Chapter 21

Haruhi carefully went through her Calculus notes, making sure that she understood the concept correctly. Absently, she looked up at the clock on the wall, making note that her dad was going to be home in about ten minutes.

Quickly, she put her Calculus to the side and flipped open her History book, checking some extra notes that she'd taken in class that day for clarification.

So focused was she on her work, that she didn't even hear the sound of the front door opening and closing.

She wasn't even aware that her father was home until she heard,

"Haruhi! I'm ho-ome!"

Looking back up at the clock, she was shocked to see that fifteen minutes had passed; her father was five minutes late, and she hadn't even started dinner.

"Hi, Dad!" she yelled, as she closed her books and quickly got up and headed to the kitchen.

"So, what do you want for dinner, dad?" Haruhi asked as she bustled around their small kitchen and made some tea for the two of them.

Her father shrugged as he took off his earrings and let down his hair.

"Oh, I don't know. Whatever's easiest, Haruhi…father's had a long day today."

She could hear the exhaustion in his voice and she felt herself start to worry. She always worried about her dad, but recently he'd seemed to be even more stressed than usual, and she felt slightly guilty for not doing as much as she could.

Now that she had a boyfriend, she was a bit more, um, preoccupied, and she couldn't help but feel responsible.

She pulled out some soba noodles and put them into a pot of water on the stove. It would only take a few minutes and it didn't require too much concentration.

In the back of her mind, she was worried about him, but she was also worried about the fact that she hadn't told him that she now had a boyfriend. He simply thought that she was occupied with her new kendo, judo, and karate lessons, and was spending more time with her friends, which she was…but it wasn't the entire truth.

She'd been wondering now for the past few weeks how to tell him, but could think of no way to do it without making him worry over his little girl.

Mori was older than her and she wasn't sure how her father would take it.

Haruhi took her time pulling out the bowls and chopsticks for the two of them, as well as the soy sauce.

The entire time, however, her mind was still focused on what to tell her dad. Should she tell him everything? Or should she just tell him some of it? Or was it possible that he already knew, as she knew that he and Kyoya were in contact with each other at one point?

After mulling it over for some time, she decided not to say anything and finished making dinner and placing it on the table.

They ate in silence…until her father asked, "Haruhi, are you okay?"

Her fingers faltered on the cup that she was holding and she quickly placed it back on the table, trying to hide the sign of her nervousness.

"Yeah, Dad, I'm fine. Why?"

He shrugged, taking an absent sip of the tea in front of him, absentmindedly tapping a finger on the side of the cup. He then let out a long sigh and then put the cup onto the table and turned to her, his eyes sharp and clear, almost as though he were looking straight through her.

"You've been busier than usual for the past few weeks, Haruhi; ever since you and your Host Club went on your little trip to the beach."

She said nothing at first, racking her brain for a response, and came up with a partial truth and said,

"Well, yeah…our last exams are coming up and I've been studying more, spending more time at school. You know, with my kendo, judo, and karate…"

He gave her a scrutinizing look, but then dropped it, and she let out a premature sigh of relief.

Glibly, he then said, "Oh, that's all. Good, then. I'm glad you're focusing more on your studies and activities. I was worried that Mori-senpai was taking up too much of your time these days, what with the two of you dating and all for the past three weeks."

She nearly spat out her tea, held it in and then began to choke.

After a second, she recovered and managed to say in a strangled voice, "How'd you know about that?"

Her father gave her a sly smile and flipped his hair over his shoulder, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Oh, a little bird told me that you two were involved quite a while ago, but I was waiting for you to tell me yourself before I made sure that he and I were properly introduced."

Yeah, a little bird sure told him alright. She had half a mind to strangle Kyoya in his sleep for doing this to her, but she realized that it wouldn't do a bit of good.

What was done, was done, and nothing could change that.

But then her father said…

"So, when is he coming over for dinner?"

Panic suddenly arose in her mind, and her heart felt as though it might try to leap from her chest. No, no, no, no….that idea was a recipe for disaster! She enjoyed spending time with Mori, but spending time with him and her father at the same time? Bad, bad idea.

Her teacup shook in her hand and she carefully put it on the table in front of her, not trusting herself to not drop it.

"Uh…why, why would he come for dinner?" Haruhi asked nonchalantly, trying vainly to pretend that she didn't know what her dad was talking about.

Her father gave her a stern look; well, as stern of a look that he could give with his eyeliner and eye shadow still on.

"Don't try and pretend, Haruhi. He's coming over and that's final." He took a sip of his tea and continued to glare at her over the rim of his cup. "I will meet the young man who is courting my daughter, and make sure that he is taking care of my Haruhi correctly."

She heard the tone in her father's voice and realized she had lost, and then he said…

"Besides, I already spoke to Mori's parents. He's coming over tomorrow night. Kyoya helped me arrange it all…"

She groaned and then muttered to herself, "I give up."

Part 21/?