Category: Mild Romantic Fluff
Fandom: Ouran High School Host Club
Characters: Kyoya Ootori, Renge Hoshakuji
Requested By: Anonymous User
The silver platter of shortbread cookies rattled slightly in Renge's hands as she bumped the door to the retrofitted music room open with her hip. Balancing the try on the splayed palm of one hand, she waved jovially to the myriad of students and hosts lounging on the expensive sofas and armchairs.
"Hello, everyone! I brought shortbread cookies! 3" she announced ecstatically. During her time as the host club's manager, she had been practicing a multitude of skills, including baking. This was the first time that she'd delivered batches to the host club while it was in session, but seeing as the handful of first-year boys she'd cornered as guinea pigs didn't keel over foaming at the mouth, Renge was confident in her improvement. Humming happily, she traipsed over to one of the coffee tables and set the platter of cookies down. A few of the guests wandered over, curious, and sampled her flower-shaped handiwork.
"Ah, Renge, these are delicious!" a younger girl with a bob cut exclaimed after munching on one of the buttery cookies. Renge cooed shyly and clapped her hands to her pinkening cheeks, but secretly relished the compliment. The air around her rang with similar praises, making her wiggle her hips around in delight.
"Thank you; thank you!" Renge sighed magnanimously. "I am glad my labor of love is so well-received…" Renge's pleased smile fixed on her face as someone suddenly came up behind her. They gently gripped her upper left arm with one hand, while the other stretched beyond her to retrieve one of the shortbread cookies. With a startled squeak, she whipped her head around to see Kyoya daintily bite off the end of the cookie.
"You've improved," he remarked placidly. A pink hue rose to Renge's cheeks, surprised at his sudden appearance and interest in her handiwork. Renge then pouted dourly at him, narrowing her eyes as she watched him finish the cookie with far too much vainglory.
"You shouldn't tease me, Kyoya," she huffed as she leaned down to retrieve the tray of cookies. It made her blush a little, because he was standing much too close for comfort. Her hip bumped against his as she bent over. He regarded her with lidded eyes as she straightened up and puffed out her cheeks exasperatedly. He must be teasing because he never complimented her, not without mischievous intent.
"Who said I was teasing?" he countered smoothly, plucking another cookie from the tray as she stomped off. Renge's cheeks burned with anger and mortification; how could he tease her and look so damn sexy doing it? Mitsuki yelped when she slammed the tray down in front of him, but soon recovered to dive into the sweets with zeal. Renge flopped down on the sofa and crossed her arms vexedly. Renge had, of course, come to separate Kyoya and the otome character she'd fallen madly in love with, but Kyoya still derided her endlessly with honeyed words and false flirtations. She peered out of her periphery to find him reclining over the back of a couch, chewing on the shortbread cookie and smirking insolently. Renge's cheeks flushed, and she tore her gaze away, furious at the heat that pompous grin alighted in her body.
I don't know how anyone can fancy that jerk! she thought haughtily, flinching at the airy giggles of the girls who gaggle around Kyoya to fawn over the bespectacled boy. She grabbed one of her cookies and shoved the whole thing in her mouth, chewing angrily to dissipate her ire. "Handsome devil," indeed. Pouting, she sunk against the back of the couch, wishing the fluffy fabric would just swallow her up and save her from Kyoya's persistent, heady gaze.
Her irritation melted after enjoying some tea with Mitskuni. The childish third-year scampered off to treat some more patrons, so Renge remained on the couch, sipping at the scrumptious Earl Gray swirling in the lavender-patterned teacup. She hummed contentedly at the smooth warmth spreading over her tongue and closed her eyes to savor the bodied tea. She cracked an eye open when the couch dipped beside her, and her serene smile disfigured into a scowl.
"Kyoya," she clipped tersely. He smiled amusedly at her while he poured himself a cup from the last dregs of the teapot.
"That's not the type of expression that's becoming of a lady," he said with a slight jerk of his eyebrow. Renge curled her lips down to scowl so hard her pink gums flashed at him. Kyoya chuckled animatedly and threw his arm back around the back of the couch, regally sipping from his teacup using the other. "Why are you so irate? My compliment earlier was genuine." Renge poked out her lips and stared critically at the dark-haired boy.
"Really?" When he nodded, she relaxed a little bit. So he really liked them, she thought with a teeny smile. Kyoya flashed her that devilish smile that seemed kind but masked his inner devious nature, but Renge entertained the idea that he was actually pleased with her progress. "I've been practicing…"
"Indeed. They're a hit with the guests." Renge's silver platter was now emptied, with only a few small crumbs decorating the mirror-like surface. Most of the guests had left, for the deeper end of the afternoon was steadily creeping in. Still, a few small groups clustered around conversing amiably about Renge's cookies, which made her squirm victoriously on the sofa. "You'll have to bring them again sometime, Renge." The girl squinted as she once again regarded him suspiciously. "What?" he chuckled, seeming slighted.
"You're teasing me again."
"Am I now?" he smirked with glittering, lidded eyes. Renge puffed out her cheeks at him at his facetious answer. She immediately released the air when he unabashedly scooched closer to her, setting the teacup down on the table though it was still half-full. She chuckled nervously when he pushed a swathe of her honey-brown hair behind her ear, his fingertips just barely caressing the reddening skin of her cheeks. Renge had been sitting close to the arm of the couch, so when he placed his hand firmly on the armature, Kyoya caged her in with his long, tall form. "That's news to me."
"Y-you're doing it right now, Kyoya," she whined loudly. "It's been months since I came here; I'm not still hanging around because I think you're some dating simulator character, okay? I like being here! So please stop antagonizing me over my silly mistake," she pleaded. Renge knew that her obsession had been foolish, and she'd paid for it with humiliation and humility. No one else thought she still needed to be punished for it, so why did Kyoya chaff her so? It even made her a little sad, because out of everyone, she strongly desired Kyoya's approval, as the one she'd pointed her misguided affections to. She bit down on her bottom lip as it threatened to wobble. "I'm sorry for how I treated you before; don't you get that?"
"Of course I do." His eyes widened with surprise, and Renge's followed suit. "You really don't think this is about that, do you?" Renge rubbed her sweaty palms against the yellow fabric of her uniform dress.
"I don't know," she answered timorously, looking unsurely down at her slightly quivering hands. "I guess… Even though what I want more than anything is your validation… It's hard to imagine you'd ever really like me after the stunt I pulled," she admitted quietly. The adapted music room had emptied, leaving Kyoya and Renge alone. Perhaps the other hosts had read the room (or, more likely, Haruhi had and ushered them out) because they'd disappeared into the adjacent rooms. When Renge became aware of the fact, a prickling flush swept over her body and made all her hairs stand on end- but not in a frightened way… more in an excited one. Kyoya smiled roguishly and grasped her hand to bring it to his mouth for a light, delicate, princely kiss that contrasted his knavish manner.
"I've found that I quite appreciate your idiosyncrasies, Renge. Believe me when I say that my dalliance is quite heartfelt. I don't have any ulterior motives, aside from winning your favor, of course." Renge smiled stupidly as her brain struggled to unravel the essential point behind Kyoya's flowery words. A pink flush slowly crept up from her neck until her entire face glowed the color of fresh carnations.
"K-K-Kyoya?" she squealed in alarm, flapping her free arm wildly against the back of the sofa. "Are you saying-? Are you saying-?" The notion was so utterly ludicrous that Renge just couldn't wrap her mind around it. Kyoya grinned wickedly, his eyes glittering like chips of onyx behind his glasses.
"How about I take you on a date tomorrow evening?"
With a squeal, she flopped back against the arm of the couch, nearly losing consciousness. Her head whirled, spinning the music room around her, and she desperately fanned her burning hot face to stave off slipping entirely into the darkness. She could practically hear the steam billowing from her ears as her brain overheated and spun into overdrive. She stared hazily at the white ceiling, until Kyoya leaned over her, pressing her body between his knees. "Renge? Do I need to call an ambulance?" he inquired gravely. The stunned girl managed to shake her head.
"N-no, I'm all right… O-oh, my heart is beating so fast!" Renge wheezed when she put a hand on her breast and found her heart palpitating so violently it was liable to break her ribs. Kyoya's knavish smirk returned.
"I'll pick you up at seven?"
"Th-that's acceptable." He patted her cheek before disappearing from her line of sight. She lamented the loss of his weight on the couch when she felt the cushions shift back into place with his departure. Renge laid the back of her hand against her forehead, feeling the heat slowly drain from her face. She then exclaimed delightedly and flailed about like a flopping fish, simply so overcome with happiness that she couldn't contain herself. She hopped up and grabbed her cookie platter, clutching it to her chest as she rushed out of the music room.
I wonder if he'd appreciate it if I brought him more shortbread cookies? I'll make some! Lots and lots! With a skip in her step, she headed down the hallway, daydreaming about the wonderful evening yet to come…