I pull the dress over my form and step out to see the others, "Can someone please zip me?" I beg. Hikaru steps up to me and pulls the zipper up my back.
"You're good," He mumbles.
"Thanks," I mumble back my face slightly pink. I pull away and slip the sandals Tamaki gave me on my feet. "So how does it look?"
"You look great Y/n~chan!" Honey says as he adjusts his costume. I see Hikaru start to mumble something but ultimately looks away from me.
"Thanks Honey-Senpi," I say, "now are we ready?"
"Your prince is the one who declares us ready!" Tamaki says. He looks across us and nods, "we are ready."
"Good," I groan as we fall into position. In between the twins as normal. Everyone was here except Haruhi. "Where is she?"
"Who knows," Hikaru shrugs. I look back and roll my eyes at the ginger. Nervously pulling on the sleeves I requested for my costume. After the minutes tick by finally Haruhi sprints through the door.
"You finally made it, Haruhi," The twins say, "You're so late."
"I could be wrong, but my calendar says it's still early spring," Haruhi says as she takes in our outfits and the jungle set around her.
"Huddling under a kotatsu table, fearing the cold is nonsense.And besides the heating system we have is the best," Tamaki says.
"Do you have a problem with the way we run our club, Haruhi?" Kyoya asks. Be careful what you say. You owe us 8 million yen, remember?"
"Gentlemen don't bundle up in bulky clothing. It may be a chilly early spring out there in the real world, but here at the club we want to surprise our chilly little kittens with a warm tropical paradise," Tamaki says, "Oh yes. We've turned this place into nirvana, a balmy tropical island of everlasting summer."
"That's funny 'cause I feel a massive chill right now," Haruhi mocks. As the clients file in I adjust me dress again, it was simple of multiple bright colored patterns but didn't compare to what Tamaki was going to try to force Haruhi in.
"Now remember boys," I tell them, "the host club will be sponsoring a formal party one of the grand halls." I take the flower Honey had given me earlier and had tucked it into my hair. "It'll be the perfect night of dancing. I will be excepting partners."
"Save me a dance!" One says.
"Me too!"
"Yeah"
"I said it first!"
"Boys boys its a whole night I can dance with all of you," I assure them, "I glance up to see the host hopper stopped in front of Haruhi. And watch as she sits down much to Tamaki's dismay. "I expect all of you there."
"Of course," They say. I trace my fingers along one of the guys hands and smirk at him.
'I'll be singing a song," I tell him, "a sweet melody about you my dear." He smiles at me and watches me as I trace circles into his hands.
"O-okay," He mumbles.
"I can't take this any more," Tamaki sulks at a side table as slurps ramen. Constantly grumbling about Kasuga and Haruhi.
"Hey boss, why don't you stop eating that commoner's ramen and come over here to help us with the party planning?" Hikaru suggests gesturing to the table where us hosts had gathered around to plan the party. Kyoya typing away.
"Does it really bother you that princess Kasuga has taken a liking to Haruhi?" Kaoru asks.
"He shouldn't be surprised," Kyoya says, "She's had the illness for a while now, hasn't she?"
"What illness?" Haruhi asks.
"She's got the host hopping disease," Hikaru says.
"AKA never-the-same-boy-twice disease," Kaoru says.
"Even going as far as sticking as my client as a while," I tell Haruhi.
"Usually, our customers choose a favorite host and see them regularly. However, princess Kanako tends to change her favorites on a regular basis," Kyoya explains.
"That's right. 'Cause before she chose you, she was with Tama-chan," Honey says.
"Oh, so he's upset because I took her from him?" Haruhi asks. Tamaki runs over to us and leans over the table.
"Shut up!" Tamaki yells, "I couldn't care less. I'm running out of patience. Haruhi, it's time you started dressing like a girl. I don't understand how you could be so popular with the ladies, when you yourself are a lady. No one in the entire school knows the truth except for those of us here."
"Yeah, she opted out of taking gym classes," Hikaru says.
"And the attendance numbers are all mixed together so no one can tell," Kaoru says.
"That's enough, Haruhi. Now you listen to Daddy. Daddy wants you to go back to the way you were," Tamaki says holding a large photo of her.
"Don't go blowing up my photos without asking me first," Haruhi yells.
"The more I look at this picture, the more amazed I am," Hikaru says, "How could this possibly become that?" The old picture of Haruhi had long brown locks with bangs. She looked super feminine.
"The day before school started, one of the kids in my neighborhood got some gum in my hair. It's a real pain to get gum out of long hair. So I decided to cut it all off," Haruhi explains.
"I have to side with Haruhi on this," I say, "its really hard."
"I didn't care if I look like a dude, you know," Haruhi says.
"Girls should never refer to themselves as a dude," Tamaki yells, "Momma, Haruhi's using those dirty boy words again."
"I'm sorry, but who is momma?" Kaoru asks looking down at me. I shrug.
"I don't know but if its me I'm throwing him out the window," I say.
"Based on club position, I assume it's me," Kyoya says.
"Ahh that makes sense," I say to him.
"Look, I don't see what you're crying about. Working as a host, I can pay back more of my debt. It'll never happen if I'm just an errand boy," Haruhi explains as Tamaki sobs.
"Hate to change the subject, but do you have formal dancing experience? You'll need it at the party," Hikaru tells Haruhi.
"Uh... no. But the party doesn't have anything to do with my quota, right? I'm not interested in going to events, so if I could be excused..." Haruhi says.
"Definitely not," Tamaki says, "A refined gentleman must know how to dance. If you want to live the life of a host that badly, you're going to have to show us how far you're willing to go, Haruhi. I order you to master dancing the waltz in one week and you will demonstrate it for us at the party. Or I'll tell the entire school that you're a girl and knock you back down to an errand boy."
"Quick, quick, slow. Quick, quick, slow," Kanako says, "Good work, Haruhi. Now on the "slow", you should bring your feet together. Remember. The gentleman always leads. And make sure to look at the lady you're dancing with." The soft music plays as Haruhi and Kanako dance.
"Why so gloomy, boss?" The twins ask Tamaki.
"I bet it's because he wanted to be the one Haruhi practices with," Hikaru says.
"I think you may be right. But he's way too tall to stand in as a woman," Kaoru says.
"I think I should spend some time practicing I am a bit rusty," I say. Kaoru elbows his twin who does nothing. "Wanna dance with me Hikaru?"
"Oh um w-well yeah," He says. I extend my hand out to him and he leads me to the open area with Haruhi and Kanako. We dance around the room using our time until our clients came. As we pull away I could feel the red blush on my cheeks.
"That was fun," I tell Hikaru, "thanks."
"No problem," He says, "actually... save a dance for me at the party."
"Alright," I say. He smiles and runs his hand through his hair then rejoins his twin leaving me alone.
"Hello? I'm here with the new tea cups you ordered," Suzushima says.
"Ah, thank you very much," Kyoya says, "Every item that you've chosen for us has been extremely popular with the ladies. I'm quite impressed."
"Well, that's good to hear," Suzushima says. I join Kyoya to look at the tea set.
"So, do you sell tea sets?" Haruhi asks,
"No, I'm just a regular student. Can't you tell by the uniform?" Suzushima asks. Kanako chuckles forcefully.
"Oh Haruhi, you're so funny," Kanako says, "I can't blame you for not knowing. After all, he doesn't really look like an heir to a first-class company."
"First-class company?" Haruhi asks.
"His family's business, the Suzushima trading company, deals primarily in the importing of tableware," Kyoya explains, "They currently have the top market share in the country."
"Wow!" Haruhi says.
"I know," I tell her.
"So whenever something exceptional comes in, we've asked him to send it our way. He has a great eye for fine china," Kyoya says, "Dont' you, Suzushima?"
"You think? I've still got a lot to learn, but thank you," Suzushima says.
"I agree with Kyoya," I admit, "the pieces you've picked out are beautiful."
"Thanks," Suzushima says.
"Aren't you leaving next month to study abroad in England?" Kyoya asks.
"Yes, I am. Well, I better go now," Suzushima says. I smile and wave to him as he walks out.
"Haru-chan!" Honey yells, "Guess what? They do know each other. Suzushima is Kasuga-chan's fiance."