Since Kazumi and Takashi amended their relationship, things have never been so great. Umehito had threatened to curse Takashi if he ever hurt her again, but she felt like the threat would never find the need to be fulfilled because Takashi wouldn't spare a chance to show her how much he loved her.
The other Hosts had noticed it as well. It started as small affectionate touches like holding hands or hugging her waist until it escalated to pecks on the cheek and sometimes on the lips.
It would always bring a blush to those of more innocent minds, which were Tamaki and Haruhi. It also didn't help that the Twins wouldn't waste an opportunity to let their imagination wander, alleging that the Third Year couple would find an isolated corner in Ouran to do more naughty stuff.
Of course, it was simply their way to provoke their Boss and rile up the mature couple. The blonde President would splutter some nonsense, and Takashi would get flushed, but other than that, their teasing was harmless and fruitless.
The truth was that the couple was too private and discreet to try anything at school, especially considering Takashi's status as a Host. If the girls got word of their relationship, it would bring too much headache for the onyx-haired girl.
In the salon, the Hosts cosplayed in late Edo-era samurai costumes. Tamaki, as the President, wore a burgundy kimono while the others had a light blue one. Everyone besides the cousins sported hair extensions to style it in a ponytail.
At first, they were all supposed to have them, but when Takashi asked his girlfriend if she liked it, her face answered with a grimace. So, Takashi discarded it, and so did Honey, who wanted to match his cousin.
The atmosphere was as peaceful as it could get with the clients around. Kazumi sat at a far table, trying to finish some school work and ignoring the squeals and giggles from the girls. Her attention got diverted when she heard the Hosts' yelps instead of the feminine screams.
Sapphire-eyes caught the tallest Host with his sword piercing the shoji door and a frightened group behind him. She had to control the teenage hormones that urged her to go to him and just devour him there and then because no one could possibly start to comprehend how hot he looked at that moment.
"There's a trespasser," he informed, opening the shoji door to reveal a red-haired boy on his butt.
"Morinozuka Takashi!" The boy yelled and leaped toward the Kendo National Champion, only to fall to his knees and bow deeply. "Senpai, please accept me as your apprentice!"
🌸
Knowing that the current circumstance would incapacitate the Club from continuing its activities, Kyoya decided to end business for the day and have the Hosts change their costumes back into their uniforms.
Takashi and Honey joined Kazumi on the table she already occupied, whereas the rest of the Hosts shared the couch across from the one the red-haired boy used.
"Kasanoda Ritsu, Class 1-D, the successor to the third generation monster of the Kasanoda-gumi, the most powerful yakuza group in Kanto. He entered Ouran in the high school section. He's known for his long, red hair and scary-looking face. He doesn't talk much and has no friends," Kyoya read off from his black notebook. "If your eyes meet his, you'll suffer three months of nightmares. If his shoulders bump into you, you get sent to the hospital. If you try to talk back to him, you go straight to the graveyard. And from his classmates, he is feared as the Human Blizzard."
"Why does a human weapon like you want to be Mori-senpai's apprentice?" Tamaki asked cluelessly, not measuring his own words.
"I'm not a human weapon," Ritsu countered. "I was just born with this scary-looking face."
"So you're aware of it, Casanova-kun," the Twins affirmed.
"It's Kasanoda!"
"Bossa Nova?" They tried.
Ritsu's eyes shone into a dangerously alarming red.
"I said it's Kasanoda, damn it!" He growled. "You guys wanna die or what?!"
The Twins and Tamaki hid behind the couch.
"That's a pretty scary face..." They agreed.
Ritsu noticed his behavior and composed himself.
"Damn it... Because of this scary look," he rested his forehead against his head in frustration. "Since I was born with this scary look, the old man always said I had the features to be the most dreadful yakuza of the century. And thus, I was taught the way of a yakuza lord since I was a kid. And because of this yakuza education, no one comes near me. Even my underlings are afraid of getting close to me. So, I was lonely. But I really want to have fun with everyone! I want to kick cans with the underlings that admire me."
"Can kicking in fun!" Tamaki approved.
"But I have no clue how to interact with others. Morinozuka-senpai, please, teach me. Why can you be like that? You have such a scary face and are emotionless, uncommunicative, and unsociable." Takashi got shocked by the affirmation. "Your face is too much akin to that of the guard dogs from hell, yet, how can you have so many people around you admiring you? Please, teach me your secrets!"
Takashi groaned painfully, earning a concerned glance from Honey.
"Takashi, are you okay?"
"I'm feeling kind of dizzy."
Kazumi stood from her seat and stepped on Ritsu's bowing figure. She had never seen her boyfriend so distraught, and the sight didn't please her.
"Ha? What's this?" He lifted his head and shot her a death glare. "What do you think you're doing?!"
"Are you trying to get his help or get a beating?" She chastised him with a severe tone and an icy stare, unfazed by his intimidating looks. Ritsu blinked in amazement. It was the first time someone didn't cower away in fear from his scary face. "You should be careful with your words, Casanova-san." She called his name wrongly on purpose to spite him.
"Kazumi, please..." Takashi asked weakly, making the dark-haired beauty leave the Yakuza Boss to join her disturbed boyfriend, serving him some tea to calm his nerves and rubbing his back for comfort.
"Don't take his words personally, Takashi," she said hushedly. "He's a yakuza kid. He doesn't know manners."
"My lord..." Hikaru called.
"You sure we're not going to do anything about this?" Kaoru asked.
"No, just leave him be," the Eurasian boy denied with an uncharacteristically serious expression. "He said he wanted to be Mori-senpai's apprentice. The only person that can decide what to do with him is Mori-senpai. This isn't something we can stick our necks into."
"Since when do you care about that?" Kazumi wondered.
"Tamaki," Takashi called, giving him a "Help me!" look.
"Very well!" Tamaki complied easily. "If Mori-senpai says so, I, Suoh Tamaki, will try my very best."
Haruhi was unamused.
"The truth is, you wanted to get your hands on this pretty badly."
"You're a hypocrite, Tamaki," Kazumi agreed.
The purple-eyed Second Year got down to one knee and lifted Ritsu's chin.
"Raise your head, Bossa Nova-kun."
"It's Kasanoda."
"You can just call me King, Bossa Nova-kun."
"I said--!"
"Listen, Bossa Nova-kun! Although you and Mori-senpai have little in common, there is one definitive thing that you lack. And that's a lovely item!" The declaration shocked the First Year. "Indeed, if you look at Mori-senpai superficially, he does look scary and may give an icy impression. However, what happens when we place Mitsukuni-kun on his shoulders? It's like a state of "big bear Mori liked by a little animal"! In addition, this item even covers Mori-senpai's untalkative nature. Just by putting Honey-senpai next to him, people will be able to see that Mori-senpai is a very open person. It's a technique of making others interpret him as a good taciturn young man. You can say that Mori-senpai's charm is established only because of Honey-senpai's existence!"
Takashi got so flabbergasted that it upset Kazumi.
"You just had to ask for his help, of all people," she sighed.
"That reminds me, Mori-senpai..." Haruhi began.
"Pretty much doesn't do anything," Hikaru continued.
"He's like a pig, position-wise," Kaoru concluded.
"Takashi," Honey said. "You were using me all this time?!" The short boy sobbed.
Takashi got to his feet and shook his head furiously in denial.
"However, Mitsukuni-kun is being rented on a long-term basis, so we can't let you borrow him," Tamaki kept going with his irrational explanation.
"Am I being rented to you?!" Honey gasped, crying out.
Kazumi slapped Tamaki's back of the head hard, making him cry in pain.
"Auntie! Why did you do that?!" He rubbed the sore place.
"Don't make me punch you in the face," she gave him a death glare.
The Prince Type stepped back fearfully and gasped in horror, covering his cheeks protectively with his hands.
"Not the face!" He begged.
"Then shut up!"
He nodded frantically before turning back to the young yakuza lord.
"Well, the other problem is that Yankee fashion of yours," he analyzed Ritsu's clothing and snapped his fingers. "Hitachiin Brothers! Change the image of this man's fashion!"
The Twins charged at Ritsu and altered him to look totally ridiculous rather than approachable. They dreadlocked his red hair, put on him a polka dot scarf and a pair of shades, and under his arm was Kuma-chan, Tamaki's teddy bear.
"If we're lucky, Kasanoda-kun will kill Tamaki for it," Kazumi commented offhandedly once Ritsu left for home.
"You're such a meanie, Auntie! Since when you got so violent?!" Tamaki whined. "Mommy, make her stop!"
Kyoya adjusted his glasses.
"Well, that's what you get for saying such stupid things about her boyfriend."
"You too, Mommy?!" The President gasped before turning to his distressed seniors. "I'm sorry, Mori-senpai, Honey-senpai! I didn't know what I was saying! I didn't mean it!"
"Mitsu-chan," Kazumi called the candy lover. "Since when do you listen to Tamaki? We all know he always speaks nonsense."
Tamaki goes to his mourning corner for getting bullied, being comforted half-heartedly by Haruhi and the Twins.
Honey brightened up. "You're right, Kazu-chan!" And, just like that, he resumed his cake eating.
Takashi sighed in relief that the misunderstanding was solved and smiled lovingly and gratefully at his girlfriend.
"Next time, ask for Kyoya's help," she told him.