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

CHAPTER TWENTY

NEWSPAPER RIVAL

In the garden of her dreams,
Forbidden flowers bloom,
But society's thorns pierce,
Casting shadows of gloom.
Her heart sings a melody only he can hear,
Yet tradition's chains bind her,
Drowning her in fear.

In the darkness of despair, her freedom fades away,
Like a bird with clipped wings, she struggles to find her way,
Bound by chains of tradition, her spirit begins to fray.

In shadows deep, her trust did fade,
A daughter's heart, by lies betrayed,
Her father's vows, now torn apart,
Left wounds unseen, upon her heart.

Asami stares down at the notebook in front of her, trying to think of more ways to express her inner thoughts and feelings. Her life is an utter mess—Emica is free and still trying to fight for custody, she has a half-sister because her father cannot stay loyal to her mother, and she is engaged to a boy she doesn't even remotely like. Something wet lands on the paper before her and it takes her second to realize that she is crying. She sniffs, closing her notebook and setting it aside while trying to stifle her growing sobs.

She yearns for the silliness of the host club in this moment to distract her from the pain in her soul. She wants Hikaru's mischievous pranking side, Kaoru's corny pick up lines, Haruhi's snide comments about rich people, Takashi's soothing presence, Mitsukuni's baked goods, and even Kyoya's money obsessed behavior right now. Her friends always know how to make her smile and laugh, but will she be ruining the friend group with her new engagement?

She slowly makes her way to the window and stares at the garden below, imagining herself flying away. Her freedom has been stripped piece by piece the moment she stepped into this mansion—the moment she joined this so-called 'family.' Tears steadily slide down her cheeks at a rapid pace as her breathing quickens.

Why does she want the approval of her family so badly? Tamaki, sure, because he's been an amazing brother so he deserves her yearning.

But Shizue? The horrible mean woman who is forcing her and Tamaki to marry people they don't want? The woman who forced her to allow her traumatic life story be published? The woman who forced her to become a refined lady?

And Yuzuru? Her father who is clearly unable to stay loyal to her mother? Who has lied to her and Tamaki over and over again? Who has betrayed the family numerous times? Who has ruined the family name so badly that all the pressure is now being put on her and Tamaki to fix it?

These people do not deserve her yearning. She shakily wipes away her tears, trying to calm down her breathing. No, they deserve her hatred, her defiance, her rebelliousness. But, why, why does she push her own feelings aside and follow the expectations set before her like an obedient servant?

Her eyes trace the land below her, taking in all the flowers, bushes, trees, fountains and benches. It is a beautiful landscape, it would be the most perfect grave. She quickly backs away from the window and heads over to her bed, trying to dismiss the dark thoughts swirling in her head. She picks at the skin on her fingers to feel something else than emotional pain. She watches as her blood drips from her fingers and onto her quilt, mixing with her tears.

She has become a mere bird stuck in a cage with clipped wings who longs to claim the sky.

•••

"This is going to be embarrassing," Asami mumbles quietly, gazing out the window of the limo that picked her up today. She did not ride with her brother like usual—Shizue demanded that Asami rides with her fiancé to school from now on so people get use to seeing them together. "I haven't even talked to Tamaki about this," she muses worriedly. "I don't imagine he's going to take this news well." 'I don't think Kaoru will either,' she silently thinks. A void settles in her heart where her true love should reside.

"On the contrary," the male figure sitting next to her opens the limo door and steps out while holding out a hand to her, "I think Tamaki would be quite happy that he can officially call me a brother." Asami shakily takes his hand, wincing at the stares and whispers being directed toward them. 

"Oh my..."

"Is that..."

"I can't believe this!"

Asami keeps her head down while allowing him to lead her through the crowd and to the school. She tries to ignore the whispers and stares.

"Kyoya-senpai? Asami?" Asami freezes and slowly turns to see Haruhi furrowing her eyebrows at them holding hands. "What is going on?" Asami was dreading this exact moment.

"Asami and I are now engaged." Kyoya calmly informs her.

"Is this true?" Haruhi turns to Asami, confusion clear on her face.

"Yes, it is." Asami answers with a fake smile. Haruhi confusion turns into concern at the sight of the fake happiness. "Goodbye, dear, have a nice day." She stands on her tiptoes to quickly kiss Kyoya's cheek before releasing his hand and latching onto Haruhi. ("You better act like a proper couple, Asami, we can't have anymore shame on the family name" Shizue states.) The two girls hurry away, finding an empty hallway to speak. Silence surrounds the two for a moment.

"This is because of your suitor thing with your grandmother, isn't it?" Haruhi asks. In response, Asami erupts into more tears and tightly hugs Haruhi. Haruhi awkwardly pats her back in an attempt to be comforting. "Why didn't you chose Kaoru?"

"He wasn't on the list," Asami whispers, "it had to be someone on her list. Kyoya was the safest choice."

"That is...concerning," Haruhi comments and briefly wonders who else was on the list, "I don't imagine him being the most loving fiancée or husband."

"I needed to choose or else Shizue would've and I couldn't risk her choosing one of the other suitors." Asami closes her eyes and buries her face further into Haruhi's neck. "I don't know what to do," she whimpers. "Kaoru is never going to to like me now."

"I wouldn't be too sure of that," Considering he already likes you, but you two are too oblivious to see it, Haruhi thinks. "Maybe your grandmother will annul the engagement after everything surrounding your family calms down."

"I don't think so," Asami pulls away from the hug and shakes her head sadly, "she has me exactly where she needs me to be in order to keep the family reputation up."

"I just don't understand why everything is on your shoulders, shouldn't Tamaki have some of the pressure as well?" Haruhi asks. Asami stares at her and wonders if she should admit that Tamaki needs to find a future wife by the end of the year as well despite his clear feelings for the commoner in front of her. Does she even return those feelings? Would this information greatly impact her? Asami thinks to herself.

"He has to deal with the business side of the family more than the reputation." Asami says, deciding to let Tamaki tell everyone when he is ready.

"That's not fair on you," Haruhi sighs, "this whole—" someone cuts her off.

"Excuse me," the two turn only for their eyes to widen in shock. "I'm looking for 3-B, do you know where that is?" Sakura, her half-sister, stands at the end of the hall with a shy smile on her face and a Ouran uniform on her body—Asami was really praying that Sakura would be rejected but it seems her prays are never answered. "I apologize for interrupting what seems to be a very serious conversation, but I'm completely lost."

"Your life is a soap opera," Haruhi whispers and Asami could honestly not agree more.

•••

At the newspaper club room, Ukyou and Sakyou report to Komatsuzawa about the status of their newspaper.

"Club chairman... Subscriptions for our newspaper are now down to single digit figures." Ukyou states.

"Tell me the actual figures. How many of this week's papers did we sell?" Komatsuzawa asks.

"Two." Sakyou replies.

"Just two?" Komatsuzawa questions

"Two." Ukyou confirms.

"Ukyou-kun, did you buy one?"

"Yes."

"Sakyou-kun, did you buy one?"

"I did."

"In other words, aside from our own club members, no one has bought any, right?"

"That would be correct if we were to report it in such a manner."

"We have a problem. Next week's issue will be the last one for the semester. If we don't produce somewhat better results before summer vacation, our club will be dissolved as of this semester. By the way, how are "they" doing?"

"Yes, sir!" Ukyou and Sakyou produce copies of a magazine from the Host Club.

"All 1,000 copies of the Host Club photo collections, "Love Love Tamaki-kun Special" and "Little Sister Asami-Chan Special", sold out immediately after their releases."

"The Host Club doujinshi that Renge Houshokuji published on her own, "Moe Moe Ouran Journal Vol. 8", also sold out when it was published yesterday, and she's already having more copies printed."

"I see..." Komatsuzawa looks out the window to the gardens down below. "Looks like they have booming power right now."

•••

Asami nervously looks around the garden, trying to avoid a certain pair of twins. "You've been avoiding us today." She shrieks as the twins pop up out of nowhere with their arms crossed and eyebrows raised. "Why?"

"No reason." She laughs nervously and tries to ignore the glares from some of the customers. Many are unhappy about her and Kyoya being engaged.

"Oh, so you're not hiding due to the rumors about you and Kyoya being engaged?" Hikaru narrows his eyes. She winces, looking anywhere but at Kaoru.

"Yeah, rumors." She nods her head and takes a few small steps backwards. "I think I hear Tamaki calling for me, bye!" She quickly walks away, but two sets of arm wrap around her and drag her behind a pillar. She stares up at the angry looking twins.

"Asami," their expressions harshen. They stare at each other in an moment of silence.

"Okay, the rumors are true!" She blurts out.

"True?" Kaoru blinks in shock. He wasn't expecting that.

"Explain to us in detail what exactly happened," Hikaru frowns, "do we have to kill Kyoya-senpai for you? Did he blackmail you or something? I have a baseball bat already ready in my locker, just give me the word." He peeks his out from the pillar and glares darkly at Kyoya.

"My grandmother is what happened," She sighs and twiddles her thumbs while staring at them, "she demanded that I get engaged and gave me a list of suitors and unfortunately, Kyoya was the only suitable one on the list."

"Suitable?" Hikaru scoffs. "Who all was on the list?"

"Mostly strangers from other schools. Takashi and Mitsukuni were also on there along with Umehito, but those three are first borns. At least with Kyoya, I don't have to do...coupley things." She informs them.

"Coupley things?" Hikaru's eyes widen in horror. "Oh my god." She shakily nods her head. "Yeah, Kyoya is not intimate in anyway so you'll be fine in that department. At least this keeps you safe from other suitors until someone more," he glances at Kaoru, "suitable for you shows up and is able to break your engagement with Kyoya."

"I pray for that day to come quickly." She sighs. She nervously looks at Kaoru for the first time today and tries to stop herself from crying at the heartbroken expression in his eyes.

"So do I." Kaoru mumbles before grabbing Hikaru's arm. "We have customers to greet." She watches them head towards their designated area.

"That looked rough," she jumps when Haruhi appears out of nowhere.

"Goodness, you guys are going to cause me to have a heart attack." She grumbles out. "And yeah, it was rough." Haruhi bumps her hip against Asami's.

"Well, let's go distract you with the craziness of the host club." She sighs and Asami laughs. The two rejoin the host club, heading to their respective places. Asami cracks her neck and stares at the harp in front of her. Kyoya asked her to play the elegant instrument today during the host club hours since they were in garden. She begins to play 'Lucia di Lammermoor.' She keeps on the on the antics surrounding her.

Tamaki cradles Tsubaki, a regular customer, gently on a mat, amidst the lush greenery. "Tsubaki," he murmurs.

"You can't, Tamaki-sama," she replies softly, eyes downcast. "If I get any closer to you, I will be hated by all the ladies who admire you." Undeterred, Tamaki pulls Tsubaki closer.

"Ah!" she gasps, staring into Tamaki's eyes.

"My princess," Tamaki whispers, "these hydrangeas will surely hide our presence right now. In this moment, I belong to only you. Yes, only now, when the hydrangea fairies are helping us..."

"T-Tamaki-sama," Tsubaki stutters, cheeks flushed. "I want to make love to you!"

"Princess!" Tamaki's voice is full with longing.

"Ahh~!" Tsubaski squeals. Asami scrunches her nose at the sight.

Elsewhere in the garden, Hikaru and Kaoru play a shell-matching game with their guests. "Ah..." Kaoru sighs in defeat as he loses.

"Sorry~!" giggles Hina and Kozue.

"I lost again?" Kaoru pouts.

"Fufufufu!" teases the princesses.

"Princesses, go easy on him," Hikaru chuckles. "Kaoru over here is a crybaby."

"Hikaru, you liar!" Kaoru protests. "Why are you calling me a crybaby?" 'If I am a crybaby, I would be crying right now over something else,' he thinks as he quickly glances over to where Asami is playing. Hikaru gently took Kaoru's chin in his hand.

"Hmm?" he murmurs.

"Ah..." Kaoru blushes.

"That is what you say, but when we play punishment games all alone, what happens, Kaoru?" Hikaru asks.

"B-But that was you and--"

"Kyaa~!" interrupt Hina and Kozue. "What, what?" they exclaim.

Meanwhile, Kyoya entertains his guests with eloquence. "My, when was there such a lovely stream in the courtyard?" Yuriko marvels.

"It's called 'yarimizu'," Kyoya explains. "People during the Heian period desired to have flower petals and red leaves floating on the water's surface, experiencing all four seasons. With the desire to spend all four seasons with your princesses, I went ahead and constructed it. And how about it?" Kyoya smiles. "Will you reserve your place in the highly exclusive red leaves tea party in the fall?"

"We'll make a reservation!" chorus the girls. One girl glances over at Asami. "Kyoya-senpai, is Asami-chan okay with you entertaining guest still with your engagement?"

"Asami understands that my joy in life is providing joy to others. She is perfectly alright with me being a host." He smiles charmingly and the girls swoon.

In a secluded corner of the garden, Mitsukuni and Takashi entertain their guests with their usual charm. "We're going to eat soba in this two-man haori!" Mitsukuni announces cheerfully. Takashi aims with precision, chopsticks laden with soba noodles, towards Mitsukuni's mouth.

"Ahh..." Mitsukuni anticipates eagerly.

But Takashi misses.

"Huh?" Mitsukuni blinks in surprise.

"Kyaaa~! So cute!" the girls squeal in delight.

'It's so peaceful... I guess this is what they mean by getting used to something. I've been doing this since coming to this school.' Haruhi thinks, observing her surroundings.

"Haruhi, take cover!" Tamaki's voice cuts through her reverie.

"Huh? Wha?!" Haruhi barely has time to react. A handball hurtles towards her, and Tamaki swiftly tackles her into the bushes.

"Ngh!" Tamaki grunts upon impact.

"Urk!" Haruhi gasps.

"Tamaki! Release her!" Asami screams, rushing toward them and yanking Tamaki away from her. "How dare you use this as an opportunity to fulfill your perverted thoughts?!"

"I was saving her!" Tamaki protests. "Hikaru almost made Haruhi's flame of life become extinguished!" He exclaims in dramatic distress.

"Huh? It's your fault for not getting the ball, my lord," Hikaru chides.

"If you can't even play kemari properly, then you're disgracing your title of Ouran's brilliant Genji," Kaoru adds with a playful smirk.

"What?!" Tamaki protests, caught off guard. Asami sighs and helps Haruhi up.

"We're surrounded by idiots." She grumbles darkly.

From the confines of the newspaper club room, Komatsuzawa observes the lively antics of the Host Club with a mix of curiosity and apprehension. "For the sake of the newspaper club's survival, it looks like we need to plead with them for help, right?" Komatsuzawa remarks, addressing Ukyou and Sakyou.

"Huh?" Ukyou raises an eyebrow.

"Wait, club chairman! It's too dangerous to get involved with that club!" Sakyou cautions, concern etched on his face.

"Depending on what happens, not only would the club be dissolved, but we could get expelled, too!" Ukyou adds, trying to dissuade Komatsuzawa.

Meanwhile, Tamaki's exuberance fills the air as he engages in a spirited game. "What? Then take this! Starlight kick!!" Tamaki exclaims, delivering a swift kick to a handball.

"It's fast!" Hikaru observes. The ball sails past Hikaru and Kaoru. Asami covers her mouth as she realizes where the ball is heading.

"Ahh... Ahh..." Komatsuzawa reassures himself from the safety of the club room. "There's nothing to worry about. I'm not stupid enough to suffer any damages, no matter how I deal with them--" Suddenly, the handball crashes through the window, striking Komatsuzawa squarely on the head.

"Erk!" Komatsuzawa grunts in pain.

"Sakyou! Club chairman!" Ukyou and Sakyou rush to Komatsuzawa's side.

Sometime later, the Host Club members gather humbly in the newspaper club room to offer their apologies. "We are extremely sorry about this," Tamaki begins, earnestly addressing Komatsuzawa.

"Oh, please, don't. It was only a window breaking and a mari hitting me directly in the head," Komatsuzawa responds with surprising magnanimity.

"W-We're very sorry!" Tamaki insists.

"But how serendipitous. Actually, I was just about to ask the Host Club to accept doing an interview for us," Komatsuzawa reveals, his tone changing.

"So we actually have a newspaper club..." Haruhi remarks, genuinely surprised.

"I haven't heard of them since we started school," Asami whispers, "I don't even think I've ever seen someone read a newspaper." Haruhi nods her head in agreement.

"Yeah, but this is what they do," Hikaru explains casually.

"Also known as 'Ou-Spo'. Things like romance gossip on campus or power struggles between families that are causing divisions within classes..." Kaoru adds.

"A gossip paper that covers these overblown rumors," the Hita Twins chimes in, frowns on their faces. They stand protectively close to Asami due to remembering a piece about her that the newspaper wrote when her parentage was revealed.

"But since they're all made up, no one's reading them anymore," Komatsuzawa admitts with a hint of regret. "Erk!" he winces, acknowledging their folly. "It is true that we just wanted to draw attention and lost sight of the truth. But now that we are getting pushed toward extinction, we are disillusioned no more," he continues, his demeanor turning serious.

"Ah... Huh? Ahh..." Tamaki stammers, taken aback by Komatsuzawa's sudden change in attitude. Komatsuzawa, Ukyou, and Sakyou bow before the Host Club members.

"We beg of you! For the last issue of the first semester, the 'Special Feature Close-Up Report on the Host Club', we'd like to get up close and personal with the truth behind the charms of the Host Club members! Please help us," Komatsuzawa implores earnestly.

"Heh... You can count on us. We'll accept this--" Tamaki begins to respond, but Kyoya interjects, elbowing him aside.

"We'll refuse this idea," Kyoya asserts calmly.

"Ah, Kyoya! He got injured because of me!" Tamaki protests.

"Unfortunately, we only publicize our information to our customers. We can talk about payment for the treatment of the injury some other day," Kyoya explains pragmatically.

"Right. For us to help people who have been writing fake rumors all this time... I don't think there's any merit there," Kaoru adds, supporting Kyoya decision.

"And hell, we really don't like people who cause problems for others," Hikaru concludes, his tone firm.

"I see... Our sins from the past cannot be easily erased after all. We can't be given a chance to atone for them, huh?" Komatsuzawa reflects aloud, resigned to their fate. "Ahh! My head hurts..." he winces again. Asami narrows her eyes, briefly observing how the pain looks to be faked. She steals a glance toward Kyoya who subtly nods his head. It seems that he has noticed the fake injury as well.

"Chairman!" Ukyou and Sakyou call out worriedly, rushing to help him.

"Thank you, Ukyou-kun, Sakyou-kun. Ahh! I'm fine... Ohh!" Komatsuzawa struggles to maintain his composure. "Unfortunately, it appears we must just let this club be dissolved..." he sighs, his voice tinged with regret.

"You don't have to!" Tamaki's voice rings out suddenly, cutting through the despondency in the room.

"Huh?" the Newspaper Club members look up in surprise.

"People can always start anew. Very well. I shall gather all the resources of the Host Club and assist the newspaper club's revival in all ways possible--" Tamaki declares passionately.

"We're not doing this," the Hita Twins interject flatly.

"Huh?" Tamaki blinks in disbelief as the other Host Club members began to leave.

"There'll be no end to this if we always have to take part in the lord's compassion for others," Hikaru explains.

"And it's bothersome," Kaoru adds, echoing his twin's sentiment.

"I don't think they deserve compassion. Where was theirs when they wrote all those rumors?" Asami shrugs.

"We're heading back, Tamaki. We'll be holding a reflection meeting in the club room, mostly about you," Kyoya states calmly, leading the retreat.

"Hold it right there. Do you guys have no feelings at all?" Tamaki's voice rises, frustration evident. "Seeing these people when their club is about to be dissolved, you don't feel sorry for them?! Ngh... This is a family being broken up here!"

"Wahhh!" the Newspaper Club members react emotionally to Tamaki's outburst.

"These are chairman orders! I will not allow you guys to refuse," Tamaki asserts, his determination clear.

"We refuse," Kyoya, supported by the Hita Twins, counters firmly.

"Gahhh!!" Tamaki shrieks as he is dragged away from the room. Asami and Haruhi follow after the group last, but Asami pauses to glance over her shoulder. She narrows her eyes at the sight of clear disdain in their eyes as they stare at her brother. 'Yep, they don't deserve any compassion.' She thinks.

•••

Inside the Host Club room, an air of tension hung as Tamaki sulks in a corner. Asami rolls her head at him and crosses her arms.

"He's clearly angry," Hikaru remarks.

"He didn't even change clothing, either," Kaoru adds with a hint of amusement.

"This is the so-called 'I'm very mad you guys but I'm not going to look at you' childish method of quarreling," Kyoya observes, his tone matter-of-fact.

"Because Tama-chan is a very lonely guy, right?" Mitsukuni chimes in, trying to lighten the mood.

"That's right, he's a lonely pervert." Asami states.

"Huh?" Haruhi looks puzzled at the dynamics unfolding.

"Club activity is all about making families... That's why a family is broken up when clubs are dissolved... That's why I feel sorry for them..." Tamaki mumbles softly, his voice tinged with melancholy.

"Haa... Is it really that much trouble to help out the newspaper club?" Haruhi ponders aloud.

"Oh?" Hikaru raises an eyebrow.

"You're actually taking the lord's side this time?" Kaoru teases lightly.

"Haruhi, are you sick?" Asami whispers worryingly.

"Not really. But sooner or later, he's going to start looking at us with puppy eyes, and in the end, I have a weird gut feeling that we'll have no choice but to fold," Haruhi explains, voicing her concern.

"You're accumulating experience points alright," the Hita Twins remark silently.

"Haa... And besides, isn't this something you guys would usually cooperate with?" Haruhi turns to them for confirmation.

"Not really. It's just bothersome this time," the Hita Twins replies nonchalantly.

"What about you guys, Honey-senpai?" Haruhi directs her question to Mitsukuni.

"Well, I have to eat cakes, you know?" Mitsukuni grins cheerfully.

"Yeah," Takashi nods in agreement. She turns to face Asami who shrugs and shakes her head. Tamaki, sensing the conversation, begins to glance surreptitiously at Haruhi.

"Mmm..." he murmurs softly.

"Ah... Huh?" Haruhi glances back, catching Tamaki's eye.

"Mmm..." Tamaki continues, locking eyes with Haruhi before making his puppy dog eyes.

"Erk..." Haruhi blushes slightly, feeling the weight of Tamaki's gaze. Tamaki then turns his puppy eyes towards Hikaru and Kaoru.

"Mm... Mmm..." he pleads softly. Hikaru and Kaoru exchange knowing looks. Tamaki's gaze shifts to Kyoya and Asami, who both remain composed.

"Mm... Mmm..." Tamaki persists. Asami sighs and slightly nudges Kyoya. Kyoya glances at her and she tilts her head to Tamaki with a glint in her eyes. The two exchange a look with one another. Kaoru frowns at this, not appreciating how easily it seems for the two of them to read each other. Hikaru and Haruhi both notice the jealous monster rising in Kaoru and silently groan.

"Only under our conditions," Kyoya states firmly, conceding to Asami's wishes. "They must abide by the plan we submit for their special feature article. One-on-one interviews are forbidden, basically. Scenes with our customers are also not allowed because they will cause trouble for the customers," Kyoya outlines the terms. "Everyone okay?" He glances around the room, seeking confirmation. Asami smiles softly with a nod.

"Well, if Kyoya-senpai says so..." Hikaru shrugs.

"... then sure," Kaoru adds, nodding in agreement.

"Huh?" Haruhi blinks in surprise, realizing their resolution.

"Mm... I'm okay if Kyou-chan says so," Mitsukuni chimes in with a smile.

"Yeah," Takashi agrees simply.

•••

In the confines of the newspaper club room, a tense negotiation unfolds between Kyoya and Komatsuzawa. Asami stands in the room as well holding an emergency kit.

"Of course! We'll abide by your conditions if you let us write about you," Komatsuzawa agrees eagerly.

"Well then, you can come interview us tomorrow. How's the injury on your forehead coming?" Kyoya inquires politely.

"I hope it doesn't hurt too much." Asami smiles gently at the dude.

"Oh, this is nothing, really. I'm actually thankful because this injury got us a connection with you guys," Komatsuzawa replies, his tone surprisingly upbeat despite the circumstances. Asami narrows her eyes a bit.

"We sincerely apologize for that," Kyoya states with genuine concern as Asami places an emergency first-aid kit on the table. "To show our condolences, please use this medicine. This is the emergency first-aid kit from my family's company," Kyoya offers graciously.

"You really shouldn't have," Komatsuzawa responds gratefully.

"It's the least we could do." Asami states.

"Well then, please excuse me," Kyoya nods, holding out a hand for Asami to take as they prepare to leave the room.

"Ah, Ootori-kun. You're the son of the medical equipment manufacturers, the Ootori Group, right?" Komatsuzawa suddenly asks. The two pause and turn back around.

"Our main business is hospital management, actually," Kyoya clarifies.

"I'm delighted that we had a chance to get close to you. My father is the president of the Komatsuzawa Publishing Company," Komatsuzawa shares, clearly seeking to establish a personal connection.

"Yes, I'm aware of that. Is being the chairman of the newspaper club preparation for succeeding your father in the future?" Kyoya inquires curiously.

"I have a younger brother, you see. He's a very talented person, and my father plans on letting this brother manage everything in the publishing company after he retires, skipping over me, the elder brother," Komatsuzawa explains, revealing his personal ambition. "But if I can serve as newspaper club chairman at Ouran for all three years, he may reconsider my candidacy as his successor. You understand, right? I cannot let this club be dissolved, no matter what," Komatsuzawa concludes earnestly.

"Excuse me," Kyoya nods politely, leaving the room with Asami.

"Chairman, were you trying to win Kyoya Ootori's favor?" Ukyou asks, breaking the silence that followed.

"Indeed. Tamaki Souh is my only enemy. Originally, I planned on using the power of the on-campus newspaper to become the popular guy at this academy. Yet, the Host Club that Tamaki Souh suddenly established gathered all the fame instantly," Komatsuzawa admits bitterly.

"I heard that before Souh came to this school..." Ukyou begins cautiously.

"... the newspaper you published wasn't popular anyway," Sakyou adds bluntly.

"Quiet!!" Komatsuzawa snaps, his frustration bubbling to the surface.

"Erk!" Ukyou and Sakyou recoil, intimidated by Komatsuzawa's sudden outburst.

"If I ask Mom, I can nullify all the deals we have with your families in an instant. I will find out the truth. The special status they hold of not belonging to the sports clubs or the cultural clubs and not even having an advisor... the club activities that are pretty much fake romance swindling... Such insolence has to be Souh display of his power," Komatsuzawa declares vehemently, outlining his plans. "He must be using his parents' power to make his companions obey him and do whatever he wants with the girls. All those people, starting with Kyoya Ootori, were originally supposed to be my underlings!" Komatsuzawa seethes with resentment. "Tamaki Souh... He must be a very shrewd person. Even though he normally acts like a kind character, there must be something evil behind him! I will create a scandal and let him know who's boss," Komatsuzawa vows fiercely, his eyes glinting with determination. "And I'm sure his sister is exactly like him. We need to find out who she really is."

"Who she really is?" Sakyou repeats, frowning.

"How do we know that her DNA results weren't forged?"  Komatsuzawa smirks.

•••

In the serene gardens of Ouran Academy, amidst the vibrant colors of early summer, the Host Club was engaging in a spirited game of "Red Light, Green Light". Nearby, the newspaper club watches with bemusement.

"The daruma doll fell! The daruma doll fell! The daruma doll fell!" Tamaki's voice echoes excitedly.

"The daruma doll fell! The daruma doll fell!" Hikaru and Kaoru chime in teasingly.

"Sakyou, what are we watching right now?" Ukyou whispers, bewildered by the spectacle.

"Is this some new religion?" Sakyou wonders aloud.

"How would I know?" Komatsuzawa replies, equally perplexed.

"It's no surprise you're shocked," Tamaki declares with theatrical flair, pausing the game momentarily. "This is an old game that commoners play. There are many more games that commoners play. Ones that require no money and all you need is yourself. Many more indeed." Asami and Haruhi sigh at the word commoner.

"And what does this have to do with our interview?" Komatsuzawa interjects skeptically.

"A sense of friendliness!" Tamaki exclaims passionately. "In order to clear away the negative image of the newspaper club and grab the hearts of the readers again, friendliness is absolutely necessary! This is exactly as I'd expect it. The handsome males of the Host Club enjoying commoner games," Tamaki continues, his eyes shining with enthusiasm. "This, coupled with the refreshing outdoor scenery of the early summer, would be absolutely perfect for adorning the entire front page. In addition, certain commoners are also extremely happy since they can enjoy childhood moments again. This is the dream-like plan we have in mind!"

Tamaki looks at Haruhi expectantly, who sighed inwardly. "Great, I think he's looking at me. Do I have to act extremely happy?" She asks.

"Just play along until they leave." Asami grumbles while quickly moving up to stand beside the twins before Tamaki turns back around.

"Chairman, I cannot understand a single thing," Ukyou confesses, sharing a glance of confusion with Sakyou.

"Could that guy just be a complete idiot?" Sakyou wonders aloud.

"You must not let your guard down. This is his strategy," Komatsuzawa cautions them, observing Tamaki closely.

"Certain commoners, huh?" Haruhi speaks up, her patience wearing thin. "Can we stop doing this already?"

"Fujioka-kun, I presume?" Komatsuzawa redirects his attention to Haruhi.

"Huh?" Haruhi looks up, caught off guard.

"Can we ask you something?" Komatsuzawa presses on.

"Sure," Haruhi replies cautiously.

"Why did you join this club?" Komatsuzawa inquires, his tone probing.

"Right... Oh, it was a bit of carelessness," Haruhi admits honestly.

"You're the special scholarship student, right?" Komatsuzawa continues.

"Yeah, and?" Haruhi replies, growing increasingly wary.

"So in other words, the fact that you're a member of the club, therefore, just means that you're the Souh family's display of power," Komatsuzawa speculates.

"Huh?" Haruhi blinks in surprise.

"Could you tell us about his true self behind the scenes? I believe this could save you as well," Komatsuzawa presses on, his tone insistent.

"He doesn't have a 'true self behind the scenes'," Haruhi responds firmly.

"Ah... Then what? Do you really think that high school students like them are enjoying this?" Komatsuzawa challenges, gesturing towards Tamaki, Asami, Kyoya, Mitsukuni, and Takashi engrossed in their game.

Haruhi glances over at them, observing their genuine smiles and carefree expressions. "Is that strange?"

"There's no way that could be!" Komatsuzawa argues vehemently.

"Is something wrong?" Asami appears next to Haruhi with a face on her face.

"Souh-chan, can I ask a question?" Komatsuzawa asks.

"I guess." Asami cocks an eyebrow, wrapping an arm around Haruhi.

"Was it strange going from being a commoner to rich overnight?"

"It was certainly an adjustment." Asami replies, her frown deepening.  She recalls when the twins informed her about the newspaper piece they wrote about her when her kidnapping was brought to light. They speculated that Emica and her were lying to gain access to the Souh family finds and the DNA tests were somehow faked. She wonders if they're trying to push that narrative still with this line of questioning.

"Cut!" the Hita Twins suddenly intervene, breaking the tension as they separate Asami and Haruhi from Komatsuzawa and sprinted away with Takashi and Mitsukuni. Tamaki and Kyoya remain engaged in the game, oblivious to the interruption.

"Yay! Yay!" Mitsukuni cheers happily.

"Hey, that's not where you're supposed to cut!" Tamaki protests playfully, trying to regain control of the situation.

•••

Sometime later, the Host Club had moved on from "Red Light, Green Light" to playing "kick the can". Laughter and excitement fills the gardens of Ouran Academy as they embrace the simple joys of childhood games. "Next, we're playing 'kick the can'. Kyoya, you're it," Tamaki declares with enthusiasm.

"Sure," Kyoya replies calmly.

"All right... Starlight kick!!" Tamaki kicks the can with gusto, sending it flying past the bewildered newspaper club members.

"Huh? Ahh!" they exclaim as the can ricocheted off trees and eventually hits Komatsuzawa on the head.

"Erk!" Komatsuzawa winces in pain, while Ukyou and Sakyou rush to his side.

"Haruhi, this way! Run!" Tamaki exclaims, grabbing Haruhi's hand as they dashed into a nearby hedge maze. Meanwhile, Kyoya retrieves the can and begins to count aloud. "One... two..."

"I've had it with this monkey act!" Komatsuzawa grumbles in frustration.

"... three... four... five..." Kyoya continues counting, unfazed by the chaos around him. Asami peers over a hedge and glares at the newspaper club.

"Tamaki, the unforgivable..." Komatsuzawa mutters, as he and the rest of the newspaper club members limp away, nursing their bruises.

In the hedge maze, Tamaki and Haruhi search for a hiding place.

"Are we lost?" Haruhi askes, realizing the maze's complexity.

"Erk! Hey, Haruhi! There's a good hiding spot here!" Tamaki whispers excitedly.

"We're lost," Haruhi remarks, resigned to their predicament. They found refuge under a gazebo within the maze's labyrinthine paths. "In a sense, we're in distress," Haruhi observes wryly.

"Woof..." Tamaki makes a playful sound.

"At least Kyoya-senpai is it," Haruhi notes, trying to lighten the mood.

"Woof woof..." Tamaki continues his playful antics.

"Are you screwing with me?" Haruhi teases back.

"Woof woof woof!" Tamaki persists with his playful barks.

"Haa... But I never knew that I'd be doing this even as a high schooler," Haruhi reflects.

"You're not enjoying this?" Tamaki inquires, genuinely curious.

"Well, I played it a lot in elementary school," Haruhi admits.

"Oh? I see. I never really had any friends my age," Tamaki confides softly. "My mom was very prone to illness. I was a kid that worried so much about her that I didn't want to go out. To cheer my mom up, I always played the piano next to her. So I'm having fun playing with you guys like this. Hehe... A lot of fun!"

"Heh..." Haruhi smiles warmly at Tamaki's sincerity.

"We should do this again," Tamaki suggests eagerly.

"Yeah," Haruhi agrees, feeling a bond forming between them beyond the walls of the maze.

•••

On the way to the newspaper club room, Komatsuzawa strides with purpose, irritation etched on his face. Ukyou and Sakyou follow closely behind, their expressions a mix of concern and caution. "Let's write that article," Komatsuzawa declares firmly, his voice tinged with determination.

"But, Chairman!" Ukyou interjects, his tone pleading.

"Writing Souh gossip without any evidence would be too dangerous!" Sakyou warns, trying to reason with him.

"Don't worry. I may not have evidence now, but I just need to write an article exposing him," Komatsuzawa asserts defiantly. "If I get serious, I can write articles that can cause huge commotions among the dumb twits at this school! Anyway, I must expose that Souh!" Pushing open the doors to the club room, Komatsuzawa is met with a surprise. Hikaru and Kaoru sit casually on his desk, looking unfazed by his entrance. Asami is sitting in the chair with a smirk on her face, Kyoya directly behind her with Mituskuni and Takashi off to the side.

"Ah..." Komatsuzawa hesitates, momentarily taken aback.

"Oh?" Hikaru raises an eyebrow, feigning innocence.

"So it was something like that after all," Kaoru remarks casually.

"You're a slimy snake." Asami sneers.

"You..." Komatsuzawa starts, attempting to regain his composure.

"Well, it was kind of obvious," Hikaru chimes in with a smirk.

"I'm pretty sure the lord is the only one not aware of it yet. The man's pretty slow when it comes to things about him," Kaoru adds, his tone teasing.

"Let me say this: We won't go easy on you if you touch my brother," Asami warns, her voice firm and assertive while emphasizing brother.

"Are you prepared to face the Hitachiin and every other club members' families as enemies?" Kaoru questions, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Ngh... So Souh is using his parents' power and giving out orders like that, right?" Komatsuzawa tries to justify his stance. "And you, you're just his fake sister using the name to your advantage." He points at Asami.

"You're wrong," Mitsukuni interjects calmly, stepping forward. "Tama-chan wouldn't do that. You know, we all love Tama-chan. And Ami-chan is his real sister. They even look alike!"

"Even though he is a hopeless idiot," Kyoya adds, his voice low and measured. "And please leave her out of this."

"So?" Hikaru challenges, breaking the reflective silence. "What are you going to do?"

"Stop doing these things already," Mitsukuni urges gently.

"Damn it... It's not just Souh anymore. I'm going to destroy all of you!" Komatsuzawa explodes in frustration.

"Be my guest," Kyoya responds coolly and taps on Asami shoulder. Asami smiles widely as she taps a piece of the first-aid kit she had given Komatsuzawa earlier, revealing a hidden file. "But... what should we do about this disc that's been listening and recording your comments since yesterday?" Kyoya question hangs in the air.

"You were quite rude with all the things you said about me and my brother." Asami huffs.

"Ah..." Komatsuzawa falters, realizing the gravity of his actions.

"Chairman..." Ukyou and Sakyou speak softly, their earlier resolve wavering. Unable to bear the weight of his intentions, Komatsuzawa staggers forward and dropped to his knees.

"If I had to say it in your manner, then it'd be something like this," Kyoya begins, his voice cutting through the tension. "With the shares our Ootori Group and the Hitachiin family hold, we can freely change the president of your father's publishing company, so keep that in mind. But we're not like you. What we strive for is fundamentally different."

•••

Sometime later, Kyoya and the rest of the Host Club ventures into the hedge maze in search of Haruhi and Tamaki. Kaoru watches Asami walk beside Kyoya as the two talk in a whisper to each other. He curls his fists in anger, wanting to know what they were talking about. He flinches when someone nudges him and glances to see Mitsukuni staring innocently at him. "Yes, Honey-senpai?"

"You shouldn't worry, Ami-chan will always choose you over him." Mitsukuni says before slipping away while giggling. Kaoru stares after him in slightly shock and furrows his eyebrows. He directs his attention back to Asami and nearly growls when Kyoya tucks a piece of her hair behind her ear.

"Found you," Kyoya announces as they locate the hidden duo "Hm?" Kyoya raises an eyebrow, noticing Haruhi's startled reaction.

"What happened to the newspaper club?" She asks.

"They're canceling the interview due to urgent business," Hikaru explains calmly.

"They said they'll be writing honest articles now," Kaoru adds.

"So their club won't get dissolved," Tamaki concludes, relieved by the news. "I see. I guess that's fine."

"Let's hurry back to the club room and eat cake!" Mitsukuni suggests.

"Yeah. Cake, cake!" Tamaki echoes excitedly.

"Oh yeah, Kyoya-senpai," Haruhi interjects, catching Kyoya attention.

"Hm?" Kyoya turns to face her, curious about her question.

"Is the Souh family that powerful?" Haruhi inquires, genuinely intrigued as she stares at the squabbling siblings. Asami has Tamaki in a chokehold as she demands to know if he did anything perverted to Haruhi while they were alone.

"Well, they have deep foundations in the financial world as their main business," Kyoya explains calmly. "For example, have you heard of the Roi Grand Hotel or the Outo Theatre? And others, like, you know, school administration and..."

"Which school?" Haruhi interrupts, seeking clarification.

Kyoya pauses, halting his explanation. Haruhi turned back to look at him, waiting for an answer. "This school." She blinks in shock. "Oh yeah, if you think about it... it's like you can come to this school because of Tamaki's family's financial support. Be thankful for him."

"Haruhi," Tamaki calls out playfully after escaping Asami's wrath. "We're going to ditch you if you don't hurry up. You're going to get lost again."

•••

Later that night, Asami is relaxing in bed in her pajamas while trying to read her book, 'The Shadow of the Gods,' by John Gwynne. A knock sounds on her door and she peers up to see Tamaki poking his head in. "Is something wrong?" She asks, closing her book and setting it to the side.

"I wish I didn't find out at school that you and my best friend were engaged." He says and enters. He climbs into bed next to her, opening his arms. Asami did not even realize that tears are sliding down her face until she buries her face in his chest. He rocks her back and forth, letting her sob. "Was this grandmother's doing? I didn't think she would find a suitor for you first before me."

"She had a list of suitors and was going to choose one for me, but I decided to chose the best one for me before she could which ended up to be Kyoya, believe it or not." She chuckles through her sobs.

"I'm sorry," he mumbles with tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry that I can't protect you from this family." The two spent numerous minutes just soaking each other's comforting presence.

"Sakura is in 3-B." She reveals to him. "Did you see her today?" He ignores the deliberate change in subject.

"I did." He sighs. "She tried to talk to me but I couldn't bring myself to."

"She talked to me too. What do we do with her?" She asks, struggling to figure out how to navigate this new development in their lives.

"I think that's up to ourselves what we do with her." He gently strokes her hair. "If you want a relationship with her, I won't judge you. And if I want a relationship with her, I hope you wouldn't judge me either."

"I don't know how I would feel," she admits, "what if you like her more than me?" She teases.

"True, maybe she won't call me a pervert and let me spend special time with my daughter," he teases back. She sits up and grabs her pillows, playfully hitting him with it. He gasps and grabs another pillow to hit her with. A pillow fight ensues between the two, the room filling up with laughter and feathers.

In that moment, Asami could forget about her problems: liking Kaori, being engaged to Kyoya, having to deal with Sakura and Emica. She could be just Asami and Tamaki could just be Tamaki.