Chapter 29 | A Challenge from Lobelia Girls' Academy!

~Arabella's POV~

"Huh? You mean there are no afternoon classes today?" Haruhi asked.

"Really?" I said.

"Oh, you didn't know? For these two days, today and tomorrow, the whole school is holding an exposition for the cultural clubs. Drama clubs and choral clubs from other schools have been invited. It's an annual big event that we hold." one of our classmates in homeroom explained to Haruhi and I.

"Eh?! You haven't had any???"

Haruhi and I looked over to see Hikaru and Kaoru talking to Renge.

"It's the preferred drink among the whole Host Club right now!" Kaoru said.

"If you call yourself a manager, then you have to drink it!" the twins said together.

"I-I've heard of instant coffee before. It's that one item, right?" Renge said nervously. "You know, the stuff where you buy the beans that are already ground?"

I sighed. The second Haruhi introduced the idea of instant coffee to the Host Club, they immediately fell in love with it.

Don't ask me why. It's just coffee...

Hikaru and Kaoru suddenly made a big X with both their arms. "Incorrect!" they both said.

"That's completely different! Instant coffee doesn't have the slightest trace of bean remaining!" Hikaru said.

"You just mix the powder with hot water, and drink it like that! It's an incredible product!" Kaoru said.

"You see, it's coffee, but there's absolutely no robustness to it!" Hikaru said.

"Yet, it's strangely satisfying..." Kaoru mumbled.

"Come to mention it, the club's stock has run out." Hikaru said.

That really not surprising at all... considering that fact of how much they drink it!

Suddenly, the twins were behind Haruhi and I. "Haruhi! Arabella!"

We both faced them. "Yes?" we both said.

"Could you possibly buy us more instant coffee?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked.

"Guys, you've really got to stop drinking so much instant coffee! Too much of anything is bad for you." I said.

"Besides, the cultural clubs' exposition is going to start soon, that wouldn't give us much time to just go out and search, if possible, every supermarket for instant coffee." Haruhi pointed out.

"It's free participation! So, if you're not interested, you don't have to go!" Hikaru said.

"If you don't go, that'll give you enough time to resupply our stock of instant coffee!" Kaoru said.

"Or," Hikaru said as he and Kaoru ushered Haruhi and I out the door. "you could just go right now and buy some...!"

Then they both shoved us outside the door.

"With all that being said, have fun! Come back safely!" they both said before they closed the door.

Haruhi and I both sighed.

"Damn these rich people..." Haruhi grumbled.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Haruhi and I arrived back from the supermarket no more than thirty minutes later with a new stock of instant coffee.

"I think this'll be enough." I said.

"Yeah, me too. I hope we didn't get too much, though... If they drink much more coffee, they'll be bouncing off the walls in no time..." Haruhi said. I chuckled.

"Well, that's a frightening thought...!" I said. Haruhi laughed at that.

Suddenly, I noticed something on the ground.

"Uh, Haruhi, watch out for that--"

I was cut off before Haruhi slipped on it, and fell backwards.

"--banana peel...!!!" I finished as I watched Haruhi fall.

Everything seemed to move in slow motion...

Haruhi was about to hit the ground when she was suddenly caught.

I looked to see who caught her.

It was a tall girl with short, brown hair, and she was wearing a fancy uniform.

My eyes widened. I certainly had never seen her before.

"It would have been such a shame if any harm came to that cute face of yours, miss." the girl said as she helped Haruhi stand straight on her feet.

Wait... did she just say miss??? As in girl???

Uh oh...

~~~~~~~~~~~

~Third Person POV~

The doors to Music Room 3 opened.

"Welcome!"

The members of the Host Club were all dressed as knights.

They all smiled at the two girls who had walked in, both wearing the same uniform, not from Ouran.

"Well, well," Tamaki said. "Girls from another school, are you?" He turned to the rest of the Host Club. "I wonder if we startled our first-time guests here a little bit," He walked up to the two girls. "I'm glad you've come, my princesses. Even if the world were to be destroyed, I would want to be the knight that protects you from this day forward, even at the expense of my own life!"

"My, at the expense of his own life, he says. That's quite an arrogant sentiment, is it not? I wander if he thinks that's what makes women happy." the first girl said.

This got Tamaki's attention. His eyes widened.

"Ah, but what can you do, Sister Suzuran? Men are lower lifeforms who prize their honor above all else. They take their own futility in being unable to protect even one of their kind and change it into something to suit themselves. Isn't that condescending?" said the second girl.

"My, Hinagiku, you're such a clever girl!" the first girl, Suzuran, said.

"Well, that's pretty harsh! What would you like me to tell you?" Tamaki said.

"Good question. In this case, it would be, 'I will never leave my lover alone'."

Everyone turned to look at Haruhi and Arabella, who were being escorted by a girl with short, brown hair.

Tamaki's eyes widened.

"'If we are to fight, it will be together. If we prevail not, we shall meet our fate together. Even though I perish, I swear to you, I will never leave your side!'" the girl said as she kneeled down in front of Haruhi and Arabella.

Then, she kissed Haruhi's hand and winked at Arabella.

Tamaki's eyes were practically popping out of his head.

Hikaru and Kaoru were doing no better.

"Benibara-sama, you're late." Hinagiku said.

"What are we to do with you?" Suzuran asked. Then, she eyed Haruhi and Arabella. "Where did you find these adorable ladies?"

"Just out in the gardens," Benibara explained. She nodded her head at Haruhi. "Though this one may be dressed as a boy, I could tell right away. Look here!" She dipped Haruhi. "Such clear, maidenly eyes...!"

"Uh... erm..." Haruhi mumbled awkwardly. Arabella just watched the whole display.

Then, to Arabella's surprise, Suzuran rolled one of Haruhi's pant legs up and felt her leg while Hinagiku rolled one of Arabella's sleeves up and felt her arm.

"Wow! This one has such beautiful skin...!" Hinagiku said as she felt Arabella's arm.

"As does this one!" Suzuran said as she examined Haruhi's leg.

"Uh..." Arabella mumbled, not knowing how else to respond.

"Hold it! Don't go touching my daughters without my permission!!!" Tamaki shouted as he ran toward all of them.

Just as he was about to get to Haruhi and Arabella, Benibara punched him, which sent him flying.

"Hands off, you boor!" Benibara shouted at Tamaki.

Tamaki scooted away. "Sh-She hit me...! That was so violent...!" he studdered.

"Tama-chan! Buck up!" Honey urged.

"They're even more feeble than we'd heard! A fledgling, cobbled together mishmash of frivolous fools." Benibara said to Suzuran and Hinagiku.

"From your uniforms, I see that you're students of Lobelia Girls' Academy." Kyoya said.

"Indeed, we are," Benibara said. "Lobelia~!" she sang.

"Lobelia~!"

"Lobelia~!"

"St. Lobelia Academy, high school second year, Benio Amakusa." Benibara said.

Suzuran smiled. "St. Lobelia Academy, high school second year, Chizuru Maihara." she said.

Hinagiku held her arms out. "St. Lobelia Academy, high school first year, Hinako Tsuwabuki." she said.

"We are St. Lobelia's White Lily League! But everyone calls us..." Benibara said.

"The Zuka Club!" the three of them, now in costume, said together.

"The Z-Zuka Club...?" Tamaki muttered.

A few seconds passed, and suddenly Hikaru and Kaoru were laughing so hard they were crying.

"Nice taste in names...! The Zuka Club...?! Hahaha! My stomach hurts...!!!" Hikaru laughed.

"The Zuka Club...!!! Th-That's great...! Hahaha!" Kaoru laughed.

"And to intentionally wear those ridiculous costumes under their uniforms?!" they laughed together.

"You must not take the Zuka Club lightly!"

Suddenly, the engine of a powerful motor was heard, along with some laughing.

Renge emerged from the ground on a platform.

"I may not know about instant coffee, but I can tell you about infatuation with girls' schools," Renge said. "St. Lobelia Academy--truly, a woman's world! The Zuka Club is a gathering of damsels that consider females to be especially superior, even there. It prides itself on thirty years since its founding as a society of maidens, by maidens, for maidens! The Zuka Club's activities include 'Maidens' Tea Parties', 'Maidens' Debate Forum', and most importantly, singing and theatrical routines preformed by the top members!"

Kyoya finished removing his knight costume and was now back in his uniform again. "Renge, you sure cover a wide field." he said.

"Still, ultimately, it is but a fond fantasy. Not actually having any boys around makes it no good for me!" Renge said before she was lowered back beneath the floor.

"A maiden's beauty... It is to have a spirit pure enough not to give in to superficial beauty, influence, or lust." Suzuran said.

"'As a girl, you...' 'For a girl, you...' We're fed up with all the oppressive male contempt for women!" Hinagiku said.

"Our pride... It comes from having soulful relationships based on equality, as a result of being of the same sex. Including, yes... even relationships of love." Benibara said.

"Oh, there you go, Benio..." Suzuran said.

"Benibara-sama..." Hinagiku sighed.

The Host Club was now just basically ignoring them.

"I got bored of laughing." Hikaru said.

"Yeah. Just go away." Kaoru told the Zuka Club.

"My! Does this mean you have nothing to say about our sublime love?" Hinagiku said.

"What is she talking about?" Hikaru and Kaoru asked themselves.

Kaoru suddenly pulled one of the instant coffees out of the bag Haruhi and Arabella bought. "Oh, hey, I've never seen this one before." he said to himself.

"You have to feel sorry for them, Hinagiku. Their patented host skills did not work on us, and they don't know how to handle it." Hinagiku said.

Benibara chuckled. "Hmph. Even so, it was worth it. While we were here for our theatrical performance, to come see the notorious Ouran Host Club for ourselves..." she said.

Honey turned to the rest of the Host Club. "Are we notorious?" he asked.

"Maybe." Mori said.

Haruhi and Arabella just stared.

Benibara sighed and looked down at Haruhi and Arabella. "To think they dragged these sweet girls down along with them, though..." she said.

Haruhi and Arabella looked at each other, confused. "Huh?" Haruhi asked.

Then, Benibara turned to face the Host Club. "I don't know if their president is supposed to be a halfer or not, but spreading around false love with impressive appearances, and toying with the pure hearts of young maidens is positively demeaning towards women! It is outrageous how you claim to be carrying out club activities, while satisfying your own appetites! I swear that I will bring down the Ouran Host Club at once!" Benibara said.

"Heil Zuka Club!" she, Suzuran, and Hinagiku shouted together.

"Indeed, I understand what you're saying. However, could we continue this at another time?" Kyoya said.

"Are you saying you cannot take us on?" Benibara challenged.

"No, our president is still bedridden from the culture shock." Kyoya said before he gestured at Tamaki, who was fast asleep on one of the sofas.

"The Zuka Club is scaring me..." Tamaki mumbled in his sleep.

"You see, Tama-chan is having nappy time right now." Honey explained.

Benibara did not look amused. "Get him up right now!" she demanded.

"Okay, Haruhi, I think it's time to interfere..." Arabella whispered to Haruhi.

Haruhi nodded. "I think you're right." she said. Then, she grabbed a tray and brought it over to the Zuka Club.

"Hey, I made some coffee. You want some?" Haruhi offered.

"Thank you! How kind of you!" Benibara said before she, Suzuran, and Hinagiku took a cup.

"You're a real treasure in this trash heap!" Suzuran said.

"Coffee made by a maiden possesses such a fragrant aroma!" Benibara said.

"It's instant!" Haruhi said.

"Why then, why don't the four of us have a tea party? Not excluding your lovely friend over there, of course." Hinagiku suggested.

That caused Tamaki to wake up.

And to freak out.

Tamaki rapidly approached the Zuka Club. "You girls are wrong! How dare you try and seduce my little girls?!" he shouted.

But, he slipped.

And one of his fingers landed in one of the coffee cups.

Tamaki immediately withdrew his finger and jumped back shouting, "Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot...!!!"

Honey went to him and blew on his finger.

Arabella approached them. "Please be more careful next time." she said as she got out some bandages and wrapped one around Tamaki's finger.

When she was done, Tamaki just looked at his finger. "Th-Thank you... Do you always carry around bandages with you...?" he said.

Arabella pocketed her bandages. "W-Well, yeah. I kinda need to. I mean, you never know when you'll get injured. Plus, I kinda needed to use them a lot as a kid..." she said.

Kaoru looked down awkwardly, realizing what Arabella meant.

"Why? Did you get hurt a lot as a child?" Tamaki asked.

Arabella realized what she said. "U-Uh... of course NOT...! Why would I??? I wouldn't! I'm just... an organized and prepared person, that's all...!" she studdered nervously.

"Okay then..." Tamaki mumbled.

"This doesn't seem worth discussing."

Arabella and Tamaki turned to see Benibara right behind them.

"Now that we know the situation, we cannot allow these maidens to remain in this club! We must prepare the paperwork for transfers to Lobelia at once, and welcome them into the Zuka Club!" Benibara said.

Haruhi and Arabella's eyes widened.

The Host Club's eyes widened.

"HUH?!" Arabella asked.

"H-Hold on just a second...! Please! There seems to be some misunderstanding here! You've labeled Tamaki-senpai a halfer, for one!" Haruhi said.

"Tama-chan is a halfer! A French and Japanese half chan!" Honey said.

Arabella slowly nodded. "Ah. But still, calling the Host Club a fledgling and picking on them on other pretexts as well--"

"No, we're pretty new. We were actually founded two years ago." Hikaru pointed out.

"Yeah. Tono created our club when he reached high school, after all." Kaoru said.

Arabella turned to them and gave them a warning glance. "Um, shut up, would ya'? Haruhi and I are trying to help you guys." she whispered.

Hikaru and Kaoru held their hands up in defense. "Sorry..." they both said.

Haruhi just sighed. "Well, be that as it may, if anything, saying that their club activities are only held to satisfy their own appetites is going too far..." she said.

"Agreed; you can't just come in here and insult my friends willy-nilly. Besides, it's not as though they're charging their guests anything!" Arabella said.

"I wouldn't call it a charge, but we do have a point system. We do offer priority service, depending on the price of items won in net auctions on the club's homepage." Kyoya interrupted.

Arabella and Haruhi groaned.

Arabella turned to them. "Stop derailing my arguments! You're just hurting yourselves...!" she whisper shouted. Then, she turned back to the Zuka Club. "As I was saying, don't come in here and insult my friends. Sure, they might not look like a whole lot--"

Hikaru and Kaoru frowned. "Hey...!"

"--but they mean a whole lot to ME. And I'm not gonna stand by and let you say things like that to them. With all due respect, please stop and think before you speak." Arabella continued.

The Zuka Club rolled their eyes, ignoring Arabella's comment.

Meanwhile, Kyoya was looking over the Host Club's homepage. "You see, Haruhi? Your used mechanical pencil and Arabella's used eraser both just sold for a winning bid of thirty thousand yen. Fourty thousand, actually, for Haruhi's pencil. Good for both of you." he said as he pointed at his laptop's screen.

Haruhi and Arabella eyed Kyoya's laptop before their eyes widened.

"What?! That's the one I thought I lost...!" Haruhi said.

"Hey! When did you guys even get ahold of my eraser??? I keep it in my pencil bag, and I keep my pencil bag in my purse!" Arabella said. Then, her eyes widened. "Wait a second... were you guys going through my purse?!"

Hikaru shrugged. "Yeah. We were. Oh, by the way, you should probably keep your... ahem... feminine products some place else..." he said.

Arabella turned bright red. "And you should stay outta my purse...!!!" she shouted.

"Ya' know, this is the first time Arabella and I are hearing about this...! We never knew you guys were going through our personal belongings and selling them on online auctions!" Haruhi chewed Kyoya out.

"What? You thought we were providing this service as volunteers? Well, if you subtract the expenses we have for throwing parties, costumes, and refreshments for our guests, we do make a slight profit." Kyoya said.

"Then please don't go selling other people's things without permission! That's basically stealing!" Haruhi shouted.

"It's not stealing...!" Hikaru said.

"Yeah! We found your pencil on the ground!" Kaoru added.

"Yeah, well, you obviously didn't find Arabella's ERASER on the ground, now did you???" Haruhi snapped.

"Well... technically, if you look at it in a certain way, we did find Arabella's eraser on the ground... I mean, it was in her purse, which was on the ground. So..." Hikaru said. Kaoru just shrugged.

Both Haruhi and Arabella growled at the twins.

"Ahhh!!! I'm so sorry, my little girls!!!" Tamaki said as he ran to Haruhi and Arabella and hugged them. "It's not like we were hiding it from you!!! Here, you can have my pencil and eraser!!!"

"We don't want them." Arabella said.

"Then, if you want, I'll tell you both all the secrets of my success, together with the grand memories of my seventeen years!" Tamaki offered.

"No. Of all the things we're hearing about for the first time, I personally care about that information the least." Haruhi said.

Tamaki looked absolutely shocked. "Y-You don't care...?" he muttered.

"Oh! You poor things! It must be terrible to be so deprived!" Suzuran said to Haruhi and Arabella.

"Come on! Dump this bunch and come over to us!" Hinagiku said.

"Now, now, hold on, Hinagiku, these poor maidens are already shaken up enough for the day. Let's ask again tomorrow. We'll be expecting favorable answers," Benibara said before she put both her hands on Arabella and Haruhi's shoulders. "Well, adieu!"

Then, the Zuka Club left.

Haruhi glared at the Host Club. "I'll be excusing myself too. Come on, Arabella." she said before she started out.

Arabella reluctantly followed her out. "Sorry, guys...! Just, next time, tell people before you're just going to sell their things online, okay? Thanks." Then, she and Haruhi left.

Suddenly, Arabella stuck her head inside the music room. "Oh, and one more thing: the next time even one of you so much as sticks a finger inside my purse, you'll lose that finger, okay? Maybe the whole hand if I feel like it." she said seriously. Then, she left again.

"GAH!!! What good is it to tell the truth if it just adds more fuel to the fire?! Now my little girls are upset with me!!!" Tamaki shouted.

"The facts are facts. And we can't exactly go back in time and change them." Kyoya said.

"Hm... Maybe we shouldn't have sold Haru-chan's pencil and Ara-chan's eraser..." Honey mumbled.

"The pencil might have been a keepsake from Haruhi's mother and the eraser might have been a keepsake from Arabella's father..." Hikaru said.

Hm... I don't think so... I don't remember Arabella mentioning anything about a special eraser from her father... Kaoru thought to himself. "No," he told Hikaru. "I don't think so. Plus, Haruhi's pencil was just a freebie from an electronics store."

"Gentlemen, think about it. Haruhi may be basically indifferent, but if she had to decide, she does tend to favor men's clothing. Plus, when she first joined the Host Club, didn't she say 'Ya' know, being a host and getting fussed over by girls doesn't seem like it'd be that bad'??? Why did I never realize it before? It's possible that the Zuka Club is a better match for her and Arabella as well... Besides, who said Arabella liked guys in the first place???" Tamaki said.

Arabella doesn't like GIRLS... At least, I don't THINK she does... I HOPE she doesn't... Kaoru thought.

"Once more," Hikaru said, continuing Tamaki's comment. "they seem more fitted for an all-girls school..."

"Wahhh!!! Haru-chan and Ara-chan are going to transfer away...!" Honey cried.

"What are we going to do?!" Hikaru panicked.

"With their smarts, Haruhi and Arabella will easily ace Lobelia's entrance exam and scholarship test!!!" Kaoru also panicked.

"At Lobelia, they'll both probably be able to pay back their one million yen debt." Kyoya said.

"Calm down...! Eveyone, calm down! Listen to what I have to say! I have a secret plan." Tamaki said.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Cultural-Club Exposition: Day 2

The second day of the Cultural-Club Exposition. The Zuka Club on the stage in elaborate costumes.

The stage surrounded by an audience.

"Lo..."

"... be..."

"... li..."

"... a~!" the Zuka Club sang. Everyone screamed louder.

Then, the curtain was lowered.

After the show, the Zuka Club crossed the courtyard.

"Today's performance was a great success, huh?" Hinagiku said.

"Our singing and acting come across well, wherever we go." Suzuran said.

"But, today's main event is about to begin." Benibara said.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Haruhi and Arabella were walking the halls when, suddenly, the Zuka Club blocked their path.

"Hello, maidens!" Benibara greeted.

"As promised yesterday, we have come to ask you again!" Hinagiku said.

"We are really going to set things straight with those Host Club people, today." Suzuran said.

Haruhi and Arabella just blinked.

"Set what straight?" Haruhi asked.

"That beautiful maidens like you two should be in a place appropriate for them!" Benibara shouted proudly as she dragged both Haruhi and Arabella to the doors of Music Room 3.

Then, Benibara opened the doors.

The music room was dark.

"Huh?" Arabella whispered.

"Ouran~!"

"Ouran~!"

"Ouran~!"

"Ouran~!"

Then, the lights of the music room were turned on.

"OURAN~!"

"Host Club~!"

"Welcome~!"

The Zuka Club, Haruhi, and Arabella just stood there with their eyes widened and their jaws dropped in utter shock and confusion.

"Oh, Haruhi, Arabella! Welcome!" Tamaki said.

Only he wasn't exactly Tamaki.

He had on a wig.

And makeup.

And a ball gown.

As did the rest of the Host Club.

Except Mori, who refused to put on a wig, makeup, or a ball gown.

Honey approached Haruhi and Arabella. "Look, Haru-chan, Ara-chan! I'm a princess! Do I look good???" he chirped.

Benibara glared. "What kind of stunt is this?! Are you trying to make fun of our culture?!" she demanded.

"Make fun? No, certainly not! I have taken everything into account. This is a surefire technique guaranteed among commoners to make even a crying child happy, the Freebie Campaign! You ladies who have lived sheltered lives at Lobelia might not know this, but commoners are apt to have a weakness for free things! It's true that Haruhi and Arabella might now be distracted and sensing the appeal of joining the Zuka Club. However, if you choose our club, your brothers and sisters come with it! Yes, the plan is to experience the feeling of being in the Zuka Club, while still staying in the Host Club!" Tamaki said all at once. "You see, Haruhi? Arabella? Don't I look pretty~?"

Suddenly, Hikaru and Kaoru appeared in front of the girls.

Or, what somewhat looked like Hikaru and Kaoru.

In dresses.

And makeup.

And wigs.

"We're the Hitachiin sisters! Which one of us is prettier?" Hikaru and Kaoru said together.

Honey pushed them out of the way. "Haru-chan! Ara-chan! You can call me Big Sister!" he said.

Kyoya and Mori smiled at Haruhi and Arabella.

"Y-You think a maiden can be taken by this?! We've had enough of your fooling around!" Benibara snapped.

It was silent.

Until, it wasn't.

Laughing was heard.

Everyone turned to see Haruhi and Arabella laughing up a storm.

They were laughing so hard they had to hold their sides.

"Too much...! I don't even know what this means...!!!" Haruhi laughed.

"I-I know...! Like, what the hell did you guys do to yourselves...?! Hahaha!!! This is too much...!!!" Arabella laughed.

"Yeah...! We already knew you guys were goofballs, but jeez...!!!" Haruhi laughed even harder.

Now, she and Arabella were rolling on the floor in hysterics, laughing so hard they were crying.

Hikaru, Kaoru, and Honey got in their faces. "Are we really that funny?" they asked. Then, they shouted, "Call us Big Sister! Big Sister! Big Sister!"

"St-Stop it...!" Arabella laughed.

"Stop it, stop it...!" Haruhi snorted.

"Big Sister, Big Sister, Big Sister!!!"

"Really, stop it, already!" Arabella chuckled. "What were you thinking, really?"

"Well," Hikaru said, his voice returning to normal. "we want you both to stay in the Host Club with us!"

"And you can't very well do that if you're in the Zuka Club and going to Lobelia." Kaoru said, his voice also normal.

Haruhi and Arabella just stared at them before they smiled and chuckled.

"Maidens, are you...?" Benibara mumbled.

Haruhi and Arabella helped each other up.

"We're sorry. There are all sorts of people in the world, and we do think your way of thinking is unique and interesting..." Haruhi said.

"But we're studying at this school because we have goals for our futures. That being said, we never intended to quit the Host Club or leave Ouran to begin with." Arabella continued for Haruhi. Haruhi nodded, agreeing.

Tamaki had tears in his eyes. "Haruhi! Arabella! My little girls!!!" he cried, happy.

Then, his eyes widened. "Wait, hold on! If you weren't planning to leave to begin with, then why were you two so angry at us yesterday???"

"Well, when you sell people's things without their permission, they tend to get mad! That mechanical pencil was easy to write with and I happened to like it!" Haruhi snapped at Tamaki.

"Yeah! And I've used that eraser since my first day at Ouran! It was an amazing eraser and it always worked great! And I liked it!" Arabella snapped, also at Tamaki.

Tamaki looked taken aback with their outbursts, but then he sighed. "Sorry... But I did offer you my pencil and eraser! Didn't I???"

"We told you, we didn't want them." Haruhi said.

Suzuran took a step toward Benibara. "Benio...?" she said.

"I know," Benibara sighed. Then, she turned to Haruhi and Arabella. "We're not giving up on you, maidens! We swear to you, some day we will come and rescue you two from this place, and we will bring down this Host Club!" Then, she waved. "Zai jian!"

Then, the Zuka Club left. For good, this time.

Suddenly, a powerful motor was heard and Renge appeared out of the ground on a platform.

"So, a new rival, the Zuka Club, appears, and the story becomes even more exciting! What fate awaits them from here on? Hang in there, Host Club! Don't give in, Host Club!" Renge said.

"Hey! Don't go livening things up on your own! That's my job!" Tamaki shouted up at Renge.

"How many times as she already done it?" Arabella pointed out.

Tamaki sighed. "Fair point..." he grumbled.

Arabella then turned to Kaoru. "Ya' know, you look really beautiful, Kaoru." she teased.

Kaoru rolled his eyes. "Uh huh. I'm wearing heels too... How do you girls walk in these things every day??? I can't take three steps without stumbling or tripping..." he said.

Arabella put a hand on Kaoru's shoulder. "Beauty is pain, Kaoru... Beauty is pain... Nevertheless, you're a really beautiful girl." she said.

Kaoru smiled at her. "You are too." he said.

They smiled at each other.

"Shady twin! Quit flirting with my little girl!!! If you think I forgot about the day at the country club, you are sorely mistaken!!!" Tamaki shouted.

Kaoru turned red. "Sh-Shut up, Tono!!!"