Prologue

Country: Japan

Population: 127 Million

Date: Friday • December 29th • 2016

Point of View: All

"Haruhi!~ You're needed for a skiiiiiiit!~"

Haruhi stood up, ignoring a couple looks directed at her due to her appearance. It wasn't that bad, she was just a little more pale and thin, that was all. She felt fine.

Honey, Mori, and Kyoya noticed it more. They had gone to college already. So the difference in appearance was even more startling to them.

"What kind? Who do you want me to play?"

Tamaki grinned, ignoring how uncomfortable she and Hika looked when he quietly voiced the plan. Not wanting to spoil the plot to the audience before it even started, of course.

"Okay, so this week's sessions have been about winter holidays and all of the extravagant stories created around them, so, I was thinking we could do a soap opera!"

Haruhi held back her grimace, knowing exactly what he was going to suggest. It always happened in soap operas, after all.

"Okay, plot? Role?"

"I'm getting to it, dear daughter—"

"I'm not your daughter, Senpai."

If this were her first year, or even the first half of her second year, she would have been playful about the correction. It was now her third, she should have been more playful, if anything.

That sounded like a threat, a low growl was almost able to be heard. The tone suggesting a strong: "You don't have the right to call me that" message. Despite that, she appeared to have a neutral expression.

Tamaki frowned. Maybe it was that time of the month.

"No need to be rude, but anyway, Haruhi, there are only four roles. A groomsman, a priest, a bride, and a groom. Haruhi,"

Haruhi flinched in surprise as a robe was tossed to her.

"I think you would make a spectacular priest!"

Haruhi raised an eyebrow as she put on the costume.

"Renge's doing the lights, though. Don't we need a girl to play the bride?"

Hika would have been more hopeful if the club wasn't still being managed by Tamaki.

Tamaki nodded, putting on his narrator voice and gesturing gracefully to what would be the viewers of the skit.

"I know that's a problem. That's why I was wondering if any of our wonderful audience members would like to play a role?~"

A chorus of cheers and raised hands was the response.

Something made Haruhi feel uneasy about this.

Tamaki realized that he hadn't specified what the role was. And used that to try and narrow it down.

"Hikaru, you will be the lovely groomsman, and Kaoru will be the groom. Who is eager to marry Kaoru?"

One girl seemed especially enthusiastic. She had a small frame, light copper hair tied into a bun, and honey brown eyes to compliment it.

Renge worked the lights as Tamaki gave everyone the idea. Making sure everyone had their places and costumes were secure.

"Alright, there's no time for a script. So improvising is key. I'll be narrating, and give you the basic plot points to run with, the rest is up to you!"

Haruhi assumed that there would be dialogue above what the priest was saying, so she murmured the standard wedding spiel when the skit started. She also knew that she had to conserve her voice for when she'd eventually need to yell. This was a soap opera, after all.

Tamaki's narrator voice returned, though he stayed behind the curtains.

"And so went on a lovely wedding between Sakura and her fiancé, Enji. But, little did they know the craziness that was about to unfold..."

Haruhi took that as her cue, now loudly finishing the speech.

"Speak now or forever—"

"Suddenly, a person's voice called out in protest!"

"Objection!"

Hika exaggerated her character's voice. The light wasn't on her, so Haruhi additionally caught her making a couple silly faces while she had the chance. Needing to hold back from laughing. But it didn't stop a small smile from becoming visible. She was never able to stop herself from smiling at the jokes Hikari directed at her.

Then, a cold sadness washed over. Right. Was.

"What's this? The person who objected is none other than—"

The light hit Hikaru immediately. Gasps sounding from the crowd as she tried not to squint her eyes.

"Enji's twin brother, Koichi!"

Kaoru took his cue.

"What are you doing, brother?"

Haruhi stayed aware for her cue to get involved, while also watching the twins act out the first plot twist. The only time she really saw them fight was when they were faking it to get Haruhi to agree to a visit at her and Ranka's apartment.

They're good at acting angry with each other.

"Apologize for interrupting!"

Haruhi additionally had to applaud Hika for being able to switch voices so easily. She was there during some of the practice, and knew how difficult it was to pull off.

"No! I cannot do that, because I am in love with Sakura!"

Plot twist one was over. It was clear Tamaki was just getting started. She almost forgot about the one thing that also happened in stories like these.

"Sure, because she's wonderful. But those are no grounds to interrupt a wedding!"

Haruhi used the silence to her advantage. Shaking her head at Hikari disapprovingly.

"They really aren't. Please sit back down."

A few laughs emerged from the crowd. Hika looked ready to burst, but seeing as how she probably had the next line, she held herself still.

"Little did our dear priest know, he did have grounds to object."

"I'm not just in love with her, dear brother! We've been seeing each other for months, now!"

There was plot twist two.

Haruhi looked at the girl. This was probably when she'd cut in and say—

Wait, would Tamaki make that plot twist for her? No. She was playing a male role. The last thing Tamaki would have wanted was to raise suspicion about her gender in her third year.

Kaoru turned his head.

"Is this true?"

The girl nodded.

"Yes, I'm sorry."

Here it comes.

Tamaki gave Hika a hidden cue. Forcing a triumphant smirk.

"You have no right to get angry at Sakura for this! After all, you cheated, too!"

More gasps.

Plot twist three was over.

The girl looked at Kaoru expectantly.

"With who?"

Haruhi paled. She knew where this was going. This was going to hurt Kaoru badly. Even if it was fake. She wished it would be anything else, anything at all. Tamaki was not about to make fun of Kaoru's sexuality in front of everybody!

Sure, he didn't know, Kaoru only left the closet briefly to get together with his boyfriend and tell Hikari and Haruhi. But still, how insensitive could Tamaki be?

Even Kaoru seemed to be bracing himself. Hika doing her best to remedy it after she was given the cue.

"The priest, of course. My brother was so scared of being himself that he was willing to do this. But that's not necessary, now."

Kaoru held back his relieved and appreciative tears as he looked at his twin, who gave him a small wink.

Tamaki's voice cut in again.

"Oh? But it turns out—"

Haruhi couldn't help squinting as the light hit her.

"This priest isn't a man!"

Haruhi began trembling under the heavy robe of her costume.

Oh, no.

The girl spoke up.

"Wait a minute, you aren't even a priest!"

Haruhi shrank a little.

Please, no!

"It's true! She pretended to be a priest to prevent the marriage! But even worse,"

Haruhi became dizzy with pure fear.

Tamaki, please!

"She is expecting Enji's child!"

More gasps emerged, and all eyes were on her. Haruhi had to stay still as a statue to prevent hiding her face in her hands.

At this point, the only one putting on the act still was the girl. Who shouted immediately when Tamaki gave his cue.

"She broke off the relationship to hide her embarrassment!"

"Of course, then! How could she be a priest if she broke such a sacred rule? If she defiled her and her future husband's first moment of marriage?"

Haruhi should have known that Kyoya was going to make something up and tell the others. Maybe that was why Ranka was being especially distant from her that morning.

That was why she never said no to anything anymore.

She told him that.

So how could he still do this to her?

Kaoru took the silence that followed to shout.

"Well it's a good thing I will be that future husband! And that I don't care! She is still the woman I love! Something as small as this would never change it!"

Several 'aws' sounded in the crowd. Haruhi still only relaxed a little. All three relieved that Kaoru was so convincing when pretending to be straight.

The girl took that sign to understand. Standing up and speaking again confidently.

"Well, I suppose this calls for a double wedding! Thank goodness this was solved, no matter how late!"

Before Tamaki's narrator voice cut in, Renge called it and cut the lights. Ending the skit. She was as done with this as the twins and Haruhi.

Everyone seemed to enjoy it, but Haruhi still found herself trembling.

Hikari went up and gently hugged her to try and help her calm down, and she accepted, trying to take deep breaths before Tamaki would inevitably come over to them.

When he did, they pulled away, knowing how Tamaki got when he saw any person being too affectionate to Haruhi.

"That went wonderfully! But, for future reference, when I say: improvise, I don't mean: prematurely end the skit."

Everyone only nodded in agreement. The girl heading back to join the other clients. Hikari and Kaoru forcing themselves out to take off their costumes, Kaoru with a huff, Haruhi following.

"You heard what I was trying to say. Right? How'd it make you feel?"

Haruhi held back the shakiness of her voice to the best of her ability. And her disbelief with Tamaki's attitude.

"Oh, I heard it. And fine, I get it. I've gotten it for a year."

Haruhi took off the robe and paced away before Tamaki could continue, grabbing her bag.

"I have to go study."

Honey tilted his head as she passed them. Making her wince. Tamaki was supposed to go to university like everyone else did. The twins and Haruhi planning an abundance of changes to the club that they were looking forward to. When they had the club to themselves, at least.

Haruhi revealed herself to be a woman. Provided that nothing about her demeanor would change.

The twins were able to come out to some of the clients as well. Kaoru talking about his boyfriend. And Hikari showing off her new voice.

That blissful freedom lasted all but a single session.

Ranka had entrusted Tamaki behind Haruhi's back to keep an eye on her during school. He couldn't do that with Kyoya, so they settled with the long distance relationship, but it failed. So he was now doing an extra year at Ouran. Kyoya, Hani, and Mori were just visiting. And that was the outcome.

The twins and Haruhi were absolutely infuriated when they got ready to properly induct the new hosts they'd picked, including a couple girls, only to find Tamaki still leading. And they were forced to tell the girls it wouldn't be able to happen while Tamaki chose who was allowed in again. As well as drop every improvement they had looked forward to instating in the club since the middle of second year.

Including telling clients to keep the three hosts' secrets, you know, secrets.

He only rubbed it in their face as well. Surprising them when they went through the doors to do the induction. And forcing that uncomfortable conversation immediately as everyone was at peak excitement. It still hurt to pass them in the hallway. They were still clearly disappointed.

I thought I learned my lesson about Tamaki taking control of club activities...

"You're gonna miss the sleepover we're doing at Tama-Chan's house?"

Haruhi shook her head. She wanted to miss it after that trainwreck. But she would look suspicious if she didn't. None of them trusted her anymore.

"I'm going. I just have to stay late."

She could already feel the suspicious glares. Sighing as she spoke again.

"I'll record myself the entire time I'm here alone. And I'll let you know immediately when I start going to your house."

Haruhi left the room. She knew the drill. That was the only way she could study at school with none of her friends around. And as soon as that text was sent, she had to run. If she took even a few minutes longer than she was meant to, suspicion would raise again. Resulting in either a lecture or being shouted at. Haruhi was too exhausted to argue those circumstances. It didn't help that she never bothered to eat enough to accommodate running constantly. If she tried taking more, Ranka got suspicious of why she felt the need for more when she didn't earlier.

It was one of the many reasons that this was a lose-lose situation for her.

Like she'd hoped, her classroom was calm and quiet. She didn't like recording herself studying, but she didn't have a choice. Voicing a complaint about it would mean losing the few breaks she got from her friends and father. Even if she disliked the activity she was doing.

Later on, her homeroom teacher decided to come up to her, giving the other students a five minute break outside the room with a: "Please take these papers down to the office". Haruhi shrank back. She couldn't stop recording, and whatever would be said was going to be heard.

"Am I in trouble, sir...?"

Her teacher shook his head lightly.

"No, of course not. But I am worried."

Haruhi swallowed.

"About what...?"

Her teacher seemed unsure of how to approach the topic.

"Well, your demeanor has changed over the course of the past year. You seem less lively, and stressed, frankly. You didn't seem to be taking proper care of yourself, either. You've been running from class to class, presumably to go home and to your club events. And you don't seem to get much privacy. This week, however, you seemed to bounce back completely, you seemed happy and excited. But as of yesterday, it's back to the previous mood."

Haruhi tilted her head, glancing briefly at her phone that was still recording.

"Is that a problem?"

"It may be, yes. Now, I can't diagnose any sort of mental or emotional problem. But I have personal experience with this. I know what a sudden raise in mood after a long while of sadness may signal."

Haruhi's skin looked more pasty than it did before. Her teacher knelt down. And was almost visible in the camera. There was no way to mishear the question that followed.

"Please answer me honestly, Ms Fujioka. Did you attempt suicide this week?"

Haruhi's heart hit her lungs and possibly ribs in such rapid succession that she was sure she would faint. The pain in her chest rose as she nodded, it wasn't visible, so she hoped that the teacher wouldn't repeat her answer.

This would only make things worse. She failed that attempt because she took too long in the bathroom and Renge was called to see if anything was going on. She additionally had to talk Haruhi down.

This would not only be bad news for her, but for Renge as well. She knew that the others would get angry with her for not telling them. And they would refuse to let Haruhi out of their sight again. What little privacy and freedom she had left would be washed away.

She ended up in this state because of everything she forced herself to give up. She couldn't handle losing the last scrap of agency she had in her own life.

Her teacher didn't repeat the answer. But his next question made it clear what the answer was.

"Would you like me to set up an appointment with the guidance counselor? Or I could point you to some resources to help you. You don't have to suffer this alone."

Haruhi shook her head. She did have to. That was why she tried to do it in the first place.

Well, that was changing as of the previous day.

Her teacher hesitantly accepted the reply, but didn't end the conversation there. Instead,

"Well, just know that if you want to talk to someone, I'd be happy to listen."

Haruhi didn't reply verbally, simply nodding and going back to her work as her classmates returned to the room. Cursing herself as she forgot the long question she was trying to solve and starting over.

Then, the alarm went off.

The alarm signaling a break-in.

The teacher went to close the door after turning off the lights, Haruhi looking around frantically for hiding spots and possible exits.

However, rather than close the door, her teacher waved for everyone to leave.

"We'll pretend we're still in here while we leave! Let's try and hurry out!"

Everyone followed his lead, taking a hallway and waiting as he locked the door from the outside and inside. Just to make sure that the intruder thought they were there. If they wasted time at an empty classroom, it gave the authorities more time to get there and apprehend them with nobody getting hurt.

However, just as they were about to turn a corner, teacher holding a bat to protect them, footsteps were heard bounding down the hall towards them. Catching them off guard from what happened next.

Meanwhile

A thick air of boredom hung from a thread in the room. The whole home, really.

Some light chatter could be heard, but everyone was mostly waiting for Haruhi.

Kaoru looked over to Tamaki, having finished a conversation with Honey. Finally deciding that he had waited long enough to bring up the topic.

"Hey, Tamaki, you know that skit of yours went a little too far, right?"

Tamaki tilted his head as his attention was brought to the younger twin.

"I suppose it could have been handled better. But, don't you usually call me—"

"Hikaru, Haruhi and me were meant to be the ones in charge of the club now, not you. I shouldn't be calling you boss anymore."

Tamaki flinched at the harsh tone.

Kaory flinched at being forced to use his sister's dead name to keep them both from being ostracized.

They saw what happened to Haruhi, after all.

"What is with you today?! That skit was just for fun!"

Kaoru glared.

"That skit was meant to give Haruhi a message. One that you've already given to her two dozen times, every three weeks, for the past year! And what was that about? I thought you didn't want everyone to know that Haruhi's a girl?"

Tamaki huffed, crossing his arms as he side-eyed Kaoru.

"Oh, they know. One of them let it slip. Several of them let it slip. I knew it wasn't a problem. And what do you mean? What did you think I had a problem with?"

Kaoru's look sharpened.

"Oh, how about you trying to make a comedic jab at my character when they loved a priest who happened to be male?"

"That wasn't a problem, they turned out to be a woman!"

"So it was a nice straight relationship in the end. That's why there wasn't a problem?"

Tamaki paled, recognizing what Kaoru was mad about now.

"I didn't see it that way, I'm sorry. I mean, thank goodness we didn't have anyone watching that would be offended by that."

Kaoru grimaced as he turned his face to look at Honey again, who had lowered his head. Hikari casting a knowing glance at them, but not saying anything. She didn't feel like talking. Especially not to Tamaki. It would have been a waste of energy she didn't have.

After a while, it became clear that Haruhi wasn't arriving soon, if ever. It was also clear that Tamaki wasn't responding well to the idea. Kyoya sending a text to Ranka. Who reacted about the same way.

Everyone else opted to try sleeping. Tamaki begrudgingly laying down as exhaustion caught up to him. Closing his eyes and waiting for sleep to come.

Hikari and Kaoru waited to make sure that everyone was asleep. Kaoru turning over to whisper to her.

"You good?"

Hikari nodded weakly.

"Yeah, sorry I didn't argue with Tamaki more about that."

Tamaki listened in, he was a distance away, and half asleep, but whatever this conversation was about was important.

Why did Hikaru's voice sound different?

"It's okay. I'm just glad I didn't spill anything serious out of anger."

Hikari looked between him and Honey.

"You know I'd back you up if you did, yeah?"

Kaoru nodded. A moment of silence passed.

"How do you think Haruhi's doing?"

Hika sighed.

"Awful, I'm guessing. She's having a hard enough time as it is, she didn't need Tamaki to humiliate her like that. And what the hell was Kyoya's problem spitting that bullshit about her just because she broke up with him? She never wanted the relationship to begin with, and told him why she said yes anyway."

"Yeah. Tamaki said it wouldn't have ended where we cut it off. How much farther do you think he would have went with what Kyoya said...?"

Hika shook her head.

"I don't even wanna think about it."

Eventually, Kaoru was asleep. Hikari couldn't lose consciousness for the life of her. She'd known that something was wrong for a while, she had to go help.

She sat up, grabbing her bag and coat. Just as there was a click in the door, Tamaki spoke up.

"Where are you going?"

Hikari glanced behind him briefly.

"I'm going to make sure Haruhi's okay. Let Kaoru know when he wakes up."

There was a voice change again.

What was up with that?

Hikari was out the door before Tamaki could speak again. The twin's walk was a long one. It was dark out, and snowing heavily. These were no conditions for Haruhi to try running over like she normally did. Like she was probably going to try doing.

Hika swallowed. Passing through the gate and continuing her walk through the dark. She wished she'd brought a flashlight. But it was too late to go back and get one.

Snow crunched periodically as she went up the path, making it to the doors after what felt like an hour. She tried to open the front door, but it had been locked tight. So she tried looking around elsewhere.

She had to close her eyes tight as the wind picked up dramatically. Whistling in her ear and battering her exposed face with more cold. She was covered in snow by that point, so she additionally had to prepare to be soaking wet when she warmed up. Hopefully soon.

She looped around the building quickly. Digging her hands into her sleeves to keep warm as she kept looking. The relentless bite of the wind never bothering to let up in any way.

Finally, she found a back door, one that was already open, strangely enough. Snow pouring in across the normally spotless floor of the school. This made Hikari pause.

Not only was that door not supposed to be open, but that snow... There was red staining it.

Despite this, she couldn't freeze outside. So she crept in and closed the door, failing to lock it as she also noticed that the handle was broken.

Immediately, she took a minute to look around. The lights were off as well. It was actually lighter outside than it was inside. Still, she had gotten this far.

When she listened for voices, she noticed that same red staining a different part of the floor. Some splattered along the wall as well.

She began walking, going straight to her, Kaoru, and Haruhi's homeroom. The door was locked. She initially opted to knocking on the door.

She shouldn't have expected a reply, so she moved to slipping a note under the door to avoid drawing the intruder's attention. Evidently, this was a lockdown.

Now, like she expected, the snow that had been melting from her coat and hair began dripping onto the floor, which normally would have gotten her into a heap of trouble. Now, she didn't think it mattered.

Just around a corner, large splatters and puddles of the same red were visible. But there were no bodies to identify who's blood it was.

Okay, not our home room. Where else could she have gone?

Hikari lit up.

Right! The library!

She wasn't at the library.

Study rooms!

Nobody was in the study rooms.

One final place stuck out to her, and she decided to try her luck. Writing another note and ascending the stairs.

Turns out, placing yourself in a compromising spot like that will result in a threat finding you and chasing you!

Hikari didn't see it at first. Loud footsteps were heard, and then a shadowy figure became visible. Sprinting towards her. Then their face was visible. Blood spilled from it's mouth constantly. What used to be a student.

Hika ran as fast as she could up the stairs, trying to look for something to give herself a further head start. Her heart started pounding as she ran. Hoping that she wouldn't reach a dead end.

Eventually, she made it to the third music room with a somewhat respectable lead. Sliding the note under the door while also going to try and grab a blunt object. Staring wide eyed at the hall where she knew it would come from.

To her relief, she heard someone pick it up, hastily, before presumably reading it. The footsteps became louder, echoing off of the halls and making Hika feel as though she was about to have a heart attack.

Then, there was a click in the door, and an arm reached out. Grabbing Hikari's arm quickly and yanking her inside the room. Footsteps sounded around the corner of the hall.

Once in, the classmate closed the door again and locked it, tying their tie around the handles just to be sure. A few bangs on the doors startled the group, but one look under the crack of the door, and they knew it wasn't something they wanted inside. The sounds it made were a dead giveaway, as well.

One person ran up to Hika upon seeing her, wrapping her arms around her tight and seemingly crushing her airway. Because of that, it took a moment to realize who was hugging her.

Haruhi pulled away from the hug, able to look her in the eye now.

"Are you okay?"

Hika nodded, earning a smile from Haruhi. Before her elbow jutted back and a punch met her shoulder.

"Ow!—"

"What the hell are you doing here?!"

Hikari blinked.

"Sorry! We were getting worried because you weren't answering our calls. I didn't know this was going on! What is going on, anyway?"

Haruhi couldn't help the audible snort that came from Hikari's reply.

"Honestly, we aren't completely sure, either. The alarm just went off in the middle of studying, our teacher decided to get all of us outside and away from the building. But then this person ran up and—"

Haruhi's face had a green tint to it. It was also when Hika noticed the red on the blazer of her uniform.

"I don't know what it was, but it tore him apart! I don't even know where the rest of our classmates are either, because we all ran in different directions."

At this rate, only a couple students still had their phones. Most of them having been discarded in favor of getting a head start against the threat. On person who had their phone on them immediately moved to checking the news. Before speaking up.

Her voice sounded familiar.

"Hey, it looks like this is an outbreak of something. First impression is that it's rabies."

Everyone turned to look. Most alarmed at the news. Holding her phone up was Seika Ayanokoji, additionally sporting a torn uniform and a bruise on the side of her face—having hit a wall as she was being chased around. She'd also taken the initiative to tie her hair up in a bun so it couldn't be grabbed.

It was weird seeing her and hearing her demeanor. It was almost completely different than the last time any of the hosts had seen her. While she still looked confident, it was with the addition of clear unease and surprise at the situation.

Hikari was tempted to tell her to back off from Haruhi. But not only did she realize that the room made that very difficult to accomplish without putting either party in danger. But also, they'd both been in the room for what? Two and a half hours at least? And nothing seemed to have happened. They both seemed to just mind their own business from each other.

Despite this, Haruhi replied first.

"Any ideas on if or when we'll get help?"

Ayanokoji shook her head lightly. Though alarm was evident to everyone at the idea that getting help could have been an "if".

"No, sadly. It seems like they're just trying to figure out what caused it. I wouldn't be surprised if they were trying to figure out which areas needed the most assistance."

This seemed to relax the group a little.

It was clear that they'd need to get comfortable. Whether they liked it or not, they were staying in that room for a while.