My relationship with the hosts started like any other normal girls first encounter with them: at the host club. I would be what one might call a host hopper. I was in the club for one particular reason and that wasn't too be fawned over.
My parents had been busy lately either taking care of siblings or with the business. Our lives had become extremely more hectic of late with Dad's company taking a slight detour. He played it off cool and started putting in more hours. That left mom with the kids and me alone. We used to have nannies, chauffeurs, maids, butlers and the like, the house was full of people bustling about and I was never in a room by myself. The Help were special to me, I had grown up with them and they were like another branch to my family. But when the company started to go, they did to.
First the gardener, then the cook, followed by the maids and eventually everyone. The last to go was the security. We had body guards because where the money goes the thieves follow. And it turns out I'm a shiny label for that check.
Dad, being paranoid, set me up with guards from since I could walk. As a result, I had grown dependent on them. Like they should, they made me feel safe. When they left I felt completely defenseless.
That leads to my first meeting with Tamaki.
"Princess," Tamaki says softly. It takes me awhile to realize he's talking to me. I look up from the homework I had brought along and set it aside as a sign for him to continue.
"If I may, why did you choose me as your host. . ." and not Mori was silently left unsaid. For the past month I had been signing up for Mori as my host and people who sign up with Mori are usually pretty loyal. My out of character reaction must have surprised him.
I looked at him blankly at first. Then smiled brightly, "Because you'd protect me better."
Silence rung throughout the room.
Tamaki looked bewildered before quickly going back to the Prince mode.
"Why do you say that?" he questions, still smiling. "Of course I would always protect you princess, but Mori is a kendo master and only inferior to Honey sempai-"
"But," I cut in before he could finish, "he has to protect Honey." He looks at me curiously so I continue.
"At first I went to Mori because I thought he could protect me the best. He's the only one in the host club with a good build and intimidating stature. " I see Tamaki visibly deflate but ignore it. "But I learned if it were between me being pushed off a cliff, against Honey tripping over a rock, Mori would catch Honey first." I could see Tamaki begin to protest but once again I ignored him.
"But you Tamaki, despite your lanky figure," once again he slacks over, "You would do anything to save a princess."
He looked at me for a while, digesting what I said, considering their truthfulness. Than he smiles gently down upon me.
"I promise to not let you down princess, and as your Prince you can trust my word." And I knew I was safe.
That was the start of Tamaki and my relationship. After a while our roles switched. He wasn't a favorite host, but I was a favorite client. I hadn't noticed it at first. I only discovered after hearing some of his clients in the bathroom complain I was hogging his attention. Initially I hadn't believed them, but none the less I started paying attention.
And I noticed it too.
I usually didn't interact with my host. Instead I brought homework to occupy my time. But Tamaki wouldn't let me have five minutes to myself before he brought me into the group's discussion and that would eventually lead to just me and him talking.
Months of this timid flirting and our relationship grew deeper and we began meeting outside of the club. We'd eat lunch together, he'd walk me to my classes, and would invite me to stay after hosting hours to help clean up with the rest of the members. And when they were completely gone and we were left alone, he 'd play the piano to me.
After one of the songs he told me about his mother and how he missed her. I began opening up to him as well and told him how I missed my family even though they weren't far away. We both yearned for our family's old dynamic and started to talk not just of our family past, but our present and future too.
And we began to fall in love. Because just like how I had been made to feel special by Tamaki, he had been made to feel special by me.