Chapter 3 – Negotiations
"So ladies, how do you feel about the different clubs you've visited?" Kunio set down a tray of the teapot and cups. It's been almost a week since this group of friends went to visit the different clubs. During this time, all the incoming girls were club-hopping to test the clubs out. They've been able to make a few friends through most of the clubs. Tagging doesn't begin until the beginning of school.
"It's going to be so difficult when it's time to choose! I really like the White Lily club. It's so feminine. The drama club would be a lot of fun, and fashion is in my blood!" Emi groaned at the difficult choice she's made. She sat on the floor and dropped her head down to the table in frustration.
"I think fashion or drama is good for you. You already have natural talent in fashion, for yourself to shine. And the first time you all checked out the drama club, everyone liked you ladies. You ladies would do so well in drama." Hiniku lounged behind Emi on the couch, next to Hotaru and Mihoshi.
"I think Black Magic club would be fit for me." Hotaru said quietly.
"Is that the only club you're interested in?" Mihoshi asked her sister with a sideways glance. Her voice almost sounded taunting.
"Yes. Yes it is." Hotaru glared at her sister with a warning look. Mihoshi just shrugged and leaned back. Hiniku looked back and forth at the two sisters on his either side, watching the short exchange.
"What would you like to get into, Miyu?" Kunio sat criss-crossed on the floor and looked up at Miyu who was seemingly blankly staring at her cup of tea in her hands.
"I've decided but I still need to work out a few things first. You'll know when at the beginning of school."
At that moment, they heard the sound of the front door open and close. Tamaki Suoh and his wife, Haruhi, were passing by the arch entry of the living room where the group was chilling. Tamaki was pulling onto Haruhi's scarf, facing her as he walked backward with a bright smile on his face. Haruhi had the same nonchalant look as she had so many years ago with her hands in her peacoat. The whole group turned their heads to look at them.
"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Suoh1." The group greeted in unison while Kunio greeted his parents. Tamaki held on to his wife's scarf as he turned to the group.
"Hello, everyone. Nice to see you all getting together before school; not that you guys don't do that almost every week. Except for those two weeks in August where my family went to New York. That was fun. Do you want to do that again, Haruhi? Time square was beautiful as always. Have you seen it during New Year's? Of course you haven't seen it. I'll take you. And shopping, you should go shopping."
"Have a wonderful evening, kids." Haruhi turned her head to the kids with a pleasant smile she's learned from the host club. She pushed Tamaki past the room into the next as she negotiated that Winter vacation. The group went back to their little chat but Miyu slipped away from them to follow The Suoh's.
"Mr. Suoh." She knocked on the wall of the family room entrance. There, Haruhi was chilling on the sofa with her legs tucked under her and Tamaki was squatting by the TV, picking out a movie to watch. Both of them looked up to Miyu.
"Forgive me for bothering you. I would like a little time to talk to you." Tamaki raised his eyebrows and straightened his body up.
"Sure thing." He guided Miyu out of the room and looked back to give Haruhi a quick wink. In exchange, Haruhi gave him a wave and went to look for the movie. Tamaki took Miyu to the study and sat down and she sat across from his desk.
"I would like to talk to you about the host club." Tamaki gestured her to continue with his folded hands, "What about the host club?"
"When you first started the host club, what was the club's philosophy?" Tamaki laughed and rubbed the back of his head, "So this is a quiz, huh? Well. As Haruhi has once previously given insight to herself when she was a host, 'it is the job of a high school host to make every girl happy.'"
"And what are the mottos?"
Tamaki raised up two fingers, "One, be strong, be dignified, and be beautiful. Two, unending research is a guide for a good guy."
"Thank you. Now, I know that currently, that philosophy and two mottos still stand, but as much as they are constantly practiced, the guests don't seem as impressed as much. I'm sure you know, as the dean of the school, guests are dwindling each year. The host club is doing wonderful in treating their guests, entertaining them, but interest is lacking in newcomers. Something about the host club seems outdated to them."
Tamaki's lips slightly curled upward at her honesty but polite manner. She reminded him of his best friend, except with a little more respect, given that he is still her elder.
"I don't know if you knew, but after Haruhi and you have left, many people still talked about Haruhi being in the host club. Do you know what they said?" Tamaki shook his head, "Tell me."
"They said it was amazing how she fit in so well with the host club. No one ever noticed, and if she were honest about it in the beginning, no one would have been bothered by it."
Tamaki nodded, "No doubt, she's an amazing woman; inspiring to say the least, she's charming and a perfect host. I worked so hard to teach her the ropes. I'm glad she still remembers them. I can still see her using her host club charm every now and then."
Miyu smiled, "She's a talented woman and she's gotten so far in her ambition as a lawyer. She's still an inspiration us ladies whisper about throughout the Ouran halls. It goes without saying, but you are also one of the very few we all look up to as well in the Ouran academy."
Tamaki roared in laughter, "Okay, okay. I get that you are buttering me up. You are so much like your father, but you're not as sneaky and subtle when you want something. What is it that you truly want to talk about?
"First of all, to compare me to my father is an honor and a compliment, thank you. For my point, I have few ideas I would like to share with you, ones that might alter the host club, but they would not get in the way of the mottos and philosophy."
Tamaki nodded and waited for her to continue.
"Mr. Suoh, I would like to have girls be a part of the host club."
Kunio knocked on his father's office door and burst in, "Father, do you know where…" He saw Miyu looking back at him from her seat and his father at his seat, in his business sitting position.
"Miyu, what are you doing here?" Kunio came up to Miyu's seat and rested a hand on the back of her chair.
"We were just chatting," Tamaki looked back at Miyu, "I like your proposition. I would like to discuss it with you more in detail tomorrow at the school. Is that alright with you? I have a meeting in the morning, how is 2:30 for you? Also, Kunio, would you mind accompanying Ms. Ootori to school tomorrow to see me?" Miyu nodded to Kunio as well. Kunio slowly nodded, still a little bit confused.
"Yes, I will see you then. Thank you for your time." Miyu got up from her seat and bowed to Tamaki.
"What's going on? What are you guys talking about?" Kunio asked. Miyu put a hand on his shoulder, "It's a secret I can share with you tomorrow." And with that, she left the room, leaving Kunio turning half his body to stare at where she was moments ago.
"A secret? Is it about me?" Kunio's theater mind almost started to run before Tamaki cut him off.
"Oh son. I learned from your mother a long time ago, not everything is about me. So same goes to you. And if you like this girl, tread carefully. She's Kyoya's daughter after all." Tamaki winked at his son and left the office as well. Kunio shrugged and went back to his friends as well.
"So I get the inside scoop of the secret between you and my father, huh? I must be pretty special." Kunio gave a sideways glance to Miyu as they walked into the school grounds. His hands were in his pockets, acting casual but he was actually pretty nervous. As much as he wanted it to be personal, he figured if they were to talk more at his father's office, then this was anything but personal.
Miyu kept herself to face forward, onward, as she's always done. Her sights were always set farther than anyone Kunio knew. She was ambitious but quiet, it made her seem quite calculative, like her father; but Kunio heard from his father that Miyu acts a lot like her father on the outside, but so much more like her mother on the inside. It made Kunio let out a breath, he liked Miyu's mother very much; Chiyo Ootori is so feminine and held such grace and poise. Kunio rarely saw that side of Miyu though, especially with a genuine smile. It always seemed like Miyu held herself back in many ways, she never shown herself to take anything personal.
"Please don't say it like that. This is strictly business." Miyu said without given a look to Kunio. Kunio nodded slowly. Isn't it always strictly business with Miyu?
They got to President Suoh's office. Miyu took a deep breath before knocking on the door, 2:30pm sharp.
"Come in." Miyu and Kunio entered the room and Kunio stuck out the chair for Miyu and had her sit down before sitting down beside her.
"Good afternoon, President Suoh." Tamaki looked at his son and Miyu back and forth and then smiled like there was a secret he had.
"So, shall we get down to business? Let me see your official proposal." Tamaki started off. Miyu nodded and got up. She pulled out her USB from her purse and stuck it onto a handheld projector.
"I noticed that the host club in the past few years has had dwindling numbers of guests. I did a simple investigation in the past few weeks with the other clubs, current host club guests, and those who do not attend any clubs or school related social activities. Other clubs offer more than just time spent to be entertained by the club members and other clubs are not as exclusive in members as the host club is. The current host club guests enjoy club activities and have formed friendships very well through the club activities; in a sense, the host club serves as a network for them, like how colleges in America have these things called sororities and fraternities. The host club is also a great stress reliever for some of us who are studying for their future. Those who do not attend clubs or other school-related social clubs and activities are typically invested and involved in their family's business; they don't feel like they have time to socialize with their peers." Kunio felt a little lost and slightly disappointed in himself. He sneaked a glance at his father, who was nodding at all the information Miyu was spitting out. Has the host club quality fallen from its original intentions? Did he and the other members not do a good enough job?
"None of this is our current host club's fault," Miyu said right after she noticed Kunio's guilty look. Kunio looked up to her, how did she always know what he was thinking? Miyu could read his question off his face and couldn't help but smirk a little; this boy has always been so painfully obvious.
"This club needs an update, simply by addressing these constructive criticisms about the host club. Of course, we cannot erase all the history and origins of the host clubs. Last night, President Suoh, you said the host club philosophy is to make every girl happy, the two mottos is to a) be strong, be dignified, and be beautiful, and b) unending research is a guide for a good guy. I found a way for us to maintain these things and confront the concerns of the host club."
Tamaki grinned. Miyu was still raw, but no doubt had her father's blood. Tamaki suppressed his shiver, Kyoya's AB type blood…
"So what can we do about it?" He put his elbows on his desk and rested his chin on the backs of his hands.
"Let girls join the host club." Miyu said. Kunio's jaw dropped.
A/N: Yup, it's official, Miyu is crazy! What will happen to the host club?! STAY TUNED. Tell me what you think, please! I will continue this story on my own pace, and I will finish it. Just have patience in me for reasons I've explained in the first chapter. Thanks for sticking with me :)