Chapter eight:
With a few more meetings the host club hit their target mainly grabbing jewellery and such at the mall. They even trashed the place to make it seem like just some break in by some random delinquent teenagers.
Haruhi turns as the host club has just finished that session of club activities. She has been getting pretty good at keeping up with the guests. She spots Hunny who approaches blinking up at her.
"Hi Haru-Chan!" Hunny greets grinning so wide and cutely that it is hard to stay mad at him.
"I don't wanna be called that." Haruhi mentions though the other ignores it.
"I wanted to ask Haru-Chan for some help with something." Hunny ducks his mouth and nose behind his plush rabbit almost now seeming shy or unsure.
Haruhi lets out a silent breath deciding to just go along. "Alright. What is it?"
Hunny perks himself out of hiding smiling once more at Haruhi agreeing. "I need you to talk to Hika-Chan!"
Haruhi figures that she'll just accept the nickname as it seems to be just how Hunny say others names. "About what?"
"Kao-Chan said Hika-Chan was having some troubling thoughts. But we don't know about what." Hunny explains making Haruhi wonder how she is going to be able to get that information if Hikaru's own twin doesn't know anything.
"And how am I going to be able to get him to say anything? He doesn't trust me yet." Haruhi points out only to get a knowing smile from Hunny.
"Hika-Chan is nicer than he likes to act! Just give him a chance. Show that you want to get to know him individually from Kao-Chan. Tama-Chan did that to gain their trust and even found ways to help himself even if they aren't always going to work."
"Alright." Haruhi supposes that she can try since she is curious. "I will give it my best."
"Thank you Haru-Chan!" Hunny hugs her legs before running away to talk to Kaoru. He manages to get Kaoru to head into one of the storage rooms in the club room.
Hikaru calls to Kaoru about waiting at the limo before leaving the club room.
Haruhi knows that this is her chance. She follows after him giving him a slight head start. She follows him from a distance at first before deciding to make herself known. "Hikaru!" She calls down a hallway after turning a corner making Hikaru slow to a stop and turn to look back at her.
"What do you want?" Hikaru questions just standing there as Haruhi comes right over to him.
"I figured since Hunny wanted to show your brother something, or that's what I think that was about, I thought I could get to know Hikaru. Not as just one of the twins but just as Hikaru." Haruhi does notice that her words do give Hikaru a pause before he turns away mentally raising his guard once more.
"And why would you want to do that? You could get to know me just as well when Kaoru is around." Hikaru scoffs so Haruhi decides to press things.
"Will I really be able to? You two try to act like you're the same as each other when together. So I thought that this was the best way to get to know you as you." Haruhi's words cause Hikaru to hide his face.
Hikaru lets out a soft growl for a moment then spins around standing tall before Haruhi as if showing bravery. "Just because the others have accepted you as one of us doesn't mean me and my brother do! So don't think you can just approach me whenever you want like this!"
Haruhi stares at Hikaru for a moment before getting an idea that she doesn't show on her face. "Fine." She turns away. "You can find me if you change your mind. Maybe I will start with your brother instead." She starts to head back towards the club room. She gets halfway to the corner when Hikaru rushes putting himself between her and the path back. She stops when this happens.
"You're a pretty dumb commoner if you really think that I will let that slide." Hikaru hisses to her. "I have to protect Kaoru no matter what! He needs me to help keep him safe. And I won't let someone like you bother him."
Haruhi blinks as she is starting to get an idea of what might be going on. "Are you worried that I might try to take him away from you? Or possibly be some kind of threat to him?" She questions actually giving Hikaru pause who glances away for a moment before steeling himself looking back to her. "Well I want you to know that honestly I don't intend any harm to any of you."
"Then why do you insist on staying with our club? Letting yourself learn more about us?" Hikaru questions keeping their gazes locked together.
"Honestly, this started as more so keeping my enrollment in this school. Then to looking good for potential future schools by being in a club and sticking with that club. I felt that with you all letting me be a part of your group for the big school event I thought you all would be more willing to accept me as one of your own. At least compared to others. I don't fit in well here enough on my own. So I saw benefit in latching onto you guys to help this schooling experience." Her words cause a slight softening look from Hikaru at hearing this. "Though I will admit that the more that I got to spend with you all the more I wanted to get to know about you all. So whatever you want to believe about me and my intentions at least you know my thought process on all of that."
Hikaru stands there silently just staring at Haruhi for the longest moment before he turns away with a huff of air. "Fine. Whatever." He may not seem like it though Haruhi feels like he is about to open up. "I just want to look out for my brother. He can be too nice for his own good. And even my parents tend to take him for granted. Just because I am older by a few minutes. I don't want to leave Kaoru behind as we work towards our future together." He tells Haruhi who listens to him. "And I don't like newcomers that might ruin the only friendships we have. So of course I don't trust you." He places a fist on his hip staring at Haruhi. "It is my duty as his brother to look out for him. No matter what. Satisfied? I assume you are thinking that something was bothering me or whatever."
"Thank you for admitting that." Haruhi offers a small smile to Hikaru after having gotten that information from him. "By the way, I truly don't intend on anything bad. I think deep down I do want somewhere to belong too. I understand what it is like to be alone for a long time without friends. I promise to you that I won't ruin what you guys have. Thank you for at least giving me a moment of your time to talk. I won't push you too much to go further than you're ready to make a friendship." She turns away to go away from the club room. "I'll see you tomorrow Hikaru!" She gives him one last smile before heading off. She senses him watch her leave until shes outside heading to get to her bus. She starts to wonder if this group is truly so different from her as she had always thought about everyone at this school.
