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Chapter Thirteen

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Kanade clutches onto her violin case tightly as she walks with a group of girls towards the main lobby of the first floor in Ouran Academy. Today's the day she's been dreading ever since school started: physical exams. Apparently Ouran had them at the start of the school year all the time. According to the principal himself, it's merely for formalities.

She despises going to the doctors. The stale, metalic smell always hits her nose every time she enters the building. And although the visit was at Ouran this time she can still smell it. Did it only bother her? Everyone else around her seemed to ignore it. Then again, they were too busy chatting with their friends to care.

"Are you alright, Kanade-senpai?"

Her ears perk up at the sound of Haruhi's voice. She grins as she watches the short boy walk over to her. She swears every time he's near her, her hands get sweaty and her heart starts beating fast. But that may be from holding on to her case for too long.

"Y-Yeah," she says breathlessly. "yeah, going to the doctor's office always makes me nervous."

"Oh? Why's that?"

"It's the smell," she says in a fake snobbish voice she hears girls use sometimes. "It's so awful!"

Haruhi merely laughs, "Kanade-senpai, you aren't that kind of person!" he exclaims.

Haruhi's too observant for her liking.

"I'm sure you'll do just fine," Haruhi says encouragingly.

She has no idea how he does it but talking to him makes her feel better. Maybe it's why he's called "the natural" host.

She glances around, hearing squeals from girls who were happy with their physical exam. And then her eyes find the host club, who were acting stranger than normal; with Tamaki cosplaying as Haruhi and Honey and Mori-Senpai dressing in white lab coats.

"Um, Haruhi-san?" She calls to the first year who hums in response. The boy looks just as distracted as she is. "Why are Mori-Senpai and Honey-Senpai dressed like doctors?"

Haruhi gives her a look of confusion before following her gaze towards a large group of girls who were standing around the two whispering amongst each other, equally as confused. Haruhi didn't seem impressed by the cosplay. She could have sworn she heard him mutter "damn rich people" under his breath and chuckles softly. She didn't blame him. Rich people tended to go a little overboard with their luxuries.

"Kanade Fujishima?" A deep,male voice announces. "Is there a Kanade Fujishima here?"

Kanade's breath hitches as she glances up at the doctor saying her name. She isn't ready for this.

"Kanade-Senpai, you're gonna do just fine!" Haruhi smiles at her.

She hopes so. She smiles weakly at the boy and slowly walks over to the doctor. He smiles at her and shuts the curtain to give them some privacy.

"Are you nervous?" He asks politely.

"A little," she mutters.

"It's alright, the visit will be over before you know it!" He chirps happily. Even his happiness seems fake. "I just need to check your blood pressure and run a few tests. Take a seat please!"

She does she's told, flinching at the coolness from the metal chair.

"Do you remember your last doctor's visit?" He grabs a clipboard from the table.

"Yes," she says hesitantly. "It was a few months ago."

"Are you allergic to any medication?"

"No."

"Have you been taking any medication?"

"No."

It's the same standard procedure every single time. She wonders how many times they must have to fake that polite persona of theirs. How many times they have to ask those questions before they got bored of them? It all seems so monotonous to her.

"Alright," he pulls a drawer open and brings out a small, clear white box. She flinches. Those were the needles. "You'll feel a slight pinch. Sorry about this, miss."

"It's alright," she says and hesitantly brings out her arm. She takes a deep breath and holds it in, hating how something pointy is digging into her skin, drawing out her blood.

"This'll only take a few minutes."

She watches how his smile slowly turns into a frown as his brown eyes read over what's on his monitor. She watches how he gets more skeptical as he reads,what she assumes, are her medical records.

"Miss Fujishima," he says slowly. "Are you certain you should be at school right now with your condition? Will you be alright?"

This. This is what she'd been waiting for. She tells this to every doctor she's ever had since she was a kid. She knows already. Why must they tell it to her face over and over again?

"I'm perfectly fine," she lies. It's the only lie she tells everyone every time they ask her that same question.

"Then congratulations!" He smiles at her. "You're perfectly healthy!"

She returns the smile albeit hesitantly. She's certain it looks wrong on her face as she gets up from her chair. She thanks him as she walks back to the lobby. Laughter and squeals hurt her ears. There were no curious glances or gossipers wondering why she didn't look happy. Which she's grateful for. She glances over at Kyoya who's frowning at her. She only smiles to show him that she's really okay. She wonders if he actually bought it. Probably not from the skeptic look on his face.

"How'd everything go, Kanade-Senpai?" Haruhi approaches her.

"Everything went great," she says. Another lie. How many times is she going to lie to people before she can't take it anymore? "The doctor said I'm just fine!"

Haruhi frowns, "Are you sure? You look like you're gonna be sick."

"You're such a worry wart, Haruhi-san," she giggles. "I'm perfectly fine! See?"

She gives him a big grin which he only sighs exasperatedly at.

"Alright, if you say so, Kanade-Senpai."

The nurses call Haruhi in for his own exam and they say their goodbyes as he walks off. She stares after him until he disappears through the curtain. Odd. How come the other boys were okay with showing off their bodies but he wasn't? Was he just shy? She frowns, puzzled by the strange encounter.

"Kanade-chan!" She hears a familiar voice call her name. She can't help but laugh as Aya waves at her enthusiastically. "Kanade-chan! I've been looking all over for you!"

Time to go mingle with the rich folk again. She takes a deep breath and slowly approaches the tall girl.

She can't wait for classes to start so she can distract herself from all the noise.

Physical exams here at Ouran were a complete joke.

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A/N: Big thank you to Guest, Stormglass, hpfan59 for leaving reviews, and to amyone who faved or followed!