Nothing Is Set In Stone (OHSHC)

Ch. 3: Kyouya's Cream Puff Test

Author's Note: Still don't own, so you can't sue. Meheheheh… Quick side note: I didn't (and still don't) know the name of Haruhi's middle school. Is it even mentioned? Well, I made up my own. If anyone happens to know the actual name of said middle school, I would really appreciate it if you could tell me so I can change it here! :D

Another side note: Have I mentioned that I hate Renge? I haven't? Well, I do.

Once Suou-senpai had announced to—he said "mother"—the other hosts, but motioned to another tall boy, Haruhi grabbed my hand and, once again, started dragging me away from her so-called friends. I'm starting to wonder if she's here by choice. As I looked back, I could see the boys, all of them, looking at us run away. Then, I saw an ocean of teenage girls swamp what little space the entrance had. Does this have something to do with Haru-neechan's "responsibilities" after class?

I didn't have time to ask.

"Stay in here, ne, Kuraki-chan?" She told me in a hasty breath.

I fumbled at the mouth. I have no clue as to what's going on right now! "B-but Haruhi, what—"

"Don't worry," She cut me off with a reassuring smile. "I'll explain everything and everyone after the Host Club. Just stay in here. Have a pastry! I know how much you like sweets. I'll be back soon."

"Haru—hi…" And like that, my neechan closed the door in my face and disappeared.

So far, I'm not liking how any of this is going. Haruhi seems distant… she's not letting me talk to her friends, and worst of all, she's not making any sense. If there is anyone I would go to, to explain to me anything, she would be the person. Was it something I said? Could it be that things aren't the same between us? I gasped loudly. What if she has secretly joined a gang of some sorts with this group of handsome young men, and they are extorting her!? I must know!

Escaping my thoughts, I finally turned around to see about six pastry chefs staring at me like I was crazy. With the animated actions I was using while thinking, I may as well have been.

"Hello?" I greeted awkwardly.

All of the chefs then smiled before unanimously saluting a perky, "Hello!" back at me.

…

'She most definitely is very different than Haruhi, though, both of their first impressions were very much alike.' I jotted down a few side notes in my black notebook—something about the lighting—as I made my path for the kitchen. 'Now, for my own personal test.'

While I had settled the afternoon's requests to their proper Host, I had decided not to accept any while I gave a quick check-up on Miss Ena.

Before even reaching out for the door, it slid open. Yes, the sweets should be out by now. My mistake for not sending the chefs out earlier. (I made another quick note.) With the door already open, I slunk inside. Call me judgmental, but I was half expecting to find Miss Ena devouring a few pastries. Not that I am insinuating that she is the thieving type, but place a commoner in a room filled with jewels worth millions, and try to tell me that one will not go missing. I was, however, befuddled to see Miss Ena sitting on a stool, looking out the window. Her ocean green eyes shining like a piece of sea glass in the sun. No pastry on her being whatsoever. Thinking I had gone unnoticed, I tried to hastily make my exit—the test could wait for some other day—but, unfortunately, I bumped into the head chef who just so happened to drop his tray. The clatter of it all caught the attention of Miss Ena, and the chatting females in the other room. So much for going unnoticed.

"I am terribly sorry, Ootori-san!" The chef cried as he begun to sweep up the crumbs.

I bent down to help, "No, please. It was my fault entirely. At least there were no pastries left on the tray. No harm done." I soothed with a warm smile. To which, he bought. I took a quick glance behind and found Miss Ena observing me. She stared with delight.

"Ah, Miss Ena." After finishing with the baker, I dusted my hands off and walked to her. "I hope that I have not startled you?"

"Not at all! That was actually pretty amusing." She smiled brightly. "I guess even the poise and elegant can be clumsy."

I stared in silence. Her words… I didn't know how to perceive them. Was she being genuine, or sarcastic? She had said it all too innocently. As I remained mute, she did not.

"Did you need something of me…? I'm terribly sorry. I haven't caught your name. Obviously, you know mine."

Interesting. "Ootori Kyouya, Miss Ena." With my poise and elegance, I obtained her hand in my own, and bowed gracefully for her. "It truly is an honor to acquaint such a lovely friend of Haruhi's." Had I played my cards right?

Once again, she retracted her limb. "While it is most definitely an honor to meet you Ootori-senpai, I must ask that you not act so chivalrous." She paused for a moment. "At least, not when you are forcing yourself to."

Very interesting. "This is no act, Miss Ena. However, I will respect to your wishes. Now, would you mind telling me about yourself?"

"That's a very forward question, isn't it, Ootori-senpai?" Miss Ena seemed rather awkward than peeved. "But you are a friend of Haru-neechan. What would you like to know?"

I smiled genuinely on the outside, coyly on the inside. "Anything you are fine with telling me. What middle school did you attend? How long have you known Haruhi? Why did you move?"

She remained silent. Had I crossed my borders?

"Well, my name is Ena Kuraki. I attended Kyoujin Middle School with Haruhi, but before that, Ohina Elementary. I've known Haru-Haru since I was in the fourth grade and we've been, like the best of friends since. My family had to move because of my father's job. He's a corporate jet pilot and my mother is the head attendant. When I was younger, I'd travel with them wherever they went. Since entering middle school, my parents thought that I should focus more on my studies." I watched as her expression softened. She no longer looked me in the eyes. "That's when my father got a new job and had to relocate so we'd be closer… wherever it was we were going. It was so sudden that I didn't give Haruhi and proper goodbye. Things were different and I felt really sad for a long time. Not just me, my parents too. They loved working in the airline field that they soon went back to it. The problem now is that they've been hired as full-time, instead of on-call."

I nodded understandingly. "So, now you see your parents less?"

"Yes, but, it's not all bad! I get to stay with Haru-neechan!" I'm not sure if she notice my glasses glaring with light as she revealed such interesting information. "Did I answer your questions, Ootori-senpai?"

"Why, yes. Thank you, Miss Ena." I answered while scribbling madly in my notebook. As she spoke, I listened, but furiously wrote every detail. I flashed her a smile and gave a small bow. "I'm afraid I must be off now. But, before I go, would you be interested in a pastry?"

She turned around, looking at the variety we had. "Sure."

'Just as I thought.'

"How much?" She inquired as she pulled out a pink wallet with chibi panda heads on it. "The cream puffs look good!"

I stood still; baffled for a moment. "Er—608 Yen."

"Wowzers." I could hear the commoner in her cry in agony. "This really is a rich people's school." She gave a small chortle. "Here you are." She held out the money in front of me.

Normally, I would snatch the bills away from someone without fret. I would give no thought if they required it for something they absolutely needed. It was their problem, not mine. They were willing; I merely offered something they could not deny. But, I could not bring myself to take Miss Ena's money. Despite how easy it was to con her out of it. Despite how willing she was to give it to me. She was smiling as she waited.

I could not bring myself to abuse of her in such a manner.

Another giggle escaped her lips. "Well, I'm not going to take a pastry without paying. So," Miss Ena grabbed my hand—the one not gripping my clipboard—and stuffed the money in my hand. I curled it into a fist as soon as she let go. "Thank you, Ootori-senpai."

"Right. –Ahem– I will see you after club activities. Until then, Miss Ena."

"Good-bye, Ootori-senpai!" She waved before lunging into the cream puffs.

Something about this girl is distracting. I wrote down a few last notes before slapping my notebook shut. Let's see how this turns out.

…

Ootori Kyouya. What an interesting fellow. I eyed the platter of baked, creamy goodies. Yes, they had the ones I like. The cream puffs that have a top, a bottom, and a center of whipped cream sweetness! I believe Haruhi has mentioned this boy to Ranka-papa. I don't quite remember, though. I gently pulled off the top, flaky shell and scraped some cream onto it. Oh, it's like conducting an orchestra. Such beauty. I took a bite and was instantly overwhelmed with such flavor. I could practically taste my money's worth. I'm frightened by him though. He's obviously really smart, obviously really rich, and he's very intimidating. He must be the first born son. I returned the top shell, reforming the sandwich like pastry. I then took a giant bite; the cream oozed out.

With a sudden thud of a door shutting, I turned around surprised to find the tallest boy who I was introduced to. Informally, that is. He stared at me, his eyes frozen solely on me. I didn't like it. He was making me uncomfortable. He started walking towards me. Oh god, does he not like commoners? Or worse, does he just not like me? His face… it's so hard to figure what he's thinking about. It's so serious! He's getting closer. Why hasn't he said anything!?

He stopped… right in front of me. His glistening, gray eyes looking down at me. Well, I still had to introduce myself.

"Er— Hello." I bowed gracefully before him. "My name is Ena Kuraki. It is a pleasure to meet you." He was voiceless by choice. He merely continued his unfazed gaze. I was about to ask him his name, but he had anticipated me.

"Morinozuka Takashi."

Wow…zers… He has such a strong, deep voice. If it weren't for the fact that I did even know the guy, I probably would have melted right then and there.

"Morinozuka-senpai." I repeated, making sure that I had heard and said it right. He nodded lazily. "You are Haruhi's friend, ne?" He didn't say anything. "Are you in her class?" Not a word. "Do you like it here?" Deafening silence. I didn't know what to say anymore! It's like, he's not even trying to converse! He just kept staring at me!

At my wit's end, I resulted in the last, straightforward question I could think of asking. Maybe he would be honest, maybe he wouldn't. I didn't care anymore. He has to say something to me!

"Am… Am I bothering you?"

Morinozuka-senpai stared intensely. His eyes burned with the fires of hell, and the annoyed scowl on his face darkened the brightly lit room. A threatening hiss escaped his lips. Of course I'm over-exaggerating! But that's what I saw as Morinozuka-senpai remained quiet for a good six seconds before he did something. And I never felt such relief.

Morinozuka-senpai shook his head. He said nothing, but that said it all.

And, like this whole, traumatizing scene had not just thoroughly scarred my life, Senpai grabbed a cake in each hand, nodded one last time, and fled from the room. "Eh?" I murmured while furrowing my brows together. Feeling a little nauseous, (from the fear of making a fool of myself), I sat back down on the stool by the window. I rubbed my temples as I groaned loudly.

'Ohh… I don't think I can take one more hour of this, let alone the rest of my high school life. Good looking men bring nothing but trouble!' I sighed, cupping my chin in the palms of my hands. 'If these are Haruhi's friends, I seriously wonder how she puts up with them.'

The door opened again. I snapped my vision to the opening, and found Morinozuka-senpai poking his head inside. My stomach churned again.

"You have cream on your nose." He closed the door.

I immediately wiped my nose with the back of my hand and saw streaks of white, whipped cream. 'That's why Morinozuka-senpai was staring at me!' I jumped off the stool, a giant smile plastered on my face. Then the realization hit. 'Damn it! That's why Morinozuka-senpai was staring at me!' Embarrassment quickly took over my face as I pictured Senpai laughing internally at me. How could I be so clueless!?

Author's Note:

Yay! Chapter three! I apologize for not getting this out sooner. As figured, I was failing my classes, so that was eating up most of my time. But I'm on Thanksgiving break until the 2nd of Dec.! I'll try to get out as many chapters out as I can.

Soooooooo! What did you guys think? Do you know how hard it is to write for Mori? It's very hard! D: I do not know how some author's do it, but bless their beautiful souls because I can't! The scene with Kyouya seemed very dry for my taste but it gets better! The only reason this story is rated M is because of him anyhow ;D

Important question! I've been avoiding this for the first three chapters, but what year should you (Kuraki) be? A first year with Haruhi, Kaoru, and the reluctant Hikaru? Or a second year with the princely Tamaki and wary Kyouya? I know I don't want you to be a third year [sorry Mori and Hani] just because the possibility of continuing this series would be terminated. I-if you guys even want a continuation.

On a different note! Thank you guys for favoring, following, and my first review! Anything you guys constructively criticize on my writing skills really pushes me forward! ^-^ Thank you, thank you very much! I really appreciate and love you!