Hero | ohshc

V

Business had been very good at the cafe for the past week. Regulars and quite a few new people had come in after they heard that the host club visited the cafe. 

It boomed all of a sudden and now instead of being closed all day until evening, my uncle back in England found a nice old lady and her daughter to keep watch of the cafe and serve morning and day customers.

The members became sponsors of the Tokyo branch of my coffee company and have small promotional posters up outside advertising our coffee. I smirked as I poured another cup of coffee for a customer. It's so handy knowing handsome men, they can become great help.

Haruhi aided the servers quite a bit, serving customers, pouring coffee and even making a tray of pastries. Customers recognised her and promised eagerly that they were coming back soon.

-

"It feels so good to sit down!" I moaned, laying all over the couch in the main dining room. I heaved a sigh of relief when I glanced at the closed sign laying against the fogged glass of the front door.

I glanced back at Haruhi and pulled out a large wad of money. "Thanks, so much for helping us, Haruhi." I thanked her, handing over 54910 yen ($500). She took one look at the money and widened her eyes.

"54910 yen? I can't take that!" She leapt out of her seat.

"Why? You helped so much this evening." I replied in bewilderment. I gave her the cutest puppy dogs eyes I could muster.

She stared before diverting her eyes elsewhere. "Argh!" She huffed, "you're so much cuter than Honey-senpai when you do that. Stop!" She yelled, waving her arms in front of her face.

I stared even more intensely. "Fine!" She snatched the money in a huff. "Thank you," she thanked, blushing. 

I smiled and mentally patted myself on the back. You did good Aki, you did good.

"Hey, Aki-chan? Can I see your puppy face?" Honey asked, tugging at the hem of my school skirt. I glanced down at him and did the same thing. I attempted the cutest puppy face I could muster. Immediately, I his face flushed red with a heavy blush.

Okay. It honestly can't be that cute.

"Uwah~ Aki-chan is like a cute little puppy when she does that!" He squealed, squeezing me into an unexpected hug. Good god, this boy is strong. 

My back cracked and I relaxed into Honey's hold. That felt good.

I looked at the clock and winced when I read it was 5:36 pm.  I have to go grocery shopping and finish financial reports for the company. I pulled away slowly from Honey's grasp and stood up, patting down my skirt.

"Hey, sorry guys but I've got to go home." The group looked up in upset, "Natsu, Kano, Ai. Once they leave, do you mind locking the place up for me?" I unbuttoned my chef's jacket. 

After grabbing my keys, I grabbed my faux fur capelet off the coat rack and set it across my shoulders, buttoning it at the base of my collarbones. 

"Plus I made some strawberry cheesecake for you to have for dessert, okay?" I smiled and waved my hands.

"Have a wonderful night, you guys." I beamed, walking down the hallway and out the front door. The host club walked out the door behind me, their limos sliding up to the pavement. Passerby's stopped and ogled the expensive cars.

I winced and noticed my sports car parked in the front, instead of the limo I was dropped off from earlier. My chauffer stood by the passenger door waiting.

"Haruhi!" I called, watching her stumble out the cafe, "I can take you home if you want" She looked up from the doorway and stopped her phone call. She looked at her phone and glared. 

"Dammit, Tamaki-senpai. Can't you leave me alone for even a minute?" She grumbled as her phone vibrated nonstop in her hand.

I chuckled and opened the back door, stepping in. "You can sit in the front."

"Oh, thank you Aki-san." She said sliding into the passenger seat. The chauffer shut the door for her and she bowed her head a fraction in thanks.

"I really appreciate you for doing this. First, you give me an excessive amount of money and now you're driving me home? I'm going to owe you a lot. So what would you like me to do in return?"

I looked at her with confusion on my face, "listen, you don't owe me anything," I felt a smile tug at my lips. "I guess you're taking me for a person like Kyouya-senpai. I assure you, not all rich people are like that money-making monstrosity we call Kyouya."

Haruhi laughed and struck up a conversation as we rode in the sports car. We chatted about anything and everything, my mind wandering from school to what I need to do later.

"We're here!" I cheered after a ten-minute journey to her house. 

She looked at her apartment and then looked back at me in shock, "how do you know where I live?" 

I smirked trying to mimic Kyouya, "I have my sources," I stated in a deep voice, pretending to push up my 'glasses' with two fingers.

She snorted and laughed. I raised an eyebrow, watching her cackle in front of me. I started laughing as well finding humour in her odd witchy laugh, my own laugh loud enough to echo in the neighbourhood. I opened the car door and stumbled out. My laugh lines most likely deepening by the second.

We took the steps up to her apartment and waited at the door as she unlocked it. I was about to leave until she grabbed my wrist. "Wait. Come inside and I'll make a ramen dinner with a side of pork cutlet and rice, you can join us." 

I agreed reluctantly, stepping inside and peeling off my small heels.

"Hello? Is that you honey?" I heard a male's voice come from another room, breaking the otherwise dead silent house.

"Yes, dad! I have a friend over this time." Haruhi yelled back, "plus I earned some money as well!"

I saw a head pop out from the side of the hallway, "you did? Aw honey, you didn't have to." The lady ran and hugged Haruhi, squeezing the breath out of the poor girl. 

Confusion lit across my features. The lady looked at me, "Hello! I'm Haruhi's father! It's so nice to meet you! I've heard so much about you Miss Aki!" He grinned. "I see the confusion, my dear, I'm a professional cross-dresser at a bar down in central. I shall never love another woman!" He cried, raising a hand and posing. A sparkly aura erupted. "Just call me Ranka, deary." 

"Tis' nice to meet you, Sir," my voice was strong as I held my hand out for him to shake. "You make a very lovely woman," I complimented politely.

"Ah! It's an English lady! You are so flattering my dear," he grinned shaking my hand violently. 

"Well let us all go have dinner then! Come on Miss Aki, I would like you to join us too. I would love to hear all about your life story!"

I looked at Haruhi with a sheepish look. She mouthed, 'sorry' and smiled. I grinned back. 

"Your father is fantastic."

[edited 2018.6.5]