xChapter 8x

"Dad I'm home." She quickly put her keys into the little bowl in the kitchen where other assortments of paperclips and her own father's pair of keys. She walked towards the cupboard and took out a kettle. She quickly filled it with water and put it on the stove. Turning towards another cupboard she spotted the figure of her father.

"Drinking too much caffeine is bad for you."

"I just need something to keep me up." She rummaged through the assortment of cans until she found the one she wanted. She opened the lid and was about to pour some mix into her cup when her father held her hand.

"Haruhi, stop with the coffee." She dropped her hand went to turn off the kettle. "I believe this caffeine addiction happened recently?" he continued.

"I can't finish anything anymore," she replied looking at her father as she leaned against the stove.

"Too much homework? Or is there something else?"

"…"

He runs a hand through his hair. "How do you expect me to help you when you're not talking to me?"

"There really isn't a need for me to ask for your help."

"Haruhi, I'm your father. Do you think I don't know what's happening to you?"

After a short silence, she sighed. "It's the Host Club."

"Thank you." He walked over to where she was leaning and ushered her to the living area. They sat across from each other. "So what about the Host Club?"

"They decided to give me a large portion of clients."

"And why is that?"

"Tamaki's clients brought in a large amount of revenue. Without his clients, the Host Club is… well… I can't really say not doing well."

"They don't have the amount of money they once have?"

"Yeah." She sighed before she continued. "Kyoya-senpai came up with a plan to entertain the ladies that once designated Tamaki-senpai. And this plan involved a large amount of clients for each and everyone in the Host Club."

"And these clients are too much for you to handle?"

She shrugs. "I'm trying my best."

"But it's not going so well."

She didn't reply.

"Haruhi, if you're having trouble I know you'll find a way to make everything work. But you have to remember there are times when you can't handle everything and when this happens something has to let go."

"What exactly are you saying?"

"Quit the Host Club."

"But Dad, I still need to pay the debt I owe to them."

"Not a problem. I'll give a portion of my income to pay it off."

"You really don't have to. I can pay it off."

"Haruhi, you don't have a job, and as much as I know you want to help me, I suggest you stay to your books." He started to move.

"It's fine. I can make a deal with Kyoya."

"You're completely wiped out, you developed a dependence on coffee and you still continue with your hosting job. I don't know what to do anymore."

Silence filled the apartment. Ranka stood and watched his daughter. Haruhi, meanwhile, ran a string of ideas to get herself out of the predicament her father presented for her. After contemplating for what seem like hours she looked at her father. "How about this. I'll quit the Host Club on the condition that I stay there for a week."

"Why not quit now?"

"I'll give it one more shot. If I can't get the designations that I expect, then I might as well quit." She stood up and started for her room. "As for the debt, I'll find myself a job and pay it off. I don't want you to be spending your money."

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"Haruhi, you have to be kidding," Kaoru stated at the cafeteria. "One week?"

The young brunette nodded. She opened her bento and proceeded to eat.

"But one week?"

She nodded. "Yes, one week. No need to reiterate."

"And how much do you owe?"

"I really do not want to calculate right now."

"But Haruhi, won't you miss being a host?"

She put down her chopsticks and turned to her friend. "As much as I'm going to miss the club, I have to quit and pay it off some other way."

"But I still don't understand why quitting has to do anything with your debt."

She tore her eyes from her friend and stared at her quarter-eaten food. "I can't handle it. And I'm not talking about the designations."

"Oh. Let me take a guess, Tamaki?" She nodded. "But there is no need to worry about him. I'm sure he's fine."

"…"

"I'm sure that he's perfectly safe. I doubt anyone would want him to leave without any sort of protection, I mean he is the Suoh heir."

"… But I'm not talking about that only…The fact that the little argument led to everyone into taking more designations than necessary."

"If you're worried about that, then forget about it. We're doing fine."

"But I'm not. I came to this school to pursue my dream of becoming a lawyer. The Host Club got me in a mess and before I didn't mind it. But since his disappearance, everything just crumbled. I can't handle the stress, the designations, and the fact someone can build up my debt if I don't keep Tamaki's clients."

At the mention of debts, Kaoru perked up. "What do you mean when you said that you need to keep Tamaki's designations?"

"Kyoya-senpai calculated the money I should rake in if I keep Tamaki's designations. These designations, in turn, will help me pay off my debt. Unfortunately, it hasn't been going too well and Kyoya-senpai says he'll add the calculated revenue to my debt if I can't keep the designations."

"That's not fair. Why don't you just tell him that?"

"We're talking about Kyoya-senpai here. He'll only increase my debt if I ask him."

"Is there any other way that you'll be able to take out those unnecessary clients?"

"…"

"Haruhi?"

She hesitated before she replied, "Don't think so."

He eyed the girl suspiciously before asking, "Then how about I put in some of my money to lessen the debt?" he suggested.

She looked sincerely at her friend. "Thanks for the offer, but I rather clear it off myself." She closed her unfinished bento. "Well, classes are about to begin. I have to so some last minute studying before the test. Ja ne." She stood and walked towards the entrance of the cafeteria.

Kaoru watched her as she left. "Did you hear all that Hikaru?"

"Yeah."

"Aren't you sad whatsoever?" He turned to his twin. A slight smile covered his face. "Hikaru??"

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A/N: Sorry for the long wait!!! i was planning to put the rest of the chapters up, as soon as i finished the entire story. unfortunately as soon as i typed chapter 7, i realized the story is completely out of my control. i have no idea what to write now!!! grrr!!! and i really want to finish (hence my sudden rush in this chapter). SO!! no promises when the next chapter will be up, and believe me, i'm barely scraping up ideas on how to tie with the ending i have planned...