Chapter 5

"This is excellent. What a great photo-op, oh goodness. This is wonderful," her mother gushed. "I can't believe I never thought of this career move."

Hana bit her tongue. Patience.

It was a long day from a shoot in the blazing sun. Her cheeks were still sore from the fake smiles and her feet swollen from the ill-fitting shoes she had to wear for hours on end. She wanted to sleep, or at least sit down. Her flight was scheduled in 6 hours to fly to Cambodia from Marseilles. But instead she was met by her mother in the dressing room who clutched a copy of a magazine that named her an ambassador to a charity.

"It's not a career mo—" the model was in the midst of gritting out a sentence before she was interrupted by a phone call.

"Hana, did you make Kyouya sift through financial records of various charities?!" Hiro barked on the other line. "Because he's docking my pay because of you. How did you even get in contact with him?"

Hana had two people speaking simultaneously and her patience was waning thin.

"Let me call you back, Hiro." Hana hung up abruptly and dealt with her mother next. Hiro was more understanding and Hana knew that her brother would eternally forgive her. But her mother was a different story. The woman didn't even notice that her child had just ended a phone call. Hana's mother was in the midst of flipping through the magazine, admiring the photos of her daughter.

"Hana, this is wonderful. This moves you up the ladder to becoming a socialite and—"
"That's not the point of—"
"—Your marriage prospects are going to increase now that your image—"
"This isn't about the ima—"
"—isn't just a pretty face."

Just the phrase itself was enough to trigger Hana into grabbing the nearest thing and wanting to hurl it at her mother.

You don't fight recklessly. You fight strategically. Do not be stupid.

Her arms stiffened. "I need a break."

"What was that?" Her mother turned around to face her child. Her child was leaning on the wall with her hand gripping the hairbrush until her knuckles were white.

"I. Need. A. Break." Hana closed her eyes and took a couple deep breaths. She wasn't about to lose her patience. Not yet. Not quite.

"Oh… yes of course, you need to rest. I'll see you in Tokyo, darling." Her mother grabbed her handbag and left the room, smiling to herself. The door closed with a small creak.

Hana waited 10 seconds before throwing a hairbrush across the room, easily making a dent in the wall. The model collapsed onto the chair, tired and frustrated. It was not a photo-op opportunity. It was a genuine opportunity to help a charity and—

There was a knock on the door.

"Come in," Hana called.

Her agent walked in, peeking into the room. "I heard a loud bang. And—" Her head turned towards the white wall that used to be smooth. But instead, she noticed the drywall cracked and obviously dented. "Oh my god. Did you do that?!"

The model laughed.

"Me? Please, like I'd ever have the strength."

Mori flipped through the magazine that was left on the table.

They were candids of the model spending time with Cambodian children in a small classroom, while she smiled and played with the kids. Another photo of her arms crossed as she listened to the villagers teach her about the well, and the water they lugged from kilometres on end. The next shot was her carrying a tub of water with other volunteers, face darkened by the sun.

"Mother said that these photos are ruining her prospects in marriage," Hiro joked. "But I think she's cute, even while she's applying bug spray and her knees blackened by dirt."

Tamaki sighed. "You're such a wonderful brother, Hiro." His eyes welled up in tears, being his usual emotional self. He admired how precious Hiro treated his own sister.

"Aye, Tono, calm down," the Twins grumbled. "No one wants to see you cry again."

Honey was perched over Mori's shoulders, looking over the magazine just as his cousin had.

"Hana-chan is so kind, isn't she, Takashi? I'd love to share my cake with her."

The club was spending a weekend getaway in the mountains, with Hiro volunteering his villa in an attempt to settle his debt with the Shadow King. It had been months since Hana had recruited Kyouya to go over the financial records of various charities and Hiro was still stuck with unpaid debt. He figured that this opportunity would let him off the hook. Meanwhile, Haruhi wasn't so lucky as she was terrified of coming along and having more debt added to her account by the Shadow King. It would be their last summer as the whole host club, given that Mori, Honey and Hiro were leaving Ouran by September.

It was already the evening, the sun had already set and the entire club had gathered around the common area to relax and sing with Hiro's guitar providing the background music. Kyouya, as always, sat out. While the rest of the group was happy to participate, Mori often stayed silent as he sat with the group. The entire group stopped when they heard the door jiggle.

"Do you… do you think it's a bear?" Tamaki whispered. They were in the middle of the mountains with forest surrounding them. It was a fantastic view until they were reminded of the wildlife.
"Nonsense, a bear can't unlock a door…" Hiro gulped.
"Or… can it?" the Twins finished.

Hana successfully opened the door to a group of teenagers who screamed for their lives. Mori was the first to recognize the figure with a blue bag and a backpack.

"Uh," Hana closed the door calmly before proceeding. "Hiro, I thought this place was empty but, I guess I could… head back…" She wasn't here to intrude on her brother's friends. She wasn't even invited.

Hiro put his guitar down and scrambled to get out of his circle of friends after recognizing the familiar figure. He gave her a large hug before saying a word. He kissed his sister's forehead before breaking apart.

"You're always welcome. It's our villa after all. What made you come?"

Hana shook her head to brush off the question. "Just wanted some peace and quiet, nothing much."

The model looked around the place and counted 8 people including her. Their villa only had 6 bedrooms. Hiro patted her back and reminded her that the Twins would double up to sleep in one room.

"Takashi and I can sleep together, right?" Honey nudged his cousin. Mori only nodded, keeping his view on Hana who felt embarrassed for having Hiro's friends accommodate for her.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to intrude," she apologised. Hana bowed to show her respect.

Tamaki ran over in a dramatic fashion as usual. "No, mademoiselle. We are your friends! No need for such grand gestures! We enjoy your company as much as we enjoy Hiro's."

Hana retired to bed almost immediately after greeting the rest of the club, citing her fatigue after a long week of work. Mori watched her tiredly smile as she tried to keep up with the antics of the host club. She met his eyes before she left, not to say goodbye but rather a hello. An acknowledgement of his presence, to let him know that he was appreciated. She took note of the magazine in his lap.

Mori hadn't noticed how much he appreciated her presence until she left for the night.

The sun wasn't even up but neither was the entire Host Club. It was a Saturday, and since Mori was up in the mountains, he had to take a break from his regular kendo sessions. It was 5 AM in the morning and Mori decided to take a quick jog. He didn't know his way around the area, but the boy wasn't particularly afraid of getting lost. There must have been a trail to follow somewhere.

When he made it down the stairs and towards the door, he noticed Hana tying her running shoes. She too, looked to see who would be up so early. Hana smiled at him, not surprised by his presence. It was Saturday, after all. She tilted her head at the door as if to tell him to follow her.

And so he did.

They walked out of the villa, listening to the crickets still chirping and the birds beginning to wake.

She stretched her legs before beginning her run, and Mori did the same. Her eyes searched for his, almost to ask if he was ready.

He was.

Her pace started slow, leading him towards a trail that disappeared into the forest. But as soon as they were surrounded by trees, the terrain began to change. He felt the steepness of the trail in his calves, his heart pounding faster and faster while she quickened her pace. Mori towered over the girl, but all he could see was her back and the ponytail swinging back and forth, itching him to move faster to keep up.

He didn't have the time to take in the scenery when he was on the verge of losing her in the midst of the wilderness. He heard his short breaths in the quiet forest, off sync with hers. She too, was getting tired. Hana refused to let the terrain pull her down as she begrudgingly moved forward against the hill.

Mori noticed how quick footed she was, easily avoiding branches and the roots of trees embedded into the ground. Her feet never losing a beat. She must have been very familiar with the trail. It wasn't until they had reached more level terrain that she slowed her pace. Hana moved towards the edge of the trail, getting dangerously close to the steep cliffs.

Mori almost grabbed her arm, thinking she was about to fall off the trail but instead she plopped herself down on the rocks and invited him to the same by patting a spot beside her. She faced the view of two trees which just so happened to provide a small window for the sun rising.

"I…" Hana was still trying to catch her breath. "I thought we were going to miss it." She laughed at her silliness. "I guess this was the run I never got around to inviting you to."

Mori was still breathing heavily, but as soon as he caught sight of the sun, he stopped thinking about the physiological effects. Immediately, his eyes were captured by the colours of the sky, a beautiful gradient that ranged from red to yellow and finally blue. He took a deep breath of the morning air, cool and crisp. He turned to watch the girl beside him.

She closed her eyes and exhaled. The golden light kissed her skin, her face glowing in the sunlight. Hana felt so serene, taking in the moment with the beautiful view and letting the endorphins do their job after a challenging run. Mori was unsure whether to keep his eyes on Hana or the sunrise. Both were breathtaking in their own regard.

"It's nice to get away," Hana was oblivious to his stare. She was still enchanted by the sunrise. "I feel like I can breathe after so long."

Mori made an affirming noise.

"I feel like, one day… I won't be able to get away like this." Hana didn't even have a chance for her brain to process whether it was even appropriate to share her inner thoughts so effortlessly. But for some odd reason, they felt mutually comfortable. They were old friends. Old friends that never quite knew each other enough.

"Why?" he asked. Hana forgot about how deep his voice was. He was quiet, but even so, the register made her ears perk up. It wasn't often that she heard him speak.

"Duties," Hana murmured. She looked down from the edge of the cliff that they sat. There was something oddly comforting about the scenery. Something exhilarating about sitting on the edge of a rock, and yet they wouldn't ever fall. They wouldn't let themselves fall. She felt in control, a rare feeling nowadays.

"To your job?" Mori offered in explanation.

Hana shook her head. "To my family. To uphold societal values. To stay naïve and pretty. To listen to my mother, my manager, the photographer… however much I question it all, it is the only thing I know how to do well."

Mori stayed silent. She leaned forward towards the edge of the cliff, threatening herself to fall. But she pulled straight back, laying back on the ground with her feet dangling off the edge and chuckled to herself. The cold rock against her back reminded her that she was alive with her warm blood rushing through her veins.

"Sorry," Hana closed her eyes. "I didn't mean to ruin the atmosphere with my thoughts. It's nothing." She sat back up and took a look at Mori. His gaze faced her, his eyes soft as though they yearned to say something to comfort her. But he couldn't. And Hana only smiled. She couldn't have expected him to say anything.

"The view is beautiful here, isn't it?" she quickly changed the topic and focused on the scenery, the sun had already risen.

Mori didn't break his gaze towards her. She shined like the sun.

"Yes."

They walked back slowly, letting their legs rest as they returned back to the villa. The birds and crickets came alive, settling in the background of their comfortable silence. The downhill trail gave way to Hana losing her balance a couple times, each time with Mori steadying her shoulders from the back while she lead him forward.

"Thanks," Hana mumbled. "Probably would have fallen over by now if it weren't for you."

He stayed silent, focusing on her steps and making sure she didn't hurt herself. She stopped for a second, checking the time on her watch. It was barely 7 in the morning.

"Do you want to go for a hike?" She turned around to ask him.

Mori hesitated for a brief moment, lost in her hopeful eyes. Hana shook her head when she noticed his hesitation. "Sorry. That must have been a rough trail to run so early in the morning. We could go back and rest instead. We'll keep going down this tr—"
"—It's fine."

He shrugged. Honey was far from being awake, and Tamaki wouldn't dare to wake anyone else besides the Twins and Hiro but they would easily keep each other company.

Hana smiled. "You don't have to," she assured.

Mori shrugged again. I'll come.

The girl looked into his eyes for a sign, to see if he was lying. But it was such a difficult task given that he spoke very little. Hana came to the conclusion that he wouldn't lie to her. It just didn't seem like his character to do so.

Hana continued walking and when they reached a fork in the dirt trail, she took another route, straight through the trees.

"Come often?"

Hana shook her head. "Not anymore. Hiro and I used to come up here every summer until he began high school. I found this trail a couple months ago at the end of winter when I needed some time on my own."

Winter must have been incredibly dangerous, especially when daylight was scarce and there were few humans around.

What were you doing? He wanted to ask. It seemed like such a poor idea to even come in the midst of winter, to the wilderness no less. Hana shrugged as if she had expected him to ask. It was a crazy, dangerous idea to explore the woods.

"I was… escaping," Hana sensed that he wanted to ask why. Any logical person wouldn't come to a place like this in the midst of winter. She cryptically answered his question and continued walking.

Mori didn't pry. Instead he followed her closely, watching as her head darted back and forth to piece together the landmarks she used from memory. They hiked in silence, letting the crack of branches or the birds fill the background noise.

"I actually hate my job," Hana blurted out. The silence nagged her. Something about his presence begged for her to share her inner thoughts. "I do it because… I feel obligated to. It gets me away from my mother, but that feels like the only perk, nowadays. Every once in a while though, I need a break."

Hana continued her trek, with Mori trailing closely behind. She picked up a couple wildflowers along the way, forming the beginnings of a bouquet.

"But when I come back to reality, I have my whole life planned out. Schedules made, flights booked, tutoring sessions planned, and my future set by my mother."

They came to a particularly steep climb but it didn't stop Hana from slowing her pace. Her feet sprung across the rocks that zig-zagged their way up the hill, easing the transition for the hikers. They made it back on a dirt trail, on higher ground. They went through periods of silence before Hana would speak, carefully contemplating each thought.

"Something feels wrong about that, you know? Being surrounded by heirs, heiresses and alike. We all have duties to uphold, a future paved for us. Like no work had to be done."

There was a small bench, or rather a log with a quarter of it carved out horizontally. Hana took this opportunity to rest and to adjust her hair. There was no need for her hair to hang above her head anymore. Mori watched as Hana swiftly braided her hair, managing to stick in a couple wildflowers in the braid. He couldn't help but to think she looked like she was some kind of goddess of the forest, with wildflowers in her hair and the way she navigated the woods. His stare went unnoticed as she spoke.

Her voice flowed quietly through the wind, as though she belonged with the tranquil forest.

"I think… I just wanted to gain perspective," Hana finished off the braid. "Outside of how we live. I was fuelled by curiosity, and met by my naivety. I was trying to find a sort of purpose in life but… it wasn't how I thought it would turn out."

Mori thought back to the photos he saw of her in that magazine. He pieced together the feature of her in Cambodia.

"How unaware I was about the privileges we held, the way we live, and how inexplicably guilty I felt for being kept in the dark. How little they had, and how much more they needed."

Hana got up from the bench and gestured Mori to do the same. They continued up the trail, listening to the birds chirp and the cool breeze whispering through the air. Hana took another moment to contemplate. She exhaled and sighed.

"The trip wasn't meant for that kind of attention. It was months ago now," she confessed, in reference to the photos in the magazine she saw the night before on Mori's lap. Hiro always kept track of the magazines she was in, and it would have been odd if the Host Club hadn't known about it.

They were getting close, Mori could feel it in her pace. She walked quicker, excited for the view. But in the midst of their treacherous hike, Hana kept voicing her thoughts almost as if he didn't exist. As soon as Mori felt like he had hidden himself away, she was acutely aware of his existence, careful to warn him of an embedded tree root or a rock that she nearly tripped on.

Mori was captivated by her thoughts. Like he was listening to a story that never wanted to end. She acknowledged him, she trusted him, and that was much more than he could ever ask for. There was something intangible about the feeling of trust. Something inexplicable. Something honourable. He knew a part of her that no one else seemed to notice.

"But I'm a fraud." Her sentence caught him off guard, and out of his own thoughts. Hana's tone suddenly turned dark, her words in a murmur. "What can a model do besides pose and look pretty? What difference am I meant to make? I would be a fool to think I made a difference in the world. Even my mother thought the entire thing was a publicity stunt."

Hana stopped abruptly, leading Mori to look up from the ground and at the new surroundings. They reached a peak, where the city of Tokyo could be seen. With the sun in the sky, and the flowers blossoming, the petals fell effortlessly with the wind. She checked the time. It was a little past 8. The hike back downhill would be much quicker, especially at the pace they went at. Mori kept up wordlessly but swiftly.

"So I came here," she gestured to the view of the city. "To sort out all the white noise in my head."

Mori admired the view, letting the crisp morning air cool him down. It was a good workout. Not quite as demanding as he was used to, but certainly a challenge. He turned away from the cityscape and glanced at Hana who had her arms crossed and her eyes fixated on the miniature buildings far away. She looked forlorn.

"You weren't posing," Mori murmured. The smile he saw, the exhausted expression on her face, and the way she squinted at the bright summer sun, all of the photos were genuine candid shots.

"Hm?" Hana turned to face Mori, looking up to meet his face. The boy looked down at the girl, whose ashy brown hair had loosely fallen apart with strands framing her face and flowers caught in the midst of her braid. She wore a blue t-shirt and black tight-fitting athletic pants. She gave a small smile asking him to voice his thoughts.

"Your intentions," Mori murmured. He turned away from her, afraid that he had made her feel uncomfortable by staring at her for too long. "They're genuine."

Hana mulled over his sentence.

"Thank you."

It was a simple gesture to voice your gratitude. Hana hadn't expected him to say such a thing, or to even say anything at all. He said more through his presence than anything. It was a strange feeling, something Hana hadn't ever experienced.

There was this sense of trust between each other, something about Mori made her feel safe. He was quiet and peaceful. He was a constant that Hana needed in her life, away from the chaotic and busy lifestyle she lived. With the glitz and glamour, travelling and keeping up with her academics – she needed this.

What he said made her feel relieved. A burden lifted off her shoulders. A sign to remind her that she was doing something right. Whatever it was, Hana could only wish that the time she had with him lasted longer.

"Morinozuka-san," Hana didn't quite like the way it rolled off her tongue. His friends called him Mori. But between each other, they never addressed each other by name, or even surname. She hesitantly asked something that had been on her mind for some time.

Mori turned to face her again, looking down at her expression of hesitance. It was a familiar sight. She scratched the back of her neck, and took a breath. What could it have been to make her feel so nervous?

"May I call you Takashi? It's just… I don't know," the girl shook her head, shrugging off the request and felt embarrassed for even asking such a thing. Mori watched as she shifted her body towards the scenery, pretending like that blunder hadn't even happened. He couldn't help but to smile to himself.

"Hana." He reciprocated.

It sounded right to him.

"Do you ever feel trapped?"

They were slowly making their way downhill, taking their sweet time in the calming forest. The trees provided them shade, with sunlight occasionally filtering through the green leaves.

"Hm?" Mori stopped when she turned around. Hana shrugged.

"You… take care of Honey as a duty," she mumbled. "Do you ever wonder… or, I mean – never mind. I'm sorry." Hana continued walking, unsure whether or not she crossed a boundary back there. Was it appropriate for her to ask about his life choices? No. Absolutely not, she thought. It was his life, his decisions, and his own reasoning to commit to his duties as per tradition. He did not question his duties like she did.

Mori raised an eyebrow at the girl who brushed off her own question, almost embarrassed to have even thought of voicing her curiosity aloud. She walked ahead of him, as usual. He easily caught up to her, still silent.

"Am I selfish?" Her voice quietly resonated through the trees. Hana stopped in her tracks. She asked no one in particular. Was she selfish for wanting to deter from tradition? Tradition being what she was expected to become. A pretty face, a faithful wife, a linkage between two families to secure their wealth for generations on end.

Life seemed so simple when one looked at it that way.

But something felt so wrong.

Mori put his hand on her shoulder, coaxing her to look up. He shook his head. He didn't know the context. But selfish was one of the last traits he would ever see Hana as. She looked back down, still in thought. She took a couple seconds before tilting her head back towards the trail so that they could continue walking.

Are humans inherently selfish? Mori pondered the thought during the silence.

"I'm sorry that you're constantly listening to me ramble," she was too scared to look him in the eye, for fear that he may have been irritated at her and he wouldn't be able to hide it any longer.
"It's fine," Mori answered, with the same patient tone she always heard.

"Do you ever get angry?" Hana wondered. He was always in a calm state. Always in control. Even on the mat while they fought, he never panicked. He always had a goal in mind, a plan to follow.
"Mm," he replied. It sounded affirming. Hana wasn't particularly sure.

"At what?"
"Myself," Mori remembered how Honey had eaten too much sugar to the point where he got a toothache. It was Mori's fault for not taking notice.

Hana tilted her head in confusion. "What have you done so that you would be angry at yourself?"
"I let Honey get a toothache."

Hana tried to fight a smile. But it grew to the point where she let out a giggle. It was Mori's turn to be confused. Why was that funny? She in turned patted his arm and smiled at him. She looked at him with such sincerity, Mori couldn't take his eyes off.

Hana nodded her head in understanding. "You're very loyal. Anyone would be lucky to have you as a friend."

You're very loyal.

People never quite voiced their appreciation for him like that. It gave him warmth. A kind of tingling feeling.

Hana looked up at him, his head slightly tilted downwards to shield her from the sun. His hair was still frazzled as usual, his jaw sharper than what she remembered but his eyes were so mesmerizing. She didn't know what he was trying to say, but even so, Hana couldn't help but to stare back.

He on the other hand, had his eyes fixated on the way she smiled. Not the kind he saw in magazines, not the sort of expression he'd seen her pose in with her eyes painted with makeup. It was raw. No makeup. No photoshop.

She was real.

And she was in front of him. The mountain moved to be beside him. Her orbit aligned beautifully for him to see her again.

And for that, it made him feel ridiculously lucky. What kind of fate allowed him to see her the way he did? Mori turned and looked towards the trail.

He wasn't going to question it.

A/N: Your thoughts are incredibly appreciated. Thank you so much for reading up until here. I hope you're all willing to stay with me on this journey. I have things planned out and enormous gaps to fill in in order to connect ideas.