A/N: Ahaaa! Told you I'd get another chapter done today~ Now, my little cherubs, we're back to the normal Haruhi point of view for this chapter. And to those who asked, yes this is based off the anime version! I've read the manga but I must have watched the anime at least three or four times before I did~
For now, enjoy~
The weekend went by in a blur of textbooks, endless pages of notes and very little sleep. I ended up staying at the Hitachiin's for the whole weekend and found myself trudging home rather late on Sunday night to an empty house. The silence was welcomed however after hours of question and answer sessions on history, math and countless other subjects. Exhaustion was an understatement. I dropped onto my bed without bothering to change into pyjamas and I was out before my head hit the pillow.
Monday came and I woke up refreshed and ready for the exams. My brain was bursting with knowledge and scribbling it all down onto paper was almost therapeutic. The twins didn't seem to be having much difficulty either after all the help I'd given them, only spending a minimal amount of time doodling or chewing on their pens.
"Well that wasn't so bad," Kaoru yawned as we left the first years' exam hall. It was late afternoon but host club still didn't start for another twenty minutes or so.
"Tell me about it! No resits this semester! We should celebrate," Hikaru pumped his fist into the air with vigour, smiling broadly.
"Shouldn't we wait until we get the results to celebrate?" I asked hesitantly, stroking my chin. I was tired now and my hand was aching from all the writing.
Kaoru looked over his shoulder at me as we walked through the arts wing, "Why bother? You're gonna be top of the class, we're just happy to have a passing mark."
"And we will have, thanks to you," Hikaru laughed, hooking an arm around my shoulders and giving me a squeeze. His brother followed suit. I smiled up at them crookedly and we continued to make our way down the corridor, Hikaru around my shoulders and Kaoru around my waist.
"We should go away for the weekend!" Hikaru suggested cheerfully, pulling us to a halt. Both redheads looked overjoyed at the prospect and immediately put their thinking caps on.
"I suppose that could be fun. But I'd need to ask my dad first," I muttered. Numbers floated about in my mind, calculating how much money I had saved and if a holiday was even feasible. Especially one that would live up to the host club's calibre. It might just have to be added to my debt, if I played my cards right with Tamaki and Kyoya.
"Out of the country isn't an option, unless Haruhi's suddenly gotten herself a passport," Hikaru sighed, daydreaming of pale sandy tropics and towering palm trees.
"Why not hit the beach again?" Kaoru asked, amber eyes judging our reactions.
"In April? Might be a bit cold," I pondered, tapping my chin as different destinations popped in and out of my head.
"Hiking?" Hikaru suggested hopefully.
A shudder shook my body between the twins and they sniggered, "That's not my idea of a holiday."
"Then what would be your highness?" They let go of me, bowing low in front of me mockingly. Four amber eyes looked up at me, amusement shining in their depths as they watched me contemplate. It was too cold for another beach trip and I couldn't think of any festivals off the top of my head. Was there anywhere that could keep all seven of us entertained and out of trouble?
"Somewhere quiet, out of town perhaps. I just want to relax," I summarised, stretching my sore limbs before we started walking again.
"We could go back to Karuizawa?" One of the brothers suggested they slid down the bannisters of the grand stair cases. The odd girl dawdled about the corridors waiting for hosting hours to begin, watching us with interest; whispered words and girly squeals following us.
There was no objection I could find with returning to Karuizawa again and the twins seemed to be in agreement already, "We all have holiday homes around there; we just have to pick which one to stay in."
"It's settled!" They called out, giving each other enthusiastic thumbs up and cheesy grins.
"So we'll invite the other hosts along?" Their keen attitudes and excited chatter had me smiling merrily as the optimism began to infect me. We reached the old music room #3 with little time to spare and slipped through the ornate wooden doors, escaping the views of the stalking ladies waiting anxiously on the other side.
They both wrapped arms around me and pulled themselves up close, noses tickling my ears. Their whispered words tickled and made me shiver, "Unless you want to spend another private weekend with us."
Hikaru laughed airily and let his nose brush some of the hair away from my ear, "But your boyfriend might not be happy about that!"
"Shut up, Hikaru," I deadpanned, brushing them off so I could drop off my belonging in the kitchen. Coffee and tea needed to be prepared, cakes needed to be selected and cut, and tablecloths laid out. Honey had already picked his favourite delicacies of the day and had them set out on the counter for serving. Ten minutes later I had everything ready and set out on the tables, with a few minutes to spare.
Tamaki and Kyoya were chatting over the laptop, presumably picking plausible themes for future events. Honey was talking animatedly to Mori about his university interviews whilst hugging Usa-chan to himself tightly. Everyone seemed upbeat and cheerful which was a big improvement from last week. I took a seat at my usual table, waiting for the girls to come bursting through the doors.
"Hello, Haruhi. How was your weekend?" I jumped at the sound of Tamaki leaning over my shoulder and talking into my ear. Shuffling to the side slightly, I escaped the airy voice and smiled up at him. He really did have to learn about personal space, but he wasn't the only one I thought glancing over at the Hitachiin brothers.
"Tiring, I guess. I stayed with the twins' all weekend studying. How about yours, sempai? We missed you on Friday."
He pulled up a seat beside me and leant towards me, resting his elbows on his knees and chin in his hands, "Sounds like fun. It wasn't too bad, I was kept busy enough. Then I apologise, my sweet."
Tamaki took one of my petite hands into both of his large ones and pressed his lips to my knuckles. It was a bit odd but I wrote it off as one of Tamaki's eccentricities. "Uh, okay. The ladies will be let in any second now, shouldn't you get ready?"
"I was wondering if I could work with you today, Haruhi," he suggested joyfully, letting my hand go and lounging casually over the side of his chair. I eyed him warily. Working with Tamaki would mean more ladies and a lot more effort to keep entertained. High maintenance was probably the best description for his customers.
"That should be alright. Nothing wrong with a bit of variety every now and then," I grinned. Just then Honey and Mori opened the doors and let the girls loose into their own personal playground that was the host club. We all smiled as brightly as we could as the ladies bustled to the tables of their choice. Some of my regular customers looked wary about mixing in with Tamaki's growing crowd but eventually wormed their way through the chattering girls to speak to me.
Our table was crowded all afternoon and I hardly had a single break. They questioned why we had teamed up and each time Tamaki would wrap an arm around me and say something along the lines of "we just make a great couple, don't we?" and then the girls would squeal, some even fainting, and start asking more risqué questions. Maybe a year ago this behaviour would make me uncomfortable but having the twins as my best friends had made me basically immune to these kinds of moves. I hadn't thought Tamaki would follow in their footsteps but saying as it was only a ruse to keep his many princesses coming back for more, I let it slip.
At the end of hosting, I was ready for bed. I slipped away from Tamaki and snuck up on Kyoya. Before I could get a couple of steps behind him, he tilted his head to the side and smirked at me, knowing he'd caught me. Huffily, I took the last couple of steps and pressed a kiss to his cheek. A slight blush stained his cheeks but it was hardly visible unless you were close up.
"Want to come over tonight? I could do with curling up with a movie," I suggested hopefully. It felt odd trying to adapt to a relationship and I wasn't sure what normal behaviour was for a couple yet, especially when one of them was used to all the luxuries life could provide.
"After those exams, that sounds perfect," his slim fingers tucked a strand of hair behind my ears before he gave me a chaste kiss. Then it was my turn to blush before walking away giddily, picking up plates and teacups as I went. It didn't take long until we were ready to leave, fingers weaving together as we made our way out of the now empty academy buildings. Although I was pleased to be heading home, I couldn't help but feel as though piercing eyes were boring into my back. Unbeknownst to us, a lone blonde haired boy lingered not far behind, watching us longingly.