Chapter 36 | Hikaru plays Matchmaker~

--a few days later--

~Kaoru's POV~

"Go on."

"Do I have to right now...? Club hours are starting soon...!" I objected.

Hikaru glared at me, obviously in no mood. "Go."

I grumbled before I reluctantly marched over to where Arabella was standing.

For the past few days, I've been avoiding telling Arabella how I feel about her, and for good reason too.

Rejection.

I'm terrified of being rejected.

I mean, I've never done this before! I've never told a girl I was in love with her, mainly because I didn't have to, mainly because I never felt this way about any girl. EVER.

Well, apparently, that changed real quick...

Ever since I figured out I had feelings for her in Karuizawa, I can't get Arabella out of my head...! It's like a disease--being in love, I mean--once you have it, you're completely and utterly done for.

Also, over the past few days, Hikaru has decided to go all Cupid on me and play Matchmaker for Arabella and me! It's completely ridiculous. I can't go one minute without Hikaru going, "You should totally ask Arabella out! You clearly love her! So, ask her on a date! Will you? You should! You really should! It's the obvious thing to do! Did I mention you should?" It's driving me CRAZY...!

Up until now, I've been able to avoid revealing my true feelings to Arabella and asking her out.

But, now, Hikaru is clearly done with all my 'bullshit', as he put it.

I saw Arabella talking with the rest of our club members.

Fortunately, Arabella separated from the group, so she was alone.

Yay...! Now I can be rejected in private...!

I approached her.

"H-Hey, Arabella...!" I said nervously. I'm pretty sure somewhere in there I gulped.

Real smooth, Romeo...

"What is it, Kaoru?" Arabella asked.

"Uh... It's... Uh..." I gulped. I turned to see Hikaru giving me a look that said, "Just fucking DO IT already!!!"

"It's what?" Arabella asked.

"It's just... Um... I need to tell you something..." I said.

"And what's that?" Arabella asked.

I was probably sweating out of nervousness by now. "It's... Uh... Um... Look, Arabella, I'm just gonna spit it out--Arabella, I am in lo--"

"Places, everyone. Club hours officially start in one minute." Kyoya interrupted me.

I could practically feel Hikaru's anger behind me. He probably wanted to kill Kyoya.

We all got in our places and soon the doors to Music Room 3 opened.

We all smiled and greeted our guests. "Welcome!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Are you just going to stare at her like a lovesick puppy or are you going to go over there and ask her out already?"

I immediately stopped watching Arabella host and turned to see Kyoya standing beside me.

"What? What are you talking about...?" I said innocently.

"Don't bother. Hikaru told me everything."

I growled. Hikaru...

"So, you know...?" I mumbled.

Kyoya nodded. "Yes. Of course I do. In fact, I'm not the only one he told--we all know, Kaoru." he said.

My eyes widened.

I am going to KILL Hikaru when I get my hands on him...

"What do you suggest I do?" I asked Kyoya.

Kyoya tapped his chin with his pen, in thought. "Hm... Impress her. Tell her about all your accomplishments. Make her want to go out with you and be near you. That's my advice." he finally said.

"Okay..." I said.

Suddenly, Honey came running up to me. "Don't listen to Kyo-chan, Kao-chan! What you need to do is make her a cake!" he said before he took a cake out of nowhere and held it up. "Cake is always the answer!"

"Uh... Alright...?" I said.

"No, Honey-senpai!" Hikaru said. I noticed he was suddenly standing next to me. "He's not going to make Arabella a cake. That screams 'We're good friends!' NO. He is going over to her right now and is going to confess that's he's madly in love with her! That is what's going to happen!"

Honey rolled his eyes.

After that, everyone came up to me and basically told me that their way to ask Arabella out was the best and only way.

Mori told me to he brave.

Tono told me to dazzle her with my amazing and flirtatious looks and charms, and a bunch of other things that I completely tuned out (including several not-so-subtle thinly veiled threats).

Soon, club hours ended and it was time to go home.

I was packing up my things when suddenly, Haruhi approached me.

"Hey, Kaoru."

I nodded. "Hey, Haruhi."

"According to Hikaru, wasn't today the day you were supposed to ask Arabella out on a date?" Haruhi said.

I nodded again. "Yep."

"Well, why aren't you?"

"Because, Hikaru says I need to just come right out with it and just flat out tell her with no hesitation whatsoever. And Kyoya says I need to impress her with my achievements, but I can think of none that would impress Arabella! And Honey says I need to bake Arabella a cake, which I have no idea how to do! Mori says I need to be brave, and Tono says I need to dazzle her with my charms! Tono also said, if I even think of touching her, he'll come to my estate at the middle of the night, and cut off all my limbs when I'm sleeping...! I have NO IDEA what the HELL I'm supposed to do!!!" I said all at once.

Haruhi gave me a small smile and put one hand on my shoulder. "Here's what you do: don't listen to any of their methods. They won't work. There's really only one thing that you can do--be yourself. Don't try too hard to impress her or bake her a cake or seduce her like Senpai said, no--just go in there and be yourself. Do what comes naturally to you. Don't over think it. Just do it. It's that simple. She'll like that. She's Arabella. She's a simple girl. She'll love anything you do for her, as long as it's from the heart. She'll love you for you. Trust me." she said.

Wow... how wise...

I nodded and smiled back. "You're right. Thanks, Haruhi. Wish me luck." I said before I took a deep breath and started over to where Arabella was.

"No won't need it! Just be yourself...!" Haruhi called after me.

I was just about to get to Arabella when Hikaru, Tono, Mori, Kyoya, and Honey stood in my way.

I sighed. "What?"

"You asking her out? Now?" Hikaru asked.

"Yes, Hikaru. Yes I am." I said.

He smiled. "Great! Remember what I told you! Just--"

"No," Kyoya interrupted. "Impress her."

Hikaru glared. "You didn't even let me finish...!" he snapped.

"I know. I just know my idea is far better than yours." Kyoya said with a smile.

Hikaru kept glaring.

Kyoya kept smiling.

"No, Kao-chan! Don't listen to them! Make her a cake!" Honey said.

"No, shady twin! Listen to me! Dazzle her! But, remember, if you even THINK about touching my little girl, I will personally END YOU." Tono said.

"No. Be brave." Mori told me.

My eyes widened.

Then, they all started talking over one another. They were so loud I couldn't even hear myself think.

Eventually, I threw my hands up and said, "STOP!"

They all stopped and looked at me.

I huffed. "Listen, all of you! I am going to ask Arabella out and confess my feelings to her the way I want to! Alright?!" I said.

They kept looking at me in silence.

Hikaru eventually spoke up. "O-Okay, Kaoru... Sure, you can do it your way. However you want." he said calmly.

The rest of them nodded.

"Alright?" I said, this time more calm.

They all nodded. "Alright." they all said together.

"But, remember, Kaoru, don't touch her." Tono said, also more calm.

I nodded. "Okay." I said.

Then, I gathered up what courage I had and resumed walking as confident as I could.

Soon, I approached Arabella.

I cleared my throat.

She stopped packing her things and faced me. "Hey, Kaoru. Anything you need?"

I smiled. "Uh... yeah... sort of... I was just wondering... if you'd... Um..."

Great start, genius...

"If I'd what...?" Arabella asked.

I swallowed hard. "Um, I was wandering if maybe, possibly you'd like to... go out...? With me...?" I held my breath.

Arabella just looked at me. She blinked. "You... You mean on a... Like, on a date...?" she asked.

"Y-Yes... one of those..." I mumbled, still holding my breath.

~Arabella's POV~

THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW... THIS IS ACTUALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW!!!

Kaoru Hitachiin is asking me on a date... A DATE!!!

What do I say?! How do I respond?! What if I say something weird and screw it up?! Then what would I do?!

Kaoru looked at me, waiting for my response.

Oh brother...

What do I do?!

I swallowed. "Um... Uh... C-Can you repeat that one more time...?"

Uh huh, real smooth, Arabella...

"Um... I-I asked if you would like to... to go out on a date... with me..." Kaoru said, his cheeks tinted somewhat pink.

I bet mine were too. "O-Oh... Uh..."

Keep it together, Arabella... The guy you like very much is asking you out on a DATE... Don't screw this up!

I swallowed again. "Uh... Y-Yes, Kaoru... I would love to go out on a date with you." I said as calmly as I could.

I saw Kaoru smile widely before he suddenly stopped and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Th-That's cool... Real cool..." he said, trying to sound, well, you know... cool.

I smiled at that. "So... where will we be going?" I asked.

At this, Kaoru smirked. "It's a surprise." he said.

I smiled wider. "I love surprises!" I said.

"I know." Kaoru said, also smiling.

"When will the date be?" I asked.

"Tomorrow night. 7:00, sharp." Kaoru said.

I nodded. "Alright."

"I'll pick you up." Kaoru said.

"Great. Well... see you there...!" I said as I slung my bag over my shoulder, but I lost my balance and accidentally bumped into one of the tables. "O-Oops...!" I fixed the table and set it back in its original position. Then, I awkwardly waved to Kaoru. "B-Bye...!"

He waved back. "B-Bye, Arabella...! See you tomorrow night...!"

After that, we all left Music Room 3.

I left with Haruhi and made sure we weren't followed. "Omg, Haruhi! Did you hear that?!" I whispered.

Haruhi nodded and smiled. "You bet I did!"

I smiled widely and squealed a bit. "He asked me out! He asked me out!!!" I said happily.

"I know! That's great! I'm glad," Haruhi said. "Where is he taking you?"

"It's a surprise!" I said.

Haruhi smiled again. "Of course it is..."

"I can't wait...!" I said excitedly.

Because, I really couldn't wait.

I'm going out on my first date tomorrow... with a guy I really like...

But, I'm also incredibly nervous... Nervous that it won't go well...

But, at the same time, nervous it will go well...

Because, if it does go well, then what?

"Remember, Arabella, trust NO ONE."

Trust no one.

No one at all.

They'll either hurt you, or leave you.

I'm actually somewhat terrified the date will go well.

If it does go well, I'll be forced to keep going on dates with him, and maybe I'll be forced to be his... girlfriend...

And, if I'm his girlfriend, then I'll be forced to care about him... a lot...

More than I already do.

And, I'm not sure if I can handle that.