It's Akari's birthday, there's one problem though. Only Fuji knows about it, but that quickly changes once Fuji asks Honey what he got Akari for his birthday.

Chapter Nine: Birthday

Akari was in one of the libraries reading a book when he heard the spy theme song and he sighed and kept reading as Fuji was sneaking around. He didn't want to deal with Fuji's bullshit today so he tried his best to ignore him... Even when Fuji started sliding a box on the table he was at.

"Why can't you just give me a present without being weird?" Akari asked.

"You're asking too much out of me, A-chan. Now open it!" Fuji told him shaking his arm as he stood up from the floor next to him.

Akari sighed and pulled his arm away and put a book mark in his book, purposively taking his time to make Fuji wait. "Come on! Don't do this to me! You know I can't wait!" Fuji whined laying his head on his shoulder, hugging him.

"Don't touch me." Was only Akari's reply as Fuji ignored his request as Akari held the present.

He pulled the ribbon off the box and ripped the wrapping paper off and opened the box. He paused when he saw a feather pen and a sealed bottle of ink.

"You talked about being interested in this type of thing so I got it!" Fuji said happily. Despite Fuji's many faults Akari was still his best friend so he wouldn't admit it that he was happy Fuji remembers stuff like this for him.

Akari smiled softly. "Thanks Fuji, it's not a horrible present." He told him.

"Obviously, I'm the best present giver, here's some paper that goes with it, I didn't want to fold it to fit in the box and put creases on it." Fuji said giving him some parchment paper.

Akari hummed as he took the paper and the pen and ink and carefully put it to the side. "I appreciate it." He looked at Fuji and gave his friend a small smile, but a smile nonetheless making Fuji grin.

Fuji should've known that Akari wouldn't tell others when his birthday was as he saw no one was acting differently. He got to the Host Club thinking Akari must have told Honey at least about his birthday today. He opened the doors. "Senpai!" Fuji called out heading to Honey and Mori's table.

"Fu-Chan, hello." Honey smiled at him. "You going to join us?" He asked him.

That confirmed it for Fuji. "Maybe later, I'm curious, what did you get for Akari's birthday today?" He asked making Honey freeze.

"It's Akari's birthday today, why didn't he tell us!?" Tamaki exclaimed. "We would've set up a big party for him!"

"I think because Senpai doesn't want it to be a big deal." Haruhi replied.

"But it is, birthdays are only once a year!" Tamaki told her shaking her a bit.

"Did you get senpai a present?" The twins asked Fuji.

"Obviously, I got him a feather pen with ink and some parchment paper. He loves that stuff." Fuji replied.

"You know the most about Akari, what stuff does he like?" Tamaki asked taking Fuji by his shoulders. "Kyoya! We need decorations!" He told him as Kyoya was already dialing a number on his phone.

"Now that I think about it, Akari-Senpai doesn't really talk about himself at all." Hikaru replied.

"Yeah, all we know about him is that he reads and he likes Honey." Kaoru finished.

"And that he likes Strawberry cake, we can't forget that." Tamaki replied.

Fuji walked a ahead. "I am an Akari expert, aren't I?" He hummed enjoying this. "I'm sure whatever Honey gives him he'll just be flustered and love it." He said but seeing how that answer wasn't what they were looking for, especially for Honey as they all looked at Fuji expectantly.

"Okay, Akari loves classical music, specifically on the piano. Every time I go to his house hanging out I hear him humming classical music and play classical music on his laptop. You would never know but he has a collection of fidget toys, specially balls that has these smaller balls on them and you can pop them." Fuji tried to explain. The twins snickered at the mention of balls earning a hit to the head by Tamaki.

"I didn't know Akari-Senpai uses fidget toys." Haruhi replied.

"Of course you wouldn't, he doesn't bring them to school or anywhere where he knows other people will be there. It helps keep his mind occupied and relaxed." Fuji explained. "I use them too, they're quite fun, I like the fidget spinners." Fuji smiled to himself.

"What about more meaningful things Akari likes?" Tamaki asked.

Fuji hummed as he thought about it. "He likes letters to him, but not just some store bought cards, he likes knowing how people feel about him, what they notice about him even when he doesn't say much. I know Akari and I are pretty much opposites but I can know and understand how he feels most of the time. It's just something you have to experience." Fuji said and scratched his head.

"Haruhi is right though, he doesn't like making a big deal about things related to him, but he'll appreciate a small party. I really think letters would be the best for last minute gifts for him. He's sentimental like that. He cares a lot about the people around him even if it doesn't seem like it." Fuji said softly.

Honey smiled softly as he thought of a perfect gift for Akari now.

"The Host Club isn't even running today, why are we even going?" Akari asked Fuji.

"Don't you want to see your boyfriend before going home?" Fuji asked making kissy faces at him.

Akari hit him in the back of the head. "Shut it." He glared at him before opening the doors.

"Happy Birthday!" The Host Club exclaimed as Akari was slack jawed at this.

Akari slowly looked at Fuji before a birthday cap was strapped on him. "Hey, be glad it's not the whole school." Fuji chuckled as Akari glared at him.

"Come on, we have cake and ice cream!" Honey took his hand and brought him over as a cake was waiting, the normal size for a Club day... So it was big.

"You didn't have to do this." Akari told them.

"You're our friend, we wanted to. We closed the Host Club today once we found out from Fuji-Senpai." Haruhi told him.

"It was a last minute thing, but we weren't going to let you leave before you get your presents." The twins told him.

"But not until after cake!" Honey said smiling brightly. Akari couldn't help but smile at Honey's excitement for the cake.

The cake was good, and Akari liked how there wasn't much happening. He paused a bit once he heard the piano making him look over seeing Tamaki play.

"I told them you liked classical music." Fuji nudged him with a smile.

Akari was now concerned on what Fuji told them about him. If he told them anything personal Fuji's not going to be seen again.

Once everyone, or most everyone was full of cake and ice cream Akari was given his presents. He looked at Fuji when he saw fidget toys.

"You should read the letter once you get home." The twins told him as Akari frowned looking at the letters each of them wrote to him.

"Uh, alright. Thanks for the presents. I didn't want it to be a big deal, my birthday. But I appreciate you guys for not making it a big thing like most of your ideas are." He told them.

"Of course, Fuji made it quite clear to not make it a big party." Tamaki replied patting his back.

Akari huffed at Tamaki patting his back but smiled a bit. Honey went and hugged him making Akari blush a bit. "It's your day so we wouldn't want you uncomfortable!" Honey replied.

"Thank you." Akari said softly.

"I have a present for you later." Honey whispered to him making Akari blush on what Honey was planning on giving him in private.

Akari got home, heading upstairs to his room as he was greeted by his staff. He gave a few responses back but once he got to his room he closed the door and went on his bed. He took out the letters the Hosts gave him and curiosity got the best of him.

Dear Akari-Senpai,

From the beginning I didn't know if you'd be anything special to my brother and I. We saw you as a threat to our personal bubble especially with you no dating Honey-Senpai. Now I feel differently, I don't know what Hikaru has wrote for you, but for me, I see you as a part of our friend group. You don't realize it, but you do brighten things up around the Host Club, everyone is happy to see you, especially Honey and I can't think of you as just a guest. Not everyone can tell if we're truly happy or just acting, but it always feels brighter with you around, it's nice seeing you around.

I hope you see us as your friends to, Happy Birthday!

- Kaoru

Akari smiled a bit reading Kaoru's letter. He didn't feel like he did anything. He still thinks so, but he never really considers how the others see him.

Akari-Senpai,

I'm writing this because Fuji suggested this was the best thing to do last minute. I don't really know what to say. I was told to write how I feel about you.

I can see you're a good person, you make Honey happy so you're doing something right. I felt you were trying to take him away, though you knew that already. Despite what you think I guess I, Kaoru and I don't have many people we can call friends. The longer you visit the more I feel you getting sucked into our group.

You don't like attention, but you come to the club with the most attention, I get it's because your boyfriend is there but if you really didn't like it you wouldn't force yourself to come here almost every day. You're our friend even if you don't think so. You're stuck with us and I see with your friend Fuji, you're used to people like us... Like the Boss so you know you're never escaping us.

Happy Birthday.

- Hikaru

Akari put the letter to the side he can't help but think that is something Hikaru would say to him. He figured he wouldn't get anything really sappy from Hikaru from what he knew. He smiled though, it meant a lot to him and though it was on his birthday, he felt like writing back.

Dearest Akari,

As your friend, you're a good person. You pretend to not care, but I see right through you! You care for everyone, you make sure everyone is happy and act like you didn't do anything. Fuji is your best friend and that shows a lot to me on how you feel about people.

You remind me of Kyoya in a way, you both put on an act but you're both people who find ways to make others happy while making excuses about how it was the 'best option' for 'selfish' notions.

Mon ami, You're a gem, don't mistake this as flirting, Honey-Senpai would kill me for it! You and him are a match made in heaven and I hope you remain happy.

-Tamaki Suoh

Each letter he wrote made him feel weird. He wasn't sure how he felt about having more people in his life. He thought all he needed really for friends was Fuji. Or even just being alone if he and Fuji never knew each other.

He can't think of his life without Fuji and now without everyone else. Without Honey. He blushed and hugged himself. He can deny it all he wants but he can't just go back to being alone now.

His phone went off snapping him out of his thoughts and answered the phone. "Hello?" Akari asked.

"Kari! It's time for my present to you! Look outside!" Honey told him making him confused and stand up and head to the window.

His face turned red when he saw Honey outside, flowers around him spelling out 'I love you' He opened the window. "What is this?" He asked.

"Your present! Akari, I love you. I know I say it every day, but I really can't see myself without you anymore. I love seeing your smile, your cute expressions. How you push yourself from what you're used to to make others happy. To make me happy. I love you, more than cake, sweets, even Usa-Chan." Honey smiled as Akari covered his mouth.

"...You're a dummy." Akari told him looking away, blushing as Honey smiled more. He climbed up to his window, sitting on the ledge as Akari stood back.

"A dummy who fell for you." Honey giggled and kissed him lightly.