Chapter Three

Haruhi walked out of the changing room, now in a yellow dress that the girls at Ouran typically wore, rather than the boy's uniform that Haruhi normally wore. "Thank you for the change of clothes, as well as for the support everyone." Haruhi smiled widely, a first for the boys of the host club. "You four were so cool!"

All of the hosts stood frozen in shock. Who was this pretty girl, and where was the slob who walked in a few days ago? They recovered quickly though. "Now that we all know you're a girl," Hikaru started, letting Kaoru finish. "What are we all going to do?"

Tamaki nodded. "Indeed, what are we to do? We can hardly let a girl be a host, it's scandalous!"

Kyoya interrupted here. "Yet there is the dilemma of the 8 million yen debt. We can hardly let her escape her responsibility so easily."

Haruhi sighed deeply. They were all right. "I'll just have to find another way of paying you pack I suppose… It will likely take the rest of my life though…"

Honey smiled and started bouncing. "I know! I know! I know! Honey has an idea!"

Everyone looked to Honey, who cuddled his bunny Usa-chan as he smiled devilishly. It was that smile that reminded them all that Honey wasn't the child he pretended to be. "We're all rich enough to pay for the vase."

Haruhi shook her head furiously. "No. I refuse to let anyone pay my debt for me. I knocked over the vase, so this is my responsibility." Kyoya smiled, appreciative of Haruhi's honesty and dedication regarding her responsibilities.

Honey giggled. "But if you were married, wouldn't your debt also be your husband's debt?"

The whole room froze, everyone's mouths hanging open in shock. This included Mori, who was stoic even during the most eccentric of times at the host club. Kyoya was also just as shocked by Honey's idea, though he hid it marginally better than the others.

"Are you suggesting that Fujioka-san marry one of us, Honey-senpai?" Kyoya asked.

Honey nodded eagerly. "Usa-chan thinks it's a good idea too!"

Haruhi stalked towards the door. "Well I don't! You're all handsome, and someone like me would be lucky to marry one of you, but that's still letting someone else pay for something that I did! It wouldn't be fair to any of you, regardless of how rich you all are!" Slamming the door shut behind her, Haruhi left the music room and went home. She didn't want to be forced into a marriage with any of them, and allow them to someday resent her. Resent her for paying her debt. Resent her for being poor. Resent her for not being feminine. They were her friends, she realized after they supported her against Ayanokouji, and she didn't want to lose that.

The others watched as Haruhi left, then turned to stare at one another. The silence dragged out for a few minutes, until Hikaru broke the silence with "Well. Who knew Haruhi could get all hot and bothered about something?" Kaoru nodded as he responded to his brother. "That was… Actually kind of sexy."

Tamaki blushed, Honey giggled, and Mori and Kyoya just watched stoically.

"Even if she wouldn't let someone pay her debt for her, this has certainly made Haru-chan think of us all as marriage candidates." Silence was the only response to Honey's statement, making him pout. "I guess I'll just take Haru-chan for myself then, even though she said that Hika-chan, Kao-chan, Kyo-chan, and Tama-chan were so cool earlier. After all, she's so pretty, and smart, and dedicated, and responsible. Who wouldn't want to marry Haru-chan?"

The four mentioned tinged pink, then looked to each other. An unspoken agreement was made. Haruhi may not let them pay her debt, which was likely since it as Haruhi, but she was now someone they should think of as a girl. As a woman that they could possibly marry, if they so choose.

The next day, Haruhi was dreading club activities with the host club. Things were going to be different now. It was sure to be a headache. But when she pushed the door to the music room open, everyone was just as they always were. They all sat in their normal spots, doing what they normally did, and greeted her as they did every other day.

Haruhi walked straight over to Tamaki and Kyoya, looking them directly in the eyes with confidence. "I will not let anyone pay my debt for me, but thank you all for thinking of me. I really don't mind being considered a boy, so I will continue to work as a host if you'll let me. If not, I'll try to find work elsewhere."

Tamaki sighed. "Such a waste of feminine beauty! But who are we to deny the wish of a young lady? You may continue to participate in the host club!"

Haruhi breathed a sigh of relief. If they had said no, she didn't know what job she would be able to get to make decent payments towards her debt.

Kyoya opened his notebook. "Speaking of your duties as a host here, we have been meaning to tell you of an event that we are holding. Attendance is mandatory, of course."

Haruhi raised her eyebrows as the others started cheering in excitement. "When and what is this event?"

"The event is scheduled for all of next week, as it will be spring break. We will be going to my family's summer home, which has its own private beach, where we will entertain a group of our most frequent customers. Your gender will need to be hidden if you are to continue as a host, so we have set the girls up in a separate hotel while the hosts will be staying in my home."

Haruhi smiled. "Thank you senpai. I'm excited to see the beach. I've never been to one before!"

Tamaki, Hikaru, Kaoru, and Honey gasped. "You've never been to the beach?!" They all exclaimed.

Haruhi blinked at them. "No? My father and I never really had time to go. Now that I think about it, it's actually been a few years since I even put a swimsuit on."

Kaoru and Hikaru clasped hands together. "Don't worry about that!" They cheered. "Our mother is a designer, so we'll get a swimsuit for you!"

Haruhi chuckled. "And how am I supposed to wear this swimsuit if I'm supposed to be pretending that I'm a boy?"
The twins waved off her concern. "That's just for when the girls are around. When it's just us you don't need to hide."

Not hiding, huh? Haruhi wondered. How am I not supposed to hide when I'm always me?