Outside and away from the entrance of the school, the exposition was vibrant, loud, colorful. I fidget with my skirt as Mori pushes me around, Hani making excited conversations. We pass by the Baking Club and Hani samples one of everything. A crowd of fans of the cousins follow us, but only a few come up to talk to us, stuttering their words. I smile at them and help them with the conversations between the silent giant and the rambunctious child. They would look me up and down, their eyes flicking between the wheelchair, the boys, my face, then back to the boys. I try not to think about it as they walk away, hopefully whispering only about them talking with Host Club members.

"Mitsumi."

"Yes, Takashi?"

He points towards the Writing Club, where a few people were handing out self-published books. He starts wheeling me over before I can say anything. I grin as we get closer, some pamphlets listing various events that the Writing Club has been in. I flick through someone's book, skimming the story. It's very well written for a high school student, and definitely could be fleshed out when it comes to character development. It makes my writing seem childish, but I'm still learning things to make it better.

"Are you thinking of joining?" A girl sidles up next to me, looking down. I shrink in my seat at the look. It makes me feel uneasy.

"No thank you," I mumble. "Although it seems like a very good club. I would be happy to proofread one day."

"Well, we already have our hired editors. What, you think we do it ourselves?" She giggles and I smile politely. I can hear Haruhi grumbling about her comment in my head. "When you can, pop in. I'd like to see what you can do."

I nod and Mori looks over at me. He was looking over a few of the stories with me, but he still seems to have me on his radar. He wordlessly puts down the short story and grabs the handles of the wheelchair. I wave goodbye as he pushes me away. I look around for Hani, but it looks like he branched off of his taller cousin.

"He found the Cooking Club," Mori says, a hint of humor barely there. "He can join us later."

He pushes me out of the expo after exploring the other clubs. Mori stopped by the Kendo Club to talk with his teammates, or rather, listen to them. He's just as quiet around them as he is with the Host Club. They were all polite boys with the same grin on their faces and roughed-up hands. They had callouses just like Mori's.

He led us to the rose garden that's attached to the school, every bush being a different color, only a few repeating. It's a beautiful, intoxicating place with the scent being unavoidable with each breath of air. Mori pushes me to a bench so that he can sit down as well, and I don't blame him; today has been very exhausting and then he has to care for me on top of it. I fidget with my skirt and he looks over at me. His face is unreadable, the sunlight giving him a golden glow about him. I feel my own face get warm.

"Are you feeling alright?" Mori asks.

"I'm fine, thank you," I mumble. "Today was exciting."

"In many ways."

"Yes."

The silence is deafening between us, the sounds of the exposition feel like it's blocked out. The wind brings a few leaves and petals flying into the air, the sudden movement making me flinch. Mori gives me a small smile, the humor evident in his eyes. I smile back at him, a wave of shyness washing over me, for some reason. I haven't felt like this around the Hosts in quite a while, and this is Mori that I'm with; I'd argue I'm closer to him out of any other them, besides Kyoya, of course. My heart starts to beat faster, but the most I've done today to strain myself is laugh.

Mori reaches and grabs my hand, his warm and calloused, mine small and soft. I squeeze it tight and he reciprocates (another good word). I want to write it down but I feel frozen in this spot. I don't know what I'm searching for in his face, but I can't help but continue looking at him. The sunlight is fading, but it still illuminates his face, a light blush crawling upon his skin.

"Mitsumi."

"Yes, Takashi?"

"May I kiss you?"

My breath gets caught in my throat, it feels like everything is rising up and choking me. My face burns red, but I nod.

The same feathery, soft feeling that has graced my cheek and hand before sits on my lips. I close my eyes and his hand goes up to my face to make the kiss go even deeper. A small puff of air came from his nose, tickling me, and making me realize I need to breathe too.

I break the kiss, my head dizzy with emotions I haven't felt before and a lack of oxygen. I look at Mori in a daze, whose cheeks are even pinker, his eyes half-lidded.

I can't fight back a smile. It covers my face, making Mori smile back. He squeezes my hand once more.

We stay until the exposition fades back in, the stalls becoming empty and several of the students putting club activities back into their usual rooms. Mori pushes me to the pickup area, and the rest of the Host Club meet up. Haruhi waves goodbye as she walks off toward her apartment. The twins sit next to each other on a bench and promptly pass out from the activities and drama from earlier today. Hani was helping the Cooking Club put away last-minute things, as well as eating the last of the ingredients.

"I can take her from here, Mori-Senpai," Kyoya offers, placing his own bag with me. Mori looks down at me and I give him a smile and nod. He lets go of my chair and Kyoya takes his spot. Before leaving to wrangle his cousin, he kisses me on my forehead, much to Tamaki's surprise. He walks off as Tamaki sputters.

"Did I just see what I thought I saw?" He exclaims dramatically. I feel my face turn bright red. "Did my dear, sweet daughter just accept the advances of a man?"
"I'm not legitimately your daughter," I point out, making him wail, waking up Kaoru. "Besides, it was just a peck on the forehead."

"Oh?" Kaoru asks, shaking his brother awake. Hikaru blinks, trying to assess the situation. "What just happened?"

"Mori-Senpai unwittingly has tainted one of my daughters!" Tamaki screeches, making the twins glare at him. The noise was too loud for anyone to take seriously. "And without even consulting me!"

"Honestly Tamaki," Kyoya scoffs, pushing me towards a limo that pulled up. "I knew this was going to happen and even tried telling you."

"No- I-"

"But like normal, you ignored me and focused on the twins around Haruhi."

"Are you saying I don't care about Mitsumi?"

"On the contrary, you clearly do care very much, but we seem to know what's platonic caring and what's not, correct?"

As Tamaki sputters out excuses for his behavior around Haruhi, and the twins simultaneously make fun of him, Kyoya helps me into the limo and collapses the wheelchair. I grab both of our bags before saying a hasty goodbye, the attention only on the conversation at hand. He slips into the limo and I scoot over so he doesn't accidentally land on me. The door closes and I slide in my seat, exhausted from the day.

"So."

"No."

"Mitsumi, you have to tell me now," Kyoya flicks my forehead, and I scowl. I look over at the chauffeur, who keeps his eyes on the road. I reach to close the partition so that he won't overhear. Knowing either both the Ootoris or my father, they would be hearing this conversation from the driver.

I shuffle to get comfortable, the petticoat underneath my skirt making me itch. Kyoya waits, tapping his fingers impatiently on the door.

"He kissed me," I mumble, the words making my face flare up in red. "In the rose garden."

"How romantic," Kyoya teases, his grin making my face go even redder, if possible. I can't help but give him a small smile back. It still makes me giddy even thinking about Mori, which is so ridiculous. I sound like one of his fans. "We'll have to arrange a date for you two."

"Wait, what?" I give him an alarmed look and he just grins wickedly.

"But of course, we will have to see you two on a first date and I need to collect data to see if Mori-Senpai is truly a good match for you." He pulls out his notebook and starts writing what I'm assuming are first-date ideas. "How do you feel about a fine dining experience at Kyoto Kitcho Arashiyama? My father has had most of his business meetings there when international clientele come. It is one of the finer places here. Or would you like to go international?"

"Kyoya, do not," I warn. "You are not to interfere with this."

"On the contrary, Mitsumi," He says, pushing up his glasses and giving me a cruel smile. "This is my duty as your best friend, as you have so labeled us."

"Right now, you're my worst friend," I grumble, fanning my face as it gets warmer. "We just kissed."

"Are you saying you felt nothing?"

I vehemently shake my head.

"Then, you would like to go on a date with Mori-Senpai?"

"Well, yes."

"Then it's settled." He closes his notebook and grabs his bag. His house appears in front of us. "I will schedule you for a date next Monday at 7:00 sharp. And please don't wear your school uniform, it's so yellow."

"Kyoya!" I shout, but he closes the door in my face. I flop back into my seat, cursing the boy under my breath. The chauffeur raises his eyebrows at me and I open the partition.

"Is everything alright, Miss Inoue?" He asks, turning away from the mansion. "I can call Mister Inoue if there seems to be a disagreement between the two of you."

"No, no," I say, sighing. I place my head into my hands; all I feel is warmth. "It's quite alright. Thank you."

We continue back to my home, my face slowly but surely cooling down.

A date.

A forced-upon date, but a date none-the-less. A grin creeps up my face and I place my hands around my face so that the chauffeur can't see it.

A date!

I get back into my house where the wheelchair is taken from me, much to my relief. The stairs aren't too far, but I'm still flanked by two maids and a doctor trailing behind me. It takes me twice as long to get to my room as the doctor keeps telling us to move slowly and to take breaks. It's quite annoying, hopefully, this won't be happening every day. I close the door on the nurses and doctor once I get in, they protest only for a few minutes. They drift away and I let out a breath I didn't realize I was holding in. The room is dark as the sun has finished setting and the moon gives the room a silver glow. I set my bag by my door, as well as my shows next to them. I quickly change into a nightgown and fuzzy socks, the air is not too chilly tonight. The balcony to my room is inviting, but I remember how my father wants me to stay away from it in my 'fragile state'. I go to my bed before hearing a knock on my door.

"Come in!" I call, adjusting my nightgown so that nothing is slipping on me.

"Ah, my dear!" My father starts, turning on the light in my room. "You look absolutely adorable today. How was the exposition? Did you get out of your chair? Who was with you?"

With these questions, he sat by me and poked and prodded at me. I grab his hand from my face and place it in my lap. He looks down at it and back to my face.

"It was wonderful, Father," I say kindly, and he relaxes a bit. "I didn't get out of my chair except to get in and out of the limo and at home. I was with Hani-Senpai and Mori-Senpai for the majority of the day, and it was delightful to see what else the school can offer."

"I am so glad my dear Mitsumi," He says, his breath almost ragged. "I was so worried today."

"I can tell," I say, a smile working its way up my face. "You've gained another wrinkle on the forehead."

"I don't know what you're talking about," He retorts, his dramatics almost like a certain Club member I know. "I am a youthful and handsome man."

I chuckle and he goes back to being serious.

"You are certain you're alright?" He asks again, the pinch in his forehead makes me want to wipe it away.

"Yes Father," I gently squeezed his hand. "Mori and Hani-Senpai take good care of me."

"No honorifics, I see."

I instantly feel my face drain of color at the slip-up I make.

"Oh no, Mitsumi," He says, panicking most likely from my face blanching so suddenly. "It's alright my dear, it's alright!"

"What?" I croak out.

"Kyoya has already informed me of this situation," He hesitates at what to call it. "And the arranged date. I think it's splendid to have a member of the Morinozuka family being a beau, especially one who seems keen on being with you."

"I swear I'm going to murder that boy," I mutter, making my father laugh. "Wait until he falls in love. I'll be making the largest hullabaloo about it."

My father laughs again and kisses my forehead.

"I will have to meet him and his family soon," He warns, getting up from the bed. "But if he makes you happy, then be happy."

"He makes me feel strong, Father," I say, looking up at him. He takes a deep breath before smiling.

"Good. Goodnight, my dear."

"Goodnight, Father."

The door closes with a light click and I turn the light back off. The room is once again only illuminated by moonlight. I crawl into my bed, the downy comforter light as a feather. The moonlight hits my pillow just enough to make me not sleep for a minute, which I don't appreciate; today was full of excitement and I am physically exhausted. Who knows what's to come next, especially now that Kyoya is setting up dates and social events for Mori and me to go to? I rub my eyes, hopefully, sleep will take over soon.

My phone rings on my bedstead and I look over at it. No one has called me this late out in the night, at least not anyone I personally know. I grab it and check the number. A smile can't help but stretch over my face when I see the name. I answer it as quickly as I can.

"Takashi, shouldn't you be sleeping?" I say lowly, not wanting to alert anyone that I'm on the phone. "It's almost midnight."

"I should say the same for you."

I laugh through my nose and lie back down on my bed, my phone still by my ear.

"I can't sleep," I confess. "Today has been eventful. In a good way."

"Enough to warrant a chaperoned date."

I can hear the amusement clear as day.

"It wasn't my idea!"

"I know."

"You can say no if you want to."

"I want to. Go on a date with you, at least."

My breath catches in my throat; even though he's the one who kissed me, the one who has been so solid in our friendship, it makes my heart pound harder and feels giddy.

"I- me too. I am a bit excited."

"Me too."

There's silence on the phone beside a few yawns from both of us. I smile at the situation. It feels like I'm in a romance novel, with cheesy situations and all.

"Are you tired now?" Mori asks, his voice slightly deeper.

"Yes. And you?"

"Yes."

"Then this is goodnight. I'll see you on Monday."

"Goodnight, Mitsumi."

"Goodnight, Takashi."

He hangs up the phone, and even with the butterflies that rise, I feel sleep wanting to take over. It's pleasing how safe I feel and how comforting his voice is. I burrow into my blanket, my phone back on the end table. I can't wait for Monday!