"Hello, Thorne."

"T-Takashi!" she stammered, shocked.

"Hm? You know this young man already, Thorne?" her dad asked, surprised and curious.

"Y-yes," she nodded. "He's in my class, as well as the Host Club—Tamaki's club."

"Interesting..."

"We—Amber and I, when we go out, it's usually with him and his cousin, Mitsukuni."

"You and Amber have been going out with guys I haven't met?" he arched an eyebrow.

"Dad," she gave him a look.

"I know, I know," he laughed, holding his hands up defensively. "Overprotective."

"Just a bit," she grinned.

"Well, I'm sorry for wanting to protect my daughters."

"Dad, we moved to a different country essentially on our own," she reminded him. "I think we can decide who to be friends with."

"I know," he chuckled, "but you could at least let me feel like I'm protecting you. I think I have the right to want to meet my daughters' friends—especially boys!"

"Well, Takashi is right here—stop talking to me and meet him!" she gestured to Mori with her hand, grinning.

"Takashi Morinozuka," Mori bowed respectfully to John.

"John Chivalier," John bowed in return, albeit slightly less deeply, as was his right as the elder.

"Why don't we sit down?" Akira suggested, looking amused.

They followed him back to the kotatsu, where Mori sat beside him. Thorne sat across from Mori, her father across from his.

"Well, it appears our kids are rather well acquainted," John chuckled.

"Yes, so it seems," Akira nodded. "Although, I must admit that I was already aware that they knew each other."

"Oh?" John arched a brow curiously.

"Well," Akira explained, "of course it was very surprising when Takashi asked me to set up this meeting—it's highly unusual, so naturally I inquired to the reasoning behind such a desire—"

"Wait—Takashi, you wanted this?" Thorne interjected, staring at him in surprise.

"Yes," he nodded.

"That certainly is unusual," John murmured, surprised and rather amused.

"Why... why would you do such a thing?" she asked.

"I... I heard you and Mitsukuni talking," he admitted hesitantly.

"That explains how you find out—and gets Honey off the hook, because otherwise I would've assumed he told you—"

"Mitsukuni would never tell a secret he promised to keep," he interrupted defensively.

"I know that," she assured him. "He's a wonderful friend. But you are his cousin and his best friend—I honestly wouldn't have blamed him if he had told you."

"Mm."

"I really wouldn't, Takashi," she insisted. "I know what it's like to keep a secret from someone your that close to—this... this is the first secret I've ever kept from Amber. I haven't told her because I don't want to upset or worry her, but... but it's hard, and it hurts. And it's scary, because I'm afraid she'll be angry that I've been hiding something from her."

"Amber won't be angry," Mori said softly. "She'll understand. I'm sure she's known that there was something going on the entire time."

"Yeah," Thorne smiled softly. "Yeah, you're right—she knows me too well to not know. Um, anyway, I... I know how you found out, but I still don't know why you did this."

Mori looked down at the kotatsu silently.

"...Takashi?"

"...I couldn't just let you marry some random guy," he finally said.

"But why?"

He was silent again, before turning to their fathers.

"Would it be all right if I had a word with Thorne in private?"

"It's fine with me," his dad said, smiling,

Mori looked at John.

"I don't see why not," John shrugged, grinning easily.

Mori nodded and stood, extending his hand to help Thorne up. She took it, rising and letting him lead her outside. He didn't drop her hand, even after they stopped on the sidewalk.

They stood in silence for a few minutes. Suddenly, he brought her hand to his lips and pressed a kiss to it.

"T-Takashi...?"

"I..." he hesitated, taking a deep breath. "Thorne, I'm falling for you."

She inhaled sharply, staring at him with wide eyes.

"That's why I asked my father to set this up. I couldn't stand to see you so upset and stressed, and there's no way I would be able to watch you marry some random guy, especially since he might turn out to not even be good to you. I know you're strong and independent and you can protect yourself, but I want to take care of you, Thorne."

It was all she could do not to melt into a puddle of goo right there on the sidewalk. It was just all too much- the words he said, the desperate look in his eyes, the way he rubbed his thumb over the back of her hand as he held it in his own.

Plus, that was the most she'd ever heard him say at once.

"T-Takashi—"

"I'll do anything, Thorne."

"...What about Mitsukuni?" she asked.

"I've already spoken to him," he said. "Mitsukuni adores you."

"R-really?"

"Yes."

That surprised her. She loved Honey to death, but it had never occurred to her that he felt that much affection toward her as well; he'd always seemed more interested in Amber... Although, they had had some wonderful conversations...

"He supported my decision to pursue an engagement."

"You... you really want to marry me, Takashi?" she asked, looking away shyly.

"I do."

"Takashi..."

"I'll do anything, Thorne."

She looked up at him.

"Anything," he repeated.

"Maybe... maybe I feel the same way..." she admitted.

"Then you'll except?" he asked hopefully.

"Perhaps," she smiled slightly.

"Perhaps?"

"Yes. Perhaps. You'll just have to wait."

She was teasing him.

"Thorne—"

"Things are looking good, though."

"Good."

"But that's not a yes," she added. "I like you, Takashi—I like you a lot. But this isn't a date to the movies we're talking about here. This is marriage—it's a serious commitment. It's not something I can just decide on a whim."

"I understand," he nodded. "Take all the time you need. I'll wait."

She smiled.

And Tamaki was the prince type?