MAIKO TAKATA was not good at making friends. She only had one friend, and that was Haruhi Fujioka. But when Haruhi finds themselves becoming a host in Ouran Academy's notorious Host Club, Maiko meets some new people that allow her to flourish in a n...
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MAIKO.
"I thought you loved France, why don't you want to come?"
I fidgeted in my seat awkwardly as my mother continued to try persuading me into making the decision of leaving, as if I didn't have an option at all. I probably would have let her too, had I not met the Host Club. But now, I felt like I had something to fight for.
"I like my life here, mom. I can't just give it up," I argued in a not-so-argumentative tone.
She squinted at me, raising a brow as she sighed. "So what's his name?"
"What?" I looked at her confused. "What's who's name?"
"Your boyfriend."
"Boyfriend?" I nearly spat out my tea as my eyes bulged out of its sockets. "Wha— why? I don't have a boyfriend!" I exclaimed, feeling embarrassed by the topic of the conversation. Why would she just assume that so easily?!
She pursed her lips, a sly look growing on her face. "What? You don't expect me to believe that student council is that fun for you, do you?" She stirred her area gracefully as she continued to prod. "Do I know his family? How long have you been dating?"
"I don't have a boyfriend, mom," I repeated, slightly more firmly. "I just— I have good friends, and school is going well both in academics and student council. I'd rather not restart in a whole new country."
"Is it really restarting though?" She questioned. "You did spend many years there as a kid. You've made friends there in the past," she pointed out, as if it were to make a drastic difference.
I stared down at my cup, twirling the small spoon inside it. "Yeah, friends I don't even remember the names of now. I just like it here better. Don't you understand?"
"No," she tutted, before softening in the slightest. "But I suppose it is your choice. The residence won't be completely ready until just before the end of your first year, so you'll still have until then if you change your mind." I doubted I would.
"Thanks mom." My lips tilted up slightly and stood to excuse myself.
In my room, I got dressed in a pale yellow sundress than ran to my mid-thigh. I grabbed my beige tote bag and stuffed any essentials outside before I was finally driven to the Hitachiin residence.
Sitting on a bench outside the gate, I waited for the pair of twins to come out. I relished in the calm sun until the chaotic brothers finally came out.
"Maiko! Are we late?" Hikaru waved aggressively as they ran towards me.
I greeted them both with a wave as I stood, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. "No, not at all. Kimari will probably end up being a bit late anyway, if he's anything like he was in middle school," I joked.
Hikaru, Kaoru, Kimari, Asahi, and I were going to a café to catch up together. Other than Kimari and Asahi, none of us were really friends back then, but Kimari seemed to think it would be fun regardless. When I first told the Hikaru and Kaoru about the idea, they were surprisingly excited for it.
