"…Hikaru?" A voice asked shyly. Immediately recognizing his brother's voice, Hikaru turned around. "Yuubi… What are you guys…" Kaoru paused, noticing the pieces of her painting on the floor. "No," he gasped. He momentarily stared at the girl in silence, and then suddenly, started collecting the pieces on the floor. Hikaru and Yuubi watched him in confusion. After picking up all the pieces he could find, he abruptly grabbed Yuubi by her arm and then pulled her out of the janitorial closet. Hikaru tailed right behind them in curiosity, wondering if his brother had a solution, and a bit apologetic that he couldn't think of one himself.
"Kaoru… where are you go – " Yuubi began. "I mean – what are you do – are you okay?" She was embarrassingly uncertain what to say to him since it was far too unlike his character to act so gravely.
He seemed to tighten up at her last question. "…We're going to talk to the teacher. You're staying at Ouran," he mumbled, spilling his thoughts out loud.
"Can you believe THAT guy?! She DID the assignment! This is SO unfair! All he did was apologize! UGH those dumb teachers really have no power. AND HE'S TURNING IN THE GRADESHEET TONIGHT SO SHE'S NOT A STUDENT, STARTING FROM TOMORROW," the twins roared informing the other host club members of the situation after their failed attempt of persuading the teacher.
"It's o – " Yuubi tried to speak, but her words were shouted over.
"WAH! I DON'T WANT YUU-CHAN TO LEAVE," Honey cried, running over to her.
"She has to repay her debt to the host club, however," Kyoya said coolly as he entered the music room.
Haruhi walked to Yuubi's side with a deep empathy, placing a warm protective hand on her shoulder. "Somebody definitely ripped it up. Shouldn't they be kicked out instead?"
"THAT'S RIGHT HAURHI! I MUST SPEAK TO THE AUTHORITIES," Tamaki cried. Trio host club was riled up, fueling themselves with anger and talking about revolution and rebellion against the authorities, making ties to the history's greatest wars?
"Guys, it's okay," Yuubi sighed, after momentarily laughing at their ridiculousness. The host club members became silent and stared at her. "It's okay, "she repeated with an emphasis, praying that she could believe it herself.
"…Stupid," Hikaru growled. "It's not even your fault! And you're going to leave for – "
"I have to! So I accept it," she raised her voice; the tone had suddenly become serious again. She turned to Kyoya. "Don't worry Kyoya. I'll find another job so I can repay you guys back…" He nodded nonchalantly, trying to think of another reason that she would have to stay at Ouran, but his mind failed him at this desperate time. "Anyway… I'm glad I was blessed to meet you all," she continued, recalling the first day she met these clowns and when they thoroughly convinced themselves that she was a guy. If only I could've stayed with everyone a bit longer… She took one last look at everybody, smiling both regretfully and nostalgically, before she excused herself to leave. "I got to pack up… See you guys," she feigned the most enthusiastic voice she turned around to hide her pain filled expression.
"Yuubi – san," Haruhi called after Yuubi, running towards the leaving girl, but the door slammed loudly in front of her, or at least it felt like it did.
Tamaki placed a hand on her shoulder as they ached at the shut door. He let out a weighty sigh, trying to release the sadness in his chest. "She's serious… Let her do what she has to…"
The host club members stood motionless as they processed the situation in their heads. Starting from tomorrow, Yuubi Shitoyaka is not a student… nor a host club member, the voice of the teacher repeated in the two orange colored heads. "But… It's not fair," Haruhi mumbled, recalling her own obstacles she had to face to get into this school and the memories of Yuubi, chatting passionately about her work.
She exited the door, and her heart released involuntarily. Her tears flooded out continuously, causing her to feel an uncomfortable vulnerability to the public eye. She hurried down the hallway to grab her belongings and leave this school in her past. She was used to it, leaving people, burying memories behind. Time could only heal it, but it was still such a shame. She had spent years trying to prove herself, but she could only hold on for a semester. It was partly her fault; she admitted. She had been far too trusting. No, her class was just far too talented that she figured nobody could have been jealous of her or at least, jealous enough to pull such a cheap stunt. She began to rush out of the building as she felt a release of uncontrollable hiccups. The weather outside seemed to cry with her, soaking her hair and clothes, giving them weight with every drop. However, it shielded her, blending her tears with the rain, letting her feel free to cry to her heart's extent on her walk back home.
As soon as she reached her small dark apartment, she immediately shed her heavy school bag and collapsed onto to her bed, lost at how to tackle her situation.