CHAPTER 19

"Kaoru." Hikaru elbows him. "Oi, Kaoru."

What?

What's Haruhi's boyfriend like?

Their repressed boss is stalking around in a foul mood that has people leaping out of his path. Kaoru has provided a condensed summary to his friend and brother – Haruhi blanched, Hikaru snickered.

You want to talk about this now? Kaoru demands incredulously as he injects cream into little balls of choux pastry.

Hikaru shrugs.

Arm-deep in flour, Haruhi watches their mental conversation bounce back and forth. "Kyouya-san won't fire me, will he?" she asks lowly.

"Nah," Kaoru replies.

Visibly troubled, she scratches her cheek with her wrist. "He hasn't said anything."

"I know," Hikaru commiserates, tucking her bangs behind her ear for her. "He's awfulest when he simmers away."

She nods. "It's unhealthy."

"Shh!"

The three of them manage to appear wholly absorbed in their work when Kyouya-san joins them.

The crackling sound of beans being ground is heard. As the coffee-making machine comes to life, it hisses and burbles and produces a wonderfully fragrant aroma.

"Haruhi, I have constantly thought of you as a sensible young woman with reliable powers of judgement," he remarks without preamble. "It was not an evaluation which I believed I would have cause to review."

"Ah," Haruhi says feebly. "Tamaki-san was supposed to arrive next month."

"He must have wanted to surprise you," Kyouya-san sneers.

She must really love him, to do what she does next: "He really has a lot of good qualities."

"Is that so? Do tell."

Kaoru checks that their boss is occupied – he is – and shakes his head violently at Haruhi.

She soldiers on bravely. "Yes. He's loyal and warm and unselfish, and he's very filial to his parents and mine."

"How can you say that? Ranka-san doesn't even like him!"

Everyone turns to Hikaru, who flushes self-consciously. "It's true!"

"That's because the first time they met, he found Tamaki-san on top on me," Haruhi says completely neutrally, standing on her tiptoes to get the rolling pin off the shelf.

The twins gape at her; even Kyouya-san raises an eyebrow.

"My dad gets that way about every boy anyway; he's been over-protective since my mother died. Um, Kyouya-san? I'm really sorry if Tamaki-san caused any inconvenience. I know it takes a while to get used to him."

"Wait, you want us to get used to him?!"

"He's immigrating to Japan, Hikaru – I don't think I'll be able to keep him away. Actually, Kyouya-san, I chose to do work experience here because the lavish style of this pâtisserie is the kind that Tamaki-san likes."

Kaoru winces.

"Fascinating."

Lifting the tray of hot beverages, Kyouya-san returns to his duties without further chit-chat.

"Haruhi!" Kaoru chides. "Why did you keep talking?!"

"Tamaki-san is a genuinely good person," she defends him staunchly. "I know he's loud and too energetic but he wouldn't hurt anyone!"

"Well, he hurt Kyouya-san's feelings!" Kaoru snaps, properly annoyed. "He said the pâtisserie has no soul!"

Haruhi blinks at him.

Without giving her time to process it, Kaoru storms out as well.

.

15/04/2012