AN: I'm still alive! Here's a longer chapter. I wasn't expecting much for the pairings since Su Tong's character isn't very well fleshed out. I was thinking of Haruhi at first haha, but it might be a worthy challenge to make it OC X Tamaki. :)

WARNING: minor coming out scene/implied queerphobia. It's called out on, too, but if it makes you uncomfortable, skip this chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't even live in Japan.

Su Tong, under Mii's watchful eye, retrieves her erhu from the classroom, and follows her to the Music Room. Mii is slightly chattier (if anything, and if possible) than she was during lunch, all inhibitions pass by Music Room Three, which opens magically- with petals flowing out. Su Tong's prepared to ignore it and move on, but Mii only sighs wistfully.

"You know, Su Tong," Mii says hesitantly. "I don't really feel like facing Ueda-senpai's wrath today…"

Su Tong raises an eyebrow knowingly.

"We'll make up for practice tomorrow?" she says pleadingly. "It won't hurt…"

Seeing no response from Su Tong, Mii grins and pulls her into Music Room Three. She squeals at the sight of the Hosts, and Su Tong can only feel a twinge of fondness for Mii.

"Ah, yes, Akiyama-san and…?" he pauses politely, and Su Tong has the briefest of suspicions that he already knew her name.

"Su Tong!" Mii supplies helpfully. "She's new here, but she'll be requesting Fujioka-kun for today!"

"And I presume Akiyama-san will be designating Tamaki?"

"Yep!" Mii cheers, skipping over to Tamaki.

Su Tong watches, amazed and amused at Mii being entranced by Tamaki's act into silence. She's clinging onto every single word Tamaki utters, looking absolutely serious and transfixed on the man himself, occasionally blushing and squealing.

"Haruhi is just by that way, Su-san," Kyouya says politely. "I see you've received our roses."

Blinking at him, she chuckles. First 'Shyuu Ton', now 'Su-san'? She nods vaguely in his direction and walks over to Haruhi's table. Bowing slightly to the customers, she settles into an armchair opposite Haruhi. Haruhi's face lights up, and she leans forward.

"Su-senpai," Haruhi says. "It's kind of surprising to see you here."

Su Tong nods, and shifts slightly in her seat.

"Oh? Haruhi-kun, you know 'Su-senpai'?"

"Could it be… some kind of unrequited childhood love story?"

"Ahh, do tell us, Haruhi-kun!"

"Oh," Haruhi says, slightly abashed. "I'm sorry, but there really isn't an interesting story behind this. We met when we were registering to enter the school, and… that's it."

"Oh, do tell, Haruhi-kun!"

"Yeah!"

Su Tong remains silent, inwardly giggling at how wild these girls' imaginations could run. Sitting stiffly in her chair, she glanced around the room. It almost seemed like the entire school's female population had entered the room, and were either browsing various catalogs (for what exactly, Su Tong couldn't tell) or pestering the hosts. It's quite impressive how the hosts managed to remember each guest's names. She also notes, and was frankly a tad bit disappointed by, the fact that there were no male guests.

"Haruhi-kun," someone speaks from above them all.

Su Tong looks up to see another guest with short brown hair exuding confidence and radiating calmness, as compared to the seated guests who were red-faced and flustered.

"Ah! Kasugazaki-san!" Haruhi exclaims.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk," the new guest shakes her head and tilts Haruhi's face up. "How many times shall I tell you that just 'Kanako' will be fine?"

The other guests start scampering away (in a dignified manner, of course), leaving a very confused Su Tong staring at Haruhi and Kasugazaki Kanako. Kanako continued flirting with an extremely dense Haruhi, ignoring Su Tong's presence. Finally understanding and recognising the cue for what it meant, Su Tong stands up, and leaves the table.

She's just backing away from the flirtatious Kasugazaki-and-Haruhi mix when the twins catch her, holding her around the waist and the shoulders.

"Hey, you're the princess from the other day, aren't you?"

"Would you perhaps…"

"…indulge us in a game?"

And then, without waiting for her reply, "Let's play the Which-One-Is-Hikaru Game!"

Su Tong spins around, feeling a sudden chill run up her spine- déjà vu. She remembers being a lot younger when she was asked to tell a pair of twins apart. It's one of those memories you think you ought to have experienced, yet have no real recollection of the actual happenings; like receiving a pink dress from your parents, or watching the stars and tracing each vivid constellation with your eyes. Su Tong has a sudden urge to cry, and feels her heart palpitating, the air underneath her ribs turn cold and clammy. It's strange, and she can feel a headache coming on.

They are still watching her keenly, though, so she hesitates with her answer.

Pointing silently at one of them, she says, as a form of precaution, "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you two apart. I hope you won't be upset."

They take a look at her, and move in for the kill.

"Oh, Kaoru, are you alright?"

"I-I-" 'Kaoru' (the one supposedly so) hunches and allows himself comfort in his brother's arms. "I'm just- overwhelmed. This game, Hikaru… what if no one will be able to tell us apart?"

At this, 'Hikaru' pulls 'Kaoru''s hands towards him, and kisses each knuckle tenderly (drawing out loud sighs from their audience), "At least I know you're mine, Kaoru."

Su Tong only stands, staring blankly at their brotherly act, hands folded stiffly in front of her. She then blinks with a start and realizes that she is currently host-less, and that everyone is back to business, pressing gentlemanly kisses against the backs of hands and exchanging fluttery flattery.

Slightly uncertain, she tries to find Mii. Instead, something pulls at her dress, and she finds herself facing a tiny blonde. Another host? Or a sibling? Bending down slightly, she offers him a bow. He's surprised- obviously expecting her to kneel down and listen to his requests. But before he can tug at her dress again, she's moving away. Honey tilts his head, shocked at the unanticipated nonchalance.

It's hard not to cry, Su Tong figures, when she's already got the bitter melancholy thing going on. The truth is, she's got nothing to cry about, and she's not really in the mood to exacerbate the current tearful situation in her mind. Moreover, the blissful chatter in the music room is a stark contrast to her 'empty' chest, and the glint of the chandelier above her has her thinking aimlessly.

She has a wonderful, albeit flamboyant father, and a caring mother who phones when she's free. She's financially independent to a certain extent, and has a roof over her head. There are no pursuers desiring her wealth- or her, for that matter, and there are no current threats. Her childhood has always been peaceful. Or, well, what little of it she can remember.

There are things one will remember from one's childhood, and there are many more forgotten. Anything from before her tenth birthday is a blur, and she figures that's as good as it gets. At least there are no painful memories from the bunch that she Can Remember, but she does remember a lot of snow, and a lot of bilingualism. Perhaps the latter was supplemented as an afterthought- like how she thought she learnt ballet as a child but was purely mistaken and only goaded into thinking so due to a sudden movie craze.

Nothing else really matters, though. She can't even be sure if she had actually met the twins, or if she conjured it into existence due to the sudden drama.

Breathing carefully, she pokes at her collars, and checks her watch. There's still an hour or so left, and it would be rude to leave without telling Mii. Dusting her erhu case, she scans the room, trying to look for the petite yet easily-excitable girl. Moving towards Tamaki's table (where there's- quite oddly- a strange smell of decay), she spots Mii, who is anxiously trying to comfort a man covered in mushrooms.

"Ah- Tamaki-san, are you okay? Oh- Su Tong! I thought you were with Haruhi- well- do you want to have a seat?" and then, nudging her elbow in the direction of said pile of mushrooms, "He's always like this. It just happens, but he'll be fine soon!"

"I'm sure," Su Tong says softly, and is immediately pushed into a seat by Mii.

"Yeah, well. It's part of his charm," Mii bites out, and glances longingly at Tamaki. "Not that it isn't obvious- it's been like that since Fujioka-kun joined. And, like I said earlier, it's kind of extremely obvious that he's pining for Fujioka-kun. But it's not for certain- I mean, it adds to the mystery, right? Secret, sordid affairs in the host club…

"But that's probably just me overthinking, right? They can't be… gay… right?" Mii whispered, lowering her voice conspiratorially.

"Perhaps. But it's none of our business."

"Eh? But it's so troubling…"

Su Tong shrugs. "Speculation is useless, and discredits people. They owe us nothing, especially not their sexuality or identity. If they've said nothing, then-"

"Are you," Mii blurts, fingers wriggling in an attempt to express the word. "Gay?"

Tilting her head, Su Tong looks at Mii, and considers. And then, gently, as though worried that the words may leave an impression, says, "Bisexual."

"Oh!" Mii sits up straight (sits back). "Oh- oh- oh! Oh. Oh."

"Oh."

"Okay," Mii says, brows furrowing. "Bisexual."

They sit awkwardly for a moment, chatter from their sides hanging in the air. Reaching out for her erhu case instinctively, Su Tong sits up- which in turn prompts Mii's jerky retreat. Mii's barely moved an inch, but the intent is clear, and Su Tong isn't sure if it's a good choice to have replied earlier.

"I'm straight myself, so that's pretty normal-" Mii tries to say, but stops as Su Tong stands suddenly and makes to leave the room.

Reviews: if you'd like.

((AN: 'su-san' reads/sounds like Susan lol))