Ruriiro pessimism

PAGE 3:

Hi everyone, I’m ico.
After falling in love with the host club anime, I thought to myself: “A-All right, it’s time to make a parody on it!” But I still think to myself sometimes if it was really a good idea to start off with a Nekozawa book...
But I can’t help it! Not only is Umehito so beautiful, he’s also just so sweet as a lover!
He already blew me away in the manga, but the anime version even takes it further...
On that day, I was *this* close to dying from all the moe.
Typically Tamaki’s the one I fawn over, but by the time I realized it, I ended up making a book about Umehito.
I honestly ended up completely drawing down all my raw thoughts almost 1:1... Usually I at least think about the people who’d be reading it, but... sorry. After shoving so much into this just like one of those bowls of ramen that are chock full of toppings, what resulted was a surprisingly pretty normal Umehito... or something like that?
Anyway, this is a really crazy book, and there are some wonderful guests showing up too, so I think I managed to make some really splendid and exciting (in my personal opinion). I hope you’ll at least somewhat to your liking... ＾＾;
P-Please read it with an open mind... (laughs)
I hope you’ll stick with it to the very end...

PAGE 4:

0: (top right) Nekozawa-senpai 1
1: M-Morning, everyone...
2: slam
3: Nekozawa-senpai! // What happened?!
4: It’s nothing... I just happened to get attacked...
5: It happened as soon as I turned the corner... It was quite frightening...
6: Whaaaaaat?! // Who would do such a thing to our president?! // We should curse them!
7: You mustn't underestimate... I wasn’t able to do a single thing... I’ve never felt so powerless before in my life!
8: Ahhh! Just thinking about that terrifying dust devil is making me shiver to no end!!!
9: ...He’s making such a big deal over just getting exposed to the wind.
10: There’s no doubt that we’d be surrounded by wind as deadly as that once Armageddon falls upon us...
11: Everyone! Let’s continue concentrating our magical energy together so that we’ll be ready for when that day arrives!
12: That’s our Nekozawa-senpai... How lovely!

PAGE 5:

1: (outside of the panels) Nekozawa’s Goal
2: Hello, Suoh-kun ♥
3: ....!
4: Gyaaah! Nekozawa-senpai!
5: Could you stop popping out of nowhere like that all the time?!
6: Fufufufufu. Come now, don’t be like that.
7: Don’t you think Nekozawa-senpai seems to love hanging around the boss?
8: Maybe he’s after something like us?
9: What do you mean?
10: Well, Haruhi...
11: I mean something like this.
12: Now, Suoh-kun. Let us become crystals of the sweet darkness and reach the far ends of the- (cutoff)
13: Wait, Hikari!
14: It could be something like this, too!
15: There’s no need to be afraid, Nekozawa-senpai. I’m here with you.

PAGE 6:

1: Y’know,
2: if you ask me...
3: I think it’d be cuter
4: if it was something like this.
5: Yeah... I think that’d be the more likely scenario. (smaller text) I kinda get it.
6: (bubbleless) Right?
7: (bubbleless) Seriously?
8: (bubbleless) That’s disgusting.
9: I swear, it’s nothing like that, Haruhi! They’re all wrong!
10: Fufufufufufu, Suoh-kuuun ♥

PAGE 7:

1: (top right) Nekozawa-senpai 2
2: Oh? Isn’t that Nekozawa-senpai over there?
3: Yeah... He seems to be pretty restless for some reason.
4: The bathroom’s over there, by the way.
5: (left of 4) -Twins
6: ding dong ding dong
7: twitch
8: Muuuuu!
9: ...Mu?
10: What’s “Mu”?
11: (bubbleless) Dunno...
12: Oh, that’s right, today’s when MU goes on sale...
13: (bubbleless next to long-haired armored person thing) MU
14: So that’s the kind of thing Nekozawa-senpai likes to read... Well, I can’t say I have much interest in it.
15: You can think of it as Animage for rich people.

PAGE 8:

1: Faced With Danger
2: Haah... Hah
3: Haah
4: ...Haah
5: Haah
6: Kukuku... That’s a dead end, there’s nowhere else for you to run...!
7: Give it up, Nekozawa-senpai!
8: Stop...!
9: Whoa! Your skin’s just like Tamaki’s! I can’t get enough of it!
10: Stop, please...
11: Take this!
12: Hyaaah!
13: (bottom right) I hate how this guy’s kind of like me...

PAGE 9:

1: There! How’s it feel to have your shameful parts illuminated with light!
2: Ah... Auu... I’m dying!!
3: Hey now, it’s too soon for you to kick the bucket!
4: I need to bathe you more with the light from this incandescent lamp!
5: I’m gonna turn up the watts!
6: Ahhhhh!
7: The end.
8: Whaaat/! It was just getting to the good part!
9: What’s going to happen?! What’s going to happen when he turns up the watts?!
10: I want to hear more exciting things!
11: Hohohohohohohohohoho. I’m afraid regulations have been stricter as of late.
12: Lady Kirimi would like more extreme portrayals.
13: It appears that she prefers it when Master Umehito is the one being dominated.
14: My, how wonderful ♥
15: Thank you so much for your purchases as usual.
16: (bottom left) ...I sincerely apologize to anyone who might be affected by this...

PAGE 10:

1: (top right) Umehito is Trying His Hardest
2: Hmm... I see... Oh...!
3: (seat) Neko Seat.
4: So this is effective in increasing one’s magical power! (bold text) All right!
5: Fufufufufufu
6: As long as I keep doing this, I’ll soon become an all-powerful sorcerer!
7: That way I’m sure to surprise Kirimi and Suoh-kun even more!
8: I implore you, power of the hexagram seal! (supplied by MU)
9: Directly speak to my mind!
10: Elohim, Essaim!!
11: (left of panel) There actually was something like this in the past.
12: Master Umehito!
13: (sfx right of 12) knock knock
14: You’re going to be late! Please wake up!
15: (far left bubbleless) Snoring like a demon

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PAGE 12:

1: Suoh-kun...
2: Why don’t we spend...
3: Hmm?
4: (title) The Ideal Onii-san -Araya
5: this exciting Saturday night together... ♥
6: What’s up with you all of a sudden?!
7: Yay! Onii-chama!
8: Homo? BL? Yaoi? Are you a top or bottom, Onii-chama?
9: Where did you learn those words, Kirimi-chan?!

PAGE 13:

1: Well you see, Kirimi’s gotten really into BL manga lately, so as her older brother, I want to become as close to her ideal image as possible...
2: What the heck are you letting your sister read?!
3: First of all, what reason is there for you to hit on me specifically? Can’t you just do that kind of stuff on your own?
4: Oh, I see, so you’re a top... Then I don’t mind being the bottom ♥
5: (arrow) Haruhi
6: Don’t strip!! // Put your clothes back on and stop making that face!
7: My, my... I suppose I’ll have to cast a curse on you next time, then...
8: I’m sorry Kirimi... Suoh-kun ended up outright rejecting me... Haha...
9: Beelzenef gijinka ♥
10: What’s up with these siblings?!
11: I hope you’ll be satisfied with just Beelzenef x Me then, Kirimi...
12: I’m sorry for this turning out to be so idiotic, ico-san...

PAGE 14:

1: (top left) Kirimi-tan Afterwards. -Narita
2: (top right panel) I see...! // I’m glad you’ve been getting along so well!
3: It’s all thanks to you, Suoh-kun...
4: I’m really happy for you, Nekozawa-senpai.
5: Yes... I’m truly grateful to you...
6: You must be happy, Kirimi-chan.
7: Hey, what kind of relationship so you and Onii-chama actually have?
8: Huh?
9: Um, well, he’s my upperclassman, I suppose...
10: Wrong!!

PAGE 15:

1: Lady Kirimi is asking whether you’re the “top” or the “bottom”.
2: (top left panel in the background) Top? Bottom?
3: You can leave that to me!!
4: High-powered Motor
5: Unfortunately, both Nekozawa-senpai and Tatsuki-san are complete bottoms. If you really must insist that they be a pair, then they’d be more like a yuri yuri pair, I’d say! // ...In fact, I’d say that it’d be more moe to have Kyoya-sama take control of them ♥
6: (below 4) That’s very helpful to know, isn’t it, Lady Kirimi? ♥
7: Complete bottoms? Yuri yuri? Take control?!
8: I’m really glad that they’ve been getting along well, but lately Kirimi’s been learning all these weird words...! Isn’t there anything you could do to help me?
9: Sorry, but... I can already see where this is going to go... There’s nothing I can do... (popping out of bubble) It’s Renge-kun 2.0...
10: End.

PAGE 16:

0: (blurry top right) Kirimi Afterwards 2
1: Here is your costume, Master Umehito.
2: W-What is this?!
3: (below 2) (bold) Oh my (normal) I seemed to have made a mistake.
4: (right of 3) Don’t you think you should’ve realized it before you put it on?
5: You look good in anything you wear, after all.
6: Um... that’s not the problem here...
7: Kirimi is watching her pretty Onii-chama as usual today.
8: Ahhh! This one’s wrong, too...!
9: Magic mirror
10: Onii-chama’s both a prince and a princess ♥

PAGE 17:

1: (top left) Kirimi-tan Afterwards 3
2: Onii-chama, let’s play horsey ♥
3: This is the first time she’s ever asked me to do anything...!
4: (third panel, right) Here’s the horsey!
5: (third panel, left) Kyah! Kyah! This is so fun!
6: (fourth panel, top right) All right, now cry!!
7: slap
8: Huh?!
9: She’s saying those weird things again...!!

Congratulations on the publication of your Umehito book!!!
Thank you so much for making the Umehito book we all desperately needed!!!
...It’s honestly kind of pathetic how we’re doing guest works for each other, lol

I’m sure our thoughts were in sync like we were twins or something this spring, lol.
Blood relations can be a scary thing!

Personally speaking, deep inside I want Tamaki to be the one hitting on Umehito!!! Umehito would be the one accepting his advances...

Sorry for this mess of an end product, lol.
I haven’t really drawn Umehito that much so I apologize.
But Umehito really is someone dear to my heart!!! lol

-Narita

PAGE 18:

1: (top right) Thinking of Her Brother
2: What’s wrong, Onii-chama?
3: Looks like a mosquito got to me.
4: And in two places, at that.
5: Huh?
6: A mosquito?
7: Mosquitos suck on human blood. Once you get bit by one, that spot gets super itchy.
8: It’s been so long since I’ve had such high quality blood...
9: It feels almost like I’m drinking aged wine straight from the cask!
10: Ahh... Stop that... It itches...!
11: It itches...!
12: Scary, right? Your skin often ends up being the most exposed during the summer, so be careful...
13: You don’t have to cry, Kirimi.
14: Hyaaah! Oh gosh!
15: Kirimi is heading straight down the path of becoming a corrupted girl.

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1: I have a suggestion for you all. I believe the Host Club should receive a new member.
2: (below 1) Renge’s Scheme
3: W-What’s this all of a sudden...?
4: Back off, otaku.
5: The Host Club is missing a certain something as of right now!
6: Is that right? Let’s hear it!
7: Is everyone ready? Well, then...
8: Here he is!
9: Hello, members of the Host Club... I’m happy to hear you are seeking my assistance..
10: What would you like me to do? Fufufufufufu...

PAGE 20:

1: Why would we ask you to do anything for us? Go home already. You too, otaku.
2: Take a proper look before saying anything, would you?! Ready?
3: Ahh...! What are you...?!
4: Ah... Ahh... It’s so bright... Please stop...
5: You’re going to shorten my lifespan...
6: This is it, this is it, this is it!!!!
7: (in her mouth, lower left) Moe

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1: The moe genre the Host Club is lacking the most right now is the whole “When that final branch falls, my life will drift away...” kind of thing! The flame of life that seems like it’d extinguish just from breathing on it... The incarnation of fleetingness! That type of constitution that miraculously overshadows any possible personality problems to an extent! That’s right, I’m talking about none other than the Weak Sickly Prince type!!
2: Not to mention, don’t you think Nekozawa-senpai’s the kind of person that really catches the eye? Do you understand?
3: What is she saying?
4: Um... I wasn’t really planning on doing any of that...
5: Whatever, we’ve had enough of this! Shut this otaku up already, Haruhi!
6: How could this be?! I’ve been disillusioned! This is horrible!
7: ...I’m scared, Haruhi... *whine*

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1: And that’s pretty how it’ll work, Kyoya-sama. I promise to team up with Nekozawa-senpai and increase the Host Club’s customers by threefold. (smaller text) What do you think of my idea?
2: Selling Nekozawa-senpai as a sickly prince in contrast to Tamaki’s more orthodox prince character, huh...?
3: It might be worth trying out?
4: Huuh?! Are you serious, Kyoya-senpai?!
5: I’ve been thinking of switching things up for a while now. What do you think, Tamaki?
6: Hmm... As long as it’s temporary.
7: Then it’s settled. I’ll be counting on you, Renge-kun.
8: Of course! Leave it to me!
9: I can’t believe this... This is impossible for me, it’s too embarrassing...
10: Ugh, yeah... I totally get you.
11: Huh?! You agree with him, Haruhi?!
12: And thus, Nekozawa-senpai joined the Host Club.

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PAGE 24:

1: (top right) Renge’s Scheme 2
2: Is it true that the Host Club has a new member?
3: Today’s the announcement party for that, isn’t it?
4: I wonder what kind of person he’d be?
5: I’m so excited~
6: Apologies for the long wait.
7: I’d like to announce that the Host Club will be temporarily having a new member join us. This member has a very delicate constitution, so we’ll be dimming the lights a little.
8: (below 6) Oh, my... does he have a frail body?
9: Oh gosh.
10: He’s still not ready to take on guests one-on-one, so we’ll be offering you the option of which host you’d like to accompany him. // Now then...

PAGE 25:

1: Give him a

PAGE 26:

1: warm welcome.

PAGE 27:

1: Kyaaaah ♥
2: (bubbleless) Moe Wave
3: Uu... E-Excuse me... (smaller text) I-It’s too bright, I’m going to die...!
4: Sickly!!!
5: I’ll take the Tamaki-sama set!
6: I want him with Hikari-kun and Kaoru-kun!
7: I want Honey-senpai and the sickly host, please...
8: Mori-kun is so lovely!
9: I’ll take Haruhi-kun!
10: Thank you very much.
11: What are your hobbies?
12: Um... I do a little bit of fortune telling...
13: He’s really introverted, isn’t he?
14: I wouldn’t have it any other way~ ♥
15: He’s really popular, huh...?
16: Urgh... I’ll never understand what the maidens find “moe”...

PAGE 28:

1: (top right) Kirimi’s Request
2: Onii-chama!
3: I have a favor to ask of you!
4: ...Hmm? What is it? // I’ll listen to whatever you have to ask.
5: I want you to stay with me for a whole day without going anywhere... // I’ll be okay with dark rooms, don’t wear anything black, okay?
6: Kirimiiiii!!!
7: I’ll do it, Kirimi! I’ll take a day off from school!
8: I’ll be none other than
9: your Onii-chama for the rest of the day!
10: Yay, thank you, Onii-chama!
11: I have another favor to ask, Onii-chama!
12: Of course! What is it?

PAGE 29:

1: K-Kiri... Kirimi? What is this exactly...?
2: It’s our maid outfit! (smaller text) I asked Kuretake to let me borrow it!
3: (smaller text) I know that, but... (normal text) ...Why am I wearing this?
4: Do you not like it?

PAGE 30:

1: Heavens, no!!
2: I’ve always wanted to try wearing this at least once.
3: Yay! It looks really good on you, Onii-chama!
4: Ahahahahaha!
5: Onii-chama, over here!
6: Wait, Kirimi!
7: Ufufufufu~
8: Does the banana taste good, Onii-chama?
9: Eh ush! (It does!)
10: This is so fun!

PAGE 31:

1: The Maid Set has sold out, thank you so much for your purchases.
2: Eeeek! W-W-W-W-Why do you have that?!
3: I couldn’t possibly lose out on the great money to be made from this~ (smaller text) Nice idea, Kirimi-chan!
4: Neko-chan hasn’t come back to school ever since he collapsed the other day. (smaller text) I’m worried...
5: Just like his scenario suggested, his life as a Host Club member truly was short.
6: I’m grateful for his contribution to our earnings.
7: Now I won’t have to worry about Nekozawa-senpai following me around for a while, now...!!
8: Huh? It’s over?

PAGE 32:

It’s finally over...
It’s been a while since I’ve made a full-on book, so it was really tough!
I’m not gonna do these anymore! lol
I can now say farewell to those days of looking at my manuscript and going “What kind of book is this?” with a straight face!
I pushed out this book because my guests told me to draw it.
Thank you so much for these godly Umehito manuscripts! They’re just too amazing!!
They were lined up so well that it was like I was getting multiple deja vu moments all at once! yes!

I honestly wanted to have more skits with these Host Club members to show off how interesting they are and how cute Tamaki and Umehito and everyone else is, but whatever! The Host Club is amazing!! (basically)
Anyway, thank you so much for sticking with this cringe and stuffy book all the way to the end.
Having my hands full with working on my own manuscript seriously is tough on me, so I probably won’t be doing it anymore, but maybe I’ll suddenly get an impulse to draw Tamaki x Umehito stuff again someday, who knows. (Possibly?)
Oh, that’s right, there was something I was worried about...
I really hope this book won’t cause those already scarce Umehito fans out there to further drop!
Everyone, please make more Umehito books! (desperate)
Anyway, I’ll be casually cheering on the Host Club from here on out. Maybe I’ll see you guys again someday. ^^
And again, thank you so much!