****Her name is pronounced "SOY-MEE-COO" okay? okay.

My footsteps echoed through the many twisting and turning halls of Ouran Academy as I ran to Music Room 3 in search of my brother, Takashi Morinozuka, whose help I desperately needed.

I ran as fast as I could, my long, black hair and the skirt of my yellow dress both flying behind me as I neared my destination.

Although I'd been attending this school for approximately four months and my brother and cousin happened to be members, I had never actually been to see the Host Club once. Three of it's members were in my class 1-A, but I sat in the back and didn't speak to them, or anyone for that matter.

My brother and I had very similar qualities, including the fact that we were both people of few words; Mori especially. Unfortunately, since he was a Host, his lack of words was deemed attractive in a way, but it was the complete opposite for myself. I was known as 'The Mute' by my classmates. It was pure ignorance in my opinion. If they'd known I suffered from a minor social anxiety disorder, I'm sure they would've treated me better, but they didn't know and I was alienated by them.

I also wasn't known to be related to Takashi or my cousin Mitsukuni whatsoever, but I just figured that even though the students at my school were very intelligent, they could also be very dense and miss important details. So, I didn't let anyone bother me. I just stayed "The Mute" in order to be left alone; nobody wanted to talk to a person who wouldn't respond back.

I reached the door of Music Room 3, the hangout for the Host Club, and waited a minute or two for me to catch my breath before I entered. As I turned the knob and opened the large door, rose petals fluttered down around me and I heard the chorus of many voices welcoming me.

When all the petals reached the ground I blinked several times to get my eyes adjusted to the scene in front of me. It was after school, so I knew Mori was just attending a meeting, but my issue was urgent and I needed my brother's assistance badly.

My eyes darted to each of the faces of the seven people in the room, the one closest to me with pale blonde hair tilted his head to the side in confusion. I felt the heated blush spread over my cheeks as I felt all seven pairs of eyes stare through me. My palms became moist and my breathing increased. I needed Takashi. Now. It was situations like these that my older brother helped me cope with my anxiety. Although it wasn't a severe case, I still got the unpleasant symptoms of the disorder.

I continued to scan the room for my brother, and once I met eyes with him, I ran over hurriedly. "Takashi, I need your help!" I exclaimed, my voice in whisper-yell mode.

He stood, towering over me, then bent over until he was close to my height. His face was expressionless as it usually was unless we were within the walls of our home, but I could see concern swimming in his eyes, grey like mine. "What is it, Soymikou?" His deep voice questioned.

I tugged on the sleeve of his light blue Ouran uniform. "I lost my camera." I quietly told him, tears beginning to form in my eyes.

Photography was my favourite thing in the world. I took the course all through middle school and was in Ouran's photography course this year as well. I liked it because it took the saying 'a picture is worth a thousand words' to a whole new meaning and it suited my situation beautifully. I used my camera skills to capture pictures that could express more words than I ever could to anyone.

My brother's black brows creased and he stood up straight again. He knew how much my camera meant to me. He opened his mouth to speak, but another voice interrupted him. "What did you lose, my sweet princess?" I felt a hand slip into mine and spin me around to face the pale blonde haired boy, with piercing violet eyes.

I gulped at how close we were. "M-my camera." I mumbled, heartbeat beginning to speed up.

I felt hands grab my shoulders and I was lifted, the boy's hand leaving mine, and was put a few feet to the left of where I originally stood. Takashi set me down and stepped in front of me. "No." He warned the boy.

I heard laughter and looked over at the two twin boys hysterically laughing at the now frozen boy who had grasped my hand. I felt arms wrap around me, my breath stopping in my throat and fear making my knees tremble. I looked down to see my cousin, Mitsukuni hugging me tightly. "Soy-chan!" He exclaimed happily and gazed up at me with his large, light brown eyes.

I smiled down at him, relief washing over me, and hugged him back. "Hi, Honey." Luckily, my social anxiety didn't apply to my cousin or my brother.

"Honey-senpai, Mori-senpai, you know this girl?" I looked up to see the boy with violet eyes ask as the rest of the boys came closer to us, making me take two steps back.

Honey nodded vigorously. "This is Soymikou." He said gesturing to me, his bunny Usa-chan in one hand.

One of the twins I recognized from Class 1-A snapped his fingers. "Hey wait, you're 'The Mute', right?" My heart dropped when I heard to cruel nickname come from the twin's mouth. I sighed aloud and looked over at Takashi who gazed at me with apologetic eyes.

I heard a gasp and saw Haruhi, another person from the Host Club in my class, cross his arms. "Guys, you're being rude." He told the twins.

The twin on the right raised his eyebrows and ignored Haruhi's comment. "But you just spoke?"

"Is that why you like the strong and silent type?" The two twins questioned in sync as they both grinned mischievously at me, their amber eyes sparkling with trouble.

Strong and silent type? What were they talking about. I looked at them uncomprehendingly and raised my eyebrow slightly.

"Hikaru! Kaoru! Stop it at once!" The taller blonde scolded. "This girl has obviously never been to the Host Club before, show her some decency." He bowed towards me. "I am Suoh, Tamaki. Welcome to the Host Club, Soymikou."

"Thanks." I muttered, looking down at my shoes and letting my hair fall over and shield my face from their gazes.

The twins stepped closer to me."So, is Mori-senpai..." One started.

"...your boyfriend?" The other ended.

My head shot up quickly and I looked at them with wide eyes, trying to determine whether or not they were being serious. They leaned against each other, a hand on each hip, awaiting my response. I realized they weren't joking and began to laugh loudly, my eyes squinting shut as I shook with laughter.

I covered my mouth with my hand quickly and tried to compose myself. I could feel the ever-lasting blush on my cheeks grow hotter. When I re-opened my eyes I saw all the boys looking at me with shock, all except for one with gleaming glasses and styled black hair who had a slight smirk on his lips.

I smiled slightly, feeling sick to my stomach with all the attention, a corner of my mouth tilting upwards. "Takashi is my older brother." I said faintly.

Tamaki and the twins' faces went slack with astonishment. They began babbling to themselves about how unbelievably impossible it was that I was related to Takashi and Honey.

Haruhi approached me, glaring at Tamaki, Hikaru and Kaoru. "Sorry about them, they can be a little over-dramatic sometimes." He said, sending me a sweet smile.

I smiled timidly at the boy with the largest chocolate brown eyes I'd ever seen. "We'll help you find your camera if you want." He offered.

I hopped once with excitement, a grin forming on my face. "Yes, please!" I spoke a tad louder than usual. I landed and grin faded within a millisecond. I internally smacked myself. That was so stupid. Why did I do that? Now they think I'm stupid, now they don't like me. Once again, I let my hair fall in front of my face like drapes and hid behind my dark locks from the people surrounding me.

The twins looked over at me with horrified expressions. "That was...adorable." They said together. I gazed up at them through my hair and cocked my head slightly? Had I heard them correctly?

"Yes! We will help you retrieve your camera, Soymikou." Tamaki told me. "Men! We will split up and meet back here in an hour." He instructed. "Haruhi, you'll be paired with me. Kaoru, y-"

"I think I'd rather go with someone else, sorry senpai." Haruhi said apologetically. I couldn't blame her for not wanting Tamaki as her partner, he was way too crazy for my tastes as well.

Tamaki's face fell and he walked over to a corner of the room, gloomily facing the wall and sulking. Haruhi sighed heavily. "Alright, we can be partners."

The tall blonde sprinted from his corner and picked up Haruhi in a bear hug. "Thank you, thank you, Haruhi!" He chanted. After setting the annoyed brunette back on the ground, he continued assigning partners. "Kaoru and Hikaru, you two will go with Soymi-chan, Kyoya will come with Haruhi and I and Mori will go with Honey."

I looked over at the twins and grimaced inwardly. Whatever was inside my stomach began churning unpleasantly. They both met my gaze and grinned, resembling sharks seconds away from devouring their prey. I shuttered and looked over at Takashi who only nodded sympathetically at me as if to say 'just go with it if you want your camera', which I really did.

I sighed and followed everyone out the door. After contemplating which direction I should go, I decided on going down the hallway to my left. I was taken by surprise when I felt two thin, but muscular arms link through my own, resulting in a high-pitched squeal to come from deep within my chest and out of my mouth.

Beside me, the twins chuckled. "Are you always this jumpy, Soymikou?"

"Yes," I said quietly, shying away from them and taking a few steps forward to distance myself from the two troublemakers. But, it was no use. They simply took a stride and caught up to my pace instantly.

"So, Soymi," One began, "if you yourself are the strong and silent type per say..."

"...your host type must be the complete opposite." The other concluded.

I grimaced, going through the different hosts in my head, deciding who was the loudest and and came to the conclusion of Tamaki." Tamaki? No thank you." I said. As if I would even attend one of the Host Club's many activities. It was sadly humorous to think that I would do such a thing, of all people. But these boys had no clue; they just thought I was quiet like Takashi. But he chooses to be that way, he prefers not to speak when it isn't absolutely necessary. I, on the other hand, couldn't speak so much as a sentence or two aloud unless I wanted to vomit or pass out in front anyone around me.

The twin on my left came a little closer to me, as if he wasn't close enough to begin with, making me what to sprint in the opposite direction. "You know, Soymi, I think you like the devilish type." He whispered, his hot breath on my ear, making me shiver.

I turned to face him, which turned out to be a bad idea once I realized how close he really was. My breath hitched as the familiar uncomfortable feeling spread within me, but I didn't move away, let alone gag or become faint-headed like usual. Faces inches apart, I looked into his amber eyes only to see mischief, but also a hint of something I couldn't quite put my finger on. His thin lips tilted upwards in a smirk as he awaited my response. After analyzing all of his facial features, from his auburn strands of hair to the smallest of freckles hidden within his complexion, I realized how long I had been taking to answer him and blushed the colour of fresh strawberries. "I don't have a type." I stated in a low tone, turning my face forwards and away from the twin.

The twin on my right scoffed. "Everyone has a type."

I just shook my head, focusing on the task at hand and wiping my sweaty palms on the skirt of my dress as we walked.

"We'll see about that." The both said slyly.