Disclaimer: I own nothing except for what is left of my sanity and imagination.
Sayuri was greeted with a pleasant surprise when she and Hunny and Mori entered the Third Music Room. It was currently being redecorated to resemble a small theater venue. Comfortable-looking, red seats made several rows up to the make-shift stage. A full orchestra was tuning up onstage while the director went over notes with someone looked to be a singer. (She carried herself like a diva.) The backdrop was painted to make the stage appear much deeper than it actually was. Obviously some type of musical performance was going to be held here.
"Anoo, what's happening?" she asked, breaking out of her state of awe to let her confusion set in.
"Ah, Sayuri," Kyouya said, coming up to her from out of no where. "These preparations are being made for the club's event, An Evening at the Opera, which is to be held tomorrow night. While there will be other singers, you are our main attraction. Think of it as your debut."
"Isn't it exciting?" Hunny asked excitedly, hugging Usa-chan tightly.
Sayuri just stood there. She inhaled sharply, biting her bottom lip. She hoped her eyes weren't wide with shock. All outward signs pointed to her being completely and utterly stunned, whether or not that was a good thing was unapparent.
"I don't think Sayuri-senpai likes the plan," Hikaru said to his twin, observing the scene from a safe distance.
"Perhaps Kyouya-senpai laid it on too thick," Kaoru suggested, leaning against one of the pillars.
Haruhi walked by and, seeing that they weren't doing anything useful, pulled them away to help move things around.
"That's all wonderful, but I haven't enough time to prepare, let alone rehearse properly," Sayuri countered, keeping her voice level. She could not let them know just how distressed she was. Pressure was not her favorite thing to work under.
Kyouya pulled a stack of sheet music from his folder and handed it to her. "These should all be pieces that you are familiar with. They're classics."
Her eyes scanning the titles, Sayuri replied, "Familiar with yes, but not enough to perform them sans music right in front of my face." The arrangements were of a high caliber. Her brows furrowed slightly as she bent over the papers and skimmed through, singing in her head.
He shrugged. "You may use a stand if you need it," he offered. He knew he was treading on dangerous territory.
Her head shot up and she looked offended. "You underestimate my abilities, Ootori-san," she snapped. Sayuri was normally quite laidback, but when it came to that which she was passionate about, she was easily irked.
Kyouya only made a sweeping gesture towards the stage, challenging her to prove him wrong. He nearly smirked as she strode past, but managed to keep his face straight. It was only when he turned to walk to the back of the room and she began to sing that he let it flash across his face.
Sayuri knew she was hyperventilating. She was also wringing her gloved hands, wrought with nervousness, as she stood in the wings. There were so many people in the audience, so many of her peers. What would they think of her? Would she be forever typecast after this? She racked her brains for the words of the first song she was to do, but they would not come to her. She was going to fail the Host Club miserably and lose the only friends she had made.
"Don't worry, Sayuri-senpai," Haruhi said encouragingly. She smiled at the other brunette, who looked like she might faint on the spot. "Here," she offered, handing over a glass of water.
"Arigato," Sayuri replied, bobbing her head before taking a long sip. She sighed, exhaling all of her fears. When she opened them again, her blue eyes held confidence. She smiled back at Haruhi.
"Break a leg, Sayu-chan!" Hunny called, bouncing over. "That's right, right?" He looked up questioningly at Mori, who had followed him closely.
Mori gave a silent nod. He couldn't help but let his eyes linger a moment too long on Sayuri. Of all the evening gowns the twins had let her choose from, she had picked the simplest. Pure white, sweeping off her shoulders, and only slightly ruffled, it gave her an iridescent glow. A lock of hair had fallen out of place and, thoughtlessly, he reached down to tuck it behind her ear.
Sayuri felt her cheeks turn so red that it almost hurt. She had felt his eyes on her as Hunny grabbed her hands and told her how much fun this was going to be. Now she let her own eyes stare at the floor, just to the left of him. Her breath had caught in her throat. What did that mean? Why couldn't she look at him?
"We should go back to our seats now, Mitsukuni," he said, turning to leave.
All of a sudden Sayuri looked up. She wanted to say something to him. Funny how he never spoke to her specifically but she needed so badly for him to. She watched him go, waved to Haruhi as she left. It had only been a beat long, but there had been time for her to speak, for her to call him back. She had let it slip by and prayed that another such chance would pass her by again.
As she waited in the wings, she looked down at her hands and realized that her gloves were ruined. Discreetly, she slid them off and left them on a tray. When she stepped back off the stage after a standing-ovation-worthy rendition of La Habenera from the opera Carmen, she discovered that one glove was missing. If she had had more time, she would have searched for it, but she was whisked away by the twins to the after party almost immediately.
Hunny yawned as the limo pulled away from the school and towards the Haninozuka-Morinozuka compound. He yawned again, his head meeting the plush seat. Out of the corner of his eye he caught sight of something white sticking out of Mori's coat pocket. He wondered what it could be as he drifted off to sleep.