Chapter ten:

Haruhi glances to Mori as she just finishes stealing one of the expensive pieces within the place.

Mori just stands on guard like he has to staying outside yet still inside. He looks chill, calm even, which feels off-putting considering what they are doing. '

Haruhi turns away and focuses back on the task at hand. She takes the same path as before remembering where the lasers that will trigger an alarm were. She is glad for her great memory for this… As much as she wishes she didn't have to use her wonderful and brilliant mind for thievery. She continues to work with Hunny to steal as much of the valuables as she can.

"Time to go." Mori tells them through the open window so Hunny and Haruhi escape through that window then hurry with Mori to safety.

A little bit later…

Haruhi sighs as she gets home and sneaks past her father intending to head for her bedroom. She pauses at hearing the news.

"In breaking news CCTV has revealed video of a theft in a small art museum that took place not too long ago. Video that has just been released in the hopes that the thieves can be found." The news reporter announces causing Haruhi to peek back at the TV from behind her father.

The TV shows slightly grainy CCTV footage of a group of four appearing into frame grabbing paintings and other artworks that probably do cost a good amount of money.

Haruhi recognizes the type of outfits and the statures as those being teens from Ouran. She swallows as silently as she can. She guesses that these students took a big risk hoping for a big reward. She also knows that whatever group did this they are more than likely taken out of the competition due to being caught on camera.

Especially with it being broadcast on the news.

Haruhi just hopes that this won't put a huge affect on the bold though kind of dumb students.

"If anyone can recognize these individuals they are urged to contact the police immediately. This has been one of many thefts that have happened this month. It seems that the annual thieving month is indeed here as many suspected. Police are hoping that this CCTV evidence may be the start to finally putting an end to this annual event."

Haruhi turns away and sneaks to her room. She really hopes that this month will fly by.

…

The month of the event has passed and now everyone is gathered in for an assembly to hear out the winners.

"We would like to congratulate most of you for making it through the event without getting caught. We do acknowledge that at least those that were caught were only found on video and no arrests are able to be made." The principle announces as the school remains silent looking upon him. "Anyways. As is tradition we had a special team made to count the amount that the stuff stolen is worth. A group with no ties to lean one way or another. And if any of you doubt it the findings will be posted for those who wish to calculate themselves."

Haruhi doesn't care about any of this. She just wants out of here so badly. She's starting to severely question her choice of coming to this school. She surely could have gotten to her dream elsewhere… Right? She blinks as she found she wasn't focusing. She sees the two groups that are each holding a small trophy and a piece of paper showing who came in second and third.

"And now for the winners you have all been waiting for!" The principle smiles actually looking proud. "This years winners, taking the crown from the last years winner of the art club, is the Host Club!" His announcement makes Haruhi feel like her heart slammed into her stomach.

Haruhi forces herself to get up as the other host club members stand up following them up onto stage. She tries to hang back hoping to not be spotted too well as she stands with the host club on the stage. She can hear the cheers of the crowd, especially the girl students, while they stand there with Tamaki accepting the paper and the gold trophy.

After a handshake with Tamaki the principle turns away to address the students who shush each other into silence. "And as promised all of the money gathered from the winners will go to whatever they desire. Whether that be extra funds for certain clubs, into parts of the school, or into other things that they desire. That will be discussed privately. All groups who did not win and were not caught will be given a multiple choice of what they want their earnings to do to help the school. Thank you all for participating and your test scores will be affected by this. So I hope you were in a group that did well."

Haruhi glances away considering transferring to another school as she is really starting to have heavy doubts about this whole thing.

Later….

Haruhi lets out a breath as she makes it home. She throws her bag down and starts dinner. She calls a greeting to her father who happily calls back. She suddenly feels the air shift and she gets a bad feeling. "Dad?" She turns and heads to go find her father. She finds him in the living room with her school bag in one hand and her mask given to her by the school in the other. She freezes at seeing this as she also notices her fathers wide eyes. "Dad. I can explain." She starts causing him to turn to her as tears now appear in his eyes.

"Haruhi." Her father's tone is deeply hurt yet very serious. "What is this about? And don't lie to me!"

Haruhi swallows quietly as she stares into her hurt disappointed fathers eyes. "Dad." She's going to have to tell the truth. "It is a thing for school. The school does these training things in the school. It is just a part of lessons there. Testing how well we can memorize things, problem solve, and work quickly. They're setting us up for success."

Her dad stares at her for a long moment before more tears appear causing a cascade of tears down his face. "I don't even know my own daughter anymore! Why are you lying to me!? No school does such a thing with these! This is thieving masks! Criminals use these!" He sobs and Haruhi takes a step forward to try to explain things only for him to move away dropping what is in his hands. He sniffles despite his heavy sobbing. "I won't report you because I love you. I just wish that you could tell me the truth. I thought we were close." He then runs off to his room shutting the door sobbing the whole time.

Haruhi closes her eyes letting out a heavy sigh as her head drops. She opens her eyes half way and turns away. She finishes supper, setting out a serving for her father who she calls to saying where to find dinner. She then heads out needing a walk away from all of this. She takes a turn into a supermarket pulling the hood of her jacket up over her head.

Not many are out in this area at least on the streets as most seem to be waiting within stores or other indoor places hoping to wait out the storm.

There are some that walk past Haruhi who she doesn't pay much mind to, until…

"Haruhi?"

Haruhi turns and finds herself looking at Hikaru who looks surprised and confused.

"What are you doing out here?"

Haruhi knows it'll be good for him to trust her so she'll tell the truth. "My dad found out a part of the school activities. And thinks I am doing criminal things on my own time. He said he wouldn't report me but it became too much to stay there. I needed air." She blinks as she realizes something. "Why are you out here?"

"Eh. Tamaki said we should all find something commoners like and try it at least once. Me and Kaoru came to this place deciding to try some shopping in a commoners supermarket." Hikaru then glances around very very concerned. "We split up to check out two different things we wanted to check out but the other didn't. Now I really need to find him before this storm gets worse. He's not answering his phone and this storm is close to getting worse. Which is not good."

Haruhi blinks not sure what to make of his words.

Tamaki wants them to try commoner things? He probably is doing it for her sake in some weird way, which makes Haruhi unsure if she appreciates it or not.

Haruhi then processes the last part of what Hikaru said. "Why is it a bad thing that the storm is getting worse? Don't you two have a nice limo to hide in from it and that'll bring you home?"

Hikaru turns back to Haruhi still with a super concerned look on his face. "Because Kaoru is terrified of thunder storms. It's a phobia of his."

Haruhi is about to question if this really is a thunderstorm… Until lightning flashes causing her eyes to widen and her heart to skip a beat.