From that day on, Daichi spent most of his time with the host club. He had essentially unofficially joined. Girls asked to see him just as much as the others, and Kyoya was considering making it real and putting his name down on paper.

When he asked his puppy friend, Daichi just shrugged. "Just don't make me do it by myself."

Kyoya, smiling, kissed his cheek. "I wouldn't dream of it."

While his time in school was getting better, everything else was steadily or dramatically getting worse. Daichi didn't understand his tutor very well, but his father obviously didn't understand that. He only saw that Daichi's grades weren't getting better. In a class or two, they were actually getting worse.

Daichi knew Kyoya could help him, but he couldn't bring himself to ask. The two hardly had a moment alone now, and Daichi didn't want to spend the little time they had talking about problems.

He went to Kyoya to get away from it all, not bring it all and pile it at his feet. Kyoya deserved better.

Really, who cared that the football team had played their first three games without him and barely won? What did it matter that he wasn't even allowed to do homework at home because his father made him attend even more meetings? Did it honestly matter that his dad found out about the supplement pills and took them away?

He could manage just fine.

Kyoya would be a poor excuse of a liar if he said he didn't notice anything off about Daichi. Most days, he didn't seem happy, even when entertaining the guests at the club. A worried Tamaki had informed him that he was sleeping in most of their classes. He ate what Kyoya shared with him at lunch, but it appeared that was all he was eating as his clothes were quickly growing baggier. Kyoya couldn't remember the last time he had seen Daichi pick up a football other than being asked by one of the girls.

Then, one day, Daichi came into the third music room before school started. He looked just as exhausted as usual, but then Kyoya noticed something terribly wrong.

He wasn't wearing a collar.

"If you'll excuse us," Kyoya said to the other hosts. They watched as Kyoya took Daichi's hand and guided them to the door that led to the other half of the music room, the one where all the instruments actually were.

Daichi held tightly onto Kyoya's hand, lip quivering. Kyoya's eyes softened as they sat down on the piano bench.

"Daichi, why can't you just tell me what's wrong?" he asked with a pleading tone. "I can't help you if I don't know what it is."

Biting his lower lip, Daichi looked carefully at Kyoya. God, he hoped he could trust him. The two had come a long way, but this was a whole new realm he wasn't sure about.

"'Member you told me a long time ago that you can't help me with my dad?"

Kyoya thought back to one of the first days he'd spent with Daichi.

Daichi looked down at his lap. His collar suddenly felt very tight, his throat choking up. "You do— Don't you— Do you— business? Do you, uh— for dad?"

"Do I work for a business?" Kyoya asked. "I'm assuming you mean my father's business?" Daichi nodded. "Yes, I work with him, not really for him. Is that what this is? You're involved in your father's business?"

"He doesn't— I'm not— Don't do— Just." Daichi paused, trying to get his thoughts together. "I work for, not with."

Kyoya put a hand on his chin in thought. "I see. Yukio Akiyama isn't as amiable as his son. He caused problems, then?" Daichi nodded. "Well, if he hasn't done any visible damage to you, I can't act. I'm sorry, but all we can do now is stay on track."

Kyoya froze, eyes widening. "What did he do?" he asked, his voice taking on a lower tone.

Finally, Daichi made a decision, and Kyoya watched him take off his school jacket. He stood and untucked his shirt. Lifting it only a little, he showed Kyoya the horrid mark on his hip.

It was a careless-looking sort of cut, a red line from his hip bone all the way to his bellybutton. It was obviously recent, and it looked like it hurt a lot.

With a sharp gasp, Kyoya stepped forward. He took Daichi's shirt in his hands, unable to take his eyes off the mark.

That man... No, he was no man. No civil man would do this to their own son. And Kyoya... he would be no civil man once he was done with Yukio. No, once he was done with that thing that called himself Daichi's father... he would be a devil.

"Give me a few days, a week at most," Kyoya said, trying to control himself in front of Daichi.  "I'll deal with him. Just stay strong, okay?" He let go of Daichi's shirt and looked into his eyes.

Daichi's breath hitched with that powerful gaze. He nodded his head numbly, hugging Kyoya close. The two sat down on the bench again, leaning fully into each other's embrace.

Just like that, huh? Kyoya could take away the possibility of any future pain. He could bring back smiles and laughing. He could keep him healthy even. Maybe, just maybe, he could even bring back football.

It seemed stupid, sure, but football was Daichi's thing. His cousins all told him as much over the break. If he couldn't do football, his whole life so far would be wasted. His happiness would wash away. Kyoya could protect that happiness, right? Daichi has faith

It was a tall order, Kyoya knew. He knew exactly what he got himself into the day he invited Daichi to the host club all those months ago. All their time together, the comforting touches, and the warm embraces couldn't be wasted. They all came together to mean one thing and one thing only.

Kyoya had to keep Daichi happy. Such was the job of a member of the elite Ouran Host Club.