Benefits || Kyoya Ootori x Reader

Chapter 26: School Fair

Three Months Later

"Aren't school fairs meant to be about, I don't know, students proudly showcasing unique things they made by hand?" Haruhi asks dumbfoundedly.

"This is Ouran Academy, Haruhi. Barely any of these people have actual talent," you admit bluntly.

"Yes, a mere average school is fit for those things, but at Ouran, the emphasis is on planning and leadership skills," Kyoya educates, closing his notebook. "Most of the students are being groomed in positions of  leadership, so they're required to showcase a talent for effort and mobility, not arts and crafts."

"See, that's why the Host Club is focusing on organizing a spectacular event with a multitude of aspects. It presents togetherness, accounting, and basically running a small business," you add.

"Haruhi!" Tamaki calls from across the courtyard.

Haruhi sighs. "Coming!" She glances between you and Kyoya before strolling off.

"Your dad is going to be there, right?" you question.

"Yes, to pick apart everything wrong with it," Kyoya answers.

"I'm sure--no, he completely will," you reply. "I don't known how much more bullshit I can take. This is our last year here and I am sick of about a hundred different things, including your father."

Kyoya doesn't respond and instead realizes the array of things he must check before the Host Club's party starts.

❁❁❁

You finish straightening your tan waistcoat in the mirror before entering the large room where the event is being held. Your job today and tomorrow is to serve treats to the guests with Haruhi when she's not catering to someone as a host.

You already hear the mangled voices of daughters and sons alike telling their parents about the club and the guys being extra charming to impress the guests. Businessmen and businesswomen are awed at Kyoya's banking and the profits made.

"They're trying so hard to make the club sound better than it is," Haruhi mutters.

"They have to. If you dumb anything down, it sounds stupid, so talking it up or making it politically correct can be extremely beneficial," you respond.

You and Haruhi make your way over to Kyoya who is typing away on his laptop to calculate future profit and budgeting margins in regards to what is occurring today.

"This is a bit too much, even by our standards. You could buy a small country with all the money we're wasting," Haruhi says.

"What nonsense!" Tamaki exclaims, appearing between the two of you and slinging his arms over your shoulders. "That's not the Host Club way at all and you know it! Happiness is above any price tag. Besides, think about all the exposure we'll get."

Haruhi pinches Tamaki's hand just as you throw his arm off you.

"No, Haruhi's right, you have overshot the budget," Kyoya states, closing his laptop. "The use of the salon standing and you had a period-style carriage flown in from France. Must you always be so capricious? Your compulsiveness overwhelms my accounting skills."

You and Haruhi make your escape as Tamaki childishly freaks out over Kyoya's words. Haruhi departs from you to cater to a woman you somewhat recognize, but you're puzzled about why she's here at all.