Second place winner for the ouran_contest theme, "Clandestine". Thanks to everyone who voted! We're taking entries for the October theme, "Ideal", right now, so come on over and check it out. The link is in my profile.

"You know, I don't think we've ever really hung out before. Without the rest of the Club, I mean." Hunny took a long slurp from his smoothie, and smacked his lips "What flavor is this supposed to be, again? It tastes like peaches, ne?"

Kaoru watched, fascinated, as the small university student twirled his straw around in the tall cup. "Yeah, it's peach."

"Yum." Hunny smiled childishly. "That's one of my favorites!"

How did I wind up out for dessert with Hunny-senpai? Kaoru took looked around the cafe. Once, ages ago, the boys had dragged Haruhi here on a Sunday afternoon; in spite of Haruhi's protests, they (sans Kyouya) had managed to turn the visit into a smoothie-drinking race, resulting in debilitating brain freeze. Hikaru had won, of course, with his iron stomach...

"Are you thinking about Hikaru?"

Kaoru was surprised. "You could tell?"

"I wish I could do something to make this all better." Hunny smiled apologetically. "It hurts me to see Hika-chan so angry, but I know it hurts you even more."

Kaoru could feel the prickle of tears welling up behind his eyes. He swirled around the contents of his cup. . "Just do yourself a favor and never get involved with girls. It's bad for the heart."

Hunny snorted. "You can say that again."

For a long, awkward moment, Kaoru felt these words sink in.

"W-what do you mean, senpai?" Hunny-senpai has never had a girlfriend, has he? He's supposed to be the innocent one.

Hunny nodded, then gave a smile that could only be described as enamored. It was something Kaoru had never seen on that round, dimpled face. Almost... lust.

"Her name was Sara," Hunny licked a bit of juice from the corner of his mouth. "I met her in Bali."

Kaoru was transfixed as he took in this new, secret side of his friend. "What happened?"

To his utter shock, Hunny shrugged. "I don't remember. The whole night is kind of hazy." He paused, then said wisely, "Learn from my mistakes, Kao-chan."

Kaoru tried not to imagine what mistakes these might be. "I'll take your word for it."

They chatted idly for a few more minutes, then the clock struck five and Hunny had to rush home. But as he slipped Kaoru a box of chocolates from his bag, that mature, teenaged twinkle returned to his eyes. "Don't worry too much about Hika-chan," he said. "This will all work itself out in the end, you'll see. And if you ever need someone to talk to, you know how to reach me." Then, he disappeared around the corner to his waiting limousine.

It took Kaoru several minutes to figure out how to move his legs. In just a few words, Mitsukuni Haninozuka had shaken Kaoru's preconception of him. Hunny had opened a window, and through it Kaoru could see a whole new person to relate to, to depend upon.

Excitement mixed with trepidation, and Kaoru made up his mind not to tell Hikaru a word.