Music Piece 18: Doubtful Reactions

" Is that the school's uniform for the girls? " Yumi asked her daughter as both of them got seated during dinner that night.

Takara's eyes widened in great alarm. Immediately, her hand flew to her mouth.

" Oh my gosh! "

Yumi's eyebrows rose.

" What's wrong, sweetheart? "

" I had forgotten about the dress! This dress isn't mine. The Host Club, they loaned it to me and I totally forgot to return it to them! " Takara babbled.

Her mother was even more puzzled now.

" Host Club? What are you going on about, dear? "

Takara stopped in the middle of her panicked babbling. She faced her mother.

" It's a club in our school. A male Host Club except for one. Haruhi Fujioka who is a girl but due to some reason or so, she has to act like a male host. Besides her, there are six others, I think. Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachin. They are both twins. Hikaru, Kaoru and Haruhi are in my class. Senior Hani Honey and Senior Mori. You should have seen Senior Hani Honey, mummy! He is such a cutie! He could pass off as my little brother although he is two years older than me. What's more, he loves to eat cakes and sweet stuff. Senior Mori is a really tall guy. He's the same age as Senior Hani Honey. I haven't really spoken to him. He is quite an introvert, I feel. There is another guy. We've only made eye contact and that's it. Oh, that reminds me. Senior Hani Honey gave this to you. "

Takara handed the neatly wrapped cardboard box over to her mother. Yumi accepted it and opened it, cautiously. It was a mini chocolate cake just like what her senior had promised her.

" Mmm, how delightful! " Yumi exclaimed as she took a small bite but not before offering some to her daughter. " You seemed to have such thoughtful and kind friends. Please send him, my thanks. "

Takara nodded.

" I will, " she promised.

" Ah, yes, Takara. You mentioned only six members earlier who is the seventh one? " Her mother pressed.

Her daughter's expression changed. She broke eye contact with her mother and stared down at her lap.

" Tamaki Suou, mummy. "

Her answer came out in a whisper.

NNN

As usual, Tamaki sat at his desk, his schoolwork all laid out before him. Normally, he would simply brush through his work and do all his homework assignments dutifully before ten, which was his bedtime but this time, it was different. He could not seem to cram everything into his empty brain. He supported his head with his hand. He twirled the teddy bear mechanical pencil with his free hand. Truth was, he had a lot of stuff going on in his mind. There were many thoughts revolving round and round. His eyes too kept wandering over to the locket, which was lying, on the bedside table. Tamaki knew that Takara seemed familiar to him but he not quite place his finger on.

Where have I seen her before?

And that woman who stood next to her mother had similar traces off facial features that Takara had… Except for their eyes… Takara's eyes were of a deep blue but that woman had green eyes. He racked his brain for that woman's name but his mind came up with a definite blank. He was so sure that his mother had told him her name but he could not quite remember it. He was overcomed by grief and devastation at that time when he was forced to be separated from her. It could be that Takara is that woman's daughter! He sighed and swiveled in his chair. To him, it was all a question mark. The key to his mother's whereabouts would be the locket; she gave him two years ago. As well as that woman in the picture with her, he thought. A knock on the door brought him to his senses. " Young master, dinner has already been prepared. Your father wishes you to join him, " a servant announced before respectfully bowing and closing the door. Tamaki gave a loud sigh before he got up and got ready. When his father wanted him to join him for dinner would certainly mean that he has something important to convey to him. That was the reason why he needed to freshen himself up. As he threw on his shirt, a thought occurred to him. Why didn't I think of it before?! My father, he'll definitely know about Mom's best friend!

(Ah yes, dense as usual. I mean, come on, if he had the locket wit him for the last two years, wouldn't he at least, approach his father to find out who the woman in the picture was?!?)

With newfound hope, he grabbed the locket from its place on the bedside table and dashed out of the room.

" FATHER! " Tamaki yelled, panting.

However, no one answered. The dining room was empty and dark except for some candles, which illuminated the many plates of food. An eerie chill ran down his spine. He took a step back and swallowed just as bloodcurdling laughter echoed around him.

" Wh-Who's there? " he stuttered.

Suddenly, he felt an ice-cold finger travel down his neck. A whimper escaped his lips as he spun around.

" Boo! " Chairman Suou replied in a whisper just as the lights flashed on.

Poor Tamaki. He was so scared that he nearly jumped out of his skin. He swayed for a while and then flopped to the floor. Chairman Suou could literally see his son's soul floating out from his body.

The man laughed.

" FATHER! That is not funny! " Tamaki snapped, indignantly.

(He recovered almost instantly.)

" You should have seen you face! All pale and frozen and sweaty. " Chairman Suou told his son. " It was so hilarious! "

" Father, I'm serious! " Tamaki protested.

" Okay, okay. Relax, Tamaki. The reason why I called you down for dinner is that I have something to ask you. It's been on my mind for quite some time now, " Yuzuru replied.

Tamaki's heart began to pulsate faster. He began to wonder what was it his father wanted to ask him about.