Chapter Text
It was Christmas at the host club, there was a crisp chill to the air and frost on the windows. It was a few days before school broke up for the holidays, and the host club sat around one of their bigger tables, as Kyoya calculated the end of year finances. They didn't technically have to be there for it, aside from Tamaki, but they figured it was Christmas, so they'd actually let Kyoya scold them for overspending for once.
Of course, it was a little boring just sitting waiting for Kyoya to find something suitably annoying enough to scold them for. So they were mostly just chatting amongst themselves, when Kaoru came up with an idea, and decided to suggest it to them.
“Hey, you know what we should do this year? Secret Santa!”
It was met with a mixed response. That is to say that Hikaru, Honey and Tamaki were completely onboard with the idea, and the other three were silent; Mori and Kyoya for obvious reasons, Haruhi because she had already seen the flaws in the plan. She thought for a moment, not wanting to take the wind from their sails, but wanting to participate without them dreading her getting their name. So she took a breath, and spoke, “may I make an addendum?”
“A what?”
“A change to the rules,” Kyoya mutters, rolling his eyes but not tearing his gaze away from the spreadsheets, spare hand twirling his pen in his fingers as he scrolls. To an untrained eye, he seems just as cold and uncaring as usual, but Haruhi has only known him for around a year, and even she can tell that Kyoya has been in a very good mood lately. It was almost enough to convince her that Kyoya was excited for Christmas.
“Oh!” Tamaki clapped his hands together, bringing Haruhi out of her thoughts, “What's your rule, Haruhi?”
She takes another pause, hoping her idea wouldn't instantly be shot down, although she figured Tamaki, at least, would be on board. “Well how about a rule that we can only get things from the hundred yen store? That way no one's disappointed.”
There it was, Tamaki was instantly set off on one of his rambling speeches about how she was so “tragically poor” that she couldn't even “celebrate Christmas properly”. Haruhi was used to it by now, though, it was almost endearing. Almost.
It was Hikaru that raised the only real concern. Although it was phrased more like a question, the look on his face told Haruhi all she needed to know. “We're still allowed to get each other real gifts, right? It won't just all be cheap crap?”
Haruhi bit back a remark at that, and just nodded, well aware he was being deliberately obtuse. Sighing, Haruhi found herself grateful for Kyoya suddenly hissing at Hikaru at that, “you could benefit from some ‘cheap crap’, why is the club website using premium server hosting when no one even visits it? We don't even feature ads, or cookies. We could be making a profit from this, but no, we aren't. Fix it, before I have to.”
A chill ran through the room, but not from the window. Haruhi could see Kyoya already fighting a smirk, and it clocked for her why the other hosts rarely actually let him get his claws in; he enjoyed this. Of *course* he did. Honestly, Haruhi had to bite back a chuckle, she found it so funny when he showed that spark of idiocy he shared with the others.
Her mirth only grew when she realised she was the only host to have not done anything that went over the club budget. Of course there were those flowers, but for all Kyoya's dramatics, he'd apparently paid for those out of pocket. Tamaki’s pocket, but still.
In fact, Haruhi had saved the club money when she went on the store runs. For that, she actually received praise from Kyoya, in the form of him comparing her to every other host, which she couldn't help but selfishly bask in.
Once that was over, Tamaki had written all their names in a hat, and passed it around for each person to pick from. They each did, keeping who they got a secret. Then head outside into the snow of the parking lot, heading home to prepare.
Haruhi got Hikaru, which she couldn't help but find amusing. Even more amusing had been Kaoru’s face when he realised he hadn't gotten his brother. She decided to head straight to the hundred yen store after school, why waste time, after all?
She decided to start her search in the candy section, mostly so she could pick up some stocking stuffer as well. She figured she'd get some for the hosts as well, as she didn't actually know if rich people did stockings or not.
“Haruhi?”
A very familiar voice said behind her, and Haruhi turned around only to be greeted by Arai, her best friend from middle school and his uncle, a portly man in his mid 40s, milling around near the produce section. Haruhi smiled at him, pulling him into a hug before even greeting him. “Arai! I haven't seen you since the summer! How've you been?”
Arai blinked at her, a smile spreading against his face, “oh my god Haruhi… those rich boys have yours have really infected you, huh? You never used to hug people.” He chuckles, and Haruhi felt her cheeks burn as she realised he was right. Those damn rich people…
“So… what are you up to, back here?” Haruhi asked him, trying to change the subject.
Arai’s smile widened, “oh my uncle and I are home for Christmas, We're staying with my grandparents. What about you? Getting stocking stuffers I presume?”
“Yeah,” she confirmed, nodding and lifting her basket, “oh and we're also doing secret santa at the host club, so I've gotta get something for Hikaru.”
Pausing, Arai asked, “that was the one who yelled at me, right? He seems a bit…I don't want to say unhinged cause I don't know the guy but…”
“No he's unhinged,” Haruhi chuckled, “they all are, trust me. They're all sweethearts though, stupid idiots, but sweethearts.”
“I'll take your word for it. What are you gonna get him then? Therapy?”
Haruhi snorted at that, slapping his shoulder for that, “oh shut up! You can't say that, he's my friend! Besides, I can't afford that.”
Arai chuckles, leaning against a display, “ah, fair enough. You know, when you said you were doing secret santa with your club, I was kinda hoping you'd get the hot one.”
“Who? Tamaki??”
“What? No, no, that's the blonde guy right? No I mean the one that's actually hot, not the one who thinks he is.” Arai chuckled, walking with her through the aisles, “y’know, the tall slender one, with the glasses.”
Haruhi almost choked at that, spluttering a bit, “Kyoya?? Sorry, I…sorry?? You think Kyoya's hot? I mean… I suppose he's not the worst but he's just kinda…well, you know what I mean.”
Arai shrugged as Haruhi stopped near the slipper rack, looking at them curiously, “well I know he’s not your type but you do have to admit he’s an absolute showstopper.”
Haruhi picked up a pair of duty orange and teal slippers, they were a soft material, so Hikaru probably wouldn’t complain too much, plus Kyoya had mentioned that the twins had been so excited over the concept of mass produced attire when they’d gone to the expo. So perhaps these would be a good gift… Haruhi paused, glancing over at Arai as his words registered in her mind, “dude are you gay?”