Alone Now Ch 5

Chapter 5: Lunch with an Ootori

~~~---HKHKHK---~~~

When Tuesday came, Haruhi did not feel too nervous. 

She had made it clear at lunch the day before that she was not dating anyone at that time, but she did have a few good male friends who were willing to come with her to events if she asked nicely.  Nothing had been brought up about her having an ex-boyfriend, which was just as she wanted it to remain. 

Haruhi was a couple minutes early, which was good as Kyoya appeared right at 11:00 AM.  After dispensing with the usual pleasantries about work and life, they proceeded to walk comfortably down the crowded streets, Kyoya making it a habit to be slightly in front of Haruhi so that he could keep everyone off of her and the nice outfit she wore for the special occasion.  It was another Hitachiin design, the same dark blue color of her dress from the fashion show, but now in a skirt suit.  Being in front of her did not encourage them to talk either, seeing as it was lunch hour with talkative close friends and loud kids roaming the streets in search of food.      

It was not often that people got invited to these kinds of parties at work, so she had wanted to make a good impression.  Kyoya had approved of it with a little nod and adjustment of his glasses. Haruhi liked to imagine that he had smiled as well, but it was probably only that, her imagination.  Not that it mattered to her, of course.

Once they made it inside, Kyoya offered his arm, which Haruhi took.  Now she was nervous, but mostly about embarrassing Kyoya.  They were friends now, so it didn’t matter as much, but he was still an Ootori.  He had a name and reputation to uphold.

Once the door opened, Haruhi felt like she was entering the Third Music Room all over again, with as much as glass and windows as there were in that place.  Once she regained eyesight from being overpowered by the reflective surfaces, she decided that this was the wrong time to have a party there, as it would be better suited later in the day. 

Haruhi liked the look of the room.  It had a tasteful green carpet and was large enough for a party double their size.  Haruhi would bet good money that the carpet was really soft, as it reminded her of grass, as fluffy as it looked.  The chairs looked equally comfortable, all earthy tones of brown with large cushions on the seats.  She was liable to fall asleep if she got too comfy on those chair backs and arm rests.  Good thing she had Kyoya.  Speaking of him….

Haruhi was not left to ponder the opulence of the room for long, as people were approaching, and Kyoya was still a host.  He was not afraid, even if Haruhi was still a little in awe.  One day she would get used to all this, as he had.  Until then, it was cute to watch Haruhi admire the furnishings and get wide-eyed over a simple, albeit elegant, room.  It took him repeating her name twice and him drawing her arm a little closer to him to get her attention, but he now held all of it.  She looked apologetic, but as much as she wanted to say something, the other people did first. 

“Haruhi Fujioka! It’s so good to meet you at last! We’ve heard so much about you from Shino-sama.  And who is your friend?”

Haruhi’s unknown female coworker looked admiringly at Kyoya.

“Oh, come on, you know who he is. Kyoya Ootori, of the Ootori Group.  You’ve done quite well for yourself, I must say.”

The coworker’s husband seemed surprised at his wife’s lack of knowledge about Kyoya, and he immediately tried to combat it as best he could.  Luckily for him, Kyoya was with Haruhi, trying to help Haruhi in any way he could.

“Thank you.  I’m glad that my family’s name is said in such high regard.  I’m afraid that neither Haruhi nor I know who you are.  Would you do us the honor of an introduction?”

Haruhi spoke as needed, but she found that she did not have to say much with Kyoya around.  If he was in high school still, he would have been writing furiously in his black notebook, but instead he was introducing them when unknown, or just chatting easily with those who did know him.  It surprised Haruhi that he seemed to know more people at the party than she did.  Did she really have such a small group of friends at work?

When they had a moment alone before sitting for food, Haruhi could finally talk to Kyoya.  It hadn’t occurred to her that he would be only making introductions, instead of trying to talk up his company, as was his wont to do when he went to parties normally. 

That, and he actually seemed to know the basics in her lingo, easily able to keep up in conversations with her coworkers.  She was rather looking forward to having a conversation with someone about work outside of work for once. 

Most of the time, her friends just got glazed over looks and changed the subject. 

“Kyoya, are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

“Of course.  You doubt me, an Ootori?”

“Well, you’ve just been talking to so pleasantly, and about law stuff.  I didn’t realize that you knew about that.”

“There are many things you don’t know about me.”

“Clearly.  However, you should feel free to talk about yourself more.  Please don’t feel obligated to be nice to everyone in order to advance my career.  I know my stuff.”

“There can be no doubt of that, as everyone here has heard of you, if nothing else.  It speaks well of you, but this is your chance to get to know people and really network.”

“I can do that later.”

The stare she received in return made her reconsider what she flippantly said.  Why was networking so important anyway? Actions speak louder than words.  Oh well.

“Haruhi, I don’t mind.”

“Is there anything in this for you?”

“Perhaps.”

“You ought to know whether or not it will.”

“It depends on the whims of others.”

“Not on me?”

“No, not this time.  As long as you are yourself, which you are doing an admirable job of, I’m not worried.  However, this change in seating arrangement might change things a bit.”

It was then that the servers redirected them to a different table, this time with several of the elders of the firm.  She had met them all previously at her graduation party, so it was nice to see them again.  What she did not expect was their first comment.

“Fujioka-san, it’s so good to see you again! You’re looking well.  And how can you not, with an Ootori by your side? You must be very happy together.”

It was in moments like that Haruhi wanted to crawl into a hole and hide.  It was then that she figured that Kyoya would eventually exact vengeance for this.  She felt bad because it was Kyoya, but she was still glad that it was not Tamaki.  This was exactly the kind of situation that she had been trying to avoid with him.

“Shino-sama, Kao-sama, Ben-sama.  It’s a pleasure to see you again.  I take it you know Kyoya Ootori already?”

“Indeed, we have had the pleasure on other occasions.  Please, do sit.”

Kyoya was quick to pull out a chair for Haruhi before sitting down in the one next to hers.  That did not help the pink blush that was slowly spreading across her face, covering her face in warmth.

“Thank you.  However, I’m afraid I must disabuse you of your notion that Kyoya-senpai and I are together.”   

“Oh, we knew that already.  It would have been in the papers if that were the case.”

“That’s for certain.  Any time an Ootori is seen out, the event is sure to get some mention.”

Kyoya was probably right, which was the odd thing about it.  It seemed like a terrible invasion of privacy, not to mention really annoying.  However, she couldn’t help but notice that Kyoya seemed to say it with pride despite that.  Those darn rich people.

From there, the conversation at the table took many twists and turns, going from talk of law and business, to sports and hobbies.  It was right before the food was served that one of the women at the table mentioned being hungry, prompting a long discussion about food, even after the food arrived.  Both Haruhi and Kyoya added in bits here and there, but most of the talking was done by Shino, talking about his personal preferences and comparing it to others’ at the table. 

Luckily, when the food arrived, Shino was telling a story about a particularly fine sauce he had with the exact same meal he had just been served.  That gave Haruhi the chance to take her first bite of tuna and savor it.  She could close her eyes, taste the amazing lemon flavor, and settle deeply into her leather chair, the leather scent and taste of good tuna a wonderful drug.  Haruhi was quite ready to declare that she had found inner peace.  She might have, too, had not Kyoya chuckled softly nearby, disturbing her nirvana moment.

Haruhi gave Kyoya her best death stare.  Kyoya waved it off, as only he could.

“Enjoying yourself, Haruhi?”

Haruhi enjoyed that low whisper way too much; it reminded her of a soft voice she might hear right before falling asleep.  It made her want to go back to her happy place.  Well, at least she could blame him.

“Yes, I was, Kyoya-senpai.  Quite a bit until you said something.”

“I didn’t even open my mouth.”

“You don’t have to.”

Kyoya was smirking, and Haruhi was trying to stay mad at him and failing. 

“Did you have to do it just then?”

“I thought we were going to lose you to fancy tuna again.  Remind me not to have it served at your wedding.  Your husband will thank me later for keeping your attention on him.”

Haruhi was not sure whether to stare incredulously or laugh outright at what he said.  She found herself doing both as a result, starting with a stare that turned into a laugh.  Kyoya continued to smirk quietly. 

However, her laughter soon brought the rest of the table’s attention to her, and she was asked to account for her laughter.  After all, the difference between good and bad teriyaki was not a laughing matter. 

Haruhi managed to choke out that she was laughing at the face Kyoya had made when she ate her fancy tuna.  Kyoya’s smirk had disappeared, replaced with his host look, long refined from use.  He had the grace to agree with the story; though once the attention was no longer on her, he gave her a pointed look before turning his attention back to the speaker.

By the end of the meal, Haruhi was pleasantly satisfied, as she was with everything else around her.  She had met and networked with so many people in the last two hours; it amazed her.  How she was going to remember all their names was another matter entirely. 

In addition, Kyoya had been really good company throughout.  While he was not as bubbly as Tamaki, there was a certain air about him that drew you in that made you want to listen to him.  He was good at commanding an audience and had a way with words, thanks to years of being in the business world. 

Speaking of business, only once since arriving at the party had he opened his phone to check for messages, and that had been right at the beginning.  No, he had been very good about ignoring it, as she was sure he was getting constantly hit with more messages.  He was here for her, and he was doing an admirable job.  She would have to thank him somehow. 

Once the luncheon ended, Haruhi and Kyoya took turns saying good-bye to their fellow tablemates.  Everything went fine until Haruhi came to Shino.  She looked up at him with a big smile, wishing him every happiness.  He surprised her with his response.

“Thank you, Fujioka-san.  It has been an enjoyable forty years here, and I wish you all the best as you continue on here, hopefully to have just as bright a future as I did.  However, don’t forget to enjoy life sometimes.”

“Thanks, Shino-sama.  I will remember your words of advice well.”

“Remember? No, you should live them out now.”

“How?”

“Do as I am about to do: take the rest of the day off.  Have you any more meetings today?”

“No, none that I know of.”

“Good.  Then you should take advantage of the warm air and spend time with Ootori-san over there.  He’s a gentleman and seems to be a good friend.  You’re still young, and if you have friends, you should spend time with them, not just sit in a cold office.  I know you love your work, but you need to talk more.  Don’t be afraid of us, or him. He seems to understand the value of people, so you should learn from him.  Take care, Fujioka-san.  I expect to hear great things about you.”

Haruhi was unsure how to respond, so she decided to simply smile.  She would have to think about all he said.  What she didn’t have to think about was the fact that her boss had just told her to take the rest of the day off.  How to spend it?

“Haruhi, are you ready to go?”

“Yes, I am.  Did you hear most of what I was just told?”

“I did.”

“Good, then you have a choice to make.”

“I do?”

“Yes.  I have been told to not go back to work, as much as I want to get ahead in my work.  However, I am also tired after being around so many people, so I think I’m going to go home and relax for a while.  You may either go back to work, or you are welcome to join me at my place.  What would you like to do?”

Either way, Haruhi would have a few minutes to talk to him.  Then she could thank him and tell him about Renge and her schemes.  She was alright with him coming back with her, just as she was with any of her friends from the Host Club.  She trusted all of them, and she definitely trusted Kyoya.  He was as dependable as they came. 

Kyoya, however, did not pause in his choice of wanting to go back with her.  He added that he had no further engagements for the day, so it was not an issue at all.  His only condition was that they go by his office to pick up a few things so that he could look at them later.  Since his building was on their way home, it was easy enough to do.

Once both were done saying their good-byes, Haruhi and Kyoya made their way to Kyoya's office.  Haruhi felt humbled walking in with Kyoya, as those who were extra courteous to Kyoya were now giving Haruhi the same treatment.  

 Several people seemed to realize who she was, but the rest assumed that she was either an important business partner (a select few) or the girlfriend of Kyoya (almost everyone else).  Those who assumed that she was his girlfriend smiled indulgently at the pair walking across the speckled marble floors, and someone who was sharing an elevator with them even went so far as to congratulate Kyoya, who smiled his Host smile while not bothering to correct the elderly gentleman.  Haruhi did a terrible job of hiding her blush. 

 It was only after they both were inside Kyoya's office that he explained the elevator man's role on the board of trustees, his main reason for not correcting him.  Haruhi was satisfied with that, and she took to staring out the window of the penthouse window while she waited for Kyoya to grab a few folders and his laptop from his desk.  Once he had everything, they left.  Kyoya's secretary smiled and winked knowingly at Haruhi before quickly going back to work, lest Kyoya spot her doing such a thing.  

 Haruhi was glad once they made it back to her home.  It was bad enough that people made assumptions on the crowded streets as Kyoya escorted her home, based on the number of smiling faces she saw, but it had been so much worse where he worked.  Everyone seemed so curious and ready to assume that she was with him, which unsettled her a little.   Kyoya, being Kyoya, took it all in stride and did not show a thing on his face. 

 If anything, he had smiled more as the day went on.  At least he would be able to dispel the rumors created the next day, as she had no doubt he would.  It would certainly raise many expectations that Kyoya would not want any part of.  He had been a great lunch partner and had been very pleasant company throughout the day, making it hard for people to assume otherwise.  Together, they had made the most of their time, talking about a wide variety of topics while en route to Kyoya's work and then Haruhi's home.  

 "Did you enjoy the lunch, Kyoya-senpai?"

 "Yes, I did.  It was good to see people that I have not in a while.  Did you enjoy yourself as well?"

 "I did, thanks.  I learned much and got to meet so many people today.  I don't know how I'm going to have time to talk to all these people on a regular basis, but-"

 "You don't have to talk to them all the time.  The key is that whenever you do see them, you smile and remember their name.  That's all it takes.  You may not have time for more than that, and anytime that you can remember a person's name, you have made a person feel special."

 "You don't think I make all people feel special?"

 The smallest quirk on her lips belied the serious look and tone she had adopted.  Haruhi was playing with Kyoya, and he was enjoying it.  He had not expected to have this kind of conversation with her yet, but perhaps lunch was more beneficial than he originally gave it credit for.  Very interesting. 

 "You have your own way of doing it; that's for certain.  You are a natural.  However, seeing as you don't sit and talk with these people every day, and they aren't all girls, knowing a person's name is a good way to start."

 Kyoya sat down on Haruhi's tan couch, motioning for her to join him.  She sat eagerly. 

 "That's reasonable enough.  The smiling I can do no problem."

 "I can see that," Kyoya said with his own smile.

 "Especially when you have a day as nice as this one, all I want to do is smile and enjoy all the bright sunlight."

 "Then why did you want to come back here?"

 Kyoya's puzzled look made Haruhi's smile even bigger. 

 "Because I like to take a break now and then."

 "You? Take a break from your work?"

 The smiles were infectious at this point as they sat easily conversing.  It seemed that Kyoya did have a lighter side that lasted more than a moment.

 "I could say the same about you." 

 "I'm unashamed of doing so."

 Haruhi rolled her eyes before becoming serious and inching slightly closer to him.

 "But why, Kyoya? I thought you valued friendships more now."

 "I do.  Friendships have merit for me, which is why I make the effort to see you and the others on a semi-regular basis."

 "When was the last time you spent the whole day with a friend?"

 "Does it matter?"

 "Yes! It does matter to me, as your friend.  You need to get out more."

 "And have you any suggestions on how to do that with my schedule? Or, perhaps you’re suggesting yourself as a means of doing that?"

 Kyoya was looking quite serious as well, despite the teasing tone in his voice.

 "What," stuttered Haruhi, "no, that wasn't what I meant at all!"

 "It sounds like you are."

 "Well, I'm not.  More like, I'm trying to save you from Renge."

 "Renge? How did she appear in this conversation?"

 Kyoya's facial expression was priceless.  She was not supposed to enter this conversation, at all!

 "Well, part of the reason I even called you to attend the luncheon with me was because Renge encouraged me.  She figured you would know of someone who could go with me, even if you couldn't.  As it turned out, you could, which was great.  I've really enjoyed spending the day with you so far."

 "Why were you speaking to Renge?"

 "We had lunch together, and I told her that I was looking for someone to take with me.  She mentioned you."

 "I'm surprised you didn't try me at first.  I know everyone's schedules."

 Haruhi found herself giving Kyoya another look upon hearing that information.  Such typical Kyoya behavior.  Still, even as busy as they all were?

 "Really? I didn't realize that you did after all this time.  I'll remember that in the future."

 "Good."

 "No, not everything is good."

 "Why?"

 "Because Renge and I discussed more than that at lunch."

 Kyoya didn't like where this conversation was going, but he had to know why Renge had appeared.

 "What else did you talk about? Can it be heard by male ears?"

 Haruhi smiled at that.  Oh, the many joys of private chats with female friends.

 "It can be.  Or rather, it probably shouldn't be, but as a friend of yours, I felt I needed to warn you."

 Warn? This conversation just keeps getting more interesting.

 "Warn me of what? What is the Lady Manager planning now?"

 "She is planning to set you up with a woman."

 "Who?"

 "I don't know.  I'm not sure if she knows who it is yet, either.  I think she has an idea, but I didn't get any more out of her."

 "What, exactly, did you ask?"

 "I asked her first why she was not trying to date you, and she mentioned that you two would not suit, that you needed someone special.  I then asked if she had someone in mind.  All she did was smile in the same way she did when she was first planning our Host Club makeovers."

 Kyoya shook his head at the memory of that time.  Some things would never change, such as Renge's good-natured interferences. 

 "So you thought it best to warn me?"

 "Yes.  If she hasn’t found someone already, she is likely going to be trying to send a woman your way in an attempt to bring you two together."

 "Is she now?" Kyoya was trying not to smile at Haruhi's words.

 "You should be on your guard.  I think she is going to be introducing you to her soon based on the way she was smiling.  Don't be surprised if the next time you see her, she is arm-in-arm with another female friend."

 Kyoya was enjoying this.  It was nice to see Haruhi concerned, and Renge clearly had something going on, which was working well in his favor.

 "Thank you for your concern.  I will make sure to be on the lookout for her and any female friends she has." 

 "That's a relief.  That has been weighing on my mind ever since I talked to her.  I'm very glad you were able to talk to me for a little bit."

 "Was that the only reason you were glad?"

 "No, but it puts my mind at ease.  I want to see you happy, and you should be deciding for yourself who you want to be with, not Renge."

 "I will.  Was that all you talked about with Renge?"

 "No.  We talked about me a little, though there was nothing new or earth-shattering to tell."

 "I see."

 One of these days, Haruhi would be ready for another relationship.  Hopefully sooner, rather than later.

 The conversation lagged for a few moments, but not for long.  As it so happened, both of them received text messages at the same time, though Kyoya received his several moments before Haruhi.  Both were surprised, so they both checked their phones.  What they saw made them both smile unequivocally.

 On the screen was a picture of Hunny holding Reiko in his arms, he surrounding her with his arms underneath hers.  Reiko was glowing, holding tightly onto Hunny while extending her left hand out slightly.  Both were looking up at the camera and smiling warmly.  Even though Hunny had grown taller with time, now a couple inches taller than Reiko, he still retained his youthful enthusiasm, which showed here.  Mori must have taken the photo to be at that camera angle.  The caption under the photo text message was simple: "She said yes!"

 Both were soon sending messages of congratulations.  It was hard not to smile when looking at such happy faces.

 "This day keeps getting better and better.  Don't you think so, Kyoya-senpai?"

 "Yes.  I knew today was Reiko's birthday and that Hunny was taking her out, so it was a possibility."

 "You knew about this beforehand?”

 "In a way.  The two have been inseparable for more than a year now.  It was only a matter of time and having the families discuss plans before a formal engagement was made."

 "They do look really happy."

 "They are.  You remember how Reiko was before."

 "I do.  Now look at her, with the man she has always wanted."

 "No curses required."

 "I wonder how long the engagement will last."

 "According to Hunny, it will last about a year."

 "So long?"

 "It takes time to settle some matters, as well as plan a wedding as large as they are likely to have, considering their families."

 "Of course, the wedding plans.  But that also means-"

 Haruhi's face saddened slightly at that thought of what would be coming.

 "More parties."

 "More parties." 

 Haruhi's face showed how excited she was at the prospect of attending as many parties as there were likely to be with Hunny getting married.  While she was glad that she was on easier terms with Tamaki now, that did not mean that she wanted this.  Why was the world conspiring to make her do so much as soon as she broke up with Tamaki?

 "It won't be that bad.  People will be expecting you to come alone now."

 Kyoya was good like that, a thoughtful word and comforting hand there.  He understood, somehow.

 "I hope so, as that is what I intend to do."

 "And even if you do need a date, there are still plenty of us to go with.  Tamaki may get the wrong idea if you go with him enough."

 Technically she could go with him as a friend, though the idea was unappealing to both parties, for very different reasons.

 "I'm not considering him.  Mori would be a bad idea as I'm likely to be invited to even more parties, as close as those two are."

 "You've still got Hikaru."

 "That's true.  He knows how I feel about him, and he is always trying to convince me to go to more parties with him."

 Kyoya adjusted his glasses.  He keeps trying....

 "I'm sure he'll be happy to go with you.  And if something happens one night, you've always got me."

 "I know that.  You're a good sport about all this.  I have no doubt that we will end up going together at some point, and hopefully you won't have too much happening or come up then."

 "I doubt it."

 "You're very confident.  I'll take that as a good sign for the future."

 "You can trust me."

 It was then that Kyoya felt his phone ring.  He knew it was inevitable that something would come up, considering how long he had been away, but at least he had had a few hours with her. 

 "I have to take this."

 "That's fine.  I know how important work is to you."

 "It's not the only thing that is."

 While Kyoya spoke on the phone, Haruhi went to the kitchen, intent upon making something for dinner, even if she was not really hungry yet.  Better to be prepared for later, especially if Kyoya stayed longer.

 "It seems that I'm needed in the office."

 Haruhi was surprised to hear Kyoya so close behind her, despite hearing him end the conversation.  How did he do that?

 "That's a shame."

 "It's fine.  I've been expecting a call for some time now.  I'm glad it waited until now."

 "Do you want anything to take with you, perhaps something to eat later?"

 There's the Haruhi he knows so well, always looking out for others. 

 "It depends upon what you have available."

 "Ramen?" Despite the fact that Haruhi made more than enough money to afford better food, she still enjoyed the things she had grown up with, especially ramen.  Her friends tolerated her love of commoner food, so she still tended to blush when she admitted it to them, as she was when she mentioned ramen to Kyoya.

 "It's not ideal, but you do it well, so yes, I'll take some.  How long will it take?"

 "Ten minutes.  Less if you help me."

 That was not so bad, even if he was helping in the kitchen.  Haruhi always made it enjoyable.

 "Very well.  What can I do?"

 "Just chop that up, please.  Everything else is ready."

 "I can do that."

 They did not talk much as they prepared the ramen, but both were absorbed in their thoughts, so they did not mind the silence.  Once it was done, Kyoya had a small bowl for later, and Haruhi had dinner for several nights.

 "Is there anything else you need, Kyoya-senpai?"

 "No thank you.  I've got to get going now for that meeting.  Have a good night. Haruhi.  Thank you for today."

 "No, Kyoya-senpai, thank you.  It was great to talk, just the two of us.  I feel as though I understand you a little better now."

 "I'm glad to hear it.  I'll see you at the next party."

 "Only a few days away.  Good night."

 Haruhi was content to read for a time until she was ready for dinner.  Tomorrow she would call Hikaru and ask him.  Things would work out just fine; she was sure of it.

 Kyoya left feeling satisfied with the outcome of the day.  Much more happened than he had expected, but in the best possible way.  He had much to look forward to in the upcoming months, if today was any indication.