Nothing Is Set In Stone (OHSHC)

Ch. 5: Pretty Girls Just Make Him Nervous

Author's Note: Mina! Sumimasen! I'm sorry for deserting you guys for like, two months! College, man. It'll get you… Not only that, I've been distracted by a beautiful Irish gentleman. Unfortunately for me, things will not advance any more than "just friends." It hurts, even though I am the one who made sure it would stay like this. (It's a long, complicated story; I'm willing to chat if you are.) Anywho! My own experiences have inspired me to continue this series!

Thank you guys so much for continuing the support! You guys are so amazing for giving this story a chance! I would really love it if you guys would review this and tell me what this is missing or what you love! Is Kuraki a good character? Anything at all! Arigatou gozaimasu~!

"Are you sure you want to stay home today, Kuraki-chan?" I asked Kuraki as she remained in my bed.

Since Otousan and I live in a two-bedroom apartment, Kuraki is now bunking with me, literally. We think nothing of it. We've done this when we were younger. Growing up, people always thought we really were sisters; it felt nice. Being an only child only seems nice when you actually have siblings.

"Yeah… I don't think your friends like me very much." She hid her face underneath my pillow.

"What? Sure they do." I sat at the edge of my bed and pulled the blanket off Kuraki. She shivered and her legs curled together. "They're just damn rich kids. I thought the same thing when I first started."

She slowly lifted the pillow off her face. "Really? You did?"

I nodded my head.

"But I wouldn't be able to stay in your class anymore. I'd have to go with Suou-senpai and Ootori-senpai." She returned her head to the bottom of the cushion.

"Kuraki-chan, I've already told you, you're older than both Tamaki-senpai and Kyouya-senpai."

"That doesn't mean I'm on those terms with them yet, Haru-neechan. Suou-senpai seemed like an idiot but now he seems innocent enough. It's Ootori-senpai who's scaring me now." She murmured into the mattress.

I sighed; she had a point. Kyouya-senpai certainly is a complicated guy to understand. But he's not impossible to decipher. I've been handling myself well around him. I think… "Well, I can't force you to go to school… yet. I'm leaving in ten minutes, my female uniform is hanging in the closet if you want to get a feel of what it's like. Ten minutes, Kuki-chan." I used my nickname for Kuraki as my only form of pleading. This is how she knew I really wanted her to do something.

I stood up and exited my room. Otousan had already left for work, so it was just Kuraki and I. I pretended to walk away, but really I stayed hidden behind the door and heard her get up from the bed and shuffle to the closet. I heard her complain from behind the door.

"Ugh… It's yellow?"

I smiled to myself as I hurried to fix two bento boxes for lunch. Seeing as how Kuki-chan is coming along with me.

…

"I don't know if I can do this, Haru-neechan." I watched as older boys and girls passed by Haruhi and I. They were older, smarter, rich, and they knew each other. I was the sore thumb that stuck out. "Maybe this was a mistake. I want to go home."

"Kuraki, you're already here. You'll never get used to this new school if you keep looking for an excuse to run away from it. What are you going to do next week when you have to attend?"

Damn it all… She's right. But I'm not going down without a fight. "But that's a week from now. Surely I'll have built up the courage by then."

"If you aren't ready for something you need now, you'll only be worse the more you put it off." I sighed in defeat; she smiled in victory. "Have fun, Kuki-chan!"

Haruhi, without warning, pushed me into the classroom. My anxiety got the best of me as I shut my eyes thinking the students were watching my every move. As I opened them, I saw that no one noticed me. What a relief!

"Ohayo, Kuraki!" Well, I guess almost no one. Suou-senpai removed himself from his seated position and scurried to me, pulling me into yet another hug. "I see you followed my instructions! Did you sleep well? Did you eat well? I have some fruit in my bag if you're hungry!"

I would have answered Suou-senpai immediately, but I could not shake off the fact that now all the students were staring at me. It was a mixture of intense glares and curious expressions and anything in between. Oh, this is just by the girls. Evidently, Suou-senpai is quite the sex symbol. As for the male students, they just seem intrigued by a new female face who wasn't surgically attached to Suou-senpai.

"Ah-hah… O-ohayo, Suou-senpai. Er, I did sleep well, and ate well, and thank you but I'm not hungry." I finally answered trying not to notice the eyes on me and focus on the… beautiful… blue… eyes on Suou-senpai.

He smiled childishly at me. "Is there anything I can do to help you feel at ease?"

"Oh, you can tell me where the cubbies are and where I'm supposed to sit."

Suou-senpai seemed to brighten up. "Of course!" He grabbed my hand—this time, it felt different—and took me to the back of the room. "Here are the cubbies, you can choose one right now actually. They're not specified but the students seem to have stuck to the first one they chose."

"Oh, ok. Um, this one then." I had quickly scanned the cubbies. There were at least forty of them. Eight across, five down. I chose the one on the right edge on the third row. It was empty. Suou-senpai started chuckling. "What?"

"You chose the one right next to Kyouya's."

"What about me?" Suddenly, Ootori-senpai's chilling voice interrupted Suou and I.

I whipped around and instantly saw him stiffen. His body tensed, as did mine. We said nothing, we did nothing, but stare. Thank goodness Suou-senpai was there, otherwise we probably would have remained in those positions for the entire day!

"Ah! Ohayo, Kyouya! Kuraki's going to be sitting in our class today! Isn't that great?"

Ootori-senpai snapped away his vision as soon as Suou-senpai started talking. "Yes. It is." He adjusted his glasses, though, they ended up in the same position.

I don't know if Suou-senpai could feel the awkwardness in the air, but before things got anymore awkward, he offered to talk to Sensei with me about the seating arrangement.

"Kuraki," I turned to Suou-senpai. "Follow me. Let's talk to Sensei about letting you sit next to me."

"O…k." I managed to squeak out while still trying to avoid Ootori-senpai in any way possible.

Suou-senpai grabbed my hand yet again, and took me to the front of the classroom. Oh goody, the girls are staring again. As we reached the desk, I barely realized that Sensei wasn't even there yet. I looked up to Suou-senpai and found him staring back at Ootori-senpai.

"I could sense that Kyouya was uncomfortable." He spoke, still eyeing Ootori-senpai. "It was when he saw you."

I swallowed hard remembering yesterday's event. "Do you think it's because of what I said yesterday?"

He looked down at me and smiled. "No."

His smile… it has a strangely similar effect on me as that of Haruhi's. When he smiles, I feel a sense of relief, comfort, and—lord forgive me—girliness. Is this why girls constantly pay their own money to just spend time with these boys?

…

"But what is it?" Kuraki asked, laying on Haruhi's bed with a bowl of red grapes sitting on her stomach.

Haruhi, from her desk, gave a small chuckle, "It's what I said. A host club. The hosts have a specified time and within that time frame they eat desserts, drink tea, and most importantly, converse with customers."

"And girls actually pay all kinds of money just for that?"

Haruhi nodded. Kuraki remained quiet as she processed the absurdities that rich kids go through. They throw away their parents money like a struggling, young author does ideas. The older female stuffed a grape in her mouth and bit slowly. A club made specifically just to talk… with handsome men. How the idea was thought of slipped past Kuraki's wandering mind. She could think of a million other things to do with a man. Several of them were obscene and quickly shaken away.

"Well, we can't really stop other people's spending habits. No matter how ridiculous they are." Haruhi removed herself from her seat at her desk and made her way to the bed. She sat at the edge and stole a few grapes from Kuraki's bowl. "Besides… there's only one reason why I'm a host there."

Kuraki turned to her neechan confused, "And what is it?"

…

After Suou-senpai and I spoke with our Sensei, I was allowed to sit next to him with Ootori-senpai sitting on the other side of him. They neither sat too in front, nor too in the back. The lessons were nice though, I found them very easy to understand. I think Haru-neechan had mentioned that rich kids only go to school for the fun of it or something. All in all, it was a very slow day. It was only when there was about half an hour left of class that Suou-senpai and Ootori-senpai stood and began packing up their supplies. Suou whispered to me to do the same. I was absolutely confused but complied nonetheless. We bowed and thanked Sensei for the day's lesson and exited the room.

'Yeah, still confused here…'

"Tamaki-san, where are we going?"

Both Tamaki-san and Ootori-senpai stopped instantly to whip their heads to face me. Ootori-senpai looked confused, but Tamaki… he immediately assaulted me and forced me into another one of his hugs! But, like the last time he held my hand, this hug felt different. Instead of blindly squeezing my form from any which way he could, he lovingly caressed me, carefully bringing my body closer to his. He was warm.

"Kuraki!" Tamaki cried out in glee. "You're getting comfortable with me~!" He pressed me closer to him and begun spinning around.

"-Ahem-" Ootori-senpai interrupted Tamaki's display of affection. "If you two are done, we do have a club to get to."

…

Takashi and I waited in the third music room. We were the first hosts there and since we don't know what today's agenda is—much like always do—we just lazed around on one of our favorite couches. The one closest to the west wing, right underneath the crystal chandelier. Takashi was quiet… more so than usual. I could just tell something was bothering his mind.

"Takashi," He didn't reply but I sensed his body become alert. "Is something on your mind?"

"No." He was lying. His distracted eyes said what he didn't mean. I continued my gaze fixed on him. "Not… really."

"Takashi, you know you can tell me anything." I patted the back of his hand that was laying on his knee. He still remained mute. "Is it Kuraki-chan?"

Takashi looked away even more so. Now this confused me. Was it because his thoughts really were about Kuraki or was he just annoyed that that was the first thing that came out of my mouth?

Suddenly, the main doors flew open. Tamaki, Kyouya, and Kuraki came walking. Waa… She looks so pretty in the schools uniform. I discreetly turned to Takashi; he definitely noticed her too. I left his side and ran to the group. I jumped into Kuraki's arms and was glad she was able to catch me.

"Kuraki-chan!" I squirmed in her arms.

"Ah, konnichiwa, er…" She looked at me questioningly. "I'm sorry, I remember your face; I don't remember your name."

I smiled brightly and answered, "Haninozuka Mitsukuni!"

"Haninozuka-senpai. It's very nice to meet you!" Kuraki bowed her head since her arms were full with, well, me!

I quickly slid off her and continued staring at her. "Kura-chan, how was visiting your classes like?"

"It was rather exciting. The material is not over-bearing, the pace is quite nice, and the students seem lovely." She replied with an innocent smile. I gave her an innocent smile of my own.

"Oh? Ok, now what did you really think of your day?"

Kuraki stood silent. For a moment, she was kind of like Takashi! But I persisted. She laughed awkwardly before finally giving me an answer.

"Well, the material seems light compared to what I've been used to, the pace is much too slow, and the students look like they want to rip my face off. Ah, well, just the girls. Can't imagine why though…"

Once again, I stared at Kura-chan. This time was different. I wasn't staring at her pretty eyes, or her cute nose, or how long her hair was. I was staring at her feelings, her ambience, the aura she was unknowingly releasing. This was what I was always staring at. This was how I studied people and can quickly figure out just who they are and if they hold good intentions. And Kuraki confuses me. The only other person whom I have trouble comprehending is…

"Mitsukuni." Oh! I had forgotten that Takashi was here.

"Takashi," I tilted my head back and found my cousin staring at Kuraki. "you remember Kuraki-chan, don't you?"

Takashi remained silent but I could see that he wanted to say something. It's a shame that he never says what's on his mind; people would like him even more if they knew the real him. As I turned to Kuraki, I saw her looking away from my cousin again. I wonder if she's gotten the wrong idea of Takashi.

"Ah." Said Takashi before leaving without another word. He made his way to Kyouya; he's probably going to ask about our requests.

"Haninozuka-senpai," Kuraki diverted my attention from my cousin. She was looking at her feet; what clunky shoes she has. "does Morinozuka-senpai tend to hate people he's barely met?"

I blinked twice rapidly. I can't recall the last time someone asked me about Takashi other than the standard "how is your cousin?" Suddenly, I grew the biggest smile I'd ever gotten. "Nope. Takashi doesn't hate anyone. Pretty girls just make him nervous." I watched as Kuraki's cheeks immediately flushed a cherry red.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading! Have a nice day~! (^-^)