"The beach? Is the club going on vacation, or something?" Marinette asks.

"Not necessarily." Hikaru explained.

"We still need to work, unfortunately." Kaoru continued.

"The Host Club is still in business, it's just the beach episode." Adrien finished.

Marinette blinked. "Well, wow. You've really got in sync with the twins."

The blond looked over at the twins and they all looked at each other before they collectively turned to Marinette and shrugged.

"It's summertime, plus we have a beach house in Okinawa that we can use to spend the night." Tamaki suggested.

"Freaking rich people." Haruhi mumbled.

"I think it would be fun! I want to collect sea shells!" Honey cheered.

"The beach is a private one, so only those with allowed access are permitted to enter. Since it will be in Okinawa, we may have to raise prices." Kyoya states, nose deep into his portfolio.

"Prices?" Marinette wonders out loud.

"Of course." Kyoya closes his portfolio. "Can't keep the Host Club running without a good influx of money."

The smile that Kyoya gave sent a familiar wave of frost through Marinette, making her slink against the twins.

"Is he always this creepy?" Marinette whispers.

"You'd think he would play the cool and silent type,"

"But he's more of a Shadow King." Hikaru finished.

Marinette nods slowly, watching Kyoya as he talks to Tamaki before walking off. "That... Makes sense." She murmurs.

"Are you going to come?" Adrien asks, going around the twins to look at her.

"Go where?"

"The beach!"

"Uh, probably not? I'm pretty sure I'd have to pay like a customer since I'm not an official host." Marinette shrugs.

"Aw, c'mon, Mari," Hikaru whined.

"Come with us." Kaoru wrapped his arms around one of hers, while Hikaru attached himself to the other.

"It will be more fun if you do." Adrien joined, going behind her and flipping her pigtails.

Marinette stammered for words, overwhelmed at the three boys' attention.

Honey was walking by when he noticed the commotion and he decided to join in on the fun, latching onto Marinette's side. "Yeah, Mari-chan, join us!" He cooed. "Wait, what are we trying to convince her to join?"

Adrien stopped flipping her pigtails for a second to answer his question. "Convincing her to come to the beach with us." He replied, before continuing.

"Oh." He looked to Tamaki. "Tama-chan, Mari-chan says she wants to come with us!."

"Honey-senpai!" Marinette exclaimed, a small blush possessing her features.

"Why not? The more the merrier!" Tamaki smiled.

"Yay!" Honey cheered. As Haruhi was walking by, he latched onto them next. "I wanna room with Haru-chan."

"What? No!" Tamaki explained, now trying to pry Honey off of Haruhi. "Haruhi is only allowed to room with daddy! She's not allowed to stay with other boys!" Tamaki hissed and tried to play father figure, but Haruhi wasn't having it.

"I don't want to go to your beach house anyways." Haruhi huffed, ignoring Tamaki's puppy eyes.

"It's very unfortunate that you won't be attending. Your debt could be significantly cut if you did." Kyoya spoke from across the room and Marinette could see the chill go through Haruhi.

"Poor Haruhi... What do they owe?" Marinette asked the twins, who had finally let go of her arms.

"She broke a vase when she first got here." Kaoru started.

"Funnily enough, no one knew she was a girl, and we all thought that she was our first male customer." Hikaru added.

"In the midst of trying to escape the Boss, she knocked over this super expensive vase we were planning on auctioning. So now, she has to make up for that vase by working." Kaoru finished.

As the replay finished, Marinette cringed lightly. "Ouch, I wish I could help Haruhi out."

"You wanna help me out?" An arm grabbed at Marinette's wrist. She looked down and noticed Haruhi prying themselves out of Tamaki's grasp. "Please say you want to room with me." They whispered.

"How about," Marinette starting, helping Haruhi stand. "I room with Haruhi?"

"But I wanted to room with Haruhi." Tamaki whines from the floor.

"Think of it this way," Adrien helps Tamaki up now. "If Haruhi spends time with Marinette, maybe those feminine roots will begin to show."

Tamaki was still pouting, but an image of Marinette and Haruhi, hanging out together and doing girly stuff warmed his heart.

"You know what, Adrien? I think you're right." Tamaki nodded, patting him on the shoulder.

Haruhi let out a silent sigh, thanking Marinette, for both helping her up and saving her skin.

Marinette nodded before she looked over at Adrien. He winked over at the two of them while Tamaki continued to fantasize about girly best friends Marinette and Haruhi.

Marinette watched the two of them, smiling softly.

It was nice to see Adrien so comfy with everyone else. Chatting with Honey, the twins. He even joins in on teasing Tamaki sometimes. It's nice, it's almost as if he had always been here.

And looking at the two blonds, they almost --

"Marinette?"

The girl snapped out of her thoughts and looked over at Honey, who was now standing beside her.

"Sorry." She laughed softly.

"It's okay! I was just wondering if you were going to bring some snacks for the road?"

Marinette smiled. "I wasn't, but if you have any requests in mind, I might be able to whip something up and sneak you something past Mori-senpai."

His eyes sparkled and he made his requests.

Soon after, Marinette and Adrien were on their way home to pack, Marinette's previous thoughts all but forgotten for now.

One packing and travel montage later...

"The weather is beautiful!" Marinette held onto her sunhat as the ocean breeze blew through her hair, the sun reflecting off her sunglasses.

The sounds of the waves crashing against the shore, the laugh of the gulls in the air, the smell of salt that welcomed them kindly, everything was perfect.

The boys were all in swim trunks, Marinette in a red and black ruffled bathing suit. Haruhi had to suffer through Tamaki trying to get the twins to get her into some cutesy bathing suit, but Marinette was able to bonk some sense into them.

The Host Club was in business, enjoying their fun in the sun.

"Haruhi! Why aren't you wearing a bathing suit like the other boys?"

Haruhi was stationed at some lounge chairs with their usual customers, sitting under the shade with a pullover and some swimming trunks. Marinette was sitting a couple chairs away, pretending not to listen.

"Are you scared of the ocean?" One of them asked.

"Not at all! I just burn really easily, and I don't want to risk that." Haruhi liked, tugging on the sleeves of the sweater.

Marinette contained her laugh and watched over everyone. The twins were sensually??? Lathering themselves in sunscreen, while Honey and Mori were playing a game of volleyball. Tamaki was walking on the shore with one of the girls and Adrien was building a sand castle with a couple others.

Everyone looked like they were having fun and that's all that matters.

Marinette eventually joined in on the fun, playing a game of volleyball, ending with walking along the shore and collecting seashells.

After a while, she wandered the beach, walking from one end to the other, enjoying the sound of the gulls and the crash of the waves. Eventually, she made it to the cliffs, admiring the view, when she heard voices.

"Hey, pretty lady."

"How'd you like to get a tour of the beach with one of us?"

Marinette didn't recognize the voices, especially because they were male. She went further up the cliff to investigate, when she noticed some of Haruhi's girls being cornered by some boys.

"Hey!"

The two boys looked at her as she called out to them. "Oh, you've brought a cute friend."

"Do you guys have permission to be here?" Marinette asked. "This is a private beach."

The two boys looked at each other before they started laughing.

"'This is a private beach'!" They mocked.

"I have permission to hit on some babes." One replied.

"Don't be upset because you weren't invited." Said the other.

"Why don't you come over here and join our little party, huh?"

"It should be the two of you leaving, since you weren't invited." Haruhi came up beside Marinette.

"Haruhi! What are you doing?" Marinette questions.

Before Haruhi could answer, the boys scoffed.

"Come to fetch your little girlfriend?" One grumbled.

"Why be with a wimp like that and come with us."

Marinette glared at them. "How about you fuck off."

"You two better leave before we call the police." Haruhi followed.

"Ohoho, you've got quite the mouth for a cute one."

"Don't act so tough, pipsqueak. You don't scare us."

Marinette wasn't one to pick fights, but she wasn't going to stand around and let the bad guys do their bad things. She edged closer before quickly maneuvering around the boys, and getting to the girls, asking them if they were okay.

Haruhi got closer and the boys blocked their path. Marinette got and and she pushed one of them, ushering the girls to run with the distraction provided.

"Tch, you let the girls go."

"Don't you think we ought to teach these kids a lesson." One of the boys grabbed Haruhi by the wrist and yanked them over, pushing them to Marinette. Marinette stumbled backwards as she caught Haruhi.

"Haruhi! Are you okay?"

Haruhi collected their footing and straightened. "I'm fine."

"You won't be fine when we're through with you."

Waves crashed on the cliff face below as the boys closed in on Marinette and Haruhi. The two were slowly being pushed to the edge of the cliff. The boys seemed to be big enough to hold them two of them off, too.

Marinette's heels slipped off the end and she tightened her grip on Haruhi with a gasp. "Haruhi..." She whispered nervously.

Did they really bite off more than they could chew?"

"Haruhi!"

"Marinette!"

Two new voices came into the mix, a pair of hands pushed violently against Haruhi, pushing them against Marinette, sending them over the edge.

Everything felt like it was in slow motion. The sensation of falling. The sound of the waves growing louder. The harsh sting of the water on Marinette's back. The sensation of being engulfed by the cold water. Numbness overall.

They didn't know how long it lasted before the two of them were pulled out of the water.

Marinette sputtered for air, clinging onto the arms that pulled her to safety As she cleared her eyes, she was welcomed by Adrien's worried expression.

"Marinette! Are you okay?" He asked, his eyes scanning her for any injury.

"I... I think so. Wait!" Marinette looked behind Adrien. "Haruhi, where's Haruhi?" She asked, panic lacing her tone.

Adrien shushed her gently and motioned ahead. "Don't worry, Tamaki's got her."

Marinette looked over and saw Tamaki setting them down. She sighed in relief. "Thank goodness."

Adrien helped Marinette down, but as soon as she put pressure on her right ankle, she winced sharply. "You're hurt." He wrapped an arm around her waist. "Guys, Marinette's hurt!"