The hours passed quickly – too quickly for her liking, and soon everyone was packing up papers and books and getting ready to leave. Haruhi dawdled, not ready to lose the strange and wonderful feeling of euphoric companionship she'd been wrapped in for the past few hours. Before long, though, everyone had said their goodbyes and wishes of good luck on the upcoming tests rang out through the air. To her utter shock, as they left every single one of the hosts had kissed the top of her head and thanked her for joining them. Still unsure what to make of the new studious side of her friends she took her time gathering her things. The sun had begun to set, bathing the room in soft purples and pinks that were giving reluctant way to blues and grays and for a moment in time she simply stood there, watching the changing light through the windows and just being content. With a sigh she turned around and gasped as she saw Honey leaning casually against the door, arms crossed.

"You know, you can be really oblivious sometimes," he said with a grin.

"Ho-Mitsukuni! I didn't see you there!" She stumbled slightly over her words. He walked over towards her and stood quietly at her side, still smiling.

"You seemed really surprised that we study together. Why?" She thought carefully before she answered.

"I think I just never really considered it. I mean, I assumed you all did your schoolwork and such, but the reality of it never really crossed my mind. And since any time I try and do any work in this room one person or another always tries to distract me...I don't know. I never thought about it, I guess."

"Did you know Tama-chan has the highest grades in the school in English?" he asked quietly. She blinked, a bit puzzled at the seeming non sequitur.

"No...no, I didn't."

"He's also fluent in Japanese and French, obviously. And though it's not part of his curriculum, he's been taking lessons in German from Kyo-chan – who is incidentally top of his class in that."

"I...wow." Haruhi was a bit surprised, but Honey turned away from her, gazing out the window as he continued.

"I know you and the twins are close friends and share a lot of classes together, but I wonder how much you really know about them. For example, were you aware that Hika-chan is fascinated by chemistry and has earned national awards for some of his projects? Or that Kao-chan has had several of his literary essays published on a college level?"

"Really?" she asked in awe. He didn't seem inclined to either reply or look at her; instead he continued speaking in his soft voice.

"Kyo-chan is, without a doubt, simply a genius. He already holds two degrees – one in business and financial management, and one in economic sciences. Not surprising when you consider who he is, his drive and his determination."

"Two degrees?" Honey nodded, still staring out the window.

"He took them both as independent study courses. And he still has another year of high school left after this one. Impressive, wouldn't you say Haru-chan?

"Takashi is a master of history. Ours, other countries, whatever. If he liked to talk more he wouldn't be continually turning down the requests he gets to speak at Tokyo University. He's also been invited to Oxford and several ivy league schools in America, Harvard among them, but...well, you know how Takashi is," he said with a giggle. Haruhi's head was spinning.

"What about you?" she asked. He shook his head with a laugh.

"What, am I supposed to brag about my own accomplishments now? That would just be egotistical. Besides, I wasn't telling you all this to impress you." He finally turned back to her and the look in his eyes was patient, if slightly sad.

"We all know you. Your strengths, your achievements. Every one of your triumphs makes us all so very proud. Each time you stumble we want to be there to help you up and help you out." He sighed. "But you really don't know us at all. It's almost like once you classed us as spoiled rich bastards and friends, you stopped looking. Even worse is the fact that you don't really know yourself, either. You don't see how wonderful you are, and you don't truly see who any of us are. It's why I had the twins drag you up here today. I know you usually study alone. But Haruhi," he said, running his palms up her arms to grasp her shoulders, "you aren't alone. Not anymore, not ever again unless you wish it. And there isn't a single one of us that wouldn't be honored if you just realized that." His eyes, so deep, burned into her soul with their sincerity and she suddenly felt very small.

"I...I never knew..."

"We know, Haru. And I know you have a lot on your plate right now. But maybe if you take a step back, you'll see things you never did before. And just maybe you'll learn that you don't have to face anything alone." His lips brushed her cheek and the warmth sent a shock down her spine but he just walked away, leaving without another word before she could figure out where she misplaced her voice. Even more powerful than his friendly kiss, however, were the words he'd shared with her that evening.

Haruhi stared for a long while at the door he'd walked through before gathering her possessions and heading home.

Author's note: I realize this is completely AU - but, hey, it's fanfic. By definition all fanfic is AU because it's comprised of events that never happened...otherwise it would be canon. It just seems to me that as heirs to various zaibatsus and empires, there was so much more depth to be expected from these guys. Sure they're teenagers, but most of them have known their whole lives that had very large parts to play in very elite circles. Granted, knowledge and pressure like that could easily lead to a lack of caring, but I really don't see that. I mean, they goof off and have fun and stuff, but you know that they are always aware of their places in society and in their families. I think something like that would give rise to a need not to just learn more about their own interests but to branch out and try new things as well. They're high school students with the world awaiting them. It's a large set of expectations. I just can't see their situations allowing for a two-dimensional approach to life. To the contrary, Haruhi's determination to be a lawyer like her mother is by her own choice, not due to familial pressure, and as such she really wouldn't have much of an inkling about what expectations are set in place for the guys, or what her friends really expect from themselves. Especially with the issues with her father, it's far too easy to understand that she would see more of their personalities and less of their accomplishments, and that's not a bad thing, but she needs to learn more about herself and about those she cares for, and it's not something that would cross her mind in the process of trying to keep her own life together. For so long Haruhi has had to carry burdens by herself, and she's never really learned that it's okay to want help sometimes. I can imagine the guys seeing her go through trial and success on her own, wanting so badly to be there for her, and knowing that she's not deliberately pushing them aside but that she truly doesn't understand that they are standing there waiting for her. So Honey, as the eldest and (debatedly) most level-headed, as well as her current confidante, chose to try and help her open her eyes a bit to the fact that she's not the only one with a life and interests outside of school and the Club. At the very least it will give her something to think about.