Hana's alarm beeped incessantly at five thirty on Saturday morning. As usual, she sat up and rubbed the sleep from her eyes before throwing herself into the bathroom for a warm shower. Once she had dressed and dried her hair, she walked down the stairs leisurely, finding Tachibana tidying up the living room with a duster peeking out from his French maid's apron.
"Good morning," Hana greeted him. "sorry about the mess." She acknowledged the charts and graphs strewn about the sofa and tables carelessly. They had needed to practice Kyoya's presentation last night and forgot to clean up after themselves.
Tachibana pointed a rolled up stack of papers at her sternly, "If you and the young master weren't always working so late, you wouldn't be too tired to clean up after yourselves." Nonetheless, he organized and stacked the papers and posters neatly before adjusting the décor accordingly. Hanako picked up one pille of papers and leafed through them. Tachibana swatted her hand with the duster, peering down at her from behind his dark lenses, "You can get those to the young master after you've eaten breakfast. Aijima's already in the kitchen. Did you eat dinner last night?"
Hana chuckled nervously at her coworker's knowing gaze, "Well, you know, sometimes I forget…"
Tachibana huffed and shooed her away, saying, "Make sure you have a big breakfast." Hanako did as she was told and headed for the industrial kitchen where Aijima was starting to his food prep for the day. The oldest man in Team Kyoya wore an apron that matched his colleague upstairs and was busy cutting up fresh fruits for breakfast.
"Good morning," she greeted as she approached the island, taking a seat at one of the bar stools. "What are you planning for breakfast today?"
"Morning," he replied with a peacefulness about him that relayed his favor for kitchen duty. "Master Kyoya will be having assorted fresh fruit with imported French yogurt, freshly baked bread, and a double shot of espresso. You will be having a full English breakfast since you barely ate yesterday." He fixed a critical look at her as she squirmed on the bar stool, wondering how they always knew when she skipped her meals.
"I forget!" she exclaimed defensively. Missing meals was a regular mistake of hers. She would either get so busy or distracted that she forgot to take her dinner breaks, or she just didn't have the appetite. The previous day had been a case of both. After the incident at the physical exams, she just couldn't bring herself to eat. On top of that, she and Kyoya had been prepping for his meeting with a representative from a French business client's Japanese office.
A large plate was slid onto the table in front of her, and Aijima loomed over her with his chopping knife in one hand and a spatula in the other. "Eat," he commanded simply. Resigned to her coworkers' paternal concern, she scooped a small spoonful of beans into her mouth. Once she had tasted Aijima's cooking, her body seemed to recognize how hungry she really was. Without any decorum, Hanako devoured the rest of the meal quickly, and daintily wiped her mouth with a clean napkin once she was finished. Chuckling, Aijima remarked, "You're just like your dad."
Hana snorted doubtfully as she carried her dishes to the sink, "No way. Papa never missed any of his meals."
She ran the dirty plate under the water while Aijima went back to chopping up fruits. "No, but Yuu-sama ate as if he did. I think it was the one thing about him that your mom genuinely couldn't stand." Hana smiled fondly at the memories of breakfast with her parents in the Aijima household when her father would shovel his employee's home cooking into his mouth while her mother scolded him for his lack of self-control.
"Glad to see you got some food in her," Honda voiced as he entered the kitchen, finished with his early morning review of the grounds.
"Does everyone know that I missed dinner?" Hanako demanded as she rolled down her sleeves and buttoned the cuffs.
"The maids like to gossip," Aijima supplied.
"How was school this week?" Honda asked, taking Hana's place at the counter and accepting a plate of sliced apples from Aijima. "Are the boys stressing you out?"
Hana reflected on the chaos of the past week. She was sure that they had all heard about the security breach during the physical exams. Knowing her staff members, they wouldn't blame her for what happened, but they all knew that she had to take part in the responsibility for the error. All she had to do was wait for the chairman to decide on whether or not he wanted to keep on the guards who had allowed Yabu into the school, and she would carry out the rest of it. On top of the disappointment for herself, she was starting to feel guilty about avoiding Tamaki and scolding him so harshly. He was a good guy, and he genuinely wanted what was best for all the people he came in contact with. A gloom settled over Hanako as she contemplated how to fix things for her professional career and her personal relationships.
"Negida-san," Tachibana called as he joined the rest of Team Kyoya in the kitchen, "it's about time for young master Kyoya to wake up, isn't it?"
Hanako's gloomy demeanor dissipated as she checked her watch. Nodding, she said, "You're right. Please have his breakfast ready at the table. We'll be right down." Hana made her way up to Kyoya's bedroom and knocked on the door, despite knowing full well that Kyoya would be sleeping deeply. Opening the door, she remotely drew up the curtains, causing the lump in the bed to shift and bury its face under the pillow.
"Kyoya-sama, we have a busy day today," Hanako prompted, moving to Kyoya's bedside and speaking at the pillow where his face should have been. A discontented groan sounded from underneath, and Hanako rolled her eyes at her employer. "If you don't get up, I'll tell Aijima to replace all your coffee with Haruhi's instant commoner coffee."
Kyoya threw his pillow at her, and she dodged it easily. The goose down pillow hit the window with a thud. Glaring at her furiously, he said, "You wouldn't."
"Try me," she challenged, picking up the clipboard from his bedside table, she flipped to their agenda for the day. "You have a meeting with RR United's Japan office before lunch. Aijima has prepared your breakfast, and once you've finished eating, Tachibana will drive us there. After that, you have lunch with your sister at her favorite tapas place."
Kyoya sat up and accepted his glasses from her before stretching, "And the rest of the day?"
"The heir of a Korean pharmaceutics company invited you for coffee in the afternoon," she reported. "He's staying at one of the Suoh hotels in the city."
"When do you anticipate we'll be home by?" he asked her as he got to his feet.
"If everything goes well, we should be done by five," she replied. "I'll meet you in the dining room." Hanako excused herself to give Kyoya his privacy and get ready for the day they had ahead of them. Typically, Kyoya's brothers would be meeting with a representative of their father's clients, but both of his older brothers were preoccupied during the vice president's available meeting slot. As a gesture of good faith, Kyoya had stepped up to meet with him in their place and encourage him to reschedule with them. Hanako had been informed that his client was part of a major deal for the Ootori Group, and they were putting their best efforts forward.
As usual, Kyoya met Hanako in the dining room, dressed in a stylish, business casual outfit with his hair perfectly in place and the clipboard under his arm. "Did you eat this morning?" Kyoya asked her. He sat across from her at the table, reading their notes from the previous night while sipping his coffee.
Of course, he had noticed that she missed dinner the night before, and knowing her, she had eaten a light lunch during the physical exams to save time while she was working. The girl in question hummed her affirmation, "Aijima made me a plate earlier."
"Good," Kyoya said with satisfaction. Once he finished his light breakfast, he and Hanako go into a car at the front of the house and headed to the first stop of a busy day. The RR United office was located in the business district, a forest of towering buildings and a sea of well dressed individuals. The Ootori family's car pulled up in front of the glass tower, and Hana got out of the car first, coming around to open the door for Kyoya. They were greeted by two long lines of staffers in pencil skirts and vests over blouses or men in navy or gray suits.
Hanako had secured the meeting for Kyoya, and they both knew that this interaction was as important for RR United as it was for the Ootori Group. The Vice President greeted them hospitably, and Kyoya responded with the perfection expected of a young man with his pedigree. Hanako could tell that he had instantly captured the hearts of the young women who had greeted them and the respect of the young men who were present.
"Your father must be very proud of you," the man was saying to Kyoya as he guided them through the halls on a tour of their office. "It isn't every day that a young man your age would give up his weekend to spend the morning with an old man like me."
Their guide didn't seem to notice the tick on Kyoya's face, taking the teenager's pleasant expression at face value. "Well, it isn't every day that I get the opportunity to meet with such an accomplished member of our society. I'm told that you studied abroad for university," Kyoya easily shifted the conversation, expressing his interest in the man's educational background.
Hanako simply maintained her position behind Kyoya, listening as they conversed and tracking their time as he spent the morning building rapport with the representative. By the time their meeting concluded, Kyoya had secured a second meeting with the VP for his brother and reinforced a positive image for the Ootori Group while his father was corresponding with the company's president.
"How are we doing on time?" Kyoya asked Hanako in the car, dropping his façade and reading over the schedule with a bored expression.
"We're still on track," she replied, checking her watch again. "We should have some time after lunch with your sister to go back to the manor if you'd like to change before meeting with Gah-san. By the way, don't forget that the CEO of RR United is going to be joining your family dinner in a couple of days."
"Have something casual prepared for me, then," Kyoya said with little interest. "I'll trust Honda's judgment, and remind me again the day of."
Their day went smoothly, just like Hana planned it. Lunch with Fuyumi had been punctual, and having a meal with his sister after their morning meeting had been exactly what Kyoya needed to reset before another meeting with someone who he couldn't care less about. Hanako had eaten lunch with Tachibana at the table beside Kyoya and Fuyumi, deciding on a small salad under the watchful eye of her older coworker. After lunch, they returned to the Ootori estate, and Kyoya changed into a much more casual street look for his meeting with the son of another client.
Hanako accompanied him to the hotel lobby that Gah had invited them to, and she stood dutifully behind Kyoya as he met and joined the other boy at the table. Hanako maintained a watchful eye of their surroundings while Kyoya chatted up the foreign visitor. Like the vice president earlier that day, Gah ignored her for the most part, and she pretended not to notice the glances he would cast at her when he thought that she wasn't looking.
"You look familiar," Gah said to her, scrutinizing the girl in black. "Have we met before?"
"I'm afraid not," Hanako replied with a polite smile.
"I swear I've seen your face before," he continued.
"You might recognize her from Yuzuha Hitachiin's seasonal catalog," Kyoya supplied.
Gah snapped his fingers and nodded in confirmation, "You're a model for Hitachiin Fashions. My sisters and I are big fans."
Hanako smiled, "I'll be sure to pass on the praise to Hitachiin-sama." Kyoya easily regained the upper hand in their conversation once Gah admitted to favoring the twins' mother as a designer. Hanako happily fell back to the background as Kyoya built common ground with the young man. Following the success of their last meeting for the day, Hanako and Kyoya returned home.
Once they were home, the pair of students settled at their usual work space and started on their tasks for the Host Club. Kyoya had developed more picture books, and Hanako was currently going through their stock while he reviewed their weekly treasury reports.
"How did the picture books turn out?" he asked as she closed the last box of the delivery.
"We could do with better quality photographs," she admitted, taking a seat beside him and reading the list of pre-orders made by their guests.
"I'm not sure we have any room in the budget," Kyoya sighed. "How is Haruhi's balance looking? It really is a shame that we couldn't auction off that vase."
"There will be other auctions," Hana replied easily, flipping to the sheet she kept for Haruhi's records. "She's doing well. I'm actually impressed."
Kyoya held his hand out for the bound clipboard, and she passed it to him. His gray eyes scanned the page, and he said, "Yes, but it isn't enough to hire professional photographers."
Hana turned a loose sheet of paper with the past weekly expenses and read over them quickly. "We could cut some of the costs from hired help," she commented. They spent so much money accommodating for extra hands during their special events. Cleaning fees and kitchen assistants guzzled up funds from the party and the garden reception.
He nodded and handed her back the clipboard, "You're right. We should be relying on our club members more for those duties, but that's never going to happen. Even with you and Haruhi on board, we don't have enough people who can carry out commoner duties." The comment wasn't meant to be biting, but Hanako couldn't help but feel a sting of resentment at what Kyoya had just said.
The third son of the Ootori family looked up at his friend thoughtfully as he realized how elitist it sounded. "Hana, you know what I meant," he said in an apologetic, gentle voice. The girl across from him offered a small smile but didn't say anything to correct him. "You should go get ready for dinner," he slipped back into his usual cadence and glanced at the clock. "I can take care of everything else for the night."
Hanako rose to her feet and bent at the waist deferentially, "Yes, sir." Turning, she walked across the room unhurriedly, only stopping at the door when she heard Kyoya asking a question after a second thought.
"What time will you be home tonight?"
Taking in the sight of Kyoya surrounded by a spread of papers, charts, and books, Hanako smiled at the young man who overworked himself every night. "I should be home by ten thirty," she answered.
He nodded, "Give Yuzuha-san my regards."
Hana decided to take a shower before the Hitachiins' car arrived to pick her up. She washed away the lingering scent of coffee and changed into the clothes that she wore off duty. Her outfit for the evening consisted of beige cigarette pants and a cap sleeved floral blouse in lavender. The Hitachiins' driver held the door open for her when it was time to leave for dinner.
Hana watched the scenery pass by as they drove to the twins' house, and she thought that it was strange how unfamiliar the route seemed. Had she really not visited them regularly from the Ootori estate? The drive felt longer than it really was. As a child, Hanako never felt as though the Hitachiins were very far, and she knew every landmark from the Negida household to the Hitachiins' by heart. It felt wrong to be taking the current drive instead.
The car pulled up to the Hitachiins' gate, and the floral, wrought iron opened automatically. Hana felt the comfort of familiarity as they drove up the long way to the front steps. Theirs was the most beautiful property in Japan. Not because of location, but because the Hitachiin family had the best eye for landscaping in the entire country.
The driver parked the car and opened the door for her, again. Thanking him, she let him help her out of the car. Twin maids greeted her with matching smiles, "Welcome, Negida-sama."
"Madame Hitachiin is in the sitting room," the other informed her as she stepped into the beautiful mansion that was the Hitachiin family's home. Breathing deeply, the scent of jasmine wrapped around her like a blanket, and she smiled at the two girls who welcomed her.
"Negida-san is fine, Yuri, Shiori," Hanako corrected them.
The girls nodded together, and Hanako knew that they wouldn't change their honorific at her request. "Do you need help finding the room?" the girls asked her.
"No, thank you. I know the way," she assured them, stepping into the home and navigating her way to the sitting room where Yuzuha was waiting.
The woman looked up from her magazine when the door opened, and she beamed when she saw Hanako. Yuzuha was a radiant woman with a playful personality that had rubbed off on her children. Her eyes glittered as she stood to greet Hanako, "There you are!" Yuzuha embraced the teenager tightly, and Hanako returned the warm welcome. With her hands on Hanako's shoulders, the short haired woman drew back, "Let me have a look at you. You look tired, are you getting enough sleep? I just received an eye cream from Paris that I think you'd like. Remind me to send some to you."
"I'm fine, Auntie Yuzu," Hanako insisted with a smile, unsure of Yuzuha's unchanging, open affection for her. Noticing that the boys weren't in the room, Hana asked, "Where are Hikaru and Kaoru?"
"Oh, they're upstairs doing homework," Yuzuha said, sitting back down on the luxurious cream colored chaise and patting the spot next to her. "Never mind those boys, they get to see you every day. It's been a long time since you've been to the house."
Caught in the same teasing maple colored eyes as Hikaru and Kaoru's, Hanako suddenly felt like a mouse that had willingly served itself up to the lioness. "Ah, sorry," she apologized, feeling embarrassed for not keeping up with the weekly dinners. "Work keeps me busy."
The corners of Yuzuha's painted lips pulled down in a subtle frown, "Right. I still can't believe that Yoshio Ootori has you locked in that contract. It's absolutely ridiculous to ask you to fill Yuudai's shoes like this. An arrangement like that is too much to ask."
"You've disapproved of it ever since it was put into effect," Hanako pointed out good-naturedly.
"Yes," Yuzuha nodded, "and I'll disapprove of it until you come of age." The fiercely protective woman had protested and been prepared to throw the full weight of her influence against the Ootoris when Kyoya's father proposed the deal to Hanako, but in the end, it was Hana's decision. Yoshio Ootori had acquired Spring Onion International, and he had offered Hanako a chance to reclaim what was rightfully hers as long as she proved that she was capable. It was mutually beneficial. She would fulfill the majority of her father's responsibilities under Tachibana's supervision, and she would personally see to Kyoya's safety off the estate. In exchange for her labor, she would attend Ouran Academy and the Black Onion would remain intact and safe from other buyers.
"I'm collaborating with a friend of mine who's launching a new line of jewelry," Yuzuha informed Hanako, changing the topic with ease. "I've booked you and the boys for the photoshoot, and I'd lke you to come by sometime for a fitting."
"I'll be there whenever you're available," Hanako promised, making a note in the calendar on her phone. Yuzuha had been managing Hana's modeling career since she and the twins were babies, and she continued to represent Hanako well after the girl had become employed by the Ootoris. Hanako had clearly prioritized her role as her father's heir, and Yuzuha had become more selective of the jobs that she booked for Hana, careful to refuse the ones that she knew her beloved goddaughter couldn't bring herself to do. Hanako had shot to fame quickly, the spitting image of her mother as a teenager, but her schedule was so full that she would only do a handful of shoots throughout the year.
Yuzuha hadn't wanted to book Hanako for this photoshoot, having heard about how busy the girl had become lately, but the designer was such a fan of Akina Negida's and insisted on having her daughter model with the twins.
"Madame, Miss Hanako," a maid called their attention, "dinner is served in the dining room."
Yuzuha stood gracefully, "Perfect, I'm famished. Hana, I'll have my assistant send you the details for our appointment." Hana followed her godmother out of the sitting room, maintaining a respectful distance from the woman, whose sharp eyes caught the habit. "What are you lagging behind for?" she teased, "Do I look like Madame Ootori to you?"
"No, Auntie," Hana squeaked and caught up with her godmother, who smiled in satisfaction and laughed at the younger girl's nervousness that was so much like Yuudai's when they were younger.
"Big sis Hana!" the twins' younger sister sang happily, running up to Hanako and jumping into her arms. Trained to respond to the action by Honey's penchant for bounding into other people's arms, she caught the little girl easily.
"Hey, no fair," Kaoru whined, following her into the dining room with Hikaru at his side.
"Yeah, she's barely even here!" Hikaru complained as Ageha snuggled into Hana's neck.
Turning to face her brothers, Ageha said bluntly, "She's smarter than you."
"No, she's not!" the twins protested in unison.
"Big sis, why don't you visit anymore?" Ageha asked, her soft dark curls brushing against Hanako's cheek.
"I'm sorry, Ageha," Hana said sincerely, hugging the little girl to her closely and feeling guilty for being so absent the past year.
"Big sis is really busy with work and school," Kaoru supplied supportively.
"That's right," Hikaru nodded. "Remember, Ageha? I told you the story of big sis the knight and the evil shadow wizard last night."
"Hikaru!" Hana complained, threatening to pinch him while carrying Ageha with one arm. The oldest sibling stuck his tongue out and raced to the other side of the table for security, grabbing Kaoru's arm and pulling his brother with him as a shield.
Yuzuha clapped her hands and put her hands on her hips as the children all turned to acknowledge her, "Alright, that's enough of that. Let's sit down and eat." They immediately sat in their usual places around the dining table. Hikaru and Kaoru sat beside each other, Yuzuha and Hayato sat across from each other at the ends of the table, and Hana sat next to Ageha across the table from Kaoru.
Dinner started easily enough with the same small talk and playfulness that always seemed commonplace during Saturday night dinners with the Hitachiins. Hayato asked the boys and Hana about their week at school, and the husband and wife told the kids about their weeks at work. Kaoru and Hanako expressed more interest in what Yuzuha was working on, and Hikaru asked his dad more about his programming work while Ageha gave their conversation full attention.
Despite the familiarity of dinner at the Hitachiin family's dinner table, Hanako couldn't shake the discomfort that kept bothering her as Hikaru kept icing her out while their mom steadfastly treated her as if nothing had changed. It was so easy to be there with them, but at the same time, she felt like she didn't belong there anymore. It was like they were welcoming another family's servant at their table.
"So, Hana," Yuzuha addressed her, replacing the solemn thoughtfulness on Hanako's face with attention, "tell me about this new host the boys kep talking about." The woman's eyes glittered like jewels as she intentionally badgered her sons.
"Mom!" Hikaru and Kaoru protested in embarrassment.
"You talk about her all the time," Yuzuha waved them down with a huff, "and don't think I haven't noticed you two in the studio making her dresses."
The twins blushed simultaneously. "How'd you know we were making her dresses?" Kaoru asked sheepishly, as red as the tomato sauce on his plate. Dinner that night was inspired by Italy.
"Obviously that cutesy, girlish style doesn't suit Hana," Yuzuha stated before turning back to the black haired girl at the table. "So?"
"I really like her," Hanako admitted, pushing the polenta dish around her plate with her fork. "She's grounded, and I enjoy having her around. I think she's a good influence on the club."
"That's so good to hear," Yuzuha said approvingly. "How is everything going with the Morinozuka boy? Oh, and how is the Haninozuka boy doing?" Hikaru and his father recoiled at the screech of Hanako's fork scratching against the bottom of the plate. She hesitated to answer Yuzuha's probing question. What could she even say to that? Her heart rate picked up as she recalled Takashi guiding the cute, nameless guest of theirs across the dance floor, and the memory of Mitsukuni talking to her in the garden followed close after.
"Everything with the club is going well," Kaoru told his mother, saving Hanako from having to string together some kind of convincing statement.
"That's good," Yuzuha said with a smile, but it was obvious to everyone at the table that she didn't buy it for even a second.
The rest of dinner went by without another hitch, but Hanako was clearly shaken by Yuzuha's line of questioning. After they finished eating, the household staff came out to take away the dishes, and Kaoru invited Hana to stick around for a while longer before heading home. Encouraging her to stay, Yuzuha urged them to take some coffee in the library. So, Hana and Kaoru ended up with an espresso each in the family's massive library.
Kaoru dropped onto the sofa beside Hana and leaned forward with his elbows on his knees comfortably, "I'm sorry for Mom's questions earlier."
"It's okay," she said, leaning back onto the plush cream colored cushions. Staring up at the chandelier, she added, "It's really my own fault for not visiting more often. I see Hikaru didn't stick around to hang out ." The emptiness of the library seemed deafening to her without the twins' laughter beside her.
"He'll get used to the way things are eventually," Kaoru tried to assure her, but she shot him a questioning look that challenged whether or not that was really true. Her relationship with Hikaru was barely hanging on by a thread. Not that she had ever been as close to Hikaru as she had been with Kaoru. Nonetheless, their relationship had never been so bad. It was her own fault that the closest people she had to siblings felt so far away from her, now, she knew that.
"How are things going with Tamaki?" Kaoru asked when she didn't say anything. It was obvious to the entire club that Hana was avoiding their president, and it felt weird. It wasn't as if they had to choose sides or as if the issue was coming between the rest of them, but it just felt like the club wasn't right. Tamaki, Kyoya, and Hanako had been the ones to start the club. The rest of them had been recruited later, and even though Kaoru and Hikaru had been hesitant at first, it had been an excuse to see their big sis again. Tamaki had accomplished that for them when they hadn't known how to get her back, and seeing her at odds with him felt like the heart and soul of the club were wrestling each other.
"I'm not mad at him anymore," she admitted aloud for the first time to her best friend. Kaoru listened intently as Hana confided in him. "I'm more embarrassed for reacting the way I did. I don't know how to apologize to him."
"You should just talk to him," Kaoru advised. "The boss isn't the kind of person to hold a grudge, and you're allowed to be mad, anyway. We crossed a line, and we really are sorry for putting you through all that."
"You just aren't sorry for doing it," she said with a raised eyebrow.
Kaoru shrugged innocently, "We all have our own jobs to do." Well, she couldn't argue with that. It was even written in their club's constitution that they were bound to make every girl happy, a demand that Kyoya and Hanako hadn't been able to talk Tamaki out of when they wrote the document.
"How are you doing with everything else?" Kaoru asked, his concern for her obvious in his voice.
Hana's gaze slid to the pictures of their families together that were displayed on the wall. Her eyes settled on a picture of Akina and Yuzuha carrying their toddlers as Hikaru tugged on one of Hanako's pigtails and Kaoru reached for his godmother's long, ink black hair. "It's as hard as it's ever been," she said honestly, resigned to and weighed down by the new life she had chosen for herself.
"If you ever need anything," Kaoru reminded her, "you have people who you can turn to."
She kept her eyes on the framed picture, not wanting to see the sympathy in his eyes when he looked at her. "I know, Kaoru," her mechanical response sounded.
Before Hana left their home for the night, she hugged her godmother and best friend, promising to be back for dinner sometime.
"Good night, Mom," Kaoru kissed his mother on the cheek before she went to her studio for the night.
Good night, Kaoru," she said in return, "or is it Hikaru? No, definitely, Kaoru." Kaoru rolled his eyes at Yuzuha's antics and walked up the stairs to the media room that he and his brother shared. As expected, his older brother was sitting in the dark in front of a screen displaying a new video game that Hikaru had started the other day.
"You shouldn't be so distant with Hana," Kaoru chastised his brother, joining him on the red cushions.
Hikaru didn't even pause the game when he answered scathingly, "It's her own fault for leaving us behind for Kyoya-senpai."
"We both know that's not what happened," Kaoru said gently, remembering the look on Hana's face the day that Hikaru had stormed out of their room when she confronted them two and a half years ago. He remembered seeing her shoulders sag for the first time in his life and catching the relief on her face as he and Hikaru walked away from her. "How long are you planning on punishing her for?"
"As long as she insists on separating herself from us," Hikaru answered stubbornly. His twins eyes hardened as he continued to play the game. "Why does it matter, anyway? All we need is each other. It's always been the two of us. She's just like the others."
Kaoru looked sadly at the picture frame hanging on the wall, and he knew that Hikaru didn't really believe what he was saying. After all, their Aunt Akina had been there when they were born. She had been sitting in the hospital with their Uncle Yuu and little Hanako while their mom gave birth to the two boys. "Hana's different," Kaoru said ina firm yet gentle voice, getting up and taking out his phone to make a call.
Hana went straight to Kyoya's room when she got home from dinner and knocked on the door. "Come in," Kyoya sounded from inside, and she opened the door. He glanced up from his computer to acknowledge her arrival but didn't move from the floor as she joined him. Hana could tell that he hadn't moved from his favorite work table since she left for dinner. His vest was lying across the back of his sofa, and his hair was mussed from running his hand through it as he usually did when he had trouble concentrating.
"How was dinner?" he asked.
"It was pleasant," she replied casually, moving to the counter space between Kyoya's bedroom and private bathroom where they kept the tea and coffee bar out of sight. "Would you like some tea?"
"Coffee, please," he corrected, ignoring the obvious fact that dinner hadn't been as pleasant as she wanted him to believe. She had always been bad at hiding how she really felt, and he had gotten to know her better these past few years. She wasn't quite as frank as Haruhi, nor as simple as Tamaki. Hanako was just unconvincing when she tried to pretend, but for her sake and the sake of the club, they all pretended along with her. So, Kyoya didn't press the issue further.
"How was the rest of your day?" she asked him, fixing his coffee the way that he liked it.
"The same as always," he replied evenly. "The Tropical Aqua Garden is almost done. I'm considering a soft opening for the host club."
"Oh? When do they estimate completion by?" Hanako asked, and they started working like a well-oiled machine. The rest of that night was spent addressing matters related to the host club, the Ootori Group, and the Black Onion while they pretended that nothing was changing around them.
A/N... Here is the first of what is going to be many chapters that take place outside of the anime and manga! I hope you liked it. Thank you so much for everyone who's giving their feedback and sharing what they think happened/is going to happen. I really enjoy reading your theories, and I'm glad you're enjoying! Your support means the world to me :)
As always, thank you for reading, and please share your thoughts on this chapter. If you want to chat and ask questions, feel free to PM me, too.
Next time: A new rival. Hanako meets Renge, but what will she think of Kyoya's self-proclaimed fiancee?