Chapter 1

7:10 A.M.

"What the hell!" Megumi struggled to put on her jeans as she grabbed some warm bread from the toaster, "Ah, hot hot hot!"

It's her first day in Ouran Academy and she's running late. What a great way to start the day.

As she finished putting a few more things in her bag, her long, orange hair tied tightly into a bun hidden neatly beneath her hair and under a cap, making it seem like she had short voluminous pixie hair, clothes that hung loosely on her body, and round glasses that perched on her nose, she remembered she didn't know how to get there by foot.

Oh, crap, she thought as she looked at her wristwatch. 7:20 A.M.

You see, Takashima Haru Megumi is one of the daughters of the standing CEO of Takashima Gaming Development, a company that develops games and distribute it throughout the country, making one of the largest companies in Japan. Even though she was born with a silver spoon on her mouth, she was raised by her mother, who was a respectable middle-class woman, to be down-to-earth and humble, which is why it has come to this: starting today, she would be living on her own during her stay in Ouran!

Standing in her newly-furnished, 2-person apartment, she searched for her keys and took her bag and started going for the door. As she found herself in the middle of the road, she had an inner battle against herself about the directions in going to school. So, do I take a left… or was it a right? Ugh, why didn't I listen to Kuzo more when we were on our way back? Here goes nothing. She started to walk, without knowing where she was going and spotted the familiar shade of periwinkle blue male students from Ouran are known for.

Hey! A student. Maybe he can tell me how to get to Ouran. A tinge of hope sparked in her honey-brown eyes. She started approaching the boy and soon enough, she was already inches away from him that she tapped him on the shoulder and make him turn around to face her.

"Oh, hello there", the boy said, confused as to why someone would reach out to him early in the morning. "Can I help you?"

Needless to say, Megumi was quite shocked when she took ahold of the stranger's face. Doe-like eyes, petite figure, a small face. The makings of a female heroine.

She ignored the thought, thinking it might offend the stranger in any way and for all she knows, she needed all the help she can get right now.

"Well, I saw your uniform and figured you go to Ouran Academy. I was wondering if you could tell which direction it might be, I'm kind of lousy with directions and it might turn out that I might be late", Megumi said sheepishly as she looked at her watch. 7:30 A.M.

"Ah, I'm sorry but I can't accompany you there myself because I have to do some errands before going but I can tell which way to go."

Megumi beamed and nodded her head furiously, "That can be enough, thank you!"

As she listened to his directions, she can't help but think of the many reasons why on earth a girl would decide on wearing the guys' uniform; one of them being because of the atrocious yellow uniform girls in Ouran are forced to wear. Thank goodness hers hasn't arrived yet and she can relish the days without it.

"- then when you turn right, you can easily see the school from there."

"So a left and then a right and then another right, is that correct?", Megumi asked.

"Yes, you're really not quite that far from there", Haruhi stated. "Oh yeah, I was wondering why a guy like you ended up here in this neighborhood though. I haven't seen you around before."

Megumi gave a confused look, "Guy? No, in fact, I'm a gi-" She looked at her watch.

7:40 A.M.

"Oh, snap! 20 minutes to spare, I'll see you around there then," Megumi waved good bye and started to run, fearful of being late in her first day.

"Wait!" the stranger called out.

Megumi turned to a stop and looked back, only a few feet stood between them.

"I'm Haruhi, by the way. What's your name?"

Megumi smiled at her before taking off, "You can call me Haru Megumi."

Haruhi stared off at the running shadow that was more likely a newfound friend, "Hmm, what a weird dude. Haru Megumi…"

7:50 A.M.

Megumi stepped on the grounds of the prestigious school minutes before the first bell might ring. I can finally make i-

"Whoa!" she tripped on her shoelaces that came undone during her run and all her things, even her glasses, came flying into the air. How embarrassing. Right in the middle of people going out of their limos, way to go, Megumi.

"Hey, are you okay? Does it hurt?" a small voice called out right in front of her. From where she was lying, she can vaguely see two sets of feet inches away from her face.

"Here." a hand offered her her glasses and she took them gratefully and stood with the help of two pairs of hands.

"Thank you. I'm fine, totally." She wiped down the dust from her clothes and finally took a look of her saviors. A tall figure shadowed over her with a stoic expression on his face. Meanwhile, while looking down, she found a blond-haired boy that was holding a stuffed bunny and big brown eyes that was conveying concern.

"That looks like it hurt so much", the boy replied.

Megumi smiled at him. "Look", she gestured to her baggy clothes. "I'm perfectly fine, see. No bruises, I guess my clothes soften the blow."

"Mitsukuni", the stoic person said. "He's fine."

He?, she thought. Why do people mistake me for a guy? Do I not look feminine enough?

"Here!" a hand held out a big lollipop at Megumi's face. "You can have it, for being so brave."

Megumi's eyes widened. An offer of sweets early in the morning? That's the best thing that's happened all day!" Knowing her sweet tooth, she wouldn't dare say no to a lollipop, even if it was offered by a stranger. She took it from his hands and thanked him before he smiled one last time and skipped away from her.

She felt a gentle pat on her head. "Take care." she heard the tall guy say before he followed the blond into the school's premises.

This might not be so bad at all.

"Takashima-san, please take a seat between the Hitachiin twins at the back."

She look around to see two identical twins with auburn hair sitting in the back, obviously not caring what the teacher has to say. She held out a sigh before walking towards the empty seat.

Class began immediately after and for quite some time, she savoured the silence that embrace her, getting the feeling of foreshadowing that this might be the last time she'll ever have any.

Lunch came by and it was finally time to eat! As soon as the bell rang, she rushed out of the classroom, momentarily forgetting that she had no idea how to get to the cafeteria without getting lost. She wandered through the halls, slightly hoping they could possibly have a directory somewhere.

"Lost?"

She turned around and saw another blond approaching her slowly. He had the most stunning purple eyes she had ever seen, comparing it to the stone amethyst.

"Oh yeah, can you tell me which way is the cafeteria?", she asked.

"Better yet, I can take you there", he replied. "What's your name?"

"H-Haru"

"Haru? That's an interesting name. You're new around here, aren't you?"

"I guess you could say that."

"Well, I'm Tamaki. Nice to meet you!", he smiled and with that, his cool facade slowly faded away, replacing it with a playful aura that somehow irked her every so slightly. "Well, here we are now. I hope you remembered your way back." Whoops, maybe I didn't.

"Thank you for escorting me here. I'll be indebted to you!", Megumi beamed.

"No worries. See you around, piglet." He turned his back and gave a wave before disappearing into the crowd of screaming girls. This gave her time to marvel at the place; white walls stood and people were seated in an orderly manner. A line leading to the food that is being served by world-class chefs awaited the students. She lined up behind a few girls who were giggling about a host club or something like that. When it was her turn, there were so many delicacies to choose from and it made it difficult for her to decide.

"I suggest you have the Beef Wellington with a side of sticky toffee pudding."

She turned to her left and saw a dark-haired man with glasses, seemingly uninterested with the variety of food in front of him.

"Pardon?", Megumi said.

"You might as well be quick about it, you're keeping the line waiting." he said with a cold-hearted smile directed towards her. She felt a chill run on her spine.

Before she could say anything, he beat her to it. "He'll have the Meal C."

She glared at him although accepting the food brought to her. That was rude.

He shot her another smile, "You're welcome."

She glared again and walked off onto an empty table. What is his problem? There wasn't even a long line behind me! She started stabbing the beef until she realized she was a bit hungry and decided to eat the meal, begrudingly.

Damn rich boys.

"I can't believe it! They have 4 libraries and not a single one was quiet enough to study", she said to herself as she stomped her way into the halls, holding a huge pile of books and her book bag. Every library she's ever been in was filled with students talking (loudly) and many were obviously just there for their friend.

She grumbled. Where am I going to study now? She wandered through the halls until she notice something in the corner of her eye.

Hmm, music room #3? Seems abandoned, might as well check it out.

As she opened the doors of the somewhat abandoned room, she noticed roses fluttering towards her from the doors. What?

She didn't noticed that she was leaning on the door too heavily, which resulted her in landing face first into the room.

"Welcome." a bright light suddenly appeared and she had to cover her eyes from getting blinded. When it disappeared, seven figures can be seen before her, extending their hands out to her. She recalled the faces to be the ones she met just this morning.

"Oh, it's just the new honor student." the twins that she remembered was named Hikaru and Kaoru said in unison.

"Hey, it's the boy we helped this morning!" the small blond boy from before said to the tall stoic guy he was hanging on. "Right, Takashi?"

Is he really a high school student?

"Hmmm."

"Haru-san!" Haruhi exclaimed. "What brings you here?" What's she doing here?

'Haru… Megumi?' Kyoya thought. 'Hmm…'

A light bulb flashes brightly.

"Haruhi, you know this guy?" the guy in glasses, who was sitting in a table nearby with his laptop in front of him, asked. "I believe he is in the same class as you and the twins."

"Yes, I helped him get to school this morning."

"And, he sits in between us," one of the twins said. "Too quiet, if you ask me."

"Well," Tamaki said. "looks like we all met him today. Kyoya, have you met the new honor student?"

"Yes, he was keeping the line in the cafeteria."

"Uhm, excuse me?" Megumi finally had the courage to ask. "But where am I?" wHAT IS HAPPENING

"You, my dear sir, are in the Host Club!" Tamaki threw his arms around Megumi, who stared at the arm.

"What is a Host Club?" she asked, removing his arm from her shoulder. "And just so you know there's this thing called 'personal space'"

"Well," he said, proceeding to put his arm back to her shoulder. "This is where the most elite who have too much time on their hands entertain the ladies of the elite who also have too much time on their hands."

Entertain? Ladies? What kind of black market are they running here, must get away!

"I didn't realized the new honor student could be so openly gay", Kaoru said.

"Oh, uh… I think I have the wrong place then haha.." Megumi started to gather her things on the floor which was scattered due to her unfortunate falling. "Thanks for helping me, though…"

She caught on what one of the twins had to say and whipped her head back, "Hey, I am not gay!"

"Well well well," Tamaki said approaching her with a vicious smirk in his face. "Which type would you like? The Cool Type? The Natural Type? The Loli-shota Type? The Stoic Type? The Brotherly Love Type? Or-" he used his fingers to hold up her chin to face him. "Would you like to try me?"

Megumi instantly became flustered and didn't notice the tea set that was on the edge of the table near her. She tried to grab a hold of anything to keep her steady with Tamaki's face moving towards her. She felt the table cloth on her fingers and tried to grab it-

CRASH

"Oh man, that was an antique tea set you just broke." Kaoru exclaimed.

"I-I'm sorry! I'll pay you back", Megumi said.

"That costs at least 5 million yen," Hikaru added, gesturing at the baggy clothes she was wearing. "You can't even pay for your uniform. How do you plan on paying us back?"

"I'll think of a way!"

"When in Rome, do as the Romans do. If you can't pay with money, you've got to pay with your body!" Tamaki interjected, pointing his finger at her. "Starting today, you'll be the host club's dog!"

'Why does this seem overly familiar…' Haruhi thought.

"Here we go again", Kyoya muttered.

"What?!" Megumi wailed.

So far, Megumi has finally learned the names of the members of the Host Club: Haruhi, the girl who's disguising herself as a guy for some reason; Tamaki, their benevolent 'king' who reacts a bit too dramatic for her taste; Kyoya, the asshole who decided to choose her lunch for her (although she hate to admit that his choice of delicacy is impeccable); Honey-senpai, the small blond who gave her a lollipop this morning and shares her love for sweets along with Mori-senpai, who helped her up before she embarasses herself more, and also a man of a few words, which seems fine for her.

"Haru! We've run out of instant coffee, would you be a dear and buy from the store?" Tamaki hollered from his area. Sure enough, the stock of instant coffee was quickly diminishing due to the insane popularity.

"I didn't know you rich people had the capability of drinking instant", Megumi muttered. "On it, Tamaki!" she answered back, a little more loudly than what she said before.

"I'll go with you!" Haruhi stood from the couch and approached her.

"But Haruhi, you're on duty today. You can't leave your guests behind." Kyoya remarked, looking up from his laptop and looked at Haruhi in judgement.

"S- He doesn't know what kind of instant coffee to buy"

"Any would do. Go back to your guests, don't keep them waiting", Kyoya waved off Megumi to go on her own.

"But-"

"It's okay, Kyoya! Our appointment is about to end anyway. Haruhi can accompany Haru-san", one of the girls in Haruhi's table giggled, thinking about the new ship she can create with Haruhi and the new guy, whose ginger hair peeking out of his cap looks alluring, not to mention the big glasses that makes him so cute to stare at.

Kyoya raised an eyebrow. "Very well then," he took out his debit card and handed it to Megumi. "Bring back at least 500 packets of those. And buy only the best."

"Uh, okay", Megumi took the card from his hands and walked away, following Haruhi out the door.

"You're a girl, aren't you?" Haruhi said, bluntly, on their way from the supermarket. Megumi doesn't seem surprised at her question, rather, she was anticipating it.

Two light bulbs are now lit brightly in a row of seven.

"So are you." Megumi replied.

Haruhi doesn't seem surprised at her reply. "Is it obvious?"

"Well, mine is more, seeing as I have long hair tucked underneath my cap", Megumi giggled.

Now, Haruhi looks taken aback. "What why?"

"It's much easier for me. Plus, I didn't pay attention to what I was wearing until I looked at myself in the mirror earlier."

"What happens when everyone finds out?"

"Then everyone finds out. They will eventually, I am succumbed to wear the girls' uniform anyway," Megumi scrunched her nose in disgust. "I don't like the shade of their yellow…"

Haruhi laughed, her sentiments exactly.

"You, why are you dressed like a guy?" Megumi asked.

"Well, I broke a vase worth 8 million yen just yesterday and I kind of owe them so they made me a host, much easier that way."

"Oh, so we're in the same boat; me owing them 5 million yen and you owing them 8 million yen," Megumi laughed. "Are they loan sharks or something?"

"Pretty much, I like it when you laugh", Haruhi remarked. "Gives me a bubbly feeling. And no, they aren't loan sharks but they are something."

"Let's hope we find out what that something is."

When they got back to the Host Club, everyone didn't seem to notice their absence, except maybe for a girls waiting to get their turn with Haruhi.

"Hikaru, don't tell them that story! I asked you not to tell anyone that, why are you being so mean to me?" Kaoru exclaimed with some tears preparing to drop from his eyes and holding his hands near his face, as if trying to hide his embarrassment.

Only an idiot would fall for that performance.

"I'm sorry, Kaoru," Hikaru replied, taking his brother's hand and pulled him towards his chest. "But you looked so adorable when it happened, I just had to tell them. Will you forgive me?"

Kaoru looked up at Hikaru's face and said dreamily, "I forgive you, Hikaru."

Squeals from their customers and other girls from various couches filled the room. Megumi thinks her ears nearly bled from the sound.

They can't really dig incest that hard, can they?

Somehow, she has also managed to distinguish the Hitachiin twins, both of whom had minimal contact with her, just by observing them. Seeing as she was the other half of twins, she fully understands what it means for people to differentiate one from the other. Hikaru was the more mischievous twin between the two. With a playful glint in his eye, one can say he always has trick beneath his sleeve. In contrast with Kaoru, whose demeanor shouts mature to the point she questions whether or not he's the older twin. They may strike as the same in somebody's eye but they're always going to be two different people to her.

For the last 30 minutes, she's been serving tea and cakes to their customers. Oh, look at how… yummy these sweets look! Aw, if I could only just a small taste…"

"TAKA-CHAAAN" a bubbly voice yelled in the room. Who's he calling Taka-chan?

Suddenly, a small body collided with hers and fortunately she manage not to trip and fall, catching the body with her arms.

"Taka-chan! Would you like to eat some cake with me?" Honey-senpai asks.

"Why Taka-chan?"

"Oh, because you and Haru-chan have the same name and I didn't know what to use so…" Honey-senpai said, looking down at the floor.

He's so cute!

"Well, Honey-senpai," Megumi smiled at him, causing him to look at her. "You can call me Megu-chan, okay?"

Honey-senpai's face lit up. "Really? Would you like to eat cake with me then, Megu-chan?"

Eat? Cake? Count me in, homie.

"Sure!" she exclaimed but lowered her voice to whisper. "But do you think the big boss-" she pointed at Kyoya-senpai. "- would allow me to take such break?"

Honey-senpai looked at Kyoya-senpai before running fast to him, whispered something to him, and running back to her, in 10 seconds flat.

"He says it's okay!" Honey-senpai said, taking her hand and tugging it. "You can hold Usa-chan too, while you're at it!" Putting his stuff bunny right on her face. "Isn't he cute?"

"I guess he kind of is…" Megumi said, blushing at the cute bunny right in front of her, who was also blushing at her.

Honey-senpai lowered Usa-chan slightly and stared at Megumi's face.

A third light bulb finds its way to the light.

"Look at him." Hikaru told his brother while the girls were busy eating their pastries.

"Who?" Kaoru asked.

"That new guy."

"Haru?"

"Yeah, there's something about him. Look, he's already chummy with Honey-senpai", Hikaru stared off at the distance, looking straight at the new guy.

Kaoru, in turn, stared at his brother, seeing him look disgruntled and his eyes following the unknowing teen. He, then, looked at Haru. With his baggy clothes and short hair always tucked under a hat made him believe the boy had hat hair or had something to hide. But judging how he gets acquainted with other people, kept giving Kaoru the benefit of the doubt.

"May I have a word with you, Tamaki?" a guest of Tamaki's, Princess Ayanokoji, stated. "I heard you were keeping two… piglets without a pedigree under your wing, am I right?"

"I wouldn't call them that, since Haruhi's a Host and the other one's our errand boy," Tamaki spots Megumi eating cake at Honey's table. "Would you look at that? HARU!"

Megumi turned her head in Tamaki's direction. He lifted his hand and beckoned her to come closer. With a sigh, Megumi excused herself from Honey-senpai's table (and her barely-eaten cake) and walked to Tamaki.

"Haru, I would like you to meet a guest of mine, Princess Ayanokoji."

Megumi did a male's courtesy in front of her and smiled. "Nice to meet you." Ayanokoji, in return, did not give a single glance at her. What a rude girl.

"Would you fetch us some cake from the pantry?" Tamaki said

"Sure." Megumi disappeared into the kitchen and came back with two slices of strawberry shortcake.

"I like strawberries, I hope you like them too!" she said as she laid the two plates on Tamaki's table and flashed another bright smile their way.

"OH MY, YOU LOOK ADORABLE!" Tamaki exclaimed, holding on to Megumi tightly in his embrace. "Let's keep it that way!"

"Mori-senpai, Honey-senpai! Help!"

Mori-senpai gave in to the instinct of those calling for help and rushed to rescue Megumi from the clutches of Tamaki. He grabbed her by the underarms and lifted her away from him and his eyes widened in realization.

The fourth light bulb has turned on.

"Uh, Mori-senpai… you didn't have to go that far", Tamaki said as everyone looked at the scene before them. "C'mon, son! Come to Daddy."

"Never!" Megumi replied. Mori-senpai then carried her to Honey-senpai, where he was waiting to comfort her with Usa-chan.

"My son…" Tamaki said longingly, with his arm outstretched towards Megumi, who in turn, ignored him and enjoyed her cake with Honey-senpai and Mori-senpai.

They didn't notice the glare one of their guests sent to Megumi as Tamaki pleaded to Mori-senpai and Honey-senpai to hand Megumi over to him.

"How was the first day for you?" Haruhi asked Megumi as she helped her clean plates and teacups in the back kitchen of the music room.

"It's eventful, that I can say." Megumi laughed.

"Hey," Haruhi started. "I remember you telling me that your name is Haru Megumi,right? What do you want me to call you?"

"Megumi's fine, since you know my 'secret'." Megumi giggled at the thought. "But you should call me Haru in front of the boys so they won't get confused."

"Oh, I'm sure one or two would have found out by now," Haruhi remarked. "They're not idiots."

'Megumi… MEGUMI?!" Tamaki thought. He was supposed to offer help to the girls and unknowingly eavesdropped on them.

As of by now, 5 light bulbs shine brightly in a straight line.

Tamaki smiled quietly, shook his head and walked away from the door.

'I guess the Host Club will have to find out on their own.' he chuckled.

"Have you seen my bag?" Haruhi asked Megumi. "I know I left it here somewhere…"

"Hey, I can't find my bag!" Megumi exclaimed. "Where did it go?"

Haruhi looked out the window and suddenly started running out the room. Megumi was frazzled by her sudden action that she followed Haruhi's gaze; her bag was floating in the pond outside the building.

But where's my bag?

Megumi looked around once more and found something poking out of the oven. A string that looks like-

"My bag!"

She rushed to get her bag out of the oven, hoping not much damage was done in the inside and outside of it. She found it covered in flour; there was even cake batter on the inside. Her books were soaked, even her favorite novel. It almost made her tear up, she's going to have a hard time cleaning this all up.

"Hey, uh… Haru, have you seen Haruh-"

She turned around abruptly to see Hikaru looking at the mess, with wide eyes, for the first time. She couldn't help herself and a lone tear escaped from her eyes. Her book was damaged and it was rare to find, it being a first edition.

He has never seen a guy tear up with so much emotion. Hikaru found the new guy on his knees, clutching something wet in his hands. A book, perhaps? His bag seems to be covered in flour but something was oozing out of it; what is that?

"Are you okay?" Hikaru asked. Nice one, Hikaru. Ask the guy if he's okay when he clearly isn't.

"Don't answer that, it's silly. Can I help you?" Hikaru crouched down to Haru's level, picking his bag up and approached the sink. He took out his things and started to wash out the batter inside it.

"Thank you, Hikaru." He looked to the side and saw Haru beside him, helping him clean up the mess her bag has caused.

Hikaru felt a skip in his heart and his eyes widened. How did he know? He chose to ignore it and decided to let curiousity get to him later.

"What happened?" Hikaru asked. He didn't look at his face, hoping he doesn't notice the slight blush that's beginning to form on his cheeks.

"I don't know."

"What do you mean you don't know?"

"Someone took my bag, stuffed it with cake batter and covered it with flour. I don't know if they thought my bag makes a good cake batter but it clearly didn't work", Haru chuckled slightly.

"How could you laugh at someone who's clearly bullying you?"

"Because I've got it better than them." he smiled at Hikaru brightly. Hikaru felt another skip in his heart and gulped. What is this? Am I coming up with something?

Unbeknownst to the both of them, Kaoru stood on the doorway looking at them. Hikaru told him that he was going to look for Haruhi so he could learn more about her 'commoner' life and instead found his brother with Haru. He didn't try to make a noise and simply observed them; he watched Haru laugh at what Hikaru said and he could clearly see that his brother was grinning at him, something he doesn't usually do with new people. He returned his gaze to Haru, something about him was eerily familiar. The shape of his face, his body type… it's almost like a similar structure as-

The sixth light bulb shined brightly than the rest as only one remained.

Kaoru hid a smile, even though nobody's looking. This is going to be an interesting year, he thought. Maybe… just maybe, we'll see.

Today was one of the memorable days for the Host Club. It was the first time Princess Ayanokoji requested anybody other than Tamaki-senpai. More surprisingly, she requested Haruhi as her host. Even the other Hosts were curious, nobody seemed to get their eyes off Haruhi's table, even Megumi. There was a lot of tension around the pair and she was itching to diffuse it. No one should live in that thick of a tension.

Megumi took two plates of cake (not strawberries this time, the lady obviously doesn't like them with the way she mangled the cake she gave her last time) and some tea and began to approach their table.

"I understand now, you're jealous of us", Haruhi said in monotone.

"And you made Tamaki search that dirty old pond with you? You do realize that he has blue-blood and not commoner like you, right? You have no place in this world-"

Megumi's grip on the tray full of pastries tightened as she stopped in front of them. The things around her started swirling in motion so she tried to blink the vertigo away. Sweets? Did I eat some today? She then remembered the forgotten shortcake lying on Honey-senpai's table. Good timing, Megumi. You managed to forget to eat a single sweet today, of all days.

Neither of the two seemed to notice her presence as the tension grew stronger and stronger. She placed the tray down and was about to leave when-

"-You, and that scruffy rookie over there who doesn't even know ironed clothes ."

Megumi didn't mind the statement made by Ayanokoji about her when her world suddenly turned black.

Hello! This is my first time posting a fanfic (ever) so I hope you'll like it. Leave in the comments what I could improve on and I'll appreciate it if you fave and follow! Thank you!