Author's notes: I don't own any of it. I also have NO idea what I'm doing, as this is my first fanfic in years. And definitely in this genre. I hope to write more on this later as I DO have ideas on what to do with it, but...well, we'll see. This follows the Anime, as I preferred it over the manga. Told from Kyoya's point of view. If there are mistakes, please message me instead of putting it into the comments.
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Delegation.
The mark of a true leader. Knowing who to trust, and how much. Who is best for which job. What role each person can best serve, when and where. Who's ready, who's not, and who just needs a little push. Kyoya knew.
Many people called it manipulation. He didn't mind. As if it was a bad thing to be able to manipulate circumstances. Isn't it what everyone did, to a certain extent? Kyoya was just a master at it.
He had thought he was a master when he had first met Tamaki, however that idiot had defied all his expectations. He had seen past Kyoya's mask and forced him to throw it aside. He had never been as infuriated as much as when he had finally punched that dithering idiot. Not before, and not after either. It was a blessing in disguise, though he didn't realize it at the moment. He just knew the complete frustration of realizing his position, as well as the intense satisfaction of finally fighting back and showing his true thoughts.
Looking back, Tamaki's friendship taught him all new things. It taught him how to occasionally have fun. It taught him to try new things. He was able to study new personalities and environments, opening himself to new experiences and possibilities. It taught him that having people who knew who he really was released some of the pressure he felt when he was pretending to be someone else. With the occasional break, he was able to become even more manipulative, as he wasn't constantly working under stress. It taught him new methods of manipulation. He really should thank Tamaki some day, though probably not. He'd take it wrong.
It also taught him new leadership skills. When he was a loaner, he had been intentionally confining himself, though he hadn't realized how. It's impossible to be a leader when there's no one to lead. Of course, before Tamaki, he hadn't dreamed of becoming a leader.
So Kyoya learned to delegate. He delegated dreaming and inspiring to Tamaki. Cheering up was delegated to the twins and Huni-sempi. Mori-sempi was the rock, the steady person. You always knew what he was going to do. Kyoya led, but from the shadows. With Takashi being the "leader" it allowed for Kyoya to spend more energy on actually running things. He didn't mind.
Then, in the second year of the host club, she walked in. Looking for a place to study she said. He knew right away that she was a girl. He had memorized the student roll after all. You never knew who would turn out to be important. He didn't say anything though, curious as to how this would play out. So few things were actually entertaining anymore, after all. Even the host club had fallen into routine lately.
He observed dispassionately as events unfolded.
Huni was the next to realize. Then Hikaru and Kaoru pulled off her glasses and everyone realized they had discovered a diamond. When Kaoru and Hikaru were forcibly ejected from the changing room, they were wearing matching knowing smiles that Kyoya understood. Next came Mori and finally Tamaki joined in. Though slightly disappointed the surprise was so quickly revealed, Kyoya wondered what new things would be eventually be revealed. He had the feeling this new addition would continue to entertain. Tamaki raised her debt. Made sure she would stay. Kyoya didn't object. He didn't mind.
He quickly realized that he had, again, been confining himself. He knew how to manipulate, to lead, his peers, but had never really worked with commoners before. Once he saw this, he began to go out of his way to study and test Haruhi. The entire host club began studying her almost as much as Kyoyo did, curious as to how this commoner would behave.
She was different.
She couldn't be impressed.
She had people.
She never ceased to amaze.
By the time Kyoya thought to wonder if she was actually a good example of commoners to study, it was too late. Everyone was fascinated, the terrifying Shadow King included. And surprisingly, he found he didn't mind.
