Karino Makoto~

"Let's all play the 'Which one is Hikaru' game!" the twins said in unison. The girls around them were giggling and clapping and Hika-chan and Kao-chan pulled the attention to their identical selves. The twins were up to some nonsense again. I sighed. I suppose as long as the girls liked it, Kyoya-Senpai wouldn't stop them.

I glanced over from my table as I set down Mitsu-Senpai's share of strawberry cake and tea in front of him. Kyoya-Senpai put Mitsu-Senpai and I at the same table for today. Something about a lolita package. Nii-Sama complained quite a bit before the club started, saying how he didn't trust Mitsu-Senpai to host with me and how Nii-Sama wanted me to host with him instead. Kyoya-Senpai denied it, so Nii-Sama's act today was a sad older brother and his guests were attempting to comfort him.

"So... can you tell which one of us is Hikaru?" The twins smiled as they used identical poses, further mixing themselves up. They hopefully know this, but they aren't as hard to tell apart as they think they are. Their personalities and voices and overall character are very different from each other. Either the girls here were really simple-minded and couldn't tell them apart, or they were just playing along with the devil twins.

"Kari-chan!" Mitsu-Senpai called, pulling my attention away from them after only a few seconds of watching their game. I could've sworn that he shot a glare towards Hika-chan and Kao-chan, but when I looked at his face, he was smiling happily as he patted the seat next to him.

"Come sit and let's eat some cake, Kari-chan!" He tugged on my arm and sat me down right next to him, albeit a bit closer than I was sitting before I had gone to get cake. Picking up a cake, he grabbed the fork one the plate and sliced a piece off. He hesitated for a second, and I swear I saw a hint of a scheme being plotted, before holding it out to me.

"Say ah!" The girls around him giggled and squealed slightly, but I was just happy to be getting cake. I opened my mouth and took the piece of cake Mitsu-Senpai held out to me.

"Tasty!" I exclaimed with a wide smile. He returned my smile, flowers floating around him as he took a bite of the cake himself.

"Oh, how bold," I heard one of the girls whisper. I looked at her, tilting my head in confusion.

"Onee-Sama, what was bold?" I asked cutely. She blushed, turning away but not answering. I still didn't understand what was going on, so I turned to Mitsu-Senpai. Surprisingly, he had stopped eating his cake, the plate and fork in his lap as his cheeks flushed red.

"Mitsu-Senpai?!" I shrieked, a bit shocked. What happened?! Why was his face all red?! "Mori-Senpai! Something's wrong with Mitsu-Senpai!"

"Nothings wrong!" Mitsu-Senpai quickly tried to deny, shaking his head side to side vehemently.

"You look like you're having a high fever," I insisted, leaning forward to place my forehead against his. Before our foreheads even touched, I could feel the heat radiating off of his face. In a split second, he quickly grabbed my shoulders and pushed me to arm's length while looking down at his lap. "Mori-Senpai! I swear he's burning up! He's sick isn't he?!"

"Yes, he is," Mori-Senpai replied in his usual stoic tone.

"He needs to go to the doctor!" I quickly hopped out of my seat, quickly smoothing out the yellow Ouran uniform I was wearing as I got to my feet. Before I could head out the door to find the nurse for Mitsu-Senpai, he scooted over to where I had been sitting and quickly wrapped his arms around my waist, locking them tightly so that I couldn't leave. The girls at our table squealed loudly as I felt Mitsu-Senpai carefully lean his head on my back.

"I-I don't need a doctor," he said, keeping me in place so I couldn't turn around.

"You do though," I said with a sigh. Since I couldn't turn around to look at him, I turned to the guests sitting at the table with big puppy eyes. "Onee-Samas... Mitsu-Senpai isn't listening to me. Don't you agree that he needs to see a doctor?"

"Don't worry Kari-Chan!" one of the girls said with a giggle. "Honey-Senpai doesn't need a doctor."

"Onee-Sama!" I whined as they laughed at me. I slumped down, though not really slumping much since Mitsu-Senpai was still leaning on me and holding me by my waist. After a few more seconds of whimpering like an injured puppy, I gave up and tapped at Mitsu-Senpai's hands that were locked near my stomach. "You can let go now. I won't go running to the nurse."

From behind, I felt Mitsu-Senpai nuzzle his head slightly into my back before he released me. When I turned around with a glare for him using force to keep me still, he simply smiled at me, his face still looking a bit warm, before heading back to the cake platter that had been placed aside on the couch. I replied by sticking my tongue out at him before I gave up and sat back down, picking up my own slice of chocolate cake.

Suddenly, I heard a slight commotion coming from Hika-chan and Kao-chan's area. I turned slightly, taking my attention off the conversation the girls and Mitsu-Senpai were holding to check out the situation at the twins' table.

"Have you got a problem with it, Haruhi?" the twins asked as Haru-chan walked past them. I could only assume that Haru-chan had said something about how stupid their game was.

"Not really," she stated as she turned around. "I just don't understand why the two of you are so popular." My eyes widened in amusement as I turned towards Mitsu-Senpai, who paused his conversation and tilted his head to the side in question.

"Haru-chan is really blunt isn't she?" I giggled. He glanced over at the unfolding scene too, quickly figuring out the situation and giggled with me, nodding his head in agreement.

"I'm disappointed," Hika-chan sighed.

"Apparently, you don't understand the merits of having a pair of twins as members of the host club," Kao-chan added on.

"Listen up! Having a couple of good looking guys with homosexual tendencies earns the club high points. It also helps if the two struggle between their attraction and their friendship." To prove his point, he grabbed Kao-chan's chin and turned it towards himself. The girls squealed as they continued their explanation.

"And in our case, because we're twins, our relationship is taboo, and therefore more intriguing." Kao-chan wrapped his arms around Hika-chan's neck as Hika-chan placed his hands on his brother's waist. Their position produced louder squeals from their fans. I swear, my ears are going to start bleeding if they scream any louder. I whimpered slightly as the dog-whistle like sound continued, resting my chin on the back of the couch Mitsu-Senpai and I were sitting on.

"And besides, who hasn't fantasied about twins? Having two loves is better than one don't you think?" Hika-chan grabbed the chin of one of their customers, turning her head towards him.

"It's a young woman's romantic fantasy." Kao-chan stole the attention of that very same girl Hika-chan was just harrassing - uh, I mean, entertaining. As the girl that they were crowding around gave in to the twin's temptations, I felt a small tap on my shoulder. Turning toward Mitsu-Senpai, I found him looking down at his lap while twiddling his thumbs.

"Two loves is better than one.... do you think that too, Kari-chan?" Mitsu-Senpai looked towards me with a look that I couldn't pinpoint.

"I won't bash the idea..." I started with a giggle, "but I'm more of a monogamy type of girl. Before that though, I feel like my ears are bleeding." Mitsu-Senpai seemed satisfied with my answer, lifting his head with a bright smile.

"Don't worry. You're not bleeding," he assured me after brushing my silver hair back to check.

"Not yet you mean," I grumbled, slumping down in the chair as the girls around the twins' table continued screeching. Mitsu-Senpai shot me a look of pity before he handed me another plate of cake. I happily accepted to offering and devoured it in a breath.

Once I had cleaned the plate clean of cake, I looked back over towards Hika-chan and Kao-chan. Tamaki-Senpai had made his way there with a laptop, showing a photoshopped picture of Haru-chan. I know because I helped the twins photoshop it. However, Tamaki-Senpai apparently couldn't tell, and he began to make a big fuss over the picture. Mori-Senpai picked up Mitsu-Senpai and I, placing me on his shoulder as he held Mitsu-Senpai up to see the picture.

"You look great, Haru-chan!" Mitsu-Senpai commented. I nodded my head in agreement, even though I knew it was photoshopped. The twins and I did a great job with the picture if I do say so myself! Mitsu-Senpai and I continued to admire the picture with the girls who had swarmed the picture, but I heard Tamaki making a commotion behind us, claiming that the twins bribed Haru-chan to take these pictures.

"You're imagining things. It's obvious the photo's been altered." The twins gave Tamaki-senpai a deadpan look.

"It was photoshopped?" Tamaki-Senpai asked in shock.

"We did a pretty good job, huh?"

"We've got some major photoshopping talent!"

"I helped too!" I piped in from Mori-Senpai's shoulders. They can't take all the credit.

Suddenly, Tamaki-senpai burst again, claiming our skills were wasted and how we should've photoshopped her into some dresses. I giggled lightly at Tamaki-Senpai. Photoshopping Haru-chan into dresses wouldn't be hard, but then she'd get found out.

Gently, I felt Mori-Senpai take me off his shoulder, handling me as if I were a porcelain doll. Perhaps he was tired of holding me on his shoulder? I looked at him and smiled, trying to assure him that despite my many wounds, I wouldn't break. He stared back in his usual stoic way, but I swear I saw a small sad smile before he, for some bizarre reason, placed me on Mitsu-Senpai's shoulders. I hadn't even known that he had put Mitsu-Senpai on the ground.

I blushed very faintly as I got situated on the small blonde's shoulders. My weight didn't seem bother Mitsu-Senpai at all. That's how strong my Mitsu-Senpai was. As Mori-Senpai fully released me, Mitsu-Senpai's hands wrapped around ankles to hold me securely. In return, I placed my hands in his soft hair, playing with it a little bit. Mitsu-Senpai tilted his head up slightly and looked up at me, a wide smile spreading across his face when our eyes met. With a secure grip on me, he turned back and walked over to where Tamaki-senpai was bothering Haru-chan.

"What do you think about this, my dear," he said, holding up a dress toward's Haru-chan.

"What're you doing with that dress?" Mitsu-Senpai questioned. I patted him on the head and he looked up at me.

"He wants Haru-chan to wear the dress, Mitsu-Senpai. Weren't you listening to him earlier?"

"Nope!" He smiled at me happily. Without missing a beat, Mitsu-Senpai ran over to our sweets table. I let out a yelp at the sudden movement, before laughing as he skidded to a stop. Carefully, he let go of one of my ankles, picking up a chocolate strawberry and offering it to me. Without a second thought, I leaned toward his hand and took a bite of the fruit.

"Karino! What do you and Honey-Senpai think you're doing?" Both Mitsu-Senpai and I turned to face the incoming threat, AKA Nii-Sama. I looked down at Mitsu-Senpai, a bit confused. He lifted one of his hands, shrugging ever so slightly while trying to not jostle me. Mori-Senpai had put me on Mitsu-Senpai a while ago, and it wasn't that hard to spot my silver hair above the sea of yellow now. Why was it only now that Nii-Sama freaked out? Maybe he was talking about us eating while walking?

"We're eating and walking," I told Onii-Sama after I swallowed my bite of the chocolate strawberry. "Don't worry. We won't choke."

"That's not what I meant! You guys are touching!" He reached us by the time he had finished his last word and lifted me off of Mitsu-Senpai's shoulders and back onto the ground. I sighed in disappointment that I was once again shorter than everyone else in the room.

"Don't you know, Karino? Touching is not allowed because it leads to babies. You know how babies are made? First, you hold hands. That's how it all starts. And it all goes downhill from there."

"Does that mean I can't hold your hand, Nii-Sama?"

"We're related so that doesn't count," he rushed out. "However, you and Honey-Senpai aren't related! And therefore, you. Can't. Hold. Hands! Or touch for that matter!"

"Nii-Sama," I whined.

"No. Touching. Got it?" He gave me a look that said his words were final. I nodded in agreement, a little dejected that I couldn't hold hands with Mitsu-Senpai or, apparently, even sit on his shoulders. As Nii-Sama turned away to return to his guests, I smirked at his back, turning to Mitsu-Senpai and grasping his hands in my own. Quickly, I pulled Mitsu-Senpai into a hug, leaning in so my lips were next to his ear.

"If just holding hands equates to pregnancy, you'd take responsibility right?" Before Mitsu-Senpai could reply, I released him, faking an innocent smile. He stared back in shock as I flashed him a peace sign before bounding over to Nii-Sama before he realized I wasn't following.

"As we were saying, in order to entertain oneself in this otherwise boring life, one must find himself stimulating toys," Hika-chan and Kao-chan were explaining to Haruhi when we returned.

"I'm not your toy!" Haru-chan raged.

"I have some stuffed animals if you guys want toys," I offered to them. It wasn't very nice of them to call Haru-chan a toy...

"You want a toy?" Someone asked. He had emerged from a door that creaked slightly as it opened. "Toys. Toys. If you like toys then you should come visit my Black Magic Club. We've opened a market place that boasts black magic items from across the globe. We're also holding mass around the clock. If you visit right now, I'll even throw in a free cursed doll. You could have Belzenef as your free gift." He held up a cat puppet, rubbing its hands together. I stared at the cat with disinterest. First of all, was he trying to give us a heart attack? Secondly, where did that door come from?!

"Why is he talking to us through a crack in the door?" Haru-chan asked.

"Wait a second, has that door always been there?" Hika-chan and Kao-chan asked. That's what I want to know.

"Nekozawa-senpai, likes to hide," Kyoya explained calmly. "He doesn't really care for brightly lit places." So Neko-senpai is scared of the light? Looking into the room, I noticed a number of candles in the dark room, casting shadows throughout the place.

"Don't get involved with that guy, Haruhi," Tamaki-Senpai said, creeping up behind her. I was standing next to Haru-Chan, so I flinched while she jumped forward and spun around to face Tamaki-Senpai. "If you do, you'll end up being cursed."

"Do you have any basis for that?" Haru-Chan asked, not really believing Tamaki-Senpai.

"Yes. It happened during final exams at the end of the last school year," Tamaki-Senpai started, his face gaunt as he recalled his memories. "It's terrifying just to talk about it. On that fateful day, I accidentally stepped on that weirdo Nekozawa's cursed doll, Belzenef. Afterward, I took my exam and the entire test was written in some strange lettering. I looked to the others around me for help and realized I knew none of them! I was all alone in a different dimension!"

"Scary!" Mitsu-Senpai cried, his hands placed on his cheeks as he listened to Tamaki-Senpai's dramatic recollection of events.

"Isn't looking to your classmates for help during an exam considered academic dishonesty..." I muttered under my breath as I walked up to Nii-Sama. He and his guests had wandered over from their table to join the commotion. Cutely, I walked up to him and wrapped him in a hug, rubbing my face against his torso as I yawned. He gently patted me on the back and allowed me to rest my head on him.

"Did that really happen to you?" Haru-Chan asked. Did she actually believe him? Tamaki-Senpai's a bit too dramatic for me to believe that he actually experienced a curse.

"That only happened because you were so scared you accidentally walked into the Beginning Greek class and took their exam," Kyoya-Senpai explained logically.

"You don't know Greek?" Nii-Sama asked with a snicker.

"Shut up, you silver-haired prodigies," Tamaki-Senpai insisted with a glare directed at us. Nii-Sama and I simply smiled back. When he knew his glare wasn't getting to us, he moved to Kyoya-Senpai, standing in front of him with eyes wide in horror. "It was a curse! I know it was because three days later I woke up and my legs were as heavy as lead! Just how do you explain that?!"

"Your legs were heavy because you ran a marathon the day before, remember?" Kyoya-Senpai explained again.

"You shouldn't underestimate the dark powers of Belzenef, the curse doll," Neko-Senpai said, creeping up beside Kyoya-Senpai and Tamaki-Senpai. Kyoya-Senpai brought his notebook closer to his chest, as if protecting the contents, while Tamaki-Senpai flinched harshly in fear and froze. "All you have to do is write the name of someone you hate on his back, then that person is certain to come face-to-face with misfortune."

I felt Nii-Sama move, so I tilted my head up to look at him. Without looking down, he patted my head, but still looked deep in thought about something. When he made no move to tell me, lowered my head again to rest against his torso. Whatever Nii-Sama was thinking, he'd probably tell me later if it was important.

"Wow, this guy really is dark in more ways than one," Kao-Chan commented as he and Hika-Chan stood a bit to the side of the three second years.

"Supposedly he hates bright lights," Hika-Chan said as he held up a flashlight and flashed it a few times. "I wonder what he'll think of this."

Aiming the light at Neko-Senpai, Hika-Chan turned it on, causing Neko-Senpai to scream in fright and jump toward Tamaki-Senpai. This in turn scared Tamaki-Senpai and caused him to scream as he tried to move away from Neko-Senpai.

"This host club is going to give me permanent hearing loss," Nii-Sama complained as he covered his ears. I nodded in agreement as I yawned again. If it wasn't the girls squealing, it was Tamaki-Senpai yelling about something.

"You murderers!" Neko-Senpai cried as he ran away back towards the door he came from. As he entered back into his own club room, the door slammed shut behind him loudly. Hika-Chan and Kao-Chan looked at the door before the simultaneously shrugged out of boredom.

"How on earth could you do such a thing?!" Tamaki-Senpai wailed to the twins. They simply ignored him and began walking away. "Obviously the two of you don't know the true terror of black magic!"

"Uh, I am so bored," Hika-Chan complained as he and Kao-Chan found a pair of chairs to sit on. I giggled as they completely ignored Tamaki-Senpai.

"Isn't there anything fun we can do around here?" Kao-Chan added in question.

"Aren't you supposed to be hosting?" Nii-Sama asked with a deadpanned tone as he watched the twins ignore the guests in the room.

"All of us are supposed to be, Nii-Sama..." I mentioned noticing how none of the hosts were actually hosting. We were all standing around watching the club do their dramatic antics. Even Mitsu-Senpai who normally was diligent about taking care of the ladies, was busy chowing down on some cake while standing nearby. Most of the girls either joined the hosts in watching or were sat at the tables calming sipping tea. Tamaki-Senpai stared at their blatant disrespect before he retreated to a corner of the room and squatted down facing the wall.

"My dignity as the club's leader is being ignored," he cried as he sat there with a shadow overcasting him.

"Hey, Haruhi!" the twins called across the room to Haru-Chan while continue to disregard Tamaki-Senpai. "We've got a favor to ask you."

"What is it?" she asked.

"The next time we get a day off..." Hika-chan started. He and Kao-Chan had their hands raised as if waiting to be called upon.

"... can we come over to your place to hang out?" Kao-Chan finished. I really want to know when they get the chance to practice their twin synchronization!

"Why would you want to do that?" Haru-Chan asked, clearly not understanding the danger she was in. Haru-Chan! You've got to say no outright or they'll pester you forever!

"We're curious. We want to see see where you live," the twins said in unison.

"No way," Haru-Chan denied bluntly.

"Aw! Pretty please?"

"No way. You guys are just gonna make fun of me," Haru-Chan denied again.

"No matter how much we beg you?" The twins looked to have a scheme up their sleeves and I was a bit scared to find out.

"No way," Haru-Chan repeated again. Suddenly, Tamaki-Senpai, who had apparently been dragged out of his corner, struck a pose and cut into the conversation.

"I too have been thinking that it's about time I pay my respects to our beloved Haruhi's family," Tamaki-Senpai said with a background of red roses.

"No way in hell, Senpai," Haru-Chan said again. I giggled as she sent Tamaki-Senpai into the corner again.

"Hm, then can we go to your house, Karino, Watanuki-Senpai?" The twins suddenly rounded on Nii-Sama and I, causing us to flinch at the question. Didn't they remember why we tried to leave the club once already? Nii-Sama pried me off of him, stepping forward a bit so that he was facing the twins.

"I don't think that you meant to ask that question," he said with a smile though his tone of voice said otherwise. We thought we made it clear, it was far too dangerous to have anyone come over to our house.

"Pretty please, Senpai? We'll behave," the twins said while looking at Nii-Sama.

"I don't think behaving is in your vocabulary," he refuted as he stepped closer. Once he was right in front of the twins, he smiled a practiced smile as he whispered to them out of earshot from the guests. "Unless you really want someone to die, whether it be you two or Karino and I, I suggest you don't bring up coming over to play again."

"What a great idea, twins!" Tamaki-Senpai suddenly said, jumping up from his corner. "I think it's time we visit -"

He was cut off as Nii-Sama and I both sent a glare his way. He flinched, wilting a bit as he hung his head to avoid our gazes. Once he submitted, Nii-Sama and I stopped glaring at him. While Nii-Sama continued to reprimand the twins, I looked down at the floor. My happy mood was ruined at the prospect of what could happen if they were to meet Father. Surely this idiotic host club wouldn't be able to keep their emotions in check and someone, most likely the idiot trio, would blurt out the situation. If that happens, it's likely that everyone in that room would be killed without question.

"Kari-Chan?" I heard Mitsu-Senpai call. Raising my head, I saw him standing in front of me with a plate of cake and a fork. He offered the sweet to me, which I accepted but didn't eat. "Are you okay, Kari-Chan?"

"Mm," I hummed before putting on my practiced mask. "Don't worry Mitsu-Senpai! I'm sure the twins will stop bothering Nii-Sama about coming over soon enough."

Mitsu-Senpai didn't looked convinced at my mask, but said nothing nonetheless. He knew how bad it was; in fact, everyone in the host club knew how bad it was. Yet the twins still dared to ask. Though his eyes clearly told me that he didn't believe me in the slightest, he put on a cute smile and guided me to a seat to eat the cake.

"Stop it," Nii-Sama demanded as the twins continued pestering him. I knew that he was extremely ticked, yet he couldn't do much since the guests were still in the room. "You know why we won't let you come over. Now stop asking."

"We won't say a word, Watanuki! We just want to visit!" Tamaki-Senpai insisted. As they kept whining about coming over to our house, I snapped. Picking up the nearest object, which just so happened to be a fork, I threw it at their feet, the prongs of the silverware sticking into the marble floor just centimeters away from their toes. The three of them flinched, looking at me in shock as I stood up with a dark expression.

"You're not allowed to come over," I threatened slightly, giving them one last final warning. I did think that the idiot trio wasn't able to fully grasp the situation, but I didn't think it was this bad. Maybe they did understand but they couldn't really find a way to deal with what was out of their control. However, this wasn't a game for them to play when they were bored.

"Karino..." one of the girls said softly.

"Why don't you just let the host club go over?" another girl asked curiously. Nii-Sama and I glanced at each other briefly at her question before I turned toward her with a sad smile.

"We had an argument with our father," I lied. "Father thinks the host club isn't a good club for Nii-Sama and I, and I don't want the host club to have to hear such bad things from our father..."

"It was a huge argument," Nii-Sama agreed. "An argument that was so bad that I think we might've accidentally hurt Father's feelings." Nii-Sama emphasized the word hurt while staring straight at the trio. They avoided his gaze and eventually turned to Haru-Chan.

"We can settle this with a game!" They said in unison as they put on their green hats again, hiding their hair part. The two of them stood by Haru-Chan, which Nii-Sama took advantage of and quickly slipped away back to his table with his guests. I lingered a bit before I felt Mitsu-Senpai gently guide me into a seat. His eyes showed the same frustration I kept seeing whenever he was reminded of the situation I was in. Nii-Sama hadn't been taken to the dojo in over a month now, but I was still sporting new scars and wounds at least every other day, if not every day.

"If you can't pick out which one of us is Hikaru, then your penalty will be the two of us coming over to your house later tonight." The twins danced around each other switching back and forth to try to confuse Haru-Chan and the rest of the guests, striking identical poses before eventually coming to a stop in front of Haru-Chan again. "Okay, so which one of us is Hikaru?"

"Left is Kao-Chan. Right is Hika-Chan," I murmured to myself under my breath. THey really weren't as hard to tell apart as they thought. Their tone of voice was different and just the way they held themselves was different.

"This one's Kaoru, this one's Hikaru," Haru-Chan said, pointing to the left first and then to the right.

"Uh-oh! You got it wrong!" the twins chimed in unison.

"No, I know I'm right," Haru-Chan said confidently. The twins could only blink at her in surprise as she called their bluff. "You guys may look alike, but you're very different."

"They can't fool everyone," I said with a shrug as I felt the couch dip beside me. Mitsu-Senpai had made his way over and was sitting beside me with Usa-Chan in his lap. Without much context, he plopped his precious bunny onto my lap.

"Usa-Chan will help you feel better," he said. I guess he picked up the fact that I was still a bit upset with the conversation about coming over. I gave him the most genuine smile I could muster as I accepted the pink bunny.

"Thank you, Senpai," I said as I snuggled the bunny a bit. It was incredibly soft. "And thank you, Usa-Chan."

"Are you sure you're okay, Kari-Chan?" Mistu-Senpai asked a bit quietly, glancing over to the girls who were enjoying some tea while apparently stealing glances over at Mitsu-Senpai and I.

"I don't get why the three of them insisted on coming over when we made it clear how dangerous it would be. Our father has literally killed people and even Japan's secret weapon can't stand a chance against him..." I said quietly to him as I pulled Usa-Chan closer to my chest and dug my nails into my palm. "I don't understand how they could say that while knowing what kind of situation they'd be putting themselves in."

"I think that they know, but they just can't accept it as easily as that, Karino," Mitsu-Senpai explained. "They only know how to be obnoxious to lighten the situation."

"I don't think you should call them obnoxious," I said with a giggle, feeling a little better as I talked with Mitsu-Senpai. He shot me a childish grin.

"They won't know unless you tell them," he said as he put a finger to his lips, as if shushing me. I copied his motion and nodded. As the two of us laughed lightly, a sudden commotion from the center of the room drew our attention. Kao-Chan seemed to be laughing uncontrollably about something.

"Well, I don't see what's so funny," Hika-Chan said curtly. "I'm honest, I speak my mind and I don't hold back. It's sneaky people like Kaoru who are the trouble makers." At this, Kao-Chan immediately stopped laughing, turning to face his twin as Hika-Chan did the same.

"Don't turn this on me, Hikaru," Kao-Chan said threateningly. "After all, I'm the one who's always going along with all of your selfish games."

"I may suggest them but you're the one who really gets into them, Kaoru. If you hate it so much then why don't you just stop?"

"Because I'd hate to see you make an ass out of yourself in front of everyone. It was your idea to call Haruhi our toy, but I noticed you were quick to make a pass at her. Admit it Hikaru, you're actually in love with Haruhi, aren't you?"

Hika-Chan gasped as he dropped his jaw. My own eyes widened as Kao-Chan revealed information and I looked to Mitsu-Senpai who looked just as shocked as I did.

"Mitsu-Senpai! Hika-Chan can't like Haru-Chan!" I puffed my cheeks.

"Why not?" Mitsu-Senpai asked, seemingly a bit surprised at my insistence.

"Two hosts can't fall in love! It isn't safe!"

"How is it not safe?"

"Because fangirls of you hosts are scary. And Mommy Kyoya-Senpai will drag us through hell if the club lost profit from two hosts dating..." I shivered at the thought as Mitsu-Senpai nodded in agreement and glanced at Kyoya-Senpai. He must've felt our stare since he looked up at us and smirked a bit. Mitsu-Senpai and I squeaked in fear and latched onto each other, trembling in our spots as Kyoya-Senpai seemed to just smile demonically.

The sound of a powerful motor in the music room caused Kyoya-Senpai to look away, and Mitsu-Senpai and I relaxed as his death glare moved away from us. However, we weren't safe as Nii-Sama came by just at that time and picked me up, pulling me from Mitsu-Senpai's arms as he glared at the blonde-haired boy. Mitsu-Senpai glanced up cutely at him, but I swear I saw a hint of a glare.

"No touching," Nii-Sama demanded as he set me down on the couch opposite Mitsu-Senpai and in between two girls. They giggled at Nii-Sama before starting to coo over me. However, I lost interest in the conversation the girls were having over my head as Renge-Chan began talking as she rotated up on a platform at the center of the music room. Mitsu-Senpai stood up with Mori-Senpai following closely as he approached the platform.

"Our beloved Haruhi is in the middle of a beautiful yet poignant four-sided romantic relationship!" she narrated as she spun. "And to make it even more exciting, two of Haruhi's admirers are twins, torn apart by love! Just the thought of it could make me eat three bowls of rice!"

"Oh, butt out, otaku," the twins deadpanned.

"You guys are meanies! You shouldn't say something like that to your manager!" Renge-Chan cried as the twins ignored her and walked away. I narrowed my eyes as I noticed something peculiar. Even as they were fighting, they kept glancing each other and their behavior seemed too synchronized, even for the Hitachiin twins. They didn't seem to hold animosity or anger towards each other, but rather a hint of amusement. Something was up.

"But Renge," Tamaki-Senpai called out with a hint of confusion as he reached a hand out to her, "I thought you had feelings for Haruhi, as well?"

"Oh, I do, but I have no problem with Haruhi having a homosexual relationship on the side," Renge explained cheerfully.

"That is a species of otaku I haven't reached yet," I said as I made my way to the rest of the group after finishing my tea with the guests. I shook my head as Nii-Sama looked down at me in question. "That's essentially polygamy, even if the other partner is the same gender... I can't imagine putting myself in a situation where the person I like also likes someone else."

"That's why you should never date, Karino," Nii-Sama informed me. "If you don't want that to happen, it's easy. Just don't date."

"I don't think that's a proper solution, Nii-Sama," I said with a giggle. Nii-Sama smiled a close-eyed smile and ruffled my hair, but neither agreed nor disagreed with my statement.

"I'm confused, I thought that you had decided to go back home to France, Renge," Haru-Chan asked from beside Tamaki-Senpai.

"Well, I was going o start up a host club of my own but, I don't think France is ready for a host club just yet," she replied.

"Cut it out already!" Hika-Chan yelled suddenly, pulling everyone's attention away from Renge. The twins were face to face, glaring at each other and grinding their teeth in anger. "You're the one who's always crawling into my bed! Talk about annoying!

"I only do that cause you look lonely! I wouldn't choose to sleep in your bed, you idiot!"

"Who are you calling an idiot?! You're the one who sucks at math!"

"Oh yeah? Well, you're failing your foreign language class, you big dummy!"

"The way you grind your teeth is deafening!

"At least I don't toss and turn so much that I fall out of bed!

"Sex pixie!"

"Sicko!"

"Your mama wears too much makeup! That's it! We're over!"

The twins ended in unison, swiftly turning away from each other and marching out the door, their various insults being heard down the hall as they stormed away. I looked up to Nii-Sama, who glanced down at me.

"Something doesn't feel right about their fight," Nii-Sama said to me. I nodded in agreement. I suppose Nii-Sama and I were thinking the same thing. Their argument was almost too perfect in a sense. They revealed just enough in their arguments, yet they hadn't revealed anything at all essentially. They were hosts through and through and even offered a bit of fanservice and allowed the girls' imaginations to go wild with their various insults.

"Now then, ladies. I apologize, but we'll have to close the host club early today," Kyoya-Senpai said as he began to usher the girls out. "Of course you'll be receiving compensation due to the sudden situation. Please come back tomorrow."

When the last of the girls left, Kyoya-Senpai closed the grand doors of the music room and glanced at us, his glasses glinting a bit as he stared us all down.

"We may have lost the twin package for the time being, but I hope that the rest of you won't let this club down and cause any more commotion," Kyoya-Senpai said almost threateningly. "I suggest we all retire for the day and come back tomorrow. Perhaps the twins will have sorted things out by then."

"The true president of our club," Nii-Sama said with a chuckle as he leaned his elbow on the top of my head. I huffed, which only led him to purposely ruffle my silver hair and cause it to drape over my face. Nii-Sama glanced down at me, his eyes showing a bit of worry that the club hours had been shortened by almost three hours. It meant three more hours where Father could find me at any time and drag me away, only to return me beaten halfway to death. I smiled at Nii-Sama to try to reassure him as best as I could. There was nothing we could do about it if the twins were actually fighting. They needed to sort this one out themselves since it was regarding their individuality.

Hopefully, things will be better tomorrow, and the club will return to the normal joyful chaos.

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Hey everyone!

Thank you for being patient while I worked on this chapter. In case you didn't see my announcement, I got a job about two weeks ago working with taxes. Since taxes were due on Wednesday, I literally worked for 10 hours a day for almost 14 days straight and 16 hours on Wednesday, so I didn't have too much time to work on my stories unfortunately.

Things should have calmed down now, so I'm hoping that I'll have more time to write <3 <3 

As always, let me know what y'all think. Even if I don't reply, I love to see what everyone has to say about each chapter! Don't be shy! I would absolutely love it if y'all told me what you liked (or didn't like) about the chapters <3

Stay safe and healthy,
ThePurpleDragon