I'd like to thank friends Tracey4t and artsygeek9796 for helping me.
Ever since the bet she made with the twins, Mayumi had been visiting the host club more and more. Although she still can't stand the squealing girls, she had to bring earplugs.
"Hi Mayumi," Haruhi greeted her.
"Hi," said Mayumi. Just then she heard the usual sound of the fan girls shrieking. She looked over and saw the twins each wearing the same hat and asking the girls to guess who was who.
"Oh, the 'Which One Is Hikaru' game, huh?" she asked.
"Yeah that stupid game," said Haruhi, folding her arms over her chest.
"What, have you got a problem with it Haruhi?" the twins asked.
"Not really. I just don't understand why the two of you are so popular," Haruhi answered.
"That's not very nice," Hikaru and Kaoru began.
"I'm disappointed," Hikaru pouted as he looked to his brother to continue explaining.
"Apparently, you don't understand the merits of having a pair of twins as members of the Host Club," Kaoru shook his head disdainfully at her. Mayumi shrugged a 'so what'.
She walked over to a table and spread out her sketches. Suddenly what felt like a huge gust of winds brushed past her, making her drawings fly off the surface.
"Oh shoot!" Mayumi muttered as she gathered them up only to suddenly hear Tamaki shouting at Hikaru and Kaoru about something on the host club website.
She gathered them and saw a half naked picture of Haruhi on a laptop. You had to really try to see that it was photoshopped.
"You look great Haru-chan!" Honey exclaimed.
Haruhi froze in shock. Mayumi just looked astonished. All the girls crowded around the laptop with hearts in their eyes as they stared at the screen.
"Tell me when!" Tamaki left the device to yell at the twins some more.
"Huh?" they questioned.
"When did you take nude pictures of Haruhi!?" Tamaki had one of his over exaggerated visions and exclaimed, "You bribed her, didn't you!?"
"You're imagining things." Hikaru said, rolling his eyes at Tamaki's idiocy.
"It's obvious the photo's been altered." Kaoru added.
"It was photoshopped?" Tamaki asked, turning around.
"We did a pretty good job, huh?" Hikaru said, sliding next to the tall blonde.
"We've got some major photoshopping talent." Kaoru replied.
"You idiots! That's a waste of your skills! Have you no shame!?" Tamaki exclaimed. "But if you're going to do it anyway, can you photoshop her into this idol photo book?"
"Now who has no shame?" Mayumi asked.
Tamaki then came up to Haruhi with a pink dress. "What do you think about this, my dear?"
"What are you doing with that dress?" asked Hunny.
Haruhi recovered from the shock, sighed, and gave Tamaki and the twins a glare.
"Now, cut it out. No more making weird pictures of me, you got that?" she said firmly. "What do you take me for anyway?"
"Hmm, isn't that obvious? You as well as Mayumi and Akane are our toys," the brothers said with smug smiles on their faces.
Akane scowled when she heard her name. She was still upset with Kaoru after what happened at the movie shoot.
Mayumi's anger started to build up. "That's what you see us as? Inanimate objects empty in body and soul?"
"Oh come on, don't be like that Mayumi," said Hikaru, imitating a pouty tone of voice.
"We're not your toys, ok!?" Haruhi said angrily as Mayumi glared at them.
"You want a toy?" an eerie voice suddenly echoed through the club room.
They all turned around, and there staring out from behind a door was a boy wearing a black cloak over his head and had a strange puppet over his hand. A purple aura surrounded him as he spoke.
"Then you should come by the Black Magic Club." He continued.
A look of fear and dread crossed over Tamaki's face as he turned towards the strange boy.
"Why is he talking to us through a crack in the door?" Haruhi wondered aloud.
"Nekozawa-senpai likes to hide and he doesn't really care for bright lights." Kyoya informed them as he came closer to the group, writing away at his little black book.
"You shouldn't get involved with him, Haruhi, Mayumi." Tamaki warned as he came up behind the two. They both jumped away quickly as he continued. "Otherwise you'll be cursed." And then the king continued to tell a tale of his own run-in with Nekozawa.
While everyone paid attention to his story, Akane went over to the crack in the door.
"Nice to see you, Neko-chan." She greeted him.
"And you as well Morinozuka-chan." He replied as the puppet Beelzenef nodded his head in greeting.
It seemed as if Tamaki's tale was over with the twins and Kyoya proving all of his thoughts wrong when Akane returned from the door.
Akane walked over to Mayumi and said, "Kao-chan and Hika-chan seem to be thinking up something devious."
They looked towards the twins who seemed to be playing with a flashlight. Turning it on, they pointed it towards Tamaki and Nekozawa who were talking about a curse doll. Both of the boys jumped in fright and Nekozawa ran out of the room as if he was on fire.
"Bye Neko-chan," Akane said to him as he ran and Mayumi just sighed. She looked over and saw the twins were now sitting together complaining about being bored. Suddenly they turned and asked Haruhi if they could go to her home next day off.
"Why do want to go to my house?" she asked them.
"We're curious, we want to see where you live, " said the twins.
"No way," said Haruhi flatly.
"Aww, pretty please?" begged the twins.
"Guys, she said no," Mayumi insisted with a no-nonsense voice.
"Well, what about you, Mayumi?"
"Guys, I'm not ready for you to see my house," Mayumi tried to reason with them.
"What do you mean you're not ready?"
"How do I know you're not going to embarrass me?"
"What reason would we have to embarrass you? And even if we had one, you'd kick us out as soon as we tried." the twins said.
The truth was Mayumi couldn't tell them that she was in love with one of them. They'd never understand yet. She was waiting when they matured a bit. Even if Hikaru was her 'boyfriend'. "No."
"No matter how much we beg?" The twins asked, pressing in close to the girls.
"I'm sorry, but the answer is still no." This was getting Mayumi really uncomfortable.
"You're not coming over to either of our houses, so chill out." Haruhi said, glaring at them.
"We can settle this with a game," the twins said. "If you can't pick out which one of us is Hikaru, your penalties will be us coming over to your houses later tonight." At that, each twin donned their hats, hiding their hair and the way it parted.
The twins started switching, and Akane curiously joined the girls.
"Alright, which one is Hikaru?" They asked.
"This one is Kaoru, and this one is Hikaru." All three of them said.
"Uh oh, you got is wrong!" they said, smiling.
"No, we're not," all of them said.
"You guys may look alike, but you're very different." Haruhi said.
"Yeah, Hikaru's voice is deeper." Akane pointed out. "You can figure out a lot if you just observe and listen."
"I've had a lot of practice since I have cousins who are twins." Mayumi added. "Besides, Hikaru's eyes have a little more gold in them, and he seems to be more mischievous and stronger willed."
Kaoru snickered at that, gaining a glare from his brother. "I'm sorry, Hikaru. I don't mean to laugh."
"Well, I don't see what's so funny. I'm honest, I speak my mind, and I don't hold back. It's sneaky people like Kaoru who are the troublemakers," said Hikaru.
Everyone turned and looked at Hikaru and Kaoru at that comment.
"Don't turn this on me Hikaru!" Kaoru said angrily. "After all, I'm the one who's always going along with all your selfish games."
"I may suggest them, but you are the one who really gets into them, Kaoru. If you hate it so much, then why don't you just stop?"
"Because I hate to see you make an ass of yourself in front of everyone. It was your idea to call Haruhi, Mayumi and Akane our toys, but I noticed you were quick to make a pass at Mayumi. Admit it, Hikaru. You're actually in love with Mayumi, aren't you?"
"Huh?" Hikaru and Mayumi yelled at the same time.
"No, she's like a little sister to me!" Hikaru insisted, "Akane on the other hand, you like her Kaoru!"
"How could I like her? I've only known her for a short while!" Kaoru cried, "quit trying to turn this back on me, you idiot!"
Just then, the room began to shake as a platform rose from the ground, Renge making her grand entrance.
"Awesome, this is just perfect," she gushed, "Mayumi and Akane are in the middle of a beautiful, yet poignant six-pointed romantic string of relationships. And to make it even more exciting, two of the admirers are twins torn apart by love. Just the thought of it could make me eat three bowls of rice!"
"Oh, butt out, otaku." the twins hissed.
"You guys are meanies. You shouldn't say something like that to your manager!"
"What is she still doing here?" Mayumi asked annoyed.
"I'm confused. I thought you had decided to go back home to France, Renge," said Haruhi.
"Well, I was going to start up a host club of my own, but I don't think France is ready for a host club just yet," Renge explained. They turned their attention back to the twin's fight.
"Cut it out, already! You're the one who's always crawling into my bed. Talk about annoying," Hikaru argued.
"I only do that cuz you look lonely! I wouldn't choose to sleep in your bed, you idiot."
"Who are you calling an idiot? You're the one who sucks at math!"
"Oh, yeah? Well you're failing your foreign language class, you big dummy."
"Sex pixie!"
"Sicko!"
Mayumi had never heard the twins fight and call each other names like this. It scared her a little.
"YOUR MOMMA WEARS TOO MUCH MAKE UP!" both shouted together, "THAT'S IT, WE'RE OVER!" They stormed off in separate directions, leaving the entire room speechless.
"Uh, what just happened?" Mayumi asked, totally caught off guard.
Mayumi sat at her desk, feeling bad about herself. After all, it was her thoughtless comment that made the twins fight. Haruhi came in and sat next to her, asking "Why the long face?"
"I get the feeling it's my fault the boys are fighting," Mayumi sighed.
"They're probably over it already. It's not like they'd go on an all-out war over a little-" Haruhi began. she was interrupted by Hikaru saying hello, with pink hair instead of his natural auburn spikes on his head.
"Hikaru, what the hell did you do to your hair?" Mayumi asked, wide-eyed.
"From now on, I'm the pink haired twin. I don't wanna be mistaken for that freak Kaoru for the rest of my life, you know," said Hikaru.
"You're calling Kaoru a freak?" Akane asked as she walked into the classroom and looked Hikaru over. "I bet he doesn't look half as freaky as you."
"Oh, good morning Akane," said Kaoru, gaining a startled reaction from her with his hair dyed light blue.
"So, Kaoru's the blue twin?" Haruhi concluded.
Kaoru nodded. "I was finally able to sleep all by myself last night, but I ended up having a nightmare. I dreamt that my stylist had dyed my hair pink. It was so garish and ridiculous looking I woke up screaming."
All three girls all jumped at the loud bang when Kaoru suddenly landed on the floor. They were equally surprised when another bang rang out and Hikaru was now on the floor.
'This can't be good,' Mayumi thought. She felt a shiver go down her spine as she noticed both brothers stand up and look across one another with cold empty stares. Next thing she knew, some of the most random objects were being tossed over her, Haruhi, and Akane's heads. At one point, she was almost certain she saw Honey fly by.
Soon lunch came around and the twins got into an argument over what they would get for lunch because they keep choosing the same things.
"In perfect unison, even when fighting," Haruhi murmured and Mayumi nodded her head in agreement.
Soon the remaining members of the Host Club, plus Akane, entered the lunchroom as girls fawned over them.
"You two are still fighting? You're a disgrace to the Host Club." Tamaki said, shaking his head.
"We've had enough of this!" Honey called out with Akane behind him.
"Yeah, you're both to blame so shut up, eat the cake and make up." Akane continued as she sternly looked between the feuding twins.
"Hika-chan and Kao-chan I want you to go halfsies on this cake and make up." Honey pulled out a cake with a strawberry on top.
"But I want to have a piece too so we'd have to go thirdsies." He continued not seeming to notice the twins' irritated stares.
Akane seemed to have gone quiet as she looked over at the blue-haired twin, a vein popping on his forehead.
Then Honey started talking about the strawberry on top of the cake and the twins got even more annoyed. Suddenly, Mori appeared and took hold of Honey and pulled him away from the two, Akane quickly following him.
"You're just making it worse, leave them alone." Mori told the small boy. He looked over to his sister and they locked eyes for a second. She sighed before giving him a dismissive wave of her hand to show that nothing was wrong, but he wasn't completely convinced.
"Oh!" Tamaki exclaimed brightly, "Mayumi, Haruhi I didn't expect to run into you here."
"I was worried about those two, so I followed them," Mayumi replied. "Everyday, I bring a boxed lunch, and I was going to eat in the classroom."
"Haruhi, Mayumi, do you want to sit here with me?" Hikaru asked, pulling out a chair for them.
"Um, ok," they said, sitting down.
"So what's in that? What'd you bring for lunch?" Hikaru asked.
"Yesterday's leftovers, and a rolled omelet," Haruhi answered.
"Eh, just something I baked this morning," Mayumi shrugged.
"You want to switch with me? I had to order something different then Kaoru, so I ended up with stuff I don't really like." He pushed his tray over to her and grabbed Mayumi's box.
"Sure, why not?" Mayumi said sarcastically, looking down at the magnificent and elegant lunch in front of her.
"Can I try some Mayumi?" Haruhi asked.
"Hey guys," Akane said coolly, sitting down with everyone and giving them lollipops.
Hikaru opened Mayumi's box and saw what was in there. "Chocolate muffins?"
"I found a new recipe last night and baked them this morning," Mayumi turned her head away.
Akane snatched one out of the box and started eating it, not giving Hikaru the chance to protest.
Haruhi took a bit of Mayumi's lunch and stuck it in her mouth. She froze as the flavor erupted in her mouth, and Tamaki went off in one of his delusions.
"These muffins are pretty good, Mayumi." Hikaru said with his mouth full.
"Mayu-chan's sweets are always yummy," Akane said, her face covered in chocolate and her mouth full of muffin.
"Alright, so I can cook. So what?" Mayumi blushed. Deep down, she was happy that they liked them so much.
Just then, Kaoru came and sat next to Mayumi. "So, Mayumi, is that any good?"
"I haven't tried it yet."
"It's delicious..." Haruhi said, still in her delirious state.
"Here, try some of mine." Kaoru said, gently holding Mayumi's face as he brought some of the his food near her mouth.
Akane abruptly stood up and stomped out of the cafeteria, attracting the attention of a few people. Mori was quick to follow, but then returned shortly after since he could not find where she had gone.
Hikaru intercepted and ate the food that was on Kaoru's spoon. "Quit butting in. Get lost Kaoru," he hissed.
The twins fighting started up once more as they threw things around the room, with Honey and Mori unfortunately getting caught up in it.
"Should we go?" Haruhi asked.
"Yeah good idea. I swear I saw Tamaki, Mori and Hunny fly by," said Mayumi. "We should also go look for Akane, and get other hosts to help us."
"That is, if they're not being tossed around in the air by Hikaru and Kaoru," said Haruhi. "Have they ever fought like this before?"
"No, never," Mayumi admitted with worry.
They waited outside the lunchroom until it quieted down. The two girls looked in to see Tamaki splayed out on a table with all sorts of edible goods on him while Mori and Hunny both rested on top of another table looking dazed and confused.
"Wow, the twins sure did a number in here," said Haruhi.
Mayumi walked over to Mori and started shaking him a bit. "Mori, we need help finding your sister."
"Hmm?" Mori said. He pointed past her to the corner of the cafeteria where Akane sat at a lonely table.
"Akane?" Mayumi called to her softly.
"Oh look who it is, the twins two wonder girls. The apple of their eyes even when they're fighting," Akane grumbled bitterly.
"We're not their wonder girls," Mayumi said, annoyed.
"Then how come both were paying more attention to you two during lunch than me? Especially Kaoru!" Akane shouted.
"Is that what this was all about?" Mayumi asked, "believe me, I would have much rather have been in your shoes."
"Yeah," Haruhi agreed.
"I may have wanted one of their attention, but not like this!" Mayumi then heard Tamaki getting up and not looking happy.
"Did you say you wanted their attention?" He asked.
"Well I wouldn't mind it," said Mayumi. Suddenly Tamaki was right up in her face.
"Don't you know the sorts of evils that can happen by being caught up in their attention!" He shouted.
"THEY'RE NOT EVIL, THEY'RE JUST MISCHIEVOUS!" yelled Mayumi.
"Oh yes they are!" Tamaki insisted.
"Sempai," said Haruhi. "We still have a problem with the fact that the twins are still fighting."
"It's weird for them to fight." Honey commented as Mori nodded in agreement. "It's never happened before."
"Oh but Mayumi, don't think that your insensible comment triggered this whole thing," Kyoya said calmly.
"Clearly he does blames you for this," Haruhi whispered.
"Yeah," said Mayumi. She gave off a heavy sigh. "I hate seeing them fight though."
"Maybe it's a good thing for them," Haruhi suggested "Maybe it means they're becoming more independent of each other."
"Maybe." 'It might be nice to maybe have some time alone with Hikaru, but at what price?'
"Those two really do stand out don't they? They have always lived in their own little bubble. I've hardly ever seen them let anyone else into it. Well except for you, Mayumi," said Tamaki.
"Me?"
"Yes for some reason they let you in and you keep wanting to be in their bubble, huh?"
"Well, I've known them for a long time."
"No, it's more than that. There's something that keeps you constantly going back to them."
"Wha-what are you talking about?" the girl stuttered.
"It's like you've said, you've known the twins for a long time. Surely, there's something else going on between the three of you."
"You all promise not to explode?" Mayumi asked them. They acknowledged her. "I'm in love with Hikaru."
"What, what..." Tamaki started to sputter, as he turned red. However Kyoya was quick to pour water on him.
"Don't worry Mayumi, no one's going to explode," he assured her.
"Um..." Akane spoke up, shifting uncomfortably.
"What is it?" Honey said, tugging her sleeve.
"I... I'm in love with someone too." She said, looking down to hide the red on her cheeks.
"I knew it!" Honey said, smiling happily. He tugged her down and whispered in her ear. "You're right. It's Kao-chan." She said quietly.
"Is that why you were so upset when Kaoru ignored you earlier?" Haruhi asked sadly.
"Yes," Akane admitted.
"But don't tell them. I don't plan on them knowing about this until they matured a little more," said Mayumi. "If I did now, they'd probably wouldn't take me seriously, or say I was just a toy. And they'd probably do the same to Akane."
"You're right..." Akane sighed, disappointed. She couldn't help but think back to the incident the other day when they were shooting all that stuff for Renge.
"Hey, what's everybody doing in here?" The two suddenly asked, walking in. But as soon as they saw each other, they started fighting again. All the items they had thrown around piled into a giant mountain in the middle of the room with Honey at the top.
Soon things escalated with Kaoru pulling out a Beelzenef the curse doll from his jacket.
"I'm going to complete the curse, Hikaru. I'm going to write your name on his back." Kaoru said, taking out a marker.
Suddenly Akane appeared behind him, stole the marker, and smacked him on the back of the head. At the same time, Mayumi smacked Hikaru.
"Would you guys knock it off?!" the girls yelled together.
"What the hell are you guys thinking?! You don't curse someone for just having your face!" Akane shouted, glaring at them. She was so close to snapping and beating some sense into them.
"What good would a curse do to either of you!" Mayumi also shouted.
"Both of you are at fault here, but what's really sad is that you've brought everyone around you in to your big mess!" Haruhi yelled, snatching the doll.
"Now apologize to each other!" All the girls snapped together.
"If you don't make up right now, we're never going to let you come over to our houses! Are I making myself clear!?" Haruhi yelled.
When they finished, they noticed something was off about the twins. They were smirking.
"Huh?" they all said together.
"So then what you're all saying is that if we make up we can go over to any of your places?" The twins asked, circling them. They then went back in sync, putting their hands on their hips and arms on each other's shoulders.
Haruhi looked down to see the doll. When she turned over to the back, what was written was the word 'blank'. Mayumi and Akane saw this and their eyes widened. It was all a set up.
The twins high-fived and did some really weird make up, making the brotherly love seem like a real thing.
"You gotta be kidding! You mean you guys were faking it this whole time!?" Honey exclaimed, flailing his arms around.
Tamaki and Haruhi had fallen to the floor in despair. Akane stared in shock, and Mayumi's anger boiled with every second.
"We didn't have anything else to do. We were bored!" The twins said happily.
Finally reaching it's peak, Mayumi slowly walked up to them with her bangs covering her eyes.
They looked at her, still hugging each other, and asked, "What?"
"YOU MORONS!" she screamed at the top of her lungs. Her eyes held anger, betrayal and hurt, small tears were in them. "TAMAKI WAS RIGHT, YOU ARE EVIL ! I HATE YOU HIKARU!"
With that she stormed out. She was mad at both of them, but she didn't know why she only mentioned Hikaru.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves!" Haruhi spat. "Mayumi! Wait!" she called, running after her.
Akane shot a dark glare at Kaoru, and walked closer to him.
"You went too far, Kaoru." She said and everyone's eyes widened as she said his name without the use of a -chan. Turning, she then ran off after Haruhi and Mayumi, but not before taking her anger out on the wall and punched a hole into it.
"But it was just an innocent joke," both Hikaru and Kaoru insisted. "It was supposed to be funny."
"Funny is when you do something like pose as a clown, or tell a joke. Not when you throw people through the air!" Hunny said suddenly, in a low, dark voice. "You two have really done it this time."
"Yeah," Mori agreed.
You two are quite oblivious to a lot of things," Kyoya said, pushing up his glasses.
"We should just wait for them to get back. If we go after her she'll kill us." Tamaki said, looking at the door.
Hikaru and Kaoru looked at each other, wondering what they did wrong.
-
The next day, Mayumi didn't want to go to school anymore, but her parents wouldn't have it. And she couldn't get out of the same class. When she came to school she saw both twins waiting casually at the front door.
"Mayumi good morning," they both said waving.
"Hello boys," Mayumi said coolly.
"How's it going this morning?" Hikaru asked.
"I'd tell you but I'm afraid you'd turn it into a joke," said Mayumi as she walked in without looking back.
She walked onward until she happened to see Akane and Haruhi walking together. Haruhi was doing her best to comfort Akane who was still looking bitter.
"You okay Akane?" Mayumi asked.
"No, no I'm not!" Akane spat, "I was just telling Haruhi I don't think I'll ever go to the club room again!"
"And I was telling her, I don't blame her," explained Haruhi.
"Then I won't go either," said Mayumi. "Maybe that'll show them not to mess with me or you."
"Well, if you feel that passionate about it, then you should act on it," said Haruhi, "I kind of wish I could join your protest."
"Don't worry about it," said Mayumi. "We can handle ourselves."
"Yeah," said Haruhi, "I'm sorry the guys hurt you two like this."
"Well, hopefully they'll learn a lesson from all of this!" said Mayumi. Haruhi patted her back in comfort.
So for the next few days, Mayumi and Akane didn't go to the host club. They wouldn't even talk to the twins in class. One day, after class was let out, both Mayumi and Akane were getting ready to leave, Hikaru suddenly asked, "You guys skipping host club?"
Both girls shrugged their shoulders and headed out, not even bothering to look at them.
"How long are you going to keep at this?" Hikaru asked, clearly getting annoyed. The girls again merely shrugged their shoulders.
"Come on, it was just a joke!" Hikaru shouted. "Can't you just let it go already?! What do you want us to do? Get on our hands and knees and begged for forgiveness?!"
Mayumi turned swiftly and pulled Hikaru with her to a corner where no one could hear them. She let him go roughly. "It's all you and your brother's fault me and Akane are like this to you."
At that Hikaru slammed his hand on the wall next to her. "It was a joke, a joke! We meant no harm! You've known me for how long and you honestly didn't suspect anything?! I'm actually a little insulted you didn't catch on a little given how long we've known each other!"
"You're insulted?! You're insulted?!" Mayumi shouted over and over again. "YOU MADE ME FEEL GUILTY THAT I MADE YOU TWO FIGHT! DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW BAD THAT FEELS?! OF COURSE YOU DON'T! YOU'RE TOO DENSE!"
"That's what's wrong?" Hikaru asked.
"What do you mean 'that's what's wrong'?!" Mayumi shouted.
"You really thought it was that one thing you, Akane and Haruhi said that could have triggered a fight like that? How immature do you think Kaoru and I are? Did you stop to think that maybe something else had been building up that would make us snap?"
"No! But what does it matter? You and Kaoru had hurt us a lot and you don't even feel sorry about it. The only thing I can do now is not visit the club anymore," she started to walk away, but Hikaru grabbed her arm. "What are you doing? Let me go!"
"No, you have to come back to the club!" Hikaru ordered.
"Why?! So you can toy with me some more?" Mayumi asked, her voice heavily laced with frustration.
"No!" Hikaru insisted.
"Then why?! Answer me!"
"I like having at least one girl there who knows me and not just as one of the twins, okay?!" Hikaru confessed.
"How do I know you're not making this up like your fight with Kaoru?" Mayumi eyed him.
Hurt flashed in his eyes. "You really see me as that much of a liar?"
"Well, you did stage that whole fake fight," said Mayumi.
"You know what? Fine, be that way. If you want to hold a grudge that much, be my guest. Because I doubt you'll be a guest at the host club again!" He stormed off, leaving Mayumi confused and shocked. Why was it so hard for Hikaru to see what he did was wrong? She didn't understand why he wouldn't apologize.
Hikaru didn't understand why she couldn't accept what he and Kaoru was a joke and he hadn't intended to hurt her, Akane, or Haruhi. Why couldn't they see that? They never meant to hurt them and they would never do so.
He made his way to the clubroom, trudging his feet to the couch where he flopped onto it's cushions.
"Hikaru," Kaoru said, approaching his brother, "you okay?"
"Mayumi's still mad at me," he mumbled as he put his head in his hand.
"Yeah, I know what you mean. Akane won't talk to me and Haruhi keeps ignoring us."
"I didn't think what we did would bother them like this."
"We both didn't think it would. We messed up big time."
"Yeah," Hikaru mumbled glumly, "we did."
-
After host club had ended, Tamaki, Kyoya, Honey, and Mori gathered for a meeting, taking advantage of Haruhi's departure. The hosts were unhappy about the feud between the twins and the girls. It had affected the twins' performance, not to mention it made things awkward.
"Today was certain strained," Tamaki sighed, "it's obvious that Hikaru's heart wasn't in it."
"Hika-chan kept staring off into space and looking so sad," Honey added, "Kao-chan couldn't get him to focus on their guests."
"This is not good. If this keeps up, they'll lose requests," Kyoya said, crunching the numbers of their lost sales. "Mori, how's Akane been? I haven't seen her in a while since they refused to come here."
The tall host sighed, which said everything.
"I get why they're mad, I just wish they make up soon," Honey mumbled pouting.
"Yeah, but that won't happen until Hikaru and Kaoru apologize," Tamaki sighed. Just then, the twins came up to them.
"We need your help."
-
Mayumi tilted her head in confusion at the envelope on her desk when she came for homeroom.
"You got one too, Mayu-chan?" Akane asked when she walked up to her, "I found one on my desk."
"That's because Tamaki had me put them there," Haruhi explained to them.
"What does it say?" Akane asked the female host.
"I have no idea."
Mayumi opened the envelope and took out a flyer that read:
Come to the clubroom immediately after school! Club will be cancelled for a small luncheon. We will be awaiting your arrival.
"Do they really think that this will get us to go there?" Akane asked as her eyebrows furrowed in disbelief.
"Wait, there's more," Mayumi said, flipping the note to the back.
P.S. if you don't show up, Haruhi's debt will be tripled.
"I guess we have no choice," Akane said.
Mayumi shook her head. 'What are those guys up to?'
The day went by quickly enough, with hardly any sight of any of the male hosts, and the girls now stood before the doors of the host club.
'Let's get this over with,' Mayumi thought as she opened the entrance to the clubroom.
The room was decorated with fresh gardenias and pastel ribbons and balloons, giving off an aura of wonder and elegance. A table was set in the center of the room, a tea set and a three-tiered tray of elegant sandwiches and cookies and cakes spread out on the silk surface. Tamaki, dressed in a sailor's uniform, played a light, merry tune on the piano while Honey, in his little red soldier's uniform, marched around a clown costumed Mori.
'Strange cosplay choice. What exactly is their theme?'
"It's cute," Akane said in awe.
"Ladies," Kyoya, wearing a cowboy outfit, greeted as he led them to their seats, "please enjoy while we set up your entertainment."
"Entertainment?" Mayumi questioned when the lights suddenly flashed off. Once they came back on, a huge pink-ribboned box was set where Kyoya had stood.
"What's inside there?" Akane whispered to Mayumi but before she could answer, Tamaki's voice rang out.
"Haruhi, be a doll and open the box for daddy?"
Rolling her eyes, she did as she was told and removed the lid. Suddenly, two giant fuzzy tabby cats jumped out of the box. They were cute, with fluffy tails and shiny round eyes on their mascot heads. The only thing that differed between them was the ribbon on their necks- one had a blue bow while the other had a pink one.
'It's obviously the twins in those suits,' the girls thought, wondering what exactly were they planning as they danced around the table. The cats went separate ways, stopping and kneeling in front of the girl they had hurt the most.
"Hikaru, what are y-" He cut Mayumi off, pulling her to her feet and lifted her up in his arms. He carried her to a swing hanging from the ceiling, gently placing her on the velvet seat before he began to push. Mayumi blushed, her hands gripping on the chains as she swung. It was as if she was a little girl again, playing in the playground. She couldn't help but giggle as she went higher and higher. The swinging slowed down, and Mayumi found the cat kneeling in front of her.
"That's the first time I've seen you smile since that incident," he said, pulling off the costume head, "I missed it."
Her eyes widened at this confession. "Hikaru…."
"Mayumi, I'm really sorry for tricking you like that. You should have never felt like you were responsible for that," he said softly but sincerely, a warmth flickered in his apologetic eyes, "And I should've never said you were our toys."
"That's why you guys are dressed up like that," she realized before giggling, "you remembered I liked plush cats."
"I really meant what I said, Mayumi. Please come back to the host club."
Her heart melted along with those words, the burn of her blush was the only thing she felt as the world around her faded into non-existence. She could see the regret in his eyes, how his eyebrows arch when he's deeply upset, how his lips curve into a frown. He now knows he made a mistake and fixed it. He now sees her, not as a toy, but as a girl.
"I forgive you," she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
The host club applauded at the sight, happy that they can move on.
"Mayu-chan and Hika-chan are friends again!" Honey cheered, pink flowers surrounding him as he grinned.
"Where's Akane?" Mayumi asked.
"Kaoru took her outside," answered Kyoya, "he had something special planned for her."
-
"Where are you taking me?" Akane demanded to know. Furry paws covered her eyes as he led her out into the schoolyard.
"I wanted to apologize for hurting your feelings, so I wanted to make it up to you with this." He removed his hands, and Akane's eyelids fluttered open to a winter wonderland. False snow covered the ground in piles of bright white. Imported pine trees filled the air with the scent of winter, and were decorated with yellow lights.
"Kaoru, this is amazing," she gasped, "is this for me?"
He nodded, taking her hand in his. "I want to play with you, Akane. But I promise this time and from now on, not as a toy. Will you give me the chance?"
Happy tears welled up in her eyes. Hearing Kaoru say this to her, in a snowy paradise he created just for her, it was like falling in love all over again.
"Yes, Kao-chan. I give you another chance."
They stayed out there in their winter world, throwing snowballs and building snowmen, unaware of the outside spring air, or of the host club watching them from the window.
For the first time in their lives, both of the twins felt like someone has crossed into their world.