Chapter 7: Beware of Managers Pt. 1

I woke to a phone ringing off the hook, it was late and I was just falling asleep.

"What?" I grumbled into the phone near my bed, not caring who it was on the other end of the line.

"Hello Emi, I didn't think you'd be asleep at this time. I'm calling to tell you about that phone call." Kyoya's reasoning voice sounded from the other line. I jolted awake from that piece of news.

"Really, that fast? Who was it?" I asked, sounding excited.

"It wasn't too hard, just a matter of tracing an old phone. But it turns out that the person who called wasn't anyone that we know." Kyoya stated simply. "I know you were expecting better results but that is all that I have. Now, don't forget you owe me a favor for this…"

His voice died away as I stopped listening. The person who called wasn't Hikaru. I hung up after that. My mind was surging at a million miles an hour, it wasn't him. I sat back and stared straight ahead, this was something I wanted. I picked up my panda bear and looked at my ceiling; wishing that Kyoya's call had a different revelation. I rolled back over in time for the phone to ring again. I groaned as I reached once more to the phone.

"Hello?" I said, rolling my eyes a bit. Who in their right of mind decides to call at this time, especially when the person on the other end was dying to lay back and ignore the world?

"Hello my beautiful daughter, how is daddy's favorite little girl? Anything happen lately?" His voice announced through my ears. I cringed and held the phone a ways away.

"Everything is perfect dad, why'd you call?" I asked skeptically. Dad never calls unless to inform us of something going on and usually if that's the case he'd just come over and talk. This is probably something not important but needed to know.

"I just wanted to tell you that you'll be getting a new student tomorrow in your class, she's coming in from France, and I want you to get know her. I'm sure you'll get along splendidly." He gushed on about this new girl. I lay back on my bed and began reading one of my nearby comic books.

"Yeah, sounds great dad," I said quickly when he decided to take a breath. "I'll keep an eye out for her bye." I slammed the phone closed and went back to focusing on what to do about tomorrow. Since the call wasn't Hikaru, we must not have been feeling the same things. I felt like the weight of the world was crushing me. The guy I thought loved me might not have had it. The strange thing though, with this feeling a strange sense of relief. Maybe I just didn't feel the same way either, and got caught up in a fantasy. I picked up my panda and gave it a look. "What do you think? Maybe I was just fooling myself into thinking he and I were meant to be." I spoke aloud, calming myself down a bit at this idea. I laughed quietly, what I was saying helped the other feeling of overwhelming crush go away.

~next day~

I woke up before the maids for once, never expected that would ever happen. I rolled out and went to get my uniform. My hair was standing in different directions today, the caramel strands looking sillier than ever. 'That's it I'm changing the color.' I thought as I pulled out the different barrettes and bobby pins. By the time I was ready, the maids came in to wake me.

"Young Miss, what are you doing up?" one of them asked. She looked surprised at this sight. I smirked at her and continued to pin back my endless curls.

"Glad you're here though, I could use some help with getting my brother up. He won't budge sometimes." I said with a laugh, sometimes Tamaki was worse than I was with waking up. "Maybe you can go give him a wakeup call for me." I wink at her, causing the maid to be a bit flustered, but she left and did as I asked. It was strange how sometimes I can pull of a host club move and get the exact reaction needed. I looked at myself in the mirror and gave a small smile; this look is definitely how I'll hide what happened to Tamaki. There was no way I could tell him yet.

"Good morning Miss," Shima stated formally, waiting with the rest of the staff downstairs. I waved and began my walk to the kitchen for some breakfast. "I had the cooks prepare a western style omelet, just as you like it."

"Thank you Shima, but I think I'll skip out on breakfast this morning, I'm not that hungry today. I think I'll go ahead and take the car." I say heading towards the door. "Don't worry I'll send it on back for Tamaki. It should be back in time to get him there on time." I close the door before she could protest or stop me. She might've been an employee but she acted like some mother hen to both me and Tamaki. It was refreshing on most days, but not today.

The car ride was uneventful, and gave me time to collect my thoughts for class today. I got there very early, enough time to take a seat and finish reading the comic I started last night. The only other person in class was Haruhi. She was studying quietly in the seat next to mine. I can't believe it took me this long to notice her really. But then again before coming to the club she ignored us just as much.

"Hey Haruhi, what're you reading?" I asked as I sat down. She looked up and gave me a smile.

"Good morning Emily," the expression she was giving me, was affecting me like one of the customers; no wonder Kyoya referred to her as the natural. "I'm reading the history book we started on yesterday. What are you doing here this early? It's unlike you to be here…don't tell me your brother dragged you here on one of his schemes?" she asked with an annoyed look towards the door. Almost like she was expecting him to come bursting through the very door; I had to laugh.

"No, no he isn't here yet. I'm only here because I woke up early and didn't want to wait for him." I said quickly, hoping she didn't ask anything else. "You do know he means well, and it isn't too bad when he has a plan. Kyoya keeps him on a level of sane, so no worries." I paused in my reading, realizing I never heard what the favor was that Kyoya wanted me to do. "I'll be right back." My brother's class wasn't too far off from my own. Also I had a feeling that Kyoya would already be here. He sat near the middle of his class, already pouring over that black book of his. I rolled my eyes at his stance; I didn't have a memory of him with that in his hand. The walk over to his desk was a short one and I was quiet enough he didn't hear me coming. I leaned over and looked into the book; it was filled with notes on the club and figures for a bunch of other business stuff; probably for the Ootori group.

"If you're going to continue to read over my shoulder I'd prefer if you would give me a greeting." He informed me without even looking up from his work. I rolled my eyes at this and stuck my tongue out at him.

"If I did that, I'd never get to see what was in the book. You always close it when you're talking with someone or it's too high that I can't see what's in it." I said, taking a seat at the desk next to his.

"You do know all you need to do is ask and you'll know what's in the book. Just as long as you don't tell anyone what is in it." He stated with a smirk, he continued to write in the book. I leaned forward trying to get a look at what it was exactly. "So, why are you here so early?"

"Seriously? I show up early one morning and everyone questions it. I might as well just come in late and save me the trouble." I say, looking at him with a pair of sad puppy eyes. He gave me the look he usually gives my brother when he's acting like a moron.

"I swear both you and your brother are too much alike to be half-siblings." He stated, "But you didn't answer my question."

"I woke up early; also I needed to ask what that favor you needed was." I give an exasperated sigh at him.

"Ah, that…I'll tell you what it is when it gets closer to the time. I can't have you backing out beforehand." He stated simply. I rolled my eyes and gave him a look.

"You know I always keep my word. Also it's a favor to you a) You're basically family to me and Tamaki, and b) you have a police force backing you up; who's gonna escape that?" I stated simply giving him a smirk. It was strange, if I was anywhere else I'd never be able to muster up the personality it takes to be this snarky, but with Kyoya, for some reason, it comes easily. In fact it's cheering me up, the weight I had been feeling all morning was lifting bit by bit with every word I said to him.

"True, but I'd prefer to tell you when I want to." He stated simply. "It's useless to force someone into telling them about something they don't want to share."

"I guess you're right." I said with a smile, it seemed like he was hinting at something other than this conversation. He continued to work after that, I sat in the seat next to him reading a bit over his shoulder. I was content to be there, no need to have a conversation. It helped me prepare for the school day ahead of me. By the time the bell rang for class, I was ready to deal with whatever came my way. "Thanks for letting me hang with you for a bit." I said while walking out before too many people came in, it would be awkward to try and explain what I was doing in a different classroom.

"No, it was fine. See you at the club activities this afternoon." He informed me without looking up from his book. I got to the class before the teacher even entered the room. I sat in front of the twins, planning to ignore them till club. I hoped they didn't need to tell me anything, seeing Hikaru all over again brought that weighed down feeling all over again; although it wasn't as unbearable as before. The teacher came in quickly, followed by a girl with light brown hair and a big pink bow. She looked quiet.

"Ladies and gentlemen I'd like to introduce Renge Houshakuji." The teacher informed us with a smile.

"I am very pleased to meet you." She stated with a smile and a bow. I smiled, so this is the girl my father wanted me to meet.