Chapter 5
The hour club lasts went by fast after Benio left for the Zuka Club performance. As Kayda puts her bass in its case, Honey and Mori walk over to Kayda's area. The cousins wearing matching designer jackets and pants. "That was amazing Kayda-chan! You're really good! You're not going to leave us for the Zuka Club, are you?" Honey asks, concerned that the Zuka Club will steal the new host. They already attempted to steal Haruhi twice.
Kayda chuckles and shrugs. "My father is adamant on me going to school here. They'd have to convince him," she says as she zips up the guitar case. Double checking that it is closed. Despite being rich, Kayda never showed it off at her old school. Always using her guitar cases until they were threadbare. Getting junk cars and slowly rebuilding them until they looked like top of the line muscle cars. Her current guitar case is threadbare but covered in patches that she got from national parks around the world and sewn in names of her favorite rock bands.
"If your father let you transfer to Lobelia, would you?" Mori asks, not showing any emotion about it. Sitting down next to the younger student. He doesn't want the musical mechanic to leave Ouran. She has more to her than the other girls. While the other girls focus on appearance and social status, Kayda believes in hard work and does everything herself. She doesn't need a prince to come and save her.
"Not for a while at least. My father said that as long as I attend Ouran, I can fix up my 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda myself instead of paying someone else to do it. I got a few months of work left on it," Kayda says with a soft smile. As much as she loves music, engines and muscle cars are her babies. She got all the bodywork done. Now she just has to finish the engine, paint, and interior. With a team, it's only a week or two of work. It will take a long time to do it herself.
Mori grunts and puts his hand on Kayda's head, his way of saying that he is glad that she will be around for a few months at least. Being a master of words. "Try not to let Benibara convince your father to have you transferred. We want you to stay here."
Kayda smirks and turns to look at Mori. Raising an eyebrow as she leans back, her side pressing into his. "You'd miss me if I left. That's so sweet, babes," she teases, having a feeling that Mori really meant that he wants her to stay. That he said 'we' just to cover it up. "Maybe you can find a way to convince me to stay even if Benio tries to have me transferred. I'm sure you'll come up with something, babes," she adds with a wink before getting up. Slinging her guitar case across her back and picking up her amp. Giving the boys a wave and a smile before leaving music room 3.
"I think she likes you too, Takashi. Don't worry about me. I'll be fine if you want to get to know her," Honey says to his cousin/best friend. Fully aware that Mori doesn't focus on his own wants because of loyalty to Honey. By giving permission, Honey is hoping that Mori will take his own wants into consideration. It's well known among third years that Kayda got into a bit of trouble with her family because of her passion for building and there are rumors that Kayda has only ever done open relationships. Her older brother had graduated this last year, and did mention to a few second years of the trouble Kayda found herself in. With how quickly Kayda went from flirting with Benibara to Mori, Honey is starting to think that the rumor about Kayda is true. All Honey can hope for is that Mori truly does gives Kayda a reason to stay.
Homeroom was interesting the following day. While everyone else was talking and joking, Kayda was sitting in the back sketching out a plan for an engine in her sketchbook. Hair pulled back in a short ponytail to keep it out of her face. As she was writing some calculations on horsepower, someone stepped in front of the window, casting a shadow over the sketchpad. With a quick glance up, she sighs and sets down her pencil. "Did you need something, Tamaki?" she asks, a note of bitterness in her voice. After he decided that he must save her from her best friend, the son of the headmaster is not in her good books. "Unless it is an apology for yesterday, I don't want to hear it."
Tamaki sits down in front of Kayda and turns in his chair to face his classmate. "I'm sorry for trying to protect you from Benibara. I can't help my princely nature," Tamaki says, brushing his hair out of his face as he tries to sound modest. His apology seeming to be more of a brag and an excuse than an apology.
"A prince doesn't protect someone who doesn't need protecting. An enemy to you may not be an enemy to me. Next time you try to 'save' me from a member of the Zuka Club, you'll see how easy it will be for this club of yours to go under," Kayda says not believing his apology. If it was Mori that tried to protect her, Kayda would happily get the Zuka Club to back off. It would be easy for her to convince Benibara to back down. Especially when they'll finally determine what their relationship is in one day's time. Kayda closes her sketchpad and puts it into her bag. Her pencil following shortly after. "Goodbye, Suoh," she says coldly before getting up and moving seats. Sitting with one of her second year clients and switching from her cold demeaner to the shy smile she uses with her clients.
Tamaki sits back in confusion. His princely charms work on almost every girl. Even Haruhi came around to it! Benibara must have Kayda far under her spell. The Host Club must save Kayda from Benibara! That afternoon, they'll get together and plan. He just needs to find a way to keep Kayda from finding out.
Club that afternoon has been interesting so far. To make sure Kayda would run late, Tamaki had the twins tell her that club hours are different on Fridays. As soon as the twins run into the room, the meeting can start. "So we need to come up with a plan to keep Benibara away from Kayda. According to my informants, they will be spending the entire weekend alone in Benibara's dorm. We can't get her out once she's there… so we need to kidnap Kayda before Benibara can!" Tamaki states as he paces in front of a whiteboard, acting like he is a general and his friends are his soldiers. The only people paying attention being the twins. Off to the side, Kyoya, Mori, and Honey are all sitting at a table together.
"I thought the two of you would be all over this plan. Especially with how fond you are of Kayda, Mori-senpai," Kyoya comments, fully aware that this plan will ultimately fail. Because of his research, he knows that Kayda dates two or more people at one time. At least one boy and one girl. He has also learned that Benibara and Kayda are best friends, which is why setting them up to be rivals will appeal to customers.
"Kayda and Benibara are friends. Getting between them will just result in Kayda leaving Ouran when she already plans to stay," Mori says, trusting that Kayda meant what she said the day before about staying.
On the whiteboard, Tamaki had an elaborate plan to take Kayda right after club ends and to take her to Kyoya's family's tropical resort for the weekend. No one noticing that Kayda entered the room and decided to stand behind the twins. "When I told you to back off, I did not mean to kidnap me. You have made a grave mistake, Tamaki. I'd watch my back if I were you," she says coldly. Arms crossed as she glares at him. Leaving the club room and taking out her phone to contact Benibara. Not hiding the anger in her voice as the other girl answers the phone. "You were right about Suoh. Can I come tonight?"
Benio chuckles on the other side of the line. Having expected this call eventually. She had warned Kayda about Tamaki's elaborate plans to keep 'his' girls by his side. "I'll have a car sent for you now. It's time you meet a real club."