Hikaru returned to the music room, where he found a very confused host club. Everyone just stared at him, questioningly. Haruhi was the first to speak.
"Hikaru, do you know what's going on?" She asked, genuinely confused. She was usually one of the first to figure things out. "That kind of behaviour is normal for you, but Kaoru is usually more level-headed than that." Hikaru brushed off the mild insult and replied, "I don't know what's wrong with him. Was it something we said?" Hunny-sempai's eyes glazed over and he shouted, "Poor Kao-chan! What did we do to him?!"
"It's not your fault," Mori said in his usual monotone. Tamaki intervened, as always. He stood up enthusiastically. He had been quiet for much too long, so obviously he had been cooking up a plan. His "idea finger" was raised above his head and he said, "Well then, we can't just sit here not knowing what's wrong. We have to find Kaoru cheer him up! No member of the Host Club shall be unhappy! Not under my watch!" The club members rolled their eyes. Kyouya calmly looked up from his notebook that he had been diligently writing in. Being the first to pick up on everything, he said, "Now, I think we should leave him alone." A small, casual smile crossed his lips. "He probably just needs some time to think right now."
Hikaru and Tamaki shouted together, "What could he possibly have to think about so suddenly?!" A lightbulb flashed in Haruhi's head. She smiled and laughed awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck, "Umm, I agree with Kyouya. We shouldn't bother him right now. Besides, if he ran out so quickly, it probably means he doesn't want us to question him. If he really needs to talk to someone, he can confide in Hikaru." Tamaki's cheeks reddened. He whispered, "Haruhi…"
Haruhi cautiously looked up at him. Tamaki underwent another sudden change in attitude.
"That was so cute!" He shouted, suffocating her in a tight embrace. "The way you smiled like that! You're so adorable when you're nervous!" Haruhi rolled her eyes, which for reasons beyond her control, were now buried in Tamaki's chest. Hikaru interrupted Tamaki's swooning. "Uh, boss. I think I should probably look for Kaoru. You know, in case he needs to talk."
Hunny stood up slowly, rubbing his eyes. "Takashi, I wanna go home, too. I'm getting sleepy."
"Kay," said Mori, a man of few words. Kyouya stood up and said, "I think we all should get going. After all, it looks like it's going to storm soon." Haruhi, still wrapped in Tamaki's arms, looked up at him worriedly. Tamaki held her closer, protecting her like a father. "Sempai," she said quietly, "I'll be fine. It's not storming yet."
They looked around them and suddenly realized that they were alone. With this came the realization that they were practically embracing. Haruhi jolted and quickly pulled away from her sempai, laughing awkwardly. She quickly changed the subject. "Sempai?"
"Yeah?" He answered eagerly. He was tempted to ask if she'd fallen for him. "Don't you have to leave, too?" Tamaki's shoulders slumped. Then, knowing Haruhi's father was out of town and that Haruhi was afraid of thunderstorms, his face lit up.
"Haruhi, if you wanted to, you could come to my house for a while. You know, if you need company." He was truly and genuinely worried for her, but she just thought he was making a pass at her.
"Sempai, do you really think I'm that naïve?"
Tamaki's face turned white as a sheet. "No, I'm serious! I just wanted to know if you were going to be alright on your own!"
"Thanks, but I'm fine." Haruhi said, slightly annoyed. "I think I'll just stay here until the storm passes. I don't want to have to walk home in the rain."
"I could have my chauffer give you a ride home." Tamaki seemed a little too eager.
"Sempai, I said I'm fine. Like I've said before, I'm used to getting through stuff like this on my own."
Tamaki's face became stone, and he looked down, as if searching for words. "Haruhi," he began, "I think I know what your problem is."
"What problem?!"
"Just listen. You are so used to being by yourself and doing things for yourself, that you are afraid to let anyone else do anything for you. You are so afraid to cause other people trouble, that you just cause more trouble for yourself. You don't deserve to put that kind of burden on yourself. You should understand that sometimes people don't just offer to help you because they are being nice. Some people want to help you because they truly care about you, and they don't like to see you unhappy."
There was a long pause. Haruhi was a little surprised to hear Tamaki be so sincere. Tamaki continued. "It would make me feel better to give you a ride home."
Haruhi stood still, her eyes wide. Her eyes met Tamaki's. The worry in his eyes melted her tension, and she sighed. "Okay, Sempai."