"Your fiance?" Hikaru looks between the girl, Kyoya, and me.

We were all sitting on two yellow couches, the Host Club and I on one side with the new girl on the other.

"Kyoya-Senpai?" Kaoru looks over at Kyoya for answers, which I bet he already has.

"Of course!" Renge claps her hands and gives a closed-eye smile. "I'm Renge Hoshakuji, and I'm transferring to Ouran Academy's first year Class A tomorrow."

I look over her. She looked so happy to be here, but I don't remember her from mine and Kyoya's talks. I feel like he would tell me if he were to be affianced. Oh, that's a good word. I reached for my bag, but the little movement attracted Renge's attention.

"Oh? I thought you cleared all the customers out. Is she perhaps a relative?" She scans me and I feel like I'm in some sort of science fiction novel. I freeze and blush.

"I'm Mitsumi Inoue, a friend of Kyoya's." I say shyly. "I met the Host Club on my first day."

"So, not a relative, close to Kyoya, as well as the other boys?" She gives me a fixed smile and I feel sweat dripping from my forehead. "How come I wasn't told there was a girl in the Host Club?"

"Oh, you must misunderstand, Miss Renge." Kyoya gives the girl his business smile and pats me on the head lightly. "She is merely a ward at one of my health facilities, and we are encouraging more social gatherings to help her."

He gives me a look, as if saying 'don't make this any harder than it already is.' I nod and Renge relaxes once more. I get up and bow before going back to my table. She doesn't scare me.

No.

That's a lie.

I think I am very much intimidated by her.

She claps her hands together and rambles about some sort of 'love at first sight' story, something that I would write back in elementary school. I want to laugh, but I don't want her to turn on me again.

"My real life Ichijo Miyabi!" She sighs out, her head in a different place.

"Uki-"

"Doki-"

Tamaki interrupts the twins with the exclamation of:

"Otaku!" He practically shrieks and I flinch at the sound. The more dramatic boys of the group look aghast, but I don't see the problem with enjoying a cute dating simulator, or enjoying an anime or two. I'm a particular fan of Sanrio, like Gudetama, but I never fully reached whatever level Renge is going through. Kyoya seems so tired with this already, I can tell.

"I get it now," He pushes up his glasses. "You're in love with the character. You're projecting the love onto me, and you somehow deluded yourself into thinking we're engaged. I assume this Miyabi character probably wears glasses as well."

"So, she's not your fiance?" Tamaki asks. Sometimes he can be a little numb in the skull, but it's quite amusing to see him so confused and astounded. I giggle quietly. Tamaki looks over at me, pointing dramatically.

"You knew as well, Mitsumi, and you didn't bother to debunk it?" He yells furiously. I couldn't help but laugh out loud, making Renge bristle.

"Well, of course!" I gasp out. My hand automatically goes to my heart, the pulse going wild. "Mr Ootori would have told my father if he was to wed a new girl in the area."

"And why would that be?" Renge says icily.

I gasp a couple more times before going back to breathing normally. I straighten my back and smile at her.

"Mr Ootori deals with my father just as much as any publishing firm, and if there were to be a wedding in the Ootori family, it would be top news," I explain. "We print most of the manuscripts and books on health and wellbeing for the Ootori family, as well as own a daily newspaper for the more elite people."

I hear Haruhi grumble and I can't help but chuckle again. Renge gives me a glare that could freeze me if I wasn't so hot in the face.

"Alright." She takes one more second to look at me before switching to Kyoya, her voice syrupy from being too sweet.

"According to my research, I understand that you're in charge of managing the club. Is that true Kyoya?" She blinks in a faux innocent manner.

"That's right!" Hani exclaims, chewing on a slice of cake. "Kyo-Chan is our director!" Mori gives a small nod.

"You're the club's director?" Her imagination starts to run wild once more. "That's perfect! Oh wow, I've always wanted to wear a sandwich board to advertise a business."

"We don't advertise," Hikaru and Kaoru say at the same time. "We're just a Host Club."

Renge claps her hands and squeals.

"I've made up my mind!" She says enthusiastically. "From now on, I am going to be the manager of this Host Club!"

"Kyoya, listen," Tamaki pleads. Kyoya stops him in his tracks.

"Miss Hoshokuji is the only daughter of a very important Ootori family client. So please be polite and try not to offend her, okay?"

Tamaki backs off for a second before delving into his own thoughts.

"Well boys, I can't wait to work with you." Renge gives another closed eye smile and I pick up my bag quietly and start to head out of the room. I can't be near all the energy or I'm sure to get exhausted very quickly.

"Mitsumi." I look over my shoulder to see Mori standing in the hallway. I smile at him and wait for him to catch up to me.

"Hi, Mori-Senpai." I cross my arms and chew on my lip. "Renge's an interesting person, don't you think?"

He hesitates before nodding. I giggle a little.

"Don't worry, Kyoya won't let anything bad happen," I say with confidence. "He may seem like a jerk, but I know he truly cares for all of you guys."

Mori nods again.

"I finished the book."

I bristle at that and my face begins to feel hot.

"I know, it's just a first draft. I haven't properly finished it, or even edited the chapters I have--"

"I liked it."

I stop in my tracks. I look at him, his eyes showing the truth. He seemed to actually like my story. His face didn't show it, but after his eyes averted, I knew he was uncomfortable with me scrutinizing him. I looked down and he was holding out the journal. I take it, our hands brushing ever so slightly. I tuck the book underneath my armpit and smile.

"I'm happy that you do."

"When you're done, I want to finish it."

"Okay."

Kyoya leaves the Host Club room to see us and walks briskly over to me.

"Hurry, before we have to help Renge any further."

I smile and he holds out his arm to walk me to the cars.

"See you tomorrow, Mori-Senpai." I wave goodbye and walk with Kyoya, our footsteps echoing in the empty halls. I still feel the eyes of Mori on my back for some reason, but I don't look back. I just need to get home to continue writing this story.

"I thought about it a lot last night," Tamaki starts the meeting. I was sitting at the main table this time. Hani made it apparent that I'm usually sitting alone during the meetings and dragged me over to sit next to Haruhi and Kaoru. "Maybe having a lady manager isn't such a bad idea."

We all looked at him in disbelief, but he clearly thought it was a good idea, even though Renge seems a little off putting.

"And why do you say that?" The twins clearly didn't like the idea, and I don't either. She kind of scares me, and I know that Kyoya finds her annoying.

"Well, it's fairly obvious, isn't it?" Tamaki grows a fantasy in his head. "Renge just transferred into the same class as Haruhi. So, if Haruhi has a girlfriend around, it could bring out the female within her. Renge's girlish air of tenderness might be able to stimulate Haruhi's own sense of femininity!"

"Good grief," Haruhi mutters. She plays her head into the table, already tired of Tamaki's antics.

"Isn't Mitsu-Chan a girl though?" Hani asks. He smiles at me and I do the same back. "She could help with Haru-Chan being more like a girl!"

"Not that you initially want that," I interject. "I mean, there's a reason she is a host right now, and it was your guys' ideas to even make her a host and pose as a boy."

"She's got a point," Hikaru says, leaning against me. "We did make her do this with us."

He and Kaoru smile at me and lean in close.

"Maybe we should do the same for you."

I smile at them nervously and try to back away from them while still sitting in my seat. I don't like how close they are, despite me finding them funny. I bite my lip and it almost makes it bleed again. I try to shrink in my chair, but someone pulls me out, making me squeak.

"What the heck, Mori-Senpai," Hikaru whines. "We were just joking with her."

"Yeah, she seemed okay with it too!" Kaoru pouts at me in a joking manner.

I dangle helpless in the air, my face red. I squirm a little and look at Mori. He looks back, nonplussed, but begins to put me down once he realizes I'm uncomfortable. I smile at him gratefully.

"You know she's not Hani-Senpai, right?" Hikaru snarks. Kaoru looks like he's trying to analyze Mori, who is shifting from foot to foot. Before Kaoru could say anything, however, Renge came bursting into the room. Her smile is unnerving and I get back in my seat before she tries to talk to me again.

"Hey everyone!" She greets. "You'd be happy to know as your new manager, I have baked all of you some cookies."

"Oh, isn't she ladylike?" Tamaki swoons, going near her. "I'm so moved by your generosity."

Renge gives him a glare before dissing him and going up to Kyoya.

"I'm sorry, I burnt them a little bit," She simpers. "I did the best I could. And I already know what you're going to say!"

She goes back into a daydream with the Miyabi character. Kyoya isn't a guy who goes for sweets, and I don't think he will eat the cookies, but Hani grabs them and starts munching. His eyes well up a little and he gives a sheepish smile.

"She wasn't kidding, these cookies really are burnt."
"Don't eat that, Mitskuni," Mori remarks. "It's bad for you."

That set the monster in Renge off, and she started chasing the duo, making me laugh. It was a tactless comment, from both Hani and Mori, but her antics of blowing up easily is pure comedy. I choke a little on my laughs and start coughing. Haruhi thumps my back a little and I wave my hand in thanks. Hani runs into my skirts, crying because of Renge and her demonic features. I catch him lightly, still trying to breathe from the laughter attack. Hani looks up at me curiously, but I smile through watery eyes and labored breathing.

"Mitsu-Chan, maybe you should sit down again." He drags a chair over.

"Thanks, Hani-Senpai, I very much appreciate it." I sit down before taking a deep breath, trying to get rid of the urge to cough. I hear a little clink and a cup of water appears. I feel the shadow over me. I look up to see Mori. His face is blank, but his eyes are anxious. Mr Stone Cold is just as open as Hani, as long as you pay attention.

"Thank you, Mori-Senpai." I drain the glass quickly and work on my breathing exercises once more.

"Lukewarm."

The group looks over at Renge. Her mind was working like a clock, the gears and cogs turning. It was strange to see her actually thinking and not just imagining whatever scenario with Kyoya.

"Every single one of you, except for Kyoya-Senpai is lukewarm!" She shouts, pointing at everyone, including me. "Each one of you needs to have some sort of dark side, do you understand?"

Tamaki and the twins look stunned at her, but Kyoya does nothing but write in his little black book, until I see a little smirk. He thinks this is some sort of game. Interesting. I won't mind playing along, if it's funny enough for him to crack a smile.

"Girls are vulnerable to handsome young men who are troubled," She continues. "If you keep carrying on like this, It's only a matter of time before the girls get tired of you and stop coming all together. Are you trying to ruin my precious Kyoya's business?" She rages, and I may be imagining it, but she looks like a Medusa character, making the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I shiver a little and shrink in my seat. She turns to the boys and Haruhi and starts tearing them apart. The insults and the stereotypes for them are ridiculous, and the change is also so stupid! Hani as a thug, when he can't harm a fly? A dark prince who is still so overly dramatic? It's like she's trying to change the entire storyline of their lives here.

"And you!" Her face is close to mine and I blush from the contact. "You are way too close to my Kyoya, and you clearly have feelings for him, as well as all the guys."

"What?" I blanch and shake my head furiously. "No no no, Renge--"

"--So, you will be playing as a simpering fan of the boys, following and squealing along to their every line, got it?" She looks smug, but Kyoya puts his foot down, thankfully.

"I'm sorry to burst your little bubble, Renge," He says, all of her attention on him, becoming the simpering fan she wants me to be. "But Mitsumi is required to limit her physical activity, as well as stay by my side, as instructed by her father. By no means is there anything romantic happening in our relationship."

Renge pouts, but she listens to Kyoya like a puppy to a new owner. She starts making calls on her phone, pushing the club members and I out towards the gardens.

"Cut, cut, cut, CUT!" Renge shrieks into a megaphone, making me jump. I look over at the boys, a scene in the rain just ending. Hani was supposed to play a thug character and bully Haruhi, a weak nerd, but as I thought, he's much too soft. I feel for him; I wouldn't bear to harm Haruhi either. We don't talk much, but she is always so kind and I know once she does have time to talk, we will become best of friends!

Mori walks over, drying his hair. He stands next to me. Kyoya instructed for one of the tea tables to be set up for me, like the gentleman he is, and while the boys were messing around with Renge's film, I got homework done. Mori bends down to look over the answers. His face looks at the paper hard, his eyes flitting back and forth on the words. A droplet of water falls from a strand of his hair. Out of pure involuntary action, I take a hold of the towel and continue to dry his hair, or at least his bangs. He flinches and looks down, surprised at what I'm doing. A pink radiates on his face.

"Sorry, I just didn't want my paper to get wet," I say, stopping my motions. I was about to place my hands back down, but he takes them in his.

"No," He says, his voice a lot deeper than I remember. "I don't mind."

I look at him directly into his eyes; a deep gray that I haven't seen for many people. He seemed calm. He breaks eye contact to keep looking at my homework and I continue drying his hair.

Once it's dry enough that it isn't dripping everywhere, I hand him back his towel and he grunts in appreciation. I give him a little smile. Suddenly, a loud crash from around the corner startles up. I instantly get up, making my head dizzy, and start running to the noise. Mori follows close behind. I take short and quick breaths, making it to the crash zone just in time to hear Haruhi talk back to Renge.

"You can't do that," She says gently, or as gently as she can after being pushed into set pieces. "If you judge people by their appearance you're stereotyping them, and you'll never see the person inside."

Regne looks stunned for a second, almost speechless. I smile at her quickly and with uncertainty before going over to Haruhi. I go onto my knees and try to check her over for bruises or marks.

"I'm fine, Mitsumi-Senpai," She argues. "Honestly, it was just a little push."

"What happened to Haruhi?" Tamaki flips out. He doesn't exactly shove me away, but his intensity makes me topple from sitting on my knees to on my butt. "So, which one of you jerks started this?"

His eyes go dark and I am very happy that I would never hurt any of the Host Club members. Tamaki Suoh can be dangerous when he needs to be. The two tougher looking boys argue with Tamaki, clearly in the wrong place at the wrong time.
"He's telling the truth, Senpai," Haruhi interjects. I can tell she's very tired from the events of today. "It wasn't their fault, they were provoked."

Tamaki goes to sit next to her and I scoot away, trying to stand up. Mori lifts me up from the back of my collar, making me queak. He puts me down gently, but I can't help from blushing a little bit from the uncomfortable lift. I straighten my dress and brush the dirt off.

"Haruhi, are you in any pain?" He looks so concerned, much more than a friend ever would. It reminds me of a look the twins would give each other in their twincest moments. Haruhi chuckles a little. She lifts her head up to have a contact hanging from her eyelashes.

"I guess it must have slipped out." She tries to put it back in. Tamaki's face is unreadab;e, but he gets up and smiles widely.

"I see how it is," He exclaims. "You're able to cry without eyedrops, you're a full-fledged host now?" He goes to hug Haruhi, but I can't help but break the moment with a giggle or two. I try to hide it behind my hand so they won't notice. Mori looks down at me and I blush once more. He gives a hint of a smile and I smile back.

"You!" I jump at the sound of Renge's voice. She was pointing at a camera that is focused on the scene in front of us. "You, please tell me you got that, Camera-man!"

"Yes Boss!" He says joyfully. Renge squeals in happiness before a breaking of glass makes her thoughts shatter. She turns to look, and Kyoya is holding a stone in his hand and brushing away the bits of glass that are on his knuckles. Renge stands frozen for a second.

"Why?" She asks, a quiver in her voice. "Is something wrong?"

Kyoya sighs and pushes up his glasses.

"I'm terribly sorry," Sarcasm thick in his voice at those words, making me flinch. "But I cannot allow there to be any record of a club member engaging in violence. I think you've caused enough trouble," He looks over at Renge like she's something underneath his shoe. "Please stop being a pest."

"Kyoya," I scolded. I go to tell him off, but a hand on my shoulder and one gripping my skirt hold me back. I look down to see Hani. He places a finger over his lips, gesturing to continue watching the situation at hand. I nod.

"A pest?" Tears well in Renge's eyes, and I can't help but feel bad for her. "But you're supposed to pat me on the head and tell me not to worry. You're supposed to be kind and affectionate, Kyoya!" She tries to wipe the tears away from her face. "Why are you acting so different now? Tell me why."

"Because that's not the real Kyoya," Tamaki says, making her look up to him. A light seems to go off in her head. Haruhi takes her hands.
"Does it really matter?" She asks gently. "Who cares if Kyoya is a little different than you expect him to be. Take a good look at the person inside and get to know them little by little. It's a lot more fun that way." Renge pays attention to Haruhi's words, and the Host Club disassembles to go home. Hani talks animatedly as he walks with Kyoya, Mori, and me. I smile at his little rambles on the different flavorings of vanilla and what fruit is truly superior on angel food cake. The cousins depart from us and Kyoya walks to my car.

"You know, if they didn't hold me back, I would have gone off on you," I say. "What you said was awful."

"It was the truth, Mitsumi," He sighs. "You really wanted Renge to continue in her fantasyland? Thinking that you were in love with me and an enemy for her?"

"Oh god no," I chuckle, but I go back to serious. "But you were completely tactless in what you said. Maybe you should think about what you say to people before breaking them."

"I'll think about it," He says with humor in his voice. "At least we're done with this exhausting day."

"Yes." I look over and begin to climb into the car. "See you guys tomorrow, right?"

"Doctor's appointment before class tomorrow."

"Okay." I take a deep breath and smile at him. I wave goodbye as my window rolls up and the car starts on the way home.

"Is everything alright, Miss Inoue?" The driver asks. I yawn and place my bag next to me.

"Everything is just peachy keen, thank you."

I look out the window, the sun setting and the sky turning a beautiful shade of orange and pink.

Today was a good day, even if Renge hates me now.