DISCE, OHSHC.

⁺ ♡ revealed a new facet

You thought it would be best to avoid the Host Club today, especially considering your failed attempt at hero yesterday and Haruhi's groundbreaking revelation at lunch. You couldn't deal with them today, so you would just spend your afternoon with people who didn't make you think about relationships and your love life.

"You're hella sloppy, Captain," your libero said as yet another one of your serves went off court.

"It's not like I'm doing it on purpose," you groused. Your libero tossed up a ball and you tried to serve that one with even less success. Seeing it go in the exact opposite direction you'd intended was a physical wound.

"Coach is going to kick you off the team at this point," your libero said. The words didn't even hurt because you knew they were true. In fact, it was lucky today was only an informal practice or the coach would be giving you an earful right now.

Actual practice started next week and your first game was a month and a half from now. You'd have to pick up your slack and pick it up soon.

"I just want to play a game," you said, moving to the back of the relay line. "It's been way too long."

"We'll be getting to that," your setter said, sending a ball in a perfect arc to your middle blocker. "Just waiting up for the other team."

"Really?" It was a little early in the season to be calling other schools over to practice. Sometimes the basketball team was willing to play a game or two but they could hardly be considered practice.

"Sorry we're late! Hope you weren't waiting for too long."

You turned eagerly to the door of the gym only to draw up short.

"No problem," your setter said. "Just dump your stuff by the corner over there and we can get started."

You waited for someone to burst out laughing, but your team just chucked the practice balls into a basket, talking easily among themselves.

Was this for real? What the hell was the Host Club doing here? Why was everyone acting like they knew even the first thing about volleyball?

You shuffled over to where the Host Club was depositing their things. Whatever lie they had concocted to get in here, you doubted your volleyball team would have thought to check up on them. They probably would have no idea what the Host Club even was besides the ludicrous stories that sometimes floated around. Certainly not any club willing to help with practice.

"What are you doing here?" you asked Tamaki. You tried your best to make your tone curious instead of accusatory.

"One of our club members is practicing volleyball, so I figured we could stop by to help," Tamaki said with a sweet smile. Your stomach swooped, trying to read if the expression was a flirtation or just kindness.

"You guys know how to play?"

"No, but it can't be that hard to learn," Hikaru said from your left.

"Yeah, how hard could it be?" Kaoru added.

You took in all of the hosts, wondering where they had managed to find coordinated tracksuits. It wasn't like any of the actual volleyball team were in their jerseys. You yourself had thrown on the first pair of shorts and t-shirt you'd found in your closet.

"If they ask, we're part of the track team," Kaoru said, noticing you studying him.

"Kyoya really let you guys come? He's not worried about you all losing money?"

"We aren't losing money," the Shadow King said, because even indirectly mentioning him summoned his presence. "We've invited our usual guests to watch today's practice."