Chapter 5:

Country: Japan

Population: 127 Million

Infected: 37%

Date: Monday • January 22 • 2017

Point of View: Ouran Group

It was clear from the fact that the police didn't respond to them reaching out for help. And the fact that the teachers all seemed to be gone.

The students were on their own.

The students didn't respond entirely well to the news that Kanako was pregnant. But none of those who already knew expected them to.

Thankfully, though, nobody stayed mad. They understood that Kanako and Toru were more nervous about the situation than they were. And that it was an accident.

If only Haruhi had been extended that kindness.

Haruhi groaned as she tried to sleep. Hoping that she didn't accidentally wake her girlfriend up.

Hikari was holding her close. What used to be a larger build had now changed thanks to a smooth transition.

If only she was able to express her milestone with the pride that she had.

However, last year... Last year ruined any confidence for both of them.

Haruhi couldn't help her mind wandering to that topic.

Running away with Hikari and living their lives elsewhere had become their new dream. Though the idea needed time to be warmed up to.

Maybe they would simply go to Osaka.

Further away?

One of the islands.

Hell, maybe they would leave the country, assuming that they would be allowed to leave with the virus.

There were other ideas, as well.

Maybe they would get married. Just a small get together, seeing as how they would want to keep a low profie.

Maybe they would change their names. "Hikari" was nice, but the decision was partially due to Hika wanting to avoid the use of her dead name without giving herself away.

Maybe—hopefully... They would have a family together.

It was a scary idea—when considering the process of actually leaving undetected—but it was exciting as well.

Through being led across a narrow line, she couldn't help but be amazed and thrilled at the sight of so many possibilities.

But, it hurt to know that they would leave behind so many people.

If Haruhi could have been treated so horribly by their friends for simply sleeping with someone, how would they treat Hikari if they knew that she was transgender?

Really, though, it was just Tamaki and Kyoya they were concerned about. Everyone, including Kyoya, probably knew. She wasn't particularly subtle, after all. It was hard to hide her new body under a tight uniform.

Tamaki was a lucky break because he... Wasn't exactly known for being smart.

If only he'd been oblivious when Haruhi showed those symptoms.

If only Kyoya had kept his god damn mouth shut.

If only they'd held off until after Hikari's bottom surgery...

Haruhi had always considered herself good at holding her composure despite not being in perfect health. At the private beach, she wound up getting a scrape in her stomach area, but covered it up and they never found out. Well, except for Hika.

She hid her fear when Kyoya threatened her that night. A fear that persisted even after she confirmed that he was bluffing, and had no plans to actually act on what he was saying.

It didn't help that Tamaki blamed her for what would have happened.

She had even twisted her ankle during a practice session with Honey, and went through school and club hours the next week like nothing had happened.

So why was she suddenly being bested by something as stupid as nausea? She was visibly pale, and often braced her arm on something to help her spinning head.

Kyoya raised an eyebrow at her when Hikari went over to her. Dropping her usual act and offering to help Haruhi to the nurse. She accepted, though they never actually made it to the nurse and doctor on campus before the nausea turned into: "I'm definitely going to throw up".

Kaoru recovered quickly, putting on his act and keeping the clients busy while Hikari and Haruhi were in the bathroom.

Kyoya tapped his pen against his clipboard aggressively, catching Tamaki's attention.

"Is something wrong?"

Kyoya shrugged, directing a sharp look towards the door.

"Don't you think it's a little odd that Haruhi is getting sick all of a sudden?"

Kyoya was refrained from elaborating until all of the clients had left. Haruhi and Hika still having not returned.

"She's gotten sick before, Kyoya. She got sick because of those shellfish, remember?"

Kyoya shook his head.

"That's not what I mean. I don't think it's a reaction. Remember that time a few weeks ago when she said she needed to go home early? But then Ranka said she didn't get there until the time our club session ended? I'm not suggesting we jump to accusations, but I am curious..."

It took a moment for the others to pick up on what he was suggesting. When they did, Kaoru turned a ghost white. Everyone else went silent. It couldn't be, could it? Haruhi was smarter than that. She wouldn't have...

After spending the entire hour of the club session in the bathroom, Hikari and Haruhi had resolved to just going to the other hosts, explaining that she caught a bug, and that she needed to go home. They also agreed on taking a minor detour, just to check. Haruhi leaned closer to Hika at the thought of it, Hika squeezed her hand tighter. This wasn't happening, was it? Now? What would everyone think?

They opened the doors gently, Haruhi suppressing a groan as nausea immediately entered her throat again. How? She literally had nothing left in her stomach!

Instantly as they entered the room, they knew something was wrong. Hikari raising an eyebrow. And hating the deep, masculine voice that sounded from her.

"You all okay? We went to the nurse and they said—"

"Haruhi? Is it true?"

Haruhi blinked, confusion evident on all of her features. She knew what they were talking about from the tone, but really? How would they have known?

"What?"

"Don't play dumb! Why are you really throwing up?"

Haruhi raised an eyebrow. Able to contain her rising panic.

"There's only one reason why a woman can be sick? I didn't know that. Thanks for telling me."

Tamaki held his head and shouted. Both anger and concern written on his face.

"Now is not the time for jokes, Haruhi! A few weeks ago, you were with a guy, weren't you?"

Haruhi glared.

"No, I was getting groceries that day."

"That's not what you said! Why lie about groceries unless it's not groceries?"

"Because I have a tendency to get followed when I say I'm running an errand! And if you'd just let Hika finish she would have told you—"

"What are you roping Hikaru into this for? Is he...?"

Hikari directed a glance at Haruhi, who thought fast and shook her head, groaning in frustration.

Both were so relieved that they didn't catch the use of: "She".

"No! Hika isn't. You're making guesses just because Hika was the closest to take me to the nurse!"

Kyoya's eyes narrowed, she did have a point, but something else surfaced.

"Come to think of it, why did you cancel that outing with all of us? You still went out somewhere."

Haruhi couldn't help how she paled at the mention. Giving Tamaki the leverage to yell again.

"You were with a guy, weren't you? Tell me you didn't go all the way, Haruhi!"

Haruhi shouted back.

"What does it matter to you? Besides, even if I did, I would be careful about it!"

Kyoya couldn't help how his expression contorted into a judgmental scowl.

"So you did?"

Finally, Haruhi conceded to what was clearly a losing battle on one front. And directing her attention to the other.

"Fine. You want proof that I just have a bug? I'll get you proof!"

Haruhi huffed, taking in deep breaths as she paced around in the bathroom waiting for the results. It was a good thing they let her go home to do it. Knowing her father, he would have freaked if he knew why she went to the store for no reason and seemed tense when she came back.

"Okay, don't panic. I just have to show them the negative test and it'll be okay! Then I'll just have to deal with them getting mad about the other thing.—"

A beep sounded, Haruhi frantically turned her head. Getting struck by heavy tremors the moment she did.

FUCK!

Now it was okay to panic.

Haruhi wasn't stupid, hiding the test behind the sink for her to dispose of outside. Knowing that if her father were to find out and go looking for it, he would look through the trash in their home.

Haruhi sank down to her knees as she fully processed the information she had just received. Getting her phone out and putting a towel over the gap in the door and speaking quietly to prevent Ranka from hearing the conversation.

"Haruhi? How'd it go? Are you okay?"

Haruhi swallowed.

"I—I don't think so. Hikari, I'm..."

Haruhi didn't even need to finish to get the message across. It was a good thing she hid the test, as Ranka had asked Kyoya why Haruhi was acting off.

"So, what now...?"

Haruhi swallowed, one idea hitting her and messing with her until she was forced to accept it as the best option. Muttering the question so quietly she was scared that she'd need to repeat herself.

"You said there was proof, is that hard to come by all of a sudden?"

Haruhi shook her head.

"It's not hard to—I just forgot."

Tamaki's eyes narrowed.

"You don't just forget something that could ruin your life! Are you or are you not?!"

"I'm not! I know I'm not!"

"Proveit, then! If you've got nothing to hide, prove it! It's bad enough that you were messing around with a guy, but this?!"

"What if it does come back positive? What would you suggest I do?"

"I don't know! That's for you and Ranka to figure out!"

Haruhi paused, the tone suggested that her father had the most importance in deciding what to do. Not her, or Hikari. Not that she'd let anyone find out how she was involved.

"Why bring my dad into it?"

"Because he's the one who's spent so seventeen years trying to help you make it to a better life than him! You aren't actually suggesting that you'd throw your life away like that, are you?!"

This made Haruhi's confidence drop a thousand miles. That guilt trip—though worded differently—was how she was forced onto the path that everyone else wanted for her. To have a more successful career, a more comfortable life. What they wanted for her. She didn't want to be a lawyer, in fact she had noticed her growing interest in cooking professionally for a while. Or even simply being a teacher. But that wouldn't pay well enough in the eyes of her father and peers. It wouldn't be enough for them to have the ability to brag about her.

She had thought that Tamaki or at least one of the hosts would understand feeling pressured into a life they didn't want. At least Hikari side-stepped her issue by passing it to Kaoru who eagerly took it. Giving her the freedom in her life that she wanted, and giving Kaoru the future he had wanted.

But apparently, she had thought wrong for everyone else.

Memories of the previous night almost forced the tears out of her eyes. A love she didn't expect to arrive so quickly clamping down on her chest and making it burn at what Tamaki was suggesting.

"So, he would be the one to decide if I get to keep them?

The other hosts stared, Haruhi paled realizing her mistake.

"You are, aren't you?"

Haruhi shook her head frantically.

"No! But, really? My dad has more of a say over how my life pans out than I do?!"

"Don't change the subject! How could you be so irresponsible?! After everything you worked for?!"

"I said that I'm not! Shut up!"

Haruhi staggered back at the words that left her mouth. Shrinking down at the stares she received.

"All right."

Tamaki's eyes bore into her.

"I'll shut up until you can prove you aren't. How about that?"

Later on, it became clear that everyone was told to shut up until Haruhi figured out a way to prove it. Hikari was sneaky in talking to her still, helping come up with solutions to their problem.

Maybe she could do an exchange program and hide until it was over so that they could still stay together and keep them?

But no, only one realistic idea remained, leaving both of them devastated with early regret. But they had no choice.

It seemed to be the best solution to avoid everyone's anger. Ranka having made it clear that they would be separated seeing as he seemed to take more agency over her situation than she did.

The rest of the night was a daze, earlier in the morning, Haruhi said that she was going to get the test to prove it. In reality, she and Hikari went to a doctor who wouldn't put what they were about to do on record.

Later on that day, however, Haruhi registered a sharp pain.

Haruhi herself wasn't sure how well she could piece it together. All that was left memory wise was short snippets and images.

First, a pain so horrid that Haruhi struggled to hold her voice back. Multiple times did a pain nearly result in her releasing a shriek.

She could recall her standing up, excusing herself, and rushing to the bathroom with the same caution that she did when it was her time of the month and didn't want to leak. Bringing her bag with her and—once there—looking down to find what could only be described as a puddle of dark, shiny blood.

The last full snippet was her rummaging through her bag as quickly as she possibly could and hoping that she wasn't leaving any blood on the floor. Getting a change of clothes ready and only half processing what was actually happening to her.

The next were only images she could infer from.

Her rushing to send a text to Hikari and alert her to what was happening.

Her clamping a fist down against her midsection and bracing her arm on the wall from the pain.

A blurred image where more blood seemed to appear, resulting in her becoming dizzy.

A tightening sensation in her throat as the pain got worse and worse.

Once her memories seemed to clear up again, it was made obvious that she managed to get the bleeding under control so she could return to the club session. By under control, I mean putting on a thick pad on with lots of toilet paper to avoid making the bleeding visible.

She didn't go home, seeing as how the bleeding was under control.

But, that was a mistake.

She'd passed out.

Thank god Hika already knew what was happening and was able to keep the school nurse from telling Ranka.

When Haruhi woke up, the pain was still there, but it was much more tolerable. Mori was there, as well. Having helped Hikari carry her to the nurse.

The look that the nurse gave her said everything.

Not only did she throw away her virginity like it wasn't "important", but the minute she was met with a justified consequence, she aborted it.

Haruhi hoped that she wouldn't be expelled for this. She wasn't, but nobody would look at her as the top student they once saw her as.

"That could have killed you, just so you know."

Those words only made it worse. But not really.

Haruhi knew that the bleeding was bad, but to hear that she nearly died?

Why wasn't she more distressed?

Maybe it was because she was immediately met with Tamaki scolding her for acting suspiciously when she returned.

Maybe it was because everyone continued to shun her for another month.

Maybe it was Ranka's words after the fact, when he finally stopped pretending that she didn't exist. When she showed her devotion to chasing her father's dream for her just to make sure he still loved her.

"Oh, just so we're clear, I don't want to find out that you're going out with a man. You don't need the distractions."

There was another message in it, maybe one that Haruhi made up, maybe one that was genuine.

"I like you being alone. I don't want you to really grow up."

Haruhi still wasn't allowed to talk about it, though Tamaki still brought it up as a way to prove some incompetence on her part. A way to prove his point that she wasn't as smart as she said she was whenever she disagreed with him.

As far as Hikari and Haruhi were concerned, it was still happening, just on a "smaller" scale.

Kyoya had asked her out not one month after Haruhi and Hikari quietly broke up. And she was pressured into saying yes. Additionally egged on by Ranka and Tamaki, who thought that Kyoya would be the perfect person to: "Keep her modest".

Of course, Haruhi was not going to keep dating and—god forbid marry someone—in the future. She had Harvard and being a lawyer to think about.

But, Kyoya was a safe bet for being experimental.

Although...

If Kyoya wasn't to be trusted in keeping their rather forced intimacy a secret...

He violated one of her two conditions that allowed the moment to happen.

Would he have broken the other...?

Haruhi's eyes snapped open, slapping a hand over her mouth as she sat up in a rush.

No!

Kyoya couldn't have—!

Haruhi was shaking, so absorbed in her panic that she didn't notice Hika being startled awake.

No, that wasn't quite accurate, Hikari—who had her arms wrapped around Haruhi—was practically shoved off, and woke up when she hit the floor.

She spoke softly to prevent waking the others, gently touching her shoulder and making her concern obvious on her face.

"Haru...? What's the matter?"

Haruhi glanced at Hikari quickly.

"Um..."

There was no way she could wait until morning.

Please.

Please!

Surely Kyoya wouldn't have gone this far, would he...?

"Could you go with me to the nurse's office...?"

It was impulsive.

It was dangerous.

But, once in the bathroom taking the test, it was clear it was needed.

Please...

She couldn't go through this again...

But, the world was not being kind to her at that moment.

Haruhi spared a cautious glance at the results when given the cue. When she did, she found her body suddenly lowered until she was on her knees.

Kyoya... How could he?

Haruhi gripped the test harder until it snapped in two.

How dare he?!

She just hadn't been put through enough. Was that it?

What was going to happen to her now?

So much for her running away with Hikari and moving on with her life...

What now?

Was she going to be forced to marry Kyoya?

Make the same decision she did the previous year?

Either way...

Constant surveillance would be what the remainder of her life would look like.

Tears began sliding out of Haruhi's eyes.

She tried to keep quiet, but she couldn't help the sobs that escaped. To the point where she didn't notice Hikari coming into the room. And was surprised when her girlfriend pulled her into a hug.

Haruhi weakly showed her the broken test, Hika's eyes lighting up with horror as Haruhi continued breaking down.

"I—I can't... I can't do this again, Hika... I can't...!"

Hikari only held her close. Placing a tentative kiss on her forehead.

"It's okay. We'll work this out."

Haruhi didn't reply, but she didn't hide her skepticism.

Yes, she wanted a family.

She wanted one so badly that every thought about the future in store for her hurt.

But not like this...

Hikari helped her calm down enough to bring her to a standing position.

"Let's head back. Figure this out from there."

Haruhi nodded. Walking like a zombie beside Hika back to the clubroom.