Summary: what started as a great opportunity to get a better education quickly turns into a personal playground for a socially awkward teen. Yuuki Wakahisa a scholarship student at Ouran Private academy finds herself in a strange situation. (TamakiXOC/KaoruXOC)
Disclaimer: I don't own Ouran at all, I make no profit of this and it is purely for enjoyment.
"I'm scared -" there was a pause "—I don't know what to do." My eyes were focussed on the folds of my uniform dress. A silent tear fell down onto the yellow fabric, a nervous laugh escaped my lips as I desperately tried to keep my emotions at bay.
There were reasons why I didn't want to go home, there was a reason for the distance I took from everyone, and there was a reason why I was suddenly so busy that I was falling behind in classes. I am scared, scared of what will happen. I never know if there will be a fight or threats, not sure if my evening will be spend in peace or in the bustling city…
"Yu-chan…" Someone sat down next to me and I could feel their arms around my shoulders. I'm glad I found friends in this web of manipulation. These boys and Haruhi kept me sane. I only wish I had told them sooner of my situation. Maybe then I wouldn't be as caught up in the underground as I was now.
(✿◠‿◠)
There really was too much at stake for me to lose this position. I clutched the books I was holding closer to my chest as I continued looking for a quiet place to study. There are four libraries in this school and yet none of them seemed to be treated as such. Students were found chatting with each other, even going as far as having miniature tea parties.
I almost felt like crying when it seemed like the third music room would be empty. But when I opened the door, there was the Ouran High School Host Club.
"Welcome." My hand was still holding the door handle as a sort of life line. Six beautiful teenage guys just greeted me. It almost made up for the fact that my last resort at finding a study place had failed.
"Oh it's a guy." I frowned and self-consciously tugged at a strand of my now short hair. Did I really look that manly?
"Watch your mouth. He is our important guest even if he is a guy." Well at least the tall blond had some basic manners – despite it still sounding fairly rude-.
I cleared my throat and tried to give a quick apology for disturbing them. Nothing seemed to go as planned today though, because the tall blond was now speaking to me. For some reason I felt suddenly very privileged to be even acknowledged.
"Welcome to the Ouran High School Host Club, rare scholarship student Wakahisa Yuuki-kun." His face radiated friendliness and warmth, his outstretched hand only encouraging the gentle and inviting aura that seemed to radiate of him.
Ouran private Academy, a school for the rich and privileged. Importance was first laid on Pedigree and secondly on money. As a commoner, you have no place in this personal playground for the well off. Rich people, have a lot of free time and thus, the host club was created by six beautiful high school students with lots of free time themselves. To serve those female students with nothing else to do. It is a luxurious form of recreation made for only the most prestigious academies. So unless you got a lot of nerve you won't get a scholarship.
The nice blond was suddenly in my face, his hands on my shoulders and a determined look in his eyes. "So to speak, you are a hero, Wakahisa-kun!" I felt very uncomfortable and tried to back up from him. "Even if you are the top student, you are also the poorest in this school. People will call you a weed, and you will be despised as a lower person." I tried to hide behind the books that were still clutched against my chest. "Don't worry, I praise the poorest! What is important to the hero is reckless spirit!" I desperately tried to pull away from the arm that was slung around my shoulder.
"you don't have to…" It was a futile attempt to intervene but he seemed to be in his little world at the moment and it wasn't like any of the other students were any help.
"I cannot believe the rumoured scholarship student is gay…" I chocked on my own spit and let out a pitiful 'what'. I was really going to have a long look in the mirror when I got home because this was just depressing. I looked down at my clothes very briefly. A pair of slacks, a white blouse and a black sweater. I couldn't afford the official uniform dress so I tried to at least look sort of presentable.
"what would you like? The wild type?" I was pulled out of my thoughts when he gestured towards the tall black haired male. He honestly looked a bit intimidating to me. "The Loli type?" This time he gestured to the smallest male of the bunch, he looked more like a child than a high schooler, especially with the pink bunny that he was holding.
I tried to back away slowly, I needed to get out. The whole atmosphere was just wrong, my knuckles were turning white from clutching my books so hard.
"Or perhaps would you like to try me?" Suddenly the blond man was closer than ever, this time with a hand under my chin, a shiver ran down my spine, I scrambled backwards, nearly tripping in my attempt to get back my own personal space.
"You misunderstood! I –I was just…" I tried to explain myself, I really did but my words seemed to fail me.
"Yuu-chan, are you a hero? I want to hear the story about when you saved the queen." I had escaped the tall blond but now the small one was latched onto my arm, talking excitedly. I just about had enough.
"Who gave you permission to call me Yuu-chan!" I snapped, guilt immediately settled in when the small blond was being comforted by the intimidating 'wild type'.
I cleared my throat and backed up further. "I was just looking for somewhere quiet to study. So if you would please excuse…" I was cut off when I bumped into something –realising too late that it was a pedestal, even worse a pedestal with an expensive looking vase on top of it—. I froze as the harsh shattering sound seemed to be amplified by my own realisation.
"That vase was supposed to be the feature piece for the school auction." one twin started. That didn't sound good, I was already a nervous wreck.
"What will we do? We were going to start the bidding at eight million yen." I honestly wanted to cry right now. Eight million yen.
"I—I'l pay it ba—" even is realised that it was a stupid thing to say, pay it back, who was I kidding. My own realisation did make the final blow a bit better when those twins continued.
"Can you? You can't even buy you own uniform."
"What's with those lame clothes you're wearing anyway." Again I looked down at the things I deemed proper enough to function as my uniform.
"This, I, it was the only thing that looked like a uniform so I…" I mumbled and picked up the books that I had dropped in the commotion.
"what would you do Tamaki?" I looked over at the bespectacled black haired teen. So the overly friendly blond was named Tamaki.
"Do you know this proverb Wakahisa-kun?" I didn't like where this was going. "When in Rome do as the Romans do. If you don't have money, pay with your own body!" I really didn't like the sound of that. "From now on, you are the host club's dog!" I think that was the last straw because I barely remember anything after that.
(✿◠‿◠)
After so many years of hardship, family troubles and drama, younger siblings that took up so much time and energy. Things were finally looking up, I got a place in one of the best schools but now I was trapped by a group that called themselves the Host Club. I was going to have to put off my studying and work to repay the eight million yen that I owed them due to my immense clumsiness. Life was unfair.
"Where will you take me during the summer Tamaki-kun?" one girl asked, gently looking at said teen through her lashes.
"Anywhere you want." He seemed so nice but he really was the worst, shamelessly flirting with all these girls.
What is your favourite music Tamaki-kun?" another girl asked excitedly.
"Whatever you favour." I really started to dislike him.
"I baked a cake today, would you please eat some?" The third girl was gutsy I thought. Asking this so plainly as if it were everyday conversation.
"If you feed me." He got so close to her face. I clenched my fist at my side, huffed and turned away from the spectacle. Tamaki Suoh Class 2A and the Host Club 'King'. He is the kind of guy that I dislike.
There was some loud laughing going on at the table that was hosted by those twins. "And this guy formatted the data he made overnight when he was half asleep!" One of them pointed out.
"Hikaru! That's!" I wasn't sure if the embarrassment was 100% genuine though.
"Then he panicked and came crying to me—" the girls seemed to eat this up though thinking it was absolutely adorable.
"you are so cruel… telling that story in front of everyone.."
"Kaoru.." the tone was soft and comforting. "I'm sorry Kaoru… it's just because you were so cute that time." Their faces were so close that their noses were almost touching. A faint blush spread across my face. I hid my face in my hands.
Those two are Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin, Class 1A, my classmates.
"I don't really understand all of this…" I shook my head slightly, still standing awkwardly next to the bespectacled black haired teen.
"Our motto is to make use of each of our characteristics to answer to the customers' needs." It was almost as if he had sensed my disdain towards a certain blond because he added a last piece of information that made me blank for a few seconds. "By the way, Tamaki is our best." I was handed the request data and was surprised to find that seven out of ten requests were for Tamaki indeed. Did women really like that sort of person?
"you will be taking are of chores for a while. Run away if you want … but I have excellent staff at home." I didn't like the sound of that. "Do you have a passport?" the smile that followed made him look like such a demon and I gulped. Did that mean he would make me leave Japan?
This demon man is Ootori Kyoya, class 2A and the Host Club vice president.
"He's right. Work hard for the eight Million Yen. You won't be popular like that" I let out a very undignified shriek at the sudden appearance of a certain blond behind me. A certain blond that blew warm air across my neck. I tried to calm down my heart beat, mumbling a pathetic 'please don't do that'. I rubbed my neck, trying to get rid of the weird feeling that it left. I scowled at him.
"This is one of my best techniques." My scowl deepened.
"I'm not interested in that kind of thing. Besides, it doesn't really matter does it? Guy or girl, or appearance." It was kind of a pathetic thing to say when I had reacted so self-consciously at being seen and referred to as a man. I think it was more something to reassure myself. "I don't really understand why this kind of club exists." I confessed and shook my head continuing in my original train of thought. "What's on the inside is what counts right? " I offered him a small smile when he acknowledged my point.
"Well, that is true…." The little bit of hope I started to get, that he was not a complete scoundrel was quickly crushed when he dramatically turned towards the light, a hand lightly resting on his forehead and a Rosario clutched to his chest.
"It is horrible… God sometimes creates humans with perfect bodies, including its contents." I sighed and leaned against the wall that was nearby. "I know you need to tell yourself that…" I don't think my poor heart can take much more of this. He continued his monologue.
"How to say this…" I patted a single finger against my cheek as I tried to think of the proper word to describe what was happening right now. Suddenly realisation made me smile. "I know!" I exclaimed.
"you've understood?" Tamaki seemed hopeful, I don't know what he was saying earlier though.
"Obnoxious." I smiled proudly, it disappeared however when the previously enthusiastic blond was sitting in a slightly darkened corner of the room.
A large hand found its way in my hair and ruffled it. "You're strong after all, a commoner with a lot of nerve!"
"There aren't many people who could hurt him that much!" despite the laughing twins, it didn't make me feel any better at all. Had I really hurt Suoh Tamaki that bad? why did I always feel so guilty for everything.
"Euhm… Suoh senpai—" I was interrupted by a sullen sounding "King".
"I go by that here." he clarified. I nodded and tried to step closer only to be halted by the sudden appearance of 3 of the other members that started harassing the –self-proclaimed—king.
"you're blocking the way sir." One of the twins –I honestly don't know which one—pretended to almost trip over the blond. The other adding his own form of 'encouragement'
"don't just slack off from work, lord."
"Tamaki, you have many customers waiting in line." Kyoya reminded him. I let out a small huff as a disguise for a laugh. King he said. No one called him that at all.
"Sorry we are late." I turned around to see the two eldest club members standing there. Class 3A Haninozuka Mitsukuni and Morinozuka Takashi. Apparently they were cousins. Though I really don't know the fine details about their relationship.
There was a sudden increase in activity and squealing when the two seniors arrived and I once again sighed. "I just wanted to find a quiet place to study I admitted." Tamaki had already recovered after no one paid any attention to him and was stood next to me.
"why? What about your home?" he asked. I chewed on the inside of my cheek, how to say this without sounding even more pathetic than I already was.
"I have three younger siblings. The don't know how to be quiet" I confessed. My hands were tugging at the sleeves of my sweater. Tamaki looked down at me a smile on his face.
"Oh, you are the big brother, that's why your parents don't pay for your tuition then." I nodded.
"It's not only that, my mom's fiancé is a bit loud as well." I think the annoyance must have been evident on either my face or in my voice.
"You don't get along well?" I shook my head
"No not really." I contemplated explaining the situation to him. For once he didn't make me uncomfortable and he seemed genuinely interested in what I had to say.
"I never really had a stable home situation, so when it was only my mom and us kids for a while, things seemed to look up, then he came along and started messing up our lives." I shrugged, that was vague enough to satisfy some of his curiosity. "I thought I should do whatever I can to help out at home. If that means getting myself a scholarship to a private academy so be it." I smiled up at him.
He looked pensive at that. "That kind of environment is pitiful isn't it?" I blinked one, twice, three times before letting out a confused huh. "and your stable diet is white rice as I expected?" the sudden change in mood surprised me though. Tears were forming in his eyes when he grabbed me by the shoulders. "Being so poor, you have to be a servant. Or mean rich people overwork you and you cry yourself to sleep?!" this guy didn't make any sense at all.
"What era are you talking about?" I asked him. Well, he wasn't quite wrong, technically I was a servant to rich people right now. He quickly apologised, dabbing a handkerchief under his eyes.
"oh sorry, I've been watching Oshin lately and it's my favourite… I didn't know you were the model of that girl."
"I—I'm not." I was almost at a complete loss of words. All the dramatics seemed to disappear in a second and a serious Tamaki was looking determined at me.
"Ok Yuuki! Time to learn! Maybe it's impossible with your looks, but I'll train you Thoroughly! Let me see – you could probably get—" he trailed off for a moment looking as if he was thinking hard about something. "100 people! If you can get 100 people to request you, you are debt free!" I was shocked. "And be a host star of Oshin world!" no, wait, did this mean-
(✿◠‿◠)
Ouran Host Club's first motto is to be strong, to be dignified, and to be beautiful. I had a lot to learn.
"Thank you for wait—" I put down the glass but was cut off by a paper fan hitting my head and an angry or horrified –I am not quite sure—Tamaki Yelling that I was putting the glass down wrong. Who know that there would be a whole technique and philosophy behind putting down a simple glass. Somewhere along the road I seemed to have upset Suoh-senpai once again, I seem to do that quite a lot actually. That wasn't very encouraging.
"Yuu-chan! Do you want to eat cakes together?" A warm body suddenly collided with my side and arms wrapped around me. Shaking of the initial shock I looked down to see Haninozuka-senpai hugging me. The prospect of cake did sound nice so I nodded at him.
(✿◠‿◠)
"Thank you for buying our things, little piggy. Did you find everything okay?" if that is the first thing a girl hears after getting back from a shopping trip for some rich people, I'd rather try my luck at running away. I huffed and started to unpack the items in the bag.
"huh? What is this?" the curiosity in Suoh-senpai's voice made me look up at him.
"Coffee," I told him. "it was one of the items on the note—" I trailed off. Had I messed up already.
"Is this already ground?" he asked
"no, -" I said a bit uncertain. "it's an instant one." That seemed to spark the interest of the other hosts as they crowed around the blond.
"OOOH! Isn't this the one commoners made? The one where you pour hot water in and the coffee is ready to drink?" the pure wonder and fascination would have been cute if it hadn't also been so offensive.
"This is the rumoured commoners'…" Ootori-senpai trailed off.
"So it's true that poor people don't even have time to grind beans…" it was almost sad to hear everyone's comments. I really did mess up.
"I'm sorry! I'll go buy the right one. I'm sorry it wasn't the expensive coffee beans that you usually use." I apologised and made my way to the door. There was however the interruption of excited voices, claiming that they wanted to try it.
"They are playing around too much. There's no way it suits their taste." I looked over at the pretty brunette that was still seated around Suoh-senpai's table.
"oh, I'm sorry, I was talking to myself." She gave me a smile and I nodded once.
"Yuuki! Come over here and make commoner's coffee for us!" Suoh-senpai's voice broke me out of my thoughts. "Everyone's waiting for you." I turned around to look at the crowd that had formed and swallowed. Why did I have to become the centre of everyone's attention all of a sudden.
I did as asked and made everyone a cup of 'commoner's coffee. " please don't blame me if it doesn't suit your tastes.." I trailed off and fidgeted with the sleeves of my sweater once again. I seemed to do that a lot around these people.
"it won't suit our tastes?" it sounded almost like a challenge when Suoh-senpai said it like that. Everyone seemed excited enough about it though. I rubbed my eyes trying to get rid of the dry feeling that was due to all the stress I was put under in such a short amount of time. I groaned when the first thing I saw was Suoh-senpai being incredibly close to yet another girl. He really was the worst.
"Yuuki! I want another cup!" the excited blond was hard to ignore no matter how hard one tried.
"You liked it?" I asked him. I was slightly surprised to be honest.
"Yup, this inelegant flavour and wonderfully not-rich-taste makes me want it more." I frowned well you don't have to be so oblivious about the harshness of your words. I really started to wonder if he was just an air head or intentionally inconsiderate towards someone's feelings. I leaned towards the first option.
(✿◠‿◠)
Ouran Host Club's second motto is that unending research is the guide to being a good guy. Another day had gone by which meant another day not so well spend in the host club. After the instant coffee incident, the host club king seemed to have found a new hobby; trying commoner's things. Today was no exception.
"Everyone, We'll try the Commoner's Ramen today!" I sighed and went along with it. That seemed to be the easiest way to deal with this. It's how I dealt with my siblings too. Just go along with whatever scheme or idea they get.
"Everyone try to make a different type of ramen! Follow the teacher's instructions!" I puffed out my cheeks and made my way over to the group of six. It was a painful process as I had to explain even the simplest things. Yet, at the same time it was also a wonderful break from being a club's dog/errand girl –or rather boy-.
"My ingredients are stuck to the lid." I was slightly surprised when Morinozuka-senpai talked to me. It made him seem less intimidating. I shook away the surprise.
"If you put the ingredients below the noodles in the beginning, that won't happen." I demonstrated this, offering a bright smile at the tall boy. My attention however was diverted once the playboy kind was once again touching me. My face was held gently in his hands despite my effort to get away.
"You are wonderful! May I express this feeling with my body? I'll give you a thank you kiss." Horrible, despicable, this behaviour is. Why does he have to ruin his gentleness with this playboy attitude. And besides, if he still believed I was a boy, does this mean he has some homosexual tendencies? I must have zoned out because the next thing I heard was one of the twins saying something about a situation not adding up.
"You see, females love two beautiful Homosexuals together. It is a nice plot to have two guys who cannot decide to further the friendship or not." Hikaru started the explanation
"In our case, we have our twin-ness as our forbidden weapon. Moreover we have the beauty of symmetry." They stepped closer, and each of them had a hand delicately resting under my chin.
"In addition you will be loved by the two with such a deep bond at the same time!" I looked from one twin to another, a blush spreading across my cheeks
"Isn't that the ultimate romance for the girls?" it was almost as if they were purring.
"but you can't even pass the first condition" in an instant they were out of my personal space and at Suoh-senpai's side.
"The problem is once again the visual, but then—" Suoh-senpai stepped closer once again, this time in a more civilised manner. "The hair obscuring your eyes isn't helping much." One of his hands reached out and pushed up the dark strands of hair that obscured my eyes most of the time. "Why do you do that actu—" I tried explaining that it made me feel safer, but he just stared at me for a second before setting the twins into motion.
"Kyoya, give a phone call to the schools designated tailor! Mori-senpai, if you –" I was distracted by the twins that suddenly sat me down, draped a piece of cloth over my shoulders and started snipping away at my hair. There was little I could do about it because I didn't want to risk getting stabbed by a pair of scissors. So I quietly endured it, silently fumbling with my sleeves.
After what seemed like an eternity I was pushed behind a changing screen with a new uniform. "senpai?" I called uncertainly.
"Did you finish changing?" I peeked behind the curtain before pulling it back and stepping out.
"this uniform, I—do it get to keep it?" I motioned at myself. To be fair, the Ouran uniform set was 300.000 yen per. So if I got to keep at least this one, despite it being the male uniform, it would help me out a lot.
The sudden hug made me tense up. the even more sudden exclamation that I looked cute made me gasp in shock.
"How lovely you are—" he pulled back and put a hand under my chin, lifting up my face. "you almost look like a girl. Here let daddy see your face clearer." I frowned. almost like a girl he said. They really are idiots after all.
"Yuu-chan, cute –" Haninozuka-senpai was excited as always
"If you had that face why didn't you tell us earlier?" the twins looked slightly perplexed or maybe exasperated?
"maybe you could get a customer or two." Ootori-senpai was once again thinking of profit.
It was a bit overwhelming trying to take in what has been said.
"Yes! Everything was calculated! Here now is the time that your true worth will be revealed! Go show the people your true beauty" it was only a short while after the whole makeover thing that I was seating tensely on a sofa with other girls asking me all sorts of questions. I didn't know what to do. I honestly didn't, but if I served 100 people my debt of eight million yen would be paid off. So I did the only thing that I could think of at the moment. Offer another drink to the girl next to me. It did come as a bit of a surprise that they reacted so happy. It was only common politeness after all.
"You live alone with your mother and 3 younger siblings right?" I nodded, not really knowing where she was going with this. "What happened to your father?" I tensed and looked down for a moment, trying to find the right words.
"He, well, he died about a year ago." The girls looked at me with pity and started to apologise but I held up my hand to stop them. "It's alright, it wasn't a healthy family relation at all. I—I'm just glad I still have my mother. She's the most important person I have" I gave them an embarrassed smile. Honestly I was. She means the world to. We may have it rough but she does what she can and she's been there my whole life.
"Yuuki-kun… may I come tomorrow too?" I blinked not expecting that but nodded and gracefully accepted. I stretched my arms above my head and let out a small yawn. The girls that sat around my table had already left and I was just about done with sitting down.
"Yuuki! This is princess Ayanokouji, say hello to my best customer." I blinked, realizing that this was the same girl that was talking to herself a bit ago.
"It's very nice to meet you." I smiled. Why would she even go for that playboy, I just don't get it. I quickly learned that smiling wasn't the best option when in close proximity to the friendly blond because the next thing I knew he sprung up from his seat, threw his arms around me and exclaimed that I was cute.
"You look so shy, and that's so cute!" I was tense, Is this classified as sexual harassment? Because honestly that's how it felt.
"Ah Morinozuka-senpai!" I called out to the passing boy. "Please help me?" with ease that surprised me, I was pulled out of Suoh-senpai's grasp and put over the tall boy's shoulder. I am also pretty darn sure that he unknowingly felt me up just now.
"here, come back to daddy." Tamaki held out his hands to me and smiled.
"I don't need a father!" I snapped. I was almost wishing I was at home right now, with my 3 siblings, my mother and that irritating man that she called her fiancé. Please someone, or rather whatever deity out there is listening, please help me survive this club. I don't know how much I can take before they drive me up the wall. And yet I felt happy to be surrounded by these people.