Tamaki somehow wrangled a helicopter and pilot from his father's estate, bringing the others along on his wild ride. Once Haruhi had compelled them to retrieve and re-hang the sheets that had been strewn about by the flying menace, we all gathered in the drawing room of a Tudor-style bed-and-breakfast called Pension Misuzu.

Upon meeting the proprietor, I heard Tamaki mumble what we were all thinking: "Not another fluttering tranny!" Ranka's comment about seeing for myself finally made sense.

He welcomed us and introduced himself with a girlish laugh. "Why don't you call me Misuzu-chi?"

I was aware of Haruhi at my side and, sensing her discomfort, I stepped in to explain. "He's an old friend of Ranka-sama; they worked together at the same shop years ago."

Tamaki looked at me sharply. "How do you know that?

Haruhi grumbled her displeasure while Misuzu went on to explain how he had come to operate the Pension only two years ago.

"So is Haruhi like your indentured servant?" Honey asked.

I answered him, "She's more like an unpaid employee. Ranka had to be away on business and was worried about Haruhi, so he asked Misuzu-kun to take care of her."

Tamaki's eyes were narrowed. "Again, why do you know that?"

Misuzu broke in with more fulsome chattering, reminiscent of Haruhi's father. I seemed to recall a prohibition in the school policy regarding students working, and wondered if it would apply to Haruhi, since she was not being paid. Concerned for her scholarship status, I pulled out my notebook to check.

Misuzu finally wound down and suggested, "Why don't you all take a look around and I'll have Haruhi prepare some tea?"

Haruhi rolled her eyes but headed toward the kitchen.

There wasn't much to the Pension. A wing of guest suites extended off the two-story atrium that served as both the reception area and dining room. A sweeping carpeted staircase led to a second floor of rooms overlooking the downstairs—the interior hallway separated from the atrium by a banister. The kitchen and laundry made up the other small wing. The décor was tasteful, though not elegant, with potted plants and vases of flowers dotted liberally throughout. Its large paned windows let in lots of natural light, and overall the inn was, in fact, rather charming. Haruhi really did look like she belonged in a place like this.

The grounds were of similar design, with a manicured lawn, more planters of flowers ad even a white picket fence. Tamaki hoped fervently that the larger evergreens just beyond might herald a hedgerow maze and went to investigate. The rest of us took seats at a couple round tables situated on the lawn.

Haruhi arrived with the tea and served me first, as I sat alone still perusing the handbook. "Thank you." I met her eyes. She offered me a nervous smile and went to lay out the tea things at the next table, where the twins and Honey were seated. I hoped she would return to take one of the empty chairs at my table, but Kaoru compelled her to take his chair, scooting over to share one with his twin. "A job, huh?" he addressed her. "I don't get it. You turned down our invitation to go to Bali for this?"

"And we asked her to go along with us to Switzerland, didn't we?" Honey asked Mori, who grunted his assent.

"Yeah, well, I still don't have a passport, remember? Haruhi retorted.

"Which is precisely why I recommended one of our domestic resorts," I chimed in. Then I could have had you all to myself.

As if hearing my thought, Tamaki burst from the bushes. "You traitors! Asking Haruhi to go on a summer vacation with you behind my back! Have you no feeling of loyalty, of solidarity? Togetherness is our guiding principle. I work myself to the bone upholding that and this is the thanks I get?"

Though he was clearly employing hyperbole, he did strike a nerve. Tamaki was probably my best friend, and I hadn't considered how his summer might have shaped up. With his father so distant and a nasty grandmother who resented him, his days at home had to be rather lonely. I squirmed guiltily and resolved to be a better friend to him.

The twins had no such compunction and were busy chiding Haruhi for ignoring the cell phone they gave her so they could keep in touch over break. They taunted Tamaki with the news that they were in each other's "top five" friends list.

Apparently keeping in touch on a daily basis (or being at the twins' beck and call) was not high on Haruhi's priorities, and I tuned in to hear her say, "Don't I have the right to spend my summer vacation the way I want to?"

This reminded me of my research earlier. "According to the school handbook, jobs are prohibited."

The twins seized on this and proceeded to tease Haruhi for being a rebel and working without permission from the school.

"I think Karuizawa is way better than Switzerland anyway," Honey offered gamely.

I couldn't agree, but I had to set the stage for me showing up at regular intervals over the next month. "And overseas travel is so exhausting," I added.

Unfortunately, Tamaki caught up to my idea with unusual perceptiveness. Or more likely he was, like me, already looking for an excuse. "You do have the right to spend your vacation as you please," he said to Haruhi. "But then, like it or not, so do we. And you know I, for one, find Pension Misuzu to be exceptionally charming."

Despite Haruhi's protests, everyone thought it would be great fun to hang around Karuizawa for awhile. But our 'solidarity' was dealt a blow when it turned out there was only one room available.

The twins shared a conspiratorial look. "Hey Boss, we just came up with a fun game. Want to play with us? We call it the "Refreshing-Odd-Jobs-Contest at Pension Misuzu."

Hikaru explained, "It's very simple. We all just lend a hand around the place for the afternoon…"

"…And whoever makes the best impression on Misuzu-chi gets to sleep in the vacant guest bedroom," Kaoru finished for him.

"That's brilliant! I think it's an absolutely delightful idea!" gushed Misuzu, who just happened to be watering the potted plants nearby for the fourth time.

While the others accepted assignments from Misuzu, I stayed in my spot at the table, finishing my now tepid tea. Haruhi's aggravation made me wonder if she really did dislike us "spoiled rich kids" that much, or whether it was just the circus atmosphere the group invoked that she found trying.

My senses quickened as Haruhi stepped to my side again. Perhaps she found my presence soothing in the midst of this chaos? "Kyoya-sempai," she said. "You're not taking part in the game?"

I hoped she was disappointed that I was not vying for more time with her, but in truth she merely sounded curious. "Of course not," I answered her. "Winning means I'd end up staying here alone, which frankly doesn't appeal to me. I'll just sit back and watch things unfold, then head for the cottage."

"Cottage? You mean your family's cottage, Kyoya-sempai?"

"That's right. We all have one in the area." She processed the news with a lack of enthusiasm.

I searched for something to cheer her up. "So then about this refreshing contest. Who do you think will win, Haruhi? Shall we bet on it?" I asked with a mischievous smile. Before I could decide what I would like to win from her, she declined.

"No, huh? It's easy to tell at a glance." She watched me attentively as I elucidated the pros and cons of each contestant. A round of high-pitched tittering interrupted my soliloquy. Reluctantly I pulled my gaze from Haruhi to see what the ladies found so amusing.

"Ah," I said, noting Mori chopping wood nearby. He had discarded his shirt for the moment, and the task showcased his chiseled physique. "Then again, It seems we have a dark horse," I admitted with some surprise. As Haruhi turned to see what I meant, Mori paused for a moment to wipe sweat from his brow, and a jealous flush suffused my cheeks.

"So then you think he's the one?" she asked.

I was certain that Mori was only here to keep watch on Honey, and pointed that out to her, concluding, "So if Honey-sempai drops out then Mori is bound to go along with him."

The twins had wandered over while we were busy considering Mori. "Which means that clinches it for us," they chorused.

Haruhi pointed out the drawback of the room having only a single bed, but the twins didn't seem to mind sharing. "I guess you guys really are always together," she concluded. She seemed happy for them, but my heart squeezed as I thought of how much of her life she had spent alone.

"Up until a few years ago we thought the whole world was made up of idiots," said Kaoru.

"You don't say," Haruhi inserted sarcastically.

Hikaru finished their reminiscence. "But then that was before we knew you, Haruhi. We'd totally let you share our bed." He smiled devilishly.

Their humor was not lost on her. "I'll pass," she said with a roll of her eyes.

Meanwhile, my mind returned to the one time Haruhi was in my bed. Wrenching it back I adjusted my glasses and decided to be that friend to Tamaki. "The contest hasn't been decided yet. There are still a number of ways to make this game more interesting."

"Kyoya-sempai, you're not thinking of assisting the boss, are you?" Hikaru challenged. "Even so, we don't intend to lose."

I chuckled with anticipation. I wasn't sure which was the lesser of two evils: the twins and their schemes, which had fooled Haruhi before, or Tamaki and his overly ardent professions of ownership.

Apparently when it came to choosing the lesser of two evils, Haruhi trusted me more than the twins. We left them whispering with their heads together and strolled the grounds in search of Tamaki. We found him trying –and failing—to repair a couple broken fence posts.

Haruhi put it down to him trying too hard to win. Though she was right, I remained steadfast in my role as best friend and rose to his defense. "He's never had an actual job before, you know."

This hit the "entitlement" nerve with her, and with another roll of her eyes she stalked off.

Tamaki collapsed in a puddle on the grass. "I want to be in Haruhi's 'Top Five,'" he whined.

"Grandiose ambitions aside, I think your approach to winning is a bit skewed." I told him.

He regarded me peevishly. "Kyoya, can't you see that her esteem for me as a father-figure hangs in the balance?"

I honestly couldn't tell if he was serious.

"Let me offer you one bit of advice," I said. "There is something that only you can pull off… if you choose the right music." I saw his eyes widen in understanding. The game was afoot.