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Remaining Hosts

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Chapter 7:

Country: Japan

Population: 127 Million

Date: Sunday—December 31—2016

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Mori instantly felt a pang if regret as he saw the others staring at him, and he looked away. He had just thought about him promising not to out Haruhi's secret. That was the only way he saw himself even slightly making it up to her, he felt it was the least he could have done for her, yet he broke that promise. Mori felt the overwhelming guilt bubble up in his chest, so he just sighed, got up, and left the room. Despite the hosts' protest, Tamaki seemed to still be processing it. That Haruhi could have died while thinking that everyone in her life hated her.

Honey was the one who got up and followed Mori with a worried and guilty expression. Mori didn't look like he wanted to talk, but Honey needed to know if he heard his cousin correctly, and if Haruhi really could have...

"Takashi? Is Haru-Chan okay...?"

Mori looked at his cousin and shook his head, unable to bring himself to lie to him.

"In terms of physical health, I'm sure she's fine now... but I know she isn't doing okay emotionally or mentally. What we did... I can never blame her for being upset."

Honey looked down, pretty much the whole time the situation happened, he was getting this gut feeling that there was another reason why he should have been there for Haruhi, here it was.

"How did that happen...? Why did she nearly die...?"

Mori looked down. This would be the first time he spoke what he learned out loud, and felt on the verge of crying for his friend as he said it.

"She... Haruhi actually was expecting, Mitsukuni... and she lost them a month into us shunning her, from what I could gather she didn't want to upset us more by not showing up. So she still came to school despite the miscarriage, and if you remember, she had to go to the nurses office after fainting, that loss was what nearly killed her... what's worse... I think it was all the stress we caused her that induced the miscarriage..."

To say Honey felt horrified would have been an understatement. He felt sad, scared, and especially disgusted in himself and his fellow hosts for making such a situation worse for her. Not to mention he felt upset to remember Tamaki was still holding the "scare" against her to prove his point. And especially considering what happened when Haruhi got desperate to make the situation go away.

Honey actually began to cry, and looked back up at his cousin. Unbeknownst to them, the others were outside and heard what Mori said, before going back to the main room.

"Is there anything we could do for Haru-Chan now...?"

Mori looked down.

"Right now when communication is difficult, I don't think so. But once we're able to do it, I think she deserves an apology. The bare minimum, at least one 'I'm sorry' from each of us. I know it won't erase what she went through, but she's smart enough to know that Tamaki and her own father are still upset at her. It's better for her to know she has more people willing to help her. Aside from Hikaru."

Honey suddenly remembered Hikaru's unwavering support of Haruhi through the whole two months and afterward. Not to mention the death glares he'd send to Tamaki and even Kyoya occasionally. It stuck out compared to how everyone else reacted, Kaoru was much more subtle about it, Renge wasn't in on it.

Honey looked down and muttered his next sentence.

"Didn't Hika-Chan day he was engaged at one point?"

Mori nodded, and neither of them had to voice their suspicions.

"Well, I'm glad Hika-Chan was there for Haru-Chan. Now that I remember older interactions, they're pretty good for each other."

Meanwhile, Tamaki and the others were processing what they'd heard. Kaoru eventually spoke up nervously.

"So, I guess this means we'll have an interesting conversation the next time we see her...?"

Tamaki replied bluntly, and with a matter-of-fact tone.

"Absolutely. And no being quiet this time."

Kaoru looked at Tamaki with a slightly angry expression.

"Which means she'll get a proper apology from you, right? Like she did from me?"

Tamaki and Kyoya were suddenly staring at Kaoru, who was unfazed, and too upset to feel threatened.

"Wait, you backed out?!"

Kaoru frowned.

"Of course I did, why wouldn't I apologize to my friend when I know I've done something wrong? I know that doesn't eliminate what she went through, but I at least don't have to lose sleep from feeling like I'm still a jackass to her, unlike you, clearly."

Kaoru suddenly felt a buzz from his phone, it was from Hikaru. When he read the message, and saw the picture he lit up slightly. Both from knowing his brother and friend were okay, but that they managed to make what they had work. He only felt sad for not being able to be there. But he looked back at the other two hosts in front of him, putting his phone away. At least he had an opportunity to knock some sense into Tamaki or Kyoya.

"What was that?"

"Nothing, just confirmation that I have another sister."

"Your parents had another child?"

"No, you'll see what I mean. If it gets to that point..."

Kyoya gave Kaoru a look, almost like a light bulb turned on in the middle of a dark abyss, lined up near seven others—counting Haruhi and Renge—with only one light unlit. It felt nostalgic somehow.

Kyoya didn't say anything and instead sighed, wondering what their next interaction with Haruhi would look like. Tamaki spoke again.

"Oh, I know what you mean... you think of Haruhi like a sister, don't you?"

Kaoru nodded. The final light bulb only flickered for a second before going off again.

"Is there an issue with that? She's been like a younger sibling to me since second year. I'm willing to bet that even before this whole thing happened I knew more about her than you did."

Tamaki shook his head, to him it was confirmation that he didn't have to worry about Kaoru making moves on Haruhi. Kaoru could tell this was what he was thinking, but he said nothing. He already knew there was no chance because of how he treated Haruhi alone. But also because of Hikaru.

Kaoru was almost looking forward to seeing the look on Tamaki's face when he found out his brother and Haruhi were—technically—married.

"No, I don't see anything wrong with a sibling-like relationship. It's wholesome to know that you don't have to be blood related to be considered family."

Kaoru bit his lip slightly. He wholeheartedly agreed with that sentiment, and he was telling the truth about loving Haruhi like a little sister since her second year. However, she technically was directly connected to his family now, thanks to her and Hikaru being engaged/married. Still, Kaoru said nothing, and he knew Tamaki partially said that to deflect accusations.

Kyoya looked up from his clipboard, and had a weirdly sincere look on his face.

"Well, it doesn't have to be just an addition to your family, either. For some people, non-blood related friends or loved ones could even replace their previous family. Assuming that a person is on bad terms with their blood relatives. In that regard, it can be more than just wholesome, and instead essential."

Kaoru knew Kyoya was talking about Haruhi and her father. And likely his own family excluding his sister. He was likely still in contact with Ranka after those three months. Kaoru felt uneasy at what Ranka might have said about Haruhi to Kyoya on the phone. After all, Kyoya had mentioned before that Ranka would sometimes call him to vent his anger.

Kaoru approached the door again as Mori and Honey opened the door. Now that he knew they were aware, he should tell them about what else was happening. When he got close enough to speak to them, he spoke more quietly so the other two hosts wouldn't hear.

"Hey, Hikaru just texted me, he and Haruhi got married last night."

Kaoru handed them his phone and showed them the picture. Honey lit up slightly, and Mori had a small smile on his face.

"Aww, I wish I was there to congratulate them..."

"Well, I was going to respond back, what do you want me to say?"

Honey spoke first.

"Can you text them and say Takashi and I are sorry, and that we're happy for Haru-Chan and Hika-Chan?"

Kaoru nodded with a small smile.

"Anything else?"

Mori spoke again, unsure if what he was planning to say was a good thing to text the couple.

"If it's appropriate, would you mind telling them that if they end up in a similar situation as last year, they have our support this time, no matter what."

Kaoru's smile got bigger and he nodded.

"I'll go tell them that. I think Haruhi will appreciate knowing you're on her side. Also, is it bad that I want to see Tamaki's face when he finds out about this?"

The other two hosts smiled and shook their heads.

"Okay good, cause I'd like to get a money shot for Haruhi and Hikaru. Just so they have something to at least briefly make them laugh while their locked inside the school, y'know?"

"I think they'll like that! And you said there were others in there with them? Maybe they can get some amusement from a picture like that as well."

Two Weeks Later

Kaoru got another buzz from his phone, and his eyes widened with shock. Everyone in the room turned to look at him as they heard him gasp, and they got confused when they saw the surprise on his face.

Tamaki realized who had just texted Kaoru, and spoke up quickly.

"Kaoru? That was Hikaru, wasn't it? What happened? Is everyone okay?!"

Kaoru only nodded, before speaking up in a quiet tone, trying to avoid suspicion.

"Yep, everyone's fine..."

Once he knew that only Mori and Honey were paying attention, he made a gesture for them to follow him, and they left the room. Kaoru made sure they weren't followed, and locked the door behind them.

Honey's eyes expressed concern, and he spoke up nervously.

"K—Kao-Chan?—"

"It's happening again. Haruhi, she's—"

Kaoru cut himself off, and when he realized that the two could have gotten the wrong impression, he pulled up the message and showed it to them. Both hosts looked shocked, but looked back at Kaoru.

"Wh—what do I say?! Is there a right way to respond?! I'm not upset at them, but I don't know how I can respond that doesn't make it sound like I'm upset! Usually I can come up with something, but I'm blanking right now!"

"Kao-Chan, it's okay. Can you call them?"

Kaoru looked up and nodded. He started to call Hikaru.

"Hey, I saw your text..."

The two other hosts leaned in to listen, Kaoru put the call on speaker.

~"Okay, how do you feel about it...?"

Kaoru felt at a loss for words, but spoke anyway.

"I—I'm not upset at either of you... if that's what you're asking."

A different voice came on the phone, and it became clear that the call on their end was also put on speaker.

~"You're not...?"

The three hosts tensed up momentarily as they recognized their friend's voice.

"No Haru-Chan! We're not upset! Also hi! We haven't heard from you in a long time!"

The three smiled slightly as they heard Haruhi and Hikaru laugh.

~"I know, it's been awhile, Haruhi and I really miss you guys."

"We miss you too! Hopefully you'll be able to leave the school soon?"

Haruhi responded this time.

~"I sure hope so, I really don't want to give birth in a changing room... But you really aren't upset?"

Mori spoke this time.

"No we're not, I think we're just worried about the situation you're both in right now! Aren't you still locked inside?"

Haruhi spoke again.

~"Yeah, we are, Hikaru and I have worried about that too, but we're also worried about how Tamaki-Senpai will react..."

Suddenly Kaoru processed the whole thing, the entire time he was in shock, he was feeling something he couldn't place, but he suddenly figured it out, and jumped up in excitement.

"Oh my gosh, I'm gonna be an uncle!!"

Kaoru quickly realized his mistake and covered his mouth. The three looked at the door, and hoped that Tamaki and Kyoya wouldn't hear them.