AN: I'm back! I uh, decided to try to add a new dynamic to Akari's character. You've seen some of her brattiness, right? In her actions and thoughts. I hope you did at least. Well if not, you really will now because I'm going to try to make it more obvious, add some childish tendencies, and make her react a bit more uh emotionally, I guess. You know, have her act like a teen with attitude problems. I'm kinda iffy on this chapter overall, it's a filler mostly but I wanted to introduce a mindframe to Akari and this was the best way I could think to do it. Let me know what you think. R&R~!
In case anyone noticed, I originally updated the wrong file I had on my flash drive. So if anyone sees a new update I just fixed the mistake I made. Whoops!
The fact that all I have to my name right now is about two bucks tells me I don't own OHSHC.
"Akari-sama," I look up from my desk inquisitively, seeing Kotone watching me patiently. "Rishou-sama has requested you." Well that doesn't sound good.
"I'll go in just a minute Kotone," I answer, bustling up and making sure that I look presentable. I look alright, I guess. The yellow of the uniform makes my skin look red and my figure plumper than usual. All in all, I look like a child trying to look nice. But I'll take it. I run a brush through my hair one time and make sure that my make-up isn't smeared before I walk quickly out of my room. I don't run though, that isn't lady like.
By the time that I had reached the door to Father's office, my hands were shaking and sweat was trailing down my neck. Father never called me unless something important was going on and nothing important is good in my case. I'm not special in a good way… it's just impossible for me. Despite me knowing what will happen, a ball of hope fills me. Maybe, just maybe, Father will say that he's proud of me. Maybe he'll acknowledge all of the studying I do to keep up my average grades. Maybe he'll acknowledge how hard I work at the piano lessons he had me start so I became more cultured. Maybe he'll just say he's proud because I'm me. Because I've come so far.
Aaaaaaand, I've just been standing here staring at the door intensely. How intelligent looking. My lip aches from how hard I had been biting it. I knock meekly, feeling stupid."Come in, Akari." I follow the command immediately, shutting the door softly behind me and standing in front of Father's desk. He writes on documents most likely from work, the pen scratching against the paper lightly. Not once does he look up at me. He always looked up right away when Brother came in the room.
I bow in greeting and say, "You called for me, Father." The man finally looks me in the eye, offering a slight smile.
"Don't sound so afraid, Akari. That is a sign of weakness. I just wanted to talk to you. Feel free to sit down." I settle down in the comfortable chair and try not to fidget at the oppressive atmosphere. A slight sigh leaves me, not even five minutes in and I've already done something that isn't up to his standards. To me, it seems like I'll never be good enough. Silence encompasses the room as Takumi brings in drinks for us both. Father just stares at his desk, the pen set down nearby. What… what is this for? Why did he request to talk to me?
I still my fidgeting self-consciously once I catch it. I can't take this silence. My fingers twitch to do something; anything but I force the nervous energy inside. No, I won't embarrass myself. My mouth opens despite myself and I break the silence to ask, "What did you want to talk to me about?" His eyes flicker up to me and I immediately know that I haven't done the right thing. My head bows down quickly in response and I scramble to regain some dignity. "I-I didn- I didn't mea-m-mean to…. I- uh- I- I'm sorry, Fa-Father." I know a blush of mortification has covered my face. I wish I could melt into the seat and never emerge. This whole situation has me feeling like a fool bumbling around.
A deep sigh leaves my parent but I can't bring myself to look up. What if he's angry? What if he yells at me? What if he's disappointed? I can't take the possibility of it happening. I can't face the chance that it could happen straight on. I can't handle it. "Calm down, Akari. Just address me properly when you speak. It's rude and disrespectful not to." I nod, taking the constructive criticism easily and storing it in me. I inwardly curse myself for letting myself slip. I blame Yui-chan and my other friends. "Now, onto what I wished to speak to you about." I perk up slightly at that, letting my eyes glance towards my Father's. "You had expressed a wish to run one of the businesses once you graduated college, right?" I nod uselessly, even though we both already know the answer. I have been heavily hinting at it ever since Mother had first requested to see me. Running Mother's company when I grow up has become a bit of an unhealthy obsession of mine.
Anything to get close to her though. Anything.
"Which company do you want to run once you're able to?" My brow furrow slightly at the question. Isn't it obvious? Even if it wasn't, I don't see how it matters that much right now.
Nonetheless, I answer dutifully, "Mother's Law Firm, Father."
"I see." Nothing. I have absolutely no idea whether that is good or bad. Frustration wells up in me heavily but I force it down habitually. I can never let those sorts of negative emotions out on my Father. That's disrespectful. I should be grateful for whatever I get. I know that but I can't help but want to yowl that I deserve more for everything I've gone through… that I deserve some compensation for the pain I endure. "Your brother has expressed the same interest along with taking over my company." Fuck. There goes that dream. I let a deep breath out in disappointment. "Don't slouch." I straighten up as fast as I can. "Of course, as the first born and heir, your brother gets the right to either company."
Of course. Hideki deserves nothing less than the best from Father since he's the darling son that never doe- No. I can't think like that. It isn't my place too. My status in the family has been set since I was born as a supporter of Brother. How dare I suddenly try to change it out of some whim? Systems work for a reason. I crush the resent ruthlessly by bringing up something that has been taught to me since I could learn. Family hierarchy.
"I see." I struggle to keep the disappointment out of my tone.
Father sends a stern glance at me. "Don't take that tone, Akari." Obviously I didn't do that good of a job. "If this sort of behavior continues, I may just consider not offering the proposition that I have come up with." My hands fist into my skirt and I feel the urge to scream. This proposition sounds like me getting second rate while Brother gets everything he wants. I don't know why Father is even offering it. That's how life has always been for me so I don't see how it suddenly gets a fancy name like proposition. More like bullshit called my life.
"I'm sorry, Father, I won't do it again." I'm not sorry.
"As long as you recognize your mistake, Akari." I haven't done anything wrong. I deserve more than this. I have a right to the company.
But I don't say any of that out loud because it isn't my place to. I'm not the one in charge.
"Moving on, I have considered your abilities though and I think it would be a waste for you to get some job outside of the family company." A part of me is resentful, and that part, though small, is harboring a lot of it. Another part feels grateful that he's considering it so seriously. So far, it doesn't sound like that bad of a deal. Not what I wanted but Brother deserves it more.
I latch onto that side tightly and push the rest aside. That's the right way to feel.
I stare at my Father silently, waiting for him to clarify the rest of the deal. Anticipation now fills me, and I have no doubt that I'll grab this proposition right up. Luck is on my side right now, the fact that he's offering me something shows me that. He laces his hands together and continues, "I think that you would do well to eventually become co-owner of one of the companies. You can take on the brunt of the paper work in whatever company that is so that Hideki won't get overworked. For now though, you can start by shadowing me like you brother did when he was a bit younger than you. This way you can get a taste of what the work load would be like and catch up to Hideki ." I smile widely at Father, not even caring that he basically compared me to Brother and saw me as less. This means that I might be able to get Mother's company basically. Brother would just handle all of the companies we work with naturally, which is actually a good idea. He handles people way better than I do.
My smile has only grown larger and I'm sure that Father doesn't look as stern. I get up from my seat and bow lowly. "Thank you, Father!" I exclaim, barely able to keep out the squeal in my voice. "You won't be disappointed in me, I know it."
"Make sure it stays that way, Akari. We'll start next week after you get out of school on Wednesday. I've already informed Oikanawa to take you straight to my work. You're free to return to your homework now." I look at him, still smiling widely but I make sure not to linger. This is great!
This is awful. I don't know how this came up but I do know that I shouldn't have said anything. Look at the hell I'm going through now for it.
"You mean that you've never been to a dance?! Not even one?!" Felix and our other friends always convinced me that it wasn't worth it.
"Did you go to a public school or something?" Don't make me sound so unprivileged for it.
"That's so weird!" I clench my fists, resisting the urge to cringe backwards. I'm not weird. Maybe I should have gone to at least one of the dances at my school in Spain. God knows that they used every reason under the sun to have one. Some of the girls in my class surround me with shock and horror in their expressions. Yeah, I definitely should have gone to some of the dances. Inadequacy fills me to the brim and a blush of embarrassment warms my cheeks.
"What kind of girl hasn't gone to a dance by now?"
"Shows how well her family sees her hunh? My parents have been taken me to dances since I was three to introduce me to the business world." Shame fills me. Father always told me I was too young.
"We have to fix this!" As long as you stop looking at me like I'm different. I don't want to be different from everyone else.
"What about the Host Club Christmas party?!" Maybe not going to a dance would be better. But I don't want them to keep looking at me like that…. I can just avoid the hosts though. Well, some of them.
"Yes, that's a great idea!" Oh no, not you too Aya-chan.
"She has missed out. It's a great way to talk to others and get free food." Thanks Kiyumi-chan, rub it in my face why don't you?
"That's the best idea ever! Then she can watch the hosts with us!" I fidget nervously, trying to edge away from the small group.
"I can't wait to dance with Tamaki!" Here we go.
Three more girls are suddenly surrounding the one who originally spoke up. "I'm dancing with him first!" They all scream together. I resist the urge to slam my head on the table. I mean, yes, they're all really gorgeous, charming, chivalrous, well mannered, and did I mention hot? But come on, to shamelessly fight with other girls over them. It seems a tad overdone. Especially for some of them. My eyes slide over to the twins, who are talking to Fujioka-san about something while leaning on his shoulders. A few others surround them, laughing or tittering depending on their gender. Definitely overdone for some.
A hand grabs my arm and I jump, my eyes flicking over to see Yui-chan grinning widely at me. "This is great!" she laughs. "We'll be able to go to the dance together now! Oh, we're going to have to go dress shopping soon, the dance is in under a week. Maybe we should all go to the mall together."
I grin at her in return, responding, "We shou-should! It would be a grea-great place to h-hang out and I got an allo-allowance recently so I hav-h-have plenty of money to spend." My allowance was lowered because Father said that I didn't need that much money but it should be plenty to buy a new dress.
The other girls still chat around us and I hear one say loudly, "What kind of prude doesn't go to a dance?"I flinch but don't make any comment. It isn't worth it to do that.
Yui-chan places a hand on my shoulder. "Don't worry Ri, we'll fix it." That doesn't make me feel any better.
"you have to be the prude or the slut, and if you pick one, other people hate you for it, and you can't trust anyone anymore, because they're all after the same thing, and you see that you can never go back to how was before…"
― Ned Vizzini
I grimace. "This isn't going to work."
"Come out here and show us anyways!" my friends call. I look myself over in the yellow dress one more time, inwardly cringing. I go out to my friends and place my hands on my hips.
"Yellow never was my color," I admit, twirling in front of my friends, who all look unimpressed.
Aya-chan nods sympathetically, "Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking having you try it on."
"I think a cream color would look better on you," Yui-chan hums and everyone else nods in agreement. I make a face. It's such a plain color though. I'm sure that everyone else bought a dazzling dress with bright colors that flatter them. I don't want to be stuck with some stupid color that will make the wall more colorful than me.
"That was the last one we found in this boutique, Ri should go change and then we'll look at a different one," Kiyumi-chan suggests. I change quickly, happy to get out of the yellow dress that looks awful on me. The clerk tells us goodbye and we look around the mall for another one. The last one was the third one we've gone through. None of the dresses looked great on me and my friends won't settle for 'okay'. We tote our bags with us from the other shops we had to look through.
Aya-chan gasps suddenly, "Is that who I think it is?" All of us look towards where she's pointing. I don' see anyone important.
"No way! I see them too!" I blink at Yui-chan, what is she talking about?
"Calm down you two, it isn't like we don't go to school with them," Kiyumi-chan chides dryly.
"Who? I don't see anyone." I push up on my toes to get a better look over the people walking by.
"They're right there, how can you not see them?" That's really helpful Yui-chan. Thanks. Aya-chan points forward, babbling about how exciting this is. I wonder who it is. I push up farther on my toes, trying to see what they're talking about. It has to be someone important if they have Yui-chan and Aya-chan up in such a bunch. Even Kiyumi-chan hasn't looked away.
I feel myself teeter forward and I scramble to regain my balance. No, don't fall! That would be so embarrassing! My hands land hard on the floor and my stuff goes flying out of my bags. An ungraceful yelp bursts from me and I struggle not to let my face hit the ground. My friends all crouch down, grabbing my things and stuffing them back into the bags. That hurt. It so wasn't worth trying to see whatever my friends were looking at.
"Are you okay?" Kiyumi-chan questions, pulling me up smoothly as Aya-chan and Yui-chan hold my bags. Of course my wonderful friend Yui-chan is laughing slightly at my tumble. At least Aya-chan has the discretion to hide behind her hand.
I brush off my clothes and mumble, "Yeah. The only thing hurt is my pride."
"That was hilarious! Ri, you have to be one of the clumsiest people I've met!" Yui-chan chuckles. I glare at her playfully, knowing that she doesn't mean it in a bad way.
"Yeah, yeah, I'm hilarious. Now, could you hand me my purse back. Thanks. We should go to the next store and forget that it ever happened," I mutter, shouldering my purse and starting to walk away. How embarrassing.
We walk into another store, Aya-chan and Yui-chan still teasing about my abundant amount of grace. What did I do to deserve this? I pout childishly, crossing my arms as much as I could underneath my chest. Stupid bags. They're the things that got me into this mess anyways.
"Hello!" The store clerk chips in an over enthusiastic voice. "I'll be your assistant today, is there any dress in particular that you are looking for?" Finally, one of these boutiques has an assistant. I'm getting tired of having to look through all of these dresses.
"Oh, this is great!" Aya-chan laughs. "Now we don't have to look for dresses on our own."
Yui-chan nods in agreement and tells the lady, "Our friend needs a dress for the dance. Semi-formal." My best friend gestures to me vaguely and the clerk analyzes me critically. I shift uncomfortably. "Besides that, you can pick any dress you think would look good. Don't grab anything yellow though. It's an awful color on her." I nod solemnly in agreement.
A friendly grin spreads across the woman's lips and she guides us towards the viewing space and dressing rooms. "I can't wait to see what I can find for you dear," she tells me. "We just got a new shipment in of dresses so I haven't had a lot of time to familiarize myself with everything. I'm sure I'll find something that will look amazing on you though!" We all settle down on the couches and she tosses over her shoulder as she walks away, "Just make yourselves comfortable until I find a few. I'm Gaby by the way."
Kiyumi-chan admits, "I'm happy that we don't have to look through all of the dresses now." My feet ache in agreement. Tell me about it. I'm sure that tomorrow, I won't be able to walk much farther than going to my bathroom.
"I saw some really good dresses too, so hopefully we'll find something here," Aya-chan adds on.
Yui-chan snorts. "I just hope that we find one soon. I'm getting hungry." My stomach grumbles in agreement and a blush covers my cheeks. My friends laugh at me, Aya-chan going as far as to coo at me as she pokes my cheek.
"Okay, time to try on some dresses." I go into the dressing room that the clerk points to. She puts all of the dresses she found on a rack and shuts the door. "Don't forget to come out here and show your friends dear."
I start trying on the dresses but uh… it isn't going well. I eye myself critically in the first dress, tearing it off myself quickly. It has a slit all the way up to my hip! I will not be called the school slut for the next month. I start going through the other dresses. Too dark. Too low. Ew, does that dress have a collar that goes up my neck? Too tight. Too many sparkles.
"How long does it take to put on a dress!?" I stick my tongue out in the direction of my irate best friend.
"Most of these looked awful on me, there was no way I was going to let anyone else see me in them!" I doubt she's impressed with that excuse.
"Just come out with the one you're wearing!" I'm not wearing any dress.
"Give me a second!" Jeez, so demanding. I pull on the next one without even looking at it. I walk out to my friends, gauging their reactions carefully.
"Yes? No? Okay? I didn't even look at myself in the mirror."
"It looks great on you, my dear!" The clerk exclaims, clasping her hands together dramatically. "Turn around and look at yourself in the mirror. I'm sure that you won't be disappointed." I turn around obediently and smile shyly at my reflection. I don't actually look that bad in this.
"It's a nice color on you," Yui-chan comments appreciatively.
The dress was ankle length and light beige. A strip of forest green ribbon was under my bust and tied in the back in a bow. More forest green designs trail down the skirt of the dress. The material was tight around my bust and then became loose and flowy, making my figure look better than it actually did.
"It makes you look tanner than you actually are and taller," Aya-chan chirps and I see her grinning in the reflection.
Kiyumi-chan nods and adds, "I think it looks great on you. You should buy it."
I turn around and grin at my friends nodding in agreement.
"Princess, you look dazzling in that dress. I feel like a mere peasant beside your beauty." I blush at the compliment the suave voice administered and turn to see the Host Club standing in the boutique.
"Tamaki!" Aya-chan gasps. My other friends are gaping in shock.
"Tha-than-t-thank yo-you," I respond, looking down bashfully. Tamaki-sempai's compliment makes pride swell in me. I really do look beautiful in this.
"What are you all doing here, Suoh-sempai?" Kiyumi-chan questions, her eyes darting to Fujioka-san and a light blush coating her cheeks. It's hard not to blush with how they look. I can't say that I blame her. "It isn't often that anyone sees you outside of school."
The blonde smiles charmingly at my friend and answers with a flourish, "We were looking for a suit for Haruhi for the dance. We haven't had any luck so far though."
"Why not?" Aya-chan questions eagerly. I'm sure that she just wants Tamaki-sempai to aim his attention towards her. "There are plenty of great places to shop for suit here." Well we did go through three boutiques before finding a dress for me Aya-chan.
"I noticed, they have quite a lot to choose from don't they here! But the only shop I wanted to go to was the one you were in, princess." Aya-chan giggles at the charm he lays on her and her blush deepens.
"You flatter me, Tamaki."
"Don't forget why we came here, Tamaki." I tilt my head curiously at Kyoya-sempai as he sends a pointed glare to his friend.
The flamboyant king stops his flirting and nods. "You're right, Kyoya! We've been on a mission!" He pulls something out of his jacket with a flourish, holding it out to me as he bows. "I believe you dropped this, princess." My wallet sits in his hand and I gasp in shock. I didn't even realize I had dropped it! Idiot! Father would have been pissed if he had found out I lost the credit card!
I grab it eagerly and say to Tamaki-sempai sincerely, "Tha-thank you s-so much, Tama-Tamaki-sempai! I don-don't know what I wou-w-would have done without it!"
He preens under the compliment before seeming to gain control of himself and gestures to Fujioka-san behind him. "Actually, it was Haruhi who found it."
"Oh," I blink. I bow slightly to my peer. "Tha-thank you ver-very much th-t-then, Fuj-Fujioka-san."
"It was nothing, really." I smile at the humble response he gave me.
The Host Club leaves quickly and I put my wallet in my purse. I'm so lucky that someone found it and returned it to me. Yui-chan sighs dreamily, "I can't believe that they actually talked to us for so long." A spark of confusion rises in me. They didn't talk to us for long at all. Why did she word it like that?
"What do you mean?"
Aya-chan laughs at me lightly. "You haven't noticed?" I resist the urge to roll my eyes. Obviously, if I'm asking. "The Host Club is kind of above us. They don't usually talk to any of the girls outside of the Host Club much."
"That isn't to say that they shun us," Kiyumi-chan defends them. "They just stick to each other more than anything. I personally think that they can only handle how the much the girls fawn over them for so long."
Is that why Kyoya-sempai hasn't talked to me that much at school? Usually we at least said hello every few days but we haven't talked once outside of the Host Club on school campus. How disappointing.
"It's only fair that way though," Yui-chan sniffs. "No one girl should get more attention from them than any other. There's a reason that most of the girls don't dare approach any of them outside of the Host Club."
"You mean there are rules for interacting with the Host Club?" My tone is incredulous but they don't pay attention to that.
"Of course!" Aya-chan puts in, smiling consolingly at me. "Don't worry though; we'll make sure you don't mess up at all." I guess it makes sense. There would be a lot more drama if the girls had free reign to pursue the boys as they wished.
Still, it sounds like the rules make it so that no girl can even become friends with any of the Host Club members. I don't say anything though. They made it sound like it as so obvious. Of course, girls can't talk to the Host Club freely. They're above us.
I wonder if the Host Club thinks the same.
Yeah, you can be the greatest
You can be the best
You can be the King Kong banging on your chest
~ Hall of Fame by The Script featuring Will.