BLOOMING HEARTS ▹ T. MORINOZUKA [✔]

seven.

"We reached the end of the current pool, so we went looking for everyone," Honey told them, leaving out the fact that Kazumi protected him and got injured in the process. He was still concerned about her but wanted to respect her wish and not mention it.

The Black Onion Squad kneeled before Honey and apologized profusely for their actions. Afterward, Honey pulled Takashi down by his wrist and patted his head as if he was a dog.

"Takashi, you did very well protecting Haru-chan," he praised his cousin. "You didn't get lonesome without me around, right?"

Takashi sideglanced Haruhi. "I wouldn't say that."

Kazumi looked downwards, hating that she was feeling like that because of a boy. She clenched her jaw and took a deep breath, deciding to forget about her classmate and move on with her life as if she wasn't falling in love with him already.

Honey would glance at Kazumi from time to time from Takashi's shoulders as they headed back to the entrance to get ready to leave. She barely said a word since they reunited with the others.

He opened his mouth to warn the others of her condition but was interrupted by the twins suggesting to go to the beach next time.

"I might not mind going to the beach," Haruhi enjoyed the idea. "This obviously artificial location may not be any fun, but the beach would be nice. It's pretty there."

That declaration officially settled that they'd be going to the beach next time.

"That'll be fun, huh?" Honey said happily, leaning on Takashi's head.

"Yeah," he smiled.

Haruhi watched the interaction between Honey and Takashi closely, smiling softly for having the cousins back together.

🌸

Kyoya's driver took the group back to Ouran.

Kazumi bid them a brief farewell and went on her way, not sparing them a second glance. The hosts didn't argue even though they noticed how Kazumi kept her distance from Takashi and wondered why she wasn't even looking at him.

The maids and butlers who welcomed her return immediately knew something was off when the young lady walked past them without replying to their greeting, heading straight to her room, where she locked herself up.

The employees of the Tokimatsu manor learned to recognize when Kazumi was in a bad mood and that the best course of action was to give her space. They all cared very much for her, as she took her time to get to know them. She was very respectful and kind, and they only wanted the best for the young lady.

Usually, Kazumi's mother, Tokimatsu Emi, was the one to fetch her daughter for dinner, but she was working until late that night. In her place, one of Kazumi's personal maids went to her room.

She knocked three times but didn't receive a reply.

"Kazumi-sama, dinner's almost ready!"

Silence.

"Please, excuse me, I'm opening the door," the maid warned before entering. The room was pitch black inside. With the moonlight shining through, she spotted the empty bed. "Kazumi-sama?"

She roamed the room, but there was still no sign of the Tokimatsu heiress. Did she leave? But where would she go? She knew that the library was empty, and no one was in the gardens. She noticed a shadow on the other side of the king-sized bed.

"Kazumi-sama? Are you sleeping on the floor?" She sounded a bit exasperated with the young lady's recklessness. She reached for Kazumi to shake her awake when she felt something wet on the back of her skull. "What?" The moonlight reflected her hand covered in red. "Blood?!" She shook the girl. "Kazumi-sama?! Kazumi-sama?!"