Chapter Text
"Ootori Kyouya?"
"Present, Sir"
He didn't have to look up from his book to answer, smooth and precise. Repeating daily. Easy to learn. He had a study class today and figured, since this is his best subject he may as well study some place else. Excusing himself from the room once he felt it appropriate.
He walked for a while with his laptop tucked under his arm, as well as the book he had been reading before. Admittedly a favorite of his. It was warm out today, sun shining on the patios just quite right, that even from deep in the shade of the arches he could admire them. The small garden in the sun was soaked in left over rain from the short showers throughout the day. Flowers creeping up the pillars and around a small statue of a rabbit, or hare. He couldn't tell. He only stopped for a short while, catching the last of the fresh air he could before striding off again. The walk wasn't too far. Any spare room would do him well, and there seemed to be plenty here during the exam weeks. Entering a large empty room he sat by the window, preferring the view of the gardens than the blackboard in his classroom previous. Drama room 2 had a perfect view, in his opinion. The room never used, and that in and of itself was perfect. A certain concerning amount of dust had piled in the corners here and there but he had hardly noticed half of it. Maybe he didn't care.
He had written a large amount of his reports and finished further study goals quickly within the classes allocated time. He had already gotten deterred from spending free time on other study's and went back to his book. No Longer Human, Osamu Dazai. The title sounds about right. Encapsulation of an idea, or premise. Considered a classic. He glanced out the window again at the shining parios and garden. People appearing more often than usual. It must be next class, and gotten distracted with his book. Whatever the case was he sighed and swiftly gathered his things before leaving, back down the hallway and stalling to enjoy the shining patio. Arguably, his favorite part of the school was the scenery. Half left untamed in parts due to inactivity of the students.
"So beautiful.."
Kyouya watched on into the brightness from the arches where he had stood before, seeing that boy galop through the medium grass and bushes to reach one of the wallflowers growing on a pillar nearby. He stretched, destroying any neatness in his uniform that was left. Mud and the markings of shrub taking its place. Kyouya stood unmoving. Watching, he assumed, the death of the poor plant. The boy smiled up at the plant and ran his hand over the flowers, sleeves rolled up revealing freckles. He let his hands rest after a moment trekking back in, through a bush before noticing Kyouya and stopping.
There wasn't silence, but swaying of trees, bushes and singing birds. He could see the boy fully now, seeing as he was stood just under the shade. Mud on the patio. Kyouya didn't know why it annoyed him so much, but it had. They must have been new here, and they mustn't have known not to. But there wasn't particularly a rule, only that you must stay presentable. That wasn't why he was annoyed, he was sure. Why move so late in the year. He was definitely foreign, with light chestnut brown hair that was well maintained, out of place and half undone from the leaves and vines hed trampled through.
"I'm sure you know you're tracking mud unto the patio." He started, the boy still looking to him before looking down.
"Oh. Yes, I am," He took both his shoes off then, looking back to Kyouya, "Sorry"
This annoyed him more somehow, his face shifting slightly, though he tried to hide it.
"My uniform is ruined too, I should get a spare one on before anyone notices-"
"There aren't any spares," Kyouya is quick to correct him, "I'm sure that changing would be a waste of your time, unless you own a spare.."
He knew he was putting them on the spot now, wanting to inconvenience them maybe.
"Oh, Thanks for letting me know"
He bowed then, brown messy hair falling into his face before standing straight and running it back with his hands. It surprised Kyouya for a moment, stopping him from speaking. He opened his mouth before closing it again.
All he could do was nod. The boy nodded back before walking off again, still only in socks on the patio.
Kyouya just stood, motionless looking at the odd boy as he walked off, glancing back to the garden. It didn't look ruined.
It felt ruined. He took off then, decidedly going to set up early for one of the biggest host club meetings of the school year. He pushed it from his mind, staying clear of the mud on his left. When he had arrived at the Host club he had realised how annoyed he was at the encounter, still bothering him once he began hosting as well. The others seemed to notice too, though they didn't say much. He continued on his laptop, adding to the expenses and financing to keep everything in line. His usual. Rinse and Repeat are most of what his customers get, if not promotional material for the club.
This year they're doing something bigger for the Ouran fair. The rush of customers into the club had gone down, and everyone was situated. He and Tamaki had been brainstorming for a short while and ended up going with one of his insane ideas again. It was a large party, inviting not just students but the parents of those students as well, which meant a lot more planning and preparation than usual. He glanced to Tamaki for a moment before noticing he was already talking to Haruhi and the others about the fair as well, given the spare time. He wasn't surprised, but he stopped organizing for a moment to check his lists.
Food, Marketing schemes, and time management. All mostly completed, though he would need flower arrangements as well. That boy in the garden. Pink and purple flowers and freckles on pale skin. He glared down at his notes with knotted brows. Only for a moment, but enough to annoy himself with his reaction. He wanted to get back to the list, but really all that was left was outfits and flowers, and he knew one mention to the twins and they'd both have gone far beyond what he could've asked for. He sighed, standing up. He could deal with this another time, turning his attention elsewhere.
"Kyouya!"
Tamaki was obviously excited, he gave the usual smile, nodding to the guests as he walked over, some giggling.
"Yes Tamaki? What's got you excited?"
"Why the fair of course!" Tamaki had stricken a pose now, princely charm coming into play
"Of course"
"Kyouya, we should get the twins to helo set up the designs for the outfits! It was Haruhi's idea"
"Oh really? That isn't a bad idea at all.."
He nodded giving another smile, writing that down on a notepad before looking around slightly, noticing how empty it was getting. He checked the time, surprised with himself at how late it had gotten. "Kaoru, Hikaru!" Tamaki began, standing quickly.
"Yes boss?"
Both were sitting on a sofa nearby, Honi and Mori both sitting by the window seemingly enjoying the sun.
"You boys are in charge of the supplying of the Ouran Fair's Costumes!"
Kyouya almost laughed at him. Only smirking to hide it, before leaving to a separate table. The other three were bickering already over consumption of materials and the fact Tamaki wanted multiple dress changes a night. Kyouya was quick to distract, calling anyone that he decided appropriate to call about the flower arrangements for the upcoming event.
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later...
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Kyouya had finished most of the preparation and calls he needed to for today, sadly hed have to call later to double check with multiple florist's to get the amount correct and on time. He pinched the bridge of his nose, grumbling to himself about expenses for a minute before standing. Most of the other hosts had left by that point and headed home. It was almost dark out, raining again and cold. Honi must have left him a slice of cake earlier what he wasn't paying attention, he couldn't help but wonder how long it'd been out. Sighing he sat his laptop down by the window to watch the rain, eating the cake slowly. It was sweet. Nothing he wasn't particularly used to, considering the host clubs snack etiquette. He doesn't finish it.
He decides to head out, putting his laptop into a bag to keep it safe from the rain. Sadly, he had to go out into the rain without a jacket, since he hadn't thought it through earlier. There wasn't any umbrella in sight either. He knitted his brows together again in slight frustration, deciding that it was better to just suck it up and head out now before the rain got any worse. Heading out the door and straight back the way he whipped out his phone, flipping it open and dialing someone to pick him up. It only rang for a moment.
"Master Kyouya sir"
"Bring me a car please, Straight to the main gate if possible"
"Yes sir, right away" At that Kyouya hung up, still striding his way through the school. He passed the patios from the corridors above, still on the second floor. That stupid boy again. He stopped in his tracks, peering down at him through the rain. He's back in the garden, this time only on the patio itself holding a camera. His chestnut hair seeming darker from the rain. Colder. He wondered why he would send himself out into the cold for a photo. The flash was enough to snap him out of his staring, blinking back to reality for a moment before forcing himself to turn away. He didn't start walking, not for a while anyway. Why was he so annoying. why?
He gave an exasperated sigh before stomping the rest of the way down the hall, mostly alone now. Only some of the more desperate to study left, and at that there were few. He let out another sigh, this one much more tired than the last. Walking down the stairs and out through the last hallway he reached a side door.
He braced himself for the cold of the rain, stepping out and beginning to adjust his bags so the wouldn't get too wet. Not that it made much difference. He took off his glasses after a moment, realising they wouldn't do him any good either, continuing to the car that he knew was already there. It didn't take too much time, but by the time he had gotten his bags into the trunk his uniform was soaked through. He hissed at the cold for a moment before opening the car door.
"hey!"
Kyouya stopped where he was, turning a slight bit before squinting to see who had called who and where.
"What's your name?"
All he saw was dark brown hair and pale skin, soaked too from the rain. He knitted his brows together, knowing somehow that he'd run into that boy again.
"Well, what's yours?" He called back, before there was a laugh
"Kiyoshi! Kiyoshi Ito!"
"Okay.."
He nodded before getting into the car at last, the seat dripping wet now with his uniform in a state as well. He looked out of the window to see the boy waving, he scoffed lightly before telling the driver to move on. God what is with that boy. He took out his glasses and tried to wipe them down but failing, only making things blurrier. He leans his head back on the leather seats, hoping that tomorrow would be a better day.
"God damnit."
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