— Chapter 14 —

A Winter Retreat

"Another trip, Tamaki-senpai?" I asked, looking up from my sketchbook.

"Correct you are, Hiroshi!" he beamed back, shoving a flyer in my face.

I stared at the picture of what looked like a winter wonderland, complete with snow-covered mountains and happy couples and families sledding and skiing down them. Enjoy yourself in Nagano! it read.

"Haven't we already taken a trip to that beach in Hokkaido already? Won't that cost a bit much?"

"Nonsense! The host club is so wealthy that we can take trips anytime we please," he bragged. "Plus, this will be a great way to start off the New Year, don't you think?"

I sighed. "I guess."

"These rich people," Haruhi muttered.

"We'll be staying at a resort which my family owns," Kyouya announced, "I hope that you will find everything to your liking." He laid out a few brochures that pictured different sections of the rooms and overhead shots of the entire resort. There was even a hot spring.

"Wow, Kyo-chan! This will be so much fun! Can I bring Usa-chan with me?" Hani smiled.

Kyouya continued to scribble in his black notebook. "I wouldn't have a problem with that," he finally replied.

"We'll also be taking a private jet in order to reach this destination," Tamaki explained further.

"But isn't the bullet train faster?" I wondered, "We are in Tokyo after all, and, don't you think that taking a private jet would only be more hass—"

A hand was covering my mouth before I could finish. My eyes met a smug Kyouya's, therefore earning him a death glare.

"Mmmm-mmm! Mm—" I helplessly attempted to shout at him with my covered mouth. I raised my hand to pound my fist into the top of his head, but he'd grabbed my wrist before I could even lift it.

"You have issues, young lady," he smirked, finally lifting his hand off of my mouth.

I sighed irritably. "What's your problem?!" I shouted.

"Can't you ever just say please and thank you? You'd think that maybe someone would be happy, going on the ski trip to Nagano for free."

"I am!" I sighed, snatching my wrist from him and returning to the sketches of the host club's next cosplay designs.

Apparently, the next theme was going to be an authentic Hawaiian Luau... yet another beach theme. I have to admit, though, that that may be just what we need at this time of the year. But I still have plenty of time to finish them. You see, the Hokkaido trip had taken place over the course of one day and one night. And for Nagano? We'd be staying an entire week.

The squeaky evil laughter of a crazed fangirl had echoed throughout the club room. This, without a doubt in my mind, was Renge, rising out of the floor on a sphere-shaped platform, making her usual dramatic entrance.

She held the mic up to her mouth and smiled widely. "And for this chapter of Sushi and Pocky Sticks, it appears that the host club is taking a week long trip to Nagano! A week long trip! Did you hear that, folks?! I wonder what kind of drama and fanservice will take place during—"

"GAAAHHHH!" Tamaki yelped at her, "Must you always be the self-reference statement manufacturer?!"

"What's wrong with it?" she laughed. She giggled once again, and the platform lowered itself in a circular motion so that she disappeared into the ground again.

I opened my eyes slowly, blinked, yawned, and stretched, exactly in that order. We were now on the flight to our destination. I peeked at my cell phone. Two in the morning, Saturday.

I looked around at the other host club members, asleep on this private jet we were taking. Except, of course, Kyouya-senpai. He was wide awake, scribbling in his black notebook. And then he glanced at me, while my reflexes made me look like an idiot by making me pretend I was asleep again. He snorted. "Do you really think I'm that clueless, Hiroshi?"

My eyes popped open once again. I gave him the look of monotony. "No. I just..."

"You're just astonished by how good-looking I am," he laughed.

I gulped, his appearance suddenly glowing. I was beginning to imagine that warm smile on his face. I scowled, trying to hide my blush. Why was I blushing anyways?

He smirked. "You hesitated."

"No! I mean... no, that's not it! Tch. Sometimes you are really clueless," I sighed, looking out the window at the snow-covered mountains.

"Good morning!" the hosts shouted.

I gasped as I turned around to see the beaming faces of the host club, except for Kyouya, who was still reading his book.

I sighed and plopped back down on my seat. "You guys are gonna give me a heart attack one day, you know!"

Tamaki-senpai laughed. "Sorry, Hiroshi."

"Mm," Mori agreed.

"We're almost there, we're almost there!" Hani-senpai danced around with his Usa-chan. "This is gonna be so fun!" he beamed.

"You bet!" Hikaru and Kaoru smiled mischievously, each one on both sides of me now.

"Oh, Hiroshi," Hikaru practically sang.

"What now."

The both of them turned their heads towards me and grinned. "Heh,"

I gave them a blank stare in response to their idiocy. They continued.

"This trip will guarantee many sushi and Pocky moments, won't it?"

"Shut it!" I scowled at them. "If you say one more word, I'll—"

"Master Kyouya," the pilot spoke through the intercom.

"Yes?"

"We have reached our destination,"

Hearing this, all of us rushed to a window each. We were nearing the ground. I wondered what would take place over these seven days.

"Wow," Haruhi and I exhaled simultaneously at the size of our rooms. Each of the host club members had a room the size of a huge condo, complete with high-priced furniture, bedspreads, a flat screen, a jacuzzi in the bathroom... everything, really. I mean, we could all be living in one of these rooms for a week if we really tried! Well, now that I think about it, that would just drive all of us insane.

"Not bad," the twins yawned, setting their bags down in the room they chose to share and plopping onto their bed, drifting away. So did the other hosts. Just a smidge of disappointment overcame me; I wanted to explore around a bit. But I guess that could wait.

We have a long day ahead of us, I thought as I yawned. I'd better get some rest as well. And just like that, in each of our separate rooms, we were all passed out.

"So what are we gonna do today, boss?" Hikaru yawned. It was so warm in here and so cold outside. I honestly just wanted to stay in the warm, soft bed that was provided and doze off, and maybe watch a few Asian dramas. But we aren't on this trip to be couch potatoes all day, now are we?

"We'll be snowboarding," he stated simply, taking a sip of his coffee. He sighed. "Oh, I miss the taste of commoner's coffee back at home! I forgot to pack some,"

"Instant coffee, you mean," Haruhi and I corrected him.

"Well, anyways,"

He snapped his fingers. I'd expected maids or something to come rushing in, but no one came out. Tamaki turned around, his face distorted in confusion. He snapped his fingers once more, awaiting something to happen. He rushed over to the antique phone on the modernly designed glass table.

"Hello? No. Oh, it's alright, sir. Okay. I'll speak with you later. No, you won't be fired."

All of us stared at him pensively, trying to figure out who that was. Probably one of the workers.

"Ladies and gentlemen," he began. His lip quivered. "W-we… we can't go snowboarding toda—ha—haay!" he sobbed, rushing to Kyouya and leaning on his shoulder. "Mommy!" he cried. Here we go.

"There, there," Kyouya sighed, patting him on the back awkwardly. "Let me guess, our instructors can't make it today?"

Tamaki nodded his head morosely in response.

"Alright, then we can just reschedule it for another day,"

Tamaki suddenly shot up, and smiled so wide that his mouth hung agape like an anime character.

"I've got it!"

"Huh?" Haruhi stared blankly at the melodramatic upperclassmen.

"We can reschedule it for another day this week instead!" he beamed, pointing his finger in the air with determination.

The rest of the hosts sighed, placing their hands over their faces.

"Good job, Senpai!" I laughed nervously. Dear lord. He must have been too focused on his sobbing and acting skills to listen to what Kyouya had already suggested.

"Er… Senpai," Haruhi gulped, cautious of the fact that he'd had such a sudden mood swing.

"Yes, my dear daughter?" he practically squealed.

"Is there a backup plan for what we're gonna do today?"

"We'll be visiting the hot spring on this property," Kyouya answered for him.

Tamaki's eyes lit up as he put his arms around Haruhi. "Oh, we're going to have so much fun! Won't we, everyone?"

"Boss, we know you only wanna get close to Haruhi," the twins mischievously giggled.

He made an audible gulp, turning red right after.

"Don't be stupid," Haruhi replied to them, and then roughly smacking Tamaki's arm off of her.

"Ouch!"

"That's what you get."

Kaoru then sent me flying into Kyouya-senpai.

I landed in his arms with a thud, and somehow he managed to keep both of us standing after such sudden contact. I slowly looked to my right and glared at the twins.

"And..."

"What will you two lovebirds be doing, huh?" they chuckled.

"Now don't be silly," Kyouya sighed. He turned so that my eyes met his. "Are you alright?" he asked, with me still in his arms.

"Er,"

"Are you hurt anywhere?" he asked, tilting my chin up.

I gulped. My cheeks turned red at the lack of distance between our faces.

"I-I'm fine," I stated, pushing his hand away before my blush had escalated.

"I can tell," he grinned.

"What?!" I exclaimed, pushing him away abruptly.

"If you weren't blushing when our faces were closer, then I'd know something was wrong,"

"Ugh!" I shouted, grabbing the nearest pillow off of the sofa and tossing it at his head. He only caught it and wouldn't wipe that smirk off of his face when I yelled at him to do so.

"I'm getting ready," I stated, rushing up the stairs and slamming my door shut.

Maybe I have a fever, huh? Yeah, that's probably why I've been burning up.