Monday, October 16, 2006

Ouran Koukou Host Club Episode 26:
"This Is Our Ouran Festival (これが俺たちの桜蘭祭)"




The climax following on from last ep's little cliffie!


Haruhi leaves home without having any breakfast. It's revealed a little later in a flashback to the morning as remarked by her father that the last time she didn't eat breakfast for ages was when her mother passed away. Éclair shows up at the salon and seeks out Kyouya. She makes snide remarks about how he won't be able to inherit the Ootori empire, being the third son and all. She enquires about one Fujioka Haruhi's debt to the Host Club and proceeds to request for her company. She remarks about Tamaki's fondness for them which makes Haruhi wonder about any jealousy on the French girl's part. Éclair informs Haruhi that Tamaki won't be coming in anymore as per her orders. Kyouya later tells a wide-eyed Haruhi that her debt has been paid off and she can quit being a host anytime she liked. The Host Club are still worried about Tamaki's announcement the day before. Kyouya's father leaves Kyouya with a snide remark about wasting time on useless activities like the Host Club when Haruhi decides to step in, not being able to stand the man's treatment of his son. She defends Kyouya, saying that he is capable and that she admires him. He strives to make them happy, isn't that worthwhile? Ootori-san leaves, realising that Haruhi is the special scholarship student.

Chairman Suou and his mother are discussing the Grand Tonnerre company, worrying about their recent Japanese conquests. His mother thinks that with Tamaki's union with Éclair, they will instead continue to prosper even more. Chairman Suou, knowing that Tamaki lacks interest in the Suou family, wonders how the woman managed to get him to agree to make Éclair his fiancee. We learn that by agreeing to this arrangement, Tamaki is allowed to see his mother again. Cruel woman=( (I like how Chairman Suou has all these pix of Tamaki adorning his table!=D) We see Éclair looking contemplative in the shower before exiting to wrap her arms around Tamaki's neck as he sat on the piano stool. At this point, Tamaki's phone rings and she is enraged to be greeted by the smiling faces of Tamaki and Haruhi and a bunch of hearts signifying the phone's ringing. She unceremoniously plops the cell phone into the aquarium, saying with a fake smile that it would be better for him to not be attached to his friends. At this point there is an interruption as the butler announces a guest. It is Ootori-san! He is surprised to see Tamaki there, as is Tamaki to see him, and we discover that Grand Tonnerre is about to add the Ootori medical equipment company to it's list of conquests! We also learn that Ootori-san had intended for Kyouya to be his successor.

At the salon, the Host Club members are dressed up in their French medieval wear and Haruhi questions why she is the only one who looks female. Kyouya is still trying to reach Tamaki's cell phone to no avail, as he laments to the others. He calls the main house phone and reaches the housekeeper who reveals that Tamaki is going to leave Ouran and take a flight to France after the festival! Then Kyouya and the Host Club members look on in shock as they witness Tamaki and Éclair being driven away in a red convertible! They proceed to chase after the car but are met with resistance. Hunny, Morinozuka and Kyouya remain behind to finish off the guards while the Hitaachin twins and Haruhi make their getaway aboard the horse-drawn carriage that Tamaki requested to be imported in for the festival. They reasoned that by using a different, shorter route, they would be able to catch up to Tamaki's ride on the highway. The carriage topples at a pumpkin patch, injuring Hikaru. Kaoru runs after him and Hikaru laments about whether it's good for everything to just end this way. His words move Haruhi, who remembers what her father had said that morning about trying her best and not hesitating. A look of determination passes across her features and she removes her wig and outer finery. In a simple white under-gown and her short locks billowing in the breeze, she takes the reins and continues the chase to get Tamaki back!

She reaches the highway and is conveniently behind Tamaki's ride. He discovers her presence and looks on in wonder, as does Éclair. She tells him that they love the Host Club and want him to come back. She reaches out a hand to take him into the carriage and he stretches out an arm but is stopped by a sad-looking Éclair. Haruhi then gets thrown off by the momentum of the carriage and proceeds to begin her unplanned descent over the bridge. Tamaki and Éclair look on in horror. Tamaki turns to smile at Éclair, saying something to her before going after Haruhi. It's an amusing but Tamaki/Haruhi-shipping scene as they propel over the bridge, succumbing to the powers of gravity, Tamaki reaching out a hand to catch Haruhi who puts her hand in his. He clasps it tightly and hugs her to him with a content smile on his face.they propel over the bridge, succumbing to the powers of gravity, Tamaki reaching out a hand to catch Haruhi who puts her hand in his. He clasps it tightly and hugs her to him with a content smile on his face. Haruhi has an initial look of surprise before reciprocating, placing her arms around him, and then the two fall with a 'graceful' plop into the water below. Éclair looks on and speeds away. The driver enquires about the reason she was so intent on being with Tamaki: it was because of the housekeeper's words about her kind son who could play the piano beautifully, wasn't it? And so we know that the lady in that flashback really was Tamaki's mother. Éclair smiles sadly, remarking that he was an idiot for she would have let him see his mother. She feels happy, however, that he smiled for her=) Tellingly, her opera glasses are left behind, lying atop the bridge as she leaves, perhaps symbolising her new view on life with Tamaki sans rose purple-tinted glasses?

By the banks, a drenched Tamaki carries a similarly drenched Haruhi in his arms before placing her down. She looks up at him and gives him a smile, ascertaining that she is okay. The Host Club members come to greet them. And it is night-time and the Ouran festival is still going strong! Kyouya steals Haruhi's first dance, much to Tamaki's aggravation, before Kyouya tosses Haruhi into Tamaki's arms. The two dance as fireworks are set off, lighting up the night sky. Indoors, Tamaki and Kyouya's fathers are having a conversation. It is revealed that a student investor going by the moniker KO had swooped in in the nick of time to buy Ootori's medical equipment company before Grand Tonnerre could. He figured out it was Kyouya (well, it wasn't much of a disguise was it; KO?! Duh=p) and respects his son's abilities. The two men decide to be friendly with each other, like their sons are. That is, until Ootori-san says he would like to have Fujioka Haruhi be Kyouya's bride in the future. Chairman Suou says he's afraid they can't be friends quite yet because no way is he going to let that happen;) And so, the Host Club watches the fireworks downstairs as Ouran comes to it's end. Tamaki ends with a spiel similar to the 1st ep, explaining how the Host Club profits from entertaining bored rich girls. A game among the rich. In the music room, the members surround Haruhi who welcomes you to the Host Club Room ^_^

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