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Haruhi knew how she felt. She knew the moment that they met.
A student at Ouran who like her felt out of place.
Which didn’t make sense...she was relatively popular. She had a nice group of friends that she attended the Host Club with every afternoon. She was one of Haruhi’s regulars.
Apparently before Haruhi arrived she’d been a regular of Mori’s...it made Haruhi wonder what about her made (Name) want to make her her new regular host.
An idea of a solution came to Haruhi around Valentine’s Day...when she was told Mori’s regulars typically are shy and unsure about expressions of romance. So they felt safer with him. So what was it about Haruhi that made her feel safe?
For some reason Haruhi had to know…
—
One afternoon Haruhi was running late for the club...as was sadly usual for her, when someone caught her wrist. She turned and saw that it was (Name).
“Oh, hi (Name), are you alright?” She asked.
“I...I need to talk to you….outside of the Host Club…” (Name) squeaked out.
Oh dear, was she going to confess actual love to her...Tamaki...Kyoya...they didn’t tell her how to kindly reject someone...like a gentleman. The only thing she could think of was to tell her the truth that she was a girl...but she knew better than that. It would ruin everything. But it was a confusing and terrifying moment. She didn’t know what to do.
“Okay, perhaps the library?” Haruhi suggested.
(Name) looked unsure and shook her head before she told Haruhi to follow her. They walked to a very secluded corner. This was seeming more and more like a love confession.
“I can’t keep living a lie…” (Name) finally said.
Haruhi swallowed she wanted to say anything to tell her that she shouldn’t get too emotionally invested in a member of the Host Club but (Name) kept speaking.
“How do you do it?” She asked.
Haruhi was stunned.
“Most people here aren’t observant Haruhi...you don’t have an Addam’s Apple...at all… and I help out in the office...all the staff was talking about the scholarship student...a girl…” she said.
Haruhi’s mouth dropped open and she tried to stammer out a denial or an explanation.
“I don’t know why or how you’re working with the Host Club...I don’t really care...for the first time when I’m there...I don’t feel like I’m living a lie…or something like that…” she said.
It hit Haruhi what she meant now, who her father was actually helped her understand and accept people no matter what...and she could tell what (Name) was getting at.
“You’re...gay aren’t you?” Haruhi asked.
(Name) nodded tears in her eyes, “I haven’t told anyone before...but talking to you at the club and watching you I know I could trust you...I just...I had to tell someone or I felt like I was going to explode…” she stammered, “I...I like girls...I’m gay...I’m...I’m a lesbian…” her voice was so small as she said those last words.
“Why me?” Haruhi asked.
“Because...you seemed like you might understand…or at least not look at me like I’m a freak…” she murmured.
“Because you’re not a freak.” Haruhi said in a certain tone, “My...my dad is bisexual...he’s a drag queen too...I’ve grown up without the ideas of queerness being a weird or wrong thing.”
A few tears dripped down (Name’s) cheeks and hugged her gently. Haruhi gave her a gentle hug in return. Haruhi could tell that she had never felt like she would be accepted as who she truly was...the more she learned about these rich people the more she didn’t understand and didn’t like it. (Name) broke away and pulled a handkerchief and dabbed her eyes.
“You have to understand if something like this got out about me...my life would be ruined…” she said softly.
“Just like if people found out about me…” Haruhi began.
“No...oh god no...that’s not what this is...no…” she shook her head, “I’m not like that...I just...I wanted to be sure that you understand how I would truly be a pariah if people knew...they love Hikaru and Kauru’s pretend queer brotherly love thing...but a gay girl...or an actually gay guy...you can guess how well that would go over…”
Haruhi nodded and smiled softly, “I understand. You have my support. Thank you for trusting me...but we should probably head there if we don’t want rumors about us to spread.” She joked, “You’d also be a pariah for stealing the heart of a Host.”
(Name) giggled and pulled a large bandage out of her handbag confusing Haruhi before she knelt down and tore her stocking on one knee and opened the bandage, put it on her bare knee and handed Haruhi the trash from it.
“Put this in your pocket...you saw me trip in the hall and helped me...easy reason for why we’re together alone for so long.” She said with a wink.
“Devious.” Haruhi chuckled and helped her stand.
She smiled and they headed off together. A new understanding reached between the two of them.