Ouran High School Host Club Volume 12 Review

Ouran High School Host Club, Volume 12  

Author: Bisco Hatori

Publisher: Viz Media

American release date: June 2, 2009

Format/Genre/Length: Manga/Shonen/200 pages

Publisher/Industry Age Rating: Teen

Overall Personal Rating: ★★★★★

Kyoya has made it his personal mission while in France to seek out Tamaki’s mother and bring back some word of how she is doing. To that end, and with his usual thoroughness, he devises a strategy to discover her whereabouts. Meanwhile back at home, Hikaru requests asylum with Mori while Hunny flies to Kaoru’s side, bearing well-meaning gifts.

Synopsis:

Word has gotten around about the sibling feud and fangirls are having a holiday! They see this as a very romantic situation, the brothers fighting over Haruhi. Something is afoot when Haruhi takes Hikaru to an amusement park, while Hunny brings Kaoru. An angry Mori demands to know what’s up. A bored Tamaki approaches his father in his office, something he never does, and confesses to his boredom, so his father offers to take him to lunch and buy him some nabe.

The twins reach an accord, and while maintaining their solidarity and togetherness, they launch a new campaign of individuality, beginning with a new hair color for one of them.

Back in France, the travelers visit an area that was a favorite getaway for the Impressionists. Kyoya is exhausted with his efforts on behalf of Tamaki, but he refuses to give up. The object of his endeavors, meanwhile, is very unhappy. He’d thought being without the others for ten days would be easy, but he hadn’t counted on the staff thinking he wouldn’t be home and having other plans, so he relies more and more on his father, clinging to him. One servant remains to protect Suoh Mansion #2, and she gives Tamaki a lot of food for thought about his future, and what he wants to do with it.

Haruhi has been trying to reach Kyoya but her calls don’t seem to be getting through to France. She finally gets him on the phone, but when she asks about Tamaki—unaware that he hasn’t gone on the trip with the others—Kyoya hems and haws and says that Tamaki has gotten diarrhea and can’t speak. Until Haruhi notices something strange in front of her house.

While Haruhi is dealing with a delicate stomach, Kyoya has discovered a woman who once worked for Tamaki’s family and goes to see her and gains great insights into his friend, and why he is the way he is. After talking to Haruhi, Tamaki has an idea of what he wants to do, and Kyoya has an idea where Tamaki’s mother might be.

In an extra story, Kuze’s Happy and Unhappy Everyday Life, we follow Takashi Kuze, American Football team captain, on his birthday.

Commentary:

While I was sad that Tamaki did not go to France with the others, I understand his selfless reasons. Kyoya’s search for Tamaki’s mother is very heartwarming and sheds new light on the sort of person he is, dispelling the myth of his lack of warmth and emotion. I’m happy that the twins have resolved their differences, although I thought Hikaru’s change was a bit extreme. I hope they aren’t serious about getting rid of the incest-play at the Host Club. I think their guests would be very saddened.

This volume of the Host Club has a lot of depth, and goes deep into the minds of some of the characters. I think my favorite scene was between Haruhi and Tamaki in the bathroom, when he’s shirtless. I had hopes, for just a moment…

I can only hope that one day these two will figure things out, and Tamaki will finally realize that he is not Haruhi’s father. I think they’d make a very cute couple.