Haruhi stared up at the ceiling and sighed for the tenth time that morning (yes, she was counting). It was already 8:23 A.M., and she really needed to get dressed so that she could make it to the supermarket special in time, but all she really felt like doing was lying on her bed, eagle-spread, sighing the morning away. Actually no, it's not that she felt like wasting her morning, she just had no motivation at the moment.

"And to think, just yesterday morning, Kyouya was sleeping in the same bed with me," Haruhi sighed out of the blue. "So strange . . ." And then she blinked at what had randomly popped out of her mouth. It made her fidget and squirm uncomfortably, but worst of all, it made Haruhi wonder. Which now felt stranger to her? The fact that she had spent the night with a guy, or that she was strangely disappointed not to have woken up in his arms once more?

The doorbell rang. Haruhi jumped to an upright position, clutching the blankets to her chest. Her heart hammered wildly. Could it be Kyouya? She began to scramble out of bed—

—and then stopped in the hallway. She hissed out in annoyance and rubbed her face. What was she thinking? Why would Kyouya EVER wake up this early? She was letting her imagination get the best of her.

The doorbell rang again, a little more impatiently. "I'm coming!" Haruhi called, sullenly wondering who on earth would visit at this time. She hoped it wouldn't wake her dad up.

Haruhi opened the door . . .

"HARUHI!"

. . . and quickly slammed it again before she could be glomped. The doorbell rang with increased frequency and irritation until Haruhi finally gave up with a sigh.

"Sempai, what do you want?" she asked when she reopened the door.

But of course, she couldn't get a coherent answer for several minutes, for Tamaki launched into a dramatic tirade about how Haruhi did not love him NEARLY enough and how HE would DIE for her and just where had all the filial RESPECT gone these days and much more as Haruhi was showered with tears and hugs.

Haruhi rolled her eyes. If Tamaki made much more fuss, her dad would surely wake up . . . and then Tamaki would most likely wind up in the grave. She returned his hug and half-heartedly patted his back. "Yes, yes, sempai. I'm sorry. It's just early, is all. What did you need?"

Tamaki quieted down when Haruhi hugged him back, his face suddenly sober. For the briefest moment, he rested his cheek on her head and closed his eyes.

". . . Sempai?"

"Oh, sorry!" Tamaki laughed nervously, instantly releasing her and jumping back a couple of steps. (Haruhi raised her eyebrows at the sudden distance) "I forgot for a moment. But I'm here now!"

There was a slight pause.

"Uh . . . here for what?"

Tamaki gasped and zoomed into his corner of woe. Before rainclouds could form over his head, Haruhi dragged him back to his feet. "Sempai! Could you hold off of your overdramatic tendencies for just a few minutes? Here for what? Why are you here?"

"Ehh? But you were the one who promised!" Tamaki pouted, looking so much like his puppy Lou-chan that Haruhi had to resist the urge to laugh. "You promised that we could have bonding time this weekend!"

Another pause.

"I . . . did?"

Haruhi grabbed him by the collar of his shirt before he could go zooming into his corner again.

"Wahhh! Haruhi's such a mean daughter! Forgetting all of her promises to her beloved father, how unthinkable!" Tamaki cried.

"Look, I don't ever remember telling you that you could come to my house this week, but if I did, it was obviously just on the fly and I didn't really mean it," Haruhi said bluntly, and with absolutely zero bad intentions.

This time, Tamaki just collapsed to the ground, dead.

Haruhi heaved a sigh and massaged her temples. "Listen, Sempai. I'm sorry. But this is a little sudden for me. I already had plans for today."

"Like what?" Tamaki huffed, glowering at the ground like a sullen kid. "What is more important than being with your father?"

"Well . . . for example, I really had to go to the grocery store today. Our fridge is almost empty."

Tamaki froze, and then he perked up a bit. "Grocery shopping?" he inquired.

Haruhi winced. She already recognized the glowing light in his eyes. "No, Sempai. I don't want—"

"What are we waiting for then?" Tamaki exclaimed, seizing Haruhi's arm and dragging her down the stairs in a way that was becoming entirely too familiar and commonplace. "Let's go! Grocery store! Grocery store! Commoner's grocery store!"

"Wait, Sempai! And least let me get dressed!" Haruhi protested.

Tamaki stopped and seemed to realize what she was wearing for the first time. A black camisole that was a little too small and showed a thin sliver of her white belly. A pair of what looked like her father's gym shorts that were in danger of slipping off her tiny hips.

"HARUHI! What are you WEARING!"

"Pajamas, Sempai," Haruhi sighed in exasperation.

"A young, pretty girl such as yourself should not show so much skin in public!"

"You're the one who dragged me out in front of the apartment building," Haruhi retorted, but on the inside she wondered at what he had said. Tamaki had called her pretty? Ah, but it was probably just "fatherly love," wasn't it? She was really starting to get tired of that act.

"Here, quick! Cover up in my jacket and get dressed immediately!" Tamaki order, draping his coat over Haruhi's shoulders before she could say a word. She blushed a little, but he was too busy escorting her back inside to catch it.

After a five minute shower and a quick search through the closet, Haruhi was ready to go, bundled up in her warmest jacket and scarf. It was a chilly day today. Though it was only December, Haruhi was already longing for spring. She met back with Tamaki in the kitchen, but before the two of them could escape, Ranka had woken up and discovered an uninvited Tamaki in the apartment. Then came a bunch of yelling and disentangling of limbs, and finally Haruhi and Tamaki were on their way.

"I thought we would never make it out of there," Haruhi said breathlessly.

"A-ahh," was all Tamaki said. He was still trying to fix his disheveled clothes. "Any chance that one day Ranka will actually like me?"

"Probably not."

". . . do you have to be so blunt?"

Haruhi threw him a sideways glance before continuing, "I don't know why you bother him so much. He's pretty okay with the twins, and he's practically in love with Kyou—" But Haruhi choked on his name. She turned her head and hoped that Tamaki hadn't noticed. But even he wasn't that stupid.

"Kyouya, huh? Well, he's a cheater," Tamaki pouted. "He's always been good at putting on the right face to make people like him. He's not genuine like moi."

"That's not the only reason," Haruhi said hotly without thinking, and then blinked at herself for defending Kyouya.

Tamaki also seemed surprised. His expression went funny. "No need to get so mad, Haruhi. I wasn't insulting him for real. I'm his friend too."

"Uh . . . right," Haruhi mumbled, faintly embarrassed.

It got quiet between the two, and the strain of the silence was almost worse than dealing with Tamaki's ridiculous antics. Haruhi was beginning to wish he had not come. But she was finally spared when they walked into the grocery store and Tamaki's face lit up like a child's. He had been there once before, but he made Haruhi give him a tour of every single row. The cereal aisle really killed him.

"So many colors! So many sugars! How do you even choose?" Tamaki asked with wide eyes, his arm full of boxes.

Haruhi chuckled and returned all of Tamaki's cereal boxes back to the shelf. Then she picked a cheaper, less exciting brand that wasn't infested with sugar. "Easy. You pick a cereal, and if it's good, you stick with that one cereal."

"Ehh? No fun!" Tamaki started grabbing boxes at random again. "Then I'll just get some for myself! It's more fun to be adventurous, isn't it?"

"It's just cereal, Sempai."

"But you should always give other things a try. Who knows? Coco Puffs may be better than Coco Pebbles!"

Haruhi stared at the boxes dubiously. "They're both basically chocolate. I don't see why there'd be a difference."

"You don't know that!"

Haruhi heaved a sigh and simply pushed the cart to the next aisle. Tamaki had a small panic attack when he realized she wasn't there, but then he met back up with her where the instant noodles were located. And the process started all over again. It took Haruhi nearly twice as long as it usually did to shop, but gradually she let go of her irritation and simply enjoyed his company. But every time he started with his daddy act, the eye-rolling resumed, and her patience slowly chipped away.

"You should have let me buy you that penguin doll," Tamaki protested as they walked out of the store.

"I didn't even want it, Sempai."

"Yes you did! Don't even lie. I saw you staring at it multiple times when we were waiting at the cashier!"

"No I didn't."

"You can't fool these princely eyes!"

Haruhi averted her gaze and blushed a little. "W-well . . . I didn't need it."

"Daddy doesn't care! Daddy would have bought it for you anyway!"

"Sempai," Haruhi sighed.

"Daddy knows how much you wanted it. I can get it right now if you wait for me!"

"Sempai, I don't—"

"Daddies just want their daughters to be happy! Here, I really go back and buy it again. And while we're at it, let's go get some ice cream. More daddy-daughter bonding time—"

"Tamaki-sempai!" Haruhi half-shouted.

Tamaki stopped and looked back at her.

"Daddy this, daddy that," Haruhi muttered, irritated. "It's getting real old, Sempai. Newsflash. You aren't my father. Can't you view me as something more than a daughter?"

They stared at each other, several feet between them as if they were suddenly reduced to strangers. Haruhi half-expected him to start wailing, to tear at his hair and hug her tightly until she took it back. But he didn't. Her sempai was startlingly sober.

Several cars passed by on the street, honking and making a general ruckus. Moms pushed their babies in strollers. A jackhammer sounded from far away, announcing what might be another three year construction which was supposed to be only three months. Life walked along all around, not even noticing the two people frozen on the sidewalk.

Finally, Tamaki was the first person to move. He shifted the plastic bags in his hands and took a few steps forward, but then seemed to think better of it. "Fine," he said, his voice guarded. "If not a daughter . . . then can I see you as a girlfriend?" Something seemed to occur to him, and he quickly amended, "A-and I don't mean a friend that happens to be a girl! Couple-styled boyfriend girlfriend stuff."

Haruhi's eyebrows rose up in shock, and the breath whooshed out of her. "What?" she asked, her voice strangled.

Tamaki grinned weakly. "Ahhh . . . well, that probably wasn't too smooth. I was planning on waiting a little longer to tell you, but . . ." He shrugged, and waited anxiously for her answer—

—but Haruhi was too busy gaping at him in shock. "But you . . . and the . . . I thought I was . . . huh?" she spluttered unintelligibly.

"What? You want me to try again? Okay, uhhh . . ." Bouncing on his heels a little nervously, he flashed her an oh so vulnerable and warm smile. "Will you go out with me?" And when Haruhi still didn't respond, Tamaki said half-jokingly, "What's a matter? Why so quiet? Don't tell me you're going to give me a big fat 'no' in your usual brutal honesty. Haruhi?"

And then the phone rang.

Haruhi shifted a little embarrassment, but Tamaki laughed it off and told her to answer it. He seemed to be grateful for an interruption as he ran a hand through his hair fretfully. She set her groceries down and reached for her phone inside her pocket. She didn't recognize the ringtone, which meant it was either a stranger or someone who didn't call her often. A quick peek at the caller ID didn't give any answers either.

"Um, hello?" Haruhi said curiously.

"I presume this is Miss Haruhi Fujioka?"

"Yes. That's correct." Haruhi's face scrunched up. The voice sounded a little familiar. Who was it?

"You may or may not know me. I am Tachibana, currently employed at the Ootori mansion, and I am particularly close to Master Kyouya."

"Kyouya?" Haruhi gasped, and Tamaki shot her a look.

"He had confided in me about you, so I am aware of your current situation."

Haruhi's brow furrowed. She didn't remember Kyouya saying that he had told anyone but Fuyumi.

"But I am also aware that he has not told you of his departure."

"Departure?" the girl echoed, bemused. "What departure?"

"Master Kyouya has decided to take on the Ootori's new firm in South Africa. He's leaving today. He will not finish school at Ouran High School. His graduation papers were filled out in secret. And the likelihood of him returning to Japan from now on is very little. He will be too busy setting the foundation for the new business. I personally do not agree with the decision, but it is not my place to judge, and it has already . . ."

And on Tachibana went, but Haruhi tuned him out. Shocked, she lowered her phone and stared out at nothing in particular. She wasn't even aware of breathing. Not breathing? Was she suffocating? Was she dying without even realizing it?

"Haruhi?" Tamaki asked worriedly. He grabbed her shoulders and tried to force Haruhi to look at him. "Haruhi, what's wrong?"

"Kyouya, he . . . he," she whispered.

He's not even going to say goodbye?

Tamaki snatched Haruhi's cell and put it on speaker phone.

"—listening? Fujioka, are you listening to me?"

Haruhi shook her head, but Tamaki quickly intervened and said, "Yes. Yes we're listening. Who is this?"

Tachibana paused when he heard the new voice, and when he continued, his voice was a little guarded. "I was saying, Fujioka, his flight to South Africa is scheduled to leave from Kyotouwazawa." Now it was Tamaki's turn to stare. "It is possible that you can catch up to him before he leaves. Where are you currently located?"

Haruhi twirled around this way and that, frantically searching for a street sign. "On the corner of Buki and Fourth Street. In the Omoji district."

"There is a train station not too far from there, is there not?"

"Several blocks away," Haruhi answered.

There was the sound of typing on the other side. Haruhi waited impatiently, shifting from foot to foot. Then she heard Tachibana suck in his breath.

"What, Tachibana, what?" Haruhi asked.

"Tachibana?" Tamaki mouthed in confusion.

"Good and bad news, Fujioka. There is actually a direct train to Kyotouwazawa, but it leaves in approximately twenty minutes. If I arrange the ticket and other matters, can you make it in time?"

"Yes!" Haruhi said sharply before hanging up the phone. She was already running off in the other direction when Tamaki grabbed her arm.

"Wait, what are you doing?" he cried.

"I have to go!" Haruhi said, trying to wriggle free.

"And do what?"

That question smote Haruhi's adrenaline, and she stopped in her tracks. What was she doing?

"Here, at least let me call a limo," Tamaki said, already pulling out his phone. To himself, he muttered, "This is so unbelievably crazy."

But when Tamaki released her and dialed the number, Haruhi gritted her teeth and shouted, "It won't come in time. I have to leave now!" And with that, she ran down the street.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki yelled.

At the street corner, Haruhi turned and, while jogging backward, called, "I'm sorry, Sempai. I'm sorry, but Kyouya is—" She didn't finish. She turned right back around and pushed herself even faster.

Tamaki watched her go wordlessly, his forehead furrowed with worry and disbelief. Once he could no longer see her, he returned to his phone. He punched in a new number and held it up to his ear. With each ring, his anger began to build, until the other person finally picked up on the other line.

"If you do not want to die within twenty-four hours, I suggest you—"

"WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING?" Tamaki yelled, cutting his best friend off.

There was a pause. "And here I was trying my best to remain civil even though it's bloody twelve in the afternoon," Kyouya said dryly, even though it was obvious he was struggling to retain his temper as well. "You're the one who called me, idiot, so why do you get yelling privileges?"

"Because like it or not, you're just as much of an idiot as I am! Why didn't you tell anyone?" Tamaki demanded.

"Tell anyone what, precisely?"

"South . . . Africa," Tamaki hissed.

There was a longer pause.

"Kyouya—"

"How did you find out about that?" Kyouya asked quietly.

"Does it matter? How could you just forget about all of your friends and—"

"I didn't realize that word of my refusal would get out so fast."

It took a few seconds for his meaning to register in Tamaki's mind. His mouth falling open, Tamaki let out a big, clueless, "Huh?"