A few days had passed since the party, and Setsuko found herself standing outside on a cool spring afternoon. Since the weather was warming up and the cherry blossom trees were blooming, the hosts decided to hold a flower viewing party out in the school's courtyard. Once again it was another cosplay day, she didn't know the exact theme but the twins, Tamaki, and Kyoya were wearing waiter attire while Mori, Honey, Haruhi, and herself were wearing Yukatas.

Currently she was sitting under a tree with a few girls sitting in front of her on a floral picnic blanket. As she was talking with her guests, she heard a crash and looked over towards the source, watching as Hikaru and Kaoru put on their 'brotherly love' act. Apparently, some hot tea had spilt onto Kaoru's hand and Hikaru was 'comforting' him. Normally Setsuko would have just ignored them, but they were practically right next to her and impossible to ignore. How girls found it attractive she would never know.

"Honestly, Kaoru, you have to be more careful." Hikaru said, placing his lips on Kaoru's burnt finger. "From now on, keep your eyes on me."

"Hikaru..."

The girls at a nearby table swooned, one of them placing a hand on her forehead. "I can't take it! It's overwhelming!" She said as she turned away.

The other girl gasped, "Watch this! You may not get another chance who knows when it'll happen again!" The other exclaimed.

Why would you want it to happen again? Setsuko thought.

Familiar footsteps walked up to the table and Kyoya walked into view, a smile on his face. "You are absolutely right, Mademoiselle. All beauty Is fleeting." He held up a small branch of cherry blossoms, "Just take a look at these cherry blossoms. You'll never be able to see them this vibrant again. And that's why," he reached into the apron he was wearing and held up some magazines, with the Hitachiin twins on the cover. "I compiled this picture book that contains photos that capture the beauty of each passing day." He spread out his fingers and a few more magazines appeared from behind the ones with the twins. What shocked Setsuko was that there was one featuring her on the cover. "Incidentally, I've prepared similar books for everyone else. And if you ladies are interested in collecting all six, I'll discount the full set for you."

"I'll buy them!" One of the girls at the table said.

"All of them!" The other added.

"Well now we know how the club makes extra money." The twins said, looking over at Kyoya with a deadpan expression.

"Which raises the question." Hikaru started.

"When did he take pictures of us?" Kaoru finished.

It's not that hard to answer that for me. Setsuko thought, looking over at Kyoya, I'm asleep half the time so it's easy to snap a quick picture.

Halfway through the club, Setsuko, along with the other hosts were able to have a small break in a secluded area in the garden, since all the girls from the first part of the club activities had left.

"The flower viewing reception is going over quiet well, but even so, it's rather daunting to spend more time being admired than doing the admiring." Tamaki's voice drifted over, causing Setsuko to look over towards him from where he was sitting.

"Oh, wow, senpai, you're blooming in more ways than one." Haruhi said.

"You noticed!" Tamaki exclaimed, striking a pose and sparkling- how did he do that anyways? It actually might be helpful as Momoko. "Yes, today my beauty is quite splendorous. I'm in full bloom. I bet you'll fall for me soon."

Can you be any less humble? Setsuko thought. Did he always flirt with Haruhi like this? She watched as the twins slunk over to Haruhi, Hikaru wrapping his arm around her while Kaoru stood by her with some papers in hand.

"So, Haruhi, have you decided on your elective courses for this term?" They asked.

"How about conversational French?" Kaoru asked.

"We could take it together. After all it makes sense," Hikaru continued.

"We are in the same class." The two of them finished together, looking over at Tamaki with snide expressions, causing the blond to go sulk beneath a nearby tree.

"Say, Mommy dear?" He asked.

"What is it now, daddy?" Kyoya asked, not looking up from his clipboard.

Great, now he's going along with it too. Setsuko thought, looking over at Kyoya with disbelief.

"I have a new theory. I mean, it's just a hypothesis, but it seems that by being in the same class, Hikaru and Kaoru are able to spend more time with Haruhi than I get to here at the club. This gives them a chance to get close to her, and if that happens-"

"You're just now realizing that?" Setsuko asked, standing up from where she was sitting and walking over to stand by Kyoya. She watched as Tamaki convulsed, and she could have sworn she saw a lightning bolt hit him out of nowhere. Beside her, Kyoya grabbed a whiteboard with two pie charts on it.

"Itsuki does have a point. From what I've gathered with my research is with a single day, the twins spend roughly nine hours of class time with Haruhi, meanwhile your contact with her is limited to a couple hours of club activities. Your involvement in Haruhi's life amounts to a mere three percent."

"Did you really need a pie chart to get that fact across?" Setsuko asked, looking at Kyoya.

"Sometimes he needs visuals." Kyoya said.

Tamaki screamed and placed his hands over his ears. "I don't want to hear it! I don't want to hear it!" He turned and ran over towards Haruhi, grabbing her by the shoulders and pulling her close to him. "Listen Haruhi, I want you to stop hanging out with those shady twins from now on!"

"Who're you callin' shady?" Hiakru called out.

"Yeah, take a good look at yourself, boss!" Kaoru exclaimed.

Upon realization Tamaki took a few steps back, his arms waving in the air almost like he was trying to impersonate a ghost. "Yes, that's it." A look of determination crossed his face, "All right, then, we can't go on hiding the fact that you're a girl from everyone in the school any longer!" Tears started streaming down his face, almost comedically. "All daddy wants is for you to go back to being the girl you used to be! For you to surround yourself with girlfriends and start leading a wholesome life!" He once again grabbed Haruhi by the shoulders and started shaking her back and forth, "Change back now, change right now!"

"You don't have to rush things. She's going to be found out soon enough." Hikaru said.

"Physical Exams are the day after tomorrow." Kaoru said.

"Physical Exams?" Haruhi asked.

"That's right I forgot all about it." Kyoya said.

"Then that means... there's no doubt. They're gonna know... I'm really a girl."

Cue the freak out.

Setsuko watched as the hosts, excluding Kyoya, huddled up and started whispering. Her, on the other hand, stayed where she was right beside Kyoya, a small way away from the group. There was nothing good that could come out of this.

***

The next day the hosts were all gathered to the club room for some sort of special meeting. Upon arriving, Setsuko noticed that Tamaki was sitting in a chair near a window, an almost perverted expression on his face. Looking around she saw that all the hosts except Haruhi were in the room. Just great, he was probably going to talk about one of his plans again, and after last time there was no way for her to get out.

"He must be having a great daydream." Honey said.

"He's kind of creeping me out." Hiakru stated.

"You and me both." Setsuko said, walking up to join the rest of the boys.

Tamaki opened his eyes and popped up from the chair, "Envious, Hikaru? This is all part of my strategy. While you've wasted time blinded by your jealousy, I've foreseen the outcome of this charade." He sighed, "This story is obviously a romantic school comedy. Haruhi and I are the main characters, so that means we're love interests."

"Yeah, then what are we?" The twins asked.

Tamaki turned and pointed at the group, a grin on his face. "You, boys, are the homosexual supporting cast." Somehow, he had a stick in his hand, and he drew a line between him and the rest of the club. "So please make sure that you don't step across this line."

"You've gotta be kidding." The twins said.

"Hey listen, boss." Hikaru started.

"I don't think you get it." Kaoru continued.

"If word gets out that Haru-chan is really a girl, then she won't be able to be in the host club anymore." Honey added.

"And you can kiss any time you would spend with her goodbye." Setsuko finished, making an 'x' with her fingers. She watched as Tamaki's complexion paled until he looked like a ghost.

"But, if Haru-chan started wearing girl's clothes, I bet she'd be even cuter than she is now!" Honey chimed in.

"She dressed like a regular girl when she was in middle school, right? She must have been pretty popular with all the boys." Hikaru said.

"I have to admit, she was pretty cute when she had long hair." Setsuko said.

Tamaki's eyes glinted and he glared at Setsuko, "Don't even think about putting your hands on my daughter, you shady-"

"Don't worry, I don't plan to." Setsuko said, raising her hands in defense.

"According to my investigative report, someone would declare their undying love to her at least once a month." Kyoya chimed in.

"Oh, I see. So, the boss wouldn't even be able to get close to her." Kaoru said.

"But we'd be able to because we're in class with her all day long." Hiakru added.

Setsuko looked at Tamaki and watched as tears gathered in his eyes. Before he could start full on sobbing again, the door opened and Haruhi stepped inside.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm so late."

Tamaki darted from where he was standing over towards the door. He grabbed Haruhi by the shoulders and leaned close to her, tears still in his eyes. "Don't you worry, Haruhi! We're determined to keep your secret, no one will find out that you're really a girl during tomorrow's physical exams! So please, promise you'll stay our secret beloved princess!"

Haruhi looked taken aback at Tamaki's outburst, "Sure." She managed to say.

"You know, I think both of us would be a little peeved if we had to watch all the guys flirt with her." Hikaru said.

"Then that settles it." Kaoru said.

The hosts nodded and started moving, leaving Haruhi and Setsuko to watch as they dragged out a whiteboard and started planning something. Not too long after, the whiteboard read "Operation: Conceal Haruhi's Gender' on it in big, bold, lettering. Setsuko was just going to stay where she was standing but Hikaru dragged her to where the other hosts were standing, Tamaki facing towards them with a grin.

"Listen up, squad members." Tamaki said, "At tomorrow's physical exams, position yourselves in formation A, and then, wait for your orders!"

"Yes, sir!" Hikaru and Kaoru saluted while Honey clapped.

"This is so stupid." Setsuko muttered. "Doesn't he know there's a private room Haruhi can use?"

Of course, Setsuko was aware of the private rooms for the physical exams. Due to her circumstances if anyone found out she was a girl her life would be put in danger. Thinking about it, why hasn't Kyoya said anything? The doctors at the exam were hired by his family so he should know about the private rooms. Glancing over at him she watched as he adjusted his glasses with some kind of smile on his face. He was planning something.

"I've got it." Haruhi said, grabbing the attention of the hosts once again. "You guys are worried that if they find out I'm a girl, I can't be a host and therefore can't repay my debt."

How dense can this girl be? Setsuko thought, watching as the brunette calculated her remaining debt.

"Well, guess I'll have to come up with some other way to pay you back." Haruhi let out a laugh and placed a hand on the back of her head.

"Do something, the subject doesn't appear to have any motivation!" The twins exclaimed.

"Why'd we get stuck with such a difficult heroine?" Tamaki muttered before he pointed towards Haruhi, "Are you saying that you hate being a host? That you hate this club?" He shouted.

"To be honest I'd have to say yes." Haruhi responded simply.

Setsuko slapped a hand over her mouth as she sputtered, trying to hold in her laughter as she watched Tamaki rush towards a corner of the room to sulk, a dark gloom surrounding him.

"I mean, you guys aren't bad but if it gets out that I'm a girl there's nothing I can do, ya'know?" She said before once again letting out a laugh.

"She doesn't seem to care one way or another." Hikaru stated.

"Well before we do anything else, we have to find a way to motivate her." Kaoru added.

"Wait, what was that food she wanted to try back at the party?" Setsuko asked, having recovered from her laugh attack, placing a hand on her chin. "Fancy... something."

"Fancy tuna." Mori chimed in, and Haruhi stopped laughing, her eyes growing wide as the rest of the hosts looked at her in realization.

"Oh, that's right. You didn't get the chance to eat any during last chapter's dance party, did you?" Tamaki said, looking over from his corner with an unsettling expression on his face.

"Did you hear that? She's never eaten fancy tuna before. Isn't that awful?" Hikaru whispered.

"Wow, talk about a difficult childhood." Kaoru whispered back.

"If only Haru-chan could stay in the host club, she'd have the chance to eat all kinds of yummy things whenever she wants."

"What are you talking about? Don't be silly! Just because I'm poor and I never had it doesn't mean that I'm so much of a glutton I'd go on fooling everyone about my gender just to try some fancy tuna." She said nervously, waving her hand dismissively in the air. She looked away before she stopped laughing, "Am I really gonna get to try it?" She asked.

Setsuko sighed, well that was one obstacle down, they just had one more to go.

__

HaHA!

*

Tamaki: *Trying to fill out legal paperwork stuff* Were you guys born AMAB or AFAB?

Haruhi: Bold of you to assume I was born at all.

Kyoya: I personally was created in a lab.

Setsuko: I just straight up spawned lol.

*

Setsuko: I can explain.

Haruhi: Can you?

Setsuko: If you give me thirty seconds to think of a lie.

*

Setsuko: Sometimes I wonder if I'm hearing voices.

Setsuko: Then I remember that's the last bit of sanity I have trying to get me to fall asleep at a reasonable time.