Mathematician

Contracts!

Tamaki stands from his throne. "My, my, what an extravagant request, and quite long term. May I ask the context of this, little angel?"

I lift my head from the ground. "You guys are good at making people happy, right? Mito, well ever since we arrived back from Germany their health kept getting worse and worse and I don't know how long we've got! They're out now not because they're recovered, it's better that Mito lives life as much as they can before getting stuck in the hospital—permanently." Though that ultimately alludes to something else. "I want it to be the best time. Money? Contacts? Resources? Whatever you want!"

"Anything?" the hosts echo. Their tone makes me regret the wording.

"Yes, anything for them!"

"Now, Now, Daddy, you shouldn't get too excited. We don't even know what this will entail, so we shouldn't demand any upfront payment yet—actually, we've already been compensated with a little taste, an amorous outting was a disguised business transaction, I hadn't even expected such a thing," Kyoya taps Tamaki on the shoulder gently.

My smile at my win turns innocently. "No, no, I wouldn't call that a transaction, I was really doing that to be nice! I just had to get to know you guys better, some amateur digging."

"And thorough combing of the student body and our associates to make out character, I guess? Family or workers didn't escape such deceptive methods—your flowery language is easy to fall for." Kyoya smirks at me, sending more shivers down my spine.

"Oh, you're implying she's super smart or something? Wow, didn't expect that," the twins remark.

"Hey!" I cry. "When have I given off the vibe that I wasn't smart?"

"Flippant gifting and invitation to mostly strangers would make someone think... those are things Tamaki does, and doesn't deal in transactions. You didn't make it clear it was a transaction," Kyoya remarks.

"It was a transaction of good favour. You aren't really supposed to be aware of it in the moment. I gain a little trust, you gain a little insight into what I have. I make an offer, you aren't buying into a scam. It's supposed to go unnoticed, because it's not a malicious trap," I remark, then cover my mouth. Okay, maybe I don't want to sound that intelligent, but I'm not some evil mastermind!

Tamaki lifts my chin with a dashing smile, all in good manipulation. "What I see is a maiden in distress asking for a Prince's help. Who am I to refuse even if she has nothing at all? Those tears must mean such feelings are from the bottom of her heart, and not one with malicious intent!"

"O-Okay?"

"We should use her for our host club!" Tamaki turned, with one dazzling thumb up and the other still pulling my chin for his glamorous spins. "Such a siscon could surely attract women. Ah, the Lonely Princess type."

"I could just take your photos! I'm no good at talking to strangers, it's all fake confidence!"

"But every request comes at a price. We know you have all the money, and all the contacts, but in order for this to work we should build a more intimate relationship to get to know your sibling better, and to give reason to bring them around more," Kyoya supplies.

Suddenly, it was the twins around my shoulders, also stroking my chin. "Right, and by joining the club, we get access to your resources," Hikaru says.

"Just like everyone has access to each and every host here already," Kaoru explains. "So in a way,"

"We are taking your deal. Just in our own way."

"And I can get all the plushies, for Usa-chan!" Honey supplies.