A quick text was sent at the end of the day to all the members of the club to meet tomorrow after to discuss the next course of action as soon as the approval of such meeting was agreed upon my Tamaki. The quick summary of the information was more than enough to intrigue the blonde to the point that he wanted to call for an emergency meeting right there and then. Rin was just about to jump on the same energetic bandwagon, but Kyoya had quickly jumped in before either of them could run ahead into the mess that was bound to be if they had their way. It was a headache he was not keen on having today after such smooth progress thus far.
To say the others were curious was an understatement. They all had seen Zaina running about, spending time with the two and Rin spending an exceedingly long amount of time with Kyoya without complaint from anyone. What was going on, they had not a clue and neither the chance with how much one was zipping about and the other two were lost in some file on the laptop. They figured it would be explained in due time though, so they let the trio do what was needed to be done. The text that was sent was a sign that whatever it was had finally come to a conclusion and their guess of Host Club relation was correct.
The next day, in class, Haruhi walked up to Zaina's desk as the twins flanked either side of Rin's.
"Good morning Zaina, it's pretty surprising to see you so free in the morning." She lightheartedly teased her friend.
"Good morning," she chuckled lightly at Haruhi's comment. "It really is, I'm just glad all that needed to be done is done. I wanted to have it completed as soon as possible." She sighed with a little relief to be seated in her desk without some stack of paper to worry about.
"So whatever you were doing was…?" She raised a brow as she lightly tilted her head to the side in genuine curiosity.
"Good morning Zaina, lovely weather no?" A female classmate chimed in as she passed them before Zaina could answer. Zaina gave a polite and courteous response before she turned back to Haruhi only for a few others to wish her a good morning as well. With simple responses and a polite smile, she greeted each and watched as they scurried off with slight squeals of excitement.
"Aren't you popular," Haruhi snickered as Zaina let her shoulders slump.
"For better or for worse, yes it seems that way. About what you were asking, it was for the club. The article needs some information on us and so I was just facilitating the process." She explained, slipping out of her seat as she spoke and walked over to Hikaru who was about to hook his arm a little too low on Rin's hips. She caught his arm mid motion and managed to turn him to face her with their arms locked.
"Good morning, I see you're quite energetic this morning."
"Well, well, well! Look who is here!" Hikaru laughed, Kaoru looking up to see Zaina and Haruhi.
"Huh, now there's a sight that's been missing for some time." He crossed his arms lightly as he leaned on Rin's desk.
"I guess we're back to hiding." Rin pouted to both Hikaru and Kaoru who instantly jumped on to her little play.
"Say it isn't so! You can't just expect us to stop when we've come so close!" Kaoru grabbed one of her hands as he pulled her close. Hikaru had slipped from Zaina and came up on Rin's other side.
"I won't let you, I don't care who sees...I can't...not only for Kaoru's sake...but for mine as well!" Hikaru announced, the twins sandwiching a meek looking Rin who was at a loss for words as she looked off to the side.
"But it's not safe...what will I do if I lose you both?" She whispered, her eyes misted over as her lower lip trembled a bit before she bit it to keep it still. The classmates watched with rapt attention as Haruhi hung her head.
"Really? How is anyone still so entranced by all this?" She shook her head, looking to Zaina who was in agreement with her.
"I honestly don't have a clue and I actually prefer it that way. I'm not sure if I could ever understand or want to understand...I also feel the reasoning will just give a splitting headache." She grumbled under her breath before she walked up to Rin and tilted her head to look up at her from her chin.
"Now My Lady, don't you think you're being a bit too cruel to me so early in the morning?" She sternly scolded as she noted the fake tears in her eyes she was playing for the scenario. "You're putting me in quite the predicament here." Though she was being blunt, her words were easily misconstrued by the audience around them.
"You're the cruel one Zaina!" She puffed her cheeks, knowing full well that Zaina was not playing along at all but a slight tilt of the head from Kaoru in her periphery had her looking to the enthralled others, including their homeroom teacher. Oh, well now! I can use this indeed then! She flashed a secret grin to the twins."I-I wasn't...I didn't mean to." Rin spoke in a slightly cracked voice, as if holding back her emotions and tears to which Kaoru quickly pulled her closer to console her.
"You are the cruel one to come between our love!" Hikaru firmly spoke, stepping a little in front of the two with his eyes leveled on Zaina who simply pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes as she took a few breaths.
"Between your love you say? That's quite the declaration to make." She said with her perfect smile in place as her gaze flickered over the troublesome trio. "What would you do if I was to ask you to prove your love? What exactly do you love and whom you love more?" She stepped closer to him. A gasp rippled through the room before some hushed whispering quickly filled it. "How exactly am I the cruel one when I'm merely protecting My Lady from any possible trouble?"
"Zaina," Rin gaped in surprise at her reaction.
"Oh don't think you're out of the woods just yet My Lady. You're in quite the bit of trouble as well. I'm certain something in specific will be called for as punishment." She said calmly, Haruhi's jaw falling open at the sudden turn of events.
Did she just say punishment?! Zaina, you know they're just going to run with that! What are you thinking here?! She tried to figure out her friend, not really sure what to believe. She certainly was hoping she had not decided to join the silly acts these three tend to pull. Having a fellow partner in understanding was a gift she was not ready to give up just yet.
"Oh, how careless of me My Lady...I seem to have forgotten we have an audience here." Zaina glanced at those who were eating all this up like a delicacy.
Kaoru and Hikaru quickly looked to one another as Rin was just as speechless on what to do at this moment. A certain electric silence filled the room as the girls squealed in delight at this small bit of information that had slipped. All throughout that same smile never left her and Hikaru felt his anger start to bubble up inside him. Kaoru felt his own frustration well up as well, however neither of them knew what to do now that things took this unexpected turn. They had expected her to act as she usually did but she completely threw them off.
You didn't forget at all...you sly, sly woman! Haruhi stifled her laugh as Zaina took the chance to walk around the stunned Hikaru and easily pluck an equally stunned Rin from an equally stunned Kaoru.
"Now that that's been taken care of, I think it best we all take our seats so that class can begin right Haruhi?" She turned to her friend who rolled her eyes but smiled and nodded in agreement.
"You're right, the teacher is here too." She stated, heading to her desk. Zaina quickly seated Rin before pulling out Hikaru and Kaoru's seats after and gave a perfect bow to them.
"Please don't dawdle too much now."
Hikaru scowled at her words, the twins taking their seats and Zaina her own so class could begin again. The two of them could play this game and now that they knew she was playing they found that they were actually a little more intrigued by this.
As soon as the bell for lunch rang Rin was up out of her seat and towering over Zaina with her arms crossed.
"Zaina, what was that?!" She huffed, tapping her foot as she awaited a response.
"What was what?" She casually responded, slipping out of her seat and grabbing her gym bag. "My Lady, you shouldn't make such faces you know. They aren't becoming at all and they'll make wrinkles." She smiled, the twins coming towards them.
"What was that? Is someone a little jealous she didn't get as much attention as we did over the last few weeks hm?" Hikaru threw his arm around Rin from the right.
"Oh, that's quite true isn't it? She's been so busy...her morning time had been limited for some time!" Kaoru smirked, slipping his arm around Rin from the left.
"I'm sad to say I'm not lacking in any attention from My Lady. In fact, I make sure I give her all the attention she needs of me. To be jealous of nothing is hardly worth my time." She kindly responded, throwing the two off a little yet again. She was responding just as she always did. Was this morning a fluke?
No, there was definitely something we're missing. Kaoru thought, replaying her words a bit in his mind when it dawned on him what was said and he chuckled at this. Oh, a sly one are we? "You say it's nothing...and yet here you are coming between us all the time!" He huffed, turning to his twin who easily caught on.
"How true, and clearly it's something for you to mention just how nothing it is." Hikaru added, turning Rin's face towards him. "You needn't worry princess...you'll be staying right here between us...where you belong." He purred, Rin giving a coy smile.
"Is that a promise? I don't think I could give up our freedom now that I've had a taste with you both." She turned to Kaoru who leaned in closer, tracing his fingers along her jaw.
"What a lovely taste it was." He agreed, glancing over at Zaina who stood there with the same perfect smile on her face as she walked up to them and removed his trailing hand.
"I'll certain give you a taste of something if you keep this up. My Lady personally knows exactly of what I'm capable of afterall. Do you think you can handle it?" She stepped closer to him to distract him and pulled her away from the two, Hikaru about to grab her back but found his hand caught by Zaina as she held Rin in her arm. "Oh don't think I forgot about you, you're invited as well...but do consider if you'd be able to handle me. I'm certain you both are not capable of handling My Lady, only I know how." Her eyes flashed with something mysterious, Haruhi amused to see the twins had met someone who challenged them over joining them or fawning over them.
The twins glanced at one another before hook their arms around one another and grinned at Zaina. She certainly threw them again, but she still played the game and she very well did she play. They had not taken her words that day from the meeting seriously, and yet here she was proving she had a lot more than a simple bark. Rin looked up at Zaina from arm, pouting a little as she smacked her arm.
"Play nice Zaina, you know they're joking!" She scolded her.
"You hurt me My Lady, I'm being nothing but kind to you and them both." She frowned at the light hit, the fangirls all a tizzy once more as the antics from the morning only seemed to continue. The word of it spread like wildfire through the school and Zaina knew this trouble was bound to happen.
Doesn't help they all seem all the more interested in me after all my convincing them to take the survey. She sighed to herself as she let go of Rin and picked up her lunch box as well. "As cute as this has all been, I wish to make sure my services are not needed this lunch or will you be needing me My Lady?"
"Oh, no you're not needed. You can go play with your friend today, oh maybe we can join you one day for lunch? I'd love to see who your new friend is...that is...your friend was ok with all your absence?" She frowned, sincerely concerned with this. Zaina noticed this and found herself a little troubled by the interest she has in meeting her friend. As much as she would like to share, part of her was not ready to share.
It's just something private for us...a little world where we don't have to act a certain way. If someone comes...that won't be possible and who knows if we'd be able to be like that again if they continue to tag along. She carefully thought over her words before she answered. "Oh yes, everything is fine between us. I'll have to ask and see what day would be good for a meet up if you so wish to see."
"No, no this isn't a work command or anything! You know what, don't worry about introduction!" Rin quickly spoke up, realizing Zaina had taken it as a command and she was not trying to imply that at all. She knew Zaina meant well in her misunderstanding but she rather correct and wait to meet this friend than Zaina think this was something to do with her work. "We can meet whenever!" She stressed, hoping she got through to her. "Right guys?"
"Oh yeah, there's no rush." Hikaru nodded his head as Kaoru voiced a similar agreement.
"You both just don't want to be beat in basketball again by a girl." Haruhi snickered, the twins glaring at her a little. "Seriously though, you don't need to introduce us right away. Plus, we'll probably freak your friend out being the Host Club." She sighed as the twins nodded in silent agreement at this fact.
"That's also true, you'd have to prep for that meeting. We're not just anybody and Rin is also very well known and liked." Kaoru added.
"Oh, alright...thank you." Zaina gave a small yet pressed smile. I'm sorry everyone, but this is something I want to be selfish about just a little longer.
"Now off you go! C'mon now! You made your friend wait a lot I'm sure so no more being late!" Rin quickly ushered her to the hall, urging and supporting Zaina to keep up this connection. With a bittersweet smile Zaina had left the four of them and headed to the court. Halfway through the walk she heard some sounds and stopped, she carefully surveyed her surroundings and took a sudden turn and went a more winding path until she the sounds were gone. As soon as she reached the door, she noted Takashi coming from his Kendo practice and gave a bright smile which he returned with his own more subtle yet equally warm smile.