Chapter Sixteen: Realizing, Monale, and Lovesickness.
"So, this is attempt... fourteen?" Kiiro sighed, wondering why they couldn't get it right.
The Kitty-eared Waiter looked over at the guests. The girls were still scared of him and ran off as quickly as possible.
'It's a failure.'
"Hmmm... they ran away again. Even the ultimate strategy of kitty ears didn't work, huh?" Tamaki seemed disbelieving. "I just don't get it. Everyone knows that kitty ears irresistibly cute to the male population, but, Renge recently told me that even girls find them attractive nowadays. She was so dead sure about it, too."
"Yeah, but it was Renge that told you that." Kiiro pointed out.
"Perhaps you should of surveyed a larger part of the female population." Haruhi suggested.
"I don't know if people actually find it attractive or not," Kyouya shared. "...but if you ask me, simply sticking a pair of ears onto him won't make his face look any better."
"Absolutely, that was way too half-hearted, Tono!"
"If you really want to do something..."
"Then go all out! Like a kitty eared maid!" The Twins produced a maid dress.
"Oh, I see what you mean!"
"Are you guys trying to live out some sick fantasy? Quit fooling around with me!" Bossanova scolded.
The Twins and King started sobbing.
"S-sorry! It's just... I'm feeling frustrated 'cuz you guys have been doing your best to come up with plans for a whole week already but, people are still avoiding me."
"There's clearly no need for you to apologize, Casanova. It's clearly the fault of these numbskulls and their madcap ideas." Haruhi explained.
"Waah! Haruhi! How could you be so mean?"
"She said clearly twice! Twice!"
"No... The fault is all mine for being so ungrateful to the kindness they've shown me. Kitty ears... angel wings... I just don't suit any of them." he sulked.
"Er, you know, that's pretty natural if you ask me..."
"But, no matter what it takes, I want to be likable... a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do... I will wear the maid outfit!"
'What?'
"Uh... okay... here you go..."
'I thought they were just kidding...'
They helped him into the dress when, Knock, knock, knock!
"Excuse me, I'm looking for young master Kasanoda?" a boy entered and saw the kitty-maid. "Ack! Young master?!" he shrieked.
"Hrnh?!"
"S-s-sorry! I had no idea you were in the middle of your secret hobby!"
"Who said this was my hobby?! And what the hell are you doing here?! Get lost!" he snarled.
'That's not creepy at all...'
"Kyaaaaaaaaaa!" the boy ran.
"Ca-Casanova? Breathe."
"I did it again. It was just a reflex action..." he slumped.
"Who was that?"
"Oh, him? One of the brothers... Tetsuya... About a year ago he came begging to be let into our clan... " he ripped off the outfit. "He works as a cleaner in our house, but he's constantly loitering around me for some reason... as a result he's the one I blow up at most frequently..."
"Poor guy..."
"Wait... what the heck did he come here for?" he took off the ears.
"Hah? Weird things have been happening to Mori-senpai?" Tamaki questioned Kasanoda the next day. Apparently someone had been throwing things at Mori, though no one knew who.
"A bucket and rotten eggs?"
"Yeah. And also a flowerpot, an encyclopedia, a vcr, some roof tiles..."
"Yeah, the way he smashed those roof tiles was awesome!"
"Are you all right, Mori-senpai?" Tamaki.
"Anyone other than Mori-senpai would be black and blue by now." Kyouya.
"Mori-senpai, did you break a mirror or something?" Hikaru.
"Or maybe you stepped on Beelzenef?" Kaoru.
"Maybe a black cat crossed your path?" Kiiro.
"You think Takashi's been cursed?" Hani.
"This isn't time to spout rubbish! I was there at every single attack!" Bossanova explained. "It's plain to see that someone holds a grudge against him!"
"Huh? No way, man! How could anybody hold a grudge against Mori-senpai? Him of all people?"
"You can't know for sure! With a face like that, you invite all kinds of malicious vibes! I've experienced it myself countless times!"
Bossanova was ignored, "If you like, I can introduce you to this exorcist I know."
"Oh! Exorcism~! Exorcism~!"
"Nah, It'd be faster to ask Nekozawa-senpai."
The door opened, "Ummm... sorry to disturb again but is young master..." Tetsuya trailed off as Kasanoda left, running at full speed. "Eh? Young master?"
Haruhi tried to catch up with him.
The rest of the Club tried to find them, when they heard a loud clattering noise. Mori saw two boys throw a paint can at Kasanoda and Haruhi. He grabbed them before they could get away.
"Morinozuka! You jerk!"
"Tie them up!" the Twins grabbed rope.
Kyouya took pictures.
"Haruhi, are you okay?"
The paint can had spilled all over Haruhi's uniform.
"Untie us! Oi, Kasanoda! Ya no good piece a trash!" they yelled. "Not only did ya grab our cheif's son, ya even employed bodyguards to cover yer lousy behind? Yer nothin' but a low-down kidnapper! Give our young master back!"
"Hrnh? What are you talking about?"
"Oh yeah! The were actually targeting you, Bossanova~! We thought we should let you know~!"
"Huh?"
"Yesterday, Takashi found shards of glass and a cutter in your desk and locker~!"
"Why... why didn't you tell me? Why did you help me?" Kasanoda looked shocked.
"I could tell who the evil one really was..." Mori replied. "If you'd only stand tall and be yourself, there are definitely people who accept you. And, if there's someone who has deep feelings of friendship for you... you can be sure that he is trying to convey it... It's about time you realized it..."
"I thought I recognized you two halfwits prowling about this school." Tetsuya found the two tied up kids.
"Young master Tetsuya!"
"You don't even have the courage to fight someone fair and square... How dare you resort to such dirty tricks?" he looked at them evilly. "You don't get it do you, I left because I couldn't stand you people any more. And if you ever try to harm the young master again, I'll make you wish you were never born..."
Haruhi went to change while Tetsuya explained the situation, "Forgive me for being dishonest to you, young master! I'm the Kanto branch Sendo Clan Chief's second son," he kneeled and bowed his head. "Tetsuya Sendo! I was deeply attracted to the young master's personality, and so cut all ties with the Sendos' and resolved to throw in my lot with the Kasanodas'! For quite some time, I'd felt repulsed by the principles and methods of the Sendos'! Then, one rainy day a year ago, I had a huge fight with my father and ran away from home... I had nowhere to go... but, there was absolutely no way I could return home... at the time... young master, you... offered me kindness, and held your umbrella over me."
"Did I do that?"
'Way to ruin the moment. He doesn't even remember...'
"Yes! Even if you don't recall it, I shall remember your kindness till the day I die! I also know... that you love animals... that sentimental stories and romantic movies make you cry... that you secretly buy a cake for a brother's birthday... that you're the one who leaves us presents by our pillows on Christmas..."
"You do those things? Oh... Bossanova, you sweetie..." The Twins teased.
"Hrrrnh?"
"...and that you're painfully shy and awkward... it's not just... everyone in the clan's well aware...we all know you'd feel embarrassed, so we don't let on that we know... as for how terrifying you are... forgive me, but I'm slowly getting used to it... kind of..." he balled his fist. "I take full responsibility for these two fools... but, I beg you... please allow me to continue staying by your side!" he reached into his bag. "Oh! I almost forgot! I came to give you this yesterday!" he fished out an umbrella. "The weather's been so bad lately! Please accept this umbrella! We'd all be very worried if the young master fell ill!"
"Why does he need an umbrella if you send a car to pick to him up everyday?"
"Oh yeah... you're right... how silly of me..." he began to put the umbrella away but, Kasanoda grabbed it.
"Give me that!"
"Yes sir!"
"I need to apologize to Fujioka! It's my fault that he got covered in paint!" Bossanova ran off.
"Haru's gone to change into a clean set of clothes in the Club Room~!"
"Thanks, Haninozuka-senpai!"
"Take care, young master!" Tetsuya waved.
Tamaki wiped his tears, "Ahh... another good deed done for the day..."
"You didn't actually do anything this time, Tono."
"By the way... are you sure it's okay, Tamaki?"
'Hey, wait, isn't Haruhi...?'
"Since Haruhi's gone to change?" Kyouya revealed, too late...
"What didn't you say so sooner?" Kiiro and the rest ran off.
"I! I'm sorry!" Kasanoda closed the door.
"You saw her, didn't you?" The Twins were scarily evil.
They grabbed Bossanova, "Hrrrnnnhhh?!"
"You saw? What did you see? How much did you see? You saw that petite and slender body of Haruhi's that even we haven't seen... So tell us, how much did you see?" The Twins got closer to him.
"Yes, how much, Kasanoda?" Kiiro put her hand on his shoulder and let the menacing aura creep over his skin.
"I-I didn't see anything! I mean, I caught a glance, but, it was so quick that I-!"
"You know, Bossanova..." Dark Hani emerged. "I really really despise guys who fool around..."
"What should we do with him, Hikaru? He's discovered Haruhi's secret..."
"...there's only one thing to do..."
"...we have to force amnesia... hold him!" Hikaru picked up a baseball bat while Kaoru and Hani held him.
"Hrrrnnnnhhhh?!"
"Oi, oi, cut it out." Kyouya stopped them. "I don't want to dirty my hands covering a crime for you."
"Kyouya-senpai! How can you stay calm! If you'd only mentioned earlier that Haruhi was changing, this wouldn't of happened!"
"Don't try to pin all the blame on me."
"Look at him!" they gestured to Tamaki who was silent, motionless and vacant. "Tono is in a state of shock! He's become an empty shell! We refuse to hang around him in this state!"
"Well, so do I, but, anyway..." he pushed up his glasses. "... since the cat's already out of the bag, we have no other recourse but to discuss our options. Kasanoda... Haruhi has to conceal the fact that she's actually a girl due to a reason that she cannot reveal... and also because of this, she had to become a Host Club member... in which case, it's more advantageous for her to be viewed as a male rather than female, but, we have no right to keep you from talking... though, if I may just remind you of one tiny little thing... I'm sure it wouldn't be a very good idea to make enemies of the Ootori family, right?"
'Tact #3 Intimidation/Coercion.'
The door behind Bossanova opened up and Haruhi stepped out, "Hang on, guys! Stop threatening Casanova! Casanova, I'm really sorry to give you such a shock... You know, it's really okay if you want to tell other people about me. I don't mind."
Kasanoda blushed.
"You were right, we might have a problem on our hands." Kyouya whispered.
Kiiro sighed.
The next day in Music Room Three, Kasanoda showed up as a guest. He wanted Haruhi as his Host, of course. The guests squealed at the thought of 'Forbidden Romance'. But, of course, the Twins weren't very fond of the idea. When Haruhi went to pour his tea, they knocked over all of the cups and the teapot.
"Kyouya-senpai, you idiot, how could you let someone like that in here? If he wants to reconcile with his brothers so badly, shouldn't he be spending time at home with them?" the Twins growled. "He doesn't even need to train under Mori-senpai anymore!"
"Well, that's why he's a guest today. He's already promised to keep Haruhi's secret, so, on what grounds could I reject him? What's more..." he gestured toward the girl-guests. "Thanks to him, our number of customers is up by twenty percent today!" he beamed.
Tamaki still seemed to be shocked today.
Haruhi was giggling, which drew everyone's attention to her.
"What should we do? She's revealed her super adorable smile! That god-given charm!" the brothers panicked.
"I expected you two to have flown straight over there to put a stop to it by now~!"
"Well, after our failure in Karuizawa, we want to avoid upsetting Haruhi as much as we can!"
"Whaddaya mean 'we' it was just you, Hikaru!"
"Tono! How long are you just gonna space out?!"
"This is the time where we need the King! Get moving!" they pushed him towards Haruhi and Casanova. He was still in robo-mode.
"Tamaki-senpai?"
He tried to sit in between the two.
"What's... eh? Wait! What are you doing? If you want to join us, sit over here." he sat on the other side of her. "If you've got nothing to do, play with this..." she handed him a little puzzle ring toy. "I got this as a freebie when I went to get the instant coffee just now. Casanova, would you like another cup?"
Tamaki separated the two rings robotically, "Haruhi, I did it! I solved the puzzle!"
"That was really fast! Now you've got to try and put it back together!"
"Okay!"
'Hopeless...'
"Has he lost his mind?" the Twins called his cell phone.
Ring! Ailing! Ailing!
Tamaki answered to, "Oi, Tono! It's time to wake up and smell the manure! Let me tell you something! While you're busy enjoying yourself in la-la land, the situation in the real world is getting more serious by the minute! Am I getting through to you? Just you think about it? If you don't do something fast, Bossanova's gonna pluck Haruhi out right from under your nose! Do you want Haruhi to be doomed to a future as a 'big sista'?"
'You mean 'yakuza's wife'?'
"N-no way!" they got to him. "In a way, I'm sure you'd look absolutely stunning, but Daddy objects! Bossanova! Just what are you up to, huh? Should you not be seizing this opportunity to strengthen your bond with your brothers? Didn't you want to play 'kick the can'? If you can't find a good park to play in, I can easily introduce one to you! Go on then! Go on! Embrace your youth to your heart's content! But then again..." Tamaki's expression switched to evil. "... if you wish to get close to Haruhi, instead... it'll be over her Daddy's dead body." he pointed to himself.
"Eh?... 'Daddy's'? You're her father?"
'Well, obviously not.'
"We're not related by blood. But, I'm sort of her father figure..."
"That means you a Fujioka's mom...?"
"Eh! No! I never met the woman..."
"Then how can you be her father?"
Tamaki looked lik he had been hit by a bullet, the Hosts had to catch him before he fell over, they ran him over to where he get some air.
"That was close, Tono was on the verge of being vaporized! That no-good, heartless gangster! To think he'd hit below the belt!"
"Tama! Hang in there!"
"...True..." King sat up. "It's true... strictly speaking, I'm not Haruhi's father..."
"Strictly speaking or otherwise, you're still not her father, Boss."
"No, wait, this needs to be cleared up..."
"Eh? What needs to be cleared up?"
"If, hypothetically speaking, I'm not Haruhi's father..."
"Hypothetically?"
"...then why do I have such a soft spot in my heart for her? Why do I think she's so adorable?"
'Oh boy...'
"Er... Tono, what are you...?"
"Why do I get so worked up when I see her with other guys...? If I'm not her father, then I have no right to come between the two of them... But then, is it not a Father's love that quietly watches over and rejoices in the growth of his daughter...? No, no... that just brings me back to paternal affection..."
"Umm... then why do you have delusions about Haruhi being your wife...?"
"W-wouldn't a father think that there's never any guy good enough for his daughter besides himself...?"
"And why do you always try to prevent Haruhi from getting kissed?"
"Is... is it wrong to want to protect the purity of your daughter's lips...?"
"You know, Tono..." Kaoru began. "Could it be that you don't want anything to destroy the friendship we all share right now...? Maybe that's why you created this whole 'family' thing... as a precaution..."
"Kaoru?" Hikaru was confused.
"I-I don't understand...?"
"I see... just as I expected... all those lovely-dovey delusions he succumbs to every day are simply that... delusions. He doesn't want them to become reality."
"Tama's so unaware of his feelings..."
Kiiro stood next to Kyouya, "You know, I'd be willing to bet that Tamaki really does have 'those kind' of feelings for Haruhi."
"Oh, really now? And, what are you willing to bet?" he asked quietly.
"Anything."
"That sounds promising."
Haruhi said, "But, I guess... there are some things about Tamaki-senpai that remind me of my father..."
Tamaki's eyes lit up, "Did... did you hear that? Did you hear Haruhi say that I'm like her father?"
"Well...more accurately, what she said was, you share some personality traits with her real father. That doesn't imply that you're actually like a father to her.."
"I see... I see...!" but King was still as carefree as before.
"You just don't want to listen, do you?"
"Fujioka..." Kasanoda started. "Would it be okay if I... came again? Instead of being with female companions all the time... maybe it would be good to talk to someone who knew your secret... you could relax then. If it's not too much of a bother..."
"Thank you." Haruhi smiled. "Designating me would really be a great help, too! I'm so glad... I can get to know you better!"
The guests squealed.
"Fuji... Fujioka... I..."
"I mean, isn't it great to be friends with someone you see eye to eye with?" Haruhi shot him down, unknowingly.
'Ouch.'
"I've never met anyone I could talk so openly to before... It's so nice to have a friend like that."
The guests felt horribly for him but he appeared to want to get over his rejection quickly, "Let's... Let's remain good friends... always."
"Yup."
"She really has a way with shutting 'em down, doesn't she?" Kiiro smiled, recalling Arai's tale of rejection.
"It seems so." Kyouya shrugged.
"We'll be your friends, too, Bossanova!" The Twins cried.
"Even though I'm your senpai, I'll be your friend, too~!"
"We're your friends, too!" "That was so touching!" "Thank you for sharing your heartache!" "We'll always be friends!" the guests yelled.
"Tamaki? You okay?" Kyouya asked.
"Yeah... I'm just thinking about how Bossanova must feel."
"Oh? That's odd. You're the 'Father', aren't you? This is the part where you should be rejoicing. There's no reason for you to emphasize with the pain he's feeling... is there?"
"Yeah. You're right!" Tamaki smiled. "Whew! What a relief!"
Kyouya sighed, "He hasn't realized it yet... Kiiro, though it's tempting, I'm not taking you up on your bet."
She smiled.
"How is it possible that it's always Spring here?" Kiiro pondered while watching out the window. 'It has to be a Japanese thing...'
Behind the door lies a pirate's den...
"Welcome."
The boys dressed in large naval coats, headbands, cuffed boots, leather, and grand hats. They were equipped with swords and flintlocks. Even the room was decorated like a ship, pillars of wood stood here and there, wrap with rope and barrels were placed nearby.
"All hands on deck! Weigh anchor!" Tamaki ordered.
'He's not King today, he's Captain.' Kiiro nodded to her own thoughts while drawing.
"We set sail for the ends of the Earth! We seek the legendary treasure more beautiful, so irresistible, you'll be loathe to part from it! Our only mission is to capture yon maiden's hearts."
'Yep, just another day.' Kiiro was a little worried that the last episode may have affected how the Club operated. And, more proof to her point, the Twins were putting on an act of 'Brotherly Love'.
"Their skits longer than usual today, isn't it?" Haruhi raised her eyebrow.
"Well, the pirate theme, sure does suit them, that's for sure." Kyouya held up his glasses. "Though, the life of an outlaw unfortunately lies outside my own interests. I believe there's a much greater sense of achievement in obtaining your goals through legitimate means, don't you agree?"
'Liar.'
"Well... since I definitely sense some shadowy motives behind those words... I can't say I do..."
"Kyouya, would those 'legitimate means' be: Intimidate, Coercion and Manipulation?" Kiiro asked, innocently.
"They're not illegal, yet." he smirked.
"Yet."
Bossanova was one of Haruhi's regulars, and for every time he visited he would bring something for her from Gardening Club, this time he brought Cherry Tomatoes. And, of course, the Hosts had to compete with a newly potted cherry seed. But, through all the commotion, a tiny voice could be heard, "Such a lively gathering. And, those costumes, what's the occasion, I wonder?"
An angelic girl with long, curly, blonde hair stood at the door with the Student Council President, "Pardon me for interrupting my club activities I'd like to introduce a foreign student who's visiting our school. She is here to observe the Japanese school system. She will be attending classes with 1A. May I present, from the Kingdom of Monale, her highness, Princess Michelle. How does it suit you, your highness? These are the elite of our student body, they are extremely popular with the students."
"They'll do well enough. For the next two weeks, I appoint the lot of you as my personal servants!" she smiled.
'Someone's spoiled... I'm glad I'm not a Host.' Kiiro smirked.
"What? You've got to be kidding me!" The Twins protested.
"It would be my honor." Tamaki knelt. "I, Tamaki Suoh, will do my utmost to be of service to you, your highness."
This wouldn't be odd for him, but, his face was different, it looked like he was, if Kirro wasn't mistaken, taken with her.
"Ne, Kyouya?" she whispered, pointing to the pair.
He nodded, "Odd, isn't it?"
"Monale is a small kingdom in Europe..." Kyouya straightened his tie. "Not many people in Japan have heard of it. But, it's a wealthy nation with a prosperous mining industry. Unfortunately, the former King and Queen lost their lives in a freak accident three years ago... Leaving their twenty-one-year-old son, Crown Prince Rolance, to succeed the throne."
"That's Michelle's older brother, right~?"
"But... I'd heard the princess' visit wasn't supposed to be until next week."
'Change of plans?'
Everywhere Michelle went, Tamaki went, everywhere Tamaki went, Kyouya went, everywhere Kyouya went, Kiiro went. When questioned, she answered, "It's not often that you see the Scary Shadow King playing the humble servant." And while that may have been one reason, another was the Princess herself, there was something odd about her. Something just didn't make sense. At first she marked it off as the spoiled, snobby attitude of her highness', how she went on and on about her glorious life back in Monale, but their was another thing under that, it was almost like she was indulging in a luxury. 'But, she gets this kind of treatment all the time at home, right?' Whatever it was that was putting Kiiro off, it was getting annoying. All of her demands were extremely extravagant and just took up time. And, she didn't care about anyone else, she asked Haruhi to taste her food for her just because she was a commoner. Which pissed off the Twins, and Tamaki didn't show that it bothered him, which made them irate.
"Hikaru, Kaoru, don't make a ruckus in the Club Room."
"But, Kyouya-senpai! Tono and that Princess...!"
"I've only ever seen a photo of her, but... I can see a strong resemblance between the Princess and Tamaki's mother. "
"You're kidding! She really is Tono's long-lost sister?"
"Did Renge tell you that?" Kiiro asked.
"Was there really a need to jump to such a conclusion? The soft, blond hair, the way her eyes light up when she smiles... when she knew she had to be separated from Tamaki, his mother fell into a deep depression... the last time Tamaki saw his mother, she was crying. Don't you think he just wants to see her smile again? Even if he can only do so through the Princess..."
"...That's... if he'd just told us, even we would've..."
"Sorry, I'm late!" King rushed in. "I had to see the Princess off... Huh? Was there supposed to be a meeting today?"
"Mommy's boy, you're the King of Mommy's boys!" the Twins yelled.
"Wh-what? Why are you suddenly being so rude?"
"I guess that's the way those two show their encouragement..."
"It's probably 'cuz they don't really know how to express themselves~!"
"Well, we're done for the day." the Twins left.
"Huh? Hey, are you leaving already?"
"Starting from tomorrow, we're gonna pull out all stops to serve this Princess of yours... so we're going home to prepare!"
And so, everyone but Tamaki and Haruhi left just then.
"Elephants?" she looked to him in disbelief. "We're going to parade the Princess through town...on elephants?"
"Of course, Kiiro." Kyouya smiled from across his table. "What else would we parade her with?"
"What do you mean what else?" her eyes widened, "A car maybe? Horses, even? Something slightly less complicated?"
The elephants marched on in front of the school, the Princess was perched atop one. The Monale flag flew on every pachyderm. The boys followed along in something similar to Indian garb.
"What the hell...?!" Haruhi screeched.
"Mornin' Haruhi!" The Twins smiled. "Wanna catch a ride, too? On the elephants back?"
"What's with the sudden pseudo-Indian parade... or is that Thai...?"
"Isn't it the coolest? We think so, too!"
"It was pretty tough, you know~!" Hani giggled. "We had to dress up all the elephants from my house~! It took us all night~!"
"You have elephants at your home, Hani-senpai?!"
"Well, it was a rushed job." Kyouya explained. "We also had a few delays with the traffic from the Princess' hotel to here."
"You mean you came all the way here from the hotel in this bizarre procession?"
"We so busy yesterday that we couldn't call you to join us, Haru...we're so sorry..." the Twins and Hani said in unison.
"Not at all. My heart is overflowing with gratitude right now..." Haruhi explained.
Tamaki helped Michelle down and showed her the red carpet sprinkled with rose petals that led to her classroom.
Kiiro watched everyone disperse.
"She's lying, you know."
"I kind of figured it out along the way."
"Eh? A lie?" The Twins yelled.
"The Ducal House of Baden that Princess Michelle mentioned has been a friend of my family since my grandfather's generation..." one girl said. "They've never mentioned they had ties with the Royal House of Monale before... and besides, due to the Duchess's ill health, they're currently in Switzerland, so I don't think they could visit her at the moment."
"But then why would she have said..." Haruhi trailed off.
"Since we're on the topic... the luxurious palace that she claimed to live in, is a lie as well."
"Kyouya-senpai?"
"While Monale is officially a wealthy country, they have a wide income gap... The new King, Rolance, is an extremely practical person, and shortly after he succeeded the throne, he disallowed all extravagance and excess. Instead, he actively goes out alone to meet the people and listen to their needs. He's truly a King brimming with confidence. There's no way she could enjoy such an extravagant lifestyle."
"Why that little..! Not only was she a spoiled brat but she's a liar, too!"
"Kyouya-senpai! Why didn't you say something earlier?"
"He always reveals things too late, just expect it from now on." Kiiro advised them.
"Poor Tama-chan~!"
"Whether she's a liar or not is immaterial. She's still royalty, and there's never any harm in pandering to royalty, right? Besides... I'm sure Tamaki already knows everything."
"Ah hah! All units alert! Lying Princess at twelve 'o clock!" The Twins pointed to Michelle, who was outside attacking a cherry blossom tree.
"Ohohohoho! What on Earth do you mean? Oh my goodness, isn't it amazing how such a big branch just fell off the tree?" she held a rather large branch, which she tore off the tree. She tripped over a root.
"Your Highness!"
"Your Highness, are you alright?"
"You okay, Michelle~?" Hani.
"Are you hurt?" Haruhi.
"Are you able to stand, Princess? You know, it's waaay to dangerous if you don't watch your step." Twins.
"Why... Why are you all so kind o me?" she cried. "Why are you catering to my every whim? I was trying to make you all hate me... to the point where I would become insufferable... then my brother would have to call me back home... and to think I was so horribly rude to you even...! And, all the lavish expenditure... wasted on me... you put me in a luxurious hotel... and even though I was lying through my teeth, no one accused me... and the meals were extravagant and so heavenly...!"
"She may live in a palace, but she sounds poor."
"... And on top of it all, you brought in elephants... elephants... that parade was so embarrassing... I could have died!"
"Ya know, your plan to make us hate you by being a Prima Donna was all well and good... but, when your brother finds out what you've done, won't he be a little mad at you?"
"You're right, what should I do? I didn't think that far...! He's gonna hate me... After my Father and Mother passed away, my brother is all I have left. I know he's doing all this for me but, he keeps pushing me away...I just wish I could be of more help to him, that's all... All I want is to be by his side. Oh, dear, Tamaki! He must have seen right through me! Maybe he's told my brother about all the wretched things I've done!"
Haruhi looked at her, "Tamaki-senpai would never do something like that. He understands how painful it is to be separated from your family. But, even so, he's the kind of person who stays positive and keeps on going. Even though the loss of your parents must be tremendous... it's no good if you just waited around for things to change, because they won't, what you need to do is tell your brother, and everyone, how you truly feel. I think Tamaki-senpai was waiting for you to discover that, so that you can finally show him the beauty of your true smile."
Kiiro grinned.
"There you are, your Highness!" Renge, the Student Council President and another man made their way to them. "We've brought a wonderful guest to see you!"
"Michelle..." the man said.
"Brother..."
"I only want to preserve all that Father and Mother have left behind, to the best of my ability, I want our country to be prosperous and peaceful... so that all of our people... especially my precious sister... will always be smiling with joy..."
"Brother..."
'That's nice.'
When she turned, Kiiro saw a sulking Tamaki.
'What's got him this time?'
Michelle left Japan with a smile on her face.
"What? Tono, is sick?!" The Twins screamed in shock.
"It's not the end of the world..." Kiiro laughed.
"Yeah this morning, Shima-san called me. Apparently, seems like since last night he's had a high fever and couldn't get up." Kyouya explained.
"In other words Tono's on sick leave, we'll survive somehow..."
"It might be some precursor to some natural disaster..."
"Haru-chan, you've gotta run away! There might be thunder!"
"That's... even Tamaki-senpai catches a cold once in a while..." Haruhi tried.
Everyone who was told had the same reaction as the Club. One of the girls cried, "The ever self-praising Tamaki-sama who, since birth, has never had cavity nor known an illness..."
"Even Suoh can catch a cold." a boy responded.
"I'll bet... he's saddened by Princess Michelle's leave. He seemed to think of her as his little sister."
'Or Mother.'
"Speaking of which, just before Princess Michelle left, Tamaki-sama was acting weird..."
"Tono, acting weird? He's always like that."
"No... I'm sure because he wasn't acting like himself for many days. The day before yesterday, as well, he put thirty spoonfuls of sugar in his tea..."
"Now that you mention it, throughout class he was engrossed in reading a child-care book."
'So, it's about Haruhi?'
"He asked me to elaborate about parent-child relationships..."
"Yes, me too..."
Renge appeared, "I too, of course, didn't overlook his crucial moment! Yesterday, after school, he called Mori-senpai behind the P.E. room for some reason or another. He asked Mori-senpai if he'd ever thought of kissing Hani-senpai. And, to Tamaki's shock, Mori-senpai said "no". Now that I think about it, it's extremely easy to see why he's sick in bed. I hit the hammer on the nail, huh? I never knew Tamaki thought of Mori-senpai like that..."
'Ummm...?'
"We're going to go check on him later." Kyouya informed Kiiro.
When they arrived at the Suoh's Second Residence, "What's this? You don't look sick at all." The Twins nagged Tamaki.
"Tama-chan, we came to visit~~~! We brought chocolate and strawberry cake~~!"
"You guys? What about school?"
"Already over."
"Yeah, we'll handle the rest." Kyouya told his maids.
Kiiro stepped out while the Twins started to help him change.
"You guys..."
"Hush, hush, don't cry. Okay, I'm changing you, take off your pajamas."
"Kay."
"Pants, too."
"Kay."
"Tono, I should mention."
Kiiro saw Haruhi approach the door, "Ah, Haruhi, I wouldn't..."
She opened the door.
"Harushi's here, too."
"Ah, I'm sorry, take your time." Haruhi exited.
Tamaki freaked out, "#$%^$%$##$^&*! You doppelgangers did that on purpose!" He flopped onto the bed.
"Ah, he died."
"AHAHAHAHA! Look at this!" the Twins held up a scrapbook. "It says, "Commoner's Snacks Collection Volume 3"!"
"What's he gonna do with a scrapbook full of all these commoner's snack wrappers?"
"Amazing~~! It's all categorized and sorted by maker and he even wrote down what day he ate it and what his opinions were~~!"
"That's because he's Blood Type A."
"Very organized." Kiiro explained to herself.
"Ummm... the ice pillow's lukewarm..." Tamaki whined.
Kiiro glanced around, nobody else was going to get up, so she set out to get him a new ice pillow.
'I'm starting to wonder if anyone else actually came to help?' she chuckled to herself and sighed. 'I knew something like this was going to happen soon enough, but, I wonder if Tamaki will ever tell Haruhi. Why do they all have to be so complicated? It's so obvious about most of them, but, none of them know it. Hikaru...Kaoru... Kyouya... Haruhi has quite a spell on her. Maybe it would just be best to pick a team by now.'
By the time she got back, Shima was there and she asked them all to retire to the sitting room.
"I assume you knew what he had?"
"Yes. It's not really a surprise, you know something like this would happen from the beginning, didn't you?"
"...Yes, if I remember correctly, you agreed with me, Kiiro."
"...You know, I can't shake the feeling that something bad's about to happen, Kyouya."