In which the plot actually moves forward.
i own nothing.
For weeks, the drill remained the same. Cole and David would go to the Host Club and I would chill out in the library. It was a weekend like any other weekend and I was spending it as any unproductive, lazy person would: visiting the toy warehouse we had. Of course, it wasn't my interest. Hell, I hated doing anything business related but the toy warehouse was my favorite. My father thought that I would need some experience in managing the business so he let me be in charge of the toy department. To be honest, I think the only reason he ever did that was because it was easy since: A) Nobody bought our toys; B) It wasn't the major attraction of Tanaka Inc.; and C) It was easy enough that a thirteen-year old could do it.
Of course, it didn't sit well with me that my father didn't trust me enough to take care of at least an semi-important part of the business but I wasn't bothered by it for some time. At least, until someone told me that I was worthless and the only reason I would inherit the business was because I would be able to marry someone powerful. That made me pissed beyond belief so I decided that I would prove my father wrong. For five months, I started recruiting creative prodigies and craftsmen to teach me what children wanted and what would sell best. After six months, I had beaten out three of the five top-selling toy companies worldwide. When my dad heard about it, he laughed and said, "I knew you could do it." I swore up and down that he was an evil genius and he had that all planned out but he never said another word about it.
Anyway, I was visiting one of the toy warehouses where we kept all the stuffed animals, old and new designs. It was one of my favorite because there was one room just filled with these little puff-balls and the door was actually a few feet above the puff-pit so I could always just hop in and fool around until I had to go home. I was just checking up on all the stuffed animals to make sure no one had broken in or any of the stuffed animals needed fixing. I wasn't, however, prepared to find the Host Club in my warehouse.
"Kori-chan~!" I felt something small attach itself to my leg and I had to hold onto the wall to regain my balance. I looked down and realized that Hunny was detaching himself from my leg, his eyes shining.
"What the-what are you all doing in my warehouse?" I asked as I saw the rest of the Host Club walk towards me. Cole and David peeked from behind them, their faces filled with guilt.
"They were kinda wondering where you were today so we told them and they wanted to see you so...we came here...?" David said, scratching the back of his neck as if he were trying to figure out why an explanation ended up coming out as a question.
"Okay but why did you want to see me? I have work to do if you hadn't noticed," I asked and dodged a hug from Tamaki in the process.
"I wanted to see me beautiful new daughter~!" Tamaki proclaimed happily as I rolled my eyes.
"Numero uno: I already have a dad; I don't need two. And numero dos: How did you get the access code?" I growled at David and Cole and they both hid behind Morinozuka. I walked behind them and pulled on David's ear.
"Ow! We um kinda asked Lissa for it," David replied and I could practically hear my best friend laughing at me.
"Great. Now I have you morons to deal with while I have a mountain of work ahead of me. Just brilliant,"I grumbled as I let David's ear go. "And just to add to that, my best friend thinks I need to get out more. How wonderful."
"C'mon Kori, it wasn't just Lissa," Cole added. "Your dad is worried, too."
"Well then he should've thought about that before he put me in charge of an entire branch of his company," I snapped. "Now if you don't mind, I have work to do so go fool around somewhere else."
"But daughter~! This is important bonding time!" Tamaki called after me as I began to walk away.
"Listen, if you guys can make this mountain of work just disappear then I'll go but right now I have work to last me at least two weeks," I sighed as I turned towards them.
"We cannot get rid of your work but perhaps we can lessen your load," Kyoya suggested and I eyed him suspiciously.
"And how will you do that?" I questioned Kyoya as he pushed his glasses up his nose.
"If we help you then that means we will lessen your work load nine times over," Kyoya explained and I quickly did the math.
"That means...I'll be done in about three hours," I looked at him and he nodded. "And you're all willing to help me?" Everyone nodded their head in unison.
"So long as we get to explore-"
"Such an interesting place," the twins said, looking around, their eyes aglow with cleverness and mischief yet to be performed.
"I love these toys, Kori-chan! Ne, Takashi," Hunny said and his taller counterpart nodded with a small "Ah."
"As long as my daughter is happy~!" Tamaki sighed happily and Haruhi rolled her eyes but smiled.
"Anything to help," Haruhi said calmly and I smiled at them.
"Alright then. But you all have to listen to me, alright?" I told them and they nodded their heads.
"But I have a question," Haruhi said. "Wouldn't you usually have some other workers to do this for you?" My smile grew and I could almost feel the sparkles in my eyes.
"This warehouse is different. It holds many artifacts, or rather toys, of famous figures from all over history. It's a collection I made to study toy making when I first started out. There are many priceless objects in here; that's why I have a code to get in. Each section of the shelves has a keypad for each and a separate code for the section then a separate code for each individual shelf. Other than that, the motion sensors were on and so were the security cameras but right now the only cameras that are one right now are the ones focused on the entrance and exit and the motion sensors are off. You are each going to just have the master key. There will be a keyhole right beneath the keypad in a small metal box on the wall. Make sure you return the key to its proper place otherwise I'll have to hunt down the copy," I explain as I guide them all over to a wall with rows of keys. "We only have to cover sections sixteen to twenty-seven. You all just have to check off each of the items on the list and make sure to scan the bar code that is on the outside the case. Then write on the sheet whether or not the scanner's light turns red or green. Oh, and write the times that you scanned it and unlocked the shelves. There should be small digital clocks on the scanners. Otherwise, just check your phones."
"I suppose you would like us to split up into pairs," Kyoya asked and I nodded.
"Yeah, and my pair will do the extra shelf unit," I answered. "Just makes sure that each pair is capable to do the work. There are several high shelves so you're all going to have to work together."
After listening to Kyoya rattle off the pairs, I realized that I was paired with a particular tall, and dark senior. I tried not to jump when Mori reached over my head for the scanner and key. I grabbed the clipboard and marker and then turned towards the group.
"Alright guys. Grab what you need and when we're finished make sure to put everything away. Don't touch anything or take anything or break anything unless you want me to skin you alive and sell your organs to the black market," I said cheerily as I walked off towards the shelves Mori and I were assigned.
All that I could hear were feet shuffling, the occasional scanner beep and marker squeal with snippets of conversations that bounced off the walls of the warehouse. For the first couple of minutes both Mori and I worked in silence until Mori saw something on the clipboard.
"The times?" It was supposed to come out as a statement but instead it came out as a question.
"What about them?" I asked, hoping I sounded innocent as we moved down to the next shelf container and Mori stopped and turned to look at me as I ducked my head to look at the clipboard.
"The numbers are written as words," he said and I prayed that he was really gullible.
"I like writing them out; is that such a crime?" I asked, rolling my eyes for the extra measure and Mori stared at me for a minute and then he went back to scanning.
"The times are wrong," he announced quietly and I snap my gaze up to his as he crossed his arms and I glared at him.
"No they're not," I said, my voice wavering as I felt his stare erode at my resolve like acid at teeth. "They are not wrong." I swallowed down a lump or nerves that had bundled itself in my throat.
"Yes they are, Kori," he reasoned as he moved towards me slowly and I took a step back. "Kori. Those times are wrong." My grip tightened on the clipboard and my knuckles looked white and I swallowed while looking down.
"Um...oops," I mumbled not looking him in the eye and I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"What's the matter? I can't help you unless you tell me what's wrong," Mori said and I bit the inside of my cheek so hard that I tasted my blood. Half of my brain was screaming for me to not tell him anything but the other half is begging me to tell someone who might be able to help me. I sighed quietly and then looked up at Mori, gulping.
"Promise not to tell anyone? And I mean anyone. Including Haninozuka," I said and Mori opened his mouth to protest but I glared at him and his mouth shut.
"Fine," he grunted and I put my back to the shelving unit and slid down to the floor. Mori looked down at me.
"I have dyscalculia," I blurted out after a couple moments of silence and Mori glanced at me with confusion. After a couple of minutes, I managed to explain the basics of my learning disability to him.
"So you have trouble reading numbers and sheet music?" Mori questioned after I get up from my sitting position and then I shrugged.
"Um...yeah. My sheet music is usually in large print and then I memorize it as fast as I can so I don't have to perform with ridiculously large notes," I answered him and he nodded. Silently, we continued on but the next time I have to record a time, Mori read the numbers out loud for me, his deep baritone reverberating, loud and clear in the small hallway made by the shelving units. We continued on like this until we reached the end of our units. When we arrived to the location where everything was to be kept, everyone else was already there and seemed to have been there for quite a while.
"What took you two so long?" Cole questioned as I put my clipboard back and Mori put the scanner away.
"I made a couple mistakes on the sheet. No biggie," I answered nonchalantly hoping my bluff would be passable.
"You make a mistake here of all places? Yeah right. You were practically raised in this place, moron," Cole mocked and I glare at him.
"Says the guy who constantly makes a mess of his English homework and then claims to be the best writer int he world," David defended me and flashed me a look of concern. I shook my head at him and then turned back to the group as Cole spluttered to defend himself.
"Alright, what is this amazing 'thing' you all wanted me to do?" I asked and Tamaki quickly stepped up to tell me about it. I mostly zone out as I lock the warehouse doors and climb into their car. When we finally arrived at our destination, I stare at the huge fairgrounds and then at Tamaki.
"You guys took me to an amusement park?!"
whoa, that took a while.
sorry for the shitty update guys and the long wait. i'm just starting school again but i'm woking on writing for so don't worry; i'm not dead.
anyway, thanks for reading, y'all are amazing!
: )
(i'mabouttoshamlelesslyadvertisemyself)
y'all should go and read my other story The Calendar Club. It's about a dysfunctional blog-runner, a proud gay man, a reluctant and beautiful bullied girl, and a crossdresser.
have fun.
