Author's notes: I've had this plunnie for about three years. It's slowly evolved into what you see today. I don't think it will be a long story. Edit (2014/01/15): Apparently Asuka is a 2nd year in the manga. I missed that in my several reads of my Otomen set at home. I hope you will forgive me and can enjoy the story anyway.
It was supposed to be a normal day after winning the championships, but right away Masamune Asuka knew something was terribly wrong.
The groups of girls, who usually fawned over him, were looking in his direction furtively and whispering with rolled up magazines of Yan Yan in their hands.
Even his usual classmates were less than eager to respond to his 'good morning', some more tremulously than others.
After he switched out his shoes for school slippers, Ariake grabbed the sleeve of his uniform shirt. "Senpai!"
Asuka blinked at his underclassman. "Yamato, what's up?"
Ariake's hand shook. "This is some sick joke, right? It's a prank, right? There's no way a manly man like you could be one of the Beauty Samurai, the 'Demon of Fashion'!"
Asuka's stomach dropped, but he kept his face carefully blank. "Yamato, it's no joke."
"But—"
"Good morning, Asuka-chan! There's something I want to show you!" Suddenly he was grabbed by red-headed Tachibana Juta, who swung him into the empty conference room. After sliding the door close, he turned to Asuka with a serious look. "You were revealed by the editor-in-chief of Yan Yan."
Asuka often read the newest editions, but he'd been so busy preparing for the National Kendo Championships and then competing in the tournaments that he hadn't had time to catch up on his reading. "... I don't understand why she would do that."
"Whatever the reason, you're unmasked and eating a cute-looking dessert at the bakery we go to!" Juta shoved the Yan-Yan magazine's Exclusive Reveal section towards him as Juta recited only a small part of the article. "The Demon of Fashion is actually a 17 year-old highschooler who goes to Ginyuri Academy. His real name is a secret, but if you happen to meet him in person call him Edo-sama! Hint: He won this year's National Kendo Championships, Highschool Division!"
Pushing the magazine away carefully, Asuka headed to the door. "I need to make sure my mother's okay!"
"Asuka-chan, she's fine! I'm more worried that-"
"Asuka!"
His heart fluttered in his chest at the sound of that voice calling his name. "Ryo?" He smiled turning towards her. Her face looked so troubled that he stopped from stepping closer to her.
"I heard you might be getting expelled. If that happens, I'll come see you at your new school."
Their Sensei stuck his head out of the classroom. "Masamune-kun, you've been requested to go to the office immediately." The poet gave him a sad smile. "If you want to run away now, I can help you out."
"No, Sensei. I need to do this on my own."
Behind him, Juta had a very stricken look on his face.
"Juta, don't look so down. Whatever happens, we'll all still be friends, right?"
Ryo and Juta nodded solemnly.
Straightening his shoulders, Asuka settled the heavy mantle of manliness across his shoulders and headed to the office to confront his mother.
On his way, none of his classmates would offer a 'good morning'. He forgave them easily for that since it probably had been quite the shock.
He entered the room and shut the door.
"Asuka..." The dark voice of his mother quivered. "You're one of those, aren't you? An Otomen, an aberration on the morals of Japanese men!" She gasped as if it hurt her chest to breathe.
"Mother—!" Asuka lurched for her, worried she would collapse.
His mother jerked her arm away from his supportive grasp. "Don't. Try. To. Appease. Me. I've had it with your lies! Japanese men should always be honorable. Where's the honor in this?" She picked up the folded back copy of Yan Yan one-handed. The pictures showed a gentle smile that was always present on his face as he ate pastries, made bentos in his own home, and handed a pair of knitted gloves to Ryo. "How dare you lie to me!" She shook with so much rage that Asuka was afraid for her health.
"Please, Mother. Your health-"
"It was all a ruse to guilt you into stopping this nonsense!"
Asuka's heart squeezed painfully. He worked his mouth and blinked furiously as his eyes started to burn. He had to stay strong, to be a man. He could only afford to shed a few tears, not a whole cupful.
"But I see you are just like that man, that detestable transvestite."
At least his mother didn't seem to know who his father had become, but Asuka was sad nonetheless. There would be no more baking lessons or bakery visits for him. He took a deep, shaky breath as tears threatened to fall again.
"Don't worry, my dear Asuka. I had a backup plan in case nothing else reformed you. For the rest of the school term, you will be going to Ouran Academy, which other than being wildly prestigious, also offers the best academics and athletics programs that money can buy." Her merciless eyes flashed and Asuka took a step back. "Your little friends can't corrupt you anymore."
He couldn't stand it any longer. He ran for the door opening it wide and running out. Everything he'd work so hard to maintain. Everything ruined in just one issue of his favorite magazine. He sobbed, blinded by tears.
Now that the truth was out, it felt like his wonderful world was imploding. His classmates had refused to look at him. Was it so terrible? Was he so much of a freak to like to sew and cook? He couldn't help the tears as more and more fell.
"Asuka-chan!" Juta's voice called him, but his vision was all a blur as he ran out the back door of the school.
TBC.