Author's Note: Hey fellow readers! Do you think it's time that I should stop apologizing for being late? At this point, I guess it's pretty much expected, but still...I feel bad for leaving you guys hanging. I was spontaneously busy doing a Xros Wars AMV which took up a lot of my free time, but I had a lot of fun (and annoyance) making it that I barely did anything else...oops. Anyway, now that I finished my little video project, hopefully I can move on and focus my stories. For my sake, please pray that I don't get any more video ideas! As much fun as I have doing YouTube videos, they are very time-consuming (the last one I did before my Fusion video took over eight months to make and it was just a basic 3-minute AMV, nothing special). Each time I finish one video, I keep vowing to myself that it would be the last one I'd ever do, but then a new idea pops into my head and I MUST do it. So for the love of God, please pray that this doesn't happen to me again! I need to quit the video-making industry for good! Bad Lily, bad!
Until The Day It Becomes a Butterfly! (Part 1)
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but it feels nice to have the Host Club up and running again. No more trying to think up schemes to make some money," Koji said.
"Tell me about it. We can go back to making money the honest way by charging people entrance fees and beating them at craps," Rika scrambled some dice in her hand and rolled them on a table.
"Seems like someone's been putting our headquarters to good use while we were gone," Sora leaned against a table. There were a lot of small, plastic cases scattered throughout the room.
"Ew, they look gross," Mimi poked at one of the containers.
"Don't tap on those," Izzy droned. "Those are cocoons. The middle schoolers are learning about butterflies, so they're observing the different stages a caterpillar goes until it becomes a butterfly."
"Did you grow a butterfly?" Mimi asked Takato.
"Mine's over there," Takato pointed to a plastic container with a red dinosaur sticker on it.
"Cool sticker!" Davis poked at the sticker.
"Don't tap the glass," Izzy slapped Davis's hand away.
"Ow. You should be a zookeeper. Stupid jerk," Davis rubbed his hand.
"Knock knock, did somebody call my name?" Matt waltzed into the science lab.
"Ugh, what do you want?" Mimi rolled her eyes.
"I just came by to drop this off," Matt held up a pink envelope.
"Gimme that!" Tai snatched the envelope from Matt's hand.
"Ow! Can you be a little more delicate next time? I almost got a paper cut!" Matt dramatically said.
"Get over it," Tai ripped the envelope up.
"What is it?" Sora peeked over Tai's shoulder.
Dear Odaiba High School Host Club,
You are formally invited to participate in the first annual Clash of the Clubs event. We have selected several clubs from other schools to join us in a fun-filled afternoon with a healthy dose of competition (Tai, that means you should take it easy!). Throughout the game, the teams will be put through a series of challenges to see which club has what it takes to be champion. The clubs will have a chance to duke it out for the grand cash prize of $1000 and a big, awesome trophy!
Clash of the Clubs will be taking place at Ouran Academy courtyard this upcoming Saturday. We hope that you will be able to partake on some good, clean fun. Good luck and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Sincerely,
The Ouran High School Host Club
"Oooh, sounds like fun," Mimi squealed.
"Sounds stupid to me," Koji scoffed.
"What?! Come on, guys! Don't you want to show those pompous bastards who's boss?" Tai yelled.
"Sorry, but I have to agree with Koji," Izzy shook his head.
"I don't know. I feel bad," Sora frowned.
"Why?" Kouichi asked.
"I don't really talk to Tamaki, but knowing him, he probably put a lot of effort into throwing together a game day. If we don't show up, it'll probably break his heart," Sora sighed.
"Do you know the other clubs that will be coming?" Takato asked Matt.
"Beats me. All I know is that Tamaki asked me to hand-deliver the invitation to you to make sure you got it. He's really excited about the game," Matt shrugged.
"Then that settles it! We're going!" Tai shot his fist up in the air.
"Since when do you get to make the final decisions for us?" Izzy put his hands on his hips.
"Yeah! I'm still mad at you for whoring me out to Violet and her cronies," Rika snarled at Tai.
"Hey! My beautiful princess Kari is not a crony!" Davis yelled.
"Davis...," TK groaned.
"What?" Davis pouted.
"Can you tone down the ari-Kay alk-tay around ai-Tay? Every time you do that, ai-Tay holds me responsible and I don't feel like babysitting you," TK said through his teeth.
"Fine, fine! Let's put this to a vote! Who wants to fight with the Ouran jerks?" Tai raised his hand. Sora, Mimi, Davis, and TK also raised their hands. Izzy leaned against the windowsill with his arms crossed, Koji stood at the corner in the same pose as Izzy, Takato fidgeted with his butterfly cage, Rika hunched over a lab table with a sarcastic look on her face, and Kouichi picked at the sleeve of his jacket.
"Ooh, 50-50...I haven't seen anything this close since the Gore/Bush presidential elections," Matt smirked.
"Shut up! The only elections you watch are the ones on American Idol," Tai snapped.
"Touché," Matt raised an eyebrow.
"If you don't want to do it for Tai, then can you at least do it for Tamaki? He probably looking forward about this little get-together, and the last thing I want to do is disappoint him if no one shows up," Sora pleaded.
"Okay," Takato said.
"Fine," Rika grumbled.
"Whatever," Koji snorted.
"Sure," Kouichi shrugged.
"I guess majority rules," Izzy sighed.
"Hey! You guys wouldn't do it for me, but you'd do it for that jerkoff?!" Tai yelled.
"What does it matter? We're joining the competition like you wanted," Izzy said.
"That's true," Matt said.
"Nobody asked you, Patrice!" Tai growled.
"Alrighty then...I think I'll just head out now," Matt frowned.
"About time! Bye," Mimi shoved him out of the room and slammed the door.
"I think it's time we head home too. It's getting late," Izzy checked his watch.
"Peace," Koji grabbed his knapsack and slung it over his shoulder.
"Hold up! Before you guys go, I just want to tell you to bring some gym clothes for tomorrow's meeting," Tai said.
"Why?" Rika raised an eyebrow.
"If we want to beat the competition, we definitely need to start training!" Tai enthusiastically said.
"You're kidding, right?" Izzy scoffed.
"No! Besides, you'll be training with an expert," Tai said.
"Who? Is he cute?" Mimi perked up.
"It's me!" Tai straightened his posture.
"Yeah, you an expert," Rika sarcastically said.
"Hey! I totally am an expert! I've been playing soccer since I was four and I'm almost eighteen right now, so when my birthday comes around, I'd be involved in sports for how many years...," Tai rubbed his chin.
"Fourteen," Izzy huffed.
"That's right! That means I've been playing sports since before you were born," Tai looked down at Rika.
"Ew, that's creepy! That really is a long time," Mimi shuddered.
"So I know exactly what I'm doing! Tomorrow after school, I want all of you to report to the gym so we can start training!" Tai announced.
"But the volleyball team uses the gym after school," Sora said.
"Maybe we can convince them to go somewhere else," Davis winked.
"Wouldn't it be common sense for us to just find another place?" Kouichi said.
"I just don't know where we could train," Tai tapped his chin.
"What about Rika's house?" Koji smirked.
"I could kill you!" Rika snarled.
"No. I was thinking the same thing but it doesn't really have an athletic atmosphere to it," Tai said.
"Phew," Rika sighed.
"Maybe we could use the gym at Rika's school," Davis suggested.
"What?!" Rika choked.
"That's a good idea! Rika, can you ask your school if we could use their gym?" Tai asked.
"We don't have a gym," Rika snottily said.
"What school doesn't have a gym? What kind of weirdo school do you go to?" Davis gasped.
"I go to a progressive school," Rika crossed her arms.
"Isn't that a school for retards?" TK raised an eyebrow.
"I feel like we've had this conversation once before," Rika rolled her eyes.
"I gotta find a place for us to train...," Tai paced back and forth.
"Why don't we just go home already? If you find a place, then you can just text us," Izzy took off his blazer.
"That's a good idea! I might as well start putting together my exercise regime too!" Tai said.
"Alright, meeting adjourned," Izzy yawned as he ushered everyone out of the door.
"I guess Tai couldn't find a place for his stupid training," Rika triumphantly smirked at her phone and leaned back into her bean bag chair.
*ring* the bell delicately rang.
"Before you leave for home, reflect on today's Inspirational Quote of the Day: Momentai now, Momentai tomorrow, Momentai forever," the PA system said.
"I was just getting comfortable," Rika reluctantly got up from her bean bag chair and put her Mary Janes on. She checked her phone; no messages. This was going to be a good day, Rika thought to herself as she picked up her backpack and left the classroom.
"Hiya there!" TK stood by the doorway.
"Ahhh! What the hell are you doing here?!" Rika shrieked.
"We decided to wait for you," Davis peeked out from behind TK.
"Tai managed to convince your principal to let us practice in your gym!" TK grinned.
"What?!" Rika yelled.
"I can't believe you didn't know this school had a gym!" Davis said in disbelief.
"I was lying," Rika huffed.
"That makes sense. I mean, it's not possible to skip school so much that you don't know where anything is," TK picked Rika up.
"Hey! What are you doing?! Put me down!" Rika kicked and bucked.
"Nope. Special instructions from Tai. He knew that you would try to bolt, so he told us to restrain you," he slung Rika over his shoulder.
"Stupid Tai...," Rika grumbled as TK carried her down the hallway.
"It was about time you guys got here. We have some serious matters to attend to!" Tai stood by the gym doors.
"Well, we're here now," Davis shrugged.
"Rika, did you bring your gym uniform?" Tai asked.
"No," Rika snarled.
"Figured so. It's a good thing I picked this up for you then," Tai handed her a uniform set wrapped in cellophane.
"What's this?" Rika looked at the package in disdain.
"It's your uniform, silly! Apparently, all of the other students have them, but you never went to the main office to retrieve your set! In fact, this must be your first time even setting foot in this gym. Tsk, tsk, tsk, you go to this school every day and you didn't even know you had a gym until now," Tai shook his head.
"Rika! Let's get you changed!" Mimi wrapped her arms around Rika.
"What?!" Rika squirmed under her grip.
"Yeah! Come on!" Mimi said as she dragged Rika into the locker room.
*crash boom boom*
"Ahhhh! Stop it! That hurts!"
"No! Shut up!"
*clank boom boom crash*
"Should someone go check up on them?" Kouichi nervously said.
"I put it on! Happy?!" Rika yelled as she stomped out of the locker room.
"You didn't have to hurt me," Mimi whined.
"Look like everyone's here. Let's get down to business, to defeat those pricks!" Tai slammed his fist against the palm of his other hand. "Why don't we start off with 5 laps around the gym? Everybody, come over to where I am. This will be the starting point," Tai pulled out a roll of blue masking tape and stuck a piece of it to the floor.
"Sir, yes, sir!" TK and Davis saluted him and marched over to the tape line. Everyone else quietly trudged toward the boys.
"Awesome! Stand side by side and get into your running stance! When I blow this whistle, start running!" Tai commanded.
*screech*
"Time for us to go!" TK and Davis zoomed away.
"I'm gonna beat you!" Davis taunted.
"Not if I beat you first!" TK retorted.
"Someone's pretty confident! Wanna put your money where your mouth is?" Davis smirked.
"Don't you know it! How about loser buys dinner for the winner?" TK said.
"You are so on!" Davis grunted.
"Just to let you know, I have a big appetite. You better have it packing," TK grinned.
"This is stupid," Rika stomped along the perimeter of the gym.
"Oh my gosh! Rika, you're so fast!" Mimi panted. Although Rika was walking at a regular pace, Mimi was still running slower than Rika was walking.
"Come on, come on! Let's pick up the pace!" Tai blew his whistle repeatedly.
"Screw you!" Koji yelled.
"I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that!" Tai called back.
"Rika! Why are you going so slowly?" Takato ran beside her, having already done one lap while Rika was still on her first. "If we run faster, you can get this over with and then we can go home."
"Oh. Good idea," Rika started running.
"Aw man! I'll never catch up to you!" Mimi whined as she kept jogging.
"Oh boy, we've got a long way to go," Tai groaned.
*screech*
"Good work, boys! You both finished at the same time!" Tai yelled.
"Dang it. I guess that means we'll have to pay for our own meals," Davis sighed.
"I know. Losing sucks," TK pouted.
"Sure, you guys might have to pay for your own food, but you get to be my MVPs and who doesn't like that?" Tai rested his arms on their shoulders.
"Oh yeah!" TK jumped onto Davis's back.
"I was just this close to beating you guys," Sora pinched the air.
"But you didn't!" Davis pulled his lower eyelid down and stuck his tongue out.
"If I knew we were going to be running, I would have worn something more...supportive," Sora crossed her arms over her chest.
"There goes my five laps," Koji plopped down on the bleachers and casually put his feet up on one of the rails. Izzy finished running a couple of seconds afterwards and sat against the wall, with Kouichi and Takato following suit a couple of minutes later. Now it was just Rika and Mimi still on the court.
"Come on! Move it, move it!" Tai blew on his whistle. As soon as he said that, a trail of smoke appeared at Rika's feet and she ran at lightning speed. When she crossed over the finish line, she charged towards Tai and yanked the whistle out of his lanyard.
"You better watch it with that whistle of yours, or the next time it sounds, it'll be coming out from your ass," Rika grabbed onto the lanyard.
"Careful with that! It's Kari's whistle!" Tai snatched the whistle back. "But I do have to congratulate you on your spunk!"
"Up yours," Rika stomped over to the bleachers.
"Mimi! You're the only one left! Chop chop!" Tai clapped his hands.
"I'm...trying...," Mimi wheezed.
"Come on! Pretend that you're running after a purse or something," Tai yelled.
"Got it!" Mimi kept jogging.
"What lap are you on?" Tai huffed.
"Third," Mimi responded.
"Alright. Just keep going...only two more laps to go," Tai shrugged.
Twenty minutes later...
"Yay! I finished!" Mimi clapped her hands.
"Awesome," Sora yawned. Everyone else slowly got up.
"I hope you enjoyed your little nap because now we're going to move on to push-ups! Assemble, people! We don't have all day!" Tai clapped his hands.
"Aww man...," everyone groaned as they got up from the bleachers.
"Fifty push ups! Go go go!" Tai blew his whistle.
"I'm tired," TK whined.
"Tai! Can we do the baby push ups?" Davis went on all fours.
"Just for asking that, it's another 50 push-ups for everyone! That means I want to see your whole body off the floor," Tai yelled.
"Geez," Davis grimaced.
*plunk*
"I can't do this anymore," Mimi plopped down on the floor.
"Me neither," Takato sprawled out on the floor.
"I just don't feel like doing it," Rika turned around and laid down on her back. In a matter of minutes, the rest of the gang gave up as well.
"You're the saddest bunch I ever met but you can bet before we're through, somehow I'll make a man out of you!" Tai said. "Alright, we can continue tomorrow. Remember, get 8 hours of sleep! We can't have any drowsy athletes here!"
"Mmmrgh," everyone groaned as they scuffled out of the gym.
The Next Day...
"Alright, time for lunch," a teacher glanced at her watch.
"Finally!" Rika ran to her locker, grabbed her lunch box, and took a seat in the cafeteria. "Ahhhh! What the hell is this?!"
"..." the cafeteria suddenly went silent.
"Okay, what's the big idea here?!" Rika slammed her hands on the tabletop.
"What are you talking about?" a girl stuttered. A couple of girls around her began to cower.
"Is this some kind of joke?!" Rika held up a sandwich.
"We honestly have no idea what you're talking about," another girl raised an eyebrow.
"Look at this! This is NOT what I packed this morning!" Rika shook the sandwich bag. "WHO STOLE MY FLUFFERNUTTER SAMMICH?!"
"Jesus Christ, all I wanted to do is grab a milk and I walk into this. Rika, in my office, now!" the principal motioned for Rika to follow her.
"Okay, okay," Rika trudged behind her.
"Rika, it seems like you've been having trouble adjusting to this school. As understandable as it can be for new students, you've been going to this school for nearly three years. You cut class continuously, you don't get along with the other students, and you don't put any effort into your schoolwork. Just because this is a progressive school does not mean that you can do whatever you want," the principal said.
"I thought that's exactly what it meant," Rika said.
"We have this talk at least once a week," the principal sighed. "What's the problem this time?"
"Someone switched my lunch! Look at this!" Rika spilled the contents onto the principal's desk.
"I don't see the problem here. All I see is a sandwich, carrot sticks, and a water bottle," the principal looked at the items.
"Exactly! I don't normally pack this stuff! I don't know what this is!" Rika opened her sandwich.
"That's hummus," the principal said.
"Something weird is going on. I think someone's trying to poison me," Rika put her hands on her hips.
"If you want, you can call home and ask someone to bring a new lunch," the principal shrugged.
"I will," Rika clutched on to her phone and stomped into the hallway.
*ring ring*
"Hello?"
"Hi Gramma, it's me," Rika said.
"Did you get into trouble again?" Nanna asked.
"Kinda. Someone stole my lunch and replaced it with weird food," Rika said.
"Ohhh, I forgot to tell you...," Nanna paused.
"What?" Rika scrunched her face up.
"I packed you a healthy lunch for a change. Tai told me that you and your little friends are training for a competition this Saturday and that you guys want to be in top shape," Nanna said.
"Oh, really?" Rika raised an eyebrow.
"I think it's nice that you're enthusiastic about this little game and I'll support you all the way! I'll see you later. Love you," Nanna said before she hung up.
"Grrrr...," Rika clenched her fists. "I'M GONNA KILL YOU, TAI!"
Meanwhile...
"Did someone call my name?" Tai turned around.
"No...," Izzy shot Tai a weird look.
"Hey guys, what's cracking?" Davis sat down at the lunch table.
"Oh my god, what is on your trays?!" Tai gasped.
"What? It's just pudding and meatball subs," TK shrugged.
"Oh no, this has to go!" Tai picked up TK and Davis's trays. "Hey kids, it's your lucky day. Here's some lunch!" Tai handed the trays to two random boys.
"It's okay, but-"
"Enjoy," Tai walked back to the table.
"You just gave away our lunches!" Davis whined.
"Don't worry! I brought some alternative snacks for you. Michelle Obama says that your half of your plate should be full of veggies and fruits. I really like these boxes because they look like the MyPlate chart and all of the sections are divided. How neato is that?" Tai pulled out a stack of bento boxes.
"Neato," Koji said like a walrus.
"Food is food! Lemme at it!" Davis scooped a big forkful of spinach in his mouth. "Mrrpk...," he twitched and cringed.
"Davis! Are you okay?" Sora gasped.
"Blech! That's awful!" Davis spit the spinach out into his hand. "What is this crap?!"
"That's spinach. Please tell me you've had spinach before," Tai looked horrified.
"I think I would remember if I tasted something that awful! It almost tastes like pennies," Davis licked a napkin to get the taste out of his mouth.
"Yuck! My taste buds want to commit suicide," Mimi whined.
"Did your mom prepare the spinach?" Izzy smirked.
"No way! She's got the touch of death when it comes to food, so there was no way I was going to let that woman get near my lunches! I paid for the food out of my own pockets," Tai beamed in pride.
"Wow, you're really committed to this Ouran competition," Sora said.
"Oh, that reminds me...I got you a little something," Tai pulled a pink gift box out from his backpack. "You might want to open this in private though."
"What is it?" Sora sifted through the tissue paper. "Oh...my...god..."
"Is that a sports bra?" Koji snickered.
"Do you like it?" Tai eagerly asked.
"I don't know what to say about this...," Sora's face was a mix of dumbstruck and angry.
"I hope it fits. Yolei was already shopping at the store so she helped me choose something. For some weird reason, she knew your bra size," Tai said.
"You idiot!" Sora exploded.
"What? You don't like it? I think it's cool. Look, you can zip it open in the front and there's like a real bra built underneath it. It's like having a sports bra and normal bra all in one!" Tai zipped open the bra to show everyone.
"Dammit Tai! Why are you so stupid?!" Sora grabbed her bag and stomped away.
"What did I do?" Tai looked clueless.
"Um, you essentially bought a girl-mind you, a girl who is not your girlfriend, lingerie," Izzy shook his head.
"And only perverts do that," Kouichi said.
"Nuh uh!" Tai protested.
"Holy crap, we could fit both our heads in here!" Davis poked his head into one of the bra cups.
"Whoa! That's huge!" TK stuck his head in the other cup.
"She could have at least said thanks. Isn't that the polite thing to do when someone gets you a gift?" Tai crossed his arms.
"Did you get me anything?" Mimi asked.
"Sorry, I didn't get to stop by the little girls' section," Tai said.
"Excuse me?!" Mimi turned red.
"I ran out of money so I couldn't buy anything else anyways. Besides, I don't think they even had your size in the normal people section," Tai said.
"What do you mean by that?" Mimi said defensively.
"Oh my god, Tai. Just shut up," Izzy said through his teeth.
"No, let Tai finish what he had to say," Koji smirked.
"I don't think you would be able to fit big girl bras," Tai shrugged.
"Oh my god, you're a jerk!" Mimi cried and ran out of the cafeteria.
"That was awkward," Kouichi bit his lip.
"Hahahahahah!" Matt burst out laughing.
"Matt? What are you doing here?" Tai yelled.
"I was just going to sit with my best buds in the world," Matt sat down and wrapped his arm around Tai's shoulders.
"Look at us! We're a pair of boobs!" TK and Davis poked their heads out of the bra.
"That's for sure!" Koji snorted.
"Knock it off, Teeks!" Matt yanked the bra off of TK and Davis's head.
"Ow!" TK and Davis whined in unison.
"I blame your sister for this," Matt shook the bra.
"For what?"
"If it weren't for her, these two wouldn't be acting like fruitcakes," Matt said.
"Hey!" TK gasped.
"What do you mean by that?" Davis defensively said. "For your information, me and TK have actually gotten inside a bra. Did you?"
"This does not count!" Matt held up the bra. "I swear, Kari's making you two gay."
"Hey! It's not Kari's fault that TK and Davis want to act gay with each other!" Tai yelled.
"Besides, it's impossible to force someone to be gay. Stop being such a homophobe, Matt," Izzy rolled his eyes.
"I'm sorry, but it's just not right. I mean, I'm totally okay with lesbians, but two guys?" Matt grimaced.
"How would you feel if I really was gay?" TK crossed his arms.
"All I have to say is thank god you're not," Matt ruffled TK's hair. "I'm outta here. You guys are boring."
"How are we boring? Boobs, boobs, boooooobs!" Davis put the sports bra on over his uniform.
"Motomiya, you sure are something...," Principal Sampson slowly walked by the table.
"Boring isn't one of them," Koji muttered under his breath.
"Eeek, don't look at me! I'm exposed!" Davis crossed his arms over his chest. "Is this what Sora feels like all the time?"
"What the...?" everyone stood by the gym entrance door in shock.
"You like?" Tai climbed down a net ladder.
"You really went all out," Sora grimaced.
"It looks like a boot camp," Koji made a face.
"Thanks! I skipped my last class so I could have this thing set up in time. Before we run through this obstacle course, let's warm up with some jumping jacks. You can go at your own speed, just as long as you keep a steady pace," Tai clutched on to his whistle. "To make it a little fun, we should do a chanting game at the same time. I'll say 'I don't know but I've been told', and then you repeat after me. Then someone says a line with the last word rhyming with told, and then everyone repeats it! I'll start off!"
*screech* Tai blew his whistle.
"I don't know but I've been told," Tai yelled.
"I don't know but I've been told," everyone else repeated as they did jumping jacks.
"Odaiba's gonna win the gold!" Tai said.
"Odaiba's gonna win the gold!"
"Excellent! We'll go down the line, starting with Davis," Tai said.
"I don't know but I've been told!" Davis yelled.
"I don't know but I've been told..."
"TK's mom is really old!" Davis grinned.
"TK's mom is really old," everyone repeated.
"Hey!" TK whined.
"That's okay, Teeks. It's your turn!" Tai said.
"I don't know but I've been told," TK said.
"I don't know but I've been told..."
"Davis's teeth are growing mold," TK smirked.
"Oh no you didn't!" Davis dropped his jaw.
"Let's keep going! Koji, you're next," Tai said.
"I don't know but I've been told," Koji said.
"I don't know but I've been told..."
"Kouichi gets drunk on orangeade alcohol," Koji smirked.
"Kouichi gets drunk on orangeade alcohol..."
"Really? Are you seriously poking at me for that?" Kouichi paused.
"It's funny," Koji smirked.
"Addiction is not funny! I'm trying to reform! I've been going to my AA meetings," Kouichi stopped jumping.
"Come on, let's keep the beat going. Your turn, Kouichi!" Tai said.
"Okay...I don't know but I've been told," Kouichi paused.
"I don't know but I've been told..."
"Koji likes his showers cold," Kouichi said with a smug look on his face.
"Koji likes his showers cold..."
"Genius. I don't know how I'll be able to top that off," Rika smirked.
"Then try," Tai said.
"I don't know but I've been told," Rika said.
"I don't know but I've been told..."
"Takato likes his dutchies rolled," Rika said.
"Takato likes his dutchies rolled," everyone repeated.
"What?" Takato looked confused.
"Hmmm, convenient that you work in a bakery, huh?" Davis quipped.
"You can just grab some donuts and cookies when you get the munchies, can't you?" TK narrowed his eyes.
"Lucky bastard," Davis pouted.
"Uh...thanks?" Takato raised an eyebrow.
"No problem," TK said.
"Takato, let's keep it moving," Tai clapped his hands.
"Oh, right...um, I don't know but I've been told," Takato said.
"I don't know but I've been told..."
"Mimi's stuff is just fake gold?" Takato looked embarrassed.
"What? That's not true! My real gold just happens to be in New York!" Mimi stomped her foot.
"Right...," Rika smirked.
"I'm telling the truth!" Mimi protested.
"Right...," Koji mischievously smiled.
"Stop it! I totally do have real gold!" Mimi pressed her lips together.
"Really? Because it sounds like you don't," Izzy raised an eyebrow.
"I totally do! I'll prove it to you when I go back home for the summer!" Mimi slumped to the floor and burst into tears.
"You've got to be kidding me! Way to break the cycle, Mimi! Everyone's saying mean things about each other, so suck it up!" Tai yelled.
"Waaaahhhhh!" Mimi sobbed even harder.
"Tai, look what you did!" Sora yelled.
"What?! I wasn't the one who came up with the mean chant!" Tai shot Takato a dirty look.
"Sorry, it was just the first thing I could think of!" Takato stammered.
"Well, that really hurt my feelings!" Mimi cried.
"Oh my god, I can't handle this anymore! I need a break. You guys just hang and chill while I'm out. I'll be back," Tai rubbed his forehead and stomped out of the gym.
"..." everyone was in silence.
"Is he gone?" Mimi perkily said.
"Were you fake crying?" Izzy said in disbelief.
"Yep," Mimi beamed.
"You scared me!" Takato clutched onto his chest.
"I could never be mad at you. You're just too adorable!" Mimi gushed.
"What the hell was up with the waterworks?" Rika put her hands on her hips.
"I was just thinking if I annoyed him enough, he'd get frustrated and walk away, leaving us to relax for a bit!" Mimi smiled.
"That had to be the smartest thing you've ever said," Izzy looked at her in awe.
"I know!" Mimi grinned.
"It was a good save. Tai's really getting carried away with this competition," Sora sat down.
"Tell me about it! The jerkoff called Nanna to pack me a healthy lunch. You should have seen me when I opened my lunchbox to see this...healthy shit. I was pissed," Rika frowned.
"Hah hah, that was nothing compared to what happened today at lunch. You should have been there!" TK said.
"No! It's a good thing you and Takato missed it!" Sora shook her head.
"What happened?" Takato asked.
"Tai bought Sora a sports bra. By the way, here you go- catch!" Davis threw the bra at Sora.
"Hahahahahahahah!" Rika rolled on the floor laughing.
"That's awkward," Takato tugged at his ear.
"And then he called Mimi was flat-chested," Koji smirked.
"Aww, I can't believe I missed that!" Rika whined.
"That wasn't funny!" Mimi turned red.
"Can we talk about something other than bosoms?" Izzy shook his head.
"Then why don't we talk about how Tai seems to be doing all the yelling and none of the exercise?" Koji snorted.
"And how he blows that freaking whistle all the time!" TK said.
"You don't have any idea how badly I want to jam that fucking whistle down Tai's throat," Rika gritted her teeth.
"Don't do that! That's my precious Kari's whistle!" Davis gasped.
"Oh brother...," TK rolled his eyes.
"I think Tai's a great coach," Kouichi said.
"Huh? Are you nuts? The guy is batshit crazy!" Koji made a face.
"But it's true. All the coaches I know don't do anything sit around and yell at you. If he keeps this up, Tai could be the next Abby Lee Miller," Kouichi said.
"Who's Abby Lee Miller?" everyone looked confused.
"Isn't she the fat bitch on TV who's supposedly a dance instructor, even though all she does is yell at the doberman-faced little girls and their alcoholic mothers?" Rika asked.
"Oh really? I'm Abby Lee Miller? Does that make you the doberman-faced girls? " Tai cleared his throat.
"Hey, Tai...," TK nervously giggled.
"I heard everything," Tai had a stone-cold expression on his face.
"Everything?" Davis tugged at his ear.
"Everything. And here, I'll show you something," Tai took his lanyard off and flung it to the side. He dropped down to the floor and rapidly started doing pushups. He then got back up and ran several laps around the gym. After that, he hopped onto the obstacle course, went through it, and ran back to everyone. "Unlike a fat bitch of a dance instructor, I actually practice what I preach. Everyone, clear out," Tai picked up his whistle and walked out of the gym.
"Is he mad?" Takato picked at his wristband.
"Nah, he's ecstatic!" Rika sarcastically said.
"Have any of you guys seen Tai today?" Sora asked.
"Nope, why?" Mimi opened her lunchbox.
"He didn't show up to class. It worries me. He never skips class- at least not the classes that we have together. You don't think it has to do with what happened yesterday, do you?" Sora said.
"Really? He can't seriously that butthurt," Koji scoffed.
"This is Tai we're talking about," Izzy rolled his eyes.
"Maybe he's just sick," Kouichi suggested.
"Hey Kari!" Davis flagged her down.
"What is it?" Kari said, exasperated.
"Is Tai okay? None of us have seen him since yesterday," TK asked.
"Funny, same here," Kari shrugged.
"Wait, so you don't know where Tai is either?" Izzy asked.
"I know where he is. I just haven't seen him. He's got himself locked up inside his room and he won't come out for some weird reason. I don't know what's wrong with him, but whatever it is, it must be bad if he faked sick. My mom believed him, but I know he was just using tricks straight out of Ferris Bueller," Kari said.
"I love Ferris Bueller," Kouichi perked up.
"Me too! It's one of my favorite movies. It's such a classic," Kari beamed.
"I also like Ferret Mueller! I love it so much, I bought the DVD instead of illegally downloading it off the interwebs!" Davis yelled.
"Right...," Kari raised an eyebrow and walked away.
"Why did she leave? Was it something I said?" Davis looked cluelessly.
"Let it go," TK put his hand on Davis's shoulder and shook his head.
"Maybe TK's right. We should let it go. Even the best of us miss a day of school," Izzy said.
"But what if he misses TWO days of school?" Davis held up his fingers.
"It's not something to make a big deal about," Izzy said.
The next day...
"Alright, what's with this emergency meeting? And where's the pizza you promised in the text message?" Rika huffed.
"Tai hasn't been in school for two days now!" Davis said.
"Pizza's by the window," TK jerked his thumb.
"Guys, you're blowing this out of proportion," Izzy groaned.
"I don't know about that...," Kari placed a slice of pizza on a plate.
"What do you mean?" Sora looked at her.
"I stayed home yesterday to see if he was okay, but he didn't leave his room except to go to the bathroom. He didn't even eat," Kari shook her head.
"I thought I smelled pizza!" Matt walked into the room.
"Can you please leave? We're having a host club meeting," Izzy firmly said.
"If it's a host club meeting, then why is Kari here? And why does she get pizza? I want pizza too," Matt whined.
"Just get outta here," TK shoved Matt out of the room.
"Could you lock the door?" Izzy asked.
"No problem," TK twisted the lock.
"Why don't you love me?!" Matt cried from out the hallway.
"I don't know how Tai could stand being in that room for two days now. He must be really bored," Davis remarked.
"He has Netflix so I don't think that's the problem," Kari said.
"I feel bad," Mimi solemnly twirled her hair.
"Why? What happened?" Kari asked.
"The Ouran boys invited us to play in an athletic competition with other schools," Izzy said.
"Oh yeah. Tai was staying up late planning his training sets. He seemed to take it seriously since he asked to borrow my whistle. I haven't used that thing since I was in elementary school. Imagine how much drool I must have left on it," Kari stuck we tongue out.
"I'd rather imagine how much drool you would leave in my mouth, if you know what I mean," Davis winked.
"Eh...," Kari flashed a grimace and hid behind Izzy.
"Gross, just gross, even for you," TK huffed.
"Poor Tai. The competition is tomorrow. We have to make it up to him somehow. I can understand how important it is to him and to be honest, this is somewhat important to me too," Sora said.
"Why?" Rika made a face.
"As much as I can't wait to finally graduate, I also want to make the last days we have together last," Sora paced around the room.
"Oooh...someone wants to get cozy with Tai," Koji jeered.
"What?! No!" Sora jumped. "I mean, these are going to be the last days of high school, the last days we have as a club."
"That thought had never crossed my mind until now," Izzy leaned over the windowsill.
"Yeah," Mimi solemnly said.
"And who knows how the club is going to be managed next year- if the club will still exist. In just a couple of months, me and Tai will be off to university," Sora said.
"Whoa, that's freaky!" Davis shivered.
"And Tai's turning 18 tomorrow," Kari said.
"So that means he's old enough to legally buy cigarettes. Finally, he'll be good for something," Rika muttered.
"I really don't appreciate you talking about my brother like that," Kari stood akimbo.
"She's just joking, right?" Takato turned red.
"That's just Rika's sense of humor, Kari. You'll get used to it," Izzy said.
"It's just crazy how life can go by so quickly. It seems like just yesterday when I used to annihilate Tai on the soccer field back when we played on the junior leagues," Sora sighed.
"I guess you can say life is like a butterfly," TK pensively looked at the butterfly cages.
"That's random," Davis made a face.
"You see, we all start off as caterpillars, but as time goes on, we slowly get into an awkward stage- a cocoon. I guess you could say high school is like our cocoon stage. Now that Sora and Tai are about to graduate, they're breaking out of their cocoons. They'll become butterflies soon where they'll be roaming through the sky, finding their own paths," TK said.
"That is so beautiful," Kari and Mimi gushed.
"Thanks," TK blushed.
"We're supposed to release the butterflies tomorrow night. Everyone else's cocoons turned into butterflies except for mine," Takato sighed in melancholy.
"It's okay. It takes some butterflies longer to break from their cocoon stage. As long as it's in a safe environment, there's nothing to worry about," Izzy said.
"I guess you're right. I just hope it'll hatch on time," Takato looked longingly at his plastic butterfly cage.
"Where are they going to release the butterflies?" Mimi asked.
"In the courtyard. It's the Butterfly Festival. The middle school is hosting it, but everyone is welcome to attend," Takato said.
"Maybe all of us should go after the Ouran games," Sora suggested.
"You mean if we even go to the Ouran game at all?" Kouichi awkwardly shrugged his shoulders.
"Do we still have to go?" Koji snidely said.
"It is Tai's birthday tomorrow," Izzy huffed.
"His 18th birthday," Sora added.
"And I don't feel like getting him a birthday present," Izzy said.
"Same here," Kari agreed.
"..." everyone stared at her.
"What? Is it wrong that I don't want to buy something for my brother on his birthday?" Kari turned red.
"That's pretty fucked up," Davis said.
"It's your brother," TK gasped.
"So? You didn't get Matt anything for his birthday," Kari protested.
"He might be nice to you but Matt's such a prick to me. You're lucky to have a brother like Tai. Sure, he can be crazy, but he really loves and cares about you. He cares about everyone," TK said.
"Man, now you've guilted me into finding him something," Kari sighed.
"Maybe if we keep him busy tomorrow, that'll give you time to find something for him," Mimi suggested.
"Oh yeah? How is that going to be possible when Tai's a garbage can away from being Oscar the grouch?" Izzy put his hands on his hips.
"Why do you always have to be so critical? I was just throwing an idea out there," Mimi pouted.
"It's not an idea if there's no plan behind it," Izzy spat.
"You're just a stupid!" Mimi shot back.
"I didn't know stupid was a noun," Koji smirked.
"Guys, guys! Can we please stop arguing? Izzy, loosen up! Mimi was just trying to help," Sora stood in between Izzy and Mimi.
"Nyah nyah," Mimi stuck her tongue out.
"Ugh," Izzy rolled his eyes.
"Now, I do think it would be a great idea to keep Tai busy tomorrow. We should drag him to the Ouran games and then after that, we can hang out at the Butterfly Festival," Sora said.
"How are you going to convince Tai to get out of the house though? He seems really mad, and you know how stubborn he is. He might not ever want to leave, just to make a point," Kari bit at her nail.
"I don't know...," Sora tapped on the tabletop.
"See? Ideas without plans," Izzy huffed.
"Then why don't you stop complaining and do something about it? You criticize us but I don't see you coming up with a better solution," Mimi quipped.
"For your information, I do have a solution. I don't know if it'll work or not, but at least I'm not broadcasting it as a foolproof plan," Izzy said.
"And your parents would know about that!" Mimi smirked.
"What is that supposed to mean?" Izzy raised an eyebrow.
"Condoms aren't a foolproof plan. They're only about 67% effective," Mimi smirked.
"First of all, they're 97% effective when used properly! And secondly, screw you!" Izzy stomped out of the room and slammed the door behind him.
"Whoa, talk about tension," Rika tried to hold in her laughter.
"Sexual tension," Davis joked.
"What's his problem? So I got one stupid number wrong, it's not like it's something to be upset about," Mimi scoffed.
"He's adopted," Sora said.
"His real parents died when he was a baby," Kari said.
"And it doesn't help that you basically called Izzy a mistake baby," TK frowned.
"Oh my god! I didn't know that!" Mimi gasped.
"This is awkward," Kouichi sheepishly grabbed the back of his head.
"Izzy! Where are you?! I'm sorry! I didn't know you were adopted!" Mimi dashed out and yelled in the hallway.
"This is why we didn't want to tell Mimi. She can't keep a secret if her life depended on it," Sora sighed.
"So no one else knows Izzy was adopted?" Takato asked.
"Well, now all of the first floor of the school will know," Koji smirked.
"This is great! If you guys are arguing with each other, then how are we going to make Tai get his butt out of bed?" Kari clutched at her heart.
"Don't worry! We'll get it together in time," Kouichi comforted her.
"Yeah! We'll be more together than my ball of used gum! And it's pretty stuck together too!" Davis beamed.
"Uh, okay...," Kari winced.