Author: I LIIIIIIIIVE! Sorry ya'll, 2023 was a hell-of-a-year and I honestly had zero idea as to where I wanted this story to go. But hopefully I come up with a new wealth of ideas and it gets to be a better 2024. I also want to thank all of you for your reviews/favorites/follows while I was inactive. You all are amazing and I hope that you enjoy the chapter!

—

Mori walked into the East Gardens, running an exhausted hand through his hair.

The Ball had only been going on for an hour and a half and he was already ready to go home.

Or to go to bring Himawari to his home and spend the rest of the evening with her.

To simply just sit with her and to simply be with her.

To just run his fingers through her hair and inhale her scent.

That soft lily and vanilla scent that he found very calming.

To run his fingers through her soft black hair. To bury his face into those locks and inhale that soothing scent of her's.

SNAP!

Mori looked up to see a teen girl wearing a walking towards him.

" Oh! Mori-senpai, what a coincidence running into you here." The girl said, a coy smile flashing cross her face.

" I came out to get some air." Mori said his attention shifting back out to the gardens.

" I can see how you might need a break here and there. From what I hear, your popularity is second only to Tamaki's."

Mori paused at her words.

He highly doubted that he was the second most popular in the Club. Seeing how the Hitachiin twins and his cousin, Mitsukuni always seemed to pull in more clients than he did.

Hell, he felt that even Kyoya pulled in more clientele than he ever did.

" I wouldn't say that I am that popular." Mori said calmly.

" There's no need to be so modest, Mori-senpai." The girl giggled, waving her hand nonchalantly. " Every girl, whether she openly admits it, loves the strong silent type."

Mori shifted awkwardly at her words, wondering if Himawari was one of those girls as well. Of how she would get shy and awkward around him. Of that blush that would appear becomingly into her cream colored cheeks.

" Oh ouch." The girl said dramatically, pulling Mori from his thoughts of his fiancé.

" Are you alright?"

" Oh yes,I must've gotten a pebble in my shoe." The girl said as she went to remove her foot from her heel. Suddenly, she began to tip over, causing Mori to dart forward to catch her.

" Are you alright?" He repeated, concern evident in his voice.

" Ah yes," The girl said as she steadied herself, placing a firm hand on Mori's shoulder. " Thank you so much for your consideration."

" Not a problem." Mori said, not realizing just how close the girl had come. He went to pull away when he felt her slide her hand upwards along his arm.

" It was so valiant of you, Mori-senpai." The girl had said in a seductive tone.

Mori was about to reply when he felt her hands cup his face firmly. " Allow me to you for your chivalry."

Before Mori knew what was happening, the girl pressed her lips greedily against his own.

Wrapping her arms around his neck, pulling him closer to her.

—

Himawari darted back throughout the gardens, back towards the school, tears threatening to stream down her cheeks at what she had just witnessed.

She hadn't wanted to believe Kameko when she mentioned that Takashi eventually growing bored with her.

She had really believed that Takashi wasn't like that. That he was different than the type of men her stepsister described.

She had hoped that Takashi had truly loved her.

WHAM!

While lost in her thoughts, Himawari ran full blown into a solid form.

" Woah! Watch where you're going!" A familiar male voice snapped as she felt a firm pair of arms wrap themselves around her.

Glancing upwards, she saw that she had collided with one of the twins.

She felt the color drain from her face at the sight of him. He and his brother were some of the last people she had wanted to see at this exact moment.

She knew that the twins did not like her.

" Oh hey, aren't you-"

" Pardon me, Hitachiin-san. I wasn't paying attention to where I was going." Himawari whispered as she made to step away. " Please excuse me."

" It's reallynot a problem, Haga-senpai." The twin, she wasn't sure which one he was, said. " Listen, about before-"

" Forgive me, Hitachiin-san. I really must be going." Himawari said as she stepped back and made an attempt to leave, only to have him catch her wrist.

" Wait Haga-senpai, I wanted t-"

" I truly am sorry Hitachiin-san, I must be going." Himawari said, twisting her wrist free before darting away.

Hikaru stood there, completely gobsmacked, as he watched Himawari's retreating form disappear. " What the…" He muttered, pulling his hand back towards him. He glanced down to see a beautiful gold bracelet with several small purple diamonds inlayed on it.

Was she crying? He thought as he shoved the bracelet into his pocket. Making a mental note to give it to Mori-senpai or Honey-senpai for them to return it to her later.

" What are you doing out here, Hikaru?"

Turning, Hikaru saw his twin Kaoru, walking towards him.

" I just came out for a bit of fresh air when I-" He paused, glancing back towards where Himawari had vanished. " Why are you out here?"

" Kyoya-senpai messaged that we needed to help him find Mori-senpai quickly.

" Why?" Hikaru asked, a nervous chill running down his spine.

" He didn't say why." Kaoru said as he stopped in-front of his twin. " But if Kyoya-senpai is asking, it must be important."

" About that."

—

" You ran into Haga-senpai while out in the gardens?" Kaoru gaped as they made their way further into the gardens.

" Yeah and she looked really upset."

" I wonder what could've h-" Kaoru broke off as they rounded the corner to see a girl pressing herself against Mori as he tried politely to push her aside.

A look of pure desperation was plastered across Mori's face.

" Mori-senpai!" Kaoru said sharply.

The girl jumped back suddenly, a look of shock evident on her face.

Mori however, flashed his fellow club members a look of thanks and relief.

" Oh dear, it seems you caught us." The girl said as a slight blush spread across her face. " Mori-senpai and I were simply overcome with strong feelings and threw c-"

" That sounds like a load of crock!" Hikaru snapped. " Mori-senpai looks like he'd rather vomit than have you touch him for another moment longer!"

" Mori-senpai is not allowed to engage in any sort of intimate relations while he is performing club activities." Kyoya stated firmly as he appeared from the shadows. " This is something that the honorable Morinozuka heir would uphold at any cost."

The girl shrank back at the cold expression on the Vice President's face.

" Now, what I am curious about is why you chose this particular night to encroach upon Mir-senpai." Kyoya said, adjusting his glasses calmly.

" I don't know what you are getting at, Kyoya-san."

" Shall I clarify?" Kyoya asked taking a step towards the girl. " I believe you came here tonight for a purpose. Other than to enjoy the frivolities of our event, that is."

" I-"

" I find it odd that on the same night that Habu-san arrives to our event, you are suddenly confessing your feelings for Mori-senpai." Kyoya said causing Mori to tense.

Why would Kameko be here? He thought nervously.

There should be no reason as to why Himawari's stepsister to be present at the event tonight.

" Is it because Haga-senpai was also here?" Kyoya asked, causing an icy cold feeling to instantly drench Mori.

Hima's here? Mori thought in a panic. Why on Earth would she be here? What would possess her to come to a Club event?

The girl paled instantly, clenching her fists so tightly that she embedded her nails deeply into the flesh there. " I don't know why you are being so accusatory and suspicious, Ootori-sa-"

" I believe this conversation is over." Tamaki's voice rang out suddenly causing those gathered to jump.

The club members turned to see their president and as well as Haruhi standing at the entrance to the garden.

" But Boss, that girl there-"

" Is a guest of our event and shall be treated as such." Tamaki said calmly as he interrupted Kaoru. Walking calmly towards the girl, Tamaki bowed slightly, his blonde hair falling in-front of his shimmering blue eyes. Extending his hand towards her, the Host Club President said. " Dear Lady, please accept my humblest offer to escort you."

" O-Oh, of course, Tamaki-san."

" B-But Boss-"

Tamaki quickly held a hand up, silencing Kaoru from his outburst.

" If you'll follow me, dear lady." Tamaki said as he escorted the girl towards the school.

" I can't believe that the Boss just let her walk out." Hikaru said as he watched their retreating forms become smaller and smaller.

" What was all that about?" Haruhi asked in confusion. " Mori-senpai, did you by chance see Haga-senpai yet?"

" H-Hima's really here?" Mori asked, his face going pale.

" Yeah, she was looking for you earlier. She looked rather pretty."

Mori felt a bead of sweat trickle down the side of his face. What would have happened if she were to have accidentally seen what that girl had-

" TAKESHIIIII!" The group jumped at the sound of Honey's worried voice before the small blonde came hurtling around the corner.

" Whatever is the matter, Honey-senpai?" Kyoya asked as he adjust his glasses.

" It's Kameko! I saw her coming back inside from this area!" Honey said causing a sense of dread to descend over Mori. " She was smirking at something on her ph-"

BEEP!

Mori jumped at the sound of his phone alerting randomly.

Pulling it out from his pocket, he noticed a new notification from an unknown number in the message area.

Mori gulped worriedly as he opened the text and when the image became full screen, he felt the phone drop from his hand. He felt his breathing catch in his chest as his grey eyes went wide.

" What is it, Mori-senpai?" Haruhi asked as Kaoru bent over to retrieve the phone.

Mori felt his hands shake as he processed what had just appeared on his phone. It had been an image of Himawari coming around the corner to see the girl forcing herself onto him.

She had seen!

Himarwari hadseen that girl kiss him!

" Mori-senpai?" Haruhi said as what little color was left in his face drained instantly.

" Hima really was here…" He whispered as his hands shook.

" Yeah, she looked really excited about being here." Haruhi said as she glanced down at Mori's phone in her hand. Her brown eyes widened at the image there. " Mori-senpai…"

" Why would Hima be here?" He whispered, his hands shaking as he reached for the phone.

" Tamaki invited her." Kyoya said calmly causing Mori to tense.

" He thought it would be a nice surprise for you to be able to spend time with her." Kaoru said quickly.

" Takeshi…" Honey said, his voice riddled with concern for his cousin.

" I need to find her." Mori said quickly, making his way towards the front of the school. " I have to tell her what happened."

" Mori-senpai…I uh…kinda bumped into Haga-senpai earlier." Hikaru said nervously causing Mori to tense. Pulling out the small golden bracelet he handed it to Mori who's face went expressionless.

" That's Haga-senpai's bracelet!" Haruhi exclaimed in shock.

I gave this to Hima for her birthday last year. Mori thought as he ran his thumb lightly across the purple gemstone.

It had reminded him of her eyes when he had spotted it in a store.

He remembered just how dainty her wrist had appeared when he had placed it on her the previous year.

She's so delicate. He thought as he made his way towards the ballroom. I need to find her! I have to make sure that she knows that I didn't want to kiss that girl!

—

Himawari hurried up the stairs into the mansion, tears streaming down her cheeks as she went.

She had held her emotions in while she was exiting Ouran, using an App to call a cab for a quick escape. However, the moment she had given the driver her address, she had felt the waterfall begin to hurtle down her cheeks.

Thankfully, the driver was kind enough to not ask her what was troubling her. If he had asked, she wouldn't have been able to prevent herself from completely breaking down.

How could she have been so naïve?

There's no way Takeshi would have truly wanted to be just her's. Why else would he be apart of something such as the Host Club?

Almost daily he had untold amounts of girl fawning over him. He could have his pick of any of them, so why would he need her?

Had he only shown her interest because of their arranged engagement?

If that were the case then he could stay away. She didn't want his pity. She didn't want to go from one emotionally neglectful household to another.

What had she ever done to deserve this? She had always tried to be a good daughter to her family and a good fiancee to Takeshi.

She had worked so hard to become the perfect bride for him. She sacrificed so much happiness to make sure she was worthy for him.

Why wasn't she enough for him?

Would he never consider her worthy enough for him and his name?

Upon reaching the mansions entryway she felt her phone vibrate inside her clutch.

Don't look at it. She willed to herself. Don't even!

Her phone had been vibrating nonstop for the past hour as she made her way back to the Haga Estate.

She knew he must have found out that she had caught him. One of his friends must have told him that she had been there. She had her suspicions that it was the twin that she had encountered on her exit of the gardens.

She didn't want to read whatever excuses he wanted her to throw at her.

She didn't remember ever ascending the stairs or how many of the servants she had passed on her way to her room. However, when she entered her room she felt her knees give way as she slumped to the floor.

Plastered across what seemed like every single surface was the image of Takeshi kissing that girl at the ball.