25
Mira grumbled unhappily as she drove her aunt's van down the street, with the entire host club in the seats behind her. (She couldn't afford a cab for them all, and the van was the only option) Kyoya sat up in the passenger's seat, watching in amusement as she fumed angrily.
"If those idiots don't shut up, I'm going to drive this car off a bridge." Mira grumbled as she gripped on the steering wheel. For the past five blocks, Tamaki and the twins had been arguing about which place they'd visit first. Kyoya's smile grew in the slightest.
"They'll compromise at some point." He comforted, writing something down in his notebook.
"No they won't." Mira said, "They'll keep fighting until the twins say something that makes Tamaki go into his little corner, and they're going to laugh at him for it."
"In their books, it's a compromise." Kyoya said, looking over at her.
"The argument is completely unresolved!" Mira said.
"It's as close as they get to a compromise." Kyoya reasoned, Mira paused.
"Are we having an argument about an argument?" She asked incredulously. Kyoya looked over at her in surprise.
"I think we are." He said, Mira groaned and shook her head.
"What has become of me…?" She asked herself softly, she gripped the steering wheel tighter and she slammed her foot down on the break as they came to a stop light, making everyone in the car lurch forward. "Okay!" She said, turning around in her seat, pointing at Tamaki, Hikaru and Kaoru, "Here's how it's gonna work! We are not going to the Empire State Building!" She pointed at Tamaki, who pouted sadly. The twins laughed victoriously, "And we're not going to Central Park, either!" She pointed at the twins and they gaped at her, "We are going somewhere New York is popular for, and you're not gonna whine about it like a bunch of five-year-olds! Got it?!" The three of them looked at her in fear at the sight of her 'Mira is not pleased' face. They nodded wordlessly and she turned back around in her seat.
"Good." She grunted, driving the car onward as the light turned green.
"Oooh!" Honey said in awe, "What a pretty statue!" He looked at the statue of Lady Liberty that stood a few miles away on a separate piece of land.
"Yes, and patriotic." Mira said from behind him, "It's a national monument that thousands of people come to see every year. It was made by some French guy a long time ago, don't ask me when or who."
"Was it?" Tamaki asked in surprise, coming up beside her. Mira nodded.
"If you want any real information," She began, "I suggest looking up a tour guide."
"And you'd be willing to pay for it all?" Kyoya asked, Mira glared at him.
"Shut up." She grunted.
"Mirabella?" A voice said, "Mirabella Marino?" Mira turned around to see who it was, grimaced, then turned back to her front, hiding her face behind her hand.
"Oh, God no…" She groaned.
"What is it?" Tamaki asked, looking to see a girl with her blonde hair in a thick braid. Her face was covered in make-up.
"I don't believe my eyes." She said, a smile on her glossed lips, "You actually came back to the states!"
"Hello, Katie." Mira said, putting on a fake smile and turning around.
"Wow, I have to say, I'm surprised." Katie said, "I didn't think you'd come back after what happened."
"I didn't have any reason not to come back." Mira returned, "So why shouldn't I have?"
"Oh, I'm not saying you shouldn't have." Katie said, "I'm just saying that it's interesting that you did." The host club shrunk back from the two girls, seeing the sparks fly off from their 'inconspicuous' glares. It was very clear neither girl liked the other. Katie looked over at the host club, "Was a Japanese tour guide the only job you could get when you came home? How sad." Mira's eyebrow twitched angrily.
"Well, at least I didn't have to take an 'oral exam' in order to get a job." Mira said with a false smile. Katie's smile fell.
"Hmph. Just as bitchy as ever, I see." She said, Mira snorted.
"You're one to talk." Mira said, "You're the queen of bitches. Everybody hates your guts." Katie's face bloomed in an angry blush.
"Well, at least I actually don't look like I'm trying to become a man." Katie shot back, Mira scowled, "I mean, look at you!" She gestured to Mira's jeans and T-shirt, which, incidentally, was her brother's, "You look like your tramp of a brother! Oh, wait, my mistake. Your sister's actually the tramp of the family, isn't she?"
Mira clenched her fist and brought it up, punching her across the face and knocking her to the ground. The host club looked at her in shock.
"Mira-sempai!" The twins exclaimed, watching as she bent down and fisted her hand in Katie's tank top, bringing her face up to hers.
"Me, you can insult all you want." She said in a growling voice, "But never insult my family." Mira felt her arms being lifted and saw that each of the twins had grabbed onto one of her arms and pulled her off. Katie scrambled to stand up.
"You'll be hearing from my attorney!" She said as she ran off in her platform heels.
"Get bent!" Mira shouted after her.
"Mira-sempai!" The twins said, getting her attention.
"You need to calm down." Kyoya said, coming up next to her. She scowled at him, and moved her arms out of the twins' hold.
"I am calm." She grumbled, wiping off the sleeves of her shirt. She looked at the bystanders who were watching the spectacle. "There's nothing to see here!" She shouted at them, "Go home!" The people dispersed, ignoring them as they went about their business. Mira glared at the retreating back of Katie, "I never liked her." She started to walk away, "Come on, there's other stuff to see."
Mira fumed silently as she sat in almost unmoving traffic. She tapped her finger against the steering wheel incessantly. The rest of the host club was silent, still unsure of how to begin after what had happened.
"Mira-sempai…" Tamaki began quietly, Mira sighed.
"She was a bitch I knew from school, that's all." Mira said, "We're not bringing this up again."
"But Mira-chan," Honey said, "You got really upset. What did she say?" Mira let out a deep breath.
"Okay," She moved the car a few feet forward as the traffic moved, "When I was a sophomore, there were these girls that…" She let out a huff of air, "Set my sister up with this loser named Henry. He was a senior at the time, and he and Izzy started dating. After about six months… Henry convinced her to get in bed with him. When she told her friends the next day, they called her a whore and when it got to the high school… Let's just say that I found Katie and her friends paying Henry off. Apparently, she wanted to get back at Izzy for 'stealing her boyfriend'." She made quotes with her fingers when she said this, "When really, the girl he left her for was a girl named Isabella that was out of the state. She talked about how everyone would see her as the slut she is. When I found it out, I beat Henry to a pulp, and gave Katie her first swirly."
"What's that?" Honey asked.
"It's when you take someone and stick their head in a toilet and flush." Mira said bluntly as she turned the van off at the closest exit, heading up, "We're gonna take a little detour here."
"Didn't you get in trouble for that?" Tamaki asked in shock, Mira nodded.
"Yeah, I did." Mira said, "I got suspended for two weeks, and detention for three weeks after that. But you know what?" She smiled, "Totally worth it."
"As interesting as this story is…" Hikaru began.
"We're getting hungry." Kaoru said.
"What do you want me to do about it?" Mira asked, looking over her shoulder at the two.
"Take us somewhere famous!" They said, Mira rolled her eyes.
"I can't pay for 'famous' famous." Mira said, she paused, "Well, actually… I think I know the place where I can."
Mira happily took a sip from her soda as she and the host club sat in a cozy (small) coffee-shop like place called Tom's Restaurant. The host club was sitting down with two tables that had been pushed together. Tamaki and the twins looked around the restaurant curiously.
"Mira-sempai," Tamaki began, "How is this place a famous restaurant?"
"Yeah, this place is a dump." Hikaru said.
"Well, I can't exactly afford big and fancy foods." Mira said, giving him a dry look, "So I took you somewhere else. I promise you, it's famous."
"How?" Kaoru asked.
"This restaurant was used in a famous TV show." Mira said, "It's called Seinfeld."
"Never heard of it." The twins said bluntly, Mira shot them a glare to shut them up.
"Well, in America," She said, "The show is legendary, so it's famous. Now order something to eat or I'm going to order for you."
"I think it's kind of exciting." Tamaki said, "I've never heard authentic American food before! It's sure to be good."
"And fattening." Mira said, "Don't expect anything extraordinary. Which reminds me," She stood up, "I'm gonna go to the little girl's room before I eat."
"Hey, Mira-chan!" Honey said, catching her attention, "Do they have cake here?"
"I wouldn't bet on it." Mira said, "But they have pie, that's pretty good."
"Okay, pie it is!" Honey said, he looked over at his cousin, "Takashi, can you go see what kind of pies they have?"
"Honey, they won't understand a word he says." Mira said, she sighed, "Look, I'll go and check their pies for you, okay?"
"Take Takashi with you." Honey insisted, pushing Mori out of his chair, "He'll know what I like best."
"Alright." Mira said with an indifferent shrug, leading Mori with her to the counter to speak with the waitress who was working there at the moment. When the two of them were out of earshot, the host club members huddled together.
"Okay," Tamaki began seriously, "We need to put operation 'Romantic Getaway' in effect." He looked over at Kyoya, "Do you have any idea where she's taking us next?"
"If I had to guess," Kyoya said, going over some data in his cellphone, "The nearest place would be Central Park, so she'll most likely take us there."
"Okay." Tamaki nodded, he turned to the twins, "Hikaru, Kaoru, do you remember the plan?" The twins nodded.
"Yes, sir!" They said, saluting him.
"Once we get to the park, I'll fake a stomach ache." Kaoru said.
"I'll say we need to get him to the hotel," Hikaru said, "And ask Kyoya for the room key and cab fare."
"And I'll say that Honey is the one with the room key," Kyoya said, adjusting his glasses, "And that I'll need to go to the hotel with them to use the ATM to get more money for future cab rides."
"And I'll say that I don't want Usa-chan to get dirty, so I come with you." Honey said, hugging his stuffed bunny. Tamaki nodded in approval.
"And that's when I'll say that I left the spare room key at the hotel," He said, "So that gives me the excuse to go with you all."
"Leaving Mori-sempai and Mira-sempai all alone to a romantic walk in Central Park." The twins said, mischievous grins on their faces.
"And don't screw it up this time!" Tamaki said, "We won't be there for you two to cause Mira-sempai to have a wardrobe malfunction or something!" The twins pouted.
"Fine." They grumbled. Tamaki suddenly sat up straight.
"Mori-sempai approaching! Act natural!" He hissed, staying stiff as a board as Mori came over and took his seat next to his cousin.
"I got you some apple pie." Mori said, Honey smiled.
"Thanks, Takashi!" He said. Mori looked over at Tamaki to see him sitting stiff. He gave him an odd look, but didn't say anything.
Mira stepped out of the car and went over to where the host club members waited, "Alright, we'll walk around the park once, and then I'm heading home for dinner."
"That's fine by us, Mira-sempai." Tamaki said, smiling at her. Mira nodded and began to lead the way. They had only gotten twenty feet from the car when Kaoru began to moan in pain. Everyone looked back to see him hunched over, holding his stomach.
"Kaoru! What's wrong?" Hikaru asked, coming over to his brother.
"My stomach…" Kaoru groaned, "Oh, it hurts."
"Well, I'm not surprised." Mira said, "The way you two inhaled your food like that, you should have stomach aches."
"We need to get you back to the hotel room!" Hikaru said worriedly, he looked over at Kyoya, "Kyoya-sempai, we need the room key and cab fare!"
"Uh, I could just drive you to the hotel." Mira volunteered, "You don't have to take a cab."
"Hikaru, I don't have the room key." Kyoya said, "Remember? I gave it to Honey for safe-keeping." He adjusted his glasses, "Besides, I need to come with you. I need to use the hotel's ATM to get money for later on in this trip. I didn't think New York taxi cabs would be so expensive."
"I'll come too!" Honey said, he held up his pink bunny, "There's a lot of dirt in this place, and I don't want Usa-chan getting dirty."
"Oh!" Tamaki exclaimed, doing a very bad job of acting like he had just forgotten something, "You know what I just realized?" Everyone looked over at him, "I left the spare room key at the hotel! I should come with you and go get it." Mira raised a dubious eyebrow at the blonde. The twins rolled their eyes at his terrible acting. You'd think if he could get a legion of girls to fall into his arms, he would be able to act.
"Let's just get back to the hotel." Hikaru said.
"I'll hail a cab." Kyoya said, walking towards the street.
"Come on, Kaoru." Hikaru said, putting his brother's arm around his shoulder to help him to the street.
"Wait for us!" Honey said, grabbing Tamaki's hand and pulling him along. As they walked away, Honey turned back and said, "Oh, and Takashi, you stay here and keep Mira-chan company while we're gone." They went after the others. Mira stared at them incredulously.
"The van is right there!" Mira said, pointing to it as they walked by it, "I could just drive you!" They pretended not to hear her as they walked away. Mira pursed her lips dubiously as they went out of sight, her hands on her hips. She looked over at Mori when they realized they were alone. "Just us, huh?" Mori nodded in agreement. Mira 'hmph'ed and crossed her arms across her chest, "I'm getting the sneaking suspicion that those idiots are trying to play matchmaker." Although neither of them heard it, both their hearts raced at the notion.
Mira would have loved the idea of walking around Central Park with just Mori. Just the two of them, surrounded by the park's natural beauty, talking- well, maybe her talking and him listening, but still! She wasn't sure, though, if he wanted to do the same. After all, he was only her classmate, and fellow club member. They may have been friends, but she wasn't completely sure if Mori even liked spending time with her. She looked away from him, twirling her neon blue streak around her finger.
Mori saw her do this, and his heart pounded even more at her cute, embarrassed expression. If she acted like this, did that mean she wanted to spend time with him? He smiled at the idea. Her and him, walking through the park, holding hands, enjoying each other's company… He really liked the idea. There was a chance the host club would try to set them up again, which he wouldn't mind at all, but this was now. Who knows when they would try it again? He held out his hand to her and she stared at it.
"Well, who are we to get in their way?" He said, Mira's eyes widened in surprise and looked up at him, seeing a small smile on his face. Was he… flirting with her? Did that mean he wanted to go on this walk with her? She smiled back at him.
"You're right." She said, "They probably planned out this whole day just to see if we would end up together." She took his hand, "It would be awful if all that planning went to waste." Mori led her down the paved path in the park, holding onto her hand.
The couple was completely unaware of the six pairs of eyes that were watching them.
"Yes!" The twins cheered happily, pumping their fists in the air.
"They're going for it!" Tamaki cheered. Kyoya said nothing as he watched the pair walk down the paved road. He nudged Tamaki's shoulder roughly, "Ow!" He rubbed the spot where he'd been hit.
"Come on," He said, "Let's leave them alone."
"Why?" Tamaki asked with a pout.
"They know we set them up." Kyoya said, "They'll be on the lookout for us the whole time. Just leave them alone." He walked away from them, the hosts looked at each other in confusion, but followed him as he hailed a cab to get them back to the hotel.
Mira and Mori walked through the park, still hand in hand, happily enjoying the silence between them. Mira looked over at him.
"So, have you ever been to America before?" She asked, figuring she should start a conversation. Mori shook his head, "I didn't think so." She walked a little closer to him, "You like it so far?" Mori smirked, pulling his hand from hers and putting it around her shoulders. Mira blushed furiously.
"I like this." Mori said, rubbing her shoulder and grinning at her red face.
"I-Is that so?" Mira said. This was the part of Mira that he liked the most. He knew that if any man she didn't know tried to do this with her, she'd push them away and hit them where the sun don't shine. It was only when he did something like this that she acted so cute and embarrassed. It made her all the more appealing to him. "Oh, look!" Mira said suddenly, pointing to a vendor that was selling some snacks, "Come on, let's get something to eat!" She ran from his arms towards the vendor. Mori smiled and followed her to him. She pulled out her wallet, "What do you want to eat?"
Mori shrugged, "Whatever you have."
"Okay…" Mira said, turning to the vendor, "Two caramel apples, please."
"You got it." The vendor said, pulling out two apples and handing them to her. She took them and gave one to Mori as she paid the man.
"Thank you." She said as she and Mori walked away.
"You two enjoy your date!" The man said as he picked up his cart and moved away. Mira's face turned a bright red. She turned around and tried to stutter out an explanation.
"No, he's not my- I mean, w-we're just friends and…" She trailed off, seeing that he wasn't listening as he walked away, "Never mind." She and Mori walked over to a bench that looked out over the either large pond or small lake in Central park. "You ever had caramel apples before?" Mori shook his head.
"I've hand candied apples." He said, looking at the fruit.
"Not the same." Mira said before taking a bite of the apple. She spoke again, her mouth full of fruit, "Try it, it's good." Mori shrugged and took a bite of the caramel apple. Mira waited for his reaction. He looked over and shrugged.
"It's okay." He said, Mira pouted.
"Oh, Japanese food has spoiled it for you." She said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand. Mori let out a small laugh and kept eating the fruit, the two of them looking out over the body of water in front of them. Mira looked when she spotted an old couple in a boat, the woman sitting up front as the old man moved the boat forward with the oars, "Aww, would you look at that?" Mori looked up at the aged couple, "Isn't that sweet? That's how I want to be when I get married and turn into an old grandma." Mira took a bite of her caramel apple, "I still want to have that little spark with my husband and do something like that." She smiled as the two of them shared a short, but sweet kiss. Mori looked over at Mira, focusing on her smiling lips.
Her smiling, pink, kissable lips. His mind added. He imagined himself leaning in closer to her and putting his lips against those oh, so kissable ones and having her kiss him back. He was about to try, when Mira suddenly stood up.
"Come on," She said, holding out her hand to him, "There's a lot more park to see." He took her hand and got up, releasing it when he stood up. After Mira tossed her apple core into a nearby trashcan, she took hold of his hand again. He looked at her in surprise, and she smiled at him, "You don't mind, do you?"
Mori shook his head, "Not at all."
They walked through more of the park, looking up when they heard cheers. They saw a small group of skaters and skateboarders ahead of them on their path, enjoying the rails on the elevated walkways and gliding across the benches. Seeing Mira go ahead towards them without any hesitation, Mori did the same. They walked past the skaters, looking at some of the tricks they performed, not noticing that some of them were staring at Mira.
"Ooh, mama." One of the skaters breathed, looking at Mira's jean covered behind.
"I'd like a piece of that." The one next to him said. Mira paused and looked back at the skaters.
"Excuse me?" She asked. She glared at them when one of them wolf-whistled at her.
"Awoooo!" One boy said, sounding like a howling dog and making the others laugh.
"Yeah! I like the way you move, baby!" One cheered, Mira blushed angrily.
"Perverts!" She shouted at them, pulling Mori with her as she walked away faster. One of the skaters nudged one of his friends.
"Dare ya to touch her ass." He said, nodding at Mira. His friend smirked, slapping his helmet on his head.
"You're on." He said, he got on his skateboard and skated over to the couple, "Look out!" He made it look like she got caught in his path, and grabbed onto her butt cheek and squeezed. Mira gasped and slapped his hand away. He grinned and held up his hands defensively as he rode past her. "Yo, my bad, honey." Mira glared at him as he began to ride around her.
"I'm not your honey!" Mira snarled, bringing up her fist and knocking him off his board. The other skaters looked at her in shock and she glared at them, "Anyone else want to try and touch me?!" The skaters instantly looked away, muttering out 'no's and other things. "Didn't think so." She took hold of Mori's hand and started walking off again.
"What was that about?" Mori asked, Mira shook her head.
"Nothing, just a bunch of idiots being idiots." She said.
"He touched you." Mori said, growling a little.
"Again, idiots being idiots." Mira said, she looked over her shoulder at him, "Don't worry about it, okay?" Mori's face softened at the sight of hers, and he let the matter drop, "Oh, this is one of my favorite places." Mira said as they came up to a bridge. She walked right to the middle of it, smiling down at the road below the bridge, "I really like this spot." She moved so she would sit up on the railing, "When I was a little kid, my mom would always take us up on this bridge and we'd just sit here and talk about stuff." She swung her legs happily, "It was really fun." Mori smiled and came up next to her, leaning on the railing.
"You have a lot of good memories here." Mori mused, Mira nodded.
"Yeah…" She murmured, looking up at the sky. She sighed, "I really missed New York." Mori didn't say anything, he simply looked at her as she stared dreamily up at the sky. He reached over and had his hand cover hers, she looked over at him in surprise.
"You don't mind, do you?" Mori asked, a small grin on his face.
Mira smiled back, "Not at all." She hopped off the railing, entwining her fingers with Mori's, "Come on, there's still more to see." She pulled him along with her as they went around the bridge and down to the path beneath it. Mori looked up when he heard the sound of whirring wheels and saw a small group of men on bikes coming towards them at a very fast pace.
"Look out!" Mori exclaimed, pulling her back and out of their way. He overestimated the strength he would have to use to pull her back safely, and she went flying back, pulling him with her as she fell. Mira fell first onto the grass of the hill the bridge was sitting on, and Mori landed on top of her. The bikers rode past the two without so much as batting an eyelash, ignoring them completely.
Mori moved from his place and saw he was completely on top of Mira, his hands on either side of her head. They blushed at the suggestive position they were in. Mori was frozen in shock, he couldn't move. Mira couldn't move either, mostly because she was pinned under the handsome host.
"Um…" Mira began, "We should… probably get up now…" She moved to squirm out from under him, but Mori reached for her hand and grabbed it.
"Not yet." He said, "Let's stay like this for a little longer." Mira blushed furiously.
"B-But…" She stuttered, "People might s-see us and get the wrong idea…" In truth, the area they were in was empty for the time being. They were completely alone. Mori leaned in closer to the blushing girl's face.
"Who cares?" He asked quietly, Mira's blush deepened.
"But… Takashi…" She murmured, Mori smiled.
"You're so cute." That's when he leaned in closer and did what he had been dying to do for a good amount of time.
He kissed her.
He felt the warmth of her lips on his, and he felt his heart soar into the sky. He had never felt so blissful before. Having her soft lips on his was absolute heaven. He gently entwined his fingers with hers, and she did the same, holding onto his hand. He thought he was going to die from happiness when he felt her lips move against his, kissing him back. Mira had never been kissed like this before. As a matter of fact, she had never been kissed at all, and being with Mori made it the best in all her life. She felt as if her heart might give out at any second because it was beating so fast. Having Mori's hand hold hers was total delight. It felt as though their hands were made to hold each other. She took her other arm, and wrapped it around his neck, pulling him closer. Mori supported himself on his knees as he used his free hand to wrap around her waist and bring her closer to him.
When they finally pulled away from the heart-stopping kiss, they looked at each other through hooded, cloudy eyes, taking in deep breaths.
"I think… I love you." Mori said softly.
"…Me too." Mira said just as softly as he did. She blushed again and Mori let out a small laugh, he leaned in and kissed her again. This time, though, it was a light, affectionate peck instead of the passionate kiss he had given her a second ago. He moved off of her, still holding her hand and pulling her up with him. He still held her hand when she stood and they walked down the path together.
They walked in silence, with the two of them gravitating towards each other with every step, until they were linking arms and walking close together.
Mira looked up as she and Mori came closer to the hotel he and the other hosts were staying in. Mori smiled and opened the car door, stepping out.
"Um, hey," Mira said, catching his attention, "I know it's sort of late, but…" She blushed again, "Do you want to be my boyfriend?" Mori smirked and leaned back into the car, kissing her cheek, smiling as her blush became an even deeper shade of red, "I-I guess that's a 'yes'." Mori shut the door behind him.
"See you tomorrow." He said, walking towards the hotel. Mira nodded, watching him leave.
"Mm-hmm…" She murmured. When Mori was out of earshot, her brain had registered what he had just said and jumped, "Wait, tomorrow? But I'm supposed to visit my mom tomorrow!"