~♡~AISHTERU~♡~

Episode 18: "Chika's 'Down With Honey' Declaration!" ~♥~

The day began as usual in Music Room 3—tea, sweets, and customers swooning over their favorite hosts. Y/N sat curled on the velvet loveseat, oversized bunny hoodie pulled up, knees tucked in as he munched on a cookie shaped like a nut. Hikaru and Kaoru sat beside him, one leaning into his shoulder, the other gently playing with the floppy ears on his hood.

"You’re just like a little bunny that wandered into the wrong forest," Kaoru whispered near his ear, the heat of his breath making Y/N flinch and blush.

"Careful," Hikaru murmured, resting his chin on Y/N's other shoulder. "He might hop away if you tease him too much."

Before Y/N could stammer a reply, the door burst open. A middle school boy stormed in and demanded, "I’d like to see Mitsukuni Haninozuka."

Haruhi blinked. "Do you mean Honey-senpai?"

Mori emerged with Honey sitting on his shoulders, and Y/N’s head peeked out from behind the twins. The moment Honey greeted the boy—"Chika-chan!"—tension exploded. Chika’s glare was intense. “Prepare yourself, Mitsukuni!”

Then chaos.

Swords, shuriken, a metal pipe—Y/N squeaked and buried himself between the twins as Renge rose on her platform, screaming commentary.

"Is this normal?!" Y/N gasped, trembling slightly. Kaoru tucked him close.

"Welcome to the Haninozuka household’s version of sibling bonding," Hikaru smirked.

After Honey won—thanks to a well-timed shadow stitch—Renge declared him the victor. Chika, pouting and defeated, stormed off, claiming he’d never accept Honey as the family’s successor.

Y/N watched Honey stare out the window, face uncharacteristically downcast.

"Is he okay?" Y/N whispered to Mori.

"He’ll bounce back," Mori said softly. "But… it still hurts him."

Tamaki, oblivious, posed dramatically with a slice of cake. “What shall we do with this last piece?!”

Honey’s eyes sparkled. “I’ll eat it!” He spun Usa-chan in the air, and Y/N giggled behind his sleeves.

But the moment passed, and a quiet settled in the room. Y/N gently asked, "Senpai… why did you choose the Host Club instead of the Karate Club?"

The twins perked up, looking to Tamaki, who began recounting Honey’s past. Y/N listened closely, tears welling in his eyes when he learned how Honey had locked away his true self to meet his family’s expectations.

When Tamaki dramatically declared “Operation Haninozuka Brothers’ Reconciliation” in motion, Y/N cheered softly, "Let’s help him."

Later, they watched Chika from outside the dojo. Y/N leaned against the window, hands folded together, his bunny hoodie puffed up from the breeze.

"He’s… kind of scary," Y/N said. "But lonely, too."

"Like someone else we know," Hikaru teased, brushing a thumb across Y/N’s cheek.

Kaoru leaned in, his voice softer, "You always see the gentle side of people. It’s… dangerous to be so kind."

Y/N flushed, heart thudding. "I-I’m just trying to understand."

As Chika emerged again and challenged Honey to another fight, the Host Club watched in quiet awe. Y/N clasped his hands nervously as the battle began in the field.

"Will Honey-senpai really let him win?" Y/N asked.

Mori smiled faintly. "No. But he’ll teach him something important."

In the end, Honey emerged victorious again, though Mori and Chika both seemed emotionally winded. The sun began to dip low, casting a warm orange glow.

"Three times a week!" Honey cheered. "Midnight cakefests forever!"

As the group walked back toward Ouran, Y/N felt the twins flanking him. Their hands brushed his. A warm, gentle silence stretched between them.

Kaoru spoke first. "You’re always worrying about others."

"Even about Honey and Chika," Hikaru added, his voice lower. "You don’t have to carry that alone."

Y/N blinked up at them. “I… I just want everyone to be happy.”

"Then we want you to be happy," they said in unison, voices intertwining like a promise.

Y/N’s heart fluttered. The twins stepped closer, their presence comforting, magnetic. In the golden light, the three of them stood there—Honey laughing in the background, Tamaki twirling, Mori watching silently—and Y/N, nestled between the two boys whose teasing was slowly turning into something softer, something sweeter.

Something real.