Ootori From Hell

IV

She smiled politely at Tamaki's exaggerated explanation of what the host club does. By the time he was finished the lunch break was over and everyone had to be getting back to their classes. Promising to come and see the Host Club before she left the school, she headed off to her class. 

Kiriko sighed as her last class of the day came to an end. Most of the information they were covering were things she was already familiar with. Finishing whatever homework they had assigned in class quickly after they were informed of it, Kiriko was already well ahead of the work she had planned to finish today. 

Grabbing her bag and making her way to Music Room #3, she thought about how much of a waste of time school was going to be. Visiting this club of her brother's was unlikely to be a good use of her time, but for appearance's sake, she still had to go and make connections. 

She opened the door to the music room and flowers flew in her face. 

"Welcome!" the Host Club greeted her in sync. 

"You came!" Tamaki squealed after seeing it was her. "I wasn't sure if you would come or not. Mommy sometimes doesn't join me until I drag him here and since your his twin..." he rambled on with no particular aim before turning and asking Kiriko, "What is your type milady? Perhaps, it's me. Will you be joining my table for tea?" he grabbed her chin and smiled. 

With a strained laugh, she pulled away from his grip. "I would love to have a cup of tea Tamaki-san, but I think I'd be more comfortable just observing the club for today. Maybe another time?"

Out of the corner of her eye, she could see her brother glaring at his friend. Walking over to where he was sitting typing on his computer she looked to see what he was working on. 

"If you are planning on raising the prices for tea and cake you should offer a combo deal where the tea and cake combined is the same as it would have been with the old prices. Also, add a surcharge for every extra cup. Then you'll fully be covering the cost of what the club members use. Also, match the magazine's prices to that of Vogue's special edition while adding more pages. They'll be happy to pay the extra money thinking they'll be getting more pages where you will just be expanding pictures to cover more space and the cost of printing an extra 20 pages is 5 cents less if you go through the Harrington's company."

The Host Club, minus Kyoya, all turned to look at her.

"The Shadow Queen has arrived! All hail her intelligence," the Hitachiin twin's bowed at her feet. 

With a blank face, Kyoya thought about the suggestions his twin had given him. On the one hand, they were correct. This could solve his issue with finding funding for Tamaki's tropical themed event. On the other hand, taking his sister's advice was the same as accepting defeat in his family. 

"I'll look into it more thoroughly," he said. "I believe, however, I could get our current supplier to lower their prices though as their daughter has started coming to the host club and by offering her an early release of the magazine, I'm sure she would be able to convince her father to give us a discount."

She smiled thinking to herself, well played brother, well played.  

Grabbing her laptop from her bag and sitting down at the table by her brother she looked over to the twins who were still singing her praises and asked, "So, how about that tea?"

"Kiri-chan, Kiri-chan! Do you want some cake too?" Honey asked her. "My favorite cake is strawberry."

"I'm actually quite partial to dark chocolate Honey-senpai," she said.  "Do you have any?"

He nodded. "I'll go grab some but can you hold Usa-chan for me?" He asked holding up a stuffed bunny.

She nodded indulging his child-like tendencies taking the bunny from his hands. "I'll make sure Usa-chan doesn't get into any trouble while you're gone."

He smiled running off to where she assumed was the kitchen to go grab some cake.

Turning to face Haruhi, she asked, "How are you finding this school Haruhi? Is it quite a difference from your old school. You used to attend Kobaya Middle School before arriving here, right?"

Haruhi nodded looking slightly confused, "Yes, that's right. This school is amazing, the education here is great, but I cannot find anywhere quiet to study."

Kiriko looked over at Kyoya, "Did they get rid of the silent study rooms?"

Kyoya replied negatively, "They are where they always were."

Turning back to face Haruhi, she said, "Then I'll take you to the study rooms after lunch tomorrow. Sadly the libraries are a place to talk rather than study for most people here."

"Really? Thank you so much." Haruhi replied looking genuinely happy. "These idiots never told me about them. The whole reason I'm in this stupid club is because I knocked over their vase while trying to find somewhere silent to study."

Kiriko smiled with a glint in her eye. Now Haruhi is on my side, it'll be much easier to manipulate Tamaki, and with that, the rest of the group. 

Tamaki suddenly appearing out of nowhere with a sparkle in his eyes envelopes Haruhi in a hug. 

"My daughter finally is making female friends by herself. Daddy is so proud of you!" he squealed as she suffocated. 

Kiriko giggled at the pained look on Haruhi's face as Tamaki twirled her around. 

"Kiri-chan! I got your cake!" Honey said skipping back into the room with Mori following him holding the cake. 

"That looks amazing Honey-senpai!" Kiriko replied enthusiastically while Mori put the cake in front of her. "Are you going to join me for cake and tea, Honey-senpai, Mori-senpai? Usa-chan told me that he wants some cake too."

"Really?" Honey's eyes lit up. 

Kiriko nodded as Honey quickly grabbed more cake and seats for him, Mori, and Usa-chan. 

The twins finally came back with the tea and bowed, "For you, our Queen."

Kiriko laughed and accepted the tea from her most loyal of servants. 

After chatting for a while she received a text from Alice letting her know the car was waiting for her outside. Wishing the Host Club all the best, she grabbed her things and walked down to the car ready to go see her other siblings. 

I wonder if they know I'm back, she thought to herself as she sat in the car, looking out the window, watching the buildings pass by.

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AN: First actual update in a while. I hope you like it!