The Silence I Needed (Mori x Reader)

Heart, Hickeys, and Hot-Headedness

Mori ended up staying for the weekend. It was nice to just be lazy with him. We didn't have to worry about hosts, guests, classmates, or even parents. Where does Mr. Morinozuka think Takashi has been? With Hunny? The bed was where we were spending most of our time. We watched movies and studied and did a few other things. Currently, I was making Mori watch my favorite disney princess movie, Tangled, with me. I couldn't tell if he was actually enjoying it or if he was enjoying watching me enjoy it. That would be so like him.

"Hey," I rolled over onto him, resting my head over his heart, "you know you're in big trouble, right?" He hummed in question. I could feel it run through his chest. His hand came down to rub over my back, going in slow circles. "You've completely spoiled me this weekend. I plan on being at least forty percent more needy after this." He laughed and pulled me up into a kiss.

"I think I can handle that."

Mori left before my parents came home that afternoon. He didn't want to get caught over here, but Jenny had already called ahead and said he was here and we were studying. Dad was upset that he didn't get to say hello or goodbye to Mori. You're such a sap, dad. I sat down with him and Mom to ask about their business meetings. Apparently some sketchy salesman tried to sell them pyrite a.k.a. Fool's good, and Dad got to call him out on it. Mom took pictures. Exciting. Of course they also asked about my studies and relationship with Mori. And of course I lied through my teeth to them like I did when I started going to the host club. God, am I a bad daughter? They try so hard to accept me and I keep lying to them. I'll be better about that. Maybe.

My parents retired right after dinner that evening. I decided to go to my room and call Benio. I hadn't talked to her since- Oh my god Benio doesn't know Takashi and I are engaged. I'm a horrible daughter AND a horrible best friend.

I missed Benio. I missed her voice. It was seductive, but Benio's seduction was comforting to me. "Darling, you better have a good reason for locking me out these past few weeks." After apologizing, I let loose about just about everything to her. I started with the park bench, then told her about all the monstrous fangirls, specifically Grace, and finally our engagement.

"And, uh, Takashi and I- we spent the weekend together."

There was a gasp on the end of the line, and then Benio asked something that surprised me. "Now you don't have to talk about Mr. Perfect's skills specifically, but describe to me what it's like to lay with a man. I'm curious."

"Benio!" I scolded. "My Benio who scorns men and all relationships with them? What have you done with my Benio?"

"Oh shut it, (Y/N). Even girls like me get tired of just fingers sometimes. Spill." So, I explained everything to Benio. She said it was like poetry. It was something more seductive sounding than she could ever hope to recite, even if it was with a man. The rest of the evening was back and forth girl talk. How's Lobelia? How's Ouran? How's the Zuka Club? How's Morinozuka and the walking retrospections? It was nice talking to her again. She and Mori both made me happy, in different ways. There was so much going on that I hadn't realized how much I missed her. I should invite her next time I go on a trip somewhere.

The next morning I died for the third time in this book. We had gym on Mondays. Gym uniforms were a t-shirt and shorts. I'm so fucked. Everyone's gonna kill me. I may kill Takashi for the way he marked me up. Neither of us were thinking, but he was more focused than I was when we were... studying. When I got to the gym, I went straight to the coach and asked her if we could speak in private. She pulled me into her office and leaned back against the wall. "So, what's going on (L/N)?"

"I can't wear the gym uniform."

"Why's that?" She seemed curious.

"I'm uh-" I lowered my head in shame. "I'm covered in hickeys that the gym uniform won't cover."

"Not my problem."

"No you don't understand. Every girl at this school knows I'm engaged to one of the hosts. They'd know it was him. I could get eaten alive. I could get him in a lot of trouble. You know how much money the host club makes for this school? I could get you in trouble."

The coach was off the wall in a matter of seconds. She dug through a box behind her desk and handed me a wad of clothes. "Best I can do. Sorry." There was a pair of track pants and a long sleeve shirt. It greatly improved in coverage, but my neck would still be exposed. Oh well. I've made it this far.

I stuck out like a sore thumb in the midst of the class. Thankfully, the coach gave no one time to question my appearance. She started the class right away. I hope we're not doing too much today. I might boil in this uniform. I got lucky; everything we did was an indoor activity. We played volleyball for most of class. That's all our gym classes usually were; we'd pick a sport and play that until the bell rang. I'd say I was pretty good at volleyball. I couldn't jump as high as some of the other girls, but I was faster so I usually got placed as the libero. Diving in the floor for the ball is so much fun. Something about it is exhilarating. This longer uniform might actually help me avoid wood burn today.

Our side lost, which mattered to most of the girls on my side, but I had fun. I also needed to get to the showers before anyone else. I know they have curtains, but I still have to strip. A warm shower was just what I needed to stop worrying about everything. I always felt a sense of calm in the shower stalls. Maybe it's because no one would bother me.

"Come on, (Y/N), you're gonna be late for-" Is that Grace? Again!? "Oh my god are those what I think they are?" Yep. My life is over. Again. Who even pulls back the curtain to talk to someone. Learn some manners. I pulled the curtain back to cover myself.

"Go to class, Grace. I'll get a pass from Coach."

Of course when I got back, there were even more whispers than usual. Hunny tried to ask what was wrong, but I just shrank further into my seat. I'd ask to switch schools again, but I don't think my parents would understand and I'd miss Takashi too much. Mori, on my other side, reached down to hold my hand under our desks. No matter how discreet we were, everyone saw us. I wish we could just go back to this weekend. When it was just us and the solitude of my bedroom. I squeezed his hand tight, smiling and ignoring the people around me. Sure, they're mad because I have Takashi, but Takashi has me too. We have each other and I should find strength in that rather than fearing what people will think of it.

When the last bell rang, Mori kissed my forehead and pulled his hand away, but I pulled back. I smiled and gripped his hand a little harder. "I'm coming to club today. I think I'm ready." He smiled one of his genuinely happy smiles and continued to hold my hand on the way to the host club. By the time we got to the club, Mori and I had somehow ended up swinging Hunny between our arms. It didn't bother me, though. I was having fun. Walking into the club was like a scene from a movie, like there's a room full of guys and then the doors fly open and the boss comes in. That's me. I'm the boss. "Kyoya, I'm going to sit with Haruhi!"

Haruhi laughed when I sat down. "You might as well be a host with all the attention you're getting." The table was quiet. Most of the room was quiet. Alexandria and Joanna wouldn't look me in the eye. Grace was just glaring at me. I can't believe I have to do this, but Mori is giving me that 'go ahead' look...

I stood up and turned around to face the entirety of the clubroom. "For pete's sake, you guys! I'm engaged to one of the hosts. That bitch Grace probably told you all I have hickeys too! So what!? He's still here! So enjoy your host before he graduates. All of you. Get a fucking grip." I was fuming, and embarrassed enough that my eyes were watering. The twins applauded my efforts, and Tamaki joined in until all the guests had turned around and finally focused on their respective hosts.Grace ran from the room fuming.

"You okay, (Y/N)?" Haruhi's hand was on mine, patting it reassuringly. "You know, you're great at gathering up the guests. I think some of them listen to you because they're scared you might snatch a host away. You could use that sometime. To help the host club, I mean." They smiled that smile that had sparkles showing up out of nowhere. "Like at the beach this weekend. The whole club is going."

Benio, we're going on a trip.