Ouran Koukou Host Club Episode 25:"The Host Club^s Declaration of Dissolution (ホスト部解散宣言)"

The 43^rd annual Ouran festival is underway! =D

Rife with preparations, Haruhi wonders about the Ouran students' rather different approach to organising their festival. In normal high schools, festivals are works of the students' own craft. But of course, Ouran is no ordinary school;) As Kyouya points out, their students are coached to be the future leaders of Japan, so the skills they need to learn are different. More in the ways of leadership qualities and supervising others rather than, heaven forbid, break a pretty nail doing menial labour;)

In common with other festivals, however, is the fact that the festival is open to outsiders. So, the Host Club is busy in action, with their clients bringing in their parents to enjoy the atmosphere. Even the Host Club members' family deign to make an appearance. We see the Ouran's Chairman aka Tamaki's father enter the music room. He appears gruff at first and specifically asks to sit with Haruhi, upon which she discovers that, beyond the same blond hair, he truly is Tamaki's father, what with his blushing and gushing and urging her to call him O-ji-sa-ma... Hehe;) But what I did enjoy was his voice!=D Unmistakably, I don't even have to check, it is Inoue Kazuhiko! Hehe, and as usual, can't help but think of Kaka and thinking of him saying those words. Lol, priceless;D

Also in attendance was Kyouya's father, who slapped Kyouya in full view of the many patrons in the music room. Ootori-san reprimands Kyouya for wasting his time on such stupid activities as the Host Club. Innocent Tamaki feels guilty about having asked Kyouya to join the Host Club. And thennn, in comes Tamaki's grandmother. Hunny says that he hates her. Whoa. She just has to be bad news if Hunny-senpai hates her! And indeed, as Tamaki excitedly comes forward to greet her, she tells him harshly to not touch her, leaving a not-too-discreet parting shot as she walked away, "Filthy child..." She is referring to his parentage, being the son of Suou-san's Parisienne mistress. Since Suou-san is without any legitimate heirs, however, she is forced to recruit Tamaki for the job, albeit putting him through a trial period. She forces him to escort a young woman who has been lurking around suspiciously with her ever-present purple-lensed gold opera viewers. Lightning Thunder - indentally what Haruhi is most afraid of!Her name is Éclair Tonnerre (Lightning Thunder - indentally what Haruhi is most afraid of!), a Parisienne debutante, and part of the Grand Tonnerre empire, which has been buying up Japanese companies big. So by allying with them, Tamaki's grandmother figures that they'll be safe.

She asks Tamaki to play the piano for her and there is a flashback still where we see her with a golden-haired woman (Tamaki's mother? Hmm...) Whilst listening to the beautiful strains, she remarks on how close the Host Club are, how it seems that they are playing at being a family. She guilt-trips Tamaki into thinking that he is forcing the members to take up their valuable time with Host Club activities rather than what they would rather be doing. Haruhi enters the room and converses with the two in a rather acid tone. In fact, this ep is nice in that it totally flutters the hearts of the many Tamaki/Haruhi shippers! What doesn't fit quite so much is the lack of believable development in that respect. Anyway, Tamaki is gleeful when he thinks Haruhi might be jealous, but she declares she isn't before leaving the room. As he motions to go after her, Éclair grabs his hand and pounces on him on the couch.

Back at the salon, the other Host Club members are telling Haruhi of Tamaki's past. The Suou successor died and Tamaki's grandmother appointed her son as successor, arranging a marriage of convenience for him. He ended up falling for a girl in France and the result of their union is an adorable baby Tamaki!=D He expresses to his mother his desire to divorce his wife to marry his love and have her and his son live with them. Of course, his mother doesn't approve, and making matters more complicated is the fact that his love is quite sickly away from France. Regardless, Tamaki had a happy childhood living with his mother. Until one day, his grandmother makes a proposition to the two, knowing that Tamaki's mother was having financial difficulties. She stipulated that she would ensure that they would never again have financial problems if Tamaki alone returns to Japan with her. Also, Tamaki's mother would not be allowed to see Tamaki anymore. At long last, Tamaki agreed and no one heard from his mother again. Haruhi is touched, recalling her own experience with losing her mother.

Next thing you know, the salon doors open and two figures are silhouetted on the backdrop of the late afternoon sun. It is Tamaki and Éclair. He announces to them that he is engaged to Éclair and once the festival is over, the Host Club will dissolve.

Kyaaa~ I am liking the deeper development in the plot! And totally enjoying the heavy hints of Tamaki/Haruhi. Doubt that BONES'll act on it, though. Perhaps a second season? (That was a request!=D) I am also loving Tamaki's mature side=D