Meeting the Host Club
Chapter 4: The Eighth Member of the Host Club
It was another day of school. We were getting ready for lunch because the bell's supposed to ring any minute.
Ever since I left Hakusen Private School a few days ago, everything has been going smoothly. The only people who knows my secret are Haruhi, Tamaki, Ranka, my family, and Yahiro. I really don't care if anyone knows my secret, just as long as that person's not Takashima.
After class, I walked with Haruhi, Hikaru, and Kaoru to the cafeteria. Haruhi and I brought a bento from home since the cafeteria food is way too expensive. As soon as Hikaru and Kaoru bought their food, the entire host club sat in the same table as me.
In my head, I was deliberating whether I should tell them my secret. On one side, they might be okay with it, but maybe they might not want to be my friends.
I clenched my fists under the table.
"Is anything wrong?" asked Honey.
"Well, actually," I said. "Can all of you meet me in the music room after school?"
"Sure," said Kyoya.
"Don't tell me you're…" said Haruhi shocked.
"It's fine," I said.
After school, I went straight to the music room to find nobody there. I decided to wait for a while. Soon, everyone was there.
"So why did you call us here?" asked Hikaru.
"There must be a reason!" said Kaoru.
I clenched my fists and bowed my head down.
"Hikaru, Kaoru, Mori, Honey, Kyoya, I have a confession," I said.
"Hikari!" Tamaki yelled causing Haruhi gesturing him to not talk.
"Hikari?" said Honey. "Who's Hikari?"
Tears began to fall down my cheeks, dripping down to the floor.
"I'm sorry…" I sobbed. "I'm sorry for what you're going to hear!"
"Rei?" said Hikaru. "Are you okay?"
"Hikari!" yelled Tamaki. "Don't!"
"It's fine, Tamaki," I cried. "They deserve to know!"
"What do we deserve to know?" said Honey.
"Actually," I cried. "My name's not Rei Yamaguchi… and I'm not a boy!"
"What!" yelled Honey who was shocked.
"My real name is Hikari Hanazono and I'm really a girl!" I yelled.
"You're that girl who left the S.A. of Hakusen Private School," said Kyoya. "But why did you leave?"
I paused for a moment letting my tears drop.
"I left Hakusen because of this boy." I cried. "I tried to beat him in anything since I was little. Every time I tried, I just can't beat him, and now I realize that I will never be able to beat him. I decided that it was best for me to never see him again. I'm sorry for lying to you!"
"Rei… I mean Hikari," said Kyoya. "From what I think, since you are ranked #2 in the S.A., the boy you're talking about is Kei Takashima, ranked #1. Am I correct?"
"Yes," I said solemnly.
The host club walked closer to me, probably trying to comfort me.
"It's okay," said Hikaru. "We forgive you."
My eyes widened and the only thing I could say was, "Thank you!"
"No problem!" said Hikaru.
"We don't mind keeping your secret!" said Kaoru.
"I'm not trying to spoil the moment, but we start in 10 minutes," said Kyoya.
"Hikari," said Tamaki. "After everyone is in, we'll formally introduce you to everyone. After that, you will go with Haruhi and chat with the girls."
"Okay," I said.
As soon as everyone came in, I sat by Haruhi, since this is my first day as a host. Tamaki stood up and got everyone's attention.
"Hello," said Tamaki. "Today, we have a new host. He transferred from a school in another part of Tokyo. I'm sure you're all familiar with him. His name is Rei Yamaguchi."
I stood up as everyone clapped for me.
"Thanks everyone," I said. "I didn't know what to do as soon as I transferred here and I'm looking forward to getting to know you."
After that, I sat with Haruhi at a table. There were a bunch of girls who go to school here. In the middle of the table, there were slices of cake as well as cups of tea and instant coffee. It kind of reminds me of the S.A.
All of the girls wanted to talk to me. They seemed interested in what I want to say.
"Hello," said one girl. "My name is Celeste Nakamura. I transferred here from America a day after you transferred here. I really don't know a lot of people here."
"Well, it seems that everyone here is kind, but the ladies here are the nicest of them all," I said.
"Really?" said another person at the table.
"It means so much coming from you, Rei," said another lady.
The next few days have been quite the same as the first day. I just talk to them, serve food to them, as well as compliment them. It's been like that until Tamaki said that we would cosplay.
All the host club members gathered in the music room.
"Everyone," said Tamaki. "Today, the host club would dress like we're in a masquerade party."
"Tama-chan?" asked Honey. "What's a masquerade party?"
"I think that's when you put a mask over your eyes," said Haruhi.
"Just put these on," said Tamaki handing us a mask and a suit.
We took the tuxedos and the masks and walked to the changing room. Haruhi and I had to use a separate changing room for obvious reasons. As soon as we came out, we looked at each other's costumes. Haruhi and I wore a tuxedo with a black neck tie as well. When Hikaru and Kaoru went out, they wore almost the same thing, but they wore black bow ties. Mori and Honey each wore a tuxedo with a blue tie and Tamaki wore pretty much the same thing as Hikaru and Kaoru. Kyoya decided to stay in his school uniform. All of us wore black dress pants and dress shoes. Everyone except Honey wore a silver masquerade mask. Instead, Honey kept Usa-chan in his arms. A few minutes later, all of us walked around and found that the music room looked like a masquerade ball.
Tamaki placed a box of masks near the door and opened the door and let everyone in.
"Welcome," we all said.
All the girls smiled at us. A few minutes later, we walked around. I walked with Haruhi around the room.
Later, Haruhi and I decided to check on Hikaru and Kaoru. We saw a bunch of girls around them.
"Hello," said Kaoru.
"Let's see if you can find out who is who," said Hikaru.
They put on their masks and spun around each other for a few seconds.
"We're ready," they said. "Which of us is Kaoru?"
"Rei!" a girl said. "Why don't you try and find Kaoru."
I observed both of them scanning their faces.
"Well, I'd have to say that the one on the left is Kaoru," I said.
"Wrong!" said both of them.
"Actually," said Haruhi. "He's right!"
"Really?" said one of the girls.
We then decided to check on Honey and Mori. We saw a bunch of girls surrounding Honey and Mori sat nearby. Honey then noticed me.
"Hi, Rei! Hi, Haruhi!" Honey cheerfully yelled.
"Hello," I said back.
Well, Honey acted as usual. I looked around and saw Kyoya on his laptop and Tamaki hitting on a girl. That was usual of them.
Haruhi and I sat at a table and watched as many girls flocked to where we were sitting.
Then, out of nowhere, I heard a motor from somewhere, then some loud giggling. I kind of got freaked out.
"Haruhi?" I asked. "What is going on?"
"Wait for it…" she said.
Also, a hidden platform came out of the floor with a girl on top of it. She had light brown hair with a pink bow on top as well as wearing the girls' school uniform.
"Hello!" she cheerfully yelled. "I hear we have a new host! It's not good to keep secrets from the manager!"
"She's the manager?" I asked Haruhi.
"She's a self-proclaimed manager," she replied.
"Oh," I said.
She scanned the room for a while until she noticed me.
"So you're the new transfer student who's also a host!" she said. "I'm Renge Houshakuji! What's your name?"
"I'm Rei Yamaguchi," I nervously said still confused about her entrance.
"Welcome!" she said. "You do know about the trip to Okinawa next week, right?"
"What?" Haruhi and I said at the same time.
"Don't tell me you don't know," said Renge. "Tamaki planned it weeks ago!"
"He did?" said Haruhi looking at Tamaki who was still hitting on girls.
"Just be ready," said Renge. "See ya!"
Renge walked up the platform and stood still. I watched as the platform and Renge went down.
After everyone left, I decided to confront Tamaki.
"Tamaki!" I yelled. "Why didn't you tell me about the Okinawa trip!"
"Didn't I tell you?" asked Tamaki.
"No," I said.
"Sorry about that, I probably forgot to tell you since you're a girl," he said.
"I'm not angry," I said. "Just nest time, notify me sooner, okay?"
"Got it," said Tamaki.
One week later. I packed a bunch of clothes and books to bring with me.
Earlier, Tamaki told me that we're going to a hot springs in the area. He also told me that only the host club members are going and told me to bring my regular clothes. He told me that he also prepared me a wig so that I look like "Hikari" and not "Rei".
At the airport, Tamaki told me to wear my wig so that I look like "Hikari Hanazono" since "Rei Yamaguchi" is only an alias.
As soon as all of us arrived, we boarded the plane and took off.
As soon as we landed in Okinawa, we took a limousine Tamaki rented for his chauffeur to the hotel. It was pretty cold outside. When we stepped out, we looked at the hotel. It looked very traditional looking. There were steps to the door. The outside was red and there were a lot of statues shaped like dragons around.
"Let's go in," said Tamaki.
We walked inside, it also looked very traditional. In the lobby, there were a bunch of go boards on a bunch of small wooden tables. We walked towards the front desk.
"Hello, I'm Tamaki Suoh," said Tamaki. "We reserved a spot here."
"Okay," said the manager. "Your room number is 149. Enjoy your stay!"
"Thanks!" Tamaki said leaving the table.
"Tamaki?" I asked. "Can I stay at the lobby for a while?"
"Sure, come back to the room soon," said Tamaki.
"I'll stay too," said Haruhi.
Haruhi and I went to the table and sat down.
"Hikari," said Haruhi. "You can take off your wig now, but wear it later."
I took off my wig and placed it on my lap.
"Do you want to play go?" asked Haruhi.
"Sure," I said.
After a few minutes, I heard another group of people come in. Still, I decided to focus on the game rather than the group.
"You're in room 150," I heard the person at the front desk say to them.
The group walked to the tables beside us and talked to each other.
I looked beside me. There were 7 people, three girls and four boys. My eyes widened as I found out who they are. I dropped the piece I was going to use the next turn in shock. I now know exactly who they are. My hands started shaking and sweating and also my heart started beating harder. The people who were sitting beside me were none other than the members of the S.A.