Chapter Two: Snared by the Lady Manager

"Hoh hoh hoh hoh!"

Ella groaned, smacking her forehead. "Oh, I should have known…" Renge was the friend she had agreed to meet on campus today. In fact, Renge was the friend she was living with during her stay in Japan as a study abroad student. Ella loved Renge most days, and she was grateful for the free room and board, but sometimes… Well, sometimes, she just tended to take things a little bit too far. And today was definitely one of those days.

The excitable Ouran student came bounding up to the gazebo, her dress flying as she twirled down the path. "Ooooooh, you two look so perfect together!" she cried. "Standing there under the roses, where your oh-so-tragic paths cross for even just a moment—and sparks start FLYING~!"

Clearly, she hadn't heard the conversation between Mori and Ella, but that didn't seem to matter. To Renge, just seeing the two together was like looking at a match made in heaven. The reason? Ella had no clue. But when Renge got an idea in her head, she was like a runaway train. If arriving at her end destination meant running over a small child in the process, she would probably do so without hesitation—and not even notice.

"What's the meaning of all this?!" Ella asked, feeling like she had to shout over Renge's overwhelmingly radiant attitude.

But Renge just continued acting out her fantasy world. "And then, before we know it, you'll be married and want to start a family! But the father, still dark and brooding as ever—" she swiped her hand across the air as if she was painting the picture for everyone else to see, "—will fear that he ends up hurting mother and future child! Terrified, he runs from the responsibility and—!"

"Renge," Mori interrupted firmly, placing his hand on her head to stop her from moving around.

Ella was standing there in shock, feeling horribly embarrassed. Obviously, Mori knew of Renge as well, so he must have been familiar with her tendency to exaggerate and weave intricate tales. But Ella felt like she had played right into her hands and was, therefore, partially responsible for this. She should have known something like this would happen, and the embarrassment of it all was now rising up to her face, brushing her cheeks a flush red color.

She grabbed Renge by the arm and dragged her out of the gazebo, off to the side and out of Mori's earshot. "What were you thinking?" she hissed. "I don't even know that guy, and you wrote him a love letter? From me?!"

Renge's smile still hadn't faded, her gaze still gooey with lovey-dovey fantasies. "You said you always liked the strong and silent types, so I just knew you two would fall in love at first sight and—"

"Oh my God… in anime, maybe!" Ella brought her hands to her face, covering her eyes in shame. "Yeah, I like the 'strong and silent' types in fictional stories, Renge!"

"Right, so Mori is perfect for you! He's strong and silent, and he's just your type!" Renge squealed. "Oooh, it's so juicy and perfect and—!"

Ella grabbed Renge by the shoulders and shook her aggressively, trying to knock some sense into her. "I don't know him! You can't pretend to profess my love to someone I don't even know yet! In case you've forgotten? This is real life. Not some fantasy world."

Renge paused in thought suddenly, the lovey-dovey goo leaving her gaze as a new spark ignited elsewhere in her mind. "You're right…" Ella recoiled immediately. That look didn't mean that she understood what Ella was demanding. It certainly didn't mean things were going to calm down… Rather, that look was a signal to Ella that she should abandon ship. She should turn around and run for her life as fast as possible, because Renge's runaway train had changed course and there was nothing in the world that could stop it.

"I'm… I'm right…?"

"You're right! You don't know him at all!"

Ella blinked, terrified of where this was going. "Right. So…"

"So?" Renge's smile widened from ear to ear as she clutched Ella's hands and squeezed in excitement. "I know just how to fix that!"

The unstoppable force, while clutching Ella's hand, ran back to the gazebo and grabbed Mori by the arm. "Get a move on Mori. We're gonna be late!" He had been standing still enough that a small sparrow had landed on his forearm, and he was gently stroking its head—just as one might pet a house cat. But he lurched forward when Renge took hold, and the bird went flying off into the distance.

Before Ella could even guess at what was happening, the two of them were being dragged across campus and into the high school building, flying up the steps and bursting through the doors of Music Room #3.

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Upon entering the room, Ella's senses were immediately assaulted by the overwhelming saccharine smells of pastries, chocolates, and rose petals. The room had a glaringly pink hue, but the overall feel was soft and welcoming. It was almost as if the air itself was made of puffs of cotton as it brushed past her arm.

"Welcome!"

Stationed in the center of the room was a small group of boys—presumably other students—dressed in clothing that looked as if it came straight from Victorian London. Tailcoats and top hats included, the sight of these students in such garb was definitely strange. However, there was something about the way they carried themselves that pushed this group of atypical cosplayers from being strange to being strangely classy. Ella was intrigued, to say the least, though still unsure of what Renge was dragging her into.

Is this…?

"Alas!" one of the boys called out. "We meet again, my princess!"

Ella cringed at the return of that voice, and she immediately realized that she had already met two of the boys in the group.

Tamaki Suoh, stationed at the center of the group, got up from his seat and rushed to Ella's side. He swooped in on one knee and removed his top hat, holding it to his chest while he gazed longingly into her eyes. "It is an honor to make your acquaintance once again, for I feared this meeting would never come to pass." He took her hand in his, gently bringing it to his lips and kissing the back of her hand. Ella wrinkled her nose in discomfort at the act, but he didn't seem to notice. "Welcome, my lady, to the wonderful haven of the host club!"

So it is…!

"Ah, th-thank you…"

Renge paid no attention to the fact that her friend was visibly uncomfortable, and it quickly became clear to Ella that this was very standard procedure. "You all look so dashing in these outfits, I could just faint!" Renge cried, throwing a triumphant fist into the air. "They're perfect, just like I knew they would be!"

The second boy that Ella remembered, Kyoya Ootori, looked up from the notepad he was scribbling onto and offered his tentative agreement. "Indeed. Thus far, it seems like this setting will pan out quite well with our guests." As he turned to make eye contact with their new guest, Ella was surprised to find that he was not actually glaring at her as he had before. In fact, he wasn't even slightly threatening. Instead, he offered a small and simple smile, turning on the charm just like the rest of them. "And who is our new guest here?"

"O-Oh, no no—what?" Ella laughed awkwardly. "No, I'm not planning on staying or anything. I—"

"You don't want to stay?"

"Even for just a little tiny bit?"

She suddenly found herself flanked by two redheads, both of whom were clearly identical twins. "Aren't you just a bit… curious?" They said, speaking in tandem and finishing with a wink.

Ella instinctively stepped back toward the door, accidentally bumping into Mori, who still stood there in the entranceway. Glancing anxiously between the group in front of her and the unintentionally blocked exit, Ella wasn't quite sure what to say. She was trapped in a strange place with even stranger people, and she had a feeling this wasn't even the beginning of how weird things would get.

"Oh, don't be silly. Of course she'll stay!" Renge interjected. "Everyone? I'd like to formally introduce you to this lovely human specimen, Ella Thomas. She's from New York City, all the way in America, and she's here visiting to study abroad!"

"New York?" The twins exchanged mischievous glances, lighting up at the mention of one of the world's fashion capitals. "We didn't hear anything about an exchange student."

"W-Well, that's not quite it…" Ella stuttered, trying desperately to explain herself at this point. "I mean, I-I am an exchange student, but not at Ouran. I'll be a second-year at Kogei High School."

The small one scuttled over to Mori, who had been standing silently in the doorway this whole time, and climbed up onto his towering shoulders. Ella stared at the boy perched on this giant, wondering what his story was. Perhaps he was just a very small, very young first-year? Perhaps not, but the speculating would have to wait—because the young boy was the first to address one of several elephants in the room. "So if you're not going to school here, what brings you to Ouran?"

"I— Well, Renge—"

"Uwaaah, Tamaki-kun!"

At that moment, another group of girls entered the room and immediately commenced gushing over the hosts. That seemed to be the signal for everyone to get to work because the twins scuttled off together, Kyoya went back to taking notes, and Mori placed the small one back on the ground and disappeared into the back room. (He wasn't in costume yet.) Tamaki, becoming the center of attention elsewhere, grabbed Ella by the hand and the waist as if they were about to begin dancing the waltz. "I am needed in other regards, my beautiful Ella, but I shall return to you no later than would my heart shatter in your absence!"

And with that, he spun her around and accidentally sent her flying. She very nearly lost her balance, and by the time she turned around, Tamaki was busy entertaining others; he did, after all, have a consistent crowd and a reputation to keep up.

Even Renge seemed to have disappeared somewhere in the commotion. Looking even more lost and confused, Ella was beginning to panic, not knowing what she should do—and that was when the last host approached her. One whom she had not yet spoken to.

"Sorry about all that. They can be a bit overwhelming at first," he said with a small laugh. "My name is Haruhi. Did you say you were from America?"

He was also of a small stature and had big, sparkling brown eyes. But other than that? He looked remarkably normal. And Ella was more than okay with that at this point. "Ah, yes, I am. I thought my accent would be a dead giveaway."

"It is, but I like your accent," Haruhi responded simply. "Tea?"

Ella nodded, taking a seat on the couch next to Haruhi. She twiddled her thumbs and tapped her feet together, trying to forget the fact that she was wearing a sloppy pair of sneakers, some worn-out jeans, and a regular old top. And when Haruhi finished pouring the tea, she hurriedly snatched up the cup and took a few sips, happily taking in the soothing aroma.

Haruhi placed down the kettle. "So, how do you know Renge?"

"Oh, we met a few years ago, actually," Ella grinned, recalling the memory. At least this one was an easy question. "In America, Otakon is the biggest anime convention on the east coast. I suppose Renge flew in the same year I was attending, and we happened to come dressed as matching characters—partners in crime, if you will." She sat there twisting the teacup in her hands. "We ran into each other, hit it off, and spent the rest of the convention hanging out together. And we've just kept in touch ever since."

"Really?" Haruhi looked even more surprised than was expected. Ella certainly didn't appear to be the stereotypical con-goer, and trying to mix her personality with Renge's seemed to many, at first, like trying to mix water and oil. "And now you get to see her again, after all these years. That must be fun."

"It's certainly been… an experience, thus far," Ella chuckled quietly. "See, rather than having to pay for a place to stay, or having to put myself up with people I don't know… Well, when I told Renge I was coming to Japan for a semester, she insisted I stay with her at her estate."

"What?" Haruhi's mouth nearly dropped open. "You're living with her? I can't even imagine what that must be like!"

"Oh, it's weird, that's for sure—but not all because of Renge." Ella shrugged incredulously. "The weirdest part is just living on an estate. You know, I got lost trying to find the bathroom the other day." She laughed, finally starting to relax a bit. "Twice!"

Haruhi nodded, looking like he could relate. "Well, if you want to avoid causing a scene, make sure you don't bring any instant coffee around."

"Do they… not know about it?"

Haruhi leaned in closer, whispering, "It's kind of like a myth about us 'commoners' in their world…? Best just not to have to deal with it."

"Ah." Ella smirked, trying to stifle her laughter. "Thanks for the heads up."

"Uwaah, it's Mori-senpai! He looks so noble in that outfit, I could swoon!"

Several more groups of girls had come into Music Room #3 while Ella and Haruhi had been conversing, and it seemed the club was now in full swing. Mori had just emerged from the back room looking—as Ella found herself having to agree—quite dashing. She had always been one for guys in good costumes, and this whole host club was almost too much for her. Mori had on a fitted, calf-length, dark blue tailcoat over a striped, light blue vest. He wore a black pair of slacks, a blue silk necktie to match the tailcoat, and a shiny black top hat, tilted ever-so-slightly to the right.

Averting her gaze suddenly, Ella stared at her feet for a moment, looking pensive. "Is something wrong?" Haruhi asked.

"No, I just— I should probably go apologize to Mori." Haruhi looked confused, but Ella was still too embarrassed about their first encounter to retell what had happened. "Renge did a weird thing earlier, and I just—"

Haruhi held up a hand and smiled. "Say no more."

Nodding her thanks, Ella got up from the couch and decided to head to where Mori and his smaller friend were sitting—but not before she made sure Renge didn't have any other strange plans up her sleeve. She scanned the room, looking for that signature pink bow bobbing through a group of gushing girls… But Renge wasn't there. Ella stood in the middle of the room awkwardly, scanning again, but her impulsive friend really was nowhere to be found.

Ella felt her stomach sink.

Where was Renge?

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A/N. PHEW. So I know that chapter was kind of long and boring, and I apologize for that. ;n; Just had to get the silly intros and beginning interactions out of the way. Things should start to pick up in the next chapter! Any comments and critiques you might have are always appreciated. Thanks so much for reading!