Yamayurikai Host Bu by Wordsworthy
Disclaimer: I obviously do not own the Marimite series or the Ouran Host series. This is, after all, just a fanfiction written for the sole purpose of entertainment and no profit motive whatsoever. So please just enjoy the story and do not sue me for this. If you wish to know more about the series, please support the companies producing them directly and purchase their merchandise if you like.
Chapter 2: Yumi the Hot Potato
Fukuzawa Yumi is… a sheep. Yes, that was exactly how Fukuzawa Yumi felt as she made her way slowly towards the Rose Mansion. No, it really has very little to do with the general Lilian and Quadruped tradition of walking slowly. No, it really has very little… well it may actually have something to do with the ruminating nature between the dilly-dallyer and the grazer. But more importantly, it had a lot to do with how easily herded the two above mentioned species were.
The meek pigtailed girl sighed. It took just this brief lapse in her attempt to repress her memory for the events of that traumatic day to flood right back into her mind. First up was the tie incident and the accidental but blissful collision with her idol and beloved sempai, Rosa Chinensis en bouton. Back then, she would have probably have died a happy carefree soul. Next up was the strange mix-up and misrepresentations that had culminated in the above mentioned crush character offering her rosary to her, along with her offer of soeur-ship.
Yumi stopped in her tracks at that memory. A few moments later, she squatted down and held her head in her hands when she remembered that she had turned her down. Never had she ever thought, that is to say ever even conceived, fantasized or any synonyms of the like, about an opportunity like that. As if that wasn't bad enough, she had the audacity and extravagant luxury to turn her down. Right then, she really felt like commiting Seppuku in order to make restitution to the world at large for that sinful act. A picture of herself kneeling in seiza on a tatami floor with a wakizashi in hand came into her mind, complete with a Sachiko-sama in her suave samurai garb looming overhead, almost too eager to assist. However, as Yumi was allergic to pain, she snapped out of this daydream as well with a start.
"What am I doing…? I have to buck up…"
As Yumi stood up and dusted her skirt off a little, one would probably think 'Well, how could things possibly get any worse?' or some other clichéd one-liners. Needless to stay, it did. The proof of which was about to begin now that she entered the door to the Rose Mansion once again, followed by a pouncing glomp thereafter.
"Yumi-chan! You're late!"
"Ahh! Rosa Gigantea! Please get off me! You're heavy!"
"W-What on earth is this??" exclaimed Yumi in her delightful, deer in the headlights fashion as she grabbed the school newspaper on the table within the meeting room.
"Oh? You didn't know? That's the Lillian Kawaraban special newsletter. Honestly, haven't you been paying attention again Yumi-chan?" chided Satou Sei nonchalantly, skirting around the issue that Yumi was actually referring to deliberately.
"Rosa Gigantea! I meant the headlines and the picture under it! Why am I on it!?"
The blonde third-year rested her chin on Yumi's head as she peered down on the school tabloid.
"Oh really? Let me take a look… hey, you're right! 'Yamayurikai set to start Host Club Project, featuring Fukuzawa Yumi, the girl who almost became Rosa Chinensis en bouton no petite soeur.' Uwaa… that sure was a mouthful…"
Youko smiled discretely when Yumi exclaimed out "Please stop messing around with me Rosa Gigantea!" for what seemed to be the fifth time today. However, it was more of Sei's familiar antics to rile up her Rosa Chinensis en bouton than anything malicious, judging by the near miniscule movements of her own soeur's eyes. Perhaps she was still sore over the whole Shimako thing… Nevertheless, as amusing as it was, it was time for her to do some… work.
"Yumi-san, the Lillian Kawaraban newsletter was just to gather some publicity for the Host Club, so please don't mind. I checked in with Minako-san to make sure nothing untrue was added and that our… bet remains between and within the Yamayurikai. So don't worry about it." reassured Rosa Chinensis earnestly.
"Publicity de… I think the problem is that I have too much publicity now…" droned the first-year sullenly as the memory of the outrageous bet resurfaced.
"Let's make a bet." suggested Rosa Gigantea in a compromise. "Like Yumi-san said, it's not fair to force her to be in the Host Club project by pulling rank, so how about we give Sachiko a chance by having her play a penalty game?"
"So if I win?" asked Sachiko directly.
"You're off the hook for the Host Club. I'll turn my vote in your favour. You have my word in this."
"I understand. So what is the bet?"
Yumi jumped inwardly when Rosa Gigantea turned her attentions unto her, particularly that wickedly devious light in her eyes.
"Whether or not you can make Yumi-chan your petite soeur. You have until the day before the school festival."
Both Rosa Chinensis en bouton and her prospective petite soeur balked at that revelation while the two other senior Roses had laughter written all over the back of their eyes.
"However, considering Sachiko's… inherent charms, a handicap will have to be in placed to protect poor old Yumi-chan from your wiles. Hence, the only way you can secure Yumi-chan as your petite soeur is by outperforming Yumi-chan in our rehearsals for the host club. Doing something you so hated is a very difficult task and a suitable disadvantage, don't you think?"
Sachiko's eyes darkened as the prospects didn't please her very much. Yumi's were more in the state of shock than anything.
"Oh yeah, one more thing. Just so that you don't just lose deliberately to Sachiko in order to help her out of the pinch, in the event that Yumi-san does lose, then in addition to taking Sachiko's place for the Host Club, Yumi-san will have to be my inu… oops, I mean gopher… ah, I mean odd-tasker for an indefinite period of time."
Even though she wasn't the brightest person around, Yumi noticed something was amiss and voiced out her observation.
"Then more than a bet between Sachiko-sama and the roses, I'm practically the bet, the prize and the penalty?"
The devil known as Satou Sei flashed her one of her dastardly winks before ruffling her hair a little.
"You sure understand well."
"Don't worry your cute little head over it too much Yumi-chan. It just a tea session with some of the other students after all." said Sei as she got off the poor first-year at last.
"That isn't very comforting coming from the one who began the mess in the first place, Rosa Gigantea…"
Youko chose that moment to clap her hand a few times to gather everyone's attention to herself, before opening up a clipboard file for reference.
"Alright, here are the arrangements for today. In order to prevent overcrowding during rehearsals, we have already selected the 'customers' from those who volunteered for the trial run. The senior Roses will be walking around to check on things and chipping in here and there in order to assess the proceeding of the rehearsal properly. The rest of you will be doing the actual 'hosting' at different locations. Sachiko and Yumi will be using the second level, Rei and Yoshino the first floor, and Shimako will be using the garden outside. I hope you don't mind the arrangement Shimako."
The pretty first year bouton shook her head in reply, her wavy chestnut hair bouncing gorgeously.
"I don't mind the arrangement. I like the outdoors more anyway."
"Alright, the customers should be arriving shortly. Tea has already been prepared in advance, as well as any other things you might need. If nothing else, let's get in place shall we?" informed Rosa Chinensis before closing the file and case.
The others soon filed out of the meeting room, leaving Yumi alone in the room with Sachiko. An awkward silence soon befell the room. Not knowing really what to do, Yumi fidgeted a little in her seat before hearing the gentle scraping of a nearby chair.
"S-Sachiko-sama?
The abovementioned girl had stood up and was currently closing in on the first year. Not wanting to be seen as rude by the upperclassman, Yumi stood up as well.
"Anou…"
"Please don't move." instructed the current Rosa Chinensis en bouton as she raised a hand up and towards Yumi. Yumi winced slightly in preparation, but the harsh contact never did come, only a gentle touch registered by her ear. Yumi opened her eyes in surprise and promptly blushed a brilliant pink when she realized that Sachiko-sama wasn't planning to hit her at all, but was instead brushing stray strands of hair from her ear.
"Gomen ne…"
The unexpected apology caught the girl off guard and jolted her out of her Sachiko-induced daze.
"W-What for, Sachiko-sama?"
"Things got a little heated the other day, but I realized that it was really me who dragged you into this whole mess. Hence I felt the need to apologise. Futhermore…"
Surprising the first year further, Sachiko reached for her tie and fixed it tenderly for no real apparent reason.
"That picture… it was taken yesterday morning wasn't it? I just remembered now."
Yumi took a moment, but finally responded with a query of her own.
"So… you really couldn't remember when you saw the picture yesterday?"
"Not when it took place, at least." answered Sachiko matter-of-factly as she finished straightening the tie out. "Then I really met you for the first time yesterday."
"Hai."
"I feel better now that I remembered." Sachiko smiled with a sense of relief.
"Sachiko-sama, do you fix so many underclassman's scarves that you can't remember each one?"
"Actually… Eyeh, I don't usually do that. I wonder why I did it yesterday… I'm not a morning person, so I must have done it absent-mindedly. That must be why I couldn't remember it right away."
"Really…?" sighed Yumi a little disbelievingly before Sachiko jolted her out of her daze again with a declaration of war.
"But then again, our bet is still on despite all this. I will be doing my best to win, so please work hard too Yumi."
Before Yumi could answer, the biscuit door opened and the head of a blonde devil popped in.
"Oya oya, are we interrupting something good?"
The first year almost jumped out of her skin, but the other girl merely took up her beatific bouton smile and diffused the awkwardness expertly.
"Eyeh. I was just having a word with Yumi. Are the guests here, Rosa Gigantea?"
The heads of a certain bespectacled photographer and a short-haired newspaper reporter popped in as well.
"Yo, we've come to play Yumi-san!"
"Tsutako-san! Mami-san! Katsura-san and everyone too! What are you all doing here?"
It was Rosa Gigantea who answered the question casually while a few camera flashes attacked Yumi fondly.
"It was Rosa Chinensis's idea to have you girls acclimatized to the task slowly, so we gave priorities to the volunteers from your own class, except for Mami-san who was bugging us non-stop until we let her in. Oh, but rest assured, she won't be using it a material for the paper, isn't that right Mami-san?"
"Hai. I'm just being curious here."
"Don't you mean nosey?" admonished Rosa Gigantea playfully. "Oh, I hear the second year Pine class coming up now. Kindly get in and settle down so we can have some room to manoeuvre them around."
"Hai."
And so the first day of Host Club rehearsals concluded peacefully and rather well received for our Fukuzawa Yumi. The perceived guests were, after all, girls that she already knew from her own class and the rehearsal turned out to be an enjoyable tea party for all involved. However, the girl in question couldn't really dodge the bullet for long and hence, as we would have it, the next rehearsal proved to be more of a challenge. Fortunately or otherwise, Sachiko had to leave early due to a family appointment, giving her one less cause of worry for now at least.
"Anou… I'm…" began Yumi hesitantly as she set down the tray of teacups.
"We know who you are, Fukuzawa Yumi-san." replied one of the second year customers with a smile. It was kind of a redundant question on Yumi's part though, seeing that all the customers now designated their hosts specifically. "We were just talking about you, Yumi-san."
"Sou sou, could you tell us the truth about what's going on?" asked another face that she hardly knew
Yumi inhaled deeply as the questions she had come to expect continued. Her stomach felt like it was turning head over heels with nervousness, but she would do her best to answer them.
"Is it true that you turned down Sachiko-sama's offer? And if you did turn her down, why are you spending time with her?"
"Yumi-san, what duties areyou carrying out for the Yamayurikai?"
"Which Onee-sama do you like best?"
If Sachiko-sama were in my position, she'd say… thought Yumi uneasily.
"I apologise for causing such a fuss. Because of certain circumstances, I am helping the leaders of the Yamayurikai with the Host Club project. It is because of that that I've been able to speak with them."
"Then what about Sachiko-sama's proposal?"
If Sachiko-sama were in my position …
"Is it true that Sachiko-sama asked you to be her soeur? Even though you turned her down…"
If Sachiko-sama were …
"That's just a rumor, right? Right? Yumi-san?"
Sachiko-sama…
"Do…do you think Sachiko-sama will really choose someone like me to be her soeur?"
The dam that she had tried so desperately to hold back finally burst, and as a result all the pent up frustrations, anxiety and insecurities flowed out and threatened to flood her eyes further with wetness.
"Yumi-san!"
"Oh my! What should we do?"
"We're sorry, we weren't trying to make you cry."
The group of eight individuals from wholly different levels and classes recoiled at the sight of the crying girl and apologised for their unintentional deed. Almost immediately, the girls united in their desire to support and make up to their host as best they could, surrounding her with pats on her back and hands, fussing over her with paper handkerchiefs… The display of kindness touched the sobbing girl enough to continue, pouring forth her feelings to the sympathetic ears around her.
"I really do like Sachiko-sama. But because I have feelings for her… because I have feelings for her, it's too much to suddenly be able to spend time with her like this. Why can't any one understand that? I was happier just watching her from afar. Then I wouldn't have to act in ways that contradicted my feelings…"
The eyes of the guests softened further as they finally managed to understand and empathize more with her situation, an ordinary girl like them plucked from obscurity and plonked into an extraordinary circumstance. In reality, it may not be that dramatic a situation but in the minds of the young high-schoolers, it was practically mind-boggling.
"We're sorry Yumi-san… even when we heard about the rumours about you, we were only thinking about ourselves."
"Sou… you've done nothing wrong."
"Please cheer up Yumi-san."
"Yes, please do. You're really nice person. I'm glad to have the chance to know you like this."
"If Sachiko-san doesn't take you to be her soeur, I would."
The thought of her Sachiko-sama's reaction to that suggestion and the earthshaking battle that would ensue actually made Yumi laugh out slightly even as she dabbed at her hurting eyes with a tissue, her feelings finally calming down and evening out. At the mixture of relieved and confused looks she received, she continued forth.
"I'm sorry… this is so unbecoming of me… I'm supposed to be entertaining you girls…"
"Don't worry about such small things."
"Sou. I think we're out of tea, but don't worry I'll get them."
Yumi tried to stand to intercept the girl from doing her job but felt herself firmly held in place by the girls by her side.
"Ah, I should get the tea. I can't let guests do…"
"Don't mind, don't mind. We sure don't."
"Yes, let's talk some more Yumi-san."
Outside the biscuit door, a certain Rosa Chinensis, Rosa Foetida and Rosa Gigantea stood with their ears on the door. All of them had the urge to charge into the room and berate the girls who made their prospective new petite soeur cry, but given the way things turned out and the unexpected but easy rapport the mousy first year had gathered, they were glad that they held back.
"Phew… She's being accepted… a complete natural!" whistled Sei quietly.
"She doesn't need technique. She even has the guests serving her instead." added Youko as well.
"Hard to tell who's the host here. Looks like she'll give you a run for your money, Sei." finished Eriko of their observations.
The three roses looked at each other before breaking out in hushed guffaws.
"I suppose with all the unique people around, Yumi-chan's honest and down to earth nature lets her really stand out." mused Eriko thoughtfully.
"Well, I'm going in to spice things up for our honest and down to earth girl." declared Sei valiantly as she ventured forth and beyond the door.
"Sei, don't tease her too much now."
That advice seems to have been deliberately ignored judging by the sound of squeals and more laughter from behind the biscuit door.
"Wow, Tanuki-chan! How are things here?"
"Rosa Gigantea! You're heavy! And wait, I'm not a tanuki!"
"Ah, then Racoon-san?"
"I'm not a raccoon either!"
"How about a Lesser Panda?"
"Rosa Gigantea! Aren't they all the same? Do I look that much like one?"
"Totally."
Author's Notes:
For this chapter, I had reworked certain sequences around, added some of my own and combined others to create this scenario of mine. Hope it turned out believable and interesting. I've decided to combine Yumi and Haruhi a little, although I might have to take out the latter's sarcasm and apathy for now. No worries though, there's so many interesting Mariamite characters that someone else can take that personality easily enough.
As usual, please read and review. Constructive or positive comments are always welcomed.
That's all for now, later.