Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Kyoya was incredibly patient. He was always capable of waiting for the right time to make any strategic move. All he had to do was wait for his moment to come and he would prove himself.

He was starting to think he wouldn't meet the girl he was arranged to marry until the day of the wedding. Regardless, he never expected to meet her the way that he did.

"Kyoya, I was thinking, we should get a consultant for the host club"
"A consultant?"
"You know, a feminine touch to the host club, a consultant on the female gaze if you will"

While the proposal was somewhat bizarre it did make some form of sense, while they were quite good at appealing to the female gaze they will never be able to fully understand the perspective of their clients.

"I suppose that would make sense, do you have anyone in mind?”

“As a matter of fact I do, I’ve recently met the newest international student and I feel she would be a good fit”

That caught his attention, for someone who kept tabs on near everything that happened at the academy he could not believe he could let something like a new international student slip under his radar.

“What is her name? I’ll have to meet with her”

“L/N”

Chapter Text

The warmth of spring was slowly starting to creep in as you sat in the window of music room three. You were still getting used to spending your free time in a high school host club, especially since host clubs as a concept was new to you.

And then there was Kyoya. Sitting quietly across from you was the guy that one day you were meant to marry, at least according to both of your families. When you transferred to Ouran two years ago you did not expect to meet your betrothed through the leader of the famed 'ouran highschool host club'

You remembered the day that you joined the host club well, a month after transferring and a couple of weeks after meeting Tamaki you did not expect to start your first day as consultant to the host club just to find that the vice-president was the kyoya ootori that you had heard about for most of your life.

Upon meeting you figured that there could be worse people to be engaged to. Kyoya was polite enough, well mannered, but he was strangely disconnected from you.

Even now, catching a glance at him from across the table, you realise that you really do not know that much about him.

"From the looks of things we are low on coffee, I can run out and get some if you'd like? Can have the guests go without" you offered, barely looking up from the book you were reading. Kyoya hummed, giving a somewhat smug smirk that you had expected from him by now. "No need, did Tamaki not tell you? we have an errand boy now"

"Errand boy?" the statement confused you, who would agree to be an errand boy for a high school host club for free? "Haruhi! Could you come over here a second?"

Approaching them was someone you recognised to be the newest scholarship transfer student, Fujioka, you think their name is. Which confused you more since you were pretty sure Haruhi Fujioka was a girl.

"This is Y/N L/N, my fiance and the host clubs consultant" you still haven't gotten used to the introduction. "It's nice to meet you" Haruhi greeted although you and her both know that you had met before. "Likewise"

"Haruhi we are low on coffee, would you mine running out to the shops to stock up" Haruhi nodded wordlessly, seemingly relieved that she may get a few moments peace while she is out buying coffee.

You shot Kyoya a questioning look as Haruhi wandered away. "Haruhi shattered that vase that we were going to put on auction, since we know he cannot pay for it we have given him a chance to work off his debt"

"That's a little harsh is it not senpai?" you knew that in hindsight the vase is not worth any significant amount for nearly any attendee of the school other than maybe Haruhi. Kyoya shrugged, taking a sip of black coffee "I don't see why, I feel that it is harsher to demand he pay knowing that he doesn't have the money"

You may not know kyoya well, but you know kyoya well enough to know that it wasn't worth the argument. "You do know..." he laughed, seemingly reading your mind of where you were going "Yes, I know that Haruhi is a girl" He leaned forward, now leaning down against the surface of the table.

"But Tamaki hasn't put that together yet" you did not know whether or not to be surprised, Tamaki seemingly always had lived in a world of his own, he often did miss out glaringly obvious details. But you couldn't help but feel a slight sense of devious smugness as you realised what Kyoya was doing. What was a little lie of omission if it is victimless?

You laugh a little, looking over to the rest of the members noticing that they were all now fawning over some instant coffee that Haruhi bought.

"Tamaki has seemed to take quite an interest in her regardless, I wonder how he will react when he finds out" Kyoya hummed out a laugh. "I'm not sure, but whatever it is it will be interesting"

You likewise hum in agreement "Indeed, although Ayanokoji does not seem to be incredibly happy at Haruhi's presence" Kyoya's gaze panned from you over to where Ayanokoji was sat seething.

"I suppose I should probably check in on our newest addition, make sure she knows the order of things" He decided, standing up "Good idea, we can't be sat together too long, people will start to talk" You joke, making kyoya laugh as much as he can given his near cold exterior. Somehow your engagement had been kept a secret over the years, which worked to Kyoya's advantage given that he is a host.

"Kyoya" You spoke one last time, causing him to turn back to you "Don't be too harsh on her" Kyoya has a tendancy to casually throw around the power of his family name often, including the secret police that answer to him , and you knew that well.

"For you, my dear, I will" You tried to disguise the blood rushing to his face, he had never called you by any endearments before, in fact he had never treated you with anything more than cordiality. Maybe you were overthinking it, he was probably just playing into the joke that you had started.

You tried to wave it off, you know that he doesn't have any romantic or even platonic interest in you. But there was hope, you just had to be patient with him.

At the end of what must have been a tiring day for Haruhi she flopped down on to a nearby sofa that you happen to be sitting on the other end of.

"They're a lot aren't they?" You try to console her as she tried to wrap her head around what on earth the past few hours had been. "I don't know how you put up with them" You laugh a little "They really aren't that bad, in time you'll come to enjoy their company"

"I did not know that you were engaged to Kyoya" you nodded, placing down your tea cup on the table. "We try to keep it to a need to know basis, I transferred here when I started high school so no one knew me and we figured that since Kyoya is a host it would be better to keep it a secret, the only people who know is the other club members and,well, yourself."

"I suppose that makes sense, if I am being honest y/n, I'm glad that there is someone reasonable around here"

"If I am being honest also Haruhi, I am glad you are here for the same reason, and don't worry, I'll keep your secret if you keep mine"

Chapter Text

“Oh, yes. I almost forgot to mention to you ladies; next week, the Ouran Host Club is sponsoring a party."

Haruhi leaned over to you as you passed by the table that she was hosting "We're throwing a party?" you shrugged, this also being the first time hearing this, although will be questioning it afterwards.

As the current guests of the host club descend in questions and squeals at the idea of a host-club party Haruhi approaches the tiki bar where you and Kyoya are standing "The girls seem more worked up than usual" she comments, leaning against the bar.

Kyoya shrugs, not fully looking up from his clipboard "Showing some skin proves popular with the ladies" he comments flippantly, as if it were the most obvious thing on earth

Haruhi turns to you "Let me guess, you came up with the tropical paradise idea?" upon learning what your actual role entails within the host club, Haruhi has slowly started to catch on that you don't just sit around and enjoy coffee with Kyoya, despite the fact that it may look like that.

You semi-dramatically place an open palm on your chest in mock horror "Me? Never, I have no decision-making authority as a consultant, Tamaki makes all the decisions around here as president of the host club"

Slowly you drop your hand, smirking slightly "But I may or may not have left a few photo books of Bali and the Caribbean on his desk" In the corner of your eye you could have sworn you saw Kyoya smirk smugly but it must just be the heat of the host club that day.

Haruhi eventually returns to her duties as a host, sitting with the girls and drinking tea while they question why she is still in uniform. "She's doing well, don't you think?"

Kyoya finally glances up from his clipboard "She's a natural, from what I've found she had someone falling for her every month in middle school, so it makes sense that she has a natural charm here" you shouldn't be surprised that Kyoya has done a full background check on her, but you are mildly shocked on how he managed to get that information of all things.

Before you could comment you catch gaze of Kanako approaching Haruhi.

"Excuse me.”

Haruhi shakes herself away from her guests and turns to look up at the new guest, whose hands are politely folded in front of her as she gazes down at Haruhi expectantly.

“I hate to disturb, but I think it’s time for the hosts to switch clients.”

You look over to check the time on Kyoya's watch, it wasn't quite time, Haruhi still had five minutes left and not even another appointment.

“Oh, I’m sorry. You must be my next appointment. Miss… uh-”

“My name’s Kanako. Kanako Kasugazaki.” Kanako slots her finger under Haruhi’s chin and tilts her head upwards, catching everyone by surprise. “You’re even cuter than I expected. I’ve decided. From now on, you’re going to be my new favorite host, Haruhi.”

Oh Tamaki is going to be pissed.

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“I can’t take this anymore. Hey, Boss? Why don’t you eating that commoner’s ramen and come over here to help us with the party plans?” Hikaru suggests bluntly, getting tired of the slurping sounds coming from the corner of the host club as Tamaki sulks over his 'stolen' client.

“Does it really bother you that Princess Kasugaza has taken a liking to Haruhi?” Kaoru interjects.

“He shouldn’t be surprised, she’s had the illness for a while now, hasn’t she?” Kyoya chimes in, busy typing away at his laptop, pulling in the attention of Haruhi.

“What illness?” Haruhi voices her concern. You quickly intervene. “It’s not a real illness, Haruhi. It’s metaphorical.” you assure. She breathes out a sigh of relief.

“She’s got the host hopping disease.” Kaoru slides out from behind him, mirroring him. “A.K.A. the ‘never the same boy twice’ disease.” he clarifies.

Kyoya huffs a little as if it is a great inconvenience to explain“Usually our guests pick a favorite host and then see them regularly. However, Princess Kanako tends to change her favorites on a regular basis.”

“That’s right! Cause before she chose you, she was with Tama-chan!” Honey smiles widely. You nod shortly.

“Oh. So he’s upset because I took her from him?”

“SHUT UP! I COULDN’T CARE LESS!” Tamaki makes a sudden appearance, startling Honey. “Ugh! I’m running out of patience! Haruhi, it’s time you started dressing like a girl!” he pushes a very demanding finger in her face.

You sigh in the corner, pinching the bridge of your nose "Tamaki you can't just do that" You mutter but no one seems to take notice.

"I don’t understand how you could be so popular with the ladies when you yourself are a lady!” Tamaki fusses childishly. You sigh and begin to zone out on Kyoya’s laptop screen. “No one in the entire school knows the truth accept for those of us here!”

“Yeah, she opted out of taking gym classes.” Hikaru pipes in obnoxiously from Tamaki’s side, his left hand raised.“And the attendance numbers are all mixed up together so no one can tell.” Kaoru is stationed on the other side of Tamaki, his right hand raised.

Tamaki disappears and reappears within a second with a large chest. He throws it open and begins digging inside for something. “That’s enough, Haruhi, now you listen to Daddy!” He pulls out a large framed picture of Haruhi in middle school back before she had cut her hair.

“DADDY WANTS YOU TO GO BACK TO THE WAY YOU WERE!”

“DON’T GO BLOWING UP MY PHOTOS WITHOUT ASKING ME FIRST!” Haruhi retaliates angrily as she acknowledges the photo. "Where is everyone getting these photos from?" You muttered in what was meant to be a throwaway line but instead it earns a chuckle from Kyoya, he didn't say anything but it made the answer to your question glaringly obvious. You should have known.

Tamaki places the photo on the wall, sobbing before it like its an altar to be worshipped. The rest of the host club, you included, gather around the photo and stare at it in awe. “Wow, that doesn’t look like her at all. Haruhi, I like your long hair.” You lean forward to inspect it further.

“The more I look at this picture, the more amazed I am.” Kaoru comments, knowing it will get on Haruhi's nerves.

“How could this…” Kaoru continues, turning to Haruhi from her photo, “possibly become that?” He points to her in what you hoped was faux disgust.

“The day before school started, one of the kids in my neighborhood got some gum in my hair. It’s a real pain to get gum out of long hair, so I decided to cut it all off. I didn’t care if I looked like a dude, you know?” Haruhi shrugs it off.

“A girl should never refer to herself as a dude! MAMA! Haruhi’s using those dirty boy words again!” Tamaki wails pathetically. You let out a puff of air, exasperated.

“I’m sorry, but who is mama?” Kaoru turns to Kyoya with a bored expression. Kyoya sighs. “Well, based on gender I’m assuming it’s Y/N…” He groans. You choke on air at the assumption.

“Me? No Kyoya I think he's talking about you, if he's referring to himself as daddy" You watch as the colour drains from his face in realisation. “Look, I don’t see what you’re crying about. Working as a host, I can pay back more of my debt. It’ll never happen if I’m just an errand boy.”

"do you have formal dancing experience? You’ll need it at the party.” Hikaru attempts to distract from tamaki's sobs. Haruhi’s face goes blank at the question.

“Hah… no, but the part doesn’t have anything to do with my quota, right? I’m not interested in going to events so if I could be excused-” Haruhi’s nervous rambling is cut short by Tamaki, materializing out of thin air with an idea forming quickly.

“Definitely not. A refined gentleman must know how to dance. If you want to live the life of a host that badly, you’re going to have to show us how far you’re willing to go, Haruhi.”

Tamaki straightens and positions himself as if he were dancing with a partner. “I order you to master dancing the waltz in one week; And you will demonstrate it for us at the party~” Tamaki spins elegantly, and finishes with an accusing finger in Haruhi’s direction.

“Or I’ll tell the entire school that you’re a girl and knock you back down to errand boy!”

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You had zoned out on watching Kanako teach Haruhi to dance a while ago, fingers mindlessly tapping against the side of your tea cup. "What is it about this party anyway? Why did none of you tell me?" Kyoya shrugged, returning to scribbling whatever observations he was taking in that day "Must have slipped our minds, we don't need you there as a consultant but Tamaki wants you there as a guest"

"A guest? I'm not a client" Kyoya laughs a little under his breath "No, you are not, but he feels like it may be handy to have you there just in case anything happens" You supposed it made some sense, there always seemed to be something going on with the host club, although you weren't too sure whether or not it was Kyoya's wording but that logic seemed to be strangely unfit to come from Tamaki.

After a while Haruhi finally sat to have tea with Kanako“Thank you so much for allowing me to practice with you, I really appreciate it.” Haruhi beams gratefully.

“Oh, no problem. I heard that you’re not seeing any customers today so that you can practice dancing. I’m glad I got to spend this time alone with you.” Kanako places her chin delicately on her folded hands to stare at her.

“Oh, my. This is a new tea set, isn’t it? It’s Ginori…” Kanako lifts a tea cup to inspect it carefully as Kyoya is positioned near her.

“You have a keen eye, mademoiselle. In fact, we just received them yesterday.” Kyoya confirms.

“Y/N decided that it was about time for the club to upgrade it’s tea sets.” Kyoya adds further. You wave it off "You'll be surprised how big of an effect it has"

“I see. What a pretty color… lovely…” Kanako’s voice seems to fade as she speaks about the tea set. Her excitement is much less than it was a few seconds ago, though she still seems to be wearing a sad smile.

You did not get the chance to stop Haruhi from commenting“You must really be into tableware, huh?”

Kanako anxiously places the tea cup back down“Ah! Not really, I mean no of course I’m not! Whatever would give you that idea?”

You glance at Kyoya with concern, and he affirms your suspicions with the subtlest of nods.“Hello? I’m here with the new teacups your ordered!”

Kanako’s nervous fidgeting comes to a halt at the sound. She doesn’t dare turn to face the newcomer.

As you turn to see who it was you smile and approach him “Thank you very much.” You gently accept the box into your grasp and hoist it up so that you’re carrying it comfortably.

“Every item that you’ve chosen for us has been extremely popular with the ladies. I’m quite impressed.” Kyoya appears at your side.

“Well, that’s good to hear.” the boy smiles.

Haruhi abandons her place next to Kanako, who tries to pretend that she doesn't exist. “So, do you sell tea sets?”

“No, I’m just a regular student. Can’t you tell by the uniform?”

An anxious chuckle sounds from where Kanako is seated.

“Oh, Haruhi. You’re so funny.” Kanako’s laughing draws the attention of all of you.

She seems out of character, a certain haughtiness to her voice that confuses you. “I can’t blame you for not knowing, after all, he doesn’t really look like an heir to a first class company.”

The comment seemed to catch him off guard despite the fact that it was fairly common knowledge. “First class company?” Haruhi breaks the silence.

Kyoya begins his explanation. “His family business, the Suzushima Trading Company, deals with primarily in the importing of tableware. They currently have the top market share in the country.”

"He has a great eye for fine china, don’t you, Suzushima?” Kyoya finishes.

“You think? I’ve still got a lot to learn. But, thank you.” Shuzoshima blushes at the compliment.

“Aren’t you leaving next month to study abroad in England?” Kyoya bluntly inquires.“Kyoya.” You hiss in a hushed whisper. He pays you no mind.

You look over your shoulder to observe Kanako, her head hanging dismally as she listens to the discussion.

“Yes, I am. Well… I better go now.”

Kanako is seated oddly silent in her chair, unmoving as her hair moves to cover her face, still gripping the teacup with both hands.

“I get the feeling you and that guy are kinda close.” Haruhi arrives behind Kanako. You straighten and grip her arm tightly, a warning.

“Ah! Don’t be ridiculous! We hardly know each other! What makes you say that, Haruhi!?” kanakao frantically waves away the idea as if it were absurd.

She desperately stood from her seat in search of escape. “Now, if you’ll please excuse me… take care.” she scurries out the door without another word.

“Haru-chan!” Honey appears from thin air, jumping onto Haruhi's back“Guess what? They do know each other! Suzushima is Kasuga-chan’s fiancé!”

“Kyoya. How long have you known about this?” Tamaki asks as if its not known that Kyoya knows everything about everyone at this point.

“About the two of them being engaged? Well, as you know, I conduct general searches on all of our customers. The two of them were childhood friends, it seems that their engagement was arranged by their parents. I didn’t think the information would benefit us so I disregarded it.”

“I see.” Tamaki glares.

Kyoya broke out his notes of Suzushima which you attempt not to question why he just so happens to have them on him “Toru Suzushima. Outstanding grades, fair social status. He’s ordinary looking, but he’s reliable. If I had to fault him for anything-”

The twins appear over his shoulder “He doesn’t have much presence.” Hikaru interjects. “And he’s faint hearted.” Kaoru adds.

“In other words, he’s painfully boring.” Kyoya claps the book closed.

Honey sits with his legs wrapped around Mori’s neck atop his shoulders. “Suzushima’s a good boy, right?” he asks, Mori responding with a blank 'yes'

“Alright, everyone. We’ll have to work on our strategy.” Tamaki announces.

“Which one?” The entire host club choruses.

“Men, it is our responsibility, as members of the elite Ouran Host Club, to make every girl happy!”

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You quickly found yourself as a wallflower at the party, not wanting to take any attention away from the actual clients. You hadn't worn this dress in a while, you weren't even sure it fit you right.

Kyoya slowly wandered over to you "Tamaki has a plan." You already know what he actually meant: Tamaki has a plan and it requires you to do something that you're not going to like. You look up to him in question, silently prompting him to go on."It's better if you just come with me"

You nodded, knowing by now that you probably weren't going to get an answer anyway. However what you didn't know was that the Hitachiin twins was in the room next-door with an entire makeover kit.

You can't even get a word in before the twins pounce on you, attempting to make you unrecognisable "Agh! Why are we doing this!?"

"In order to push the two of them together we need something drastic to happen, Suzushima needs to realise that he doesn't want to be with anyone if it's not Kanako" Hikaru explains matter of factly while Kaoru fits you with a wig "Surely this isn't going to work, I've met the guy so many times, he'll know it's me!"

"We are hoping that he'll have too much on his mind to notice"

The next thing you knew you were in an admittedly better-fitting dress and a wig that is making you consider the possibility of dying your hair. "Well you certainly look different" Kyoya spoke up, looking upon you with a look you can't exactly place but it was almost one of unsettle.

"I must admit, if nothing else the twins have an eye for fashion, I prefer this dress much more" you shrugs, Kyoya's brow lifts slightly "Really? I preferred the other one, purple suits you" It was not often that Kyoya paid anyone compliments, let alone one of aesthetics, not unless it puts money in his pocket. "...thank you?"

Kyoya didn't let the moment carry on for much longer, informing you that Suzushima is in the classroom opposite them.

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"You're the one who wrote this letter? You're totally different than what I imagined" on one hand a sense of relief washed over you upon finding that he did not recognise you, it was quicky replaced by the fear of what on earth the boys think a love letter from a teenage girl sounds like.

As Suzushima passes over the letter your fears are realised and you become extremely glad that they had disguised you for this.

"Excuse me. Have we met somewhere before?" Shoot he's catching on "No! No of course not, I think this is the first time we've ever spoke" you frantically waved your arms in dismissal.

"I'm sorry, I'm flattered by your letter but I'm afraid I don't feel the same way. You see, another girl already has my heart"

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't know you had a girlfriend" Suzushima stares out the window "Unfortunately she's not my girlfriend, in fact I think she's completely over me. In full honesty, she'd be happier with someone more self-confident than me"

"That's why I decided I need to change. I want to see the world, and hopefully, become a better man. I know it's selfish, but I wonder if she'll wait for me"

You didn't know what to say, you couldn't help but feel a degree of envy, you knew that the difference between your engagement and theirs was that they were in love. But the effort and lengths the two of them were going to for the hope of making their engagement work was enviable.

But if there was something you knew well, it was that arranged marriages take time, and patience.

"I don't know, but she might wait, but you need to give her some hope that there is something that she is waiting for. You'll never know if you don't tell her how you feel."

Before you knew it Kanako was stood in the open doorway, Suzushima chasing after her.

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As the couple waltzed as the final dance of the night you leant against the wall of the patio overlooking the school gardens. You barely noticed Kyoya approach you, his footsteps near silent. "Their situation is not dissimilar to ours you know"

He joined you in leaning against the wall next to you, also watching he dance. "Well, they met a lot younger than we did" you noted, knowing that apparently the two of them had known each other since childhood. He hums in agreement "that's true"

"Unless this is the moment you're choosing to confess your love to me Kyoya" you shot him a sly smirk, knowing that Kyoya was not that type of romantic. He hummed out a laugh "You know what I mean"

"I do" you pause for a moment, watching the final moments of the dance "...Kyoya?" he adverted his gaze from the gardens below to you "Do you think if there is hope for them there is hope for us?"

His eyebrows raised in shock, not expecting you to be so forward. "Are you confessing your love for me now?" you laugh, shaking your head "No, but I mean... I think that neither of us would take offence to saying that we are not close, we don't know how to talk to each other unless its about business. So far that's been fine, but after we graduate we won't have the host club in common anymore"

Kyoya didn't know how to react, the concept of an arranged marriage leading to friendship or even love was somewhat foreign to him, he didn't even know that you had felt that way. But maybe that could change.

"I think there could be hope"

Chapter Text

As you were sat beneath the cherry blossoms of the gardens for the flower viewing reception you were starting to think that if Kyoya hadn't been born into a powerful family he would've made one hell of a telemarketer.

You shake your head smiling as you listen to him shamelessly sell photobooks to today's guests. “Well, now we know how the club makes extra money.” Hikaru and Kaoru commented as they pulled themselves out of the 'brotherly love' act they had been putting on.

“But I have to wonder-”

“-when did he take pictures of us?”

The true answer to that was he didn't, one perk of your role in the host club is that you have plenty of spare time so Kyoya asked you to take some pictures. Although it was a strange request you are always open to a little side hustle.

The twins soon adverted their attention to Haruhi as they bombarded her with questions about class, leaving Tamaki to lose his mind in Jealousy of not being in a class with her.

“Say, Mommy dear?”

Kyoya’s attention is gained by Tamaki, sulking with his knees drawn up to his chest bear the trunk of a large, looming tree.

“What is it now… Daddy?” you can detect the hint of amusement in Kyoya’s tone, smiling as you move to join him.

“I have a new theory. I mean, it’s just my hypothesis, but it seems that by being in the same class, Hikaru and Kaoru are able to spend more time with Haruhi than I get to here at the club! This gives them the chance to get close to her and if that happens-!”

“Tamaki… you’re only just now realizing this?” You grin teasingly. Tamaki yells in anguish and you chuckle despite yourself.

Suddenly, Kyoya pulls out a board of Pie charts of time spent with Haruhi between the hosts. Where on earth does he get these from?

“According to my research, in a single day, the twins spend roughly 9 hours of class time with Haruhi. Meanwhile, your contact with her is limited to a couple hours of club activities. In other words, your involvement in Haruhi’s life each day amounts to no more than a mere 3%-”

“AHHHH I DON’T WANNA HEAR IT, I DON’T WANNA HEAR IT!” Tamaki screams, hands covering his ears to block out the truth.

“Listen, Haruhi. I want you to stop hanging out with those shady twins from now on!”

“Who’re you calling shady!?”

“Yeah, take a good look at yourself, Boss!”

“Yes… that’s it! Alright, then! We can’t go on hiding the fact that you’re a girl from everyone in the school any longer! All Daddy wants is for you to go back to being the girl you used to be! For you to surround yourself girl friends and start leading wholesome lives~!”

“Who’re you calling Daddy-?”

“So do it, change back now, change back now!” Tamaki shakes Haruhi desperately, who can't do anything but remain stunned. "You guys do realise that physical exams are the day after tomorrow? She's gonna get found out anyway"

They freeze, clearly not having thought over the possibility before. "That's right...I forgot about that" Kyoya speaks up. You new about it too well, you hated physical exams.

"So that means… there’s no doubt.” Haruhi realizes.

“They’re gonna know you’re a girl.” you affirm when she pauses.

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“He must be having a great daydream!”

You, Honey and the twins looked on as Tamaki immersed himself in a daydream.

“He’s kind of creeping me out…” you grimace, watching his mouth hang open in a dizzy daydream.

“Envious? This is all part of my strategy. While you’ve wasted time, blinded by your jealousy, I’ve foreseen the outcome of this charade.” Tamaki smirks

“Jealousy?” you scoff, what he thought you were jealous of you had no idea. Kyoya places his hand on your shoulder “Pay him no mind.”

“Ah~ this anime is obviously a romantic school comedy! Haruhi and I are the main characters, so that means we are love-interests.” Tamaki places his hand under his chin, practically sparkling.

“Yeah, then what are we?” Hikaru and Kaoru’s faces are extremely unamused.

“You boys… are the homosexual supporting cast.”

Kyoya and you exchange glances as if to question whether you were included in this. You simply shrugged at him, unsure of the answer.

"Hey, listen, Boss.”

“I don’t think you get it.”

“If word gets out that Haru-chan is really a girl, then she won’t be able to be in the host club anymore.”

He freezes, looking defeated at the realization. “But if Haruhi started wearing girls’ clothes, I bet she’d be even cuter than she is now.” Honey added.

“She dressed like a regular girl when she was in middle school, right? She must have been pretty popular with all the boys.” Hikaru thought aloud, although it was obvious that it was just to taunt Tamaki.

“Yeah. According my investigative reports, someone would declare their undying love to her at least once a month.” Kyoya flips through his notebook.

“Oh, I see. So the Boss wouldn’t even be able to get close to her.” Kaoru points out. “But we’d be able to because we’re in class with her all day long.” Hikaru finishes quickly.

You lean over to Kyoya and whisper "One of these days we need to talk about all these investigative reports you've been doing" he shrugs "it's none of your business or concern"

"Technically, it's none of your business either" Kyoya smirked, closing his notebook with a clap. "And why should I feel the need to share any of this information with you anyway"

You laugh under your breath "One day Kyoya we are going to be living together, I would find better hiding spots if I were you" you half-heartedly threaten.

The door opens a crack, Haruhi pokes her head in the room.

“Hey, guys. Sorry I’m so late-”

“Don’t you worry, Haruhi. We’re determined to keep your secret, no one will find out that you’re really a girl during tomorrow’s physical exams! So please, promise you’ll stay our beloved secret princess!”

Haruhi blinks. “Sure.”

“You know, I think both of us would be a little peeved if we had to watch all the guys flirt with her.” Hikaru turns to Kaoru, who resonates, “Then that settles it.” Kaoru affirms.

“Listen up, squad members! At tomorrow’s physical exams, position yourselves in formation A, and then, wait for your orders.” Tamaki points at, yet another, whiteboard that’s mysteriously appeared out of thin air. The twins salute him, and Honey marvels at his leadership.

Anxiety strikes straight to your heart, fidgeting as you wave your hands "Count me out of this one I'm afraid, I won't be here tomorrow"

Kyoya shot you a pointed look that screams unconvinced but he seems to not question it directly "You don't have anything scheduled?" he flips through his notes as the colour drains from your face as you realise what he's looking at. "You have my schedule?" He shrugs "its a standard part of my investigative reports"

You don't know why you though you would have been exempt from his findings. He kept tabs on everyone at school why would it be any different for you?

"I...have....a last minute doctors appointment! Yes! Haven't been feeling well lately, should probably get it checked out" You scratch the back of your neck in hopes he'll buy it.

"Wouldn't that be more reason to go to your physical exam?" you know he doesn't mean anything by it but you could strangle kyoya and his curious self.

Your lips press into a thin line "Yes I suppose it would be" you gritted your teeth"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

“We will begin conducting physical examinations shortly, all students please proceed to the clinic in your respective school building.”

The hosts file out of their classrooms and down the hall with the rest of the students in the direction of the clinic. Haruhi clearly confused at the stark difference between the Ouran Academy physical exam and a public school's physical exam.

Or at least you could tell from down the corridor, waiting for the coast to be clear before sneaking to the library. Once all the students pile into the clinic you finally step out from behind the pillar you were hidden behind.

"Going somewhere?" You practically walk straight into Kyoya's chest "I- K-Kyoya?" His head falls to the side "Don't play dumb with me y/n it doesn't suit you"

You sigh, looking to your feet "Why are you so desperate to get out of the physical exam?" his gaze was intense and almost menacing. "that's none of your business"

"It is my business” you could not understand why he was being so difficult about this. “Are you sick?”

The question caught you off guard “What? No” Kyoya seems to grow increasingly tired of your dodging "Then what is it then? Because while you're in Japan you're meant to be my responsibility, so if you're avoiding doctors I'm concerned"

You know that he means well, but you couldn't help but feel a little peeved off at his prying and the way that he spoke about you. you know that technically speaking he was correct, the agreement between both of your father's was that you would come to japan at the start of highschool to familiarise yourself with the customs and the ootori family on the condition that Kyoya and his father ensured your wellbeing and protection. But it still didn't feel good to hear.

"There's nothing wrong with me, physically speaking at least. I just, I get uncomfortable around doctors, and revealing more skin than normal in a public setting. I just don't want to do it"

Kyoya wanted to sigh in relief that you weren't actually sick or injured, however, the concern didn't leave his body. "You're uncomfortable around doctors?" You chuckle out a bitter laugh "Ironic isn't it, I'm arranged to marry into a family that owns hospitals yet I can't be around doctors"

You shook your head "I dont even know why I'm telling you this, it's fine Kyoya, I'll just figure it out" he sighs, going to say something but you're already down the hallway before you get the chance, a man in a labcoat bumping into you on the way out of the clinic, bumbling out an apology.

As you wandered back into the clinic you had to admit that what you did not expect was to see Tamaki in all his shirtlessness attempting to impersonate Haruhi.

"Wait that's Tamaki"

"There's no denying it thats definitely Tamaki"

"Is he cosplaying as Haruhi?"

"What's going on is he trying to be funny?"

The twins burst out laughing, making it clear that they had set Tamaki up "You jerks you said there was no way the girls would be able to tell it was me!" he attempted to strangle them "It's pay back for trying to tell us we were homosexual supporting cast"

Tamaki crawled back to where the real Haruhi was hiding to face her wrath, screaming from him soon following as he ran out.

You approach the changing room in his wake in hopes of checking on Haruhi "Are you okay? Had I known they were going to do that I would have tried to stop them"

"Tamaki lives in his own care-free little world" you nod "It was a stupid idea I know, but he means well, even then it doesn't forgive some of his more less thought through ideas"

You nearly jerk back when you feel a tap on your shoulder, it's Kyoya. "Are you two ready? I went ahead and set up a separate room, a special clinic, and I have a doctor standing by, sworn to secrecy, y/n you might as well go with her"

"It turns out the doctors here today are all on staff at one of Kyoya-senpai's family's hospitals" The twins shrugged "It would have been nice if he had said something to us earlier."

"I had to get my revenge too. I'm sorry, I just don't think I'm supporting cast, homosexual or otherwise"

You paused for a moment, not expecting such an act from Kyoya. Sure the clinic was set up to protect Haruhi's secret, but ensuring you don't have to go to such a public clinic and that you had a friend with you so that you're not alone with a doctor? it was surprisingly well thought through.

Of course if you ever brought him up on it he would deny it, because that was how he was. Either way you weren't going to forget it quickly, you just couldn't figure out why, this goes beyond his obligations.

"Is there something wrong"

"Check it out. Tamaki is eroding away"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

It was as you were in the changing room of the special clinic that the guy in the lab coat from earlier snuck in "Excuse me?" Haruhi spoke up. He grabbed the shoulders of the nearest person which unfortunately for you was yourself "No it's not what you think! Please, just be quiet"

Tamaki coming out of seemingly nowhere manages to get him with a flying kick.

"One. Good looks that attract the public eye.” the twins appear in his wake, giving a deadly stare you don’t think that you’ve ever witnessed this attitude from them.

“Two. More wealth than you can imagine.” You can feel Kyoya’s dark aura radiating off of him, looking up at him behind you as he speaks, wrapping his blazer around you.

“Three. Chivalry that will never be able to overlook-

”-the hideous wickedness of this world.“ Both Mori and Honey are also deadly serious. Your breath catches in your throat.

"That’s what makes up the Ouran Host Club.” Tamaki announces, standing front and center.

“We’re here. Watch out.” He, the twins, and Honey chorus.

"Please don't hurt me! Spare my life!"

I’m a doctor, I have a small emergency medical clinic that I run in the next town over. My name is Yabu.” the man begins solemnly, suddenly feeling the urge to proclaim his life story.

“Did he say his name was Yabu?” Hikaru seems more calm now, having neutralized the threat.

“That’s crazy, what a terrible name for a doctor.”

“Unless you’re a quack!”

“I’m here because I was hoping to see my daughter. My wife left me last month and took my daughter with her but I know that she attends school here.” Yabu’s head is hanging in shame.

“I don’t mean to pry or anything but why did your wife and daughter leave you?”

Yabu explains with great detail and questionable impressions about the moment his wife and daughter left him and his clinic because of his poor behavior.

“And that was it. They left me forever. I know I’m terrible at managing our money and I can’t say no to anybody. I don’t blame them for being tired of constantly living in debt. But I wanted to see my daughter one more time, so I came here. After being pelted by rain and wandering the streets I finally made it to your school. Once I entered, I was mistaken for a doctor here students.”

“Well of course, you’re wearing a lab coat.” Hikaru points out. “Anyone would mistake you.” Kaoru adds.

“And then it happened…”

“When I tried to ask her about my daughter, the girl started screaming, and before I knew it, there were all kinds of people chasing me!” Yabu sobs loudly.

Tamaki kneels down in front of him, a river a tears streaming down his face, “That’s so tragic!” he sobs.

Kyoya sighs tiredly, “Dr. Yabu, I think you may have the wrong place. Are you looking for Ouran Public High School?”

“Yeah, that’s right.” Yabu sniffles as he acknowledges Kyoya briefly.

“I figured that might be the case. This is Ouran Academy, a private institution."

“Your daughter doesn’t go here.” you shake your head gently to finish his assessment.

Yabu’s face drains and he goes pale.

“Man, that’s pretty sad, you don’t even know what school your daughter goes to?” Hikaru scoffs. “I’d bet your relationship is messed up because you don’t pay attention to her, not because of some stupid debt.” Kaoru snickers.

“Wow, Kyo-Chan, I’m impressed that you figure out he had the wrong school!” Honey marvels.

“Well, there’s no way the daughter of such a small time doctor, would ever be able to get into Ouran Academy.” Kyoya shrugs like he hasn’t just said something incredibly offensive. “Pleasant as ever.” you grumble.

Tamaki stands, suddenly solemn, “Kyoya, would you please find a map of all the public schools in this area? I’d like to help this man find his daughter.”

His tone is sincere and caring, and you smile fondly, as does Kyoya.

“Whatever you say.” Kyoya easily obeys to Tamaki’s whim, as anyone would.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"I'm sure that after that interaction you're not anymore sold on doctors" Kyoya tried to make light of it all after everything had calmed down and sent the doctor on his way. You shook your head "No I can't say it has been much help"

The two of you watch out the window as Yabu wandered away from Ouran academy. "Kyoya?" he hummed for you to go on. "Thank you"

He shrugged "I already had a clinic set up for Haruhi all I had to do was talk with the doctor" he dismissed. You shake your head "It wasn't just that. You know it isn't, but don't worry, I won't tell anyone" You comment half jokingly, walking away to check on the host club.

Kyoya watched you as you walk away. You knew him better than he thought, when did that happen?

Things are starting to change.

Chapter Text

“Oh, Tamaki, my dearest Tamaki, why are you so beautiful?”

Tamaki smirks softly, “I’m hoping to catch your eye, even for just one second.” Tamaki apprises elegantly.

“And why is your voice so very sweet and mellow?” a different guest, this time.

“To set your nerves at ease, so that my true feelings might reach your heart.” the response is almost immediate, practiced.

“Why are your eyes filled with tears every time you look at me?”

Teary eyed, even now, “Because the sight of your beautiful smile causes the fountain inside me to start overflowing.”

“Oh, Tamaki~!”

You shake your head through a laugh as you watched Tamaki carries out his usual spiel "Do you ever wonder how on earth Tamaki comes up with this stuff?" You think allowed.

Kyoya hums in agreement, not looking up from his notebook. "he always has had a natural affinity for this kind of stuff, although I must admit some particular lines he comes up with I will never understand where he pulls them from"

"Hello Kyoya, I can't get over how great you look in that Kimono" two guests appear next to where the two of you were sat "Are you planning on releasing anymore picture books of the host club?"

"Unfortunately we don't have anything planned at present ladies" The guests move on with a pout "Oh, Kyoya!" You joke, faking to fawn over him, raising your hand to your forehead "If I didn't know better I would think you a guest"

"You wish, I'm afraid you're obligated to give me your time for free" I taunt, returning to going over the clubs events calendar for that month. "What do you think?" handing over the calendar for him to confirm whether or not it's in line with the club's budget.

Kyoya's face lights up at the sight of the calendar, scanning over its contents "This is...really good...you do a much better job than Tamaki at organising this stuff"

"Really?" kyoya seems lost in thought for a moment, smiling a little at the page "Yeah..."

"Looks like the host club has a brand-new guest." the two of you look up to find a girl hiding in the doorway catching the attention of the hosts.

the twins appear suddenly in front of her, Kaoru offering her a rose.

“Come on in, what are you waiting for?”

“Watching from afar is no fun.” Hikaru presents her with another rose.

Where they got the roses? No one could ever tell.

“Please, Miss.” they insist, leaning forward ever so slightly. The girl makes a small sound of surprise.

“Stop that, how many times do I have to tell you to be more courteous to our first-time guests?” Tamaki presents her with yet another identical rose.

“Please, you don’t have to be afraid, my princess.” Tamaki caresses her chin with his finger, she seems afraid despite his affirmations, “I welcome you to the Ouran Host Club.”

The girl’s hand flies across Tamaki’s cheek as she shoves him away, “No! Don’t touch me! You’re phony!” She screams.

The entire host club observes with a collective gasp, wide eyes watching the scene unfold.

Tamaki staggers from the impact and covers his reddening face with his palm, “What do you mean I’m phony?!” He panics, his voice muffled.

“Just what I said! You’re phony! I find it hard to believe that someone like you is the prince character of this host club!”

Tamaki back-peddles from her accusing finger and loud volume with panicked breathing, to which you flinch at gently.

“You shouldn’t go spreading your love around so easily like that, you stupid! You must be a dimwitted narcissist! You’re incompetent! You’re a commoner! You’re disgusting!”

One strike after another to Tamaki’s ego, and he finally keels over.

He’s created a new technique!”

“One man slow-motion!”

You stand over Tamaki, just slightly in front of Kyoya, who seems deep in thought.

“I don’t suppose… you are…?”

Kyoya doesn’t get to finish his thought before the strange girl is gasping with a high pitch, her eyes welling up with tears and her face morphing into amazement.

“It’s you, Kyoya!” She shrieks, shoving you roughly out of her way, to which you grunt as Haruhi catches you by both arms.

“What on earth-?”

The girl forces herself into Kyoya’s arms in a strangling embrace, her face buried into his kimono.

“Oh, how I’ve longed to meet you! My one and only prince charming!” she squeals obnoxiously.

You stood stunned slightly off the side, having no idea what was going on, your breath hitching in your throat as you make eye contact with Kyoya in a mutual glance of helplessness.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

“Your fiancé?" Hikaru questioned

"Kyoya-Senpai?” Kaoru following soon behind.

You sat in the corner of the room watching everything unfold, you did not know what to think. Was there something that you hadn't been told? Did your father break off your engagement? Had Kyoya been arranged to marry another? Surely you wouldn't still be in Japan if that was the case.

You look off to your left as you realise that Tamaki is sulking in a similar fashion to you. "Why is he sulking?" Hikaru questioned

"Because mommy kept a secret from daddy" Kaoru answered teasingly. "Whatever. Why does everyone refer to us like we're husband and wife?" Kyoya asked, gaze slowly being adverted as his attention was slowly being pulled to you, sat at a table in the corner having a cup of coffee by yourself.

"Ours is a story of love at first sight!” Renge announces, fawning over the 'memory' which was when you caught on that something even weirder was happening, Kyoya could have another arranged fiance but if you knew one thing it was that Kyoya was not in love.

“I couldn’t resist the way you were adoring those flowers in the backyard when you thought no one else was looking! And how sweet it was when you reached out to that poor little injured kitten!”

“Are you serious? Could you have the wrong person?” You gesture violently to Kyoya standing adjacent to you, clearly not the man she was describing.

“No way! I could recognize my love anywhere!” Renge near screams in your face. Kyoya staring blankly next to you

“He’s a gentleman who’s kind to everyone but doesn’t ask for anything in return! He likes solitude but, in fact, sometimes he gets lonely!”

"Okay now I know we aren't talking about the same person" You chimed in, not expecting Kyoya to shoot you what may have been the first look of hurt that you had seen off of him.

"He looks like the star of the dating sim Uki-Doki Memorial! You’re my real life Ichijo Miyabi!” Renge finally squeals out, allowing the hosts to realize she was delusional, erasing their confusion.

“Oh, alright. She’s delusional.” Your expression relaxes when you realize that Kyoya isn’t hiding a secret fiancé behind everyone’s back.

“Uki-”

“Doki-”

“OTAKU!” Tamaki screeches in panic.

“OTAKU?!” Hikaru gasps in astonishment.

“I’VE NEVER SEEN ONE!” Kaoru wails.

Kyoya’s now seated on the same sofa, once again, deep in thought.

“I get it now, you’re in love with that character. You’re projecting that love onto me and somehow deluded yourself into thinking that we’re engaged.” Kyoya explains as Renge skips around behind him with obnoxious squealing.

“I assume this Miyabi character probably wears glasses as well.” On cue, Kyoya adjusts his glasses.

“So she… made it up? You’re not really her fiancé, right?” Tamaki holds his breath in hope.

“Well no, I don’t ever remember asking for her hand in marriage.” Kyoya shrugs “Besides, this is the first time I’ve ever met the woman.” Kyoya crosses his arms casually.

You stood with you arms crossed behind the sofa he was sat on "...Not to mention you're already engaged?" you pointed out the obvious.

Renges frolicking came to a grinding halt "Already...engaged?" you did not know whether or not you should shatter this illusion of hers. "Yes! y/n and kyoya-senpai are engaged!" Honey chimed in with no regard for the consequences.

"You!" Renge screamed in your face "What do you know about MY Kyoya? He doesn't deserve you! He's going to marry me!" she rambled at a hundred miles a minute. You exchange a concerned glance with Kyoya.

"Uh...I..." She seemed to quickly forget about you, jumping in front of Kyoya . According to my research, I understand that you’re in charge of managing the club, is that true, Kyoya?”

“That’s right! Kyo-Chan is our director!” Honey confirms.

“You’re the club’s director? That’s perfect! Oh wow, I’ve always wanted to wear a sandwich board to advertise a business!” Renge squeals.

“We… don’t advertise, we’re just a host club.” you point out, becoming increasingly bothered at her presence. Ignoring you, Renge spins with determination, “I’ve made up my mind! From now on, I’m gonna be the manager of this host club!”

You paused, getting increasingly frustrated at her presence, but before you go to tell her that you're already the manager Kyoya grabs your upper arm, leaning in to whisper "The Houshakuji family are incredibly good friends with both of our fathers, we just have to play into this for a while until I can figure something out"

"You're okay with this?" You question, raising an eyebrow "I'd rather not but believe it or not I'm not the heartless person you think I am, I can play it off for a while" You didn't expect Kyoya to throw your words back in your face, leaving you stunned.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

“I thought about it a lot last night, and maybe having another lady manager isn’t such a bad idea.”

“Here we go.” you roll your eyes at Tamaki’s assessment.

“Why do you say that?” The twins urge.

“Well, it’s fairly obvious, isn’t it? Renge just transferred into the same class as Haruhi. So, if Haruhi has a girlfriend around, it could bring out the female within her. Renge’s girlish air of tenderness might be able to stimulate Haruhi’s own sense of femininity!”

"I swear it's like I don't exist sometimes" You mutter looking around to see if anyone else was going to call it out, Haruhi laughs a little "You'd think that given that I need to not let people know I'm a girl he wouldn't want me to gain more femininity."

“Now is our chance to help Haruhi get in touch with her feminine side! This is an important project, men. She doesn’t have any friends in class right now except for these two shady twins. That’s no good for her.” Tamaki urges. “Like you have room to talk.” The twins tilt their heads.

“Hey everyone!” Renge soon enters the room much to your dismay. “You’ll be happy to know that your new manager, Renge, has baked all of you some cookies!”

Tamaki fawns over the act “Isn’t she ladylike? I’m so moved by your generosity!” she swoons.

“I didn’t bake these cookies for you, you phony prince.” she denied him, Tamaki returns to sulking in a corner.

Renge plants herself in front of Kyoya, “I’m sorry I burnt them a little bit. I did the best I could.” she stares up at him with wide heart eyes.

“And I already know what you’re going to say. Oh, you’re always so sweet to me, Kyoya!”

Honey tries a cookie near you, “She wasn’t kidding, these cookies really are burnt.” He grimaces.

Mori appears behind him, “Don’t eat that Mitsukuni, it’s bad for you.” he informs. Renge, enraged, chases them around the room noisily. “She’s scaring me!” Honey cries, carried by Mori as they flee from Renge’s raging rampage.

On the other side of the room the twins sit scheming, Hikaru whispering to Kaoru "Have you noticed that y/n and Kyoya haven't said a word to each other all day?"

Kaoru looks over to the two of you, a noticable distance in between "I can't imagine that she is too happy with Renge coming in and trying to steal her life"Hikaru adds on"And Kyoya seems way too complicit with it all"

As if they shared a mutual light bulb moments the two of them exchange smug smirks as they get an idea "We should push them in the right direction"

Hikaru approaches you to take the cookie that you had just picked up from your hand and puts back into your mouth, lifting your chin with his fingers.

“May I try?” he bites into the cookie while still in your mouth. Your cheeks flush as half the cookie is still perched between your lips, unsure of where this came from.

This managed to grab Kyoya's attention, looking up from his notebook for the first time of the day.

Kaoru slides a hand behind your neck, “Uh oh, y/n, you’ve got crumbs on your face.” His tongue slides out and streaks across your cheek to lick up the crumbs. You whimper and squint your eyes shut at the proximity, hoping that whatever the twins were doing would end soon.

Kyoya’s grip on his pen tightens as Tamaki emerges from his corner in a fury.

“Did you see what they just did?!” Tamaki screaches and points at the twins. “He took a bite of the cookie while it was in her mouth! And then the other one licked her face! What are they doing?! I told you those shady twins can’t be trusted! They’re trying to seduce her!”

You rub your cheek gently “You know you could have just told me and I would’ve wiped it off.” your face contorting in disgust. You look to Hikaru, “And if you wanted to try one, there’s plenty here.” You gesture with the bag of cookies.

Tamaki takes a sharp intake of breath, sounding similar to a snort, grabbing your face urgently, “That’s not the way you’re supposed to react, y/n! You have to stay strong and reject them, then casually brush them to the side! Do you understand?!”

“This is sexual harassment, Tamaki.” You snort, crossing your arms.

“SEXUAL HARASSMENT?! If that counts as sexual harassment then they’re twice as guilty! Someone call the police!”

“Cut it out, Boss, we’re sorry!” The twins plead,the fear of god being sent into them.

Renge watches the scene with a scowl. Honey approaches her cautiously.

“Renge-Chan, Renge-Chan! Want some? It’s milk.” He presents her with a pink cup with a bunny imprinted on the side.

Renge ponders a moment, “Lukewarm…”

“Huh?”

“Every single one of you! Except for Kyoya, all of your characters are lukewarm! Each of you needs to have some sort of dark side, you understand? Girls are vulnerable to handsome young men who are troubled! If you keep carrying on like this, it’s only a matter of time before the girls get tired of you and stop coming altogether! Are you trying to ruin my precious Kyoya’s business?! As your manager, it’s my duty to change your character backgrounds! Let’s start with you!”

"Change their character backgrounds? They're people not video game characters" you spoke up. Renge paused, slowly turning to face you with a look of horror "GET OUT!" she screams.

Your eyes widen, taken aback a little, you go to reply but in doing so you make eye contact with kyoya, silently reminding you of why you can't offend Renge "Fine. I'm just going to go" You can hear Honey calling after you as you leave the host club.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

How you ended up on the movie set you have no idea, the last thing you wanted was to be was around Renge or even Kyoya, but somehow since you are part of the host club officially you have to be on set for insurance reasons.

You ended up standing behind Kyoya as the two of you watch Haruhi play out a scene "You know she won't stop right?" The words come out before you get the chance to stop them. Kyoya hummed in question, turning around to face you. "The longer that you play into this fantasy shes created the more that shes going to believe its real, she wont stop by herself"

Kyoya paused, thinking it over "We've spoken about this, if we offend her-"

"Her taking offence and her father taking offence are two different things, our families are close enough for him to know that you already have an engagement he will understand" you wanted to point out that it was likely her father already knew about her delusions but that was by the by.

Kyoya looked at you pointedly "You really don't like her, do you?" you roll your eyes "I- Not really, but it's beyond that really, i... of course I know that she can't just break the deal between our parents but if that ever happens I have to leave Japan...and I just don't want that to happen"

Kyoya can tell that there is a little more to that story but he figures that it's for another time. The two of you look over as the movie set goes haywire "I know you don't care either way...but I need this deal as much as my father does"

"She doesn't have that much sway" he dismissed, waving you away "You really do not care do you?" the question caught him off guard, his eyes widening in shock before quickly pulling himself together "What do you mean?"

"If Renge carries on as she is, the host club is gonna be torn apart, she's already taken over, I've been pushed out so there's no need for me to be around anymore. Honey's on verge of a breakdown because this new persona she's given goes completely against who he is. i know you only do something if it benefits you but I am asking you just this once to at least pretend like you care"

Kyoya fell silent, looking out at how miserable the club members are , he wants to tell you that he does care, that he doesn't want the club to get torn apart or the engagement to breakdown, but he can't bring himself to.

As an argument breaks out on set Kyoya walks away without another word, grabbing a rock off the ground before smashing the camera lens. "no! what did you do to my camera?"

"What? Is something wrong?" Renge asks innocently.

"I'm terribly sorry but i cannot allow this to go on any longer, this movie paints the host club in a bad light and frankly the position you are trying to take was already filled long ago."

You didn't expect Kyoya to take such a drastic action but it made sense right up till he mentioned you. Why?

"I think you've caused enough trouble around here Renge. Please stop being such a pest"

Renge breaks out into tears "A pest? But you're supposed to pat me on the head and tell me not to worry! You're supposed to be kind and affectionate Kyoya! Why are you acting any differently now! Tell me why!"

"Because that's not the real Kyoya" Tamai chimes in, Renge gasps, breaking down before him. "Does it really matter?" Haruhi asks, appearing in front of her. "Who cares if Kyoya is a little different than you expected him to be. Take a good look at the person inside, and get to know him little by little. It’s a lot more fun that way.”

You lock eyes with Kyoya, realising that why he hadn't noticed how much you cared, you didn't either. Kyoya doesn't show feelings, you know that, but he is kind, just in his own way. If he wasn't he wouldn't have sat with you at the ball, or help you in the clinic, or step in.

Maybe you needed to start following Haruhi's advice.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Hello, ladies, come on in.” Tamaki encourages from his position with the other hosts on the sofa.

“I bought the video of that film you made!”

“I bought it too!”

“And so did I!”

“Huh?” The host club choruses in confusion as the girls fawn over the professionally produced film.

“That scene in the rain was just phenomenal!”

“I love the lonely prince!”

“And the loving relationship between Hikaru and Kaoru is so sweet!”

“I couldn’t get enough of Haruhi’s poignant expression!”

Tamaki’s hair covers his eyes with a prominent frown. “Kyoya?” He grumbles, not needing to say much more to elicit a response from said host, throwing his head back to where the two of you were sat on opposite ends of a sofa.

“I may have broken the camera’s lens but the footage that we had already shot wasn’t damaged. Naturally, I did cut out that last scene. Sales have been pretty good so far, that Hollywood film crew did a fantastic job. But then I guess, that’s to be expected.”

You laughed under your breath, shaking your head, glad that the host club was back to normal now. "Something amusing?" He asked, looking over to you. "Nothing"

the two of you fell into a comfortable silence before you speak up once more "I should thank you, for shutting down Renge" you eventually concede. "It was no problem, besides, you are a much better manager than she was"

You hummed back, watching Tamaki have another breakdown "I don't know why I thought she could actually replace me, I don't know what you guys would do without me sometimes" he laughed.

"Indeed"

Chapter Text

"Let's Play the 'which one is Hikaru?' game" The twins chime out, introducing the game that they have played with the clients ever since the host club started.

"So? Can you tell which one of us is Hikaru?” the twins tease in unison.

“Well, it’s hard to say!”

“You’re identical!” The guests gush over the twins in awe.

“Many ladies have tried to tell us apart, but so far none have succeeded.” they wag their fingers in a demeaning fashion.

"That's the dumbest game i've ever heard" Haruhi comments, sat with you having coffee. "They've always done this, it is silly but the girls seem to like it" you shrug.

"You just don't like it because you never guess right y/n" Hikaru appears out of seemingly nowhere as if they heard you from across the room. "No, I never guess because you lie, statistically someone should guess right 50% of the time and yet they never do, I wonder why that is" You taunt, Kyoya chuckles from a nearby table.

The twins gasp dramatically in offence "We would never lie!" the two of them exclaim in unison. "You're jealous because we are so popular" Kaoru accuses, sticking a finger in your face "I'm not even a host, why would I be jealous?"

"Apparently you don’t understand the merits of having a pair of twins as members of the Host Club.”

"Other than you driving Tamaki up the wall?" you tease, knowing what they meant, your the host club's manager you've seen the numbers of it all, next to Tamaki the twins were extremely popular, although you never fully understood the appeal.

“Listen up! Having a couple of good-looking guys with homosexual tendencies earns the club high points. It also helps if the two struggle between their attraction and their friendship.”

You nod, trying to turn away and out of this conversation but they follow your gaze. "And in our case, because we’re twins, our relationship is taboo, and therefore more intriguing.” you grimace, you never try to put too much thought in Hikaru and Kaoru's relationship for the sake of your job, so saying it directly wasn't fun to hear.

The twins appear surrounding a guest. Hikaru tilts her chin his way, whispering into her ear.

“And besides, who hasn’t fantasized about twins? Having two lovers is better than one, don’t you think?”

Kaoru replaces Hikaru’s hand with his own, directing the guest his way, “It’s a young woman’s romantic fantasy.”

The guest stammers, “Well, I- um… yeah, you’re right! I can’t take it!” other guests join in on her squealing. "So you see y/n-"

"Don't, I get the picture, just get back to work"

"Hikaru! Kaoru!” Tamaki appears screaming

The twins mirror each other, hands perched on their hips, “Hm?”

Enraged, Tamaki continues, “When I have control of the club’s website, I did so on one condition! That you take it seriously!” Tamaki shrieks in mortification.

“We take our job very seriously, Boss,” Hikaru assures.

Kaoru waves his hands eccentrically, “In fact, last night we worked on it till dawn.”

Tamaki opens his laptop aggressively, “Is THIS what you worked so hard to create?!” He smacks the keyboard, showing images of Haruhi and You pop up.

"What the..."

Haruhi had been photoshopped- Suprisingly well- to make her appear shirtless, although it was obvious that it was fake since obviously Haruhi does not have the chest of a guy. Meanwhile the twins had edited pictures of you to show more collarbone, one photo being taken from behind had you with a completely exposed back.

"Hm, I didn’t notice that change in the website.”

You nearly jump out of your skin at the voice adjacent to you. None other than Kyoya stands emotionless beside you, observing the picture on the monitor.

“Please don’t tell me you were involved in this.” You plead, knowing that if anyone were to supply the photos used to create these it would be Kyoya. "No, but they are doing remarkably well"

It takes all the strength within you not to hit Kyoya up the back of his head. "Why did you even do this! I'm not even a host, not to mention the fact that the host club has an all female demographic!" You cry, voice increasingly getting higher.

You were going to lose your mind, you know the body in the photos wasn't yours but you were uncomfortable showing a lot of skin regardless, even if it wasn't technically your skin.

“You look great, y/n-Chan!” Honey exclaims from behind you. You make a quick movement and cover his eyes with your hand, much to his confusion.

“Oh! We never see much of y/n! I wanna see!”

“That’s why.” Kyoya points with his pen to the girls fawning over the revealing photo of you.

“Plus, I’m sure our male hosts don’t mind taking a glance at it from time to time.” he shrugs. Oh you were going to kill him.

“You-!”

Tamaki snatches the laptop from you and hands it to the awaiting girls. You exclaim in protest and reach for it, but it’s too late.

“Tell me when!”

“Huh?” the twins tilt their heads.

“When did you take naked pictures of y/n and Hruhi?!”

“Oh, dear god.” You shove your face into your hands and resist the urge to scream.

“You bribed her, didn’t you!” Tamaki starts to cry, grabbing at his hair anxiously.

“You’re imagining things.”

“It’s obvious that the photo’s been altered.”

“It was photoshopped?” Tamaki whimpers, facing the twins with dread.

"Trust me Tamaki I knew nothing about this"

“We did a pretty good job, huh?” Hikaru slides next to Tamaki with Kaoru, shrugging identically.

“We’ve got some major photoshopping talent.” Kaoru brags unabashedly.

“You idiots! That’s a waste of your skills! Have you no shame?!”

Tamaki’s attitude takes a swerve, now kneeling before the twins, pleading, “But if you’re going to do it anyway, can you photoshop Haruhi into this idol photo book?” He presents the twins with the photo book excitedly.

This time, it’s Haruhi’s face that pales, becoming white-faced. You can’t help but laugh.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Boss, why don’t you just-”

“-ask her if she’d wear an outfit like one of those.” the twins suggest, much to Haruhi’s dismay.

Tamaki glances at Haruhi with hopeful eyes, “I never thought to ask her…” he tip-toes behind her and presents her with a pink, frilly dress.

“What do you think about this, my dear?”

“What are you doing with that dress?” Honey tilts his head.

“I would have to agree with Tamaki; I’d love to see what Haruhi looked like if he dressed as a girl!” A guest abandons the laptop to pay attention to Haruhi and Tamaki’s interaction.

“Oh, he’s so cute! I’m sure he’d look great no matter what you put him in.”

Haruhi sighs in exasperation, turning to look at Tamaki with a half-assed glare. Tamaki bursts into tears and drifts away.

You snatch the laptop while it’s unattended and slam it shut, irked. "Okay that's enough, no more creepy photoshops of me and Haruhi you perverts, what do you take us for anyway?"

The twins share an identical smirk with a hum, “Isn’t that obvious? You’re our toys.”

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

As we were saying, in order to entertain one’s self in this otherwise boring life-”

“One must find himself stimulating toys.”

You and Haruhi groan in unison “we are not your toys, okay?” The twins shrug with mischievous chuckles.

Suddenly, a door appears behind the three of you, revealing someone cloaked in darkness and peeking out from behind them.

“You want a toy?”

The voice calls your attention as well as the twins’, the three of you glancing over with a chorused confused, “Huh?”

“Toys, toys, if you like toys, then you should come and visit my black magic club.” the figure with a deep voice holds a candelabra.

The pieces fit together in your brain, and you realize the intimidating figure only to be Nekozawa-Senpai. You sigh heavily.

“We’ve opened a marketplace that boasts black magic items from across the globe. We’re also holding mass around the clock.”

Neko’s voice pricks the hairs standing straight on the back of Tamaki’s neck, drawing his attention and fear over to him.

“If you visit right now, I’ll even throw in a free curse doll. You can have Beelzenef as your free gift.”

You snort at the mere name of the doll. The twins struggle to hold in their laughter as well.

“Why is he talking to us through a crack in the door?” Haruhi asks from beside you.

“Wait a second, has that door always been there-?”

Kyoya meanders to the four of you with his infamous folder, “Nekozawa-Senpai likes to hide, he doesn’t really care for brightly lit places.” he clarifies at Haruhi’s question.

You raise your hand childishly, “I still have a question about the door-”

Tamaki stalks up behind Haruhi and speaks abruptly, “Don’t get involved with that guy, Haruhi.”

Haruhi leaps into the air with a yelp at his sudden appearance.

Tamaki isn’t phased in the least, “If you do, you’ll end up being cursed!”

“Do you have any basis for that?” you can’t help but snicker at Tamaki’s attitude toward the clearly harmless elder student.

Dramatically, “Yes! And you should know that! It happened during final exams at the end of the last school year! It’s terrifying just to talk about it.”

“On that fateful day, I accidentally stepped on that weirdo Nekozawa’s cursed doll, Beelzenef. Afterward, I took my exam and the entire test was written in some strange lettering! I looked to the others around me for help and realized I knew none of them! I was all alone in a different dimension!”

Honey cries in the backdrop, “Scary!”

“Did that really happen to you?!” Haruhi gasps.

Kyoya clarifies, “That only happened because you were so scared you accidentally walked into the beginning Greek class and took their exam.” he rolls his eyes.

“No, it was a curse! I know because three days later, I woke up and my legs were as heavy as lead! Just how do you explain that?!” Tamaki challenges.

"your legs were heavy because you ran a marathon the day before, remember?” you point out

Nekozawa appears near you, Kyoya, and Tamaki with a warning, “You shouldn’t underestimate the dark powers of Beelzenef the curse doll! All you have to do is write the name of someone you hate on his back. Then that person is certain to come face to face with misfortune!”

Wow, this guy is dark in more ways than one,” Hikaru observes as Tamaki shakes in fright.

“Supposedly, he hates bright lights,” Kaoru glances at his twin with a glint in his eye, “I wonder what he’ll think of this?” He brings a flashlight out from behind his back, flicking it on and off.

The light shines brightly onto Nekozawa, and incidentally, Tamaki, startling them both.

“You murderers!” Nekozawa shrieks as he dashes back to the safe darkness of his club room, slamming the door behind him.

Tamaki lets out a harrowing shriek, “How on earth could you do such a thing?! Obviously the two of you don’t know the true terror of black magic!” he attempts to scold the twins as they wander off.

They throw themselves into chairs alongside each other boredly.

“Ugh, I am so bored.”

“Isn’t there anything fun we can do around here?”

Being ignored is one of Tamaki’s worst nightmares. So he confines himself to his sulking corner and crouches in shame, “My dignity as the club’s leader is being ignored.”

“It sure is.” you tsk as you shake your head at the twins’ behavior.

“Hey, y/n, we’ve got a favor to ask you.” Both Hikaru and Kaoru raise their hands in unison, gaining your attention. “What is it?”

“The next time we get a day off,”

“Can we come over to your place and hang out?”

You tense up at the question "Why would you do that?" in the two years you had been living in Japan you never really had the club members round to your place, while they all lived in mansions you lived in a small apartment not far from the school.

“We’re curious! We wanna see where you live.”

Without hesitation, you have an answer, “No way.” Your response is immediate.

“Aw, pretty please?” they plead annoyingly. "You never let us come round" Kaoru spoke up.

"I’ve been curious as well; I don’t think any of us have been to your house before.” As per usual, Kyoya appears beside you

“No way in hell, Kyoya,” you deadpan. The crease between Kyoya’s brows becomes more prominent at your response. "Besides, it was your family who set me up with my place, I honestly thought you knew where I live"

Kyoya shrugged "I know your address but I haven't seen it in person, I don't go that far in depth in my research"

“We can settle this with a game!” The twins adorn their green caps.

“If you can’t pick out which one of us is Hikaru, then your penalty will be the two of us coming over to your house later tonight.” They shuffle themselves back and forth, spinning.

“Okay! So which one of us is Hikaru?”

Relief floods your system that the game is so simple- they’ll never have to come over. You point confidently, “This one’s Kaoru, this one’s Hikaru.”

The twins prance in accomplishment, “Uh oh! You got it wrong!” They grin.

You raise an eyebrow that they were still choosing to lie even to you “No, I know I’m right. You guys may look alike, but you’re very different.” you clarify.

The twins let out a mildly frightened laugh, trying to keep their composure.

"How did you do that, y/n? Whenever they wear those hats to cover up which way they part their hair, it’s practically impossible to try and figure out which twin is Hikaru and which one is Kaoru!” a guest catches your attention.

“How can you tell them apart?” Another asks.

"I have to spend every day around them for one, you slowly start to pick up on little things, Hikaru is more impulsive than kaoru while kaoru is more mischevious with his plots"

Kaoru snorts and covers his mouth with his hand, “Sorry, Hikaru, I don’t mean to laugh.” But as he says it, his light chuckle transforms into full-blown laughter.

“Well, I don’t see what’s so funny. I’m honest, I speak my mind, and I don’t hold back.” Hikaru closes his eyes and holds his head high.

“It’s sneaky people like Kaoru who are the troublemakers.”

Kaoru’s eyes open wide and the laughter stops. He rises from his hunched position and glares at Kaoru, suddenly serious.

“Don’t turn this on me, Hikaru. After all, I’m the one who’s always going along with all of your selfish games.”

“I may suggest them, but you’re the one who really gets into them, Kaoru. If you hate it so much, then why don’t you just stop?”

“Because I’d hate to see you make an ass of yourself in front of everyone. It was your idea to call y/n our toy, but I noticed you were quick to make a pass at her,”

You slowly try to creep away from the twins, no longer wanting to be apart of whatever is going on, accidentally backing into Kyoya, who grasps your shoulders to stabilise you. "Are you alright?"

“What’s going on?” your voice is unsteady. He follows your finger and shrugs. “I’m not sure.”

“Admit it, Hikaru, you’re actually in love with y/n, aren’t you?”

You're eyes widen in pure shock, in the years that you had known the twins neither had expressed any romantic interest in you, or at least none that you had noticed. Kyoya's grip on your shoulders tighten a little.

“You’ve got it all wrong, Kaoru! Man, you’re such a freaking idiot!”

“Why would I fall for her? I mean, she looks like a tanuki.” Hikaru reasons.

“Wow, thank you so much Hikaru, appreciate it" you mutter.

“Awesome. This is just perfect!”

Something powerful shakes the ground and rises from the floor.

The motor carries Renge, much to your dismay.

“Our beloved y/n is in the middle of a beautiful yet poignant four-sided romantic relationship!”

“Four-sided-?” You glance around cluelessly.

“And to make it even more exciting, two of y/n’s admirers are twins, torn apart by love! Just the thought of it could make me eat three bowls of rice!”

“Oh butt out, Otaku.” The twins groan. You speak up, “Actually, this is the first time she’s acknowledging my existence so-”

“You guys are meanies, you shouldn’t say something like that to your manager!” Renge cries.

“Never mind.” you pout.

“I’m confused, I thought that you had decided to go back home to France, Renge.” Haruhi points out.

“Well, I was going to start up a host club of my own, but I don’t think France is ready for a host club just yet.” Renge explains.

“Cut it out, already!” The exclamation draws everyone’s attention back to the twins.

“You’re the one who’s always crawling into my bed! Talk about annoying!” Hikaru huffs angrily.

“I only do that cause you look lonely! I wouldn’t choose to sleep in your bed, you idiot!”

Somehow, the twins’ guests find their bickering to be dote-worthy.

“Who are you calling an idiot, you’re the one who sucks at math?” Hikaru fires back with rage.

“Oh yeah? Well, you’re failing your foreign language class, you big dummy!”

“The way you grind your teeth is deafening!”

“At least I don’t toss and turn so much that I fall out of bed!”

“Sex Pixie!”

“Sicko!”

“YOUR MAMA WEARS TOO MUCH MAKEUP!”

“That’s it! We’re over!”

Silence falls over the host club, you look up to see kyoya's equally shocked face.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

By the time you had reached lunch the next day everyone was getting sick of the twins fighting. Haruhi had told you that the twins had showed up to class with dyed hair and nearly tore the classroom apart.

As you along with the rest of the host club entered the refractory the twins were still arguing, this time over what they were ordering for lunch

“I was wondering what all the fuss was about. I can’t believe the two of you are still fighting, you’re a disgrace to the host club.” Tamaki says as you all enter.

“Hey, look who it is.”

“Oh, I love them…”

“I’ve never seen them all together like this…”

"We've had enough of this! You're both to blame for this!" Honey demands.

You turn to Kyoya "I'm surprised you joined us Kyoya, you never normally eat here" you point out, Kyoya still scribbling in his notebook. "Yes well given the circumstances I figured that it would be best that I come and keep an eye on things lest they start chucking things around the room again. I don't want someone to get hurt"

"Someone?" You ask, sending him a pointed look, kyoya glares at you over the rim of his glasses "Don't want to see you needing a doctor, we both know how that would go" he smirks.

You laugh "I'd look out Kyoya, for a moment there it sounded like you care about me" you faux horror. He tutted through a smile "Well we can't have that can we?"

“I don’t care if my boxed lunch is in an embarrassing heart shape! I will eat it!” Tamaki’s shout echoes in the expansive dining hal, leaving the two of you to stare at him in confusioon.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about, but it’s evident that your fantasies are completely incoherent.” Kyoya departs, carrying his meal on a tray.

“y/n, you wanna sit here with me?” Hikaru pulls out a seat next to him and gestures to it, suddenly calm, separate from Kaoru.

“Uh, okay.” You approach sceptically, sitting down next to him.

“So what’s that?” He points to your little container you’ve brought with you, “What’d you bring for lunch?”

“Just some food I made before school" you shrug.

“You wanna switch with me? I had to order something different than Kaoru, so I ended up with stuff I don’t really like.” He pushes his tray in your direction and swipes up your container.

“That’s fine with me.” You shrug, taking a fork and poking at the food on your new spread. You begin to chew on a bite, humming with satisfaction and chewing thoroughly.

Kaoru pulls out a chair on the other side of you, “So, y/n, is that any good? How would you like to taste mine? Here.”

He slides his fingers under your chin and aims a spoon toward your mouth, tilting your chin upwards. Your face flushes at the proximity.

Hikaru leans forward and eats what’s on Kaoru’s soon, “Quit butting in, get lost, Kaoru.” He deadpans. You squeak and jerk away, separating yourself from the twins glaring at each other.

Kaoru hesitates before chucking a bowl of soup in Hikaru’s direction.

Although it looks like Hikaru has received the blow, he pulls on Tamaki’s tie to reveal that he shielded himself with his own boss. He smirks.

Before you know it, you’re caught in another crossfire between them. Chairs, plates, food, and even Honey is thrown between them.

You slip away and somehow yet again ended up sat by Kyoya yet again “Weren’t you enjoying yourself over there? I'm sure the twins are excellent company”

“Very funny.” Your eyes roll exaggeratedly, opening up your food. "Why have you brought your own lunch? I understand why Haruhi requires a boxed lunch but you and I both know you are in a vastly different situation to her"

"I don't know I just... I've felt weirdly homesick this week, I figured making some food from where I am from would help" you shrug, Kyoya hums back in understanding "Could I...try some?" He asked, slightly sheepishly which was a rare look for him.

You nod, smiling back as you slide over the box for him to stick his fork in, patiently awaiting as he took a taste. His face lights up in a mix of surprise and delight "This is really good"

"You think? I don't think myself to be that much of a chef" you shrug, sliding the box back to take a taste for yourself "You made this?" you smile back at him nodding "yeah"

Kyoya hums, staring back at you with a look that you couldn't quite place. "You should tell me about your home country more often" he lightly commented, returning to his own food. You stared back at him in mild shock, "Yeah"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Looking at the numbers, if this situation isn’t resolved, I’m afraid we’re going to have to stop offering our brotherly love package. We’re down one pair of loving brothers.” Kyoya grumbles, sitting directly across from you.

“Oh, y/n, I just want you to know there’s no reason for you to feel responsible. Even though it was your tactless comment that started this whole feud between the twins in the first place, right?”

Your shoot him a dead pan glare. Clearly he did blame you despite the fact that the twins kind of started the fight themselves.

Honey fidgets solemnly with Usa-Chan in his lap, “It’s weird for Hika-Chan and Kao-Chan to be fighting like this. It’s never happened before.” a frown etched upon his face. Mori nods with a bleak hum.

“They’ve never fought before?” Haruhi chimes in from beside you. You nod grimly.

“I’ve known Hika-Chan and Kao-Chan since we were pre-school. We weren’t in the same year, so I never really got to talk to them, but I remember that the two of them always played together.” Honey recalls.

“Yeah, that’s true. I mean, I’ve only known the twins since they were in middle school but they definitely stood out. It seemed like… they kept everyone at a distance except each other to protect themselves. I mean, they were even more isolated back then, I couldn’t even imagine how they’ve turned out now when I knew them at first.” Tamaki chimed in.

“Maybe this fight is a good thing for them.” He extends his arms to emphasize his next point, “Maybe it means that the twins are expanding their horizons a bit. We should just leave them alone and let them work it out.”

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

You quickly realise that leaving them alone to work it out wasn't quite going to cut it. By the time the next day rolled around you all realised that you could not open the host club that day as the twins were yet again hurling things at eachother.

“Don’t you guys think that maybe, it’s time you give up all this fighting? It’s driving me insane!” Tamaki cries, looking like he is one more argument away from having a breakdown

“What’d you say? It’s driving you insane? You’ve got to be kidding me- how do you think I feel right now?! Every time I look in the mirror, I see his face! I’m sick and tired of constantly being mistaken for you, Kaoru! The truth is, I hate your guts!” Hikaru yells across the room.

“You took the words right out of my mouth. In fact, I hate you so much, I bought this! Belzenef, the curse doll!” Hikaru produces the wooden cat doll from his blazer. Tamaki shrieks.

“I’m going to complete the curse, Hikaru. I’m going to write your name on his back.” Kaoru pulls a marker from thin air threateningly, Hikaru growls.

Rage and frustration filled you, this was too far, it was all getting out of hand.

“From this day forward, you’re going to experience nothing but misfortune and sorrow!” The marker squeaks as Kaoru scribbles onto the back of the doll.

Tamaki screeches in horror, his palms cupping both his cheeks.

You march up to him, snatching the doll from him and throwing it to the ground. "Are you insane!?" Kaoru stares back at you in shock. "You don’t bring something like this into a petty fight! Both of you are at fault here, but what’s really sad is that you’ve brought everyone else around you into your big mess!”

At this point you are staring down at the two of them like a mother scolding two small children, “Now apologize to each other! If you don’t make up right now, I’m never gonna let you come over to my house, have I made myself clear?!”

You hadn't even registered the words before they left your mouth, pausing as you processed what you actually had just said. The twins stare up at you in shock and horror, however that does not last long as the corners of their lips twist upwards into a smirk.

“So then what you’re saying, y/n, that if we make up, we can come over to your place?” They circle you with hands perched on their hips.

Vertigo overtook you as you realised exactly what had just happened, looking down to find that all that Kaoru had wrote on the curse doll was 'blank'

“I’m so sorry, Kaoru. Even though I was just following our script, I said such awful things to you. I’m not fit to be your brother.” Hikaru caresses Kaoru by the cheek gently.

Kaoru reaches up and takes Hikaru’s face in his hands, “Don’t say that, Hikaru! I was worried. I couldn’t live with myself if I ever thought I had hurt you.”

“Kaoru, I’ll never let you go again!”

“Hikaru!”

You remain stood there, stunned at what was happening before you.

As the twins embrace, Honey flails his arms with squinted eyes, “You’ve gotta be kidding! You mean you guys were faking it this whole time?!” He screams.

You and Tamaki have fallen to your knees in defeat. Your fist tries its hardest to clench the ground, your head hanging between your shoulders.

“We didn’t have anything else to do, we were bored.”

Tamaki weakly lifts his head to observe them, “Twins with too much time on their hands…”

Hikaru and Kaoru both stick out their tongue at him, pulling a single eyelid down in a mocking way.

“…are the devil.”

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

“I’m so glad they made up!” guests squeal in admiration.

With pink and blue hair, the twins encourage them, “Okay, it’s time to play the "which one is Hikaru” game!“ They smile widely.

A guest pipes up, "I know! The twin with the pink hair is Hikaru!” She announces proudly.

“We have a winner!” The twins have found that letting their guests win is also as much fun as watching them get them mixed up.

“So are you two going to keep your wild hair color even though you’ve made up? It’s much easier to tell the two of you apart now.”

Haruhi glances up as she strides past them, cocking an eyebrow as she observes their hair colour. They are not the same as they were yesterday.

“Huh, no, it isn’t.” she almost laughs as she stroll past, anticipating their reaction. They each hum boredly, watching her go. “Today, the pink one is Kaoru and Hikaru’s the blue one. You switched overnight huh?"

You hum in approval from nearby "You're finally catching on Haruhi" you congratulate her at being the second person to correctly tell the twins apart.

The twins freeze, staring at the two of you blankly as they realised that you both could truly tell which one was Hikaru.

"I think you broke them" Kyoya pointed out, glancing up from his notebook. You hum in agreement "Yes I think so" he smirks, placing the book down "I must admit it was quite interesting to see you lay into the twins like that, I've never seen you that angry before"

You shrug "I don't even know where it came from really, I guess something came over me" Kyoya pauses, smile slowly fading into a smirk "I'd look out , for a moment there it sounded like you care"

You laugh.

Maybe you did.

Chapter Text

When you enter the host club that day the last thing you expected to find was a literal child. Yet as you stepped through the doors to music room three there was one sat concerningly close to Tamaki and a guest. "What's going on?"

"Tamaki's got an apprentice" Kyoya recaps, eyes focussed on the scene unfolding. "How old is this...apprentice?" you hesitate to call the child that but struggled to find a better word. "Not old enough to be here" Haruhi points out.

Isn’t it a bit strange, making Shiro observe him up close like that?”

He hums, “There is a theory that people are considered more beautiful the closer they are viewed. Tamaki seems to live by that theory.” He says it like he has it memorized- which he probably does.

"Hmm is that why you always insist on sitting near me during club hours?" you joke, batting your eyelashes dramatically, to your surprise this seems to fluster Kyoya a little, or at least much as one can expect from him "I- Well- thats so i can get your consultation on things"

“You look more like the carp that swim in my pond at home. I’d never give false compliments like that!”

Both of your attention is drawn to Shiro, already running his little mouth.

“Carp?!” The guest cries out, an embarrassed blush flushing over her cheeks. Tamaki is quick to reach out and comfort her.

“Oh, don’t listen to him. He’s just a kid- you know how kids are- they can’t help but be honest.”

“Oh, Tamaki.” You cringe at his statement and sigh.

“Honest?!” She shrieks, turning herself away from Tamaki, shedding tears.

“But that’s just his opinion! I wouldn’t say you look like a carp, and even if you did, you’d be the most beautiful carp of them all!” Tamaki tries his hardest to console his guest, but it only results in further insulting.

“So I am a carp!?” She gasps, shrieking once more. You have half a mind to cover your ears but only wince.

Tamaki, dumbfounded, “Uh, no, that’s not what I meant.” He sweats.

“Tamaki, you’re an idiot!” An all too familiar phrase.

“No, wait! Mermaid Princess!” Tamaki reaches for her, desperate.

Blank-faced, Shiro stands beside him, “Man, what a crybaby.” He scoffs, utterly unfazed by the whole ordeal.

Tamaki peeks at him over his shoulder, his eyes narrowed, and teeth bared, growling animalistically. How could such a young child have lost him a guest already?

Hikaru snickers, “So how’s it going, boss?! That’s an adorable little apprentice you’ve got there.” He finds it hard to withhold his laughter.

“Hikaru…” Hikaru’s attention only diverges when he hears his twin’s whining voice.

“Do you wish you had a little brother like Shiro?” In a split second, invisible to the naked eye, Hikaru sweeps Kaoru up in a tender embrace, cradling him against his body.

“Don’t be silly. I could search the globe, and I’d never find a better brother than you, Kaoru.” Hikaru presses his lips to the top of Kaoru’s head.

“Hikaru.” Kaoru lets out in a breathy moan, his eyes hooded in his brother’s embrace.

Two patrons pop up over their shoulder, “Look! They’re doing it!”

“It’s forbidden, brotherly love!”

Shiro stumbles back, grips the table, “They’re homos! And they’re brothers! That makes this totally ‘insectuous’!” He grips his grade school uniform tightly with his other hand.

You appear behind him, “I think what you meant to say was incestuous.” You nod firmly.

Before he has a chance to reply, Shiro is firmly embraced by Honey.

“Hey, Shiro-chan! You wanna have a piece of cake with me? We’ve got three kinds: chocolate, strawberry, and lime.” Honey dangles from Shiro’s shoulders, roughly similar in size.

Shiro roughly shoves him off, “Hey, back off! What grade are you in, anyway?! Why are you wearing a high school uniform?” Shiro nearly shouts, irritated to no end.

A large shadow casts over them, “Something wrong, Mitsukuni?”

Shiro looks up, and, to his horror, Mori stands before them.

Honey leaps toward Mori and wraps himself around him. “That’s not fair! A little kid like you isn’t supposed to have a cool, older friend like him!”

Truthfully, both are in the same class.

Shiro backpedals a little, unintentionally bumping into your leg, wipping around to stare up at you in shock. He stares at you for a moment as if analysing you, eyes landing on your pile of notes about the host club tucked under your arm.

"Are you some sort of super fan for these weirdo's or something"

Your jaw drops, what is intended to be a laugh instead comes out as a scoff, resisiting the urge to ball up your fists at a child. Kyoya's gaze frantically darts between the two of you, nerves rising as he recalls how you felt when your position was dismissed not too long ago by renge.

You let out a shaky breath, turning to look up to Kyoya "I can't deal with him, don't make me" you plead "You deal with them everyday" he nods to the other club members. You sigh, knowing he had you cornered.

“Okay, that’s enough! I think Shiro should take care of the tea for us, don’t you?” tamaki interrupts, nervously handing a tea tray to you to give to Shiro.

"Fine, but watch out it's heavy" you conceded, leaning down a little to offer the tray to him, which for a moment he seems to accept, wrapping his hands around the handles, however as soon as you let go the tea tray falls to the floor, shattering what is easily upwards of sis figures worth of ceramic.

"It’s not my fault I dropped it. It’s your fault 'cause you’re the one who made me take it in the first place.”

You quite nearly lost it at that one, about to lunge at the kid.

Before you can make any move, Kyoya wraps his arm around your torso and tugs you back, his strength preventing you from moving. You grunt and squirm, eager to give Shiro a piece of your mind.

“That’s enough, y/n, if you're charged with assault you'll never gain citizenship and you would have to go home” his reasoning, although dramatic, is clear. You slump in his arms and let your features go blank with a deep sigh.

“I’m not here to carry tea sets- I’m here to learn how to make women happy!” Shiro’s voice has reduced to nothing but a whiny, high-pitched tone to your ears.

“You won’t get anywhere with that attitude. And I am not going to let you disrespect y/n. So!” Tamaki points his index finger in Shiro’s direction determinedly. “Put this brat in isolation!”

More than eager to comply, the twins are at his side, “You got it, boss!”

An iron cage falls from the ceiling on chains and traps Shiro where he stands. “What’s going on here?! Why’d you put me in a cage all of a sudden?!”

“Yeah, and where’d it come from? This is supposed to be a music room, right?” Haruhi questions aloud, tilting her head at the cage.

Shiro climbs onto the bars of the cage, “This is no way to treat your loyal apprentice. Now let me out of this cage!” He demands irritatedly.

“Not until you’ve learned your lesson. I made you my apprentice because I thought you were serious about becoming a host, but I guess I was wrong.” Tamaki sighs woefully, intending to draw a reaction from the grade school student.

“I am serious. Totally serious.” When Tamaki refuses to reply, unconvinced and sipping his tea, Shiro falls desperate.

“I want you to teach me how to make a woman happy!”

Still, nothing. No one is convinced. Especially not you as you sit near Kyoya on a love seat, boredly flipping the pages of a nearby book as he writes adjacent to you.

With a defeated cry, Shiro falls to his knees, gripping the bars tightly between his fists. This draws your head up to glance at him.

“I’m gonna run out of time. Please, won’t you teach me?” his tone is no longer demanding, only forlorn and pleading.

“You’re a host because you like girls. You like bringing a smile to a girl’s face- that’s why you do it, right?”

Shiro’s pleading manages to draw Tamaki’s attention, only earning a side glance.

“Please, won’t you teach me how to be like you? You’re a genius at it! You’re the king!”

You look at tamaki, knowing that all anyone has to do was say the K word to convince him.

The titles Shiro’s given to Tamaki in his desperation calls the aforementioned king to his feet. He feels a sudden urge to teach him again; God could only know why.

“Well, you may be a brat, but I admire your desire to become a host, so I’ll teach you.”

This draws no reaction from Shiro.

“You know, Shiro, you and I are so much alike.” Tamaki wraps himself in his own arms.

Haruhi appears, “You poor kid.” You snicker at that.

Shiro straightens immediately, a smile stretched across his cheeks, “Then you’ll help me become the kind of host that can make any woman happy?!” his tone is hopeful.

“Of course, making women happy is the sole purpose of being a host. If this is what you really want, Shiro, then you have to figure out how to use the material you already have.”

“What does that mean?”

At the opposite end of Shiro’s cell, Kyoya appears. Shiro stands with his back pressed to the bars in sheer terror at his appearance.

“You see, here at the Ouran Host Club, our policy is to use our individual personality traits to meet the needs of our guests. For example, there’s Tamaki, who is the princely type.” he nods over to the leader who is staring wistfully out of a window.

"the strong, silent type" he nods over to mori, who is holding up honey on his shoulders. "The boy lolita type" The twins soon slide in , attempting to steal the attention

"The little devil type" you attempt to hold back a laugh at the name, fogetting that was the label that had been given to the two of them. "And the cool type"

You once again look up to Kyoya, forgetting that he had a host type at all, he rarely ever actually saw clients. But then again he definitely fit the bill.

It makes you wonder what he would be like if he ever dropped the persona. All of the hosts had personas they played up during club hours, you knew that, but even when there were group hang outs with no clients, his never drops, maybe he relaxes a little, but theres always that wall.

It makes you wonder how much you know about him at all, what do you know about him that wasn't curated for your perception.

"It’s all about variety. And now our group is complete with the addition of Haruhi, the natural."

The complete host club stands in front of Shiro’s cell, “It would seem that right now we have a perfect blend of characteristics, so it’s going to be difficult to find a new type for Shiro.”

While you stand off in the distance behind them, watching from afar. It hasn’t been much different from this before, but when you notice it, it feels a bit difficult. You fold your hands behind you and hang your head. It’s not like this isn’t expected.

“If you go by his age, he should be the boy Lolita type.”

“But Honey-Senpai’s already got that covered.”

Tears streaking down his cheeks like a river, Honey turns to the club, “Is he gonna replace me?” he sniffles.

“Oh, come on! Is that all you’ve got?”

Your head snaps up at the unbodied voice. But when it clicks in your mind, all you can do is groan and fall clumsily onto the sofa behind you.

A powerful motor rumbles under the floor and shakes the ground. Renge rises on a platform as she does.

Renge sighs pensively, “Sorry to interrupt, gentlemen, but what’s with the lackluster character analysis? I must say, I’m quite disappointed. I thought I taught you better.” she shrugs.

You laugh to yourself looking at the two of them, he brought this on himself.

“Alright then. How would you work Shiro into our collection of characters? He can’t be the boy Lolita because Honey’s already got that covered.” Tamaki lifts a sobbing Honey by his underarms to present him to Renge.

“You just don’t get it, do you? Now listen up! There are plenty of girls out there who have a thing for younger boys or boys with baby faces. These girls would be considered shota fans. Now, shota can be a fairly broad category, so it’s important to know that the genre can be broken down into many different smaller sub-categories. For example, shota fans with an interest in Lolita boys would favor a boy like Haninozuka-Senpai.”

Kyoya’s pen moves furiously quick to record every word Renge says.

“But this little boy is different. If I had to pick a character for him… Yes! He’d be the naughty-boy type, without a doubt!” Renge’s smirk and determined gaze ought to terrify Shiro further.

“The naughty type?” He inquires curiously.

The cage rises off the ground and back into the ceiling.

“Now, to play up the naughty type, you have to wear shorts.” Renge crouches and points to Shiro’s uniform shorts, nodding, “Okay.”

She blasts her whistle again, “You’ve gotta have bumps and bruises! Give him a couple of scars!”

The twins are hunched by Shiro, covering him in bandages and marking him up with a pen.

The whistle, again.

“Run like a spoiled child! Make it reckless!” Shiro sprints on command.

“Now I want you to trip and make it big!”

Shiro’s foot catches on a taut rope with a yell, and he crashes to the ground with a loud thud, face first.

Renge bends near Shiro, her eyebrows furrowed, “Are you okay, little boy?” The character doesn’t last long; she blows once more on her whistle. “Now give them your catchphrase!”

Shiro wipes his cheek with a far-off look in his eyes, “No big deal, it was nothin’.”

Renge coos, “That was perfect! Absolutely perfect, Shiro!” She gushes.

Tamaki claps his hands together gently, “That was outstanding. I never knew you were such a great coach, Renge.”

Renge laughs haughtily.

“Oh, I never knew you were such a great coach, Renge.” Your face scrunches as you mock Tamaki, reaching for the teacup and saucer before you and taking a long sip.

Shiro stumbles to his feet, an alarmed expression crossing his features.

“Ugh, I’ve had enough of you people!” He captures everyone’s attention, including yours. You set your cup and saucer down as you observe.

Shiro practically shakes with frustration, “This is so stupid- none of this is ever gonna help me make her happy!”

You can see the panic in his eyes; you stand, head tilting, “Her?”

Shiro breaks into a run for the door.

“Shiro!” You call.

Oh. It all makes sense now, how did you not realise sooner.

“Wait, Shiro! We haven’t taught you how to apply the techniques you’ve learned yet!”

The door slams, and he’s gone. Your shoulders drop. Renge climbs back onto her platform, descending into the floor.

Much to your absolute delight.

“I swear, younger boys are good for nothing. I went to all that trouble to coach him, and he quits.”

“I can’t believe he ditched us because he didn’t like the lesson. What a selfish little brat.”

“There aren’t many people who’d enjoy that kind of lesson. But never mind that, did you hear what he said?”

You roll your eyes "You call yourself romantic experts, don't you see? didn't you hear what he said? This is about a girl!"

They stare back at you blankly, heads tilting to the side.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

“How… on earth… did we let them talk us into this?” You grumble, picking at your skirt. Haruhi crosses her arms adjacent to you.

“It’ll be okay, y/n-chan. It was so easy to sneak in, and wearing this uniform, I really look like I’m in elementary school.” Honey peeks around the corner, dressed in a grade school uniform.

You and Haruhi, respectively, are dressed in middle school girls’ uniforms. Haruhi wears a darkly colored wig, and your hair is styled neatly straight, clip-on bangs secured to your hairline on the center of your head. They nearly cover your eyebrows, two longer pieces framing your eyes. You look exponentially younger, it reminds you of when you first arrived in Japan.

“Yeah, you do. I understand why they wanted you to wear an elementary school uniform. I mean, we are sneaking into an elementary school, and you totally fit in, Senpai.”

You and Haruhi stand on the opposite side of the doorway, Haruhi leaning on your shoulders.

“What I don’t understand is why they made us dress up in middle school uniforms,” Haruhi grumbles.

"Why did we even bother with disguises? We stick out like a sore thumb!” You growl in a harsh whisper, the outfits not really doing much for your heights.

A pair of doors creak open as the remains of the host club observe the three of you.

“Oh, there’s a reason, a damn good reason,” Tamaki assures, more to himself than anything, adding to his slight delusion of having completely protective intentions.

“This way, Haru-chan and y/n-chan!” Honey exclaims cheerfully, wrapping his arm around your own, as you, in turn, wrap your arm around Haruhi’s. The three of you trail along in a chain, you and Haruhi in your miniskirts that both of you try not to pay attention to.

“Aren’t they the cutest?” the twins exclaim.

“Oh, look at her in that miniskirt. Haruhi looks like a little doll!” Tamaki sighs.

Kyoya takes a moment to glance up from his book, catching you in the uniform as well. He can feel his lips tug upward, although the darkness shields his face, and that helps a little. You look youthful and optimistic, something he hasn’t noticed from you in a long while, it reminded him of when the two of you first met.

He quickly caught that he was smiling, and he was smiling because you were seemingly happy. it was strange to him, well-it's not like he wasnts to see you miserable- but why was he getting happy that you were happy?

Maybe it was because you were his fiance and he has a level of responsibility for you, but that is strictly business, he has to remind himself that now. He could not understand. What was this feeling?

He doesn’t stay silent for long. “So basically, you just wanted to see her dressed up like that.” he accuses with a sly smirk.

“A fair reason, of course.” Kyoya nods to himself.

Honey pries open the door to a classroom, “This is it. Shiro-chan’s classroom.” He creaks it open enough to fit inside. “When I was in elementary school, this was my classroom too!” he glides between desks excitedly.

You and Haruhi enter shortly after, marveling at the size of a mere elementary school classroom.

You place a hand on an empty desk, “There’s nobody here.” you acknowledge aloud.

The club appears. “So the kid’s classroom is empty, is it?”

The twins are the first to arrive, “This sure takes me back.” They chorus, striding in casually with their hands tucked into their pockets.

“I wonder if doodles are still on my desk.”

“Doubtful, the school changes out the desks every year.” Kyoya voices from behind them.

“Let’s check out the cafeteria after this.”

“I wanna see the old gym.”

“Good idea, Kaoru!”

You roll your eyes as you realise the true reason why you were in uniform “Hey! If you’re just gonna barge in here like that, then why’d we wear these stupid disguises?” You whine.

“Don’t worry about it.” Hikaru shrugs, his brother mirroring him.“There’s no one in here to catch us.” Kaoru informs.

“That’s my point!” you deadpan.

“And besides, who wouldn’t want to see you in this adorable little uniform?” Kyoya tugs at your collar gently and playfully, kknowing that you probably hated everything about this situation.

“Of course you only compliment me when I am seething" Kyoya casts his eyes down, “I think you look fine.” He shrugs.“Ah, I can see straight through your little 'disguise’ plan, mister, I-”

Suddenly, footsteps echo in the hall outside. None of you miss it.

You grab Kyoya by his wrist and yank him down under a desk along with you. The other hosts duck in nearby desks with gasps.

What you didn't consider was that it is tight fit for even one person never mind two, resulting in you and Kyoya being closer than ever. Physically that is.

“If the teacher finds us-”

“-we’ll have a hard time explaining why we snuck in.” the twins voice their concerns.

"Shut up" you whisper yell from across the underside of the desks Kyoya smirks "mad are we-" You press a finger to his lips and give him a stern glare, “You’re not very good at being quiet.” your voice is considerably quieter than his.

His eyes move down to your finger upon his lips, and so do yours. The two of you realising what exactly you were doing with a delay. blood rushing to both of your faces.

What happened next was peculiar to you, because it was not something you could describe. Suddenly you can feel you're heart thudding against your chest, your eyes lock as you feel yours almost melt in a way. Your mouth hangs open as if something is on the tip of your tongue but at the same time you can't form any thought of a word.

You linger for a moment before you notice the footsteps receding, breaking the sort of trance that held the two of you, your finger falls from his lips and your head snaps to the door. You quickly escape from your compromising position and head for the door.

The club groans exasperatedly as you peek out to watch the teacher turning the corner with no indication of catching the lot of you.

In your normal voice, “It’s alright, he’s gone. But you guys, we came here to get the scoop on Shiro, so what do you think we should do now?” You direct them back to the task at hand as they climb from their desks.

Kyoya’s migrated to the other side of the room, where pictures are pinned to the wall along with Honey.

“Well, here’s something interesting.” he captures the club’s and your attention. You stride to stand near them, “What’d you find?”

Kyoya points to a picture of Shiro at a piano with a girl his age, looking cheerful.

A look you had only seen on him once, however you quickly realised that wasn't the only time you had seen that look today.

“Hey, that’s Shiro!” You smile, stepping closer and craning your neck upwards to get a closer look.

“So he’s in the Classical Music Club.” Kyoya acknowledges.

“He looks like he’s enjoying himself. It’s nice to see him with a smile on his face. I had no idea he could look so sweet.” You hum, finding great comfort in knowing he’s in a club that makes him happy. Or, at least with someone that evokes that feeling.

Tamaki takes a moment longer to gaze at the photo.

“Yeah.”

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

You all find yourselves watching Shiro through a window in the room where the Classical Music Club congregates. He sits wistfully at a large window, far from the other children, peering out of the glass as he balances himself on the ledge.

“There he is! There’s Shiro-chan!” Honey gasps.

He looks pensive, thoughtful. Someone would say almost grumpy but the best word you could place for it was forlorn.

“Excuse me, Takaoji?” the calling of his name only earns a side glance.

“I’m sorry, but have you been practicing the new piece teacher gave us?”

“The new piece? Not really.”

“If you want, I can show it to you. Do you wanna come play it with me?”

“No thanks, you go ahead. After all, there’s only one grand piano. You should use it, Kamishiro.”

The girl stares at him a moment, a little disappointed, before shrugging it off with a smile, “Thank you! I will then! And if you want to join me, just let me know.” She hints.

As she begins to play, a soft smile stretches across Shiro’s face, and his eyes slip shut.

You and the club look on with intense curiosity. Although, Tamaki’s expression is solemn.

Just at that moment, a girl leaves the music room and is immediately approached by Tamaki.

“Pardon me, mademoiselle.” He offers her a white rose, “I’ve never seen a rose more lovely than you, my dear. Here, this is for you.” Tamaki’s ever-charming tactics prompt the girl into answering his questions.

“I was wondering if you could tell me anything about that young lady playing the piano. Do you know her?” his voice is gentle.

“That’s Hina Kamishiro.”

“Her name is Hina?” Tamaki clarifies.

“That’s right, but you better not fall in love with her.”

What a strange thing to say, especially for an elementary school girl.

Tamaki pushes further, “Why?”

“Didn’t you know? Hina has to move away soon. Her dad just got a new job in Germany, so they have to move there at the end of the week-”

“What do you think you’re doing?!”

Everyone’s attention is drawn to an enraged Shiro, practically shaking with fury.

“I want you idiots to leave immediately!” He orders.

Tamaki decides he’s had enough of Shiro’s ungrateful attitude and his mysterious motives.

With his blonde fringe covering his eyes, he lifts Shiro off the ground and hauls him over his shoulder with little effort, not even blinking an eye.

“Put me down! What are you doing?!”

Much to Shiro’s dismay, Hina peeks out from the music room to watch this embarrassing display.

The rest of the club follows in suit, “Let me go! Just put me down! Where do you think-”

“It’s time to go, guys. Quit thrashing around.” Despite the circumstances, Tamaki’s tone is relaxed and unfazed.

As the group returns to the club room, Tamaki tosses Shiro down on the nearest sofa, the room shrouded in darkness.

Shiro grunts at the impact and promptly sits up, “What is your problem you, big idiot?!”

His fringe still covering his eyes, Tamaki turns to you and gestures to Shiro. You nod.

“I’m sorry, but you’re the idiot.” Shiro instantly shuts his mouth, staring at you with wide eyes.

“You said that you wanted Tamaki to teach you how to make women happy. But that’s not what you wanted, is it?” You point an accusing finger close to his chest.

“You don’t want to make all women happy; you’re concerned with the happiness of one woman in particular. She’s the only one you care about, Hina Kamishiro.”

“But I’m afraid there’s nothing we can do to help you with that, Shiro.” you let your fingers drag across his chin before receding and allowing Tamaki to step in.

“Listen, Shiro. I know that I told you, it’s the job of a host to make women happy. But when you care for someone, you must find the courage to express what is in your heart. You have to tell her how you feel about her!”

“You didn’t come to me looking to become a full-fledged host. You want to be a full-fledged man.”

Shiro leans forward and hangs his head, placing his hands over his knees, “It doesn’t matter anymore. I’ve run out of time. I just wanted to hear her play before she left for good. That’s all.” His bratty composure has wholly fallen, giving way to his longing, loving side.

“That piece she played. It’s Mozart’s Sonata in D major for two pianos, isn’t it?” Tamaki pulls away a pale yellow curtain to reveal a grand piano in all its glory. He lifts open the lid and reveals the shining black and white slick keys like they’re brand new.

“Wait a minute, since when is there a grand piano in this room?” Haruhi drawls, confused.

“Well, this is a music room, after all-”

“So why wouldn’t it have a grand piano?” the twins ask as if it’s obvious.

“It is a music room, after all.” Kyoya sips a cup of tea, seated across from Honey and Mori.

“It is a music room.” Mori’s monotone voice is low and soothing.

“It’s always been there. We just had it covered up.” Honey shrugs as he swallows a bite of cake.

Tamaki poises his fingers over the keys and begins to flawlessly play the piece in question.

As usual, Tamaki seems to be putting no effort into his performance, his fingers gliding skillfully over the ivory keys like gentle feathers ticking the surface. It’s a learned skill.

Shiro rises from his place on the sofa to watch in awe.

“Awesome.” he exhales breathlessly. He is certainly someone who can appreciate this sort of skill.

“For the next week, you will spend your mornings, lunches, recesses, and free time after school in piano lessons with me.”

“But, why?”

“You wanted to be my apprentice, right? Besides, that young lady looked like she wanted nothing more than to play the piano with you.”

It’s like watching a creature in its natural habitat- Tamaki on the piano.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

You and the hosts stand in two lines on either side of the doorway, welcoming your guest, “Welcome, princess, we’ve been waiting.”

“I present to you, Shiro Takaoji’s piano recital.” Tamaki gives way to reveal Shiro sitting at a grand piano, an identical one just beside him with an empty, calling chair. Shiro’s face remains stoic as his gaze bores into the keys in front of him.

Hina hesitates in shock, her eyes wide and innocent as she processes her surroundings.

Tamaki pulls out the empty chair and gestures to the piano, “If you please, princess.”

She finally puts the pieces together for herself.

“Let’s play together, Hina.” Shiro flashes her a genuine smile.

“Okay!” She agrees quickly, settling down beside him, and they both begin to play.

With fond expressions, you and the host club are the perfect audience.

You and Kyoya watch from a distance, even both of your somewhat cold exteriors melting at the sight of young love blooming. "It must be difficult, moving to the other side other side of the world so young"

You hum "It is." you mutter, not entirely sure whether or not he was referring to Hina, or you. "I just pray that Hina is good at german" you whisper, silence between the two of you. Kyoya knew your struggles when you moved to Ouran well, everyone did. It wasn't that you didn't know Japanese, but knowing it and using it are two different things. It didn't need to be restated.

"At least...Even if she isn't....she'll have someone waiting for her" now this was an odd, not in the context of Shiro and Hina, that made perfect sense, but the two of you did this a lot, talking about one thing when in reality you're talking about each other.

"Would he wait do you think?"

"I think he would...when you have a look like that you find yourself to be incredibly...patient"

Chapter Text

Now considering this was technically considered a club activity you have to admit this was the most relaxed you had been in a while. The sun beaming down on you while you sun bathe, even the usual drama of host club antics get lost in the serenity of an empty resort.

"I must admit Kyoya, when I joked a few years ago that the ootori group should create a holiday resort and label it as a form of therapy I didn't think you took it seriously" you muse, eyes closed as you bring in the sun rays.

Kyoya shrugs but quickly remembers that you can't actually see him "Believe it or not I don't completely disregard your ideas, expecially when they truly have merit, my father seemed to agree"

You hum knowingly at what he actually meant by that statement "I'm assuming that he doesn't know that it was my idea then" You tease, not really being that mad about the stolen idea, it wasn't like Kyoya was getting any direct monetary profit from the resort. "I did try crediting you but he had a hard time believing a fifteen year old girl came up with it by herself"

You weren't exactly surprised, you had met Kyoya's father after all, you knew what it was like by now. Luckily you were too relaxed to care at that moment.

There was a moment of silence, peace between the two of you. It was actually something you enjoyed when spending time with Kyoya, the two of you never forced conversation for the sake of it, which on it's own sounds sad but it makes any words that the two of you do exchange all the more important.

"If...you have any more ideas like that...tell me about them...I can at least appreciate a good idea when it comes from you" you laughed under your breath, "Well of course" lifting your sunglasses to rest against your head, sitting up to face him properly "You have taste"

"Why thank you my dear" he joked, taking a sip of his drink, watching chaoes unfold as Tamaki and the Twins argue over what Haruhi should wear. Typical.

“Haru-chan! Let’s play! You wanna go swimming in the current pool with me?” Honey tugs on Haruhi’s arm with a pink float decorated with bunnies clinging to his waist.

“Nah. I’m not gonna swim today. Hold on. You know how to swim; you still need that float?”

Honey shakes his head, “Mm-mm. Just looks cuter this way, you know?” Honey spins on his heel to go prancing in the other direction toward the current pool.

“Mm, he’s right. Those bunnies are pretty cute.”

“He’s so innocent.” The twins materialize on either side of your chair despite the umbrella above them.

You sigh, leaning back in your sun lounger basking in the controlled chaos you are used to.

“No way! You’ve got it all wrong!”

You start, awakened by a powerful rumbling in the ground and echoing voice.

“Is that Renge?” Haruhi turns her head to the offending sound.

A cabana splits in half, and the trees part to make way for her infamous contraption, the rumbling sound now accompanied by her shrill laugh.

“How does she do that? It’s like the rig follows us.” Haruhi sweats.

you groan, pinching the bridge of your nose "One day, all i want is one day"

“That outfit’s pretty impressive,” Hikaru observes Renge’s two-piece bikini and a tattoo winding up her ribcage.

“What’s with the tattoo on your stomach?” Kaoru inquires.

“Oh, that? You don’t recognize it? I’m cosplaying.”

“Yeah, as who?”

“La-La~”

“LaLa? Like the manga magazine?” Kaoru grumbles.

“Her petite and slender frame, her blue eyes that light up young men’s faces, her singing voice! I am Quon Kisaragi!” Renge extolls.

“I wouldn’t have guessed.” Haruhi sneers.

“I had no idea who you were supposed to be.” Tamaki shrugs.

Once again, the twins and Tamaki are huddled in a circle as Renge poses for Haruhi, who watches, miffed.

“Hey, Boss, are you sure it’s okay for Renge to be dressed-”

“-like that?” They point to the girl in question.

“Well, yeah. That’s okay.” Tamaki shrugs indifferently.

“And why is that?”

“Because it’s cosplay? I guess.”

“Listen up, boys! You obviously need help understanding Haninozuka’s hidden motives. Look!” Renge notes, pointing over to Honey and Mori.

“Takashi!” Honey calls, landing in the current pool and letting the current sweep him gently away as Mori watches fondly.

“What are you talking about?” Tamaki implores.

“Think about what he said to you earlier.”

“Just looks cuter this way, you know?”

“He’s not being as sweet and innocent as you think.”

From the chair next to you, Kyoya shoves his glasses up his nose, “I agree. Try putting the word 'I’ at the beginning of that sentence.”

“I just look cuter this way, you know?”

“I look cute!”

“He planned that?!”

“That’s Haninozuka for you. In the last part, he felt threatened by another loli-boy type, so he’s taken steps to keep his rank. I should give him more credit. He’s a lot smarter than I thought.” Renge descends into the ground and disappears.

“Hey! Look at this, everybody!” Honey draws everyone’s attention to him and Mori.

Mori swims diligently against the current with Honey on his back.

“Check it out! Look! Even though we’re swimming really fast, we never go any farther than we are now!” He waves excitedly.

“So, what’s up with him?” Tamaki groans.

“Could he really be that smart?” Haruhi interjects.

Hikaru cocks his super-soaker water gun; the squeaking draws Tamaki’s attention to them before he’s blasted in the face with a stream of water.

“I got ya!” Hikaru winks handsomely, resting his weapon of choice on his shoulder.

“C'mon, Boss, let’s go! Let’s have a water gun fight.”

“It’ll be me and Kaoru against you. If you get it in the face, you lose. What do you say?” Hikaru implores, hand on his hip.

“Forget it.” Tamaki dries his face, “Why would I want to subject myself to a childish game like that?”

An idea forms in each of the twins’ minds.

All of a sudden, you’re grabbed by your wrist and pulled from your nap with an exclamation of surprise.

“y/n, I think it’s time that we got married! Then we’ll honeymoon in Atami!”

You quickly break from their hold, sitting back down on the lounger really not wanting to get involved. "Considering if y/n was going to marry anyone it would be me you clearly haven't thought through your plan very well" Kyoya spoke up, glaring at the twins before nodding towards haruhi.

The twins quickly pick up what he's putting down "Good point Kyoya, we were thinking about this all wrong, Haruhi clearly is the better option SHE should marry us"

"gee thanks" you mutter but its clear that it did the job of pissing off Tamaki, breaking out a waterfight between the three of them.

“I’ll get you guys! Sideways-leaping shot!” Tamaki launches himself sideways, but the twins shield themselves with two comically large tiki masks.

“That’s cheating!” When Tamaki lands, his foot catches on the previously discarded banana peel, and he tumbles noisily into a totem pole, head first.

You wince and suck in a breath through clenched teeth, “Oh- that didn’t sound good.”

One by one, the animals on the totem pole’s eyes glow an intimidating red until the final animal at the top is shining.

You remove your sunglasses from your eyes and place them on your head, “That… doesn’t sound good either.”

As if he senses something is amiss, Mori drops his glass at your feet, attention diverting to Honey in the current pool, still carelessly kicking his feet.

Something underneath the water rumbles, and a wave develops until it’s practically a tsunami. With wide eyes, Honey watches as it heads straight towards him.

“Wah~!” It crashes over him, and his bunny float is sent soaring into the air- but without him inside as he’s flushed in the wave.

“Honey-Senpai!” You lurch from your chair, and your sunglasses fall discarded to the ground.

“Mitsukuni!”

Both you and Mori hurry to see if you have enough time to save him, but Mori slips on the same banana peel and falls harshly to the unforgiving concrete.

“Mori-Senpai,” You call in concern.

Tamaki jabs a heroic finger in the air, “Gentlemen, we’re going after Honey-Senpai! That pool looks like the quickest way!” he announces, referring to the pool Honey was treading water in before he was washed away.

“Charge!” Haruhi, Mori, and the twins follow Tamaki’s lead as they sprint haphazardly in a random direction.

As you see that Kyoya’s stayed put, you decide that it might be best to stay put as well. His family did build this resort, after all.

“Wait! I wouldn’t go-”

It’s already too late; the club has come across the alligators in that direction. “There are alligators in there!” They flee as quickly as they can.

Tamaki jabs another heroic finger in the air, “Okay. So we can’t use that pool, then let’s try this way next!”

But where Tamaki has pointed, several more alligators appear, snapping their jaws in a warning.

“They’re here too!”

“And here!”

With his more petite, brown leather portable notebook, Kyoya’s glasses glint off the sun as he explains your current situation.

“Those alligators belong to the park’s tropical animals exhibit. I guess it is kind of dangerous to let them run wild.”

“And yet i'm supposedly the one with bad ideas?” You huff in frustration, peering at Kyoya from your crouched position on your nap chair.

“Though, the cause of our present situation seems to be the location of the switch for the current pool. I’ll have to have a little chat with our designers.” He snaps the notebook shut.

“Thanks a lot, you guys. I got some great data today.”

“You what?!” The club exclaims.

“Ok I'll admit that is a little smart" You shrug.

“This is a map of the Tropical Aqua Garden. This is our current location. We need to get here- I have a feeling that’s where Honey-Senpai probably ended up. It might be tough, because to get there, we’ll have to make it this jungle area in the southern block.”

Kyoya drags his pen along the map to indicate your path, “Distance-wise, we’re talking about 800 meters.”

“It looks like there’s a lot of undeveloped areas. And idea what might be lurking in those parts of the jungle?” Haruhi cautiously inquires.

“Since they’re still being developed, I’m afraid I don’t know.”

“Yeah, someone’s going to have to carry me.” You lift your arms high and glance around for any takers.

None. Yet. You’re going to have to work on your skills.

“Whatever’s out there could be even more dangerous-”

“-than alligators.”

“Alright. Now, this is a mission of survival! I know we can make it through the treacherous jungle in one piece… It is our sworn duty to save Honey-Senpai!”

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

In the dense plant life and humidity of the inner workings of the jungle, the sunlight is much more filtered than it was out in the open.

“Wow, this place is just like a real jungle, huh?”

If you couldn’t see the glass dome and someone had dropped you off in the middle of this theme park with no knowledge as to how you got there, you might have believed you were in the jungle.

“Yeah, and I keep hearing all of these really strange animal calls,” Haruhi grumbles.

“You don’t think that all of those animal sounds-”

“-could belong to the real thing, do you?”

Kyoya shrugs, “To be honest, I’m not sure, but I do know that my family always strives for authenticity whatever the cost.”

"There surely must be some kind of ethical issue if that is the case, wouldn't be a good healing facility if there is a serious alligator injury" you pointed out, suprised that Kyoya's family would put actually dangerous animals in an enclosed area.

Kyoya hummed "I suppose so but it also wouldn't surprise me if that was on purpose to drive more business to our hospitals" he muttered only loud enough for you to hear really. It didn't surprise you either really but you dreaded to think if that was actually the case.

As if on cue, Mori slips and falls behind the group. At the loud grunt and crash, you all turn to him. He lays unmoving with a banana peel on his face.

“Mori-Senpai is-”

“-acting as clumsy as you do, Boss.” Hikaru and Kaoru worry.

“Shut up!” Tamaki snarls as Mori sits up from his position on the ground.

Your accusations are correct- Mori is more worried than you can imagine.

The sunlight diminishes greatly, and you look overhead to see the beginnings of rainfall.

“Uh-oh, it’s about time for the squall,” Kyoya notes as he checks his wristwatch.

“Huh?”

The first few drops fall, then it turns into a downpour. You and the club take refuge in a nearby pavilion with a straw roof.

“Hey, Mori-Senpai. You seem to be really close with Honey-Senpai. Are the two of you like childhood friends?” Haruhi inquires from her seat in the pavilion beside the twins as Mori leans on the edge, watching the raindrops fall.

"You don't know?" hikaru asked "They're cousins" Kaoru added. You lean back against the wall of the shelter you are all in, sighing as you look out into the rain.

"Now this is the kind of rain that I remember" you mutter to yourself, the rain reminding you of europe. Kyoya also leans against the wall next to you "Hello? It's me. Well, we've had an incident that's caused some trouble"

you look up to see Kyoya on the phone, most likely to either his father or someone high up in his private police force. "No she's fine. yes she's unharmed" You raised an eyebrow, obvious that he was talking about you although you were confused on why whoever he was talking to was asking about you.

In the mean time Mori and Haruhi seem to wander off "Yes, at once, please" he finally put down the phone. "My family's private police force is going to send in a search and rescue team to help us, they're better equipped to find Honey-senpai than we are. so let's just go back to the gate and wait there"

The others weren't listening except for you, too busy arguing over Haruhi. "Hey, where are Mori and Haruhi?" he questioned as all of you left the shelter to head for the gate, but he shrugged it off, figuring they would show up at some point with a search and rescue team around.

The other boys rush ahead, still arguing "when you were on the phone before, you were talking about me? weren't you?" You ask kyoya, looking up at him as he looks ahead. "I was, why do you ask?"

You dead pan at him, head tilting at the side "You know why"

Kyoya sighs "you know I have a duty of care for you, as does my father, if I call up our police force when it is known that I am with you it is protocol to ask about your safety" he explains.

He pauses, stopping in his tracks "You know, I'm don't believe I mentioned to them that there are other visitors here. Huh. Oh well" He shrugs carrying on, hovering a hand over your back to urge you forward.

however instead of finding the gate you instead find a series of police officers on the floor with honey, Mori and Haruhi standing before them. We break out into a run at the sight of them "Haruhi!" Tamaki cries.

"Are you alright?" he adds, the five of you out of breath as you come to a halt "Hey its Tama-chan!" Honey says as if he hadn't just knocked out a dozen guards.

"You okay, senpai?" Hikaru asks. "Haruhi!!!" Tamaki leaps for her "I was so worried" the twins bend down to check on the guards "I'm not sure what happened here, but at least they're alive"

"It's pretty amazing that this is Honey sepai's work"

"He must have been really holding back" they continue to poke at the guards

"Huh?"

“What do you mean he was holding back?” Haruhi queries with innocent eyes, although Tamaki is in serious pain.

“So then-”

“-you don’t know about Senpai?” The twins seem bewildered by her lack of knowledge.

“The Haninozukas are famous for their martial arts. Not only have they helped train the police and SDF forces, but they’ve also worked with several overseas military forces.” Hikaru elaborates as they abandon their fascination with the grounded soldiers.

“Honey-Senpai, in particular, has been called the dreadnaught of the Haninozuka family. By the time he was in middle school, he’d become the national champion in both karate and judo.”

Honey turns when he feels he’s called, then giggles with closed eyes.

That’s the karate and judo champion for you.

“Mori-Senpai’s no slouch either. He won the national championship in kendo when he was just in middle school.”

Haruhi looks to her savior, and he turns when his name is mentioned.

“So how were you able to find us, Honey-Senpai?” the twins inquire as Honey has returned to his natural aura.

“It wasn’t hard. It didn’t take me long to reach the end of the current pool, so I decided to look for you guys.”

“We humbly apologize!” A different, more foreign voice pipes in, and the attention of the club directs to the soldiers, now reoriented from their initial shock and kneeling to the ground in a show of respect.

“I am a second-generation student of the Ishizuka Dojo!”

“I’m a student of the Todoroki Dojo!”

“And I’m from the Otakeh Dojo! We are in your debt!”

Honey’s eyes and posture display innocence and confusion, “Why? Is something wrong?” His voice can easily be mistaken for an eight-year-old boy’s.

“Yes, sir! We’re so sorry, sir! We were unaware that we were searching for Mitsukuni Haninozuka! We’ve committed a terrible offense here! I apologize for this confrontation. But my dojo will be so excited to hear that I’ve come face to face with the great Haninozuka! I cherish this moment!”

You snort, scooting closer to Kyoya, “I bet if he offered them an autograph, they’d pass out.” You snicker. You almost draw a smile from him, but rather he gives you a condescending look.

“What? I bet I’m not wrong.” You pout.

Honey takes Mori by the wrist and gently brings him down to his level, patting him gingerly on the forehead, “Takashi~ you did an amazing job of protecting Haru-chan.”

This patronizing show of affection elicits a smile from Kyoya as he adjusts his glasses.

“I bet you were pretty lonely without me around, huh?”

Mori’s eyes dart to the right where Haruhi is stood, “I don’t know if I’d say that.”

Honey smiles with a fond giggle.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

With the sun setting, the clear, blue water now fades to an orange, coral color as it washes upon the shore. It has taken the rest of the day to walk back to where you’d begun this journey.

Despite his earlier resentment, you now ride on Kyoya’s back, limp arms slung around his neck and your cheek pressed to his back, eyes contently shut.

Back to your much deserved nap.

“You know, maybe we should go to the beach next.” The twins stride ahead with arms casually thrown behind their heads.

“Yeah, the beach would be nice.” Kaoru agrees.

Kyoya glances over his shoulder at your relaxed features and smiles fondly. He’ll have to keep you away from the water.

“You idiots, Haruhi’s not interested in anything like that.” Tamaki scoffs confidently.

Haruhi smiles gently, “Actually, I might like to go to the beach.” It stuns the club, each one stopping in their tracks to look at her.

“I may not be into this silly water park but I like the ocean. It would be nice to go the beach, and it’s so pretty.”

Completely recovered and acting like he hasn’t just opposed it, Tamaki glitters, “Yeah! Alright. Then that’s where we’ll go next time.”

“We’re all gonna go to the beach, Tama-chan?” Honey quips, perched on Mori’s shoulders.

He hums gently, “That’ll be fun, don’t you think?” His inquiry is directed to Mori below him.

Mori simpers fondly, “Yeah,” It’s not hard to pick up the genuine agreement in his tone.

Chapter Text

You are hoping that after everything that went down at the jungle resort that you may finally get a truly relaxing break today. Although given who you are with you are unsure whether or not that will actually happen.

Yet still you try to finally get a tan, eyes closed as you sink further into the beach towel as the rest of the club talk around you.

“So… why’d we come to Okinawa?”

“Because Kyoya’s family has a private beach here.”

“It’s beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Yeah.”

“But why couldn’t we have gone-”

“- to the Caribbean?”

“Or even Fiji?”

“Do you think a commoner like Haruhi has a passport?”

You shoot up, opening your eyes “Kyoya!”

“Ah.”

“You do realize that I can hear what you’re saying, right?” Haruhi interjects.

Out on a protruding rock from the ocean, Tamaki is intimately situated with his arm around a patron’s shoulder.

“It’s so beautiful. Tamaki, being alone here with you and looking out at the sea, it’s like a dream.” She sighs dreamily.

“It’s no dream, it’s real, but if I could have my way, my princess. I’d be in your dreams every night.” Tamaki brings their faces to close proximity.

“Oh, Tamaki.” His guest swoons.

Utilizing the volleyball net, the twins and two guests play a game of two on two. Hikaru bumps the ball violently, and it goes flying over Kaoru and his guest’s head and rolling off behind them.

“Hey, take it easy, Hikaru!” Kaoru begs as he goes running off after the beach ball.

“I’m sorry! I’ll get it!” Hikaru calls, but it’s too late; Kaoru is already on his way.

It’s like a cheesy romance movie, where the two protagonists go prancing off along the shoreline in a beach montage, almost in slow-motion.

“Wait for me, Kaoru!” Hikaru calls after Kaoru as he continues along the sand.

“It’s not my fault! The ball is rolling away!” All you can hear from you position on a towel under an umbrella next to Haruhi are the giggles of two brothers who are fantastic actors. The pullover covers your nearly bare body nicely from the sun and keeps you warm in the shade.

Ah, yes, hosts working on location.

Beside you, Haruhi sits with her knees pulled up to her chest as a hermit crab scuttles by along the sand near the towel.

“Oh, Haruhi, look!” You carefully lift the crab by the shell and place it in your hand, shoving it near Haruhi.

You follow her line of sight to see Kyoya monitoring a line of girls in swimsuits, all waiting for a turn with the King in the VIP spot.

Haruhi groans, “Why?”

“Her alone time with Tamaki is up. Next lady, please proceed.” Kyoya ruins the facade of a moment with his announcement.

“This sucks. I thought going to the beach meant a day off.” Haruhi’s attention is drawn to Mori and Honey’s group stretching their limbs.

“Um, Haruhi?” A shadow casts over Haruhi’s back, and she turns to greet her caller. Well, rather three, this time.

“Aren’t you going to go swimming with us?” They urge, all three dressed in very flattering swimsuits.

“No, uh, I like looking at the sea from a safe distance.” Haruhi settles for.

“Well, if you’re not going to swim, would you mind if we sat here and talked with you?” the second patron inquires cautiously.

Now a natural facade, Haruhi charms the three guests effortlessly, “But why? You girls should go swim. You’ve got cute swimsuits on; why not show them off?”

Instead of rushing off to the ocean, the guests sigh in appreciation.

As your eyes dart back and forth between Haruhi and her infatuated guests, you take an obvious hint and haul yourself up from the ground, dusting off and waving a short goodbye to the ladies before joining the twins in their antics.

“I can’t believe he fooled us.” Hikaru opens with, picking up their lost beach ball and handing it to his brother.

“Who’d have thought he’d bring the ladies with us?” Kaoru shrugs, although not upset in the least. This is one of the rare schemes that Tamaki’s managed to fool them with.

“We certainly didn’t expect it.”

“You were invited on this all-expenses-paid vacation for a reason. And that is to keep our clients entertained.” Kyoya is seated under an outdoor table with an umbrella and two tropical drinks before him.

You hum in agreement, finally rejoining the land of the living as you reach for the second drink. "You guys want the photobooks to sell this is how we do it" You add.

The twins stand before the two of you in disbelief "Well don't you make quite the money hungry pair" hikaru muttered, you raise an eyebrow "Have you seen Tamaki's plans? someone has to find the budget for it"

The twins exchanged a glance as the two of them pondered it over, ultimately agreeing with the logic before running back to play volleyball.

"Are you not going to go off with them?" Kyoya asked, looking up over his glasses while still scribbling in his notebook. "Not yet, just taking it all in" you reply lightly, pulling your knees up to lean your book against.

"Taking what in?" He asks, he knows that you weren't exactly unfamiliar with beach trips, while it may be less common where you were from you still had gone on plenty of trips. "It is rare that we can get a moment where everything isn't...filtered"

The statement intrigues Kyoya, head tilting to the side "How so?" you sigh, closing the book as you stare out into the ocean, watching as the boys have a water fight and Haruhi goes rockpooling with the girls.

"While we do have clients here, most of us have still dropped our typical club persona's that we put up at school, there's no pressure to pretend to be something we're not"

Kyoya hums, following your gaze to watch the boys also. "Do you really think so?" he asks, placing his notebook down. "I know so. None of us are in the host club for the sake of being in the host club, we all put on persona's to ignore the persona's we have to put on for our families. When we can drop both of those...it's rare...but it is quite nice to see"

Kyoya pauses, staring back at you "You're quite insightful sometimes do you know that?" he asks, taking a sip of his drink" you shrug "It's my job to be"

"So what pretenses are you putting up then? you sounded as if you include yourself?" the question siezes in your chest as you question whether or not you should actually go there.

"I think it may be the same pretenses that you put up as well" you reply, not taking your eyes off of him as you analyse his reaction. Kyoya doesn't answer at first, having a mental war with himself as to how much information he should release to you.

You unintentionally hold your breath waiting for his answer, praying that he wouldn't shrug it off again, that he wouldn't shut off just this once. "And what is that?"

"That while we were in club hours, distracted by numbers and analytics, we can both ignore why we are always sat together and the future that is coming for us soon"

"Y/n-"

"It is fine Kyoya, I have always been aware of my place with you, you don't have to rush to protect my feelings" you place the book you were reading on the table between the two of you.

Silence falls between the two of you as you sigh. "Kyoya I am tired of this dance we do every time this comes up. We have known each other two years and we never talk about it. Not really"

"Could I get a word in please?" your slightly ajar mouth pulled itself shut at the question. "I thought when we spoke at the party that was us talking about it"

"I...we said at the party we would try...to make this work...and I am being patient but..." while you are too caught up trying to piece together the right words you didn't notice how Kyoya was hanging onto every one of those words.

"I never know...where I stand with you Kyoya...and the truth is I don't think you know either" Kyoya remains silent, debating whether it would be best to say something in defence or let you elaborate.

"I don't...I don't expect anything from you but just as i think i've figured out what we are something will happen and I'm back to square one." you look away, staring back out into the ocean not wanting to bear to see his reaction.

"We are engaged but we are not together, we hang out and as far as I'm aware I am the person you talk to the most but we aren't friends..." it is in this moment that Kyoya wishes that he was better at bringing himself to express any form of emotion.

"I didn't...know you felt that way" was what ends up coming out instead. "Please don't say it like that" you plead, regretting bringing this up in the first place, taking a sip of your drink.

Kyoya is stunned "Like what?"

"With pity, I am aware of my position, and you are aware of yours, we fulfill the agreement our fathers made only enough but it is strange because of that exact arrangement we have decided that it would be for the best that things are only one way or another"

"We have responsibilities"

"Yes we do, but you seem to forget that you can do more than just your responsibilities. Why do you think you are here?" you gesture out to the rest of the host club.

"Y/n if you are saying what I think you are you do not want to go there" You raise an eyebrow "Do I not? Because the truth is I don't know anything about you. I'd like to but I don't, not truly."

Kyoya's face falls, seemingly a flurry of realisations hitting him at once. "All I am saying is that we are going to be stuck together for a very long time, I just want to know what terms that time will be on"

"Help!" Haruhi's voice seemed to echo through the rocky outskirts of the bay. You shoot up, completely forgetting the conversation that was just occurring, running in what you hope to be the direction of the cry.

as you turn around the rocks, quickly realising that the other club members are following behind you, but that isn't what you are worried about, no you are worried by the group of guys who currently are cornering haruhi. "Get the hell away from her!" you yell out.

"Ah good another one" the guy whose hand was wrapped around Haruhi's wrist says at your presence, not seeming intimidated in the slightest. "Yeah, now get away from her" You yank his hand off of her, wrist, however in the process he grabs onto yours instead, in an instinctual response you knee him in the crotch, throwing him off you.

"Get away from them!" Honey's voice rings out, tackling them, Mori as well. they just about manage to get out enough to run away, you manage to dodge out of the way in time to miss the onslaught, accidentally stepping backwards into Kyoya.

"Are you okay?" he asks, placing his hands on your shoulders to stabilise you. "Fine."

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

It's dark out, the host club have retired to Kyoya's family's beach house for the night. Kyoya is pacing the room as he is on the phone to his police force while you are sat on his bed watching him ramble on. He eventually sighs as he hangs up the phone.

"The girls are all safely at the hotel, they are tracking down what is left of those guys" You nod "Good"

"Are you sure you're okay?" he asks for probably the third time since the incident. "Yes I am fine, I know the whole 'duty of care' bullshit and that you probably got asked about me over the phone but I am fine"

"Forgive me for checking on someone who is known to avoid doctors" He mutters, placing the phone on the desk. "What you did was risky"

"Haruhi was in trouble" You sat firm in your position, having no regrets on your decision despite the backlash you had received from the host club after the incident. "Yes however there were much safer ways to handle it than just throwing yourself into the situation, you're not martial arts trained like Honey or Mori"

"Haruhi was in trouble then, what did you expect me to do, wait? Kyoya she could have been seriously hurt if i did that"

"You could have been seriously hurt!"

The outburst came as a shock to you, jaw hanging open for a moment before slowly picking itself up. "I am fine"

"Yes but you could have very easily may not have been"

Kyoya has a certain intensity to him that you do not see often at all from him, your mouth hinges close in shock. "You want to know what we are y/n? The truth is I don't even know the answer but what I do know is that you cannot do stuff like that"

You could practically hear the heart palpitations in your chest, you and Kyoya stare at each other from across the room, part of you was frustrated with him. Not getting anywhere with him apparently.

On the other hand there was a familiar feeling that you recognise from a moment of closeness the two of you had in the classroom when investigating shiro.

In the wake of your silence Kyoya sighs. "I...You are right, I do have a 'persona' or whatever you want to call it, but I can't just...drop it, it has become second nature to me now...please just...be patient with me"

There's a level of vunerability in his words that is unlike anything you had ever heard from him before. You stand up, approaching him slowly while not taking your eyes off of him, sighing as you stand less than a foot away from him "I can be patient...I just need to know that I'm not the only one trying to make this work"

Thunder cracked in the background but the two of you didn't seem to take any mind. "I..." Kyoya was hesitant with his words "You aren't...the only one..." You nod, happy to finally get confirmation but now unsure of what to do or say next.

However you do not need to make that decision, as an almost electric, feather light touch brushes your hand, a finger wraps around yours, interlocking.

"Patience?"

"Patience."

Chapter Text

The beach house is quiet this morning, the rest of the house club had returned home the previous night. For reasons you didn't quite understand Kyoya had to stay there another night, meaning you also had to stay there.

As much as you bizarrely enjoyed your time with the host club you had to admit the tranquility of the almost empty beach house was something you enjoyed, taking in the sights from one of the bay windows.

It was a far cry from your home on the other side of the world. Although it has been so long since you've been there it feels almost fictional to you.

"Taking in the sights?" Kyoya nearly scared you out of your skin, deadly quiet as he snuck up behind you "Your family certainly chose a good spot" he hummed in agreement "What can I say? Good taste runs in the family" You laugh through a hum, leaning against the wall. "I was just coming to ask what food you want to order in? I've decided to give the kitchen staff the night off since it is just the two of us here"

"That is very...kind of you, Kyoya" You smile, that is not a move you had expected Kyoya to take, he would never admit it but Tamaki has been rubbing off on him. When you think over the question an idea sneaks into your mind "Forget ordering food though."

He raises an eyebrow "Huh?" you nod over your shoulder for him to follow you, walking down the hallway toward the kitchen "You still want to learn about my home country?" Kyoya, who catches up with you, a smile taking over him as he realised what you were getting at.

The door to the kitchen swings open with a squeak. "You're going to cook?" Kyoya questions as you search through the kitchen "no" You laugh, taking ingredients from the pantry. "WE are going to cook"

Kyoya could laugh, he cannot name a time that he has ever actually cooked, he has never needed to. You catch on to his thought process just from the look on his face "Kyoya just because we are rich does not mean we aren't above cooking for ourselves, it can be fun"

Kyoya shakes his head, leaning against the counter. "I cannot see why, it is just a necessary process to feed yourself, I don't see why one would do it if they do not need to" you roll your eyes "You say that because you've never tried it, trust me, it'll be easy"

Kyoya picks himself up, "Fine" he huffed, you hand him a knife "You can chop the panchetta" you had to admit that there was something quite entertaining to you about bossing Kyoya around, knowing it is a rare occasion.

"Do you miss home often?" You pause at the question, not looking up from the hob. "I...yes...well, I miss the country, my town" you reply, placing the pasta in the pot. "I must admit that while I have enjoyed my time here Japan has yet to feel like home to me"

Kyoya nodded knowingly, moving to ouran had been a big change for you, and a rough transition. In a strange way being a part of the host club helped with that. Yet lately it has felt different, slightly more comfortable. Things were changing.

"Are you going back for the summer break?" Noticing that he had finished chopping the panchetta you take it from him to fry "No, I'm going to Karuizawa instead, here" You crack an egg into a bowl in front of him, showing him the rest "Karuizawa? Why go there?"

"I...have something I need to do there" you smile, taking the bowl. "Anyway, we need to mix in the cheese" kyoya squinted at you while you made the sauce. "Would you mind draining the pasta?" You look over your shoulder at him, distracted by mixing.

Kyoya looked slightly clueless as he clumsily figured out exactly what to do. Eventually you manage to pull together two dishes for the both of you, sat up on the counter as you eat. "I...I don't think I ever said thank you by the way" He raises an eyebrow, eyes lighting up as he tastes the dish "What for?"

"You know what for, I had a conversation with your father today" his face fell into one of horror "your 'duty of care' is to keep me from being physically harmed, nothing else. which means that everything else..."

"y/n." His voice was somehow weak and stern at the same time, cutting you off but the message had already gotten across, it was too late. "It's fine, you don't have to acknowledge it, I don't even need to if you don't want me to, but thank you anyway"

"You're...welcome" he cleared his throat, you giggle at his mildly flustered state. at it was then that you realised exactly what was happening here. This was a hang out, you two were hanging out. When did that happen? Since when was that a thing that the two of you do?

Things were changing. Things ARE changing. You two are no longer two colleagues who sit at the the same table for coffee anymore, only talking if it is for business. It was a strange notion, a strange feeling, but you didn't hate it.

Chapter Text

"I don't understand why I have to dress up as well Tamaki" while the ball gown you had been urged into was gorgeous you had to admit that it was not practical, the rare occasion that you would rather be in your uniform.

"For authenticity of course y/n if we are going for the more traditional European fairytale you would know first hand" Tamaki is failing at fastening his suit of armour, "Don't think I forgot that you grew up in France Tamaki I know that this is a ruse I just don't know what for..." You squint at him in skepticism.

"But you look so beautiful as princess" Tamaki starts crying, you roll your eyes "I thought our clients were meant to be the princesses" the last thing you needed to do was draw attention to yourself, it was the whole point of keeping your engagement to Kyoya a secret. "I'm inclined to agree with y/n, tamaki having her dress as a princess, while cute, may inspire rumors in our clients"

Cute? CUTE? You didn't think that the word was in Kyoya's vocabulary. "I'm just going to go change I don't need any client Jealousy it isn't good for the club" before you get the chance the move however the doors swing open, two girls that you do not recognise enter, which is when you remember that there were schools visiting for the cultural fair.

Snapping into host mode the other club members suddenly appear in position "Welcome ladies" Tamaki instantly taking on the knightly persona he has created for himself "Well, well, well, I see you ladies are from another school. I certainly hope we haven't startled you. We love first time guests"

Tamaki's eyes twinkle as he approaches the two girls "I'm glad you've come, princesses. My darlings even if the world were to be destroyed, I'd put my life on the line as your faithful knight and servant" The girls look less than impressed at Tamaki's 'chivarly'

"Oh my, do you you really think you'd be able to protect us?" One of them asks "That's awfully arrogant don't you agree?" Oh no. you could practically hear Tamaki breaking from across the room. "You think that's what a woman wants to hear? well you're wrong"

"Come on, give him a break, sister Suzuran, men are just lowly life forms who don't care about anything other than perpetuating their testosterone-laden image. By 'protecting' us he's actually attempting to disguise the fact that he is weak and unable of even protecting himself"

You and Kyoya exchange eye contact as if to question if they were being serious

"You're such a clever girl, Hinagiku"

Tamaki stands "Don't you think that's a little harsh?" You have to admit that Tamaki is keeping a much cooler head than expected, perhaps because the girls are strangers to him but you would have thought he would have had a crisis by now.

"Fine, then, what do women like you want to hear?"

A voice emits from far away, presumably from out in the hall "Maybe something like 'i would never leave my lover alone'" the next thing you know a third student appears with Haruhi in her arms "If we fight, it'll be together" she spins her "if we fail, we fail together"

"Even if I were to die, I promise you that I will never leave your side my love" She kisses Haruhi's than, you and the rest of the host club look on in shock, clear having missed a few pages. However it does kick off the crisis you were expecting off Tamaki.

"Benibara, we thought you'd never show"

"What are we going to do with you?"

"So tell me where you found this young lady"

"I just met her outside of the school" From the look on Haruhi's face you are willing to bet that 'met' isn't quite the right word."She may be dressed as a boy, but I knew the truth" while you were slightly surprised that the girls had put it together so quickly given that Haruhi can convincingly pass as a boy to the entire school you were also slightly cautious on how loud Benibara was announcing it in the hallway.

"She has so pretty, maidenly eyes" the way that she span haruhi around and dipped her strangely reminded you of tamaki "Uh, thanks, I guess" it soon progresses in all the girls fawning over Haruhi while the rest of you uncomfortably watch on.

"Wow her skin is incredibly soft"

"Isn't it though?"

"I think this ones going to be a diamond in the rough"

Tamaki has had enough, running to the girls "Don't go touching my Haruhi without asking my permission!" he is quickly rebuttled by benibara "Leaver her alone!" leaving Tamaki to crawl back to you "She punched me! Shes so violent!" he bursts into tears "Get ahold of yourself"

"Guess the rumours we heard are true, you guys are just a bunch of weak little punks with no sense between you" Kyoya finally gets a good look at them "Those uniforms, I assume you ladies are from the Lobelia Girl's academy?"

Benibara smirks "That is correct" the girls jump into a costume change and montage

"St Lobelia Academy, high school second year, Benio Amakusa"

"Second year student, Chizuru Maihara"

"First year student, Hinako Tsuwabuki"

"We are the members of the St Lobelia Academy's white lily league otherwise known as-"

"The Zuka Club!"

The host club doesn't really know what to make of it. The twins are the first to burst out laughing at the name "Oh man! What a name! The Zuka club? My stomach hurts"

"The Zuka Club! That's priceless"

"You shouldn't underestimate the zuka club!" Renge's cackling can be heard from far away as the whirring of the platform she uses to enter starts up once again. You roll your eyes "oh god"

"I may not know much about instant coffee, but I'm fascinated with girls schools. St Lobelia Academy. It is truly a woman's world there. The zuka club is a group of strong young maidens who consider women to be superior in every way. The club prides itself on it's 30 year history. It's a society of maidens, by maidens, for maidens. Zuka club activities include 'maiden tea parties' 'the maiden debate forum' but most importantly musical reviews performed by the society's top members"

In the time that it took for renge to finish rambling you had gotten the chance to slip out to change and return, as did Kyoya "You sure have a vast wealth of knowledge Renge"

"Well i've always admired St Lobelia's I just couldn't go to school there, though what would I do without any boys?" Renge disappeared quickly much to your relief. "A maiden's beauty, it means possessing a spirit pure enough to not give in to power or lust"

"As a girl, you, for a girl, you. We've had quite enough of all your oppressive male contempt for womankind"

"And our pride comes from having meaningful relationships based on equality, because we're the same sex. And yes, that include relationships of love"

"Yeah you tell them Benio"

"You're awesome Benibara"

While you were sat confused at the...certainly set beliefs of the girls the rest of the club had gotten bored, moving on quickly "Whatever, we're so over it"

"Why don't you gals just scram?"

"I find it hard to believe that you silly boys have nothing to say about our sublime female love" Chizuru speaks up.

You raise an eyebrow, turning to Kyoya who had moved to reading "Didn't she call the other one sister not five minutes ago?" the observation made him smirk, attempting to hold back a laugh.

"What is she even talking about?" one of the twins asks, continuing to ramble about their games "You should feel sorry for them hinagiku their patented host skills don't work on us. Now they're flusterest and don't know what to do with themselves"

"True. I must say I'm glad we decided to perform here. It was fun to sneak a peek at the notorious Ouran host club"

Honey turns to you "Are we really notorious?" you shrug "I suppose" while you will take any opportunity to call the host club out on something you did not like the seemingly high and mighty standpoint the zuka club was taking.

Benibara suddenly appears next to you, apparently only now noticing your presence "Oh? Another maiden? Tell me these pathetic men have not lured you in with their schemes" you had to resist the urge to burst out laughing at the view that Benibara had built up in her head "I'm not a client, trust me if anything they are victims to my schemes"

"What?" Kaoru looks up from the DS, resulting in you elbowing him to distract from the questioning. "You're not a 'client' of this so called host club? then pray tell why are you here?"

"She's my fiance" Your face fell at how nonchalant Kyoya was about revealing that fact to pretty much strangers, wanting to remind him that it is supposed to be a secret. You didn't even know why that was what he chose to reveal, he could have easily enough said that you were a club member. Perhaps it was to deter Benibara from treating you the same way as she had Haruhi.

"So they have lured you in, poor thing dragging you down with them, the both of you, the host club's president may be a petty little halfer, but he shouldn't be using his looks to create a fictitious romance! Attempting to fool the heart of a pure, young maiden is demeaning! Your so-called 'club activities' are nothing more than debasing macho fantasies"

"If I may butt in, these lot may be idiots but they aren't scheming to take advantage of women, the girls at this school are smart enough to know what a host club is in premise and know what they are entering into when they request a host. They aren't exactly luring the women in they come on their own accord" leaning back in your seat trying to picture what exactly they thought the host club was but coming up empty

"Oh you are in so deep, they have told you so many lies you've started to believe them to be true, and now they have entrapped you into an engagement! I promise you, we will bring this club down! The Ouran Host club will be abolished"

You raise an eyebrow, you think that the reaction is a bit dramatic until you remember they are literally theatre kids. "I see, I understand your concern, but do you think maybe we could finish this later?"

"Are you saying that you're not going to face us?" Benio asks "Not at all, it's just that our president is still bedridden from the initial culture shock"

"You see Tama-chan is having his nappy time right now"

"Wake him up!" Benio seethed "Excuse me. I made some coffee. Would you ladies like to have some?" the zuka club fawn over haruhi and her coffee, which seems to snap Tamaki from his nap.

"You girls have it all wrong! Don't you see there's nothing to be gained in a romantic relationship between women? If that were the case then why did god create adam and eve?" You put your head in your hands, praying that you heard Tamaki wrong, but knowing that you probably didn't, karma instantly faces him as he burns himself on coffee. "Hot! Hot! Hot!"

"You've gotta be more careful senpai" Haruhi kneels down to bandage him up. You turn to Kyoya "So at what point was I going to find out that you have been 'dragging me down with your lies'?" You laugh, Kyoya smirks, pushing up his glasses "Just wait until they find out our engagement was arranged"

"This little conversation doesn't seem to be going anywhere" Benio yanks you and Haruhi away from the hosts "Now that we know what's going on, we can't allow these maidens to stay here. We'll prepare their paperwork and have them transferred to Lobelia at once and we'll welcome them into the zuka club"

"Huh?!" You couldn't help but see the irony in the situation that they were accusing the host club of holding you and Haruhi captive yet also declare to steal you both to Lobelia without even asking.

"Hey, just wait a second, will ya? There seems to have been some misunderstandings here. I mean first of all you called senpai a 'halfer'"

"He is a halfer! He's half french half Japanese" Honey chimes in "Well, uh, anyway, I don't think it's fair for you to pick on the host club just because you don't think they have the same history as you do" you add.

"We barely have any history. We were just founded two years ago"

"Yeah the boss created it whenever he started highschool here"

"Be that as it may saying their club activities are only held to satisfy their appetites is just wrong, I mean it's not like the host club is charging their guests or anything"

You grimace at Haruhi's point knowing that Kyoya's going to correct her any second "While I wouldn't call it a charge, we do have a point system. We offer priority services based on the winning bids of auctions held on our website" You pinch the bridge of your nose,trying to point out to Kyoya that he was not helping Haruhi's point.

"Check this out Haruhi, your used mechanical pencil just sold with a winning bid of 30,000 yen. Good for you"

Haruhi rushes over to the laptop the two of you were stood next to "What?! But I thought I lost that pencil! Why didn't you tell me about this before Kyoya-senpai? I had no idea you were collecting money!"

"So you thought we were all just working here as volunteers? While it''s not much, because of the expense of organising events, we happen to make a small profit from the online auctions"

"You can't sell other people's things without asking permission! That's stealing!" The twins slide in at an attempt to diffuse the situation "It wasn't stealing. You dropped it on the floor" Haruhi looks furious.

Tamaki bursts out crying, rushing over "I'm sorry Haruhi! It's not like we were hiding it from you! Here you can have mind it's got a cute teddy bear on it" Haruhi rolls her eyes "Senpai I don't want your pencil"

"Well to make it up to you how about i do this? I'll tell you the secrets to my success and my fondest memories"

"Not to be rude senpai but I'm not really interested in that information" Tamaki goes to sulk in the corner at the reply, leading the zuka club to swoop in "Oh you poor dear, I can't believe they've been deceiving you"

"Why don't you two just dump these losers and come with us?"

You shoot Kyoya a glance questioning why they were so dedicated "I kinda have an attachment here so..." you could have sworn that in the corner of your eye you saw Kyoya smile. "Oh, well it has been a long day, we'll give you both some time to think about it. We'll come back for your answer tomorrow. Well then, adieu" The zuka club spin out the room.

Haruhi sends death glare to the rest of the club "I'd better be going I've got some thinking to do" She storms out leaving Tamaki wailing "Why did you have to tell her the truth? You just added fuel to the fire"

"Tamaki you shouldn't be mad she found out if you knew she was going to react like this" You point out, you weren't in charge of the auctions, that was Kyoya's side of things, you just assumed they were of photobooks not used pencils "The facts are the facts" Kyoya shrugs.

"Maybe we should've asked before we sold her pencil on the internet"

"Yeah, for all we know, it was a keepsake from her mother"

"Nah it was just a freebie they were giving out at the electronics store"

Tamaki finally calms down into a more forlorn expression "Gentlemen, just think about it. Haruhi may be basically indifferent, but if she had to choose, we know that she tends to favour men's clothing. And besides, when she first joined the host club, didn't she tell us 'being a host and getting fussed over by a bunch of girls might not be that bad' Why didn't I realise this before? Perhaps they would be a better match for Haruhi. Maybe she'd be better off with the Zuka club"

"I think you're reading way too much into this senpai, even if Haruhi is attracted to women that doesn't mean she's going to transfer schools to be with some strangers, her scholarship probably wouldn't even transfer over. She's just mad because you went behind her back" You cross your arms, confused on why Tamaki was being so dramatic.

"Haruhi is smart enough to pass the Lobelia scholarship test"

"And they have the money to pay off the 8 million yen debt she owes us"

"Haru-chan is going away?"

"She's perfect for a girl's school"

"What are we going to do?"

"Calm down, it'll be alright, listen to what I have to say. I have a secret plan." You face palm, knowing that they aren't going to see sense until Haruhi tells them directly. "Okay, whatever, you're going to go ahead and do it anyway why do I try?"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"You're not considering transferring are you?" Kyoya asks while the two of you walk to his car that afternoon. "Huh?" the question catches you off guard, you thought it had been made clear earlier. "You seemed...frustrated earlier, you know that you aren't tied to ouran? if you really wanted to transfer to Lobelia a good point could be made to your father to allow you to transfer"

"I wasn't, I'm used to Tamaki's antics by now, besides I don't think it would be helpful" you reply, looking at all the displays for the exposition "Hm?"

"I was sent to ouran for a reason, and...we're being patient, it's a lot easier to be patient here than it would be there" You smile, entering the car.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

You decided to walk into school with Haruhi this morning, not wanting to get unceremoniously swept up again, however you find the Zuka club waiting for you as you approach music room 3. "Hello young maidens"

"We've come for your decision. Are you prepared to leave?"

"We're ready to confront those ouran host club idiots and set things straight once and for all"

Haruhi raises an eyebrow "Set what straight?" Benibara slides over "That you should come with us and go to school with your own kind" she starts dragging the two of you off "She does know other girls attend here right?"

The host club is plunged into darkness as they open the door to the music room.

"Ouran!"

"Ouran!"

"Ouran!"

"Ouran!"

"Ouran!"

The lights flicker on to reveal the host club "Ouran! Host club welcomes you!" The sight stuns you and seemingly the rest of the girls, you had to admit when Tamaki said he had a plan this was the last thing you expected, the entire host club dressed up as princesses"

“Oh, Haruhi, y/n, welcome back.” Tamaki greets in a red ballgown with pink accents, almost a princess version of the knight costume he had been wearing the previous day.

Honey twirls to the front in a magenta gown, his blonde hair also done up with extensions and beyond garish makeup, “Look, y/n-chan! I’m a princess now! Aren’t I cute?!”

Benibara gasps in offense, “What is the meaning of this?! Are you trying to make fun of womankind?!” she demands. All the while, you’re still beyond confused.

“Make fun? No, that’s not it at all. Everything's going according to plan. Our strategy is guaranteed to make even a crying child smile. It's the freebie campaign!”

"Oh Tamaki" You shuffle away "You ladies have lived sheltered lives at Lobelia so you might not know that commoners are weak. They have a weakness for free things! Haruhi, you may be distracted by the Zuka club, but choose us and you gain not only a host club full of brothers but sisters as well! See, this way you can experience feminine bonding while staying in the host club"

"I am right here?" You point out, rolling your eyes through a laughter however, because you had to admit,this was entertaining to watch. "Isn't that a great idea? aren't I pretty?"

"We’re the Hitachiin Sisters! Which one of us is prettier?” They appear closer to you, fans covering their mouths.

“I’m just teasing you,” Hikaru whispers as Kaoru laughs haughtily.

“Listen, Haru-chan! You can call me Big Sis from now on.” Honey seems to be the least uncomfortable in his attire. Even Usa-chan is decorated with a red bow and bold lipstick.

“Why you! Do you idiots really think you can win her over like this? I’ve had enough of your fooling around!”

Finally, seemingly both of your exteriors crumble, and you burst into a fit of laughter. Not amused chuckles or snickers, but whole-hearted laughter at their show of… whatever this might be.

“This is too much! What the hell are you even trying to do! Oh man, look at those outfits!”

The twins and Honey start chasing Haruhi around the room telling her to call them big sister. "What were you thinking? What's gotten into you guys?"

"We did this because we don't want you to leave the host club"

You approach Kyoya "What did they have to do to get you on board with this one?" he shakes his head "I don't want to talk about it" You laugh.

"So maiden, have you made your choice?" Haruhi stands "Yeah I have, I'm sorry but your club is not for me I think the idea of a girls' school is great, and your views are very unique and interesting. But I came to this school with a goal and a plan for my future so while I appreciate your offer, I really already knew that I was never going to leave ouran academy"

"Haruhi! So why were you acting so angry yesterday if you weren't going to leave?"

"How'd you feel if I stole something of yours without asking you?"

"I told you all this" You shook your head.

"Um… Benio?” Chizuru begins as she watches the interaction, Benibara lets her eyelids slip closed as she sighs.

“Yes… I know. We’re not going to give up on you” She leans over to you.

“I swear this to you. Someday we’ll come and rescue you from this place and your arrangement! And when we do, we’ll abolish the Ouran Host Club!” Benibara affirms with vigor and a smug smirk.

“Well, adieu~.”

Just as they twirl through the door, the three of them simultaneously slip on banana peels just as the doors to the club room close.

“Until we meet again.” you cross your arms and sigh in exasperation.

The lights flicker out, and Renge’s platform rises from the ground for the second time this episode, except this time with a monkey at her side.

“And so, a new rival, the Zuka Club, has appeared. From this point on, the story’s gonna get even more exciting! What’s gonna happen to our beloved host club boys and y/n next? Hang in there, Host Club! Don’t give up, guys!” Renge munches on a banana.

"Hey its not your job to cook things up!"

With that all over you finally take in Kyoya's appearance "I must admit you wear it better than i do" Kyoya rolls his eyes through a laugh "Shut up" You laugh. "Oh sorry 'mother kyoya'"

Chapter Text

"I have never seen you so stressed before" Kyoya raises an eyebrow from the kitchen island where he's sat, watching on as you frantically blitz through cleaning the apartment "Yeah...it's...a whole thing, I get tense on days like this"

"I'm sure you are worrying over nothing" Kyoya took a sip of water "You could always help me instead of sitting there" Kyoya furrowed his brows as if the mere idea of him cleaning disgusts him. "I'd rather call one of our maids" you pause. "You could do that?"

Kyoya raises an eyebrow "Yes, you know that all employees of the Ootori family also answer to you yes? I can have a cleaner here in five minutes" You send kyoya a dead pan stare "If you knew that this entire time why have you been watching me stress clean all morning?"

Kyoya shrugs "I thought you just liked to clean" your jaw drops "Who likes to clean?" Kyoya rolls his eyes through a laugh, picking up his phone "We should just about have enough time, ill send a message over now"

As if on cue the door knocks as he places the phone back down on the counter. "That was...fast" you squint at the door in skepticism. "Unless...no..."

Kyoya shot out of his seat, you wearily approached the door, quickly fixing your hair and taking a deep breath before opening it.

To your surpise it was not a maid or even your expected guests.

"Y/n-senpai!" The members of the host club cheered in unison, Haruhi standing awkwardly behind them. "What-How- are you here?"

"You said we could come, remember? You said that if we stopped fighting we could visit you" Hikaru smirks deviously "Then the rest got curious and tagged along" Kaoru chimed in.

"Yes but not now! Look guys this really is not a good time maybe-"

"Y/N is your- oh." Kyoya appears in the hallway, freezing at the sight of the other hosts "Kyo-chan?" Honey's head tilts to the side as the rest of the club stare at him in confusion "What are you doing in y/n-senpai's apartment?"

"Y/n! You let Kyoya visit you before the rest of us! Alone! I am horrified! You should know that it is inappropriate for a young girl to be alone in the home with a man. Especially before marriage!"

You raise an eyebrow "Tamaki, you know that Kyoya own's my apartment right?" you don't understand Tamaki's babble at the best of times especially not now. "Oh, so he's your...landlord?"

"More just that I'm staying in one of his family's properties, I don't pay him rent, anyway like I said now is really not a good time so-"

"Are you two on a date?" Kaoru points between the two of you "No! No, I just, we were just...." you sigh "My family is coming to visit today"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

A day in the life of the l/n family!
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"I keep forgetting that your family lives in europe" Haruhi helps you make tea after being (reluctantly) convinced to let them in for a little bit until your family arrives. "Yes well...they figured it would be best since most likely I will end up living in Japan, also to get to know Kyoya"

"This is a nice place Y/n-chan, cute!" honey swings back an forth on his seat, opening the box of cake he had brought with him. "Yeah well normally I would not do this but if I could ask you guys to not make a mess"

"Do you not have a maid y/n?" Hikaru questions, which normally you would answer no however it does remind you that Kyoya had called for a maid a while ago now. "I...personally no, however... kyoya?"

Kyoya was already on the phone before you had to really needed to ask him."I see...okay...no...no...yes... you might as well...okay." he sighs as he hangs up "small problem."

"huh?"

"There is a large crash on the road, apparently it has completely closed off, the driver has had to turn back otherwise he would not be back in time to pick up your parents" your face falls "You're joking"

You knew that Kyoya wasn't, he doesn't do stuff like that. “Okay! Well, great to see you guys but no offence you all need to leave”

“Aw come on y/n” the twins chorused. “I need to get this place clean” you remain firm. “We could help y/n-Chan!” Honey butts in. “Huh?”

“Yes, good idea honey. We will help you clean and then in turn we will be spending more time here and less time of you and Kyoya alone” tamaki puts a finger to his chin.

“Non of you have cleaned a day in your life, and what is your problem with me and Kyoya hanging out”

“Hey! It can’t be that hard” hikaru cries "We can get this done really quick with all eight of us"

"Alright gentlemen!" You know that there is no arguing once Tamaki switches into this mindset, the host club lining up like a military troup. "We have one hour until Mr and Mrs L/N will be arriving" he marches up and down the line.

"The twins take the living room, Mitskuni and Takashi take the bathroom, Kyoya and I will take the kitchen and the girls will do the bedroom"

"Yes sir!" the host club salutes, rushing off to work before you get to do anything. This is going to be a disaster, you just know it. "I should have just let them continue fighting" You mutter to yourself before heading into the bedroom with Haruhi.

"Are you okay? You seem really stressed out over your family visiting”

You sigh “they just…have very high expectations for me is all, I’m an only child, so for the sake of the family company they have to rely on me to get a good education and marry well”

"I didn't realise there was that much pressure on you"

"We don't like to talk about it in the host club but that is just kind of how it is in our world. Tamaki is in a similar position to me, we were both sent to Japan to increase our families standings."

"Wow" haruhi mutters, dusting off your windowsill "Don't worry, we're all still ridiculously rich it isn't all bad, in full honesty the engagement I have to Kyoya has done more good for me than it has bad. Which is why I cannot give my family or his any reason to break it off"

"Would they do that? I mean this has been arranged for a while hasn't it?" you nodded "we were thirteen, but my father can be....easily offended, and I have gotten the impression that Kyoya's father is the same"

A crash in the other room catches both your attentions "Oh god"

low and behold once you run out into the main living area there was the twins and tamaki, wrestling on the floor along with your entire couch dismantled and scattered around the room. "You have got to be kidding" Your face fell at the sight, you could already feel the tears welling up inside as you realise that you had maybe ten minutes left until Kyoya's driver will arrive.

"Are you guys kidding? What on earth are you doing?" Haruhi yelled out, grabbing the attention of the three boys on the floor, honey and mori stood awkwardly in the corner, Kyoya strangely missing.

"What is the mat-" Kyoya appears from the bathroom, pausing at the sight before him, letting out of sigh at the scene. "Kyoya-"

"Out."

"huh?" even mori looked spooked by the glare that Kyoya was giving them "you all showed up unannounced, y/n was nice enough to let you in for tea despite preparing to see her family for the first time since summer which you all know well how important said meetings can be, and you mess up the apartment even more than before you had arrived. You all can leave now"

"Kyoya?" Tamaki looks concerned, you look concerned, Kyoya can often have a temper but not like this "You have done enough Tamaki"

The twins and Tamaki slowly pull themselves off the ground, clumsily putting the couch cushions back in place, muttering sorry's as they leave the apartment.

"thank you y/n-chan" Honey gives you a shy smile as him and mori follow behind. "Do you need help fixing this?" Haruhi asks, looking over the mess they left behind. "No i'm okay thank you Haruhi, thanks for helping anyway" Haruhi nods, leaving and closing the front door behind her.

Kyoya sighs, dragging his hand down the front of his face, stepping to the couch to fix it, leaving you stood frozen there. "You didn't need to do that"

"They're idiots, they know how much this means to you, espcially tamaki-"

"Kyoya-"

"There." he huffs, placing his hands on his hips as he takes in that everything is back to normal. "You didn't need to-"

"I know" he walks back over to you, eyes flittering over as he takes in your appearance, going to fix your hair "We can talk about this later if you want, we've got bigger fish to fry now." you take a deep breath, you had never seen Kyoya act like this before, you didn't know how it made you feel but it certainly made you feel something.

He wipes away a tear you didn't even realise was there "There, it's like it never happened. Ready?" you sigh, nodding. it was stressful whenever your family comes to visit, but this time it feels more managable. Since when had the two of you become so comfortable?

Chapter Text

"I am scared to think of the jokes the twins are going to make today" You raise an eyebrow at the sight of the host clubs attire for the day. Hikaru gasps "We are gentlemen y/n, we would never, you are the one with a dirty mind" You roll your eyes, laughing as you sit down at your usual table, pulling out your notebook.

"Sure" you roll your eyes through a laugh. "Just you wait y/n we will convince the boss that you should start wearing the costumes aswell" the door creaks open strangely early for the time of day "Oh. what an unnaturally young guest" Tamaki notes, low and behold stood in the doorway it a little girl that couldn't be older than five years old. "Well, glad you're here, my little lost kitty cat" he extends his hand to the little girl.

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Big brother is a prince!
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"Little kitty-cat, why have you come to see us today?" taaki asks, leaning down to make eye contact with the girl, who raises her hand to point at the club "It's a reverse harem!"

you nearly spit out your tea from over at the table at what the girl said, convinced tha you must have heard wrong. The hosts freeze up for the same reason "That can't be right. I must've heard wrong. Maybe there's still some water in my ear from when i went swimming" Tamaki bashes his head.You want to point out that he went swimming days ago but you also want to believe that you both heard wrong.

"Water in the ear that's gotta be it"

"I'm sure we just heard her wrong, there's no way this cute little girl said the words 'reverse harem' something's going on with our ears"

"There's debauchery here!" the girl exclaims again,at this point there was no denying that you had heard her right. "Yay! There's debauchery here, isn't there?"

"You're the glasses character" she points to Kyoya

"You're the boy-lolita, and the stoic type" she points to Honey and Mori.

"Twincest"

"The sex appeal" she points to you, a horrified look taking over your face. "I mean I'll take it but oh my god"

"And the bookworm!"

"hmm" she turns to tamaki who stumbles in fear, the girls eyes widen at the sight of him "Big brother?"

"My brother’s blond- you must be him!” Then, much to his surprise, she throws herself into Tamaki’s arms, hanging from his neck and kicking her feet.

“You never told us about this.”

“Since when do you have a little sister?” The twins accuse.

“I don’t- I’m definitely an only child- at least as far as I know…” Tamaki fears, holding the squirming little girl so that she doesn’t fall. "I must admit you two do look similar" You point out.

“I want to know if ‘glasses character’ is superior to 'big brother.’” Kyoya wonders, clearly still slightly tense between the two of them after what had happened at your apartment.

“Does that matter? I can’t believe she called me a bookworm.” Haruhi stews, thoroughly unhappy with her assigned character.

"You study all the time Haruhi, I got sex appeal, from a child. I'm horrified" you stare at the scene before you with concern. "They're not wrong though" the twins comment, you laugh.

"Excuse me. You want to tell me your name, little one?" Tamaki asks, slightly frazzled from the interaction. "Kirimi!"

"Kirimi?" Haruhi questions, wondering who would name their child afer salmon. "Kirmi-chan, I'm afraid you've made a mistake. I'm really sorry but I don't have a younger sister"

Tears begin to well up in Kirmi's eyes "Are you sure? You're blond just like me" it is at that moment that you know that Tamaki isn't going to be able to resist "Well, that is true..."

He picks her up "i give in! As of this moment, I'm your new big brother! You're so cute!" he spins her around.

"I know you get carried away by emotion , but don't you think it's irresponsible to make such empty promises?" Haruhi points out, watching him spin around Kirimi.

"Don't listen to that mean Haruhi. I'm not irresponsible. Come home with me and I'll look after you" you sigh as you watch Tamaki definitely being irresponsible. "What do you think we should do?" You turn to Kyoya.

"We should probably try to find out if she actually has a brother at this school"

"Kirimi"

"Kirimi"

The black magic club door appears once again in the music room yet this time the person who steps out in a way resembles Tamaki, with long blonde hair and blue eyes.

"Hey, uh, who they hell are you?"

"He looks like a foreigner!"

"What's up with that? How come the door looks different all of a sudden"

"Oh Kirimi" the boy steps out from the door way "Master, you forgot your cloak" a maid and butler steps out from behind him wrapping a dark cloak around the boy, which is the point that everyone realises who it actually is. "Nekozawa-senpai?" they all question in tandem.

"Master Umehito is terribly vunerable to any kind of bright light for that reason, if he doesn'tshroud himself in black, he will fall victim to the brightness of the outside world, and will undoubtedly collapse and just to be comfortable, he even has to cover his beautiful blond hair with a dark wig " The maid explains.

"On the other hand his sister, mistress Kirimi, is frightened of dark, dimly lit places" The butler chimes in.

"So this little girl is Nekozawa-senpai's younger sister?" Haruhi asks.

"You are quite insightful. Yes, that will be correct sir."

Tamaki puts Kirmi down, leaving her to stare in confusion at her brother. "Kirimi, so this is where you've been hiding." he approaches her in his typical way which certainly is nightmare fuel to a child.

"Big brother save me from the monster!" Kirimi launches herself back into Tamaki's arms.

"Please don't be scared, I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is Belzenef, the nekozawa family had worshipped cats for generations"

"You know, I get the feeling she's not scared of the puppet call me crazy, but I think it's you" Haruhi points out, Kyoya nodding behind her. "It's probably your clothes, we'll help you change, 'kay?" The twins slide in.

"Oh! Don't do that! It's far too bright! I may die!" Nekozawa-senpai cries as the twins pull at his cloak.

"I know! Why don't we just darken the room!" Honey goes to draw closed the curtains of the music room, Krimi bursts out crying "Don't! I'm afraid of the dark!"

"Don't worry little one!"

"Either way, someone's unhappy" Kyoya points out.

"It's a tragedy that these two siblings are such polar opposites. As a result, they have come to be known as the Nekozawa family's Romeo and Juliet"

"But Romeo and Juliet weren't brother and sister. I think their situation was a little different" Haruhi points out.

"Oh I'm well aware of that, to be honest it's something I just came up with on the fly. Pretty impressive huh? I thought it might make the story more dramatic"

"Oh I see"

"We were sent by the master's family to get our beloved mistress Kirimi back home safely"

"Is the rest of the family..." "As out of touch as you three are?"

"How dare you say such a terrible thing! The Nekozawas are a distinguished family! They're descendants of the Tokarev dynasty of russia!"

The host club's heads tilted to the side at the name "Tokarev, huh?" Kyoya questions. "Wait, you mean Romanov, right?"

"There's a legend that says once every few hundred years, a Nekozawa child is born. A child who is destined to be possessed by that darkness, exactly like our master Umehito" there is something about the maid that was starting to remind you of renge with her flare for the dramatic.

"That legend may or may not be true"

"What do you mean it may or may not be true?"

"Is it or isn't it?"

"Mistress Kirmi fell in love with the handsome fairytale prince of an odler brother she had seen in portraits. However, as a result of his condition, the master is unable to go near his sister without being shrouded in black. Once she learned that her older brother was enrolled in a high school here, she decided to go looking for him. That's what brought her to your host club. We've tried to keep her comfort by reading her bed time stories about princely characters like her brother, but we ran out of stories so we've started reading her shoujo manga that had princely characters in them and i'm afraid she's become completely addicted"

"Shoujo manga?" Haruhi questions "Oh...that's not..." you cringe at the idea of shoujo manga being read to sucha small child. "Is there really debauchery in shoujo manga?"

"Don't ask questions you don't want the answers to haruhi" you shake your head. "But Sashimi-chan is so young"

"Not Sashimi" "It's Kirimi"

"So Kirimi-chan doesn't know that you're her real older brother Nekozawa-senpai?"

"Yes, we've talked to her, but she refuses to believe us"

"That's so sad, well no wonder Neko-chan is so upset"

"It's painful, that's why every night I offer prayers, in hopes that one day, Kirimi will come to embrace the darkness"

"I think you've got it backwards buddy"

"You should try to get accustomed to the light" "What are you trying to do to your sister?"

The butler steps forward "Come along mistress kirimi"

"It's time to go home"

Kirimi bursts out whailing "I'm not going with you! I don't wanna go home! I wanna stay with my big brother!"

"Nekozawa-senpai?"

"Don't worry about me Suoh, all I want is for my sister to be happy. Make sure she gets the love she deserves" Nekozawa runs away in clear distress.

"But wait a minute! Senpai!" Nekozawa is long gone.

"Sibling relations are a source of problems in any family" Kyoya pushes his glasses up, which you know that means he isn't entirely just talking about Nekozawa-senpai and Kirimi.

"I must admit though, that was a noble act, giving up being apart of kirimi's life so that she can be happy, even if leaving her with Tamaki is certainly not the best option" You think aloud.

"Even so, I'm kinda jealous, I grew up an only child, so I can't really relate. But I can't imagine how tough it must be to have a sibling that's so different from you that you can't even spend time together"

Tamaki places Kirimi down "Is something wrong? Tell me, big brother"

"I'm sorry Kirimi-chan, but I'm not the big brother you've been looking for, don't worry, he's still out there. Believe it or not you have a big brother that's even more handsome than I am, and I promise you he's a real prince"

"Oh no" you mutter, for a second you thought that Tamaki may have been doing the right thing but he's ended up going in the complete opposite direction.

"Once she stepped foot in this room, Kirimi-chan became a guest of the host club and it's our job to make all our guests happy! It's an absolute tragedy to see a brother and sister at odds this way. We have to do something to help them! Starting now, 'operation: change Nekozawa-senpai into the princely character of Kirimi-chan's dreams' is underway!"

"Are you serious?"

"But sir"

"You want to change Umehito from a prince of darkness to a prince of light? I don't know if that's even possible"

"Senpai, quit getting carried away by your emotions! Don't make promises you can't keep"

Tamaki smirks "Oh, ye of little faith. Have you forgotten we have an expert on our side?"

"Oh no" you already know where this is going even before you hear the ghastly shrieks of laughter and the churning of a motor as Renge arises out of the floor.

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"And as winefried rose from the well she vowed that she would never go near him again...Kirimi can we take a break?" you figured that baby-sitting kirimi would be better than witnessing whatever Renge has in store for Nekozawa-senpai, however you figured that reading her stories you had from back at home may be more age appropriate than reading her shoujo manga.

"No! I haven't heard these stories before I want to know!" She jumps up and down on the sofa next to you, shaking your arm as she does so. "Okay one more"

"yay!" Kirimi throws herself backwards to lie back on the couch, head resting on your leg. "There was once a princess called Dwynwen..."

It is about halfway through that you realise that Kirimi has fallen asleep on top of you. "I thought it was strangely quiet" Kyoya hums from the doorway, drawing your attention "I think she has been running around so much at the dragon stories she's worn out"

"I was unaware you owned so many fairytale books" He enters the room, approaching the two of you "There are very few of these ones in print, I brought them with me to make sure they don't get thrown out"

Kyoya picks one up "I see" he trails off, attempting to read the language on the cover despite the fact that you're pretty sure that he does not know it. "How is Renge's 'masterclass' going?"

"interestingly...I must admit she certainly runs a tight regime" you laugh "Sounds about right" you pull a blanket over Kirmi after she stirs in your lap. "Do you think it will work?"

"Possibly, I know that Renge certainly does not like to take no for an answer"

"And how are things with..."

He raises an eyebrow "with?" your head tilts to the side, knowing that he is playing dumb. "You know what I am referring to"

"Tamaki and I have yet to have a chance to speak" he looks off into the distance, not wanting to make eye contact with you. "You have had ample time, you are avoiding the topic"

"And what if I am?" he finally turns back to look at you "You shouldn't, you need him as much as he needs you"

"He was incredibly careless, I cannot forgive that"

"Kyoya." your voice is stern, pulling his attention. "Do you think that Tamaki messed up my apartment maliciously?"

"Well- No- Of course I don't- he wouldn't"

"He wasn't thinking, I will admit that because he never does, why was that any different to today when he decided to get the hopes up of a five year old that he will somehow change Nekozawa-senpai into something he is not?"

"It...It isn't different and it is incredibly different at the same time"

"How?"

Kyoya pauses, looking back at you with the same look you had given him seconds ago "You know how it is different" you raise an eyebrow "I do?"

"You do. and if you do not then you are less astute then I thought you were which I incredibly doubt"

"Tell me anyway?" Kirimi stirs before Kyoya can give an answer, waking up once more, rubbing her eyes as she sits up. "Oh its the glasses guy again" you laugh.

"I'll talk to Tamaki if you want me to but no promises of anything beyond it"

All of a sudden you hear a whail from the science room down the hall, everyone's heads snapping to look at the door. "Maybe we should double check that Renge isn't going too overboard"

You move Kirmi to sit on the sofa properly "Wait here for a moment Kirimi I will be right back"

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"Dare I ask?" as you enter the science room you find Haruhi yelling tamaki who was standing next to a mannequin who appeared to be dressed like her. "It's better if you don't"

"Big brother?" Kirimi appears next to you in the doorway "This room is dark and scary" she starts to tear up. "Oh, Kirimi-chan, i asked you to wait for me in the other room"

"What's wrong little one? There, there, calm down" Tamaki runs over, picking kirmi up "You see? There's nothing to be afraid of" the two of them laugh as he spins her around.

"Senpai?" You turn around to find a dejected Nekozawa-senpai chanting to himself about being a princely big brother. "I'm not afraid of this flashlight! Self evil beam!"

Nekozawa-senpai flashes the torch in his face. "He did it!"

"Nekozawa-senpai's come a long way, he's able to shine a flashlight in his own face"

"Bravo, senpai, bravo"

"Good job, I'm impressed"

"You did it! Your little sister is going to be so thrilled"

"Look there Kirirmi-chan that gentleman is your real big brother." Tamaki points to Nekozawa.

"Kirimi" Nekozawa-senpai turns around, a horrifying look on his face due to the the underlighting. Kirimi screams at the sight, running away.

"So I guess shining the flashlight in his face" "Scared her and sent her running"

"Oh kirimi" Nekozawa-senpai bursts out crying. "I've had enough. Even if I continue your special training there's no guarantee that Kirimi will ever accept me I think she'd be better off if you acted as her brother in my stead, Suoh"

"But that's rediculous you're the big brother she's looking for. If you care about her, you'll do whatever it takes to win her over"

The twins finally pull back the curtains of the room "Hey, look Kirimi-chan hasn't made it out of the courtyard"

"There's something down there with her...oh it's just a cat" Nekozawa-Senpai gasps "Your family sure does love cats" "Even strays warm up to you guys"

"What did you say?" Nekozawa-senpai pushes the twins away to take a look "They're revered by our family, it's true, but Kirimi wouldn't participate in something like that. Something as occult as befriending a stray cat. Kirimi is afraid of animals and cats are the creatures she fears the most"

"Kirmi!" Nekozawa-senpai jumps through the window.

"Nekozawa-senpai!"

"But he's not wearing his black cloak!"

Nekozawa-senpai runs up to Kirimi, who jumps into his arms, now actually able to see him in daylight without the cloak.

"Now look at that, this is all thanks to my special training" you roll your eyes, although even you can admit that while her methods were questionable, Renge was more helpful than not this time.

"I think Nekozawa-senpai is ready to continue on his own now, one of us should probably sort out what we're going to do about this window" You look at the remains.

the rest of the host club hum in agreement "Kyoya, Tamaki? would you mind?" the two of them look at you hesitantly "S-sure" Tamaki stutters out in nervousness, whether that be at you or Kyoya it is unclear.

You smile "Great, we'll leave you to it" turning around as you go to leave you place a hand on Kyoya's shoulder "Talk to him, remember what I said, you need him" You whisper, leaving the room with the rest of the host club.

Maintaining relationships certainly was not Kyoya's strong point, that much was clear, but if Nekozawa-Senpai can overcome all that to reunite with his sister, maybe he can learn to change too, with time, and patience.

Chapter Text

"We may have to consider renting costumes for the sake of storage of them all." You mutter as you and Kyoya look over plans for the next month. Kyoya's face scrunched up at the idea. "Rent?"

"Do you want to put part of the budget to building an additional closet for all the costumes?" you raise an eyebrow, taking a sip of coffee. "Or is there another abandoned music room that I don't know about that we can occupy?"

"...I see your point"

"What? You idiots!" Tamaki's yelling from the other side fo the host club caught both of your attentions. "You're the ones who bumped into it, right?"

"Only because Haruhi was running away" "We were trying to catch her 'cause we wanted to have fun and dress up in cosplay"

"So what? We cosplay all the time!"

"We weren't going with the usual Host club costumes" "We want to see Haruhi in bunny cosplay, disguised as a girl"

You raise an eyebrow "Disguised as a girl?" you hold back a laugh at the look on Haruhi's face. "You'd like to see it, too, wouldn't you?" Tamaki turns more red by the second. "I'd definitely want to see that. What am I thinking? There's no time for stuff like that now! I know what you're up to. You're trying to distract me from the mess you've made! Get away from Haruhi you punks!"

"No way"

"let me go!"

"Excuse me. We don't have any guests at the moment, so I don't mind if you make a racket, but please, be careful. You don't want to wake Honey-Senpai" Kyoya leans over to inform them. Tamaki and the twins freeze up at the mention.

"He's a third year who still takes afternoon naps? Well, we're gonna have to tell him about the bunny at some point, let's just wake him up and apologize" Haruhi, rather cluelessly, approaches where honey is napping.

"No wait! Don't get any closer to honey-senpai! Come back, it's safe over here!" Tamaki and the twins call from the couch they are hiding behind "What are you talking about?"

"Honey-senpai wakes up in a very bad mood after napping. Now it may just be a rumor but the Haninozuka family once visited a US military base to give combat training. Supposedly, Honey-Senpai slept through most of it because of his jet lag. Then a soldier came in and carelessly tried to wake him up since he had been sleeping for so long. On that day, he wiped out two entire platoons of soldiers and not just any soldiers, green berets! And i've heard we've had diplomatic issues with America ever since that day"

"How terrifying"

"And we've got a bigger problem. Usa-Chan was hand-made for Honey-Senpai by his deceased grandmother you've seen the way he carries it around. That little bunny is his most prized possession. I can't imagine how he's going to react when he wakes up and sees that his precious Usa-chan is ruined!"

"He's gonna do to us what he did to those green berets!"

"You're exaggerating, it's impossible for that story to be true, i mean come on"

"It is, and there's other evidence that honey-senpai has an evil side to him, listen to this. his blood type is AB how about that"

"yeah so what?"

"But Haruhi, that mean's he's the same blood type as Kyoya"

Haruhi jumps back in shock, clearly convinced. the group slowly turning to face the two of you "What's the matter? Do you guys have a problem with my blood type?" you sit up "Hey I have AB blood type, what's wrong with that?"

Honey shifts in his sleep, distracting the rest of them "This is bad, we have to do something quick before he wakes up. Hikaru, kaoru" Tamaki snaps his fingers. The twins slide in "Sir!" They whisper, saluting.

"Go get your folks' cessna. Fly to Osorezan and bring back a medium, we'll channel his grandfather, and she can guide us through it. We can make a new Usa-chan for Honey-senpai! Here take this map of the Aomori prefecture with you and don't forget to bring back apple juice, apple jam and nebuta souvenir dolls"

"But we don't have that much time" "We're used to you crazy plans but you should come up with something more practical"

"Alright, how about this? We'll send usa-chan to the cleaners. haruhi! You're going to have to wear the bunny suit"

"yeah good idea boss!"

"Forget about it! I'm not wearing that stupid bunny suit! It's not gonna work he'll know it's me!"

"No he won't he won't be able to tell the difference if he's just waking up from a nap!"

"Well then why don't you wear it senpai!"

The two of them descended into a series of incoherant arguing. Clearly forgetting that Honey was asleep nearby, who was now waking up.

"He's awake! We'll have to use a substitute! We've got no choice!" Tamaki sneaks a stuffed bear onto the sofa where Honey was waking up, who as he finally becomes aware of his surroundings picks up the bear and throws the bear to the floor.

"No! Not my teddy bear!" "He's gonna come after us next!""He just spotted his bunny rabbit!"

Honey sleepily stumbled to the table where Usa-chan laid, picking up the tea soaked rabbit. "Who's responsible for this? Who got Usa-chan dirty"

The twins and Tamaki break out into screaming its "Someone, help. Mori-senpai, don't let him hurt us!"

"He wanted tea, so usa-chan decided to have a drink"

The club falls silent, holding their breaths in hopes the explanation worked.

"I see. So that's why his face is all dirty, isn't it? Hey do you think he wants some cake too?"

the boys fall to the ground with relief.

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Honey's three bitter days!
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"You can't keep eating nothing but sweets all the time. You know you're gonna end up with a cavity"

"Oh don't worry. I always brush my teeth" As honey bite into the piece of cake on his fork he freezes up, curling in on himself in pain,catching the attention of the entire host club. "Honey-senpai is it?"

"It's nothing, kay?"

"Let me just take a look in your mouth"

"Hole still" "Honey-senpai please quit squirming"

"There's nothing wrong! Quite messing with me! Leave me alone!"

A large shadow casts over Honey, causing him to look up with a gasp. Mori lunges forward, taking Honey’s hand in one of his own and gripping his chin in the other, pinning him to a nearby sofa in one quick motion, despite sounds of protest from Honey.

The guests around to watch all scream in unison, Renge among them. “Yes! That’s it, that’s it! That’s what was missing. It’s… moe~!”

She wiggles in anticipation behind them. Mori presses his fingers on either of Honey’s cheeks and prompts him to open his mouth. Honey allows his jaw to fall slack despite firm protest, and Mori catches sight of the cavity plaguing one of Honey’s molars.

Tamaki peeks over the sofa to get a look, “So, is it… a cavity?”

“Yeah,” Mori replies plainly.

“It’s alright. I’ll be okay.” Honey whimpers unconvincingly.

Mori turns to face the leader "Tamaki" he manages to somehow convey his entire point in one word "Yes, you're right i'll take care of this"

Tamaki stepsto face all the guests and the host club, clearing his throat "Until honey-senpai gets over his cavity I'm afraid he can't have sweets. Therefore, we'll be supportive and ask that you kindly refrain from eating snacks in the club room until this ordeal is over"

Honey starts to tear up "no! No, don't Takashi. Please don't take my snacks away, you can't, don't do it. What'll I do without them?" Mori picks up a nearby slice of cake, moving it away "I can handle it! Please don't take away my cake!"

"No more cake"

Honey falls to the floor whailing.

"And that’s how it all began. One little cavity, and suddenly Honey-Senpai’s life became a living hell.”

You and kyoya's heads fall to the side simultaneously as you watch the scene unfolding. "Well, that's our small clothing budget issue fixed-ow!" you elbow him in the ribs. "You were thinking the same thing"

"Yes but I wasn't going to say it out loud!"

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As you are walking towards the host club you spot mori and a girl standing together in the hallway. You don't mean to eavesdrop, you really didn't. but there was no way to get through without interupting them so instead you hide behind a pillar.

"I just can't hide it any longer. I have to get this off my chest, i need to know what your feelings are towards me, and if you'll accept my love" Mori remains as stoic as ever.

"Will you, please? Unless of course, there's someone else. Please tell me. is there someone else who's dear to you?"

At the non-reply the girl sighs "There is isn't there? Huh I should've known" The girl runs off.

"You can come out now Y/n"

You awkwardly step out of your hiding place, you should have known that Mori would've picked up on your presence. "Sorry, I didn't mean to eavesdrop- i just-"

Mori sighs, shaking his head. "You don't...have someone else...do you?" You ask, looking back to where the girl had ran off to. Mori looks back at you with a stern look. "Relax Mori-senpai, I am not the others, you can be honest with me and I won't jump into an insane scheme"

"No" You could tell from the look on his face that there was more to what he was saying. "But your heart is elsewhere anyway?"

You smile "You know Mori, you've been really vigilant on making sure Honey stays healthy" he remains silent, staring off in the distance. "Not all love has to be or is romantic" he still remains silent as expected.

"Perhaps, you feel that there is someone else that has your heart because someone else does, just not in a way that would make sense romantically, and that's okay" you give him a half hearted smile, starting to carry on down the hallway "Is that how you feel about Kyoya?"

You freeze at the question. "What?" you turn back to him "You love him, don't you? is that romantic love or something else?"

Your jaw hangs open, inhaling as you shake your head. Do you love kyoya? surely not, but....no- no of course not, that would be mad. "I- Kyoya and I are just- we...."

Mori's chin picked up "Oh I thought we were being honest" your face fell. "Mori!"

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Honey-Senpai’s 'get sweets’ strategy #1: Use the cute

With an adorable giggle, Honey prances toward Mori in nearly a slow-motion-like way, “Look, Takashi! My cavity is all better now!”

Unbothered, reading his novel, Mori sits at an empty table, one leg crossed over the other, “… you sure?”

“The swelling has even gone down!”

“… has it?”

“So~ Do you think I can have a piece of cake? Just one? Please?”

With a carefully calculated trajectory, Mori shoves a popsicle made of pure ice into Honey’s open mouth, resting against each and every one of his teeth.

Honey’s reaction proves his assertions otherwise- He gasps, yelps, and shivers, holding his swollen cheek with his hands and putting pressure on it.

Flourishing the popsicle, Mori strides away, unfazed, “You’re not fully recovered yet.”

Honey-Senpai’s 'get sweets’ strategy #2: The indirect method

Two unsuspecting guests enjoy their complimentary tea and finger sandwiches peacefully, unbothered. But, a threat soon makes itself known.

Honey hovers around them like a shark waiting to pounce, humming innocently, but his intentions indicate otherwise.

He turns and makes eye contact with them, to which they immediately avoid guiltily.

“What are you ladies drinking?” Honey waddles up to them.

“Um. Darjeeling tea, it’s really good!” The first guest cringes nervously.

“Yeah? What’re you going to have to eat?” Honey pries, getting closer and closer to his desired topic for conversation.

“Well… I was going to have a sandwich.” The second guest admits.

“Ahh. You know what you need? Some sweets! That tea would go well with something… sweet! Like, maybe some cake! C'mon, whaddya say?” Honey wiggles in anticipation, glancing back and forth between each guest.

One guest sighs, “Well… it would be good with cake…” She sighs.

“It sure would…” The first guest groans.

The girls exchange edgy looks, and they know what they must do.

A beat of silence passes, and they each stand up abruptly, slamming their cups of tea on their respective saucers in procession, and dash off in the opposite direction, each unwilling to face the confrontation.

“We’re so sorry, Honey!”

“But it’s for your own good!”

“B-b-but wait!” Honey reaches for them, teary-eyed. He hangs his head with a prominent pout.

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Honey-Senpai’s 'get sweets’ strategy #3: Pulling at the heartstrings

You stand with perfectly straight posture, arms folded behind your back as you observe the club processions quietly, finally off duty for once.

You hear a deep sigh and glance to your side through your peripheral vision. You find Honey, trudging in your direction with his head hung shamefully, sulking.

“Honey-Senpai?” You glance at him. He lets his head fall onto your upper arm and grips your sleeve tightly.

“y/n-chan… am I a bad person?” Honey lifts his head, revealing his glistening eyes. You almost flinch, lips pressing into a thin line at his show of emotion.

“I just don’t understand why God hates me. What have I done?” He whimpers pathetically.

He has definitely succeeded in pulling harshly at your heartstrings. As a result, you feel your chest ache.

But, you have an escape plan- metaphorically hiding behind someone whose heartstrings are pulled taught enough that nearly no one can pull.

“Um… let me just… go… ask Kyoya something.” You laugh nervously, stepping away from Honey and scurrying toward Kyoya at the other end of the clubroom.

Honey should have known better- everyone knows you to retreat to your safe place when you feel put on the spot… and that happens to be, unfortunately for him at this moment, Kyoya. He sighs, knowing you’re never coming back to confer with him.

You reach Kyoya and grip his sleeve. He’s facing away from Honey, so you position yourself in front of him and peek at Honey from afar. Kyoya’s brows furrow, glancing over his shoulder. You quickly stop him.

“Shh! Don’t look back over there! Pretend you need me,” You whisper, pleading.

“What are you-”

“Honey-Senpai’s giving me the eyes for sweets… I can’t let him find my stash,” you whine.

“You have a stash?” For some reason, Kyoya’s not all that surprised.

“Just a few… sweets in my book bag.” You should have thought this through- you’ve left your bag at an empty table. And, if Honey had a sixth sense for sweets, he could find them easily.

Honey pouts as he watches you talk to Kyoya and glance at him every now and then. Finally, Kyoya catches Honey’s eyes and makes eye contact with him for a split second before turning back to you, pushing up his glasses and seemingly asking you a question.

Honey chose the wrong person with the right connections.

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Honey had been broken down to menacingly pacing up and down the host club. The rest of you sat at a table nearby "He's gonna break"

"Would somebody please talk to him. He's scaring me" the door slams open, causing Hikaru to stand up "He's headed for the candy!"

"No need to worry, we emptied out all the sweets"

"Kyoya-senpai, you seem really chipper today"

"It's because he's won a debate on whether or not we should start renting costumes, that and because I stopped bringing my stash of candy to school" you muttered, not bothering to lift your cheek from the palm it was resting on.

Honey pulls out Tamaki's teddy bear, throwing it to the floor "Ah! he keeps doing that to my teddy bear!"

Honey falls to the floor "Well, there he goes"

"Three days and he gives up"

Tamaki slides over "Um, Honey-Senpai?"

Honey jumps to bite at Tamaki's arm "Ah! Somebody help me! He's eating my arm off!"

Mori stands up silently, walking over to him "Mitskuni, don't take this out on other people." Honey cuts out of it, letting go of Tamaki "You saved me, I thought I was a goner"

"It's disgraceful"

The word seemed to trigger Honey-Senpai "Takashi"

He throws him to the floor "You idiot! A little bit isn't gonna hurt me! You're so mean! You're such a hardhead! That's it I hate you! I hate you Takashi!" Honey runs off and out of the club room. "Hey, Mori-senpai" "That was harsh will you be alright?"

Mori stands up, stumbling about before falling to his knees, taking a table with him "Wow, senpai, it looks like he really got to you" "I don't know what's going on but it seems like you're self-destructing"

"Maybe honey-Senpai wouldn't hate you if you hadn't been so hard on him in the first place"

"It was on purpose" The realisation dawned on you that Mori may have misconstrued the conversation the two of you had in the corridor.

"hm?"

"Mori-Senpai, by any chance have you been acting like this because you're trying to get Honey-senpai to hate you?"

"Why would he do that?" "It makes no sense that would be like the end of the world for Mori-Senpai"

"Why would he do it on purpose?"

"Well maybe, because he was trying to punish himself....I'm right aren't I?"

"Yeah you are, this was my fault. Mitskuni has a cavity because I'm careless.twice before his Nap time I forgot to make him brush his teeth"

"But that's not really your responsibility. He should know better"

"But if Mitskuni has to get false teeth, it'll be my fault"

"Uh...don't worry that's not gonna happen"

"Wow what a pessimist"

"I wouldn't be able to live with myself right now if he hadn't thrown me down"

"Because he felt at fault, Mori-senpai wanted some sort of punishment from Honey-Senpai to make up for his failure"

"Well...while that certainly makes a nice story and everything" "It was just a little cavity, right?"

The door opens to reveal Honey and Tamaki "Well there you have it Honey-senpai. What will you do now?"

Honey wells up, running across the room wailing to get to Mori "i'm sorry! I'm so sorry, Takashi! I promise I won't forget to brush my teeth again! I won't forget!"

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“A few days later, Honey-Senpai recovered from his painful cavity. So the host club decided to lift their ban on sweets, and Honey-Senpai can greedily stuff his face once more.”

Seated at a single table in the back corner, Kyoya clutches a group of receipts in one hand and a calculator in the other. Overwhelmed by numbers, he sighs, slouching in his chair defeatedly.

“What’s with Kyoya-Senpai? He looks depressed about something.” Haruhi observes.

“Honey-Senpai’s back to eating sweets; the prices of those snacks add up and can get overwhelming,”

"Here" you approach him with a piece of paper. He appears tense as he looks up at you "What's this?" he takes it from you. "I reworked the budget to account for Honey's sweet influx but without having to sacrifice the costumes"

"What?"

"I knew this was going to end eventually, and when it does Honey's sweet consumption was going to skyrocket. I thought I'd save you the headache"

"That's very...thoughtful...and efficient. Thank you"

"Well...it's our job isn't it?"

Kyoya tilts his chin up, and for a moment you could have sworn you saw the beginnings of a smile. "I suppose it is"

Chapter Text

"Please make sure that you are presentable y/n, Mr and Mrs Ootori should be arriving in half an hour" you took in your fathers words but they weren't fully processing, zoned out staring into the distance. You nod half mindedly.

"I am serious, this meeting is important" his voice is stern, attempting to make eyecontact with you. "Yes father" you mutter which seems to satiate him for now, leaving you sat alone out in the garden of your home estate. You sigh, head tilting back, which is when you see a pink rabbit in your upside down state. "huh?"

As you turn yourself round to the correct way you see that there is indeed a pink stuffed rabbit tumbling around the house. "what the-" you follow the rabbit down the hallway and out of the house. "Wait hold on!" You break out into a run as the rabbit rolled down your garden.

The rabbit waved tauntingly at you before dropping into a remarkably large rabbit hole. "No! Wait! Ah-" as you chase after it you trip on a tree root sending you down the rabbit hole.

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Y/N in wonderland!
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After falling after what felt like hours you finally land in what appears to be an abandoned music room."Ow."

Creaking brings your attention to a young boy who appears to be half monkey climbing out a piano "Excuse me!" The boy yelps at the sign of you. "Do you know where i am-"

The boy takes off as soon as you start talking, eating a banana and seemingly shrinking and disappearing through a tiny door. You kneel in front of the door, opening it, finding the rabbit and the monkey boy, who both take off at the sight of you.

"Where did that thing come from? There's gotta be some way out of here right? Unless..." you wander to the bunch of bananas, eating one which makes you shrink to a tiny size. Wander through the small door you find yourself in a corridor of light bulbs. "Promised?" you read the illuminated message. "Banana?"

As you read it out you slip on a Banana peel, launching down the tunnel and a hole at the end, shooting you into a pool. As you float to the top you find yourself somewhere else "Okay so now i'm in a pool?" You climb out.

"you've cried quite a bit huh?"

"huh?"

"You must have, to fill a pool this size. See this water is an accumulation of all the tears you've shed in life. It's rather impressive actually. Looks as though you've been through more than your fair share of hardships. Speaking of which I'd get out of there if I were you"

"Huh?"

The sound of water splashing draws attention to the fact that there a three crocodiles emerging from the water, approaching her. you yelp as you leap backwards out of the pool "What in the world?"

"What were those things?"

The crocodiles retreat, disappearing into the water.

"This place is way more dangerous than I thought. Hang on am I back to my original size?"

"Not yet. But we can take care of that for you. If you're interested."

"What are you talking about?" You approach the caterpillar on the mushroom. "It won't be cheap though"

"I figured, you can never admit that you are happy to help, you always put up a front of ulterior motives"

The caterpillar leans over to look down at you "Who are you?"

"I- At this point I hardly know"

"Explain yourself"

You sit before the mushroom "I don't think I can, I don't really know myself so I cannot explain myself"

"Ah, we have guests" you turn around to find a boy shrouded in black approaching holding the hand of a little girl. "Yes, hello. Might my sister and I have a bit of mushroom?"

"Of course, we can settle your tab at the end of the month"

"You know I think You're the most shrewd caterpillar I've ever met. What kind of stuff are you always writing down in that book of yours, huh?"

"Oh, anything, and everything. That's odd. You said 'always' just now, and yet you and I have never met"

"Always? Did I? I suppose you so seem incredibly... familiar"

The boy and girl bite into some mushrooms, causing the boy to shrink into a baby and the girl into a woman. "I'm sorry that's not exactly what I had in mind about getting back to size"

"Hey look! That little baby's crawling away all by himself!" You cry, noting that a door has appeared out of nowhere. "It's not any of my business" The caterpillar spoke.

You roll your eyes "typical, always picking and choosing" You run through the door, yet again tripping on a banana peel.

A laugh comes from seemingly nowhere "Nice going!"

"You may refer to me as duchess" A squeaky voice informs you. "huh?" as you stand up you realise you're suddenly in a kitchen. "The woman making banana soup over there is my cook, and this worthless lay-about is my cat"

"Pretty amazing cat. I've never seen one smirk like that before" you flinch as suddenly a ladel flies past your head, hitting the wall in front of you "Why do I have to be the stupid cook?" she starts launching bananas and dishes in the duchess' direction, who dodges them all. "It's not fair! I quit! You're always having fun and I always have to play the villain! Tamaki you idiot!"

"So does this mean you're the baby's mother?"

"Are you concerned for the child?"

"I'm just glad he found his way home, to have a safe place, a home, is the best thing."

"Well, I'm afraid I must be off now, would you look after him while I'm gone?" she hands the baby over to you "For how long?" the duchess shrugs "I couldn't say. I've been summoned to appear in court"

"Court?" The duchess disappeares in a hole in the floor.

"You know she's just pulling your leg. That doll doesn't really even belong to her in the first place." The cat speaks "huh?" you look down to find that you're suddenly holding a curse doll. "Hey what happended to-" You turn back to find that the cat is gone.

You place the doll down, leaving the room and finding yourself in a hallway. "Mr. Cat?" You spot him leaning against a pillar which he disappears behind. "Wait!"

"Over here" The cat pops up in a different place. "Pretty neat huh?"

"Um, sure, I guess"

"I can disappear" he hides behind the pillar, popping out from another one "And reappear, anywhere"

"That's great" You sound less than impressed at the trick. "So listen, I'm a little turned around. Do you mind telling me the best way to get out of here?"

"That depends" he switches places once again "On where you're trying to go?"

"Home of course. Back to where I was before"

"I'm afraid leaving here without an audience with the queen..."

"Is strictly forbidden"

"An audience with the queen?" you start walking down the hall once more

"You might say..." "That the queen..." "Keep close tabs..." "On all her subjects"

"This is ridiculous. If you want to talk, come out and stand still. Both of you"

"Both of us?" "What do you mean?"

you roll your eyes "Never mind" you walk off, leaving the cats behind.

Eventually you reach what appears to be a cafeteria, with a boy in a hat, a doormouse, and a hare sat at it. "No room" the boy says, both absolute and flippant at the same time

"Huh?"

"Yeah. No room left, sorry"

You look at the table, louds of chairs left empty. "Why there's plenty of room" you point out, sitting down opposite them "Can I ask you guys a question about this place?"

"You are quite closed off huh?"

"What?"

"You do not trust something a person tells you, be that as it may you will open up one day you know"

"I don't exactly have many people to trust"

"You look so different today, you're clothes are very...european"

"Well I am european, how else would I dress?" It took you a second to realise that a good majority of the people you have spoken to are japanese. "I forgot she doesn't know yet"

"Know what? You know, if you keep scarfing down junk food like that, you're gonna get cavities"

"Be sure to brush your teeth when you're finished" The doormouse reminds the hare. "Okay"

"A riddle!" the boy announces "Why is a teacup and a teapot rarely found in the same place on a table?"

"Well surely they do? they were found in the cupboard together if you have any organisation."

"Not in a cupboard, on a table. They match, they work together and go hand in hand and yet they are always seperated. Why?"

"I suppose it does not make sense"

"It doesn't!" the boy exclaims.

"Hey! Would you like a glass of red wine?" The hare asked. "Sorry I don't drink, i'd rather have tea"

The boy leans over to the hair "She is so suited to place alice it's unreal, she's even quoting it back to us"

The clock chimed loudly "It's always three o'clock here" "Whcih means it's always snack time!"

"So, then, where is this place we're in anyway? i mean a little while ago I was sat at my house with my father....waiting for one of this business friends to arrive to discuss...my betrothal"

The boy closes the pocket watch "Riddle me this, what do you and Kyoya have in common now?"

"Kyoya? Kyoya...Ootori? the boy who..."

"What will you do once you're engaged?"

"Once you're engaged, to this boy, what will you do?"

"Well...go about my life I suppose, hope that the boy is kinder than i know his father to be"

"You do not trust that the two of you can be friends?"

"I can't, the only person I can trust to look after me is me"

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because that has been the case most of my life"

"But that won't mean that it will always be the case, perhaps the reason you think you can't depend on others is that you reject it"

"Huh?"

You get cut off by a fanfare of trumpets "The queen is now holding court"

"The duchess is scheduled to be executed"

You stand up "That's an outrage!" the boy sips his tea "One does not fight the queen's whim trust me"

"Well, I can't sit here and do nothing!" you run off

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"Duchess. You stand before us now, accused of coming to the Royal Music Festival by invitation, do you confess to your transgression?" you slam the door open into the royal court "What transgression?"

"Who disrupts this court?" the king questions.

"I do. I'm here as legal council of the accused"

"With all due respect your majesty. It is my duty to attend the royal music festival"

"Even if it means leaving your precious child alone? Your crime is not a question of attendance, but of abandonment. This act is unforgivable. To cause such loneliness in a child"

"Your majesty the child was not abandoned."

“When a mother leaves because she must, the child understands! Sure, they have to defend themselves, but they’ll have plenty of help if they know where to look!” You remind, unaware of where your thoughts are coming from.

“Besides, if you execute the duchess, how is her child any better off-?”

“Silence yourself, wretch! There’s no room for your emotions in this courtroom!”

“But that’s absurd! To conduct law without emotion, you might as well leave it up to some sort of machine!”

The king seems speechless, “Astounding insolence. Tell me, precisely how long have you been in the legal profession? Are you even qualified to practice law in this court? Are you not, in fact, guilty yourself? Why don’t we discuss your crime?”

You take a step back, confused, “What on earth are you-”

"Page hand!" The pink bunny from earlier tumbles in, handing the king a piece of paper "I submit to the court a bank account registered in your name containing all the money your family has ever given you"

"huh?"

"Do you or do you not have a bank account as an emergency fund in case you ever need to escape and provide for yourself?"

"i- yes- but that is not a crime-"

"Theft is however, you have been asking your parents for money for appliances and school supplies and then putting the money into the account instead haven't you?"

"Witnesses! Those party to the crimes of this so called lawyer are demanded to come forward and testify"

From seemingly nowhere the boy in the hat appears in court "It would be my privilage, your majesty"

"What are you doing here?"

"This girl has what might be charitably called a lack of faith in her surroundings"

"What?"

"She has put up a strong wall to ensure that regardless of what happens she will be okay, and in turn placing the finishing line at okay and have not even considered happiness"

the jury of girls in masks laugh "Now how is it you know my name?"

"Huh?"

"My name, how do you know it?"

"How do i know?"

The cats appear out of nowhere "Yeah, and somehow you knew we were twins"

"And about my little black book, lest we forget"

"And about my cavity"

"How is that?"

"How is that?"

"How is that?"

"How is that?"

"How is that?"

"How is that?"

"Well I..."

"Hasn't it sunk in yet?" the king takes his mask off "You've certainly made a life for yourself here y/n"

"Father you're the king...does that mean" you turn to the queen who remains seated "You are so big now" she speaks

"Don't let the fact that i left persuade you that everyone will"

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"Wow, i've never seen you dose off like that before" You wake up to find Tamaki dressed as the mad hatter shaking you awake. "Hurry up and get ready, we have guests coming every minute now" he nods to a blue dress hanging up in the corner.

You shake your head through a smile as you approach the costume. "I hope you guys are right about this"

Chapter Text

You had to admit that the times that the host club was held outside that you actually do find a sense of calm during club hours, there was notably less chaos on days like these.

"Wow, I've never notice that the courtyard had such a lovely stream"

"It's called a yarimizu channel, it is said that during the Heian era, people would better experiance the seasons by watching the petals or autumn leaves that drifted along the water. I had it specially made for all of you, hoping it would express my desire to spend all four seasons with you. so then what do you say ladies? This fall, there's an autumn leaves tea party with alimited number of invitations"

"Oh! Sign me up!"

You roll your eyes through a laugh from nearby, it always catches you offguard when Kyoya lays it on thick for the sake of a sail but you had to admit that the times that he does it is certainly entertaining.

The next thing you know Tamaki comes tumbling through the garden, tackling Haruhi to get her out of the way of a ball flying in her direction, resulting in an argument with the twins. "You think so? Well check this out! Starlight kick!"

The ball disappears it gets launched so far "Take care of yourself! Bye!" however when the ball comes back down it barrels through a window"

"Oh god" you sigh, so much for peace.

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Covering the famous host club!
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"Really. We're terribly sorry about that" you had all found yourselves in the office of the newspaper club after it turned out the ball had hit the president in the head. "Don't worry, it's no big deal. Could've happened to anyone, right? Just a ball flying through a window and hitting me upside the head"

"Please accept our apology"

"Well this works out perfectly, I was just thinking about approaching the Host Club about a cover story I don't suppose you'd be interested?"

"I didn't know we had a newspaper club"

"It's more gossip rag than newspaper"

"Like a trashy tabloid, it's filled with stories about scandalous love affairs, family power struggles and junk like that"

"It's just a lame hossip rag that specialises in stirring up scandal. And everyone knows its all lies, so nobody reads it anymore"

It is then that you realise where you recognise the president from "It's Komatsuzawa isn't it?" The question leaves your lips before you really get the chance to stop yourself, drawing attention to where you had been stood in the corner of the room.

"yes, sorry have we met"

"A long time ago in passing, my father is l/n"

It was slowly starting to become a bit awkward when you realise that Komatsuzawa was the son of your fathers old business partner...one that he betrayed to build up a media empire.

He grits his teeth "I see, I didn't realise that you went here, last we met was out of the country"

You shrug "I transferred, surely with all your fathers experience he would have taught you journalistic integrity?"

"You know I guess we have kind of lost sight of the truth because we've been so worried about drawing in more readers. It's a shame we're just now realising our error, now that the paper's at risk. We've finally realised what we should have been reporting to the students of ouran" He stands up.

"Help us please, for the last paper of the semester, we'd like to do an up-close special edition, revealing the charms of ouran's host clubb members. I'm begging you, without your help, our club will close"

"You can count on us" Tamaki assures.

You and Kyoya exchange eyecontact, silently communicating through shaking your heads.

"On behalf of the host club i accept-" "we have to decline" Kyoya shoves Tamaki out the way.

"But Kyoya he got hurt because of me, what's the big deal?"

"Sorry, we have a policy prohibiting us from sharing any personal information with anyone other than our guests. But we'd be more than happy to pay any medical expenses related to your injury"

"And another thing, what makes you think we'd want to help you spread rumors and gossip? We've got a reputation to uphold and you'd just ruin it"

"Besides you guys cause a lot of trouble for other people, and who would want to get mixed up with that"

"I understand, well, I guess you really can't erase the sins of the past, can you?" The president makes direct eye contact with you. "People won't even give you the opportunity to try and redeem yourself Ow! my head is killing me"

"President!"

"I'm ok, don't worry you two, oh no i'm getting dizzy again" you were starting to think that his acting skills are as bad as his journalism. "I guess all we can do at this point is disband with grace"

"No you don't have to" Tamaki doubles down "You can always make a fresh start. we'll help, we will rally the power of the host club, and we can re-establish the Newspaper club together!"

"Well count us out"

"You're way too trusting boss we can't just go along with everything you do forever" "yeah we've had enough"

Kyoya places a hand on your shoulder, guiding you towards the door "We're leaving too Tamaki, we're holding an evaluation meeting, mostly about you"

"Hold it! How can you be so heartless? These men are about to lose their club. Don't you feel sorry for them? Their family's breaking up! As your president I demand you help them and that is a direct order"

"We're not going to do it"

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Tamaki has been sat sulking in the corner for who knows how long, to the point of concern as the rest of you look on "well it's obvious he's upset with us"

"Yeah, he hasn't even changed clothes"

"I hate it when he ignores us when we're right in front of him. He's such a child"

"Nah, Tama-chan's just a lonely guy, you know?"

"I hate to give in, but would it really be that bad to help them out with their newspaper?" Haruhi asks, grabbing everyones attention. "What?"

"Hey, since when are you taking his side?"

"Since never, just listen okay? I know any moment now, he's gonna look over here with those puppy-dog eyes he always uses when he wants something, and none of us will be able to say no, and so he'll win"

"Let me guess, you're speaking from experience, aren't you?"

"Besides maybe I'm wrong but isn't this the kinda thing you guys usually go for?"

"Well no, this seems like more trouble than it's worth" The twins shrug. "What about you Honey-senpai?"

"Count me out, I have this cake to eat and Takashi sticks with me, right?" Honey wolfed down a strawberry cake.

"Y/n?"

"After Renge's film we leave any and all PR to internal affairs, but also I'd like to point out that this club does have secrets that the newspaper club would go for. If they are sniffing around us all it takes one slip up and it's 'favoured host club member secretly a girl?' or 'Host club member secretly engaged' we would be giving them exactly what they want"

You all look over to tamaki, who pulls out said puppy dog eyes mentioned earlier "those are the eyes"

"Puppy dog eyes"

Kyoya sighs "There will be some conditions"

"The outline for their article will be submitted by us. Interviews are strictly prohibited, it is vital that our client's identities be kept confidential, and no one is to reference Haruhi's identity and y/n's ties to the club beyond professional."

"Do we agree?"

"Well, if you it's cool, Kyoya-senpai" "Then we do too"

"I'll do it since Kyo-chan says it's okay"

"Kyoya, a word please?"

The two of you step away from the main group out into the hallway "I don't have a good feeling about this" you are straight up with him once the door closes behind you two. "Relax y/n i've got this handled"

"But-" "Seriously, relax, trust me, it will be handled"

Suddenly the words from that bizarre dream you had recently echoed in your head

"perhaps the reason you think you can't depend on others is that you reject it"

You know that it is strange to take advice of a strange dream version of Tamaki of all people but maybe he is right.

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"Of course! If you'll allow us to cover you, we promise to observe your conditions"

"Well then, you may start tomorrow"

"Excellent"

"So how is that bump on your forehead feeling?"

"Oh, that? It's no big deal, I hardly feel it anymore. I owe a lot to this bump because without it, we'd never have come together for this article"

"That's true, but we're still very sorry it happened" Kyoya slides a first aid kit over the presidents desk "I brought you a little something as an apology of sorts. This is a first aid kit, made by my family's company"

"That you I appreciate it"

"No problem, please excuse me" Kyoya turns to leave "Oh, it just dawned on me, your family runs the Ootori group right? They manufacture medical equipment don't they?"

Kyoya avoids the urge to roll his eyes "We mostly deal with hospital management"

"I am so glad that we'll be working together, my father is a president as well, of the Komatsuzawa publishing firm"

"Yes, I am well aware of that, so being president of the newspaper club is your way of preparing to take over your family's company?"

"Well yes to an extent but I have this younger brother. He's a bright young man, and my father's very proud of him you seeso now my father has decided to turn future management of the company over tgo my younger brother. And thereby passing over me, the eldest son, first born. However, if I'm able to finish my third year at Ouran Academy as the president of a succesdul newspaper club I think he may reconsider my candidacy as his successor. Do you understand? I cannot allow this club to fall apart no matter what"

"Please excuse me" Kyoya leaves, closing the door behind him.

"Mr president are we to assume you were trying to win over Kyoya Ootori?"

"But of course, you see my plans have expanded now, I can knock out two birds with one stone, not only now do I have the opportunity to bring down Tamaki Suoh but if I create enough scandal surrounding y/n then it will reflect badly on the l/n group and will certainly gain favour from my father"

"But how would befriending Kyoya Ootori help with that?"

"Well isn't obvious? the two of them are always together not to mention their fathers are very good friends, I can use him to get to her" he stands up, looking out the window. "As for Tamaki Suoh he clearly flaunts his power and standing to sucker all those poor girls into that host club. I will dig until I find scandal in all of them"

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It was actually entertaining watching the host club play red light green light out in the gardens, purely for how much Tamaki gets into it as opposed to the rest of the club, you aren't partaking in it, trying to put some distance between you and them, also to keep an wyw on the newspaper club stood nearby.

"President, what on earth are we witnessing?"

"Could it be some kind of new religion?"

"Why are you asking me? How should I know?"

"You know, I can't blame you for being shocked, I was nunfamiliar with it myself, but it's a commoner's game. They have a wide variety , and none of them require spending any money. All you need is a few friends to play with" Tamaki prances over to explain,

"Mhm, and what does this have to do with our coverage of the host club?"

"You need to learn friendliness!" tamaki is very dramatic with his demanding "If you want to clear the negative reputation of the newspaper club, and attempt to capture the hearts of your readers, you must try to be more down to earth. I can just imagine the headlines now 'The handsome boys of the host club enjoy commoner's games' wioth pictures of us frolicking in the scenery of early summer. It would be the perfect face life of your front pag. And it gives you the chance to show that a certain commoner is happier now reliving his childhood here with us!"

Tamaki pulls the host club into another game, running back to the rest of the club, the Newspaper club approaching Haruhi for an interview, you watching on noting that they had agreed to no interviews and they are already breaking that however they did not seem to be inferring anything about Haurhi's identity. Still you shut it down quickly when it starts to go longer than needed.

During a game of kick the can, or kankeri the newspaper club wander off while the others hide and Kyoya starts counting until he hits 6, dropping the facade of playing the game and standing up once he realises they are gone, you raise an eyebrow "I didn't think you would cheat at anything as small as a playground game kyoya" you say, assuming hes going to jump to searching for them early.

"I'm not cheating, there's something I need to do" he says, wandering off to follow the newspaper club "Wait!" you call after him, running behind."

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"That's it i'm writing the article" Komatsuzawa seeths, marching down the hallway "But president, you have no evidence, gossiping about suoh or l/n is dangerous"

"I don't need evidence, I'll make evidence if I have to, I can think of all kinds of scandals surrounding them. Everyone will see it, once I'm finished with them they'll both have to flee back to europe"

They slam open the doors to the newspaper club to find the twins waiting for them. "So we were right all along"

"You two"

"well, I guess it was pretty obvious"

"The boss and Y/n are the only ones who haven't caught on yet, well, she'll know soon enough, both of them are quite oblivious when it pertains to anything about themselves"

"I should warn you, if you threaten either of them, there will be concequences" "Are you ready to have the Hitachiins and every other club members' family as your enemy?"

"I knew it, you're nothing but Suoh's lackeys! Tamaki's holding his parents' power over you"

"That's not true, we don't hang out with tama-chan because of his parents. We love him. We all like being around him, and that's why we choose to be here."

"He may be a hopeless idiot but even so" Kyoya appears against the wall the door is on, hand on your shoulder.

"Well what will you do?"

"Please leave Tama-chan alone, okay?"

"I'll get you all! It's not just about him anymore! I'll write an article that will ruin all of you"

The president squints at you and Kyoya, assessing his body language and the interactions he had in the past couple of days. "Oh I see now, it's so obvious I can't believe I didn't see it sooner. Your family's have paired you two haven't they?"

You and Kyoya fall silent, you had to admit that you had underestimated him enough to assume he wouldn't put it together. "That's why you came to Japan of all places, why you're always together, they want to combine the forces of the Ootori and l/n groups"

You note how Kyoya's grip tightens at the words. "How perfect, I can both expose your engagement to drive away host club guests and write an article that will tear the deal apart"

"Go ahead, be my guest" your jaw drops at Kyoya's words as he wanders over to the first aidkit he had gifted them. "Although..." he presses a panel at the bottom of the box, ejecting a disk.

"What should we do about this little disk? You see it's been here since yesterday, and it recorded everything. It would only take y/n one phone call and it would be all over the country. How do you think your father would react to that?"

"President just give up already" He falls to his knees.

"Let me explain it to you in terms you can understand. You would do well to remember that the ootori group and the hitachiin family alone have enough stock to remove your father from his position as president of the Komatsuzawa publishing firm. However, we would never do something like that. We are not like you. What we strive for is fundamentally different."

The president is still on his knees as you go to leave the room "You're just as twisted as your father" you pause at the words. Leaving only him, you and kyoya in the room. You shake your head.

"No i am nothing like my father, I don't betray the people I trust, I am sorry for what he did to your father. But you don't think I'm twisted because I am similar to him, you just don't want to admit that you have started to become like him"

You leave, kyoya following behind.

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Eventually you found where Tamaki and Haruhi disappeared to within the hedge maze, now on the way out for cake. "Why didn't you tell me about planting the bug in the Newspaper club?" You ask Kyoya, the rest of the club ahead. "i didn't know how you'd react, I knew it would be the best way to ensure that no harmful articles came out, I had a feeling komatsuzawa would pull something like this once you mention how you two know each other"

you pause, realising exactly how many times Kyoya has gone out of his way to protect you despite him not needing to.

'You love him, don't you? is that romantic love or something else?'

Mori's voice rang around your head, almost taunting you.

pressure seized itself in your chest as you realise a few things.

You had let Kyoya in. For the first time in your life it was you and him, not just you.

"Come on y/n! We don't want to lose you" Tamaki called from further ahead.

Chapter Text

In the silence of the Hitachiin twins’ bedroom, Hikaru’s phone loudly blasts with his ringtone. It’s far too early for shenanigans like this. The sound rouses Kaoru from his deep sleep with a groan, “Hikaru… your phone.” He whines, rolling over onto his back and nudging his brother in the shoulder.

“Hikaru…” Kaoru calls again, finally managing to rouse Hikaru from sleep.

“Mmm, answer it for me, will you?” Hikaru groans, his voice raspy with sleep.

Kaoru rolls to the bedside table and find’s Hikaru’s cell phone, flashing rapidly and displaying Tamaki’s name and picture. In his sleepy state, Kaoru finally connects the dots between the ringtone and the time of the call, “No way… don’t you recognize that ringtone?” He groans.

“You gotta be kidding me… We’re only three days into summer vacation; why can’t he let us sleep in?” Hikaru blindly searches the table for the phone, picking it up when his fingers eventually find it.

“He’s probably been up since dawn.” Kaoru sighs as he and his brother rise from their mattress, shirtless as Hikaru flips open the cell phone and cautiously answers.

Kaoru wraps himself around Hikaru, “Yeah, what?” Hikaru grumbles.

“THEY’RE GONE! MY BELOVED DAUGHTER HAS VANISHED OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH!”

Hikaru thrusts the phone away from his ear at Tamaki’s volume, “She must’ve been kidnapped by a band of gypsies! I just know it! Contact the police! We have to request an emergency to the SDF!”

Hikaru notices that Tamaki’s volume has lowered, so he brings the phone back to his ear in utter confusion, “Wait, slow down, you’re not making any sense. Now what?”

Kaoru patiently waits for Hikaru’s reaction, “What do you mean Haruhi is gone?” He gasps.

In his respective estate, Honey gasps, clutching Usa-chan, “Huh? So Haru-chan is really missing?”

Mori stands in one of the many open spaces at his estate, practicing his katana handling, “And her family is bankrupt?”

“It’s the only explanation!” Tamaki prances back and forth under the four framed photos of the club members, trailing his poor landline along behind him.

“I’ve been trying to get through to Haruhi’s home phone and her father's work for the past several days! And no one will answer!” Tamaki continues to hop around in distress.

“She's been evicted and forced into indentured servitude! We have to rescue her!” He weeps pitifully.

“Oh~ Haru-chan!” Honey whimpers woefully.

Across the portrait of the twins is written ‘idiots.’

“Boss, please, not so loud! Have you tried Haruhi’s cellphone yet?” Hikaru suggests.

“Cellphone? Why on earth would she have a cellphone?!” Tamaki hollers indignantly.

“Of course! She was issued one by a secret, underground network of commoners, known as the Plebeian Exchange.”

Sitting alone in his kitchen, Kyoya sighs across the line with disappointment, “Not to interrupt your delusion… but, y/n and Haruhi are currently in Karuizawa.” He informs carefully.

“They… were turned out of their homes, kidnapped by gypsies, and forced into servitude…! In Karuizawa?” Tamaki tilts his head.

“Moron.” Kyoya scolds irritably.

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"Ah, who would've thought working at a bed and breakfast would be the ideal way to spend my summer" Haruhi says while putting out the washing on the line, you sat nearby watching her with a book. "I suppose working here would be less stressful than the host club"

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The Refreshing Battle in Karuizawa!
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"I must admit at first I was a little bit apprehensive on telling the guys about my plans for the summer" haruhi shrugged, you take a sip of your drink. "I'm surprised about your plans for the summer aswell, working I can understand but working for free? You could be living it up in a resort right now, I did offer to pay for us to go to one of Kyoya's family's resorts"

Haruhi laughs "I'm not going anywhere near one of those after last time, why are you here with me though"

"I told you, I don't want to go back home, besides it's...peaceful here" You shiver, noting that the wind has picked up.

"Haruhi!" A helicopter all of a sudden flies over, hovering over pension misuzu.

"Despair not! Daddy's come to save you!"

you sigh "So much for peaceful"

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"Oh my what dashing young men you are! These hunks must belong to Haruhi! Call me Misuzu-chi"

"She's an old friend of Ranka's, they used to work together at the same shop years ago" Kyoya explains "Well naturally you would know" Haruhi rolls her eyes "Kill me"

"I went into business for myself two years ago and believe you me, running this adorable little pension is like living a fairytale!" Misuzu exclaims, spinning around in glee.

"So then, haru-chan is like your indentured servant?"

"She's more like an unpaid employee. This also happens to be ranka's preffered method of keeping track of her daughter while she's busy working"

"What the...how do you know all this stuff? and why is y/n here?"

"'Take my little girl under your wing' she says, she practically begged me, and since I still can't afford the expense of hired help, it works out for everyone. she's a model employee, really, it's such a shame I can't pay her anything" Misuzu shakes haruhi by her shoulders "Oh, tell me what you boys think of this cute little apron she's wearing. I made it myself!"

The boys all give her a thumbs up "You are quite an exquisite seamstress"

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you all end up sat together for tea out in the pension's garden, you and Kyoya ending up sat at a seperate table from the others while they question Haruhi on why she got a job.

"You know, you still haven't told me why you came to karuizawa" Kyoya took a sip of tea, watching Tamaki in dispair nearby as he finds out that all of you had invited Haruhi on vaction over the summer. "I told you, I have something to do here"

"What business could you possibly have in Karuizawa?" he raises an eyebrow, although you are unsure whether its because of the circumstances or because of your secrecy. "If you must know I am visiting an old friend" kyoya squints at you, looking you up and down.

"Don't I have the right to spend my summer vacation the way I want to?" thw two of you tune back into the main conversation. "According to the handbook, jobs are prohibited" you lightly elbow Kyoya for pointing it out.

"Uh...i, uh...had no idea"

"hey, did you hear? haruhi went and got herself a job without the schools permission" "No way, thats grounds for expulsion"

"Guys if she's not being paid it isn't a job"

"I think Karuizawa is way better than switzerland anyway" "And overseas travel is so exhausting" you laugh at kyoya's words.

"Of course, you do have the right to spend your vacation as you please. But then again like it or not, so do we. And you know, I for one, find pension misuzu to be exceptionally charming"

haruhi breaks into a crisis at Tamaki's words.

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"I'm so sorry boys, I'd love to have you all as guests, but i'm afraid there's only one vacant room left"

"One room you say? well that settles it, I'll have to stay here to represent the club"

"Hey that isn't fair!" Honey cries "Have you no feeling of loyalty? of any solidarity boss?"

"Togetherness is our guiding principle" the twins laugh slyly, tamaki breaks. "My own words twisted and thrown right back in my face" the twins slide over "Here's an idea, we bet you'll like it" "Why not hold a little competition.

"Call it 'the guest relations odd-jobs contest' at pension misuzu"

"It's very simple we all just lend a hand around the place for the afternoon" "and whoever makes the best impression on Misuzu chi gets to sleep in the vacant guesst bedroom"

"That's brilliant! I think it's an absolutely delightful idea! Yes. The winnder of the contest will be determined by how refreshing they are! Remember, refreshing is the name of the game in guest relations"

"Refreshing! Refreshing yay!"

"Now, don't think this is going to be a walk in the park. Cause I'm planning on working you boys to the bone" haruhi groans in the corner "Sounds like a blast"

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You and Kyoya, of course, are not participating in the contest, instead sitting out in the gardens watching Tamaki butcher fence mending.

"So how is it that you have a friend in Karuizawa of all places?" Kyoya questions once again now the others are distracted with the competition. "It's a long story"

He tilts his chin upwards squinting at you analytically. "You're hiding something"

"I am not"

"You are"

"i'm not"

"Y/n what on earth could it possibly be that you would need to hide it from me"

"I just can't okay! Drop it"

"So there is something then" Kyoya smirks. Dammit.

Haruhi approaches in the midst of your tense silence "Kyoya-Senpai. You're keeping your distance from all his"

"Of course, winning means i'd end up staying alone, which frankly doesn't appeal to me. I'll just sit back and watch things unfold, then head for the cottage"

"The cottage, you mean your family's?"

"That's right, we all have one in the area"

"So who's your favourite to win? There must be someone you have in mind. Do you care to bet?"

"Mm, no thanks, I don't have a clue"

"Really? it's easy enough to tell at a glance"

You roll your eyes "Honey-senpa's brand of cute doesn't really fit Misuzu's notion of refreshing, so i'm afraid he's out Tamaki comes a little closer to the ideal provided he keeps his mouth shut. But we all know the likelihood of that. Ordinarily you'd figure hikaru and kaoru. Then again, seems we have a dark horse." you explain, nodding to mori "But since he goes nowhere without Honey-senpai so his participation is null really"

"Which means..." you attention is drawn to the twins, who have appeared on the patio nearby "Victory will be ours"

"well maybe not, I couldn't help but notice that the only room still available is a single bed"

"No big deal we can always bring another bed over from the cottage" "Yeah or we could even squeeze into the single"

"How sweet, i guess you guys really are always together huh?"

"always"

"The two of us have been together subce we were born, so we've never needed anybody else "We never bothered making any friends until a few years ago, we thought the world was made up of idiots"

"really?"

"That was before we knew you, we'd totally let you sleep with us"

"uh, thanks, I'll pass"

Kyoya pushes up his glasses "The contest isn't quite decided yet, there's still a number of ways to make this game more interesting"

"Oh yeah? Thinking about helping the boss are you?"

"We're not going to lose, it's no use" Kyoya just gives a curteous laugh before returning to his book

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You had moved into the resturant while you wait for your 'friend' to arrive, hoping that the host club is too distracted by the competition to ask questions, Tamaki at the very least was too busy focused playing the piano, something that you did not doubt Kyoya had a hand in.

You aren't paying too much attention when some comotion outside with a few crashes result in "And the victory goes to the Hitachiin brothers!" is cried through the entire pension.

Tamaki slams his hands into the keys at the result, you aren't fully convinced that Tamaki hasn't gone catatonic at the news.

your phone buzzes.

'New message from S.S: sry something's come up, meet tmrw?'

You sigh, quickly typing back a reply before going to console Tamaki.

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The next morning yet again you were sat in the corner of the resturant while the twins sit arguing with Tamaki, leaving Haruhi stood there wanting to be anywhere else, Kyoy and the others are sat nearby at the bar.

A jingle of the bell signifies someone entering the resturant, you sit up straight at the sight of who has entered, a tall boy with black hair that you had been waiting for over the past day.

"Hi Sam" you smile, Sam sits down opposite you at the table. "Sorry for making you wait" he scratches the back of his neck, placing his bag on the table. "No it's okay, I'm going to be in Karuizawa for a while"

"who's that boy sat with y/n?"

"I didn't know y/n-chan had any friends in Karuizawa"

"I'm glad you messaged me, although I must that I was a little surprised" you laugh under your breath "Yeah it has been a while hasn't it, I know it was a little out of the blue"

Sam smiled "Nethertheless, I come bearing gifts" he reaches into his bag, pulling out a medium sized gift box. "You gift wrapped it" You raise an eyebrow

"They're sat a little close aren't they?"

"Did he just give her a gift? Her birthday isn't for another two months"

"Why did she not tell us about him?"

"You don't think they are..."

Kyoya heard the whispers, of course he did, he hears everything. He has to keep telling himself not to stare, usually that wouldn't be an issue, but for some reason right now he is having a hard time telling himself that he doesn't care.

A few minutes later the two of you stand "It was good to see you sam, we should meet up again sometimes"

"For sure" as Sam goes to leave he nearly bumps into a boy on his way in to deliver fruit "Good morning, Arai produce"

"Good morning to you, working boy eh?"

"Yes maam, i'm helping out at my uncles shop for the summer"

"How refreshing! Haruhi, would you put these in the refrigerator for me?"

"Okay!"

"Haruhi fujioka?"

"Arai?"

Chapter Text

"Haruhi fujioka?"

"Hey arai"

Luckily for you tamaki and the twins quickly got caught up in whoever this boy is that knows Haruhi to even care about the boy who had come to see you moments before.

The same cannot be said however for Kyoya, who quickly replaced sam across the table from you, Mori and Honey stood nearby. "Who was that?" Kyoya was strangely intense in the way he asked the question.

"Who? Sam? he's just an old friend, like i told you"

The twins slide over, hikaru clearly not wanting to look at Haruhi and Arai anymore "An old friend who is a boy? and gave you a gift no where near your birthday? what is it anyway" Kaoru reaches out to the box but you clamber to take hold of it "No! No...I um...It's an old family heirloom...quite personal to me"

Hikaru raises an eyebrow "Why would he have an old family heirloom of yours? Why would it even be in Japan if you didn't bring it?" you nervously laugh at the question.

"Yeah well...It's a long story...really...long and boring... you don't want to hear"

"Y/n-chan was that guy your boyfriend?"

Your jaw drops "What?"

"That's what I would like to know as well" Kyoya chimes in "Huh?" your face falls at Kyoya's comment. You still cannot figure out exactly how you feel about him but you hated to hear the way he said it.

"You see if that boy was your boyfriend, I would need to know, it would be incredibly risky if my father found out, or if yours did for that matter" Oh...yeah...the arrangement...for a split second you thought that Kyoya was jealous. Did you want him to be? why are you even thinking about that?

"No! Sam's not my boyfriend, he was just doing a favour for me that's all now is anyone going to do something about Tamaki in the corner"

You all look over to Tamaki, who was hunched over in the corner tearing up paper.

"Hey! Quit making more garbage I'll have to take out" Haruhi cries

"It's not garbage I'm making a hamster home" Haruhi sighs "But Senpai you don't have a hamster"

"I'm not your senpai, I'm just an acquaintance of yours"

"Wow you ouran guys are funny, it's such a prestigious school, I've always imagined it was a whole different world"

The boys get caught up in Arai's words and the conversation. All except for Kyoya who leans over to rest his forearms against the table. "Okay, he may not be your boyfriend but you are still hiding something"

"So?"

"So whatever it is you don't want to tell me which concerns me"

"Kyoya I don't ask you to divulge all your plans, you're always up to something"

"I would tell you if you asked, I am asking but you still won't tell me"

"Why do you care?"

the two of you lock into a staring battle, both not wanting to confess anything first.

"Fine. Don't tell me if you like, I could probably help you but if you want to go rogue now be my guest, run back to that boy" Kyoya, stands up, walking over to the main conversation and leaving you sat stunned at the table.

You walk slowly back up to your room, after some yelling the twins run past you, Kaoru chasing after Hikaru, you make it a point to check in on that later.

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About an hour later you get a knock on the door of the room you're in. "Y/n?" Kaoru pokes his head through the door, sending you a nervous smile. "Kaoru? What's up? is Hikaru okay?"

Kaoru sighs "Yeah, he's just still getting used to the idea of having...friends...can I come in?" you nod, he steps out from behind the door, coming to sit next to you on the bed. "I need to ask you a favour"

"Sure"

"I think that if Haruhi and Hikaru go on a date tomorrow it might help him come out his shell a bit, but I have a feeling that if the two of them go alone he might say something stupid so...I suppose what I am asking is if you mind going on a double date, you, me, hikaru, and Haruhi"

you ponder over it for a moment, it was a good idea, you knew that Hikaru was struggling with the changes to his social life. So if this is what he needs it can't hurt "Sure, I'll go"

"Thanks, Hikaru and Haruhi are going to go into town a bit early tomorrow so meet me out front at 11 and then we can meet up with them in town. Wear something cute"

You roll your eyes at the last comment, shooting him a smile as he steps out the room.

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The next morning Kaoru approaches Kyoya, who is sat out on the patio, unkept in manner "Kyoya just the person I'm looking for, I have a favor to ask"

"What is it Kaoru?"

"You see me and hikaru are meant to take the girls out on a double date today...but I feel so ill...do you mind going in my place so that Hikaru doesn't mess things up?"

Kyoya raises an eyebrow at the request "You're asking me? Surely this is Tamaki's department"

"Tamaki would just make things worse and try to split up Hikaru and Haruhi, it needs to be you"

Kyoya sighs "Fine, if i must"

"Thank you! Y/n will be waiting out front at 11, show her a good time, i told her that she would have a fun day out in exchange for helping me"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Kyoya?" you question as you are stood outside waiting for Kaoru. "Kaoru is ill, he's sent me instead to make sure Hikaru doesn't say something stupid"

"Oh... i see..."

"Let's get this over with then"

The two of your head into town eventually meeting up with Hikaru and Haruhi, the four of you sat on a bench. "So where do we want to go?"

"Well Kaoru said he planned everything so i didn't really give it much thought. Any ideas?"

"Well there's not anything that I need to do here... I know why don't we go to that outlet mall by the train station, they've got cheap clothes there"

"That's cool, do you need to buy clothes?"

"No, there's no way I'd buy my clothes at that place" You elbow hikaru at the answer. "Then lets skip it"

"Everything looks okay now, but misuzu said it might rain, i sure hope there aren't any thunderstorms" Haruhi notes, looking up at the sky, which looks clear and blue for the time being

"I didn't know you were so into the weather"

You roll your eyes, stuck between hikaru who was being arsey and Kyoya who didn't want to talk at all.

Soon an ice cream kart comes barrelling past.

"That was creepy, that old guy looked like Honey senpai" Hikaru says, noticing that Haruhi is now gone, you nod in front of you where Haruhi is at an ice cream stand "One please"

Hikaru stands up walking over, leaving you and Kyoya sat awkwardly on the bench together. "This date isn't going very well is it?"

"Just give it time, hikaru isn't used to being without kaoru he just needs to adjust"

Kyoya hummed in agreement.

The two of you let Haruhi and hikaru go ahead a little as the four of you wander through Karuizawa, occasionally stopping at the odd stall here and there.

Kyoya and you were relatively silent. Unaware that the host club are watching on from a distance. "Dammit why is hikaru now better at communicating than kyoya is!" Kaoru muttered.

You started to overthink in wake of the silence, you were here to make sure hikaru's date didn't go off the rails but then you also wasn't following your own advice.

maybe you needed to be honest.

"Are you going to say anything?" the question slips out before you even process the words. "What?"

"You've barely said a word to me all day"

"I thought it was obvious that you do not want to tell me anything so what's the point"

"What on earth is up with you?"

"I don't like you keeping secrets, if you're keeping it from me all I can think that it could possibly be is that you're plotting against my family" you stop it your tracks "Excuse me?"

"That's how business works sometimes...the y/n group has been growing exponentially recently, has your father sent you to do something to break up his deal with the ootori group?"

You're floored, you cannot believe that Kyoya could accuse you of something like that.

"Kyoya are you kidding me? Do you seriously think I would be that deceptive?"

Suddenly grey clouds cast over karuizawa. "It does look like it's going to rain though, think we should back?" Haruhi asks

"Then, let's hail a cab, ok?"

"Is that you fujioka?" Arai catches you off guard, seemingly appearing next to you. "Oh no"

"Hey arai, I didn't expect to see you out here"

"Well this is my uncle's store, you guys out doing some shopping?"

"We were but now we're about to leave"

"Yeah? We've got a car that can take you back, just let me just ask my uncle"

"I don't want to be a bother"

"It's no problem, i wouldn't want you to get caught in the rain"

"Don't worry about it, we're getting a taxi" "Come on, don't waste your money on a taxi"

Thunder rumbling cuts him off, haruhi gasps. "Hey, why don't we accept his offer? The sooner we get home the better"

"Well, i guess you'll be riding home alone then" you sigh, perhaps this was too much too soon for hikaru "But, hikaru..."

"Just do whatever you want, okay? You guys can catch up and reminisce but leave me out of it!" Hikaru runs off "Wait!"

"What's his problem?" Arai asks. Haruhi runs after Hikaru "Haruhi!" You call after her, sighing in frustration as she disappears.

"We should call a car"

"I'll make my own way home, I wouldn't want you to think that I'm somehow sabotaging the ootori group by being in one of their cars"

Kyoya huffs "y/n-"

You roll your eyes "God forbid I want to keep something to myself" you mutter, walking off in the direction of the other two.

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Thunder cracked outside after finding your way back to your room, not bothering to turn the lights on as you sit down on the floor, leaning back against the wall, sighing, a tear sliding down your cheek.

The sight of the red gift wrapping catches your eye from the bed, reaching up to grab the box, you wipe your tears as you open it. As expected inside laid a USB stick and a pile of printed photos, you sigh as you place the box on the floor next to you. Shaking your head.

A controlled knock against the door causes you to wipe your tears, the door cracks open, Kyoya's head sticking in, searching around the room before finding you on the floor.

He doesn't say anything before walking in, sitting on the floor next to you.

"I'm sorry" his voice is quiet. "I don't know why I accused you of that...I suppose I don't like when there is something that I don't know, I shouldn't have taken it out on you"

You pause, thinking over his words.

"I'm trying to escape my family" your voice is weak when you eventually speak.

"Huh?"

"I came to Karuizawa to avoid going home for the summer break...but it's not just that..."

you reach for the box, shaky hands lifting it onto your lap. "Can you promise me that no matter what happens what I'm about to tell you it doesn't leave the room" Kyoya nods, raising an eyebrow at the sudden intensity.

"My father...is not a good man...he...he used to be...but I've had a feeling for a while that there's something up at the company...I just didn't have proof until now. Sam is the son of the CFO of the Asia branch"

"I see..."

"I'm sorry Kyoya...I didn't want to bring you into this...but that is why I need you...as soon as I no longer have to depend on him then...."

"Then?"

"...I'm planning on taking down the l/n group, from the inside"

you are praying that you had put your trust in the right place for once.

"Y/n did I mention that I am planning on buying my fathers company from under him?"

Your head snaps to look at him "What?"

"Mhm, all the money I have been saving, I am preparing to buy my fathers company"

You laugh through your tears "Really?"

"Yes...now if i had known that you were planning on doing something similar then this would have saved a lot of confusion"

"Well aren't we a match made in hell"

Kyoya smirked "Indeed"

your face falls "Kyoya theres something else I need to tell you"

"What is it?"

you reach to one of the photos, the one of both of your fathers in the headquarters of l/n group asia. "L/N group is covering up something for the ootori group...I don't know what it is but if sam is anything to go by its big"

Kyoya took the photo from you, gripping it as he stares at the two men.

"Well then... you better get me up to speed...we've got quite the work set out for us"

Chapter Text

You had to admit that the flutter that you felt in your chest when you heard the familiar jingle of the video call on your computer. The summer is going incredibly since you left Japan for an internship in Italy, you found yourself counting down the hours for Kyoya to call.

"Hello?" it is already dark for Kyoya when you answer, a symptom of the time difference. "Hi" you smile, still unpacking your bag as you had only just got in from work that day. "How did talking with that competator of your father go?"

Kyoya takes a sharp inhale at the mention of the meeting "As well as we could hope. I've sworn them to secracy even if they do not accept our offer" you nod "Good, I'm sure they will, they've been looking for a way to get back at the ootori group for years" Kyoya laughs through a hum "Very true"

"How was work?"

"Alright, in full honesty if they were paying me I probably could have fixed half their issues by now, but I also don't want to work for them long term so what would be the point?" Kyoya smirks "Sounds about right"

A comfortable silence overcomes the two of you as you both basque in your combined success. "Are you being well looked after?" you roll your eyes "Yes, you know that I am" Kyoya had insisted in you staying in one of his families properties while you were in Italy.

"Do you have enough money?" you laugh "I don't think money has ever been an issue" it is kyoya's turn to roll his eyes. "I am just making sure, the less you have to rely on your parents money the better”

You huff “yes Kyoya I am fine”

“Good.”

You shake your head at kyoyas expression “what’s got you so worried?”

“Your father called today.”

Oh.

You try to seem unbothered, looking away “oh really?” Kyoya hummed, leaning back in his seat “he’s wondering why you haven’t gone home”

You raise an eyebrow “and he called you?”

“He thinks I’ve kidnapped you” you laugh at the reply “in a way he’s not fully wrong” Kyoya scoffed “like you didn’t leap to stay at the villa instead of with your nonna”

“What did you say?”

“That you are extremely busy with work placements”

“Good”

Kyoya cleared his throat “he also mentioned something else”

“Hmm?”

“Now that we’re going into third year…he said that the l/n and ootori group are going to release a joint statement confirming our engagement by the end of the year”

“What?”

This was a strange move, even for your fathers of all people.

“I would have thought that they would have waited until we graduated to announce….why move it up?”

Kyoya hums in agreement “something must have prompted them”

You wrack your brain for any idea on what would trigger them to hasten the arrangement. “Well if my father is the one that is moving it up…possibly he is sensing that your father is getting cold feet?”

He raises an eyebrow “I mean possibly but I don’t know where he would get that idea, I must admit I haven’t really spoken to my father on the matter”

It is only now that is hits you exactly what you had just been told. “Wait Kyoya, if the engagement is announced what about the host club-“

“I’ll handle that, don’t worry”

You sigh, leaning back, shaking your head “I mean…I guess if it’s moved up then it’s still happening…that’s good right?”

“I suppose, it does mean that you won’t be with them for as long after we graduate” Kyoya sighed, taking out his notebook and scribbling something down that you can't see onscreen.

You keep forgetting somehow that this engagement is actually going to end in marriage despite that being the entire point. It makes you wonder actually what life being married to Kyoya would even look like.

You always used to picture it as being cold, that the two of you would just live in the same house and for the most part mind your own business. But that was before you actually started talking to each other now you have no idea.

"How are the host club?" Kyoya groans, leaning back in his seat "As infuriating as ever, they're even harder to handle without you here to keep them in check"

You laugh "It is still the summer I am sure that they haven't been that bad" you shake your head, taking a sip of your coffee. "Tamaki's delusions ae unfortunately not seasonal i'm afraid"

"I can imagine"

"That does remind me however, our said great leader has asked for your proposed events calendar for the next semester" You have to restrain yourself from laughing midsip at kyoya's newfound nickname.

"Ok, I'll have to get started on it then, I've been a bit busy planning corperate sabotage to work on it"

"It will work out, I am sure of it"

You pause. "There is...still one more thing that we still don't know"

"Hm?"

"What exactly my father is covering up for the ootori group"

Kyoya sighs "yeah, I've been trying to look into that, the problem is trying to investigate within the ootori group without exposing our plans"

you hum in agreement "true, it is just concerning that if the group is so desperate to cover something up that your father would arrange a marriage with the head of a media empire for his daughter then it is serious, the ootori group is in medical..."

"I dread to think aswell"

Things were just going to get messy this next year, you just knew it.

"When....are you returning to Japan?"

You're head shoots up at the question, surely he already knows, a detail like that does not slip under Kyoya's radar.

"I...my placement ends on the nineteenth, you know that"

"I know...I just...thought I have may have gotten my dates wrong"

"Why would you think that? your notes as meticulous I know that much"

"I know it's just, it feels like you've been gone for a long time so..."

You raise an eyebrow "If i didn't know better Kyoya Ootori I would think that you miss me"

"More like I need someone else to deal with tamaki and the twins" You roll your eyes "You love them don't be so mean"

"If you say so"

You roll your eyes "Okay well if they are that unbearable it will be one more week until I am returning to Japan, and then your torment will be over don't worry"

Kyoya lets out a small chuckle "Good"

"Goodnight Kyoya"

"Goodnight y/n"

The room all of a sudden feels all too quiet as the call ends. One more week.

Chapter Text

""Hey Kyoya, I have just had the most brilliant idea!"

When Kyoya finally becomes aware he is very confused to find himself in what appears to be an outlet mall. "How did I wind up here? I was sleeping comfortably in my own bed just a few minutes ago...no, wait...Tamaki was carrying on about some sort of exhibit. He had his heart set on all of us going, I think."

"Doesn't it sound fascinating? They're called 'expos' that's commoner lingo for 'exposition' products from all over the world are gathered under one roof so that underprivilaged people can cope with the emptiness of not being able to travel. That makes this the perfect oppotunity to better understand Haruhi, by allowing the host club to study commoners in their natural environment. You guessed it Kyoya, we're going on a field trip! Haruhi won't be joining us today, incidentally, as her presence might harm our credibility as impartial observers"

Kyoya glared at him from the bed, not happy to be woken up at all. "Oh come on, you can't just lie here in bed all morning! Today's the last day of summer vacation!"

Kyoya groans and sits up in bed "For your information, I was up until 5am you morons, which if you hadn't notice, makes me less than happy about being woken up" The host club backed up, shivering "Kyo-chan isn't much of a morning person huh?" Asked honey.

"You have nor room to talk"

"Hey what does that mean?"

"Okay enough with the commoner shtick, if you formulaic halfwits feel like wasting all afternoon on worn out old cliches go right ahead and suit yourselves" he falls back against the bed, almost immediately falling back asleep.

"Well, if that's what you want...you heard the man! Now lets dress him to the nines and head for the expo!"

"Oh right, that's how...it looks like I'm at the Izumi shopping centre, which isn't exactly within walking distance of home. Guess I'll call to have a car sent out" Kyoya reaches into his pocket which is when he realised that he has no phone or wallet on him.

A small boy runs into him "Wow sorry....uhhh mama!" he runs off. "Tamaki's a dead man when I get my hands on him"

"Kyoya-senpai?"

"Huh?" Kyoya looks to his left to find you and Haruhi, both staring at him confused by his presence, clearly in the middle of shopping. "I didn't expect to see you here today" you raise an eyebrow, knowing that this really is not his scene.

"How much money do you two have on you?"

You and Haruhi exchange glances "What?"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

Kyoya's Reluctant day out!
♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Kyoya-senpai, are you sure this is where you want to eat?" You ask, confused and concerned that he may be ill since normally kyoya would never been seen in a place like the fast food joint you were all currently stood in.

"There are much nicer resturants to choose from upstairs"

"Well you two don't have much on you so our choices are limited, just be sure to get a reciept, tamaki will reimburse you tenfold" He muttered, Haruhi clearly not being incredibly thrilled.

"Let me guess, he dragged you out of bed to do something even though you were up till five am?" you ask, haruhi hums in question "You can't possibly know that-"

"Yes he did" Kyoya grumbles, haruhi turns to you in question "I knew he had a business call over seas" You shrug

"Haruhi I think it's our turn, how do i order?"

"Oh, uh, here, i'll order for us, do you know what you want?"

"You pick, just get lots of it"

"I'll just get a cheeseburger"

Haruhi nods, turning to the cashier "Well okay, that and that one, both with fries, and a cheeseburger please"

"Okay coming right up, would you be interested in adding one of our delicious desserts?"

"Thank you, no, I don't care for sweets"

"Before you decide we have this new shake thats absolutely-" "I have given you my answer"

you sigh, quietly apologising to the cashier as you take the food to a nearby table. "Kyoya-senpai just beacuase you're in a bad mood today doesn't give you the right to go around talking to people like that"

"Poor girl was just trying to do her job"

Kyoya picks up his burger "Her job is to serve us food, not irritate me with some weak sales pitch" You make it an internal point never to pull kyoya out of bed unceramoniously if this grouchy mood is a result.

"What now?" you realise that Haruhi has been staring at him "I just don't think i've actually seen you eat before. Somehow I thought the experience would more refined" You raise an eyebrow as someone who has actually dined with kyoya before.

"That would imply that Kyoya would allow himself indulgence, that's more Tamaki's thing"

"Or yours"

"I just cook when I miss my home food, besides there is no shame in finding small joys once in a while"

"I'm just surprised food like this even appeals to you"

"It doesn't appeal to me in the slightest, no doubt you'll say I'm callous for admitting it, since you bought this tripe. There is an understanding between makers of food like this and those who eat it. Quality takes a backseat to convenience, refinement isn't part of the equation. It's meant to be eaten quickly, besides no one of consequence is here to witness my momentary lapse of manners"

You and haruhi don't reply, silently sipping your sodas refraining from commenting "Hey, for the record i'm saying it benefits me nothing to keep up appearances in a place like this"

Three girls approach you, or more specifically Kyoya. "Um excuse me, i'm so sorry to interrupt, if you're not using this chair can my friends and i borrow it?"

"Why not" Kyoya doesn't even look up, speaking through a sigh. "Thank you so much thats awesome!" you squint in confusion as you watch the three girls being far too gleeful at being allowed to borrow a chair. "You're quite welcome"

"You're probably wondering how Tamaki and I complement eachother so well, the answer is simple, I have something to gain. There is no better motivator than self interest. I have to look out for number one you know"

The explanation from Kyoya certainly was not squashing your doubt.

"Tamaki-senpai would be heartbroken if he heard you say that" Haruhi chimes in.

"Not really" you reply

"On the contrary he's understood our arrangement from the very beginning, the same goes for all of us. Kaoru-senpai, hikaru-senpai, Honey-senpai, Mori-Senpai, y/n. The glue that holds the host club together is out mutual egocentricity, its the principle that drives the alliance between our families and ensures each of our futures. Well, let's just say there's still quite a bit you don't know about that "

Haruhi turns to you "What do you have to gain from being apart of the host club?"

"My situation....is a bit more complicated"

"Although tamaki is a fool, and self sacrifice does come naturally to him. So I guess the point of this is, we are very different creatures"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

"Y/n senpai?"

Kyoya had walked ahead, looking through the stalls of the products expo, leaving you and Haruhi to talk. "Hm?"

"How do you and Kyoya...."

"Huh?"

"It is very clear that Kyoya senpai does not care for anyone but himself, how do you....have such a good relationship with him?.... Is it a relationship? because it's clear that there's something going on with you two "

your jaw hangs open for a second as you try to pull together the words for such an answer. "Is it that clear?"

Haruhi looks at you unimpressed "Y/n-senpai the only time I see him display any emotion at all it is towards you, you're always sat together at the club....you may hide it well enough that the rest of the school don't know but the club is convinced that the two of you are dating"

"Well...I won't lie and say that we don't have our faults but....in truth I think its because that we have an understanding of one another...."

You look at Kyoya, who is up ahead unaware of the conversation taking place "We've never really had the conversation of whether what we have is romantic, I don't think we really need one....it's just that after all this time it has become routine for us. I know that Kyoya is self-serving, I always have...but at the end of the day so am I. And within our self serving we know we need each other, which is why we look out for each other..."

You shrug "We aren't really the type for loud romantic gestures, that has always been Tamaki's thing. I don't really need the term 'dating' or 'girlfriend' because I don't think that is every what we will have or even want. There is just....us. I know it's a strange thing to understand but our way of flirting is basically scheming"

Haruhi shoots you a strange look "You've started to sound like him"

You raise an eyebrow "Have i?"

"I must admit y/n-senpai, I never have thought of you as a 'schemer' in the same way I do Kyoya senpai"

You desperately avoid laughing, if only she knew what the two of you had been up to. "That is because Kyoya and I are perceived differently. We always will be, no one trusts a calculated woman. And I need people to trust me to get where I want to. The truth is Kyoya and I are more alike than you may think, but I can afford to show more compassion because that is expected of me"

Haruhi hums "I suppose that makes sense"

You catch up with Kyoya "Black pearls from Ishigaki Island?" you note "odd to find them here given how much they go for" Kyoya adds. "You're kidding. Really? That's incredible. How can you tell?"

"We are products of excellent breeding"

"So, Kyoya-senpai, why is it that after all this time, I still know next to nothing about your family?"

The two of you pause although Haruhi didn't seem to pick up on it.

"Because there's really nothing for you to know about my family, at least nothing that should be of interest to you"

"Well, that seems to be a little bit unfair, don't you think?"

"Hmm?"

"I mean that when it comes to my personal life, you even keep tabs on who my father's friends from work are, while I barely have a clue about yours. So I call that unfair."

"That's a very intriguing notion, in it's own way"

"You've got two older brothers right? For starters, you could tell me something about them? What kind of people are they "

"Oh no" you whisper

"They are rather exceptional. Enough so, that my father puts a lot of stock in them. Though as the third son, things work out a little differently for me"

"I didn't realise there was so much pressure on you to succeed."

"Pressure? Oh no Haruhi, i can think of nothing more fun than this"

"It is as I said Haruhi, we thrive under the notion of scheming" you smirk.

Haruhi sighs, worn out at the idea. "When did you say this?" Kyoya raises an eyebrow, you can tell he is mildly concerned about the idea of you exposing your plans. "Don't worry about it"

"Dear me, pieces from the komatsu shoin collection. I never thought that I would find them here." you look over to an older woman at one of the stalls.

"Why madam you have an astonishing eye"

Kyoya squints at the scene before him "um...senpai"

"You know they have such an exquisite colour, don't they? To tell you the truth, I'm not really supposed to have these out on display . The bulk of the komatsu collection has been privately held for ages. Pieces rarely come up for sale"

You roll your eyes, the man was really laying it on thick. He's worse than kyoya during club hours. The woman fawns over the pieces.

Kyoya approaches the stall. "With all due respect, these are fake"

"Huh?"

"Hey, get out of here kid. What do you think you're doing?"

"The shade of blue is strongly reminiscent of shoin's work but looking closely around the base, you'll notice the colour graduation isn't quite dark enough to be authentic. That and the lacquer is too clear."

"That's enough of you, Mr. expert, i'll report you for obstructing my business"

Kyoya flips around the bowl to look at the base "Just as I thought, the brushstrokes on this seal are uncharacteristically broad as well. For your sake I hope you have a certificate, that is if you insist it's real"

The man starts to sweat "Of course it's real! I have the certificate at home!"

"Ah, the surely you won't mind if I call the komatsu family right now to verify your claim. My own family has had dealings with them for generations. It would only be a matter of minutes"

The man eventually gets escorted out, you shake your head with a slight smile on your face, for a man who likes to lay low Kyoya certainly has a flare for the dramatic.

"After everything you told me senpai, stepping in on a complete stranger's behalf seems a little out of character for you" Haruhi says.

"Hmm? Oh, that? Well now, she's hardly a stranger. You mean you don't know? Her husband is the CEO of a major electronics company. This is my first time meeting her personally but that ring on her left hand is unmistakable. My family has dealing's with her husbands family"

The woman walks over "Ah, one of the Ootori boys, and f/n's daughter as well, imagine running into you both incognito, the next opportunity I have, I'll be sure to take advantage of one of your famil's beautiful health resorts"

"We'd be honored"

A nearby stall catches Kyoya's attention "Hey haruhi did you know this?"

"Did I know what?"

"Is melon the preferred flavour among snack makers? It doesn't make sense, if the primary ingredient is corn, why go through the trouble of artificially making it taste like fruit?" the two of you laugh.

"That's an intriguing notion in it's own way"

"Oh was I being funny?"

"Earlier you were going on and on about how you and Tamaki-senpai are nothing alike, but what you just said then about the candy? It sounds exactly like him!"

"You think so? It does seem like something he nad the twins would fawn over. Very well I'll buy them. Haruhi? your wallet"

you place a hand over haruhi's as she goes to hand over her purse "I'LL buy them, haruhi got lunch"

♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡ ♡

The three of you sit at a bench in the mall, taking a break from shopping. "Hey, senpai?"

"Hmm?"

"Why do you think that Tamaki-Senpai is always so eager to help people when they're in need?"

"You mean when there's nothing to be gained from it? Who knows?"

"So then when you help someone, how exactly do you benefit from it?"

"The way that I've always seen it Tamaki-senpai get's something more abstract from helping others. He likes to see people happy, one could argue it is because he doesn't like being reminded of certain hardships but it is not my job to psycho analyse him. For us it's...a combination of things, reputation yes, which can lead to connections that possibly make us money but there is something else..." You explain.

"Huh?"

"Attention shoppers, this is an announcement for a lost child. A little boy named Kyoya Ootori is lost inside the store. Repeat Kyoya Ootori is lost. His guardian, Suoh, is waiting for him at the second floor information counter"

"Oh no" you mutter.

"Kyoya is five feet eleven inches tall with black hair, and wearing perscription glasses" everyone around you begin to stare as Kyoya obviously matches the description. "That damn idiot, i'll kill him"

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You and Kyoya are sat in the car on the way back from the mall that evening "I never did ask, how did the meeting go?" you look over to kyoya, but also making sure that the driver cannot hear the two of you.

He smirks "Let's just say that we will be having a lot more early morning meetings in the future"

You smile "I see."

"You may as well drop us both off at the apartments" Kyoya speaks up to the driver, who nods.

Eventually the driver pulls up, dropping the two of you off as you enter the complex. "Do you have any more leads on this mystery between our two families?"

"Quite possibly, I must admit that it was slightly easier than I expected, a cover up can only cover so much" the two of you enter your apartment. "I see"

"But that hasn't been my main focus, finding out what my father is covering up for yours is useless to us at the moment. No one would believe two teenagers regardless our networks as is. So...I have been weeding through the board of directors, finding some weak points. Get enough on board then we can use the l/n media corporation to expose itself and the ootori group both at once" You hum out a laugh, stepping away to get a drink.

"Y/n?" Kyoya grasps your wrist, keeping you from getting too far

"Hm?"

He pauses for a second, but it didn't take long for him to pull you closer and into a kiss. Your body doesn't catch up to your mind for a second, mostly frozen up except for an arm thrown around his shoulder.

As soon as you realise exactly what is happening it ends, him pulling away slightly as he smirks at your reaction. You stare back at him with wide eyes "I..."

He laughs, stepping away. Heading to the fridge to fetch both of your drinks.

While he does so you still stand there, frozen, staring at him. 'i'm so screwed' you whisper to yourself.

Chapter Text

"Excuse me, are you a member of the host club? Could you ask third year student Mitskuni Haninozuka to meet me out here?" A middle school boy approaches you and Haruhi on the way into the host club.

"Who Honey-Senpai? You sure?"

"yes"

Honey on the back of Mori slides through the door "Oh look it's Chika-chan! So what's up? You rarely ever come over to the highschool like this to see me"

"Prepare yourself Mitskuni" The boy flings himself into the hostclub, nearly knocking the two of you down in the process, sending a flying kick in honey's direction

"Woah did you see that?!" the unmistakably grating voice of renge echoes as she arises into the host club "Honey-senpai dodged Chika's preliminary attack! this is gonna be good"

"What's going on?" haruhi asks "God not this again"

"Honey senpai is able to fly through the air with such grace!he's like a modern day Ushiwakamaru! Woah Chicka attacks again without even giving him a chance to regain his balance! Incredible, he dodged his attack and tripped him. Neither of them are gonna give! They keep lashing out with ferocious techniques!"

You step away, not wanting to be collateral damage and heading further into the host club. "So they're at it again"

"I wish they would've chosen a better location"

"Wait why are you guys so calm?"

Chika pulls out a quaterstaff, launching in Honey's direction. "Woah he knocked him out of the park!" "This may be his first win!"

"I gotcha"

Renge stands "Sorry I don't think so, the winner of this one is Honey-Senpai"

"Renge's right about that" Chika looks down to find his trousers pinned to the floor with knives "See he got you"

"How the hell did he do that?" Honey dusts himself off, renge showing a replay on the projector before thankfully disappearing.

"Hey guys? I'm completely lost, you wanna tell me what's going on here? Whoe's that kid and why did he attack Honey-Senpai?"

"What? you mean you can't tell just by looking at his face? He's Honey-senpai's younger brother"

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Chika's 'down with Honey' declaration!
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"The Haninozukas are a noble family. We excel at martial art, we've combined style over the years, to create our own method of fighting. When we're away, we study karate and judo but when we're home, we work hard to master the Haninozuka technique. So to make sure that we always stay alert we have been taught that whenever two family members come face-to-face they must engage each other in battle"

"Go on yasuchika, we saved you a yummy piece of cake"

"Thank you but I don't care for sweets. Besides, a basic principle of the Haninozuka technique is refraining from selfishness. So to let myself indulge in sweets would be out of the question." Chika appears incredibly bored, you raise an eyebrow at the sight as you and Kyoya sit down at a table nearby.

"But, one little piece of cake isn't really going to hurt you"

"Hold on. I happen to know of a sweets-loving overly-pampered little loli-boy who happens to be" "The next head of the haninozukas and he's sitting right over there"

"Let me just say, there's no way I'm ever going to recognise a dimwit like Mitskuni as the next head of the family. There's no doubt my older brother is strong but he lives a decadent lifestyle and has failed to show any self-restraint. He no longer has the right to be called a haninozuka. I can't allow someone who arbitarily quit the Karate club only to become hooked on cake and stuffed animals to be the head of the haninozuka family. Even if he is my older brother, i've been meaning to make that clear for a while and another thing mitskuni, i've said it before and I'll say it again stay away from me at school, got it?"

Chika storms out of the host club.

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"Senpai are you okay?"

"Honey-senpai, so what should we do with this cake?"

"I'll eat it!" The cake disappears as soon as honey spots it.

"So you used to be in the Karate club senpai? I had no idea, what made you decide to quit and join the host club?"

"Why did you just say 'the host club' like that? What are you getting at huh?"

"Well no matter how you cut it, the Karate club is a much more reputable club"

You zone out of the main conversation and turn back to Kyoya "I must admit Chika was unecessarily harsh on Honey-Senpai earlier" he mutters, underlining things on the page. "If you think about it, you and him actually have a lot in common"

"Huh?"

"Come on, you must see the similarities. A younger son of a reputable family who refuses to indulge himself to uphold the values of said family and overtake the eldest son and has a distaste for sweets? Chika is you but instead of the host club he has the Karate club"

"Hm, when you put it like that I suppose the two of us do have some similarities, do i really sound like that?"

Your head tilts to the side, pursing your lips. "A little, sometimes"

"Alright gentlemen! Time for Operation: Haninozuka Brothers reconciliation!"

"Horray!"

"I knew he was gonna say that"

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The host club end up spying on the Karate club through the windows of the school. "Well, so far it looks like a simple inferiority complex" "He's always being compared to Honey-Senpai so that's why he feels such animosity towards him. His older brothers is more attractive, more popular, and a better martial artist than he is. I think he's just letting his jealousy get the best of him."

"It's totally normal and way boring, we're going to find something more entertaining" The twins walk off "Hold on you two, why are you suddenly being so uncooperative?"

"Well we thought there'd be an interesting secret reason they're fighting this is just lame"

"So Honey-Senpai and Chika's feelings aren't exciting enough?"

Honey steps forward "It's ok Tama-chan, really"

"But, Honey-Senpai"

"Its ok, don't worry about me, so what if Chika-chan hates me? I would be happy just seeing him grow up to be strong and healthy he is my brother afterall"

"Um, he's already a lot taller than you, Honey-Senpai" "Yeah he's pretty grown up and plenty healthy"

"Excuse me, could you guys please keep it down?" Chika appears behind the group. "What are you doing here? I thought I had told you to stay away from me at school Mitskuni" Chika launches for Honey once more, barely giving the others a chance to jump out of the way. Honey kicks him away almost effortlessly. "You alien, will you just leave me alone?"

"But Chika-chan-" "What does he mean 'alien'?"

"Why did you call him that? Just because your brorther is stronger than you are,doesn't give you the right to call him an alien"

"Yeah, why are you so upset about cake and stuffed animals?"

"Well if it was just cake and stuffed animals I would have never said anything. Let's get this straight, I didn't call my brother an alien because he is stronger than me. Have any of you ever seen him devour an entire cake? Don't tell me you guys think that is perfectly normal! He has three whole cakes every night for dessert! Seriously, three cakes a night! And he never gains weight!"

"So Honey-Senpai eats that way at home, too"

"And then something crazy ocurred last week, I happened to wake up in the middle of the night, and I noticed that the light was on in the dining room. And he was in there surrounded by cakes! He has a special cake night everyweek! You know there's no way that a regular human being can eat that much cake! Aren't you terrified? I bet he gets signals from his home planet through that weird bunny of his! Why can't you see that he's an alien?"

"When you think about it..."

"Everything chika just said to us..."

"Suddenly makes perfect sense, doesn't it?"

"I don't know though...there was a time when Mistkuni and I got along really well. While it's true that my brother's always had a fondness for cute things, and more of a sweet tooth than I have. I still respected his ability to avoid that stuff even though he loved it. And then this idiot came along and brainwashed him with some ridiculous nonsense. Something about acknowledging who you really are and just being himself. That that's true strength. Not long after that he fell apart and became the alien he is today" Chika falls to his knees.

"Oh I see so all of chika's troubles" "Can be traced right back to you, isn't that right boss?"

"What are you talking about I didn't mean to! There's gotta be some way we can fix this! Come on, you guys!"

Mori places a hand on Honey's shoulder "There's a way to solve this, you know?"

"You've got it figured out?"

"So Mitskuni, you know what to do"

"Listen Chika-chan I never meant to upset you, I didn't know that you hated sweets that much and I'm very sorry"

You sigh "Looks like he's missed the point completely"

"Nobody can make me change who I am and I'm really grateful to Tama-chan and all of the host club, because they've shown me that. So let's settle this like men in the Haninozuka style Yasuchika."

"Oh no" You quickly pull youself, Kyoya, and Haruhi backwards and out the way, sensing what's about to happen..

"And don't forget Chika-chan this is a one-point match"

"So what happens if I win?"

"If you win, I'll stop eating cake in the middle of the night."

"Alright"

"Are you ready for battle men? Then you may begin"

Honey -senpai goes for chika once again, breaking out into a similar fight they had earlier "Is it just me or is this turning out exactly like the one they had earlier?"

"Yes but this time, their roles have reversed"

"Mitskuni's already planned out how this entire fight will pan out. Yasuchika will attack with his shuriken any moment now"

As if on cue chika matches Mori's exact words.

"Woah he called it"

"I have been watching these two brothers spar for many years, and it didn't take long before I noticed that in every match Yasuchika incorporates moves that Mitskuni used in the previous match. Mitskuni realised it as well, and he always tries to give his brother the opportunity to practice those new techniques. he may call him an alien, but as far as martial arts are concerned, Yasuchika has a deep respect for Mitskuni and his abilities. I think all he really wants is to be like his older brother. they are connected just as two siblings ought to be and personally, I think a little sibling rivarly is perfectly normal. There's no need to worry about the outcome of this match, I can already tell you that Mitskuni is planning to throw the fight and let Yasuchika win. Trust me I know everything there is to know about him"

""o i think that is the most I have ever heard Mori speak at once"

As you say that Honey launches Chika to the ground, clearly not holding back and winning the match.

"Yay! I'm the winner! Cake! Cake! Cake!"

"Wow I guess Honey-senpai loves cake more than his brother" you look at the sight of Chika defeated on the ground. A buzz draws your attention to your phone, a new email alert capturing your focus.

'Hello Miss L/N,

Attatched is the documents that you requested, I have created a new email to avoid tracing back to me, all communications will be from this email from now on. I hope this is what you were looking for.

Good luck'

You bring up the files on your phone "Kyoya? You may wanna see this" he hums, leaning over to see your screen. "Oh my god."

Chapter Text

"Y/n-chan! Please come out and play!" The host club sing from outside your door one day.

Much to their surprise on older woman who is certainly not you opens the door instead, slightly bewildered by the encounter. "Oh apologies we must have the wrong apartment" Tamaki says.

"We have the right apartment, I've been here plenty before" Kyoya points out

"It's Kyoya isn't it? Y/n's fiance? I'm her cousin, c/n, y/n is out with some girlfriends of hers at the moment" the reply confuses the host club "Girlfriends? I thought we were her only friends at school?"

"Perhaps some european friends came over to visit?"

The answer confused even kyoya, the last time that you had met up with a 'friend' outside of them in Japan it was because of the plan that the two of you have been carrying out but kyoya had no idea who you could possibly be meeting up with.

"I don't believe they go to the same school as you, the uniforms were different than the one y/n wears...they did say where they were from....what was it...lobelia academy?"

The host clubs faces fall "Did you just say..." "Lobelia?"

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Lobelia Girls Academy strikes back!
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"Chizuru where's our guest?"

"In the changing room of course"

You must admit you were unsure of how you ended up in this situation, when you realised that Chizuru's family just so happened to be one that you needed to gather intel in you were really hoping to not have to deal with the entire zuka club. But here you are.

"How's that size?"

You must admit even though you do not like Lobelia academy, the uniforms were much more comfortable than Ouran's. "You're gorgeous maiden, i mean, y/n" You appreciated at least that this time Benibara was being a little less pushy at least.

"You look absolutely beautiful! Seeing you in that dress! You look like a princess!"

"Oh my dear, you and that uniform were destined for each other! It's most beffiting an innocent girl like you. yes. One still unfamiliar with young love's first tender kiss" You desperately avoid bursting out laughing at benibara's words because if you were anything, innocent and unkissed was not it.

"Now hold on! What is this? Could someone explain it to me? Cause one moment I am going to talk to Chizuru at a coffee shop and the next i'm here. The three of you have about as much subtlety as the host club does"

"How dare you maiden! We are nothing like those idiots! Oh, forgive my outburst, it's only natural for you to be upset after all, in our haste, we whisked you away this morning in your nightdress"

"Those weren't pajamas you know, it was just a white summer dress, it's warm out"

"All theatrics aside maiden, we have a small favour to ask of you. As you may know, one of our responsibilities at the zuka club is to arrange the regular performance of musical numbers and original plays"

"Today is called pink carnation day when we celebrate the birth of the white lily leagues founder by putting on the most glorious production of the entire year. We've been rehearsing non-stop in preparation for today's performance"

"Tragically the leas actress in our play was in a terrible accident and is currently in the hospital but even so without her you know what they say, the show must go on which means..."

"This is your big opportunity to be a part of the theatre!"

"i can't. I'm sorry"

"You would only have to memorise a handful of lines, for most of the play, the character you'd be portraying is silent."

"The role is actually more symbolic than anything"

"She just stands there looking beautiful"

"You can manage that now can't you? We promise it'll be the easiest thing ever"

"I'll let myself out"

Benio falls to the ground wailing "Forgive me! I fall short of your legacy! You must be so ashamed oh mother!"

"Benio don't talk like that"

"Benio's late mother was a distinguished graduate of st lobelia academy, prominant in the white lily league"

you sigh "Fine, whatever, i'll do it" in a way saving yourself the dramatic wailing from them but also remembering you kinda need to stay anyway.

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"Why are we here?" your cousin asks, looking up at the school from behind the gates along with the rest of the host club "The zuka club is dangerous, they are desperate to steal y/n away to their school"

"Y/n doesn't really seem like the type that would get involved with their kind."

"Something tells me she is not in there willingly"

"That being said, even if she doesn't get along with the zuka club, she always did like the theatre" your cousin ponders, leaning against the wall. "Really?"

She nods "For sure, she was good at it too...well, that was until her father went a little too far on criticising a show she was in. She has never set foot on stage since"

"Really? she gave up doing it for something her father said?"

She sighs "My uncle...is a difficult man, you can kinda tell he wasn't made to be a father, or really wanted to be one for that matter, and y/n was thirteen, you have to be really careful what you say to a girl that age and he just didn't understand that. He got really into her head about it"

"Do you think that maybe Y/n joined the zuka club so that she can do theatre again without the prying eyes of her father"

"Oh no that makes sense!"

"What are we going to do?"

"Kyoya! We are going undercover! Order us some lobelia uniforms!"

"I've got an easier plan"

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"Oh Marianne how many lonely nights have I prayed that we would be together again? and how many times have the powers demanded that we remain apart? That our love is forbidden?"

"Oh my lord frederick" You must admit while you are quieter than you used to, it was scary how quickly you fell back into old habits. Benibara dramatically falls to the ground, feigning injury.

"I'm slain by this fatal gunshot wound, alas I am to draw breath no more"

"My lord frederick!"

"Marianne, with your arms holding me close, all this pain becomes naught. I am overwhelmed with peace. Lovely angel, your gaze is my paradise, and you are the very image of my beloved mother"

"My lord frederick!"

unbeknownst to you the host club were squatted just outside the window of the rehearsal room, now dressed in benio fanclub t-shirts "Can you see her? What's she doing?"

"It looks as though she's playing the heroine of some sentimental tragedy"

"She is pretty good, at least more natural than benibara is"

You start singing, voice slightly shaky as you try to not let the anxiety surrounding the last time you performed over take you.

"Hey newbies! If you want to be part of the Benibara fan club, you have to follow the rules! Now, up on your feet! To be a full-fleged member, your conduct must be of reprouch at all times now all together with enthusiasm! Let me hear those fan club mantras!"

"Lady Benibara, please hang in there for your adoring fans today. Lady Benibara, you look magnificent. Lady Benibara please hang on for your adoring fans today"

Tamaki leans over to your cousin to whisper "Okay now we're in, what's the rest of your plan?"

"Blend in. If you want to get close with the Zuka club, you've got to prove you're a die-hard fan. And watch yourself, these girls seem pretty competative, even more than you can imagine"

"Right! Let's give it a rest"

The host club falls to the floor in exhaustion. "Glad to have you newbies"

"What do you like most about Benibara?"

"Oh, only everything! The way she walks and sings, and the way she looks in coattails. why even the shape of her head!" they suppose that acting must run in the family.

"I'm just so excited to see the play. It's supposed to be a tragedy"

"It's called 'the senorita's love' Lord frederick fakes his own suicide as revenge against his father for coming between he and his lover Marianne. But the gun he uses, supposedly filled with blanks, is acturally filled with live rounds"

"Oh that's so terrible"

"I have my suspicions about the girl playing marianne though"

"Whoever she is if she ruins lady benibara's play our very own maiden warriors will be waiting patiently in the wings to critique her performance!"

"Well that's not going to help y/n's self confidence at all"

"Don't worry, we're getting her out of here."

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"So you've managed to worm your way in after all, you vulgar incompetent host club. My dears it's almost time I'm counting on you!"

Your cousin looks around as she and the host club are sat in the theatre "Now hold on, where did Kyoya run off to?"

"Now that you mention it, I haven't seen him in a while."

"Hey look he's up there!" Honey points up to the sound booth of the theatre where a teacher is walking around with kyoya. "It is such an honor having one of the ootori boys dropping by to pay us a visit"

"That Jackass"

"He moves quickly"

"Very nice set up" Kyoya smiles at the teacher "and that's the orchestra pit I take it?"

"That's right, and just above that we have our fully equipped digital backdrop, here let me show you" The teacher presses a button "We can project any high resolution image and use it as part of the scenery without unnecessary set changes, isn't technology just amazing?"

"Yes" Kyoya smirks.

The benibara fan club flood the theatre in anticipation. "At this point we'll just have to rescure Y/n mid-show" the curtain rises to an applause, revealing you in centre stage singing. "Well at least it looks like she has embraced being back on the stage at least, we should let her have this chance to enjoy it"

"We can sneak her out of here afterwards"

"Oh my lord frederick" Benibara dramatically falls to the ground, feigning injury.

"I'm slain by this fatal gunshot wound, alas I am to draw breath no more"

"My lord frederick!"

"Marianne, with your arms holding me close, all this pain becomes naught. I am overwhelmed with peace. Lovely angel, your gaze is my paradise, and you are the very image of my beloved mother"

"My lord frederick!"

"The kiss scene is coming up!"

"But the scene falls just before the embrace right?" "Of course, Lady benibara would never actually kiss her"

"Kiss scene?" Tamaki takes notice of the girls whispering. "Hmm, kiss scene? Revenge?"

"Ah, and yet, the love I bear for you and the desire I have for revenge are not things which can simply be forgotten" Spotlights fall on the host club, which is when you take notice of their presence "Senpai? C/n?"

Benibara stands, grasping your wrist in a tight grip and pulling you to fall into her "Right before their eyes I'll steal your first kiss"

"Huh?"

"All for the sake of revenge"

"No lady benibara!" "You can't really kiss her!"

Tamaki runs over but slips on banana, a platform in the stage starts to rise "Victory is mine, you poor ignorant buffoon! Now behold while we embrace"

"You're crazy lady" You try to get out of Benibaras grip

Up at the sound booth Kyoya is on the computer "Yes, please forward that to me...don't ask questions"

the backdrop falls "Stop it! Get off me!" the backdrop activates, displaying a picture of you and kyoya...kissing. "What?"
"Oh no!"

"What on earth is this photo?"

"So as you see Y/n has already had her first kiss" the twins point out. "Y/n what is this?" Your cousin asks "I'll explain later"

"Maiden you mean to tell me"

"Y/n jump down well catch you" You manage to land by being caught by the twins "Don't let her go! This is not over yet! I don't care how many kisses she's had. the next one will be mine" You run off the stage, kyoya waiting for you at the back of the theatre. "Nice dress"

You roll your eyes "Whatever, let's go" He takes your hand, the two of you running out of the school. "I'm guessing that was you"

"Someone had to come up of a competent plan around here" You laugh "You do realise you just showed that in a theatre full of people" The two of you stop in front of the school gates while Kyoya texts for a car. "So? Our engagement is going to be announced by the end of the year anyway, and I doubt that many Lobelia students talk to ouran girls anyway"

"I...I guess so"

"I've texted c/n to meet us out here, I say we go back to the flat and order in italian"

"As long it is proper cheese, most cheese here is terrible, that's going to be a fun car journey"

Chapter Text

"I regret ever agreeing to wear the costumes with you guys" you sigh as Kyoya helps to lace you into the big gothic gown that Tamaki had provided you. "At least it makes sense to dress up at this time of year"

"What is the appeal of vampires anyway I don't find blood loss to be all that attractive" Kyoya pondered, pulling out the fake fangs. "I think it's the danger aspect, the same reason that girls like werewolves I guess"

"I do find it strange that Tamaki has asked you to be the bride of dracula"

"I guess it is the closest we're ever gonna get to a couple's costumes" Kyoya raises an eyebrow "I was unaware that was something that interests you" you shrug "Not particularly but it's just a bit of fun"

"I suppose so"

The two of you step out from behind the curtains "Wow y/n-chan you look so cool!" Honey exclaims. "Thank you Honey-senpai" Tamaki stares back at you in awe "Ah y/n look at you! You are so cute! Look at my beautiful daughter!" Tamaki spins you around.

This is the magic spell. Tamaki calls the host club family, and you are here with your fiance, happy.

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Until the day it becomes a pumpkin!
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"Trick or treat, girls. Give me candy, or else your blood.”

"Oh tamaki, you make such a handsome vampire" "Those fangs look real"

Tamaki leans into one of the girls "May I nibble on your lovely neck for a treat?"

"Oh no you musn't, you will have to play a trick on me instread"

"And indeed I shall"

"Hello" The twins and haruhi slide into the host club "Why are you guys late? Hurry up and change"

"Sorry boss but from now until Halloween count us out, okay?"

"What?"

"Count you out?"

"We're on the preparation commitee for a special event, class 1-A is sponsoring it."

"Duty calls then"

"Good luck without us here for the week" "And that reminds me, y/n, our numbers are uneven so we need extra person, do you mind joining our group for it? Its a test of courage tournament"

"Me? I'm second year though"

"It doesn't matter the event is school wide we are just organising it"

"Oh, well i guess its okay then"

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You, haruhi, the twins and the class president end up huddled against a wall after you get caught up on his phobias. "Are you not scared y/n?"

"Scared? No, I live for halloween, and horror movies"

"I guess Halloween does have a flare for the dramatic, not surprising from a theatre kid" "Gee thanks kaoru"

Haruhi is busy caught up with reading an anxiety selfhelp book to the class president. "Are you kidding me? None of those things actually work! Call me the captain of all cowards, you can scream it from teh rooftops, just get me out of here!"

"Really? Even if it means Kurakano will think you're a big chicken"

"Huh?"

"Woah, wait a minute, what's going on with you and Kurakano?"

"No! It's nothing like that! We're just friends! I've known her since we were little, none of this has anything to do with it!" The class president is turning redder by the second.

"Fine, fine, we understand"

"Funny how you had told us you didn't wanna throw your weight around..." "When the reason you agreed to any of this is because you didn't wanna look like a freak"

"That's not it, that's not the reason why I couldn't oppose it. I...it's just...Kurakano...well, she had her hear set on this tournament. I didn't wanna let her down, so I couldn't say no"

"You mean...oh crap! He's totally pure!" "He's got a heart of gold, Hikaru!"

"Our powers are nothing against his wholesomeness!"

"Believe it or not, not all guys are manipulative pervs like you two" you butt in.

"Hey!" "We're not Manipulative!"

"That's the part you're arguing?" You raise an eyebrow.

"So, does this mean we have to help him now?"

Something passes the window "Did you see that?"

a skull drops down the staircase nearby "No way, it's a sneak attack from those A-team hacks!" "Hey it's not your turn guys! Follow the rules!" Hikaru kicks the skull back up the staircase

"Yeah you show them!"

"My skull..."

"My skull..."

The clocktower chimes, and a shadowy figure appears at the top of the stairs "Could it be the clocktower witch?"

"Why did you kick....my skull!?"

The five of you run off, you and Kaoru tripping and ending up in some net trap.

Nekozawa stands back in the corridor watching in glee as you all run away and freak out "My fright strategy was perfection itself...Kyoya are you not joining in on the fun?"

Kyoya is leant against a wall nearby reading a flashlight "I am not, I'm just waiting for my girlfriend to be done with this and then we're leaving."

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"Ow! This is supposed to be a tournament not a hunt....Hikaru! Where is he? I've gotta find Hikaru!" He starts thrashing around "Hey cut it out! I know you worry for him when you two are apart but he will be fine...now I'm sure I have something on me that can get us out of this..."

You route around your bag to pull out a letter opener "Why do you have that on you?" You shrug "I recieve a lot of mail"

"Hold still for a second...this is gonna be awkward I apologise" You lean over to start hacking at the rope. "Excuse me miss l/n you have a boyfriend"

"Something tells me Kyoya will forgive me...besides...I don't know if he's my boyfriend"

"Huh? I thought you guys were together? That photo from the play seemed pretty final on it"

"We are we just haven't really put a label on it, we have been introducing eachother as fiances even before there was anything between us so I guess it does not really matter anyway"

"i see"

"I'm not to bothered about it...one day...a bit sooner than I would like, I will be married to him anyway"

"Do you not want to marry Kyoya? I mean I know you have not been together long but surely dating your fiance is good for an arranged marriage"

"It is not so much about being married to Kyoya but what it means about our lives, our responsibilities will widen much. I think you know what I mean too Kaoru. We all have something waiting for us after we graduate. we can't all live in denial forever"

The spell is upon us, where we can all wit around in nice outfits and hold tea parties. But when the clock strikes, and the carriage turns back to a pumpkin, the spell will break.

The rope snaps, dropping you both to the floor.

Kaoru sits up "I need to find Hikaru" He gets up, running off in the direction that the rest of the group went"

"There you are"

Kyoya wanders up to you, standing over as you look up at him. "Do you want to go now?" he outstretched his arm to offer help up.

You nod, taking his hand "I think I've had enough of this tournament"

"Our driver is waiting outside, there should be candy waiting for us at the apartment"

You raise an eyebrow "you hate sweets"

"I do, but you love halloween, the candy isn't for me"

You pause looking up to him, his eyes still trained ahead. "Kyoya...is this a date?"

"You sound shocked"

"I am a little"

"Is it so shocking that I may want to take my girlfriend on a date"

"Am i your girlfriend now? I don't recall you asking"

"Do you need me to ask?"

You roll your eyes "Whatever, I have a craving for sugar"

The two of you walk out of the school hand in hand.

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The two of you are sat on the couch in the apartment, 'veronica' playing in the background. "I must admit when I said you can pick the movie I didn't expect it to be in spanish"

You shrug "Horror knwos no bounds, including language"

the two of you fall into a comfortable silence. "Are we going to talk about it?"

"Hm?"

"The email I got, about your family...and what my father is covering up..."

"That email is not proof that what you think is true"

"There is no other way to interpret it Kyoya"

"My father is not exactly the most morally sound man but I refuse to believe that he would do this"

"It is the only explanation Kyoya there is something going on in your families hospitals, and whatever it is people are potentially dying from it."

"I know....I just refuse to belive it...let me look into it more"

"Okay...." Eventually you fall asleep halfway through the movie, slumped over leaning on Kyoya. But the question still lingered in Kyoya's mind.

Chapter Text

"You know I never thought that Late Edo-Era cosplay would be that popular"

"Come on, you can't be serious. That's like one of the basics" "There are plenty of girls that find late Edo era totally fascinating. Particularly the Shinsengumi."

"And most of the girls who like it are complete maniacs about it!"

"Are they popular because of the noble nature of them sacrificing their own lives for their country or could it be because of their stoic detemination? Their choice to live out their lives by the bushido code? Or could it be that we're intrigued because the worship of this group of renegade young men is somewhat forbidden? The Ikedaya inn may be well-known but it's only because of Hijikata, just imagining him after the battle of Toba-fushimi, his back to the north as he sorrowfully wandered the streets of his homeland attempting to defend the honor of the Shinsengumi all by himself. Oh! I could eat three giant bowls of rice!"

"Woah that was quite the history lesson renge" which is probably the most positive thing you've said to her in a while, not being from japan you really didn't know much about the late edo era at all.

"Not having us cast ourselves in specific roles was good advice, allowing the guests to just be free to fantasize on their own was truly a brilliant idea, renge. I'm very impressed."

"I told you it would work"

You roll your eyes, your temporary positive light on renge diminishing, returning to your work.

Mori suddenly lunged in fornt of the girls, making them fawn.

"Mori-Senpai!"

"Why the sudden lunge?

"Not getting enough attention?"

"Please calm down Mori-Senpai! I know you're upset you only have one line in each part, we're three-fourths through the season and you haven't had your own part. I know Cherry's been skipping flashback heavy episodes but I'm sure we could find a way to get you one! Is that it? I'm sorry!"

"No" Mori mutters, removing his spear, sliding open the door. "We have a trespasser"

"Takashi Morinozuka!" The boy behind the screen rushes to bow "Senpai! Please take me on as your apprentice!"

"Huh?"

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Mori Senpai has an apprentice candidate!
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"Ritsu Kasanoda, first year class D, heir to the third-generation head of the Kasanoda syndicate, the most powerful gang in the kanto area. He was admitted this year into Ouran academy's highschool. He had long red hair and a mean-looking appearance, is reserved and has few friends. It is said if your eyes meet his, you'll have bad dreams for three months. If you bump into him, you'll end up in the hospital, and talking back to him sends you to an early grave. He is so feared by his classmates that they call him the walking blizzard"

"Seriously?But why would a human weapon like yourself need to be mori senpai's apprentice?"

"Well because...look, i may be tough but I'm not a human weapon. I was just born with a face that makes me look mean all the time"

"Well at least you're aware of it Casanova"

"It's kasanoda"

"Bossa nova?"

Kasanoda glares at the twins "I said it was Kasanoda! Do you want to die?"

the boys jump behind the couch "Wow, he really is mean looking"

"Sorry about that. This always happens because of the way I look. I've always had this mean look ever since I was born. Even when I was just a tyke, my dad would say 'Just you wait my son's gonna be the greatest gangster of all time' and so, ever since I was a kid, I've been taught how to be the godfather of a gang. My pops was a good teacher , and he made me a true gangster. That's great and all but everyon's afraid to come near me. Even my fella's are scared of me. So, I'm all alone. It's like they forget I'm young, and sometimes I just wanna play. I wanna get out with my fellas and play a game of kick the can"

"A good game of Kankeri is awesome"

"But I've been livin' the life of a gangster, and I don't know how to interact with regular people. Morinozuka-senpai that's why I need you to show me. How do you manage to have so many friends. When you're just as mean looking as me. You're expressionless, distant, and you hardly ever talk. Plus you've got a mug that looks like a watchdog from hell. So, how come you've got so many friends? What're you doing that I'm not? Please, teach me your secrets! I'm begging you!"

Mori sighs, you grimace as you realise that Kasanoda's issues may also lay in his lack of social skills.

"Hey, Takashi, are you okay?"

"I'm just a little lightheaded"

"What now boss?" "Don't you think that we should do something about this?"

"Just leave him alone. Don't get involved. Like he said, he wants to be Mori-senpai's apprentice, so that means Mori-senpai decides what to do. This isn't something that any of us should be interfering with."

"Tamaki" Mori shoots him a look begging for help.

Tamaki's eyes widen. "Well, in that case, since you insist, Mori-senpai. I, Tamaki Suoh, promise you I will do whatever I can to assist you."

"Yeah right, he wanted to get involved so badly, he couldn't bear it" you laugh at Haruhi's comment.

"Now lift your head, Bossa nova-" "-Listen it's Kasanoda"

"From now on, you may address me as King. Okay, bossa nova?"

Your head falls to the side as you watch the interaction "Do you ever think that Tamaki may have a savior complex?" Kyoya chuckles "I thought that was obvious"

"That's not my name!"

"Are you listening to me Bossa nova? there are many differences between you and our beloved Mori-senpai, but there is also one very definitive thing that you are lacking, and that is a lovely item!"

You sigh, face palming "That is definitely not it"

"Bossa nova, I'd like to introduce you to a lovely item named Mitskuni. Sure Mori-senpai looks kinda mean-looking and he may seem distant when you first meet him. but what if we put Mitskuni on his shoulders? Suddenly, it's like he's a forest teddy bear that all animals ador. In addition, this lovely item also plays up Mori-Senpai's strong and silent character. Even without saying anything just by placing Honey-Senpai next to him, people begin to have a new-found admiration for Mori-Senpai. Suddenly he's seen in a positive light as a nice, quiet, young gentleman. That's the plan. I'm not exaggerating when I say most of Mori-senpai's charm is directly related to his friend honey-senpai"

"Yeah you're right"

"Now that you mention it Mori-senpai doesn't really do anything" "Yeah his position's totally bust."

"Takeshi have you really been using me this entire time?" Honey's eyes start to well up with tears. Mori shoots out of his chair in horror.

"I'm sorry, but Honey-senpai is on a long-term lease to Mori-senpai right now, so I can't let you borrow him"

"Is Tama-chan telling the truth? Are you renting me?"

"Don't worry, i'll come up with something to take his place. So the next thing we need to discuss is your disturbing yankee fashion sense. Now Hitachiin brothers-" "Sir!" "-It's your job to make this man more fashionable!"

The twins tackle him to the ground to begin their 'makeover'

"Poor guy, they're gonna eat him alive"

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"Huh? Somebody's out to get Mori-Senpai?"

"No doubt about it. I was there. I saw everything, he's obviously gotten on somebody's bad side"

"Nah, that's impossible. There's no way that Mori-Senpai would ever be on somebody's bad side"

"How can you be so sure? You don't know that"

"Don't worry your pretty little head about that, Operation: Bossa nova's total image makeover is in full effect as of right now"

"Hold on! What the hell are you talking about!" Kasanoda shoot's out of his seat, running over to where Tamaki, the twins, and Honey are stood plotting.

"This is going to end in tears" kyoya hums to agree with you, flipping through his book. You lean over to speak in a hushed tone. "Where are we at with our little stalker issue"

"They aren't very discrete I must admit, it's a miracle that Kasanoda hasn't put it together yet"

"Yeah well...something tells me that social awareness isn't his strong suit"

As you look over you find that the rest of the host club are tackling Kasanoda once again who was already wearing cat ears and now wrestling him into a maid costume

The door creaks open suddenly "Sorry to bother you, but is the young lord Kasanoda here?"

You all look to Kasanoda where he's stood dressed as a catgirl maid "So here you are" Kasanoda get's in his face "Sir it's no big deal, you can do whatever you want in your spare time"

"What you think this is a hobby of mine? Damn it! I can't take this anymore!" Kasanoda runs out the room with the guy following.

"Well that ended as to be expected"

"Maybe an image change isn't what casanova needs"

"I think you're right" Honey notes.

"I could have told you that days ago"

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"Ah! Haruhi what happened? That's not blood is it?" Tamaki screaches as you all approach her and Kasanoda in the school gardens after following the two men after Kasanoda.

"Would you calm down? It's just a little paint"

"Are you sure you're alright?" Kasanoda stands up.

"Hey let go of me you bastard!"

"Damn it! You big behemoth!" You all look over to the two guys who are now aprehended by Mori, single handedly. "You play dirty Kasanoda, first you go kidnap our gang boss' kid, and then you make us deal with your damn musclebound lackeys? We know that you kidnapped the kid, just give him back, now!"

"We've heard enough out of you! We'll shut you up!" The twins tie them up.

"What the hell's going on here?"

"Don't you get it? See, Takashi wasn't on anyone's bad side these guys were after you. Until we caught them we decided not to say anything to you because we didn't want you to have to mess with them."

"I can't believe it, so you helped me? But how come"

"We can tell who the bad guys are by looking at them"

"I should probably go back and change clothes"

"Want us to come help you?"

"Drop dead"

The guy from earlier suddenly approaches the guys tied up "You dumbasses" he kicks them "Sonny!"

"Shut up! You've said enough today. Don't you get it? The reason I left was cause I was sick of hangin' out with the likes of you. Now get lost, you hear me?"

"Tetsuya, what's going on?"

"I'm sorry I've kept this from you sir. I'm Tetsuya Sendo, i am the son of the godfather of the Sendo syndicate, but i've always been opposed to the cutthroat way the syndicate goes about handling it's business. One rainy day about a year ago, my old man and i got into a fight and i ran away from home. I've never felt as anxious as I did that day, it was terrible I had nowhere to go and the people who passed me on the street just ignored me they pretended like I wasn't even there. And that's when I met you, young lord. The second I saw you I knew exactly what kind of person you were after that when I decided to join the Kasanoda syndicate, you kindly accepted me. Young lord, I know that you're more self-concious and awkward than most people but I also know that you're more kind-hearted than most people. And it's not just me, everybody in the whole syndicate knows it, they just don't say anything 'cause it would embarrass you. I, Tetsuya Sendo, realised that i wanted to become more like you. That's why I cut all ties with the Sendo Syndicate and instead joined the Kasanoda syndicate I hope young lord, that you'll allow me to remain by your side"

"Who'd have thought"

"What a great story, it's so touching"

"Oh I should probably apologise to Fujioka, after all it's my fault he got paint on his clothes"

"Haru-chan went back to change clothes!"

"Yeah? Okay" Kasanoda walks off

"We did a good thing guys"

"What are you talking about? You didn't do anything boss,

"Don't any of you care that Kasanoda went to see Haruhi, who is changing clothes?" The twins and Tamaki's faces fall as they dart off to chase after him.

"This can't be good"

You and Kyoya go to follow but before you do your phone buzzes "Wait" You place a hand on his chest to stop him while you read the message "Shit."

"What is it?"

"Sam finally decrypted those files I got from my contact, he's found proof that our theory is true, the ootori group has been knowingly keeping defunct equipment in circulation to cut costs and inflating perscription costs"

Chapter Text

Tamaki's Unwitting Depression!
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"Peeping tom!" "You saw-" "-Didn't you Bossa Nova?"

Kasanoda is leaning against the door to support himself under shaking legs "No, I didn't see! I mean, I caught a glance, yeah, but it was all so fast that I didnt- It was just an accident I swear to you that i'm not a pervert!"

"Of course you would say that, sure sign of a guilty conscience" Honey chooses to be menacing for once.

Kasanoda finally manages to pick himself up "So then, fujioka's a girl?"

"Red alert, he's onto Haruhi's little secret" "That's not good, so let's hear it"

"How much of her maidenly terra incognita did you actually see?"

"Well she was changing so i saw her underwear"

The twins begin to freak out "You saw Haruhi's underwear?" Tamaki gasps, clearly on the verge of a crisis

"So what do we do?" "There's only one thing to do. We have to induce amnesia" Kaoru grabs Kasanoda so that Hikaru can batter up to hit him.

"That's enough you two" Kyoya steps forward, arriving slightly late along with you. "Leave assault and battery to the professionals"

"What are you made of ice? how can you be so calm about this? I bet if it was y/n you'd make a big deal"

"Look! The boss is so deep in shock, he's regressing" Hikaru points to tamaki who is practically comatose at this point.

Kyoya sighs, pushing up his glasses "Well, now that the proverbial cat is out of the bag, let's talk, Haruhi is compelled to hide the fact that she's a girl due to certain mitigating circumstances. While we can't physically force you to cooperate exactly, there is something i would like for you to bear in mind. Coming from the type of family you do I'm certain you hear all sorts of juicy little rumors, enough to know what's true and what is not. Take the Ootori family's private police force, the black onion squad, it is said that they can be mobilised against our enemies in the blink of an eye. You have heard of them right?"

Haruhi finally steps out, now dressed "Come on guys, stop scaring Casanova. Sorry about all this. Look it's alright, it doesn't matter to me you can tell whoever you want to"

"Well well bossa nova" "Since you know she's a girl, are you in love?"

Kaoru's question seems to break Tamaki sending him spiralling. You lean over to Kyoya "You're getting quite good at this now" you whisper. He smirks "Darling I have been doing this long before we met"

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You had to admit that you did not expect Kasanoda to return the next day, you certainly did not expect him to waltz in, sit down and request haruhi. Even the girls started freaking out not to mention renge who rises up out the floor once again.

"The geniune article, at last"

The girls run up "Renge, is it true? is he really" "Could he rally be that kind of persuasion?"

You lean forward in your seat, taking a sip of coffee "Well this certainly is an interesting twist" You note, although Kyoya was not taking much notice, too busy filing through old Ootori hospital documents.

"Hello Kasanoda, so you're our guest today huh?" Haruhi happily wanders over with a teaset, sitting next to him. You sigh as you realise she has no clue why he's here.

"Uh, that's right"

"Would you like to have some tea? How much sugar do you usually have?"

"Let me help!"

"Now, now, you're our guest it's okay" Haruhi pours him a cup "So, tell me, is this your first time in place like this?"

"You sure have this down huh?"

"Trust me it did not come naturally at all, at least not a first but then I realised if i just sat back and had fun with it, everthing sort of fell into place on it's own"

The twins, more particularly Hikaru was growing increasingly frustrated "Hey don't just sit there Kyoys-senpai, get him out of here!" "If he's getting along with his goons so well now, why does he need to be here in the first place?"

Kyoya shrugs "He has kept Haruhi's secret so far, and as he is afterall a paying guest I can see no reason to eject him."

"But the other guests are afraid!"

You laugh "Oh no I think not, just look" You nod over to the girls fawning over the scene.

"Hello sumire? Forget about your stupid violin lesson, I'm telling you this is a one in a million chance to witness something truly amazing!"

"see? We're just fine, thanks to him, we may even set a new record" Kyoya adds. "You money grabbing enabler"

You all look back over to Haruhi and Kasanoda "Would you like another cup of tea?"

"Uh, yes, Thank you"

"Oh no she's giving him that adorable smile" "The one that no man can resist"

You raise an eyebrow "No man? Or just you two and Tamaki?" The twins gape at you.

"Wow, usually you guys wouldn't waste any time interrupting the two of them" Honey watches in awe "Yeah, but our hands are tied, after our screw up in Karuizawa Haruhi would never forgive us if we butted in" "Karuizawa was really your screw up Hikaru"

The twins turn back to Tamaki "Hey boss? Are you done being shell shocked yet?" "Yeah we could really use our king right about now" They drag him up "Go get him!" They yell, throwing him upwards.

"Tamaki-senpai?" Haruhi questions as he robot walks his way up to the two of them. "Um just what exactly are you doing?" He moves between the two of them.

"Hey if you want to sit down do it there" Haruhi moves him "You can play with this as a distraction. It's a little freebie I got at the supermarket when i went for instant coffee earlier" Tamaki fiddles with the trinket, mechanically unlooping them "Look, I solved it haruhi"

"wow that was fast, okay, now try and see if you can put them back together" Tamaki fiddles more

"That moron" Hikaru rolls his eyes, pulling out his phone to call him "Earth to boss! Will you snap out of it already? The longer you sit there like an idiot playing robot, the worse this situation becomes for all of us! Now listen to me carefully, you can't let this happen, if she and that two-bit thug hit it off, she'll become a mob wife!" This seems to break Tamaki out of his trance.

Tamaki slams his hands against the coffee table to stand. "Daddy won't stand for that!"

"Uhh please don't do this"

"Bossa nova! Just what are you trying to do here? You established a bond with your henchmen didn't you? Why aren't you with them right now? what about kick the can? You remember that? You should be out there enjoying life to the fullest with your friends, while you're still young enough to appreciate it, before it all slips away from under your nose! Whya re you harrasing my Haruhi! As her father, I forbid you to see her!"

"Wait what?"

You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose, this is going to end in tears.

"You're telling me that you're Fujioka's dad? You have got to be kidding me. That's just impossible"

"Oh no"

"Well, we might not be related by blood "

"Okay so what, are you married to her mom then?"

"No, i've actually never met the woman"

"So i guess you aren't really her father then, are you?"

You and kyoya brace yourselves for tamaki to break at any moment. which he does.

"Wah! Tama-chan! I'll catch you" Honey runs up. "He's right you know? strictly speaking, i'm not Haruhi's real father"

"uh, strictly speaking or otherwise"

"I need to sort this out"

"Sort out what exactly?"

"If supposeing I'm not my haruhi's daddy after all..."

"We don't have to suppose it boss"

"Then how can it be that I find her so utterly adorable?" Oh this is worse than you thought "What are you talking about?"

"When she is with another man why is it that I become so insanely jealous, i'm not her father, i have no right to be so protective" Oh this is so bad, he really had no idea.

"So tell me what is with the whole 'making haruhi your wife one day' thing?"

"I know! Daddies don't typically want to marry their little girls when they grow up do they? "

"What about keeping her from kissing anyone?"

"I only wanted to preserve those precious lips"

"Preserve? really? That's a very interesting choice of word sir, you think everything is okay now, and having this family setting will keep it all from changing right?"

"I don't understand"

"Actually he has a point" Kyoya speaks up from next to you "I mean you're delusional, yes, any halfwit could see that but who knew you were so..." You roll your eyes, crouching down in front of Tamaki

"Tamaki, sweetie, have you considered that maybe that you think of haruhi as something other than a daughter and are trying to bury it under something less scary to admit?" Tamaki stares back at you with a blank face.

"In some ways Tamaki is kinda like my dad" Haruhi says to Kasanoda, which seems to reset Tamaki who chuckles "Did you hear that? apparently in some ways I am like haruhi's father"

"Well, to be more precise, I think what she's saying is, that while you and her father do share some personality straits, in actuality-"

"I've got it! I've got it now! I'm like a father to her!"

You sigh, placing your forehead against your knees "Well, I tried"

"And we've lost him yet again"

"Fujioka, do you think that we could maybe do this more often? Because I was thinking since you entertain girls all day long it might kind of give you a break from all that, you know, if i came around. I mean if, if you want that is"

"Absolutely, that way, you and I could get more acquainted"

Tamaki gasps, the girls hold their breaths.

"Fujioka, i, i've got something i want to tell you. I just wanted to tell you....that i'm...."

"That you're excited to have someone you can relate to, aren't you?"

"Oh Haruhi you sweet summer child" You mutter.

"i know I sure am" She stands "A conversation like this is a rare thing for me, we're going to be great friends"

The girls murmur in pity of kasanoda, fawning over him.

"Of course the two of us are going to be friends! Best of friends forever!"

The girls well up in heartbreak for him, piling around him. leaving Tamaki on his knees with you still crouched down in concern next to him "What's the matter Tamaki?" Kyoya also crouches down next to you, looking at him like two concerned parents look at a toddler.

"When I think about how bossa nova must have been feeling my heart goes out to him a little"

"that's strange isn't it? I mean as haruhi's father, you shouldn't feel sympathy for the man who tried to take your precious little girl away now should you?" you nudge him "Not helping"

"On the contrary, i think it is"

Chapter Text

"You're such a good painter Y/n" One of the guests marvels at the canvas before you. "Thanks" You smile, going back to the coastal landscape. "A painting afternoon was a good idea" Tamaki notes, looking over both of your shoulders at the painting.

Kyoya and haruhi stand at the outskirts of the room "You know...I spoke to y/n once...about her relationship with you, because the way I see it you two are very much opposite. At the time she told me that she is more calculating than she seems but for someone who is supposedly so...well...like you...she is incredibly nurturing"

Kyoya looks up to glance at where you are, gleaming at the praise for your art. He smirks "What exactly are you trying to imply about my relationship Haruhi?"

"All I'm saying is that for someone so cold I don't know how you ended up so attached to someone so...well someone like her" Kyoya smiles. "Well, that is a long story"

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And so Kyoya met her!
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It had been a perfectly normal day for Kyoya, the ouran host club had been running for about a month and it picked up remarkably quickly. Although he was still being pestered by his father, although the message was clear by now 'y/n l/n, your fiance, has transferred to ouran academy, make a point to meet her and become acquianted'

Usually he would had no issue with these types of things. But somehow he has managed to get into his head about it. Kyoya has never thought himself to be one to catch himself worried about relationships, but something about meeting the girl he would one day have to marry he had been dreading.

It wasn't worries about first impressions or anything like that. It is finding out what type of person would be stuck with him for the rest of their lives. He had already gathered some information on her, he was perfectly aware of who she was, y/n l/n, class 1A, highschool transfer from europe, her japanese is not amazing but she scores high on almost every test.

In the end Kyoya decided that he wouldn't avoid you, but he also would not seek you out either. Because while he hadn't approached you yet, neither had you him.

"Kyoya, I was thinking, we should get a consultant for the host club" the statement caused Kyoya to look up from his book, an event that was rare back then. "A consultant?"

"You know, a feminine touch to the host club, a consultant on the female gaze if you will" Kyoya knew that regardless of his answer that Tamaki had already made his mind up. That is always the case but then again Tamaki always understood the certain uncalculable aspect of the host club that he could not comprehend.

"I suppose that would make sense, do you have anyone in mind?” he returned to his book, sighing at the headache that was Tamaki's dreams being balanced against the clubs budget.

“As a matter of fact I do, I’ve recently met the newest international student and I feel she would be a good fit” He paused, he couldn't mean....no...you weren't the only international transfer he may not mean you. "What is her name? I'll have to meet with her"

"L/N"

And there it was, in black and white, your name. irefutably, it was his fiance, Tamaki just couldn't have chosen someone else. "I see"

"She is quite wonderful you know, I started talking to her because she brought some french food in for lunch one day. It turns out she is quite...insightful"

"Insightful you say?"

"Indeed, it is quite indescribable, you have to meet her" Kyoya sighed, knowing there was no getting out of it. He supposed that at least it would appease his father for now.

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"Hello?" The creak of the door and the broken accent caught Kyoya's attention. "Oh hello" Hikaru soon appeared in front of you "Well aren't you cute" Kaoru appeared on the side of you. "I'm sorry but club hours haven't started yet, but we will be more than happy to see you then"

"Yes indeed...please do come back later, you'll break our hearts if you don't"

"Leave it you two, I invited miss l/n here, she's our new consultant" Tamaki steps forward "Sorry about them" You smiled "It is alright" you step further into the room. "This is hikaru and Kaoru, pay no attention to them"

"gee thanks boss, a glowing review in front of the pretty lady"

"Come meet the rest of the club" he led you futher into the music room "This is Honey-Senpai and Mori-Senpai, and my co-founder Kyoya"

Kyoya still remembers to this day the look on your face when you realised. The look of realisation and terror and possibly slight hope as the two of you made eye contact. He doesn't think he will ever forget it. "K-Kyoya?" you muttered, barely audible, like you were trying it out to feel how it sounded.

It was only then that he realised the circumstances he was in, he was about to have his first interaction with you and it was going to be in the same conversation as with the entire rest of the host club.

Kyoya stands, slowly approaching you, unsure of whether he should let the information of your connection slip. "Miss l/n it is nice to meet you" He resulted in his usual autopilot cordiality that he usually puts on when meeting the child of a prominent businessman.

"Likewise" you return the look, quickly picking up on the situation. "Come and sit y/n we can discuss things, honey-senpai would you mind getting our guest some tea?"

"Of course tama-chan!"

"Oh, could I actually get some coffee please, I am not a massive tea drinker"

the three of you sat, that being you, Kyoya, and Tamaki, the former two avoiding making eye contact with eachother. "So y/n how much do you know about host clubs?"

"In full honesty not much, i know the general concept i think"

Tamaki smiled "That's okay, you don't really need to know much anyway, basically our jobs are to appeal to the female gaze and improve ladies days, we have the second one down...we're kinda struggling with the first"

"I see"

Honey-senpai skipped over with a cup of coffee and a cake "y/n-san I brought you a cake too!"

"Thank you Honey-Senpai" you smile at him, dropping a couple of sugars into the coffee. "I think in full honesty that It perhaps would be best that I observe how the club runs before I give you any advice on your issue"

Kyoya hummed "I agree"

"good idea, club hours start soon anyway, you are welcome to stay here and observe how we run" You were a lot quieter back then that now, Kyoya remembers pondering whether that was due to your lack of profeciency in the language or because she were shy.

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Not an hour later the two of you found youselves sat alone together at a table on the outskirts of the host club. You people watching, he scribbling away. "I would have thought that the cofounder of the host club would actually...host"

"My role is more on the management side, but I do host occasionally, when I am requested"

"I see"

"I would have thought that a consultant would want to take notes"

"I don't really need to, not yet at least...it's all up here" You muttered, looking out into the host club with an interrogatory gaze. "That is unless you need me to write stuff down for you to reference"

Kyoya paused, refraining from his mouth hanging slightly agape. You weren't like what he imagined you would be. He assumed that you would fall into one of two catagories, either like the guests of the host club, or like the other only children of CEO's, but you didn't fit either of those descriptions. He couldn't place you. And it was starting to eat at him.

You raised an eyebrow at the non-response from Kyoya, reaching over to carefully take the book from him, flipping to the back pages to not disrupt any order he had in there. "You see the problem is that you need to start personalising more, while the girls who come here have a lot in common the truth is they are all very different in their backgrounds"

you started writing down what you explain as you said it "Basic psychology dictates that what one seeks out in either comfort or attraction is formed by their childhoods, more often or not by what they lack in childhood. While everyone here may have the common thread of rich kids their upbringings will have been vastly different. You can see it in what type of host they request"

Kyoya hummed for you to continue. Interested in seeing where you were going with this. "So you need to start paying attention to these details, each guests habits will form a pattern"

"For someone who is unfamiliar with the concept of a host club you sure seemed to put that together quite quickly"

"It's what I'm here for is it not? But it is as they say, the closer you look, the less you see, step back and you can view the full picture. In essence what you do here is actually quite...simple..." you caught yourself at the end of the sentence as you realised that you had been rambling, shyly pushing back the notebook.

"Interesting..." Kyoya smirks, taking back the notebook. "Is that why we have not addressed the elephant in the room?"

"I was waiting for you to mention it...i wasn't sure you knew who i was...didn't want to freak you out"

"I know who you are y/n, of course I do"

You nod. "Well then, do you want to discuss it? The fact that we are...." You trailed off, realising where the two of you were sat. "You know"

"I don't think there is much to discuss, we both know the position that we are it, i thought it was worth mentioning..."

"I must admit, I did not expect you to be part of a highschool host club of all things, from what i've heard about the ootori family" Kyoya chuckled "I assure you I am not like my family"

"Who is that girl, did she request kyoya?"

The comment from a nearby table seemingly caught both of your attentions. You hummed out a laugh "I suppose that considering you are a host you don't wanting our...arrangement, advertised"

"It...may be for the better, if you are okay with that"

"Sure, especially since it seems that I will be here more often."

It was not some great love story for the ages, or love at first sight. But Kyoya would not change a single second of it. Their relationship was built, it didn't just appear.

It became routine, the two of you, in your corner of the host club. Sitting in comfortable silence while the two of your worked, until slowly the silences started to become shorter and shorter.

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"I didn't take you to be an artist" you approach kyoya, looking over his shoulder at his portrait. "Yeah well...I'm not just a pretty face" he joked, looking back at the protrait of purple roses before him. You hum "I've never seen you be creative before, it suits you"

"hmm...perhaps"

A series of beeps overtake the host club, the girls take out their phones. "So much for an afternoon of switching off" squeals and whispers overtake the room.

"Hey kyoya?" Kaoru appears next to the two of you. Turning his phone to show him whatever was on his screen.

'Ootori and l/n groups annouce engagement of their two heirs: Kyoya Ootori and Y/N L/N are set to be married in one of the most powerful global matches of the decade, more below'

"Well, I suppose the secrets out" you mutter, kyoya hums in agreement "Indeed"

You look around, soon realising that you were now the subject of the entire host club's attention. "Should we say something?"

"We may have to, yes" he holds out his hand "Are you ready?"

You place yours in his "As i'll ever be"

Chapter Text

"Uh... aren't school fairs meant to be, i don't know, more about students proudly showcasing unique things they made by hand?"

"Perhaps for a mere average school yes, but at ouran the emphesis is on planning and leadership skills, keep in mind, most of our students are being groomed into leadership postions so they're required to showcase their talent for upward mobility, not arts and crafts"

The twins pull up with a horse drawn carriage before kyoya and haruhi, yourself sat in the back.

"We're rehearsing for the big ouran fair parade!"

"Wow it's just like something out of a fairytale!"

"How romantic" "Can we have a ride too?"

The eight of you all go on a lap around the courtyard "Hey you're getting pretty good at this" Hikaru turns back to kaoru "There's nothing to it, you should've practiced with me earlier"

"Well, just because we're twins doesn't make both of us good drivers"

"It's kind of neat having us all together like this for a carriage ride huh?"

"Oh and for the actual parade tomorrow we'll all be in 18th century-french costumes" Tamaki's statement causes your head to snap towards him "What?"

"I had them imported directly from france they are divine, I heard you've always wanted to go to the ball at versailles palace y/n"

"I...have...but something about dressing up as 18th century french artisocracy feels a little...tone death"

"but you'd look great as marie antoinette" "More like madame de pompedor"

The clock tower chimes to mark the hour "Ah the fairs opening ceremony has started let's make this fair the best one yet"

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The host club declares dissolution!
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"Okay we both know what we are doing right?" You whisper, you and Kyoya huddled in an alcove just outside the host club which was filled to the brim of guests and their parents.

"Yes y/n I know, but i still think this plan is risky, convening with some CEO's in the same room as both of our families while also facing the brunt of reactions of the announcement is quite the balancing act."

"I know, but we aren't going to get this opportunity again...well other than obviously next year but we can't wait that long"

Kyoya sighs "Yes...I know, you ready?" you nod, taking his arm as the two of you enter the host club.

"Kyoya ootori, it is good to see you, miss l/n, I heard congratulations are in order"

"Indeed, thank you sir" You both politely nod to those who approach you as you continue through the host club, occasionally subtely making arrangements to meet with certain individuals when you reach them.

"This is a bit too much even by our standards, you can buy a small country with the money we're wasting"

"Nonsense, that's not the host club way at all and you know it, happiness is above any price tag! Besides think about all the exposure!"

"No haruhi's right, you have overshot the budget, the use of the salon withstanding you had a period style carriage and costumes shipped all the way in from france. Must you be so capricious? Your impulsiveness overwhelms my accounting skills" Kyoya notes, standing in the centre of the salon with Haruhi and Tamaki. "Typical" Haruhi wanders off

"Whatever! Capricious is just another word for creative! I'll have you know that the whims of the host club king are the stuff of dreams! No price is too high!" Tamaki throws a fit.

"Father" Tamaki's demenour shifts entirely when the school's superintendent enters "Do not refer to me as Father, the term is far too familiar. You will address me properly as chairman"

"Kyoya we gotta do something" You whisper, him nodding back, already out of his seat. "Ah very good. welcome sir, please let me show you to your seat" Kyoya puts on his usual polite smile "Would you like a drink sir?" You add "Thank you, that would be lovely"

The two of you lead the superintendent away from Tamaki to a seat. "Kyoya my boy without you I'm sure this club would be in shambles. My son must give you no end of trouble."

"Oh on the contrary sir, your son's vision is what keeps us viable." you hum to agree "Indeed, while tamaki surely has big dreams it is also his dreams that bring in the most guests."

"I see, may I say it is wonderful to see the newly engaged couple working together so well, it is a shame though I must admit miss y/n, I was going to approach your father about possibly matching you with my son"

You pause at the revelation, not even imagining being engaged to tamaki "Oh... while i am flattered chairman our families agreement has actually been in place for many years, but only felt the need to announce it recently as we head towards our final year"

"Oh I see, well congratulations regardless"

"Would you like me to bring you anything sir?" The chairman motions for kyoya to come closer, whispering into his ear. He nods, standing "Haruhi, you're needed"

Haruhi hesitantly sits with the chairman.

Kyoya politely nods, taking your arm as the two of you step away from whatever is about to unfold "Kyoya"

the two of you freeze, knowing that voice very well, turning to find Yoshio Ootori, Kyoya's father. "Sir" You nervously smile.

"Y/n, it is good to see you, so close with my son might i add, I am glad to see that you two are well acquainted. May Kyoya and I have a moment?" You glance at kyoya with concern, who returns you with a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. "How about you go and check on the twins?"

You hesitantly nod, stepping away, immediately feeling the absence of his presence as you do so, however you do not get far as the sharp crack of skin to skin contact makes you freeze in your tracks, you whip back around to see that Kyoya had been sent to his knees glasses flown off in the process.

"This is how my son has been choosing to waste his time?"

"That's Kyo-chan's father isn't it?" Honey appears next to you "Yes, yes it is" You desperately avoid the urge to run over and cause more of a scene, despite the fact you want to, you know kyoya wouldn't want that.

"You are an embarrassment to the Ootori name" his father steps away, leaving an opening for you to swoop in. "Are you okay?" You reach up to fix his glasses "I'm fine" kyoya doesn't look at you, just over your shoulder towards the door.

"It looks like it's going to leave a bruise" You trace over the redness on his cheek, trying not to apply pressure. "It doesn't matter"

"Kyoya-" "Y/n listen to me, it does not matter" He nods ahead as you turn around to find most likely the only person who could make this worse. Your hand falls, turning around fully and all of a sudden it is like there is no feeling in your legs.

"Father" You slowly step towards the door. "Y/n"

You look down, suddenly the lack of pattern on the floor has become incredibly interesting. "Are you not going to welcome me in?" You look up but still not at him "I'll show you to your seat" you just about muster up the noise.

"Disappointing" he mutters, following you to a seat. "Haruhi? Would you mind getting my father an espresso shot? Thank you"

"Are you not going to ask me what I want? You just assume you want caffe?"

You raise an eyebrow "It is 1pm, like you would order a cappucino at this time" he seems to hum in approval. "I'm not sure i like your tone child, i thought you were meant to be a manager at this host club"

"Father why are you here? I know that this is not a social call"

"It is a social call, I have things to discuss with Mr Ootori, and with my future son in law of course." He stands stepping way too close for comfort "not to mention you have caused quite the stir, and I had to come see it for myself. See what exact rucuss have you been causing in my name"

"It is not your name it is mine"

"Anything you do will be in my name until the moment it becomes Ootori, bury your head in the sand all you like but is still mine."

"Sir I took the liberty of preparing your drink myself" Kyoya appears behind you, espresso cup in hand "Speaking of, thank you Kyoya" he sits back down, taking a sip.

"y/n would you give us a moment?" You a reluctant to leave kyoya with your father but knowing that he could hold his own you step away. "I think that Mr Maihara was wanting a tour of the gallery anyway" You step away.

"Strange, I thought his daughter went to Lobelia academy"

Kyoya sits opposite your father "The zuka club are frequent visitors, expecially during the cultural fair, some of his daughters artworks are here"

"Oh i see, I did consider sending, y/n there instead, keep her away from boys, but your father convinced me otherwise"

"Oh I see"

"Too much like her mother that one, too...independent" Kyoya raises an eyebrow "I would say that y/n's independence is one of her greatest assets"

He rolls his eyes "You are young kyoya, i was once like you, I am sure that her rebellious spirit is fine to you now. But you must learn that if you want to keep a girl like my insolent daughter you need to keep her in a guilded cage...make sure she doesn't stray away"

"Sir your daughter keeps out of trouble and gets good grades, by any measure she is the perfect heir to a company such as yours. Why do you speak as if she has spun out of control"

"Be that as it may kyoya, I know my daughter well, i look at her and see her mother, being led astray with her own ideas. That is why I am not making the mistake i did with her mother and keeping her on a firm leash. I only sent her to this...school...on the condition that she remained under your families survailance"

It is rare now a days that the rug is swept from beneath kyoya. but it was in this moment he was overtaken with vertigo. All these times that his family had asked about you, every time his police force insisted on your protection, every phone call he had made to them...it was not about your safety at all...it was about control.

Not only that but it made him wonder if that meant that he knew about what the two of you were planning.

"Sir...y/n told me about her mother...how she ranaway... left you and y/n when she was young...but that does not mean that y/n is like her"

Kyoya catches of a glimpse of Tamaki and his grandmother from across the room, realising that this battle was not going to be won right now "Excuse me" He stands, walking over but still keeping his distance, ready to step in if need be.

"So does he really plan to spend" "The entire fair escorting some stranger?" The twins question, watching tamaki walk off with a girl. "Eclair right? Or something similar" "Who is she to him thats the mystery"

"I could tell you" You appear, back from your meeting with mr Maihara. "Eclair Tonnerre, the youngest daughter of the renowned tonnerre family they descend from royalty"

"Indeed, the family has quite a history, their wealth is something of a legend among financial heavyweights. In fact, just being associated with them makes you a part of a very elite group. They also own grand tonnerre, a firm that has been buying up a lot of businesses in japan recently. Of course that doesn't explain why lady eclair has come here to visit tamaki" Kyoya explains, sitting nearby.

"Of course it does, isn't it obvious?"

"Huh?" You capture the host clubs attention.

"His grandmother wants Tamaki to marry lady eclair" you wander closer "How did you reach that conclusion?" Kaoru asks.

"Its what the chairman said to me earlier, that he was hoping to ask my father today for my hand on Tamaki's behalf but was beaten out by Kyoya and I's engagement-" "Wait what-" "-yes i know, I don't want to talk about it, anyway, it is clear that the chairman is looking for Tamaki to marry upwards to secure a good legacy for his only heir in the eyes of his grandmother because Tamaki is...well...we all know. Frankly there will be requirements for the chairman to even consider, wealth, power, most likely european, that shrinks the pool greatly. I'm already engaged so it could only ever be lady eclair...or well...renge"

You sigh, standing up "The truth is we are growing closer and closer to graduation. I think the engagement announcement was just the start of many things...which reminds me, kyoya, a word please" He is quick to rise out of his seat "Indeed" he takes your arm, leading you out into the gardens.

"I think your father is onto us" you hum "I would be inclined to agree, but the question is how much he knows, not to mention the presence of Lady Eclair is not good for us, I think she may be trying to do the same thing as us. There is also...one more thing"

"Hm?"

"All this time I thought that your father the one who is trying to hold on to the engagement, that he was the one with the most to lose if it breaks down…I’m starting to think it may just be the opposite, why else would he push forward the announcement”

Kyoya debates whether or not he should tell you what he learnt, but something withheld him from doing so. There was enough going on this weekend, you didn't need this aswell.

"I think...for whatever reason, your father wants access to the black onion squad"

"I can't see why...perhaps I have been so focused on looking into the Ootori group that I haven't been considering why my father would put himself at so much risk"

"Well...as someone once told me, the closer you look, the less you see"

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The host club members changed for the second time that day. "So where did the boss go?" "He was looking forward to this the most"

"Our king is lounging in music room 3, entertaining lady eclair"

"Well well well" "Looks like someone's a little jealous"

"Like I said i'm not"

"Like you said?"

"Look i...i just think that he's being more irresponsible than usual today you said it yourself Kyoya-senpai, he's impulsive"

"True, he certainly is, but in this instance he's obeying the whims of his grandmother"

"Um, now that i think about it, Tamaki-senpai's grandmother seemed really cold towards him earlier. Is there some special reason for that?"

The club members exchange glances "Well, everybody else knows about it" "See, Tamaki-senpai is illegitimate"

"See, twenty-something years ago, the suoh family patriarch died at a young age, for political reasons chairman Yuzuru rushed into marriage to the behest of his mother to a woman of her choosing, allowing him to become head of the family. But several years later the chairman fell passionately in love with a beautiful young woman he met in paris."

"Not long after Tama-chan was born"

"The boss' grandmother vehemently objected, because of her poor health, living in japan proved too difficult for senpai's mother so she raised him in france until he was 14. His childhood seems to have been a happy one, but as time went on, family business on his mothers side went belly up and they went into debt. When the boss' grandmother, worried about there being no heir to carry on the family name, came up with a proposal. Money to support his mother in exchange for tamaki coming to live in japan, with no contact between the two"

"Wow"

"While the patriarch of the suoh family may be chairman yuzuru technically, but for the time being all the family's assets remain under the control of Tamaki's grandmother. What's more, with his mother's health being so frail, Tamaki understood the grim prospects facing her if she were left to live in debt so...not long afterward, either out of anguish or just plain guilt over having bartered her son away for financial security, Tamaki's mother left France in shame and went into hiding, her current whereabouts is unknown. To this day, he's never seen her again. Not once." Kyoya explains, looking out over the salon.

He stands "It's easy to feel sorry for him, but the harships he endured as a child helped mold him into the person he is today. He'll be fine, the host club is his refuge so that means when all is said and done, he still has us"

The doors creak open, tamaki and lady eclair stood behind them. "Everyone I have an important announcement, as of today, Lady Eclair Tonnerre and I are officially engaged. Furthermore, the host club will be permanently dissolved after the ouran fair. That is all"

Chapter Text

"Kyoya" You sigh, crouching down by his side of the bed. "I know you aren't a morning person but you need to get up for the fair" You lightly shake his shoulder. "Kyoya."

You squint, looking at him closely "Okay you are not asleep, you aren't fooling me" you sigh, kyoya groans, moving onto his back. You place your forehead against the corner of the mattress. "You can talk about it you know?"

"What?" He asks, slightly exasperated, you hand him his glasses. "Please, like I don't know that you are feeling betrayed for Tamaki disbanding the host club"

"I'm not, I know why he's doing it, I understand...his grandmother has probably given him an offer he can't refuse" he accepts the glasses, sitting up in the bed, you sit on the edge. "Just because you understand doesn't mean you can't feel sad about it, I mean you two built the host club together, you've dedicated the past three years of your life to it"

"Well...it's like you said, life has started to catch up with us. I need a coffee" Kyoya gets out of bed, leaving you sat there alone, sighing as you know that was probably the most you're going going to get out of him today.

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The host club seems so much quieter without the presence of Tamaki, or perhaps you could not be bothered listening today. Noting that Haruhi is currently sat with Lady Eclair. "What does she want with Haruhi?"

"She's paid off Haruhi's debt" your head snaps to Kyoya "What?"

He nods in confirmation "Indeed, I am going to go over in a second an inform her that she can quit if she wants to" you watch in mild dispair as he steps ahead of you towards Haruhi, who is now sat alone.

"Thank you for all your service Haruhi, after that last request from Lady Eclair you've finally repaid us for that renaissance vase you broke. So you're free to quit the host club, if you want"

A weakness overtakes in your knees as reality suddenly hits you. This was the end. Everything is falling apart, and this little family you built for yourself in Japan is over.

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This is our Ouran fair!
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Yoshio Ootori and your father walk past "When they're young, many assume they have all the time in the world. but really that is never the case. Don't waste your time with something that will ultimately have no value"

Haruhi stands "You don't know anything about the host club, or your children. Kyoya-senpai works around the clock to make sure that everyone is enjoying themselves, Y/n-senpai coordinates events that would seem impossible on near impossible deadlines flawlessly and did you ever stop to think that entertaining others might give each of us fulfillment? How can you possibly say that what we do here is just a waste of time? I don't care what you say, the two of them are amazing" your fathers don't reply, just moving on.

"Haruhi..." you trail off, at a loss for words as you step closer. "I don't understand how they can be like that"

"We were born into a system that makes money, not families, there is no changing their minds, but it's okay, we've known that for while"

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As the sun sets it is clear that Tamaki is not going to show up for the parade. Despite that it does not stop Kyoya from pacing up and down the club room on the phone waiting for Tamaki to pick up.

"Kyoya-senpai what's with these outfits?"

"We told you its a costume for the special parade"

"You look so cute Haru-chan!"

"I don't know where Tamaki got this dress from but it's much elss 18th century france and more regency england" You call from the changing room. Stepping out in a silver gown with empire waist line.

"Well?" You look to Kyoya "You look great"

You roll your eyes "Thank you but I meant Tamaki"

"No luck, he's not there"

"I can't believe Senpai didn't show, I really thought he was gonna make it despite what she said"

Kyoya gets his phone back out, dialing a new number "Hello shima? been a while hasn't it? It's kyoya"

"This is about master Tamaki isn't it? I'm sorry Kyoya but the master will be departing for France soon. I tried to talk him out of it, but he said the Suoh family had forgiven his beloved mother, and that he was finally going to get to see her again. He also said that if stayed at Ouran any longer, his capriciousness would only continue to make trouble for you and everyone else in the club"

"How could he be so stupid? Evidently Tamaki is planning on returning to France"

"Tama-chan is going to leave us?"

"You're kidding me! We just can't let it end so suddenly!"

"Excuse me sir" it turns out Shima is still on the line, Kyoya raises his phone back to his ear "Yes?"

"I was just thinking. If the master's mother really is as remarkable a woman as he claims she is, then i can only imagine that she would be upset with the manner in which the master has chosen to leave Ouran academy."

"Do you know when he's leaving Shima?"

"I'm afraid his flight is this evening"

"Why is he leaving so soon?"

"He would have left sooner, but he said he had to wait until the ouran fair was ending" Kyoya spots a red convertible through the window, driving off with Tamaki and Lady eclair in it. "Tamaki!"

"No way!"

"The fair hasn't even ended yet"

"My family's car should be in the parking lot"

The door creaks open, footsteps of three men enter the room. "Father?" You raise an eyebrow.

"Say your goodbyes y/n, I am taking you back to Italy"

Your heart sinks "What? Why...huh?"

"You have become loud, it is clear that this school has not had a good influence on you"

You raise your chin "You can't make me go"

He smiles, nodding to the two men next to him, two members of teh ootori's private police. "On the contrary" The men step forward, each taking your arm in a vice grip "Wait what? you can't do this?"

"I will handcuff you the the plane if i must" the two men starts to drag you "Wait what? Kyoya!"

Kyoya barks orders at tehm to stop but he already knew that it was useless. "y/n!" "y/n-senpai!"

"Relax Kyoya, you will see her in a couple of years on your wedding day, until then I am never letting her out of my sight again"

Kyoya's face falls, no, he can't lose you both, he can't wait that long.

You struggle, you fight hard but there is no getting out of their grip. "Kyoya you know what to do!" You manage to get loose just enough to slide your phone out of your pocket and throws it to him, ultimately letting the tide take you.

With shaky hands he flips open your phone, hovering over the contact 'S.J' pressing send on the message you had typed up in case of emergency.

Kaoru places a hand on his shoulder "Come on, if we run we can still get her, honey? Mori?" the two of them salute "Sir!"

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The club darts to the family car "We're in a hurry can you drive us?"

"I'm sorry sir but..." "What is it? What is wrong?"

"Well, you see the thing is..." more and more members of the black onion squad start to appear around the parking block. "You want to tell me your orders? Let me guess, you've been hired to protect lady eclair and make sure that Y/n gets back to Italy"

"I'm truly sorry it has come to this, but as you know, we answer to your father"

A muffled banging catches Kyoya's attention, drawing it to a nearby police truck. There was no way that you were in there...unless it was, and they were treating you like an actual prisoner.

Kyoya hits the front of the car, denting it "Damn it"

Galloping catches everyones attention, the horse and carriage bursting through the crowd, sending a few officers to the floor. Honey and Mori jump out "Hikaru take the carriage, if you use the back hills bypass, you can cut them off"

"It's haninozuka!" "And morinozuka!"

the twins climb into the carriage turning back to hauhi "Come on!"

Kyoya places his hands on her shoulders "Haruhi, go get that idiot, hurry" he pushes her into the carriage "Now go! This is your chance!"

Hikaru nods, cracking the reins, the carriage taking off. "Don't just stand there! Stop that carriage!" Honey jumps on him. "Takashi don't go easy on them"

"Don't worry, I won't"

Soon the officers end up in a pile on top of each other "I warned you guys, picking on my friends is a big no no!"

"You should never underestimtate the ouran host club" Kyoya turns back to the truck, pulling at the bar lock, pushing it open.

"Kyoya?"

"Y/n-chan!" Honey launches forward, tackling you into a hug "Honey-senpai"

"I thought you were going to leave" He wells up in tears. You laugh out a couple of tears yourself "Yeah...so did i..."

Mori picks up Honey "Give them some time" he carries him away.

The two of you stand staring at eachother for a moment, frozen in time, staring at eachother.

After a moment passes Kyoya can't take it anymore, making the move to walk up and envelope you in a hug.

"You scared me"

"I..." he just holds you tighter "I can't...I don't want you to leave...I don't...want to wait years to see you again...I....I L-" you place a finger to his lips

"You idiot...like I want to leave, like I want to wait years to see you...I waited...well years... for us to get to as we are now...and I will wait longer...but I'd rather have you at an arms length than not have you at all."

Mori and Honey pull up in their own car "Come on"

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"Hey boss!"

"Tama-chan!" The twins and Mori run down to the riverside where Tamaki and Haruhi are stood. Kyoya sighs from up by the car where the two of you are stood with Mori "Oh man, he's such a Moron"

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The ball was certainly a grand one, practically the versailles palace ball recreated in the ouran academy courtyard. "May I have this dance?" you turn around, Kyoya offering his hand. You smile, taking his hand.

Overlooking the courtyard is the chairmans office, where The chairman, Mr Ootori, and Your father are sat.

"I'm sorry that we caused you concern, it looks as though grand tonnerre, will not be purchasing my company after all. An expected backer turned up, they bought the company before Tonnerre had the chance and the backer said that while I will keep the title of CEO honorarily, all he management rights have been passed over to a new board he's appointed. Including Mr. Maihara"

"Your rival? That was a bold move, which funds manager was it?"

"A student investor, called K.O. He cleverly left his name out of the deal, but it didn't take me long to figure out who it was . K.O. is Kyoya Ootori, the new backer was none other than my own son"

"At least we know we don't have to worry about the future. I thought I thought I knew how brilliant Kyoya was, but it seems even smarter than I thought."

"Maybe so, but I think you son is the one who's truly amazing. I am responsible for the entirety of Kyoya's education. I always knew he would surpass his older brothers someday. However, i must say i'm shocked, while I can imagine Kyoya taking over a company, I never dreamed that he'd turn it around and give it right back to it's original owner. As Kyoya grew up I was constantly dangling the Ootori family companies in front of his face, torturing him with something he could never have. Now, not only has he taken it out from under me by force, but he's basically told me he doesn't want it and doesn't trust me to run it. Do you know what that means? It means he's finally found something of more value, and that is probably thanks to your daughter"

Your father tsks "I would not take it as such the wholesome action Yoshio. By keeping your name as the face of the company it is ensuring that you are still liable for anything that could reflect negatively upon it."

A ding draws the mens attentions to their phones.

'1 new email: play me'

The video attatched blares across the room, it is you, from months ago, sat in your fathers office in Italy "If you are watching this then you have left me no choice in going over your head. While I have had my suspicions for months I finally have the evidence of the ootori group breaking the law, and in turn the l/n group becoming accessories for covering it up. The most interesting thing about it is that the only people that know about it is the people who this email has been sent to. Well...I thought that we should let people in on that little secret, by now there should have been similar emails sent to all the CEO's and CFO's of your companies, but those emails has all the evidence I gathered. For all intents and purposes both your roles in the l/n and ootori groups are in name, all managerial rights have been reverted to either myself, kyoya, his brothers, or whoever we choose to appoint"

You sigh, Kyoya placing a hand on your shoulder in the video. "For the longest time I have debated turning you both over to the authorities, but frankly i don't think you two deserve a justice system that I know you can easily bribe yourself out to. So i'm taking things into my own hands. You may find that both of your personal salaries may take a significant pay cut, you see we needed to find the money to give the families you hurt the compensation they deserve from somewhere. I'd reccomend transferring your assets into an early inheritance for your children before they get seized"

The video ends, leaving the office to be plunged into silence. "Your daughter is ruthless"

Your father looks down at the courtyard, down at the sight of the two of you dancing "Unfortunately....she is exactly who I raised her to be"

Only those with excellent social standing and those from filthy rich families are lucky enough to spend their time here at the elite private school Ouran academy.

The ouran host club is where the school's handsomest boys, with too much time on their hands entertain young ladies who also have way too much time on their hands.

Think of it as Ouran academy's elegant playground for the super rich and beautiful.

Remember, you're welcome to visit us in music room three whenever you'd like to. The ouran host club will be waiting for you.

And we want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts.

We'll see you then!

Chapter Text

"You know Tamaki we never officially declared the disbandment of the host club, why are we holding a big re-opening when we never really closed?" You raise an eyebrow, staring at the flapper dress in front of you.

"Because y/n, everyone loves a party, and we have great cause for party, have I ever needed an excuse?" Tamaki smiles, squeezing you shoulders. "Besides, the moment that you brought up the idea of having a great gatsby themed event I couldn't resist"

Tamaki floats and spins across the music room "I mean the circumstances are perfect”

You raise an eyebrow at the sight, laughing “I am glad that you see so much light in the two of us nearly being basically kidnapped back to Europe”

“Yes but nearly is the operative word dear y/n"

"Sure...did you at least get me some shoes to match?" a smile starts to creep in behind your questioning gaze. "And a tiara"

You sigh, biting your lip as you star at the bejewelled dress "Okay I may see some pro's to throwing this party"

Tamaki scoffs, "Please you were in agreement the moment I came in here with Feather boas" You purse your lips "Possibly"

"Unfortunately, a 'great gatsby' party as you two call it is unavoidably costly, we're still recovering from the costs of the Ouran fair" Kyoya mutters from a table nearby.

"Kyoya" Tamaki whines, elongating the a, "It's a grand re-opening"

"Just think about all the potential new guests Kyoya, a party such as this is costly but also unignorable, it will be a worthwhile investment I'm sure" you chime in, picking up the dress in front of you.

"Fine..." he grumbles "Just don't bankrupt us in the process"

The door creaks open, revealing an out of breath Hikaru and Kaoru, a newspaper clutched in hand "We have a problem"

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The Ouran Host club is back in business!
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"This is ridiculous" You mutter, throwing the newspaper against the table as you sit back down at one of the tables. "It certainly is a low blow but I guess it is to be expected from them"

It was clear in black and white 'THE NOT SO SECRET ADMIRERS OF THE HOST CLUB REVEALED, THE GIRLS WHO WOULD RATHER FAWN OVER MEN THAN GO TO CLASS, More on page 2'

It is sneaky, it is low, it is misogynistic, and it has the newspaper club all over it.

"This is bad; our guests come here to enjoy themselves free of judgement, hence why we never publish photos with them in it. That is compromised now, a lot of our guests will be put off by this"

There has always been some degree of anonymity in the host club. To know who attends you have to also have been in the host club at some point. A lot of girls found comfort in that knowledge and it is clear.

Tamaki paces up and down the room, worried that the host club may not even be able to reopen.

"This is the school newspaper we are talking about, there probably haven't been that many people who have read it" Haruhi points out, the twins sigh.

"If it was any other issue than that probably would be the case, but a copy was left on everyone's desk and it is literally front page." Hikaru points out.

"I see..."

"What would they get from printing this though?"

"Simple, they know that it will deter guests, name and shaming, it's clear that they still hold a grudge against us...luckily the announcement of our engagement took some ammo out of their hands"

Tamaki heads towards the door to the music room, stepping out into the hallway "Tamaki?"

Tamaki B-lines for a couple of girls out in the hallway, a couple of regular guests of the host club. "Ladies, good afternoon" he switches to his normal overly cheesy self.

"Good afternoon...Tamaki" The girls reply half in awe and half in nervousness. "Can I expect you mademoiselles at our grand re-opening? It is going to be the biggest party we've thrown ever"

"Oh....well we'd love to Tamaki but...I um- we are..."

"We're busy, sorry" the girls hurry off, eyes darting around to make sure that no one was watching.

"Oh..." Tamaki deflates, dragging himself back into the music room. "It's over....the girls...are gone..." he gives up just as he gets into the room, resigning himself to laying limp on the floor.

"Tama-chan! It's okay! We can sit and eat this cake, that will make you feel better....and then we can figure it out" Honey runs over, perilously carrying a plate with strawberry cake on it.

"Tamaki relax, this is the newspaper club we're talking about, we've dealt with them before we will deal with them now" you crouch down infront of him.

"Umm y/n? I hate to break it to you but it's already been printed, it's already been done" Hikaru slides in, you motion for him to cut it out. You sigh "Yes but considering recent events involving a private police force and international corperate politics i think we can handle three guys with a chip on their shoulders"

You stand "Let's go down and talk to them, Komatsuzawa is a coward it won't be hard to scare them off. Also incredibly stupid to print this" The rest of the host club nods, storming out of the music room.

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"Ah, l/n, I figured that you would be paying us a visit sooner or later" Komastuzawa smiles from his desk as you all enter the newspaper club. "If he knew we would trace it back to him why would he print that article?" "Surely he can't be that self destructive" the twins mutter among themselves.

"I knew you were obsessed with us Komatsuzawa but this is a new low even for you"

"I don't know what you mean Miss l/n, we are just sat here celebrating our newspapers new found success...I don't know if you heard but its all anyone can talk about" Komatsuzawa clinks a glass of what you are hoping isn't champagne with one of the other club members.

"I don't know if you've noticed but they're only talking about your newspaper is because of us"

"Even if that wasn't the case just because they are talking about it doesn't make it suddenly popular" the twins step forward.

"Nethertheless, they are still talking about it, and even better none of those poor girls you manipulated will go near any of you now"

"They are talking about you because they are scared, using fear to get popular is not the way to do things, talk is just talk they won't like you" Haruhi speaks up, looking at the newspaper club with pure concern that this was their genuine view point"

Tamaki sighs, still deflated and being propped up by Kyoya and Mori.

You bite the inside of your cheek at the sound, stepping forward "Okay, if you had printed a false article about any of us that would be one thing. But printing photos you have taken of random girls shaming them for how they spend their free time is something else entirely. Congratulations though, you have made yourselves more unpopular than ever. Enjoy being the hot topic for today, because when this blows over the newspaper club will be done for"

Komatsuzawa's face contorts into a strange smile that makes you concerned "What exactly are you planning on doing about re-opening your club now though? Without any guests that will be a very empty party"

"And yet somehow it will be more full than this sorry excuse for a celebration, leave our business to us, I'd worry more about how to save your own face"

You turn back around "Lets go these guys aren't worth our time."

"But y/n? We're just going to let them get away with it" Hikaru questions "Of course not, but i'm also not going to stoop down to their level. I've got a plan for that, for now we have a pr crisis we need to fix"

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You sigh through sipping your coffee as you all sit in the music room debating on how to fix this issue. "I can't believe them, they really need to shut down"

"How do we convince a group of girls who do not want to risk being seen with us...to risk being seen with us" Hikaru leant back in his chair, pursing his lips.

"Yeah it's not ideal I know" You take another sip "But there must be something, we've put too much effort into this re-opening to give up now"

"And money" Kyoya chimes in from next to you, sat typing away at his laptop. You roll your eyes "Yes and money"

"Maybe we could buy those camera repellent scarf things to hand out in case one of those guys sneak in to take pictures again" Haruhi suggests, trying to mime out what she means. "Oh those ugly things" Hikaru's face contorts in disgust "I'd rather not"

"I don't think they work on phone cameras either, it also wouldn't solve the issue of them being spotted entering the host club in person"

"Put them in disguise?"

"Or have them wear sacks over their heads?"

"Or give up" Tamaki mutters, head pressed against the table, pouting, tracing his finger against the surface.

You raise an eyebrow, leaning forward in your seat "Say that again?"

"Give up? I can't lie i didn't think that was your style y/n-" "-No, it isn't...maybe we are over complicating this...we don't need fancy scarves or have them wear sacks on their heads....we just need to change the party theme"

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The turn around of the appearance of the central salon was a stark contrast from your original vision of the re-opening party. Instead of fountains and flapper dresses, there was a string quartet and colombina masks.

But, it was all worth it, because the Masquerade at midnight ball had managed to entice the regulars to come back.

"I miss when you used to be on my side for club financial decisions" Kyoya grumbled from the top of the stairs, looking over the party with you "Relax...we'll do the Great Gatsby party at some point, none of the money we spent on that will go to waste...also changing themes to a masquerade ball was a necessary evil, look around, we're more popular than ever"

Kyoya looks out across the crowd, it is true, this must be a new record for host club event attendance. The theme change has undoubtedly been a success.

"I suppose...I must admit you do have a strange affinity for ball gowns" when you come to think of it this must have been at least the seventh time that you have found yourself accidentally in a ball gown due to the host club antics "Shhh, i'm trying to get Tamaki to secretly fund the wardrobe of my deb season"

Kyoya raises an eyebrow "I didn't think that being a debutant was your thing" You roll your eyes "It isn't, i've never quite understood it, but my Nonna is desperate for me to do it, and my mother always used to talk about taking me out to shop for a dress for it so I'm sure I can stomach the rest of it" you laugh a little.

"Wait...does that mean I am going to have to do it too, don't debutants usually have dates?"

You smirk, a devious idea entering your head "I'll certainly need A date, doesn't have to be you, I was thinking of asking Tamaki...you know...since I know how much you hate those types of events"

Kyoya pauses "I know what you're trying to do" You sneak a glance at him "Do you?"

"Mhm"

"Is it working?"

"The only problem with your little plan is that there is no future where i would be jealous of Tamaki"

Your chin raises, staring him up and down, knowing that is a bold faced lie, you know the stories of when Kyoya and Tamaki first met.

"Oh really?" You step away, slowly heading down the stairs "then you'll raise no issue in my asking for his next dance-" you get cut off by Kyoya grabbing your wrist, lightly tugging you back to him "Now I didn't say that" You laugh, retuning to your place on the stairs, overlooking the party.

"You never did say what you were going to do with Komatsuzawa, in full honestly I am surprised you didn't inform him that you are considering buying up his fathers company"

"I didn't tell him because for one I am still in two minds on that one, and for two that would make me like him. Komatsuzawa uses his power and fear against people, i do not unless it is necessary and deserved" You follow his gaze over the scene of the ball.

"Besides, there was a much easier solution"

"Pray tell?"

You smirk, head tilting to the side "I just showed the article to Renge"

Chapter Text

It is a well known fact that Kyoya Ootori is not a morning person. Attempting to wake him up unceremoniously without a very good reason was basically the equivalent to poking a black bear after stealing it's child.

And that is when he is in a full bill of health.

So when you woke up that morning to find that kyoya was very clearly sniffling in his sleep you knew that it would be a nightmare to wake him.

However, another well known fact is that once Tamaki Suoh has a plan in his head there is no swaying him otherwise lest you be met with the fate of the dreaded puppy eyes.

So there you are, 8am in the morning, with a sick Kyoya Ootori, and a determined Tamaki Suoh on the way to your apartment within the hour.

You must admit that for a while you consider the idea of just leaving Kyoya be and letting Tamaki tempt the fate of waking him. But you know that will just cause more trouble than not.

However to your surprise when you return into the bedroom of your aparment with a glass of water and painkillers Kyoya is sat up over the side of the bed.

"Oh, you're up?" You raise an eyebrow, placing the water and painkillers on the bedside table. "Yeah...Tamaki and the others are coming round soon aren't they?" his voice is slightly more groggy and nasally than usual.

"I...yes but...are you...feeling okay?"

Kyoya lets out a deep breath, clearing his throat as an attempt to disguise the sniffle he lets out. "Never better, I need some coffee" he stands up slightly drowsy, not making eyecontact as he lazily presses a kiss to the top of your head as he heads out into the kitchen.

You follow him out of the bedroom as he stumbles around the kitchen, trying to pull together a cup of coffee "Kyoya..." you lean against the island, watching him with concern as he starts to slowly fall apart "You are clearly sick"

"I am fine"

"Kyoya you're about to pour soured cream into your coffee"

Kyoya pauses, looking down to find that indeed he had grabbed the wrong carton. Putting it to the side he searches around the counter "Where...my glasses..."

You run to retrieve them from the nightstand where he left them, handing them over "You need to be in bed"

"No-" cough "I-" cough "don't-"

you look at him not convinced for a second, it is to the point that he's started to sway on unstable legs. "Kyoya. You. Are. Sick."

As if to make matters worse the doorbell goes, already hearing the energetic chatters of the rest of the host club from out in the hall. "I'll get it" he puts on his glasses, you grab him arm "Damn it Kyoya why do you have to be so stubborn?"

At this point you were begging him. Grip tightening on his arm as you stare up at him. “Please go to bed”

He doesn’t say anything, slipping out of your grip to get the door.

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How to melt a frozen heart!
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"Y/n! Kyoya!" The club members cheer as they file into your apartment. Tamaki and the twins immediately settling in on your couch "Y/n-chan, kyo-chan! I brought Macarons for us all!" Honey holds up the box triumphently.

"My favourite, thanks honey-senpai" Him and mori follow the others through. "I also brought some tea for us to try, they had this new kind at the market" Haruhi holds out a bag "Haruhi you didn't have to bring anything"

"You probably have nicer teas I know"

Tamaki scares the skin off you as he creeps up behind you "pst y/n, do not say anything insensitive Haruhi thinks that any type of tea that isn't green is fancy"

"Butt out of this senpai!" The two of you say in unison.

"You two are so mean!" he cries, retreating back to the couch.

"I'm sure its lovely Haruhi thank you" Haruhi nods, bringing the bag through to the kitchen. You look back to Kyoya in concern, he is pale, clearly holding back a coughing fit.

Without really thinking you hold up to press the back of your hand on his forehead, he takes the hand away.

"You have a fever" "I've survived worse" "That's not the point"

You sigh, watching him walk off to join the others while the two of you may have gotten past the question of what you are to each other, despite the fact that you two are practically living together now, the two of you still often faced the issue of being vunerable around one another. Although this is now more on Kyoya's side than it is yours.

"Hey is Kyoya-senpai okay? he doesn't look well" Haruhi asks as you enter the kitchen. "He isn't, but he's too much of a stubborn ass to help himself or let me help him" you mutter, going to take out cups for the tea.

"Well from what I know about Kyoya-senpai he is very self sufficient"

"I know, but I worry, he is...pretty much all I have at the moment...I know it's just a fever but..."

Haruhi helps you pour the tea "Look, I get it, I was the same after my mom died. But also Kyoya is a lot tougher than my dad is, you can relax a bit, but I know that's easier said than done"

The two of you carry the tea through to the living room.

"Now with the cultural festival coming up you know what that means" Tamaki bounces on your couch.

"Lobeliaaaa" Hikaru sings

"Lobeliaaa" Kaoru's voice jumps up a few octaves

"Lobeliaaa!" Honey harmonises

Kyoya cringes at the sudden loud noise, probably not helping his headache. You groan, your head falling against your palm "I nearly forgot about the Zuka club"

"It's fine you're chizuru's fathers boss now remember?" kyoya mutters, voice still nasally, taking a sip of tea.

"Wait what?" Tamaki's head snaps to the two of you.

"Nothing, Kyoya's not with it today"

As if on cue, Kyoya's eyes widen, nearly dropping the cup to place it down as he stands and rushes into the bathroom. "Damn i'm not sure that I should drink that tea now, Haruhi where did you get it?"

You sigh, standing "It's not the tea, one second" you stand, going to grab the glass of water from earlier, knocking on the door "Kyoya? You okay in there?"

he doesn't reply, but a minute later he opens the door, you hold out the glass. "Thanks" he mumbles, downing the glass, leaning against the door frame. He steps out into the hallway but nearly falls on top of you and the twins who has caught up with the two of you.

"Okay big guy lets get you to bed" Kaoru says, the twins propping him up and walking him into the bedroom. You walk back into the kitchen "need help with anything?"

"Yeah...do any of you know how to make soup?" Tamaki laughs "Y/n why would I know how to make soup?" Haruhi rolls her eyes "What do you have in?"

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"Okay, I have soup, and painkillers" You walk in to the bedroom, placing the both of them down on the nightstand next to him. "Y/n I am fine"

You sigh, crouching down next to the side of the bed "You are clearly not, you can barely walk, why is it so hard for you to admit that you are sick? Everyone has a day off every now and again"

Kyoya groans sitting up slightly. "There are just about 7 different better things that i could be doing right now"

"Sure, but you can't do them right now, so relax, is there anything that you need to get done that is imperative that you do it today?"

"I've got to-" Cough "-call my brother...about going to sign the transeference agreement"

"I can call your brother, you rest"

"And you call me stubborn"

"I have to be stubborn because you don't let me in Kyoya...and I care too much to let you suffer..." you stand, using the table for support "Eat the soup, or don't, whatever works just for one day don't think about work"

You step out the room, the rest of the host club waiting outside. "y/n-chan, is Kyo-chan okay?" Honey stares up at you "Yeah he'll be fine he just has the flu"

"We'll get out of your hair" Haruhi smiles, nodding at you "But haruhi-" "We are leaving, by y/n, Get well soon kyoya-senpai!" She yells that last part, pushing Tamaki out of the apartment.

You let out a sigh of relief, pulling out your phone to scroll through your contacts, pressing call as you step away from the bedroom. "Hello?"

"Hi, Akito? it's y/n l/n"

"Oh? Hello y/n what can I do for you?"

"Kyoya is a little under the weather at the moment, he's asked me to confirm details about the transference agreement"

"About that, I should warn you that our brother Yuuichi does not...think of you two in the greatest of lights at the moment"

"How so?"

Akito sighs down the phone "Usually, Yuuichio is the calmer brother out the three of us so forgive how blunt this shall come across but in so many words he is...bitter, about the two of you pushing our father out of the company"

"I see...surely he understands our reasons for doing so"

"I don't know, I see why you have, honestly I think you have been soft on him all things considered. My best guess is he's being defensive, Yuuichi is a lot more involved with the companies than the rest of us, if he knew about what was going on he turned a blind eye to it a long time ago"

"Right"

"All this to say, I think it's going to take more convincing to get him to sign."

"Surely he realizes that your father needs him to sign regardless, if your fathers assets aren't transferred to the rest of you then there is a good chance that they'll just return to the banks anyway. All of the ootori properties is being held as collateral against the business loans"

"He does, I wouldn't worry to much about it, he'll see sense soon, but I thought I'd give you warning on what exactly you are going to be walking into"

"Okay, I appreciate it Akito, thank you"

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That evening you were sat on the sofa reading when Kyoya finally emerges from the bedroom. "Hey..." he grumbles, sitting on the chair nearby. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Better, I think I slept most of it off"

You smile a little "That's good, I called Akito, he's all ready to sign...Yuuichi however..."

"What about him?"

"Apparently he isn't very happy with us for pushing your father out"

"Sounds about right"

"Akito says that we shouldn't be too worried about it, just to expect some hostility" Kyoya nods, taking a sip of water. "Y/n...I...am sorry, for pushing you away earlier"

"It's fine...i know that I was being pushy"

"I just...am not used to having someone there"

You nod "I...I know...but I am here...and sometimes it feels like you forget that...I mean how many times have you taken care of me, I should be able to at least help you when you're sick"

"I know...Thank you, for being stubborn" you laugh "You're welcome"

Chapter Text

"Rich men! Poor man! Every-man! Nobleman! Destitue!!!" The twins happily exclaim, practically bouncing in their seats as they throw down their hands of cards "Come on Haruhi! When we agreed to play by common folks' rules, you might at least try to win"

Haruhi looks back to the twins with mild shock at their intensity "I've never been into cards, so I've barely even played before" Honey's face falls at the admission "Haruhi! Do you mean..."

Tamaki slides closer, lifting up his hand at a terrible attempt of preserving secrecy "Haruhi here is my deck of cards, take them" Haruhi dead pans "I can easily afford them senpai I just don't play much"

Meanwhile Kyoya sits next to you with a shit eating grin "So if Haruhi is the destitute...that means, for the next two weeks, haruhi has to do everything I say?"

Haruhi's face falls "Two weeks?! That long? No one mentioned two weeks! I need to help with the cultural festival!" kyoya does not seem phased.

"Tough luck haruhi, just got out of debt and now right back in it" You laugh.

"Incidentally, what's your class doing at the cultural festival?"

The twins jump up in excitement "We're running a mini private detective agency! We'll have mysteries for our customers to solve-" "Like a real life crime solving experience, there will be costumes and prizes!"

"That sounds like fun!" Honey looks at the designs the twins have pulled out in awe.

"Ah, what perfect timing, Haruhi, you will aid me in uncovering the true culprit, agreed?"

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Kyoya's rival conundrum!
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"Hey! They announced the candidates for the central salon!"

"Show me!! which group has the lead this year"

"The football and Basketball clubs are strong contenders"

"What's this about?" Haruhi raises an eyebrow watching the debate of her classmates who are hurried to read the page of central salon candidates

"It's just a matter of positioning, the more prominent the location, the better, right? Because the grand ballrooms on both floors are used for the visiting schools, the central salon gets the most attention by far." Kaoru shrugs, leaning against the wall watching the chaos unfold.

"So basically, the club that gets the central salon reigns over the cultural festival, only the top-class clubs even bother entering the race" Hikaru smirks.

"This sounds even more bothersome" Haruhi steps forward to take a glance at the page."

'RACE FOR THE CENTRAL SALON:
Class 3-B
Host club
Basketball club
Football club
Ikebana club'

Haruhi's face falls at the sight of the host club being on the page, you raise an eyebrow "What did you think we wouldn't be on there?"

"Of course we're joining the race" Kyoya adds.

"Last year the winner was decided by a chess tournament! We lost to the student council during the finals" Honey rambles on, chowing down on some cake in the corner, crumbs flinging onto usa-chan.

"It's not like I care who wins, but that's a surprise" Haruhi sits back down.

"The son of a very important Hitachiin business associate was on the student council last year. Still, just for Pr purposes, we stayed in the race through the finals"

You lean over towards Haruhi "Basically we entered the race for the attention and then lost on purpose to avoid the accusations of bias" you clarify.

"We'll win this year, right?" Tamaki looks at the rest of you with the usual puppy-dog eyes of hope that he uses whenever he wants the rest of you to get on board with a plan. "Yes, but we've got a bit of a problem.

"A problem?" Tamaki's face falls, head snapping to Kyoya. He sighs, pulling out a pile of envelopes "Look, it's not a big deal, but...every day, for a week...we've been receiving somewhat hostile letters"

You pick up one of the envelopes, opening the letter to find a letter that belongs in a true crime book 'WITHDRAW FROM THE SALON RACE. OR ELSE!' spelled out in collaged letter cut outs.

"And you didn't think to mention this all week?" You ask. "These letters are clearly hate mail! Wait- Kyoya when you said something about finding a culprit- Is this what you meant! We thought you were talking about the twins detective thing! Why did you not mention something" Tamaki screams at him.

"It could've been a prank of some sort so I ignored it after the official announcement today, though we also recieved this" he pulled out another letter, different from the rest but still using collaged paper clippings.

'PREPARE TO DIE'

"What the actual-" You cut yourself off, internalising any rage you currently had for being left out the loop of this.

"The perpetrateor appears to be someone who loses his temper easily"

"And has a passion for arts and crafts apparently" You inspect the letter.

"As I said, we'll have to track down the culprit, by the way, we will never withdraw from the race, we will promptly find the originator of this letter and crush him. We'll teach him what it means to cross us. The fool and his descendants will remember it forever!"

You place a hand on his shoulder "darling, calm down"

"Too much?" "A little"

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Days until the cultural festival: 11

"Listen up!! express your theories and observations regarding this threatening letter!" Tamaki damands, holding the letter infront of him during what is meant to be a host club briefing.

"it must be from one of the other groups in the race"

"How about letting a hound smell it?"

"Let's go over some more observations regarding the letters, there seems to be two types" Haruhi lays them out across the table "Seven letters were made using newspaper clippings, five letters are totally blank"

"Why Blank?" "Maybe they want us to write our response on them?"

"A considerate criminal!" Honey cheers

"The perpetrator must think that his team can win the race as long as the host club is eliminated. Therefore, we can safely assume the perpetrator is a strong competitor who regards the host club as a real threat" haruhi mutters, gazing over the letters.

"It could be just a personal grudge" Hikaru shruges "It says 'or else' but it doesn't actually say what they'll do, sounds kind of stupid to me"

"Yeah can't they even claim they'll make our family's stock crash or something?"

"These reek of citrus" Mori presses one of the letters to his nose "You're right! The perpetrator must love fruit!" Honey mimics. This seems to set off something in Tamaki "Then can it be...no that's just impossible"

"What is it Tamaki?"

"The perpetrator must be one the student council" Renge appears, butting into the conversation.

"Renge if whoevers behind this was on the student council they wouldn't need to threaten us they could just block us from getting the salon" You point out, nonetheless she still writes down the S.C. president under the list of suspects.

A knock on the door pulls your attention "Excuse us for intruding on your conversation, I'm Matsudaira, student council president" Renge pauses at the sight of him, rushing to erase his name from the board "We've come to let you knowwe chose to withdraw from the race this year, it's too much of a burden to compete against the great candidates...besides, we hear it won't be a chess tournament this year" He cluches at his stomach.

You raise an eyebrow "Are you okay s.c. president?" he lets out a nervous laugh "Of course, just allergies"

"Will the host club also be withdrawing?" The council secratary stood next to him asks "Not at all" Kyoya waves her off with a smile. "okay, good luck then!"

You mutter out a goodbye as you watch the two of them leave, replaying the peculiar interaction in your head. Tamaki seems to do the same. "hmm...about everyone's theories...there's one person who fits the bill. If we can safely deduce a profile from these theories, then eight or nine times out of ten the culprit will be -"

Tamaki is cut off by the door opening once again, three guys wandering in "So the student council is turning tail and running, but i say it's a wise decision. The race this year will be a one on one duel anyway--between the football club and the host club" The guy in the centre declares, tossing an orange up and down in his hand.

"The football club?" Haruhi murmurs.

"Amongst the athletic clubs, they're the most talented group, they make it to the national championship regularly. Their team is called the ouran orages, it's a french word that means tempest but also they chose it for its similarity to the orange fruit" You look the three boys up and down, once again questioning why the captain chooses to eat oranges with the rind still on as he takes a big bite.

"The family of the club president, kuze, holds the largest market share in imported produce in Japan" Tamaki adds.

"Hey ootori, there's a rumor that you guys deliberately threw the chess tournament last year, that true? Ever since you beat us at the semifinal, we've been a laughing stock. The story is an embarrassment, but this rumor even reached the ears of my fiancee"

"That's an unjustified grievance Kuze, had people respected you, no one would laugh on the basis of such a rumor" You lean forward, watching Kyoya stand unfazed at the accusation as the captain grows frustrated "What? are you telling me it's my fault? Even when you were a kid, you had some nerve...remember when we were in pre-school?"

"I don't remember what we did when we were kids, please don't get orange on our carpet"

"Hmph, do you think the heir of the great Ootori family should belond to such a carnal club as this? Oh, excuse me, you're only a third son, so no matter how much you try, you never can be the heir to the family, can you? No wonder you like the crumbs of glory from the boots of the chairmans son. the thought makes me weep"

Without necessarily think you step forward to defend Kyoya "hey-" Before you can say anything kyoya pulls you closer to him, cutting off anything unwise you were about to say. "Kuze have you met my fiancee? I am sure you know of her family company, the l/n group, we can quabble about this all day, but the two of us actually have a transference meeting to get to...we can always resolve whatever this is in the competition "

"Hmph, fine, its a fight"

Kyoya walks the two of you out the room "What was that?"

"Kuze has always been one to press in places he shouldn't, I will admit maybe this time he caught me a little off guard" You laugh a little at the admission.

"Kyoya!" Tamaki runs after the two of you, catching you as you're about to get into the car "Tamaki, do you need a ride?"

"No...Kyoya, do you think Kuze is behind those threatening letters? With all the obvious hints, you could've-" "Tamaki. Have you seen the chairman recently?"

"Huh? three months ago...I had a dinner with him in mansion #2"

Your brows raise at the info "You still aren't allowed to enter the main mansion?" "Shut up it doesn't matter"

"Well, don't worry, it'll work out fine, but let me tell you this, you're to search for the culprit until you have proof" Kyoya gets into the car with you, nodding for the driver to leave.

"Kyoya why are you having them look for the culprit, if you actually bothered you probably could have found out by now"

"That's no fun, and after today...this is going to be a lot more fun than I had anticipated"

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"Master Kyoya, Miss l/n, welcome home" The two of you are greeted as you enter the ootori mansion. "Kyoya!" A woman approaches the two of you "Fuyumi? I didn't expect you to be here"

"I found a great wagashi store downtown. So I swung by to share some with you"

"Have you been exploring the common folk's shops again? If you want wagashi why don't you have it delivered from Kyoto?"

"y/n says true pleasure comes in seeking things out on your own"

Kyoya pauses "when did she say that to you?" He questions, looking down at you during that question. Meanwhile you stare back up at him innocently "So...we may have gotten talking when I called her about the meeting...and possibly had made arrangements to go shopping with Haruhi"

"Kyoya, you're home?" The voice makes both of your stomaches drops "You too, father?"

"Only briefly, I've signed those documents that your fiancee was insistant on, they're all ready in there for you and your brothers, I am going back to my office to sit around and keep up appearances I suppose. Fuyumi, if you're done with whatever errand you're here for, why don't you go home? You're married and now part of another family. You shouldn't be coming back without good reason, are you trying to degrade our dignity?"

Fuyumi mutters a sorry, you send her a weak smile, as she leaves the house. Kyoya sighs "I am not sure that you can speak upon degrading the dignity of this family"

"Watch your tone, I may not have any corporate weight anymore but I am still your father"
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Days until the cultural fair: 6

"have you heard? the host club and the football club are now in a stand off for the central salon"

"The student council withdrew? I hear they've gone neutral and are now judging the race"

"Did you hear? Most of the girls are rooting for the host club!" "Then the guys should root for the football club!"

"Why is this a big deal?" Haruhi asks as the two of you wander the halls, overhearing what feels like the entire the school gossip about the race. "peope love a rivalry" You shrug, almost walking into the wall that seems to be the rest of the host club dressed like they are auditioning to be in the next men in black movie. "What're you all doing?"

"This is a legitimate and important duty! Since Kuze is only suspect, the only course of action is to tail the football club. Call us the 'F.C. espionage unit"

You and Haruhi exchange glances as you both hold back laughing. "Okay Tamaki, good luck with that" before the two of you can move on they swipe you around a corner to press against the wall.

"Of course we can't relax against Suoh or the others but, what's so scary about Kyoya Ootori is he has no qualms about using base methods if they will benefit him. He's a snake in the grass, he'd suck down your very bones if he had use for them." the Football club approaches down the hallway.

"Kuze, I hear our clash with the host club is turning this years race into the biggest event ever."

"That's true president, even ootori won't be so bold as to rig the game when everyone's watching, who knows what'd happen if it got out"

"I think they're underestimating kyoya on that one" Hikaru mutters, "Oh you have no idea" You murmur in slight aw, shaking your head as you stare into the distance "What?" You snap of it "Nothing"

"That jerk. He trampled on my good will I will never forget that time in kindergarten he not only knifed my sweet 6-year-old heart, he salted the wound! This is my chance to redress an old grievance. No matter what he comes up with, all we need to do is set the stage to our advantage ahead of time. Fortunately I have some ties to the student council we'll make it so that the host club have no chance against us, because of their carnal lifestyle, we'll succeed where they will fail. This years race isn't going to be like last years lukewarm battle of brain. It will require finely honed physical strength"

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"It is as I expected" Kyoya mutters, reading the newly established school newspaper after Komatsuzawa resigned. "It requires physical strength, but that can easily be offset by our intelligence. Instead of wasting wffort now, let's form a suitable strategy and...hey! are you all listening?" Kyoya realises quickly that you are the only one listening, the rest of the host club desperately training for whatever physical test they will need to go through.

"We have yet to select the club's outfit for school competitions!" Tamaki exclaims "That's what you are focussed on right now?" Kyoya rolls his eyes, turning to Haruhi "How is the search for the perpatrator coming along?"

"At first Kuze seemed fishy but he seems like he wants to openly confront the host club. That means there may be someone else who wants to see Kuze falsely accused. Maybe there's a simple solution. If we investigate the people around kuze. What I don't understand at all is the meaning of the blank letters"

"Haruhi, something that appears complicated can turn out to be unexpectedly simple and vice versa and even if you have a lot of threads in hand, that does not necessarily mean you have to tie them all together, right?"

"Huh?"

"At any rate, will you memorise this for me before the race?" He hands her a pile of paper. "The blue prints of the school" Haruhi's jaw drops at the sight, silently nodding before wandering away.

"What are you up to?" you whisper, leaning over closer to him. Kyoya smirks "You'll see"

Haruhi has spent the entire morning running around the school attempting to memorise its lay out. It is much easier said than done. Finding rooms that she didn't even know were there, in addition to finding one that is forbidden entry due to a secret event for the festival.

Another thing she spots is Kuze talking to the secretary from the student council from earlier. Which just makes her question a few things.

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"Let me explain how the race works. You're perscribed route and answer the questions at designated sites in each building- east west, south and north. If any team member passes, so does his group. If not the team is eliminated. The group that successfully clears all sites will be given five clues. In the finals participants must use those clues to seek out a particular location. The group that claims the hidden crown shall win use of the central salon"

"Let the race begin!"

The host club start racing with vigor, speeding through a series of obstacles and quiz questions. You and kyoya watch on from the sidelines, both of you officially speaking in management roles of the club.

Tamaki ends up slipping on one of the obstacles, getting eliminated.

By the time they reach the final round the host club and the football club are neck and neck. In between haruhi "By the way, it really isn't the time to tell you this we assumed that the threatening letter and the blank ones were sent by the same person. But what if they're totally unrelated to each other, I think there are two perpetrators."

You raise an eyebrow.

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Meanwhile the chairman looks on from his office. "Mr chairman are you watching? It's a great spectacle."

"Yeah...it looks that way, but it's disquieting that my foolish son is a the centre of it all that said, it is great to see everyone excited over the school festival...lets just see how it goes for now.

Chapter Text

'B☐H
Go up and sink
Tenjiku
KCN
Between the Holy Mother and Angel'

"Does 'B☐H' mean there's supposed to be a word inside the square?" "I bet it's 'west' as in B(bust) W(waist) and H(hip)"

"'Go up and sink' the sun?"

"'Tenjiku' that's india, it's also the destination of the party in journey to the west"

"'KCN' cyanide kalium, potassium cianide. It;s known for its potent poison and its almond-like scent"

"Three of the five clues are connected to 'west' assuming one of them points to the sea or the sun...that means the destination is the west gym where the third-years are holding their event for the festival sunset venice!"

As soon as Tamaki yells it out they all start darting towards the west gym, however quite miraculously manage to do a quick change of outfits in the process, much to Kuzes annoyance from the amount of attention it draws.

As you all enter the west gym you remember that ouran students don't do things by half measures. They had reconstructed venice in the gym. You all hesitantly pile into a gondola.

"Hey y/n! you're back home!"

"Haha very funny, i'm not Venetian"

"Suoh! Catch!" Kuze flings an orange at him, sending him into the water. You and Kyoya rush to stretch out the oar to him, pulling him back into the boat. "I-I almost drowned in the gym! I'd better tell the venetian tour association about how unsuitable this costume is near the water..."

"Boss you're the only one who'd get in a stupid accident like that"

"That's not important, where are we headed? We can't look for the crown blindly in a large area like this, we need to figure out the last clue"

"What does 'between the holy mother and angel' mean?" The hosts faces fall in pity. "You know haruhi doesn't even have a passport" "Don't accuse her!"

Haruhi stares at you all dead pan "Will you stop that feeling sorry for a deprived girl attitude"

"Listen, even though its on a much smaller scale, several famous locations in venice have been recreated in the gym, such as, palazzo dario, san marco, ducale, sant'angelo, santa maria della salute"

"Ohhh....mother and angel"

"It looks like the football club is heading for the same place."

"Yeah let's hurry!"

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"Too shallow..." The chairman watches on from his office. "Mr chairman?" His secratary questions.

"An excellent man of influence would always keep an eye on many possibilities but that fool tends to run off single mindedly, what an idiot he is, but i guess it's also a pleasure to watch him cry"

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Kyoya's rival conundrum part 2!
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"Oh Haruhi" Kyoya turns to her mid race "You mentioned that you think that there are two perpetratoprs sending letters, do you have any suspects"

Haruhi takes a second to pull herself together "Yes, i think the one who sent the newspaper cut outs is Kanan Mitsuyama, the student council secretary. Kuze was saying he has a connection to the council. I believe he asked Mitzuyama for help, he convinced the council to withdraw for an advantage. From what I saw yesterday, she doesn't seem to cooperate willingly, I think she may be in a position where she can't act against Kuze. Though she may be obeying orders she could have a grudge against him and that would explain why she might have conspired to prevent Kuze from realising his absolute goal, a face off with the host club"

"A very bold theory but, is there any basis for her grudge?"

"I did some research on the library computer yesterday, Mitsuyama's family holds the second biggest market share in Japan for imported produce, in other words they are competitors. But their business dropped last year and the rumor says that kuze is talking to them about some merger deals"

"So he's manipulating her using a deal that would rescue her family business?" Kaoru asks.

"We cannot let this stand, everyone take an our!! Whatever it takes we must reach accademia bridge before the football club! For the sake of miss Mitsuyama's misery the host club must win!" Tamaki yells, turning the host club into a champion rowing team.

However, when the two teams reach accademia bridge, they quickly realise it's under construction.

"Oh no, it's still being built. After all, it's not to open for two days"

"This is your class Honey! You should know the status of the project!"

"But we're not in charge of this section! I'm doing the pastry shop over there!"

You step away from the crowd to try and clear your head, looking over the clues once more. "Sink, like the sun maybe...are we meant to dive under water? but go up and sink are inconsistant...hey! maybe-" A hand wraps around your mouth, pulling you backwards, quickly finding Kyoya behind you "Be quiet"

He pulls you behind a wall as you attempt to say his name but it's muffled "Did you realise it too? But there's no reason to shout and let the football club know everything" his hand finally slips down from your mouth "You get a head start, and get there before us"

"What" you stare up at him in shock, still recovering from the fact that he currently has you pressed against a wall and towering over you. "y/n, go" he steps away, nodding to the side, you step away, he sends you a wink as you start running.

'W' is the west

'Tenjiku' is also in the direction of the west. But 'KCN' doesn't mean west, it's the alkaline from potassium cyanide

It's located in the west side of the school, but the alkaline which allows us to 'go up' and 'sink', the only place for that is the pool on the roof of the west building.

As you reach the roof you suddenly remember the biblical statues by the pool "Between the holy mother and the angle" and there it was, the crown.

But you weren't fast enough it seems, the football club bursting through the doors, the host club following behind "President! There it is! Out of the way!" one of the footaballers knocks you into the pool. "Y/n!" Tamaki yells

"I've got this, you go for the crown" Kyoya says, sending them off as he takes off his glasses. jumping into the pool, the costume you are wearing becoming heavier as it drags you down.

You desperately gasp as the two of you reach the surface.

"It's over! Tamaki suoh claimed the crown! The host club wins!"

You sigh, placing your head on kyoya's shoulder in relief.

"y/n are you okay?" the host club runs over as you and haruhi spots the secretary run to Kuze who is on the floor in defeat.

"Why is mitsuyama..." haruhi trails off.

"Oh of course, she is kuze's fiancee, after all" Kyoya shrugs, wrapping a towel around you "By the way, they've been in love with each other since way back when."

"So...then I was wrong about her being behind the threatening letters?" Haruhi asks, which Mitsuyama manages to hear "no, i am very sorry about what I've done. I knew Takeshi wanted to fight the host club because of his rivalry with Kyoya. But i didn't want him to, so I tried to get the host club to withdraw somehow. I...I thought it would be painful to see takeshi pointlessly beating himself up after losing against Kyoya yet again, but that foolishu side of him is what makes him cute"

"You were so sure i'd lose?" Kuze's face drops. "I mean, you have always lost against Kyoya, you still have even with the odds stacked in your favour. I love you even if you can't beat Kyoya. So instead of fighting Kyoya, just pay more attention to me"

You smile watching the couple hug it out. Although Tamaki and Haruhi turn back to you and Kyoya "You knew about all this from the get go, why have us searching"

Kyoya smirks "Simple, i knew you'd be more competative, it is the same reason why we threw it last year, it drew more attention to us."you smile "It's like I said, everyone loves a rivalry"

"If we're going to win, we might as well get the best deal out of it in the process, don't you think?"

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"Thermotype?"

"What is that?"

"She means invisible ink!"

After changing out of the costumes once the race was over the host club returns to the blank letters, realising there is still one loose thread left. "Thinking that these letters were connected to the other hate mail was a mistake, it's actually quite simple" Haruhi lights a lighter and applies it to the blank pages.

'Dear Tamaki,
I hear you're interested in the ways of the common folk, so I tried using a poor man;s thermotype
-Dad'

"Just as I thought, it's from the chairman"

"What the heck? They're just personal letters to the boss"

"That rotten old man" Tamaki storms out of the room headed in the direction of the chairman's office. You all run out to follow him.

"You finally figured it out?" Tamaki's father looks unbothered. "What the heck did you do that for dad?"

"Is there a law against a father writing letters to his son?" The chairman looks unbothered, not even glancing up from his paper. "This is obviously a bad joke! We were already so busy and you just made it harder for us!"

"Harder? I believe I'm pretty well aware of what's going on Tamaki. Indeed you were busy looking for the perpetrator during the race but to what end? All you did was show how incompetent you are. What was so much harder? Tamaki you are truly...quite silly"

The chairman laughs "I recieved a report that the host club was recieving hate mail. i couldn't help but contribute immediately. So what do you think? I made it more fun didn't I? I deepened the mystery?"

"You didn't have to make it more fun if you want to say something talk to me directly"

Tamaki and the chairman descend into a squabble but soon Tamaki storms out. "Kyoya?" The chairmen grabs Kyoya's attention, the two of you staying behind while the rest of the club leaves.

"You've done a fabulous job. During the finals, you purposefully allowed the other team to stay on track so they would reach the rooftop at the same time. i'm sure it was all part of your plan. After all, there is a sense of victory for the winning team if the race is close"

Kyoya smiles "Mr Chairman, your blank letters helped a lot. Thank's to you, everyone was confused, it slowed them down considerably. I didn't want them to figure it out too soon"

You send him an unimpressed glare.

"If what I did helped you, I'm honored, after all, due to your plan Tamaki seized the crown at the end."

"All I did was create a favourable situation. There was no guarantee that tamaki would overtake Kuze. I think having strong luck is part of his talent" Kyoya smiles "Excuse us Mr Chairman, I need to make sure that my fiancee didn't get hypothermia from the pool" he leads you out the room and towards his car. Your face falls "Don't tell me I have to see a doctor" you plead.

"Just our family one, the one you know, I'll be with you" The two of you enter the car. You sigh "Fine" you lean your head back against the seat.

"Was your plan so imperative to keeping me out the loop?"

"Come on, and deprive you of a good mystery? I wouldn't do that to you"

You laugh "Okay, i suppose I can forgive you, be real with me, how long did it take you to figure out it was Mitsuyama?"

"Longer than I care to admit but before I raised the issue with any of you. I of course was privy to the knowledge that she was Kuze's fiancee, i just could not understand her motives at first"

"I can, in fact that was the first thing I could understand" You lean your head against the glass of the window. "Hm?"

"In full honesty I would do the same thing"

"Really?"

"Kyoya, not two months ago I staged a double corperate take over for you" he raises a brow at the comment "Yes but that wasn't for me"

"Wasn't it?"

Kyoya doesn't question it, just stares at you futher in an inquisative manner, and in that moment, he understood, because he realised he would do the same.

Chapter Text

As the first day of the cultural festival started you all knew that it was a matter of time before the zuka club showed up, you knew the Lobelia academy had already arrived at Ouran that morning, it was a matter of when not if.

"Tamaki you need to stop pacing you're gonna give me motion sickness" You watch as he does laps up and down the music room. "I don't like this, it's too quiet, they're up to something"

"Maybe after seeing y/n and Kyoya kissing they've given up on the whole 'rescuing y/n from the taint of the host club' mission?" Hikaru shrugs.

"Are you kidding me, did you see benibara at the academy? We barely escaped!" Tamaki cries, staring at the twins in horror. "I must admit from what I know about the Zuka club they don't seem like the type to give up like that...Tamaki's right it is too quiet"

"See!"

As if on cue the door opens, and low and behold the three girls you have come to know as the Zuka club are stood in the door way. "You" Tamaki near growls at the sight of them.

"I knew it!" Hikaru exclaims, the twins standing up, all the host club becoming defensive.

The girls raise their hands "We come in peace"

"I find that hard to believe"

Benibara sighs, slowly approaching the host club, Tamaki tensing up as they approach. As they get closer, benibara raises up a hamper. "We are here to ask for your help"

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The Lobelia Girl's Academy meet their match!
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"What?"

"Please, we need the host club's help"

It is safe to say that the zuka club had very easily rendered the host club speechless. "This must be a trick of some sort, a ploy to lower our guards"

"No trick, we are....well we are desperate"

"And you want our help? If I remember correctly the last time you saw us you were going on and on about how pathetic we are, why would you want our help?"

The girls exchange hesitant glances, in the end Chizuru sighs "Because we are on the verge of getting shut down" Benibara lets out a groan of pain at the words, clutching her chest as she nearly drops to her knees.

"After the performance at Lobelia our fans abandoned us, said that we were a disgrace to the name of the white lily league....they formed their own club, and now the drama department has decided they can only facilitate one club....if we do not prove to be the most popular performance at the cultural festival we will be forced....to disband"

Tamaki's face falls, if there is one thing that will always work against him it is a good sob story.

"And so you're asking for help because...?"

Benibara sighs "It is clear that you all at least have a flare for the dramatic, we can't put on a rival worthy performance with just three people....however we are most interested in..."

The three girls turn to you "Me?" You look at them in skepticism, eyes darting between the zuka club and Kyoya as if to check that this was real.

"You are a brilliant performer maiden, not to mention an incredible singer, you are what can save us"

You raise your hands up to wave it off "Oh no, I am not doing that again, my days on stage are long over" The girls rush over "Please!" They beg.

"How do we know that this is not just another plan to steal y/n away from us again? You don't exactly have a good track record with this type of stuff" Kaoru questions, taking a bite out of a muffin from the girls care package.

"The reason the rest of the club abandoned us because of Benibara trying to kiss y/n against her will, we don't want to make things worse for ourselves" Kyoya's chin picks up, looking the girls up and down for any signs of them lying.

"Y/n?"

"Hell no, why should I help you?"

Tamaki nearly scares the life out of you as he appears behind you "Y/n....their club is going to get shutdown...their family is gonna get torn apart"

"Tamaki they are together im not sure family is the word you should use"

"You said the same thing about the newspaper club and look what happened there"

Tamaki stares at you and Kyoya as if you had just kicked a puppy in front of him. "B-b-but-"

Benibara sighs "Help us and we will owe you, anything, at anytime"

"Oh you don't want to say that with those two here" Hikaru nods to you and Kyoya as you exchange a glance, locking into a silent battle of wits.

"Call it an I owe you and you all swear to not meddle in my love life again and I'll do it"

"Done"

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"what exactly is this performance about anyway?" You ask, the combined forces of the Zuka club and the host club entering the academy's theatre department.

"It's more of a musical thing than the last one, portraying a story through the medium of song"

"Benibara, I am suprised to see you here" A group of girls enter the auditorium. Chin's high as they approach the stage. "It is our time to block out our performance"

"I meant just at the theatre department at all, I would have though that you would have dropped out by now"

"come on you've gotta give them a fighting chance" the words come out of your mouth somewhat involuntarily, you almost do a double take as you realise that you are actually defending them.

"Do I know you? You look familiar"

"Isn't that the girl that Benibara tried to kiss?"

"Why would you help them?"

You freeze at the crowd of girls that has suddenly approached you, throwing question after question at you. Benibara seems to pick up on this, placing a hand on your shoulder "Y/n is a friend of Chizuru's family, she heard of our troubles and decided to help us with the performance"

"But you are the girl who Benio tried to kiss even though you have a boyfriend, right?"

"i....yeah..." With every question that passes the more and more you realise how strange this entire situation is.

The girls surround you "Oh you poor thing, they must be manipulating you again"

"You should come with us, these ladies have no respect"

"Woah" you blink twice at the statement, what was it about Lobelia Academy girls thinking that just because you are doing something that they wouldn't they just assume you are being manipulated?

"I am not, I am helping them save their club as a favour for Chizuru's father as he has strong ties with my and my fiance's companies"

The girls all stare at you with skepticism, in full honesty you hadn't even convinced yourself with that explanation. "Hmm...well she is seemingly here voluntarily...okay benibara, but just know that even with this...peculiar recruitment, you still won't win" the girls walk out with their heads high, you let out a breath that you were unknowingly holding.

"Just so we're clear, once this performance is over with, this is the last time I am helping you with anything"

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You had to admit, while you did not love the situation that you have found yourself in, watching Benibara bark orders at the host club in a desperate attempt to make sure the rest of the host club doesn't look like a heard of elephants in pointe shoes was certainly the silver lining of it all.

"Just so you know...I didn't know about Benibara's plan when you came to Lobelia academy, if i had I would have tried to talk her out of it" You look over to Chizuru, who sits down on the seat next to you in the audience.

"What did you think was going on?"

"In full honesty? We thought that if you got a taste of what Lobelia was like and enjoyed it enough then you may be inclined to transfer, I don't know if you've noticed by now Benio has a bit of a crush on you and we also thought that you were locked in your engagement unwillingly, if we knew you were dating him earlier then it would probably be different"

You sigh "Well Kyoya and I weren't together at that point...or at least not properly, it's confusing, but that is besides the point. It shouldn't matter whether or not I am or was single, surely you can see how staging such a plot, or even the first time demanding that I transfer isn't a normal thing to do"

Chizuru pauses, turning to look at the stage once more. You do the same, watching Tamaki being overly dramatic with each move.

"It's funny, the main grievance that you all have with the host club is that you think they take advantage of girls. When in reality the girls know what they are getting into, and visit willingly, what Benio did was the opposite, and that's why the rest of the Zuka club walked out"

Chizuru pursed her lips, eyes still trained on the stage "I think...that benibara has let the fan club get to her head"

"I think so aswell"

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Day 5 of the Cultural fair

You have been pacing back stage for about an hour now, so long that your step count must have hit a record high. "Hey, it's y/n, isn't it?" one of the girls from earlier approaches you. "Hm? yeah" You make an attempt to calm yourself down and sound normal.

"Is it true that you volunteered to help Benio"

"Well...not exactly, but they came to our club for help and we agreed"

"i see..." She trails off, walking away "Okay?" You raise an eyebrow, turning around as you almost walk directly into Kyoya "Woah" he places his hands on your shoulders, lightly gripping them for stability.

"Sorry Kyoya"

He nods "It's okay, are you alright you feel tense"

"I...I don't like being on stage really... I used to do theatre a lot but i um...had a few bad experiences that caused me to stop, I guess that whenever I return It causes me to think about it."

"yeah...you're cousin clued me in to a bit of it when we came to get you out of Lobelia academy" You nod, taking a deep breath.

"hey, listen, don't give your father the satisfaction of getting your head even now, you have gotten the one up on him, don't let him have any more power over you. You're a good performer, we all know that, you just have to go out there for three minutes and show them what we already know is true"

You sigh "Yeah... okay"

"Good news!" Benio steps backstage, arms in the air as she is surrounded by the girls who had abandoned the zuka club.

"huh?"

"The fight is over, the zuka club is reunited!"

"What?"

"Well we figured that if you forgave Benio then so can we!"

"I have missed you all maidens" The girls start to fawn over Benibara.

You sigh, pinching the bridge of your nose "Thats not...okay...sure, does that mean the performance is cancelled?"

"Oh yeah we don't need you anymore" Benio waves you off, not making eye contact.

"Okay"

You and the rest of the host club walk out the theatre department letting out a sigh "you know, it is probably for the best, I'm not sure our dancing skills would have helped the performance anyway" Kaoru mutters.

You laugh "Yeah, probably"

Chapter Text

In the basement of the north wing, deep in the farthest reaches of the hall, behind the door you will find the black magic club.

"Hey Kanazuki, you're not gonna change? What have you been so preoccupied with lately?"

"A curse" Kanazuki mutters, not looking over at her fellow club members. "Woot! Kanazuki's specialty!"

"Who's the lucky victim this time?"

She hands them a photo "Oh? Isn't he in the host club? What's your grudge against him?" Nekozawa-senpai questions. "Well Mr president, to be honest....he stole my soul"

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Join the black magic club!
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"Achoo!"

"Oh Honey! Do you have a cold? It's easy to get sick when the seasons are changing"

"No i'm fine" Hoeney waves it off, smiling back at the guests "Take care of yourself. Actually I feel slightly feverish myself"

"I'm sorry to hear that princess, warm yourself with this ginger tea and we'll use it to divine whether that fever is from a cold or from your feelings for me" Tamaki leans over.

"Tamaki are you also a fortune teller?"

"Yes princess, did you know that since ancient times, people have read their fortunes in flora and the stars? But today the common folk use everyday items such as electrical appliances and stationary. At first I was impressed by their skill in entertaining themselves without spending money but them I realised it was a symptom of the emptiness in the busy lives! They'll use anything to feel better in an attempt to confirm the significance of their existance!"

You raise an eyebrow "Yeah senpai i'm pretty sure Haruhi would tell you that is not it"

"The boss is especially fervent in summer. He's been in perfect form since recovering from that cold"

"Oh haruhi!" Tamaki waves her over from across the room "Let father tell your animal fortune! Are you a bunny? or maybe a bridie?"

"I don't really care about that...make it quick"

Nekozawa senpai appears over Tamaki's shoulder "Ah! I didn't know you liked fortune telling Suoh" Tamaki jumps out of his skin "N-Nekozawa!"

"You should join the black magic club! We're currently holding our summer fortune telling campaign I'll give you a special reading....That reminds me, I have great news for Honey"

"Hm?" Honey turns to face them, halfway through eating a slice of cake.

"Congratulations! Our very own mistress of maledictions has chosen you to be her sacrificial victim!" Everyones faces fall at the statement.

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Miss Reiko Kanazuki, first year class D, the girl who has cast her evil eye upon Honey. At first glance, with her beautiful long black hair, she appears to be meek and prim. As her hobby is casting curses she doesn't fit in with the other students.

"Oh" the host club all huddle around the door of the classroom for 1-D, not so subtly spying on Kanazuki.

"She's the one cursing Honey? Do you know why?"

"I've seen her somewhere before, but I don't remember exactly!" Honey hides on the back of Mori. "She doesn't always wear a black cloak like Nekozawa does"

"Why me? Why am I cursed? Is she going to kill me?" Honey starts to cry. "I'll go have a talk with her" Mori storms off "No violence mori!" Tamaki yells after him.

"That's right. Interrupting the curse would only invite more calamity" Nekozawa pops up once more, and yet again frightening Tamaki. "Honey? You really don't remember? Kanazuki says you stole her soul. She intends to take yours as revenge"

You raise an eyebrow at the statement, head falling to the side as you watched the scene "Here's proof. It's Kanazuki's eraser, she wrote your name on it. once she uses it up, your soul will be hers"

Nekozawa holds up an eraser which has 'Mitskuni Haninozuka ♡' etched into it.

You laugh a little "Oh my god" You mutter under your breath, suddenly realising what this is actually about.

"She did the same to her mirror with nail polish"

"Um...I hate to break it to you Nekozawa but those aren't curses" You point out.

"It is! Here I have the book she used" He pulls out a charm book. "Nekozawa that's a book on elementary school love charms, Kanazuki doesn't want revenge on Honey, she has a crush on him!"

"No" Kanazuki appears by you "They're curses"

"It's nice to see you, haninozuka"

"huh?" Honey looks up at her in mild shock "One hair, if you please" She plucks one from his head, tying it with one of her own "This should bind your soul"

"Um...are you...in love with honey?" Tamaki asks

"Technially speaking, he stole my soul"

"I think you mean he stold your heart"

"Well, I don't know what it's commonly called, but to be specific...Honey occupies 90 percent of my thoughts and causes my heart to paliptate. His external appearance satisfies my fetishist tenedencies. I have a weakness for pixies. He took my soul so now I must take his, thus, until honey's soul is mine, I will continue to curse him"

She walks off, leaving the rest of you stunned "Okay I could have done without the explanation" you mutter, Kyoya turns to you "So you're saying you don't feel like that about me?" He jokes, you roll your eyes, lightly wacking him in the arm "shut up"

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And so with each new day, Miss Kanazuki's love attack intensifies.

She wrote his name on the chopsticks she uses at lunch, she wrote his name a hundred times in her notebook, among other things.

"Honey looks exhausted, is there anything we can do?"

"Hmm...we know they're only love charms...and I can never ignore the feelings of a girl in love" Tamaki wonders. "If you think about it, it's rare for someone to fall seriously in love with honey" Hikaru chimes in

"Yeah, most girls just feel maternal affection for him"

"You two should take into account Honey's feelings!"

Kyoya approaches him "What should we do, honey? This may interfere with the clubs business, if there's anything I can-"

"No...but...I've been watching her and she doesn't have any friends outside of the black magic club. I don't think she can talk to other people easily, the only way she knows how to communicate is through curses and charms."

"Excuse me, Haninozuka" She appears once again "May I borrow your bunny?" She picks it up "I'll give it back tomorrow"

"No! No! Not usa-chan!"

Mori snatches Usa-chan out of her hands "If you want his heart, shouldn't you do something else?"

"Hand over the stuffed animal, i'll curse you"

"Being cursed by someone who doesn't consider other people's feelings will have no effect on me at all. You'll never win someone's heart that way, no matter how many charms you use."

"But there's no point in thinking about the feelings of others, no one tries to understand me and certainly no one will grow to like me. Talking is a waste of time, so now I use curses right from the start."

"You're wrong reiko!" Honey exclaims "You've gotta share your feelings to be understood. If you want me to like you back, let's talk more. I don't want my feelings to be controlled by curses, I want to know about the things you like, the things you're not good at, what makes you happy. I'd like to hear all about those things...Reiko...i...I like girls who fight to overcome their weaknesses"

The rest of you look on impressed "Wow"

"Honey's actually got some good lines" you watch the situation with wide eyes, leant back against the wall with your arms crossed "Hm" Kyoya hums from next to you.

"So, reiko...would you like to eat some cake together?"

"Yes!"

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And so miss Kanazuki started visiting the host club, and the possible start of the perfect relationship sparked.

"Honey, I'll try to overcome my weaknesses...but I want to keep studying curses"

"Hmm...well, I guess I would never give up eating cake, I don't mind, but please keep it a hobby"

"Really? i'll do that then"

You watch on from your table with a smile. "You know I didn't expect Honey to be that smooth" you laugh a little, taking a sip of coffee. "Yes you do seem to be rather impressed with him" Kyoya mutters, scribbling away as usual.

"Hm? where did that come from?"

Kyoya sighs, taking off his glasses to clean them. "Sorry, I didn't mean to be snappy...do you...want something like that? Someone who is...smoother, with relationships?"

"Kyoya are you insecure over honey-senpai of all people?"

He rolls his eyes "I just mean...our relationship isn't exactly conventional, nor is the way we show affection...I guess i never really asked you..."

"Asked me...if I want a conventional relationship?"

"I suppose"

You sigh, looking down to your cup to realise its empty, you stand to go get a refill, pausing by his seat. "We haven't been properly together for long...and its both of our first relationships, we'll figureout stuff like that eventually. Conventional is boring, the only ones who understand it is us, why would I want to change that?" you place a hand on the table, inching closer to his hand. "That being said...I would be lying if I said i hadn't been holding back being more foreward with you for that reason" You trace your fingers up and down his forearm, noticing that he was also out of coffee, you take his cup.

"I'll get us refills" You smile, in contrast to the previous words, walking off to find some coffee. Leaving Kyoya to watch you walk away, jaw hanging slightly open.

Chapter Text

"What? You want to work in Karuizawa again this summer?"

"Yes, will misuzu open her pension this year? Y/n and I want to go, I was so busy with final exams I forgot to ask if she needs any help." Haruhi sits across from ranka. "I suppose I can ask her but...it might not be possible, Mizsuzu has been acting weird lately"

"Really?"

"She can't stop smiling, she must have found a new lover! Maybe instead of running the pension, she'll take her lover on a romantic getaway"

Before Haruhi can even reply to her dad Misuzu bursts through the door crying "Ranka!"

"Misuzu?"

"Help me! I don't know what to do! M-my daughter is being rebellious!"

"Your faughter?"

"Waiit up you old fat!" can be heard from out in the hallway. "You ran off with my luggage!" a girl appears in the doorway.

"But if I let you have them Mei, you'll run off!"

"Duh! Who'd want to stay at your rotten place?!"

"You promised your mother that you'd stay with me this summer! I didn't raise you to break promises!"

"You don't raise me at all! How can you call yourself my father?"

"Haruhi...Ranka...please help me!"

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Operation: Misuzu's reconciliation!
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"Hey haruhi?! Where're you going? We've got the last club meeting before the break." The twins watch as Haruhi attempted to run out of their class room at the end of the day. "Sorry, I'm in a hurry, tell everyone I won't be there"

"Absolutely not! You ditched yesterday and the day before! If we don't drag you to the club the boss won't resurface from the abysmal depths of his ocean of despair." "That's right. He thinks you won't come because of him, he's like an abandoned puppy?"

The twisn turn to find that she's already gone "Hey, where'd she go?"

"Haruhi left a while ago"

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"I understand! Even though it's the last day before summer break, haruhi decided to skip club again and go home!" Tamaki's positive facade very quickly breaks as he collapses to the floor in tears "She's avoiding me. She talks to me but keeps her distance. Why?! Why?! Was I too strict with her?!"

"Maybe it's because it's summer boss?" "Haruhi has always kept her distance from you boss" "It's nothing new"

"What did you say?!" he jumps up, ready to fight the twins "Listen! We're all sore that Haruhi ran away! We wanted to make plans with her for the summer"

"Ah you guys don't know" Kyoya chimes in from your table "For the past two days, Haruhi has been going to pick up misuzu's daughter from a high school in a neighboring town."

"Kyoya why don't you tell us these things?"

"Misuzu was divorced seven years ago. Her daughter was a freshman in high school. She grew up with her mother and step father. This summer they're overseas on a business trip, the daughter was going to join them but then decided to stay at misuzu's"

"Why did Haruhi get involved?"

"His daughter used Misuzu as an excuse to stay in Japan. The truth is she can't stand him, she tried to run away as soon as she arrived" You hum, taking a sip of coffee "yeah misuzu begged the fujiokas for help"

"Is the boss crying again? "

"I understand misuzu's sorrow so well that it hurts! As a fellow father, I cannot turn my back on her! Let's go, everyone! Let's bring back the loving relationship between Misuzu and her daughter!"

You sigh "I really thought he would put it together after Kasanoda" Kyoya smirks "You give him too much credit"

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"There she is" Honey points out from where you are all standing from opposite the high school "Hold on" You stop honey from running over "Look"

"Hi Mei, I'm glad I found you"

"You again? You don't have to come everyday! I won't run away!"

"I know but Misuzu asked me"

"Who the heck is misuzu? It's Isao, I-sa-o!"

The guys faces fall, mei being a stark contrast the the girls they are used to at the host club.

"You changed your uniform?"

"Yeah, well you said you didn't want me to wear it here so...I don't understand why"

"Well duh, If you hang around me in a rich school's uniform, people will gossup! And your regular clothes are totally lame! I like rich guys but ouran is out of my league!"

"On that point miss, I think we might get along, hello, I'm Tamaki suoh and these are my agreeable friends." Tamaki approaches them with the rest of you in tow. "What the..."

"They're all so handsome, do you know these guys?"

"Didn't you just say they're out of your league?"

"You must be mei, am I right?"

Mei turns back around to face the club members once again, demeanor changing completely "Yes, I'm Mei Yasumura! Nice to meet you!"

"You're staying at haruhi's house right?" Honey asks. "Three people in that house? What a brutal regimen." "What about your own house? You could have stayed there alone"

"As if! My mom would freak if she found out, I thought I could crash at a friends place for a month but-"

"If it's only a month why not stay at a hotel?" You roll your eyes, "Stop talking you're not helping"

"Whatever, let's go!" Mei starts dragging Haruhi off "This isn't the way home"

"I need to blow off steam at Karaoke! This your fault so it's your treat!"

"Karaoke you say?" "I've never seen before?" The host club descends in a sea of awe at the idea. "...Alright, you better be giving us a lift" mei concedes.

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"Contestant number 10, Tamaki suoh"

"I'll be singing 'next stop: love!'"

"He looks like a foreigner, so why all the old songs?" Mei asks from the 'girls table' that ended up forming "That's a long story" You sigh. "He stares at you when he sings" Mei nods to Haruhi "you think so?"

"Aren't you going to sing Haruhi?" Kyoya asks "Yeah it's a good experience! How about a duet with your father"

"Forget it. Excuse me, I'm going to the rest room" Haruhi storms off, Tamaki huddles in the corner. "Woah" Mei watches on the interaction, slowly approaching Tamaki "So um...what do you want to sing? I'll sing one with you"

"Thank you, you're very kind mei" Tamaki smiles, wiping his tears "I...I wasn't trying to be...no one was worried about you so..."

"Mei, Mei! What do you like besides Karaoke? Me I like cake and..." honey starts to ramble as Mei stares at him in confusion "Well...I like making dresses and..."

"Oh! The same as Misuzu!" The twins chime in.

"What?! I'm not like that jerk!"

"Why do you hate Misuzu so much?"

"You don't know what he's like, he...he treats me like a little kid all the time, always buying frilly dresses and dolls. He always liked cute stuff, but come one! He was once a hard working bank clerk! What happened, now he's..."

"W-Well, Haruhi's father is also-" "But Haruhi's father is actually pretty, and he...he didn't leave his daughter"

You and Tamaki exchange a knowing glance, there it is. "I see, you were lonely"

Haruhi returns from the bathroom "Um tamaki..." she trails off but very quickly Mei drags her straight back into the bathroom demanding that the two of them need to talk.

"What was that about?" Kyoya raises an eyebrow, arms lazily dangling around your shoulders. "I have no idea..."

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"Tamaki?" A week had passed since you all met Mei at the Karaoke, you had gone to Karuizawa with Haruhi to meet with sam as planned. However, what you didn't expect to find however was Tamaki behind the counter.

"Y/n! Good morning! Can I get you anything?"

"Tamaki...are you...working?"

"Well, volunteering, bonding with Misuzu"

You stare back at him blankly "One second" you walk to the window to check the sky "What are you looking at?" Tamaki leans over to follow your gaze "i'm checking for flying pigs"

"Wow you're meaner than haruhi- wait-" The twins car pulls up outside the pension "What are they doing here?" Tamaki doesn't wait for you to finish your sentence before he darts out of the door and towards the car, leaping into it.

"Boss?!"

"I know I saw your car! Did you come to save me? you did right? scoot in" You raise and eyebrow as Haruhi storms past you with a broom in hand "Where is he? He keeps on dodging out of cleaning" You smirk, realising that Tamaki is still tamaki after all, you nod out of the window towards the car.

"You must be quite courageous thinking you can escape cleaning duty" You are unsure if you have ever seen Haruhi this menacing before. "The floor of the guest room is all wet! How many times do I have to tell you to wring out the rags when you're cleaning the floor?!" the beds you mad are sloppy and the flower vases are overflowing with water!! Have you been any help during these last ten days of summer break!"

By the time that Haruhi was done yelling you had caught up with them "b-but misuzu said I helped a lot..."

"She's just being polite, She's got a soft spot for you, there'll be no more slacking off now that I found you" she drags him back inside "Wait, haruhi! Cleaning guestrooms is too difficult for him! That's right! Don't be so hard on him"

The twins climb out of the car "Listen! He'd be a good waiter and he can play the piano!"

"Hmm" Haruhi stares back at them, skeptical "So I guess you two are volunteering for cleanup duty" The twins faces fall, before they get a word in misuzu pops up "Wow! Hikaru and Kaoru came to help too? I'm so happy! I'll be counting on you!"

You laugh "Oh haruhi, you have a beautiful mind sometimes"

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"Would you get me another cup of tea?" "I'd like cake and more cake!" You raise an eyebrow at the sight of the rest of the host club as you descend from your room later that day.

"What are you three doing here?" You laugh as you watch them order the twins around, sitting on a vacant chair at their table "Contributing to sales is also helping out right?" kyoya shrugs, sipping his tea. "Besides it's been a few weeks."

"Clingy" you mutter, shaking your head with a smile, taking a sip of lemonade "what was that?"

"nothing"

"Tamaki all of a sudden snaps out of working "Okay everyone! fate has transpired to bring the host club members together in this very spot! We will now use our work break to hold a host club meeting Karuizawa-style!"

"You say work break but Haruhi, mori, kaoru, and I are the only ones working" Hikaru raises his hand "Anyway what's this meeting for? No one has told us anything"

"It's for the mei and misuzu reconciliation plan, of course, I apologise for my clandestine behavior, but I couldn't risk mei diving our intent! however from now on I need everyone's help. Okay? stage one consists of delivering misuzu's love to mei through his recipes. We're achieving excellent results due to the magnificent teamwork by haruhi and me. mei might not have consciously realised it, but on a spiritual level, she is definetly missing her cooking"

Haruhi had mentioned to you that Tamaki had been learning recipes off misuzu which he then has been giving to haruhi to cook for mei, a strange but oddly sweet plan.

"Well i don't know about spiritual levels, but it's clear that mei doesn't really hate her, at first I didn't know what to do because I didn't understand how she felt but then I noticed how she reacted to the food I made using misuzu's recipes"

"So then the results are due to Haruhi's cooking not the boss's plan" Kaoru notes "And now that stage one has melted the ice around mei's heart It's time for stage two" tamaki places his hands on his hips. "in which kyoya will play the part of a lowlife and attack mei, then misuzu will save her" "nice plan"

Both yours and Kyoya's faces drop at the declaration "you better not" you turn to kyoya "Like I ever would" He turns back "Is this really your solution? you sound like renge"

"Don't say that i just wanna try the lowlife plan!"

"But Tama, where would we do that?"

"Great question honey, next week haruhi's neighborhood is having a summer festival, misuzu told me she used to take mei"

"Are you going to dress up as a lowlife kyoya? we'll be your stylists!"

"Not I, as the saying goes, we need the right person for the hob, surely someone is better for the part" They turn to mori slowly "Not me"

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the festival seems to fawn over mei's hand made Yakuta, although that seemed to be greatly helped by tamaki's over the top praise, the rest of you stepping away from the two of them to talk while Tamaki distracts Mei.

"Kyoya where's misuzu?"

"Further observation is necessary before putting the plan in motion is waiting near the back gate. The operation launches on our signal, many of my undercover staff are in the crowd and I talked to the organizers so there won't be trouble if things get a little rowdy "

"Oh my god" you mutter as you spot kasanoda nearby.

Tamaki leads mei away and around the stalls.

You turn to kyoya "I have a bad feeling about this" he hums back in question, the two of you stepping away from the rest slightly, kyoya keeping a hand on the small of your back to keep you stable in the crowd "I just think this is a thing we shouldn't mess with, or at least not in this way, having Kasanoda fake attack her"

Kyoya sighs "i don't love it myself, but we know kasanoda won't take it too far, mei won't actually get hurt"

"I mean emotionally aswell, mei's not dumb if she figures out what we're doing...look all i'm saying is if you guys pulled this shit with me and my dad I'd be pissed" Kyoya's chin picks up slightly, looking down at you "Ah, so thats what this is about"

"What? No? Of course not-no"

"It's okay, I mean everything that happened with your father is still relatively new, watching a girl go through something similar is bound to be difficult"

"me and mei, are two very different cases, my father didn't leave I pushed him out"

"y/n just because you did that doesn't mean you aren't allowed to be hurt" you sigh, looking away "I don't want to do this right now Kyoya"

while the two of you are distracted you turn around to find Mei berating Kasanoda. "Well so much for that"

Nonetheless Misuzu steps up anyway, attempting to defend mei who really does not need it "What are you doing? I can take care of myself! Anyway, why aren't you working at the pension in some frilly dresses?"

"I...I thought you'd prefer a manly father"

"What are you blathering about? if you could've changed this easily, there'd have been no need for the divorce! Do you have any idea how lonely I've been?"

"Mei...I'm sorry..."

"You chose that lifestyle over mom and me! So you should live it to the fullest! Then i'll accept you as girly-girly or whatever you are"

"mei..."

"i'm outta here, and you're coming too" Mei drags Haruhi out of the festival

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Later that night you are sat cross legged on the sofa, tending to the hypertension caused headache as you sip your hot chocolate. "do you wanna talk about it?" Kyoya questions, slowly approaching you as he sits next to you, insinctively you lean over to rest against his shoulder.

"I don't even know what I would say, my dads an asshole, i've known that for a long time, he's much better out of my life and i've made sure that is going to stay that way, sure I wish it could be different but it isn't so...like I don't know how i feel i guess it's the realisation that I am actually fully alone now, no family, or least not any that I can locate"

"You have family, just not relatives...I know you know that, and I know that we can't fully replace them, but its as you said, he is much better out of your life, and i'll be damned if he tries to show up again" he places a kiss on the top of your head.

Chapter Text

"What on earth?"

You had a plan set out for today, a vintage beach movie vibe host club that had been on the calendar for a few months now, so when you enter the host club for the morning expecting a simulated beach like Tamaki had said you were just shy of shocked to find nothing of the sort.

Instead, there were so man clothes racks that you can't see the back wall of the host club, and mannequins, so many mannequins it is starting to give you a slight uncanny valley effect.

"Y/n! Good! You're here, slight change of plans!" Tamaki jumps out from within the clothes "Clearly, why does the host club look like we're about to start our own design house?"

"Because we are y/n-chan!" Honey arises from a pile of fabric, your jaw drops "What?" Kyoya appears next to you, hand you a magazine, front headline stating that the future of the Hitachiin company is in jeopardy.

"Seriously you two? If you're gonna pull random pranks on people you know better than to do it somewhere that you aren't going to be photographed by the press" You turn to the twins, who look awfully blaze about it all.

"We've already gotten the lecture from our mother y/n, we don't need to hear it again" Hikaru sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose.

"So why are we starting a design house in the host club?"

"The outside world thinks that Hiakru and Kaoru are unfit to take over the family business when it comes to it so, we are proving that they are capable by hosting a fashion show!" Tamaki exclaims, throwing around various garments.

"Right...that sounds....interesting....wait, why did you text me an sos then?"

"Well we need models for it, obviously, and we are kind of short of feminine members of the host club"

"Oh great" you sarcastically smile "why don't you get some of the guests to model, i'm sure they would jump at the opportunity"

"Oh we are aswell....but you know... the more the merrier "You squint at the three of them. They're up to something, you can tell, it's just a matter of what.

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The twins take the runway!
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Somehow this all quickly descends into you being stood on a pedestal in a corner of the host club, your fellow members surrounding you in a flurry of discussions about fabrics and designs, all somehow gaining pairs of glasses and measuring tapes as if to complete the 'tailor look'

"Hey Haruhi, doesn't Mei like fashion design? Maybe she would be interested in this"

"Oh yeah, she probably will, I keep waking up in the morning to the sound of her hemming her skirts, I'll call her"

"Takashi is that a 3 or an 8?" Honey squints at the tape measure, you shift slightly at the idea of looking at your sizes. "don't worry about that Honey I have her measurements" Kyoya mutters.

"Wait what?"

He raises an eyebrow "Have you never questioned why the holiday houses happen to have clothes and shoes in your size?"

"Of course i have...."

"What did you think was happening?"

"....clothes fairy" you mutter.

"You would look good in Blue y/n"

"You think?"

"Yeah you have a certain...alice in wonderland quality about you"

"Thanks...I think?" Once again you stand there question how on earth you have ended up in this situation, becoming a mannequin for the twins, a nightmare of yours and a dream of theirs.

"It's a compliment, don't worry, we'll make sure you look good, we're planning a statement piece for you, all the attention focuses on you"

You let out a nervous laugh "Haha-haha-greaaat"

The host club stares back at you with eyebrows raised as your reaction, "You good y/n"

"Great, why wouldn't I be, what girl wouldn't love to be stared at on a pedestal by a crowd of people in an industry that is overly critical on women's bodies...I'm just peachy"

"Oh that's right, y/n has stage fright... well that does put a spanner in the works" Tamaki pondered over it, scratching at his chin.

"Oh well there goes our finale" the twins pout in the corner, you know what they are trying to do, that being guilt tripping you into helping them. However while you can't easily be sued by guilt tripping, someone else in the host club can.

"It really is a tragedy, poor y/n who longs for the spotlight but can never step into it because of her fear, like a sad little caterpillar waiting to become a butterfly! Y/n this is the perfect opportunity for you to step out into the light and flourish! We will help you conquer your fear and save the twins business" Tamaki declares into the air.

"Please I am begging you not to"

"I know its scary for you y/n but you will be better for it and find your passion once again"

You sigh, turning to Haruhi "I'm not gonna get out of this am i?"

"Nope"

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"Now y/n" somehow despite your protest you now find yourself on a makeshift stage in the hostclub, an interrogatory spotlight shining on you. "There are a few ways we can try and cure your stage fright"

"Exposure therapy"

"Positive reinforcement"

"Imagining we're all naked" Kaoru suggests

"I'd rather not, the last thing i wanna think about is you lot naked" you grimace at the twins "You'd only get jealous you can't see the real thing anyway"

"Okay! No nudity! and no exposure therapy! Next idea"

"Maybe we should consider what triggers her stage fright, you weren't always like this were you y/n-senpai?" Honey shyly mumbles at your pushback.

"No...I...no I wasn't"

"Good idea Honey-Senpai! Here y/n" Tamaki pulls out one of the host clubs sofas out from behind the clothes racks, urging you to lie down on it, him and the twins sitting at an arms distance away, clipboards appearing out of nowhere as they cross their legs in unison. "Tell us where it all began"

"I feel like this crosses a few professional boundaries"

"It would if this was a professional host club, but its not"

You huff in frustration, head falling back against the arm of the sofa and staring up to the ceiling. "Fine, what do you all know?"

"Not much, just that your father said a few things to you after a performance and it led you to quit performing for good"

"Well that's basically it, have you ever seen the movie dead poets society?" you earn a few nods.

"It's a similar situation to that, my father believes that any time spent on creative pursuits was time wasted, one day he came to a production I was in...I didn't expect him to praise anything but afterwards he drilled in how I should feel ashamed of myself, that if I am neglecting my studies for such things I should at least have...talent"

"That's horrible"

"you're not even a bad performer, we saw you sing during the Lobelia performance"

"Well I don't know about that but I just...the words stick with me whenever I'm on stage, I'm just conscious of it, my fathers words don't usually hold much weight with me but something about that just..."

"Y/n you were young and he is your dad you don't have to justify it to us"

You roll your eyes "Still, I know it's silly"

"Perhaps a fashion show is exactly what you need y/n, I know you don't like the idea of exposure therapy but mixing that with positive reinforcement could be good for you"

"Thanks tamaki but I don't really need you complimenting me when I know its for the sake of helping my stage fright"

"It won't be us doing it though, we continue the plan as it was, you go out with the statement piece of the night, it will go well and there is any criticism of the night it will be on the twins designs not on you"

"that's quite optimistic Tamaki"

"And that is quite pesimistic, y/n"

"Come on, y/n" Hikaru places his hands on your shoulders, appearing behind you on the sofa "You are our friend we would never embarras you on purpose"

"You literally make a point of doing that on the daily"

"Okay, well, our reputation is also on the line this time"

You sigh, "fine, but this is the last time, if anything goes wrong y'all cannot ask me to go on stage again"

The host club lines up to salute you. "Yes ma'am!"

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A week later you are pacing back and forth 'backstage' at the twins fashion show, while you've been getting random words of encouragement from various people across the week they didn't offer much comfort.

The dress was amazing, that you couldn't deny that the twins have certainly outdone themselves but still cycling through your mind were all the possible things that could go wrong, tripping over, a technical malfunction, or god forbid a wardrobe malfunction.

"Dear? Are you back here?" Kyoya pulls back the curtain that you have somewhat been hiding behind "Hi" You you shoot him a nervous smile.

"Oh my..."

"Don't, please, I've heard enough attempts to cure my ego this week" he raises an eyebrow, stepping fully into the small sectioned off area "Is that what you think I was going to do?

"Am I wrong?"

"I was going to say that you look amazing, but that is nothing to do with your ego and everything to do with the fact that you look good in purple"

"Wow two compliments in one sentence from Kyoya Ootori... you're overdoing it a little which is how I know this is at least a little bit about my self esteem but thank you anyway"

"You'll be fine just try to take things slowly" you nodded, closing your eyes as you breathe in and out deeply. "y/n" Kaoru pops his head through the curtain "You're on in a min"

Your eyes shoot open, like a deer caught in headlights as your eyes frantically dart between the two of them. "Right...right..." you follow Kaoru out.

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"The exhibition was not only innovative but inspired, a well balanced mix of reminiscing on the illustrious history of the Hitachiin family fashion dynasty and hinting to the future, snatching their spots as rightful heirs by force after recent questioning of their eligibility. Eyes glued to their final piece of the night pictured left modelled by y/n l/n."

"Yes Hikaru I get it you don't have to read out the article again" you pinch the bridge of your nose, developing a headache "just making a point"

"Hello?" A knock on the door captures tamaki's attention, an older woman stood within it "I am looking for y/n l/n?"

You raise an eyebrow, sitting up from where you were laid down on the sofa "Nana?"

Chapter Text

"Nana?" You remain sat frozen staring at the enterance. You were unsure she has ever left europe before never mind come to Japan, and yet there she was, in Japan, at the host club of all places.

"Well then? Stand up, let me see you" Slowly you raise yourself out of your seat "Nana what are you doing here?"

"Well, given recent events despite you now holding the most power within the family and essentially exiling your father you are still, at the end of the day, not an adult, call it a welfare check if you must"

You nervously glance to the curious eyes of the rest of the host club, they knew very little about yours and Kyoya's extracurricular escapades in the corporate world and that was on purpose. They know parts, but certainly not anywhere near the extent of what happened "Nana let's not have this conversation here"

"Madam may I interest you in a cup of tea? Club hours are about to start but you are welcome to stay." Tamaki steps forwards "No that's alright I did not know that you would be busy with... what club is this?"

"A ho-"

"Hockey club! It's a hockey club, it's an end of season party! haha- yeah..." you stare at each member of the host club with wide eyes, urging them all to play along and not tell your religious european grandmother that her granddaughter was in a host club.

"Right... well enjoy your...hockey party then, y/n please call me as soon as you can, we have many things to discuss"

You nod, watching Nana leave the host club, how she knows her way around the school you don't know. "I thought your grandmother didn't speak english" Kyoya questioned.

"That is my Nonna, that was my maternal grandmother"

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Strike three for Tamaki and Kyoya!
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"Haruhi what are you doing? Are you having a staring contest with that fruit?" Honey asks as the two of you watch her battling wits with the dragonfruit before her, theming of the ryuku islands had you and Tamaki importing in a range of tropical fruits into the host club. "I've never seen this fruit before. I was wondering how to eat it. Can you eat a dragon fruit whole? Skin and all?"

Kyoya steps forward "Is it your first time seeing one? You can't eat the skin. Here, give it to me" he plucks the fruit from Haruhi's grasp.

"Oh, Kyoya, you don't need to peel it for me-"

"No, Mori will do it" he hands the fruit

"Hmm... the taste is hard to describe, but it's not bad." Haruhi eats a piece "What do you mean 'not bad'? I don't understand, what's the point of eating if it doesn't suit your taste perfectly?"

"Don't make me laugh Kyoya Ootori, I thought I smelled tropical fruits and look what I found, you're hardly qualified to talk about fruit" Kuze appears in the doorway of the host club.

"Listen here Kyoya, you may not see the point of eating dragon fruit, but it's rich in protein, vitamins and materials, and that skin you said was inedible is delicious pickled, your ignorance is appalling Kyoya"

"Kuze, you make a good point, here are the skins, enjoy" Kyoya drops the dragon fruits skins into Kuzes barehands. "Aren't you acting a little childish? Could it be that I hurt your pride?"

"No, no, not at all, I was merely voicing my opinion of its taste." he shrugs it away "Oh there you are, Takeshi" Kuze's fiance wanders in behind him "Miss Mitsuyama, welcome!"

"Please excuse Takeshi, he still wants to compete with Kyoya, he's stupid and doesn't learn" This captures Tamaki's attention turning to Kuze and Kyoya.

"You're so aggravating, how about it? How about a contest?"

"No thank you, my father taught me not to enter meaningless battles" Kyoya stares back at Kuze with an aggravating smile. "You must compete with him Kyoya!" Tamaki jumps in.

"Tamaki?"

"It's sports! Men must challenge each other through sports! They strengthen their friendships through sweat and clashes of will!"

"Relax Tamaki, there's never been any friendship between Kuze and me." Kyoya waves him off, to Kuze's protest who is clearly not happy with the dismissal.

Tamaki seems to take no notice "Yes, I see it clearly, this is a time for sports! Everything just came together in my mind! I hearby propose, that we hold the first-ever ouran high school sports festival!"

You have to fight the urge to face palm, you were worn out of festivals at this point, not to mention despite your insistence of being on a hockey team, you were not as athletic as you'd like. not to mention Kyoya looks less than impressed.

"Count me in" Unsurprisingly Kuze leapt at the opportunity to compete.

However somehow before you know it Tamaki gets the approval of the chairman for the festival. Much to Tamaki's enjoyment as he bounces around the host club "I'm the chairman of the sports festival committee and the vice general of the red team!"

he then turns to Kyoya "Kyoya, you and I are going to fight man to man! and thereby deepen our friendship!"

"You're making me participate in this worthless event in the name of friendship?"

"I-I'm sorry about that, but...I thought you'd have fun too"

"Really? To me, it's nothing but nonsense" Kyoya decides that he has had enough, getting up to leave "Kyoya!"

"I don't like exerting effort without a benefit to me, and I refuse to be the white general"

"Kyoya!"

"Tamaki. Sorry but I won't play along, I don't like what you're doing and frankly I'm tired of your schemes." he leaves the room.

The rest of you remain stunned, staring at the open doorway.

"No... is he really mad?" Kaoru muttered.

"He said there's no benefit to participating, but maybe he really feels like Tama has betrayed them"

"Why...? I didn't mean... I just... it would be fun to compete against Kyoya. If I won, I could make him keep out his kotatsu all year long" You sigh "Excuse me" you leave the room.

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"Kyoya" you are just shy of calling his name when you finally spot him, he pauses and relaxes slightly when realising it is only you, allowing you to catch up.

However, when you do so you realise you actually had no idea what to say to him. "I'm furious with him" He shakes his head, the two of you carrying on down the hall "...do you think I maybe went too far? Sometimes that idiot deserves it"

"I..." This was not the first time that the two of them had fought, the last time being when Tamaki and the twins messed up your apartment. While despite their polar opposite personalities the two of them do incredibly well, but sometimes that falls apart completely, sometimes Tamaki goes farther than Kyoya's patience can stretch.

"Hey, Kyoya" Kuze appears once again. "I head you're the white team's general. Having much success?"

"No, I turned it down"

"Well that's no surprise, I thought you would. After all, you're just Suoh's toady, can't suck up to him and compete against him at the same time, huh? But if you surrender and let him win, then his success will reflect on you, it must be rough. You're an ootori, but only the third son"

"Kuze-" you go to say some choice words back but Kyoya grabs hold of your wrist, silently telling you to not engage. "I'm not talking to you Kuze" he pulls the two of you past Kuze and further down the hall.

"He has a point though who would surrender to that idiot" he mutters to himself.

"You're not seriously listening to him Kyoya" You had seen him mad before, you had seen him mad at Tamaki before, but not like this.

"I am sick of him just coming up with these schemes and expecting the rest of us to fall in line, he's a spoiled brat"

"Kyoya!"

"Y/n do you not remember what he did to your apartment? You were far to forgiving of him them why I do not know"

"Kyoya he is your best friend, I know that you will never admit that but he is, and if you are about to argue that then who else would it be? Tamaki goes too far sometimes but you forget what he has also done for you"

"Done what? Y/n, what has he done?" he snapped at you. You sigh, knowing what he can't be talked to when he's like this "fine Kyoya, do what you want, but I promise you this is going to end badly, lumping in Tamaki with Kuze of all people is mad"

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You return to your apartment alone that evening, while Kyoya spent most days there now this was one of the days that you both silently decided that it would be best that he goes to the Ootori house that day.

However, you did not expect your grandmother to be sat waiting for you "Nana? How did you find out where I live?"

"I had a very long and tiresome conversation with your father, but clearly the sod is good for some things" you freeze at the mention, if there is one person on this earth who may just hate that man more than you it is her. She would never talk to that man willingly, so the fact that she did is a bad sign.

"I see, and how did you get in? because not even he had a key"

"Oh I just waited for your cleaner, you know how persuasive I can be" you place your school bag down on the counter "Okay that's a security concern, lovely. Would you like a drink?"

"Tea dear"

You nod, walking to fill up the kettle "Why are you here Nana? Why did you travel all the way across the world to see me, you have my number?"

"It is as I said, your father has hidden himself away on whatever private island he's gone to die, and instead of your aunt taking over the l/g group as I would have assumed I hear that you, a child, now have control of the l/n group? Naturally I had to come and see for myself what on earth has happened to my granddaughter while you have been in Japan"

You raise an eyebrow, stirring the cup of tea "Control is a small exaggeration, I have appointed appropriate regents in place until I graduate university. That being said, do you know why I did what I did?" You place the teacup down in front of her.

"I dread to think"

"Because father was corrupt, he had been covering up some...heinous things, it is quite a long story that you do not need to know."

You sit opposite her around the kitchen island "well that comes as no surprise, the awful man he is" she takes a sip of tea. "I told your mother not to marry him"

"I know Nan, I know" she pauses, putting the cup down "You look so much like her you know?"

You pause, that was a first, for months you have kept on being compared to your father, not one mention of the other half of you. "I do?"

She hums "More than ever, when you were younger you used to bare a striking resemblance to him but when I entered the club room today I nearly didn't recognise you at all"

"I see..."

"If only she knew about what you have done, she would have been proud"

You roll your eyes, standing "Would she really? Because I don't think we are similar in that respect" you walk to the fridge

"Don't be like that, your mother didn't have the same options that you do, surely you see why she did what she did"

you huff, closing the fridge door "I do, god I do, but at the same time, running away from him I get, but running away from me, from you, disappearing. That I don't get"

She sighs "Marriage is a different beast dear, nothing is that simple" taking a sip of tea "Speaking of, my other point of visit, why are you still here?"

You freeze "What?"

"Your arrangement was effectively null the moment that both of your fathers were dethroned, there is no financial or company reason for your marriage to hold, that being said I would have thought that you would have transferred out of Japan over the summer"

You don't move, processing the realisation that it was true, the only reason why you and kyoya were engaged was to hold together an agreement surrounding the ootori group's neglect, an agreement that you had dismantled.

She was right, you shouldn't be there anymore. And you, really, shouldn't still be engaged to Kyoya.

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"If red wins, I'll leave out the kotatsu all year" Kyoya announces as he enters the host club the next morning, a frustrated you entering silently behind him. The rest of the host club staring at him stunned at the entrance "Kaoru do we have a white team roster?"

"Uh... it's in the student council room"

"Honey, would you start coaching practice tomorrow? I'll devise a strategy based on data analysis of each player's strengths" Honey jumps at the opportunity to be useful "Yes! I'll coach"

You still stand slightly awkwardly in the doorframe "Just so we're clear, I'm not getting involved in this, I have enough going on"

Tamaki catches sight of Kyoya, launching his direction "Kyoya! My friend! You changed your mind! Now we can fight man to man!"

"No. This is merely a way to vent my anger, I'll crush both you and Kuze! Victory belongs with the white team, but you can try to scrape by on friendship and enthusiasm"

Haruhi wanders over to you "What is going on?"

You sigh, shaking your head as you watch over the chaos "I don't know, I think this has been building up for a while. The problem is while I want to intervene and stop this madness I don't think it would be for the best if I did. The problem is that Tamaki is blind to the actual emotions of people he cares about, and Kyoya does not understand that while he may not realise it there are things to be gained from events like this that is not business wise"

You sigh, watching on "No I think this is going to need to be a lesson they learn by themselves"

You only hope that they can hold it all together when they do

Chapter Text

'Your arrangement was effectively null the moment that both of your fathers were dethroned, there is no financial or company reason for your marriage to hold, that being said I would have thought that you would have transferred out of Japan over the summer'

The words had been rattling around in your head for days. You couldn't focus on anything, all you had been doing is wandering back and forth between the two teams meeting room, not fully taking in a word spoken, not fully doing anything.

Although even through your absent mind you ultimately noticed that Tamaki is more chipper than you would have expected as you step into his team's meeting room, jumping around the the Hikaru and Haruhi excitedly "Father's super-excited! Enter as many events as you like!"

"Enough! You're giddier than usual."

"Oh... did you make up with Kyoya?" You question, placing down a tea tray, the next thing you know Tamaki has thrown himself onto the floor in a pool of tears "uh-oh"

"Huh? What? He's been ignoring you in class?" Hikaru crouches over him, translating Tamaki's sob filled mumbling. "So you've been putting on a brave front to hide your hurt feelings..."

You sigh, taking a sip of water "Even if the boss is at fault, doesn't it seem like Kyoya is going a little overboard? Tamaki's silly complacency is nothing new" Hikaru mutters "Using Kyoya as a pretext to hold the festival was pathetic, but... you meant no harm"

"Y/n?" Haruhi looks up to you for some clarification "I...it is certainly not just over the festival, but even I am not fully sure what the exact trigger was, I am making it a point to stay out of this"

"Well...hopefully it becomes clear soon, if Tamaki and Kyoya fall out completely it doesn't bode well for the host club"

While Haruhi spoke in jest, the comment made you freeze up in the doorway as you exited, it was a good point, the club could get torn apart because of this, one of the very few things keeping you in Japan.

Maybe this was a sign...

but also, it wasn't just about going back to europe, you know that.

It is about leaving Kyoya.

Because there is about the truth in the fact that your engagement is held together with a single fraying thread, and that thread is your relationship.

It is not that you want to seperate, but also if the agreement between your families never existed, being engaged this early into your relationship would be mad. It has to be addressed.

Because there was a life you left behind before ouran, it used to be that what was keeping you in Japan was that you were away from your father, now it is something else entirely

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Kyoya's big choice!
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"There's a huge commotion out there, ootori vs kuze has now become ootori vs suoh" you quietly spoke from the doorway to the now empty meeting room where Kyoya is working, somehow feeling the need for an invitation to enter now it is just the two of you.

"Traffic to the host club's website has suddenly doubled too. Plus, for some reason, the photo book is in print again" you push yourself off the frame "Is it selling well?" he doesn't look up from the laptop.

You sigh "Kyoya don't tell me you picked a fight with this in mind all along?"

"What a rude assumption. That actually angers me. But I saw an opportunity, so I decided to drag out our fight and make a profit"

you pinch the bridge of your nose "Okay usually I would find that attractive but- aren't you being a little cruel? I mean, the others think you're angry because he became second in command to the red team but i know that ain't true, Tamaki's antics isn't new, and in terms of boundaries this is no where near as far as he's been before, so why this?"

"Because he's sticking his nose into my business. I don't care what kuze thinks of me, but it's quite annoying being dragged into a competition that is of no benefit to me. He ought to leave things between kuze and myself. I believe that as long as the people we care about understand us, the other stuff doesn't matter, don't you agree?"

You pause at an arms distance away from him "I mean, of course I do, just look at us. But does Tamaki not fall under that group of people?" Kyoya looks away. "Did you come for something?"

You sit opposite him, debating whether or not you should even say anything with the timing "My grandmother visited me last night... and she brought something up-"

"Ah yes, the papers arrived at the house this morning"

You freeze, staring back at him with wide eyes, you knew that she was adamant that you move home and break off the engagement but you didn't think she would go as far as to send over the papers this soon "p-papers?"

"Yes, the emancipation papers, i don't know why they came here instead of to the apartment but if you wanted them I have them here"

the shock of it all puts you off saying anything, speechlessly accepting the papers off him "e-emancipation?"

He raises a brow at your reaction, going back to his laptop "Why do you look so surprised?"

"Because I am- I didn't even- god that woman" you stand, taking out your phone "Wait, if you didn't know what were you going to say?"

"Not the point" You wave him off, leaving the room as you press to call her.

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'Here begins Ouran high school's first sports festival!'

"Oh wow..."

"Ouran has an amazing arena" somehow you end up entering the arena with Ranka, Misuzu and Mei, showing up to support Haruhi "Are you sure we can go in? A high-society sports festival makes me nervous" Misuzu looks on the arena concerned

"Then leave! We didn't invite you in the first place" Mei turns to her "That's mean mei! I even got up early to make your bento!"

"Enough you two" Ranka rolls her eyes. "Don't worry about getting in, you'll be fine" You spoke entering the arena.

'The first event is the ladies' bread-tasting contest! A classic italian table setting in the center of the field. This is a gift to the young ladies from the chairman on the occasion of the sports festival!'

"Huh?" You raise a brow, watching on as the ouran girls proceed to start bread tasting.

"Oh hey haruhi" You spot her and Hikaru nearby at the bottom of the seating area. "Hey y/n" before you can say anything else Tamaki runs over "Haruhi! Why didn't you enter the bread-tasting contest?!"

Haruhi sighs, rolling her eyes "I can't tell the makes of different types of croissants"

"But you've got to try it!" He pleads. "Think about it tamaki it's a girls-only event it would be suspicious"

"B-but I snuck a giant tuna into the red teams bread for haruhi" as if on cue you look over to find some of the girls retorting in disgust at the bread, heaving a little.

'The red team forfeits! The white team wins!'

Tamaki descends into squabbling with kuze over 'poisoning' his own team.

'Next up is the men's 100-meter dash! The first runners at the starting line'

"What's all the commotion?" one of the red team asks, stood at the start line "It looks like our second in command caused the problem"

"What?"

'The distracted red team is off to a slow start! The white team wins!'

You slowly step away from Tamaki who appears to break slightly, accidentally backing into Kaoru on the white team "Captain the enemy has self destructed"

"They're silly huh?" Honey looks over to the opposing team. Kyoya smirks "It's still too early to celebrate, though the side that breaks concentration first will lose, we'll keep scoring points at the current rate"

You bite your tongue, stepping away once more, although as the white team disperses Kyoya lightly grasps your wrists "You don't seem to really be enjoying this" He mutters.

"hm?"

"You usually live for a playful rivalry" You gently slip your hand from his grip "But it isn't playful. Is it?"

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"Suoh!" Kuze storms over to Tamaki "What's the meaning of this?"

"Kuze! I'm so happy you recovered!"

"What is there to be happy about? The white team is in the lead! How did you manage to fall so behind? It was Ootori wasn't it? He must have used one of his dirty tricks" Tamaki's face falls "You couldn't be more wrong Kuze, the red team is responsible for its own failures. The white team is just doing its best so please-"

"What is it?" Kuze stutters out

"If they honor us by competing valiantly like true gentlemen to the very end I humbly request that you refrain from trying to pick fights with Kyoya in the future"

"F-fine"

'The white team wins the men's hurdle race! the white team is strong! Did the red team cave under pressure? Many seem to have been shaken up at the starting line!' echoes across the arena.

"Oh it's the chairman" You mutter spotting Tamaki's father from across the bleachers, wandering over to where Kyoya and Kaoru sat "I though it was only Haruhi's family, but a lot of the parents are here"

"Well my parents are both at work...how about your family Kyoya?" Kaoru asks.

"they would never come, if my parents were attending I would have used a different strategy" even though the two of you knew there was an underlying context to the conversation it did intrigue you "Such as?"

"I would have made it much more apparent that the white team's success was due to my involvement then let Tamaki take the spotlight in the end."

"I see..." this was not the first time that Kyoya had taken that strategy, he did exactly that during the race for the central salon. But you wondered whether or not that the choice to let Tamaki take the spotlight was for appearances or perhaps due to a change of heart.

'The score now is 63 points for the red team, 183 for the white team. The white team leads by an amazing 120 points!'

"Well I think the competition has already been won" you murmur.

"Yes, this has been unexpectedly easy" Kyoya mutters "I thought it would be a closer contest, I told him a sports festival was a silly idea..."

You can't help but watch on in unrecognition, while you and Kyoya were both morally questionable when it came to your calculated scheming it has always been in pure benefit, never to someone elses specific downfall, or at least not anyone who didn't deserve it. You are unsure whether or not you like the look of it on Kyoya.

"Mr. Ootori our unexpectedly regained their spirits"

"Ootori! I thought you said they would use up their energy at the cheering contest and self-destruct"

"Not to worry, they self-destructed early on, so we now have a bigger lead than expected, besides we have our white team elite- honey- participating in the obstacle course"

'A rare first place for red team!'

you turn to him "You were saying?"

"It's fine, one loss won't-"

'The red tea wins the second race!'

'And its the red team again! The white team was favored in this even, but one man has led the tidal-wave comeback the red team leader Takeshi Kuze!'

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'The red teams makes an amazing comeback! The white team leads now by only 12 points, with one event remaining. Thirty points will be awarded to the winner of the relay race. All eyes are on the anchor, the position that both team leaders will race. The team that wins this relay race will win the sports festival!'

"S-suoh" Kuze stutters out breathlessly, exhausted after the previous event "Kuze? Are you alright? There's just the relay left..." Tamaki watches on in concern, Kuze stumbles over to him "I entrust the relay to you. I'll be watching your version of a valiant competition among gentlemen from here"

You take notice of the conversation, nudging Kaoru who also takes notice "Hey, it looks like the red team anchor changed to the boss, he's slower than Kuze, but our teams are neck and neck, hey kyoya!" He grabs Kyoya's attention.

"Why don't you withdraw from the race?"

"Huh?"

"Fortunately, the chairman is watching, if you act like you planned on giving the glory to the boss in the first place, won't it work to your benefit?"

"That won't fool the chairman, besides, this isn't about benefit. This was about pride all along" Kyoya storms off to the track "Oh my god..." Kaoru mutters.

"What is it?" You turn to him

"I understand now, the boss wanted Kyoya to genuinely compete without thinking about how it would benefit him" You smile "Of course it's been about that, I thought that was clear, Tamaki's goals are rarely ever convoluted... although I must admit at first that I thought that he was just getting Kyoya to compete to help Kuze's self esteem"

Tamaki jogs over to the track where Kyoya is already stood "Good luck on our race! You must be disappointed it's not against Kuze, but-"

"You're the only one who'll be disappointed, I never wanted to compete in the first place. You always get by, but don't forget, there are those who find your pushy, nosy tactics bothersome"

"Bothersome? Oh, are you referring to how the white team unknowingly got pulled into your devious, blackhearted schemes? Oh! If I win I get a free year-round use of Kyoya's kotatsu passport! Don't forget now!"

"And if I win, next win you'll wear only a fundoshi to greet customers but you'll keep your european manners"

"If i win, I get the window seat on next months field trip"

"If I win you have to sit in economy class alone and you have to squat"

"How come my punishments are harsher?! and you keep adding bonuses" tamaki cries "It's only fair considering all the trouble you've caused me"

"You were having fun too! You snob! You're never being honest"

"Shut up! Do you realise how much I have to work behind the scenes to rectify your selfish behaviour? Not just me but y/n? You push her too much, appearing unannounced, forcing her to face her anxiety, you are such a selfish idiot!"

Your face falls as you watch on from the bleachers "Kyoya is fighting like a little kid" Hikaru notes "I never knew kyoya could act like that" Neither did you, but now your were starting to realise why.

'and now for the final event, the first runner is off! The red team takes an early lead, will the red team's counterattack carry them through?!'

"Tamaki said, that at any public event, kyoya feels obligated to make the suoh family look good" Haruhi watches on next to you "It's to his benefit to let Tamaki win the crown."

"It's be good to have an event where Kyoya doesn't have to worry about his family's position" Hikaru adds, turning to you "Don't you want to see Kyoya competing passionately for just himself"

You laugh "All he does is compete for himself, today I must admit is a strange occasion but Kyoya lives for stuff like this, he doesn't worry about his family's position, he is determined for his own, most often despite his family"

"What does that mean?"

"Don't worry about it, that is a very long story that we might tell one day" Hikaru squints back at you "What on earth do you two get up to outside of school?"

You just hum dismissively.

'oh no! The fourth red team runner dropped the baton during handoff! The white team is catching up, and now, the anchors grab the batons!'

Your eyes glue to Kyoya, perhaps, just maybe, you had understood all this wrong this entire time. Maybe you were too distracted by everything else that you couldn't take a moment to actually think about it.

'Kyoya Ootori is the winner! The white team wins!'

Tamaki collapses onto his knees dramatically "Wahh! I lost! It hurts! But it was a lot of fun! Wasn't it fun Kyoya? Isn't it nice having a youthful battle once in a while, without regard to how it could benefit you?"

Kyoya pauses, watching on in shock as Tamaki runs over to the rest of the host club, leaving the two of you staring back at eachother from opposite sides of the track.

You take the first move, slowly walking over to his and ressing a small kiss to his cheek "What was that for?" You shrug "tradition is it not? For winners of races to recieve a kiss"

"I'm sweaty" you hand him a towel "A bit late for that now"

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You have been on edge ever since setting foot outside of the arena, knowing that you had been putting off the dreaded conversation for long enough, that the moment that you two got back to the apartment there was really no excuse anymore.

However it turns out that Kyoya had similar plans, placing the papers from the previous day on the counter "what have I missed in this past week?"

you sigh " We need to talk" he raises a brow at your sudden seriousness, leaning back on the sofa "Okay, about?"

"My grandmother, the emancipation papers was only one of her requests"

"I see"

"I can handle her, but she raised a...point to me" you sit opposite him "A point?"

You sigh "Are we still engaged?" you are met with silence, Kyoya seemingly shutting down a little at the question "What?"

"I am here because of an agreement held together by our fathers, an agreement that has fallen apart thanks to us. There is no longer a reason for us to be engaged or for you to fund my living... or even, for me to be in Japan. Or at least no reason beyond choice"

Kyoya tilts his chin up, eyes glaze over as he thinks over your words "So what are you trying to say?"

"I'm not trying to say anything but there is that question, and I think there is a reason why we both have been putting off this conversation, because it has been simpler for us to pretend that we still have to observe the agreement but we don't... so where do we stand?"

Kyoya takes off his glasses, running a hand over his face "I...I don't know..."

"I...I like us...and what we have, but I...I think maybe we need to think about how much of our situation is actually...about our relationship...like I think we can both be honest in the fact that if we had not been engaged before we started to see eachother we probably not be engaged right now"

Kyoya sits up straight "I don't know... I just, need to think"

Chapter Text

The host club knew something was up from the moment that club hours began. A very rare moment where Tamaki became geniunely worried because even he couldn't miss it.

Because, for the very first time since your first day in the host club, you and Kyoya did not sit at the same table.

He hadn't been requested, there was plenty of space on the table you had sat at, but yet the two of you were separate, sitting facing each other on adjacent tables.

The two of you haven't spoken since the conversation after the sports festival. Not on purpose, but just because what was there to say? While Kyoya has never been good at expressing emotions, you also had a limit.

The rest of them sat on the sofa of the host club, staring at the two of you in shock and awe as they wait for guests to appear. "what is happening" Tamaki whisper yelled.

"I have...no idea..."

"Are they fighting?"

"Is this about the sports festival?"

"Haruhi, go and find out, have some girl talk with y/n"

Haruhi turns to Tamaki in confusion "When have you known me to have 'girl talk'?" before anything else can be said guests start pouring into the host club, distracting all of them but Kaoru, who slips into the seat opposite you where Kyoya would normally sit.

"Hello?" You raise an eyebrow, looking up from your notes "I'm requesting you."

"Excuse me?"

Kaoru smiles, leaning back in his seat "You heard."

"Kaoru I am not a host."

"You work for a host club" he squints at you. You sigh "what do you want?" With a grin he launches forward out of earshot of anyone else. "What's going on with you and loverboy?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"Kaoru!"

"Y/n."

You huff, going back to writing "It's complicated."

"And I don't know about complicated feelings?" the two of your stare off at each other, causing Kaoru to snatch your notebook while you are distracted. "Kaoru!"

"You're thinking about going back to Italy?"

"England actually."

"Why?" you pause, not wanting to answer because there were a few good but weak reasons, either it is because you do not want to stay if you and Kyoya do break up, or it is because you have unfinished business.

"I...I do not need to stay anymore"

"No but you want to stay surely?"

Your face falls, faltering "I don't know."

"Has he done something? I know Kyoya can be an ass-" "He hasn't done anything."

"Then why?"

You don't answer, getting up and walking out of the host club.

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The cold war of the host club!
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Haruhi was concerned that this may actually be tamaki's breaking point, sat sulking on the couch about to impload at any second. "Just go and talk to him"

"But haruhi!....he's scary..."

"I think he has other things on his mind than you right now" Tamaki's jaw drops like he had just watched her kick a puppy "Why would you say that!"

"Just go"

"Fine!" Nervously, Tamaki sits next to Kyoya "Hey kyoya! buddy! Old-pal! What's got you down?"

"Who said I was down?"

Haruhi stands nearby to the table "Well y/n seems down and you two don't seem to be talking to eachother"

"She...we're not fighting if that is what you two think"

"You're not?"

"No...at least I don't think so"

"Then what happened?" Kyoya sighs, taking off his glasses to clean them "She asked if we are still engaged because our fathers have stepped down from their positions"

"And what did you say?"

"I don't know."

"What else did you say?" Tamaki and Haruhi exchange concerned glances "I didn't, I just said I dont know"

"Oh Kyoya" Tamaki pinches the bridge of his nose "You're in a host club how do you not know how to talk to women?"

"I know how to talk to women, I was just telling the truth" the twins laugh, also pulling up chairs "Which was your first mistake"

"Kyoya your relationship may not be a conventional one, but when a girl asks a question that sounds too easy then it usually means that she actually means something else"

"She would have asked me a different question then, it was a relevant question I know why she asked" he pushes his glasses back onto his face.

"Sure, but you saying just 'I don't know' to the question are you still engaged sounds like you're considering breaking it off with her" Kyoya's eyes widen, not answering this sudden inquisition but suddenly understanding a little more.

"Ending the engagement wouldn't mean we would have to...seperate"

"No it doesn't , but it does kind of imply that you don't see things lasting that long"

"she wouldn't see it that way"

Haruhi shakes her head at where this conversation has gone "At the end of the say Kyoya we really have no idea what goes on between you two and the little we do know we don't understand. But either way you should talk to her, and be honest but also say more than just 'I don't know'"

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Kyoya finds you sat on the edge of the fountain in the ouran gardens, not seemingly doing anything in particular, just watching your surroundings as the autumn sun lowers in the sky.

Wordlessly he sits down next to you, taking it as a good sign that you didn't immediately leave.

The two of you take a moment of silence as you both wait for the other to say the first word "If I... have-"

"You haven't done anything, it is me" you shake your head "I asked you about it because I wanted to give you the opportunity to leave"

"What?" You grip the fountain wall below you "My nan reminded me of a few things during her visit...got in my head I guess"

"About?"

You sigh "I don't even know, I guess she just put the idea in my head that if we choose to stay engaged at our ago it would be silly. But also..."

You bite your lip, unsure if you should speak on it.

"You do not trust that the two of you can be friends?"

"I can't, the only person I can trust to look after me is me"

"Why?"

"Huh?"

"Why do you think that?"

"Because that has been the case most of my life"

"But that won't mean that it will always be the case, perhaps the reason you think you can't depend on others is that you reject it"

"My mother, ran away when I ten." the words left your lips before you get the chance to stop them. "and I don't blame her, but our engagement and theirs has one too many similarities than I am comfortable with"

"How so?"

"I am just a little too much like my father"

"So your'e...worried I am going to leave...so you give me the opportunity to leave anyway?"

"If you leave now i could forgive myself"

"Y/n..." he pinches the bridge of his nose. "You are not your father, if you were you would not have done what we did"

You don't answer, not about to get into an argument over it. "...where does this leave us?"

Kyoya sits up, looking out into the school gardens "Well beyond that, we are both practical people, and even if we put feelings aside, i do not see why things need to change"

Your head snaps to face him "Neither of us expected to end up becoming as attached as we have done, and in that it makes more sense to marry you than not"

You do not say anything, you do not know where to start "It would be ignorant to think that even outside of the agreement that marriage is more than a romantic proposition for us. We work well together professionally, we are both heirs to large corporations, we live together half the time. Because we both made a choice a long time ago to look after each other romance or not..."

'either way you should talk to her, and be honest but also say more than just 'I don't know'

"....and I don't think that I would know how to do any of that with anyone else, or want to"

You raise an eyebrow "Kyoya are you proposing right now?"

"I suppose I am"

You blink for a few moments, not expecting the sudden shift in conversation, and instead of answering you lean forward, quickly finding your lips on his.

Unexpectant of the reaction Kyoya doesn't react until right as it ends. The only sound between the two of you left being short breaths and the pattering of both hearts.

"Do you seriously think I care for you so little that us breaking up would make a difference in me looking after you?"

"You can be smooth when you want to be"

"Yes, well I was accused of being unable to talk to women and I simply do not agree"

"Who said that?"

"The twins" You laugh at the revelation.

You and Kyoya were not good at feelings, but everyday yhou both make the choice to care, which may just be the most romantic thing of all.

Chapter Text

The concept of what you and Kyoya do in your spare time is somewhat of a mythical concept to the rest of the host club, purely for the fact that they cannot quite place the atmosphere from the small glimpses they have into your world.

Tamaki figures that your apartment turns into a headquarters worthy of M.I.5 in the evenings, a base of operations while the two of you plot destruction.

He isn't wrong, but that is what you call date night.

No, instead the moments you two have together are a lot quieter than probably most expect. Soft, tranquil, fleeting moments between the adrenaline of your lives where you can pause and just, be. They are few and far between but that is the beauty of it, all the chaos that fills the gap makes it worth it.

After Kyoya's 'proposal' of sorts, there was one of said moments, after all the stress and tension of the cold war between you prior, for one evening the two of you took the time to just, exist together.

The scene is awfully mundane for the two of you, dare you say domestic, you fall back against the sofa as you listen to your grandmother ramble on over the phone, kyoya moving his book so you can place your head on his lap.

"Yes...yes...I know- I'll come visit- i promise- i'll see you over winter- okay, goodbye" You subconciously let out a sigh of relief as you hang up.

"How did she take it?" Kyoya muses, turning a page. "Fine, she isn't an unreasonable woman she just...likes her opinions heard about what she thinks i want for my future, i just think she doesn't want me to get trapped into the same situation as my mother"

“Well what do you want?”

The question is simple enough, it shouldn’t confuse you, yet all you could muster was a “hm?”

He flicks away a stray hair covering your eye “you must have thought about what you want in the future at least once”

“I have but the last time I did the plan was ‘try not to have a train wreck of a marriage, again, did not expect to grow so attached”

“Apologies for complicating your extremely low bar of a plan”

You think it over, shrugging as you stare up at the ceiling “I don’t know, I guess I just want to keep doing what we do, visit Italy once in a while without the bullshit from our families”

Kyoya raises a brow, closing the book over his thumb to save the page “How do you have so low expectations?”

You sit up next to him, facing side on “I’m sorry is my life plan not up to my fiancés standards? Enlighten me, what’s yours?”

“Simple, become CEO of the ootori group, implement changes my father wouldn’t dare to. Improve it, so that one day our family is equated to the likes of the Samsungs”

“Our family?”

“Well I would imagine we will be married by then”

“Oh yeah? And how often do you imagine being married to me?”

“Needy for validation tonight are we?”

“Don’t deflect”

“All I do is think of the future, and it is hard not to imagine when your presence in it is a fact” you knew that logically it wasn’t that big of a statement and yet somehow you could feel heat rushing to your chest.

“You’ve got that look on your face again” he mutters

“Hm?”

“Every now and then, when I mention something like the permanence of us or anything remotely romantic you have this look on your face like you suddenly remembered I’m not about to leave the room”

“I…like…when we talk about these things, the words ‘I love you’ don’t really…do anything to me, like I just see them as words, I’d rather hear it in a different way” Kyoya rarely smiles, or more accurately is that he smirks when he means to smile, you have to look for it, but it’s certainly there. “I see”

“When will we get married? Is that in your life plan?”

“Well for that you have a choice”

“I do? How fortunate of me I get to pick my own wedding date” he rolls his eyes “I meant that you can choose whether it be after highschool or after university”

“…would It be bad if I said I do not want to wait until after university”

“Hm?”

"I just mean...i don't see any advantage of waiting until after university, why wait?"

"If i didn't know any better i'd say you're eager"

"Says the man who has our lives planned out together"

"touche, I think however, you should make a list of things you want too"

"Why?"

"Because you deserve to strive towards specifics" When you don't respond immediately, the people whose goals are general, like 'stay healthy' and 'work hard' are not the same as us. They are not bad goals but they imply compromise, they are for the people who don't plan and wait for happiness to find them. We have one life together, if you want something specific, as you should, do not be afraid to want it. I know you certainly have the ambition for to take it"

"Strangely philosophical for you kyoya"

"I'm not just a pretty face"

you pause, somehow now allowing yourself permission to be picky, to be greedy.

"Kyoya?"

He hums light heartedly, having returned to his book.

"I think... I want to invite my mother to the wedding, when it happens"

He pauses, not looking at you straight away, closing the book "Then we will start searching for her"

"Thats it? no questions why? after my father searching for her for years without success you just blindly accept the task?"

He shoots you an unimpressed look, pushing up his glasses "the way i see it, there is only one possibility between trying and not where we may actually find her"

You lean forward, pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Thank you."

Chapter Text

Hikaru and Kaoru have been staring into the lone corner of the host club for nearly an hour now. While the rest of the host club had let the topic go once they caught word of the two of you making up they are still hung up on the topic.

It was partial curiosity, but mostly boredom.

"I just don't get it, how are they the longest running relationship in the host club, they don't talk to eachother" Hikaru glares from his spot on the sofa, silently dissecting every miniscule interaction between the two of you. "It is strange, they treat each other like a job some times"

"What are you two talking about?" Haruhi catches wind of the conversation from her spot brewing coffee nearby. "Y/n and Kyoya"

"Come on Haruhi you must admit that if we didn't know better you would never guess that they're together" Haruhi laughs at the comment.

"I have given it up a long time ago, I asked y/n about it, I somewhat understand but i have just accepted that I don't need to understand it"

Hikaru shakes his head, leaning back in his seat. "No...theres something to crack here... we'll figure it out" he squints at the two of you.

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Hikaru and Kaoru the great detectives!
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Observation #1: the 'work' meetings

Desperation brings the twins to do the one thing that they never want to: actually take an interest in the business side of the host club.

The plan was so embarrassingly simple, just bug the underside of your table in the host club and actually listen to what the two of you talk about.

hypothesis one (Hikaru's guess): you two never actually work at all and flirt when pretending to work.

hypothesis two (Kaoru's guess): the two of you really do just do business.

the two of them are at the edge of their seats as the two of you sit down, Kyoya flipping open his black notebook as usual, you setting down your laptop.

"All I'm saying is that it wouldn't be as unreasonable as you think"

"I know our budget Y/n"

"I'll make it work" you shrug, opening your laptop with a smirk. "You have a call with chizuru at 6 by the way"

"I do now?"

"Just confirming the re-compensation trust details, I've already handled all of the pr side of things but you said you wanted to be involved in finances, ergo you have a meeting at 6"

Kyoya fake sighs, leaning back in his seat "If I must"

"what are we listening to?"

"Be quiet hikaru they may hear us"

A smirk tugs at your lips "you say as if you aren't already making a list of discussion points"

"I like to be prepared"

OBSERVATION ONE: HIKARU'S HYPOTHESIS REJECTED, KAORU'S IS ACCEPTED

"I don't understand, they can't just talk about business all day"

"I told you"

"Shut up Kaoru"

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Observation #2: the (lack of) touching

Hikaru figured that this observation was due to having hid your relationship for so long. Because if he didn't know better you would never think the two of you were together.

It is only now that he is thinking about it that he pays extra attention.

Even he has to admit that he feels like a bit of a creep watching the two of you so intently across the courtyard but somehow there was some subtly that allowed him to start to understand.

Kyoya's hand hovering over your lower back as the two of you navigate across the corridor, the nonchalance as the two of you sit down and as if without thinking the two of you pass things back and forth between you without needing to look or even request an item from eachother.

It is the subtlty, the way that you lean just slightly closer to him when you talk.

Hikaru starts to feel like an even bigger creep because even though the two of you haven't touched the entire time he has been watching it seems like he is observing something much more intimate.

and it drives him mad.

OBSERVATION TWO: Hikaru is more lost than ever

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Observation #3: the lunches

Kaoru didn't even mean to conduct the third observation, he just stumbles across it at lunch time when he notices somehow only now that when you all enter the cafeteria of Ouran, you don't actually go to get in line for food, instead claiming a table near the window.

Out of pure curiosity Kaoru forgets his own lunch for a moment and slide in the seat opposite you, catching you by the surprised. "Hello?"

"Are you not getting any lunch?"

You blink for a second, eyes darting between him and the line at the cafeteria "Oh! Kyoya usually grabs it for me"

"Why?"

You shrug "I don't know he just started to doing it one day and I don't want to argue with him over"

"Thats strangely...nice of him"

You roll your eyes "I think it's probably part of some ulterior plan because he keeps on saying something about me needing more iron in my diet"

"My point still stands... i didn't think he did things like that for no reason, like... I suppose it makes sense with you it just feels out of character for him"

You nod, taking a sip of water "I mean you're right, he doesn't do anything without a reason, his priority is always number one but that doesn't mean he's evil"

"What do you mean?"

"Take the lunch thing for example, if my suspicions are correct, which they almost always are, he gets my lunch for me because It means I have more time to work on business" You gesture to the laptop in front of you.

"Which benefits the both of us since our finances will soon be tied, the nutrition thing is more because I hate doctors-"

"Who hates doctors?"

"-Not the point! Anyway, we both are insatiable overachievers...in everything, my successes are his and vice versa, I'm not sure when it happened but we at some point became one entity, he wants to thrive in everything, success, reputation, power, health, and so do I, and in turn we want that for each other. He wants to ensure i'm healthy because we are only as happy and successful as the other half in the equation"

"...right...your relationship is quite...transactional"

"I don't think it is...when you think about it it's quite the opposite...no matter how you look at things Kaoru even the most giving people have selfish tendencies, because they're human, but I'd rather be the highest priority to a selfish man than to a selfless one"

"Why?"

"Because if a selfless man is truly selfless then his priorities won't matter...and in truth I'm too selfish for that"

OBSERVATION THREE: Kaoru is more lost than ever

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Hikaru and Kaoru are silent as the two of them get in the car at the end of the day.

"I...I'm not sure I understand yet" Hikaru's voice was barely audible.

"I think I do" Kaoru's the same. "Barely, but I do" he turns to hikaru "They've made a bubble for themselves like we did...but its different...they chose to build the bubble...while ours is just defense..."

"...Kaoru?"

"...I think we need to change Hikaru"

"What?"

"if...they can somehow build something like that while seemingly having everything contradicting it surely...surely it is worth us giving everyone else another chance"

Hikaru doesn't answer at first.

"What if I don't want that?"

"I think you do" Hikaru's head snaps to Kaoru at break neck pace at Kaoru's statement "I know how you feel about her."

"Who?"

"Haruhi."

Hikaru falls silent again. "I don't know what you're talking about"

"There will always be us, but there can also be them, if you care about her then surely it is worth trying, it may not make sense yet but it doesn't have to"

"Stop the car."

the car pulls to a screeching halt "Hikaru?"

Hikaru pushes open the car door with a force "I'll walk home"

"Hikaru!"

"See you later" The door didn't quite slam, but it may as well be to Kaoru.

Chapter Text

"Thank you for inviting me over Honey-Senpai" you take a sip of tea "No problem y/n-senpai! You're the only member of the host club that likes tea parties anyway"

"I'm sure that's not true, what about Mori?"

"Mori-senpai just tells me to eat less sweets" the two of you get interrupted by banging on the door "honey-senpai! Let me in!"

"Kaoru?" As Honey opens the door Kaoru collapses into the house in tears "I made such a big mistake!" he dramatically throws himself onto the bed. "What happened?"

"Oh hi y/n" he sulks into the pillow "It's Hikaru" he sits up, wiping his tears "I told him he needs to accept that he has a crush on Haruhi"

You and Honey exchange a glance of concern "Oh...what did he say?

"Nothing, he didn't say anything! He's been ignoring me ever since! Now I deeply regret what I said"

"So your guilt made you come running here?" Kaoru let out another sob "Honey! Am I that stupid?! Is there no cure for my stupidity?"

"Don't cry Kaoru! Hold bun-bun!" Honey urges usa-chan into his arms "Why did I say such things? It's because I couldn't stand seeing Hikaru in so much pain! I had to stop myself from saying anything many times before because he's so clueless about his feelings. I didn't want to ruin our friendships in the host club. Now Hikaru's bound to be uncomfortable as the boss's love rival. I ruined everything! I'm so stupid!"

You and honey-senpai exchange a concerned look and in that moment you are both thinking the same thing.

oh shit.

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Hikaru's mega conundrum!
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"Must we do this?" Kyoya raises an eyebrow as you wander around the kitchen, trying to pull together some proper hot chocolate.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because, this is big for the twins, and can go wrong very quickly and i doubt you want us to be down a set of twins again" you throw a tea towel at him "Could you take the cookies out please"

"This sounds like one of tamaki's plans"

"Yes well even a broken clock is right twice a day, Kaoru! Food's ready"

Kaoru sniffles as he enters the kitchen, sliding onto a stool and slumping against the island. "Okay. Here's whats going to happen" you slide a mug of hot chocolate over to him"

"Honey-senpai and Tamaki are currently at your house talking to Hikaru"

"oh well he'll talk to them"

"They're going to talk to him, after that we're going on a group date"

Kaoru sits up in confusion "How? why? with who?"

"You are going to take Haruhi to the fair thats just come into town, obviously kyoya and I will be there for damage control reasons...and well...let's just say I've had to do a lot of convincing to get Tamaki to take Mei out, especially with haruhi being with you, but it gives Tamaki an excuse to beg hikaru to come with us with renge"

"He'll hate that"

"He will, and I'm counting on it"

"I'm not sure i'm following" Kaoru stares back at you blankly "Me too" Kyoya mutters.

"I've been thinking about that little trick you pulled on us in Karuizawa last year"

"Which backfired can I say"

"No it didn't, it succeeded in a way you didn't expect, its the only time Hikaru managed to come out his shell even if he was an ass for most of it... and well...look at us" you and kyoya exchanged a quick bashful glance.

"Look, just trust I have a plan, all you need to do is relax, have a fun time with Haruhi and trust me to sort the rest, eat." you stick the cookies in front of him.

"Fine" he grumbles

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"Oh i'm so glad you asked me here Tamaki, but a county fair? really?" Mei looks at the fair in mild disgust "Yes! i've always wanted to go to one these!" Tamaki fake smiles as the four of you wait for the rest of the group to arrive, turning to you with a glare that screams 'you owe me'

Kyoya leans down to speak into your ear so that no one else can here "what on earth do you have planned?"

You just smile up at him "I think I want to leave you in suspense this time, call it payback for the letter incident" pressing a kiss to his cheek. "Are you sure you can handle renge being here?"

"Hm...am I sure about the girl who wanted to steal my fiance having to spend the entire day watching me go on a date with him? I think I can live with it" Kyoya's jaw droops open slightly

"I'm killing many birds with one stone today" You grin as you watch Hikaru and Renge approach. "Morning you two"

"How many?" He whispered

You shrug "At least five" you whisper back.

"Hi" Hikaru does not look impressed about the situation he's in but attempts to put on a terrible facade of content anyway. "Should we head in?"

"Hold on, we're still waiting on people"

"Oh?"

"Hello everyone" Haruhi smiles as she walks over with Kaoru. "What are you two doing here?"

Haruhi stares at hikaru in confusion "we were invited?"

"Great! We're all here lets go!" You gleefully pull kyoya towards the entrance of the fairground.

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Ten minutes into the day the date very quickly was falling apart much to your glee, you taking the odd glance at Kaoru and Haruhi at the coconut stall, Hikaru glaring daggers at the two of them from a food van with Renge, who was growing increasingly frustrated at Hikaru's lack of enthusiasm.

"You need to stop staring" Kyoya laughs, attempting to throw a dart at the stall you had dragged him to, insisting that he try and win a prize much to his confusion as to why you would want a cheap carnival bear.

"Sorry, just making sure everythings in place" you snap back into focus "Mm I've been thinking about that" he finally throws the dart, managing to get just shy of the bullseye. "You've won" the board carnival worker running the stall turns to the two of you.

"Is that enough for the black cat plush?" you ask hopeful. "no but who cares" he hands you the toy, Kyoya watching on as you're just a little too happy about recieving the prize.

"You were watching rom-coms the other night."

"I was."

"Did that have any influence on this?"

You link an arm around his, holding the cat tight to your chest "The plan? No, that was inspired by Kaoru, the location? possibly... i've watched that movie since I was a little kid I've always wanted to do this"

"So that is one of the birds, deterring renge was another..."

"You're still lost aren't you?"

"I wouldn't go that far"

you grin "i'll tell you later, I want to see this play out for now."

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Across the fair Renge grows increasingly frustrated at Hikaru, and normally, if this was a year ago, she may just throw a fit, but somehow that isn't quite what happens.

Because when Hikaru could not be bothered with her and all his mind was caught up watching Kaoru and Haruhi it actually gave Renge the chance to properly pay attention to what is happening around her.

"You know you're only hurting yourself right?" the words leave renge's lips before she really gets the chance to think about it. "Huh?"

Renge nods to the two of them "You can't take your eyes off them-"

"Yeah- because Kaoru is being an idiot and an ass, he knows that i-" Hikaru cuts himself off, just about catching what was about to slip.

"You?"

Hikaru turns away, confirming it to her.

"I've been there you know?" She takes a glance over in your direction, biting the inside of her cheek as she watches the two of you debate over popcorn, shaking her head just as quickly as she looks away.

"I know you all think that the way I acted around Kyoya was silly but there was a point after meeting him that I truly started to like him"

The statement finally captures Hikaru's attention, looking at her properly "I thought you stopped liking him after he smashed your camera"

"I did but...a little afterwards I found out why he did it, and I've watched as he continues to do things like that for her... I guess I just wish I had someone looking out for me like that...I was quite...alone in france"

Hikaru pauses, not expecting Renge to be so serious all of a sudden "But... as someone who has been on that side of things... if you push her away you are only guaranteeing that she goes to someone else... if you try at least there's a chance that maybe she'll like you back"

Hikaru's face drops as he looks back, now in a different light.

From where you're stood with Kyoya you notice the change, smirking to yourself, turning to Kyoya "I'll be back in a minute, meet me at the ferris wheel?" while he stares back at you sceptically he nods, looking around for a drink as you wander off towards Kaoru and Haruhi.

"Oh my god Kaoru you need to come quick!"

"What? what is it? what's happened?" you catch the both of them off guard as you grab onto Kaoru's arm. "No time to explain I need your help to win a bet, sorry Haruhi i'll bring him back in a minute"

"Oh...kay?"

"Y/n!" Kaoru exclaims as you yank him away out of view.

Hikaru's eyes widen as he watches you drag him away, staring at the empty space next to Haruhi, looking a little lost and confused. His eyes dart back and forth between her and renge, almost for reassurance but also possibly permission. "Go" she whispers.

With heavy steps Hikaru approaches her "Hey Haruhi" he scratches the back of his neck. "Oh hi Hikaru!"

"How are you finding the carnival?" he mentally curses himself for how stupidly basic the question is. "Good, I used to come here with my father, I get really competitive though"

"Oh yeah? I mean while Kaoru is gone I bet you can't beat me on the basketball game"

"Oh you're on! oh...but are you sure Renge won't mind? Didn't you come with her?"

Hikaru and Renge exchange a glance from afar "Yeah...but as friends, i'm sure she won't mind a couple of games"

"Okay then" Haruhi smiles up to him.

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"Wow...he's actually trying" Kaoru stares at the scene in slight shock and awe from behind a stall you had dragged him to "He just needed a little nudge, this may not go anywhere but at least...it's something"

Kaoru catches a glimpse at you, clearing his throat "Thank you for this y/n"

"Of course, I know you and Hikaru are... weary of the outside world lets say... but if the two of you really give it a chance like you both are now I think you'll be much happier...you deserve it"

Kaoru smiles, nodding.

"But also..." you trail off "...while Hikaru may be less willing to give people a chance...you also hide behind protecting him a little bit"

"hm?"

"Have you done anything for yourself recently?"

"Huh?"

"All I'm saying is... you seem to hold yourself back because hikaru hasn't reached that point...maybe now you should try to find someone for yourself...if that's what you want"

Kaoru pauses, replaying the words in his head "Yeah... maybe..."

The two of you smile lightly as you watch the scene of hikaru and haruhi having fun at one of the stalls unfold.

"I hope I find someone like you." the words fall from him

you freeze.

"Oh- Kaoru-"

"I know...I know you don't need to let me down easy... I know you're happy with him... I mean, I hope I find someone who would do something like this for the people they care about... Kyoya's very lucky"

"...thank you...and you will find someone Kaoru, I'm sure of it" you pat his shoulder as you go to find Kyoya.

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Kyoya waits with raised eyebrows as you approach him at the base of the Ferris wheel. "four birds down, one to go" you state simply, accepting the black cat plush that he had be carrying for you. "Are you going to tell me yet?"

"You really want to know?" you smile as the two of you sit in one of the carriages. "Yes."

You smirk as the Ferris wheel takes off.

"Bird number one: go on a date from my favourite movie, knowing that you will go along with any plan either Tamaki or I drag you on you wouldn't resist"

"You don't need to con me into something like that"

"No, but this way you didn't make any complaints on why we are doing something so common, bird number two: Renge-"

"You wanted to make her jealous"

"No, I invited Renge because I knew she'd be able to relate to Hikaru, and give him a bit of a nudge, the jealousy thing was more of a petty bonus, Bird three: Hikaru, with Renge talking some sense into him he actually talks to Haruhi and steps out his shell a little, and fixes that thing he has with Kaoru"

"Right, so bird three is the bird everyone thinks we're here for?"

"I like to be efficient, bird four: get Kaoru to actually relax for once and take a break, which I managed to do for a bit until I had to drag him away from Haruhi for Hikaru"

"And bird five?"

"That, I'm still waiting on..." you stare over the view where Hikaru and Haruhi are still playing games.

"Haruhi"

"Haruhi?"

"We know that Tamaki likes her, we also know now that hikaru likes her, but I can't seem to place her thoughts on it"

You lean back in your seat "the problem is they're all as oblivious as eachother"

"You're quite the matchmaker you know" you smile "someone's gotta keep the ship running around here" You look down at the plush in your hands "Do you think we should get a cat?"

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Renge stands at the food cart alone, watching everyone around her have fun at the various stalls, you approach her, now alone after tamaki dragged Kyoya off somewhere.

"Renge"

"Oh...hi..."

"I just wanted to say thank you for coming"

"really? I thought you hated me..."

You pause, not really sure how to respond "Well...I think we have found ourselves on the same side of things more and more recently... after the newspaper club incident"

A somewhat awkward silence falls between the two you.

"Friends?"

A smile creeped onto Renge's face "Friends."

Chapter Text

You and Kyoya arrive at the host club early that morning, knowing that if the two of you have any hopes of catching Tamaki that you need to do it before the rest of the club arrives, the two of you sat on a sofa for a change, waiting for his arrival.

"He's going to dodge this I hope you know that" you take a sip of coffee

"I'm prepared for that possibility don't worry"

Not too soon after Tamaki wanders in, taking a moment to notice the two of you sat on the couch "Oh? what are you two doing here so early? I'm not interrupting something am I?"

"Tamaki sit down" you try to be warm with your words as you gesture to the seat opposite you. "Okay?"

You and kyoya exchange a glance, prompting the two of you to start talking "Tamaki...we need to start talking about making plans..."

"Plans for what?"

"The end."

While the room was silent you could hear glass shattering probably from somewhere within Tamaki, he freezes "What do you mean the end?"

He knows, you both know he knows, even he does, but he's going to deflect anyway.

"After us, what is going to happen to the host club after we graduate"

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The responsibility of a host club heir!
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By the time the twins and Haruhi make their way to the host club that afternoon the three of you are waiting for them. "What's up? I thought we were hosting outside today"

"There's been a bit of change of plans, we're going to run a standard session today, but only the three of you are going to be hosting" Tamaki announces, slightly more still than he normally is. "Okay? feeling a little lazy today boss?" Hikaru jokes, placing his bag down. Tamaki shrugs "If you want to call it that"

"Are you okay Tamaki?" Haruhi questions, picking up quite quickly on Tamaki's lack of enthusiasm "All good, We just have to work on some committee stuff"

"Good luck today guys" You greet happily as you sit back at your usual table, for the first time in a while Tamaki joining the two of you by the window of the host club.

"You know if the twins find out that we're testing them they're going to sabotage the whole thing" You note, voice lower than it was a moment ago "That's why we don't tell them, its the only way we can judge them authentically"

"I don't know why we're doing it this way, we've known them for years surely we know how well they do as hosts by now" Kyoya leans back in his seat, watching the other three interact from across the room. "Tamaki just wants his Willy Wonka moment" you point out.

"It's not like we have a clear replacement for a president" Tamaki mutters, chin seated in his hands as he stares in the same direction.

Unfortunately, what Tamaki was saying was true, by the end of the year the three of you will graduate, Mori and Honey graduated a couple months ago over winter, so after that there really only will be them three, so the options were;

-Haruhi, who from the seems of things couldn't be less interested -Hikaru, who is still in a strange place emotionally -Kaoru, who wouldn't be president without hikaru -disband the hostclub.

None of the options were great. Even Tamaki knew that which is why he came up with this...let's just say interesting, plan.

"You know even if we pick a suitable replacement for president, we're gonna have to think about bringing in more hosts aswell, we've already lost our boy lolita type and our quite type, it's not going to be much of a host club with three hosts"

"That's an issue for another day I think"

Kyoya's phone buzzes against the table "excuse me" he steps away as he picks it up accepting a call. He usually answers the phone in front of you, what's different today?

"We could always have the twins as co-presidents" you suggest, watching as Kyoya walks over to the other side of the room. Tamaki hums in agreement "I'm not sure I fully trust them, they definitely balance eachother our but they're impulsive and scheming"

You raise a brow at the statement "And you're not?"

"No i'm not!" He cries out "I always want the best for people they just want the best for themselves" Tamaki cries into a corner, you sigh, in a way he does actually have a point.

"What did you say to him?" Kyoya questions as he sits back down at the table "That he's impulsive"

Kyoya just hums in agreement, eyes trained on his note book, brows furrowed and pen gripped tightly.

Something's up, you just can't place what.

"Hey" you don't quite whisper, nudging his hand with your little finger "hm?"

"What's up?"

"Nothing" You squint at him "Liar" he huffs a little.

"Just sibling stuff, you're lucky you're an only child"

"Yeah...something tells me i understand more than you'd think" you nod over to the sulking Tamaki in the corner, picking at his nails and mumbling to himself about being the more mature one out of him and the twins.

"It's Yuuichi"

"Ah." you haven't heard the name in a while but you certainly knew what Kyoya was referring to, from one of the few times that you spoke to Kyoya's eldest brother, Akito, apparently the middle brother really is not your biggest fan at the moment.

"He's just being...difficult, it's fine I can handle him"

"Anything I can help with?"

"I've got it"

"That's not a no" Kyoya drops the pen, looking up at you unimpressed "You're being pedantic this morning"

"and you're being stubborn" You reach just a little further out to take his hand, Kyoya's eyes instinctually darting around the room in response. "Your business is my business remember?"

"There have been...whispers"

"Whispers?"

"Rumors, that he's starting up something, I'm not sure exactly what just yet"

"You think he might be talking with your father?"

"It wouldn't surprise me"

"We'll handle it then" You squeeze his hand before letting go, leaning over to look at Tamaki once more "Are you finished yet?"

Tamaki drags himself back over to the table "You're mean when you want to be, I thought you were the nice one"

Before any of you realise the bell goes, and you notice that you three had been so caught up that you did very little actual observing of the three hosts.

"Shoot" the three of you pack up, walking towards the door.

"Y/n." Renge appears out of nowhere, unexpected to you as she didn't take the elevator that she normally has. "Hm?"

"Can we talk?" You look back to kyoya but nod for him to go ahead. "I know what you three were talking about"

"Oh?"

"I think...I would be quite good as host club president...if you'd consider it"

"I...see..." you have to admit that your immediate reaction wasn't exactly positive. The concept of renge being in charge of the host club wasn't exactly new, you had all seen the little time she was in charge when she first arrived.

"I know I didn't really fit with the club at first, but i have been learning! Just think about it"

You smile "I'll mention it to the others"

"Thank you"

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"Hey Sam? I've got a bit of a favour to ask" You walk through the courtyard of the school. "Yes I know I've asked a lot of favours but you're good at what you do what can I say"

your eyes dart across the courtyard just to check that no one is in earshot of you "This is going to sound a bit strange but I need you to look into my future brother in law, Ootori Yuuichi"

You spot Kyoya at the gates of the school, realising that this call was going to need to be short. "Hm? No it doesn't need to be that deep a search, just find out if he's up to anything that could be...a problem"

"Brill, thank you" you hang up, approaching Kyoya "Is everything alright?"

You smile "Perfect" You press a kiss to his cheek, opening the door of the car. "Okay? You're strangely...chipper" he gets in the seat next to you.

"I am feeling...confident" you place your phone in your bag "Things will sort themselves out, I can feel it"

"You've done something haven't you?"

"I've done a lot of things"

"Hm" Kyoya doesn't question further, he knows, you're sure of it, but from the sounds of things he doesn't care.

Chapter Text

Part one: December 10th
Part two: December 17th
Part three: December 24th

'Welcome to the ouran host club winter wonderland!'

You have really outdone yourself this time, some of the perks of being in the same club as the chairman's son is that you can get approval to take over the courtyard for a couple of days.

A firepit in the corner for toasting marshmallows, an ice rink in the centre, you even managed to hire out a ferris wheel for the day.

"Who am I dressed as again?" Kyoya asks you from the dressing room before club hours officially start. "Jack frost, felt it was fitting"

He raises an eyebrow, head sticking out to look at you properly "what does that mean?"

"I...just felt it fit best with the type of host you are"

"Alright...if you say so"

"Hey, would you rather I made you an elf like the twins"

"God no" he finally steps out from the dressing room. "Come on, you know that Tamaki's made you wear worse costumes"

"The costumes are fine, you know how I feel about putting too much money into host events"

You grin a little "It wasn't too much money" Kyoya's chin tilts down, staring at you over his glasses unconvinced "y/n you have a winter wonderland out there"

You step closer to him "And the great thing about organising such events is that no one here other than maybe Haruhi knows the true price of things, today was maybe a third of the price of the annual ball budget and yet tickets were the same price, we'll have enough profits from this that you won't have to worry about the costume budget for another year"

Kyoya's eyes dart back and forth between you and the event set up just outside the window. "huh."

You playfully roll your eyes "You can tell me how attractive you find my budgeting skills later, we have an event to run"

'The Ouran Host club welcomes you!'

Even though you know that most of the 'magic' in the air today has been manufactured by you, but there is something about it, the smell of snow and burnt sugar from the marshmallows, the sound of joy from the guests and the playlist you had put on playing through the school intercom, a chill that doesn't quite bother you but is noticible enough.

It is strangely familiar, you oddly find yourself cracking a smile at nothing.

"What is it?" Kyoya's voice breaks into your zoning out at the event taking place below you. "Huh?

"You're smiling at thin air"

"Oh I just...was reminded of something is all" as your eyes dart around to look anywhere that isn't kyoya you spot something that immediately distracts you "Hikaru you can't feed marshmallows to reindeer!" You stand up, running over.

"Hm" Kyoya hums to himself as he so often does when he notes something he finds interesting. "Nostalgia"

"Huh?" He didn't know exactly when Tamaki decided to stand behind the two of you, he figured that he was off playing some strange santa roleplay with some of the guests somewhere. "What she was smiling at, it's nostalgia, a lot of the guests have a similar look, how do you guys celebrate christmas? Is it similar?"

Kyoya pauses, trying to think back to where he was the past couple of christmasses since you came to japan.

"The...Ootori family does a food drive on christmas, good for image, I don't think we have spent christmas together before"

"Oh- Maybe I'm wrong then, if both of you two aren't big on the holiday then maybe she just remembered something funny" Tamaki shrugs "Then again...she was the one who set all this up...this is definitely more of a european christmas, maybe it goes back further- oh!"

Tamaki notices a group of girls waving him over from across the courtyard "Gotta go" He runs off.

Kyoya looks back to you, now standing guard between the reindeers and the twins. A mostly protective look on your face, but every now and then, briefly, there is something softer.

"Hm."

Chapter Text

Part I: The story of Christmas past
'y/n! come downstairs'

The memory was so vivid and so vague at the same time, the cold tile flooring below your feet, the frosted glass windows, the log fire as you enter the sitting room of your childhood home. The smell of peppermint and songs being played on the radio.

was it snow patrol? wham? you can't really remember anymore

No, what you do remember is the itchy velvet red dress your father had bought for you, scratching against your soft arms as you reach up to decorate the tree.

Your mother laughs a little as you struggle to reach further than half-way up 'Would you like some help?' she asked as she is already lifting you up.

which christmas was this if you were so small? Maybe five? or was it eight and you were a short child?

all you know is that is the last time you celebrated properly.

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How Kyoya stole christmas!
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'Welcome to the ouran host club winter wonderland!'

You have really outdone yourself this time, some of the perks of being in the same club as the chairman's son is that you can get approval to take over the courtyard for a couple of days.

A firepit in the corner for toasting marshmallows, an ice rink in the centre, you even managed to hire out a ferris wheel for the day.

"Who am I dressed as again?" Kyoya asks you from the dressing room before club hours officially start. "Jack frost, felt it was fitting"

He raises an eyebrow, head sticking out to look at you properly "what does that mean?"

"I...just felt it fit best with the type of host you are"

"Alright...if you say so"

"Hey, would you rather I made you an elf like the twins"

"God no" he finally steps out from the dressing room. "Come on, you know that Tamaki's made you wear worse costumes"

"The costumes are fine, you know how I feel about putting too much money into host events"

You grin a little "It wasn't too much money" Kyoya's chin tilts down, staring at you over his glasses unconvinced "y/n you have a winter wonderland out there"

You step closer to him "And the great thing about organising such events is that no one here other than maybe Haruhi knows the true price of things, today was maybe a third of the price of the annual ball budget and yet tickets were the same price, we'll have enough profits from this that you won't have to worry about the costume budget for another year"

Kyoya's eyes dart back and forth between you and the event set up just outside the window. "huh."

You playfully roll your eyes "You can tell me how attractive you find my budgeting skills later, we have an event to run"

'The Ouran Host club welcomes you!'

Even though you know that most of the 'magic' in the air today has been manufactured by you, but there is something about it, the smell of snow and burnt sugar from the marshmallows, the sound of joy from the guests and the playlist you had put on playing through the school intercom, a chill that doesn't quite bother you but is noticible enough.

It is strangely familiar, you oddly find yourself cracking a smile at nothing.

"What is it?" Kyoya's voice breaks into your zoning out at the event taking place below you. "Huh?

"You're smiling at thin air"

"Oh I just...was reminded of something is all" as your eyes dart around to look anywhere that isn't kyoya you spot something that immediately distracts you "Hikaru you can't feed marshmallows to reindeer!" You stand up, running over.

"Hm" Kyoya hums to himself as he so often does when he notes something he finds interesting. "Nostalgia"

"Huh?" He didn't know exactly when Tamaki decided to stand behind the two of you, he figured that he was off playing some strange santa roleplay with some of the guests somewhere. "What she was smiling at, it's nostalgia, a lot of the guests have a similar look, how do you guys celebrate christmas? Is it similar?"

Kyoya pauses, trying to think back to where he was the past couple of christmasses since you came to japan.

"The...Ootori family does a food drive on christmas, good for image, I don't think we have spent christmas together before"

"Oh- Maybe I'm wrong then, if both of you two aren't big on the holiday then maybe she just remembered something funny" Tamaki shrugs "Then again...she was the one who set all this up...this is definitely more of a european christmas, maybe it goes back further- oh!"

Tamaki notices a group of girls waving him over from across the courtyard "Gotta go" He runs off.

Kyoya looks back to you, now standing guard between the reindeers and the twins. A mostly protective look on your face, but every now and then, briefly, there is something softer.

"Hm."

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"Hello? Mrs L/n? My name is Kyoya Ootori I'm your granddaughter's fiance" Kyoya knows that he really shouldn't be making this phone call, it was really over nothing and the topic of your families have always been touchy.

"Oh Mr Ootori! How nice it is to hear from you I don't believe we've met before" All because of a hunch, a few of Tamaki's words that have gone to his head.

Damn it Tamaki.

Kyoya paces back and forth in the kitchen, knowing you will be back from Haruhi's house at any minute "No i don't believe we have I'm afraid, Y/n did tell me that you are unable to travel"

"Not exactly unable more unwilling planes and I aren't exactly... well nevermind, how can I help you?"

"I was just wondering if you had any childhood photos of Y/n from christmas? It's for a gift I plan on giving her"

"Oh i believe I might, at least from the years that she spent with us, my late husband liked to make home movies with the grandchildren"

"That would be amazing if you have have a way to get them to me"

"I still have grandsons that visit I'll figure it out"

"Thank you Mrs L/n I appreciate it, Y/n and I hope to visit Italy over the summer hopefully i can thank you in person"

A door opens and closes.

Shit, you're home.

"Kyoya?"

"Oh is that y/n now?" It takes you a moment but you just about to manage to make out the words coming from Kyoya's phone "Nonna?" you question, not fully sure but don't find it often that Kyoya is calling elderly italian women (you hope), staring at Kyoya in question and concern as you step closer to him, he switches to speaker

"Hello dear! I have just been talking to Kyoya here, holding him to a promise that you both will visit in the summer"

The look you shoot Kyoya gives him the very rare feeling that you may actually kill him "Oh really? Yes we are planning on travelling this summer- sorry Nonna we really have to go I will call you tomorrow" you hang up the phone, staring up at him wide eyed in shock.

"Kyoya" your voice jumps up an octave, undecided on how you are going to handle this "Why were you calling my grandmother?"

"Can I not call your grandmother?"

"Randomly?"

Kyoya knows he's being childish at this point, but it was this or admit to routing around your past for nothing more than just an off handed comment that Tamaki made. "It could have been a social call"

Your brows furrow in confusion "From you? Never, you're being sketchy"

"I am not"

"And deflective, which means you are hiding something." You pause, looking back at him dead in the eyes "Kyoya you know how I feel about my family, especially that side of my family"

"I thought you got along with your grandmother"

"I do! But that is not the point and you know it" Your hand goes up to his cheek, intense as you stare at him "Kyoya I am telling you right now, I better not find out you're digging in my family past without a very good reason"

Kyoya's head slumps to the side a little, almost into your hand but you know that the movement isn't exactly to seek comfort from the touch "Then trust that I have good reasons"

You squint, accepting the answer for now, stepping back "Always..." you unpack the bag you have just placed on the counter, taking out your laptop "Just, be careful" you sit down, quickly falling back into your assignments.

"Hm."

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The video came through a few days later, an email from who Kyoya thinks may be your cousin attatched with a couple of bad quality clips, dating every other year stopping when you would have been 10.

The year your mother left.

The clips overall were very similar to eachother. Grandchildren running around the house, Kyoya manages to place your cousin that he has met among the young faces, opening gifts.

You were different in so many ways and yet the same girl you always have been, a couple of videos noting that you are always sat in a corner scribbling away in a notebook somewhere.

It's kind of cute.

There was one thing he did note however, it was so incredibly different to his childhood. He supposed that it was always going to be the case, christmas traditions where the two of you grew up were very different.

But no, this wasn't the case here.

Christmas in the Ootori house hold wasn't exactly cold but very...clean, almost corporate.

Gifts were academic, dinner was silent, instead of playing with gifts after unwrapping them it was a photoshoot for some newsletter or press release he never knew exactly which. Then the rest of the day was handing out food, a kind gesture even if it was for the PR, but still, as a child he never appreciated it.

No, what he was watching felt like a scene in a holiday movie, unfamiliar to him.

And maybe even to you, because he has rarely ever seen you in the way that you are in the videos, pure, unadulterated joy.

Even when you're with him, there's joy but its different, calm, it is not necessarily a bad thing, just different.

He wonders if you miss it. He supposed if he had something like that then he would.

He picks up the phone "Tamaki? I need your help with something..."

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In Kyoya's confusion and sudden motivation of placing a plan together he had become a little careless, or a better word would be thoughtless, because as he left the apartment to meet up with Tamaki for whatever reason he didn't think to close the computer, why would he? he never does you two use the same computer all the time.

But he forgot why.

Because as you were going about your business, picking up some documents from the study the two of you had put into the spare room of the apartment, something caught your eye.

"C/n?" You spot a still on the screen, dimmed from inactivity but clear to you, you wouldn't forget, a couple of your cousins pulling christmas crackers. Instinctively you reach out to touch the screen, reigniting memories that you hadn't thought of for years.

Then you remembered, this is Kyoya's laptop.

You click off the video to find the four others, all of your christmasses spent with your fathers side of the family.

"Oh I'll kill him"

You trust him to have good reasons, but you were unsure if there was any reason good enough in your head to justify pulling on this thread. They were happy memories, but they will always be tainted now thanks to him.

You thought Kyoya understood that.

Chapter Text

Part II: The story of Christmas present
Tamaki is rarely concerned about Kyoya, he lives in his own little world most of the time and Kyoya is quite hard to read as well. But when he got a call out of school hours asking if they could meet immediately he got concerned.

Because Kyoya doesn't do stuff like that.

They meet in a coffee shop, one that normally they would not normally find themselves in which did not help tamaki's concerns. "Kyoya? Is everything alright?"

Contrary to the fantasy that was playing in Tamaki's head in the car ride over Kyoya did not look in as much disrepair that he thought he would find him in. In fact if it wasn't for the fact that Kyoya had pulled him to what he would deem a commoner coffee shop on a whim.

"I have some... questions."

Oh something must be seriously wrong. Kyoya is asking for help, from Tamaki of all people. That may not have been the words that he used but the meaning was the same.

"You said that the winter wonderland was more of a european christmas, what is christmas like in europe"

"Oh? I didn't expect this to be what you called me here for"

"Humor me"

"Well it's a bit different between countries, I know french christmas from what I heard y/n may have different traditions"

"I didn't say this was about y/n"

"You didn't have to Kyoya, you're out of your comfort zone asking for my help there's only one thing this could have been about" Kyoya's movements pause momentarily "Am I really that predictable?"

"It's not a bad thing"

"It's a dangerous thing, especially with our business"

"What does that mean?"

"Nevermind, how much can you tell me?"

"Actually, you may have called the wrong person" Tamaki trails off, an idea sparking in the back of his mind "Hm?"

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How Kyoya stole christmas!
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"This is not what I thought you meant Tamaki" Kyoya sighed as he gets pulled around a mall, Haruhi and Renge not too far ahead as they look through the shop fronts. "You wanted to know what a European Christmas looks like, truth is a lot of my celebrations probably look like yours, and I am not the only other European member of the host club"

Kyoya thought that he wouldn't end up in this mall again, it didn't feel too long ago that he remembers wandering through it half asleep with you and Haruhi. "What do you want to start with Kyoya?"

"Well I don't know, what is there?"

"Christmas trees, presents, the meal, decorations, the food probably will be the hardest you'll probably will have to import a lot of it"

"Wow that is... a lot" he didn't realise there were so many moving parts to just one day of the year. "Let's start with gifts, that will probably be the easiest, and with the tree you could just get a bare one and then you can decorate it together that would be so cute!" Renge squeals at the idea.

Something in the back of kyoya's head twitches at just how much the notion sounds like some cheesy rom-com that he's come across, and yet his instinct is to not to immediately eject it like he normally would. You do like decorating.

"What do you think y/n would like as a gift?"

That was a good question, the only issue is that you and Kyoya don't do gifts, or at least not in the traditional sense. Not that he buys into the concept of love languages but acts of service is definitely both of yours.

Your engagement gifts for each other were quite literally million dollar companies.

Oh wait.

"Tamaki I think were not going to find it here"

"Right, well what else is there?"

"Decorations? But I'm not sure what we could get that would fit in the apartment"

"Some lights would be nice, maybe a wreath, garlands?"

Kyoya left the mall with another cars worth of christmas supplies under Haruhi and Renge's instructions. "Do you reckon this will be enough?"

"Are you kidding? this is more christmas stuff than I've ever seen" Haruhi looks over the shopping being loaded into the car "Don't you have christmas stuff haruhi? I figured you'd probably celebrate more than us since our families tend to work through christmas"

"Well I do, but I live in a small apartment you know, and we reuse decorations each year, honestly I think the last time I went shopping for this many decorations at once was...I don't even know"

"Oh..."

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"Hello? Nan?" You're slowly pacing the apartment, not sure really why you're even calling. "Hi y/n, is everything alright?"

"Yes I'm fine just...this is going to sound odd but by any chance do you have any videos from christmas when I was a kid? Like...before mum left" You're met with silence on the other side of the phone, the gap between the two of you since she last visited growing wider.

"Maybe, I'm not sure, the years before your mother left were...I don't know"

"I know just...I remember us having a camera one year and it was when we spent christmas in england I was just wondering"

"I don't have it dear but...If you would like I will be close to the estate this afternoon, I can pop in and have a look around for you"

"If you can that would be great"

"Alright well...I'll send over anything I find, is there anything else you'd like from the house while I'm there?"

"I... no, thank you, I'm planning on selling soon there's not much of my stuff there anymore" Again, once more you are met with a pause on the other end of the line "You're wanting to sell sycamore house?"

"Yes"

"Don't y/n, that house has been in our family for generations, I'm sure when you and kyoya have kids-"

"you're talking about something that doesn't exist nan, if kyoya and I have kids we may not even raise them in england nevermind in that house-"

"-It's your childhood home y/n, surely you want to keep it for that alone?" You pause, a pulse seizing in your chest "that's exactly why I want to sell" You hang up.

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The notification comes in with a ding of your laptop 'One new email: Re: Christmas videos'

You shouldn't have opened it, you shouldn't have even asked for the videos in the first place, but sometimes you are just a little bit too self torturing.

Call it nostalgia, call it a search for answers, or maybe just wanting to hear the sound of her voice again, but against all your better judgement you hit play on the video.

It's the same night you remember, the same dress, the same tree, the same music. But older eyes spot the details you did not notice the first time, or at least didn't choose to remember.

You don't cry often, even when you were faced with being stolen away from japan you didn't cry, but just something about that video, something that touches something within that makes you feel like a child again, and soon you find yourself sobbing.

And the door just had to open at the time, and you didn't get the chance to brush away the tears before Kyoya's gaze falls to you. "Y/n?"

You try to brave, you two don't do this, your strength is what brought you two together, but it was too late anyway, all you can manage out is a sob.

You don't realise that he's reached you until his arms are around you "You're okay" his hand traces up and down your arm as you cry into his shoulder.

Kyoya looks around for any clues for what could have happened, the laptop open in front of you, his eyes land on the video.

Oh.

Oh no.

His eyes fall to the bags that he had brought in with him.

Shit. It wasn't nostalgia, it was pain.

"Hey" he leans back a little, tilting your chin up to look at him "He is not worth your tears" he wipes your cheek with his thumb. He was going to have to rethink all of this.

You calm a little, leaning away to compose yourself, suddenly noticing all the bags. "What's all this?"

"Oh...It's nothing"

You shoot him a sceptical look, peaking in the bag "Christmas lights?"

"Tamaki, thought that you may miss some home comforts over the holidays"

"Yeah? and you spending the entire day off god knows where is just a coincidence" a half hearted smirk creeps onto your face "You know how Tamaki can get"

You know its a load of bull, and he knows that.

"Well he is good for somethings..." kyoya's hand slips down and into yours "We don't have to do anything with this stuff, I didn't know how you felt about christmas"

"I...want to love christmas, I used to, but everything thats happened has soured that now"

"Then maybe...it is not a traditional christmas you need"

"Hm?"

"I thought that maybe you were homesick so I tried to get traditional christmas things, but if all that reminds you of is them then maybe what is best that you make new memories"

"Yeah maybe...but if we do that...could we..."

"Could we what?"

"I think we should invite the rest of the host club" Kyoya's face instinctively scrunches up at the notion, you catching him before he protests "You've bought way too much for two people, and the bits I liked about christmas was being in a house thats full, and I know they don't have plans for christmas"

Kyoya sighs "You're too good sometimes you know that?"

"Well if there's anytime to be"