Emi POV
A couple of weeks had passed and I was starting to feel more at ease in my new home. I was enjoying my classes and I felt pretty good about the progress I was making in my social life. Haruhi and I usually met at the library to study once or twice per week, and occasionally the rest of the Host Club would drop by to grace us with their particular brand of chaos. I was also getting along with the classmates I was paired with for group projects, including the band for my one music class of the semester.
As I walked towards my apartment after my morning class, I heard my phone ring and looked down to see that a friend from back home was video calling me. I quickly accepted the call and smiled.
"Hey Avery! What's up? Long-time no see!" I greeted enthusiastically.
"Hey Emi! Not much, I was just taking a break from studying for this mid-term and missed your face, so I thought I'd call," she responded, blue eyes shining.
"Aww I missed your face too! So, how are things over there?" I questioned.
"Oh, you know, same-same, lots of homework, lots of tests, and lots of boys and booze," she winked, flipping her brown hair jokingly.
"Yeah, yeah, sure, we both know that lots of boys means one boy that you're interested in for real, and a bunch of k-pop stars," I teased, "but I do miss our nights out, AND I wish I had a little more going on in the romance department, for sure," I pouted.
"Right?! Going to the bar isn't the same without you! I mean, sure, it's still fun! But it's not the same," she shook her head sadly and flicked away an imaginary tear. "But, girl, why don't you just go to the bar with that Haruhi girl you mentioned? Or that group of not-escorts? I bet you'd have so much fun AND you might meet someone there!"
"Ughhhhh, why do you have to be so right all the time?" I groaned. "I know I should ask, but I mean I don't even know if she'd be into something like that… She seems pretty straight-laced… And meeting someone there?! Are you crazy? Do you not know me at all? Can you picture me going up to a complete stranger to get their number?" I exclaimed dramatically, eyes wide and hand clutching my chest.
"Oh my god Emi," she laughed, "You're so dramatic! I think that golden retriever dude you mentioned is having a bad influence on you! But seriously, you won't know if Haruhi would be into going unless you ask, and maybe you wouldn't have to approach anyone! Maybe they'd approach you! Also, don't even question me, you know I'm always right," she sniffed.
I laughed and then sighed melodramatically. "Yes, alright, you're always right and I shall do as you say oh wise one."
"You better!" she stuck out her tongue. "I have to go now, but next time I call I want to hear an update!"
"Yes mom," I saluted saucily. "Have a good day Avery, I'll talk to you soon!"
"Bye Emi, love you!" she called out, waving goodbye.
"Bye, love you!" I responded before hanging up.
Well, now I have a mission… Or, as Tamaki would say, "Commence operations Night Out and Get a Love Life"!
I rolled my eyes at myself as I entered my apartment and went about making lunch. Somehow I would have to get up the courage to ask Haruhi if she wanted to have a night out. I could ask the Host Club too… but it might be better to start small for the first time. And maybe in the meantime, I would get back on the dating apps I had been using back home.
Haruhi POV
I sighed as I started clearing the tables of teacups and saucers left over from the club's guests. Guess what mom? I'm still stuck cleaning up after these rich kids.
I was choosing to disregard for the moment the fact that I kept coming back voluntarily even though my debt had been paid off a couple years ago.
"Everyone, please gather over here," I heard Kyoya call out. Oh boy, here we go, I thought as I went to join the rest of the hosts who were standing at attention in front of the shadow king.
"We've recently had quite a few requests for a particular cosplay. It seems our guests would like to see us dress up as characters from an anime called 'The Seven Deadly Sins'. Now thankfully, the guests have already figured out which characters they'd like us all to play. Tamaki will you do the honours?" asked Kyoya.
"Why of course dear Kyoya! As the king, it is after all my duty to lead the troops to victory!" declared Tamaki, gesturing wildly.
"You might be mixing your metaphors, boss," chorused the twins while rolling their eyes.
"And now, I shall read to you the characters we will not just play, but become!" Tamaki continued, ignoring the twins completely.
"I, of course, shall be King – bearing the sin of sloth, and you, Haruhi shall be my- I mean King's wife, Diane – bearing the sin of envy!" Tamaki started listing.
"Kyoya, you will be Gowther, with the sin of lust. Kaoru, you will be Merlin, with the sin of gluttony. Hikaru, you shall be Escanor, possessing the sin of pride!" Tamaki pointed each of them out.
"How'd I end up with gluttony? You'd think that would be Honey-senpai," Kaoru mused.
"Hmm? Me?" Honey giggled innocently.
"Finally, Mori-senpai, you'll be Ban who embodies the sin of greed and Honey-senpai you'll be Meliodas, embodying the sin of wrath!"
"Ahhh, now it makes sense," I murmured along with Karou and Hikaru, as we all glanced at the smallest and cutest member who was currently playing with his stuffed bunny.
"Hmm what do you think Usa-chan~? Do you think I'll make a good Meliodas?"Honey asked, looking down at his stuffed rabbit and making it nod its head.
I sweatdropped as I remembered that this loli-shota personality was just one side of Honey-senpai coin, and that he really could be dangerous and wrathful if he wanted to be.
"Thank you Tamaki," said Kyoya, "However, there is one more issue… Some of the guests were quite insistent that we include a character called Elizabeth, Meliodas'…. companion. This means that we'll need to find a young woman that we're all comfortable with who isn't one of our guests."
"Huh. Well that doesn't leave us with very many options does it?" mused the twins.
"I've got it!" Tamaki exclaimed, punching his fist into his other palm, "Emi-senpai, it has to be her!"
"Well, if the king insists… who am I to disagree?" Kyoya smirked.
Jeez, he totally planned that.
"Oh, and Haruhi, you're closest to Miss Shima so it will be your responsibility to recruit her," he added.
I facepalmed. Of course. I was just starting to think I might get to have a normal friend and now I have to drag her into this crazy world.
Though, it might help bring her out of her shell… "Fine. But you guys better not scar her for life."
"Who us?" blinked the twins innocently.
"We wouldn't do that Haru-chan~!" Honey sang.
"No scarring," Takashi stated stoically.
"How could you think so poorly of us Haruhi!" sobbed Tamaki, the thought alone bringing him to his knees.
"Really Haruhi, what sort of club do you think this is?" Kyoya smiled benignly.
I just sighed, You guys really don't know the effect you have on people.
Emi POV
Haruhi and I were walking to a grocery store together after yet another study session, when I noticed she kept sighing and grumbling to herself.
"Uh, Haruhi? Are you okay?" I asked, fiddling with my bag's strap.
"Huh? Oh, yeah sorry," she responded sheepishly, "I just have a favour to ask of you. It's for the Host Club really."
"Oh, well I'm sure it can't be that bad! What is it?" I wondered.
"Well, we're doing this cosplay, and we need an extra person to be one of the characters," she explained.
"…That's it? Of course I'll do it, it sounds fun!," I exclaimed. "I used to watch a lot of anime, actually."
"Oh, great. Thanks!" she said, sounding surprised. "Then, you can come with me to the club this week so the twins can take your measurements before the cosplay next week."
"Cool! Honestly, I have been curious about what you all do in this club of yours, since apparently you aren't escorts," I winked, laughing.
"Well, don't get too excited," grumbled Haruhi, "in fact, you may want to brace yourself, or bring some extra anxiety medication."
"Wow Haruhi, way to sell it…," I giggled nervously. "But seriously, I would have taken extra anxiety medication anyway," I deadpanned.
I looked at her out of the corner of my eye, and saw that she was doing the same. We immediately began giggling and continued to joke around as we walked down the aisles of the grocery store.
