Silence lined the corridor, as two set of eyes locked onto each other.
Shocked, Naruto scampered away after helping the falling Host Club's own personal 'dog' up, a blush covering his face as he carefully held the books, balancing them on an open palm. "Sorry! I wasn't paying attention to where I was going!"
"It's fine. I wasn't paying attention so I also apologise." Haruhi looked towards the books in his hand, a look of surprise etching across her face. 'He caught them all?' She thought to herself. Looking back at her senpai, she grinned sheepishly, "Thank-you for catching those."
"No problem!" Naruto grinned at her. He handed over half the pile, saying "I'll help you carry them. Least I could do for nearly knocking you completely over."
Haruhi smiled towards him. "I was just making my way over to the library to do some studying, before I'm before forced to attend to the Host Club." She mumbled the last part of the sentence.
Naruto just smiled.
On the way there, Haruhi finally answered why she was in the uniform.
"So they just took off your glasses and BAM, they make you a host?" Naruto asked, chuckling at the story.
Haruhi smiled, "Pretty much, yeah." She replied back to him.
They finally made it to the library and they bid farewell to each other, saying that they'll see each other later.
Haruhi watched Naruto leave.
Considering what happened regarding his mother this morning, Naruto thought it would be common courtesy to apologise for the disturbance to the rest of the Host Club. However, he never expected this to happen.
He stared at them. Blinked once. Blinked twice.
"Eh?" Was all he could produce from his vocal cords. Naruto started sweating as he carried on staring. The only reply was Kyoya smirking towards him. Finally regaining his wits, Naruto straightened and coughed, saying one single word, "No."
Immediately he regretted it. Tamaki glomped him and screamed "Why not?"
Naruto raised an eyebrow towards him and gently pushed Tamaki off and away from him. "Not my style." He said blankly.
Tamaki was silent for a few moments before he had an eureka moment. "We'll give you free ramen each club session."
Now, that shut Naruto right up. 'Pros: free ramen, free ramen, free ramen and more free ramen. Cons: Having to stick with rich people. Hmm...' "I'll do it." He then grinned, shouting out, "Ramen!"
Kyoya smirked to himself. More profit.
-HOST CLUB IS IN SESSION-
(Over with Haruhi)
"Haruhi-kun, what hobbies do you have?" A girl with short, brown hair asked.
"Do you do anything special with your skin?" Another girl asked, but with long, dark brown hair.
"It's terribly pretty." The final girl asked. She had medium length, black hair.
'I-I can't do this.' Haruhi thought to herself, twitching in her seat. She looked over to Naruto, who she was told was also a new member, and looked at him like he was from another planet. He was hardly paying attention to the girls, deciding that it was more important to eat, or destroy, the ramen he had in front of him. The girls just watched him with fascination.
Haruhi mentally sighed. 'I have no idea what I'm meant to be doing.' She thought, looking towards to the three smiling faces.
"Haruhi-kun, why did you join this club?" The trio spoke all at once.
'That's right, once I get a hundred customers to request me, they'll forgive my eight million yen debt. I have just the story.' Haruhi looked to the three.
"I see, your mother passed away ten years ago, after being sick?" Girl #2 asked. "So, who does the domestic chores?"
Haruhi turned to the girl who spoke and replied, "Oh, I do those by myself. My mother was good at cooking, and she left me lots of recipes when she was in the hospital. Learning each one of them is fun to do, and on days where they turn out well, my father is delighted, too. Those are the times I really like." Haruhi looked nostalgic.
"Um..." Girl #1 spoke hesitantly.
"Tomorrow, could we…" Girl #3 continued.
"...request you once again?" Girl #2 finished.
Haruhi looked delighted! So she replied just as ecstatic, "Oh, I would appreciate that."
Four of the Host Club members gathered around a sofa, where Tamaki was already sitting. "He's popular, right from the start." The 'king' spoke.
"A real natural." Kyoya spoke, pushing up his glasses.
"No help needed." The twins spoke as one.
A mop of dark, red hair spoke up, "Tamaki-sama." Said person turned to acknowledge her. Understanding why she caught his attention, he apologised.
"Ah, I'm sorry, my princess. I'm just a little concerned about my boy."
"You seem to be keeping an eye on that one quite a bit." The girl replied, slyly.
"That's because I'm raising him like he was my own." Tamaki smiled. He called over Haruhi from her assigned table and introduced her to his guest, Princess Ayanokoji. They both said their pleasantries, if albeit forced. Despite that, Tamaki freaking out and started glomping Haruhi, spinning her round and round.
(With Naruto)
Ah, ramen. The food of the Gods. 'I could get used to this!' He smiled with glee. Many girls swooned at the sighted, bringing him out of his daze.
"Do you like ramen that much, Naruto-kun?" One girl asked.
Naruto nodded enthusiastically. "It is the food of the Gods! It is heaven itself! All the flavourings, all the sizes!" Naruto grinned happily. The girls swooned even more.
"How did you get the scars on your cheeks?" Another girl on his left asked.
"Well, I would say that it was a birthmark, but that would be a lie." He cocked a half-smile. Naruto sighed to himself, seeing no harm in explaining it. "Let's just say that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
"What happened?" The third and final girl asked.
"When I was 8 years old, I got caught up in a mugging at a shopping mall. Considering I have background in Judo, Kendo and Tae Kwon Do, I thought that there might of been a chance to help out until the police got there. Turns out, I was wrong. I didn't have a weapon with me and the last guy I fought with had a knife. That was when it happened. He first immobilised me and chucked me to the floor. Then the slashing started. He wasn't trying to be accurate in anyway possible when the attack was happening on my face, but he cut my skin three times, each identical to one another. After that, he attempted to slash me even more, but the authorities got there, just in time. That's one of the reasons why I train and hope to become stronger. It's so I can help and protect the people of this world. If by my hard work, I can be of use, I'll do everything I can to do so."
By the end of his short monologue, it seemed that he had gathered a crowd of sorts. He became a little awkward and said "Keep this a secret, 'kay?" With an added wink on the end. Lots of nods and confirmations filled the table. Naruto grinned. "Thank-you for listening."
Tamaki just looked at Naruto, not knowing the whole story, only hearing snippets from his father. He had finally stopped spinning Haruhi when Mori snatched her from his arms.
Princess Ayanokoji looked downright pissed. She glared towards both of the new hosts who stole her Tamaki-sama's attention.
"Huh? My bag is gone." Haruhi muttered to herself. She turned to look out the window, gazing towards the fountain when she noticed something. "Aw, man… I didn't think there was any bullying at this school, but sure enough…" Turning away from the window, she started running down the corridors, passing Princess Ayanokoji.
"Oh, it's you." She said. "How nice for you, to have Tamaki-sama tidy up for you. While you're at it, why don't you correct your poor upbringing?" She went to walk away, but there was something blocking her path. She looked up to see a mop of blond hair, looking at her with displeasure.
"Why don't you stop being a snobby bitch?" Naruto asked harshly. 'No one insults my friends this way.' He then turned his gaze to Haruhi, who looked shocked to see him. His gaze soften at the sight and walked past Princess Ayanokoji, to get to Haruhi. She looked up at him and smiled. "Let's go." He put his hands on her shoulders and turned her around, gently pushing her on her way.
They made their way down the numerous sets of stairs to the fountain where they saw, not only Haruhi's bag, but also Naruto's. The blond sighed as her turned up his trouser and arm legs, whilst taking off his shoes and socks. He tentatively stepped into the fountain water and looked behind him to see Haruhi follow his lead. "You don't have to do that, you know? I can do the dirty work for you." Naruto smiled at her.
"I couldn't just let you to do all the dirty work yourself. It's really the least I could do when you stuck up for me." Haruhi replied.
"It's fine, but, if you really insist." Naruto grinned.
'Well, that was probably a guilty party, and whatever her reasons were, I have to find my wallet, or I won't have any money for food this week.' Haruhi thought to herself as she and Naruto searched thoroughly for her wallet.
"Hey, commoner! And, cousin. You've got some nerve, skipping out on club activities." He looked down to the wet bags and items on the floor beside his feet. "Why are your bags all wet?"
"We just dropped them." Haruhi answered for the both of them. "I can't find my food money for this week." She continued searching until she heard another pair of splashes. Looking towards the source of the sound, she was shocked to see Tamaki searching along with Naruto. "That's okay. You'll get yourself all wet." Haruhi said to the King of the Host Club.
"Getting wet isn't going to do any harm, is it?" Tamaki replied.
Naruto looked towards him in a new light. 'This is new.' He thought to himself. Well, that was until Tamaki said; "People always are saying that I'm dripping with good looks, after all."
"You never change, do you cousin?" Naruto smirked towards him while Haruhi just stared.
"Found it." Naruto said, looking towards the water, seeing a black square. He bent down towards it and picked it up. Haruhi turned her gaze towards Naruto as he held out her wallet. He grinned at her as she took it.
"Still, how does something like this happen?" Tamaki questioned the two of them.
Haruhi looked towards the water and said, "Well…"
Naruto felt eyes on them and turned towards the window, where he saw the distinctive outline of Princess Ayanokoji. He turned fully towards her and gave her the victory sign.
"...I accidentally dropped it out the window." Haruhi carried on, oblivious to Naruto's actions.
Said blond watched as the Princess walked away, feeling highly satisfied with himself.
"I see, that must have been terrible, huh?" Stated the voice of none other than Princess Ayanokoji. "Having your bag fall into the pond all on its own…"
'Why would she request me?' Haruhi thought to herself.
"Although, to make Tamaki-sama go to all the trouble of picking up your grimy bag for you, you really don't know your place do you?" Princess Ayanokoji sneered. She took a glance towards Naruto, who was watching her with eagle like eyes from across the room. When they locked gazes, his eyes narrowed in warning. She looked back to Haruhi, ignoring the obvious threat to her. "Tamaki-sama is only paying you any attention because of your upbringing was so unusual. Don't go getting any ideas as to why he's doting on you."
"So what you mean is…" Haruhi spoke up. "you're jealous?"
It all happened in a split second. Ayanokoji grabbed the front of Haruhi's blazer and pulled her towards herself, bring the table and its contents with them. The princess screamed. "Haruhi-kun… Haruhi-kun suddenly attack me!"
Haruhi looked shocked at what was commencing. There was a clatter at the other side of the room and she looked towards the sound, only to see Naruto standing up with a clatter and a pissed off look on his face. 'Surely, he should know what's happening, right…?" Haruhi thought hesitantly.
"Somebody, quick! Deal with this commoner!" Ayanokoji shouted. At that moment, three jugs of water poured on the duo on the floor. When Haruhi looked up, she saw three faces; the twins and Naruto's. 'When did he…?'
"What are you doing?" Ayanokoji said, sounding shocked.
Tamaki walked over to her, grabbed her arm and pulled her up gently.
"Tamaki-sama, Haruhi-kun assaulted me." Ayanokoji spoke weakly, dripping with water.
"How disgraceful." The princely-type spoke firmly. "You're the one who threw Haruhi and Naruto's bags in the pond, aren't you?"
"How could you say that? Do you have any proof?"
"You really are quite pretty," Tamaki cupped her face under her chin. "but you are not fit to be our guest. I know this much- Haruhi is not that kind of man."
"Tamaki-sama, you idiot!" Ayanokoji pushed away from Tamaki and ran past.
"I'm going to decide your punishment for causing this trouble." The purple-eyed blond spoke to Haruhi. "Your quota is increased to 1000 yen!"
Haruhi's face turned mortified. '1000 yen?' A hand appeared in her face, along with a 'here'. She grabbed it and Tamaki pulled her up.
"I'm expecting much from you, natural rookie." He winked at her.
"This is the only spare uniform we have." Kyoya spoke up. "It's still better than a wet one, though, right?"
"Thank you very much." Haruhi said in gratitude.
Naruto followed the group as they made their way into the changing room area. The first thing he saw was Tamaki closing the curtain in shock. "Haruhi?" He asked.
"Yes?" Haruhi replied.
"You're a girl?"
"Biologically, yes."
The curtain opened to reveal Haruhi in the female uniform. "Senpai, if you all think of me as a boy, then that's okay with me, too. My feeling is… that any awareness of being a boy or a girl falls lower than that of being of a person."
Everyone just looked on. They knew it all along.
Naruto sighed. His cousin can be seriously be dense sometimes. But he did have to admit that Haruhi looks cute in that uniform. He blushed lightly and turned away from everyone, but Kyoya saw and smirked at him. Naruto twisted around to face him and glared, trace of the blush still present on his face.
'Shut up, Kyoya.'
