"So, umm…. What brings you to Japan, Miss Masami?" Haruhi asks as she sets the teapot down on the table.
Masami, who had her teacup in one hand and the saucer in the other, looks at her as if she was surprised to hear such a question. She places the cup back on the saucer and elegantly puts it back on the table.
"Oh, let's see… Mom said this would be a great opportunity to learn about the culture from where my late dad came from." She explains. "But I know it's also because she's planning to expand her business here in Japan."
"Oh… Well I'm sorry to hear about your father, Miss Masami." Haruhi looks down at her reflection inside the teacup settled between her hands and thinks of her own late parent. "Forgive me for prying."
"No, no. It's fine, really." She smiles reassuringly. "And I prefer to be called by just Masami."
"Are you sure… Masami?"
"Yes, I'm sure."
The two of them talked for some time and would laugh every once in a while as Tamaki, Kaoru, and Hikaru watched them from a sofa situated on the other side of the room.
"Hikaru, Kaoru! Why did you let this happen?!" Tamaki whispers quite furiously. "You were supposed to make sure she doesn't get near Haruhi!"
"Aren't you over-exaggerating a little bit, boss?" Kaoru asks.
"Yeah… I mean, you only told us to make her fall for us. You didn't exactly tell us to make sure she stays away from Haruhi… No matter what Honey-senpai says."
At that moment, Honey was eating cake in the very same room with Mori and two customers.
"Owww!" Honey cries out.
The three of them look at him worriedly, especially Mori who was undoubtedly concerned, yet still maintaining his composure. "What's wrong, Mitsukuni?"
"I bit my tongue, Takashi." He tells him, looking like he's trying to fight back his tears.
"Here," He carefully slides him his glass. "Drink some cold water."
Honey grabs it from the table with both hands. "Thanks Takashi."
The two girls watch them with concentration. "I know I shouldn't say this at a time like this but…. They're just so adorable!" one whispers as the other nods.
"By the way, Haruhi-kun," Masami says and Haruhi looks at her. "You are aware that those three gentlemen are observing us, right?"
Haruhi and Masami turn their heads to the sofa a few meters behind them. Tamaki and the brothers duck, attempting to hide the fact that they're spying on the two girls.
They're so pathetic, Haruhi thinks.
"I am. And I apologize for that. They can be kinda….. weird sometimes."
Masami doesn't say a word. She just lets out a small laugh.
oOo
The clock tower bell gives off a heavy sound that echoes throughout the school grounds. It also indicates that the school day is now over and all students of Ouran Academy are free to go home. At about this time of day, the sun is finally on the verge of twilight and the sky is just about ready to change into a vibrant mixture of orange, purple and pink, signaling that evening is almost ready to take its place.
Masami mumbles something as she makes her way to the front of the school when she walks past the brothers who felt like time had gone slower than it usually did as the setting light that shone through the large, glass windows framed herself perfectly. The whole world seemed to have fallen in utter silence at the moment. Yes. But that split-moment had already gone.
"Masami!" they both exclaim.
She was already a few feet away then. She stops in the middle of the hallway and slowly turns around. She sees them and smiles "Kaoru-kun, Hikaru-kun, what's up?"
With their hands in their pockets, they walk up to her.
"…We were just wondering if we can give you a ride home, that's all." Says Hikaru with a smile.
Her eyes blink twice and then she looks at Kaoru, who's looking away, then back at Hikaru. "Thank you. I really appreciate the offer but my ride's already here."
"Oh, that's a shame. We were really hoping to get to know you better in the car." Hikaru gently nudges Kaoru with his elbow.
"Oh, uhh yeah… W-We didn't really get that chance in the host club earlier." Kaoru says, he turns to Masami for a second then glances back to the side.
"Yeah.. you're right. We should really change that. Maybe some time." She says with a smile.
Kaoru focuses his eyes back on Masami. Both of them seemed kinda surprised by her response as they stood there without saying anything for a while.
"…Yeah, we should." Kaoru tells her.
"Alright then. Well, I should really be heading home. See you guys tomorrow."
"Oh… Oh yeah, of course." Mumbles Hikaru.
"See you tomorrow." Said both twins at the same time. They then watched her stride off as she waves back at them until she disappeared through the large French doors.
"Kaoru, why have you been acting weird lately?"
"…What do you mean?"
Hikaru lowers his head, his hair falling over his eyes. "First you didn't tell me you met Masami at lunch, and now you're being cold with her… What's going on, Kaoru?"
"Nothing is going on, Hikaru. And I'm not being cold with her." Kaoru keeps his gaze away from his brother.
"Kaoru, we won't be able to accomplish this task that Tamaki entrusted us with if you keep acting like that towards her. We've gone past that phase! Remember? And besides… I know you better than anyone, Kaoru. I know something's going on. What is it?"
Kaoru sighs. "I just… have a weird feeling about her, okay?"
Hikaru looks at him, "What do you mean…?"
"I-I don't know… It's just a feeling, that's all."
Meanwhile, Masami meets her butler, Travis, beside the limo waiting for her just outside the school grounds.
"So how was your first day at school, mistress?" he opens the door to the vehicle and helps her in.
"It was okay, actually. I met a bunch of really interesting people."
"And that's good news, I suppose?"
She laughs as she buckles her seatbelt "Of course!"
"That's wonderful, mistress." He smiles. "Now, we must really be heading back to the mansion. I believe Lady Sarah has told you about the little gathering she's having tonight?"
The spark of excitement instantly vanishes from the hazel in her eyes. "Oh, yeah.. She has."
The elderly man watches her, recognizing the same kind of sadness she had, from time to time, been showing throughout these past 6 years.
"Alright, mistress." Was all he can say.
He then closers her door but before heading back to the driver's seat, he pauses. He looks at the grove of trees protesting with the wind from across the street. I could've sworn I saw something there, he thinks. He continues toward his seat, gets in and starts the limo. As he drove back to the mansion, he tries shaking the thought off but something about it made him feel like he absolutely shouldn't.
Soon after, they finally stop. Travis gets down and opens Masami's door. The two of them then walked up to the front door and again, he opens it for her.
"Thank you, Travis." She says with a smile.
She walks in and is immediately greeted by two rows of maids and butlers "Welcome home, mistress."
Home… This place brings back memories but I wouldn't dare call it home.
One of the maids steps up "Mistress, Lady Sarah has requested us to tell you that you should go right away to the dressing room when you arrive."
"I understand." She replies conservatively.
One of the butlers takes her bag and two other maids walk with her to the dressing room door. She opens the door herself and the two maids follow behind her, making sure the door is shut.
Inside, dozens of different kinds of beautiful dresses were displayed, each having their own mannequin. Long, sparkling low-cut gowns, light-colored and frilly sundresses, string-necked maxis, it was possibly like how every commoner girl imagined it would be like. Well… most of them at least.
"Lady Masami," one of the maids says holding up a dress well-wrapped in a protective cover. "This is Lady Sarah's latest work."
She looks at her then the dress. Her earlier let's-just-get-this-over-with face became much softer, a little more willing to go along with yet another one of her mother's shenanigans. She runs her hand on the cover, finding herself admiring another one of her mom's work.
She walks over to one of the changing rooms and the two maids follow after like her shadow would on a hot summer day. She gets inside and carefully changes into the dress. The two maids help her as gently as they could, afraid of ruining it in any way. When they were finally done, one of them held a powder puff up to her.
Masami steps back a little, "I really don't-"
"Lady Sarah's orders..." She says rather apologetically.
She was about to say something but halts herself, thinking she wouldn't win if she started an argument. She sighs, "Alright, just do it."
After they were all ready, she steps out of the dressing room and walks down the stairs with her most perfect poise. She finds her mom right below the staircase talking on her phone. She looks at young Masami with a subtly proud smile. Not proud of the dress, but proud of her daughter.
"I'll be expecting those fabrics at noon tomorrow…. Alright, bye." She hangs up and gives the phone to one of the butlers.
She then directs her attention on Masami and the strapless, mint cream, high-low dress, showing a layer of white underneath, that was adorning her small frame and lets a breath of relief out.
"Honey, you look so beautiful…" she says with a sad smile.
"Mom, this dress is beautiful." Masami responds truthfully, but with a blank reflection.
Sarah comes closer and envelops her daughter in a short hug. When she let go, she held her daughter's hand then looked at her, "Come on, Masami. Our guests are waiting."
You mean your guests…
They walk over to the smaller ballroom together and stop at the door. When Masami realizes she was still holding her mother's hand, she hastily lets go and tries to keep a straight face before the doors were opened by their butlers. Inside were a bunch of men and women in coats and business formal dresses and lots of young gentlemen, about Masami's age – more or less.
The scattered groups of people all look at them
"Ah, there she is!" said one of the men, raising his glass of wine.
"Welcome back, Sarah!" said a woman wearing a pencil-skirt type dress in a distasteful shade of red with a gray blazer over it.
Masami and her mom walk up to the crowd and Sarah flashes a beautiful smile. "Oh my gosh, it's been too long! Everyone, thank you all for coming... By the way this is my daughter, Masami."
They greet her with excited smiles, "So this is Masami... We've heard so much about you." one of the men says.
Masami's face is first blank, not sure if what she heard was right. She immediately turns red soon after, wondering what things her mom has been telling them, when Travis walks up to Sarah and whispers something to her. She smiles and thanks him before turning back to the guests.
"Alright everyone! Dinner is ready and I'd like to request all of us to sit at the table my wonderful helpers had prepared for us." She gestures at at a long, elegant, white table found at the far right of the room defined by well-crafted separators etched with fine red wood and marble.
All of the guests head for the table but not before quite few of the young gentlemen, who came with, wink at Masami as they pass her by. One had even approached her and made a polite bow before placing a kiss on the back of her hand saying "You look very lovely, miss. Perhaps I could have a dance with you after dinner?"
Masami looks at the young man, surprised, but does not say a word. He must've been a year or two younger, she thought. And on that very moment, she notices two familiar faces walking behind the young lad in front of her - spiky, auburn hair decorated the top of their heads and a beautiful hue of amber piercing through the gentleman and right into her own gaze. Then, they change their expression. They glance at her, rather unconcerned by what they witnessed - as if they never knew her.
The gentleman watched her then cocked his head to the side, trying to figure out what she's so focused on. Masami lets go of the boy's hold. "Perhaps another time." she smiles apologetically then walks away.
Sarah is seated at the very end and middle of the table. She had been watching the whole time - she observed her daughter carefully. She sighs, but now she has an assured look on her face.
Masami sits at her mother's right side without noticing that the Hitachiin brothers are seated somewhat across her. The butlers then come in, placing trays and trays of lovely, mouth-watering food. Roasted turkey, buttered shrimp, three large bowls of salad, curry noodles, grilled steak and so much more while the maids poured everyone a drink of their choice. Then finally, everyone digs in.
"Sarah, this food is so well-prepared! It's almost too beautiful to eat." says one of the women.
"You're so evil Sarah! You knew this would ruin my diet." teases another.
Sarah lets out a loud laugh, "That was the plan!"
They all burst out in a fit of laughter, even Yuzuha Hitachiin, who is sitting at Sarah's left side.
"I think this is what I missed most about you, Sarah!" she tells her, still laughing.
She then looks at her with a generous smile, "Aw, Yuzuha... I missed you too! You don't know how hard it's been the past couple of years."
"Yeah, because topping 120,000,000 yen in sales within a year really makes me sad, you know?" She says.
"Yuzuha, it's not like that! It's just been so tough juggling everything... You know that! Plus, you know my daughter, Aika, right?"
Most of the people outside the conversation were already too busy focusing on their food at the time, and so was Masami - but not after that last part.
"Yeah, I know her."
"Well she just recently competed in an event. I made all her clothes for that and we both worked really hard for it. We've been going through walking rehearsals, dress rehearsals... I've even helped her get ready for the 'question & answer' part of the contest."
"Oh... Well how did she do though?"
Sarah smiles big, "She did amazing - she won 1st place! I couldn't be any more proud."
"Wow Sarah," interrupts a lady who is a few seats away. "This Aika sounds really impressive. Where is she?"
"Oh, she wanted to stay back at England to finish college. And get this, she absolutely refused to stay at our mansion over there. She's a really independent young lady - she wanted to get her own flat with the money she earns from her modeling jobs."
"Wow, that's quite amazing!" the lady exclaims.
"I know, I'm so proud of her." Sarah looks at her plate but her mind was completely on her first-born, Aika Yuka.
Masami immediately raises herself from her chair. "May I please be excused?" she declares the fact that she was leaving the table, rather than actually asking for permission. Without waiting for a response from her mom, she gets out of her spot and walks away, not even glancing at Sarah. She passes by Travis, whom it only took a raise of an eyebrow to get a complete answer from the girl. She shook her head, and he already knew she didn't want to be followed. Then, she walks up to the ballroom doors and two butlers open them for her and aimlessly starts down the hallway.
Travis stands beside Sarah and she looks at him placing her hand on her lips. "Oh my, I did it again, didn't I?"
Question: DO YOU LIKE LONG OR SHORT CHAPTERS? PM your answer! (:
Hellooo :3 OMG like I seriously fangirl eveytime I get a review, follower, or a favorite :)) Thank you SO MUCH you guys make my week :) By the way, this one and the next one was supposed to be one whole chapter but idk it felt weird and I kinda thought it'd be too long while I was writing it. (Oh yeah guess who had a FEELS ATTACK today in gym when she realized her friend kinda sounds like English-dubbed Haruhi?! THEN FOUND OUT SHE WATCHES OHSHC TOO) And lastly, Masami does NOT have a British accent. She's actually born in America but sometimes she talks British well bc she's lived there for some time and WOOP no more spoilers. XD If there are any errors, let me know (: I'll give you credit ofcourse ^.^ TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK.