Haruhi flipped the page of the book she was reading and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear as a light breeze began to blow. She was sitting in the garden where they had lunch yesterday for some quiet time while she waited for Tamaki to get out of his last class. She was still being harassed by people about her recent attack from the Ghostface killer, but with the help of the club members, they died down quite a lot. But she could still feel everybody's eyes on her. She knew that her friends would be angry with her for being out alone, but she was at school during the daytime. There was an extremely low chance of him showing up. However, she did catch herself looking over her shoulder every once in a while just to make sure he wasn't there.

She heard the sound of footsteps coming towards her and her eyes shot to the direction they were coming from. Her heart began to beat fast and her grip tightened around her book. An instinct that her body developed of the unknown after her attack.

Once she heard the sounds of familiar voices and laughter, her nerves calmed down and her body relaxed again.

Hikaru and Shiori came into view and grew surprised when they saw Haruhi sitting there. This was their usual place to hang out alone and since most of the students had gone home for the day, they were not expecting to see someone there. Especially Haruhi.

"Oh, Haruhi. What are you doing here?" Hikaru asked.

"Just trying to get some reading done while avoiding everybody. The usual. If you guys want to be alone here, I can move."

"Nah, it's fine," Hikaru said as he slid in to sit next to her.

Hikaru didn't seem bothered by Haruhi's company, but Haruhi could tell that Shiori was a little upset. She wanted some alone time with her boyfriend and now had to be in the company of one of their friends. She took a seat next to her boyfriend and grabbed a hold of his arm, which Hikaru didn't seem to notice as his attention was all on Haruhi.

"So, what are you reading?" Hikaru asked.

"The book you recommended to me, The Yard."

Hikaru cringed. "Are you sure you should be reading that? I mean, it is about a murderer and his killings are pretty gruesome."

Haruhi just shrugged as she bookmarked the book. "It's not too bad. The first kill was pretty gruesome, but other than that nothing too extreme. Anyway, the killer in the book isn't even similar to Ghostface, so I'm fine. It's a good book though."

Hikaru laughed. "Well, I'm glad you're enjoying it. I first thought I was going to hate it, but gave it a chance and ended up enjoying it."

"Hey babe," Shiori squeezed his arm to get his attention, "can you do me a favor?"

"What is it?" He asked. Haruhi couldn't help but hear a slight twinge of irritation in his tone. He didn't look upset at Shiori, so Haruhi assumed it was nothing and she was overthinking it. She just hoped that there was nothing bad happening between the two.

"Can you grab me a coffee at the cafe? I'm really tired and need the caffeine pick-up. You can get something too if you want. I'll pay."

"Didn't you just have an iced coffee not too long ago?" Hikaru raised a brow at her. "Are you sure you want another one?"

"Yes, I'm sure." She pouted, and she looked over at Haruhi as if she was trying to get her support. But what was she going to do to get Hikaru to get his girlfriend another coffee? "I bet Haruhi wants a drink too, don't you Haruhi?"

"Uhh, I'll take one if you're heading that way."

Hikaru rolled his eyes and sighed. "Fine."

Shiori gave him a bright smile and gave him her card. "Be sure to ask for extra caramel on it, and what would you like Haruhi?"

"Oh…uh I guess…"

"A small Earl Grey tea with honey?" Hikaru suggested as if he could read his mind.

Haruhi was surprised by his accurate answer but nodded. "Yes, that's exactly what I want."

Hikaru gave a thumbs-up and slid out from where they were seated to get their drinks. Shirori sat back down as she watched her boyfriend leave, and Haruhi was going to go back to reading when she felt Shirori look over at her.

"Hey Haruhi, can I talk to you about something?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"Umm…" She began twirling her hair awkwardly, trying to find the words for what she wanted to say. "What do you think of Hikaru's and my relationship, you can be honest with me."

Haruhi furrowed her brow, confused as to why she was asking this question. So did she not hear wrong and Hikaru was actually upset with her? "Why are you asking? Is something going on between you two?"

"Just please answer the question…please."

Shiori's eyes looked as if they were glistening with tears, this must be serious for her. Was that the reason why she wanted another coffee, so she could talk to Haruhi about her relationship? They looked fine when they all had lunch yesterday, but maybe there were problems behind the scenes.

"Well, from what I see and from what Hikaru says about you, I think he truly does love you." After she said that, Shirori began to smile, a light blush tinting her cheeks.

"I'm glad. I'm really glad you said that. It makes me feel so much better."

"If I may ask, why are you questioning your guys' relationship? Have you guys been having trouble? I'll be honest, he did seem irritated before he left.

"So, he still is upset with me..." She laid her head in her hand glumly.

"Why is he upset with you? Did you two have a bad fight?"

Shiori sighed and leaned back on the stone bench they were sitting at. "Hikaru spent the night at my house last night. I wanted to…you know, since he was over but he was just so exhausted and wanted to sleep."

Haruhi shrugged. "Not wanting to be intimate for one night doesn't mean he doesn't love you."

"I know, and that wasn't the issue. When he was asleep he was muttering something. I've never heard him do that and I thought it was cute. However, it was first him just muttering stuff I couldn't understand. Then he began saying someone's name."

"Who?" Shiori looked back up at Haruhi, and it instantly clicked in Haruhi's brain. "Me?"

Shiori nodded. Hikaru was muttering Haruhi's name in his sleep? That was a bit strange, but with everything going on with the killer and Haruhi being the main target, it could be getting in his head. She didn't think too much about it, but it was clearly bothering Shiori.

"Was he muttering my name sexually, or was it just him saying my name?"

Shiori was taken aback by the question but thought about it. "It didn't sound sexual. He didn't moan or groan, just muttering your name."

"Then I wouldn't think too much about it," Haruhi reassured. "I mean, he and I are technically best friends, and with me being attacked only a few days ago he is probably worried about me. I doubt it's anything to worry about."

"Oh my God, I can't believe I didn't think about that!" She gasped. "I'm so sorry, I made this whole thing about myself when it's clearly because of the recent events. I'm such a terrible person. No wonder he got so upset when I brought it up to him this morning. He thought I was accusing him of being in love with you."

"Did you?"

"No...not entirely..."

Haruhi had to keep herself from rolling her eyes. Shiori didn't know about Hikaru having feelings for Haruhi back in high school, because it would've only made things awkward. However, she could tell that Shiori didn't always like how close Hikaru and Haruhi were. Especially if they hung out alone. Shirori trusted both of them but she said it was just odd to have a guy and a girl so close to each other who weren't dating.

"God, I feel awful." Shiori covered her face with her hands. "I'm the worst girlfriend ever."

"You're not the worst girlfriend ever." Haruhi tried to reassure. "I'll be honest, it is a bit weird to have your boyfriend muttering another woman's name while asleep, but this is different with everything that is going on."

"I just hope he can forgive me." Shiori whimpered.

"I'm positive he will. Hikaru may have a temper, but I know he will forgive you if you apologize and mean it. Also, I wouldn't worry about your guys' relationship. I can tell he loves you and this fight won't change that. It's quite normal to have some bumps in the road when you've been together for so long. I know Tamaki and I have."

Shiori smiled at Haruhi, grateful for her understanding. It would've been a bit weird if Hikaru muttered her name in his sleep if nothing eventful in their lives had happened lately, but it was just a dream. If it was a weird dream, hell, even a sexual one, it was just a dream. She's had some weird dreams before and woke up with no attachment to it at all. She just wouldn't tell Tamaki because she knew he would react just like Shiori did, or much worse.

"Speaking of Tamaki." Shiori changed topics. "I found the perfect place to go on our double date Friday night."

"What did you find?"

"There is this amazing French restaurant downtown. My family is friends with the owners so they closed down their restaurant just for us."

"Oh, you didn't need to do all that," Haruhi said. "I'm fine with other people dining with us."

"It's ok, they were the ones who suggested it. I promise it'll be great."

"I guess if it's not too much of a problem."

Not long after, Hikaru returned with the drinks and had Tamaki with him. He greeted Haruhi with a kiss and the two couples began walking towards the front gate. Haruhi noticed how Shiori was no longer stressed like she was only a few minutes ago. She was leaning into Hikaru as they walked and looked at with with so much love in her eyes. Almost the same look she gave Tamaki back in high school, however, this love was far more real than the admiration she had for Tamaki back then. Hikaru still seemed a bit closed off to her, but Haruhi knew once the couple talked it out in private they would be fine.

Haruhi smiled at them before looking up at Tamaki, who was talking to Hikaru about his class. He then caught her looking up at him and smiled down at her. However, Tamaki's attention was turned away from her by the sudden sound of running footsteps coming from behind them. All four of them turned to see Tomochika Sakyo running towards them. Fury plastered on his face.

"It's your fault!" Screamed as he ran up to Haruhi. He grabbed ahold of her shoulders and began shaking her. "It's your fault why they're dead! You killed them!"

Tamaki and Hikaru ripped Tomochika off of her and used their bodies to block him from her. He just glowered at them as he watched them protect her. He looked worse for wear. His hair looked like it wasn't taken care of at all from when he woke up. His eyes were completely bloodshot and had dark bags under them as if he had gotten no sleep last night. There was a strong smell of alcohol coming off of him as well that almost made Haruhi feel sick. Was he drunk at school? From how he was dressed, he didn't look like he attended school at all today since he was in a pair of pyjama bottoms and a grey hoodie over a wife beater. Did he drive all the way out here in search of Haruhi?

"Back the fuck up." Hikaru seethed threateningly to Tomochika.

"How can you protect her when she's a fucking murderer!" He accused.

"Don't you dare speak about Haruhi like that!" Tamaki scolded. "A murderer? Are you insane!"

"Insane?! I'm not fucking insane?! You guys are for hanging out with her!"

Tamaki and Hikaru's bodies tensed up as if they were ready to start tag-teaming Tomochika for accusing Haruhi, but she pushed them slightly out of her way so she could fully see Tomochika.

"What do you mean I murdered them?" Haruhi asked. "Who are you talking about?"

"As if you don't know." He hissed out, his voice slurred. "You had my only friends here murdered because all they wanted was a story."

Haruhi's stomach sank as she watched Tomochika's anger vanish and he began to sob.

"Why…Why did you have to kill Akira and Chikage? Why..?"

…

After calming Tomochika down, he was able to explain what had happened and how their families heard about Akira's and Chikage's deaths. The group listened horrified as Tomochika talked about Akira's severed head being delivered to his own father with a note from the killer. While Chikage's father was sent a picture of his son's body with a heart and Ghostface's signature. Tomochika knew Haruhi couldn't have anything to do with it since she was almost a victim of Ghostface as well, but he didn't know who else to blame. They didn't know the identity of the Ghostface killer and the newspaper club was harassing Haruhi for her story the day they were murdered. So, his drunk brain could only think that she must've had some type of connection to their murders, but now with his brain sobering up, he knew how absurd that sounded.

Haruhi felt ill and had to excuse herself. She rushed over to the nearest trashcan away from everyone and got sick. Not only from the horrific story Tomochika had told them but how they were most likely murdered because they were bothering Haruhi yesterday. But how did the killer know about that? The only people that were around her were her friends. Could he have been lurking around the school stalking her? Could he be attending the school? Haruhi felt ill again and got sick in the same trashcan as Tamaki came up to her and gave her some water Hikaru had.

She took to to wash her mouth out before drinking the rest of it. She just wanted to go home and cry. Even though she didn't have Akira and Chikage killed, she still felt like she had blood on her hands. Tamaki had her sit on a bench as she felt like she couldn't stand anymore from how much her body was shaking. He didn't want to leave her alone, but he needed to get his car to take her home.

He was glad that Hikaru and Shiori had come down to check up on them and had them watch over her as he got his car. Hikaru tried to comfort her saying it wasn't her fault and that they must've been on the killer's list for a while. That nothing from yesterday could be connected, but it didn't work in making her feel better. She just broke down and cried. Hikaru hugged her as she sobbed.

Was she putting everybody in danger being around them?