Emi POV
The next day I headed to my social psychology class, both hoping I might recognize someone and dreading the possibility. It would be nice to have someone to sit next to and to start making friends, but talking to new people had always been something I found anxiety-provoking and tiring.
I was early, as usual, so I sat on a bench outside of the classroom, crossing my Doc Marten covered feet and pulling out my phone to do a bit of reading.
Five minutes before the class was set to start I felt a shadow fall over me and looked up to see that Haruhi was standing in front of me.
"Hey Emi-senpai, you're taking the social psychology class too?" she inquired as she sat down next to me.
"Oh, yeah, since I switched into psychology at the end of my first year I have some psychology classes to catch up on," I explained. "You're studying psychology too?" I questioned.
"Nah, I'm in law but I had an open elective and I thought psychology would be interesting and useful," she shrugged.
"Hmm it's true, being able to understand how people think and work would probably be super helpful in figuring out the best argument to persuade them… among other things," I reflected.
We continued to chat, and soon it was time for the class to begin.
Wow, she's actually really easy to talk to… I think maybe we could become friends!
When the class finished, I gathered my courage and asked Haruhi if she would want to study together for the class and, to my excitement, she agreed!
Later, Haruhi and I were sitting in the library quietly studying, and sometimes chatting, when I started to hear a bunch of squealing. I looked around excitedly, are there baby pigs here for zoo therapy or something?
"Oh boy, here we go," Haruhi groaned and slumped over, "so much for studying."
"Wha-," I started to say, until I heard:
"HARUUUUHIIIIIIII," and saw Tamaki the golden-retriever suddenly glomp poor Haruhi.
I sighed, disappointed that there were to be no baby pigs after all. Dummy. Why would they bring in emotional support animals in the first week? Especially baby pigs?
The rest of the host club arrived more sedately, except for maybe Honey, who bounced right up and promptly jumped onto my lap as I was about to move my chair to make space for all of them.
"Hi Emi-chan~! We heard you were studying with Haru-chan, and wanted to come see you!" he greeted excitedly, as little flowers danced around his head. He then proceeded to ramble on about study breaks and cakes.
Meanwhile, I was frozen from the shock of having a 20-year-old man, who looked eerily like Shawn from the all-girl boy group Fanxy Red, and whom I had just met yesterday suddenly sitting in my lap and beaming at me. As my eyes darted away from his, I took in his stylishly messy hair, his pink knitted cardigan covered in bunnies, and.. the fact that I had apparently grabbed onto him by reflex so he wouldn't fall, so I now had my arms wrapped around his torso.
My face immediately flamed red, as I heard the twins snickering.
"Um… uh.. hi Honey," my face flamed impossibly brighter as I used the term of endearment, "hi everyone, it's uh… nice to see you all again," I mumbled without meeting any of their eyes.
Jesus, I need to get a grip already! Though, to be fair, it's been a while since someone this attractive has sat in my lap… I feel like I might spontaneously combust! What do I do? Do I ask him to get off? But what if he gets offended? My thoughts rambled on as I became increasingly anxious about the situation I found myself in, and I unknowingly spaced out.
Suddenly, I was brought back to earth as I felt a soft hand brushing against my forehead. I felt my heart rate skyrocket and immediately lost the ability to breathe normally as I realized I had just been staring into Honey's eyes for an indeterminate amount of time.
"Hmm? Emi-Chan? Are you sick? You're all red!" Honey was saying with some concern.
And that's when my anxiety reached its peak.
"Mitsukuni," I faintly heard Takashi say as he lifted Honey off me and I was able to squeak out something about going to the washroom before hightailing it out of there.
Fuck, way to fly the freak flag. Now they definitely know there's something wrong with me.
Honey POV
"Huh? What happened?" I asked, confused. One minute I was all comfy, talking to our new friend and the next she was running away.
"What have you evil twins done to my new shy daughter?!" raged Tamaki as he noticed Emi hurrying away.
"Hey, it wasn't us boss, we didn't even speak to her," shrugged Kaoru.
"Yeah, and since when is she your daughter?" asked Hikaru.
"Yeah, Tamaki, you know she's older than you," Haruhi stated bluntly, sending her boyfriend to the nearest corner of woe. "And to answer your question Honey-senpai, I get the sense that she's pretty shy, maybe even anxious."
"You overwhelmed her," said Takashi simply.
I looked up at him with wide eyes. "Huh? But I didn't mean to! I was just excited to see her again," I pouted, crossing my arms. I really hadn't meant to overwhelm her, she just looked so relaxed and cozy in her oversized sweater chatting and laughing with Haru-chan that I wanted to chat with her too! "Do you think she'd like some cake to feel better?" I asked innocently.
"Actually Honey, my research indicates that Miss Shima has a major sweet tooth but with a preference for chocolate," Kyoya said while continuing to study.
"Yay!" I cheered, since now I had the perfect way to, hopefully, make things up to her. Even though there was something nice about seeing her all flustered, and I definitely don't regret cuddling her, I thought as I remembered how it felt to have her arms around my torso and how her light-bronze cheeks had warmed to a pretty pink. Even though I was used to our guests getting flustered, this had felt different for some reason.
Emi POV
There's no way they didn't notice me turn into a tomato and practically run away, right?... Right. Yeah, they definitely noticed that. I sighed, Why did that affect me so much?
Once I had reached the washroom it took me a couple of minutes to slow my breathing and now I had to psych myself up to go back out there and face them all. But it's not like I could stay in this washroom forever… Right?
Ughhhhh…. Fine let's do this!
I exited the washroom and made my way back to the group, hesitating as they came into view, but quickly moving forward before I could chicken out.
As I approached the table everyone seemed to be engaged in various conversations and nobody made a big deal of my re-appearance. Phew, I thought as I slipped into my seat and got back to studying as inconspicuously as I could.
A few minutes later I felt a soft tap on my shoulder, and turned my head to see Honey smiling hugely and holding out a chocolate bar. Deep breaths Emi, you can do this. Just pretend nothing happened. You definitely didn't almost have a panic attack just because this cutesy guy sat on your lap. Definitely not.
"Here Emi-chan~! You can't study without chocolate!" he exclaimed.
"Oh, that's really nice of you Honey, thank you… but you didn't have to do that. Why don't you keep it?" I responded politely. I mean why would he be giving me chocolate? And besides, I wouldn't want to take his chocolate from him.
"Aww c'mon Emi-chan~! Please take it!" he pleaded. And then he pulled what had to be the world's best puppy-dog eyes. I felt my stomach squirm uncomfortably, probably because my mind was currently debating both sides of the dilemma. One part of me was saying: You can't accept that chocolate from him! He just happened to have it on him, which means he was keeping it for a snack and he's only offering it to be polite!
And the other part was saying: But you might offend him if you don't take the chocolate! It's considered really rude to refuse a gift in some cultures! Besides… it's chocolate!
I shook my head to clear it and peered at Honey uncertainly. "Well if you're sure… then thank you, I'd love to have some chocolate. But only if you have some too! If you want that is… Of course you don't have to-," I began to ramble, but was thankfully cut off by Honey responding.
"I was hoping you'd ask~!" he cheered. "Here, you try it first," he said sweetly as he passed me a piece of unwrapped chocolate, watching me curiously for my reaction.
I delicately took the piece of chocolate and popped it in my mouth, and immediately felt my eyes pop open in wonder as it melted on my tongue.
"Oh my goddd," I groaned, closing my eyes to savour the chocolate, "This… is amazing! I think I could die happily right now. Seriously. What kind of chocolate is this anyway?," I asked and opened my eyes. When I looked at Honey I saw that his cheeks were flushed and he looked a bit nervous. Huh? Why is he nervous?
"Umm… yeah! This chocolate is from my favourite chocolatier!" he explained while inhaling a piece of chocolate, having apparently shaken off whatever had him hesitating a moment before.
We all continued studying, Honey and I occasionally nibbling on some chocolate, Mori warning Honey to slow down, Tamaki bothering Haruhi until she would inevitably snap, the twins teasing Tamaki into his corner of woe, and Kyoya exasperatedly telling them to leave Tamaki alone.
As the afternoon wore on, I realized that I actually felt comfortable and at ease. Somehow, this band of attractive weirdos were starting to worm their way into my anxious heart.
Honey POV
A couple hours later, Emi-chan excused herself, explaining that she had a band practice for one of her music classes. I waved cheerily as we watched her Vans-clad feet carry her away.
"God job men (and Haruhi)! I believe that phase one of operation 'Befriend Emi Shima' has been a success!" Tamaki declared dramatically, while striking a pose.
"Yeah, seems like Honey-senpai found Emi-senpai's soft spot~," Hikaru smirked deviously.
"Yeah, smooth move with the chocolate, Honey-senpai," said Kaoru, high-fiving his twin.
I found myself blushing a bit as I thought back to Emi-chan's reaction to the chocolate. I hadn't been expecting her to like it that much, and it was definitely the least reserved I had seen her so far. It was so fun to share the treat with someone who seemed to appreciate chocolate as much as I do! And almost more fun to see a peek of who she is underneath all those manners and when she's not feeling shy. Though her shy side is cute in its own way.
"I want to eat chocolate with Emi-chan again~!" I cheered. I decided then and there to see beyond Emi-chan's shy side.
"I'm sure she'd like that Honey-senpai," stated Haruhi, "Now can we please get back to actually studying?" she deadpanned.
"Yes, I believe that would be for the best. We have a Host Club event coming up soon which will take up our time, so you won't have time to study later," Kyoya smiled, glasses glinting.
Haruhi groaned about the club taking precious time away from her studying, while Tamaki began studying with renewed vigor, sending his papers flying and nearly upending the whole table.
A I turned back to my laptop I felt Takashi pat my head. I turned to look at him, and saw him smiling down at me (well his lips weren't actually smiling but I could see it in his eyes).
"Good job, Mitsukuni."
