3

Although weekend get-togethers at the family household were never deemed mandatory by the Koushigo matriarch, all five of Chiharu's children always found themselves in attendance. Considering the significant age differences between her children, Chiharu was thankful they'd grown amiable with each other no matter how diverse their interests became.

Not all families were blessed with love, after all.

"Does anybody want to go to Switzerland with me this week?" Tadashi, her eldest son, asked aloud as he busied himself with his handheld game console, sprawled on a sofa. "Preferably someone who's conversant in German."

"Pass. You're planning to put me in a room with boring adults again. Also, why do you have Redemption equipped? You're not support, dumbass, buy true damage items. Jeez!" Oriko whined as she played on an identical gaming device at the far side of the living room.

"Language," Inoue, the eldest daughter, chastised before taking a sip from her cup of coffee. "You're the youngest, Oriko. Act like it, or I'll make you."

"Yes, onee-san," Oriko muttered begrudgingly. After all, Inoue handled their finances now. "You know, big sisters are supposed to be affectionate?"

"You already get too much affection from gramps, brat."

"Ah. That's true." Oriko flashed a satisfied grin at the image of the sleeping elder by the terrace windows. Being the youngest, their grandfather was unusually doting on her. The only time the taciturn company founder wasn't barking at everyone else was when he was asleep on his rocking chair. "So very true."

With a tight frown Inoue's hand stilled on the last page of Forbes 100. During her prime, their mother, Chiharu had made it up to the sixty-second place. Though Inoue was succeeding KCS in the fall, she hadn't even made it Asia's Business Weekly. Irritable, she blurted out, "Where's Senri?"

"Maybe she's out on a date." Tadashi suggested with a roguish smirk. "I wouldn't be surprised. She's a high schooler now."

Chiharu's ears perked. Her daughter? On a date? "Where? Who is she with? How do you know this?"

"Is it someone we know?" Inoue's brows pushed together as she missed Tadashi's meaningful wink. "Please don't let it be Bill Gates' son. He called us 'exotic.'"

"And he wore crocs to the convention. Crocs!" Oriko shuddered.

"Bill Gates' son?" Chiharu's eyes widened in shock. "And Senri?"

Oriko snickered. "Ha! As if that shut-in would ever get a date."

From the hallways, fluffy bunny slippers sounded out as they thumped down the staircase. Not long after, Senri emerged, her morning face slightly swollen and scowling. She padded into the living room with impressive racoon nest-like hair. Her bear-themed pajamas and orange floppy-eared slippers ensemble clashed unpleasantly with the ornate mahogany console table and the emerald carpeting of the floor.

"What. Food?" she groaned out as she rubbed her eyes. At the clean tabletop, her face pinched. "No food? Bah!"

Cavewoman, Oriko thought.

Chiharu reached for the only child that took after her husband and pulled her in a loose embrace. "Is there anything you want to tell me, young lady?" she asked. Tadashi and Oriko guffawed. "Anything at all?"

Senri scratched her head. "Whaa…? Kaa-san, I 'unno what you mean..."

"I just wish you would open up to me about the kind of… friendships you're making, dear…"

"Bill Gates' son!" Oriko whispered to Tadashi and they started snickering again. "Pfffft!"

Their grandfather suddenly roused from his noontime slumber and rasped, "Chiharu. Don't let your children wind you up. Even though he's passed, Senri is still Hitoshi's little girl." There was pride in his voice. "I'm not a lucky bettor myself, but I'd wager ten million on that!" he claimed.

"Literally she's never been friends with guys," Inoue murmured under her breath as she binned her copy of Forbes 100. "She's sooo standoffish in public. Not cute at all."

"I mean, can you blame her? The last time she tried to befriend a gu—" Tadashi grimaced and cut off his sentence when Chiharu's eyes sharpened at him into a lethal glare.

"Yikes, nii-san, why bring that up?" Oriko mumbled.

"Oops. Sorry."

"So, Senri, dear…" Chiharu pulled the attention back to the daughter in her arms. "Tell me about who… what… you've busied yourself with lately?"

"Astr—"

"Aside from astrology and lottery picks, dear," Chiharu interrupted.

"Oh. Um. School, I guess? But this week I was mostly working on the P&G end-to-end encryption issue. Turns out Procter & Grimble had a breach—"

"About boys, dear," Chiharu finally explained in exasperation. "You're in high school now, so if you want to focus on… deeper friendships you can make, it's fine, but you have to tell me…" Chiharu cleared her throat. "Remember when we met Bill Gates' family last month in Silicon Valley?"

"Bill Gates?" Senri was puzzled, and now even more confused about the topic at hand. "Yes, but what about him?"

Tadashi disguised his snigger with a backhanded cough. "We may have implied you were out on a date with his son. Who knew you were just in your bedroom?"

"Certainly not us," Inoue teased.

"Huuuh? They're just pulling your leg, kaa-san." Senri made a face, "And Bill Gates' son? Doesn't his son wear crocs? Hard no for me."

Oriko lost it at the same time Tadashi did. They clutched at their stomachs and doubled over in riotous laughter.

"Not the crocs!" Oriko hooted.

"God forbid the crocs!" Tadashi wheezed.

For as long as Chiharu could remember, her second daughter always sat in front of a computer screen. On weekends, on summer breaks, on holidays and other free days. If not immersed in code, Senri was glued to the pages of her academic books instead. It was thanks to Tadashi's miracle optic drops her eyesight hadn't deteriorated yet.

But it wasn't like Chiharu forced Senri to participate in the family business – it was that when all her children were younger, Senri was the only child who showed enough interest in KCS, and consequently became the only person Hitoshi managed to impart K-code to in great depth before his illness took over. Tadashi was the eldest of them all, yes, but being raised in Kobe by his grandmother, he never really took after his parents even when their status had flourished in the city. He already had aspirations of his own when they moved him back to Tokyo.

As the second child, Inoue wordlessly took up the mantle Tadashi had passed on. With sheer will she tried her hand at computer systems, but it was evident that the girl had a flair for business management instead. So, while Chiharu and her assistants maintained the company's technical stronghold, Inoue learned under the strict, guiding instruction of her grandfather.

Oriko, the youngest child, had been born into a family dynamic where her older siblings were stationed away from home or boarded in overseas schools. Chiharu doubted her youngest remembered her father well – Oriko could barely syllabicate her words at Hitoshi's funeral. Frequently having the manor to herself, she grew up lonely in their quiet, ancestral home, and these days Oriko was more interested in becoming a, what was it – gamer? Influencer? Some type of virtual personality, whatever that was.

Chiharu let Oriko dream her dreams. She was still young. Still unburdened. The harshness of reality would catch up to her later.

Senri… was Hitoshi's star. They were two peas in a pod when faced with a string of letters and a digital screen. They'd binge watch Bones every holiday, and especially during Hitoshi's final days when he could no longer chew his food. Chiharu knew that amongst her siblings, Senri was attached to Hitoshi the most, and carried her the worst grief when all his cells finally succumbed to cancer.

So yes. Chiharu would bet ten million, too, if it involved the innocence of her daughter.

"…but, um, I did join this club at school..." Senri began sheepishly.

"Ah. Club Penguin?" Oriko offered. Inoue snorted.

"…Ouran had a lot of extracurricular clubs to choose from, so I thought, why not…? Haha, um, yeah." Senri stammered as fidgeted with her hands. "I joined a boys' host club. That's fine, right?"

Among the jaws that dropped, their grandfather's blood pressure was the worst casualty that day. After all, where he grew up from, ten million yen lost in a wager was no laughing matter!

The strawberry blond twins sneezed at the same time.

"Ah? What have I told Isadora? The air nano-filter has to be changed every half hour. If my twins get sick from those germs it'll be her last paycheck and first lawsuit from me." Hitachiin Yuzuha sounded out irritably as she walked briskly from hall to hall of her manor. A dozen personal assistants scrambled after her. "Hikaru, Kaoru, dears, please put some sweaters on – and Patrizia Gucci is going to meet you next week for the Fall collection. Don't forget."

"Maa, maa… As long as she doesn't wear her ratty fur-scarf." the twins intoned. A soft giggle peeped between them.

Hearing this, Yuzuha stopped. Standing under the ornate arch of the main doorways, she lifted her thin, platinum-band eyeglasses from auburn eyes and warned, "I want her to become Ageha's godmother, so no funny business, you two. Got it?"

Hikaru and Kaoru mock-saluted. "Roger that, boss."

On the couch, right between the twins, Hitachiin Ageha blinked innocently. Her legs swung back and forth, too short to reach the marble flooring. A book entitled The Meaning of the Universe sat open on her lap. She seemed to be halfway done with its contents.

Yuzuha smiled sadly. With her short, wavy, dark brown hair and hazel-colored doe eyes, Ageha always made it so effortless to dress her in any Hitachiin Doll pattern design. Unfortunately, the youngest Hitachiin took after her camera-shy husband and preferred any sort of imaging device a mile away from her person. Oh well.

"Kaa-san, when are you coming back?" the little girl asked in her small voice.

Having mastered the art of invisibility, Yuzuha's string of assistants averted their gazes and blended into the manor wall's design. It took Yuzuha's entire willpower not to melt and surrender against the beseeching eyes of her only daughter.

Was the weekend she spent home not enough? If she stayed any minute longer, she'd lose the rights to center stage in Paris…

Distracted between the time and appeasing her daughter, Yuzuha didn't notice the tightening of the twins' lips. "Well, honey," she began carefully, "Maybe next month? Fashion week is around the corner and so many of your aunties want new dresses…"

"Oh." Yuzuha fidgeted as Ageha stared at her noiselessly. "…Okay, kaa-san. See you."

Relieved, "Yes, darling. I'll call you as much as I can! Toodles!"

"Toodles…" Ageha mumbled back, emotionless.

Without further ado, Yuzuha and her assistants were gone.

Hikaru spoke first. "I am sooo telling Aunt Patrizia her new hairdo looks like a duck's butt." Ageha didn't laugh.

Kaoru picked up Ageha and rested his chin atop her head. "Don't worry. We'll be here next Wednesday, all day," he consoled.

Hikaru nodded as he lightly touched her nose. "We'll read you all the books you want. Just like always." he assured her.

Ageha nodded and closed her book. Still toneless and blank-eyed, she replied, "Okay. Thank you, big brothers. May I go?"

"…Sure, sis." the twins muttered after a shared glance of hesitation. Her shiny red shoes pattered on the carpeted floor as she headed for the grand staircase. A maid waited for her at the landing and wordlessly carried her the rest of the way back to her bedroom.

On the plush white couch, Kaoru sighed and rubbed the back of his nape. Hikaru quickly took out the glossy phone from his pocket and dialed Hayato.

"…oh, Hikaru?" After seven tries, their father finally answered with a yawn. "What is it?"

"You gonna be home next week Wednesday?" Hikaru sniped impatiently.

"…Huh? Why? Let me check." Typing sounds could be heard through the line. "Ah, your mom's asked me to act as digital back-up for Milan that day. Why?"

Without replying, Hikaru clicked his tongue in disappointment and ended the call. Next to him, Kaoru was already typing an e-mail on his laptop and signaling his own attendant for his chequebook.

While the twins weren't exactly old, generous gods to make miracles – and they couldn't exactly give Ageha the only thing she'd ever wished for during her birthday celebrations – they were young, powerful, and filthy rich instead. Without question, they would do what they could to provide her with second-best. As pathetic as that was.

If that meant pressuring Stephen Hawking to sell them early access rights to his new book, Stars beyond the Unknown? Sure as hell's claws they'd do it.

With one blank check and great pleasure.

Not one of Ootori Yoshio's children slouched.

That was the first thing Hitomi Kazuya noted as he ate dinner with the health sector magnate's family. With a practiced compliment, he conveyed to the Ootori chairman that his children always impressed him whenever he saw them. Not a single scandal or smear to their surname, they were all perfectly groomed, responsible, intelligent, and well-behaved – not a single toe out of line.

Blasé, Yoshio grunted and he took a slice from his prime rib steak. "Is it impressive to be well-achieved when everything has been provided to you? I think not."

Kazuya laughed under his breath. "A terror in the business world, a terror at home. I should have known. No wonder the other investors no longer want to dine with you."

Yoshio scowled at the congressman. "I don't need their money or care for their judgment."

"But you need their votes to secure the national operations of the Ootori Group, yes?" Kazuya responded cheekily. "Board members are board members, whether they're elite doctors or off-shore investors or politicians like myself. Of course, not to undermine your current influence on the board, Yuuichi-kun."

Ootori Yuuichi only shrugged in response as he ate, mostly unbothered as he sat beside his father at the head of the rectangular table. "I prefer a slow and steady succession with the board of trustees, rather than a volatile takeover."

"Hah! Clearly, you have more to learn about people in the real world. You cannot sway them with only your surname, no? Wealth is not the only power there is, Yuuichi-kun. You need a strong hand. A noose around their neck."

Being Yoshio's eldest son, and therefore the natural heir of the hospitality group, he was used to this kind of backhanded talk from potential business partners. He let them say their pieces. He didn't really care. They would have their five minutes of wealth. In a few years, when Kazuya's term ended as congressman, Yuuichi would wipe his memory clean of Kazuya's existence and, like his unwanted opinion, be more irrelevant to the family than he was at present. Unlike the two guests next to him…

Houshakuji Reynard was the Ootori Group's ticket to breaking into the European pharmaceutical management sector. Though the man himself seemed your typical Frenchman at any glance, he held substantial influence in the top administrative offices of Sanofi and Pfizer. His opinion moved trillions, daily, and his signature of support ensured fiscal success at a terrifyingly global scale.

Yuuichi would make sure to gift him cigars and wine later. Maybe even a little rapport. A few take-home souvenirs for his daughter, Renge. Perhaps Akito could date the girl?

No, no. Any kind of romantic fallout was dangerous.

Right beside Houshakuji Reynard was the elusive matriarch of Koushigo Computer Systems – Koushigo Chiharu. Her father, husband, and the woman herself principally founded the supercomputer systems of Japan from sheer genius and technical excellence, singlehandedly rescuing Japan from the Wall Street fiasco of the early twentieth century. The stock giants of Japan survived entirely because of K-Code, and today, not even Suoh's office staff could confirm the actual magnitude of KCS's revenue from that event, nor its current financial standing. Clans like them were goddamn lucky – they profited from sectors that needn't be so publicly scrutinized – so unlike healthcare.

It was Yuuichi's assessment that, at present, KCS's assets were either underdeclared or withheld. His father had reason to believe that this was because the Koushigos were preparing their global portfolio and would soon release their brand to monopolize the entire computing industry of Asia upon the turnover of the company to its heir. And if that was happening in the near future? The Ootori Group wanted in.

Of course they did.

It was the first time the woman agreed to meet the Group after a year of opportunely-placed invitations from their end, and the last impression Yuuichi wanted to leave on the elusive board member was doubt regarding his control over the rest of the executive board.

So how did Kyoya, his youngest, most unassuming brother, of all people, manage to secure the woman's attendance? How? Perhaps his friendship with the Suoh bastard was paying off.

About time!

"Political business is very different from actual business management, Hitomi-san." Reynard suddenly said in Yuuichi's defense. Yuuichi nodded slightly to acknowledge the man's subtle support. "For example, would you have your children at the dinner table with you while you discuss business contracts with your re-election backers and fixers? Of course not. You want their hands clean, their conscience safe. You want your children to say, 'My father is an upright government official,' and mean it. Only when it is their time to take on the mantle and attempt a Hitomi political dynasty, that is when you involve them in after-hours discussions."

The politician's gaze glinted dangerously. "I don't appreciate your implication, Houshakuji-san."

Reynard snorted and only continued, as coolly as before, "Yoshio-sama, on the other hand, like all other barons, have his children attend each dinner, each briefing, each inauguration – to show them, teach them… After-hours meetings like these, board member banquets, and worse… It's how you build an empire that lasts."

Akito, Kyoya, and Fuyumi continued to dine quietly in their respective places. From their periphery, they saw Yoshio lean back on his seat as Reynard droned on. Clearly, their father agreed with the commentary of the Japanese-born European stakeholder.

"In family businesses, Congressman, you want everyone in the mud. Yoshio's children are capable and diligent – not because he is a wealthy disciplinarian – but because they were raised as his heirs. They were taught the history of the Ootori Group, the lengths it took to make it to the top, and what honor it will be to succeed it someday. They're the next masters and mistresses of imperial society, Hitomi-san."

Chagrined, Kazuya bottled down his growing fury. The way Houshakuji spoke… He was not in company of potential campaign sponsors tonight. Instead, he was in the lair of the shadow caste that manipulated legislators like him. He'd thought too highly of himself. Ootori Yoshio did not invite him tonight as an insider – at this table he was the puppet! They deemed him inferior!

He decided to let his performative demeanor drop. "Well! Goodness. Every day I learn something new. You must forgive me then, Yuuichi-sama."

Yuuichi's smile was graceful. "There is nothing to forgive. We are all friends here."

As trained, Yuuichi did not foster the silence that followed and gestured for the waiters-on-hand to serve their dessert course. Lifting his drink, Yoshio concealed a sneer behind his glass. Fuyumi saw it.

Kyoya suddenly spoke. "Koushigo-sama, I hope you are enjoying the food."

Akito's eyes widened slightly.

The prim, short-haired KCS chairwoman folded her utensils and stared at the sweets plate placed in front of her. With a small upturn of her mouth, she said, "How could I not, Kyoya-san?"

She turned to Reynard and Yoshio and offered them a cordial smile.

"I had my suspicions, given the rib's side serving of honey onion chutney, but never in my life have I been served Battenberg cake as dessert. My favorites are, ah, too commonplace for corporate meetings like these."

Evidently pleased with his third son, Yoshio urged Chiharu to take her first bite. It was fortunate that Kyoya spoke before Yoshio could chastise the chef about the bland culinary choice.

"Just like London," Chiharu remarked happily at the flavors. Reynard and Yuuichi agreed.

"I must ask, Koushigo-sama, how you met my brother?" Fuyumi inquired meekly. She took a small piece of dessert and remarked, "Oh! It's not too sweet."

Chiharu nodded along, indulging Fuyumi's appetite and conversation. "Actually, it was Kyoya-sama who reached out to me."

Fuyumi narrowed her eyes at her brother. "Oh?" How in the hell…

"My child is in the same clu… from the same school as Kyoya-sama," Chiharu explained with a cautious side glance, "—and is to blame for the menu that caters to me, apparently. I apologize for the simplicity of tonight's meal, Hitomi-san, Reynard-sama, Yoshio-sama."

"Not at all." Yoshio assured her. Reynard waved her worries away. "I am glad to have you most comfortable. It sets good precedent between our friendships here tonight, yes?"

Congressman Hitomi nodded coyly. He'd never been acquainted with the woman in question, and, as polite as she had been the entire dinner, Chiharu only inclined her head to his direction.

"It does. Thank you. Unlike businesses described by Reynard-sama earlier, I do not tend to participate in after-hours meetings such as these. Simply because I believe after-hours are spent at home. With family."

Do not even attempt to offer me black market contracts, her tone seemed to hiss. I've made fools from the likes of you.

"My children are still impressionable, you see. I committed myself to protecting my late husband's legacy and raising our family. Not much else. I've found that wealth is easy to guarantee nowadays… Integrity, unfortunately, not so much…"

A goal-oriented family woman, Yoshio thought. He'd demand her profile dossier from Kyoya by the morning and have Yuuichi draft a list of potential ventures the following afternoon. Nothing illegal – she made that clear enough.

Chiharu barely looked at Congressman Hitomi before she locked eyes with Reynard. "In our kind of society, it is easy to be blinded by what we see. If you carelessly invest your time in the wrong sort of people…" the brunette chuckled. "You will see how much it hurts to fall from your pedestal and become someone's pawn. It's why I prefer anonymity. For my family, for me."

Turning to the eldest Ootori son, she apologized. "Please understand, Yuuichi-sama, that I defer all social calls extended to my office. Tonight is an exception for my child. I do not have any reservation about your management of the Group, and whoever Yoshio-sama endorses for its succession is my candidate as well."

Yoshio was charmed. Curious, and very much relieved, Yuuichi inquired, "Are you speaking from experience, Koushigo-sama? If there is anything we can do to help, we will."

Had the management of KCS spiraled after its key founder passed? Is that why they kept their corporate situation so tightly under wraps?

"Not at all." Chiharu answered. Her confident undertone went unquestioned. "Although... I am speaking from a place of concern."

Chiharu put her dessert fork aside. She slightly unfolded her left dress sleeve to reveal a gold band on her wrist. A small black mirror on its surface displayed a rapidly blinking red dot.

"Congressman Hitomi, may I implore you to surrender your recording device to one of Yoshio-sama's attendants immediately?"

Fuyumi dropped her fork and gasped. Kyoya's posture stiffened. Yoshio's geniality vanished so quickly as eyes bulged around the dining table.

"Kazuya. Is this true?"

If there were any value the Ootoris, Houshakujis, and Koushigos shared equally, it was their need for complete confidentiality behind closed doors.

Especially at home.

"Wh-What do you— Who do you think you are?!" The politician stammered and reddened as his chair skidded backwards. He pointed and shouted at Chiharu, "You're accusing an innocent man!"

Yoshio's security detail emerged from the shadows of the corner pillars of the room. While the others unclipped their handguns, startling Fuyumi, the chief bodyguard spoke with a hand extended.

"Sir, please surrender the item. Do not raise your voice. Do not make this worse for yourself."

Chiharu gestured for the servers to fill all their wine glasses. "Your device uses a BR16-K chipset, like all commercially available surveillance devices, Congressman Hitomi." After taking a sip, she placed her flute down and tapped her digital bracelet thrice with a French-tipped index finger. "If my sensor here detects an active surveillance circuit, it retrieves the gadget's credentials then alerts me. On your person is a standard, government-issued recorder, yes? Perhaps disguised as a button?"

Kazuya's panicked eyes darted from Yoshio's intensifying glower to Yuuichi's disapproving head shake. "That's preposterous…!"

"Then would you like me to detonate it remotely? Might singe your skin." Chiharu gave a loose shrug.

"Father…" Fuyumi's whisper alarmed Yoshio. "I don't feel well."

A single deep breath and—

Yoshio's voice bellowed like thunder. "Yuuichi, we will deal with him in the privacy of my office. Akito, Kyoya, Fuyumi – show Reynard and Koushigo-sama the rest of the estate. Guests, please do excuse us."

"…yes, father..."

"…of course, Yoshio-sama…"

"…Fuyumi, come, I'll help you stand…"

With another modest smile, eyes pinned on the seized politician, Chiharu raised her wine glass and offered a final toast before she went. "To healthy families," she murmured. "And honest friendships."

Yoshio downed a full serving in seething rage. Reynard emptied his glass with a chuckle and guided the matron by the small of her back as they followed after the Ootori children to the hallways.

"Oh, Monsieur Reynard, my apologies," Kyoya overheard from Reynard and Chiharu's hushed conversation behind them. "The sensor isn't available in the market yet."

"You must make an exception, please," Reynard whispered back. "Imagine if I'd rambled about my Renge back there! I'd have had no idea."

Evasive, Chiharu laughed low. "Politicians. You can never trust them."

"Indeed, indeed… Say, maybe a spare prototype? I'm fine with a prototype. You already know the price is no concern."

A sigh. "I'll have my assistant confirm in the morning, monsieur..."

"Merveilleux! Merci, madame. Consider your European marketing rights secured. I never forget a favor."

"Well, only if you insist, monsieur..."

Fuyumi covertly held Kyoya's gaze for a second too long. He passed the message and gave an imperceptible nod Akito's way.

Looks like they would be showcasing their best paintings tonight.

"Houshakuji-sama, Koushigo-sama, perhaps we could enjoy the gallery?" Akito suggested. "We all learned from a Monet scholar in Ouran's art program."

"Ah, really!" Reynard was delighted. "I've dabbled in Impressionism myself."

Hook, line, and sinker, Akito thought. As he turned to the gallery halls, he was surprised to see that the KCS chairwoman paced herself to Kyoya and Fuyumi instead of him.

But that was fine. They knew how to be useful when it counted.

"Kyoya-sama." Chiharu called out when Akito and Reynard were a good distance ahead. "I'm sure you know what I will say?"

While Fuyumi's brows pushed together in concern, Kyoya only presented a calm smile. "The host club does not dabble in illicit or defamatory affairs, madame. Your daughter's privacy will not be compromised. Think of it as… a playground for our society."

"A playground." Senri's mother repeated dubiously. "And what happens when her feelings get played with? It is a host club, after all. She is sixteen."

Koushigo Chiharu's glower reminded Kyoya of a hawk. He carefully considered his response, given that the matron was wise and immune to smooth-talk. And while sure, he could have easily said that he would keep her daughter away from trouble, assure Chiharu Senri's wellbeing… give her the same, practiced dialogue he'd offered Haruhi's father, Ranka, earlier that day… It would be too bothersome for a promise to keep.

Because Senri was not Haruhi. Senri wasn't a simple girl, nor was she wrapped around his finger to dictate. She was rich, and poor; sheltered, and fierce; naïve, and astute. There could be more to her than the usual teenager with an identity crisis, but there could also be none.

It was such a challenge to predict the tendencies of people who weren't puppets.

Kyoya reached his conclusion. "Then I suppose Senri will learn her place. I don't mean to overstep my boundaries, Koushigo-sama, but you should let her find it. Even if it means getting played." When Chiharu frowned at him, "What I mean is – Senri will learn and decide for herself what treatment she deserves from society. She'll make friends, she'll make enemies… just as she would anywhere else. At least, in Ouran, we're sure to know who to come after."

"How odd. What frankness from a host! Are you saying this as the director of the club?"

Kyoya shook his head. "I am saying this as someone who sees Senri." He urged, "You raised your daughter well, Koushigo-sama. Put your trust in her."

Chiharu's mouth twitched. "…I suppose… she wants a place to belong…"

"Perhaps."

"I understand Haruhi is there, but… Does she think you a friend? What about your other clubmates?"

"…I can't say, madame."

"Pity. I ask this because, as of this afternoon, Senri refused a billion-dollar systems contract from Grand Tonnerre, and in a few hours, when Germany's trading hours match with Japan's, GT-Asia's value will crash to the pits of hell. It will — quite literally — become a laughing stock."

Kyoya pushed his glasses back.

"You understand the Tonnerres recently invested a fifth of their net worth to compete with the Ootori Group in Asia, yes?"

Fuyumi swallowed.

"Senri understands that as well. So perhaps, when time comes that you and your clubmates actually see her, as a friend, you can take your speech about boundaries and placements back and apologize to me." A heavy sigh. "That girl… Too kind. Too unsuspecting. Too much like her father…"

Chiharu's gaze strayed to Kyoya's sister. Fuyumi offered Chiharu a nervous smile.

"Someday, you'll be like this, too." Chiharu threw a pointed look at her growing belly. "You'll take all the steps to protect your children. You'll stop at nothing to give them the world. Because you will endeavor to raise them kind, and our society will remain what it is."

Kyoya watched his sister palm the underside of her belly, a wry, inexplicable look on her face.

A teasing smirk from the older woman, "Fuyumi-sama, if your child needs a godmother, let me know. While I'm sure the Shidous already have their A-listers prepared, none of those hags know how to change a diaper. I do."

Ootori-Shidou Fuyumi clasped Chiharu's hands between her own. Kyoya swore her eyes gleamed like diamonds. "Please! I would be so honored, Koushigo-sama!"

"Heh. Then from now on call me Chiharu-baasama. My Senri rarely ever finds friends that when she does, we have no other choice but to make them family." Kyoya and Fuyumi winced at her tone. "She's still in Germany. I hope she doesn't miss important schoolwork."

Finally recovering, Kyoya muttered, "Ouran's only conducting physical exams this week, Chiharu-baasama."

"Ah. I won't worry then. How is Haruhi, by the way? Have you notified Ranka yet?"

"…ah, yes, this morning…"

"…well, what was his reaction? was it a squeal, or a manly roar? Ha ha ha..."

Letting Kyoya escort his clubmate's mother through the gallery entrance, Fuyumi slowed to a halt and contemplated the entirety of the night's events. Given only the spur of the moment to think, an anxious feeling settled in her heart as her sapphire-studded ballet flats turned towards the corridor leading to her father's private office.