She (TakashiMorinozukaxOC)

Chapter Eight: When She's Unwell

"A ball?" 

Jenni held the invitation in her hand. Delivered that morning to the estate, it had the Ouran crest on it as well as the characters for Host Club beneath the emblem. Inside, the pristine printed cardstock held the time and dates of a ball that the Host Club was putting on. Jenni had been returning from her morning run when the maid had delivered it to her. She stood in the front doorway reading the invitation; the event was that following Saturday at 6 in the evening. Dress was formal and there'd be dancing and a special prize at the end of the night for the best dancer. 

Jenni supposed that she could wear the green dress she had gotten from Mrs. Hitachiin. Seeing as how Takashi and Honey were in the Host Club, she suspected that she'd be dragged along anyways. So, Jenni decided to RSVP via email and to go to the ball. 

They had Judo that Saturday, but Sunday was a rest day. Jenni sat at her desk doing the rest of her math homework. One thing she noticed about Japanese school was that the work loads were intense. Homework was nightly, often with much more than she'd ever have to handle before, and it expected to be turned in with shining answers. While the math equations weren't hard, the sheer amount of them made Jenni's head spin. By the time she got done, her eyes felt hot and her head felt heavy. 

She stood from her desk and stretched in relief that her homework for the weekend was finally done. It was only half past noon, which meant Jenni had spent two hours doing homework and she hadn't even had breakfast yet. An empty coffee cup sat next to her school supplies on the desk. 

Standing, she picked it up and left the room in her house slippers, leggings, and large t-shirt. On the quest for food, she found herself in the family kitchen where Chef Hada was preparing something for Satoshi, who sat at the island. 

"I finally finished my math homework," she groaned and sat next to the younger boy, who watched as she set her coffee cup down on the island counter in front of her and placed her forehead on the cool granite. She looked exasperated and tired. Chef Hada paused in flipping an omelet for Satoshi and grabbed the coffee pot to his right. Somehow, without looking he poured more of the black liquid into her cup. 

She lifted her head, "Bless you, kind sir," she said in a mock British accent. Perhaps she had been debating with Mr. Christie too much. They had just gotten their copies of Frankenstein that Tuesday and she was already done with the novel which wasn't due for another week and a half. Of course, she had to write her report on the themes and everything, but she could do that in one sitting. 

Next to her, Satoshi giggled. From the door emerged a tall, dark figure. In a pair of casual shorts and a t-shirt, Takashi entered with his book in hand, sitting quietly next to Jenni as he read. He was reading rather intently, staring at the pages as if they were his life line. It amazed Jenni that he could read in his second language so well. Chef Hada finished Satoshi's omelet and asked Jenni if she wanted one. 

She nodded and asked enthusiastically for peppers in hers. Chef Hada asked Takashi if he wanted anything. 

"Natto." 

Chef Hada nodded and went to work. Jenni looked at the page he was on-- the scene in which the monster kills Victor's wife. 

"Do you like it?" 

Takashi snapped his head up at her as if she had awoken him from some sort of daze. Looking to the book, then back to her, then to the book again, until he eventually place a book mark into his page and set the book down. He rubbed his eyes before answering. Apparently he had been reading for a while.

"It's good," he said. 

Jenni smiled, "Great. I'm glad. After all, I wouldn't want you to hate me for pushing everyone to read a novel you hate."