As was promised to our lovely ladies, the doors swung open at five p.m. on the dot and allowed their curious faces to peer inside to see what had been keeping them from their precious hosts.
Tamaki strolled forward, beckoning them in with a low bow and a charming smile. "Welcome to the new and improved host club, ladies-"
"What's going on, Tamaki-kun!?" The girls stampeded into the room, so full of questions that it was hard to make them all out amongst the chaos.
"Why has Haruhi been going around in a dress all day? Did Hikaru and Kaoru make him do it?"
"Who are the new hosts?!"
"Can I have some instant coffee, please?"
"Who's the tall guy?"
"That one looks like Honey-senpai!"
"Girls, girls, all in good time," our king successfully tried to soothe them. Slowly the girls began to hush and fall into quiet chatter. "Hosts, these ladies are in need of serving!"
In a blunder, the hosts rounded up the girls and began introducing one another to the newest hosts and taking designations. It seemed to be going smoothly enough so I kept out of sight in the kitchen area for now to see if I was needed in any capacity. Tamaki caught my eye and beckoned me forward out of my hiding spot. Tentatively, I snuck forward trying to capture as little attention as possible. He glanced over me then back at the new hosts and muttered, "Are you planning to stick around as a customer or are you finished here?"
I blinked owlishly at him, "Huh? What do you mean, finished here? I came to make sure the new hosts manage alright. Is there something wrong with that?"
He seemed to be taking time to formulate an answer so I waited patiently in hopes that it wouldn't be a load of nonsensical jibberish he spewed out instead. Eventually his eyes met my own, and the sadness and confusion in their depths surprised me. He stood up, towering over me, and let his emotions control his mouth and mind, "Haruhi, I'm your friend. Could you not have at least warned me that you were announcing to the world that you're a girl!"
Silence overfell the host club for a matter of seconds, before a united call of confusion rang out courtesy of our ladies, "What!?"
That had done it. All eyes were on us now and it fuelled my rage after being snapped at in such a manner. "Senpai, it's my decision if I want the school to know. You would have made a spectacle of the whole thing, quite like you're doing now, which is why I wanted it kept quiet. I'll wear what I damn well want and you don't have any say in the matter!"
He stepped back and watched me for a moment before turning and marching off into the crowd of girls forming around us. They stared at me expectantly, so I let out a sigh and began my long winded apology.
"I'm sorry, ladies. I didn't mean to lie to you all this time. It was complicated and I owed the host club, so I worked under the pretence of a male host and student. It wasn't my intention for it to carry on for so long, and for that, I'm sorry. I hope you can all forgive me."
One of my regulars pushed past the sea of confused first years who had never even met me before. Her chocolate eyes glistened up at me, but she took my hand and spoke as clearly as she could despite all eyes being on us. "Haru-chan, it's alright. We still love you."
Another girl stepped forward, followed by her friends. They looked slightly embarrassed but chuckled as they rubbed nervously at their arms. "Yeah… I mean, you suit the female uniform much better."
"Are you still going to work as a host, Haru-chan?" Someone piped up from in the crowd and the sea of girls bustled excitedly as they awaited my answer.
"I'm sorry, but from this day forward, I'm no longer a host." I was met with disappointed pouts. "But I'll still be here to chat to all you lovely ladies, after all, I'll miss entertaining you every evening."
This seemed to satisfy them enough and the girls that had stepped forward led me into the crowd and towards the newest hosts who were trying to separate everyone into their designated tables with their chosen hosts. I spotted Kyoya watching from the side lines and he smiled approvingly at me. Hikaru and Kaoru pounced on me, almost knocking me to the ground, exclaiming what an adorable toy I was. It was as though the weight of the world had just been lifted off my shoulders and I could breathe again, but there was still one problem.
My eyes sought out Tamaki but he was nowhere to be seen. His group of regulars looked confused at having been left alone but continued to wait patiently. I hadn't meant to argue with him in front of everyone but he had no right to snap at me in the middle of the host club. The least I could do was try to straighten it out with him.
I started by searching the kitchen then each of the storage and changing areas. Just as I was about to give up, I wandered into the walk in wardrobe and saw him pacing between the rails of clothing. He stopped upon sensing my arrival and looked me in the eye. It was hard not to feel sorry for him in that moment.
"Senpai, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to lash out at you like that," I edged closer but froze when he shot me a glare.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
I played anxiously with the fabric of the yellow dress, "Because we knew you'd react badly and make a scene."
"So everyone knew apart from me?" His desperation flared as he stomped towards me.
"Well Honey and Mori didn't…" I chuckled nervously, waving my hands defensively in front of me.
This was apparently a bad answer as he rolled his eyes and gestured wildly with his hands a few feet from me. "They don't even attend this school anymore, they don't count!"
"Tamaki, what do you want from me?" I whined. "I've paid off my debt. I'm sticking around. I just don't want to keep up the charade any longer!"
The anger dissipated and left him looking steely and determined "Neither do I."
"What do you mean?"
"Haruhi, I…" The words visibly caught in his throat so he strode forward and pulled me to him. His arms crushed the air out of my lungs but I just let him express his frustrations and sadness as he wished. At least that was what I was going to do until his lips sought out mine, in a chaste and tentative assault. I froze on the spot, unable to wrench myself free from his hold and unable to string together a sentence that wouldn't come out as either a cry for help or a high pitched squeak.
"… I love you." His words were uttered softly as he released me. I stumbled back a couple of steps and watched him with wide eyes. There was nothing I could say in response. Despite the fact that Kyoya had warned me, this still felt like ice water had been dumped over my head, leaving my mind numb.
When he got no response, he let out a quiet sigh. "It's alright. I knew deep down you wouldn't feel the same. But you know that I would treat you a thousand times better than either Kyoya or the twins would. Just… remember that for when he breaks your heart."
And with that he strode solemnly out the room, leaving me in silence. I still hadn't shifted from my spot near the door and the words whirled around my head as I tried to process them. He really did love me. Today was truly testing me, it seemed.