//Disclaimer: I do not own Ouran High School Host Club.//

CHAPTER ELEVEN

ENGAGEMENT

Asami sits on her bed, stroking Salem's fur as he lays next to her. Her father let her stay home from school for the last few days, but she does have to go back in two days. Tamaki has brought her all the homework she misses during this time. The Host Club has stopped by to visit, giving her their reassurance and support. Kazuki stopped by as well to deliver her some sympathy flowers for everything that has happened. Hikari and Kaori have kept her company through text messages since they haven't gotten the chance to visit her yet with how busy they are at their school. She heaves a sigh, turning onto her side and staring out the window. Security at the school and the mansions have been heightened. Tomorrow she will be having her first-ever father-and-daughter day with Yuzuru. She is looking forward to it, but she is unsure what to expect from him. He has not told her about anything he has planned for them tomorrow. She closes her eyes and wills herself to sleep, excited about tomorrow.

Asami yawns and blinks her eyes open as the sun hits her face, waking her up. She gets up and stretches when she notices a box sitting on the bottom of her bed. She gets out, walking toward it and eyeing it carefully. She picks up the note on the box, 'Your mother use to make dresses, this is one she made for you to wear when you became a teenager. I hope you like it and wear it for today -  Dad.' She smiles at the signature and eagerly opens the box to gasp. It's a yellow dress with cute honey bees and flowers on it and flowy sleeves that reach her elbows. She places the dress on and heads to the front door to meet up with her father for the day. He smiles at her.

"You look beautiful in that." He tells her.

"Thank you." She takes his hand and he leads her to their car for the day. "What do you have planned for us?"

"You'll see." He says mysteriously, opening the door for her to get in first and slides in beside her. The car ride is full of chatter about Yuzuru's work and Asami's schooling. They ask each other personal questions to get to know one another better when the car comes to a stop. "We're here, claps your eyes." She closes her eyes and lets him help her out of the car. "Okay and open them!" She opens her eyes and grins, staring at the Shinjuku Gyoen National Garden. This garden has numerous sections which are all themed. There's a French garden, an English landscape garden, a botanical greenhouse, a maple mountain and flower viewing area. The two take the day to enjoy the nature surrounding them. Asami takes pictures of the flowers and trees, enjoying how beautiful and peaceful everything is. Luckily, the people visiting do not recognize the duo so they have an easy day. They have a nice picnic in the woodlands experience. Asami enjoys this one-on-one time with her father as they continue to explore the vast garden until the sun starts to set. They head back home, feeling much closer than they had beforehand.    

Asami could not help but notice the secret agents littering the National garden to keep an eye on her. She wonders if that is how it's going to be wherever she goes now.

•••

Asami spins around in another kimono made by the twins' mother for her. She hums, quite liking how this one flatters her body more than the other ones had. It's also a nice blue color that matches her eyes with a floral pattern. She grabs some teacakes that she made and heads over to each of the tables to begin handing them out to guests. Like usual, she starts with her brother so she can get her cringing out of the way first.

"Tamaki-kun, why are you so beautiful?" One guest asks.

"All the better to remain in thy eyes, my love." Tamaki smiles at her.

"Why is your voice so clear and true?" Another guest asks.

"The better to impart my feeling unto you, my love."

"Why are you looking at me with such watery eyes?" The last guest questions.

"The spring of my heart surges upon the sight of your fresh smile, my love." Tamaki runs his hand through his hair, showing his watery eyes off to the girls.

"Tamaki-kun!" The three girls swoon. Asami gently places teacakes down on the table and smiles at the girls before heading over to the twins.

"The design of your kimono is just like I hoped." One girl giggles.

"Today, all the members of the host club are wearing kimonos that my mother designed. If you wish, we're taking orders right now." Hikaru states.

"Our grandmother was the one who put them on for us, though." Hikaru cups Kaoru's chin in his hand.

"And of course, it's my duty to take them off, right, Kaoru?" Hikaru purrs.

"Hikaru... saying that in front of everyone makes me embarrassed..." Kaoru blushes.

"Wah~! Please let us see! We must, as ladies!" The guests swoon. While Asami places more teacakes on the table, a hand suddenly wraps around her waist and pulls her into their lap. She blinks and turns her face to come face-to-face with Hikaru's smirking one. Hikaru is pulling her into their romantic act more often lately and she is unsure if she is okay with that. It's bad enough people associate her as a mother to Mitsukuni and as Takashi's wife.

"And of course, Asami will be helping me," he leans over and places a kiss on her cheek. The girls squeal at the thought of Asami being alone with the twins, helping them take their clothes off. Asami blanches, wondering if these girls are more into porn than they are hosting. Kaoru seems upset and grabs Asami, pulling her off of Hikaru's lap and into his arms.

"Hikaru, I want your attention only on me." He pouts. Asami quirks an eyebrow, knowing that his words are fake but his pout is real by the gleam in his eyes. Hikaru looks amuses as he glances between Kaoru and Asami.

"You need to learn to share my attention, my sweet." Hikaru reaches over to grab them both and yank them toward him. Kaoru's and Asami's hands land on either side of Hikaru's legs on the couch. The two have to look up at Hikaru, Asami more so than Kaoru. "You both look so delicious staring up at me." The guests are practically fainting at this point, fanning themselves as the dirty images in their heads become too much for them to handle. Asami hisses at Hikaru and quickly stands up, grabbing her plate of teacups and marching away.

"Haruhi-kun! Your kimono look is cute, too!"

"You look just like a girl!" Asami snorts at that.

"Haruhi, guests for you. Your guest service is pretty stable lately, too." Kyoya muses.

"Maybe the reduction in my debt by 1/3 has affected it." Haruhi states.

"Keep it up–well, I have no intention of telling you about interest rates or that kimonos rental fee. So don't worry about and work hard." Kyoya smiles. Asami bumps him gently and shakes her head at him.

"Why do you make everything about money?" She asks.

"I am the accountant of the club. Money is what I focus on and worry about." He informs her.

"I understand that, but you don't have to keep bringing up her debt to her. That's a bit rude." She huffs.

"Kyoya-sama!"

"Your kimono look is so wonderful." A few guests giggle and blush at him.

"Is the new photo collection for the Host Club not coming out yet?"

"Unfortunately, there are no plans for that." Kyoya answers. Hikaru and Kaoru poke their heads out from over the dividing wall.

"Isn't this club getting filthy rich—" Hikaru begins to say.

"—from our merchandise?" Kaoru finishes.

"Well, the merchandise itself is pathetic." Kyoya pulls out a collection of photographs. Most are blurry or overexposed. "While we call it a photo collection, they're nothing more than photos secretly taken by an amateur." Asami gapes at him because she thought she was doing fairly well since the last photo album release. "In order for us to secure even more club funds from the academy's budget, I must develop merchandise much higher in quality." He notices Asami's offended expression. "These aren't yours. Yours are right here and are the only good ones to publish, but I don't have enough for albums." She brightens up at those words when he pulls out her photographs that seem professionally done with how good everyone looks in them.

"Haru-chan, Ami-chan!" Mitsukuni cries out. Asami heads over with a concerned frown. She crouches next to him and he launches at her with a loud cry. She catches him in a hug and the guests awe at the sight which Kyoya subtly takes a photo of to add to their albums. "I lost one of my straw sandals." He informs them.

"Weren't you wearing them just now?" Haruhi asks.

"Where did you last have it? We can go back and search for it." Asami suggests.

"Honey-kun, don't cry! We'll help you find it!" The guests shout.

"Mitsukuni." Takashi crouches down next to Asami and grabs Mitsukuni's foot, slipping the stare sandal back on. Mitsukuni releases Asami and stares at Takashi with wide, watery eyes.

"Takashi..." he mumbles softly.

"You dropped it over there." Takashi points over by the kitchen and Mitsukuni gives him a big hug.

"How beautiful!"

"Oh, so beautiful!"

"Tear-shedding acts sure are popular these days...How does everyone cry so easily?" Haruhi mumbles to Asami.

"They're very flamboyant boys, I'm sure they'll able to cry on demand or they think of something sad to make them cry." She thinks aloud as the two girls suddenly bump into the twins. A small vial of high quality fake tears drops out of Hikaru's sleeve. Haruhi catches it and the girls stare at it dumbfounded before slowly glancing at the twins.

"Because of this?!" Haruhi yells.

"Let me say this first: eye drops are common practice in host clubs." Hikaru says, quickly covering Haruhi's mouth. "Women are suckers for tearful eyes." He comments.

"You're horrible people." Asami shakes her head at them.

"Here, Haruhi. I'll give this to you." Kaoru offers Haruhi a teacake. "Some high class Japanese teacake that commoners would never be a able to buy."

"You're giving it to me?" Haruhi asks, cutely staring at the teacake. 

"Aww, how cute." The twins and Asami fawn over her.

"Haruhi-kun, you like Japanese teacakes?"

"No, not sweet things in general. But I was thinking that I might place this before the grave of my late mother as an offering." Haruhi says.

"Oh, how noble of you! That filial piety of yours is wonderful, too!Here, Haruhi. Take as many as you want." Tamaki begins piling up Japanese teacakes into Haruhi's hand.

"Are those tears fake, too?" Haruhi asks.

"What are you talking about?! My tears are always true and authentic. A true host can always shed a tear without resorting to eye drops." Tamaki states, a bit offended at the accusation. "What do you think? Impressed? Fell for me once again?" He winks at her.

"You're not real hosts." Asami whispers to the twins with a snicker. "You have to resort to eye drops for your tears."

"What, like you can cry on demand?" Hikaru scoffs. A sniff is heard from her and the twins turn to see Asami staring at them with tears swelling in her eyes.

"Why are you always so mean to me? What have I ever done to you?" She cries, lifting her hands to her face to wipe her tears away.

"Oh crap," Hikaru looks genuinely panicked and Kaoru is glaring darkly at him, "I didn't mean it, Asami. Please stop crying. I'm not good with crying people. What do I have to do to get you to stop?" He asks.

"Say," she chokes out in between cries, "say that you're nothing but a dunderhead."

"I'm nothing but a dunderhead." Hikaru repeats.

"That's not loud enough," she continues to cry and leans into Kaoru's arms. He softly rubs her back.

"Shout it," Kaoru hisses at his twin.

"I'm nothing but a dunderhead!" Hikaru screams which catches the attention of nearly everyone in the room. Immediately, the crying stop and Asami pulls away from Kaoru with a smirk.

"Damn right you are for falling for that." The twins gape at her, horrified that they actually fell for a prank. Asami winks at them and walks away laughing. Everyone notices a new girl standing by the pillar by the entrance.

"Oh, aren't you a new face, our humble guest?" The twins chorus and move closer to her.

"What's the matter? Come on in." Kaoru smiles.

"Just watching is boring." Hikaru states.

"Now there, I've always told you guys to be courteous to first timers. Come, do not be afraid, princess.
Welcome to the Ouran Host Club." Tamaki softly holds his hand out to her. The girl slaps Tamaki across the face and Asami gasps, rushing over to the two and catches Tamaki's dramatically falling body.

"No! Don't touch me, you faker!!" She screams. "I won't believe that you are like the prince of this club! A prince character does not spread his love so easily! Why do you look so much like a fool?! It's like you're just a dumb narcissist! Incompetent! Commoner! The worst!"

"Excuse me," Asami releases Tamaki and steps forward with a glare, "who do you think you are to come in here and insult my brother like that? From what I'm seeing, you're nothing but a rude, inconsiderate, ugly girl." She snaps. The girl bristles and goes to say something when Kyoya steps next to Asami.

"Could you... be..." Kyoya muses.

"Kyoya-sama!" The girl runs toward Kyoya, stepping on Tamaki's body in the process. She hugs Kyoya. "I wanted to see  you so dearly... the prince just for me."

"Fiance? Of Kyoya-senpai?" The twins repeat.

"Yes. My name is Houshakuji Renge. I shall be transferring into Class 1-A starting tomorrow." She grins at everyone. Asami stands in the corner with her arms crossed as she watches the scene. She is rather upset at how this girl is treating everyone and she is upset with Kyoya for not telling her about this girl. Tamaki broods next to her, facing a wall.

"Look, they're angry." Hikaru comments, wincing at the dark look in Asami's eyes.

"Because Mommy hid a secret from Daddy." Kaoru states before glancing over at Asami. "And she's made that Daddy got insulted."

"Whatever you say, but do you guys plan on having that husband and wife setting become established?" Kyoya asks.

"It was quite the love at first sight experience! How he showed loving affection to flowers in the backyard that no one would look at...And how he gently reached out his hand to the injured little kitty..." Renge blushes. 

"I cannot imagine that at all." The twins state with a sweat drop.

"Because Kyoya wouldn't do any of that," Asami rolls her eyes.

"Did you take him for the wrong person?" Haruhi asks.

"No! My eyes cannot be wrong! A person that is so nice to others and never asks for anything in return. A person who loves solidarity but who's really a loner. From the love simulation game that makes your heart throb, Uki Doki Memorial, Ichijo Miyabi, who you resemble exactly!" Renge shouts.

"Uki?"

"Doki?"

"Otaku!"

"She's an otaku!"

"This is the first time I've seen one!" Everyone freaks out while Asami relaxes her posture, feeling much better that this girl isn't actually Kyoya's fiancé.

"I see. She's the type that goes "moe" over a character." Kyoya muses. "By setting her moe character on me, she's fantasized to the extent of fiancee. This Miyabi-kun must be an eyeglasses character."

"Wait, fantasize?" Tamaki repeats. "So this thing about your being her fiance is..."

"I don't ever recall confirming that." Kyoya informs him. "To begin with, today's the first time I've met her."

"According to my report, Kyoya-sama, you manage every aspect of this club, right?" Renge asks.

"That's right! Kyo-chan is the boss and Ami-Chan helps him out!" Mitsukuni answers.

"The boss! That's so fitting of you!" Renge gushes, completely ignoring the bit about Asami. "My dream has always been to be the mascot girl for a store."

"We don't need one. We're a host club." The twins state.

"I have decided! I shall become the manager of this host club!" Renge shouts.

"Hey, Kyoya..." Tamaki slowly says.

"She is the daughter of an important business partner of the Ootori family. I ask you to be courteous to her." Kyoya states. Asami snorts, shaking her head and begins to head to the door.

"Asami, where are you going?" The twins question.

"Away from this madness before I rip her head off of her body." The hosts go to protest but the door slams shut behind her before they could. They slowly turn to Renge to see her beaming at them.

"I look forward to working with you all!"

Asami finds herself standing in the Dark Magic Club moments later. "How much for one of those cursed dolls?"

•••

Asami relaxes on a couch in the host club as they discuss Renge. She has the cursed doll hidden in her backpack in case she needs it to ward someone—Renge—off. "I've thought about this the entire night yesterday, and a female manager might not be such a bad idea after all."

"And why is that?" The twins ask.

"Can't see it? She is transferring into the same class as Haruhi. If she can make female friends, Haruhi may become more girl-like. The gentle atmosphere that is shared uniquely by girls will awaken the femininity inside of Haruhi. This is a great project to have Haruhi become more aware of what it is to be a fair maiden! It won't help Haruhi at all if her own classmate friends are these unscrupulous twins and my sister!" He yells, dramatically pointing at said people in anger.

"Hey!" Asami shouts, offended. "I am plenty feminine enough for Haruhi!"

"Yes, she is." Haruhi defends her. "I don't need anymore girlfriends."

"Damn right, you don't." Asami smirks at her.

"Oh, that's something really nice to say." The twins shake their heads at him. Renge enters the Host Club room with a smile on her face that Asami finds herself wanting to punch off.

"Renge, the Host Club mascot girl, has baked some cookies for you!" She squeals, holding out cookies for everyone.

"Oh! That's so ladylike! I am so touched!" Tamaki smiles.

"I didn't bake them for you, phony prince." She snaps at him. Tamaki sulks against the wall again. Renge offers the cookies to Kyoya. "They got a little burnt." She shyly says. "But I know what you'd say. 'Anything you've made has got to be delicious.' Oh, that's so nice of you, Kyoya-sama!" She giggles.

"That's not something he would say." Asami sighs. The twins slide up onto either side of her, wrapping their arms around her shoulder.

"You know, you're acting rather jealous." Hikaru comments.

"Is there something going on between Kyoya and you?" Kaoru asks.

"Something between us? No," she laughs. "Of course not. I just don't like how she came in here and is ordering everyone around like dogs. She annoys me." The twins hum at her words.

"Well, what do you want to do to get rid of her?" Hikaru questions.

"Get rid of her?" Asami repeats.

"Yeah, we don't like how she's making you feel and we want her gone, you want her gone, I'm pretty sure everyone but Tamaki wants her gone. So," Kaoru smiles, "what's the plan?" Asami tilts her head to the side curiously, eyeing Renge. Renge begins to chase Mitsukuni and Takashi around after insulting her cookies.

"We find someone else that looks like her beloved game character that actually acts like him too. Hopefully she'll pour all her affections onto him instead and she'll be out of our lives." She muses. "How long do you think it'll take to find someone like that?"

"In this school? Not long, maybe a week or so." Kaoru replies.

"Every guy here pretty much fits into a few categories. We'll find you your dude." Hikaru squeezes her shoulder and lets her go as Haruhi grabs a cookie to try.

"It has a good smell, and it's really not that bad." Haruhi states. Hikaru puts a cookie into Haruhi's mouth and takes a bite from the other side.

"Let me see." He says.

"Hmm? Haruhi. You have some cookie crumbs on your face." Kaoru licks the cookie crumbs from Haruhi's face.

"Gahhh!! These guys! These guys!" Tamaki screeches at the twins. Kyoya approaches Asami, sensing her standoffish attitude toward him.

"And the friendly classmate trio has appeared all of a sudden." He jokes and looks at Asami, waiting for hee to laugh. She merely huffs at him. He sighs and ignores the dramatics between Tamaki and Haruhi. "Why are you jealous?"

"Jealous? I'm not jealous." She scoffs.

"You may not like it, but I can read your emotions fairly well." He uses her previous words against her. "I can tell you're upset, what's wrong?"

"Who says I'm upset? Maybe you can't read my emotions as well as you thought." Asami defensively says.

"I have no personal relations with her, nor will I ever pursue any personal relation with her." He informs her.

"Why would I care if you do?" She asks. He opens his mouth to say something when Renge suddenly shouts.

"Not good enough. You guys are not good enough! Other than Kyoya-sama, your characters are all not good enough! All you hosts here lack a "shadowy" side! Fair maidens are suckers for the traumas of handsome men! With ridiculous acts like these, it's only a matter of time before the girls get bored of you! Do you all intend on destroying Kyoya-sama's precious store?! As the manager, I shall set anew your characters from now on." Renge yells and snaps her fingers, pointing at Mitsukuni. "First, starting with you! If your inside and outside are nothing but cute, then you're no different from a child. Therefore... although you have a cute face, you're actually a vicious fiend inside!" Mitsukuni looks genuinely upset at this. "Morinozuka-senpai, you're an underling of your childhood friend! The twins are no basketball players that close themselves off in their own world! Haruhi-kun is a brilliant student but also a victim of fierce bullying! Tamaki-san–Although everyone loves your looks, you're the academy's idol with a serious complex—The lonely prince!" The hosts gape at her, wondering if she's okay in the head when she points at Asami. "And you!"

"Me?" Asami points at herself in confusion. "I'm not even an official member of the host club."

"You're the tsundere sister of the lonely prince who secretly likes all the hosts but you don't know how to be vulnerable and show your emotions!" Renge states.

"Tsundere," the twins snicker. Asami shots them a dark glare.

"Ah, Kyoya-sama, you're perfect." Renge gushes and blushes, attaching herself onto his arm. "Please stay as the affectionate person that you are."

"I am honored." Kyoya says.

"A lonely prince...It fits me perfectly, indeed!" Tamaki nods his head.

"Probably the one most wrong..." Haruhi muses.

"Now, Kyoya-senpai..." Hikaru starts to say.

"Please do something about her!" Kaoru finishes.

"But the president seems to be up for it." Kyoya gestures to Tamaki who is leaning against a wall with a solemn look on his face.

"Renge-kun, Renge-kun. Is a lonely pose something like this?" He asks.

"My, that's mighty impressive, Tamaki-san. I'm sure it would be even more effective if it rained." Renge squeals. "We can make a movie!"

"Movie?" Asami turns to Takashi and tugs on his arm. "How fast can you run away with me on your back?"

"Very fast." He replies.

"Good, let's go." She jumps up onto his back and his arms comfortably wrap around her thighs. She does not notice the slight blush appear on his cheeks, but Mitsukuni does and he gives his cousin a teasing look. "Run away before she can catch us!"

•••

In a basketball arena. Hikaru scores a basket. The girls in the audience cheer. Hikaru runs a short victory lap. "Hahaha!" He shouts in happiness. A whistle blows. Kaoru is on the ground with an injury. "Ah!" Hikaru shouts in worry.

"Get the stretcher! Bring him to the trainer's room immediately!" The referee yells. 

"Kaoru! Kaoru! Kaoru!!" Hikaru tries to follow him out.

"Hikaru, you can't! Get back into the game!" The coach stops him.

"Shut up!"

"Hikaru...Hikaru, you need to calm down. You shouldn't be aware of my pain. Right now, you're not the one injured." Kaoru comments.

"I can't! It hurts! It hurts, Kaoru."

"Your pain is also my pain. It's okay if nobody understands." Renge narrates over the scene. "As long as we have each other, we can live on."

Outside, in the rain. Hikaru and Kaoru hold each other while Temaki stands in a brooding manner. "I'm so envious of you two.
You two can support each other like that. There's someone there for you."

"Souh-senpai..." Hikaru mumbles.

"But you're the academy's idol, Souh-senpai." Kaoru comments.

"Idol... eh? If they can only chatter about me using such superficial aliases, then I must be better off being alone." Tamaki dramatically gazes away.

"The grieving hearts cross each other... They pass each other... They wound each other...What are the hearts of these young lads?" Renge narrates once more.

Outside, in the rain. Haruhi runs and rests against a tree. "You can't run anymore." Mitsukuni growls. Haruhi turns to face Mitsukuni and Takashi. She falls to the ground. "You should remember well what happens when you defy me."

"Stop it, Mitsukuni." Takashi says. "You're only hurting yourself more every time you hurt others."

"Don't tell me what to do, Takashi."Mitsukuni snaps. "You want to be punished again?"

"What kind of resolution will be waiting for them? Will it be the light of salvation, or..." Renge pauses.

"I really despise people who don't know their place." Mitsukuni says and stops, tears swelling up in his eyes. He eventually bursts into tears and jumps into Haruhi's arms.

"I'm sorry, Haru-chan! I really don't want to do this!" He sobs.

"Cut! Cut, cut, cut!" The backdrop returns to normal, revealing a film company behind Renge. "You, follow the script already! Asami, let's go shoot your scene!" Asami groans, dragging her feet to follow Renge. "Action!"

Asmai grumpily stalks through the rain, glaring harshly at the ground when she bumps into someone. "Watch where you're going, dunderhead!" She snaps her head up to lock eyes with Takashi. "Do you have a brain in there? I don't think so if you can't even pay attention to where you're walking." She sarcastically knocks on her forehead.

"I'm sorry," Takashi softly says, "I'll watch where I'm going next time. Are you alright?"

"Am I alright?" She scoffs, crossing her arms as a blush spreads across her cheeks. "I'm perfectly fine! See you later, loser!" She stalks passed him and glances behind her to ensure he wasn't looking at her before she bends down behind a tree to pick up a drenched rabbit. "You poor thing, this rain is doing a number on you, huh?" She gently tucks the rabbit in her jacket. "I'll protect you." Unknown to her, Takashi watches this scene a few feet away, shocked that such a mean person could have a nice side to her.

"The tough exterior is merely an act to protect the vulnerable person inside it. Will someone be able to crack this tough exterior? Or will it forever hold and keep everyone out?" Renge narrates. "And cut! That was amazing!" She claps her hands together in excitement. "Stop the cameras for the time being. Make the rain more real." She makes demands, wandering away with the crew following her. Asami smiles at Takashi as he hands her a towel and dries herself off with it.

"I'm sorry about that, I felt too mean." She winces.

"You were just following a script. That isn't who you are." Takashi responds.

"Why did a change in our characters end up as a film shoot?" Hikaru asks.

"But what an exaggerated filming crew." Haruhi comments.

"It seems like a promptly booked crew from Hollywood." Kyoya informs them. "Have you never seen him before? That man was the director of "The Millennium Snow", the vampire movie that was number one at the box office last year."

"This is your fault," Asami angrily points at Kyoya, "you should've told this girl to shove off when you got the chance."

"Oh, the tsundere side is coming out." The twins joke and laugh, dodging her hits. "Besides, in this script, why is Kaoru the "attacker"?" Hikaru asks.

"Yeah." Kaoru agrees.

"What do you mean "attacker"?" Haruhi asks. Asami stares at her in shock.

"Oh you pure thing," Asami reaches over and covers Haruhi's ears, shooting a look at the twins, "don't tell her," and releases her ears.

"It's okay. People who don't get it don't need to know." The twins state, making Haruhi more confused.

"Haruhi! Asami! I need you two!" The girls grumble to themselves before walking over to Renge. Asami warily eyes the two males with her. "Over here. I've asked these gentlemen for a special appearance."

"Appearance?"

"What're you talking about?" The boys seem confused and Asami gets a bad feeling.

"For the climax, we definitely need villains." Renge excitedly says. "The club members, who were all disunited will all become one when they fight a true villain. According to my report, they are actually sons of Japanese mafia members. They're the perfect villains just for the situation!"

"Renge!" Asami scolds, getting closer to Renge at the angry expression on the boys' faces.

"What's wrong with this woman?"

"Who our parents are has nothing to do with us!"

"Wait a minute, Renge-chan." Haruhi says after also recognizing what kind of situation they're in.

"Come over and stand by..." Renge begins to lead the boys over to the film set.

"Saying whatever you want..." the boy pushes her into the film equipment.

"Look out!" Haruhi jumps between Renge and the film equipment. Asami rushes forward, grabbing Renge and placing her behind her as the second boy turns to face them. The boys rushes toward them to also get to Renge and Asami meets him in the middle, tackling him to the ground. The boy overpowers her and slams her against the ground.

"You should've just left us alone!" He yells. Haruhi falls to the ground, injured. Asami groans in pain, wincing on the ground.

"Haruhi-kun, Asami-Chan, are you okay?!" Renge asks.

"What they said is right. Renge-chan, if you classify people into categories, then you won't be able to see what's really important." Haruhi comments, slowly getting up and glances over at Asami in concern.

"I'm not sure what you're trying to say." Renge says. Tamaki runs around the corner of the building.

"Haruhi, Asami, what's wrong?!" Haruhi looks up to Tamaki with tears in her eyes. Asami cracks open an eye and gazes at him with pain written across her face. Tamaki realizes that they are hurt, and he grabs one of the boys by the collar and shoves him against the wall. "Which one did it?"

"W-Wait, Souh! She was the one that picked on us first!" The boys stutter.

"He's telling the truth though there was no reason to hurt Asami." Haruhi comments, shooting the second boy a look when she says this. "Senpai, these people did nothing wrong." Tamaki lets go of the boy and walks to Haruhi. The two boys run away. Haruhi sits on the ground, rubbing one of her eyes. Tamaki cups her face with his hands.

"Haruhi... does it hurt?" He asks.

"Yeah... My contacts..." she grumbles.

"Huh? Con... tacts?" He repeats.

"Yeah, they slipped out." She explains.

"Ahahaha! I see, I see. If you cried without eyedrops, then you're all set as a host. Ahaha!" He laughs before turning toward his sister and heading over to help her sit up. "How about you, are you okay?"

"My shoulder hurts, but I'm okay." She smiles at him.

"Not even a single tear from you." He shakes his head at her. "You're strong and thank you, for protecting Renge even though you don't like her." Tamaki helps the two girls up.

"C-C-Camera, did you get all that?" Renge asks.

"Yes, boss."

"Other than the contacts, this was the ideal last scene! All we need now is a touching narration by Kyoya-sama—" Kyoya smashes through the camera lens with a rock. Asami erupts into laughter.

"You couldn't have done that sooner?" She asks.

"K-Kyoya-sama?" Renege looks so confused.

"I'm sorry to say, but there cannot be any record of our club members displaying violence." Kyoya informs her. "Causing us trouble like this is extremely unpleasant."

"Kyoya-sama would have said "Don't worry about it" and gently caressed my head!" Renge begins to cry. Asami feels a bit bad and heads over to her with Haruhi. "A person full of affectionate love like you... Why?"

"Because that's not who Kyoya is." Tamaki says. Renge falls to her knees and sobs. Asami crouches down and awkwardly pulls her into a hug.

"That's okay, right? Even if Kyoya-senpai was a bit different than how you imagined, I think it's kind of fun to look at people properly and gradually get to know them more and more." Haruhi gently says.

•••

Several days later, at the Host Club room. The Host Club members are gathered together, along with their patrons. "Well, welcome." They greet the guests.

"I've bought that video!"

"Me, too!"

"Me, too!"

"That rain scene was the best!"

"The prince of loneliness!"

"Hikaru-sama and Kaoru-sama's relationship was too good!"

"I want to see Honey-kun's fiendish nature again!"

"Haruhi-kun's agonizing look..."

"Mori-kun's absolute masochist nature..."

"Asami-chain's tsundere attitude..."

"Kyoya..." Everyone snarls, turning toward said person.

"I secured the film even though I broke the lens. Of course, I had help cutting out the violence scene." He gestures at Asami and everyone slowly turns toward her with the same expression. She shrugs with a smile.  "Sales for the film are mediocre. As expected from a first-class crew from Hollywood. They left us a very well-done job."

"Good day." Renge appears again.

"Huh? Didn't you go back to France?" Tamaki asks.

"I've noticed...The gentleness that protected me with his body... The deep love that harshly scolds at times..." Renge takes Haruhi's hands in her own. "This is what it means to look at someone and fall in love with him, right, Haruhi-kun?"

"In love?" Asami slaps Tamaki's back with a smirk. "How's that friendship bond you wanted so badly between them going?" Renge begins to drag Haruhi off to her house.

"Come! Let's play games at my house! I must let you know more about me!" Renge yells.

"Is that okay?" The twins asks.

"Why not? There's nothing wrong with what she said." Kyoya states.

"No, it's not okay!" Tamaki protests.

"They are now girlfriends with each other, just like you wanted, as Asami pointed out as well." Kyoya exchanges an amused look with Asami at the expression on Tamaki's face.

"That's not girlfriends! Wait! Don't take Haruhi away!" Tamaki shouts, chasing after them.

"I bet he wishes I was Haruhi's only girlfriend now." Asami smugly says.

"Are we still going through our plan to get rid of her?" The twins ask.

"No, I got something better in case we need to," she slyly shows them the cursed doll in her backpack.

"Tamaki will freak out if he saw that." Hikaru muses. "Can we have it if you don't use it for anything?"

"Yeah sure," she shrugs and zips it back up. "I don't see why not." The twins exchange a look, thinking that maybe it's time for one of their famous pranks.

•••

"Welcome to our dojo," Takashi bows to Asami with a small grin on his face. "Mitsukuni is busy training with his father so I will be teaching you alone today."

"That's alright," Asami smiles at him, "I would rather you teach me. You seem to have more patience than him." Takashi nods his head in agreement at those words, knowing that Mitsukuni can be rather impatient and hyper at times.

"Thank you for wearing the proper uniform," Asami looks down at the white practice uniform donning her figure that Takashi gave her the day before at school, "we will start with learning the reigi-saho." He points at her feet that have inside shoes on them. "We bow when we enter the dojo, we take all shoes off before entering the dojo, and we bow when we leave the dojo." Asami immediately heads back outside, takes her shoes off and sets them next to the door. She enters and bows before approaching Takashi once more. "Good. Now, we will focus on your breathing next. Breathing is important and should be done through your stomach, not your chest. Breathe in through your nose for 3 seconds, push the air to your stomach and hold it, and breathe out through your mouth for 15 seconds." Takashi demonstrates.

"Okay, your turn." She attempts it and notices Takashi watching her before shaking his head. He walks toward her and grabs her hands, placing one on her chest and one on her lower stomach. "Imagine pushing all the air to this hand," he gestures to the hand on the lower stomach. "This will ensure that you have proper posture and let you feel the movement of air. Try again." She does this a few times, feeling the difference as she uses her stomach compared to when she uses her chest to breath. "That's good, now we want to be in a natural posture. Shoulders up, shoulders back, and shoulders down." He moves his shoulders to show this. He then positions himself, "ensure that your ear, shoulder, hip bone, knee and ankle are aligned straight." He comes over and gently grabs her hips, moving them for her. She sucks in a sharp breath, liking the feeling of his hands on her a bit too much.

"Very good. Breathing and posture are key components when it comes to fighting. It allows you to react quickly while maintaining the health of your body." He hands her a bokken. "Our swords stay in our left hands and are held with our arm straight. The end grip must be kept within your body. When you hear tai-toh, you lift your left hand to the hipbone. The end grip should be in the center of your body." He demonstrates this a few times for her. "Arm straight," he reaches over to straighten her arm out. "Now, we will move onto how to sit in seiza. First, we stand like this," he places his heels together with his toes turned out to the sides. "Then, we slide our left foot down first and then left knee down, right knee down, sit back, and rest your sword next to your left knee. When we get up, grab your sword, put it back on your hipbone, right foot first, then left foot, raise back into the beginning position and put your sword back in beginning position."

"Why is this so complicated?" She asks.

"To show respect to our ancestors." He explains and demonstrates how to sit and get up for her. "Okay, follow me this time. We'll do it slowly a few times and then I'll let you do it by yourself." She nods her head and follows his motions, feeling awkward going down on her left foot first since she usually will put her right foot down first. He nods at her and she does it by herself successfully. "Nuketo is the command to draw your sword. When we draw our sword, put your right hand underneath here, bring it forward by sliding your left hand down and then flip it over and grab the grip with both hands. Your left hand should land below your right hand." He demonstrates this move and she successfully gets it the first time. "Very good. Keep your sword there, and now we're moving onto sitting in sonkyo. Turn your left foot so your heels touch and sit on your heels. When we come up, turn your left heel back out to where you started." She does this a few times and smiles at him in happiness. "You're doing very well. Do you want to move onto feet work or wait until next time to focus on that? We can keep going over these basics for the next few moments before you have to leave." The door to the dojo opens and someone rushes in.

"Onii-San, you won't believe it!" The boy looks identical to Takashi, only appearing a few years younger. "Oh, hello. I didn't realize you were doing a private lesson today." He eyes Asami. "I'm Morinzuka Satoshi, nice to meet you!"

"I'm Souh Asami, nice to meet you as well." She smiles at him. His eyes light up in recognition at the name and he sends a smirk at his brother.

"I'm sorry for interrupting your private lesson, oniisan. I'll tell you later about what happened, have fun!" Satoshi turns around and rushes out of the dojo.

"You have a little brother?" She asks.

"He's in middle school currently." He informs her.

"You guy looks like twins, but he's so talkative compared to how you usually are." She giggles. "Can we move onto feetwork and stop there?"

"When we move forward, we move the front door which is your right first. When we move backwards, we move the back foot which is your left foot first. Mae means a step forward, ato means a step backward and yame is stop. You will hear these words frequently while practicing feetwork. We'll work on this first and do the other feetwork another time." She nods her head at that. "Okay ready? Mae, Mae, Ato, Ato, Mae, Mae, Ato, Ato, Mae, Ato, Mae, Ato, Mae, Ato, Yame." She stops and looks at him for feedback. "That's good, but you need to watch your posture while you're moving. You're letting your shoulders go and relaxing your arms." The two clean up the dojo, setting their swords in their rightful places and head outside.

"Thank you." Asami says while slipping her shoes back on. "I'm really enjoying learning kendo."

"That makes me happy. Kendo is important to learn because it helps you protect yourself." He comments. She hugs him and he blinks in surprise at that action before hugging her back.

"I'll see you tomorrow at the host club. When's your next kendo match? I'll love to come watch again." She asks and pulls away from him.

"Friday." He responds.

"I'll be there and then maybe we can talk about when my next lesson will be afterward." She waves goodbye to him while heading to her car. "Have a good night, Takashi! Tell Mitsukuni and Satoshi goodnight for me as well."

"I will." He tells her and watches her disappear in her car.

"So," Satoshi appears next to him with a giant smirk. "Is that the Asami?" Takashi reaches over, tugging his brother into his chest and ruffles his head. "Hey! Let me go!"

Asami rides home, resting her head against the window with a small smile on her face. She truly appreciates Takashi taking the time out of his day to train her in a form of martial arts. Maybe she'll join the kendo club once she gets good enough to actually win a match.