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Faint evening light slanted through the windows of the club room, casting a hazy glow across the tile floor. It created a rare ambiance that was only ever really found after a long event day. Everyone tended to be gentler, calmer; maybe it was a testament to just how hard they all worked into making these days special for our patrons.
My jaw cramped uncomfortably from the force of a yawn. I definitely wasn’t immune to the day’s effects either. Boxing all these decorations probably wouldn’t have been that bad, if it weren’t for the fact that I just spent the last few hours catering to the whims of young ladies. Admittedly though, it was kinda fun.
The rhythmic sound of objects being packed was finally broken by Tamaki. “Alas,” he sighed dramatically, sweeping an arm out towards the rest of us, “It seems the time for my other obligations has arisen and I must depart. Believe me when I say it fills me with the utmost sorrow to leave you all here to finish packing without me. I truly wish I could be here to help.”
Everyone had about as much energy to call him out on his lies as he did guilt about telling them. AKA, none. Though it did send a spark of realization through everyone about how late it was getting.
“I can’t be the only one who doesn’t feel like missing dinner over some random junk we can shove in a closet later,” Hikaru complained as he kicked the box he’d just been haphazardly stuffing decor in.
Karou nodded along, very obviously squinting between Kyoya and the clock. “Yeah, we’ve been working our tails off. Give us a break.”
Kyoya glanced around the room from the desk he was budgeting at, taking in the tired faces of everyone. He exhaled, loud and annoyed, and shut his book for a moment, “Fine. You’re all free to go for today, but expect tomorrow to be longer taking into account the work that was left unfinished today. Remember, no matter what, we will be opening right on schedule.”
A small murmur of annoyance rumbled from the club but everyone was just glad to be on their way home. Honestly, I shared the sentiment. Though that was mostly due to the high quality fish I got on sale waiting for me in the fridge. With the food prices at Ouran, it would just be more sustainable to eat my money.
Light chatter floated through the room. Kyoya scolded Tamaki for god knows what; the Twins teased each other as they gathered their things. The rustle of boxes was slowly replaced with bags being hoisted onto shoulders and the door gently clicking shut as people slowly filed out. This place really had grown on me. Kind of like a fungus. But also like a flower that had finally bloomed.
As I adjusted my bag on my back and took a final once over of the room, I saw Mori hadn’t made a single move to leave. He silently carried a full box into the supply storage without so much as a grunt. The rest of the club had already left by now, even Kyoya was nowhere in sight.
This wasn’t completely unusual behavior for Mori; he typically stayed behind just to lighten the workload for everyone else when he could. Though usually he’d at least have Honey to keep him company. Honey who was currently attending an important family meeting and had left right after the event ended. Could I really just leave him behind?
Wordlessly, I slumped my bag back down against the wall as Mori emerged from the closet. “Hey, Mori-Senpai, do you want some help with that?”
His lips tilted up discreetly, in a way that seemed like his favorite song had just come on, and he shook his head, “No. Go home. You deserve it.”
I waved a hand, physically repelling the idea. “I can’t just leave you here all alone,” I shrugged, my eyes darted away and locked onto a random floor tile. Oh god, I could feel my cheeks warm faintly, “Really, I don’t mind staying a bit longer just to keep you company.”
Mori’s reply came in the form of a gentle head-pat that lingered for a moment as his eyes crinkled with warmth. Maybe I was just crazy and hopeful, but I swear a subtle layer of blush dusted his face, one that had to be mirroring mine.
He turned away and continued working, and I fell into a similar cadence. My mind wandered and frequently returned to Mori. We were seldom ever alone together, and I’d never really thought about what that would look like. It was just so different from our normal group setting. It was… more personal.
Maybe that lack of thought was perfectly us though. I never felt pressured to fill the space between us like I did with the others. It was rare the rest of the host club was silent like today unless they were upset. Their kind of quiet was usually loud in it’s own way, as if I could feel the eggshells crack under my weight and hear every individual crunch of it’s corresponding echo. No matter what, it was always the wrong step.
With Mori, it was different. His quiet felt more like being enveloped by a cozy blanket, hands wrapped around a mug of chamomile tea. Sure he was a bit harder to read, but he was mature about his emotions. They were his to handle.
My head remained spinning itself into a knot of thoughts as I hefted the box I’d been mindlessly filling into my arms. I walked into the storage room and effectively Mori as well. The unexpected human roadblock startled me backwards and sent my feet tripping over each other as I tried and failed to catch my balance.
A warm, sturdy hand caught against the small of my back, preventing my inevitable doom and debt increase from the value of this box. My eyes inched upwards, gradually taking in Mori’s chest; then his neck and the wisps of hair resting there; and finally his eyes, burning into mine.
He would have had to step extremely close to catch me with the bulk of the box in the way. And that was exactly what he did. That decor box remained the only thing separating us.
That was too close.
Or was it?
Neither he nor I moved. Tension breathed down my neck and the point of contact where he had caught me blistered with heat. I had to say something. But what? There were a million butterflies crammed in my throat. Was I even breathing?
Mori flinched back into reality and his grip loosened as a clumsy gasp sounded from me. Ok, breathing, check. He cleared his throat and stepped away. I was not imagining the blush that time.
“I, uh,” my jaw hung open awkwardly for a moment. Okay, maybe uncheck breathing. He didn’t seem to mind though, as he struggled with the exact same issue.
I laughed stiffly, fighting to break the pressure that had settled over the room, “Thank you… I can’t imagine what Kyoya would add to my debt over this box.”
Mori’s head bobbed in return as he let out a sound that was somewhere between a clipped laugh and a cough. His eyes darted around me, unsure where to rest until he finally grabbed the box out of my grasp and fled to the closet.
My heart thundered in my chest, threatening to fall out. What was that? Do we just pretend it never happened? I can’t have imagined his reaction. I just couldn't have.
A thud resonated from the closet, like he had dropped the box after just saving me from that exact fate. There was a scuffle and oh. Suddenly he was in front of me. Breath heavy, face red. His short hair was spiked up jaggedly like he had run his hands through it.
One of those very hands now hovered next to my arm, shaking so delicately it was almost imperceivable. We stood like that, seconds sliding past as warmth bloomed between us.
“Haruh-”
Mori was cut off by the door swinging open. Our feet clamored across the floor, too clumsy, too loud, as we jumped apart as if caught in a crime. My mind kicked and screamed as it was dragged back to reality from Kyoya’s reappearance. His grip was tightened around his phone, clearly frustrated. He finally noticed us as he neared his desk, analyzing the scene like he already knew what happened.
“Ah, thank you both for staying to clean but you really should head home soon. The others did have a point. If you are too tired, or distracted,” his eyes narrowed, “you won’t be able to give the host club your all.”
I nodded, my head full of cotton. Ever the observer he was. Luckily he gave us the grace of not saying more about the situation. I snatched my bag from where it rested on the floor, scurrying out of the room, and refusing to look back at Mori.