ch 11
"Hurry up, Mayu! You're such a slow poke!" Nisa giggled ahead of me, as she skipped forward with her short auburn hair bobbing up and down. You could smell the positivity radiating off her.
I, on the other hand was near vomiting.
"Hehe... I'm a coming..", I said with humorless laughter as a shiver went down my spine. I bit my lip and put my hand on the wall to steady myself. Taking small steps, I inched my way closer and closer towards music room 3.
"Seriously, Mayu!", Nisa said, spinning around sharply "Let's get their before it's over!" I frowned as she took my hand, towing me forward.
"Wait–Just...just give me a second–"
"No, enough stalling! You said you wanted to come with me so we're going!"
I only groaned in response as Nisa dragged me closer and closer toward the double doors. I crossed my arms around my sides tight seeking comfort. After the initial shock of him inviting me to the club, I started feeling uneasy. He didn't just ask me to come for the "joy" of my company. (not that my presence would do that..) Hikaru had a motive. He always had a motive and even though his attitude had changed just a bit since he apologized for his sudden outburst that day, he was still mischievous, egocentric Hikaru, who found joy in watching me suffer!
Nisa finally plopped me down in front of the seemingly huge doors. I looked up at them in terror, slowly backing away. "Mayu what's wrong? You asked me to come with you. No we're here!"
"Well I change my mind, let's leave!"
"Mayu!" Nisa shouted. "C'mon, we're already here. What are you afraid of? There are hot guys behind that door, not sharks."
"Oh, I beg to differ.." I mumbled mostly to myself.
"What? Whatever, let's just go!" She said grabbing a tight hold of my arm and before I could protest she pushed the door open with one hand and kept me from running away with the other. She was pretty strong for a girl her size.
As the heavy doors opened before us, a flash of bright white light came forth, nearly blinding me. Instinctively, both my hands shot forward to shield my eyes. "What the hell.." I said louder than I expected as Nisa giggled at my reaction.
"Welcome to the Host Club", a chorus of angelic male voices repeated. A thick flowery aroma invaded my nostrils making me dizzy. I it wasn't for holding on to me, I think I would have tripped.
"AHHHHHHHHH! Haruhi-kunnnn!", Nisa screeched (might I add, loudly) in my ear, making my light-headedness quickly subside. I blinked twice in confusion at the six handsome boys, all in cosplay and smiling at me. In a way it was flattering yet insulting all at the same time. I mean they did the same thing to every girl, didn't they? Played them like violins, making them as weak and vulnerable as Nisa now was, throwing herself and gushing at a meek looking Haruhi.
"Hello–o!" Two voices simultaneously called me out of my trance. I scratched the back of my neck and made out Hikaru and Kaoru, both fully in costume.
They approached me, waving their hands in front of my face like window wipers. I smiled at the angelic Kaoru and gave a suspicious look to Hikaru who was looking right back at me with a certain smirk I wanted to just slap off his face. I was about to say hello when suddenly a tall blonde guy that I know is a year older than me bumped them away with his hips, an enormous and slightly creepy smile plastered on his face. I watched as the twins staggered back with matching scowls on both their faces. While fixing their blazers and dusting themselves off, they shared a look of vengeance.
"My, my, and who is this delicate little flower?" He said the blonde, bending down towards me, his face a little too close for comfort.
''Um, Mayu.."
"Oh my, you are new to the club, are you not?" he asked in a polite yet authoritative voice, straightening himself. I was only able to nod as I looked at him curiously. "Well in that case let me introduce myself!" I watched eagerly as he pranced forward and stopped suddenly in the center of the room. In a second, the room went dark. I looked around frantically, putting my arms around myself. What the hell was this..? "I am Suoh Tamaki, King of the Host Club!" he posed dramatically and out of who knows where a spotlight landed on him. "Now I bet you're wondering all about this oasis filled with ..." He continued as the spotlight followed him around. While he ventured on, making exaggerated hand gestures, I craned my head a little and looked around the room in search of my companion. She was sit
Eventually the rest of the lights turned on but the so-called "King" continued to introduce himself. Soon I realized that the entire room was empty except for the current hosts, Nisa, and I. It was odd because usually this place is full of adoring fangirls. In fact, all the hosts (minus Tamaki, Haruhi, and Kyoya) are sitting around a table talking. I watched them for a while and slightly smiled. They seemed almost like a family... like normal people. A lot less intimidating...
I kept watching with a ghost smile on my lips until one of the twins caught my eye. He winked at me before taking a quick glance at Tamaki and rolling his eyes. I looked over back at him too, almost forgetting that I was the one he was talking to. I wanted to feel bad, I really did, but for some reason, I wasn't all that interested in what he was saying. Seriously, who takes longer than five minuets to introduce themselves?
"Milord, don't you see that you're boring her," he said in an annoyed voice while he pushed his chair back to get up. I bit my lip and looked away kind of embarrassed, and as much as it made me blush, I couldn't argue.
"Yeah, boss. We have to entertain our guests..", said Kaoru, putting an arm round his brother.
"Excuuuuse me, my precious gem, let us go sit at that table and away from these horrendous devils!" In an instant he was leaning forward with what I supposed was "charming grin". In other words, it was kind of freaked me out.
"Uhhmmm", I muttered, my face contorting and leaning back the closer his face got to mine.
"Hold it, Tamaki" a firm voice above me said, suddenly gripping my shoulder and pulling me out of blonde's reach. For a second I thought it was Hikaru, but when I looked up at the tall boy, I noticed jet black hair and glasses. Weirdly enough, I was kind of disappointed. But then again, what did I expect? "It's club policy that we let the guest decide what host to pick." The tall guy said, letting go of my shoulder, not even glancing at me.
"My goodness, Kyoya! Obviously she came for the King, so hand over my timid little-"
"Well, umm, I actually came-" I started saying, cringing at the sight of his huge eyes watering.
"For us!" Said two familiar voices as they bumped Tamaki off to the side with their hips.
"You came for the demon twins?" He said, crawling back over with a fragile expression on his face. Oh no, no no no no no! This is not how I wanted to make my first impression..
My eyes suddenly grew huge as I tried to fix things, "Well actually it's just that-!"
"She thinks you're a pervert!" Both twins said with matching bored expressions. I stared daggers at the two of them and a familiar urge to wack them in the head suddenly came back. Scratching the back of my head in embarrassment, I watched as Tamaki ran into a small corner of the room with a dark aura, as if pre set ready for him.
"Will he be.. ok?" I turned around and asked Kyoya who seemed to be the most level-headed host around at the time.
"Probably.." He answered nonchalantly as he scribbled in his notebook.
"What's he doing..?" I whispered kind of weirded out. When I turned back around to look at him, he was surrounded by strips of paper and was blankly ripping more.
Kyoya looked up from his work for about a second to take a look at Tamaki before answering, "He's building a hamster home.." Huh? Does he even have a hamster..? My thoughts were interrupted with the sudden thud of Kyoya shutting his little black book with one hand. "Don't worry he'll snap out of it in a minuet. Anyways let's get these introductions done with, shall we?" he said in a professional voice, but with a stiff smile that I bet anyone could easily see through if it weren't for his glasses covering the annoyed look in his eyes. He acted like a handsome gentleman, but, in reality, he seemed kind of grouchy. It was also obvious that he had power because at a snap of his fingers, all the hosts, including Tamaki lined up shoulder to shoulder. Well, almost shoulder to shoulder...there was a tiny blonde boy at the end of the line.
"As you may have noticed, our 'King' over there is the Prince Type. He's our number one most asked for Host, though for some reason I get the feeling you won't choose him." I looked back at the charming boy and noticed as he barked at Kyoya in anger but then was suddenly distracted by something Haruhi said.
"Or maybe, you like someone more like Morinozuka, the strong silent type." A tall boy, or should I say man, bent down slightly and shook my hand. He had a serious face, was still very attractive. He greeted me with a quiet and deep 'hello' that I returned just as shyly. "Then there's his little companion Hunny..." Kyoya continued. I gasped in surprise as the tiny boy looked down at me, all smiles and giggles. "He's the Lolita."
"Hey, your really cute. And kind of small, like me! " the short boy, Hunny, said. I blushed and smiled at the adorable kid who was probably a few centimeters shorter than me. I stammered out a quiet thank you and his grin grew as he hopped down from Morinozuka's shoulders. It was hard to believe that he was a third year student. "Here, want some candy?" I bent down a little to match his height and smiled.
"Thank you so much", I said little more warmly and even ruffled his hair a bit. Even though Hunny was two years older than me, he easily passed for an eleven year old and as hard as I tried it was almost impossible to resist such a cute face! I had always liked kids and their random strangeness, although most couldn't say the same about me.
I pocketed the lollipops that Hunny gave me as Kyoya continued on. "I assume you already know the Hitachiin twins." I only nodded but in the back of my mind I coudn't help but wonder how the shadow king knew that.. The twins flashed a mischievous smile in my direction. "They're the mischievous type". Huh. Like I didn't already realize that already...
"Haruhi over there is the natural type. I'm sure your friend has already told you much about him."
"No kidding", I mumbled aloud. At that second, I jumped a little at the sound of the doors slamming open and a rumble of shrill voices. I turned around to see a sea of hyper girls swarming the entrance of the music room three. It had never really occur to me about how many girls actually came to the host club, but judging from the crowd it must have been... well a lot. I turned back around to face Kyoya with my mouth in a slight O- shape. I could have sworn I saw the corner of his lip tug in malice.
"And finally there's me. The Cool type", Kyoya finished looking over at me with that fake smile. "Now go on and choose a host." With that he snapped shut his little black book and disappeared in the midst of the crowd.
I stood there dumbfounded for a second at how fast the setting had changed. It was the same indistinct chatter of the lunchroom, that I usually tried to avoid, but more murmured and less rowdy. There were already people sitting around tables, their hands on their cheeks and their elbows on the tables. I was suddenly pushed by a faceless girl who quickly apologized, but disrupted my trance. Suddenly aware of my surroundings right in the middle of the room, I spun around, lost. Nisa was still at a far corner of the room next to Haruhi and a whole bunch of other girls. I bit my lip, contemplating whether or not I should go with to her, but decided against it. I mean she looked like she was having fun and I would just–
"Oh!" I yelped in surprise at the sudden touch I felt at my waist. I turned around astonished at the sight of one of the twins. "Hika–!" I didn't get to finish, because as soon as I turned around he grabbed hold of my wrist, and with a soft kind of smirk on his face, he led me forward through the girls. I stared down at my pulsating wrist and then up at him with wide eyes. His hazel eyes seemed soft and concentrated as he stared ahead toward his brother. I quickly looked away after I realized I was staring. I could have walk on my own, but for some reason I couldn't find the words to tell him to let go. His hand sent a steady kind on warmth all around me and since he knew this setting way better than I did, I decided to let him lead me.
He finally stopped in front of light green loveseat where Kaoru already was entertaining girls, an easy smile on his face. It almost seemed natural. When he saw me approach, he turned his head and smiled, "Oh hello, Mayumi-chan!" while Hikaru stepped over his legs and plopped on the space next to his brother.
"Hi," I managed to say smoothly but quietly under the stares of the girls who seemed surprised at how casually he greeted me. Didn't we already get through with this during lunch a few days ago? I ignored there creeping eyes.
After standing there awkwardly for a few seconds, I abruptly lifted my head up at the sound of my name. "Katayama-chan!" Hikaru called with his finger. I slowly walked across to him and perched myself on the edge of the couch. I looked at him expectantly, as he stood facing the girls. "This is Katayama-chan. She's going to be our... helper!", He snapped as if just thinking of the word, "So if you need anything at all just ask her." He said pointing unceremoniously at me. I looked at him incredulously and gave him an almost warning look, but he returned it with a crack of a smile. While the girls oohed and ahhed, I looked over at Kaoru alarmed. He just shrugged and pointed accusingly toward his brother, though I don't think he would have done anything anyway. They both seemed slightly amused at the idea. "Here!" Hikaru threw me a small black dress with a white frilled apron over it. No. He did not.. I barely caught it, staring wide-eyed at maid outfit that instantly reminded me of Tomoyo. He couldn't be serious...
"Hika–" I whispered harshly, as I was now on my feet next to him, but he shushed me.
"Katayama-chan," He said my name in a sing-song voice, "Sorry but this is how we pay off debts around here. Just ask Haruhi.." I stared at him, seething, but didn't utter a single word as the girls giggled. "Bathrooms that-a way." He pointed toward the back as he started talking to some girls waiting for him. Of course it is... I thought as I marched toward the bathroom.
Hikaru POV:
In a few minuets, I saw her emerging from the wooden bathroom door out of the corner of my eye. She popped her head out first and looked around cautiously before carefully shutting the door and pressing herself close to the wall. I saw as she continued to look across the entire room a little uncertain while she fixed the top of one of the white knee-high socks. I grinned at the ridiculousness of it all, the uncertainty of her face. The outfit wasn't really all that revealing yet she was she seemed so uncomfortable. It was just another reason why she puzzled me. She was just so... strange. Different than the other girls in this school who proudly flaunted whatever it is they had, yet she didn't even realize how.. 'well suited' she looked in dresses.. She straightened out the skirt of the dress, took a deep breath and began to walk towards here. I watched a little longer until I heard a shrill voice in front of me. "Hey! Are you listening?"
"Hm, yeah." I said a little distractedly.
"I asked whether you liked the blue or green one better.."
"Oh, green. Definitely green.." I said kind of lost, but she seemed to buy it.
"Oh my gosh yes. I can't believe she was.."
I smiled and nodded slowly as she continued to ramble on. When the girl seemed lost in her own words, I took the chance to casual peek to the side again. My eyes darted from the door to the bathroom, until I heard a sudden noise to my right.
"Ahem."
I looked up to see her slightly teetering back and forth, one foot crookedly crossed over the other. Her uncertain gaze was trained solely on me. If looks could kill, well I'd be long dead from all the looks she's given me since the day I started tormenting her. I smiled smugly in her direction, and when she squinted her eyes and tensed her jaw, I had to bite my fist to keep from laughing. How could a girl like her even appear menacing? She was so small and sweet and worried, I could hardly understand how some people could even start rumors about her. She was absolutely harmless...
Her face started to falter and I immediately coughed and stood up, waving her over with a hand gesture. Soundlessly, she walked over with apprehensive eyes still trained on me. "You can start off by getting us tea." I said suavely, pointing toward my Kaoru and I.
"And where exactly do I find that?" She said tautly.
"Well obviously in the kitchen.."
"You do realize this is my first time here. I have no idea where anything is." She said raising an eyebrow.
"Well then I'll show you." I said. She seemed almost taken aback at that, but immediately followed as I got up and strode toward a small hallway in the back of the room. I turned into the second doorway of the light blue painted hall that opened up into a small kitchen full of supplies and food. I cleared my throat and turned around swiftly to see her eyeing the room curiously. "This is the kitchen." I said.
"I can see that.." She said examining a small white stove in the corner, distractedly. After a second she turned around to face me with a stony expression. "Why do I have to wear this?" She asked holding up the skirt of the dress with a look of discomfort on her face. My lack of response seemed to have just made her angrier. With a tense jaw, she looked up towards the ceiling just barely shaking her head. "Why do I even have to do this!?" It sounded more like she was talking to herself in realization, but whatever. I answered anyways..
"Because I told you to. And you have to do whatever I say. That's how our deal works."
She stared at me for a little while, and a small humorless smile bubbled up on her lips. She scoffed in my direction before mumbling something I couldn't understand, and turned around into the kitchen. What? I watched stunned as she bent down and looked through some of the lower cupboards before pulling out a teakettle. "Don't you have somewhere to be?" She didn't even turn to look at me as she fluidly turned on the stove and heated up some water.
"What was that?" I asked.
"I said, shouldn't you lea-"
"No before that."
She looked down at the wet tea cup she was drying off, before throwing the cloth aside and setting the cup down on the counter carefully. She had an almost tired looking countenance with her hands behind her back tightly gripping the sink. "Nothing really. Just that for a second I thought you were at least a little bit considerate. Just a bit kinder after you apologized. But now I realize it was just for your convenience. You haven't changed a bit." She turned back around and started on the next teacup. "It's fine, though. Really. We made a deal and I'll hold up my end until I have to..."
I let out a sigh and ran a hand through my hair. I didn't mean to make her angry. Maybe I wasn't so cut out for 'friendship'. "Okay, look," I said frustrated. She turned her face slightly in my direction, but otherwise completely ignored me. "I don't mean to be... 'inconsiderate' or 'mean' or anything. But how the hell am I supposed to be 'friends' with you if everything makes you upset?"
She turned around confused and taken aback. "Y-you said friends?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah. Isn't it obvious?"
"Um, well no it's not.." She said distantly.
I shifted uncomfortably clearing my throat at the awkward silence that followed. She, however, didn't seem to notice as her gaze was set on something too far away to understand. "Hey.." I said. When she didn't answer, I said it again with a little bit of the frustration and confusion I had been trying to choke down. She seemed to have come back to her senses, and looked a me strangely, bewildered.
"Okay..," She said as if not fully understanding, "So why exactly do I have to where this..?"
"Because I want you to. Duh."
She crossed her arms in front of her. "I don't appreciate the cockiness."
"Well you better get use to it!" I said smiling extra conceited. I was about to leave, feeling satisfied when she suddenly stopped me.
"Who said I wanted to be your friend?" She said quietly. Her eyes weren't directly on me. She seemed to be having some sort of internal conflict. I only thought for a second before replying.
"Why wouldn't you? Everyone out there certainly does." I left the room not checking to see if she had noticed the tiniest hint.
Mayu POV:
Friend. Friends. Friendship. Allies? Maybe acquaintances? I couldn't stop thinking about those words after what he said. My mind was only half on making tea, fanning, and pretty much waiting on girls who seemed to think this was a café, not a host cub. To be honest, I guess playing maid as bad as I had initially expected. I mean Hikaru even forewarned the girls about not taking advantage of 'my services' which is what surprised me even more. I was grateful though. The keen stares and judgmental looks seemed to have died down after what he said that. As along as I was just a girl repaying a debt, I wasn't a threat at all to their beloved twins. Point is, the rest of the girls more or less left me alone unless they wanted something. The rest of the time, however, when I was just standing toward the back of the room, I was left with a lot of time to think, or rather worry. I couldn't think of any other motives he would have for wanting to be friends, yet by the time all the girls left, I was still weary. How could I fully trust a guy who finds strange amusement in my discomfort?
I was swaying lightly from side to side leaning on a tall ionic pillar behind me. My eyes were trained on nothing in particular, as I was still buried deep in thought. Maybe I was overthinking this? Yet there was no way in hell that sneaky little ba-
"What are you looking at?" Said a familiar voice from behind me. I almost froze at the hazel eyes, but when I saw the easiness in them and realized the sincerity in his voice and almost brotherly look he was giving me, I knew it was Kaoru. It was strange how much better I was getting at this..
"Nothing really.." I said looking down and then up at his face, offering a teeny grin. He leaned next to me on the pillar and stared ahead just as I was. The room was almost empty of all the girls as they slowly crowded towards the door.
"So did you like it?" He asked still staring ahead.
"The club you mean?" He nodded. "It was.. alright. But I mean I was pretty much doing this the whole time." I said raising the ends of the skirt of the dress. He grinned.
"You know Hikaru picked that out." He said pointing toward the outfit.
"I wouldn't have guessed it.. " I sighed sarcastically and dropped the dress. A few seconds later I continued. "You know.. I actually really hate dresses." I said casually as if I were talking to someone I knew. It was weird but I just let it flow.
"I get the feeling Hikaru sensed that when he picked it out." He chuckled and I let myself too.
I studied Kaoru silently for a while before finally deciding it would be safe to ask. "Your brother told me he wanted to be friends... Do you think he's serious?"
This time Kaoru looked at me with a hint of harmless mischief that wasn't exactly the same as Hikaru's. They weren't mirror images, these two brothers. "I'm not sure. But I guess we'll find out."
I kind of wanted to ask him to clarify, but Hikaru popped out from behind the other side of the pillar half scaring me to death. I jumped a little and let out a gasp as one hand instinctively flew to my heart.
"Hey, you scared her!" said Kaoru
"I know. But you have to admit it was fun to watch." I frowned while Hikaru handed his brother his backpack and they got ready to leave, too. Hikaru looked at me with a pleased slash mischievous face. "Not bad... Keep the outfit and come back tomorrow okay?"
I nodded yes, under his gaze and as I saw all the other hosts start leaving through a back door, I suddenly remembered what my mother had said and reminded me to do this morning: "You invite Hitachiin Hikaru or I will". I internally groaned and sucked in a breath as the twins were halfway to the door. Ugh. Time to get this over with... "Hikaru!" I called out from my spot. He turned around fast, as if not expecting it, and Kaoru casually looked over his shoulder. Weirdly enough he smiled smugly and said something to his brother before turning around and leaving. Hikaru walked over slowly, and stood in front of me, hands stuffed in his pockets. He lifted and eyebrow and exaggeratedly shook his head to urge me on. I rolled my eyes and looked down at the ground, took in a shaky and hopefully quiet, breath. "To put it simply.. my mom is throwing a party and since she thinks your my boyfriend she wants me to invite you." I said it all so fast I barely understood myself, but when I looked up, he seemed pensive. Scratching the bottom of his chin he took some time to answer. Time that was slowly killing me. I know that the easiest solution was to just tell my mom we broke up, but I just.. couldn't. All my life, I have never really lived up to her expectations of the 'perfect daughter' and even though she was just a bit annoying about it, she was way more happy about it than I had expected. I finally felt like I was doing something right I her eyes even though it wasn't exactly true.
"Hmm..." He said after what felt like forever. I looked up at him hopefully. "I'll think about it.. but Kaoru's coming too."
"Noted."
"Well in this case c'mon. We're leaving." He took hold of my wrist and pulled me forward again.
"What? Where!? Hik-"
"My house. I mean I guess now you have an even greater debt to pay off right?"
"What? But that's no-!"
"Kaoru we have a new tutor!" Hikaru said in a sing-song voice over to his brother. He had already half dragged my outside and was getting into the car. I stared unbelievingly at the two little devils who looked at me with toothy grins. I felt my hair was all over the place after being forced outside. My chest was heaving and I blew a strand of hair from my face as I looked at the perfectly composed twins. "Are you coming?" they chorused and opened the door to the car. Needless to say, I was sitting in between them in no time, arms folded across my chest as they teased me the whole ride there. Somehow I was getting accustomed to this..