Author's Note: Hey All, Ashe Ventus here, just wanted to let you know that I sadly will not be able to post chapters regularly, but when I do get a chance to post, you'll probably get a bunch at once. Also, just to make clear, Umiko Nekozawa is NOT Umehito Nekozawa's younger sister. Umiko is his cousin an OC i made. Almost According to Plan takes place roughly a year/few months after the end of the anime. So Kyoya and Tamaki are now third years, Mori and Hunny have graduated and are in Ouran University, but still visit the host club, the twins and Haruhi are second years and my three main OCs, Umiko, Sayuri and Ephriham and first years. I'd really appreciate readers letting me know what they think of the story so far and if they have any advice or comments. THanks so much for reading!
Chapter 17:
"A-A r-rat tail! A rat tail is in my soup!" A woman's voice called out in English. Those who understood her were taken aback and murmuring spread as a waiter ran to the distressed woman's table. She had short curly blonde hair and wore a very bright red sequined dress that Sayuri thought was a bit tacky.
"What kind of an establishment do you run here to have rats even in the kitchen and now my food?" She questioned heatedly of the waiter who seemed at a loss and simply apologized and assured her that there were no rats anywhere on the premises.
"So you are calling me a liar? How DARE you! I am a paying customer and you insult me like this! I'll sue!"
Sayuri sighed as she folded her napkin over and blotted at her mouth before standing smoothly and making her way over to the boisterous table, where the woman was sitting with a well known Japanese car businessman who was sweating profusely by this point.
Kyoya simply watched as his date approach the woman and clear her throat politely with her head held high.
"Ahem. Excuse me madam, but I'm afraid you're making quite a scene here. Perhaps I can help?" Her voice was calm and measured as she addressed the woman in English, and that in itself made the waiter being yelled at feel a bit better.
The American woman whipped her head around, making her big chandelier earrings shake before snapping rudely, "Who're you?"
"I am Sayuri Nitta; daughter and heir to Hatsumomo Nitta, the owner of this restaurant."
"Oh. Well at least there's someone in charge here." The blonde sniffed, ignoring her date's pleas for her to stop. "Is this how you treat your patrons? By putting bits of rats in their food and insulting them?"
Sayuri raised an eyebrow and asked, "May I ask how we have insulted you?"
"By calling me a liar! This buffoon here did!" She pointed at the waiter who looked beside himself from stress.
"And I am to understand that your other complaint is that you found the tail of a rat in your soup ma'am?" Sayuri asked composedly.
"Yes." The woman pursed her lips and pointed to the offending thing that was hanging out of her bowl and dripping onto the tablecloth.
The raven haired girl turned her head slightly as she addressed the man next to her in Japanese, "Waiter-san, would you be so kind as to bring me a small plate, fork and knife?"
He nodded his head and leapt at the opportunity to escape, it was less than sixty seconds later that he returned with said items and presented them to Sayuri, who placed the plate on the waiter's wheeled tray and used the fork and knife to retrieve the tail from the lady's soup, earning her a disgusted grunt from said woman.
Laying it straight on the plate, she then sliced through the fattest part of the tail, quite easily in fact, before smiling.
"I am pleased to inform you ma'am, that there was no rat tail in your soup, nor in fact any other bit of rat or vermin of the like. This is simply a rubber rat's tail, a toy."
The woman flushed at this information and stuttered, "H-How on earth could you tell?"
"It's simple really," Sayuri smiled politely. "A rat's tail still has bones that would be visible if cut, and it wouldn't be nearly as stretchy." She demonstrated by stretching said tail in front of the American's face, who covered her mouth in disgust.
"What a horrible prank! I should sue this restaurant for harassment!"
"Oh I don't think you should do that." The young heir stated as she motioned for the waiter to take the plate, silverware, and prop.
"And why not? I deserve some sort of compensation for what I've had to go through," The woman continued to complain.
"Hm, but I'm afraid my family does not bow to the demands of liars and cheats." Sayuri smiled sympathetically to the arrogant female. "Perhaps because of your ignorance I can understand why you do not understand your mistake, but as your date would tell you if he wasn't about to pass out from nerves, this is a high class establishment and you would be lucky to find a drop of sauce out of place, let alone such vermin as you, excuse me I meant your fake rat's tail, anywhere on its property."
The American's temple began to throb and her face was starting to turn a nasty maroon color as the raven haired girl continued, this time with a more serious darker intent.
"As for you attempting to sue, you would be lucky to find any lawyer or judge willing to press charges against the Nitta family and never would you actually be able to come close to winning. My family may be willing to look over your heinous act this evening, but know that you or your escort will never again be allowed into this or any of our better establishments again. And should you try, you will be prosecuted for this little incident. Know your place."
And then Sayuri's demeanor lightened and she put on her politest hostess smile before giving a small bow. "I hope you both have a pleasant evening." Turning her back on the offending table, she made her way back to her own and sat down carefully, letting out a very minute sigh as the couple left in a huff.