Kyoya gives a fleeting glance to the raven-haired girl as she walks into the room. She's been a regular for at least a few weeks, and the twins claimed her instantly. She was so calm and collected that all the hosts were surprised she'd get along with two such loud and playful people. Ryoko was her name. Ryoko Hayashi. Kyoya had done his research into her – as he had with every other regular of the host club – and the Hayashi family had dealt with his family in some business matters before.
Ryoko heads over to the twins, says something funny apparently, and the twins laugh in unison. To Kyoya's slight surprise, she comes over to him.
Ryoko's POV
"Kyoya-senpai?" He looks at me sideways, his sharp grey eyes showing intrigue from behind his glasses. "I have requested you as my host today." I give him a small smile. I've paid attention to him. He's devious, always plotting something. He is truly deserving of the "Shadow King" nickname Haruhi gave him. He intrigues me as much as I probably intrigue him.
"Have you?" He turns to me, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes." I answer, sitting across the table from him and smiling slightly. He closes his laptop and tucks it away in a bag next to his chair.
"Aren't you normally hosted by the Hitachiin twins?"
"I am." I reply, leaning forward, putting my elbows on the table and resting my chin on my hands.
"You know host-switching is highly looked down upon here." His voice is so cool and ambiguous. It's not as if there's no emotion, it's more like you can't tell what emotion to associate with him.
"I only intend to switch once." I smile coyly. He gives a small smile in return.
"So, what is it you would like to talk to me about?" He's charming. The "Cool Type."
"Anything you'd like to talk about. Ask me a question." I challenge politely. He considers me for a moment.
"You are Ryoko Hayashi. You are very intelligent. In fact, you're one of the smartest students in this school. So isn't the host club a little, how shall I say, frivolous for someone like you?" He asks, using his first two fingers to push his glasses up his nose. I can't help but let out a small laugh in reply.
"Kyoya-senpai, you are right. I have no need to come to a club to have some very attractive boys make me feel good about myself. I came because of a friend; then I became interested in everyone in the host club. There's so many unique personalities to observe."
"Fair answer." He tilts his head to the side a little, which is actually pretty attractive. "And what have you observed?"
"Something I realized right away is that Haruhi is in fact a girl." I give a coy smile again, enjoying the slight look of surprise on his face. Breaking Kyoya's cool demeanor even just a little feels like an accomplishment somehow.
"That fact cannot leave this conversation." Kyoya says, his voice becoming deadly serious.
"Of course not," I smile. "I rather like everyone in the host club, and I have no wish to reveal Haruhi's secret. I was just stating an observation." Kyoya visibly relaxes.
"So, Ryoko, what things have you observed about Hikaru and Kaoru?" He asks. I give him a small smirk. Despite his nonchalant tone, I know he's asked because I chose the twins first instead of him.
"Their twincest is obviously just an act for starters. That did not appeal to me at all anyway. Hikaru is different than Kaoru. Kaoru is a little kinder and more mature, but I can't tell them apart when they're hair is the same like Haruhi can." I laugh.
"Then why them as your hosts?"
"They're fun to be around, and they're in one of my classes. Their pranking is actually rather amusing." I smile a little.
"How is that?" Kyoya politely contributes to the conversation.
"Well, I'm smarter than them. I counteract their pranks with more cunning, intelligent pranks. It's quite enjoyable." He stays calm and collected as usual.
"What about the rest of the hosts? What do you observe about them?" He acts so distant it's almost frustrating. Like a game of cat and mouse.
"Mori-senpai is devoted to Honey-senpai, but he's a little deeper than he looks. There's a girl who comes regularly that I think he has interest in." I muse, then continue. "Tamaki-senpai is a bit of a fool honestly, but he really loves Haruhi, and he understands more about her than she realizes, I'd say."
"You're pretty good at this." Kyoya laughs.
"I consider myself to have at least some observational expertise." I laugh in reply. "I've heard a lot about you, Kyoya-senpai."
"Oh?" He asks, raising an eyebrow.
"I have close to perfect grades in all my classes, but everyone I know from higher grades say that your scores in those same classes were better than mine. Your name is mentioned quite a lot in my circles." I explain. He looks down and gives a slight, smug smile.
"I researched you once you became a regular of the host club, your grades are quite impressively high."
"Not as high as they could be apparently." I smile in return. I give a shifty glance at the clock and know I have to go. "Forgive me, Kyoya-senpai, but I am needed home early today." I say, standing up.
"Understandable." He nods. A second later, Kaoru's arm slings around my shoulders from the right and Hikaru's from the left.
"Leaving so soon, princess?" They ask in unison.
"My father has a business meeting he needs me at." I giggle in response.
"That's a shame because – " Hikaru starts the sentence.
" – it's so much more fun when you're here." Kaoru finishes.
"I'm going to be back tomorrow, though!" I laugh, enjoying their friendly attention.
"True." They sigh in unison. I push their arms off my shoulders and turn to leave. I glance over my shoulder at Kyoya.
"Until tomorrow then?" I ask, and he simply gives that small smile and nods. I leave the room and make my way to the school's front doors, where my father has sent a limousine to pick me up and take me home. My hands shake as I enter the car. My father said "business meeting," but that could mean anything. Anything at all.