Because I was afraid.

[Not easy to say. Not in the least. But Tamaki deserves the truth. Or as much of the truth as Kyouya can manage.]

If we'd been acting as hosts? I wouldn't have cared.

Half our guests at Ouran, especially my regulars, think I'm in love with you or Mori-senpai or Hikaru and Kaoru. Some think Haruhi, but not as many.

As hosts? If that had happened? Easy. A small smile, walk away. Leave them wondering.

But we didn't have guests. We weren't hosts.

[Which complicated things.

And Haruhi hadn't known. Maybe none if his friends knew what he thought was obvious.]

One of these days... It's not going to be you asking. It will be someone... Someone who's figured it out. That I... have no interest in girls.

And they'll be asking to hurt me. [To destroy me.] And that's...

I know you won't ever do that to me, but that's all I heard. So I... I tried to protect myself.

Unfortunately, I do that by trying to hurt the person who scared me. Even if that person is you.