I couldn't think of a way to make the club figure out Haruhi is a girl, so just assume that they have, somewhere between the first chapter and this one.
The Job of a High School Host!
"Thank you so much for the dance lessons, Kanako," Haruhi said, sitting down for tea.
"It's really no problem at all, Haruhi," said the petit girl with short brown hair.
Haruhi was trying her best to stay positive. She was not pleased when the club informed her the upcoming ball was not optional. She tried telling them he couldn't dance as an excuse, but Kanako had then offered dance lessons. Haruhi decided just to make the best of it. The lessons had gone surprisingly well.
Tamaki, on the other hand, was brooding in the corner. When Haruhi asked what was making him so upset, the rest of the club pulled her aside and told her about Kanako. Apparently she had host-hopping syndrome, which meant she jumped from host to host, never really choosing a favourite. Tamaki had been the lucky host for a while until she jumped to Haruhi. Haruhi thought Kanako's behavior was strange. Maybe she had the same suspicions as Haruhi, and was trying to find information. Haruhi welcomed Kanako in hopes of getting close to her, to find out what she knew.
That was one of the reasons she agreed to dance lessons. But she also didn't want to make a fool of herself, and she thought that the ball she might get to meet other people like her, who thought the Host Club could be behind the unsolved murder cases.
Haruhi had always been able to read people very well. That's why she instantly saw Kanako freeze when the Ouran student who delivered the tea cups came in. Haruhi saw the sad smile play across Kanako's face when she closed her eyes, and the small tear that streaked down her cheek when she opened them. The delivery boy's reaction to Kanako didn't get past Haruhi either. He walked in with composure, prepared for the usual antics of the Host Club, but he wasn't ready to see Kanako sitting with her back to him in the room. When Kyoya approached the delivery guy to sign for the shipment and say hello, the delivery boy paused, but finally founds the words to say hello back, and continue making small talk.
Kanako was completely quiet while he was there and excused herself from the room when he left.
"Daichi is Kanako's fiancé's brother," Hani said directly after, seeing the question in Haruhi's eyes.
"Kanako is already somebody's fiancé? Will they marry after they finish Ouran? Kyoya, did you know of this?" Tamaki said. This was all news to him.
"Of course I knew," Kyoya said. "I do basic background checks on all our guests
"But they won't be getting married," Hani spoke again. There was sadness in his voice.
"Why not?" Haruhi asked.
"Toru, her fiancé, died. No one figured out who did it. It happened last year. That's why Kanako is so sad all the time," Hani said.
"She tried so hard to cover it up. That's so sad," Haruhi said. Even though everyone in the room had grown sober from hearing about it, Haruhi still had a feeling that the Host Club was too suspicious to not have anything to do with all the mysterious murders that happened the year before.
Kanako requested Haruhi as her host every day she came in up to the day of the ball. She gave Haruhi a few more dance lessons as well, and by the time of the ball Haruhi could pass as an average dancer.
The ball was held in one of the school's many ballrooms. As expected, the majority of the school's female students attended, along with a bunch of boys as well. Soon the room moved with the music.
Excitement moved across the room as well. The Host Club announced that one lucky girl would get a kiss at the end of the night from the club's prince, Tamaki.
Haruhi danced. She tried to be a good host and danced with as many people as she could. Before the end of the night, Haruhi pulled Kanako aside.
"Haruhi, is there something you need?" Kanako asked, curious.
"Actually, I know this is a touchy subject, but… I heard about your fiancé. And I'm horrible sorry, but do you ever wonder…"
"Who killed him?" Kanako interrupted Haruhi. "Every day. I think about what kind of person could do this to my sweet Toru."
"I know the feeling. My mother passed away was young, and someone else I'd rather not talk about… But I really want to help you find out who did this. I strongly believe that justice should be served. I couldn't bare it if someone else got hurt. I know the investigators didn't find anything, but I think I have some clues that could be leads. And I'd really like your help, Kanako," Haruhi said.
"Of course. Yes," Kanako said. "I want to hunt down the bastard who did this and make sure he gets what he deserves."
"I know how you feel," Haruhi said.
The rest of the night went as planned. Everyone danced and had a good time. Tamaki kissed a girl Haruhi didn't know the name of. Everything was normal until the very last song. A mysterious man in a mask approached Haruhi and asked her to dance. No one knew Haruhi was a girl other than the other members of the Host Club, so Haruhi wasn't worried that he knew. Thinking he was just interested in her, she accepted. After they danced, he grabbed her hand and led her to an empty hallway.
"I know your secret," said the masked man.
Before Haruhi could mumble out any response he kissed her, and disappeared. Thinking is simply meant he knew she was a girl, she wasn't overly worried. She figured she and the Host Club would figure a way to cover it up if it got out.
Smiling, with the sweet taste of the masked man's lips still on her, she has no idea how much he really knew.
I'm getting so excited for the story! Please R&R. I think I'm going to be posting every 2 or 3 days, so no long waiting! This is probably my favorite chapter so far. Who is the masked man? Keep reading to find out!