.
.
Some days in Music Room 3 are quieter than others.
(But never when the Host Club occupies it.)
"MOOOMMMMAAAAAAA!"
Tamaki whines dramatically, hugging the oversized, bunny-suit cosplay that Hikaru and Kaoru teased for Haruhi. She promptly turned it down. Again. Right now Haruhi's with one of her regulars, politely dabbing off a smear of icing from the other girl's chin.
Kimiko Sakurazuka swoons in her plush, pink chair, fluttering her eyelashes.
Another pitifully loud whine escapes Tamaki.
"We have clients," Kyouya mumbles, tilting up his eyeglasses with a pinky finger. "It does not matter that yours is discovered late by several minutes… you could at least try to behave in a ridiculous manner between your appointments, Tamaki."
"AAAAHHHHH!"
Mori tunes out the continuous and indignant howling from Tamaki, now muffled into Haruhi's pink bunny-suit, as well as the deadpan glances from Kyouya. He sets down his cup of loose-leaf green tea. At the next table, Hikaru and Kaoru snicker.
"Did they brew gyokuro for you?" Mori's client asks, smiling shyly. "What a heavenly odor."
"It is."
She sighs, folding her hands daintily across her lap. Her grey-blue eyes turn rapt.
"Heavenly~"
On the other end of the brightly lit pink room, a gaggle of girls murmur fretfully to each other. Mori's eyes wander to them. Honey arches up on his tiptoes, over and over, reaching for a cabinet shelf that is far too high for him. His expression adorably fixated.
Mori's client watches along with Mori, hovering an opened hand to her lips and giggling.
"You care very much about Honey-senpai, don't you?"
The ends of Mori's mouth faintly quirk.
He rises to his feet, bowing his head deeply.
"Excuse me."
"Of course, Mori-senpai."
The more that Honey impatiently bounces on his heels… the more of Honey's clients "aawww~!" and squeal in delight.
That's the point.
A show to put on for their benefit, and to further Honey's young, innocent demeanor.
Mori knows full well that Honey could leap five times the pink-painted cabinet's height, in seconds, and kick something right off hard enough to dent it. Possibly break apart the cabinet itself with the power of Honey's leg strength. Even if he's small.
As soon as Mori gets close enough, Honey whines at him.
Tears flood from Honey's widening, light brown eyes. His cheeks flushed-pink.
Without acknowledging it, Mori gently grabs onto the stuffed bunny and lowers it into Honey's eager hands.
A chorus of relieved exhales behind them.
Honey makes a joyous giggle, twirling Usa-chan in a circle. For a moment, Mori imagines little, pink flowers sprouting over Honey's head.
"Takashi, c'mere," Honey says, clasping his arms behind him, along with Usa-chan, and beaming up at him. His voice consisting of sugary sweetness. "Closer," he says again, when Mori bends down. "No, you silly! You gotta get closer than that!"
Mori suspects something as soon as he glimpses the twinkle of mischief in Honey's eye.
He does as bid, crouching down to meet eye-to-eye with Honey, instead of bending over and straining his back. Mori's knees out. There's nothing gentlemanly about sticking out his bottom to everything and everyone in the Host Club.
Honey giggles, less cutesy and more coy, more like Mitsukuni—or so Mori thinks.
His little lips find Mori's cheek, warm and wet-sticky.
Mori's eyes go round. It's only for the slightest second, and Honey pulls away, examining Mori's expression. He looks gleeful to Mori, the light brightening in Honey's eyes. Like he holds inside him… a piece of summer. Endless and ethereal.
"OOO~OOHH❤︎!" Renge screeches into her megaphone, practically bursting with excitement. "MOOOOOO~~OOOOE❤︎❤︎!"
Honey turns to his clients, ignoring her, giggling and waving his stuffed bunny's arms.
"Yayyy! And now Usa-chan can have some cake too~~!"
"Honey-senpai!" Momoka Kurakano yells girlishly, waving back. "There's more chocolates! Rie-chan brought lemon squares!"
A trolley rolls in. The more Honey can see the number of silver trays, all laid out with treats… the more his grin widens in pure pleasure. There's apple tarte tatin and plum clafoutis, Mori notices. Mille-feuille with roasted strawberries. Cherry and rose eclairs dusted with sugar crystals. Peach soufflé. Rum and vanilla canelé served with caramel. Macarons flavored with lime, orange, strawberry, and blueberry.
Chocolate raspberry pudding. Chocolate truffles and chocolate crepes topped with marshmallow fluff. White chocolate mousse. Three-layer chocolate ganache cake. French silk chocolate pie. Chocolate cupcakes. Salted dark chocolate bars.
Honey laughs, running towards their table, taking a nearby client's hand and spinning them merrily. They giggle.
On the way there, Mori's natural instincts—danger! danger! danger!—blare into the forefront of his mind. He lurches after Honey, suddenly snatching him off his feet. Every girl within viewing distance, including Renge, squeals their hearts out.
"Careful," Mori says lowly, frowning.
Right under Honey's feet—right where he meant to step—is a broken teacup plate. Jagged, delicate shards of pink porcelain.
Mori's throat clenches.
"Sorry!" Haruhi exclaims, coming over with a broom. "One of the girls tripped and left a mess. She apologized. Please be careful." She picks up the dustpan, as Mori nods silently, dutifully, moving around the other two Host Club members.
One of Honey's hands reaches out, anchoring himself to Mori's shoulder as he shifts up.
Mori tightens his grip on him.
"That's okay, Haru-chan," Honey announces, his usually cheerful voice softening. "I'm alright. Takashi saved me."
"Oh, well… thank goodness for that…"
Haruhi doesn't notice as Mori's eyes roam over Honey's face, and as Honey's fingers clench a little deeper into Mori's uniform.
More high-pitched screams of Honey's clients ring out. Reiko Kanazuki surprisingly swoons, right off her feet, held up by one of Tamaki's clients and Ayame Jounouchi fanning her, gawking. Mori's client joins the rest of the girls, clapping happily.
Honey yawns widely, her little, pearly teeth exposing. Thank goodness for no more cavities, Mori supposes.
"I think it's, mm… it's time for a nap…"
"If you want to," Mori whispers, a little curious when a mischievous, summery light returns to Honey's—Mitsukuni's— gaze.
"Nap with me, Takashi…"
He can't help it: a low but heartfelt chuckle emerges from Mori's lips.
"If you want to."
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