Haruhi and I spent the rest of the day just relaxing and spending time together, not even letting go of one another to go to sleep.
When we woke up, we packed up our things and went back to my car, putting our things in the trunk, and heading out on our way.
"I have never been less ready to go to school tomorrow." she groaned.
"I have to go an entire day without holding your hand or kissing your perfect face. I know how you feel." I told her. She smiled.
"I get to deal with that, two Hitachiins and a Suoh tomorrow. If this is a 'woe-as-me' off, I win, hands down." She laughed, then groaned again, realising the reality of her own joke.
"Hey, speaking of school, what's the plan on explaining why we're coming to school together?" She asked. I'd been thinking about that for a while.
"Well, you do have a leg injury now. Why would I let you walk when your apartment's not out of my way?" I winked at her.
"Tamaki's going to try to fight you for that privilege, you know that right?"
"And if there is anyone Tamaki is too afraid to challenge on matters like that...well, that would be me." I told her. He'd never admit it, but he knew my word was final regarding anything with the Host Club, a category in which Haruhi fell.
"What about at home? Wouldn't you being involved with me be 'scandalous' or something? I'm not exactly a benefit to the Ootori name or anything. I don't want to wreck your reputation or whatever." The fact that she had this thought at all made me a little sad, but I understood where she was coming from.
"Well, if I can be completely honest with you, I don't really care if he approves of my choices anymore. But, it's worth mentioning that my father actually likes you. He thinks you're headstrong."
"But-" she started, but I interrupted her.
"Also, Fuyumi has known my feelings towards you for months. Do you know how hard it is to hide that from an older sister?" I laughed a little. "Fuyumi adores you." I sighed. "I adore you. And that matters more to me than family approval."
"Kyoya...somehow, I think that is the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." She smiled.
"How exactly am I supposed to talk to a bunch of girls when you're going to be right by me?" She asked, laughing a little.
"I could say the same thing." I reached over and held her hand, not looking away from the road. "Perhaps it will make our time alone even more special." She smiled at me.
"You're about to witness the best acting I can possibly muster tomorrow." She said.
"If I have managed to only have two people realise I had feelings for you so far, I think my acting skills are proficient enough for this."
"Two? Who knows?" She asked.
"Well, Fuyumi knew within the week you and I met. The other one, believe it or not, is Hunny."
"How did that happen?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Honestly, I have no idea. He just kind of knew. Asked me about it only a few weeks after you joined the Hosts."
"How long do you give it before Kaoru knows?" She asked me, half smiling.
"It could be immediate, it could be never. Those two are quite hit or miss on what they notice. The only reason he even knows you're staying with me is because he was in the right place at the wrong time." I squeezed her hand a little tighter. "Don't worry. Even if they somehow found out tomorrow, I'd still be by your side."
"I think we ruined the family dynamic, huh...Mama…" She wore that Hitachiin grin that I was growing to hate.
"If you keep that up, I will exclusively refer to Tamaki as 'Daddy' in your presence." She visibly cringed.
"Oh god no."
The rest of the car ride was spent debating the new family order of the Hosts.
"I guess we're the parents now?" She laughed, questioning her statement.
"I suppose I have to pass down the title of 'Mama'."
"Oh no way." she laughed. "'I'm taking Daddy, you're Mama forever."
I groaned. I hated that nickname. Never did I think as a nearly eighteen year old man, one of my aliases would be 'Mama'.
"That's it. Tamaki is getting called Daddy forever now."
"No! You can NOT do that to me."
"Daddy's not going to like your tone."
"KYOYA NO. Okay okay, You can be Daddy."
I laughed. "What can I say, I know how to get what I want." I took a moment to think. "Actually, don't call me Daddy. I kind of hate it."
She laughed. "Mama it is!"
"You're turning into a Hitachiin, you know that?"
"You take that back." She looked jokingly offended.
"I can't take back the truth, Love."
Both of our phones started dinging. It was the Hosts' group chat. Haruhi pulled out her phone and started reading the messages in an even tone, which made the whole thread much funnier to me.
"Okay...Hunny said 'Haruhi! You're going to be so surprised tomorrow!', immediately followed by the twins interchangeably saying things like 'IGNORE HUNNY' and 'Blah blah blah' over and over again. Tamaki throws in a 'Everything will be totally normal tomorrow, Haruhi! Ignore them!', and my personal favorite addition from Mori-senpai. 'Yeah.'" She laughed. "I would pay money to hear him read poetry or something."
"I've known him for years, and this is probably the most he's ever really spoken. This being the time you've known him. From what Hunny-senpai has told me, he was even more silent as a kid."
"He'd be a good friend to tell secrets to, I suppose. They'd be locked up forever." She looked over at me. "He's gotta know some good ones."
"Not only is he not a talker, but loyal to a tee." I added.
Her phone went off again.
"Oh, speak of the devil… I got a message from just Mori-senpai that just says 'ignore them'. He's trying." She laughed. "How are they all this bad at any kind of surprise?"
I groaned. "Do you know how impossible it is to plan any kind of surprise for the guests with them around? I normally just don't tell anybody, and surprise them too. Easier that way."
We pulled into our driveway. I parked the car, and we grabbed our things and went inside. My phone went off this time as we started up the stairs.
It was Kaoru. "Is this how you feel trying to wrangle Tamaki, my brother and I all the time? This is exhausting." I laughed out loud. Haruhi looked at me, confused.
"My god, what was so funny?"
I showed her the message and she laughed too.
"He is experiencing my life in my absence. I guess you can't argue that 'Mama' is an inaccurate name for me." My phone dinged again.
"They're trying to buy her all kinds of things she'd hate. I'm outnumbered here. Send help."
I texted all of the Hosts in a group, minus Haruhi. "You are all aware that surprising her with lavish gifts will make her extremely uncomfortable, yes?"
Kaoru texted the group first. "See! Kyoya-senpai agrees with me!"
Then Tamaki. "But Kyoya! How will we show her we missed her greatly!?"
I sighed. "Tell her that. With your words. And not physically berating her the moment she walks in the door."
Kaoru added, "THAT'S WHAT I SAID!"
"You said no presents, you were fully on board with physical assault." Hikaru chimed in.
"Kyoya! Come to the music room and help us set up for Haruhi!" Tamaki demanded.
I was the only one with the keys to get in there outside of school hours.
"Haruhi, I think I have to go help Kaoru keep the peace." I told her as we stopped at her door.
"Have fun with that." She laughed. "I have to catch up on all of my school work anyway." I smiled and kissed her cheek, opening her door for her. "Good luck." She teased as she closed the door behind her.
I went and put all of my things in my room, grabbing my laptop bag and cellphone, and headed back out.
"I'll be there shortly." I texted them.