Thank you, everyone. I'm sorry this took so long. For those who haven't noticed, I've gone through and made a few subtle changes to the first two chapters, as well as removed what was previously the third chapter to replace it with this. I feel this will be better for the story, something more manageable to help Haruhi grow into her kendo training, and I'm excited to write again now that I've found the inspiration. Please support me as you once did. If you have any ideas, suggestions, or comments, don't be afraid to leave them for me to read. The best part of writing, as an author, is to see the feedback from your readers and improve yourself! Look forward to more from me in terms of all the stories I left incomplete, as well as more one off ideas I've been sitting on for too long. Without further, ado, enjoy!

Chapter 3: Encouragement From The Right Source!

"Then it's all set!" Honey exclaimed, thrilled to hear Haruhi reaffirm her commitment and find her so dedicated. "We'll make sure everyone is working to support you, and Takashi-kun will take care of you from there! You'll be the best ever!"

"I don't know about that…" Haruhi murmured, "but I'll be enough to win against those bullies and we'll keep our club funding. And, hopefully, once they get their butts kicked, they'll stop harassing Mori-senpai about it and realize they have a lot to learn." She didn't doubt one would happen, but she supposed it was a little bold of her to make such claims. "Or they'll be too embarrassed to challenge you again after getting beaten by a girl."

"I bet they'll totally turn tail with their wounded prides!" Hikaru laughed, brightening and leaning on one of her shoulders.

"They'll definitely need to shut their mouths, after being beaten by us." Kaoru pitched in, happy to agree with him at the idea. "But it'll take a lot of work."

"More than training her to be the perfect host?" Kyoya suggested, adjusting his glasses carefully as he watched them gather to support her. "I think we can manage to make this successful and give her a fighting chance."

"Yes!" Tamaki proclaimed, thrilled to throw a hand in the air as his good cheer came back into full swing. "We will bring our precious Haruhi to the top! Between Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai's training, and our support, there is nothing she won't be able to accomplish!" Throwing his arms around his fellow hosts, thrilled to bring Haruhi and the twins close to his chest as they all squirmed. "Our bonds of friendship shall be everlasting and we will sweep you into a new age of self-discovery and success!"

"And I'll suffocate here against your jacket." Haruhi muttered, happy that only the twins heard her with how close they were squashed, and she was happy to chuckle with them a little before they got another bad idea.

"Oh, Tamaki-senpai, we're so close to Haruhi now… we could almost give her a good luck kiss from each of us." Hikaru mentioned, happy to grin and slide an arm around Haruhi teasingly. "Right, Kaoru?"

And with that, all this business began again.

~Kiss, kiss, fall in love!~

Haruhi was just glad to pile out of the club room by the end, exhausted again but feeling a little more encouraged. She could do it, take care of this by doing her best, and she was a little more confident with all their encouragement. Hikaru and Kaoru would be in charge of the maids, which would be there to help her make sure her father didn't worry about the house, and Tamaki was already planning his long-winded plea for lenience for her professors.

Honey and Mori were both convening, their plans already a deep subject of discussion, and she had reluctantly given Honey her phone number. No doubt they would have come to break down her door once they finished, and that it would get out to everyone, but she hoped it would at least be semi-private. She'd agreed to give it to him, and only him, but she didn't doubt that soon enough, all of the boys would be calling her non-stop.

She was just glad to make it home now, to give her father something to eat as she settled in to her school work, and she was glad to have time to think.

As much as she adored the chance to have her school work done, she couldn't help but worry now. What were they planning? What would they come up with to give her? How could she cope with so much expectation waiting on her shoulders?

What had she been thinking stepping into this mess?

"I wasn't thinking at all." She sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose now as she tried to relax. Long gone were the days of glasses headaches and the pinch behind her ears, thanks to the boys and their insistence to refine her appearance, but the muscle memory did not fade.

"What'd you say, Haruhi?" Her father, undressed from his time at work and looking much more refreshed, reappeared from their bathroom and he was surprised to find her sitting there with her notebook pages bare. "Are you feeling alright? I don't think I've ever actually seen you do your school work… you're usually done by the time I sit down to eat." And not on accident, either; Haruhi liked to sit and eat with her father, unhindered by her studies, and hear about his day.

They had so little time together now that they'd both grown, and she cherished what of it she could get. She couldn't be greedy and ask him to cut down on his hours, not until she could help support them both, and she was determined to make her time at Ouran worthwhile for both of them.

She could not fail.

"I think I got in over my head a little with my extracurricular activities, that's all." She said, shrugging softly as she rested her chin in one hand. "I agreed to be part of kendo for a little while to help one of my upperclassmen, but I don't think I'll do as well as I did when I put my foot in my mouth."

"But you did it for your friends, didn't you?" Her father questioned, gathering his bowl and chopsticks hurriedly to sit down with her.

"Yes, I did. I wanted to help, but I didn't think before I did what I did." She said hurriedly, seeing her father taking an interest.

"I think you'll do just fine." Her father laughed, ignoring how quick she was to criticize her decision. "You did it for the sake of helping one of your friends, no matter what skills you do or don't have. Even if you don't win, who's to say you haven't done your very best?" He smiled at her kindly around his chopsticks. "You always do. Why would a busy schedule change that about you?"

And Haruhi had to pause for a moment as he spoke before she smiled too. "Thanks, dad, I better work on this… how was work?"