Chapter 1

The bell struck three times on the clock tower of the high school.

A sleek limousine cruised by, and its passenger looked quietly out at the campus.

"That," the driver explained, "is Ouran Academy, miss."

The passenger gave no response – not even a nod. Her eyes were big bottomless pools, reflecting the clouds splotched onto the blue Japanese sky. The driver glanced at the rear-view mirror, and then cleared his throat awkwardly.

"Uh, by the way, Master will not be able to welcome you on your arrival. But he sends his most sincere—"

"That will be enough, Akito-san," the young lady interrupted, her voice as still and fragile as an autumn leaf.

The driver's eyes darted nervously to the mirror once more. He swallowed.

"…Yes, of course, miss."

And no more was said.

"C'mon, Haruhi! Just this once!"

"NO." the scholarship student refused tiredly. "So…geez! Let me go already!"

Haruhi Fujioka cast a look of annoyance at the twins. They had each fastened onto one of her arms, and were unwilling to free her until she agreed.

"Y-YOU TWO!" Tamaki fumed. "How dare you come in such intimate contact with my daughter? Release my Haruhi NOW!"

The little devils ignored him.

"Ha-ru-chaaan~!" they pleaded with their usual grin – identical and naughty in every way.

"NO." Haruhi repeated for the 100th time. "Why do you guys want me to put that thing on anyway? It's not even part of the Host Club activities."

The Hiitachin brothers held up the pink frilly dress.

"Well, then," Hikaru replied after a moment, "we'll just make it a part of the Host Club activities."

"Bingo~!" Kaoru chimed in. The younger twin immediately turned to the vice president. "Yo, Kyouya-senpai! How 'bout it for tomorrow's theme: gender-bender!"

Kyouya looked up from his calculations and out of habit raised his glasses with two fingers.

"Gender-bender," Kyouya considered thoughtfully. "Why not. Our customers will enjoy it."

"YESSS!" the twins hissed at their success.

"Eh, cross-dressing?" Haruhi frowned. "But wouldn't the students realize that I'm not a boy if they see me in girl clothes?"

"No," Kyouya stated oh-so-surely. "There's little to no chance that they will find out. Even with the feminine attire."

"What's…that…supposed to mean…? =_=" Haruhi narrowed her eyes at her "mother," slightly offended.

"See, Haruhi? Nothing to worry about!" The twins' mouths stretched from ear to ear. "So let's go and put this on!" They grabbed their fellow freshman and dragged her into a changing room.

"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?" exploded Tamaki. "Get your perverted hands off her this instant!"

"But Tono," Hikaru persuaded, "don't you wanna see your daughter in this pretty little dress?"

Tamaki's inner mind theater popped up his head, imagining – no – visualizing his beloved Haruhi in the pink frilly one-piece, skipping around a flower patch. He blushed furiously.

"Change of plans!" Tamaki joined the Hiitachin brothers. "Haruhi, put that on at once!"

"NOOO!" Haruhi screamed as the boys forced the newest Host Club member across the floor. At that moment, Honey and Mori entered the chaotic scene.

"Sowie we're late~! ^0^" Honey skipped in. He observed the commotion with curiosity, and scratched his head in confusion. "Hah? Why is Haru-chan playing tag?"

"Mm." chimed in his faithful companion.

"Ah, good morning. Honey-senpai. Mori-senpai," Kyouya greeted casually. "It seems the trio is preparing her for the club's gender-bender theme."

"Gender-bender?" Honey's light-brown eyes lit up with excitement. "Just like when St. Lobelia's came over?"

"Yes," the vice-president answered as he typed into his laptop, "except this time, we must resort to a plainer cosplay. The ball gowns from last time cost quite a deal of the Host Club incomes. Perhaps the school uniform—"

Ring ring. Ring ring.

The shadow king recognized his ringtone, and reached into his pocket.

"Kyouya Outori," he picked up.

"Kyouya," the caller spoke.

The third son's face grew stiff and cold. He paused before responding to his name.

"Yes, father."

A solemn silence plagued the Host Club, and they stood frozen in action as they turned their attention to Kyouya. He listened dutifully for what felt like hours of a tense one-sided conversation, and with an obedient "yes," he hung up. All eyes were on him as he shut his notebook and stood up from his seat.

"I'm sorry," he excused himself as he exited the Third Music Room. "An urgent family occasion has come up."

He shut the grand double-doors, and his footsteps echoed down the hall.

"What could have happened…?" they wondered.