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Episode 25 - The Host Club's Declaration of Dissolution
Japanese Title: Hosuto Kurabu Kaisan Sengen
Based On: Volume 6/Chapters 22-26*
Airdate: September 19, 2006
Summary: The 43rd Ouran School Festival is about to begin! Students are bustling all around on campus, organizing last minute preparations as the opening ceremony starts.
But no one seems to be as busy as the Host Club as they open to the public for the two-day period of the festival. Tamaki and the others charm students and parents alike in the Central Salon. Yuzuru Suoh, Tamaki's father and superintendent of Ouran, drops in as well to meet Haruhi and talk to his only son.
But everything starts to take on an ominous feeling after Kyoya's father slaps him in the middle of the salon in front of everyone. He can't believe that Kyoya has been participating in a ridiculous club all this time. If that's not enough, Tamaki's grandmother also makes an appearance. She despises Tamaki though he greets her with the excitement and respect. And when she tells him to escort Eclair Tonnerre for the entire duration of the festival, Tamaki humbly agrees.
The Host Club can't believe that Tamaki's going to be with Eclair for both days, and wonders who exactly she is. Renge informs the Host Club that Eclair Tonnerre is the third daughter of the Tonnerre family, who are French nobility. Not only that, Kyoya adds, but the Tonnerre family are also the owners of Grand Tonnerre, a foreign investment company that has been buying Japan's country's corporations one after another lately. They've caused quite a commotion in the financial world.
Meanwhile, back with Eclair and Tamaki, she brings up doubts in Tamaki's mind about the reasons for the host club, and how it's just everyone following his own selfish whims, while he causes problems for them. After an interruption by Haruhi, whom Eclair suggests is jealous, Tamaki tries to go after her but Eclair stops him. She tells Tamaki that she can give him what he wants.
Back with the other Host Club members, Haruhi finally finds out about Tamaki's troubled past. He is the son of a mistress. Twenty-something years ago, when the previous master of the Suoh family passed away early, Tamaki's grandmother had her son, Yuzuru, enter into a marriage of convenience with someone she picked. And so, Yuzuru succeeded his father. But a few years later, he met and fell in love with a girl in France. Then, Tamaki came into the world. Yuzuru divorced his lawful wife and tried to marry and bring both his love and Tamaki to Japan. However, the grandmother vehemently objected. Because of her weak body, Tamaki's mother couldn't adjust to life in Japan, and so, Tamaki grew up in France for fourteen years.
Tamaki had a joyful childhood, but then, his mother's family business began to falter and they developed a huge debt. Tamaki's grandmother began to worry that there would be no heir to the Suoh empire, and so, made a proposal. She would make sure that Tamaki's mother and her family would never have to worry about money for the rest of their lives. However, Tamaki would come to Japan alone and never see his mother again.
Although the master of the Suoh family is Yuzuru, Tamaki's grandmother still holds the highest power. Without the aid of the Suoh money, Tamaki's mother would have surely died because of her weak body. Tamaki agreed to go to Japan alone, and asked his mother to get better. Whether from loneliness or guilt because she exchanged Tamaki for money, his mother went into seclusion. Since then, Tamaki has never seen his mother.
Haruhi had no idea that Tamaki's past was so tragic. However, Kyoya and the others say they are glad Tamaki is who he is. He's been able to overcome everything, and he's still with them - the host club.
Tamaki enters then to tell them of an important announcement. He has decided to become engaged to Eclair Tonnerre. Also, once the Ouran Festival is over, the Host Club will be dissolved.
Is this really the end for the Host Club?
Screencaps: 1,024
*Note: This anime episode is actually an original storyline with elements from the manga. The animation staff took the major story concept of Volume 6 - the school festival arc - but made a totally new story not seen in the manga. They took some character costume designs, snagged some story plot elements and dialogue, but the overall story is an anime original.
Manga Version:
• The Host Club is not dissolved.
• Tamaki does not have a fiancée - she is an anime original character.
• Kyoya's father does not slap him.
• More to come...