Maria stared at the girl who somehow pulled off the uniform like she did. "Do you know where Music Room #3 is at?" She asked. 

Maria didn't really understand, since the girl was late. Did she have a late appointment? Maria still didn't fully understand the Hosting schedule, especially since the Hosts stop what they're doing most of the time. So Maria simply smiled brightly and nodded her head. The girl in front of her blushed slightly. 

"You have a beautiful smile. It somehow shines so brightly. Like a star." She stated, squinting her eyes at Maria. 

"Really? But I'm anything but a star." Maria frowned. 

Her eyes suddenly shined brightly. "Do you have a dark past?!" The girl asked excitedly. 

"I guess. It really did have a big affect on my life. I saw my mother die right in front of me. ...And I couldn't do anything about it." Maria frowned. "I felt so helpless.. y'know?" 

The girl began to smile widely. "We're going to be great friends!" The girl smiled. "What's your name?" She asked. 

"Maria Saki. You?" 

"Call me Renge!" 

Chapter 14 

An Enlightened Club Position

Maria and Renge walked down the halls, talking. Renge paused and looked at Maria, squinting her eyes. "Now that I think about it, you look like one of my favorite characters from Uki Doki Memorial! You two even have a similar back story!" Renge declared, pointing at a confused Maria. 

Despite Maria's confusing, Maria smiled kindly. "I do? I'd like to know more about this girl. Is she wonderful?" 

"Wonderful? She's amazing! She's so confident, and she's so hopeful in life! She lost her father in a murder, right in front of her! But even so, she still stands tall for the one she loves! Which is, a forbidden love, her own older brother, Miyabi!" Renge teared up. "She's my second favorite character, with Miyabi in first! If it wasn't a dating sim, I would ship them until I dropped dead!" 

"Isn't that a little extreme?" Maria asked, tilting her head. 

"No, not for an otaku. An otaku would give up their life for her anime characters, and take extreme measures to defend them at all costs!" 

"Otaku's seem reliable and persistent." Maria smile softened. Such a bright young star, Renge was. 

"Do you want to know what she looks like?" Renge asked. Maria nodded, so Renge took out a picture from her dress pocket. Maria didn't feel like asking why she had a picture of her casually in her pocket. 

"I guess I kinda look like her. What's her name?" Maria asked. 

"Her name is Shin, but Miyabi calls her butterfly! Isn't it cute?" Renge giggled.

"Hai, it is. I could never experience such things, like a nickname." Maria smiled sadly. 

Renge looked over at Maria and suddenly frowned. "I can give you a nickname!" Renge offered, smiling determinedly. 

"Really? Thank you!" Maria glowed. Renge blushed at the cuteness and turned around, muttering curse words. She then turned around and smiled. 

"I got it! I'll call you Shinyabi!" Renge declared. 

"Ano.." Maria sweat dropped. 

"It's the shipping name for Shin and Miyabi!" Renge smiled. 

"Uhm..." Maria didn't know how to respond. 

"What about butterfly?" Renge offered.

"Okay!" Maria smiled. 

"Well, we're here. Music Room #3. They should be in the middle of business right now." Maria opened the door and walked in, causing Renge to hesitantly peek in. 

"Don't be afraid, dear." Maria turned towards Renge and took out a hand. Renge was about to take it, when Maria disappeared. Tamaki was now in her place. 

"What are you doing here, princess? It's no fun watching." Tamaki dazzled. 

Maria watched. 

"Phony prince!" Renge accused, jumping out. 

The twins began to laugh, Huni was confused. Haruhi didn't know what was happening. 

Tamaki was shocked. All of Renge's mean accusations stabbed Tamaki, until he eventually fell in slow motion. 

"Wow! A new move!" The twins clapped. 

"Tamaki?" Maria asked, walking up to her love. She knelt down and patted his forehead. "Don't worry. I don't think of you like that." Maria reassured, smiling.  

"How kind! Maria is so kind, even to phonies!" Renge twirled. 

That's when Kyoya caught Renge's eye, causing her to whip around. "Kyoya!" She squealed, running over to him. Kyoya caught her in his arms. "My fiancee!" Renge smiled. 

"Eh?" Maria asked. 

"Maria! This is my fiancee, Kyoya! Why don't you be our adoptive daughter!" Renge smiled happily, bringing out a hand. 

"Ano..." Maria didn't know what was going on. 

"I didn't know you were engaged, Kyoya-senpai." Haruhi stated, looking over at Kyoya. 

"...I'm not." Kyoya deadpanned. 

Suddenly Renge launched into the story about Miyabi. 

"I fell in love with him at first sight." Renge sighed happily, caressing the vise-president's cheek. "How he saved that hurt kitten in the ally way... Or how he would be the only one to water the plant's in the school's infirmary.." 

"The school has an infirmary?" Maria asked. 

"Are you talking about the same person?" Haruhi asked doubtfully. 

"Hai!" Renge brought her face up to Kyoya. Kyoya gulped. He was very uncomfortable. 

"So how can this phony be a host?!" Renge jumped away and jabbed her finger into Tamaki's chest. 

"Actually, he's the most popular host here. He's the Host Club King, or the president. I'm vice-president of the Club." Kyoya responded. 

"Eh?!" Renge spluttered. "That's it! I'll become the manager of this place! I can't have this ruin Kyoya's precious business!" Renge flipped her hair, her dirty blonde hair slapping Tamaki. 

"Kyoya? Are you okay with this?" Maria asked, now beside Kyoya. Kyoya looked down at Maria, who was looking up with big curious eyes. 

"Her family is an important business partner with my family, we must treat her kindly." Kyoya shifted his glasses. 

Maria looked up at Kyoya, tilting her hair. She then smiled. "Okay. I trust you'll handle her?" Maria asked. 

"..." Kyoya looked at Maria, his blank look drowning in her smile. "Okay." Kyoya looked away. 

Suddenly a picture snapped, and the two looked over at Renge who held her phone up. "Just like the scene with Shin and Miyabi..." Renge drooled happily. "In real life! I can die happily now!" Renge fainted. 

"I made cookies!" Renge bursted through the doors, holding a tray of chocolate chip cookies. Maria looked up, throwing her attention away from Tamaki. Her and Tamaki were sitting closely next to each other on one of the pink couches, discussing nonsense. 

"Oh, what a lovely maiden, bringing cookies for her love!" Tamaki appeared before Renge, but before he could take a cookie his hand was slapped away. 

"Not for a fake prince!" Renge sassed, turning her nose up high. Tamaki wilted. 

"Maria! They look like you put so much love in them, it's beautiful." Maria smiled. 

"What a cookie, butterfly?" Renge smiled, using the nickname. Maria sparkled and took one. 

"Thank you!" Maria walked up to Haruhi and broke the cookie in half. She handed it to Haruhi. 

"Thank you, Maria." Haruhi smiled, then took a bite. Maria mirrored her actions. 

"Wow, it's pretty good. Was it your first time baking, Renge?" Maria asked.

"It's a little burnt, but good overall." Haruhi judged. 

The twins appeared beside the two girls. The cookie piece was sticking out of Maria's mouth, to which Kaoru bit into. The two stared into each other's eyes, both lips in contact to the same cookie. Kaoru lightly blushed, then broke off a piece. "Wow, it's a good cookie, Renge." Kaoru complemented, his eyes remaining on Maria. 

Hikaru licked a crum off Haruhi's cheek. Haruhi looked at Hikaru. "You could've gave me a napkin." Haruhi stated. 

Tamaki stared at Maria and Kaoru, who stood staring at each other. Tamaki felt his insides crumble down a mountain side. His heart shattered. He felt angry, his blood boiling to a certain degree. But it wasn't like when 'Maria fell of the cliff' angry. It was different. Jealousy? 

Maria's cheeks then tinted a bright pink. "A-Ano..." Maria quickly looked away. She felt so uncomfortable. 

"Haruhi! I got some milk!" Huni came bounding over to Haruhi. He handed the glass to her. 

"Thank you, Huni-senpai." Haruhi thanked. 

Renge watched, angrily. "Dull!" She shouted. 

"Huh?" Tamaki asked. 

"You all are dull! Boring! If your all so happy and go-lucky, what kind of girl will be interested!? You all need a dark depressing side!" Renge argued. 

Renge suddenly began labeling everyone. 

No one can tell the twins apart, and it was tearing them down.

Huni was the mean tough bully, who only was hurting himself more than his victims.

Mori is Huni's friend who wants to protect Huni, but it's hurting to see Huni like that.

Tamaki was the lonely prince, who suffers without friends or family.

Kyoya was going to reenact Miyabi, and be the narrator. And Maria; she was had a part as well.

Maria remained quiet, looking out the window as Renge gave them their dark lives. The sakura tree fluttered in the wind.

"You did well, Tamaki." Maria smiled an empty smile, handing a towel towards him. 

"Thank you!" Tamaki sparkled. "Maybe this should be the new me, ne?" Tamaki twirled. 

Maria remained quiet. Her hands slightly shook. 

"Maria? Is something troubling you?" Tamaki asked, noticing Maria's strange behavior. 

Maria looked down. "Y-You.. want to change yourself?" Maria's voice cracked. 

Tamaki bent down, smiling. Maria's lowered gaze met Tamaki's. 

"I wont if it bugs you, Maria." Tamaki smiled, tilting his head. 

Maria stared at him, with wide eyes. Her heart fluttered. 

"Maria! You're up next!" Renge called. Maria quickly looked away and ran towards Renge. 

Maria took a deep breath, strengthening her shirt. The director gave her a thumbs up, and Maria nodded. She took the wooden guitar and sat down, leaning onto the sakura tree. The staff turned on the rain machine, and the director yelled 'ACTION!'. 

Maria leaned her head onto the tree, her expression dull and empty. Her eyes were so dark and empty that people thought she was dead. Maria's mouth was slightly open. Bruises and scars were out in the open, clear to see. It littered her legs and arms. Tears rolled down from her eyes, but the rain made it hard to see. 

"I'm crying... don't you see?" Maria whispered, looking up at the dark cloudy sky. 

"My heart is broken, don't you notice?" Maria gripped her shirt, right where her heart is. 

"I'm right here..  hanging by a thread." Maria chocked a sob. She quickly covered her mouth, shutting her eyes tightly. He hiccuped out a wail. 

"My heart is beating for you.. but.." Maria snapped her head back. "My song didn't reach out to you..." 

Maria shakily stood up and grabbed the guitar's fingerboard. She smashed it onto the grass. It smashed into smithereens, and Maria's tears flowed harder. 

"Why am I not good enough?!" Maria screamed, shutting her eyes. 

"Somewhere close to Maria, Haruhi was running for her life." Kyoya narrated, and the scene changed to Haruhi tripping over a rock. Maria opened her eyes and wiped away the fake tears she borrowed from Tamaki. The liquid from the bottle stung her eyes. She rubbed her eyes to rip the pain away. 

"I feel awful smashing a well made guitar.." Maria muttered, looking at the smashed guitar. 

Maria sighed, and walked off the set. "Maria!" The twins sobbed. "That was beautiful!" Hikaru sniffled, hugging her. "I felt so bad!" Kaoru sniffled, hugging Maria. 

"Thanks! I'm really bad at acting, though." Maria smiled. 

"You're pretty good at acting." Tamaki appeared, whipping away the his tears. 

"Thanks for letting me borrow your tear drops!" Maria smiled. 

"No problem. Ask anytime." Tamaki smiled, patting her head. 

She suddenly shivered. "Ah... my clothes are still wet. I'm going to go ask Renge for a towel." 

The twins let go, and began talking with Tamaki. 

Maria walked around, looking for Renge. That's when she saw her talking to a group of boys, Haruhi as the bystander. 

Suddenly one of the men pushed Renge, and she stumbled towards a rack full of props. 

Maria froze, then began running at full speed. "Renge!" Maria shouted. She jumped behind her, and her back hit the metal pole. The rack fell forward, and Maria lurched forward as well and covered Renge. Her back supported the fallen rack. Maria's arms held her up, and was placed on both sides of Renge's head. 

"Butterfly..?" Renge asked. 

"A-Are you.. okay?" Maria grunted. A piece of her hair dripped water onto Renge's cheek. "I'm really sorry.. I should of dried first. Now you're getting wet.." Maria apologized. Renge instantly broke away, pushing herself up. She pushed the rack off of Maria, and helped her up. 

"Please don't apologize! It was all my fault!" Renge teared up. Maria turned around to look at Haruhi, when Renge gasped. "Maria! Your back! It's bleeding! A lot!!" Renge shouted. 

"Eh?" Maria brought her hand up above her shoulder and touched her upper back, then looked at her hand. Blood stained her fingertips and palm. Maria shrieked in terror. 

"Maria?! I heard a scream-" Tamaki came running, when he noticed Maria's pale face, bloody hand, and bloody back. Tamaki froze. 

"Did you two do this?!" Tamaki shoved the boys against the wall. 

"Tamaki! Wait! They're innocent! Renge provoked them!" Maria shouted, stopping Tamaki. 

Tamaki let go and turned around towards Maria. He ran over and slid to his knees, caressing her cheek. "Are you okay?" Tamaki asked, his eyes softening. 

"T-To be honest, my back really hurts.." Maria blushed, her eyes widening. 

Tamaki picked her up. "Woah! Tamaki?!" Maria blushed harder. Tamaki blushed too. 

"You're hurt, and in no condition to walk." Tamaki stated. 

"Did you get that?!" Renge shouted. The camera man nodded. Suddenly Kyoya smashed the camera lenses with a rock. 

"K-Kyoya?" Renge asked, her tears swelling. 

"My camera!" The camera man cried. 

"We cannot involve the Host Club in any violence what so ever. You should know this, since after all, your our manager." Kyoya's glasses glinted. 

Maria winced at his tone. 

"Especially when it comes to the Saki family's daughter, Maria. Are you trying to sue us?" Kyoya tched. 

"B-but Kyoya! You're supposed to assure me it's going to be okay, pat my head softly! Smile that warm smile of yours!" Renge cried. 

"I'm afraid, that's not Kyoya." Maria softly spoke. 

"Huh?" Renge looked over at Maria. 

Tamaki set Maria down. Maria beckoned Renge to come closer, since she couldn't walk. Renge scurried over to Maria, who sat on the cement. She was wet, cold, and bleeding. But she had the warmest smile Renge's ever seen. 

"Instead of being so wrapped up in a game, on fictional people, why don't you take some time into knowing who people really are, on the inside?" Maria shut her eyes in a closed eye smile. "Because after all, it's more fun, hai?" Maria giggled. Renge teared up, then began sobbing like mad. 

"I'm so sorry!" Renge hugged Maria, her face buried into Maria's stomach. 

Maria seemed surprised, but smiled again. She petted Renge's hair. "I've already forgiven you, dear." 

"Did you see the movie?!" A girl squealed. 

"I wanted to hug Tamaki so badly!" Another girl squealed. 

"Did you not see Haruhi!? I wanted to stop Huni, but who can hurt him?! He was just trying to live up to his family name!" 

Haruhi smiled uncomfortably. "I thought the film was erased?" She asked. 

"I just destroyed the camera. The film was still published. But the scene of violence was deleted." Kyoya adjusted his glasses. 

"Ano..." A girl walked in, followed by a boy. He seemed older than her by a year. 

"A boy guest? An open gay?" Hikaru asked, coming up to them.

"No, Hikaru-kun!" The girl whined. "My Onii-chan isn't gay!" 

"Uhm.. my sister made me watch the recent film with her you guys made. I saw the scene with Maria. I felt like crying over it. It was a heart break scene, right?" The boy nervously scratched his head. 

Tamaki peeked over a coach and looked over at him. 

"Hai. Maria got rejected by her love, even though she wrote a song for him." Hikaru looked at the boy suspiciously. 

"Can I meet her?" He asked, hope in his eyes. 

Maria walked through the open doors. She fixed her hair and looked over at the boy. "A new guest?" She asked, walking over to him. 

'No..!' Tamaki thought, stretching a hand out towards Maria.

"Y-You're Maria?" He stuttered, his blush relevant. 

"Oi! Don't flirt with my friend!" His sister pouted. 

"You're friends?!" He asked. 

"Maria's friends with everyone!" The girl smiled. 

"At least I hope." Maria smiled. "But knowing that Jay and me are friends, I can be happy." Maria looked over at Jay and sparkled. 

Jay blushed and looked away. "Oni-chan.. don't hang out with Maria, she's my friend!" Jay hugged Maria. 

"Eh?!" Tamaki and the boy shouted. 

"Looks like Maria is hostess material." Kyoya said. 

"Yeah, but she shouldn't be a hostess." Hikaru said. 

"And why is that?" Kyoya asked. 

"Because a certain someone wouldn't be happy." Hikaru glanced at Tamaki, who shakily sipped his coffee and tended to his guests.