Mami's inner thoughts
People talking in unison
I only own my own characters, nothing else.
"I don't understand why I couldn't just get ready at home." I started to pick at my newly manicured nails before Hikaru slapped my hand away, again. The twins made me change into the dress they had made up shortly after Tamaki and I had arrived to the third music room. The excitable blond had forced me into his car before I even knew what were happening, house slippers and all. The rest of the hosts were slowly getting ready in the room as well. There was still an hour before the party officially started and I was already a wreck. Everything felt like too much, the paint on my nails felt heavy, the dress felt scratchy and my locket was ice cold against my hot skin.
"And give you time to try and come up with an excuse?" Kyoya quirked an eyebrow, lifting his eyes up from his ever present notebook. He was already dress up in his classic black suit. My ears heated up, I felt like I had just been caught with my hand in the cookie jar.
"Mami-senpai, try not to blush. You're going to mess up the shading." Kaoru lightly scolded me as he gently grabbed my chin again to finish up my makeup. It was much more than I would have done myself, which would have been just putting on some light eyeliner and a nude lipstick.
"And don't even think about touching your nails again." Hikaru said from behind me, just as my hand was reaching toward the dark green painted nails that had just finished drying. I wasn't used to the feeling of polish on my nails, having only gotten my nails done a handful of time. He was now brushing through my thick dark hair, preparing it for what style they had decided on, he debated under he breathe about whether or not to add extensions to my short hair. I truly felt like a toy they had called me earlier in the week.
"It's only right for a family to get ready together before a big event." Tamaki said with a flourish as he spun around, throwing glitter into the air, not caring if any got on to his white suit. "My sister looks so cute and my daughter will look even cuter." His eyes glazed over as he started to daydream. I could only assume it was about Haruhi in a dress. Just then, the freshman stepped out from the dressing room in a suit that clearly didn't belong to her but still looked good.
"Is Senpai okay?" Haruhi tugged at the sleeves of the brown jacket she was wearing. She was oblivious to the changes in Tamaki's over-the-top plan to get Kasugazaki Kanako and Suzushima Toru to realize their feelings toward each other. Tamaki had decided last minute yesterday to change the plan so that Haruhi would be dressed up as a girl who was trying to confess to Suzushima to get him to admit his feelings toward his fiancé. Tamaki had a stupid grin on his face, as he stayed lost in his daydream.
"Tama-chan is just really excited for the dance." Honey said as he bounced over in his cream colored suit, with Mori close on his heels. He was wearing a ruffled dress shirt under a simple black suit jacket, opting for a comber bun instead of a vest like the other hosts. Mori bent down to adjust Honey's bow tie after the small senior stopped next to the chair I was sitting in. The boys had all agreed that they wouldn't tell Haruhi of the revised plan just so they could see her in a dress. Honey had guilt tripped me into agreeing not to tell Haruhi after I protested.
"Mi-chan! You look so pretty!" He bounced on the tips of his toes, unable to contain his excitement, as my face got hot once again. Mori nodded in agreement behind him as the twins backed away and brushed their hands off, in sync, staring at their handy work.
"We did do a good job."
"I think it's some of our best work yet." Kaoru handed me a small hand mirror off the table filled with makeup and hair supplies. My breath caught in my throat, I almost didn't recognize myself. Hikaru, opting not to add in extensions, had expertly done a half fishtail braid starting on the right side, before sloping toward the back where it joined the rest of the lightly curled hair. Kaoru had done my make up in a subtle way and somehow made it so my face didn't look as red as it felt. My eyes had a very subtle gold shine to them, minuscule eyeliner and light mascara. The lipstick was darker than what I would have picked out, a dark burgundy, but it well with dark green of the dress. The A line dress hugged my waist before flowing out in light layers around my legs. The bust, that dipped a bit lower than I would have liked, had detailed beadwork on the front from my shoulders to the waist. The beads were the same color as the fabric and they swirled around each other forming small flowers and leaves if you looked close enough. The white bandage on my hand stood out like a soar thumb, but I still felt like a princess.
It was definitely better than anything I would have shown up in. Though, the exposed skin made me feel exposed. I couldn't help but feel uncomfortable as half of the hosts stared at me. I'm already freaking out and these are your friends. What are you going to do when the dance actually starts? I self-consciously tugged at the top of the dress, trying to pull it up to cover more skin.
"Thank you, Hikaru-kun, Kaoru-kun. It's beautiful." I muttered before my phone chimed from the table where I had left my things.
"I trust that everything is going smoothly?" Kyoya appeared beside me as I read the new message. I nodded, focusing first on texting my team back before replying.
"You could have saved some money and had me be the animal caretaker for the night." Along with Tamaki's last minute plan, he had decided that there should be a photo opportunity for the guests tonight with some animals from the shelter. Which I had agreed to eagerly, thinking I would just have to spend the night watching over the pair of horses, but he had insisted on hiring someone else to care for them.
"But then you couldn't socialize, Mami-senpai." You could practically see the sarcasm dripping from Kyoya. Obviously he wasn't too happy about the extra money that had to be spent for tonight's already extravagant event but at least I wasn't the only pushover when it came to Tamaki. The blonde certainly had a way of getting his way.
The ballroom was filled with girls, which combined with the live orchestra, made the noise almost overwhelming. I stood next to the food, as it was the only spot that had enough room to move around comfortably without running into someone. It was a plus that the acoustics were pretty terrible in this spot making the noise a little more bearable. My hands kept flitting around. I couldn't keep them still. I tried to stay relaxed but I was sure my makeup was ruined from how much I felt like I was sweating. The hosts were all busy so far, accepting dances and talking with the guests, so I was left by myself in a roomful of strangers. I felt completely out of my element and on edge. At least no one is going to ask me to dance.
Suddenly a large platter was placed in front of my face, it was filled to the brim with different kinds of cake. Mori looked down at me silently, waiting for me to take a slice. I studied the cakes for probably longer than I should have, happy to have a distraction from the crowd. Eventually, I found the one I was looking for, black forest cake. It was a simple cake but elegantly decorated with the whipped topping, chocolate ganache and a single cheery that sat on the top of the slice.
"Thank you, Mori-kun." I picked the cherry off the top and quickly eat it. I closed my eyes, allowing the sweet freshness of the cherry to wash over me. I slowly opened my eyes and found Mori was still standing next to me with the tray. "Are those for Honey-kun?" I asked in an attempt to extend the conversation. I felt better having a friend close by. He nodded, his eyes slowly moving from me to the bouncing senior on the dance floor. Honey wasn't dancing, so much as spinning the girls around in circles but he stopped as soon as he caught sight of the cake.
"Cake time!" Honey rushed over, after excusing himself from his current partner. Mori sat the platter down on a small table near by, giving the smaller boy easier access to the sweets. Honey happily dug into the sweets before looking up at me.
"Will you dance with me too, Mi-chan?" I couldn't say no to the puppy dog eyes he was giving me, no matter how much I wanted to. The thought of being out in the middle of the dance floor, made my stomach tighten.
"I would love to later, Honey-kun." I couldn't have sounded any less convincing. Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a flash of grey. "I think I'm going go check on how the horses are doing." I took a couple of steps away from my safe zone before freezing. I would have to cross the ballroom to get where the horses were. My heart pounded in my chest as I fidgeted with my dress, silently cursing myself. I hate feeling like this. It was such a simple task to just simply walk across the ballroom but I couldn't bring my feet to move. The very quite rational voice in my head tried to tell me no one was looking at me but my irrational voice was drowning them out, telling me that everyone was staring at me.
A hand on my almost bare shoulder snapped me back to reality. Without a word, Mori gently grabbed my hand and lead me toward the courtyard. He had placed himself directly in front of me. It felt like he was blocking the world from me, saying 'don't worry, I'll face this head on so you don't have to'. Before I knew it, we were outside. The crisp night air felt nice against my hot skin and it was calming to breath in the fresh air. I instantly felt more comfortable out here, where there were less people and more open space. The two grey Arabian horses looked like they were calm and not bothered by the guests or the photographer. I looked up at the stoic looking boy; his eyes were now locked on the horses that were nearby.
"Would you like to meet them?" A small smile graced his face as his eyes lit up. I greeted the familiar caretaker, telling them that they could take a break to grab some of the fancy spread inside. Mori slowly raised his hand and let the horse raise their nose to meet him. He was so gentle with them, never making any sudden movements and letting them make the first move. I glanced up at the large clock on the wall.
"Mori-kun." He turned his dark eyes toward me. "It's almost time to start Tamaki's plan."
"Ah." Mori gave each horse one last pat before stepping away, only to pause when I didn't follow. He didn't say anything but his eyes were expressive as always.
"I think I'm going to stay out here a little longer." The caretaker wasn't back yet, and I wasn't quite ready to face the party again. He nodded in understanding still staring at me silently before taking off his suit jacket and draping it over my shoulders. I tried to protest, but he shook his head.
"You're shivering." He was right, the already warm jacket felt amazing against my now cool skin.
"T-thank you, Mori-kun. For everything." His lips ticked up a fraction before he left to join the rest of the hosts in Tamaki's elaborate plan. I pulled the jacket further around me, enjoying the warmth it brought.
"Looks like you're not taking the hint." The voice sent a chill down my spine. I slowly turned; already know who would be there. Chiharu and her two friends were standing a few feet away. She wore a formfitting black dress that contrasted drastically with her bright red lips. Her friends were wearing similar dresses with a tutu like bottoms, one was a light blue and the other was dark blue. Chiharu crossed her arms and took a step toward me. It was just the four of us in the courtyard.
"What am I going to have to do to get it through your thick skull? You're not wanted here." With each step they took toward me, I took one back until I ran into one of the horses. I could hear the swishing of the tails as the horses began to pick up on my own stress.
"Mami!" I never thought I would so happy to see Tamaki rushing toward me in a panic. Chiharu grimaced at the interruption but turned on her heel, disappearing into the dance. I let out a shaky breath; I didn't know I was holding, before turning to the horses to comfort them and myself.
"Mami, there you are! Everyone has disappeared!"
"They're starting the plan."
"They shouldn't have all left!" Tamaki turned and ran off as quickly as he had run in here. I watched his back as it disappeared into the crowd. I was thankful for his impeccable timing. I shuddered at the thought of what Chiharu would have done if he hadn't shown up. I pulled Mori's jacket closer around me, breathing in the comforting woodsy and citrus scent that still lingered on it.
"I don't know how you're walking around so easily in heels, Mami-senpai." Haruhi mumbled as she frowned at her wrapped up ankle. Tamaki's plan had worked out but at the expense of Haruhi's ankle. I simply shrugged, settling into the chair next to my friend. As soon as I caught sight of the hosts coming back from their plan, I stuck by them like glue. Not willing to give Chiharu the chance to catch me alone. "I took all those dance lessons for nothing too."
"Mi-chan~!" Honey bounced over, landing in my lap before wrapping his arms around my neck. "Will you dance with me now?"
"Oh, but I don't want to leave Haruhi alone." His eyes instantly started to water with tears that threatened to fall. Haruhi just waved her hand, not at all phased by the waterworks.
"You can go Mami-senpai. I'm fine." The tears disappeared as quickly as they appeared at Honey cheered. He leapt from my lap, grabbing my good hand and led me to the dance floor. I glanced back at Haruhi, pleading for help but she either didn't see me or chose to ignore my silent pleas.
"Just relax, Mi-chan." Honey said with a soft smile. I slowly relaxed as he swung us around in circles. His laughter was infectious and soon I found myself joining in as my anxiety melted away.
"Now we'll have the last event."The twins announced as the song came to an end. They were in the spotlight, both holding a microphone. They announced the winner of the dance contest along with the modified prize of Haruhi giving the promised kiss. Tamaki instantly freaked out turning to the twins who threw Kyoya under the bus for the idea. So this is how Kyoya's getting his revenge. The boy in question was whispering in Haruhi's ear before she got up to join the winner of the contest on the stage.
"Isn't this her first kiss?" Honey questioned next to me just loud enough for Tamaki to hear. His eyes had the same twinkle the twins had in theirs.
"HOLD THAT KISS!" Tamaki rushed forward in a panic, only to trip, pushing Haruhi into Kanako, causing them to kiss on the lips. Everyone froze as the two shocked girls back up from each other. Suddenly, the rest of the guests squealed in delight and began to talk frantically about how Tamaki was a kissing machine. I felt a tug on my hand. Honey was looking up at me with big grin on his face.
"Lets go eat cake with Haru-chan, Mi-chan!" I nodded in agreement, happy to get off the dance floor. The three of us enjoyed the cake as we watched the twins poke fun at Tamaki. Eventually the dance began to wind down. Slowly the guests left the ballroom until it was just the Host Club and the workers that were already cleaning everything up.
"What a night!" Hikaru stretched his arms upward as Kaoru grabbed one of his shoulders, rolling it backward.
"I can't wait to go home and sleep."
"Before we go…" I couldn't bring myself to finish that thought. The stress from the dance had me exhausted. Honey gave my hand a gentle squeeze, encouraging me to continue. I swallowed hard. "Can we take a photo together? I want to show Ojiisan."
"What a wonderful idea!" Tamaki perked up from his slump, forgetting about being called a pervert. "It'll be our first family photo!"
"Can we take it with the horses?" Honey asked, equally as excited as Tamaki. Everyone looked toward the host club's mom for permission. Kyoya shrugged his shoulders the tiniest bit.
"I don't see why not." Tamaki, Honey and the twins cheered before they herded everyone over to the courtyard. I handed my phone to the caretaker before joining the rest of the hosts.
"Say cheese!" The caretaker said cheerily before quickly snapping a photo. She frowned slightly at the screen as she walked over to me. "I can take another photo if you like, Kusumoto-san."
The photo looked like pure chaos. One of the horses had decided to try and snack on Tamaki's hair. This caused the twins to double over in laughter as Tamaki flailed his arms. Honey was on Mori's shoulders, looking down in concern for the younger boy. Mori was trying to coax the horse into releasing the host king's hair. Meanwhile, Kyoya looked annoyed as Tamaki nearly hit him. Haruhi and I were the only ones looking at the camera, I had an arm around her shoulders, letting her lean against me so she wouldn't have to put pressure on her twisted ankle. I couldn't help but smile.
"No, it's perfect."
Author's note:
Thank you all for all of the follows and favorites for my first story! I hope you're all enjoying it. I'm sorry I didn't update last week, my schedule got crazy and I orginally wasn't going to make Mami go to the dance but I realized that there was no way Tamaki would allow her not to go. I through in a little bit of fluff in there for you as an apology. I'm going to try my best to not to go more than two weeks without updating.
Please excuse any grammar or spelling mistakes. And if you have a second, please leave a quick review!