"Whoah! Doesn't it look like so much fun up there?" Mitsukuni marveled as he looked out class 3-A's window to observe the gigantic tornado atop class 3-E's hill. His arms tightly grasped Reiko as he leaned against the windowsill, trying to have a better look.

His blond childhood friend sighed at his silly action. A hand to grasp the shorter's collar, in case he fell out the window, he rubbed his sinuses in a circular motion with his free one. What "fun"? They had no time for fun. The midterms were right around the corner, and with E-class' trick during the last assembly, A-class was even more pressured to succeed than usual.

Mitsukuni excitedly jumped up and down before clapping his hands happily. "Ma-chan was right, E-class definitely seems interesting!" he praised with genuine enthusiasm. He had never seen such a magnificent artificial tornado before. He was thoroughly impressed.

"Do you want to join them, Mitsukuni?" Gakushu asked, his eyes sternly narrowed as he looked down on the shorter male before letting go on his uniform.

The strawberry blond hummed, tilted his head, twirled on himself, and waltzed to his seat with light steps before shaking his head in denial. "No, fun is good, but it's not everything, Shu-chan," he calmly answered, his doe eyes shining with unsettling wisdom until he beamed at the taller male.

The Student Council President hummed, minutely frowning at his friend before he focused on the mountain. The tornado had died down some time ago, his violet eyes carefully narrowed.

Class 3-E. It was really suspicious.

For a split second, he wondered if Karma would give him some information if asked, he brushed the idea as quickly as it came. Even if the redhead answered him, there was no telling if what he said was the truth or not.

He shook his head. His gaze swept the classroom before he glanced at the clock wall and went back to his seat behind the shorter blond. He spared Mitsukuni a glance, noting that he was chatting with his doll, and heaved a sigh, a defeated smile on his lips.

He aimlessly petted the top student's head, merely humming and smiling when the shorter gave him a dubious look.

::

"Kyoto, Kyoto~" Mitsukuni aimlessly sang from his desk. His legs swayed under his chair as he rested his chin atop his crossed fingers. An excited smile painted his lips.

"As you all know, the school trip to Kyoto is just around the corner," the 3-A's homeroom stated. His eyes silently swept the class. "I heard from your class representative that all the group had yet to be done," he reminded, his gaze stopping on a few faces before he continued. "do hurry, we wouldn't want to leave any of you behind."

The reminder made Mitsukuni's humming pause. Group. Was he in any? He didn't remember being asked or asking anyone. He pursed his lips, leaned in his chair, and gripped Reiko, who sat on his lap. His head lolled to rest on the desk behind, scattering strands of strawberry blond hair all over the wooden table and open notebooks.

"Ne, Shu-chan—"

"I already registered you, Mitsukuni," the violet-eyed teen cut with ease. Not waiting for the shorter to phrase his question as he already knew it. "You are in my group with Ren, two of the archery club girls and one from the library committee," he explained.

The reborn male hummed, his honey-brown eyes on the ceiling he swiftly turned to look at the three girls. Weren't they the ones who sometimes gave him homemade cookies? The realization made a smile bloom on his face.

"Whoah, good choice, Shu-chan!" he praised with a grin as he waved at one of the three girls who caught sight of his staring.

Gakushu simpered. "Yeah, sure, I knew you would say that," he dismissed with a wave of his hand. After all, the three girls weren't invited to join their group out of pure kindness. He had studied their cases before asking them. "Turn around," he reminded in a whisper as he saw that the blond was still facing him.

Mitsukuni easily complied. With a grin, he turned to face the board. Fortunately, Gakushu was there to save the day! He listened some more, ignored as the teacher went over their midterms results again, and his mind drifted to Karma.

Class 3-E should be coming to Kyoto too. There was no reason for the school to refuse them a trip in exchange for some more classes.

He smiled to himself, wondering if that meant that they would spend time together— in case their group met. It had been some time since he last went on a trip with both his childhood friends.

He wasn't as free as in Ouran Academy where they could take their private jet or helicopter, and fly from one place to the other at their convenience. He wondered if that was due to the lack of funds in school— they had no landing lane. Or if it was because there was no adult in his friend group.

After all, Takashi and he were almost into adulthood when they built the Host Club.

He paused. Wait, now that he thought about it, even before adulthood, he could take the helicopter and jet out to play if he wanted.

Yes, it definitely was due to the school's lack of funds.

Next time he saw headmaster Asano, he would ask him.

::

There was a heavy sigh. Gakushu rubbed the bridge of his nose in mild irritation as he tried to calm his nerves. "Stop sulking, Mitsukuni," he repeated for the nth time, not even looking at the blond anymore.

Mitsukuni ignored his friend's plea. Reiko carefully secured in his arms, he buried his face in her neck, inhaling her fragrance as he huffed in protest. "STop sUlkINg, MiTsuKUniI," he repeated in annoyance, his voice muffled by the fabric of his stuffed toy.

Gakushu's eyebrow twitched, he loudly exhaled, refraining himself from snapping at the teen just yet. "Okay, Mitsukuni, let's speak like adults, yeah?" he proposed, his usually perfect smile stiff as he spoke through gritted teeth.

"Right, Kannazuki, listen to Asano for a bit," Sakakibara tried to coax with a strained smile. His throat felt dry, and beads of sweat threatened to roll down his forehead from the tension. Why did he decide to sit with them already?

His eyes flicked to look at the three cowering girls, and he refrained the sigh from slipping past his lips. He flashed them a comforting smile, noted how they swoon and mentally cheered up. His handsomeness would lead him through.

He cleared his throat. "Listen. Next stop, we can ask someone to fetch us some new cakes?" he sounded, stealing a glance at the tallest of the two blonds for a sign of approval. "If I remember correctly, there's this really good pastry shop in Kyoto, too," he added. "It isn't on our itinerary but we can add it."

Mitsukuni slightly lifted his head to look at the Student Council secretary. "Really?"

Feeling like he just caught a straw, Sakakibara enthusiastically nodded. "Of course, isn't that right, Asano?" he called out to the other blond.

Gakushu minutely observed Mitsukuni's reaction before nodding. "Yes, we'll add it to our schedule," he agreed before looking at the silent trio that sat with them. "Did you record it?" he asked as if them recording it was a given.

The three girls gave a unanimous nod. They quickly pulled a block note and their phone before looking the pastry shop up and adding it to the itinerary.

"Hehe, yay!" Mitsukuni cheered, the gloomy aura around him melting to give place to his usual cheerfulness. "Cake, cake!" he sang in delight, his previous anger forgotten. His singing came to a halt, he stood up, Reiko in his arms. "I'm going to see Ma-chan!" he chirped before skipping away, ignoring the irritated Gakushu behind him.

"Kannazu—"

"Toilet, toilet, Teacher!"

Said teacher heaved a defeated sigh, at lost for words. He shook his head in dismay, knowing that whatever he said the boy wouldn't listen to him. His eyes fell back on the students who sat near him. Unlike when they were at Kunugigaoka, none of them carried a textbook, and most had magazines in their hands. He noticed a few fashion magazines with Kyoto as its theme and recognized the two female models on the cover.

Both girls were smiling at the camera and had identical faces. They stood in front of one of Kyoto's famous tourist spots, most probably to do its promotion. The teacher didn't know their name as he had no interest in fashion, but it was a fact that both girls were relatively famous in Japan— especially in the fashion industry.

::

"Ah, Mitsukuni," Karma acknowledged with a raised eyebrow as he saw the shorter teen waltz closer to his seat. His mercury eyes darter behind the blond for a second, noting that he came alone before he focused back on the A-class student. "Shouldn't you be in first class with your group?" he casually asked his grin stretching as he looked at the blond who carelessly skipped closer to him.

The strawberry blond teen hummed, he giggled, bringing Reiko closer to his chest as he childishly shook his head. "Nah, I told Shu-chan I was going to the bathroom," he countered with a toothy grin.

"And he believed you?"

Mitsukuni paused, he tilted his head to the side, leaving the question unanswered for a second, before grinning. "Nope!"

The redhead shook his head in defeat before gesturing at the blond to take a seat where Kanzaki previously sat. The girl went to the bathroom, Mitsukuni could take her seat while she was away.

The blond wasn't polite, he didn't wait to be asked a second time before he made himself comfortable. He excitedly looked around the wagon, ignoring the skeptical glances E-class gave him. It was his first time not seating in first class, how novel.

Karma who probably guessed his thoughts chuckled. "Like what you see?" he teased, his cheek rested on his hand as he casually overlooked the shorter's actions.

"Nah," Mitsukuni answered without much consideration as he brought his attention back to the redhead. "I don't like high-speed trains," he whined. "First class is barely okay, but economic is a bit," his voice trailed off as he searched for a way to word his thoughts.

"Cheap?"

Mitsukuni nodded. "Cheap," he echoed as he looked at the redhead. If Mitsukuni was aware of the daggers E-class glared at his back, he ignored them. "I'll ask Uncle for a helicopter lane once I see him," he sighed as he leaned in his seat.

Karma chortled. "Really?"

The blond gave a confident nod. "Mhm, if it's a question of funds I'll ask Grandfather and Grandmother," he added pensively, not an ounce of doubt tinting his voice. As if his family and headmaster Asano agreeing was a given.

"Uhm, Kannazuki-san?" a voice carefully called out next to the two childhood friends. "Is your family rich?"

Mitsukuni's eyes slid to look at the green-haired girl who called him out. "Ah, Kayano, right?" he asked, ignoring the question before he blinked. "Oh, wait, if Kayano's here," his eyes swept the cabin as if he just remembered that 3-E was there. "Oh! Sugino, and Nagi-chan too!" he beamed.

The said teens wryly smiled in acknowledgment. They didn't know if they should feel offended for being ignored before, or flattered that the blond remembered them.

His grin deepened as he almost jumped over the table to grab Nagisa's hands. "You guys are sitting together. Does it mean that you're in the same group?" he chirped. He barely left them time to nod before he pulled his phone out from his uniform pocket.

Karma raised an eyebrow at his childhood friend.

"Give me your numbers!" Mitsukuni practically ordered with a grin as he shoved his phone in Kayano's hands, who was the closest.

"Excuse me, Kannazuki, was it?"

The stern voice pulled Mitsukuni, the embarrassed group, and curious class' attention to the raven-haired adult that stood beside the strawberry blond teen.

Mitsukuni's eyes flashed, he felt the tone and attitude all too familiar, and it made him want to get into a fighting stance. He refrained his pulsions, letting a bright smile break on his face as he retrieved his phone. His eyes swept the screen in appreciation when he saw the three new contacts before he turned it off.

"Yes?" he tilted his head to cutely look up at the E-class' sports teacher.

"Students shouldn't stray from their group. I'll have to ask you to go back to you—"

"Ah! Big Sister is here too!" Mitsukuni cut, promptly ignoring the official that sermoned him as he jumped down from his seat before waltzing closer to the depressed Irina.

Karasuma's eyebrow twitched in irritation. He refrained his temper, reminding himself that the student wasn't his, and was the headmaster's protégé. Karma chuckled.

Mitsukuni squeezed Reiko before carefully poking Irina's cheek. He saw her not reacting, and a frown marred his face. Wasn't Big Sister more guarded last time he saw her? He leaned closer, still no reaction.

"Ne, Big Sister, if you don't move, Sweets will have to take care of you," he whispered in her ear, his voice slightly lower than usual as he began to release some unnoticeable pressure.

He barely released any before Irina snapped her eyes open. She moved faster than any E-class student could at the moment, her hand reached to grab Mitsukuni's throat in a vicious, threatening grip.

Mitsukuni's lips stretched into a smile, he didn't miss a beat, smoothly putting some distance between them before he giggled.

He saw Irina's eyes snap out of it and skipped closer to her. "Hello, Big Sister!"

Irina blinked, she collected her nerves fast, as expected of a pro, and gave Mitsukuni a smile. "Ah, Mitsukuni?"

The said blond beamed.

A few pairs of eyes that stayed on the teen narrowed. 

Surprise update, because why not?

Also, I have a GAME for you. If you win, BONUS CHAPTER!

Interested? Then here's how it will go. For the next few chapters, I'll ask you to guess the occupation of one yet-to-be-introduced OHSHC cast member. If you've got it right— or almost right 🔜Bonus Chapter

Today: Takashi Morinozuka! 

The time limit is "his first appearance." Also, a hint (if it's one) he hasn't been mentioned yet. Okay, another one, he's older than Mitsukuni, and an adult.