After the club was closed for the day, I went outside to find both my dads waiting for me. Grinning, I ran to hug Takashi around the waist. He spun me around with a small smile that I equated to a normal person grinning.
"Daddy! I missed you."
"Missed you too."
Dad had been gone for a month, training newcomers at a dojo in Osaka. We got in the car where Mom was waiting with a smile. They kissed chastely, then started driving toward home.
"So…I joined Kizoku's club and they made me manager."
Mom immediately broke down laughing, making Dad grab the wheel to keep us going straight.
"Mitsukuni…"
"I'm sorry, I know. But they gave her Renge's job!"
"Well, actually, Kyoya was more of a manager."
"You're right…I never thought about that.
I tilted my head, but stayed quiet. We made it home without further incident, thankfully. A large white-frosted cake with chocolate covered strawberries on top was waiting on the table for us. I grimaced to myself, trying to figure out a way not to hurt Mom's feelings. Thankfully Dad noticed.
"Honey," He sighed, using the name he always used to get Mom's attention. "Amai hates sweets."
He teared up instantly and hugged me, his head only coming to my chest.
"I am so sorry! I saw this cake and completely forgot about how you feel."
"I-It's okay Mom. I'll eat some if it means that much to you…"
"No! I'll have to get you something else to congratulate you."
His eyes glinted and I stepped back. In a split second, the cake was completely gone. He wiped his face cheerfully. I looked at Dad and he just shrugged as if this was a normal thing that humans did. Rolling my eyes, I headed up to my room. In the hall I passed a picture that I had seen a hundred times, but this was the first time it ever caught my eye. It was a picture of my dads with Tamaki, Uncle Hikaru, Uncle Kaoru, Uncle Kyoya, and a familiar-looking boy. The room they were is seemed eerily familiar as well. Quietly, I took the picture off the wall and went into my room to study it. After about an hour, it finally came to me.
"Mom!"
I tore downstairs to find Dad pinning Mom to the wall, kissing him passionately.
"My eyes!"
Their eyes snapped open and they quickly backed away from each other. I held up the picture, staring at them sternly.
"You guys were in the original club!
"Yup!"
"Mhm."
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"It didn't come up."
"I want to know everything."
So, for the half-hour, Mom and Dad told me everything about the Host Club. I found out that the boy was really my Aunt Haruhi, the loveliest woman I knew. And that each club member had a specific "type" assigned to them. This I took note of for later. There was a knock at the front door and Dad entered a few moments later with Kizoku. He nodded to Mom, then proceeded to drag me upstairs to my room.
"We need to talk."
"No, really?"
"You can't be in the Host Club. You're a girl and if anyone finds out, it'll fall apart."
"Kizo, my mom already told me about the original club."
"He did?"
"Yup. There was a girl in that club too and she did perfect."
He nodded, smiling softly. It was quite obvious he knew who I meant.
"Alright Amai, if you really want to be a host, then I won't stop you."
"Good. Now, we need to discuss the personality types of each host."
We bounced ideas back and forth, writing them down on a piece of paper. Eventually we had a list.
-Kizoku - Princely type
-Yoru - Playboy (Cool?) type
-Sakura - Tough type
-Akira - Sensitive type
-Amai - Unknown
"Seems like we're a little short staffed."
"Yeah…"
"We should recruit someone to round out our staff."
"We can't just pick anyone though…"
I paced my room, thinking deeply about who would be the perfect candidate for the club. One name came to mind, but I know Kizoku would never approve. Taking a deep breath, I turned to him.
"I have one person in mind."
"Who is it?"
"Kiti."
He instantly froze in fear. The mere mention of the boy always managed to strike fear into his heart. According to Kizoku, his father had cursed Tamaki and passed this ability down to his son. From what I had seen, Kiti had no supernatural powers whatsoever. But Kizo begged to differ.
"Oh no. You are not going to ask that demon to join my club!"
"Your club? Last time I checked, you weren't the only one running it."
"You just joined and you're already calling the shots!"
"That's what a manager does!"
"I'm President and what I say goes!"
I glared at him and he glared back, showing no signs of wavering. Sighing, I decided to use my secret weapon and pulled out my phone.
"Who're you calling?"
"Ryuga."
"W-Why?"
"We need another member. If you don't let Kiti in, we'll need Ryuga."
I put it to my ear and he screeched, taking it away.
"No! Okay! We can try Kiti."
I cheered, going to his number and sending a text that said to be in the club room tomorrow. He replied that he'd be there. Kizo pouted in the corner, soI walked over and hugged him around the middle. His soft gasp was enough to make me smile.
"Please don't be mad big brother."
"I-I'm not…" he sighed in defeat.
"I was just trying to be a good sister and help your club."
"I know…"
"Are you still upset?"
"No. How can I be with such an adorable sister?"
He grinned and pulled me into a hug. I rested my head against his chest, smirking secretively; I could play him like a fiddle. By using the "little sister" act, I could get him to forgive me for anything. You see, Kizoku had always wanted a younger sibling. But his parents we afraid that, after his less-than-joyous birth, his mother may not live through it. So he just sucked it up and stopped asking. When I was adopted, he was over the moon with happiness. His excitable ways are the reason I got over my fear of human touch.
"Can I stay the night?"
"Do you really have to ask?"
Kizo chuckled and stood, walking to the dresser where I kept the clothes he left at my house. After selecting a pair of pajamas, he went into the bathroom to change. While he was in there, Mom brought in a pizza for us to share and confirmed that it was okay for him to stay the night. He returned wearing a big flannel shirt and black silk pants. I turned on a movie and we ate pizza, speaking quietly to each other, until we fell asleep.
Kizoku threw away the pizza box after Amai fell asleep. Then he laid down on the bed and watched her sleep, holding her in his arms. She smiled, nestling down slightly against his chest.
"I love you," he whispered, kissing her cheek.
Then he laid back, Amai on his chest, and stared at the ceiling until he fell asleep.
