"He's some kind of heartless tax collector!"
In a dark room, a sandy blond girl sits in an armchair with her knees up to her chin as she zones in on the television screen; she presses buttons on the game control as she plays a video game. Inside the room, the curtains are closed, not allowing the sunlight to enter, keeping her in darkness. Around the room, there are Ichijo Miyabi characters in all forms, from figurines to stuffed toys. "I love you, and you're all I can talk about, my darling. Let's spend the rest of our lives together, just the two of us," Ichijo, the leading video game character, says from the game.
"Yes, Miyabi... I'm so happy..." The blond teenage girl mutters, talking to the game, when a knock comes on the door.
"Excuse me, Miss? The Master has returned home... Miss?" A housemaid questions as she knocks on the door and opens the door to look inside.
"Renge?" Her father calls out to his daughter, seeing her still playing the video game. "You certainly love those video games, don't you?"
"Is that so wrong?" Renge asks her father.
"No, not at all, I'm your father, and I want you to feel free to live your life however you please. You know that I'll let you do anything you like. I've always promised you that freedom," he replies earnestly.
"Yeah," she mutters, not really listening to him.
00000400000
The following day, Renge sits in the dining room of her home with her father, having tea with him as they sit in front of the window that overlooks the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France. "Did your business trip in Japan go well?" Renge asks her father.
"I think so; I had a lovely dinner meeting at the home of one of my clients while I was there. I made sure to get a photo." He informs her and hands over the photograph to his daughter. "Take a look." She looks at the picture to see a familiar face and quietly gasps in shock. "They have a boy in high school who's about the same age as you."
"He's the one..." She mumbles, her hands shaking.
"Hm?" Mr Houshakuji questions, looking at his daughter, who stands up abruptly, slamming her hands onto the table.
"I'm going to marry the boy in this photo!" Renge announces, to the shock of her father, making him exclaim in surprise, moving back in his chair. "Don't forget~! You promised me that I could do whatever I want, Father ~!" She runs out of the room and rushes in with bags, giggling.
"B-But Renge!" He shouts after her.
"I'm coming for you, my Prince Charming!" She sighs dreamily and runs out of the room, and a large aeroplane flies in front of the window, flying away.
"Renge!" Mr Houshakuji exclaims as he runs to the window. "RENGE!"
00000400000
In Bunkyo, Tokyo, Japan, is in the Ouran Elite Private Academy. The Host Club is in session as the ladies of the school sit around with the club members wearing kimonos for another day of interesting events. "Oh, Tamaki, my dearest Tamaki, why are you so beautiful?" A blond guest asks, looking at the Host King.
"I'm hoping to catch your eyes, even for just one second," Tamaki replies.
"And why is your voice so very sweet and mellow?" Another guest asks him.
"To set your nerves at ease so that my true feelings might reach your heart," The blond girl says softly.
"Why are your eyes filled with tears every time you look at me?" Tamaki's guest asks.
"Because the sight of your beautiful smile causes the fountain to start overflowing," he tells her with teary eyes.
"Oh, Tamaki!" The girls exclaim.
"I think it's adorable that you're wearing matching kimonos!" One of the twins' guests exclaims.
"Our mother designed everything the Hosts are wearing today. If you see something you like, we can take an order for you," Hikaru tells the girls at their table.
"Our grandmother even helped us put them on," Kaoru informs the girls.
"But you know," his brother says, grabbing his twins' chin. "The only one who will be undressing you is me, Kaoru."
"Hikaru..." He blushes, tears welling in his eyes. "You're embarrassing me in front of everyone." The scene makes the two girls' hearts flutter, squealing and giggling.
"What a tender embrace!" Their guest squeals.
"They're up to that nonsense again," Haruhi mutters as she sits with her customers.
"Haruhi! You look so cute in your kimono!" One of her guests smiles.
"Almost like a girl!" Another girl giggles.
"Thanks..." The brunette replies with a smile. "Onee-sama helped me put it on."
"Haruhi, you've booked another appointment. It seems you've had a pretty steady flow of new customers lately." Kyoya informs her as he writes on a scroll, fitting in with the aesthetics. "Keep up the good work," He encourages Haruhi, looking at the brunette. "I'm not going to charge you interest on your debt like I normally would, so keep this up and you should be able to pay it off. Although the rental fee on that kimono you're wearing is nothing to sneeze at." He warns her with a closed-eyed smile.
"He's like some kind of heartless tax collector," she sweat-drops.
"Hello, Kyoya," a customer greets the ravenette.
"I can't get over how great you look in that kimono. Are you planning to release any more picture books of the Host Club?" Another customer asks him.
"Unfortunately we don't have anything planned at present ladies," He tells them.
"But doesn't the club make a lot of money?" Hikaru asks, popping up over the wall behind Kyoya with his brother.
"From the sale of promotional items?" Kaoru asks, and Kyoya turns to them.
"That's true, but the items are poor quality," he explains, showing the messy pictures. "Those picture books were full of nothing but amature hidden camera shots. However, if we wanna create some higher quality money-making products. I'm afraid we'd have to drop money from the school's budget." He readjusts his glasses, and the twins lower back down from the wall, sweat-dropping as Kyoya calculates the cost.
"If it wasn't for Kyoya, the Host Club would spiral into the depths of bankruptcy," Haruhi grumbles.
"Hey, Fujioka-senpai, you look really nice," a customer comments, making Emiko look at her.
"Oh, thanks, do you want some more tea?" Emiko asks, carrying a tray.
"Please, would you like to sit with us?" Another girl wonders, and Emiko smiles.
"Sure, why not," she replies, sitting with them.
"Haru-chan, Haru-chan!" Honey cries, "I don't know how, but I lost one of my sandals!" He walks over, holding his other sandals and wiping his tears, and Haruhi walks over.
"But you were just wearing them weren't you?" Haruhi asks him.
"Mitsukuni," Mori says, walking over and putting the missing sandal on his foot.
"Takashi...?" The petite blond weeps.
"I noticed that you dropped it," He replies, and Honey throws himself at his taller cousin, hugging him for dear life.
"Takashi!" Honey cries.
"How sweet!" One of the ladies squeals.
"Isn't it, though?" The other girl agrees.
"Looks like tears are popular with the ladies today. But how are they all able to cry so easily?" Haruhi mumbles as she walks around the room, accidentally bumping into Hikaru, making a small bottle of eye drops fall out of his sleeve kimono. She picks it up from the floor with a blank face. "What's this?"
"For your information, it's common for a host to use eye drops," Hikaru argues.
"No woman alive could resist a man on the brink of tears," Kaoru argues, joining his brother.
"That's cheating," Haruhi retorts and Kaoru wraps an arm around her, poking her cheek.
"Oh, don't be such a party-pooper," Hikaru playfully groans.
"Here, Haruhi," Kaoru tells her, grabbing a sweet from his kimono sleeve and handing it over. "This is for you."
"It's for me?" The brunette questions, looking at the sweet in her hands.
"Aren't you the cutest?" The Hitachiin twins gush with smirks.
"I didn't know you liked sweets, Haruhi?" One of the ladies smiles, walking over.
"Well to be honest with you, I don't really. But you know, I think it would be a nice memorial offering for our mother." Haruhi tells them with a smile, making the girls gasp dreamily.
"How admirable of you! Such devotion to your mother's memory," Tamaki exclaims, putting more sweets into the brunette's hands. "Please, Haruhi, take as many of these as you like."
"Please don't use our dead mother to try and suck up to Haru-chan, or I will break your bones one by one," Emiko growls, stomping towards Tamaki, who cowers away.
"Ah, looking at Fujioka-senpai, she's so protective of her little brother!" A girl squeals, making Emiko look at them strangely.
"I wish I had a big sister like that!" Another girl cries.
"She's so violent, I love it!" More girls cheer, surprising the other Hosts.
"Onee-sama, please don't hurt Tamaki-senpai," Haruhi pleads with her.
"I will, but if he tries that again, I will break him," Emiko warns her, and Haruhi turns to look at Tamaki.
"Let me guess, the tears are fake?" She asks the blond King.
"How could you? My tears are always genuine, Haruhi. Being able to cry without the use of eye drops is the mark of a true host." Tamaki replies, looking at her with tears in his eyes. "Tell me, do I impress you? Have you fallen for me yet?"
"You wish," Haruhi grumbles in response.
"My romantic overtures do not seem to be reaching you for some reason. Perhaps I should add a little more penage to my character." Tamaki thinks aloud, looking at the brunette, who looks at the door where she spots a girl hiding by the door, which draws the other Hosts' attention.
"Looks like the Host Club has a brand new guest! Ah!" The Hitachiin twins say, sliding up in front of Renge.
"Come on in, what're you waiting for?" Hikaru asks her, holding out a light blue rose.
"Watching from afar is no fun," Kaoru remarks, holding another orange rose.
"Please, Miss..." The twins coo, trying to entice her, and Tamaki pops up, holding a white rose.
"Stop that, how many times do I have to tell you boys to be more courteous to our first time guests." Tamaki scolds the twins. "Please, you don't have to be afraid, my princess. I welcome you to the Ouran Host Club. Yes...?" He asks Renge, and she pushes his face away.
"NO! Don't touch me! You're a phoney!" Renge screams, making the Hosts gasp at the words, though Emiko can't help but laugh.
"I couldn't have said it better myself!" Emiko cackles.
"What do you mean? I'm phoney?" The blond King asks her, smacking a hand to his mouth.
"Just what I said, you're phoney! I find it hard to believe that someone like you is the Prince character of this Host Club!" She snaps, pointing at Tamaki, who gasps dramatically. "You shouldn't go spreading your love around so easily like you, you stupid!" Each comment hits the Tamaki like a bolt of lightning. "You must be a dimwitted narcissist! You're incompetent! You're a commoner! You're disgusting!" After each comment hits Tamaki, he falls onto the floor slowly.
"He's created a new technique!" Hikaru gasps in surprise.
"One man slow motion!" Kaoru gasps.
"I don't suppose you are..." Kyoya remarks, and Renge looks toward him, gasping quietly as she finally finds him. She runs to him, stepping on Tamaki in the process.
"It's you! Kyoya!" Renge yells, hugging the second-year ravenette. "Oh, how I've longed to meet you! My one and only Prince Charming..." The other Hosts look at the couple in shock. Emiko looks between them, unsure what to say, and Haruhi moves towards her sister, who struggles to understand what's happening before them.
00000400000
After club activities, the Hosts change out of their kimonos, Kyoyo letting them keep it. They sit around on the sofas in their school uniforms as Renge explains her delusion about her and Kyoya. "Your fiance?" Hikaru questions, looking at Renge and then at Kyoya, who remains calm as she clings onto him, which Emiko tries not to look at as she pretends to do reports for the Disciplinary Committee.
"Kyoya-senpai?" Kaoru asks.
"Of course! My name is Renge Houshakuhi and I'm transferring into Ouran Academy's 1st-year Class A tomorrow," she introduces herself as Tamaki pouts in his emo corner, thinking Kyoya betrayed him.
"Why is he sulking?" Hikaru wonders, pointing at Tamaki.
"Because mommy was keeping a secret from daddy," Kaoru teases Kyoya and Tamaki.
"Whatever. Why does everyone insist on referring to us like we're husband and wife?" Kyoya grumbles.
"Because you responded like an idiot," Emiko mutters, not looking up.
"Once," he argues, and Emiko looks at him.
"More than once," she retorts, and Renge looks between them, confused about their relationship.
"Ours is a story of love at first sight! I couldn't resist the way you were adoring those flowers in the backyard when you thought no one else was looking. And how sweet it was when you reached out to that poor little injured kitten." Renge fangirls, making the others look at her confused.
"She serious?" The Hitachiin question, looking at Kyoya for confirmation.
"Could you have the wrong person?" Haruhi asks the sandy blond.
"No way! I can recognise my love anywhere! He's a gentleman who's kind to everyone but doesn't ask for anything in return! He likes solitude but in fact sometimes he can get lonely!" Renge replies.
"She's deluded~!" Emiko whistles and Haruhi nudges her big sister.
"AHH! What the hell is she talking about?! AHH! Shut her up! AHH! Stop her!" The twins shout in the background as Renge talks.
"He looks like the star of the popular dating sim Uki Doki Memorial! You're my real-life Ichijo Miyabi!" Renge announces, pointing to Kyoya, and they realise what she's talking about.
"Uki?" Haruhi questions.
"Doki?" Honey asks.
"Otaku!" Tamaki exclaims.
"Otaku?!" Hikaru asks.
"Hm?" Mori questions, looking at Renge.
"I've never seen one!" Kaoru exclaims.
"They almost look like everyone else," Emiko remarks.
"I get it now, you're in love with that character. You're projecting that love onto me and somehow deluded yourself into thinking that we're engaged. I assume this Miyabi character probably wears glasses as well." Kyoya summarises, looking at the girl clinging to his arm, though he wishes it was someone else.
"Ah, my real Prince Charming! Ichijo Miyabi! I can't wait to get married! And we're gonna have the prettiest babies ever!" Renge exclaims in the background, and Tamaki slides over to his best friend and the other hosts.
"So, she made it up, you're not really her fiance, right?" Tamaki asks his best friend.
"Well, no, I don't remember ever asking for her hand in marriage. Besides, this is the first time I've ever met the woman," Kyoya informs the others.
"You could've said so sooner," the boys groan.
"According to my research, I understand that you're in charge of managing the club, is that true Kyoya?" Renge asks him, sitting next to him on the sofa.
"That's right! Kyo-chan is our director!" Honey exclaims with a smile, sitting beside Mori.
"You're the club's director? That's perfect! Oh, wow, I've always wanted to wear a sandwich board to advertise a business!" She beams, clearly not understanding what a director is.
"We don't advertise, we're just a Host Club," the twins inform her with blank faces.
"I've made up my mind!" The sandy blond girl announces, spinning around to face the Hosts. "From now on, I'm gonna be the manager of this Host Club!" The Hitachiin twins groan and growl quietly to themselves, getting irritated at her behaviour and inserting herself like it's no big deal.
"Um, listen, Kyoya..." Tamaki mutters, looking at his best friend.
"Miss Houshakuji is the only daughter of a very important Ootori family client. So, please, be polite and try not to offend her, alright?" Kyoya instructs the other Hosts, and the blond King sighs sadly, knowing he can't do anything to upset him. Emiko looks at them, knowing she can't interfere either as she has no say about these things or because she doesn't understand what's happening.
"Well, boys, I can't wait to work with you!" Renge smiles, and Emiko raises her hand.
"Girl."
00000400000
The following day at the Host Club, everyone sits around as Tamaki talks to them about Renge. "I thought about it a lot last night, and maybe having a lady manager isn't such a bad idea," Tamaki concludes, and Emiko glares at him.
"Why do you say that?" The Hitachiin twins ask him.
"Well, it's fairly obvious isn't it? Renge just transferred into the same class as Haruhi," he replies, imagining the two girls on a hill in the female academy uniform. "So, if Haruhi has a girlfriend around, it could bring out the female around her. Renge's girlish air of tenderness might be able to stimulate Haruhi's own sense of femininity!"
"Good grief," Haruhi grumbles.
"I am her big sister!" Emiko growls, glaring at Tamaki, who backs away from her. "I am a big influence on her!"
"But now it's our chance to help Haruhi to get in touch with her feminine side!" Tamaki argues, and Emiko jumps up, grabbing his blazer. "This is an important project, men. She doesn't have any friends in class right now except for those two shady twins. That's no good for her!" He points at the Hitachiin twins. "And Emiko-chan is too violent for our sweet Haruhi!"
"Like you have room to talk," the twins retort, tilting their heads and looking at their club president.
"Take that back now, Suoh!" Emiko roars, making him look at her and see a burning fire in her eyes.
"I'll take it back! I'll take it back! Don't hit me!" Tamaki pleads, crying, and Kyoya pulls her away from him when Renge walks inside.
"Hey, everyone!" Renge greets them as she walks inside but stops when she sees Emiko in Kyoya's arms, though she just shrugs it off for now. "You'll be happy to know that your new manager, Renge, has baked all of you some cookies!"
"Isn't she lady-like!" Tamaki beams, twirling toward Renge. "I'm so moved by your generosity!"
"I hate him," Emiko mutters and Kyoya smiles at her, which angers Renge as she sees him smiling at someone who isn't here.
"I didn't bake these cookies for you, you phoney prince," Renge snaps at Tamaki, making him return to his emo corner, and she moves towards Kyoya, standing before him. "I'm sorry, I burnt them a little bit," she apologises to Kyoya. "I did the best I could. And I already know what you're going to say."
"Anything that you make for me is going to taste delicious, my dear," Renge imagines Ichijo saying to her.
"Oh, you're always so sweet to me, Kyoya!" She gushes to herself.
"Oh, she's delusional," Emiko sighs, shaking her head.
"She wasn't kidding, these cookies really are burnt," Honey confirms, trying one of the cookies behind her.
"Don't eat that, Mitsukuni; it's bad for you," Mori warns, coming up behind him; the words anger the sandy blond female, her hair turning into snakes as she chases them around the room while Mori carries petite blond.
"She's scaring me!" He cries.
"They're not that bad at all," Haruhi assures the others after taking a bite out of one of the cookies, "They've got a good flavour to them. Though Onee-sama could do better," she mutters under her breath, though Emiko hears her, smiling and then, the twins spot the brunette and come up with an idea; Hikaru puts the cookie back in her mouth, lifting her chin with his finger.
"May I try?" Hikaru asks her, taking a bite while the cookie is still in her mouth, making the overprotective second-year blond go ghost white, and Emiko tries breaking out of Kyoya's death-grip hold.
"Uh, oh, Haruhi," Karou says, placing a hand on her head. "You've got crumbs on your face," He licks them off, which sparks a growl from Emiko.
"I will kill you! Get away from Haruhi!" Emiko roars, breaking out of Kyoya's hold and pulling Haruhi into her arms, trying to protect her from the evil Hitachiin twins.
"Did you see what they just did?!" Tamaki shouts, glaring and pointing at the twins. "He took a bite of the cookie while it was in her mouth! And then the other licked her face! What are they doing?! I told you those shady twins can't be trusted! They're trying to seduce her!"
"And suddenly the trio of classmates are closer than they're ever been before," Kyoya remarks, making the Hitachiin twins smirk at the Club President.
"Don't encourage them!" Emiko snaps, glaring at Kyoya.
"Y'know you could've just told me and I would've wiped it off," Haruhi tells Kaoru, rubbing her cheek. "And if you wanted to try one there's plenty here," She tells Hikaru, holding the bag of cookies. "But you should try my sister's treats. She makes amazing Mochi from scratch, and her sweet Dangos are to die for!"
"That's not the way you're supposed to reach Haruhi!" Tamaki takes a sharp breath, sounding like a snort, and takes Haruhi's face in his hands. "You have to stay strong and reject them, then casually brush them to the side! Do you understand?!"
"This is sexual harassment, Senpai," The brunette warns the second-year blond, and Emiko hears those words, snatching her sister away from him.
"SEXUAL HARASSMENT?!" Tamaki shrieks. "If that counts as sexual harassment then they're twice as guilty! Someone call the police!"
"Cut it out Boss, we're sorry!" The Hitachiin twins apologise.
"Stay away from my sweet, innocent, little Haru-chan you deviant," Emiko demands, glaring at Tamaki.
"Renge-chan, Renge-chan! Want some? It's milk," Honey asks her, holding up a pink bunny cup for the new self-proclaimed Club Manager.
"Lukewarm," Renge mutters to herself in deep thought as she watches the exchange before her.
"Huh?" He asks her.
"Every single one of you! Except for Kyoya, all of your characters are lukewarm! Each of you needs to have some sort of dark side, you understand? Girls are vulnerable to handsome young men who are troubled! If you keep carrying on like this, it's only a matter of time before the girls get tired of you and stop coming altogether! Are you trying to ruin my precious Kyoya's business?! As your manager, it's my duty to change your character backgrounds! Let's start with you!" Renge yells and points to the petite third-year blond, making him scream frightfully. "If all you are is cute inside and out, then you're no different than a baby; therefore, from now on, you are the baby-faced thug!" He screams, running towards his tall cousin. "And Mori-senpai, you're his childhood friend, the flunkie! The twins'll be basketball players enslaved in their own world! Haruhi, you're an honour student who's constantly being bullied! And as for you, Tamaki, you're the school idol who's admired for your good looks, but you actually have an inferiority complex that you're hiding from the world. The lonely prince!" Making the second-year blond gasp dramatically. "And Fujioka can be the class wallflower, who does nothing but pine for everyone's attention as she stands in the background!" Said girl looks at Renge with a glare. Haruhi looks at her sister in shock at the thought, and Emiko doesn't say anything, not wanting to rock the boat quite yet. "And Kyoya, you're perfect just the way you are now, so I want you to stay as kind and affectionate as ever, kay?"
"Thank you, I'm honoured," Kyoya replies, smiling back at her and glancing at the uncharacteristically quiet Emiko.
"The lonely prince... it's true, that title is perfect for me!" Tamaki says, being dramatic and getting into his new role.
"Yes, right, she couldn't be farther from the truth," Haruhi mutters, glancing at Tamaki.
"Come on, Kyoya-senpai!" Hikaru mutters, pulling Kyoya to the side with his twin.
"You've gotta do something!" Kaoru mutters in agreement with his brother.
"Why? It seems like the Boss is up for it," Kyoya argues, pointing over to Tamaki, who keeps doing dramatic poses against the wall.
"How does this look, Renge? Do you think these poses work for a lonely prince?" Tamaki asks her, who walks up to him, clasping her hands in front of her.
"Oh, wow, you're pretty good at that Tamaki! But you know it would be even more effective if you were standing in the rain!" Renge suggests, making the first-years groan.
"Let's just wait and see how things turn out. I bet it'll be interesting, it always is," Kyoya tells them.
"I think Emi-chan's broken," Honey comments, looking at Emiko, who stands perfectly still, and the others look at her.
"Yeah, this is weird, Fujioka-senpai looks like a ghost!" Hikaru remarks, freaking out.
"Why do you think that is?" Kaoru wonders.
"Maybe she's getting into her new character?" Haruhi suggests, and Kyoya frowns, not liking this new side of Emiko.
"Do something, Kyoya-senpai!" The twins beg, panicked.
00000400000
Another day, the Host Club begin filming their new movie. Inside the Ouran Academy stadium standard gym, crowds of girls happily scream and cheer for them as they watch the Hitachiin twins playing basketball. Hikaru dribbles the ball and jumps into the air, throwing it and falling through the hoop. Hikaru laughs in delight as he runs along the court. "Get a stretcher!" The coach suddenly cries out, attracting Hikaru's attention, and he turns to see his twin, Kaoru, lying on the floor, clutching his knee in pain. "Take him to the infirmary immediately!"
"Kaoru..." Hikaru gasps, walking to kneel by his brother on the stretcher. "Kaoru! Kaoru!"
"You've got to get back in the game, Hikaru, we need you!" The coach tells him, trying to pull him away,
"Shut up!" He snaps at his brother, pushing him away.
"Hikaru... Listen to me, please don't worry. There's nothing you can do; you can't share my pain," Kaoru says weakly and puts his hand against his brother's cheek. "You're not the one who got hurt; now go on."
"I can't!" The strawberry blond cries with teary eyes, grabbing his brother's hand. "It hurts, it hurts, Kaoru!"
"Your pain is my pain, it doesn't matter to me if no one else understands. As long as we have each other we can go on living," Renge narrates over the scene.
00000400000
In the pouring rain outside, the Hitachiin twins appear in the courtyard when Tamaki walls over to see them holding each other. "I'm sorry, but I'm envious," Tamaki remarks, announcing his presence to the Hitachiin twins as they pull away from each other to look at him. "This way the two of you support each other like that."
"But Suoh-senpai," Hikaru says.
"How can you be envious of us? You're the school's idol," Kaoru argues.
"An idol, right," Tamaki mutters, brushing his soaking-wet hair out of his face with a sigh. "I hate that people all worship me for something so superficial as my appearance. I think it'll be much better for me to be alone."
"One lonely heart meets another. They pass each other, wounding one another. What are the hearts of these young men made of?" Renge narrates.
00000400000
Meanwhile, Haruhi runs through the trees in the rain and stops to catch her breath, sliding down a tree as she hides. "You can't run away forever. I'm gonna show you what happens to anyone who crosses me," Honey threatens her, getting into the character of the school bully.
"Don't do it, Mitsukuni, you should've released by now that whenever you hurt others, you're really just hurting yourself." Mori warns him,
"I didn't ask you for any advice, you want me to put you over my knee again?" He asks his much taller cousin.
"Will it be the light of salvation that ultimately awaits these boys? Or will it be something else?" Renge narrates.
"Y'know, it really pisses me off when people don't know their place..." The petite blond says but stops, going from serious to his regular sweet mode, running toward Haruhi, hugging her while crying. "I'm so sorry, Haru-chan, I can't do this anymore!"
"CUT!" Renge shouts. "Cut, cut, cut!" The camera crew stops; the rain pouring down finally stops. "What's wrong with you? you gotta stick to the script!"
"But I can't!" Honey cries, clinging onto Haruhi.
"Stop rolling cameraman!" She orders, glaring at the sweet, tiny blond third-year.
"Yes, Boss," he confirms with a thumbs up.
"I want the rain to make things seem tragic!" The sandy blond girl demands.
"How did we go from changing our characters to shooting a movie about them?" Hikaru questions as they sit in their chairs with jackets to help keep them warm.
"And why is there an entire film crew here to shoot it?" Haruhi asks, walking over to the twins with a towel from the fake rain around her neck.
"Apparently, she flew them in from Hollywood. Don't you recognise the director?" Kyoya asks, looking up from his clipboard. "He directed the vampire movie 'Millennial Snow'. It was the number one grossing box office hit in America last year."
"Damn these rich people," the Fujioka sisters grumble, looking at each other.
"And another thing," Hikaru scowls, hitting his script. "How come this stupid script portrays Kaoru as the pitcher?"
"Yeah..." His twin agrees.
"What does that mean?" Haruhi asks, being the innocent girl she is.
"Don't corrupt my little sister," Emiko warns them, and the boys look at her, seeing her coming back to her old self again after reading the script that had barely any lines for the older Fujioka sister.
"If you don't know, nevermind," the Hitachiin twins tell her, not wanting to anger Emiko.
"Pitcher?" Haruhi questions, looking at her big sister for an answer.
"Haruhi!" Tamaki calls out to her, running up to her. "So how was I? Did you like my performance?"
"It was pretty awesome," she compliments him, handing him a towel. "I'm surprised you were able to get into your character like that. You were really believable."
"I've discovered a new darker side of myself," he tells her, drying his hair. "I'm starting to think it might be a good idea to explore it."
"Are you sure about that? Because I think you're fine just the way you are now, Senpai," the younger Fujioka tells him, making Suoh blush.
"You do? Well, if you say so Haruhi," the blond King mutters, twiddling his fingers.
"If he gets in touch with his darker side, he'll be that much more trouble," Haruhi mutters to herself.
"Hey, Haruhi!" Renge calls to her from a distance. "You're on!"
"Coming!" Haruhi yells back, walking around the corner of the building.
"Over here!" The sandy blond first-year tells her. "These two gentlemen have just agreed to make a special appearance in our film!"
"In your film?" The first boy questions.
"What're you talking about?" The second boy asks.
"After all, we're gonna need some tough guys for the big climax! That's when all the club members, of course, come together to fight against the real villains at their school. According to the script these two are from a wealthy family that got their wealth by being a part of the Japanese Mafia! Don't you think that's a brilliant casting choice?" Renge asks Haruhi, smiling as she doesn't realise what a mess she's gotten herself into.
"What's with this girl?!" The first boy snaps.
"Wherever my dad does, has nothing to do with me!" The second boy yells.
"Wait a minute, Renge-!" Haruhi exclaims.
"Just come over here and wait for your cue," Renge ignores her, pulling at the boy's arm
insinstantly.
"Let go of me! Hey, you think you can push me around?! You don't even know me!" He snaps at the sandy blond girl, pushing her away towards some of the crew's equipment.
"Watch out!" Haruhi yells, running behind her, cushioning her fall, resulting in the brunette hitting the equipment and the wall behind them and falling to the ground,
"Are you okay, Haruhi?" Renge asks her, looking at the brunette in worry.
"That guy was right, Renge. You can't do that, if you judge people by their appearance, you're stereotyping them and you'll never see the person inside." She tells the other girl.
"I don't understand what you're trying to say," the sandy blond girl mutters, looking at the hurt girl in front of her.
"Hey, Haru-chan, I was going to go to the library tonight before heading home -," Emiko says, walking around the corner to see Haruhi hunched over on the floor. It looks like she's crying, making the older Fujioka sister glare with a dark aura surrounding her. "So, which one of you, bastards, started this?" She demands, pushing one of the boys against the wall hard enough to create a crack.
"Wait, Lieutenant! It's not what you think! That girl started; she was giving us a hard time!" His friend argues, and Haruhi gets to her feet, feeling pain in her head from the smack against the wall; she holds it to try to stop the pain.
"He's telling the truth, Onee-sama, it wasn't their fault," Haruhi confirms, and the ravenette lets the boy go. "They were provoked."
"Let's get out of here!" The boys yell, running and pulling his friend away, probably heading to the nurse's office.
"Haru-chan, are you in any pain?" Emiko asks her, cupping her cheek gently. Tamaki comes around the corner, seeing this, pushing Emiko out of the way.
"Yeah, it's my contact," Haruhi replies, rubbing her eye and holding out her contact.
"Your...contact?" Tamaki repeats, looking at her in surprise.
"Yeah, I guess it must've slipped out," she informs him, and he can't help but chuckle.
"All this for a contact?" Emiko questions, frowning.
"I see how it is!" Tamaki mutters with a smirk. "You're about to cry without using eye drops! So you're a full-fledged Host now." She smiles back at him.
"Nope! Not happening! Back away, Suoh!" She snaps, pushing Tamaki away from her sister.
"You...you, please tell me you got that cameraman!" Renge exclaims in delight, making Tamaki, Emiko, and Haruhi look at Renge to see a camera and crew behind her.
"Yes, Boss!" The cameraman announces.
"Other than Haruhi's contact falling out, and Emiko breaking character, that was an ideal final scene! All it needs now is a moving narration by my sweet Kyoya!" She exclaims, and Kyoya walks over, grabbing a rock and using it to smash the camera lens; Renge looks back, gasping along with the crew.
"What'd you do to my camera!" The cameraman shouts.
"Brilliant!" Emiko beams, grinning.
"Why? Is something wrong?" Renge asks the glass-wearing 2nd-year.
"I'm terribly sorry, but I cannot allow there to be any record of a club member engaging in violence. I think you've caused enough trouble around here, Renge. Please, stop being such a pest," Kyoya tells her, breaking her illusion.
"A pest?" The sandy blond girl repeats, crying quietly. "But, you're supposed to pat me on the head and tell me not to worry! You're supposed to be kind and affectionate, Kyoya! Why are you acting so differently now? Tell me why!"
"Because that's not the real Kyoya," Tamaki informs her, making the sandy blond girl's eyes widen slightly at his words; turning to look at him and falling to her knees, crying.
"Does it really matter?" Haruhi asks her, kneeling in front of Renge. "Who cares if Kyoya is a little different then you expected him to be. Take a good look at the person inside, and get to know him little by little. It's a lot more fun that way," She explains, smiling.
"Can we go now? I have patrol in 5 minutes," Emiko asks, and Renge looks at her. "Also, Renge-chan, you have detention for provoking those two boys."
"Can you do that? Can she do that?" Renge asks, looking at the others.
"Of course. Fujioka-san is on the Disciplinary Committee," Kyoya informs her, and Emiko smiles.
"Pull another stunt like that again. I will crush you," Emiko warns Renge, leaning close to her face. The sandy blond girl gulps, feeling something dangerous coming from the red-haired girl.
"Understood," Renge replies.
"Great, I will see you all later. Haruhi, you don't get in the middle of something like that again, are we understood?" She asks, looking at her little sister.
"Understood, Onee-sama," Haruhi replies, smiling.
"Terrifying…" Tamaki mutters as Emiko walks away. "Always so terrifying…"
"I can hear you!" Emiko shouts, turning the corner. Kyoya smiles as he watches Emiko, and Haruhi glances at Kyoya, secretly smiling at him.
"Long time no see, Renge. Why are you so down? Come on, please smile for me; today's going to be a beautiful day. After all, today, you've learned a very important lesson that will help you live happily ever after, and I'm so glad that you finally understand. I think you're ready to move onto the next level, Renge!" Ichijo tells her.
00000400000
Several days later, the Host Club sits around with their customers coming inside. "Hello, ladies, come on in," Tamaki greets them, leading them inside.
"I bought the video of that film you made!" One of the girls announces, surprising the Hosts.
"I bought it too!" Another girl beams.
"And so did I!" A third girl exclaims.
"Huh?" The Hosts question minus Kyoya, who smirks at his plan working well for them.
"You did?" Tamaki asks them.
"That scene in the rain was just phenomenal!" Kaoru's guests exclaim.
"I love the lonely prince!" One of the girls beams.
"And the loving relationship between Hikaru and Kaoru is so sweet!" Another guest smiles.
"I wanna see Honey act like a thug again! He was so cute!" One of Honey's guests gushes.
"I couldn't get enough of Haruhi's poignant expressions!" The girls exclaim.
"Kyoya..." Tamaki mutters, turning towards his best friend and second in command.
"I may have broken the camera's lens, but the footage that we had already shot wasn't damaged. Naturally, I did cut out that one violent scene. Sales have been pretty good so far; that Hollywood film crew did a fantastic job. But then I guess that's to be expected," Kyoya informs them, closing his notebook and pushing his glasses back up.
"So is this what you meant by interesting?" The Hitachiin twins ask him.
"It's best to have as much money as we can in the club's budget," he explains.
"And when did he start calculating all this?" Haruhi questions and Renge walks into the room.
"Good day, everyone!" Renge greets the Hosts, who look at her in surprise at the sudden appearance.
"Renge? But I thought you had gone back to France already?" Tamaki asks her.
"I can't believe I didn't realise this sooner. It was so chivalrous of you to risk your life to protect me. I could feel the love when you lectured me about judging people," Renge replies, ignoring the blond King and grabbing Haruhi's hand, gazing into her eyes. "When you said it was fun to get to know people little by little, you were talking about me!" These words make Tamaki shout, growing angry.
"Yeah..." Haruhi mutters, and the sandy blond first-year begins to drag the brunette out of the room.
"Come on, Haruhi, let's go to my house and play some games together! I think it's time you got to know me better!" Renge exclaims with glee.
"What?!" She yelps, feeling strange as the girl tries dragging her out of the music room.
"Hey!" The Hitachiin twins yell.
"Kyoya-senpai," Hikaru calls out to him.
"You okay with that?" Kaoru asks him.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Kyoya asks, writing in his notebook. "Everything Renge said is true."
"No, it isn't!" Tamaki snaps, glaring at Renge as she tries dragging Haruhi out of the room.
"But I thought you were the one who wanted her to have a female friend in the first place?" He argues with his classmate.
"Yeah, I thought you wanted her to have more female friends?" Emiko questions, sitting down with her guests.
"Well, yeah! A female companion! Not a girlfriend!" Tamaki yells after Haruhi and Renge.
"Come on, Haruhi, let's go play together!" Renge cheers.
"No, wait! Don't take Haruhi from me!" He cries, chasing after the girls through the door.
"Can you believe Suoh-san said I was a bad influence on Haru-chan," Emiko remarks, and her guests gasp.
"That's horrible~!" A girl gasps.
"I never thought of Tamaki that way before!"
"Can I have a moment with Fujioka-san?" Kyoya asks, stepping towards their table.
"Of course," the girls giggle, making Emiko look at them before following Kyoya away.