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Mori’s eyes traveled back and forth, watching as the Hitachiin twins pulled Haruhi into their newest stupid ploy. His eyes settled on her small form, watching them tug her left and right and back again. He knew that on some level, the constant tugging had to hurt her, especially since she didn’t have much fat around her to protect her joints. He had an urge to protect her, then, like he did when Tamaki became overzealous and forgot about personal space and decency. However, his eyes flitted over to Mitskuni’s cutting gaze, studying him as he ate his strawberry shortcake, and he stayed put. His eyes roved back to Haruhi, and despite her obvious annoyance, he heard the laughter and fondness belying her tone. Mori heard Mitskuni make some kind of noise but refused to look at him; he’d been doing that a lot lately, analyzing Mori with a piercing stare whenever Haruhi was involved, making noises that Mori assumed were supposed to mean something and be intentional. He had an inkling that he knew what Mitskuni was implying, but largely ignored it in favor of maintaining his cool disposition. He then heard a sigh from his cousin and looked over, cheek still in his hand, his gray eyes widening slightly when he saw Honey abandon his cake in favor of jumping off the chair and waltzing over to the twins and Haruhi. Abandoning cake was incredibly unlike him, and just showed how much he valued Haruhi. Mori felt a softness unfurl within him and a faint smile overtake his face.
“Hey, no fair! You two always take Haru-chan.” Honey yelled over the din, and the twins stopped poking and prodding her enough to turn towards Honey.
“Well, that’s because she likes us best.” Hikaru said, shrugging, as Kaoru nodded along.
“That’s not true, is it, Haru-chan?” Honey asked, eyes wide, a look of practiced hurt painted on his face. Haruhi huffed and pushed her way out of the twins’ grip and made her way towards Honey.
“Of course not, Honey-senpai. These two don’t even come close.” She assured, catching him as he cheered and leapt up to her. The twins rolled their eyes in sync.
“You’re just lucky that you’re small enough that holding you like that is cute.” Kaoru said in a huff. Honey blinked.
“Kao-chan, everything I do is cute!” Honey senpai giggled, and Haruhi nodded along seriously.
“You know, he’s not wrong.” She added, and after a last squeeze, Honey ambled down off of her and started walking back towards his table with Mori.
“Well then Haruhi, if it’s not us, who is your favorite then? Surely not the Boss.” Kaoru and Hikaru asked at the same time, walking slightly back into her space. Haruhi snorted.
“You know, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about it much.” She said, and then, all of them turned towards a bright spark of light that turned into Tamaki, speeding up next to them. Out of breath, he looked towards Haruhi, distraught all over his face.
“What do you mean, I’m not the favorite?! I’m your daddy! You’re my little girl!” He exclaimed, falling to her knees and hugging her legs, to which she groaned.
“Tamaki-senpai, get off of me! You know I don’t like it when you do this,” Haruhi said, trying to struggle free from his grasp, “I just said I don’t have favorites. Get off of me.” She said with finality, stepping away from him as he reached out for her.
“But, but it has to be me! I at least certainly have to be above these two hooligans!” He uttered. Haruhi sighed and groaned.
“For the last time senpai, I don’t have favorites. But if you ask me again, I will make a list, and you won’t like it.” She said with a tone of finality, ignoring his shriek of betrayal as he collapsed to the floor. The twins snickered at the state he was in, walking over to him.
“Aw, come on, boss. We all knew you’d be the least favorite. With how much you bother her, it’s no wonder.” They said, nodding as the other spoke. Tamaki let out another pathetic noise before giving up on the world entirely, sulking.
“If I had to guess, I think her favorite would probably be Takashi. He never bothers her!” Honey beamed, eating a bite of cake. Mori’s eyes snapped to him, narrowing imperceptibly. Haruhi just hummed, hand coming up to rest on her chin in thought.
“Yeah, you’re probably right, Honey-senpai. You or Mori-senpai, for sure. Kyoya could be up there if he didn’t have a weird friendship with my dad.” Haruhi replied, speaking her thoughts out loud. Mori felt his heart skip a beat, ignoring the indignant squawks of the three behind her.
“It’s not weird to maintain a cordial relationship with the immediate guardians of those in a club that I am partially responsible for, Haruhi. Ranka isn’t the only one I talk to, you know.” Kyoya chimed in, dully defending himself from Haruhi’s accusations. The girl in turn rolled her eyes.
“But I’m sure he’s the only one you get tea with and have a weird handshake with.” At that, Kyoya smirked lightly, not looking up from his laptop.
“Well, such familiarities are below that of older people from our social status. It’s nice to be able to behave so freely with your father at times. And he does so enjoy updates about you. Really Haruhi, you should talk to him more.” Kyoya replied, glasses glinting in the light. He hummed lightly.
“Yeah okay, senpai. Don’t tell me how to handle my own father.” She replied, rolling her eyes again and moving towards the kitchen, effectively disengaging from any further conversation. As she brushed by Mori and Honey’s table, the tall man’s heart stilled as she huffed, “I think Honey’s right, the rest really do bother me way too much.” Mori knew she muttered it to herself, but he couldn’t quite contain the quick beating of his heart.
/
“Mori-senpai? What are you doing here?” The door peaked open slightly before widening. The voice was gruff and cracked, and Mori couldn’t help the soft smile that slipped onto his face. Her short hair was still disheveled, she was wiping her eyes, and her voice hadn’t yet come into its usual cadence. She was wearing a matching pajama set, pink sleep pants with a matching t-shirt, and he was sure Ranka bought it for her.
“Apologies for the early morning hour,” Mori started, trying not to blush as she blinked owlishly up at him, like she was digesting his voice, “Tamaki and Kyoya have decided to take us all on a last-minute trip. It was either me, the twins or Tamaki arriving here this early. Kyoya thought it best if I come.” Mori explained quietly, not giving too much unnecessary information for her to process. She stared past him for a while, then eventually nodded and sighed.
“I was wondering why Kyoya told me to ‘be ready’ before we left school yesterday.” She grumbled, rolling her eyes, “Sorry you had to come all the way here to tell me that, Senpai. Couldn’t someone just have called?” She asked, and he grunted, nodding his head outside. Realization dawned on her. “Oh. You’re picking me up, is that it?” And he nodded. She sighed, running a hand through her mussed hair. “Well, alright then. Give me a few minutes to get dressed and packed and I’ll be out. Come in, it’s cold outside, senpai. Make yourself some tea if you like.” Haruhi said, motioning towards the kitchen before disappearing into her room.
Mori did indeed make himself a cup of tea, and made one for Haruhi to go along with it. He put in the fixings that he knew she liked, after watching her make countless cups of tea for all of them, and remembering the way everyone liked it - it was the least he could do for her, really. He kept his eyes strained on the color of the water as the leaves dyed it, watching the oils swirl and combine, trying his best to keep his mind off the fact that Haruhi was so cute in the morning, and Ranka wasn’t back from his night shift yet. He frowned as these thoughts flashed through his mind; he had fallen for her, as the rest of the host club had, but he prided himself on his morals and his gentlemanly demeanour, refusing to budge even a second to replay the image of her in her pajamas in his mind.
True to her word, she reappeared several minutes later, fully ready and looking far more awake than she did moments ago. She blinked as Mori held her cup out to her silently, setting her bag down to take it. She sipped it and her eyes widened.
“Wow, thanks, senpai! You got it perfectly! How’d you know what I like?” She asked, genuinely curious. He just smiled slightly at her, nodding. She grinned up at him. “You know, I’m glad you were the one to fetch me, Kyoya was right. No one else would have done this for me. Thank you, Mori-senpai.” He nodded at her, willing his face to not go hot at her praise. “I was going to ask where Honey-senpai is, but I guess it’s still too early for him, huh?” She rambled, sipping her tea. He hummed in agreement and she laughed lightly. “Alright, then. Do we have to get him on the way to school?” She asked and to her surprise, he shook his head. “Oh, are we going straight there? And… where is there?” She asked, frowning a bit.
“Mitskuni is going to drive separate at an hour that is more convenient for him. Kyoya has already been notified of this. I’d go with him, but Mitskuni insisted I gather you, since I rise early anyway. He said it’d be a waste of my morning and a bad start to yours if anyone else came to collect you.” Mori replied, finishing off his cup of tea. Haruhi hummed and shrugged.
“I guess that makes sense. I’m just surprised, considering you two are usually joined at the hip and all.” Mori nodded.
/
The car ride passed in companionable silence. Mori was preoccupied with a book he was reading, and Haruhi was buried in school work that he knew she wouldn’t leave behind. His eyes flicked over to her as a noise of frustration escaped her, and he noticed her shut her book. Her eyes looked tired; he wondered if she had stayed up late the night before, unknowing of the tasks laid out for today. He frowned and made a noise of discontent, which caught her attention. She blinked over at him.
“Don’t-” A yawn interrupted her, and she stretched as she stifled it, “-worry about me, senpai. I just got caught up in some schoolwork last night after hosting… I should have been better prepared for today.” She responded, voice heavy with sleep. She shifted, pressing her arm against the window of the limousine, laying against the cushions.
“I can… message you details, of these things… if this happens again. If it would help.” Mori offered, forcing his outward appearance to remain calm. Haruhi blinked, processing what he said.
“Wait, you knew what was happening today?” She asked, her voice not accusatory, but curious. Mori felt a wave of shame wash over him. He nodded. Harhu frowned. “Did everyone know but me?” She asked again, to which Mori shook his head. Haruhi sighed. “Well, I wouldn’t mind knowing what we’re getting into before it happens… I’d like to say I would have wrapped up my homework a little earlier had I known, but… it needed to get done anyway. Don’t worry about it, Mori-senpai. But, you know… really, you can text me whenever. About whatever. You don’t need to ask.” Mori’s eyes widened, and Haruhi stifled a laugh.
“Consider it a perk of being my favorite… don’t tell the others.” She jested, smiling at him before another yawn ripped through her. Mori’s heart was thundering in his chest, and he cleared his throat.
“Perhaps you should try to rest a bit more, Haruhi. We have about another half hour.” He said, eyes flicking to the car window beside him. Haruhi nodded lightly, eyes growing heavy.
“Yeah, maybe I will… A small nap can’t hurt, right?... Goodnight, senpai.” And like that, Haruhi laid across the seats, head still a few seats away from Mori. He smiled softly down at her.
“I’ll wake you when we get there.” He said softly. Haruhi made a little noise of acknowledgement, and like that, she was out.
Oh, Mori was in trouble.