Author's Note: Thanks to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, and reviewed! I love positive reviews, but I also appreciate constructive criticism! I wish for my writing to grow and improve over time, so I appreciate any advice given! Even if it doesn't immediately affect this current work, I consider all comments when writing future works. Of course, letting me know what I do well also encourages me to continue writing and helps me realize my strengths. Also, this chapter was originally longer, but I decided to cut it in half, hence why it is much shorter than normal. I hope you enjoy and that, for at least a moment, you can escape into the world of Ouran High School's Host Club!

Today was Wednesday, the day that Rentaro and Airisu were set to meet.

As the sun was rising, Kaoru was sitting in Kyoya's bedroom, avoiding Akito, Kyoya's brother, as Kyoya was finishing getting ready for school. As Kaoru mindlessly scrolled through his phone, he mused that it was certainly a pain to get the shadow king up early in the morning. He wouldn't have done it if it hadn't been absolutely necessary. Kaoru needed to discuss their plans, and without Hikaru around.

Ever since Kaoru pushed his brother away to work with someone else on the science project, he felt like they were growing further and further apart. But it seemed that this was simply the beginning of the way it had to be. It was clear to Kaoru that Hikaru felt for Airisu, though he questioned if Hikaru realized it yet himself. But, this was not his primary concern for today.

Kyoya emerged, finally dressed. "Right. I have about 20 men on call near the school if our plans go amiss."

Kaoru paled. "Do you really think it necessary?"

Kyoya, putting on his glasses, said, "I make it a habit to leave nothing to chance."

"Is that a criticism of my plan?"

Kyoya, slipping his watch on and refusing eye contact, said, "No. It's merely a statement of fact. Our plans have quite different objectives. My priority is ending the blackmail situation and ensuring the happiness of one of our guests, while yours is your brother's growth."

"Well, yes." Kaoru muttered. "I still think she might confide in Hikaru before the meeting today."

"Think or hope?"

"Well, hope."

"I've been conducting some research," Kyoya began, briefly sitting on the bed next to Kaoru.

"Did you find something out?"

"Very little. However, I noticed that in many of the public photos of her father, Touma Nomura, Airisu is also present. If he controls his image meticulously like most company heads, then those images are intentional. He has a daughter approaching marriageable age, and is very subtly flaunting the fact."

Kaoru paled. "But Airisu had Hikaru pretend to be her boyfriend for that dinner with the Igarashi family. Wouldn't that destroy her father's plans?"

"Not if they publicize their breakup. She only took him to one dinner. It would take more than that to ruin a potential match."

Kaoru frowned. "So you think Rentaro is trying to ruin a match for her?"

"I strongly believe that to be the case. Public records show that his family initially wanted to merge with Nomura Electronics, before Airisu's father bought them out. It's likely Rentaro believed he would be matched with Airisu."

"So Rentaro wants to be matched with her now?"

Kyoya pushed up his glasses. "It's a possibility, but there may be more going on than we realize. You and Hikaru overheard Rentaro mention that his next request would be more personal. Therefore, can assume Airisu up to this point was passing along information to Rentaro about her father's company. This is the first real threat he is making to her availability."

Kaoru scratched the back of his head. "If he wanted to be matched with her, then it wouldn't make sense for him to ask her for something else first."

"Exactly my thought. Rentaro has another objective, one that requires Airisu's potential matches to be put in jeopardy."

"I just don't understand what it is she's trying to hide! Is she really this stupid to let Rentaro ruin her future like this? Ruin her father's plans? How can she be so selfish?"

Kyoya didn't say anything. Instead, he opened his bedroom door, beckoning Kaoru to step out. He followed his friend, mind spinning. He would do anything for his family, and especially for Hikaru. How could Hikaru be falling for a girl who didn't put her family first? It really, really bothered Kaoru. He couldn't fathom how Airisu was even considered as a replacement for Haruhi.

Kyoya spoke again, "Remember that we do not know the entire situation. What you may think is happening might not be the case. We have to be prepared for all possible circumstances."

"Yes, you're right," Kaoru admitted.

Kyoya paused in the family's living room, having a seat on the modern-style couch as one of the servants brought him coffee as an attempt to ebb away the effects of hypotension. Kaoru sat across from him on a similar chair, placing his hand on his face.

Kyoya sipped his coffee. "So you believe that Hikaru and yourself will be the best to confront Rentaro when he meets with Airisu?"

"Yes. We know her the best, after all. And we don't want to put Haruhi in harm's way, even though she also knows her."

"If you are concerned for safety, perhaps we should have Honey and Mori should be the ones to interfere."

"They can be right outside. Look, we don't know what's going down between Rentaro and Airisu. Hikaru...I'm sure he doesn't want someone else there. Like he might be able to talk to Airisu one last time."

Kyoya raised an eyebrow. "Is that some reluctance I hear in your tone?"

Kaoru sighed. "Normally I'm all onboard with helping our guests...and it was my idea to have the host club help out Airisu. But the more I think about it, the more it doesn't add up. We don't know what she's hiding. What if the information she's withholding makes us regret helping her?"

Instead of replying, glasses shining, the shadow king sipped his coffee and opened his laptop.

Airisu woke up in a cold sweat, sitting up suddenly. The sheets around her felt suffocating, so she desperately pushed them off. Her meeting with Rentaro was today. Everything in her life depended on how today went. She hated how much Rentaro had control over her. But she had no choice.

It was rare Airisu didn't want to get out of bed, but the pressures of today were paralyzing. She had to make a decision: continue to follow what Rentaro wanted, or face the consequences of him exposing her secret. Regardless of what she chose, something bad was going to happen. There simply was no way to win in this situation.

She had to get up.

After forcing herself out of bed, she dressed in her yellow uniform quickly, unable to stop thinking about the way Rentaro had said "special photographs" back at the exposition. Before, she had simply gotten pictures of some of the new inventions her father's company was working on. Of course, Rentaro hadn't realized that those inventions had already been patented despite being in early stages. Rentaro was desperate for anything that could bring profit to his family, so much so that his senses were blinded. That was likely why he was even making such a request to Airisu.

Rentaro was desperate and Airisu knew it. He wouldn't be doing this if he wasn't. Airisu could understand, after all, she was in the same situation. Rentaro knew that she was desperate to keep the information secret, and thus he took advantage of it. It was as simple as that.

Not that it excused his behavior.

She came down to breakfast, heart beating a mile a minute. She couldn't stop worrying about Rentaro!

Touma Nomura, wearing a black suit, smiled at his daughter. "I've received good news. The patriarch of the Shimomura family agreed to a business meeting with me this week. If all goes well, I assume he would like to introduce Daiki to you."

Airisu simply nodded, unable to focus on her father's business maneuverings. She just had too much on her mind right now.

"You look pale, my dear. Are you feeling alright?"

Airisu sat down and forced a smile. "Yes, I'm alright."

The last thing she needed was her father to insist that she stay home from school. Today, more than any other day, she needed to be there. Who knew what Rentaro would do if she skipped the meeting? The only thing worse than allowing herself to be manipulated by Rentaro would be his actions if she refused. She simply wouldn't allow it to happen.

Airisu took a few feeble bites of toast, before suddenly standing up. "I think I'm going to go to school a little early today. I want to make sure that my science project is coming along."

Touma stood up and walked over to his daughter, placing his hand on her forehead. "You don't appear to have a fever. Are you stressed about your project?"

"Yes."

The disapproval on Touma's face was clear. "That Hitachiin boy isn't leaving you to do all the work, is he?"

"Oh no, nothing like that! He's trying his best as well. We may have chosen something a little too ambitious to complete in the provided class time, that's all."

Ever since the dinner with the Igarashi's, her father had been invested to hear of updates on her project. Despite him never saying it, it was clear that he disapproved of her having to work with Hikaru. The boy had proven himself to be impulsive and untrustworthy in the eyes of her father, someone who Airisu shouldn't be spending time with.

Touma said, "Well, alright. But let me know if he ever does leave too much to you."

Airisu dipped her head. "I'm going now, have a good day, Father."

Airisu kissed her father on the cheek as a goodbye, and went out the door before he could inquire after her further. She hadn't meant to worry him. On her ride to school, she couldn't help but feel carsick. There was just too much going on. She felt like she was taking the weight of the sky on her back, and that any little thing could break it.

Since their day together Saturday and his time as her pretend boyfriend, Hikaru had been inserting himself more and more into her life at school. He'd offered to carry her books, offered her sweets at the host club, and even offered to give her his mother's latest designs. For the past few days, she'd been politely rebuffing him. While she was thrilled he seemed to be taking an interest in their friendship, she couldn't risk becoming too close with him and confiding with him. She'd been so close to doing so both at the exposition and at the dinner with the Igarashi's. So, she'd kept him at a distance the past few days. Besides, he'd proven himself to be an undesirable friend, at least in the eyes of her father. He was simply too impulsive and emotional to be invited to dinner with her family again.

Airisu was still a little weary of how Hikaru would act today in science. She knew that she was becoming worse and worse at acting cold towards him. When she wasn't worrying about Rentaro, her thoughts immediately went to Hikaru. Since they had become closer, her feelings for him have only grown stronger and stronger, even to the point that she was beginning to feel flustered around him. Still, she had to stay focused. Keep Hikaru at a safe distance, then meet with Rentaro. Keep her family's name out of the news for one more week. That was all.

As she entered the school building, she was shocked to see Hikaru and Kaoru immediately approach her, grinning.

"Good morning, Airisu!" The Hitachiin brothers said simultaneously.

Hikaru said, "Would you like me to carry your bag for you?"

Airisu felt the heat rise to her face. What had possessed Hikaru to pay this much attention to her? Was it possible he returned her feelings? No, she couldn't focus on this now. "N-no."

Kaoru boldly put his arm around shoulder. "We'll escort you to science class."

Hikaru put his arm around her from the other side. "Did you sleep well last night?"

Airisu was positive that she looked like a tomato, but consoled herself in the fact that since they were so early, not many other students were around. "I slept fine," she lied.

Kaoru patted her on the head. "Good to hear!"

Despite both twins' arms around her, Airisu felt Hikaru's more, as if sparks were flying out of it into her own arm. Hikaru said, "Are you sure I can't listen to you practice at lunch today? It would be a great idea to practice in front of an audience, after all!"

"Positive."

They had arrived at their classroom, and Airisu ducked out beneath their arms. "We have a lot to do today, Hikaru, so let's not waste any time."

By now, they had most of the parts they needed to construct the robotic mannequin. Hikaru had been working on the main body of it, while Airisu worked on the mechanization of its arms. She quickly grabbed one of the arms and immediately got to work, sitting at her seat, purposely not close to Hikaru. She fiddled with a screwdriver, working inside to ensure the wires inside were aligned.

Still, Hikaru moved his part of the project so that he could sit in the seat next to her. Airisu did her best to ignore him and focus on her work, but Hikaru spoke to her anyway. "Are you alright, Airisu? You look pale."

"I'm fine," Airisu insisted to him through gritted teeth, perhaps sounding harsher than she intended. She should've put on heavier makeup to hide her apparent paleness.

Hikaru leaned his head on his hand as if he were disappointed. Airisu closed her eyes. He was being so kind to her, but all she'd done was close off from him. "Hikaru, I'm sorry," she said suddenly.

Hikaru looked up at her. "For what?"

"I-I've been ignoring you a little bit, I think. I've just had a lot on my mind. I don't want you to think I'm upset about dinner the other night. I promise that it's nothing you did, alright? I think I'll be back to normal in no time."

"Do you want to talk about it?" Hikaru quietly asked.

"No."

Airisu looked down at the way her fingers shook as she held the robotic arm. She just needed to get through today.

The rest of science class passed with little excitement. Haruhi and Kaoru sat closer to her and Hikaru today, as if they were keeping an eye on them. Hikaru had stuck by Airisu's side the entire time, even walking her to the door of her elective music class once they were released from science. She politely thanked him, but was beginning to worry that he would attempt to follow her from lunch. She couldn't let it happen.

As soon as her music class was finished, Airisu slipped out and walked in a completely different direction than normal. If Hikaru had attempted to catch her, he certainly would've missed her. She walked down a back staircase, taking a winding route to the activities hall. At the end of that hall was the changing area for the fencing team, exactly where Rentaro had told her to meet him.

Outside the door, Airisu struggled to keep her breaths slow and calm. The last thing she needed was to hyperventilate and faint. She could do this. She just needed to follow Rentaro's directions. That was it. She could do this. She had to do this.

Airisu opened the door, heart beating out of her chest as she saw Rentaro had already arrived, a camera set up on a tripod. He wore his freshly pressed school uniform, as if he'd just walked out of a school advertisement.

"Shut the door," Rentaro ordered her immediately.

Airisu complied, staring at the contrast between her white stockings and black shoes. "What is it you want me to do?" she said, a slight edge to her voice in spite of her weak position.

Rentaro sighed. "We're going to take some pictures together."

Airisu, not moving, looked up and said, "Rentaro, I deserve to know exactly what your intentions are."

He wouldn't look her in the eye. "I think you can guess them already"

So she was right in her predictions. "You want to take intimate-looking pictures together. You're trying to find another reason to keep blackmailing me. Please, tell me, do you believe my information is going to be public soon? Why do you need more leverage over me if that isn't the case?" She couldn't stop her tears from falling.

Rentaro shook his head. "No. I don't believe your family's secret is going to be public. I-look. Airisu, I'm sorry. But you must have been aware of my position by now."

"You need a reason to exploit money from my father without letting him know of the information. So you're going to create compromising pictures to do so…"

Rentaro nodded. "Yes. If there are public pictures of you alone with a boy in an intimate position...it may compromise alliances he tries to form with the more traditional families. There's already rumors that you may become engaged to Daiki Shimomura. Have you even met him yet?"

"Not yet," Airisu muttered. "So you'll keep the pictures secret if my father pays you off."

"Yes."

There was still something that might jeopardize the situation.

"Rentaro...how much contact have you had with Hiroto? Did he tell you about the other night?"

Rentaro nodded. "You mean about that Hitachiin brother."

"Wouldn't that negate the need for the pictures? I'm already tied to another boy…"

"Not like this. The pictures I take will be more...intimate…"

Airisu's eyes widened. "I can't disappoint my father, you know this."

Rentaro suddenly snapped. "You have to! Would you rather have him disappointed that you made a stupid decision like any other teenager or have your family torn apart?"

Could she do this? Despite Rentaro's intensity, she tried to calmly analyze her options. If she refused, Rentaro would certainly publish the information she'd been so desperately trying to keep a secret. Her father would absolutely find out and be extremely disappointed and upset, and her life as she knew it would end. On the other hand, if she complied, Rentaro would present the pictures of them together to her father in order to make a profit, also making her father disappointed and upset. Which was the better choice? Which could she prioritize?

There was only one solution. No matter the circumstances, her father could never find out the initial secret she was withholding. It would break his heart and tear apart their family. If she went through with the pictures, he would be disappointed, but at least it would all be directed at Airisu. She would be punished and humiliated, but her family would remain intact. It was the only way. She had to do this.

"Then give me my directions," she said to Rentaro, not meeting his gaze.

He sighed in relief, as if he wasn't sure she would follow through with it. "Good. I brought a robe for you. You will never be fully unclothed-just appearing so from the shoulders up. We're going to go against this wall over here, and I'm going to lean over you as if you're kissing. The camera will get us from the back, so we don't really have to kiss. Please, go change. I will give you privacy."

Airisu stepped behind one of the curtains, her heart racing, hands shaking as she changed. Could she really do this? The thought of even considering it made her sick. She had to do this; she was the only one holding her family together. She had to get through it for her father. For her family.

She reemerged with the robe slipped on. Her stomach dropped as she saw Rentaro had taken his shirt off, adjusting the camera. Airisu felt like she might throw up.

Rentaro was visibly sweating, despite his lack of attire. With his height and deep voice, he was still a naturally intimidating figure. Yet Airisu knew that his strong, threatening words were a front. Right now, he could barely keep the facade. This entire situation was hanging by a thread.

"Come over here," he ordered, voice wavering.

Airisu complied, everything shaking, blinking back tears. This was it. The most scandalous thing she had ever done. Her father would be so disappointed.

But this is what she had to do.

She came to Rentaro, who helped her adjust her robe so that her shoulders were uncovered. She could feel his clammy hands quivering as he did so. He was just as nervous as she was.

He walked over to the camera again, adjusting the angle, then looking back at Airisu. His face turned very pale as he stared at her for a moment. He came over to her to test his position in relation to the camera, then suddenly punched the locker next to her.

"This is insane!"

Airisu could scarcely breathe. "What?"

"I can't do this to you!" Rentaro shouted at her, breathing heavily.

As Airisu processed his words, she heard the door to the room rattle. At that moment, Hikaru and Kaoru Hitachiin burst in, looking back and forth from the half-dressed Airisu to the half-dressed Rentaro. Airisu felt like she'd just been punched in the stomach, the air escaping from her throat.

Everything she had worked so hard for was about to be ruined by the Hitachiin brothers.