~Parents~
The open house event came quicker than Kofuyu realized it would. Classes were cut short that day to make time for parents' arrival. She was helping the host club set up when a strange feeling settled in her gut. Everything was going just as planned. They had everything they needed and were just about ready to open the doors. Yet, she couldn't help but feel that something was going to go terribly wrong.
She felt a hand cup her hip, and she knew there was only one person who would dare to do that. She took half a step back to lean further into him.
"Well done. Everything looks great," mumbled Kyoya. "You've done a great job, now stop worrying about it. Come sit with me." Kofuyu nodded and allowed him to lead her away from the center arrangements.
"My aunt was pretty excited about today. I already told her that she can't say anything about our relationship, and she has to pretend that Haruhi is a boy." She settled into a spot beside him on a couch in the middle of the room.
"I'm looking forward to seeing her again," replied Kyoya. His arm curled around her waist, and she leaned closer towards him.
"You won't be upset if I say I'm not looking forward to potentially meeting your parents, right?" muttered Kofuyu. Kyoya hummed, amused.
"Not at all, In fact, I hope you don't. They won't treat you kindly." He leaned toward her and kissed the top of their head. "And you're someone who should be treated kindly." Kofuyu turned her head away, so he wouldn't see the red on her cheeks.
"You literally blackmailed me into joining the club," reminded Kofuyu. He chuckled, amused.
"That's in the past, Kofuyu." A smile broke on her face, and Kyoya knew she wasn't angry about it. Occasionally, he did feel a little bit of guilt over how he used to treat her, and it made him feel better that it didn't bother her anymore.
~~~
Parents and students littered the room. The hosts roamed around, talking to the guest but not as flirty as they normally would be. Kofuyu felt off. She wasn't wearing the clothes she normally wore and wasn't used to wearing vests and ties, but she was comfortable in her black skirt.
She sat across a table with her boyfriend. Haruhi stood not too far away and said, "I have to say, this sure is a fancy event even by our standards. It's too much money to be spent on a mere school fair."
"That's for sure," agreed Kofuyu. She's seen the books, she's certain the other girl is right.
"What nonsense! That's not the host club way at all, and the two of you know it. Happiness is above any price tag. Plus, think about the exposure-" the blonde squealed, and Kofuyu figured Haruhi probably pinched him. She didn't bother to look at them.
"They're right, Tamaki. You did go over budget," Kyoya finally spoke up.
"Kyoya..." Tamaki whined.
"We're sitting next to an indoor fountain, Senapi. I'm sure we could've done without this," reasoned Kofuyu. A moment of silence passed between the group, then Tamaki brightened up for only a second.
"Father!" Tamaki spoke, and Kofuyu thought he sounded a little surprised.
"Do not refer to me as 'father'. Address me as 'superintendent' while at school," a man in a white suit spoke coldly.
"Ah, very good. Welcome, Sir. Please, let me show you to your seat." Kyoya stood up to greet him and Kofuyu followed. She was supposed to be his assistant after all.
Kofuyu eyed the older man. She had recognized him from brief meetings she had with the school's board when she was just gaining admittance, but she's never had a lasting conversation with him. Kyoya sat him on a pair of sofas with a coffee table between them.
"Kyoya, my boy, if not for your being here, I'm sure this club would be in shambles. I'm sure my son gives you no end of trouble," spoke Suoh. Kofuyu was bothered by the way he talked about his own so, but she kept her mouth shut.
"Not at all. The host club is here and successful because of him," assured Kyoya. "Can I get you anything?" The man waved him closer and whispered into his ear. Kofuyu watched curiously until Kyoya stood up and looked for the female host. "Haruhi, you have a request."
"What!?" Tamaki shouted from his hiding spot behind a pillar.
Kofuyu and Kyoya stepped away from whatever was about to transpire. As much as she wanted to see what would happen, she knew it'd be weird if she just watched. "I have to admit, I didn't expect Tamaki's father to be like that," mumbled Kofuyu. Kyoya hummed.
"It appears your aunt has arrived," stated Kyoya as he stared behind the girl. Kofuyu moved to turn around, but her aunt's hands stopped her. She kept Kofuyu away from facing the direction of the doors. Her aunt stood in front of her, but instead of the happy smile she expected Tomiko to have, she looked worried. "Aunt Tomiko? Is there something wrong?"
"I'm so sorry, Beanie. I really tried to stop them, I tried to convince them that this wasn't a good idea, but she insisted, and they followed me here," Tomiko explained quickly like she was out of breath. Kofuyu didn't know what was happening, but when someone squealed out her name, she frowned.
Kyoya stayed beside the two women because of a mixture of curiosity and concern.
"Oh, my little Kofuyu! It's been so long since I've seen you!" Kofuyu whipped her body around and stepped back as the woman got closer. The woman held her arms out to try and hug Kofuyu, but she wouldn't get close to the woman. Kofuyu resorted to standing behind Tomiko to say away from the woman trying to grab her.
Kofuyu looked at the woman and then at the man standing a few feet behind her. He looked like he didn't want to be there, and Kofuyu didn't want them there either. She was hoping she wouldn't see her parents for several more years.
"What are you doing here?" A deep frown was present on Kofuyu's face. She glanced between her parents and Kyoya. She had never mentioned her mother or father before, but she knew Kyoya most likely knew of them.
"I came to visit you," the woman sounded disappointed. Her shoulders sag as if she really expected Kofuyu to be happy to see her.
"That's no way to talk to your mother," the man reprimanded. Kofuyu rolled her eyes. Of course, those are the first words her father says to her.
"Senpai, do you mind giving us a moment alone?" Kofuyu didn't look at Kyoya as she spoke. Kyoya could see the way she balled up her fists and clenched her teeth. He could tell she was furious.
"Of course. I'll be over there if you need me," Kyoya reassured. He wanted to stay by her side, but he knows she would appreciate the privacy. He had already started making plans to talk to her about them after the event.
"She's not my mother, and you're not my father," Kofuyu spoke in a hushed voice. She looked around to make sure no one could hear them. "Get out of here. I'm busy."
"Kofuyu-" The man wanted to scold her again, but she wouldn't let him.
"You have no right to try and act like my parents. I haven't seen you in over ten years. You're nothing but strangers," Kofuyu spoke. Kofuyu wanted to explode on them. She wanted to yell that the two of them can't just drop in whenever is convenient for them, and that she never wanted to see them, but she had to stay composed.
"I tried to tell you," reminded Tomiko. She was talking to the older couple. "She's too busy to 'catch up' right now, and she definitely didn't appreciate you two stopping by unannounced."
"She's my daughter, Tomiko. Not yours," Kofuyu's mother argued.
"Not legally. You gave that up," Tomiko fought.
Kofuyu sighed. She was reminded of how her Aunt Tomiko would argue with her mother for hours on end. Kofuyu's mother wanted the title of being her mom, but she wanted none of the responsibility. Anyone else might have been sad over the situation, but it did nothing but anger Kofuyu.
"We came all the way here to see you, and you're being this ungrateful? I thought you'd miss me," Kofuyu's mother said. Kofuyu recognized the manipulative tactics her mother would use.
"Get out of here before I call security and have you escorted out." Kofuyu turned around and walked away. She truly wanted nothing to do with them.
Kofuyu went to stand by Mori and Honey since they were the only hosts who weren't busy or with guests at the moment. That, and she knew the two of them would step in if her parents refused to leave her alone. Kofuyu subtly watched as Tomiko ushered them towards the door.
"Hi, Fuyu-chan! Do you want some cake?" Honey asked, oblivious to what had just happened to her.
"I'm alright, Senapi. How is everything going over here?" Kofuyu asked while still watching her relatives.
"Great!" Honey cheered.
Kofuyu could see Tomiko arguing with her parents, mostly her mother, the whole way to the exit. They stopped and stared at each other for a moment, and they finally seemed to relax. She didn't know what was said, and that was making her anxious. Finally, Kofuyu's mother and father left through the door, but Tomiko stayed inside. Tomiko ran her hands through her hair. She looked just as stressed as Kofuyu was feeling.
"Something wrong?" Mori asked. Honey was too focused on his cake to notice the way she was watching the door, but Mori knew.
"Not anymore," Kofuyu mumbled. The two third years were looking at her with concerned faces, but she shook her head as a way to tell them not to worry about it.
Kofuyu thought that would be the end of it. Her parents had left, and everything else would go as planned. That's what she was hoping, but sadly, she was wrong.
