Duet chapter 7
Title: Duet
Rating: G for now, may go up ^^;
Warnings: spoilers for the end of the anime
Progress: 7/?
Summary: In need of a performing arts credit for her transcript, Haruhi seeks piano lessons from Tamaki. The result is a bit more bonding than either of them ever expected. How can you focus on school when you're falling in love... and what complications will arise when a member of the Suoh family is willing to give up everything for a commoner?
Finally, chapter 7 X3
There was a strange feeling of expectation in the air during classes on Friday. Haruhi was distracted enough to keep looking at the clock, and Kaoru eventually jabbed her gently in the ribs.
“What’s up with you today?” he whispered. “You’re not even paying attention. This stuff is going to be on the test, you know?”
“I’m paying attention,” Haruhi argued in a whisper.
“No you’re not,” Kaoru said, shaking his head and smiling fondly at her. “You’re thinking about tono.”
“What?” Haruhi jumped slightly and was about to contradict him when she realized what he had said was true. Disconcerted, she rubbed her head. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you’ve got that googly look on your face. I’m not just going to give you the answer as to why you’re thinking the way you are, but I know you’ll figure it out someday. Boy, are you in for a surprise,” Kaoru smiled dotingly at her like a parent amused at the actions of a small child and then turned back to his notes, not giving Haruhi another chance to question him. And so it was that Haruhi spent the rest of the day’s classes half paying attention and half letting her mind wander, poking at the mystery of what Kaoru said. It wasn’t until later during club duties that this monotony finally lifted. Amid the bustle of lively action in music room three, Haruhi was able to stop puzzling and focus on her job.
“Haruhi-kun, are these tea sets new?” asked one of her customers, and Haruhi paused in pouring a cup of tea for her to smile warmly at her.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “You’d have to ask Kyouya-senpai about that. Sorry.”
“You’re quite correct, miss,” Kyouya said to the customer, coming up behind Haruhi like a ghost. “They were imported from England just this morning.” he pushed his glasses back into place and fixed his eyes on Haruhi. “And incidentally they’re quite expensive,” he said purposefully, and Haruhi grumbled a bit.
“I’ll be careful,” she told him, resuming with her tea pouring and then sliding the cup across the table to the girl. “Here’s your tea.”
“Thank you, Haruhi-kun!” the girl smiled at her and then began to spoon some sugar into the cup. Haruhi nodded and then turned her attention to Momoka, who was waiting patiently.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Haruhi said, giving Momoka a smile. “Do you want some tea.”
“Yes please,” the girl told her, and Haruhi poured her a cup and handed it to her and then began to fix a cup for herself. “Thank you!” Momoka added her usual amount of sugar and cream and then began to sip delicately from her cup. “The tea is nice today.”
“I’m glad you like it, mademoiselle,” Tamaki’s silky voice came from over Haruhi’s shoulder, surprising her and making her choke on her tea. She sputtered, and Tamaki patting her back in alarm, obviously concerned. “The tea is from China,” he went on, still trying to be polite while he tried to stop Haruhi’s choking. It was obvious he was at a loss for what to do. “Haruhi, are you alright?”
“Y--yeah…” Haruhi choked, coving her mouth in case of any tea spray. “I just swallowed wrong.”
“Sorry I startled you,” Tamaki said gently, putting his hand on top of her head and rubbing. His palm was warm against her scalp and for a moment Haruhi almost forgot she was choking. “Do you want me to get you a drink of water?”
“No thanks,” Haruhi wheezed a bit and then shook her head. “I’m fine, really.” she was aware of Tamaki coming around the sofa to take a seat beside her. “Don’t you have customers to worry about?”
“You’re more important,” Tamaki said, and then looked immediately regretful at his rash decision to speak without thinking. Though Haruhi knew it was an unwise thing of him to say because the customers would most likely be offended, she couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased, and her cheeks turned red against her will. She happened to glance ahead and notice that nearly every girl in the vicinity was staring at them with hearts for eyes. It was more than a little disturbing.
“I appreciate the concern, senpai, but I just choked on my tea,” she set her teacup down on the table. “It’s not a big deal, really. You don’t need to make such a fuss over me.”
“I’m sorry,” Tamaki sounded a bit embarrassed, and he brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “I just can’t help worrying. I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you.”
Haruhi began to wonder if all this overly-sentimental candor from him was some kind of gimmick for the customers, but somehow she couldn’t even bring herself to believe that, not when he looked so sincere. She blushed slightly and hated herself for it, but there he was, still staring at her in that open way. She had noticed for a while now that things had been different between them since the festival. Before, she had chalked it up to the fact that they had nearly lost each other and now there was always the nagging fear that it would happen again, but she was beginning to wonder if it was something entirely different. Somehow, she saw him in a subtly different way than she had before the festival, as though somehow that brief time in the air together as they fell toward the water had altered reality, left an imprint on their friendship. However, it was never wise to read too much into things, she reminded herself, and promptly made herself forget about it as best she could.
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” she assured him, smiling through her confusion and embarrassment. She was aware of the fact that as soon as Tamaki had spoken, the squeals around them had escalated to an almost deafening level. “Don’t worry so much. I don’t want anything to happen to you either, but it’s no reason to get so worked up over every little thing.”
“Okay,” Tamaki agreed sheepishly, laughing a little. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. You just need to remember that, alright?”
“Sure,” Tamaki grinned and rubbed her head again. “You always know just what to say to calm me down, Haruhi.”
“Do you want to come over at about five?” Haruhi asked, successfully changing the subject to something less awkward.
“That sounds perfect!” Tamaki exclaimed, and almost immediately there was a distant creak and a whirr, and then the steady sound of a powerful motor and the floor opened up and a figure clad in a rather explosive Alice in Wonderland cosplay spun into view on top of a familiar curious mechanism.
“Does she have tunnels under the whole school?” Haruhi grumbled as Renge leaped down from her platform, a look of madness in her eyes.
“It’s finally happened!” the girl declared passionately, putting one hand to her chest. “After all this time of wishing and hoping and yearning, of writing their names enclosed in hearts inside all of our notebooks, the day has come! Haruhi-kun and Tamaki-senpai have a date!”
“A date?” Haruhi’s brow furrowed. “Renge-chan, I’m teaching him to make hamburgers. I don’t really think you can call that a date.”
“Say whatever you want to refute it, Haruhi-kun! Certainly a boy as romantic are yourself--”
“Romantic?”
“--knows that a date has nothing to do with the activities but the feeling behind the outing. The feeling is key, and you two have that feeling absolutely! I’m so happy for you both!”
“Renge-chan, maybe you should calm down,” Tamaki actually looked embarrassed, which was an unfamiliar sight.
“Shut up you big phony!” Renge said, poking him in the chest. “I’m only putting up with you because my beloved Haruhi-kun thinks you’re so wonderful!”
“Who ever said anything about--” Haruhi began, but in the madness she was cut off and no one heard a word she said.
“You two realize that of course you’ll have to share every wonderful detail of your evening with me, don’t you?” Renge asked. “Everything! The mood, the atmosphere, the activities, the conversations… and the kisses!”
“Kisses?” Haruhi sighed heavily.
“Every wonderful moment will have to be accounted for so I can release a detailed account of Tamaki-senpai and Haruhi-kun’s First Date Love Love Extravaganzaä in Moe Moe Diaries volume 12!”
“You’re taking this too far,” Haruhi deadpanned, all her patience gone, but Renge mysteriously failed to hear her. Already the excited girl was up on top of her platform once more and the motor was running, sending her spinning back beneath the floor.
“Au revior until next time, Haruhi-kun! Don’t forget to take a lot of pictures!” she called in parting as the floor closed back up around her and left the room looking exactly as it had before. Now that the madness had ceased, Haruhi sighed and rubbed her temples a bit before turning back to Tamaki.
“So, five o’clock?”
Rating: G for now, may go up ^^;
Warnings: spoilers for the end of the anime
Progress: 7/?
Summary: In need of a performing arts credit for her transcript, Haruhi seeks piano lessons from Tamaki. The result is a bit more bonding than either of them ever expected. How can you focus on school when you're falling in love... and what complications will arise when a member of the Suoh family is willing to give up everything for a commoner?
Finally, chapter 7 X3
There was a strange feeling of expectation in the air during classes on Friday. Haruhi was distracted enough to keep looking at the clock, and Kaoru eventually jabbed her gently in the ribs.
“What’s up with you today?” he whispered. “You’re not even paying attention. This stuff is going to be on the test, you know?”
“I’m paying attention,” Haruhi argued in a whisper.
“No you’re not,” Kaoru said, shaking his head and smiling fondly at her. “You’re thinking about tono.”
“What?” Haruhi jumped slightly and was about to contradict him when she realized what he had said was true. Disconcerted, she rubbed her head. “Why would you think that?”
“Because you’ve got that googly look on your face. I’m not just going to give you the answer as to why you’re thinking the way you are, but I know you’ll figure it out someday. Boy, are you in for a surprise,” Kaoru smiled dotingly at her like a parent amused at the actions of a small child and then turned back to his notes, not giving Haruhi another chance to question him. And so it was that Haruhi spent the rest of the day’s classes half paying attention and half letting her mind wander, poking at the mystery of what Kaoru said. It wasn’t until later during club duties that this monotony finally lifted. Amid the bustle of lively action in music room three, Haruhi was able to stop puzzling and focus on her job.
“Haruhi-kun, are these tea sets new?” asked one of her customers, and Haruhi paused in pouring a cup of tea for her to smile warmly at her.
“I’m not sure,” she said. “You’d have to ask Kyouya-senpai about that. Sorry.”
“You’re quite correct, miss,” Kyouya said to the customer, coming up behind Haruhi like a ghost. “They were imported from England just this morning.” he pushed his glasses back into place and fixed his eyes on Haruhi. “And incidentally they’re quite expensive,” he said purposefully, and Haruhi grumbled a bit.
“I’ll be careful,” she told him, resuming with her tea pouring and then sliding the cup across the table to the girl. “Here’s your tea.”
“Thank you, Haruhi-kun!” the girl smiled at her and then began to spoon some sugar into the cup. Haruhi nodded and then turned her attention to Momoka, who was waiting patiently.
“Sorry to keep you waiting,” Haruhi said, giving Momoka a smile. “Do you want some tea.”
“Yes please,” the girl told her, and Haruhi poured her a cup and handed it to her and then began to fix a cup for herself. “Thank you!” Momoka added her usual amount of sugar and cream and then began to sip delicately from her cup. “The tea is nice today.”
“I’m glad you like it, mademoiselle,” Tamaki’s silky voice came from over Haruhi’s shoulder, surprising her and making her choke on her tea. She sputtered, and Tamaki patting her back in alarm, obviously concerned. “The tea is from China,” he went on, still trying to be polite while he tried to stop Haruhi’s choking. It was obvious he was at a loss for what to do. “Haruhi, are you alright?”
“Y--yeah…” Haruhi choked, coving her mouth in case of any tea spray. “I just swallowed wrong.”
“Sorry I startled you,” Tamaki said gently, putting his hand on top of her head and rubbing. His palm was warm against her scalp and for a moment Haruhi almost forgot she was choking. “Do you want me to get you a drink of water?”
“No thanks,” Haruhi wheezed a bit and then shook her head. “I’m fine, really.” she was aware of Tamaki coming around the sofa to take a seat beside her. “Don’t you have customers to worry about?”
“You’re more important,” Tamaki said, and then looked immediately regretful at his rash decision to speak without thinking. Though Haruhi knew it was an unwise thing of him to say because the customers would most likely be offended, she couldn’t help feeling secretly pleased, and her cheeks turned red against her will. She happened to glance ahead and notice that nearly every girl in the vicinity was staring at them with hearts for eyes. It was more than a little disturbing.
“I appreciate the concern, senpai, but I just choked on my tea,” she set her teacup down on the table. “It’s not a big deal, really. You don’t need to make such a fuss over me.”
“I’m sorry,” Tamaki sounded a bit embarrassed, and he brushed his knuckles against her cheek. “I just can’t help worrying. I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you.”
Haruhi began to wonder if all this overly-sentimental candor from him was some kind of gimmick for the customers, but somehow she couldn’t even bring herself to believe that, not when he looked so sincere. She blushed slightly and hated herself for it, but there he was, still staring at her in that open way. She had noticed for a while now that things had been different between them since the festival. Before, she had chalked it up to the fact that they had nearly lost each other and now there was always the nagging fear that it would happen again, but she was beginning to wonder if it was something entirely different. Somehow, she saw him in a subtly different way than she had before the festival, as though somehow that brief time in the air together as they fell toward the water had altered reality, left an imprint on their friendship. However, it was never wise to read too much into things, she reminded herself, and promptly made herself forget about it as best she could.
“Nothing is going to happen to me,” she assured him, smiling through her confusion and embarrassment. She was aware of the fact that as soon as Tamaki had spoken, the squeals around them had escalated to an almost deafening level. “Don’t worry so much. I don’t want anything to happen to you either, but it’s no reason to get so worked up over every little thing.”
“Okay,” Tamaki agreed sheepishly, laughing a little. “Sorry.”
“You don’t have to be sorry. You just need to remember that, alright?”
“Sure,” Tamaki grinned and rubbed her head again. “You always know just what to say to calm me down, Haruhi.”
“Do you want to come over at about five?” Haruhi asked, successfully changing the subject to something less awkward.
“That sounds perfect!” Tamaki exclaimed, and almost immediately there was a distant creak and a whirr, and then the steady sound of a powerful motor and the floor opened up and a figure clad in a rather explosive Alice in Wonderland cosplay spun into view on top of a familiar curious mechanism.
“Does she have tunnels under the whole school?” Haruhi grumbled as Renge leaped down from her platform, a look of madness in her eyes.
“It’s finally happened!” the girl declared passionately, putting one hand to her chest. “After all this time of wishing and hoping and yearning, of writing their names enclosed in hearts inside all of our notebooks, the day has come! Haruhi-kun and Tamaki-senpai have a date!”
“A date?” Haruhi’s brow furrowed. “Renge-chan, I’m teaching him to make hamburgers. I don’t really think you can call that a date.”
“Say whatever you want to refute it, Haruhi-kun! Certainly a boy as romantic are yourself--”
“Romantic?”
“--knows that a date has nothing to do with the activities but the feeling behind the outing. The feeling is key, and you two have that feeling absolutely! I’m so happy for you both!”
“Renge-chan, maybe you should calm down,” Tamaki actually looked embarrassed, which was an unfamiliar sight.
“Shut up you big phony!” Renge said, poking him in the chest. “I’m only putting up with you because my beloved Haruhi-kun thinks you’re so wonderful!”
“Who ever said anything about--” Haruhi began, but in the madness she was cut off and no one heard a word she said.
“You two realize that of course you’ll have to share every wonderful detail of your evening with me, don’t you?” Renge asked. “Everything! The mood, the atmosphere, the activities, the conversations… and the kisses!”
“Kisses?” Haruhi sighed heavily.
“Every wonderful moment will have to be accounted for so I can release a detailed account of Tamaki-senpai and Haruhi-kun’s First Date Love Love Extravaganzaä in Moe Moe Diaries volume 12!”
“You’re taking this too far,” Haruhi deadpanned, all her patience gone, but Renge mysteriously failed to hear her. Already the excited girl was up on top of her platform once more and the motor was running, sending her spinning back beneath the floor.
“Au revior until next time, Haruhi-kun! Don’t forget to take a lot of pictures!” she called in parting as the floor closed back up around her and left the room looking exactly as it had before. Now that the madness had ceased, Haruhi sighed and rubbed her temples a bit before turning back to Tamaki.
“So, five o’clock?”