I don't own Ouran Highschool Host Club (but I wish I did). This whole entire story is going to be in Haruhi's POV unless I tell you it's been changed so don't forget that. It's very important.

Chapter 1

The news was spreading around like a wildfire. There was another 'commoner' at Ouran Academy. I couldn't help but wonder what they were like. Maybe I could finally talk to someone normal, who didn't freak out at the mention of doing your own shopping. That would make a huge difference in my life.

Life was normal at the Host Club. Tamaki was charming girls. Hikaru and Kaoru were acting like homosexual twins. Kyoya was working on his computer. Honey-senpai was eating cake. Mori-senpai was standing behind Honey-senpai. Nothing was out of order.

Until Renge burst up on that platform of hers.

"I saw the new commoner! It was a girl. She's in Class 1-A! How exiting is that. What do you think Haruhi?" I just shrugged. Answering Renge's question incorrectly was a very dangerous risk that I just didn't what to take. Who knows what kind of monster she'll become.

"What do you mean you don't know?! Haruhi this is monumental moment. You ought to know that nobody enters Ouran in the middle of the year! So what do you think?!"

"Well, I guess she must show great potential if Chairman Suoh finds it fit for her to enter this late in the year." Tamaki looked over at the mention of his father.

"Kyoya could find out why this girl has been admitted, couldn't you Kyoya?" The Shadow King adjusted his glasses.

"Yes, I could." He was looking back at his computer.

Five minutes later, he stood in front of the Host Club and its manager. He was trying to add suspense. I could tell that Tamaki was losing his patience.

"Come on Kyoya; tell us what you found out about the girl. What's she like?"

"The girl's name is Azami Watanabe. Her father, Takejiro Watanabe was the main reason that they were remotely wealthy for commoners. Her mother, Chikako Watanabe, is the only family that Azami has left, because her sister and father both died. Chikako divorced Takejiro before he died." I shifted uncomfortably.

Maybe I had more in common with this girl than I thought I had. I had not expected her to have lost a parent too. Now the girl had one parent, and to top it off, she lost her sister. She didn't seem to have much luck.

"Azami Watanabe, you say. What will people come up with next?"

I wanted to point out that her name was perfectly normal, and there was nothing odd about it. I really didn't feel like arguing right now.

"Haruhi and Renge, you two should talk to her. After all, Haruhi's a commoner, and Renge, you're a girl in the same class, so you might as well." Kyoya was obviously thinking of business.

"Yeah, Haru-chan, you and Renge-chan could introduce her to all of us. Maybe she would become a guest here." Honey-senpai smiled. When he said it, it sounded a lot less cold.

"Why don't we? You never know." Honestly, I just wanted to talk to another person who understood what it was like not to be rich like the rest of the people here. "Speaking of which, we're going to be late for class. All of us." I ran out the door to math.

I looked around the room and saw Azami immediately. She was the only one not wearing a uniform. She was wearing black jeans, a black t-shirt, and a black jacket. Her black hair was in a straggly ponytail. She seemed to be depressed. Her face was downtrodden and she wasn't even paying attention to the lesson.

I couldn't judge her immediately, but I was expecting someone a bit bubblier. Renge was staring at her. Hikaru and Kaoru were probably too. I was shocked, but after all, the girl lost her father and sister.

The final bell rang. Azami got up hurriedly and dropped all her books in a heap. She dropped down quickly to the floor, but Kaoru had beaten her to them. He smiled at her.

"I'm Kaoru Hitatchiin. That over there is my brother, Hikaru. And over there is Haruhi Fujioka and Renge Whatever-her-last-name-is. You should hang out with us sometime. Of course, Tamaki-senpai would probably insist on coming along to make sure nothing happened to Haruhi." He dropped his voice. "He has a huge crush on her."

"Um… I'm Azami Watanabe. I have to go. My mother's kind of strict about punctuality. She'd be incredibly mad if I wasn't on time." She took her books out of his hands and ran off.

"Wow Kaoru, either she was freaked out by you getting that close to her and made up a lie, or her mother's a really weird person. And it probably would've helped if you hadn't used such a strange voice." Renge said.

"If her mom really is like that, could you blame her? I mean her husband and one of her daughters died. She must be pretty scared that something might happen to Azami." I jumped to the girl's defense. Her mother could be just like my father.

"Oh well, she be back tomorrow. Maybe we could talk to her then. I hope so. Maybe we could get her a uniform."

"I don't know Kaoru. She looks like one of the people in the world who don't want their independence taken away. If you want to get her one, you should probably ask her about it first."

"You're right Haruhi. I'll ask her tomorrow." I felt like hitting my head on the wall. I meant that she probably doesn't want one. I knew he wouldn't listen though.

I left the room, and headed home. My father was on a business trip. He wouldn't be home for a while. That left me to take care of the house. I started to think about Azami again. What was her life like? Where did she live? Then, I stopped. It wasn't my business to know that much about her. After all, we haven't even talked.

I came upon my front door. It was open. My father obviously forgot to close it on his way out. Or, it could those Lobelia girls again. Benibara and her stupid little crones that follow her around. Would they still be after their 'revenge'? That was an awful plan anyway.

I walked in. Nobody was there. I was safe from those lousy performers, who were overdramatic. Really, they act like everything is a huge deal, and if we associate with guys, it'll ruin our souls. Who believes in that stuff? Besides them of course.

I looked at the note on the fridge.

Haruhi-

Be back next week. Have fun.

-Daddy

That was short. Usually it's like some giant speech that Tamaki-senpai would come up with. I guess it's kind of scary when the Host Club President reminded you of your father. After a while you get used to it though, so I guess that's the reason why I don't find it strange anymore.

I walked back out to get some stuff from the supermarket. I was able to wear my uniform outside of school now that everyone knew I was a girl. For some reason I was still a popular host for all the girls, and now a few guys stop by. I guess I was just adding even more business.

I was almost at the supermarket when I heard a girl try to suppress a scream. It was coming from the old, dilapidated house that some crazy lady lived in with her children. Nothing new. There was always something going on there.

"How dare you quit Lobelia!? I spent so much money for you to go there! Now, you just throw it all away. You know we don't have any money anymore. You're a disgrace!"

"You know Mother; we'd have money if you got your fat ass out of that stupid club and got a job. I'm not the disgrace. You are. At least I don't get drunk every night and all that. Where do get the money to spend anyway? As you just said, we don't have any."

There was the sound of someone getting smacked. That girl was really brave to say all of that to that crazy lady she had for a mother.

"You know what? I'm going to go out, and when I get back, this house better be spotless."

"This isn't a house. It's a pile of sticks with a roof. You may think I'm stupid, but I know that much." There was a scream and thump.

The door swung open.

"I'll be back at around one o'clock. And if you want that to happen again, don't clean the house."

There was some rustling from inside when she walked down the road. I looked in through the doorway. There, on the floor, clutching her face was Azami. I really hadn't expected her to be in here. Isn't her family kind of wealthy?

She unsteadily got to her feet and walked to the back door. I saw an old water pump. Then, she fainted. I was so shocked that I ran to the supermarket, leaving her there to suffer the consequences she would get when her mother returned.

I felt horrible about leaving Azami there. She and her mother pretty much lived in poverty. Pull yourself together Haruhi. Calm down. I quickly bought everything that we needed. I wanted to call Kyoya-senpai and ask him about this.

I wasn't paying attention, so I ran into someone. Arai.
"Hey Fujioka, what are you doing here, in a guy's uniform?" Why did he make it sound like I was an idiot?

"I was just buying stuff, from the supermarket. And I live down around the corner, so why shouldn't I be here?"

"So why are you dressed like a guy?"

"I'm not. This is my uniform that I was given. It's mine." Okay, I really did sound like an idiot there. "I've got to go. Bye Arai." I ran home as quickly as possible.

I was going to call someone. So, I thought of Kaoru and Hikaru, who were both on my top five thing. Then, I stopped. Kaoru obviously liked this girl, so if I told him, how would he react?

I honestly didn't know what to do. My mind flashed back to the image of Azami in the back doorway. What had that lady done to her?

There was a knock on my front door that brought me back to reality. I walked over and opened it. It was Tamaki.

"Oh, hello Senpai. Why are you here, at my house?"

"Haruhi, you haven't even changed out of your uniform! What have you been doing?!" He hugged me. This was become less sporadic now that everyone knew I was a girl. "Kaoru said that he talked to Azami. I was thinking that you and I should try to find out where she lives. Kyoya tried, but he said that the last place that had records of them was demolished."

If you hate it, oh well. I haven't even gotten that far into the plot, so don't think that it's shit if you are thinking that, because it isn't done yet.