A/N: Thinking about golden retrievers this show came to my mind right away, although I remembered that I also could’ve choose Beastars, but I’m really happy with how it turned out. Number 21 - Golden Retriever - of @vqler's Tickletober prompt list of 2025 ft. Tamaki and the Hitachiin twins as well as Tamaki’s dog Antoinette.
Words: 1,236 words under the cut
Sunlight filtered through the towering windows of Music Room 3, casting golden warmth over the scene of luxurious cushions, gleaming teacups and silk-draped tables. The Host Club was alive and buzzing today as well - not with its usual brand of dramatic flair and over-the-top declarations of love, but with a chorus of purrs, barks and delighted squeals.
“Today’s theme,” Tamaki declared grandly, standing on a small platform with one arm raised toward the heavens, “is Pet Play Paradise!” The present girls swooned in unison. Tamaki grinned as he continued, clapping his hands to get the girls attention once more.
“A gentle afternoon to bond with our adorable companions. Cats! Dogs! Bunnies! The softest and sweetest of our loyal friends gathered in one place to bring peace and comfort to your hearts!” he said almost theatrically, spreading out his arms and earning another fit of squeals from the girls.
Indeed, the entire room was filled with a furry charm today: The Hitachiin twins lounged across their shared chaise, each cradling a sleek, purring cat. Mitsukuni bounced beside a group of girls, introducing them to his beloved bunny Usa-chan (the real one). Mori hovered nearby, watchful but calm while Kyoya was tipping on his laptop, calculating the costs, like always. And in the center of it all, tethered with a pastel pink ribbon leash from a famous and overly-expensive luxury brand, sat Antoinette - Tamaki’s fluffy golden retriever.
“She’s so pretty!” a guest cooed, petting her behind the ears. “She’s so well-behaved,” another murmured as Antoinette gently bowed her head in a dainty pose. Tamaki beamed with pride. “She’s not just a dog, she’s a lady,” he said proudly. But Antoinette, with all her grace and poise, was still very much a puppy at heart.
Just as Tamaki leaned down to accept a paw-shake from her for a demonstration, Antoinette’s tail gave one happy thump and then she lunged. “W-Whoaaa-!” With a joyful bark Antoinette tackled Tamaki to the ground, sending them both rolling across a rug near the lounge space.
Tamaki landed on his back with a surprised oof, arms splayed out as his canine companion stood over him, tongue lolling and tail wagging furiously. “Antoinette! This is not proper- Pffft hAhah!! NohoHoho- Hehehe~ Antoinette!! StoHOhop!”
Antoinette was licking his face relentlessly, her warm tongue dragged across his cheek, his nose, even under his chin, while her paws nudged his shoulders. The girls squealed with delight. “Look how happy they are together!” “She’s kissing him!~” “Kyaa! Tamaki looks so cute like this!”
Tamaki, meanwhile, was laughing too hard to protest. His eyes squeezed shut, arms trying weakly to push her off, but he was no match for a determined golden retriever in play mode. “AhAhhaha A-AhaHntoineEhtte, pleHEhease! EhHEhehe noHoho!” His laughter rang out in honest, unfiltered bursts, echoing through the room.
From their perch nearby, the twins exchanged devilish grins. “Well, well…” Hikaru mused “…looks like someone’s quite sensitive,” Kaoru finished, eyes gleaming. “Too sensitive,” they said in unison. They both rose from their chaise in perfect sync, sat their cats on the cushions and stalked toward the downed King like hyenas on a golden-haired gazelle.
Tamaki finally managed to sit up, wiping his face and gasping between residual giggles. “A-Antoinette! That was most un-lady-like behavior, I- wait… What are you two-?” He didn’t get to finish. The twins pounced. “GOTCHA!” they cheered, each grabbing one of his arms and pinning him to the floor - Hikaru on the right, Kaoru on the left. “Wha-? NO! I FORBID-!!”
“You’re not the King right now, Tamaki,” Kaoru said cheerfully. “You’re just our tickle toy,” Hikaru added and without further ado, both of them dug into his sides at once.
“GYAAAAAHAHAH!!” Tamaki arched like a live wire had zapped him, laughter exploding from his lungs as ten fingers scribbled into his waist, kneading his ribs and pinching just above his hips. “NOOOHOHOHO! YOHOHOU CAHAHAN’T DO THIHIS!!” he wailed, already crying from laughter. This couldn’t be happening, everyone was watching, Haruhi was watching.
“Oh, but we can,” Hikaru said smugly, trailing a single finger up the side of Tamaki’s torso and back down in a swirl. “You look like you’re having a great time,” Kaoru chimed, grinning as he squeezed a particularly tender spot beneath Tamaki’s arm. The blonde was laughing so hard, he could barely speak. His legs kicked against the floor, hands flailing and grasping at air.
Antoinette, thrilled by the sudden energy, circled the three of them excitedly, barking in encouragement. She bounced and twirled in place, tongue out, tail wagging like a metronome. She clearly thought this was some kind of grand play-fight.
The girls were losing it. “Look at him! He’s laughing so hard!” “Is this an event? His laugh is so cute~” “They’re like a pile of puppies!” From a short distance away, Haruhi watched it all unfold, a book forgotten in her lap. She told herself she wasn’t staring, but it was hard not to.
Tamaki - usually so composed, dramatic and princely - was now writhing in helpless giggles, flushed pink from ear to ear. His hair was mussed, his uniform riding up slightly as he twisted beneath the twins' onslaught and he was smiling so genuinely, so freely. Just like a golden retriever, she thought. He looked so happy.
The image struck her unexpectedly hard and her cheeks burned. Back on the floor, Tamaki was now howling, laughter cracking with breathless gasps. “STAHAAHAP! HIKARU! KAORU! I’M DYING!!” “Drowning in laughter, more like it,” Hikaru quipped. “We should save him. Like lifeguards,” Kaoru agreed. “N-NOHOHOT WITH MORE TICKLING!!”
But the twins had no mercy. They shifted again, now digging their fingers along his stomach, drawing figure-eights with feather-light touches that made Tamaki snort through his own laughter. He tried rolling away, only to be caught between them. “You’re awfully ticklish today, King,” Kaoru teased, lightly scratching near Tamaki’s lowest ribs.
“You should laugh more often,” Hikaru added, grinning as Tamaki hiccupped from laughter, “our guests are loving it~” From across the room, Antoinette gave a proud woof. “AhAHAh thAhat’s- noHohoHO!” Finally, desperate, teary-eyed and bright pink in the face, Tamaki turned toward Haruhi. “H-Haruhiii-!!” he gasped between helpless laughs. “HEHEHELP ME!!”
He reached out a shaking hand toward her with pleading eyes. She was his last hope to get him out of this ticklish hell. Haruhi’s eyes widened and before she could even consider standing, Kaoru saw the outstretched arm and struck. “Opportunity!” He plunged his fingers into Tamaki’s exposed armpit - that did it. Tamaki screeched. “WAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!”
His whole body bucked, laughter jumping an octave. His feet kicked, his arms flailed and for a second, it really did look like he might levitate from the sheer intensity of it. The room erupted into applause and giggles from the watching guests.
“Annnnd that’s game!” Hikaru announced, finally pulling back. Kaoru followed, both boys standing with satisfied smirks as Tamaki collapsed in a heap on the floor, red-faced, panting and still giggling softly. Antoinette immediately ran over and began licking his cheek again, tail wagging as if to say, Good job, you did it!
Haruhi, still having a reddish blush on her cheeks, looked away and tried to return to her book, but her eyes lingered on Tamaki for just a moment longer and she smiled. Yes, when he was like this, he really looked like a dog… a very cute one…
#the amazing digital circus
#coquette
#photography
#love and deepspace
#iron lung
