Chapter 15: A Challenge From Lobelia Girls' Academy!

It was the end of class and he and Haruhi were working on work as three girls stood in front of them, talking to them.

"Really? All the afternoon classes have been canceled?" Haruhi asked as she looked up at the three girls.

"You mean no one told you?" A girl questioned, tilting her head.

"Told us what?" Daniel questioned with a raise of his brow.

"It's going to be crazy around here for the next two days. Ouran is hosting an exposition for the cultural clubs." The second girl explained.

"Drama and choral clubs from a bunch of other schools have been invited. It's a big event this school hosts annually." The third girl added, excitedly with a bright smile.

With this new knowledge, Daniel realized he could leave early. Well, he still had the Host Club to go to after school but he was sure he would be back by then. Though he wasn't sure if he was allowed to leave.

"Is this event mandatory? If not I'd rather do my own thing." Daniel told them.

"Well, no, but wouldn't you rather-" The girl didn't finish before Daniel left the room, enjoying his newfound freedom. He couldn't leave the campus but he was free to do what he pleased and that gave him excitement.

He was lost in his own head as he rounded the corner and bumped into a pair of girls. "Oh my god, I'm so sorry! I wasn't looking where I was going." Daniel told them before noticing they weren't students from Ouran. They must be here because of the exposition happening.

"Oh, it's quite alright." One of the girls told him before looking at him with a smile. "It must have been fate for us to have met, young lady. My name is Chizuru Maihara, but you may call me Suzuran." One of them told him before the shorter one with the shorter hair piped up.

"And I, maiden, is Hinako Tsuwabuki, but you can call me Hinagiku." She replied taking Daniel's hand with a bow and placing a kiss on it.

Daniel found their behavior a little weird and didn't know how to react. "Um, I'm Danielle Hideyoshi." He replied to them.

Suzaran smiled. "What a beautiful name for a beautiful girl." She said softly lifting his chin up and moved closer.

Daniel froze at this action and became flustered. "Uh, thanks." He said taking a step back from them.

"Apologies, maiden, have you by any chance know where the Host Club is?" Suzaran asked him.

"Yeah, I can lead you the way," Daniel told them before leading the two girls through the school to get to the Host Club.

"Here we are, this is the place." He told them stopping in front of the double doors to the abandoned music room 3.

The two girls opened the doors walking in with Daniel following after them. "Welcome, ladies!" He heard the host club making his eye twitch at what they were wearing.

"What are you guys wearing?" Daniel blankly asked.

"We're knights, obviously." The twins replied before Tamaki had his focus on the two newcomers.

"Well, well, well. I see you two ladies are from another school. I certainly hope we haven't startled you. We love first-time guests." Tamaki told them holding a realistic-looking sword.

"Aren't weapons not allowed here?" Daniel asked the others since Tamaki was too into his role to notice.

"We have permits and they're only for show," Kyoya told him not helping how Daniel felt about having weapons here.

"I'm glad you've come, princesses. My darlings, even if the world were to be destroyed, I'd put my life on the line as your faithful knight and servant. I will protect you." Tamaki declared as he walked up to them and knelt in front of them.

Suzaran lifted a hand to her mouth and chuckled. "Oh my, do you really think you'll be able to protect us? That's awfully arrogant of you, wouldn't you agree? You think that's what a woman wants to hear? Well, you're wrong." She told Tamaki before Hinagiku placed her hand on the other's shoulder.

"Come on. Give him a break, sister Suzuran. Men are just lowly life forms who don't care about anything other than perpetuating their testosterone latent image. By protecting us he's actually attempting to disguise the fact that he is weak and unable of even protecting himself." She told her making Daniel frown.

"You're such a clever girl, Hinagiku," Suzuran commented with a giggle.

Before Daniel could stand up for Tamaki the blonde replied with a calm tone, standing up and putting the sword over his shoulder. "Don't you think that's a little harsh? Fine then. What do women like you want to hear?" Tamaki asked them.

His reaction to them made Daniel rethink how he felt about Tamaki. He was a goofball, obviously, and an idiot, but when it counted sometimes he knew how to handle certain situations.

A new voice snapped him out of his thoughts looking at the entrance. "Maybe, something like; 'I would never leave my lover alone. If we fight, it'll be together. If we fail, we fail together. Even if I were to die, I promise you that I will never leave your side, my love.'" The new, taller girl replied with Haruhi beside her holding a brown bag before she kissed Haruhi's hand.

He noticed the three of them were wearing the same uniform and he wondered what was with these girls and kissing each other's hands?

"Benibara, we thought you'd never show," Hinagiku said as she and Suzaran walked over to them.

"What are we going to do with you? So tell us where you found this lovely young lady." Suzuran questioned as they looked at Haruhi.

Benibara answered and held Haruhi's face in her hands. "I just met her outside of the school. She may be dressed as a boy, but I knew the truth. She has such pretty maidenly eyes." She replied making Haruhi get weirded out.

"Uh, thanks. I guess." She replied to them, not giving much of a reaction to them.

"Wow, her skin is incredibly soft," Hinagiku told them feeling Haruhi's arm making the other two do the same.

"Isn't it, though? Well, you're not the only one to have a maiden, we have found one while we were going through the halls." Suzaran said, stopping touching Haruhi and Daniel felt himself get pulled over making him gasp.

"Hey! Don't go touching my Haruhi without asking my permission," Tamaki shouted as he rushed over to stop them before Benibara narrowed her eyes and uppercutting his face sending him back to Daniel's shock.

"Leave her alone!" She threatened as Daniel just stared in open-mouthed shock. He quickly shut his mouth when she looked over at him, her demeanor softening as she looked at him and gently lifted his chin as she moved towards him. "And what is this young maiden's name? She has such beautiful eyes." She asked making Daniel more creeped out.

"Um, Danielle." He replied as she let go of his chin and took his hands.

"Danielle, a beautiful name." She told him. Daniel glanced over at Haruhi for help but she wasn't paying attention.

"She punched me. She's so violent!" He heard Tamaki exclaim holding his face as he was on his butt on the floor surrounded by the others.

"Get ahold of yourself," Honey told him holding his stuffed rabbit.

Benibara scoffed looking slightly annoyed with them. "Guess the rumors we heard are true. You guys are just a bunch of weak little punks with no sense between you." She insulted, it made Daniel upset with how they were treating his friends.

"Those uniforms," Kyoya commented. "I assume you ladies are from Lobelia Girls' Academy." He said looking at them.

Daniel managed to get away from the three girls, standing with the host club.

"That's correct," Benibara replied before the three of them suddenly tore off their uniforms breaking out to song which made Daniel sweatdrop.

"Lobelia!" Benibara sang as under her uniform she was wearing a suit which made Daniel question how they had costumes under their uniforms.

"Lobelia!" Suzaran sang as her costume was a yellow dress with blue ribbons around her waist.

"Lobelia!" Hinagiku sung, harmonizing with them as she wore a pink frilly dress.

It clicked to him that these girls were just like the host club, just worse as he watched the three girls posed as if they rehearsed this multiple times for this moment.

"St. Lobelia Academy, high school second-year, Benio Amakusa," Benibare introduced herself while placing a white flower in her mouth.

The three chorused their school name once more before Suzaran introduced herself. "Second-year student, Chizuru Maihara," Suzaran replied holding a frilly fan up to her name before they chorused their school name again.

"First-year student, Hinako Tsuwabuki!" Hinagiku introduced holding another white flower in her hand as they sang their school name for the last time and grouping in front of the host club.

"We are the members of St. Lobelia academy's white lily league, also known as..." Benibara lead on before the three did a full out finally from a musical before they all said together;

"The Zuka Club!" They exclaimed to them as the others stared at them blankly. They really seemed like a female version of the Host Club to Daniel's mind.

Tamaki was in shock. "The... Zuka Club?" He asked before falling over, passing out making Daniel sigh before laughter broke his focus, looking over seeing the Twins bursting out laughing.

"Oh man, what a stupid name! The Zuka Club! My stomach hurts." Hikaru gasped as he and Kaoru kept laughing with tears in their eyes.

"The Zuka club. That's priceless. And they had those get-ups on under their uniforms." Kaoru said as they couldn't stop laughing at them.

It made Daniel sigh as they didn't even realize they did the same thing too. Suddenly the ground shook before opening as Renge rose from the floor. "You shouldn't underestimate the Zuka Club." She told them as Daniel felt like this was just a regular day for him.

"I may not know much about instant coffee, but I'm fascinated with girls' schools. St. Lobelia Academy, it is truly a woman's world there. The Zuka Club is a group of strong young maidens who consider women to be superior in every way." She continued. 'Feminists' Daniel thought as he listened to Renge continue.

"The club prides itself on its thirty-year history. It's a society of maidens, by maidens, for maidens. The Zuka Club activities include maidens' tea parties, the maiden debate forum, and most importantly, musical reviews performed by the society's top members." Renge explained as she took a sip of some of the instant coffee before gagging, and covering her mouth with a napkin to subtly spit it out.

"You sure have a vast world of knowledge, Renge," Kyoya told her as he wrote down the information.

"Well, I've always admired St. Lobelias. I just couldn't go to school there, though. What would I do without any boys?" Renge replied as she descended back into the ground as if she was never there.

"A maiden's beauty. It means possessing a spirit pure enough to not into power or to lust." Suzaran told them in a soft tone. Daniel couldn't help but find them huge hypocrites.

"As a girl, you... For a girl, you... We've had quite enough of all of your oppressive male contempt for womankind." Hinagiku said glaring at the Host club. Daniel glanced over to the others for their reactions and they weren't even paying attention to them anymore making him sweatdrop again.

"And our pride... Comes from having meaningful relationships based on equality. Because of the same sex. And yes, that includes relationships of love." Benibara said their costumes changing again to Benibara wearing a fake mustache with the other two leaning against her.

"Yeah, you tell them, Benio," Suzaran told her.

"You're awesome, Benibara," Hinagiku said as they were smiling at her.

"Whatever. We're so over it." Kaoru replied, bored as he looked into the brown bag Haruhi had with his brother Hikaru while on the couch. The other host club members were just doing their own thing, also over the Zuka Club.

"Why don't you gals just scram?" Hikaru told them, waving his hand to shoo them, wanting them to just leave them alone.

"Harsh," Daniel muttered to himself before Hinagiku smirked and chuckled at the. "I find it hard to believe that you silly boys have nothing to say about our sublime female love." She bragged as she and Suzaran clung to Benibara.

"Maybe because our friends, Yuri and Riku are dating, so it's not surprising to have more gay people." Daniel bluntly told them seeming to be the only one paying attention to the girls.

Hikaru rolled his eyes at the trio of girls. "What the hell is she talking about now?" He asked Daniel before looking back to Kaoru as he took out a brand of instant coffee.

"Hey, I haven't seen this one before. I guess it's a new one." Kaoru told his brother looking at the brand.

"You guys are really going to let them insult you guys?" Daniel asked them as they still weren't paying attention to them.

"You should feel sorry for them, Hinagiku. Their patented host skills don't work on us. Now they're all flustered and they don't know what to do with themselves." Suzaran said making Daniel more done with everyone. It was obvious they didn't care and now they were just ignoring what he was saying too. They were more alike than either clubs think.

"True. I must say I'm glad we decided to perform here. It was fun to sneak a peek at the notorious Ouran Host Club." Benibara replied looking over at the Host Club members.

Honey looked up and over at Mori and the others. "Hey guys, are we really notorious?" He asked.

Mori nodded, "Yeah."

Daniel just sighed before feeling his shoulder be touched and looked over seeing Benibara close to him and lifting his chin. "And to think they're dragging these sweet young girls down with them." She said before standing straight up and pointed at the Host Club with fierceness in her eyes.

"The Host Club's president may be a pretty little halfer, but he shouldn't be using his looks to create fictitious romance! Attempting to fool the heart of a pure young maiden is demeaning! Your so-called club activities are nothing more than debasing macho fantasies! I promise you, we will bring you guys down! The Ouran Host Club will be abolished!" She declared as the three girls rose their hand up in the air.

"All hail Zuka Club!" They said.

"Look here, the Host Club may be full of idiots, but they're not doing anything that the guests wouldn't want to do, in fact, they do this to make them happy and have fun and there are not just girls that go to the Host Club." Daniel defended his friends feeling angry with these girls.

"See, they're already corrupting this young maiden's mind," Benibara told the other Zuka club members making him more frustrated.

"I see." Kyoya hummed. "I understand your concern but do you think maybe we could finish this later?" He asked the three girls.

"Are you saying that you're not going to face us?" Benibara asked him.

"Not at all," Kyoya replied before motioning to Tamaki who was still passed out and in a bed. "It's just that our president is still bedridden from the initial culture shock." He told them.

"You see, Tama-chan is having his nappy time right now." Honey said while holding a stuffed bear in front of Tamaki.

Benibara looked annoyed. "Wake him up!" She shouted angrily.

Haruhi came over holding a tray of coffee for the three girls. "Excuse me, I made some coffee. Would you ladies like to have some?" She asked them, their sour mood fading away as she strutted over to Haruhi.

"Why yes. Aren't you the sweetest thing?" She said as the three took the cups of coffee.

"You're a real pearl among swine." Suzaran complimented her as they took a sip.

"You know, coffee made by a maiden always has a more fragrant aroma," Benibara replied drinking the coffee.

"But this stuff is just instant," Haruhi told them.

"How about the five of us have a little tea party?" Hinagiku suggested happily before Tamaki's eyes shot open and got out of the bed before storming over.

"You girls, have it all wrong! Don't you see there's not-" Tamaki started before tripping and having his finger go into the steaming hot coffee making him jump back. "Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot!" he exclaimed flailing around before collapsing to the ground as Honey went over to blow on his finger.

'Classic Tamaki.' Daniel thought as Haruhi went after him, telling him to be more careful while bandaging his finger while he looked at her in awe. 'He's so obvious.' Daniel thought knowing Tamaki's obvious crush on Haruhi.

Benibara spoke up, ruining the mood. "Now that we know what's going on, we can't allow these maidens to stay here! We'll prepare their paperwork and have them transferred to Lobelia at once and welcome them into the Zuka Club!" She declared making Daniel's eyes widen.

"Hold on a minute!" Daniel exclaimed as Haruhi piped up.

"Yeah, just wait for a second, will you? There seem to have been some misunderstandings here. I mean, first of all, you called senpai a halfer." Haruhi told them before Honey piped up.

"That's 'cause he is a halfer. He's half French and half Japanese." Honey smiled as Tamaki rubbed the back of his neck making Haruhi deflate a little bit.

"Oh, well. Uh anyway, I don't think it's fair for you to pick on the Host Club just because you don't think they have the same history as you do." Haruhi continued to try defending the Host Club.

"We barely have any history. We were just founded two years ago." Hikaru told her.

"Yeah, the boss created it whenever he started high school here." Kaoru finished, Haruhi's shoulder slumping down, deflating even more.

"Be that as it may, saying their club activity is only held to satisfy their appetites is just wrong. I mean, it's not like the Host Club's charging their guests or anything." She replied moving her finger around before completely deflating when Kyoya piped up.

"Well, I wouldn't call it a charge. We do have a point system. We offer priority services based on the winning bids for auctions held on our website." Kyoya said as he went on his computer, "Check this out, Haruhi. Your used mechanical pencil just sold with a winning bid of 30,000 yen. Good for you." He told her making her eyes widen and rush to the computer in shock.

"What!? But I thought I'd lost that pencil! Why didn't you tell me about this before, Kyoya senpai? I had no idea you were collecting money!" She shouted at him, the male keeping a straight face, not reacting in any way.

"So, you thought we were all just working here as volunteers? While it's not much because of the expensive organizing events, we happen to make a small profit from the online auctions." He informed her, this being news to Daniel as well.

"You can't sell other people's things without asking permission. That's stealing!" Haruhi exclaimed angrily before the twins chimed in.

"It wasn't stealing. You dropped that pencil on the floor." They told her before looking away when she glared at them.

Tamaki sobbed as he rushed over in tears in his eyes. "Wah! I'm sorry, Haruhi. It's not like we were hiding it from you. Here, you can have mine. It's got a cute teddy bear on it." Tamaki told her holding up a mechanical pencil with a teddy bear head on the end.

Haruhi let out a sigh. "Senpai, I don't want your pencil."

"Then to make it up to you, how about I do this? I'll tell you the secrets to my success in my fondest memories!" He offered, his mood changing drastically.

Haruhi just rolled her eyes. "Not to be rude, senpai, but I'm pretty sure no one is really interested in that information." She told him bluntly making Tamaki gasp and step back.

"Not interested?" He gasped as if it was the biggest shock in the world.

Daniel rubbed his temple processing the information. They probably took stuff from him too to sell off and it made him irritated.

"Oh, you poor dear. I can't believe they've been deceiving you." Suzuran said placing a hand on her shoulder as Hinagiku pulled Daniel over.

"Hey, why don't we just dump these losers and come with us?" She said with no remorse before Benibara raised her hand making them stop.

"Hold on, Hinagiku. These young maidens had quite a day. We'll give you some time to think about it. We'll come back for your answer tomorrow. Well then, adieu." She said before the three girls finally left.

Daniel looked over at Haruhi to see how she was feeling, but her hair blocked her eyes as she looked down. "I better be going. I've got some thinking to do." She told him before walking off and slamming the door shut behind her making him flinch. She was pissed.

"You're not going to that school," Hikaru told him as the twins headed over.

"That's obvious, there are some things I'm sure they'll notice." Daniel huffed. "I'm more worried about Haruhi.

"Gentlemen, just think about it. Haruhi may be basically indifferent, but if she had to choose, we know that she tends to favor men's clothing, and besides, when she first joined the Host Club, didn't she tell us that; 'Being fussed over by a couple of girls might not be so bad.' " Tamaki told them before going towards the window looking out of it.

"Why didn't I realize this before? Perhaps they would be a better match for Haruhi. Maybe she'd be better off with the Zuka club." Tamaki said looking down as the others nodded.

"Yeah, she's perfect for a girls' school," Kaoru said before Honey jumped up with tears in his eyes.

"Haru-chan is going to transfer away." Honey sobbed.

"What are we going to do?" Hikaru asked.

"Haruhi is so smart. Passing Lobelia's scholarship tests would be a piece of cake." Kaoru replied.

"And Lobelia academy has the money to pay off the eight million yen debt she owes us." Kyoya told them making Daniel look at him.

"How can you just think of money in this situation?" He exclaimed before Tamaki butted in.

"Calm down, gentlemen. It'll be all right. Listen to what I have to say. I have a secret plan." He told them gathering everyone into a huddle.


The next day the Host Club members, excluding Haruhi were gathered in the Club Room, getting ready for their plan.

"So is everyone ready?" Tamaki asked the others wearing a pink, frilly dress with a face full of makeup.

"This plan isn't going to work," Daniel said as he fixed his tie on the suit he was wearing while Mori wore a similar one.

"Would you rather wear a dress?" The twins teased making Daniel glare at them.

"As if I would want to wear a dress like that." He huffed as the twins snickered at his reaction.

"Everyone, get in position, I hear them coming," Tamaki told them, shutting off the lights as everyone got into position.

Daniel sighed and got in position with the others, standing by the twins.

"If it makes you feel better you look nice in a suit, Daniel. Plus this is for Haruhi." Hikaru told him in a whisper before the doors opened.

Daniel mentally cringed as they all started singing their school name. "Ouran!" Everyone got their turn to sing 'Ouran' before all of them went in sync.

"The Host Club welcomes you!" They all said before Tamaki strutted up to them.

"Oh, Haruhi, welcome back," Tamaki said waving a fan in front of his face, making his voice higher pitched.

Honey giggled and smiled brightly at Haruhi. "Look, Haru-chan I'm a princess now. Aren't I cute?" He asked.

Benibara got furious at their display. "What is the meaning of this? Are you trying to make fun of womankind?" She exclaimed, offended by their actions.

Tamaki shook his head in denial. "What? No, that's not it at all. Everything's going according to plan. Our strategy is guaranteed to make even a crying child smile. It's the freebie campaign! My dears, you ladies have all lived sheltered lives at Lobelia, so you might not know, that commoners are weak." Tamaki told them making Daniel look at a Tamaki with a 'really?' look before he continued.

"They have a weakness for free things. Haruhi, you may be distracted by the Zuka Club. But choose us and you gain not only a host club full of brothers but sisters as well!" Tamaki continued motioning to the others. "See. This way, you can experience feminine bonding while staying in the Host Club. Isn't that a great idea?" Tamaki asked spinning around before stopping in front of her. "Aren't I pretty?" He asked her in a high-pitched voice to replicate a girl's voice.

The twins giggled as they went over with high-pitched voices of their own. "We're the Hitachiin sisters. Which one of us is prettier?" They asked her.

"I'm just teasing you," Hikaru told her as Kaoru laughed before Honey came up to her.

"Listen, Haru-chan. You can call me big sis from now on." Honey told her not bothering with changing his voice with a smile on his face.

"Why you... Do you idiots really think you can win her over like this? I've had enough of your fooling around." Benibara shouted before laughter from Haruhi broke the tension.

Haruhi had tears in her eyes as she doubled over, laughing. "This is too much. I don't even get what you're trying to do. I knew you were a bunch of goofballs, but geez..." She gasped wiping a tear from her eye as she laughed.

The twins and Honey grinned mischievously before going over to her. "Are we really that funny? Call me big sister. Come on, do it! Just say it. Big Sister. Say it, please." The three said as they chased her around the room as she laughed even more.

"Come on. Cut it out. What were you think? What's gotten into you guys?" She asked.

"We did this so you won't leave," Daniel told her as Hikaru stood straight up looking away.

"We don't want you to leave the Host Club, Haruhi," Hikaru told her.

Benibara stepped forward. "I see you have made your decision, maiden." She told Daniel making him look at her and nod in response. She nodded before looking at Haruhi. "Well, maiden, have you made a choice?" She asked making Haruhi look up at the three girls and smiled.

"Yeah, I have. I'm sorry but your club's not for me. I think the idea of a girls' school is great. And your views are very unique and interesting. But I came to this school with a goal and a plan for my future. So while I appreciate your offer, I really already knew that I was never going to leave Ouran academy." She told them as she smiled with her eyes closed.

Tamaki smiled before his eyes widen and hurried over to her, "Haruhi. Hold on. If you knew you weren't going to leave, then why did you act so angry yesterday?" He asked her, holding onto her shoulders.

Haruhi tsked before looking at him. "How would you feel if I stole something of yours without asking you? I really liked that mechanical pencil. It was easy to write with!" She exclaimed.

Tamaki let go of her and took out his mechanical pencil with the bear on it. "I'm sorry. But I was nice and offered my teddy bear pencil in return, and you said you didn't want it." He told her waving the pencil around as she rolled her eyes.

"That's right. I still don't want it." She told him.

"Okay, this has been fun, but can we change out of these clothes? They're making my neck scratchy." Daniel told them tugging on the collar of the suit.

"Aw, but it looks so cute on you." The twins told him making Daniel glare at them making them snicker.

Benibara interrupted lifting her hand up to point at them. "Listen up! We're not going to give up on you two maidens. I swear this to you. Someday, we'll come and rescue you from this place. And when we do, we'll abolish the Ouran host club." She declared before smiling softly. "Well, adieu." She told them before the three girls twirled off before all three of them slipped on banana peels.

"What the-" Daniel started before Renge was in the background sitting while eating bananas with a monkey.

"And so, a new rival, the Zuka Club has appeared. From this point on, the story's gonna get even more exciting. What's gonna happen to our beloved Host Club boys next? Hang in there Host Club. Don't give up, boys!" She exclaimed before taking another bite out of a banana.

"Hey! It's not your job to cook things up!" Tamaki exclaimed.

"Don't worry Daniel, we'll protect you," Jiro said as he, Hikari, Yuri, and Riku showed up.

"You're not supposed to be in this chapter!" Tamaki continued to exclaim as Daniel sighed.


Reviews:

From Quotev:

StenchiSkyalent: Pbft- im pretty sure ur gay man. You can do it! Unleash your inner gayness! Tell Daniel how you feel!

Yeah Aaron really is, lol

Ichimatsu Is Bae: Aaron is the bi icon we didn't know we needed.

Yes, yes he is. Bi Aaron for the win!

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