Our second day of school was fairly uneventful. Boring, if you were to ask me. Our school in England was ahead of the curriculum here. I suppose that shouldn't have surprised me, the place being a holding pen for snobs to play in rather than a real school.

Mother had always been so stern about our studies and ensuring we got a proper education growing up. She always pushed us to go for the advanced courses. Things had certainly changed.

When class let out, Furukia grabbed my hand and started leading us to the stairs. When I pulled back against her, she reminded me, "Summers in Ryde, Zakia. Going home. All we have to do is sit in a room and talk to people. Going home is worth the effort, right?"

"But-"

"You think Mother would let us go back? She might have kept the property for us these last four years but you've seen how she's acting; everything is about the business and appearances for her. She didn't even ask what our lives have been like since she left us. If she knew we were trying to go back to live in the cabin, she'd sell it."

"What if-"

"No. Nothing bad is going to happen as long as you don't get into a fight with anyone."

"Furukia, ask yourself why Kyoya Ootori, a stranger, wants to help us. He can tell us apart, he knew of my burns, he knew when I was getting aggressive and stopped me with little more than a reminder of my current injuries, and he's promised us to get the cabin put in our name by this summer so long as we stay with the Host Club. Why?"

"Maybe he's just a nice person that wants his club members happy?" she tried.

All I did was raise an eyebrow at her. She didn't try again.

"That was your best shot?" I prodded.

"Maybe..."

"So, being more realistic, what's his angle?"

"We don't know him well enough to even guess. Maybe we should ask Hikaru or Kaoru?"

"I don't want to be anywhere near those two idiots."

"If you don't want to be around them and you don't trust Kyoya, then why did you agree to his deal?"

"For you."

Furukia opened her mouth, but no words came out.

"You'll catch flies," I joked half-heartedly.

"If you agreed for me, then you have to follow through for me if nothing else. If Kyoya doesn't hold up his end, we'll just leave the host club. If you're worried about what he gets out of this, and you don't want to ask the twins, you could ask Haruhi, or Tamaki, or maybe one of the older boys. If you're feeling brave, you could ask him directly."

Ask directly? Of course. I was an idiot not to have done so already. If he wouldn't tell me, I would find out from the others. Whatever it took, I had to make sure he wasn't acting shady towards Furukia.

I ran up the stairs, now being the one to lead our pairing to the music room. When we arrived, the others were already setting up.

"Glad to see you're back without making us go looking for you Paradox Twins!" Tamaki called cheerfully.

"Hello, Zak-san and Foo-san. Have either of you seen Usa-chan? I can't remember where I left him," the small boy called Honey greeted and asked about his toy rabbit.

"I'll help you look. How old are you Honey? I must admit I'm surprised you address me as though my senior," Furukia asked the sweet face.

"I'm a third year student, almost fourth year. A Junior in terms you are more familiar with."

"I wouldn't have guessed."

"I know I'm different from other boys my age, but I can't help it. I just love cute things and sweets. Cake is my favorite. Do you like cake?"

"Zakia and I haven't had cake. We didn't have the money for such luxuries when we were younger and our mom was around, and none was ever offered when we were with foster families."

"No cake, ever?"

"Not yet, but I'd love to try some with you after we find Usa-chan," I added.

"We have my favorite kind today!"

"What kind is that?"

"Strawberry Shortcake!"

After checking under all the tables, on all the chairs, and behind every pillow, the three of us still couldn't find Honey's beloved plushie. The boy looked about ready to cry with his big, watery eyes.

Someone cleared their throat. "I am sorry to have worried you, Honey-senpai. Usa-chan got dirty during your last snack, and Mori asked I have him cleaned. Here you go."

I looked over my shoulder as Honey swept the toy into his arms. Kyoya was the one returning the rabbit.

"A word, if I may, senpai," I requested, bowing politely.

"Is this a private conversation?"

"Yes."

"Follow me."

He guided us to the secondary room that seemed to serve no real purpose to the club, other than storing an assortment of odd costumes and props. Kyoya sat at a small bistro table tucked away in a corner, gesturing to the other opposite him.

"What can I do for you, Miss Notoski?"

Shocked, my eyes went to his as he leaned on the table casually, a smirk on his lips.

"How did you know?"

"Is that really the question you want to ask?"

"Do I only get to ask one?"

Kyoya glanced at his watch. "I suppose we have time for three, assuming each has a simple response. The answer to your first is such. I've read your school records. Your sister's, too. Just as I knew Haruhi was a girl before any of the others realized, I also know you and your sister's gender, weight, height, age, date of birth, academic histories, and disciplinary histories."

"What do you get out of the deal to keep us in the host club?"

"The pleasure of your company. Nothing more, nothing less."

"Why would you want to hang out with us?"

"I find your personality agreeable, Zakia. Your sister's to a lesser extent, but it is you that I am interested in. Singular you, not plural."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Today's club session is starting. We should be returning."

"Wait, senpai-"

"You needn't be so formal with me."

He left the room before I could bring myself to utter his name and stop him. I rejoined Furukia near Haruhi, and we watched how she handled her duties in the club. It wasn't surprising to have Haruhi's gender confirmed. We had already guessed about her being a cross dresser yesterday. But everything else Kyoya had said...I couldn't wrap my head around it. Why was he so interested in me?

"Z-z, pay attention," Furukia hissed as she elbowed me.

"Sorry, Foo."

"Zak-san, it's time for you to try some cake!" Honey shouted throughout the room.

All eyes turned towards my sister and I.

"Please excuse me, ladies. You can return to your activities. I'm certain my brother and Honey-senpai didn't mean to cause you any disturbance," Furukia calmly turned away the attention.

Even Haruhi's two guests returned to their animated conversation as I took my leave to join Honey and Mori's table where four girls were fawning over Honey, who was sitting in Mori's lap. The media wasn't kidding when it said physical affection was normalized in other countries.

"Pardon my intrusion. girls. I hear today's cake is Honey's favorite, and I've never had any cake before, so I thought today might be the perfect time to try it."

"You have a twin, don't you? Is he around?" one of the girls asked coyly.

"Furukia doesn't care for sweet things. He's learning more about our role here from Haruhi."

"Here, Zak-chan," Honey offered his fork with a bite of cake.

Embarrassed, I looked away. "I can feed myself, Honey."

"I just wanted to give you your first bite. Are you embarrassed?"

"Yes. This is not how things are done where I am from," I admitted straightforwardly.

"Where is that?" one of the girls across the table asked.

"England."

"Do you drink a lot of tea? All the films show that people from England take tea time very seriously."

"I mean, we did start a war with the colonies after they dumped our tea into Boston Harbor," I quipped.

"A simple yes would have sufficed," she harrumphed.

"Zak-chan, I'm sorry I embarrassed you, but you don't have to be mean to everyone because of it," Honey reprimanded gently.

"Sorry, senpai I only meant it as a joke."

"You're forgiven if you eat this bite of cake."

With a soft sigh, I bent down and opened my mouth. Before Honey put the fork in my mouth, however, a commanding presence came up behind me.

"Kyo-chan, why are you so upset?" Honey asked fearfully.

"Do you know how unsanitary it is to share utensils?"

"I just wanted to share my cake!" Honey began crying. The girls at the table glared at the young man behind me.

"Honey-senpai, stop this nonsense. Just get another fork. You can still share the cake."

"That Kyoya sure is mean to the other hosts, isn't he?" one girl whispered.

"What difference does it even make if they still share the same cake?" one of the others murmured back.

I snatched the bite of cake, which was wholly delectable and decadent, and grabbed Kyoya's hand as I said, "Please give us a moment. I'll be right back, Honey."

"Okay! Usa-chan likes your smile, by the way," he called, easily bouncing back to that cheery disposition.

I dragged Kyoya into the secondary room. "What was that all about?"

"I was trying to assist you. You certainly didn't seem eager to use the same fork, and I can't say I blame you when you barely know any of us."

"You didn't have to make the kid cry. And those girls made it sound like a frequent occurrence."

"I'm not going to apologize for being accurate."

"Is this how you talk to girls you host?"

"No. The few girls I host get a much less warm reception."

"This is warm?"

"Zakia, contrary to popular belief within these halls, I have very real emotions, and I'm still learning to both express them socially and create circumstances that please me. I wouldn't be so honest or open with a girl I was to host."

"You don't even know me. What makes me so special?"

"I am drawn to you. It needs no other explanation than that."

"Like, you have a crush on me?"

"I don't know about that. As you said, I don't really know you. But I will continue to pay extra attention to you. I am interested in you. That's all I can tell you."

"No offense, but that's weird."

"None taken. Is that all you wanted to discuss?"

"What can you tell me about the other hosts?"

"If you want the basics, you can look through the fanzines. I keep at least one copy of every edition of every host. Some good content in there for you to consider as a host yourself, too. If you have more specific questions, ask."

"What are fanzines?"

"How do I put this...I make magazines of flattering images, information, quotes, and other content for each host, generally about once a month, and sell them to the girls so the club makes money. Money most often spent on Tamaki's outrageous ideas."

"Isn't the club itself an outrageous idea?"

"How did you think we were getting the fancy china and the expensive teas?"

"Good point."

We stood there while he continued to stare at me until he finally asked, "You're not upset?"

"Should I be?"

"Haruhi was horrified when she learned about the ways the club makes money."

"Lucky I'm not Haruhi. If the contents aren't too incriminating or revealing, and that's how the club pays for the fancy tea sets and Honey's sweets and the roses...why not?"

"I plan to make them of you and Furukia too."

"Should I expect any different? At least for now, we are hosts. We should be treated as such."

"For now?"

"Keep up your end of our agreement, and it'll be for the rest of our school days."

"I intend to."

"Knowing my sister, she asked something of you privately. What was it?"

"Are you sure you don't know?"

I sighed. "For all intents and purposes, she asked to get me a lover, didn't she?"

"Close enough."

"You don't have to pursue me because of something my sister asked. You don't even have to try to set me up with anyone. If that's the only reason you're treating me differently from anyone else, don't worry about it. I only need my sister in my life. Asking an outsider to try to find a romantic partner for me is ludicrous."

"What if I choose to pursue you?"

"Base it on me, then, not our agreement. I'm not interested in anything fake or forced."

"And how would you know the difference?"

"How do you think I became such a good judge of character? I wasn't born this way. I'm observant."

"I see. I'd like to ask you something in return now, if I may?"

"Shoot."

"Why would your sister ask that I find you a romantic partner?"

"She's got this idea in her head from the dramas she watches and books she reads that romantic love fixes everything, including people. No matter what I tell her, I simply can't convince her that's not the case."

"Are you interested in males or females?"

"Gender doesn't matter so much as personality. I have yet to find anyone that I enjoy spending time with that doesn't ghost me or dump me for one reason or another."

"I'm sorry to hear that."

Not having anything else to say, I jested, "We should get back before Furukia thinks you've stuffed my corpse in a closet or something."

Surprising from my interactions with the other hosts, he chuckled at the dark joke.

"You know, behind that frosty exterior, I think you're an alright guy, Kyoya. Maybe we can hang out outside of the club sometime."

His eyes widened. "Was that a subtle, open ended way of asking me on a date?"

"Don't let it go to your head, now. Nothing serious. Tea. Maybe lunch. Just to get to know each other better. Not exactly a date. Just hanging out."

"Call it what you will, Miss Notoski. I'm not oblivious like Tamaki as to not recognize flirting when I see it. I'll keep your invitation in mind."

Not too pushy. Matching sense of humor. Very caring, even if more covertly. Let's see if he follows through.