Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He was quiet, watchful, and always alert. Wherever he went it seemed like an aura of calm confidence surrounded him. No matter who was in the room, he drew your eye. Perhaps he was not the most beautiful of the hosts, nor the most gregarious. He had no charming words to share, but still, your attention constantly flickered, trying to catch sight of him. He was like a panther, stalking through the jungle. Aware that wherever he tread, he would be the protector. The shape of his jaw and his broad shoulders showed not only his strength but his determination.

“I don’t mean to be rude, but wouldn’t it make more sense to request Mori-senpai as your host? I can tell he’s the one you really want to see.” Startled you look up, eyes locking with those of Fujioka-kun. A blush heats your cheeks, and you duck your head, suddenly nervous. You hadn’t thought you had been that obvious. Perhaps you should have chosen one of the others. They never seemed to notice when your attention drifted from them. Biting your lip you dart another glance at Fujioka-kun. In truth, you often requested Haninozuka-senpai, just so that you could be near him. But Honey-senpai was busy today. Fujioka-kun was kind, and he smiled gently at you. “Are you worried that Mori-senpai would be mean? Beca-“

“Oh no!” Your voice barely raised above a whisper, shock bleaching the blush from your cheeks. “Morinozuka-senpai would never be cruel. He is an excellent host. It’s just…” You bury your face in your hands, almost vibrating with embarrassment. “I wouldn’t know what to say to him, and he doesn’t say much either, and we’d just end up sitting there awkwardly staring at teacups until I did something truly awful like broke the saucer and then I’d have to run and never come back.” There, your big secret was out. Somehow, telling Fujioka-kun relieved some of the tension in your chest. “Despite all the schooling and my parents’ best efforts, I’m awkward and graceless, especially around someone as handsome as Morinozuka-senpai… I just…” At a loss for words, you bury your face in your hands, then you look up, meeting his eyes, your own desperate for… something.

Except it wasn’t just Fujioka-kun anymore. Beside him, leaning over the side of his chair, was Haninozuka-senpai. Oh no! Had he heard your confession? He was Morinozuka-senpai’s cousin, his best friend, and the person closest to him in all the world. Silently, you wished for the floor to open up and swallow you as bright red blazed across your face again, heating your skin until you were certain it would catch fire. “Is it true? Are you in love with Takashi?”

Despite your fervent wishing, the floor doesn’t open up to devour you and Haninozuka-senpai’s big eyes seem to stare into your very soul as he waits for your answer. You fumble, searching for the words to say that will somehow diffuse this situation. “I- He’s very- Well you see- It’s kind of just- …” Everything you think of to say sounds foolish, and it is clearly far too late to play down your crush. It was out there, at least for Fujioka-kun and Haninozuka-senpai. They knew. Both of them. A small groan of dismay escapes your lips.

With a happy laugh, Haninozuka-senpai clapped his hands. “That’s wonderful! Taka-chan is the nicest person in the whole world, and you’re very nice too. I think it’s perfect. Don’t you Haru-chan?” He turned those big blue eyes to Fujioka-kun for a moment, and in those fleeting seconds, you actually considered making a run for the door. You could never return if you did, the shame would overwhelm you, but perhaps never seeing Morinozuka-senpai again would be adequate punishment for allowing your secrets to escape. At least it wasn’t Tamaki-san. Though your classmate was charming, he was prone to … theatrics. It was what made him such a good President for the Host Club.

But you didn’t run. It was like you were fused to your seat as Haninozuka-senpai hefted himself onto the arm of Fujioka-kun’s chair and waved down Morinozuka-senpai. Always alert to the needs of his much shorter cousin, Morinozuka-senpai came across the room in an instant, his long, muscular legs crossing the distance as if it were mere inches. “Mitsukuni.” The word was not even addressed to you, but you could feel his deep voice trickle down your spine like fine molasses. Still bright red, you stared down at your hands, wondering when you had picked up the teacup they now clutched so tightly. This was both so much better and so much worse than you had ever imagined.

“Taka-chan!” With a giggle, Haninozuka-senpai launched himself into his cousin’s arms, climbing him like a tree, or a jungle gym. After a quick whisper in Morinozuka-senpai’s ear, he bounced to the ground and grabbed Fujioka-kun’s hand. “Come on, Haru-chan, you can help me with Usa-chan. Taka-chan will cover for you, won’t you Takashi?”

“Hmn.” You wanted to raise your eyes, to search his face for some meaning behind that small sound of affirmation, but how could you? The tea sloshed in the cup in your hands, and you tried to remember to breathe. Suddenly a large hand gently wraps around one of your wrists. You can feel the callouses on his fingers, the strength that he so carefully controls. His other hand gently extracts the teacup from your shaking fingers, placing it on the table. “Careful. If you spill you could hurt yourself.” That soft concern in his low voice, it washes over you like a cool summer breeze. He was worried about you, concerned you might burn your fingers.

“Morinozuka-senpai…” You start, trying once more to find the right words.

“Mori.” Startled, you look up. He’s settled into the seat that Fujioka-kun was in earlier. He looks relaxed, though his expression is almost as unreadable as ever. The only difference is a slight softness around the eyes, the faintest hint of a smile perhaps?

“Morino-“

“Mori.” Again he interrupts, firmer this time. He watches you with seemingly endless patience as you struggle to regain some semblance of calm. He watches you, no expression except that tiny crinkle at the corner of his eyes.

Taking a steadying breath, you gather what wits you have left. “Mori-senpai, thank you for sitting with me.” Stupid, that after all the fuss, that was the only thing you could think of, but he nods, his lips lifting up briefly. “Would you like some tea…?” You wince, looking down at the table where only your cup remains. Fujioka-kun must have taken his with him.

“Thank you.” He sounds so serious, and you blush as he reaches across to pick up your cup, taking a small sip and then setting it down in front of you. You duck your head, causing your hair to fall into your face and hide some of the glow on your cheeks. Unconsciously your fingers reach for the cup, tracing along the lip where Mori-senpai’s mouth had shared your cup. Your heartbeat loud in your ears, deafening you to the usual murmur of sounds in the host club. Unable to handle the pressure, the confusion, you spring to your feet, bowing lightly.

“Thank you for your time, Mori-senpai. I have to go now.” As you turn to leave, that calloused hand wraps around your hand, halting you. You turn to look over your shoulder, up towards Mori-senpai’s face. The corner of his lips has turned up again, the crinkle near his eyes deepening. It’s the most expression you’ve ever seen on his face, except for when he is with Haninozuka-senpai.

“See you tomorrow.” It should have been a question, but something in his deep voice makes it sound like something more. Surely he can feel your pulse racing beneath his fingers. Your hand raises to your chest, pressing down as if to keep your heart from flying out from betwixt your ribs. As red as the roses on the tea set you had been using, you simply nod. Mori-senpai nods back, releasing your arm. Somehow, even though you don’t look back, you know that he watches you as you flee the abandoned music room. What would happen there tomorrow?

Chapter Text

It seemed silly, fussing about with your uniform as if it would somehow, magically, look different on you than it did on any of the hundreds of other girls in the school. Still, you fussed, and adjusted, tucking and pleating and adding and subtracting ribbons as if any of it would matter by the time the end of the day arrived. Four times you styled your hair, and for the briefest moment you considered sneaking into your parents' room to borrow make-up from your mother's dresser, but in the end, you decided against it. With your shaking hands and inexperience, you were more likely to come out looking like a kabuki actor than an elegant lady.  Taking a deep breath, you looked yourself in the mirror, trying to instill some calm or quiet into your soul. You still had the whole school day to get through, and if your grades slipped you would be in trouble.

It felt like years ago, not hours. Straightening out your uniform for the thousandth time, trying not to notice the faint smudge that the constant fidgeting had left on it throughout the day, you push open the doors to the Host Club. Rose petals fluttered around and for a moment you were blinded by the light, but as it faded away there they were, dressed in elaborate Ottoman Empire style costumes, everyone sprawled comfortably on piles of beautiful silk cushions. There were silk scarves swathing the ceiling and walls, and the floors were covered in plush, brightly coloured carpets. For a moment, you are spellbound by the imagery, and then Mori catches your eye. Somehow his legs look even longer in silk pants, deep burgundy in colour. The long navy vest he wears is open, revealing a dark green silk shirt covered in beautiful golden embroidery. At his side, a curved scabbard gives the whole ensemble a mildly threatening edge that thrills your soul, just a little. 

As their customary greeting echoes around you, the object of your infatuation rises, as graceful a man as you have ever witnessed, and stalks across the room towards you. There is an appreciative gleam in his eye, and between that and the swishing of silks, you are suddenly gripped with the urge to panic and run. Heart pounding, you try to move, but it as if your legs are glued to the floor, your eyes trapped by the slightly upturned quirk in Mori-senpai's lips. When his hand wraps around one of yours it startles you, and you gaze up into his big brown eyes in surprise. They crinkle at the corners in amusement, and maybe pleasure that you came? You can only hope as he tucks your hand into the crook of his arm and leads you towards a corner table.

Already set up on the table are a teapot and a small plate of treats, and even though he is the Host he allows you to settle your nerves by arranging everything just so, and pouring each of you a cup of tea. The bright yellow huangcha fills the air around the pair of you with a bright, grassy scent that makes you smile as you finally return to your seat. Smoothing out your uniform for the thousandth time, you finally look up at Mori-senpai, offering him a sight of the soft smile you were currently wearing. "Thank you for inviting me to be your guest today, Mori-senpai."

His teacup settles onto the saucer without a sound, a testament to the rigorous host training all the young men went through, and he grants you a soft smile. "Mitskuni said you prefer these." Turning the plate, he reveals the small treats soaked in a light lemon icing and you blush. 

"Haninozuka-senpai is very kind, to give me so much of his time. I know there are guests who would share more extravagant desserts with him." At a loss for words, you take one of the treats, nibbling on the edge and looking anywhere but at the handsome figure across the table from you. He makes a soft sound of affirmation, and you look up to see half of one treat hanging out of his mouth as he watches you curiously. Despite yourself, a small giggle bursts from your lips at the adorable sight. His lips curl on either side, making him look so much gentler, more like he did when he and Honey-senpai were off to the side together, just the two of them. Mori-senpai bites through the biscuit and lowers the other half, leaving a smattering of crumbs across his chin and for a second you are struck by the urge to lean forward and dust them away for him, but surely you couldn't ever be so forward. Instead, you fiddle with a napkin in your pocket, trying to think of something, anything, to say.

As the minutes tick by, your embarrassment deepens, spreading through you as quickly as the blush that suffuses your cheeks. You've seen girls with Mori-senpai, gaily chattering away, and here you were being an absolute clod. Almost unconsciously you start tearing the napkin into little pieces, mentally berating yourself for being a failure when you finally had the one thing you had been dreaming of since school started happening. A shadow fell over your hands, and then those large hands that had been so gentle yesterday lay over top of yours, stilling the frantic motions. Biting your lip you look up, finding Mori-senpai's face mere inches from your own. His brow is furrowed with concern as he examines your own expression.

Apparently he sees something there, because with another soft, barely-there smile he takes your hand and stands, carefully assisting you to your feet, and heads for the door. Surprise gets you up and moving, but as the exit approaches, you have a moment of misery. Is he done with you? Is he escorting you out for not living up to Host Club standards? Instead, Honey-senpai bounces over to hold the door and Mori-senpai steps out with you, leading you down and onto the school grounds. The crisp autumn air cools your heated cheeks, but mostly you focus on the warm hand wrapped around yours, where Mori-senpai is holding it as the two of you walk together under the falling leaves.