Susumu tried to engross himself in a new novel. It's interesting summary had tickled his curiosity, and he couldn't help but take it off the library shelf along with other high adventure books.

He had gained a chance to read when the school bell rang.

He stared at the first chapter, completely awestruck and fascinated. A sparrow was beautifully illustrated on the top right corner of the page with great attention to detail on the tail feathers.

The sparrow was free to spread its wings though unlike the sparrow, his own wings are tied.

Suddenly a vase that once stood picturesque on a pedestal flashed in his mind.

To douse more unhappiness on him, the young and wealthy Ootori boy stood at the right side of his desk with a frown on his face.

If Susumu were brave enough to look up at him, he was sure those irate looking eyes would fire two shots at him and down him.

"The deliveries were unfortunately delayed. It needs to be unloaded and prepared, which is precisely why I need your assistance," Kyoya explained. He eyed the clock hanging on the wall. "We have to conserve as much time as we can."

Susumu's eyes thinned when Kyoya expected him to follow willingly. Susumu stayed in his seat and returned to his book. He listened to a group of chatty students that thankfully blocked out Kyoya for him.

Kyoya pinched the bridge of his nose, lowering his eyes to the floor. He noticed a school bag by his feet.

Kyoya picked up the bag lying there and dropped it onto the desk.

Susumu took his eyes off his book and eyed his bag.

He gently inserted a bookmark between the creamy pages, shut it, and then slipped his book inside his bag.

Susumu slid out of his seat, as Kyoya glanced at the clock again. "We have lost some time. Hurry up."

Without an exchange of words, both boys hurriedly left the classroom.

Susumu furiously shook his head.

"As a member of the host club, you must dress up just as we do." Kyoya said, tapping the brown pen on his notebook while listening to his classmate's grumbling.

Susumu did not move. He refused to subject himself to walking around the club room without a shirt on.

Kyoya took his eyes off his work. He had to ensure every host met the conditions of today's tropical theme. There was only half an hour to spare until opening time, and his only challenge stood in front of him.

An idea clicked in Kyoya's mind like the snap of his fingers.

"You will have your first assessment today. You are required to wear the outfit prepared for you," He said, starting to write again. "Be sure to do well, I will thoroughly assess you."

Susumu stayed in the same spot, rubbing his arms.

Kyoya clicked his pen, shut his notebook and rested it on his hip. He moved closer to Susumu, bent at the waist, and glanced at him from the side.

"Do you understand?"

Susumu kept facing forward.

"You must speak when you are spoken to," Kyoya scolded. "It will not look well on your assessment if you don't speak to the guests."

Susumu nodded slowly.

"Are you quite sure you can do your job?" Kyoya asked him softly, his breath sending tingles down Susumu's neck. Susumu nodded again.

"You should change," Kyoya instructed as he straightened up to his full height. "The club will be opening soon."

Kyoya watched Susumu bolt towards the changing rooms. Opening his notebook and clicking the tip of his pen, he made jot notes of his findings. He stopped writing when he made a black period at the end of his last sentence.

He lifted his gaze upwards when he heard footsteps coming near him.

Susumu had discarded his school uniform and came out in the Bali outfit, hugging himself. Kyoya studied him, paying attention to his self conscious mannerisms. Susumu had surprisingly added a chain of Balinese flowers to his attire. He was scanning around him to make sure no one was staring at him.

Kyoya was staring. Before Susumu could realize it, Kyoya focused back on his work, but for some reason, Kyoya looked at him again.

Susumu was admiring the tropical plants. He pricked a hibiscus from a bush and carefully tucked it into his headscarf. Susumu smiled.

Kyoya discovered a smile suited him more than a frown, and wrote down his newest finding.

Haruhi knew that it is still early April, and when she glanced out the window she saw the cherry buds were still asleep. The sky has a pale blue color with not a trace of fluffy clouds. So as she stood under the tropical palm trees and surrounded by beautiful hibiscus, Haruhi mentally face palmed.

This isn't a music room any more, it was decked out like a tropical paradise.

Haruhi ignored the snake wrapping around the tree next to her, and the toucan sitting on her head.

She could see her brother was doing a good job at resisting. He is wearing a chain of hibiscus flowers around his neck and holding a basket of fruits. Haruhi looked at him in an annoyed way.

"You finally made it, Haruhi. You're so late," the twins said.

Haruhi pulled out her pocket calendar. "My calendar says it's still early spring," She said, slipping the small calendar back into her pocket.

"Huddling under a kotatsu table, fearing the cold is nonsense, and besides the heating system we have is the best," Tamaki declared and Haruhi wanted to roll her eyes.

Haruhi knew not to expect Tamaki to forget that some people have boundaries. He had draped his arm around her shoulders.

Tamaki claimed that they had turned the club room into nirvana, but she felt a massive chill sneak its way down her uniform.

"Do you have a problem with the way we run our club, Haruhi? Be careful what you say. You owe us eight million yen, remember?" Kyoya said and she saw the amusement in his eyes from watching the Fujioka siblings helplessly struggle in the Host Club's net.

Haruhi couldn't forget it. 'Onii-chan was muttering about the debt in his sleep the other night.'

Haruhi looked at the room one more time.

'Can you see this for heaven, Okaa-san, this is the club we were forced to join.

"The guests seem to be even more worked up than they usually are," Haruhi commented.

She focused her attention on the ladies squealing in delight.

She saw Susumu hand a drink with a little blue umbrella to a first-year student, and when his fingers brushed hers, the young girl's face turned pink like the color of her fruity drink.

"Showing some skin proves popular with the ladies," Kyoya stated.

"So are you the one who came up with this tropical paradise idea?" Haruhi asked.

"I have no decision making authority. All the club's policies have been laid out by the club's king, Tamaki, but I guess there's no harm in admitting to casually slipping a Bali photo book onto his desk." Kyoya smirked after he finished speaking and pushed his glasses up to the bridge of his nose.

'So he's the real brains behind the operation,' Haruhi thought, looking away from Kyoya who went back to writing in his notebook.

'How could Kyoya-senpai have a good effect on Onii-chan?' She thought as she glanced back and forth between the two older boys.

Susumu tried not to break-eye contact with his two classmates seated at the table with him though he couldn't relax. Their undivided attention on him was unwanted attention. Susumu couldn't think of things to say or what to do.

Having a job like this thrust upon him in his anxious and tired state can't be done. The dark circles under his eyes basically proved he hadn't gotten any rest. Last night he stayed up and drew Haruhi's sleeping figure. She looked very calm and peaceful like she drifted off to a world of clouds.

Hearing Nozomi's cheery voice pulled him out of his daze.

"I thought you might be like the ordinary high school boy in a manga. It seems out of character for you to join the host club."

"Why did you join, Fujioka-san? If you don't mind me asking, that is." Aki asked.

"I wanted to expand my horizons," Susumu replied, but his answer was more of a lie. "I think sometimes you have to step out of your comfortable place to experience new things."

Aki leaned back in her chair with her arms folded over her chest. "I think so too."

"Yamashita-san, I noticed you like to manga during class." Nozomi looked curiously at Susumu. "Are you reading a new manga right now?"

Nozomi smiled instantly. "Yeah, I'm reading Sekaiichi Hatsukoi, it's a great shounen-ai! I really recommend it!"

"I've had to listen to her talking about it for hours," Aki sighed.

Nozomi moved behind Aki's chair and wrapped her arms around her. She smiled brightly. "You know you love me!"

"Sure," Aki sighed.

Susumu couldn't help but smile at their close friendship.

Kyoya approached the bar where Susumu was restocking his serving tray with drinks.

"Susumu, you're starting out well. You handled the conversation very nicely," he complimented the other's work.

Susumu picked up the tray and turned his back on the other.

"You received a fairly good mark today," Kyoya informed, tapping his pen on the notebook in his hand.

Susumu walked away to serve the guests.

Kyoya's glasses hid the annoyed look in his eyes.

Tamaki, alone to wallow in his thoughts, held a round ramen bowl, and then brought his chopsticks to his mouth, separated his lips, and slurped the ramen at a quick pace.

"Hey boss, why don't you stop eating that commoner's ramen and come over here to help us with the party planning?" Hikaru called.

"Does it really bother you that Princess Kasuga has taken a liking to Haruhi?" Koaru asked.

"He shouldn't be surprised," Kyoya said as his eyes were glued to his laptop screen. "She's had the illness for a while now, hasn't she?"

"What illness?" Haruhi asked.

"She's got the host hopping disease."

"AKA never-the-same-boy-twice disease."

"Usually, our customers choose a favorite host and see them regularly. However, Princess Kanako tends to change her favorites on a regular basis," Kyoya explained.

"'Cause before she chose you, she was with Tama-chan," Honey said.

"So he's upset because I took her from him," Haruhi stated, folding her arms on the table.

Tamaki dropped his cup of ramen and ran towards Haruhi. "Shut up! I couldn't care less!"

"I'm running out of patience!" Tamaki shouted. "Haruhi, it's time you started dressing like a girl!"

Haruhi narrowed her eyes at him. "Why should I have to do that?"

"I don't understand how you could be so popular with the ladies when you, yourself, are a lady!"

Susumu wouldn't listen to Tamaki's complaints, he just carried on drawing in his sketchbook.

"That's enough, Haruhi. Now you listen to Daddy. Daddy wants you to go back to the way you were!" Tamaki shouted.

"Don't go blowing up my photos without asking me first!" Haruhi shouted back.

The loud shout from his sister caused Susumu to jump in his chair. Susumu looked at his ruined sketch in disappointment before turning his attention to the group gathered in front of a framed picture of Haruhi in middle school.

"The more I look at this picture, the more amazed I am. How could this possibly become that?" Hikaru referred to how she looked when she had first met the Host Club.

"The day before school started, one of the kids in my neighborhood got some gum in my hair," Haruhi explained. "It's a real pain to get gum out of long hair, so I cut it all off. I didn't care if I looked like a dude."

"Girls should never refer to themselves as a dude!" Tamaki shouted. "Kaa-san! Haruhi's using those dirty boy words again!"

"I'm sorry, but who is Kaa-san?" Hikaru asked.

"Based on club position, I assume it's me," Kyoya replied.

"Working as a host, I can pay back more of my debt. It'll never happen if I'm just an errand boy," Haruhi stated.

"Hate to change the subject, but do you two have formal dancing experience?" Hikaru asked. "You'll need it at the party."

Susumu got worried. 'Does it affect our debt?'

"I'm not interested in going to events, so if I could be excused?" Haruhi asked, nervously.

"Definitely not. A refined gentleman must know how to dance," Tamaki said. "If you want to live the life of a host that badly, you're going to have to show us how far you're willing to go, Haruhi-kun."

"I order you to master dancing the waltz in one week, and the both of you will demonstrate it for us at the party, or I'll tell the entire school that you're a girl, and knock you both back down to an errand boys!"

Susumu patiently waited at a table while watching Haruhi practice her dancing skills.

Haruhi stared at her feet, relying on Kanako to lead.

"Remember, the gentleman always leads," Kanako told Haruhi. "And make sure to look at the lady you're dancing with."

He only shut his eyes for a second when Haruhi fell on Kanako.

Kanako wrapped her arms around Haruhi's neck. She pulled her closer to her chest, allowing for Haruhi to feel Kanako's heartbeat.

Kanako smiled. "It's okay, Haruhi."

"Can I help you up?" Haruhi asked.

"Why will you not take advantage of your time?" Kyoya asked.

Kyoya followed his eyes and saw that Susumu planned for Haruhi to be his dance partner. "Haruhi is busy at the moment. I suggest you find another partner quickly and use up your time."

Susumu closed his eyes and 'hmmed', and then opened them again, looking down at his sketch of a sleeping Haruhi.

Haruhi and Kanako separated from each other, then they headed for a table nearby.

Susumu picked up his sketchbook and started walking towards Haruhi. He didn't notice the pair of gray eyes glaring at him.

"Put your hand on her waist like this," Haruhi instructed as she put his left hand on her waist. She intertwined her fingers with his. "You got it?"

Susumu was supposed to lead her. Although his eyes were focused on the ground to avoid tripping on his own feet. Haruhi took it upon herself to lead him, and they swayed to imaginary music.

"Haruhi," Susumu said her name nervously.

"You can't get it right in a single day, so you don't have to be so worried," Haruhi tried to reassure him.

"I don't think I'll ever get this right," He said.

Susumu tripped on his own feet and the both of them fell on the floor.

"We can keep trying," Haruhi suggested.

Susumu ruffled his hair and smiled embarrassed. "You're right. Let's do it again."

Susumu had finally gotten a chance to sit down and read his book.

His ears picked up on an announcement. "Men, it is our responsibility as members of the elite Ouran Host Club to make every girl happy!"

Susumu sighed.

"It is so good to see you here tonight, my little lambs. The Ouran Host club would like to bid you welcome." Tamaki bowed.

"As always, ladies, the host club members are here for your entertainment, so we invite you to dance to your heart's content. Based on her dancing skills, one lucky young lady will be chosen as tonight's queen. The queen's reward will be a passionate kiss on the cheek from our king," Kyoya announced.

"Good luck to you, my darlings." Tamaki winked, causing the female guests to squeal.

"Haruhi, Susumu-senpai, show some enthusiasm," The twins scolded.

Susumu timidly pumped a fist in the air.

The twins frowned at Susumu. "You could've made an effort."

"I'm not used to this sort of thing," Haruhi said. "We've only gone to the festivals held in our neighborhood park."

"I don't know if you can really consider that a party or not," Kyoya stated. "Well, since you're already here, you might as well get yourself something to eat. We've got quite a spread."

"A spread?" Haruhi repeated. "With fancy tuna?"

"Get some fancy tuna here right now!" Tamaki ordered.

The twins comforted Haruhi.

"Is there any sushi?" Susumu wondered quietly to himself, looking down below at the spread on the table.

Kyoya looked at Susumu from over his shoulder, and then he said to the caterer on the other end, "Add some deluxe sushi."

Susumu watched Kyoya during his call.

Susumu felt shivers run down his back when Kyoya looked at him as he closed his phone.

"You're welcome, Susumu." Kyoya smirked at Susumu, who turned his eyes away.

Nozomi watched her classmates from behind a pillar. She snickered.

Susumu was standing nearby, so he decided to greet Nozomi.

"Hey, Fujioka-san," She greeted him before he could.

"I saw Sugiyama-san with you earlier, did she run off somewhere?" Susumu asked.

"Aki went to dance with her boyfriend," Nozomi replied, unable to take her eyes off of Kyoya and Tamaki.

He became slightly worried after he saw blood start to bleed from her nose. "Are you okay?"

"Do you think Ootori-san and Suoh-san make a good looking ship?" Nozomi suddenly asked.

Susumu tilted his head to the side.

"Tch, tch, tch, you have too much to learn," Nozomi said while she shook her finger. "Basically a ship means you pair two people together." Nozomi pressed two of her fingers together. "To be honest, I debate with myself whether the ship is compatible or not. If the two aren't compatible," She pulled her fingers apart. "It's not going to work out."

"You've got a long way to go if you want to step into my world." Nozomi smiled at him. "I'll be your Sensei!"

Susumu raised his eyebrows.

Nozomi clasped her hands behind her head. "First lesson. Eat your way through that spread, and give your Sensei a detailed review of the food!"

He found himself finally smiling this evening. "Yes, Sensei."

Susumu nervously watched Nozomi stack more food onto the mountain on her plate.

"I didn't know you like to eat a lot, Yamashita-san," Susumu said and Nozomi looked at him.

"I'm a glutton," She admitted casually before popping sushi into her mouth.

Susumu only piled up deluxe sushi on his plate. He looked down at it and recalled who had placed the order. He muttered Kyoya's last name.

"Wait, where?" Nozomi asked with her mouth full. She returned to eating, stuffing food into her mouth, after she didn't see Kyoya.

Susumu let his eyes wander, and he witnessed Haruhi getting kidnapped by the twins.

"I need to take care of something," Susumu excused himself.

Nozomi handed his plate to him. "Take your plate with you."

"Eat it, it's fine." He put it back on the table beside Nozomi's plate.

Nozomi grinned and gathered around both plates. "Don't mind if I do."

"I will be right back," Susumu informed her. He began to follow the trio to the changing rooms.

Nozomi waved him off from the table. "I'll be here!"

When he caught up, he headed inside the room.

"A little accident towards the end of the night would be quite thrilling," Kyoya said before checking his watch. "And remember Haruhi, there are only twenty minutes remaining before the party reaches its climax. Suzushima is already waiting for you in the classroom across the hall."

Haruhi drew back the curtain and came out of the changing room wearing a pink floral dress.

"It took you awhile to get here," Haruhi complained to Susumu as she sat down in a chair.

"You have to ask him how he feels, okay?" Honey said.

The twins applied make-up to her face.

"We know this is the boss's strategy, but it's kind of unsettling," they said.

Tamaki barged into the room. "Gentlemen! Here you all are! What are you doing?" He stops himself short, his eyes widening upon seeing the young beauty, who turned to face him. He blushed at the sight of Haruhi.

"So, what do you think?" The twins asked.

Honey smiled. "Wow, you look so cute, Haru-chan!"

"My face feels heavy, and it's hard to walk in these shoes," Haruhi grumbled as she struggled to walk in her pumps.

"Good luck, Haruhi!" The twins cheered for her.

Tamaki smiled. "I can't believe she's so pretty."

"Wow," Susumu commented.

"Have you tasted the deluxe sushi yet?" Kyoya asked Susumu as he glanced down at him.

"The sushi was delicious." His gaze was cast to the ground. "Thank you, Ootori-san."

Kyoya smirked. "You are quite welcome."

"Sorry about that," Susumu apologized once he returned to Nozomi.

"S'fine." Nozomi stabbed her fork into the remaining sushi on Susumu's plate.

Susumu inspected her plate. "I'm amazed there's not even a crumb left."

Nozomi swallowed the last of the deluxe sushi.

"I'm gonna go for a second round."

Susumu snatches the plate out of her hand before Nozomi could take more sushi. "No, I think you've had enough tonight."

"Oi, gimme my plate!" Nozomi demanded.

"Please, stop shouting," Susumu says, setting down the empty plate out of her reach.

She slammed her fist on the table. "You can't tell me what to do!"

"If you keep scarfing down food like you did earlier, it'll only be a matter of minutes before it all comes back up," He stood his ground, refusing to let her reach for the plate by blocking the way with his arm.

"I won't get sick!"

"Please understand you have to slow down or you'll be sick."

"Okay, I'm touched you're thinking about me, but you're showing a completely different character right now," Nozomi pointed out, stepping away from him. "Thought you didn't care about others. I can't count how many times you've sat in the classroom and ignored me and everybody else."

"I wasn't a nice guy," He admits, quietly.

"I really wanted to talk to you, at least once."

"I'm really, very sorry."

Nozomi turned around, and leaned on the table, gripping the edge clothed in a white tablecloth. "First time I met you, I thought you couldn't talk at all."

"Really?"

"Mhmm," She nods. "I'm glad you actually decided to talk to me. It's a lot of fun getting to know someone new, you never know what they have up their sleeve. I really like those sorts of people," Nozomi gifted him with her pretty smile. "You've made me happy, thanks, Susumu."

Susumu returned the gift. "It's nothing, Yamashita-san."

"Just Nozomi. I hate using my family name," She said. "And no san."

"Thanks, Nozomi."

"For what?" She asked.

"You're being so nice and accepting, like Haruhi," Susumu tells her.

Nozomi giggled. "So I remind you of your brother? I'm honored. And you aren't half bad yourself. Try to show this nice guy character more often, kay?"

"I'll try," Susumu smiled.

"May this awkward couple be forever blessed!" Tamaki shouted happily as he spread his arms out, causing Haruhi to duck.

"And now we'll announce the queen of the ball," Hikaru began.

"Congratulations, Princess Kasugazaki Kanako," Koaru finished the announcement.

"And for her reward, a kiss on the cheek from the king..." "...Fujioka Haruhi will stand in for Tamaki!"

"Kyoya-senpai did say that a little accident towards the end of night might make the evening even more thrilling for everyone," The twins said as innocently as they could.

"There's no way I can kiss her," Haruhi protested.

"If you do it, we'll cut your debt by one-third," Kyoya told her.

"There's no harm if it's just peck on the cheek," Susumu whispered to her.

"But you're not the one doing this!" Haruhi shouted.

"I can't step in for you." Susumu pushed her towards the stairs.

"Don't push me, Onii-chan!" Haruhi shouted after she stumbled forward. She started walking down the steps.

"Susu-chan, is this Haru-chan's first kiss?" Honey asked.

"It is, as far as I know," Susumu answered

"Wait, Haruhi!" Tamaki shouted. He unfortunately slipped on a banana peel left on the stairs, and pushed Haruhi, causing her and Kanako to smash their lips together.

Nozomi immediately thrust out her phone and quickly snapped a photo. She giggled. "It's like a scene ripped out of a manga!"

Susumu clutched his shaking head. "How am I going to explain this one? Otou-san will definitely hold it against me."

"Hey Susumu-senpai, have you ever kissed anyone?" Hikaru asked.

He lifted his head up and looked at Hikaru.

Susumu pursed his lips, staying quiet.

The twins were interested. "Too embarrassed to admit it?"

Nozomi threw her arms around Susumu's neck. "Come on, tell us the good stuff!"

Susumu gave a soft laugh.

'Before I realized it, my wall was shattering little by little.'