The Cupcake Incident

She made cupcakes for his cousin; he helped. They lined them up on the large counter of the Morinozuka estate kitchen, and prepared the strawberry frosting.

"Mori-senpai, you're going to be following me with this tub of icing," she handed him one small pink container and a butter knife. "And you'll ice whatever cupcakes I overlook, got it?" The tall senior nodded, and Haruhi picked up her own pink tub and butter knife. They iced in comfortable silence, Mori trailing behind Haruhi like he did Hani on most days.

As he figured, she was so focused that she didn't miss any cupcakes. He thought for a moment, then a grin more at home on the twins' faces found itself on his face. He scooped up a finger-ful of frosting.

"Haruhi-chan. You missed something." She turned, looking confused. He poked her nose with his frosting covered finger. She went cross eyed trying to examine the pink substance on the tip of her nose. She gave up and turned to the counter. She began stacking the frosted cupcakes on Hani's favorite cake tray. She shot Mori a look out of the corner of her eye. He raised an eyebrow in response. Haruhi placed the last cupcake on the tray, then grabbed her tub of frosting.

"Senpai, come here please?" She requested sweetly. He shook his head, so she huffed and scrambled onto the tall counter. Crouched on the marble, Haruhi shoved her own finger into the tub of frosting she held and smeared the frosting across his forehead. Mori's smile grew. He daubed more frosting across her cheek. Haruhi made a small noise in the back of her throat and patted frosting onto his nose. He smeared frosting across her other cheek. Haruhi made another small noise and scooped up an almost handful. She smushed it against his cheek, then wiped the rest onto his other cheek.

Haruhi sat back on her heels to examine her handiwork. She took one look at his frosting covered face and dissolved into giggles.

"Senpai, strawberry's a good color for you." She giggled.