Ouran High School Host Club Ep 03
Meet the guest of this episode. Her name is Ayame Jounouchi. She is a second year like Tamaki and Kyouya and is the Vice President of the 2nd year class.
As observed by her use of the umbrella, it is currently raining in the world of Ouran. Haruhi, having not brought her umbrella, had to run in the rain with only her hands covering her head, which is quietly observed by Ayame. But of course, she does not particularly care.
Upon arriving to the music room, she is greeted with the sight featured in the first picture. The boys are quickly deflated when they realize it's only Haruhi entering and not a customer. Shocked at the sight before her (I can't believe she's still not used to it yet when I am), Haruhi slumps to the ground, asking them what is going on. The boys switch off their sparkle and Tamaki begins to explain that in order to deflect the gloominess of the rain, the host club is going for a refreshing look of a tropical paradise.
Naturally, Haruhi is not impressed, claiming that the look makes the atmosphere MORE gloomy, which is pointedly ignored by Tamaki as he continues his speech. The Host Club will be hosting a Summer Party! Where the best dressed wins a kiss from the king of Host Club.
Despite the obvious rejection, Tamaki is undeterred and is now offering to teach his daughter how to ballroom dance. Unfortunately, Haruhi has an announcement to make. She won't be able to attend any Host Club events for the next week. She has fallen down from her number 1 spot and has to retake the test. Here's the shock of the members in hearing the news. And they also somehow manage to change clothes mid-shock in a few seconds.
And by the way, that's Kyouya in the back, holding his teacup while saying, "Oh, is that right? Too bad for you isn't it?" God, Kyouya, you make sadism sound so hot. Then as they settle into their seats, Nekozawa senpai pops out behind Tamaki (it seems to be his preferred choice of apperance, followed closely by the staircase) warning the Host Club that her bad grade is a curse and that worse things will happen to the Host Club soon.
(because I realize I haven't been giving Nekozawa much love, he gets two screen caps today)
Tamaki and the rest of the club (sans Kyouya, who's still enjoying his tea) scoff at his exaggeration.
Twins: don't exaggerate! It's not like Haruhi is going to be expelled.
Kyouya: (calm as ever) She will be expelled. Because the condition of the scholarship is for her to maintain her spot at number 1. If she can't regain her spot after the re-test....
Nekozawa: (as he disappears behind the couch) she'll be expelled.
What's that? Are you asking me why Kyouya gets a large screen cap? Because I can....
The Club members freak out (again) and Tamaki busts out his Kuma-chan teddy bear (out of nowhere) and presents it to Haruhi, telling her he will let her borrow his most prized possession. But she doesn't want it. But he insists. But she doesn't want it! She pushes, he falls, and he wails. Poor Kuma-chan, being flung to the couch mercilessly like that.
But Tamaki is not Tamaki if he doesn't bounce back fast. So when she declares her absence from the club until she has successfully finished her test, Tamaki stands up and declares that in order for her to have time to learn ballroom dancing (which she never said she wanted) she gets to choose a tutor from one of them (which she never asked for). It is then revealed by a series of 3 two-shots that all of them are pretty much top notch in their class, with the exception of the twins, who rank 4th and 5th. Only in the world of fiction where the rich and handsome are also smart and perfect.
Then they start bickering over who should teach her. Tamaki claims that since both twins are lower in rank than Haruhi, they are not qualified. But they claim that it is not so much quality as compatibility that should be the determining factor. Honey senpai then cutely tells Haruhi that he will help her in math, while Mori senpai approaches her and starts reciting a mnemonic to help her in history (of course with his deadpan face). She quickly stops him in mid-sentence, telling him that she knows it already, thanks. Mori retreats.
Nevertheless, they continue to force her to choose between them, advancing toward her one step at a time, freaking her (and me) out. Kyouya didn't even present his case as to why he should be a tutor (not that he needs to), yet he joins the rest in making her choose. (I know, that has nothing to do with the plot. But my eyes naturally look for him now in any scene, so I still need to point it out. I need help)
And the studying begins! I told you Ayame is the guest of this episode. She helps Haruhi with math and compliments her intelligence, wondering how she failed to maintain her rank in the first place. It turns out, she had carelessly forgotten to fill out a question. Ayame assures her that she will ace the re-test. The rest of the club members look on from the background, as Kyouya introduces her to the other members (as I already did at the beginning).
The members nod their approval. I actually find this quite adorable in that they are probably content with this arrangement only because Ayame is a girl. Additionally, since the other members don't seem to know her, it must have been Kyouya who chose her. Hence, probably without really realizing it himself, Kyouya has unknowingly chosen a girl to quell his jealousy. In any case, the twins notice that their leader is moping by the window. They try to cheer him up, stating the fact that Haruhi didn't want any of them as her tutor. But Tamaki has other, much more important, things on his mind right now.
His Kuma-chan has been kidnapped! Yes, not missing. Kidnapped. I can't really decide which is cuter, that he has a picture of his teddy bear or that he photoshops said picture with hearts and sparkles. The twins argue that no one would ever want to kidnap such a dumb looking bear (their words, not mine). But Honey senpai is much more sympathetic, offering to lend him his Usa-chan when his idea of Kuma-chan going on a trip was ignored.
All this chatter prove to be too noisy for Ayame who finally stands up facing the boys, berating them (in one breath) for their inconsideration of Haruhi's study time, claiming that while some people might prefer a some sort of white noise during studying, she prefers complete silence. So can they please be quiet!? The boys watch her speak with continuing discomfort as they feel the suffocation. When she finally finishes, they fall to the ground where the oxygen tanks are (what? doesn't your living room have one?). They then decide to nickname her "Miss Morse" for her speech.
In any case, Tamaki comes with a trolley of snacks for the ladies, offering them tea and melon bread. He narrates for each one, especially for the melon bread, stating that it doesn't actually taste like melon but it's still very good and popular with the commoners. Ayame tells him to make a melon bread that taste like melon then. Besides, studying with a somewhat empty stomach actually helps with concentration. Once again, this leaves Tamaki breathless and the other members come to his rescue with some oxygen.
Haruhi watches this exchange with a rather curious attitude. She asks Ayame if she happens to dislike Tamaki. Ayame replies with an analogy. It is said that since ancient times, Japanese people have always liked rain. She, however, despises rain. Similarly, while many people find Tamaki charming and he is popular with women, personally she finds him unappealing. In short, she dislikes him. Tamaki hears this the moment after he has regained consciousness and promptly falls back to the floor in shock. Poor baby, is hearing that one girl dislikes you that shocking?
But again, Tamaki can't be bothered by one anti-fan right now. He still has a best friend to find. And the search begins! He sets up a search table, with Kyouya seemingly dragged to help him. When the expectation falls short, Tamaki asks him why he would not help. Kyouya smartly tells him that girls are happier when the host king is the one handing out fliers. At this, Tamaki brightens and agrees.
Just as he renews his vigor in handing out fliers to adoring fans, Nekozawa appears again to remind him that his prediction was correct. Bad things are happening to the host club due to the curse of the rain. Kyouya, in the background, then notices Ayame descending down the stairs. She picks up a fallen flier off the ground as Kyouya approaches her, complimenting Tamaki's design sense (I'm still not sure if he was being sarcastic) and that Tamaki had drawn 200 of those posters in one night. Aww Kyouya, your bromance is showing.
In the meantime, during the tutoring session, Ayame's rage causes her hair to stand up and she voices the question I myself was wondering, "Why didn't he think to just photocopy the fliers instead?" In any case Ayame gets a little tutoring session of her own when Haruhi tells her that she wants to become a lawyer through her own hard work. And that has nothing to do with other people. Hence, there is really no reason for her to pay attention to what people say or think about her. Ayame wishes she could do the same. So Haruhi perceptively guessed that something had happened between Tamaki and Ayame.
(Even in flashback, he sparkles! And gyah! KyouyaxTamaki's first meeting.)
Ayame retells the story about how at first, she too views Tamaki as a prince when he tells her how beautifully straight her hair is. Her heart, then, must be as straight and beautiful as that. However, Ayame soon realizes that he says those cheesy lines to just about every girl he crossed paths with, annoying the hell out of her. Additionally, he ranked higher than her in exams as well. So she thought that he must have spent a lot of time studying. Instead, he went and created the Host Club to waste his time. She refuses to acknowledge him!
However, Haruhi points out that Ayame has actually been paying a lot of attention to Tamaki with all that detail she still remembers from the past about him. She is even able to recite his lines perfectly. She claims it was so nauseating, it was hard to forget.
Tamaki wears a cute bear costume and hides behind the piano to watch the two girls. But he can't hear what they're saying at all. Eventually, the other members pluck the costume head off and tell Tamaki if he really is afraid of disturbing Haruhi's studies, he should just go home. Once again, Ayama hears the chatter and complains (a little too vehemently) that she simply wants to study with no distraction. Then, claiming the room is too stuffy, she opens the window, allowing the damp air to hit her and reveal that she in fact does not have straight hair. Her hair is naturally curly, of which the twins take notice and complimented.
But instead of being pleased, Ayame takes offense to the words and blame Tamaki. Because of the misunderstanding he caused, she has to go to the hair salon to straighten her hair every single morning. Flustered by the outbursts, she grabs her books and heads out, dropping her pencil case (with Tamaki's Kuma-chan pencil spilled out). Too embarrassed to pick it up, she bolts from the room.
Honey senpai smartly comments on how much Ayame must have liked Tamaki as it is revealed that Ayame is actually the one who kidnapped Kuma-chan while the members were busy trying to be Haruhi's tutor (all at once). She becomes angry at how much she actually cares about Tamaki and decides to take it out on Kuma-chan (poor bear, he already looks questionably dumb) as his words replay over and over in her head.
Just then, Tamaki comes in and recites the same words he once said to her. This time, though, she becomes angry saying that she's sorry her hair doesn't match his expectation (I know, WUT?). Her hair is curly and her heart is twisted too. That's why she hates the rain! Tamaki simply tells her that after the rain, there's a rainbow. So after all this, she will simply come out more beautiful than before. She quickly falls under his spell. Seriously, THE CHEESE!!!! Tamaki then invites her to the Host Club's summer party.
Ayame appears in a glamorous looking red dress with her natural wavy hair. The hosts welcome her warmly as Tamaki greets her on his knees while kissing her hand. The other host club regulars compliment her new look and she basks in the attention. They play, they (presumably) eat, and they dance.
Finally it is time to announce the princess of the party and Ayame is chosen. The prize, is a kiss from the ki... from Haruhi!
Tamaki takes the news as well as we would expect, which is to say, not well at all. He grabs Kyouya by the shoulders wondering why there was a change in the first place. Kyouya simply tells him that this is more interesting. (THE BROMANCE!!!!)
The Honey "innocently" comments that this might actually be Haruhi's first kiss. Freaking out, Tamaki tries to go and protect her but trips and ends up pushing Haruhi's lips towards Ayame's when the original intention was a cheek kiss.
Naturally, she gives him an evil glare and sends him off flying with the word "hentai" carrying him off. The members cheerfully wave him goodbye as another wonderful episode of Ouran comes to an end.
Extra comments:
I think this is the first episode in which my love for Kyouya in this Live Action started (although it was ep 5 Kyouya that made me want to start doing the recaps). I also have been downloading the HD version of the show to get better caps ^^
In any case, I've realized this awhile back but I'm only finally saying this now. My expectations of characters are vastly different when it comes to dramas and animes. This applies to both female and male leads. Many examples come to mind, but since we are talking about Ouran and this gives a more direct comparison, I shall use it.
In the Ouran anime, my favorite host would have to be Tamaki. I find him hilariously over the top and fun. I accept his quirks, his ego, and his dramatic flair. I also love Honey senpai simply because he's so cute I can just hug him. The twins come next because the twincest kills me in the anime. They're borderline over the top but acceptable. Kyouya and Mori would have to be the most normal people in Ouran (excluding Haruhi, of course) and as characters in an anime, they're not as appealing. Well this ranking doesn't really say much considering I love them all a lot. However, all things considered, Tamaki > Kyouya in the anime.
Now in dramas, I tend to dislike over the top characters. Overly mean, overly nice, overly strong, overly hyper. Overly anything and you are fake. The over the top quality of Ouran Live Action, however, is something different because I don't view it as a drama but as the live version of an anime if real people were to play it. For instance, my love for the twins is the same in the anime and the live action since they're neither too over the top nor too normal in both. So they can fit well in either one.
And in this aspect, it kills every single episode. I don't know how they did it, but they did.
But I realize as I watch Tamaki be Tamaki, I can't really like his character as much in the Live action. I see him as a person and not as a drawing. Hence, if I were to really meet someone like him in the context of real life, I would run away as fast as I can. But as I watch anime, I view it throught a different lens. As if it's a different world that I know I would not encounter, so having crazier characters are more fun.
On the other hand, Kyouya. He has the amazing ability to stand out while hiding in the background. The slight sadistic nature with the brotherly instinct to protect his friends. The awesome manipulation and wit while being adorably clueless with other things. He's basically an extremely capable man and yet his high school-ness also shows. The strength with the hidden vulnerability. The character kills me. And Daito Shunsuke's portrayal of him is pitch perfect. I have no complaints.
I don't even know if this makes any sense to anyone else but me. Oh well
SO now! Kyouya >>>>>>> Tamaki. This drama does weird things to me and my OTP shipping. TamakixHaruhi and TamakixKyoya still exist from the anime, but the KyouyaxHaruhi that was not originally there has surfaced with incredible vigor. So here, have a screen cap.
The. Smirk.
Seriously, they look so cute together!! *sigh* my broken heart. SOMEONE MAKE ANOTHER HARUHI FOR KYOUYA!