New Note: So I'm going to go back to the old chapters to make them sound like my current style of writing, and also modify a few things to match the current storyline. It might take me a few weeks, but I'll still be releasing the next chapter very soon.
Old Note: I saw some readers down in the comments wanted juicy romance. Well, I happily delivered! Drink all the juiciness, and quench your thirsts, my friends!
"We're still in Japan, right?" Haruhi asked.
"Trees like these aren't normally found in Japan," Susumu noted.
"Behold, Haruhi," Tamaki said, enthusiastically, placing a hand on her shoulder, "Bask in the beauty of tropical birds. Aren't they breathtaking?"
Tamaki looked up at the birds nestled on top of the palm trees. "I wonder what they're called."
"Um, where was the exit, again?"
"Try to make the most of this down time and just relax," Tamaki advised, picking up his fruity drink, "We're so worried about keeping our good looks day and night, we deserve a little vacation." Tamaki brought the rim of the cup to his lips and took a sip, smiling after tasting the pineapple and mango.
"Where are we, Tamaki?" Susumu asked him, who had decided to lounge on a chair under the cover of an umbrella and enjoy his drink.
"This place is a brand new theme park that my family, the Ootori group runs." Susumu looked in the direction of the familiar voice and saw Kyoya, who was lounging on a chair and held some sort of tropical fruit drink in his hand. "It's called the Tropical Aqua Garden," He informed them.
Haruhi looked at Kyoya in a puzzled manner. "I don't understand. I thought the Ootori group ran hospitals, and that they're focused on the medical business, Kyoya-senpai."
"Yes," Kyoya answered, "but my family likes to diversify and try different things. Besides, this place could be classified as a healing facility."
Haruhi hummed, doubtful of what he said.
"It's therapeutic. Think of all the people who are overworked and would just love a vacation in the south tropics. However, they may not be able to get the time off or they may not be able to afford it. Those people can now seek refuge here at this theme park and reduce their stress levels." Kyoya pushed up his glasses and smiled at them. "The Ootori group's primary concern has always been for the good health and well-being of the general public."
"It sounds suspicious to me," she grumbled.
Susumu put his hand over his eyes, focusing his eyes on the sky, and stared in awe at the birds perched on the branches of the tropical trees and the exotic plants filling the air with new, unfamiliar scents.
"I can't believe we were given the chance to be here," he said.
"This park doesn't officially open until next month, but the Host Club was given a special advance invitation."
Susumu turned back to Kyoya with a soft expression, as he lowered his hand and placed it into the right pocket of his shorts. "It was nice of you to invite us, Kyoya," he thanked, "Thank you."
Kyoya glanced at Susumu, and smiled at him. "You're welcome."
Haruhi glanced at her brother with an eyebrow raised. "You can't actually be enjoying this?" Haruhi asked.
"I want to go home just as much as you do," Susumu answered, "but still, we'd never get the chance to see creatures like these again. I wish I had brought my sketchbook."
"Personally I think this is pointless and a waste of time, so can we go home now?" Haruhi asked, hurriedly. "I should really be studying and we've got a ton of laundry to do today." Haruhi turned to Susumu and asked, "How many baskets do we have to wash?"
"We have three," Susumu told her, lifting up three fingers.
"That many?" Haruhi groaned in her head. "Don't we need to wash the bedding? That's the third load, right?"
"We do," Susumu confirmed. "We'll wash our clothes first, and then I'll handle the rest, so you can study."
"We have to get back home, first," Haruhi had to mention it again.
"Let me take a photo of you two together before you go!"
After the sound of the flash Nozomi lowered her camera and grinned at them. She wore a wrap-front navy white bikini top and a matching bottom with a chiffon swimsuit cover up, and her hair was styled in her usual side ponytail.
Aki stood next to her, wearing a modest high neck tankini, a towel draped on her shoulder, with someone's hand on her waist, and once he had introduced himself as Tetsuya, Aki's boyfriend, he courteously pulled out a chair for Aki and took the empty chair on Aki's right side.
"Nice to meet you, Susumu." Tetsuya extended his hand and Susumu shook it, smiling at Tetsuya.
"It's nice to meet you, too."
"Aki's told me some things about you. She says you're a nice guy, and she's not wrong, you actually look like one." Sumu gave him a small smile, as Tetsuya sent him the same amused smile, showing a bit of his teeth. "I could learn a thing or two from you about being quiet. She says I'm loud."
"And you are," Aki stated, sternly, "I can't count how many times you've humiliated yourself by singing in public."
Haruhi blinked. "You actually sing in public, Senpai?" Haruhi asked Tetsuya.
"I can't help it," Tetsuya shrugged, "when I hear my favorite song, my body just moves on its own, and I end up singing along."
Aki felt the need to remind Nozomi again that she needed to ask their permission before taking their photo.
Nozomi set her camera down on the table and pulled out the chair, preferring to sit as she talked, "Don't get so upset 'cause I took your pictures, guys."
"I feel we have a right to be upset," Susumu said, frowning at Nozomi. "You startled us, and the picture is going to be poor quality."
Aki glanced at Susumu. "That's what you're upset about?"
Nozomi rested her chin on her palm and smiled at him. "I'm glad you care about my work, Susumu."
"Why'd you take it in the first place, then?" Haruhi asked. She narrowed her eyes after thinking about the possible cause. "Did you take the picture to stick it in the photobook, and to make a profit from it?"
"That's something Kyoya would do. I'm not that evil, I'd tell you first." Nozomi looked at Kyoya and gave him a smile when he glowered at her. She then turned back to Haruhi and gave her answer, "It's not for the photo book this time, nope. I'm capturing our memories."
"Oh, so that's it," Haruhi said, rolling her eyes.
"Susumu," Kyoya started, "Would you like to sit elsewhere? It's getting too crowded for my liking."
"Sure," Susumu agreed, nervously, as he followed Kyoya to a different table nearby.
There were a few chairs. Kyoya kindly pulled one out for him.
It had made him feel uneasy to be sitting so close to the other male, but that nervousness was washed away once words were spoken and topics of interest passed between the two of them. Despite fumbling on his own words sometimes, Susumu continued to share his thoughts and opinions.
'I feel comfortable around him,' Susumu thought as he gave a small smile to Kyoya, as he listened to Kyoya's thoughts on the park's design. 'It's strange.'
'Somehow, I've changed, Susumu realized, 'I used to be reserved, turning away from people who tried to get to know me, to shatter this wall that I'd hidden behind for years. But, no one could.'
'Now, I've become comfortable talking to this person, who I used to be afraid of.' Susumu stared at his lap, reminiscently, as the memories flooded back into his mind, of gaining a chill at his chilly smirk, and shrinking in size under Kyoya's gaze. Of being forced into helping him one day, and trying to keep it together when he glanced at him from the side. Of running away when Kyoya's back was turned, and Kyoya's tight grip on his wrist. Of overhearing Renge gush about Kyoya, and experiencing a burning feeling inside of him. Of being given the chance to try luxurious food, and giving a home made bento to Kyoya.
Susumu felt his cheeks grow warmer, as the memory of talking about love with him, and then Kyoya lifting his chin, staring into each other's eyes.
"Susumu? Is everything okay?" Kyoya asked, leaning forward a little.
Susumu snapped out of his thoughts, and met with Kyoya's eyes, as Kyoya's displayed a hint of concern.
"It's nothing," Susumu pushed it aside, eyeing the scenery. He smiled a little, and looked at Kyoya again. "What were you saying?"
"Honey senpai!" Haruhi shouted.
"Mitsukuni!" Mori shouted.
"Gentlemen, we're going after Honey senpai!" Tamaki declared, and then pointed at current pool, "That pool looks like the quickest way! Charge!"
Half the group followed Tamaki to the pool, those with sensibility stayed behind instead of rushing in without thinking.
Before Susumu broke out into a run, Kyoya wrapped his arms around his torso and pulled him back, hitting Kyoya's chest, causing him to utter a yelp from the sudden contact.
"I wouldn't go that way." His warning was spoken directly into Susumu's ear.
Susumu wriggled out of Kyoya's hold, just as the group encountered alligators with a hefty appetite, rising out of the water.
"There are alligators in there!"
"Okay, so we can't use that pool," Tamaki shouted, "Then let's try this way next!" But alligators surrounded them.
"They're here, too!" The twins shouted, running from a pair of alligators.
"And here!" Haruhi shouted, barely able to escape an alligator as it tried to chomp her leg.
"Help!" Nozomi screamed, before Susumu pulled her out of the way as an alligator hastily advanced towards her.
"Aki!" Tetsuya shouted, protecting her from the alligator that attempted to claw at Aki.
Aki let out a series of short breaths, as her mind tried to make sense of it all. "What's going on here?!"
"What's with all the alligators?" Haruhi asked, catching her breath.
"Beats me," Tamaki panted.
Kyoya pulled out his pocketbook, most likely to record something. "Those alligators belong to the park's tropical animals exhibit," He told them, writing as he talked, "I guess it is kind of dangerous to let them run wild, though, the cause of the present situation is the location for switch for the current pool. I'll have to have a little chat with our designers." Kyoya shut his pocketbook and smiled at the group. "Thanks a lot, you guys, I got some great data today."
"You what?!"
...
"This is a map of the Tropical Aqua Garden, this is our current location," Kyoya addressed, pointing his pen at both locations, "We need to get here. I have a feeling that's where Honey senpai probably ended up. It might be tough because to get there, we'll have to make it through this jungle area, here in the southern block."
"Distance wise we're talking about 800 meters," He moved his pen across the map and landed on a spot in the thick jungle area.
"Looks like there are a lot of undeveloped areas," Haruhi said, worriedly.
"It's a lot thicker right here," Susumu pointed out, inspecting the map.
"It might be dangerous to traverse those parts of the jungle," Tetsuya warned.
"What's out there, you think?" Nozomi asked.
"Since they're still being developed, I'm afraid I don't know," Kyoya answered.
"Whatever's out there could be even more dangerous-"
"-than alligators."
"All right! Now, this is a mission of survival!" Tamaki shouted, "I know we can make it through the treacherous jungle in one piece. It is our sworn duty to save Honey senpai!"
...
"Doesn't it feel like this jungle goes on forever?" Nozomi asked.
"Yeah, and I keep hearing all these strange animal calls," Haruhi said.
"You don't think all those animal sounds-" Hikaru started.
And Koaru finished, "-could belong to the real thing, do you?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure," Kyoya answered. "But I do know that my family always strives for authenticity, no matter the cost."
"I don't think this is the right time to say it," Susumu started, looking up at Kyoya, "but what your family is capable of doing is pretty impressive."
"I'd tone it down a little more," Aki interjected. "Atmospheres like these are too much for some people, who simply want to relax without worrying about running into a strange animal or much worse."
"I'd come here to relax, not wrestle with an alligator like earlier," Tetsuya said.
Mori suddenly slipped on a banana peel.
"Mori-senpai is-"
"-acting as clumsy as you do, boss."
Tamaki frowned at them. "Shut up."
"Just as I thought, he is worried," Haruhi muttered, and Nozomi overheard it.
Kyoya checked his watch. "Uh oh, it's about time for the squall."
"Just what we needed," Aki grumbled.
"There's shelter over there!" Tetsuya pointed out a cabana to the group.
Once they'd gotten under it, some members of the group decided to take a seat on the benches, and the others watched the rain pour.
"Hey, Mori-senpai, you seem to be really close to Honey senpai," Haruhi said to Mori, "Are the two of you like childhood friends?"
"You mean you don't know?" Hikaru asked, looking at her with an eyebrow raised.
"They're cousins," Koaru told her.
"They're related?" Susumu asked, surprised.
"The Morinozukas have been serving the Haninozuka family for generations," Kyoya said.
"However, two generations ago, the families became relatives by marriage and the master-servant relationship soon became a thing of the past," Hikaru told them.
"But even so, Mori senpai has always made a point to accompany Honey senpai," Koaru said.
"Must really get his blood going." Tamaki looked in Mori's direction. "The blood of a loyal servant flows like a mighty river through Mori senpai's vein."
"Such a beautiful story! I'm touched!" The twins wept.
"I'd never call it a beautiful story," Aki huffed.
"Mori-senpai seems very attached to Honey-senpai," Tetsuya said, "They must share a tight bond."
"Hey Mori senpai, it's gonna be all right," Haruhi reassured, placing a hand on Mori's arm. "I'm sure that Honey senpai is safe. He's a lot tougher than you might think he is, and if he gets hungry, the trees are full of bananas."
"Bananas?"
"What's he going to say?" Tamaki wondered.
Mori smiled and pat Haruhi's head. "You're right."
"Don't tell me Mori senpai is after my spot as Haruhi's daddy!" Tamaki cried.
"Isn't that kinda strange?" Tetsuya asked Aki.
"I stopped questioning it," Aki said, fed up.
"You think he'll ever give up the whole family picture?" Nozomi asked, turning to the twins.
"Knowing the boss, it's very unlikely," Hikaru shrugged.
"That's kinda creepy, when you think about it."
"What? Who're you calling creepy?"
"You're a big-o pervert," The twins sang.
"Shut up! I'm not a perv!" Tamaki shouted, as Kyoya's phone rang.
"Hello, it's me," Kyoya answered, "Well, we've had an incident that's caused some trouble."
Eventually, the rain had stopped, and Mori stepped out of the cabana to continue his search for Honey.
"Haruhi," Nozomi interrupted, smacking her on the shoulder, "Look over there."
Haruhi glanced in the direction Nozomi was looking, and saw Mori pushing away the big leaves, heading in a different direction than the one they assumed Honey had gone. Haruhi ran to Mori, with Nozomi swiftly jogging behind her.
"Mori-senpai," Haruhi called, "You're going the wrong way!"
"It's only thicker jungle in that direction!" Nozomi shouted, catching up to Haruhi, "Honey-senpai wouldn't have gone that way!"
"You're both wrong," Mori interjected, "He went this way."
"Hey, wait up!" Haruhi shouted. She glanced at Nozomi for assistance, who slumped her shoulders in response, and started walking in Mori's direction.
Haruhi ran in, as well. "We're coming with you!"
Nozomi's pace was usually fast, so she looked back to make sure Haruhi was keeping up with her, though, her eyes blinked in shock at witnessing Haruhi repeatedly getting spooked by the tropical park's creatures, and almost falling into a large hole full of mud, which Nozomi had quickly rescued her from.
Mori turned around and said, "Haruhi." After, he picked her up off the ground.
'That's the first time he's ever called me by my name,' Haruhi thought, a little pleased.
"What now, Senpai?" Nozomi asked.
"We keep going," Mori answered.
Little to no conversation passed between the three, their focus was solely on finding Honey. They had been walking through the jungle for quite some time, stepping over overgrown roots and pushing past large, leafy plants.
Men in black uniforms slid down ropes, and before they could even assess the situation, they were surrounded.
"Target confirmed," A man informed, pointing his gun at Mori.
"The target has been captured by a suspicious man and young woman," Another man stated, pointing his own weapon threateningly at Nozomi. "We'll take the target into custody."
"You there. Put the boy down immediately," a man ordered, "If you refuse, we'll remove him forcefully."
"Oh, hold on!" Haruhi shouted.
The same man grabbed Haruhi by the arm, and Mori instantly reacted, punching the man to get him off her.
Seeing another man attempt to bash Nozomi on the side of her head with his weapon, Mori swept his leg and the man tumbled to the ground.
"Suspects are resisting!"
"Prepare the fire warning shots!"
"Takashi, Nozo-chan, Haru-chan, out of the way!"
Nozomi looked up at the tall trees, and witnessed Honey swinging towards them on a vine, as he yelled, crashing into a soldier and landing on the ground with ease.
"Hey, what do you think you're doing, pipsqueak?"
Honey smirked, before attacking the soldiers with powerful strength.
Honey defeated all the soldiers, shocking Nozomi and Haruhi.
"You guys should be more careful who you mess with," Honey warned, "Picking on my friends is bad, got it?"
"Nozomi!" Aki shouted, running towards them, the rest of the group following her.
"Haruhi!" Susumu shouted.
"Haruhi, are you all right!?" Tamaki shouted.
"Hey, it's Tama-chan," Honey exclaimed.
"Huh?"
"You okay, Senpai?" Koaru asked.
"Haruhi!" Tamaki shouted, and then embraced Haruhi. "I was so worried."
"I'm not sure what happened here," Hikaru said, poking one of the soldiers, "but at least they're still alive."
"It's pretty amazing that this is Honey senpai's work," Koaru also poked a soldier. "He must have really been holding back."
"What do you mean he was holding back?" Aki asked, as she pinched Tamaki, forcing him to release Haruhi.
"You don't know about Senpai?" Hikaru started to explain, "The Haninozukas are famous for their martial arts. Not only have they helped train the police and SDF forces but they've also worked with several overseas militaries."
"Honey-senpai in particular has been called the dreadnought of the Haninozuka family," Kyoya added. "By the time he was in middle school, he'd become the national champion in both karate and judo."
"Mori senpai's no slouch either," Tamaki chimed in. "He won the national championship in kendo when he was just in middle school."
"So, how are you able to find this, Honey senpai?" Koaru asked.
"It wasn't hard," Honey said. "It didn't take me long to reach the end of the current pool, so I decided to look for you guys."
"We humbly apologize!"
"I am a 2nd-generation student of the Ishizuka Dojo!"
"I am a student of the Todoroki Dojo!"
"And I'm from the Otake Dojo!"
"We are in your debt!"
"Why?" Honey asked, "Is something wrong?"
"Yes, sir! We're so sorry, sir! We were unaware that we were searching for Mitsukuni Hanozuka," a soldier said, "We've committed a terrible offense here. I apologize for this confrontation, but my Dojo will be so excited to hear that I've come face to face with the great Haninozuka. I cherish this moment."
'So he is smart,' Haruhi thought, 'He's deeper than I could ever imagine.'
"Takashi, you did an amazing job of protecting Haru-chan and Nozo-chan," Honey praised, patting Mori on his head. "I bet you were pretty lonely without me around, huh?"
"I don't know if I'd say that," Mori said, averting Honey's eyes.
Honey smiled.
...
"You know, maybe we should go to the beach next," Koaru suggested.
"Yeah, the beach would be nice," Hikaru agreed.
"You idiots, Haruhi is not interested in anything like that," Tamaki rejected it.
"Actually, I might like to go to the beach," Haruhi said, "I may not be into this silly water park, but I like the ocean. It would be nice to go to the beach, and it's so pretty."
"I'd much rather be at a beach, than a water park again," Aki said. "I've had enough of the jungle."
Nozomi scratched her arm. "I think I got mosquito bites."
"Well, don't scratch yourself," Aki scolded.
"Yeah, all right. Then that's where we'll go next time," Tamaki said, holding his chin.
"We're all gonna go to the beach, Tama-chan?" Honey asked.
"What about you?" Susumu asked Kyoya, "Do you want to go?"
"It could turn out to be an interesting experience," Kyoya answered, glancing down at Susumu with interest flickering in his eyes, as the corner of his lips lifted upwards.
"Yeah," Susumu took his eyes off Kyoya and gazed at the ground, as a hint of pink dusted his cheeks.