It had been almost two weeks since Eponine first walked into Music Room #3 and joined the ABC Host Club. According to Combeferre, Eponine's request rate dropped nearly 40% due to the "incident" with Patria. She only had about fifty guests that requested her in the weeks that passed by, while the other hosts had hundreds.

"How do you guys do it?" Eponine complained during the meeting that day.

"Ep, it's all about being likeable," Bahorel smiled.

"I'm plenty likeable!" Eponine snapped, punching Bahorel's shoulder, eliciting a lighthearted laugh from everyone.

During the weeks that passed, Eponine had gotten used to being around the boys. She wore her hair down when she was with them, she made more jokes, and she didn't shout or get angry as much. Of course, she still would have the occasional outburst.

"Well 'Ponine, the problem isn't that you aren't likeable." Bossuet said. "Maybe you just need to… like people more?"

"It's so hard when I'm surrounded by idiots."

Enjolras crossed his arms. "Everyone stop tittering and chattering, and let us please return to the topic of the conference! We already had a meeting concerning Eponine's hosting last week." he grumbled. Everyone else groaned and returned to concentrating on his lecture.

"As I was saying," Enjolras continued. "Women all over the world are stereotyped to be sensitive, nurturing, weak, affectionate, forgiving, and home-oriented. Professional discrimination against women is also continued in their place of work. In 1883, factory women only earned one-fourth of the payment that men received! Oh, how much these women suffered throughout the past infuriates me!

However, that is not all! In America in 2007, women's paychecks were only 78 cents for every dollar earned by a man. Some protest that this income gap is only due to different career and work-hours choices, rather than sexism. However, another study in 2009 reflects that being an overweight woman lowered the chances of career advancement. According to the study's results, being overweight did not affect promotion opportunities for a man. Do you see what I'm getting at?"

Combeferre nodded. Jehan was busy playing with Courfeyrac's hair. Bahorel was engaged in a conversation with Eponine. Joly and Bossuet were cuddling. A drunken Grantaire let out a loud whoop from the back of the room.

Enjolras sighed and shook his head. "Do you all not care about the beliefs and ideals of the Host Club?"

"Well," Bossuet began. "We all do value the Club's ideals, Enjolras…"

"It's just that we have other things to worry about." Jehan said, gently.

Enjolras's face scrunched up into a perturbed frown. "Like what?"

"Like how Eponine isn't getting any closer to paying off her debt," Joly implied.

"And the school's physical exams are tomorrow." Courfeyrac shrugged.

Enjolras rolled his eyes. "Oh come on Courf, why would anyone worry about physical-"

He couldn't finish his sentence when a thought came to his mind. Once Enjolras fell silent, the rest of the boys understood as well.

"What's the matter, guys?" Eponine asked. The boys slowly turned toward Eponine, and then it hit her.

"Physical exams?" She said slowly. "There's no doubt about it. They're going to find out… that I'm a girl."

By now, most of the boys were going berserk trying to figure out a way to keep Eponine's secret. Courfeyrac had dragged in a large chalkboard and began organizing a plan and connecting it to other ideas and drawing math equations, trying to find in a logic way to work out the problem. Enjolras, Jehan, Joly, Bossuet, and Bahorel joined in. None of them had the slightest idea of what they were doing.

"Guys, it really is fine." Eponine insisted. "I don't really care if I'm found out or not."

"No, it is not fine!" Courfeyrac cried.

Eponine, with a furrow of concentration between her brows, tapped her chin as she contemplated the situation. After a moment, a thought came to her mind.

"Oh, I see." She said, finally. "You guys are worried because if I'm found out as a girl, I can't be a host and therefore can't repay my 71,000 franc debt."

"Exactly," Combeferre said, writing something into a notepad.

Eponine shrugged. "I guess I can find out another way."

All the boys groaned.

"Our subject appears to have no motivation," Joly and Bossuet sighed.

"Are you saying that you couldn't care less about this club?" Enjolras asked, sadly.

"I'd have to say yes." Eponine replied rather quickly. Enjolras collapsed to the floor in agony.

"I mean, I don't hate you guys or anything. But if people find out that I'm a girl, there's nothing I can do about it, right?" Eponine continued, laughing nervously.

"She doesn't care at all." Bossuet said, worriedly.

"We need to find a way to persuade her…" Joly whispered.

Combeferre pushed his glasses higher up his nose. "Eponine," he began, "If you can't repay your debt as a host, would you rather pay it monetarily?"

Everyone smirked. Eponine gulped.

"I suppose that concealing my secret would be best," she mumbled.

"Don't you worry, 'Ponine." Enjolras said, with an intense look in his eyes. "We are determined to keep your secret."

The next morning, an announcement through the loudspeakers alerted the students of the commencement of the exams.

"We will begin conducting physical examinations shortly. All students please proceed to the clinic in your respective school building."

Eponine walked to the high school building's clinic with Joly and Bossuet, who were in her class. "So, what do they do at physical exams here at Musain?" she asked.

Joly and Bossuet shrugged. "It's not really that different from a physical exam at any other school," Bossuet said.

"Yeah, why would it be different for us just because we're wealthy?" Joly said with a smile.

"I see," Eponine replied. She and the rest of the students approached the tall doors entering the clinic room, and when they were opened, she was more stunned than she thought she would be.

"Welcome, students!"

Two rows of smiling doctors were aligned on each side of a red carpet that ran down the center of the room. Changing rooms lined up against each wall. It was incredibly extravagant and elegant.

"W-what is all this?" Eponine asked.

"It's just another physical exam." Bossuet shrugged.

"The usual," Joly added.

"Monsieur Joly and Monsieur Bossuet, please follow me this way to measure your height." Said a cheerful female nurse, and she disappeared into another room to measure them.

Eponine knew for sure that this wasn't how physical examinations went at her old school. It seemed uncomfortable to her, because all of the doctors were overly giddy and merry, and seemed to only be trying to keep the students happy. Not like any doctor she's seen.

Just then, a female nurse with big eyes and whitened teeth popped out from behind her. "Hello Monsieur Eponine," she said excitedly. "I'm your nurse for your physical examinations today."

"Oh, hello." Eponine said politely.

"Please follow me this way to get your height measured," the nurse said, leading Eponine to another area. As Eponine followed, she noticed Courfeyrac and Jehan in a corner of the room, surrounded by some female guests she recognized from the Host Club.

"Courf and Jehan?" whispered one of the guests.

"Why are they dressed as doctors?" said another.

Eponine almost burst out laughing. Courfeyrac and Jehan were indeed, dressed as doctors, with glasses and white lab coats and fake mustaches. "It's so obvious…" She thought, shaking her head.

"I have those two for backup, just in case something happens." Combeferre said suddenly, startling Eponine a bit.

"Oh, hey 'Ferre, I didn't see you there." Eponine said. "Um, if Courf and Jehan are only backup, then why are they dressed in doctor disguises?" she asked.

"Courfeyrac thought it'd be more fun that way." Combeferre replied. "He wanted it to feel like a real reconnaissance mission."

Eponine shrugged, and continued following her nurse into one of the rooms. When she left, a peculiar-looking man with a plain workers cap stumbled into Combeferre.

"Oh, excuse me…" the man said. He pulled down his cap and looked away from Combeferre, and he walked off.

Combeferre didn't recognize the man as a student, nor a doctor. "Huh," he mumbled, with a furrow of contemplation between his brows. "That's strange."

"Monsieur Joly and Monsieur Bossuet, it is time for us to do your chest measurements. You may use the area behind this curtain to undress." Said Joly and Bossuet's nurse, gesturing toward a changing room.

"We don't need a curtain," Bossuet smirked.

"Yeah, we're not shy." Joly said. They both removed their shirts in front of the enormous crowd of lady guests from the host club. All the girls began to giggle and squeal.

"Oh, Joly…" Bossuet stroked Joly's chin gently. "I won't allow these doctors to touch you. It's not fair…"

Joly blushed. "Oh, Bossuet…"

"I want to keep you all to myself," Bossuet smirked, provoking several shrieks and squeals from the crowd of girls.

A befuddled Eponine stood in a corner of the room with Combeferre, Jehan, Courfeyrac, Bahorel, and Grantaire.

"Why are there so many girls here to watch the physical exams?" Eponine asked.

"Well, most of the students here are from prominent families, meaning that they already have private doctors at their homes." Combeferre responded. "So, physical examinations at Musain Academy are nothing more than a formality. We thought that the ladies might as well enjoy it."

"Yeah, physical exam day is quite popular with the girls," Bahorel laughed.

"I think it's… inappropriate." Eponine replied. "I mean, having girls watch a bunch of guys remove their shirts doesn't seem like a physical examination to me." She watched as Joly and Bossuet winked at the ladies as they had their chests measured, causing an eruption of giggles.

"The girl has a point," Grantaire slurred.

At that instant, Enjolras's head peered out from a dressing room curtain behind her.

"Psst!" Enjolras whispered. "Eponine, in here!" He grabbed her arm and pulled her into the changing room with him.

"Enjolras, what's going on?" Eponine asked. Enjolras put a finger to her lips.

"Be quiet," he said. "Operation 'Keep Eponine's Secret' is about to embark. I'll need you to stay put here. The inevitable moment has come." Enjolras placed a brown wig on his head, and hid his blonde hair beneath it.

Eponine's nurse called out from behind the curtain. "Monsieur Eponine, are you ready to be measured now?"

Even though the curtain separated her from the ladies, she could already feel the tension and anticipation that was building up. She heard only a few hushed murmurs from the crowd.

"When is Eponine going to come out?"

"I want to see him with his shirt off!"

"I need to get my camera!"

All the hosts, along with Grantaire, waited nervously outside the curtain as well.

Enjolras stepped out of the dressing room, shirtless, wearing Eponine's brown cap and the ridiculous wig and that was supposed to resemble Eponine's hair.

"I am Eponine Thenardier," he responded loudly.

After a moment of utter silence, the room burst into a fit of laughter. Enjolras's confident expression darkened. Inside the dressing room, the real Eponine Thenardier continuously pounded her head against the wall in humiliation.

"What's Enjolras doing in that wig?" One of the ladies giggled.

"Perhaps he is cosplaying as Eponine?"

"Is this a joke?"

Enjolras's face was flooded with red, and his eyes were soon aflame with anger. Joly and Bossuet stood in another corner of the room, cackling so much that their eyes filled with tears.

"I can't believe he actually did it!" Joly laughed.

"Joly, Bossuet…" Enjolras muttered, his voice slowly growing more furious. "You said that the ladies wouldn't be able to tell it was me!" He was shouting now, his face red with rage.

Joly and Bossuet were snickering. "There's no need to be so furious, Enjolras," Bossuet smiled. "It was just a meaningless prank!"

Enjolras peered into the dressing room where an enraged Eponine sat, facing the wall.

"Um," Enjolras mumbled. "I'm terribly sorry. They found out…"

Eponine turned around and shot Enjolras a piercing glare of irritation. He almost fainted.

Combeferre approached Eponine after the commotion had died down. "Eponine, I prepared a separate examination for you in the special boys' clinic." He pushed his glasses higher up his nose. "I brought in a doctor and told them about how you were posing as a boy due to certain circumstances, and they have sworn to secrecy."

Bahorel sighed. "It turns out that all of the doctors here today are all on staff at one of Combeferre's family's hospitals."

"It sure would've been nice to know that earlier, 'Ferre!" Enjolras and Courfeyrac exclaimed.

"Hello Mademoiselle Eponine," said Eponine's doctor once she had reached the special boys' clinic. "I have been made aware of your situation. Please disrobe for me in that area over there." She gestured toward a small dressing room in the corner.

"Sure," Eponine said, and walked into the changing room.

Meanwhile, back at the former clinic, one of the Host Club's guests had broken down into sobs.

"I swear," She cried, "one of the doctors grabbed me by the shoulder. He was trying to harass me!" A few female guests and doctors tried to comfort her.

"How terrible," one of them said sympathetically.

"Maybe it was a pervert," said another.

Combeferre furrowed his brows. "I had a feeling this might happen," he said.

Jehan glanced over at Combeferre concernedly. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Combeferre began. "Earlier today I saw a strange-looking man who clearly wasn't one of our doctors or students. He seemed a bit suspicious. I suppose that the security guard would have caught him by now."

The mademoiselle who was "harassed" by the strange man continued to wipe at her tears.

"Tell me," said one of the doctors. "Do you know where this pervert man was headed?"

The girl nodded. "Yes, monsieur, he went straight towards the special boys' clinic."

All of the ABC Host Club members nearly froze with shock.

Surely, if this said "pervert" was heading for the special boys' clinic room, he was bound to find…

"Eponine!" They all exclaimed at once.

In the intervening time at the special boys' clinic, Eponine was undressing behind the curtain when suddenly a man was inside the room with her. It was the previously mentioned pervert man.

This man, as Eponine noticed, wore a plain grey workers cap, and had short reddish hair. He was young, maybe about twenty years of age. He had an ordinary face, a little bit handsome. He looked very modest, and had brown eyes which were widened in panic.

Yet, no matter how innocent and frightened this man looked, he was nonetheless inside of Eponine's dressing room while she was half naked. So she opened her mouth to scream.

However, before any sound could escape from her mouth, the man clasped his hand over her lips.

"Hush! It's not what you think! Please just keep quiet…" The man said, tears in his eyes.

At that very moment, Enjolras burst into the dressing room, yelling something rather imperceptible, and pounced on top of the man.

"Do not harass Eponine, you pervert!" Enjolras yelled, snatching the man's cap and using it to cover his face. The man yelled something, but it was muffled by his hat. At the same time, Combeferre, Courfeyrac, Jehan, Joly, Bossuet, and Bahorel ran inside.

"Enjolras, give him a break. Don't suffocate him." Combeferre shook his head. Enjolras rather reluctantly got off the man and brushed himself off.

The pervert man pulled the hat off of his face. "No, please don't hurt me! I spare you my life!"

Jehan grabbed the man by his shirt collar and lifted him off the ground. "Why are you here?" he probed. His usual light, gentle voice suddenly grew manly. The man trembled in fear.

"Please let me go!" the man cried, and Jehan released him, causing him to fall to the floor.

"I'm a workingman. I have a small fan shop that I run in the next town over. My name is Feuilly." said he.

"I am orphaned of both my father and mother; but I used to live with my younger cousin. She abandoned me to live with her other aunt, because I couldn't manage money well. I couldn't meet her needs because I only earn three francs a day making fans." Feuilly was close to crying by now.

"I know that she attended school here, so I went and tried to find her. I care for her as if she were my younger sister…" Feuilly continued. "When I got here, I asked a young mademoiselle if she knew where my cousin was, and all of a sudden she began to scream! And soon enough, many people began to chase me…" Feuilly was broken down into sobs by now. Courfeyrac, Jehan, Joly, and Bossuet had also began to tear up.

"That's so tragic!" Courfeyrac cried.

Combeferre broke the moment. "Monsieur, I believe that you might be at the wrong school. Perhaps you were mistaken with Muse Public High School?"

"Yes," Feuilly said. "Muse High School is the place I'm looking for."

"I thought so," Combeferre responded. "This is Musain Academy, an elite private school. Muse and Musain sound rather similar, I suppose."

Bahorel laughed. "Your daughter definitely doesn't go here. She would have no chance, living with a lower class, small time fan maker like you." Feuilly's expression darkened.

Enjolras helped Feuilly back onto his feet. "Combeferre," he said, "please find a map of all the public schools in the area. I must help this man find his cousin." He sounded as if he were incredibly determined.

Feuilly's face brightened. "Oh, thank you monsieur!"

Enjolras had a warm smile on his face.

Eponine scowled. "I'd hate to interrupt this sweet and heartbreaking moment, but will you all please get out?! I'm undressing here!"

"Oh 'Ponine, you're not angry are you? Please don't leave the Host Club!" Courfeyrac exclaimed.

"I'm not angry; I just want to finish my physical exam. And I'm not leaving. I have a debt to pay." she replied, drably.

"Oh, I'm so glad!"

"Whatever! Will you guys just get out of here?!"

The day ended rather roughly, however Enjolras (with the help of Combeferre and the rest of the hosts) was able to locate Feuilly's cousin. Tears were shed at their affectionate reunion.

That day, Eponine also found an understanding of a side of Enjolras she hasn't seen before. His usual strict, demanding, and enraged self somehow softened into someone more delicate and compassionate. This is what Eponine pondered as she lay in bed that night.

"Perhaps Enjolras has more to him than I thought," she thought to herself.

And, the same way the sunshine rose from the hills at the dawn of day, Eponine found a glint of sunlight inside of Enjolras.