Let me get this off my chest before I say anything else. Fuck calculus. I loathe it with every fiber of my being. It's not that I'm stupid. In fact, it's quite the opposite. I'm sometimes too smart for my own good. However, I can openly and wholeheartedly say fuck calculus. As I sit here in my cozy booth in the ramen shop on the verge of a minor breakdown over my goddamn calculus homework, I laid my head on the tabletop, ready to give up on everything. Is it too early to debate on dropping out and becoming a stripper? I'm sure that if I tell my bitch grandmother that I've renounced my position in the Mendoza family, I could be on a fast track to the easy life.
Like I'd abandon the family like that. Besides, Daddy would make sure I was taken care of before I begged that bitch for anything. As much as I hate to say it, I have to study hard. If I don't, Daddy doesn't get to retire to Boca and I don't get to take over the family. To have a good portion of New York at my feet? That's the endgame. And unfortunately, that also means passing my fucking calculus class that can fry in the deepest pits of hell.
"My god, Rei," a familiar voice rumbled over me, taking my pencil, "Before you hurt yourself."
I watched carefully while the problem was worked in front of me, mesmerized with every line, "You know, Kasanoda, you could've just said hi."
"Or I could end your suffering with your calculus homework," Kasanoda took the empty seat across from me, rolling my pencil back, "Because I'm so damn nice."
"Thank you," I smiled a bit, "But how do I know it's right? Aren't you in mostly remedial classes?"
"It's right," he assured, "When I took my Ouran entrance exam, I had a plan. Pass all of my classes. What would be the easies way of doing that? Remedial classes. I don't have to work hard when I can just work smart."
"I know some boys back home that would love to have you," I giggled, "If you don't have any plans after high school, I could set you up with a damn good job. Unless you have an aversion to pepper spray."
"What the fuck kind of job would I need…" Kasanoda stopped himself, "I mean, I don't have an aversion to pepper spray. Not to be that guy, Rei, but should I be worried with the life you lead?"
"That's totally up to you," I allowed, "If you want to worry, then worry. You don't have to, though. I'm well protected. Mostly by myself. And I was joking about the pepper spray thing. I'm not pimping you out."
"Thanks," he winced, "I think?"
"I bet you'd do well with cougar crowd, though," I sized him up, having been around this block a time or two. Back when Daddy would keep a couple pimps around. There was one where one of his girls and I ended up becoming friends. I wonder where Madison is now. She was working through nursing school last I heard anything, "Definitely would do well with the cougar crowd."
"Rei!" Kasanoda stopped me, "It's bad enough the host club tried doing that with me. I don't need you doing it, too."
"Yeah," I scoffed, "I know. Unfortunately."
"Oh, Rei…" he sympathized, "They got to you, didn't they? That's why you've been going to the host club so much lately."
"Yeah," I sipped on my lemonade, "They got to me. But apparently, I'm a very indispensable and rare type of host."
"What type did they saddle you with?" Kasanoda wondered.
"The chameleon type, Kyoya said," I remembered, "But it's only for a couple days. I know I said we were hanging out after school on Friday, but do you think you could stick around the host club for a bit? I'm sure you'd be able to sit in my section the whole time."
"That's fine," he allowed, "Besides, I still don't know where you live."
"If it makes you feel any better," I pointed out, "I don't know where you live either. And not to be a dick, but I don't trust you in my house by yourself."
"What's the worst I could get into?" Kasanoda shrugged, "You worried I'm going to find your porn stash and steal your valuables? Come on, man. I'm better than that. Not much, but I am."
"First of all," I explained, "I don't have a porn stash. And anything remotely dirty is kept on my computer. I'm not some kind of Neanderthal."
"Fair enough. Classy gentleman."
"But knowing my luck," I went on, "You'd probably get curious and adventurous and I don't need to come home with you in my underwear."
"Why would I be in your underwear?" Kasanoda gave me a look, "Just because I'm going into the host club Friday to sit with you doesn't make me into dudes. Your underwear is your own business."
Oh, Kasanoda, you have much to learn about the world, "Thank you. I appreciate it. Can I ask you a question?"
"Sure," he ordered us more ramen. God bless him, "What's up?"
"How do you deal with the host club?" I asked, "They're a strange bunch. Except for Haruhi and Morinozuka. And Kyoya. But Kyoya reminds me of some of my uncles and that's not necessarily a good thing."
"What do you mean?"
"Some of my uncles have been to prison," I confessed, "And some of them have been avoiding incarceration like the plague since before I was born. That was half the reason why my mom went to law school."
"Your mom's a lawyer?" Kasanoda snapped his chopsticks.
"Was," I corrected, "Yeah. She kept my dad's ass out of jail more times than we could ever count. She was the master of finding loopholes in everything. No one could work the system better than her. And holy shit, did that piss her mother off."
"What's your old man get into that your mom's had to bail him out?"
"I can't tell you that," I kept my mouth shut. The family business wasn't exactly something I was allowed to talk about.
"Why?" he joked, "Because then you'd have to kill me?"
"Exactly," I finished my second bowl of ramen, "I'm glad we see eye to eye."
"You're serious?" Kasanoda turned pale.
"Dead serious," I nodded, "What my family does is a very hush, hush thing. Kind of like fight club. I'm surprised Daddy's never ran for public office. But then, where's the fun in that?"
"You're fucking scary," he admitted, "Should I even be seen with you?"
"I'm safe here," I rolled my eyes, "Besides, if all else fails, you could use me as a human shield. I wouldn't advise it because of the shit storm that would be on you if something were to happen to me, but here nor there."
"And to think," Kasanoda chuckled nervously, "You're about to get tangled up with the host club."
"I'm already in it," I grumbled, "It's only a trial, though."
"Good!" he chirped, "That's what you want. If you don't want to deal with the host club after all is said and done, be a garbage host. Be the worst host you could possibly be. Ignore any clients you have and they'll leave you alone. You'll have no further obligation to them and they'll kick you out. Works like a charm. Trust me."
"That's it?" I perked up, "I just have to be really shitty at it and I'm free?"
"That's it," Kasanoda confirmed, "Nothing more. Nothing less. Blow them all off and you'll be fine."
"Awesome," I fell onto the table, "Now, since you're full of wonderful advice, will you also finish my calculus homework for me?"
"No fucking chance," he got up from our table, "I'm sure you got it handled, Rei. It's just triangles. I'm going to head home."
"Me, too," I pushed my chair back in, "Hey, Kasanoda, why don't you just follow me?"
"What for?"
"That way," I shoulder checked the door open, "You'll know where I live, so you won't be lost come Friday."
"Alright," Kasanoda gave me a nod, "But I took my bike here. I'm not walking and I doubt you could keep up. Would you be cool riding bitch?"
"Yeah," I took his extra helmet, "It's not my first time riding bitch and it most likely won't be my last."
"Good," he swung his leg over, "You're just riding bitch, not fucking spooning me, got it?"
"Alright." Hard to believe this charmer doesn't have a girlfriend. Still, I followed suit, reveling in the engine roaring between my legs. Goddamn, I forgot how much I miss doing shit like this.
"Hold on…"
He didn't have to tell me twice. I wrapped my arms around Kasanoda's waist and directed him toward my building. As we zipped through the streets of Shibuya, I had finally found some peace. Under the neon lights on the back of Kasanoda's bike, I felt serene. Like I was exactly where I was supposed to be. If this was what I could expect from the next four years, this might not be so bad. If I'm not careful, I could fall asleep back here. His back muscles were nice to lay on.
"Rei…" Kasanoda jostled me, "Which building is yours?"
"Oh," I snapped out of my blissful headspace, "Right up here. The glass one."
He pulled his bike up to the curb and whipped his helmet off, "Which floor?"
"That one," I pointed, taking my helmet off, "Way up at the top. I got the penthouse."
"Well," Kasanoda teased, "Aren't we spoiled?"
"I'm not spoiled." Who the hell was I trying to bullshit? Kasanoda. Right, "It's overcompensation. For making me have to uproot halfway across the world by myself. Probably."
"Oh…"
"Well…" I rocked back on my heels, "It's still early. You want to come up and see what spoiled gets?"
"Really?" a little sparkle shined in his eye, "Is that ok?"
"It's fine by me," I assured, "And I am the only one who lives here. Master of my domain."
I could see it all over his face. Kasanoda was thinking about it and giving it serious consideration, "I better not. I'll be here Friday. And now, I know where you live. I can wait. I'll see you tomorrow, Rei."
"Bye," I watched Kasanoda's taillights fade into the cityscape. Damn. I was kind of hoping he would've come up. Oh well.
At least it wasn't a total loss. Now, I could finally take my bath I've been wanting since I got out of kendo! Yay! Granted, I had all intentions of getting my ramen to go, but the atmosphere is nice to work in. And I got to hang out with Kasanoda a little while he helped me with my homework. All in all, it was a good night.
I tossed my uniform aside and slipped into the water. The heat hugged my body in all the ways I needed. I'm sure that riding on the back of Kasanoda's motorcycle didn't help anything. But damn, was that good for the soul…I can't wait for Friday. Hopefully, by the time the weekend rolls around, I won't have any more obligation to the host club. If Tamaki thinks he's taking any of my downtime from me, he's fucking high.
But damn, I can't wait for Friday. I mean, I'm sure it won't be much different from the ramen shop, but still. Why am I letting it bother me so much? It's not like we've never hung out before. I'm just overthinking it. A night of us being two bros. But that's the thing. He doesn't know that I'm not exactly a bro. Or he's figured it out and just isn't saying anything. Kind of like what I did with Haruhi. One day at a time, Rei. One day at a time.
All I have to do is be a shitty host and they'll leave me alone, huh? A girl can hope, right?
A/N: Shh…Everyone…Rei's going sleepy by. It's her bedtime. She's tired anyway. After a long day at school and getting the shit kicked out of her in kendo and the host club's patented kidnapping, she deserves a good, long rest. So, tomorrow's going to be her first day as a host. In training anyway. I have a very exciting plan for Thursday…In story, Thursday. This Thursday, we don't see each other. I update Hetalia/Fruits Basket (Trouble Comes in Threes) on Ao3 on Thursdays. But right now, you know what sounds nice? A nap. If Rei's going to sleep, then I can take a nap, too, right? Is that how logic works? I don't know, but I'll see you next chapter! xx