved a chair and set it close to Kaoru.
Haruhi sighed, smiling as she remembered long days of Renge screaming at them in Music Room 3, but her nostalgia was interrupted by the fuming American standing beside her. Ronnie's hands slowly balled into fists, nostrils flared, and pupils dilated until almost all the green of her iris' disappeared.
"This bitch," she uttered viciously to Haruhi, not moving her eyes from Renge, who was lightly touching Kaoru's arm and giggling. "I got a problem with this bitch."
Eyebrows raised, Haruhi studied Ronnie incredulously. "I can't imagine you as the crazy jealous type," she said, the words barely a whisper.
"I'm not."
"Evidently, you are. Calm down." Haruhi poked Ronnie fondly in the forehead, gaining a muttered curse from the sullen girl. "Who would've thought you had the hots for Kaoru?" Her grin spread as she thought back to the spring ball, where Ronnie had used a similar phrase on her concerning Takashi.
Ronnie looked at her crossly, a slight twitch appearing under her left eye. "I need a drink."
The brunette giggled, pushing her roommate toward Tamaki's table. "Let's get you started at the Prince's table. You can go to the Devils' table tomorrow."
But Ronnie dug in her heels, her eyes snapping back to Renge, who still held Kaoru's arm. "Tamaki-sama makes me tired."
"Get over it. Besides, Renge is obsessed with Kyoya."
All of the hairs on Ronnie's neck and arms stood straight up and she became eerily still. Haruhi instantly regretted her words.
"With….with best friend?" Ronnie gasped.
'Well shit, Ronnie is the twins, Kyoya, and Tamaki all rolled into one. I should throw Honey in there, too, with how she's been shoving sweets into her face this week.' Haruhi shook her head, dragging a hand down her cheek as the flustered girl muttered under her breath. "Ronnie, you've barely spoken a word in Japanese since you got here. Go to Tamaki's table and converse. You need the practice."
Ronnie huffed, but was slightly mollified. "I guess you're correct. I'll go."
Glad to appease her friend, Haruhi escorted her to Tamaki's table and introduced her to the girls sitting with him. Ronnie sat down, humbled by how nicely the guests brought her into their circle with the handsome Princely Host.
Haruhi brought tea and a snack for Ronnie and refilled the other girls' drinks, then visited all of the other tables. She saved the twins' for last so that she could say hello to Renge, who squealed happily and gave her old crush-before-revealed-female a firm hug.
Chuckling lowly at Renge's enthusiasm, Haruhi told her how she thought happily of the days the otaku would strut around Music Room 3 and shriek commands at the Host Club. Renge was quick to laugh and assure her that she had grown out of that stage.
"Though…I thought you went back to France?" Haruhi smiled humorously when Renge rolled her eyes.
"How many times did you guys ask me that, huh? I surprised you every time." Renge shook her finger in mock anger. "I'm sorry that I'm so late coming in this year. I wanted to get ahead in my classes before I started any club activities."
Shaking her head, Haruhi told her not to worry and took her hand to help her into her seat, earning a giggle from the otaku. "I'm glad you're going to be joining us, Renge-chan." Haruhi winked at her, then hurried over to Takashi and Honey's table to try to tame the seemingly alive tower of birthday presents. The guests at the table were overcome with hysterical giggles when Haruhi slipped on a card and fell, boxes and bags toppling over and burying her alive.
Haruhi clawed her way out, expression blank as she watched Honey laugh outright and Takashi smile as he sipped his tea. He moved his hand, the motion wide and encompassing the entire pile of presents. "It's uncontrollable, unstoppable, Haruhi."
Honey roared with laughter and Haruhi glowered at Takashi's rare joke. She snatched a box of dark chocolates, much to his dismay, as she stood in the middle of the avalanche and jumped out of it, landing precariously on the outer edge and almost squashing a bag of cookies. Shaking the box desired by her boyfriend, she gave him a smug smile. "I need to appease the beast, excuse me."
Haruhi handed the box to Ronnie, who was enthralled with the offering. "I love you!" the American choked, comical tears flowing as she praised Haruhi's loyalty to her. More laughter ensued from the Lolita and Wild Hosts' table as Honey held his stomach and breathed sharply through his mirth and Takashi stared longingly at the dismantled box Ronnie feasted from.
Taking the torn paper from her roommate, Haruhi discretely ripped the paper so that she could pocket the printed logo of the chocolate's company name. She discarded the rest, pleased that she found something she could pack for the upcoming trip with her boyfriend.
She slipped into the kitchenette before anyone noticed her cherry-red face.
That night, Haruhi snuggled under her covers, breathing a contented sigh. She had stayed late after hosting hours, getting a strong start on her financial reporting duties so as to leave early Friday. All of them were going to the university's brand new dojo to watch Takashi's kendo match, along with many of their guests since they were cutting the next day's hosting hours short to make the tournament on time.
Takashi would be leaving to get ready right after his last lecture, and Haruhi felt a little disappointed that she wouldn't see him until after the tournament. She fiddled with her phone, wondering if she should send him a goodnight text, but noticed a notification from a minute prior.
It was a text from Takashi and it read, Goodnight, Haruhi.
She smiled at its simplicity and responded, Goodnight, Takashi. Happy birthday.
Thank you, it was an amazing day.
Good. I'll see you tomorrow night, then.
Haruhi couldn't help the girlish grin that puffed her cheeks. Placing her phone, alarms set, on the nightstand, Haruhi rested deeply into her fluffy pillow. 'What a day,' she relaxed fully, closing her eyes slowly. For a while, she replayed the meeting with Takashi in the kitchenette before hosting hours, then rolled over and sighed quietly. Trying to ignore the ache that resounded loudly from between her legs, she turned again, pouting at the ceiling. It was going to be a long night.
When she awoke the next morning, she let out a shaky, disappointed sigh. Pulling her covers back slowing, Haruhi ambled over to her closet on groggy feet and focused on dispelling the warmness in her abdomen. Dreamy images of using her tongue to push dark chocolate bites into Takashi's mouth were shoved away, though an impatient, lustful thought remained. 'I don't want to wait two weeks.'
Shaking her head rapidly at another image of Takashi lying at her side, naked save for the sheets wrapped around his hips, Haruhi picked out a light, short-sleeved peach-tinted blouse with a dipping collar and dark blue jeans. She pulled on her trusted black boots and made her way into the kitchen, ignoring the frazzled lump on the dining room table.
Her coffee went straight into her to-go cup, and she checked her email, though the words read fuzzily with her tired eyes, while she waited for her roommate's revival. Ronnie had offered to drive her to the hospital instead of Kyoya sending a car, and Haruhi wondered if an eight thirty appointment time was the meanest thing she could have done to the morning-despising American.
She knocked on the table, inciting a grumpy growl from the lump, and laughed under her breath. Since Ronnie had managed to drag herself out of bed, Haruhi felt inspired, thinking she could survive the day easily.
The day dragged on, with every minute of her lectures feeling like hours. Haruhi grew more and more impatient to get to Music Room 1 to gather up her boys and head over to the dojo. She honestly just wanted Friday to be done with, puffing out air and relaxing her left hand onto the table, the appendage sore from being released from the binding cast. Date had looked very pleased with her new X-rays though, saying that Haruhi could take off the splint in a week, possibly even that next Thursday.
Rejuvenated with that gleeful though, Haruhi watched her professor, Kondo Chou, write notes onto the board and copied them quickly. Though, as the end of the lecture neared, her exhaustion and anxiety returned, and the twitchy brunette almost jumped out of her seat when Kondo told them to finish their notes and leave for the weekend. Haruhi's hands shook with excitement that came with finishing the last lecture of the week as she packed up her bag, and was almost out the door when she heard her name being called.
Haruhi swiveled around to look at her professor, hiding her rattled emotions with a polite smile as she approached the stern-looking woman's desk and hoped that the dark look was her usual expression. "Yes, Kondo-sensei?"
"I would like to congratulate you on rising to the top of the class with the grade from the pop quiz two days ago. Good work and keep it up with the test we have in two weeks."
Barely containing her delight, Haruhi nodded, maybe too enthusiastically. "Absolutely, Kondo-sensei. I am ready."
Kondo's small smile looked strange on her stern features, but Haruhi was ecstatic as she walked out of the room on light feet and a proud swing in her arms.
The guests were disappointed that the Wild Host did not accompany Honey that afternoon, and Haruhi hid a smile as the Lolita Host more than covered for Takashi's absence. She discreetly moved closer to him as she served the giggling guests and whispered, "You're on point today. What's going on?"
But Honey only winked at her, then moved his attention back to his guests. Haruhi frowned slightly as she walked away, and glided close to the twins' table to catch Hikaru's eye. She flicked her gaze back to Honey, then lifted an eyebrow.
Hikaru looked also, leaning into Kaoru as his eyes narrowed, his gaze intimate. Their guests squealed at the sight of Hikaru grabbing his twins' chin to turn his head and murmur softly in his ear, though Kaoru also settled his eyes on Honey's table, taking the opportunity to act discretely as he flushed slightly from Hikaru's closeness.
As Haruhi passed their table, both twins laughed with their guests, but shook their heads just enough for her to notice, indicating they didn't know what Honey was up to, either.
When five o'clock approached, Haruhi stood with the twins and waved sweetly as the last of their guests left the music room in a tizzy of giggles and shy goodbyes, promising to see them at the tournament. When the doors closed, all three of them snapped their heads in Honey's direction. The older boy had already settled deep into the couch, happily munching on the last of the chocolate cake before they left to make the tournament, and didn't seem to notice their stares.
Oh, they knew better, though. Honey was aware. He was always aware.
They were hovering over him in seconds, their gazes wide and penetrating.
"You know…." Honey stared up at them, licking icing off his lip, eyes dark. "It's like there were triplets, instead of twins."
"I've thought that, too." Tamaki's smile was wide as he made his graceful approach. "Today has been an exceptional day for you, though."
Touching her finger to her chin, Haruhi set a smug stare on Honey. He gulped as she sent the same look to the twins.
"Oh," Hikaru and Kaoru gasped together, then their eyes flashed evilly.
"It's love, Hikaru. We've got him."
"Finally, it's our time to make you shine."
Honey scrambled over the back of the couch, leaving the twins cackling as he escaped the room.
"That's an affirmative, Kaoru."
"Begin: Phase Two."
Once the command, "Rei!" was called, Takashi and his opponent bowed, then approached each other. They remained calm as they squatted down to the floor, swords held forward. When the kendoists straightened, the clacking of bamboo against bamboo was heard throughout the massive, impossibly quiet dojo. The atmosphere quickly changed as many tense and excited energies flooded the room, and Haruhi sat on the edge of her seat as Takashi scored the first point with an unseen strike to the opponent's forearm.
Haruhi was glad that Takashi wore a blue uniform, and his opponent in black, as each man circled the other and struck and defended quickly. She may have lost track of him otherwise, with his fast steps and strong blows to his opponent. It was only forty seconds later that Takashi gained his second and final point and the kendoists faced each other, squatted down again, then retreated backwards to make their final bows. The dojo erupted into enthused applause, and Haruhi felt her heart pounding as she laughed with Honey, who sat next to her.
She smiled as her boyfriend removed his face mask and took a swig of water from the container in his seat on the sidelines. After seeing that match, Haruhi practically glowed with pride, though she rubbed at her flushing cheeks, cursing Takashi for how sexy he was when he fought.
Her daydreaming was interrupted by the twins. Hikaru sat next to her and Kaoru on his other side, and they leaned around her with mountainous grins covering their faces. "Honey."
"Nope." Honey folded his hands together, training his eyes on the match beginning in the arena.
Rolling her eyes, Haruhi palmed Hikaru's face and pushed him out of her line-of-sight of Takashi, who watched the match with the same intense posture as his cousin. "This plan of yours can wait. Honey and I are watching this."
Suddenly despondent, the twins sat back in their chairs and leered at Haruhi out of the corners of their eyes. They were silent for the rest of the tournament, but were thoroughly entertained by Ronnie and Tamaki, who both alternated between gripping the edges of their seats and shaking their fists at Takashi's opponents.
"Get that sucker! Get him, Mori-senpai!"
"Surely that was a hit! Why was that not a point?"
Honey nudged Haruhi in the arm when Takashi won the match that moved him into the final round, then looked over at the overly-excited Host Club president and strung-out American. Haruhi chanced a glance, huffing at the sight of them clasping hands and crying proud tears. 'Surely, that is just too much,' she thought, already too exhausted to deal with them anymore, then gave Honey a look to mirror her tired musings.
"I know." The blonde smiled encouragingly. "It's almost over, Haru-chan."
When Takashi entered the arena and began his final match, Haruhi deadpanned at the conversation taking place on the other side of the twins.
"That sucker gon go down, Tamaki-sama."
"It shall be even more splendid than that, Ronnie-hime. Mori's final rival will soil himself from the beating that is coming at him."
"Would you two…just…not," came Kyoya's irritated voice on Ronnie's other side.
"Best friend, I–" Ronnie cut herself short as Takashi scored the first point of the round, and Haruhi's eyes widened as his moves became even more fluid, faster. His stance screamed refinement and strength as his sword connected with his opponent's, and he ducked a sudden swing. It was over after that, Takashi lunging slightly and tapping the other kendoist on the head.
All of the students and faculty from Ouran University shot to their feet as the final bows were made and applause filled the dojo. Honey took Haruhi's hand and squeezed it heartily, his lightened brown eyes shining with excitement. "He's going to make nationals again this year, Haru-chan!"
As the tournament came to an end and the dojo slowly began to empty of people, Haruhi carefully followed her friends out and they chattered loudly on their way back to the apartment. Takashi would be at the dojo for a bit longer, and the others were too excited to wait for him. The plans being made for that night stilled Haruhi in her doorway.
"We're partying tonight?" she asked in disbelief as the twins pulled her inside.
"Believe it!" they crowed, forcing her toward her room.