It's not that Kaoru and I hadn't considered telling Tamaki what we had learned about our new classmates. But we knew better than to expect him to listen.

The new twins were shockingly distant. Despite their act of kindness during lunch, neither girl seemed inclined to interact with Kaoru and I, or anyone, except each other. Haruhi's comparison to our social tendencies in middle school didn't quite do the situation justice.

"Just do what you two normally would, but lay it on a little thick and direct it towards the ladies," Tamaki explained the Notoskis' new roles out of context.

"What does that mean?" Furukia asked.

"Please, have a seat over here," Kyoya gestured to a bistro style table towards the center of the room, away from both any windows and the lovely hearth. It was one of the guests' least favorite spots. Why was he seating them there if Tamaki wanted to use the twins for new hosts?

"Why?" Zakia asked combatively.

Furukia shot daggers at her, but Kyoya quite patiently informed her, "I wanted to ask you a few things and speak to you about the incident with the cart."

"Me specifically, or both of us?" she challenged.

"Quite honestly you specifically, seeing as you were the one that had the coffee and tea spilled on you, but I didn't think you would be comfortable alone with me."

Surprised, Zakia meekly did as Kyoya asked.

"The rest of you should tend to our clients. They've been kept waiting long enough for your company. In fact, the only one of you that has met my expectations today is Haruhi," Tamaki reprimanded as he gestured to the only host actually hosting.

"Tama-chan, don't be angry! I thought you wanted all of us involved!" Honey exclaimed as he hugged Usa-chan and his eyes welled up.

"You've upset Mitsukuni," Mori added sternly as he scooped up the loli-shota boy.

"Sorry Mori. How about a fresh cake, Honey-senpai?"

Furukia looked a little green at the mention of cake, even as she followed Zakia to the table Kyoya had chosen.

"Ooh, Usa-chan loves cake! Can we have it now?"

"Of course! Go have a seat and I'll make sure it's brought to you. Anything for you Mori?"

In typical fashion, Mori shook his head without a word before following along behind Honey to a table where three girls were waiting to pamper the small, sweet boy.

"You know, I'm not sure how dedicated the new boys are, boss. You may have to win them over like you did each of us," Kaoru commented suggestively.

"What are you doing?" I hissed under my breath.

"We can't just let them stay like they are, can we?"

"It's not really our business if they don't want to interact with us or anyone else."

"Look how much better we are now, all because of the club. Shouldn't we offer the same joy to them?"

Tamaki continued watching us go back and forth. When he held up his hand, he declared with finality, "Kaoru, Hikaru, the two of you will learn more about the Notoski boys and help me gain their consent to be hosts!"

"Those g-" Kaoru elbowed me hard, stopping me from revealing that the new twins were in fact female students.

"Of course, boss. Whatever you say."

Once Tamaki walked away, Kaoru dragged me to our usual area to play "Which One is Hikaru" even though I was irritable and disinterested. Still, when one of the girls took a guess, pointing me out, I still let Kaoru steal the show, claiming to be me instead. The girls laughed, and none were the wiser that Kaoru had lied.

As I looked around, waiting for the club to close so I could talk to Kaoru alone, I noticed Furukia was not fooled by our hats. Her deadpan gaze had me thoroughly convinced the game was as dumb as I thought it was, and the only reason to continue playing was for the club. More and more people were learning to distinguish Kaoru and I.

"Hikaru, you aren't listening to me at all!"

My brother gave me big eyes and a pouty lip as I returned my attention to him and the girls. I grabbed him and pulled him into a hug. "I'm sorry, my mind was somewhere else. Can you ever forgive me, Brother?"

"I forgive you. Promise you won't do it again?"

"I promise."

After this display, Zakia did a really immature puking imitation before Kyoya said something and she turned back to him.

"What are you looking at?" one of the girls asked.

"Just learning a bit about our new friends. Not to worry, they aren't nearly as important as you lovely ladies."

"What are they like?"

Not actually knowing about any of their positive traits yet, I had to say something. "They're English transfer students. At a place like Ouran, that's about the only thing that stands out about them."

"Oh really? Why would Tamaki-senpai want them to be hosts? They sound boring."

"They've only been here a day. Maybe he knows something we don't," Kaoru suggested, glaring at me.

"I'd like them to host me," a new client that seldom spoke stated boldly.

Yuramei got up and went to speak to Kyoya. When she had returned and settled in her seat, the other two guests kept staring at her, but she was not forthcoming with so little pressure.

"Well, what did they say?"

"They didn't speak to me, just to each other. Kyoya gave me their first slot next Friday, though."

"Do you think they won't host anyone until then?" our most regular of the three asked.

"Well that only makes sense, right? You saw how they were dressed when they came in. She would be scheduled for tomorrow if Tamaki thought they were ready as they are."

"Kyoya-senpai is rather shrewd. He must be planning to train them so they are prepared for ladies of our distinction."

"I can assure you ladies that is not the case. Zakia was injured in the incident earlier. I wanted to ensure his proper recovery before adding the duress of the physical demands of hosting," Kyoya filled in as he passed by.

Other than occasional comments towards us and asking us to fill their coffee cups, the girls seemed content to gossip and steal curious looks at our new crossdressers for the remainder of club hours.

"Alright, Vice Pres, how'd you do it? We've been trying to get those boys to talk all day, and they would barely respond," Kaoru complained immediately once all of the guests had filed out.

"I have my methods. What matters is I've secured a trial period of two months for the Notoski twins to be hosts. So long as I can deliver on my end of our agreement, they'll become permanent hosts."

"Why did you go to the trouble of recruiting them personally? Isn't that the one and only thing you've always insisted the boss handle?" I enquired.

"This was a unique case. Tamaki had certainly already requested I look into the new students for potential club capacity, but it has become a matter of personal investment."

"What does that mean?"

"If I wanted to offer you details, I'd have already told you. My matters are none of your business."

"But these are club matters," Kaoru whined.

"Entangled in my personal affairs. Leave it be, Kaoru."

"Vice Pres, I want to help. I remember what Kaoru and I were like before we became hosts. If the new twins can open up and accept others after that same exposure, I want to help them get there."

"Well...it's true that each of them had a separate request apart from their main goal, and I did agree to all of their terms. Hikaru, you can handle Zakia's request. Furukia needs to be shown that his entire life does not need to revolve around Zakia's. Being the older twin does not mean taking responsibility for the younger at the expense of one's own life pleasures."

"I can try."

"If you are not on the right path in a month, I will step in."

"What about Furukia's separate request? I'm sure I can handle it," Kaoru offered.

"Zakia needs to learn that the whole world isn't on his shoulders and it's okay for him to hurt. It's okay to establish connections to people other than his brother. It's okay to have moments of weakness. He needs to learn to expose his heart."

"I..."

"Where's your bravado now?"

"It sounds like Furukia wants Zakia to fall in love, but how can I accomplish that? I'm not gay. Even if I were, I barely know the guy. What if I don't like him that way?" Kaoru complained despite knowing full well that the Notoski twins were girls.

"If that's all, I have a plan to set in motion."

"Who are you going to set him up with?"

The Shadow King didn't answer as he left the club.

"I know that Kyoya's plan won't work, since they're girls. I'll have to spend time with her and find out if I could date her myself. That's the only way to make sure they both stay in the club."

"Unless she really is into girls. She does seem very comfortable cross dressing after all," I reminded.

"I have to try. Both a male option, and Kyoya's female option of whoever he sets her up with... she's bound to show a preference sooner rather than later. Once she does, it'll be easier to find possible partners for her."

"How do you make a girl fall in love?"