Chapter Twenty-Six: Treasures, Ski Trips and New Year's Eve.

"Word travels fast." Kiiro mused as she assessed the large crowd of students that had all volunteered to help dig.

"The moment Tono came back, people started showing up one after the other." Kaoru stated.

"There's so many people, what did he do?" Hikaru frowned.

"But, they are helpful with the physical work! It would have been bothersome to get muscular soreness." Haruhi claimed.

The three first-years then scampered off to dig.

"Isn't this the part where you ask me why I'm not digging?" Kyouya asked with a grin from her side, he had his notebook open, presumably he was keeping track of exactly everyone in attendance.

Kiiro shrugged, "No, I've gotten used to your laziness." she teased.

"Laziness?" he raised an eyebrow, but his grin remained. "I just don't see a point to tire myself out when there are others far more willing to do the dirty work."

'Shameless manipulation?' she held a hand to her lips to help stifle her laugh.

"Besides, you are participating either, so your teasing goes both ways."

She scoffed, "Expecting a lady to dig? In a skirt like this?" she swished her dress.

She swore she could detect the slightest eye roll.

Her comeback was interrupted by, "Hey, Suoh! We hit a hard thing in this hole!"

"Ah! Really?" Tamaki smiled. "Mori-senpai, let's go!"

Almost everyone huddled around the spot and, with a little more digging, Tamaki produced a small box.

"Oh! It's a box!"

"Okay, I will open it!"

Everyone waited in suspense while King removed the lid to reveal...

..."It's... empty..."

"...It sure is empty..."

"Are you kidding me? It's empty!"

Everyone started laughing. The air filled with the booming laughter.

'I can't believe it... It had to be a prank...' Kiiro wiped the tears from her eyes. And from beside her, she could hear Haruhi talking to Kaoru, "As I thought, Tamaki-senpai is just like the turtle in the Urashima Tarou tale. The turtle is always made fun of by everyone. He can't exterminate an ogre, but he leads everyone to the palace of the Dragon King."

And when she noticed Hikaru standing alone, still in the place where he was digging, he hid his face, but not before she saw his eyes, on the verge of tears.

Kaoru ran over to his brother, "Hikaru, it's no use digging here anymore." he called.

She heard the roaring noise of rushing water.

Suddenly, from where the older twin stood, hot water began to gush forth.

"Eh?!"

"A-a hotspring?"

Kiiro ran a hand through her hair, "Ah, today has been too chaotic."

Happily enough, the students were allowed to bathe in the spring- with turns for each gender, of course- and the energy they had used up searching had been restored in a most relaxing way.

And the next day, the spring was gone, seeming to have never existed in the first place.

'Oh well...' Kiiro sighed. 'In a few days winter vacation will arrive and I'll be able to rest properly...'

Kiiro did not often dream, and when she did, they rarely made any sense. But, this one was much more vivid and real than any that she had had recently. There was starlight against the dark blue of the sky, and it was all-encompassing. There was warmth and comfort and the sensation of closeness that she was not entirely familiar with. Perhaps she was in bed? And then it was clear that someone else was there with her. And she knew it was a dream because that someone was Kyouya, and his glasses were off and his hair fell into his face. And she was in bed, warm and comfortable. In her continued lucidity she realized that she was lying beneath him- and nude. The feeling of him holding her hand startled her awake.

Immediately she felt the heat in her face. Which only intensified when what she saw in her dream was not so different from what she saw now. Kyouya was still there, leaning over her now.

'Thankfully clothed.' she breathed a sigh of relief.

And then it really sunk in that Kyouya was there, his hand in hers, "I've never known anyone to blush in their sleep." he teased, "So what were you dreaming about?"

She averted his question, and prayed that her damnable blush would fade more quickly, "Implying that you've watched people sleep before me? At least I'm not the only one." she smiled, sleepily. "Ne? What time is it?" she sat up, noticing the sun full in the room.

"One o'clock." he grinned. "Which is a record, even for you."

Her brow furrowed, "It's vacation, I can do what I want."

He smirked, "You're surprisingly subdued today, normally you're protesting having to wake up by now."

"What's the point?" she shrugged, "It's not like I'm going to get out of anything when you're here." she made to get up, but found he wouldn't let go of her hand.

He pulled her closer, "Then at least come here, I've missed you." he pressed a kiss to her lips.

She sat beside him, although she wouldn't say it, she missed him, too.

"Nee~! Nee~! Tama-chan~!" Hani was the first to complain, his big eyes drooping. "Are we really not allowed to visit Haru-chan and them at the snowy mountain~? You even said I could eat cake at the bath there~!"

"Sorry, Hani-senpai." Tamaki said with a nervous laugh.

This year all of the first-year students had gone on a skiing trip for Winter vacation. For the past few days Tamaki had been impatiently anticipating checking into the same lounge so he could spend the break with Haruhi- and the Twins by proxy. But today, when the seniors, Kiiro and Kyouya had arrived at King's house, he had announced his cancellation of their stay.

And though she wasn't particularly looking forward to pestering Haruhi and the doppelgangers on their vacation, she said, "Ah, but the other day you were nearly chomping at the bit to go." Kiiro's eyes were a little wide, it wasn't often Tamaki scrapped plans. Especially when Haruhi was involved. "Why the sudden change of heart?"

They were currently gathered in the Second Suoh Mansion's study, Tamaki was seated at a large desk crowded by books. He anxiously waved away Kiiro's question, "Oh, it's nothing serious. It's just, when I thought about it, it wasn't really the place..." King went on. "My father gave me many assignments to read books... And, anyways, I've been so busy lately I don't even have time to mind Antoinette..."

Hani thought, "I see~ But, why are you holding that book upside down~?"

Tamaki looked shocked and tried to cover up, "Aah! Nonono! This is a new way to read books!"

'Really...?' Kiiro cocked an eyebrow.

Kyouya spoke up, "Tamaki... did something happen between you and Haruhi?"

Tamaki flipped his book around, "Not really... Nothing..."

"Then... Hikaru..." Mori guessed.

King seemed to disintegrate.

"Oh, so it's Hikaru..." Kyouya sighed.

"N-no! There's nothing with me and Hikaru!" Tamaki jumped up.

"Were you asked about Haruhi by Hikaru?" Kyouya guessed.

Tamaki curled up in a ball on the floor in a puddle of his own tears.

"I'm guessing that's a yes..." Kiiro sighed.

"It seems like that was a bullseye~..."

"Y-You knew all about it!" he stood up. "That Hikaru lik-... lik-..." he couldn't get the word out.

"Likes Haruhi?" Kiiro prompted.

"Yes!" Tamaki continued to pout.

"By looking, it's obvious..." Kyouya said impatiently.

"Isn't it just fine with Tama-chan and Haru-chan~?" Hani tried. "And~! How do you feel about it right now Tama-chan~?"

"Th-The fact that I haven't realized it until now... was that awful of me...?"

"What about Haruhi~?"

"Haru-" Tamaki looked stricken. He began rolling around on the floor. "It hurts! My heart hurts!"

"Waaaaa~! Tama-chan~! Go and hug... Hug your heart tightly!"

"I see... So you have finally realized it..." Kyouya sighed again.

Tamaki sat up, "Huh... I wonder if that's what a father feels when his daughter is about to be married to someone..."

Everyone had the same disbelieving look on their face.

"Wha?"

'Oh well, we tried...'

"It's not like it's been decided that Haruhi likes Hikaru back or not... But, Hikaru is a cute guy!" Tamaki was rolling on the floor again.

"Ne-nee~! Tama-chan say-" Hani tried again. "I don't think that's what a father feels-~..."

"It's a disease?" King's eyes grew wide.

"No~! Ummm~..."

"Nngg... Oh no! Should I call for a doctor!" he screeched. "Aah, but first I need to read my book!"

"Tama-cha-"

"I can't go without getting all the information from what Otou-san gave me!"

"..." There was a collective sigh.

As they were leaving Hani spoke up again, "...Kyou-chan... hey... M-Maybe I misunderstood..."

"...Me too." Kyouya sighed.

"...Maybe Tama-chan..."

"Well, I suppose we ought to get going, then." Kyouya continued, looking to Kiiro, "Are you packed?"

She became confused. "Where are we going?"

He smiled, "The ski resort, of course."

"Ne?"

The four headed to the resort where Class 1A was almost immediately after leaving the Suoh's Second Estate. The first thing they did was find Kaoru to explain the situation.

"Wha? An unconscious trauma?" Kaoru voiced the theory. "Because of that? Even though it has already reached this point, Tono is still... Does that mean he doesn't realize it? About Haruhi?"

"Well, to the end it is a selfish interference..." Kyouya continued.

"But, if you think about it like that, then there are a lot of aims..." Hani stated.

"Maybe it's because of the environment that he grew up in, tightly clinging onto his 'family'." Kyouya explained. "He has really grown attached to the harmony in this 'family' in the club. For Tamaki, a 'family' is something that should be protected no matter what... And, on the other hand. For Tamaki, what are the 'things that will break it'? Even if he really is unaware of it, as a parent of the family such a thing can't be forgiven. Tamaki will most definitely never be able to affirm his true feelings for Haruhi."

"I thought there might be more behind Tono's feelings towards the family..." Kaoru confessed. "But, at times, even I thought about not letting the club's relationships fall apart. But, Tono... Tono is just..."

"Yeah~ Tama-chan's just...~"

"He's just too big of an idiot..." they said in unison, hanging their heads.

"Everything we've said we just deduced on our own." Kyouya continued. "But, it's getting to be a bit much, don't you think?" he sighed. "Tamaki's foolishness? He's reached an astronomical level, even if he is just an idiot."

"Tama-chan's thought process is just like a big black box..."

"I wonder what Tono is doing right now? Is he alone crying somewhere?" Kaoru worried.

"You never know, he could be laughing hysterically after hitting his head on the corner of a piece of tofu. If it's him it's possible." Kyouya guessed.

"More likely, he's cataloging weird commoner foods." Kiiro chuckled.

"He could be playing piano~! Or doing handstands~!" Hani smiled.

"Or he could be asleep already..." Mori added.

They all wondered what Tamaki was thinking and doing.

'Why am I still here?' Kiiro wondered while she was standing in the snow outside the ski resort. 'I can't even ski.' She fiddled with the camera hung around her neck. 'And, why can't he take his own pictures?' Kiiro glared at Kyouya.

"Stop glaring and get ready." Kyouya chuckled. "Hani-senpai is up next."

"Okay~! Well, here I gooo~!" Hani took off on his snowboard while his fans cheered him on. "Usa-chan~! JUUUMPPP~~!" he flew up into the air on his bunny-themed board.

Kiiro clicked away on her camera.

When he landed he got off his board and yelled, "Takashi~! You're up~!"

Mori, dressed all in black, was up in the air like an expert. All of his fans were cheering loudly.

Kiiro continued clicking away.

"As I expected, Hani-senpai and Mori-senpai are excellent but... even Kyouya-senpai and Kiiro-senpai are here?" Haruhi asked. "Since when?"

"Since they showed up last night."

"So umm..." one girl spoke up. "Are you going to go, Kyouya-senpai?"

Kyouya smiled, "Your skill can't be compared to mine but... I came here to take beautiful pictures for the club's website."

Haruhi looked around, "And then, by the way..."

Kyouya knew what she wanted to ask, "He was busy and couldn't come, just in case you're wondering about Tamaki."

Haruhi blushed, "Oh! Okay! Not that it really matters! Oi! Kaoru! Hikaru! The special training is about to start!" she headed over to where the Twins stood.

Hikaru looked...like hell. Beneath his eyes were dark circles and he frowned, looking around with irritation.

"Hikaru... Are you sure you can do this today?" Kyouya turned. "You seem to be in a bad mood... Your face is 'dark'."

Hikaru shrugged off the comment and wavered over to where the rest of the first-years stood.

"He looks tired..." Kiiro whispered, holding a hand to her lips.

Kyouya sighed, "Oh well." he looked to her, "We'll take a few more pictures and then we'll head back to the lodge."

"Mm." she nodded.

For the next few hours Kyouya and Kiiro spent their time relaxing and quietly worrying, respectively, about King and Hikaru and Haruhi. When suddenly Hani came running up to them, "Kyou-chan! Kir-chan!" he had a panicked expression on his face.

"What is it Hani-senpai?"

"What's wrong?"

"Hikaru and the chairman of 1A have gone missing!" was all he had to say.

Kiiro sat up and put on her coat automatically. Kyouya followed.

"Where were they last?" Kiiro went with Hani out the door.

"Kaoru said they went up the rift to ski! But, the chairman couldn't so Hikaru was going to stay up there with him until a team could get them down!" dropping his customary "chans" for the moment.

"Has the team arrived?"

"Yes and Takashi's with them but they only found a set of skiing equipment."

They boarded the rift and traveled up to the part of the mountain that was reserved for skiing. The wind whipped harshly and flung snow everywhere. Kiiro could hardly see anything.

'How am I supposed to find them in this mess?' she had to trudge through the thick snow, trying to rush through the forested slopes as efficiently as possible. "Hikaru! Where are you?!" she yelled out, though it seemed to be swallowed up by the howl of the wind

"They couldn't have wandered too far off..." Kyouya caught up with her.

She heard so many others shouting from around her, "Soga! Hitachiin!"

But, even over the wind and the yelling, she could hear her heartbeat clearly. It was hard for her to not think about the worst case scenario in this kind of situation.

She felt a hand grab hers and she turned around to see Kyouya, "Stop worrying. We'll find them. It'll be okay." he hugged her.

As if on cue they heard, "Hurry! Over here!"

"I think we've found them!"

Hikaru looked completely worn out and fell unconscious just after Mori found him. And 1A's Class Chairman, Kazukiyo Soga, had twisted his foot. He was apologizing profusely saying that he was the reason they had gotten lost and that Hikaru had pulled him out of a hole so that they could be found even though Hikaru was exhausted.

She sighed in relief upon seeing them, and headed back to the lodge with everyone.

When they returned, Hikaru was still passed out, so they let him rest in his room. Kyouya had stepped away from the group to call Tamaki, and Kiiro had wandered off on her own so she could escape the crowd and calm down.

She slumped against the wall, exhausted from all the worry and running around. Suddenly she could feel the adrenaline wear off. Suddenly tears pricked her eyes, she rubbed them away, 'Jeez, this always happens after a stressful situation.' She cursed herself, but found she couldn't stop crying. So she let the tears fall, crossing her arms stubbornly.

"Kiiro?" she heard Kyouya call from the end of the hall.

She jumped, not wanting him to see her cry, she quickly rubbed the tears away again. But he was beside her too quickly.

"I was looking for y-" he stopped, leaning down to inspect her face. "Kiiro?" he lowered his voice. "What's wrong?" he furrowed his brow.

She tried to wave it off, hiding her face, "Nothing's wrong."

He sighed, pulling her into his arms, "You're a horrible liar, remember?" he rubbed her back. "It's okay. You don't have to hold it back around me."

She buried her face in his chest, finally admitting, "That idiot, making me worry like that. Why would he go out if he was so exhausted?"

Kyouya chuckled, "He'll be alright, Kiiro. You don't have to worry anymore."

She was blatantly aware of how this was the second time he had to comfort her just that day. But, she was also thankful, because she really needed it.

She was also blatantly aware of how much she realized she cared for everyone in the club, as she had never been so scared for someone before.

They regrouped with the Hosts, barring Haruhi and Hikaru. But, as they were going to check on the exhausted twin, they ran into him in the hallway. He was curled up against the wall and running his hands through his hair nervously. His face was dangerously red.

"Eh? Hikaru?"

"Hika-chan~!" Hani rushed up to him. "Is it alright for you to be awake now~?"

"Are you okay?" Kiiro raised an eyebrow.

"What happened?" asked Kyouya.

Hikaru stood up and smiled, "I-I'm fine. Sorry to have worried all of you."

"Where is Hikaru?!" a familiar voice screeched. "Hikaru?!"

Everyone turned around to see Tamaki, who had obviously been running to get to them.

"Tono?"

"Tama-chan~!"

Tamaki ran up to Hikaru and started poking and patting him.

"It's alright, it's the real Hikaru." Kyouya sighed.

Tamaki clung to Hikaru, "Thank Go- When I heard you were unconscious I'd..."

Hikaru looked as if he might cry, and he said solemnly, "Tono... I-I just confessed to Haruhi..."

A silence fell over them.

"What? For real?!" Kaoru yelled after a long moment.

"I haven't gotten her answer yet, but I'll give it my all!" Hikaru continued as Tamaki stood up straight. "So, Tono, don't lose to your trauma either and give it all you got!"

Tamaki looked far away.

Hikaru's expression transformed into that of an angry demon, he grabbed King and shook him. "You got it?! Where's your answer?!"

"O-okay!" Tamaki cried.

"H-Haruhi?" Kiiro knocked on the door. "I don't mean to intrude, Hikaru said you'd be here."

The door opened just a crack, "Kiiro-senpai?" Haruhi peeked out.

Kiiro raised an eyebrow, "I heard about what happened today..."

Her face lit up, "A-ah, about that-"

Kiiro pressed a finger to her smiling lips, "Not here, I don't want the confesser to walk in on our conversation." she produced a short, blonde wig from seemingly nowhere. "Let's head to the women's bath. If anyone asks, you're my cousin."

In one expert motion Kiiro affixed the wig to her junior's head and began to lead her down the hall.

"Wh-Wha?"

Kiiro sunk into the hot water, feeling the calm wash over her. She was momentarily reminded of her trip to a hot spring with Haruhi during Golden Week.

"Alright, now we can talk." Kiiro smirked.

Haruhi turned to face her, and her blush had not faded, "Wh-what am I supposed to do in this situation?"

Kiiro chuckled, "Well, you're going to turn him down, right?"

"Y-yes, but..." she watched her reflection in the water. "I-I don't know. I don't want him to think I hate him. I want to still be friends with him after all..."

"Well, I've never had to refuse someone's confession, but, knowing him, I think if you explain that to him, he'll understand."

Haruhi looked over to her, "Are you sure?"

She nodded, "Have a little faith in Hikaru, he's become much more mature as of late."

"Ah." Haruhi nodded back.

Kiiro waited a moment, "Besides, I'm sure after all of this, he would still want to be your friend."

After a long soak in the spring, Kiiro stood, securing the towel around herself. "I think they might close the spring off soon, we ought to head back."

"Y-yeah." Haruhi joined her on the way out.

"Oh, and, one more thing..." Kiiro turned back to her. "If it's too awkward to share a room with Hikaru, I'll let you share my room tonight."

Haruhi shook her head and smiled, "No, you know Tamaki-senpai would freak out if everyone found out I was a girl."

"Ah, right." Kiiro chuckled. "Well, goodnight, then, Haruhi." she pressed a kiss to her junior's forehead and headed to retrieve her clothes.

"G-goodnight."

It was New Year's Eve, and there was a party at the Hitachiin residence.

'I know it's obligatory for the Hosts, but I'm part of the staff, why do I have to go to a party hosted by the doppelgangers...?' Kiiro sighed as she put the final pins in her hair.

"Miss Kiiro," one of her maids entered her room. "Young Master Ootori is here." she bowed.

"Ne~? What's he doing here?" she whined as she fussed with her dress. "Ah, let him in."

Her maid nodded and left the room and a moment later, Kyouya entered, "Ah, you're already ready?" he smirked.

"Expecting me to still be asleep?" she grinned. "At this hour? That's a stretch even for me." she made her way to him, and began smoothing down the fur of his jacket's lapels. "Anyhow, what are you doing here? I'd assumed you would have arrived to the party fashionably early."

He took her hands from his jacket, brought one to his lips, "Well, I'm taking you of course. You can be my date for this evening." he stated simply.

She shook away her blush in an instant, "Wait, can be? Thank you for the permission, oh great one." she giggled.

"Oh? Would you rather me ask you?"

Before she could remark, he got down on one knee, holding one hand over his heart and while the other held hers, "Kiiro Harper, will you do me the honor of accompanying me to the dance this evening?"

Kiiro was silent and cherry red, "Y-yes, yes. Get up, it's embarrassing." she turned her head away, holding her free hand to her lips.

He chuckled, "Embarrassing? But we're the only ones here." he stood again, linking his hands around her waist. He began to kiss down her neck.

Still red, Kiiro protested, "We can't kiss, it'll be suspicious if there're any lipstick stains." she tried. "Especially since I'll be arriving with you."

"Then be a good girl and let me do the kissing." he nipped at her exposed collar bone.

She wanted to protest again, but could only manage, "O-okay, but don't leave any marks."

"None visible." he agreed.

Kiiro was beginning to think they might be late...

On the way there Kiiro had gotten Kyouya to agree to only dance with her to as many dances as would not seem "suspicious". So currently she was being dragged out of the quiet corner she had staked out for herself by Mei.

"M-Mei-chan, there are hundreds of people here who would love to meet you... Why don't you try talking to them?" Kiiro tried to get away, frankly this girl scared her.

"Because, I don't know any of them. You're my friend, Kiiro, and since Haruhi had to go talk to Hikaru, you're going to accompany me." she ordered.

"Haruhi had to talk to Hikaru? I wonder what she'll say."

"Don't you already know? She doesn't like Hikaru in that way. Is it really a surprise?"

"No, I guess you're right." Kiiro stopped resisting and followed Mei to the refreshment's table.

"Hold on, turn around for me." Mei made a rotating gesture with one finger.

"N-ne?" Kiiro turned stiffly.

Mei huffed, "Unfair, you rich people get all the nice dresses. Who made it?" she asked bluntly.

Kiiro was wearing something that she had sewn together a few months ago, a simple babydoll dress with a rose gold glittering bust and a puffy, baby pink skirt.

"Um, I did." she answered simply.

Mei furrowed her brow, "No way! I didn't know you made dresses!"

Again, she was far too loud.

"Well, it's just I can't often find formal things I like." she laughed nervously. "And it's hard to keep up with the trends."

"We should share tips." Mei added. "It's not often I make my own dresses."

"Mei-chan!" Tamaki caught up with them. "Kiiro!"

"Hello, Tamaki." Kiiro waved.

"Ta-Tamaki-kun!" Mei turned abruptly.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your meal. Where's Haruhi?" he asked.

"Ah, if it's about Haruhi... she's... ummm... she's..." Mei stuttered.

"Tono!" Hikaru ran up to him.

"Hey!" Tamaki yelled as Hikaru carried him away.

"Come along! Hurry!"

"Wha-What?"

"...I wonder what that was all about?" Kiiro questioned.

"Oh well, when I'm finished here, let's go find Haruhi."

"Okay."

"Hikaru, since you're the one in charge, don't run away." Kyouya reprimanded him when he had resurfaced with Tamaki in tow. "And don't make me greet all the guests."

Tamaki stand in the background with a thoughtful expression.

"Ah, my bad, Tono got lost on the way to the washroom to pee."

Kiiro held a hand to her mouth to prevent a giggle.

That woke King up, "Y-you liar! Who would get lost here?!" he held Hikaru by the collar. "How could you say something so embarrassing in front of so many people!"

Hikaru held up his hands, "Oh sure I won't tell. I won't say you got so lost on the way to the bathroom and peed yourself. I especially won't tell Haruhi."

"I didn't wet myself!" he screeched, flailing he added. "I let you know right now that I have never wet myself since I was born! Well, I may have "joy peed" once or twice way back when I was young!"

"W-why add that?" Mei smacked her forehead with her palm.

"So Tono joy pees?" Kaoru joined in on the pestering.

"That was my dad's trickery!"

"Tono, Tono, calm down." Hikaru motioned to their audience, every dance attendee had heard him. "Now you let everyone know."

From Kiiro's side Haruhi stammered, "J-joy peed?"

Tamaki broke, "H-Haruhi? You're getting it wrong. I'm everyone's idol so this business about toilets..."

"How gross..." Haruhi turned away. "Now that I think about it, you even lied about going to Paris..."

The Twins were dying.

"H-Haruhi, you're getting it wrong!" King wailed. "And, that thing about Paris was Kyouya's scheme!"

"Oh?" Kyouya crossed his arms. "So this is the attitude you show to someone who helped you play hooky?"

Hani chimed in to suggest that they visit a shrine after new years, to which the rest of the Hosts happily agreed.

Kiiro laughed, dancing the last dance with her date, "Well, I suppose things are sort of back to normal." she looked over to where Tamaki was alternately scolding the Twins and trying to straighten things out with Haruhi.

Kyouya shrugged, "It seems so. But I'm not so sure Hikaru's given up on wanting Haruhi to return his feelings."

Kiiro nodded, "I suppose it would be hard to fall out of love with someone."

"Speaking from experience?" he eyed her curiously.

"Ah, of course not." she said quietly.

"Good." he smirked.

"So, are we back to square one with them." she tilted her head toward Tamaki and Haruhi.

"Well, Haruhi's taken the first step, remember?"

Before she could reply fireworks went off in the background.

"Ah, is it that time already?" Kyouya checked his watch.

A cheer of "Happy New Year" resounded in the ballroom.

With all of the other attendees distracted by the lights, Kyouya kissed Kiiro quickly and said, "To another great year."

She was too red to speak.