Part 3
2.30pm, Audition Room, Just Right Inc…
Of course, they didn't feel like eating a lot. They were thrown into experiencing a lot of awkward, frustrating and compelling moments. Haruhi couldn't understand their situation any more than the two guys.
"Why is there another round?" Haruhi whispered to herself. She was staring into nothingness.
They didn't have time to prepare for their first performances. They just thought about it last minute on stage. Likewise, they didn't have time to prepare for the second one either. The first time, they felt awkward. Now they felt frustrated. It was because they didn't know what the second requirement was that they needed to do. They were stressed, yet they felt compelled to see it through to the end.
"This is crazy," Kyoya rubbed his temples, "I'm going to kill Tamaki."
Mori didn't say anything. He didn't know what to say to their lamenting. He laced his fingers and closed his eyes in an attempt to meditate. It was the best way for him to relax his heart, emotions, mind and soul. Anything else would only complicate matters.
The lady in white jumpsuit appeared again, "Fujioka-kun, Morinozuka-kun and Ootori-kun lets go." She gestured them to hurry up and follow her, "They're waiting for you."
"What a bother," Kyoya sighed as he jammed his hands into his pant's pockets.
Haruhi yawned into her hand. She was tired. She didn't sleep a wink at all last night. All she did was toss and turn. She blinked back tears of tiredness that were blurring her eyes. She rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands, groaning, "I feel so tired," as she walked with Kyoya, Mori and the lady in the white jumpsuit. Mori just patted her head in empathy. Kyoya continued walking. He wasn't about to be touchy-feely with anyone. He did however wake her up from her 'zombie' state.
"I've already deducted two thousand yen from your debt for your first effort," He showed her his cellphone of his to do list. He whispered into her ear, "I'll do it again if we make through this round. It's a promise." He smirked at the look she gave. It was priceless, she gaped and her eyes large as saucers.
"Let's go," She marched forth, catching up with the lady in the white jumpsuit.
"How enthusiastic," The corner of his mouth twitched slightly, "Money is a motivating factor."
Mori shook his head at Kyoya's slyness.
The lady in the white jumpsuit shepherded them into a dimmed yet bigger room. They could feel the wide space of not being in a smaller place like room 6 and this room had the 'opened' atmosphere feel to it, as they entered. The lady announced, "They're here."
The lady urged them to go up on the dimmed stage. They went up and saw a few instruments there. Several spotlights were on them, while the audience section was dark. They could only hear excited whispers.
"Dear honoured audience, please, be silent," The same voice in room 6 announced, "The three candidates will be judged by a panel of three judges. The judges are experts in their fields in the entertainment world. This is the final round. Are you ready?"
Haruhi flailed her arms, "Not yet," she yelled then grabbed Kyoya's arm, "How are we supposed to be in sync? Music, singing and dancing aren't the same as hosting."
"We have to make it," Kyoya clenched his teeth in determination. Mori nodded his agreement.
"Questions anyone?" The announcer asked them.
"Excuse me," Haruhi stood in front of the spotlight nearest the audience. "Not to be rude or anything, but I'm just curious," She frowned slightly, "Weren't we supposed to audition once?"
Moriko Goro guffawed at the corner of the stage and walked towards them. He looked at her, "True. But we also need to see and hear you perform together with the other four members. Then, we'll know the actual result of the audition." With that small bit of information he left them staring after him and at the appearance of the other four members.
Hani ran towards Mori and hugged his thighs since he was chibi. He looked at Mori proudly, "You did it!" Mori nodded and lifted him to his shoulder.
"I knew you guys could make it," Tamaki beamed at the three of them.
Kyoya glared at him, "I'm certainly going to kill you."
Haruhi wasn't satisfied with Kyoya's answer. She asked again to them, "How are we supposed to be in sync? Music, singing and dancing aren't the same as hosting."
Hikaru tapped her shoulder, "Actually, it's the same concept. We're entertaining fans."
"But, we haven't got fans in this particular area ..." She protested, biting her lower lip in anxiety, "Are we musically synchronized?"
"Always use the word 'Yet'," Kaoru put her arm round her shoulder, "Just think ABC, and 123 while doing fans service."
Haruhi flailed her arms looking at the darkness that was where the three invisible judges were seated and were observing their camaraderie. "Honestly, guys, it's important to be musically synchronized…"
"Haru-chan," Hani intervened, "if you think like this we'll never succeed in this final round," He smiled in cheery persuasiveness, "We'll do fine, ne..."
"I second the motion," Tamaki said, his amethyst eyes twinkling in delight. "Just have fun. Are you guys ready?"
There was an enthusiastic, 'YES' from the twins, Hani and a nod from Mori. A weak, 'Yes' from Haruhi and nothing from Kyoya made the other five members stare expectedly at them to change their listless responses.
"Let's try again," Tamaki said cheerfully.
"YES!!!" They said together.
"Who's singing?" Haruhi asked, secretly hoping they wouldn't give her the mike.
"Me," Hani jumped up and down, "Me, me, please…"
They agreed and looked at the musical instruments available, glanced at each other and took whatever fancied them. Hikaru went for the drums and Kaoru for the keyboard. Haruhi took the tambourine, and Tamaki the lead guitar. Kyoya on the bass while Mori on the treble, and Hani the lead singer.
"Are you alright?" the voice asked. "Are you ready?"
"Sorry," Tamaki immediately stood behind Hani but took the left flank. "We're good," He looked at the members who quickly took their places.
Kyoya was at the right flank. Mori behind Hani about ten paces. Haruhi stood beside Kaoru since she was a backup singer. Hikaru was last. They made fast, last minute adjustments to their instruments. They looked at each other making sure the other was in sync. Satisfied, they smiled widely at the invisible audience.
They addressed the 'invisible' audience in unison, "We're ready!"
"You've 10 minutes to present a medley of 5 songs." The voice informed them. "The same rules, we won't clap or make any sort of noise when you're performing."
Kaoru played the keyboard's first few notes, then Hikaru started hitting the drums and Hani started singing, 'Doki Doki Waku Waku.' Then the guitars twanged. Haruhi's tambourine would be heard occasionally and she was singing the chorus. It was their favourite song after any school function when they were alone and resting in the third music room.
They would normally ask Hani to sing that song because they would feel happy even though they were tired and at times frustrated with their lives. It seemed that now was a good time to sing their favourite song. It would lessen their stress, especially the three members. They swiftly changed the song to another of their hosting songs this time sung by Tamaki after Hani waved goodbye and went to Mori's side while dancing.
"That was Hani's," Tamaki introduced while the music for 'Doki Doki Waku Waku' was still played on by his members, "'Doki Doki Waku Waku.'
The music slowly changed to more guitar sounds from the three guys and Hikaru's drum beating and then sounds from Kaoru's keyboard but more on the guitars. It was a song that Tamaki always sang when he was in two minds trying to woo tough cookies, 'Guilty Beauty Love.' Tamaki went to Kyoya and leaned against Kyoya's back while playing the guitar looking back at the invisible audience in faked melancholy.
They gradually switched places with other members and swapped instruments without disrupting the flow of their music. Waving goodbye to the audience, Tamaki replaced Kaoru, Kaoru took Kyoya's bass guitar, Kyoya swapped with Mori's guitar while Mori replaced Hikaru, and Hikaru took Tamaki's lead guitar.
Hikaru grinned, as gestured Haruhi to come forth, "That was Tamaki's 'Guilty Beauty Love.'"
He introduced as a new music replaced 'Guilty Beauty Love' to 'Sakura Kiss.' Haruhi's eyes widened in recognition, it was one that she could easily sing without putting much effort. She got into momentum, smiled at the invisible audience, and uttered a cheery, "Kiss Kiss Fall In Love' then the music started and the boys joined her, 'Hey! Hey! Hey!' The last phrase, she went centre stage nearer to the audience, 'Maybe You're My Love,' and winked.
Hani whistled, she turned, and he threw the tambourine at her. She caught and waved it to the invisible audience. She skipped to Kaoru's side as 'Sakura Kiss' music was still played. The members shifted their places without disrupting the flow of music with Hikaru replacing her on centre stage, "That was Haru's 'Sakura Kiss,'" The music changed tempo to 'Love Style.' Hani and Haruhi clapped as Kaoru went to join his twin on centre stage.
Hikaru started singing and joined by Kaoru with 'Woo..woo..no..no', while they strummed their guitars, then Hikaru sang and the others chorused, 'Woo, yes.. yes..,' The twins moved in synchronized harmony, singing, "My darling please,.. I need you, I want you, forever…" moving back and forth with "You are mine, I'm yours forever, only love you…' enticing the invisible audience with their infectious, flirtatious grins as they waved goodbye to the invisible audience.
Haruhi announced to the audience. "That was 'Love Style,' sung by Hikaru and Kaoru.'"
The twins took back their old positions, as well as the others only Haruhi and Hani positions remained unchanged. The host members were all grinning (twins), smiling widely (Tamaki and Hani), shyly (Haruhi) or small, half smiles (Kyoya and Mori). They were having fun as they did when they were hosting. They found hosting helped them face life bravely and to look at things in a positive manner.
Life wasn't perfect, but neither were they. That was why they could endure anything and learn to love life. Yet with the host club, everything fell perfectly into place. They nodded in synchronized momentum, and they thought of the same thing. 'Love Style' music steadily changed tune to 'Matta Ashita' with Haruhi uttering the first words and Tamaki strummed his guitar then sang that was joined by the others in a chorus.
Kyoya took over singing, and the other chorused. Tamaki and Haruhi did a candid drama conversation while the twins sang together and the others chorused. Hani uttered a few words in his chibi voice. Tamaki in father mode called on to Haruhi, 'Haruhi!!" Haruhi smiled as she ended the song with a warm, 'Matta Ashita!"
They left their positions and approached the centre stage together. Their faces shone with happy smiles, Tamaki's arm rested on Kyoya's left shoulder, Hikaru put his arm round Haruhi's waist and Kaoru's arm on Haruhi's shoulders. Hani jumped and climbed up to Mori's shoulder and parked himself there.
They bowed together at the invisible audience and said in unison, "Thank you for listening. We had a great time!"
There was tremendous applause from the 'invisible' audience as the room was illuminated with bright lights, switching the spotlights off. They were greeted with a room full of people. In fact it wasn't a room but an auditorium. There were TV cameras, the panelists were looking at them with amusement etched on their faces.
"There you have it," the voice who happened to belong to a TV entertainment presenter, Sato Uehara, "They're the boys you chose in our one-day nationwide marathon search for a new boy band based on their unfinished video and the auditions for three of their members broadcasted live this morning."
"Umm, Uehara-san," Tamaki waved to the presenter to gain his attention, "I thought it was an audition with panelists."
Haruhi glanced at both Kyoya and Mori. Their gazes locked with one same thought flashed in their minds. Though it wasn't a frustrating moment it was still another awkward and compelling moment. This was another shocking twist to their audition. They were being observed and assessed by professionals and mass audience outside this auditorium. Hani's eyes widened in surprise and the twins stopped showing V signs.
"Well, you'll soon hear what the panelists have to say about your performance." Sato informed with a smile for TV.
"What?" Haruhi blinked confusedly, "One-day nationwide marathon search?" This was getting weirder. What had marathons to do with golden invitations? They were on TV? Live? They looked at each other bewildered at the new development. What on earth was going on??
TO BE CONTINUED…