Chapter 1
I look up at what is going to be my new school. It looks as if the prep is actually oozing off the school and trying to stick to me. I can already tell it isn't my thing just by looking at all those stupid squealing girls in their yellow dresses. Which reminds me, I'm in one of their stupid yellow dresses too. The color adds to my already really unattractive skin color and bony body and will definitely make me stand out more, which is exactly what nobody, including myself wants, which brings me to my next problem. Why the hell did my father decide to send me to Ouran Academy if he didn't want his sickly little daughter to be noticed? I will never understand that man nor will I ever like him more than I am obligated as his daughter.
My name is Hikari. I'm from the Asou family, a not very well known but very rich family. Lots of my family are in the public eye; they are models and some even work with the Suou family. They never go by Asou though. Very few of us do. I'm the exception of course. I use my family name, for reasons that don't really matter. I'm an oddity all by itself. While my whole family has inherited the Swedish blood from my great grandmother, I look more like the Japanese side; I look like my mother, except for my eyes, they are the only show for my Swedish heritage.
The bell rings and I blink and look down at the schedule in my hands. I have crumpled it up into a little ball. Not only that, I've never been to Ouran before and I have no idea where to go for any of my classes. Just what I need, trouble on the very first day of school, my father is going to be livid.
"Hey! What are you doing? You need to get to homeroom!" I hear a voice shout from behind me.
I turn and see two tall boys, obviously twins. I open my mouth to speak, but one is speaking again.
"Wait, I haven't seen you around before. You must be that new student that Sensei was talking about. That would make sense, wouldn't in Kaoru?" he says, directing the last bit to his brother, who must be Kaoru.
Kaoru doesn't even respond before this other one is going on ahead.
"Come on, you are in class with us. We'll take you."
They move as one and the one doing the talking goes to grab onto my hand, trying to lead me, and meaning no harm. My reaction comes sharp and cruel, courtesy of one of my many illnesses.
"Don't touch me."
"Jeez, I'm just trying to help, no need to be rude," he whines.
"Come on Hikaru, she doesn't want you to touch her. Not everyone is as comfortable doing that kind of thing," Kaoru says, finally speaking.
"Fine, come on anger management girl, let's get to class before Sensei freaks out," he grumbles, the whine still present in his voice.
They walk on ahead quickly, or at least it seems quick to me. Their legs are a lot longer than mine. I don't say anything, I deserve this. I treated them badly first. As we walk, my eyes rest on the talkative one, the one whom I share almost exactly the same name, the boy named Hikaru.
We make to homeroom just as the teacher is about to close his book. He shakes his head and nods towards the empty seats in the class; they must be for Hikaru and Kaoru. On closer inspection, there actually isn't a seat for me. I feel my face flush an ugly red as I stand awkwardly at the front of the class. It would only make sense for there to be no place for me, I am transferring halfway through the year after all.
"Now class, this is the new student I was about. She isn't used to being in such a large school as ours so please make her feel welcome, alright?" the teacher says.
"Yes Sensei," the student's reply, other Hikaru that is.
"Now tell them a little bit about you and where you come from," Sensei prompts.
My hands tighten around the schedule that is still crumpled in my hands. Why is the teacher doing this to me? He has my file, so he must know about my anxiety disorders, about how I am afraid to talk in front of people, especially those I don't know. This must be my punishment for being late, that has to be it. Or it is some scheme my father has come up with to "cure" me of my problems. More like terrify me to the point that I will need to have another transfer. I open my mouth to speak, but no words come out. I stare down at my feet, clenching that little ball of paper even tighter. I can't do it. I can't even tell them my name.
Sensei clears his throat and sighs.
"We don't have all day Asou-san, please introduce yourself to your classmates or I am going to have to send you to the principal on your first day of classes. You have already caused problems for the Hitachiin twins; I'd hate to start your year this way."
This is the last thing I hear before my vision blurs with tears and my face connects to the floor.