Oh, this is going to be so fuuuun! I liked writing this chapter! I hope you enjoy it, too! And I'm sorry for the wait, but I don't think it's been too bad, especially with six stories, five classes, two extra-curricular activities, and a work schedule to work around. Not to mention any semblance of a social life. Eh.

Thank you queenglitch, Jemmyjem, AusllyBeliever, Celestial Moon Lady, complete anime trash, and two guest readers for your reviews!

Disclaimer: I own no mentioning of the Ouran Host Club.

(F/n) = First name

(L/n) = Last name

(h/c) = Hair color (brunette, ravenette, blonde, redhead, etc.)

Which is more stressful: Being a Kindergarten teacher or a Kindergarten recess monitor?

(F/n) pondered that question as she watched the packs of children racing up and down the playground, screams of glee piercing the air as they played. She spotted Haruka jumping rope a little close to the game of catch a few of the boys were playing, but decided not to interfere unless someone was going to get hurt. The rest of her students were either grouped up on the playset or playing tag with each other. It was a chaotic scene that was slowly becoming the norm for (F/n), but she didn't mind.

When she'd first started studying to become a teacher, she'd had no idea which age group to focus on. High schoolers, who already knew how to sit still and pay attention, some of whom might ask her about becoming a teacher themselves? Middle schoolers, who were still learning about themselves, whom she could point in the right direction and help make their 'boring' lessons fun? Elementary schoolers, who had so much to learn and were still eager to do so?

And then came the idea of what subject to teach. That's actually when (F/n) first thought of teaching Kindergarten. Ever since she had studied abroad in Japan her sophomore year of college, she knew that she wanted to live there for the rest of her life. But in Japan, teachers rotate classroom to classroom, teaching only one subject. (F/n) just couldn't see herself doing that. She had an affinity for most all basic subjects… but there was only one grade that allowed teachers to do so.

Kindergarten.

The moment she'd started training to teach Kindergarten, (F/n) had fallen in love with it. The children were just so cute and full of life! She was providing the baseline of their future education, and if she could get them to enjoy learning, then she was doing a good job. And so far, she had a feeling she was doing just that.

And being a recess monitor while her class was outside was just another part of the job. Making sure no one got hurt and they were enjoying themselves. Sometimes she was even invited to join groups in their games. She remembered teaching her class how to Double-Dutch just last Wednesday. Perhaps next time they could play hopscotch? That'd be fun.

And yet, with both jobs, there was a great deal of stress. These were all the children of powerful people. If they were unhappy with the way she was teaching, it was likely that her job would be on very thin ice. Not to mention the implications should she mess up. Ruining a future or letting a child get hurt were things you just couldn't walk away from, or forgive yourself for. Geez, even thinking about it got her heart pounding...

"(L/n)-sensei?" A small voice and faint tugging on her pant leg brought (F/n) back down from her reminiscing. Turning her head, smile already in place, she was greeted with a head of blond hair and imploring purple eyes. Oh, thank goodness. I needed a pick-me-up.

"Tamaki-kun? Is everything okay?"

The small boy nodded, but he was still staring at her with an oddly serious expression. That wasn't like him. Usually he was the most energetic and happy-go-lucky of all of her students. (F/n) wasn't sure if she should be concerned or not.

Tamaki tilted his head, "I think my Papa loves you."

The (h/c)'s mouth fell open.

Taking the stunned silence as permission to continue, Tamaki shuffled his feet, "I asked him what love is, and I think he feels it for you. You smile a lot and laugh a lot around each other, and Papa doesn't do that a lot. And when I say your name at home Papa gets a funny look on his face, like he's trying not to smile. Also, my Uncle Hikaru kept telling me last Friday that you must mean a lot to my Papa."

It took a few moments before (F/n) could remember how to speak, "T-Tamaki-kun… I don't… I'm not sure that's what he-"

"And Papa said that love is com-plex, but I thought it sounded easy. You make him happy, (L/n)-sensei."

(F/n) is worried for at least eight solid seconds that she's about to pass out, here, in the middle of a playground, and traumatize all of her students. Kyoya Ootori, the really hot guy who had adopted her one-in-a-million student, the one who sent goosebumps all over her body with a single glance, liked her? Was the Heaven? Or Hell?

She also knew that Tamaki might've misread the situation. After all, that was a very human thing to do. But children were also brutally honest… and Tamaki…

"(L/n)-sensei?" There was another tug on her pants, "Are you okay? Do you like Papa back?"

The (h/c) met the small blond's gaze again, trying to repress the urge to cheer and hug him and spin him around, "How about you go off and play, Tamaki-kun? I think your friends are looking for you."

Tamaki's shoulders drooped, and she almost regretted sending him off, but she knew it was better than giving him an answer. If she said 'yes', he would've told every student in her classroom, who then would've told their parents, and she really didn't want that sort of publicity. But if she had said 'no', not only would that have crushed Tamaki, but he might've told his father… and if there was even an inkling of a chance... she didn't want to ruin it by lying to his child.

Even so, she wasn't able to stop the smile from growing, or how her face felt unusually hot. Her heart was racing in her chest as Tamaki's declaration replayed over and over in her head.

What she didn't realize was that the blond was actually still watching her from the playset, grinning ear to ear because of how happy his teacher looked.

She does like Papa, Tamaki nodded to himself before pushing himself down the slide.

)(

"Papa! Papa!"

Kyoya smiled and knelt down to meet Tamaki's hug head on. This was exactly what he'd needed after such a long day.

After his son had asked about love -of all things- Kyoya had been overthinking and over-analyzing their conversation for days afterwards. He'd been out of it for a majority of the weekend, almost entirely forgetting that he had offered to babysit Mitsukuni on Saturday so Takashi could go out on his date. And Hikaru was calling and texting him every hour or so to suggest date ideas.

He had even blown through the interviews for his personal secretary on Saturday. Thankfully, the lady he'd chosen seemed to be adjusting to her new job well enough. She was a little young, but so was he, in a sense. Nothing of great concern had occurred yet, and least as far as he was aware, so he assumed everything would continue to run smoothly.

"Papa, Papa, guess what?" The ravenet smirked and tilted his head, knowing Tamaki wanted to tell him a 'secret'. Giggling, the boy leaned up to his ear and whispered, "(L/n)-sensai loves you, too!"

Kyoya snapped his head back to face his son so fast there was an audible click from his neck, "What?!"

"She was smiling all day long after I told her!"

"Told her… what?"

"That you love her."

Kyoya pressed his left hand to his chest, trying to locate his heart beat. He could've sworn it had stopped.

Oh, his mind supplied, so this is what mortification feels like.

A soft cough came from in front of the Ootori's, and there she was. (F/n) was standing in the doorway, her left hand behind her back, probably clutching at the handle of the door to her classroom, ready for a quick getaway if need be. Kyoya felt like he was slipping into cardiac arrest.

This is it, she's going to tell me she's flattered, then turn me down. The thought hurt a lot more than it should've.

"If… um… if Tamaki-kun wasn't joking…" the (h/c)'s blush went about three shades darker and she hastily tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, "I-uh… I don't have anything planned for this weekend."

After the three seconds it took for him to register exactly what she was implying, Kyoya's heart jump started and he stood, readjusting his glasses as calmly has he could manage, "Well, if that's the case, would you mind accompanying me to dinner at 7 this Saturday?"

He's graced with a shy but beautiful smile as she nods. The two stare at each other awkwardly for a moment before she stepped forward, shoved a slip of paper into his hands, and disappeared back into her classroom. Blinking, and a little dazed by the turn of events, Kyoya looked down at the paper.

A phone number.

His smirk grew a little as he pocketed the slip, scooping his smiling son up into his arms and carrying him down the hallway, "Tama-chan? When was the last time we had ice cream for dinner?"

AwwwwWWWWWW! I finally wrote it! Here! Have an apology chapter for making you guys wait for so long! *Screams*

Please favorite and follow this story if you liked this chapter, and leave a little review! I really enjoy getting reviews!

See you next chapter!