Monday

"So how's the planning been going?" Aki asked. She and Rei were sitting at the fountain, eating their lunches.

"Planning?"

"With Kyoya-senpai, duh."

"Oh, right! It's going pretty good. Me and Kyoya-senpai and Tamaki-senpai spent Saturday together, picking out the food, working out some music deals, and other stuff. Hikaru and Kaoru joined later on that day. I think we've pretty much finished all the planning, or at least most of it."

"And have you heard anything from Honey and Mori?"

"No, not yet. I'm going to the club today, so I'll be sure to ask them. I hope they have good news."

"I'm sure they'll have some news. Y'know, I saw them this morning with some guy squished between them," Aki muttered, thinking back to when she had arrived at school. Mori and Honey were in the courtyard with a tall dark-haired boy between them. She could only guess that he was Hisao.

"Hey, Rei-chan," Aki said, nudging Rei's foot. She looked up from her food.

"Mhm?"

"I feel like I should know who Hisao is, but I can't remember. Is he some important person's son or brother or something?"

"You know Keiji Higa, right? The guy that handled the music for the Valentine's Day dance."

"Ohhh!" Now she remembered who Hisao was: Keiji's older brother. He looked a lot like Keiji, so how come she hadn't noticed before? He was like a taller, slightly older Keiji without the glasses and with shorter, spiked up hair.

"Yeah, 'ohhh'," Rei said. "Hisao's Keiji's brother."

"Yeah, I know that now." Speaking of Keiji, she hadn't seen him in a while. One reason could be that she wasn't purposefully keeping a lookout for him. Yeah, that was pretty much the main reason. But then, she could have at least seen him in the halls or courtyard or something, and she never did.

Rei and Aki finished their food, talking more about the cherry blossoms than the date. They hadn't bloomed yet, but soon enough they would.

"And not only is April when the cherry blossoms bloom, but it's also spring break!" Rei said. "I can't wait!"

"Me neither," Aki agreed, nodding. "I'm ready to take a nice, long break from school."

"I hear ya." Rei elbowed Aki and got up. "Come on, we'd better go. The bell is going to ring soon."

Aki nodded again and stood up. They made their way back to the school to put their dishes and trays back in the cafeteria.

"Did you ask Emi yet?" Rei said once the trays and all were put away.

"Ask her what?"

"To hang out! Duh!"

"Oh, right. Well if I had thenyou would have heard me since you were around me and Emiko all day. Duh."

"Right...well, hurry up and ask!"

"Calm down. The date isn't until Saturday, and it's only Monday. You should be worrying more about Hisao than Emiko."

"Yeah, I guess I should...Hey, so since we're talking about dates, how did your aunt's date go?"

"Hm? Oh, it was fine. Auntie was in a great mood when she got back home. She smelled like chocolate and ramen and she had flowers in her hand. Apparently they went to a sweets store that was having a big chocolate thing going on since it was White Day and Jin bought her a lot of chocolate, and after that they went walking around a shopping center and they bought each other flowers and Jin made fun of people. Then they went to some fancy restaurant, but they'd been late for their reservation so they couldn't go and Auntie just took him to a local ramen shop instead."

"That sounds cute!" Rei said.

"Yeah, she sounded like she had a real good time, too," Aki said, a smile on her face. She sort of like Jin and Michiko together. They were pretty cute. It just felt weird for some reason, those two being together. She didn't know why, but she was pretty sure it had something to do with Jin. Maybe because he felt like the older brother she never wanted, and brothers and aunts going out was weird.

They headed back to class, Rei leaving to go sit with Emiko and Aki leaving to go sit with Hikaru, although today was one of the days where he didn't really pay attention to her.

The rest of the school day was uneventful. All she did was take a couple notes, doodle a little during the more boring classes, and keep her eyes on the clock. Finally the bell rang. Aki got up and grabbed her bag, then pushed the twins away when they tried grabbing her.

"I'm walking with Haruhi today," she said. They shrugged and left with a, "Suit yourself."

Aki waited by Haruhi's desk until she'd packed up everything. She didn't speak until she was sure they were out of an earshot of anyone. "Rei's a little impatient for us to ask Emiko to hang out."

"It's only Monday, there's still enough time," Haruhi said. "But we should ask her soon in case something else comes up."

"Yeah. Can we do it tomorrow?"

"Sure."

"Great! Okay, now that that's out of the way, how about we talk about other stuff?"

"Like...?"

"Anything. I don't talk to you much, so anything's fine. How about what you did yesterday? I can probably pick something out of there to talk about."

Haruhi nodded. She started talking about her day yesterday while they walked to the club room, and Aki picked up on the food Haruhi had cooked. They started talking enthusiastically about food and how this thing tasted amazing and that thing needs a certain something before it can be considered edible and "Oh my gosh, you haven't tried such and such yet?" and "Did you know there's a sale on this over there?". By the time they had reached the club room Aki was flipping out over the fact that Haruhi had never had fancy tuna.

"You should come over to my house some time," Aki said. "I'll be sure to make you some."

"You know how to make it?"

"No, but it can't be hard. It's just fish. I could make sushi out of it. Probably."

"Maybe I'll take you up on that offer," Haruhi said. Aki grinned, then was pulled to the side by Kyoya so he could tell her what the snacks were for the day.

The club started soon after. Aki did her usual thing, serving snacks and drinks. She passed by Kyoya's table a couple times and when Rei sat over there she could sometimes hear them talking about the date, things like what kind of music did she want and was there a certain type of food or drink she wanted them to have during one of the courses of the meal.

Towards the end of the day when things were winding down and some girls were already leaving to go home or to cram school, she glanced around the room and saw Rei huddled together with Honey and Mori.

"You think the date will work?" she asked to Tamaki and Kyoya.

"I'm sure it will!" Tamaki said enthusiastically. Kyoya just flipped through his notebook.

"Tamaki-senpai!" a girl called from the doorway. She waved him over and he happily jumped out of his seat and hurried over to her.

"You didn't say anything," Aki said to Kyoya. He was silent for a moment.

"You wouldn't like my answer," he said.

"What? Are you saying you want the date to be a failure?"

Kyoya smirked slightly and snapped his notebook shut. "Now I never said that. I didn't even say I wanted anything. You're just putting words into my mouth."

"Then what do you mean by 'you wouldn't like my answer?'" she asked in a bad imitation of his voice.

"Is that what I sound like?"

"Kyoya...I want a straight answer. Do you or don't you?"

"Well, for how much it's costing I hope it goes well, but...I'd rather it were different."

Aki groaned. "What does that mean?"

"I can't give you the straight answer."

"Why not?"

"Because it would let out a secret that I'm not supposed to tell anyone."

"Kyoya! I need to talk to you!" Rei said, walking over to him.

"Of course. If you'll excuse me, Aki," he said before stepping to the side with Rei.

Aki frowned and turned to walk to the snack room to put the tray and dishes away. Hikaru and Kaoru started walking beside her, all of them silent. No one spoke up until they were in front of the room and she turned around to face them.

"Well?" she said. They raised an eyebrow each.

"Well what?" they asked.

"Don't you have anything to say?"

"What makes you think that?"

"You just look like you want to say something."

They glanced at each other. "Well..." Hikaru started.

"We were wondering about what you and Kyoya were talking about," Kaoru continued.

"You looked like you were irritated," Hikaru added while Kaoru nodded.

"It was just about that date," Aki said with a careless wave of her hand. "I asked him if he thought it would work and he said I wouldn't like his answer, then when I asked him to give me a straight answer he said he couldn't because then he'd let out some secret."

Interest sparked in the twins' eyes. They leaned forward as if expecting to hear more, but she shook her head.

"No hint as to what the secret actually is?" Kaoru asked.

"Nope. Other than it's got something to do with the date, probably having to do with either Hisao or Emiko." Aki paused for a second. "You know, when we were first talking about the date back on Friday, he sounded kind of disappointed. Do you think...maybe he likes Emiko?"

The twins frowned and looked at each other, then they all looked over at Kyoya. "Kyoya-senpai?" the boys said. "Liking someone?"

"I guess it's not impossible," Hikaru muttered. "But..."

"He's kind of..." Kaoru pursed his lips.

"Kyoya," Aki finished.

"What are you all staring at Kyoya for?" Haruhi asked, walking over to the three.

"We're just wondering if he likes Emiko," Aki answered.

"Or anyone," Hikaru added.

"Huh? Why would you think he likes Emiko?" Haruhi asked, looking at Kyoya.

"He seemed kind of disappointed when we were talking about the date on Friday, and today he made it sound like he didn't want the date to really work out," Aki said. "Well, he really said he wished it were different."

"But Kyoya liking Emiko? Or anyone? It's kind of...I mean...he's –"

"Kyoya?" Kaoru said. "Yeah, that's what we said."

They all stared at Kyoya, then quickly turned away when he looked around. It was weird to think that Kyoya actually liked anyone in a romantic way. He was just so serious and...she didn't know how to put it. He had that sort of air about him, the air where he wasn't the kind of guy to get involved in romantic relationships.

"What's his secret anyway?" Hikaru said, grabbing everyone's attention. They all shrugged. He looked at them, then a smile crept onto his face.

"What are you thinking?" Haruhi asked.

"Well, I was thinking that maybe we could have a little competition," he said. "To find out what Kyoya's secret is, I mean."

Aki looked at Haruhi and Kaoru. "I guess that wouldn't be too bad," she said.

"Yeah, things have been getting boring lately, anyway," Kaoru said. "A competition would be fun."

"How about it, Haruhi?" Hikaru asked.

"I don't know. I'd rather not get involved," Haruhi said.

"Oh, c'mon, don't pretend like you don't want to figure out what it is either," the twins said.

"It'll be fun," Aki said, nudging Haruhi. "C'mon, Haruhi." Haruhi sighed.

"Fine, I'll play."

"Great! You can be on Aki's team," Hikaru said.

"When did anyone ever mention teams?"

"Now what should the prize be?" Kaoru asked. Hikaru pursed his lips for a moment.

"Hmm...how about if me and Kaoru find out his secret first then we get to go to your houses?"

"Okay," Aki said with a shrug.

"Aki, hold on..."

"And if you guys win, we'll do your work for you at the club," Kaoru suggested, speaking over Haruhi.

"Sounds good," Aki said. "Right Haruhi?"

"I guess so, but..."

"Alright, then it's a deal," Hikaru said.

"And no cheating and telling him what we're doing," Aki said.

"He wouldn't tell us his secret anyway," Kaoru said.

"No outside help, either, so don't go to Tamaki or Honey or Mori for help."

"We won't ask. They probably don't know anything either."

"Alright."

"So it's a deal?" Hikaru asked. Aki and Haruhi nodded.

"It's a deal," they said.

Tuesday

Aki, Haruhi, Hikaru, and Kaoru peered over the back of the couch they all sat on. They stared at Kyoya's table where he was talking to Emiko.

"They look friendly enough," Aki muttered.

"Ugh, how are we supposed to figure out if he likes her or not?" Hikaru groaned, slumping down on the back of the couch. It was only Tuesday but the whole teams concept had basically dissolved and they were like one big team. "He doesn't even have a lovey-dovey sort of look in his eyes or anywhere on his face."

"This is Kyoya we're talking about," Haruhi said.

"Okay, so he doesn't have any sort of look of admiration on his face," Hikaru said.

"He has a master poker face," Kaoru said.

They watched Kyoya and Emiko for a little longer before ducking their heads down when Kyoya looked over in their direction.

"Um, excuse me." They all glanced at Hikaru, Kaoru, and Haruhi's clients. One of them leaned forward. "What are you doing?"

"Nothing, nothing," Hikaru said.

"I think I'm going to go sit with Kyoya," Aki muttered, grabbing her tray. "Maybe it'll be easier actually hearing what he's saying."

"Good luck," Haruhi said as she walked away.

Aki headed to Kyoya's table and sat herself across from Rei. She looked past the look the "what are you doing here?" Kyoya gave her and started up a conversation with one of his other clients about the green tea that coincidentally tasted just like bottled tea she could get in a vending machine, all while keeping an ear focused on Kyoya.

"No, I'm sorry, I haven't been able to make any more picture books lately," he said to another girl. "There might be another one eventually."

Is he talking about those books Hikaru and Kaoru showed me? she wondered.

"Aren't you guys going to have a cherry blossom event next month?" Emiko asked. "Maybe you could take pictures there and turn it into a book."

"You should do that!" the other girl said. "That would be so pretty!"

"Ooh, I know someone who is great at photography," another said, cutting off her conversation with Aki.

They continued to talk about the cherry blossom event until their time was up. Aki was slouching in her seat and biting off pieces of a cookie she'd taken from the platter in the middle of one of the two tables.

"I think I'll go now," she said, getting up and grabbing her tray.

"Why were you here in the first place?" Kyoya asked. "It can't have been to talk to Miss Kumagai."

"Sure it was."

"Really? I didn't know you knew any second years aside from myself and Tamaki."

"Oh, sure I do. I know a couple, her included."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"You do know that I was lying, right? Miss Kumagai is a third year in class 3-B."

Aki hesitated. "Well, of course I knew that. I was just messing with you."

"I'm sure. What's he first name." Aki was silent. He had a smug smile on his face. "Now what was the real reason you came to sit over here?"

"I like you?" He gave her a skeptical look. "What? A junior can't like her senior?...Okay, so maybe I was here for Rei and Emiko."

"You didn't talk to them."

"You obviously didn't see me and Rei making faces at each other. Anyway, I've got to go. Looks like Honey-senpai's running out of cake."

Wednesday

"Found out anything?" Aki asked Hikaru, turning around and propping her elbows on his desk.

"Nothing," he mumbled. "We tried to be subtle when we asked him yesterday, but I don't know if we were being too subtle or what."

"He's too good," Kaoru said.

"Or," Haruhi said. "maybe Kyoya just doesn't like E –"

"SHH!" Aki and the twins said with their fingers to their mouths, drawing attention from the few other people in the room.

"Don't say it so loud, Haruhi," Kaoru muttered. Haruhi sighed.

"Maybe Kyoya doesn't like Emiko," she whispered.

"Then how do we explain that stuff I told you about?" Aki asked.

"I don't know."

"How are we supposed to find out the secret?" Hikaru asked. "If he doesn't like Emiko then we don't have anything else to go on unless we ask about the date all the time."

"How about we ask directly?" Aki suggested.

"You think he'd just tell us like that?" Kaoru said.

"No, but what if we pressure him into it."

Hikaru shook his head. "Kyoya's the one that pressures us, we don't pressure him."

"What if we just wait until the d–" They all gave Haruhi stern looks. She sighed and lowered her voice. "The date. Maybe we'll find out then."

"That's so far away, though," Aki groaned.

"It's only three days away."

"So far."

Thursday

Thursday. Only two more days to go until the date. Thankfully Emiko had agreed to hang out with Aki and Haruhi (they'd asked on Tuesday but hadn't gotten an answer until today), so that was taken care of. All that was left as far as she knew was Hisao.

Aki tapped on her tray, looking around the room. She didn't want to sit with the twins and Haruhi today because she'd go right back to watching Kyoya and she was tired of that, and she didn't want to sit with Kyoya because she was tired of him and Emiko wasn't even there today. She hadn't talked to Tamaki or the two seniors much, and she'd been meaning to find out what Honey and Mori found out about Hisao. She'd seen them with him every day in the courtyard before school, and sometimes if she looked out the window during breaks she saw the three of them outside, too.

Aki walked over to Honey and Mori's table and sat next to Mori after setting down an extra cheesecake with strawberry sauce. "Hi."

"Hiya, Aki-chan!" Honey said. She looked around for their clients, but they didn't have any.

"Where'd they go?" she asked.

"The girls? Oh, we don't have any until later," Honey replied. "A lot of them had to go home right away."

"Okay. Makes things easier to talk about then."

"Really? What'd you want to talk about?"

"Hisao. I was wondering if you'd gotten anything yet."

"Oh, yeah! Well, Hisa-chan hasn't said outright if he likes Emiko the way she likes him, but he has made hints that he likes her a little. He even said she was cute!"

"That's good."

"We also asked him if he would ever go on a date with her and he said he most likely would."

"Oh." Was it alright to hint at a date with Emiko? Hopefully he wouldn't catch on.

"Don't worry," Honey said, noticing the slightly worried look on Aki's face. "We didn't talk about Emiko all the time. We also asked the same thing about other girls, so he shouldn't suspect a thing!" Mori nodded. "So did you and Haru-chan get Emiko to hang out on Saturday?"

"Yep. She just said yes today."

"Great! So everything's ready!"

"Guess so. Let's just hope nothing comes up between them and they can't come."

"I'm sure they'll be able to make it." Honey paused looked back at Mori. "Takashi? You're quieter than usual."

This isn't usual? Aki wondered.

"I'm just thinking," Mori said. "I have a funny feeling...like something's going to happen on Saturday."

"Something bad or good?" Aki asked. He paused, looking at the table before raising his eyes to look at her.

"Good, I think."

"Well if it's good then it's okay, right?"

"Yeah."

Friday

"It's finally Friday," Aki sighed. She leaned forward but immediately leaned back when she felt a tug on her hair. "Ouch! Hikaru, I told you to get your pencil out of my hair."

"Get you hair out of my pencil," he said.

"It's your fault."

"It's your fault."

"Get it out."

"You get it out."

"Hikaru..."

"Aki..."

She looked back at him and narrowed her eyes. "Come on. It's almost the end of the day and I don't want to be walking around with your pencil hanging out of my hair."

"I told you not to let me play with your hair."

"You never said anything! And I already told you not to play with my hair."

"Ahem." Mr. Watanabe cleared his throat rather loudly, grabbing their attention. "Is there a problem, Miss Fukuda? Mister Hitachiin?" Everyone looked back at them.

"No sir," Aki said.

"No problem at all," Hikaru said. Mr. Watanabe gave them a look before turning back to the board.

"It's your fault," Hikaru mumbled, starting to remove his pencil from Aki's hair.

"It's your fault," she said.

"You were the one that raised your voice."

"You were the one that made me raise my voice."

"I didn't make you do anything."

"Hurry up and get it out before you pull out my hair and leave me with a bald spot."

He eventually got the pencil out with five minutes to spare. He fixed the messy clump of hair before patting her head.

"All done," he said in a cheery voice.

Aki ran her hand through her hair to make sure he wasn't lying. "Good. Now stop playing with my hair."

"I'm bored."

"There's five minutes left. You can take five minutes."

"Five minutes is so long."

"Just wait."

He was quiet for a moment. Then he tapped her shoulder and leaned forward.

"Have you found out anything about the secret?" he asked.

"I was kind of talking to Honey and Mori all day yesterday, so no," she said. "You?"

"Nothing. Do you think we should just ask him straight out?"

"Mm...not today. Tomorrow after the date. Maybe he'll tell us after he sees what happens."

"I hope so. I can't think of what his secret could be and it's really frustrating."

"I know."

The bell rang and they both let out relieved sighs. The class got up and said goodbye to Mr. Watanabe, then started packing up their things and grabbing their bags. Aki waited for the twins and Haruhi by the door.

"C'mon, slow pokes," she said. "The sooner we get done with the club the better."

The club passed by faster than usual. Aki spent most of her time with Tamaki since he was the only one she hadn't hung out with that week. He didn't mind and tried to get her included in conversations and made sure he gave her as much attention as he gave the other girls, just not in the same way. She found it funny how he'd switch between overly friendly to overly romantic whenever he'd turn his attention from her to one of his clients.

Finally the club was over. Aki grabbed her bag and left. Now she couldn't wait until the next day finally came so she could see Emiko hopefully get together with Hisao, and so she could hopefully find out Kyoya's secret.

A/N: Hey! Sorry that this is a boring filler chapter. I originally meant for it to skip to the date after Rei and Aki were through talking, but then this all happened. It feels sort of rushed, especially towards the end...Anyway, next chapter for sure will be the date. Thanks for reading, following, favoriting, and reviewing!