Chapter 1: Get Ready (March)

Knocking

"Enter… Ah Tamaki, thank you for coming. Is Kyoya with you?"

"Yes, Chairman Suo, I came as requested."

"Great, come in and sit down." The boys headed over to the empty seat in front of the Chairman's desk. "I wanted to let you know that Ouran will be participating in a foreign exchange program. This isn't very typical of the ones we normally have. Ouran decided to participate in a program with Europe and America where we will 'exchange' students for a year or so as they finish up their high school career. From there, if we accept and they choose, they can continue participating at the college level."

"This is the first I've heard about this father…"

"Yes Tamaki, there was not any point in telling you this any earlier."

"Chairman, I assume that the candidate will be starting this spring?"

"Yes, Kyoya. Here is her file." The boys take the files, but only Kyoya reads it. "Her Japanese name is Izumi Saitou. She's half Japanese. Her American name is 'Izzy,' but she said she prefers to be called by her Japanese name."

"According to her file, she's just average…" Kyoya noted, pushing his glasses up. "I'm surprised Ouran agreed to select her."

"Again, great eye, Kyoya. Her recommendation letters were exceptional. She may not be the smartest, but she is a hard worker."

"Father, will you need us to be her guides?"

"Exactly. I want to show her the 'warmth' of Ouran, and, as you boys seem well practiced in making others feel at ease, I thought I should ask you, Tamaki. Kyoya, I've asked, well frankly, because he will keep you in line. I know how you get carried away."

"Where will she be staying?"

"We have yet to decide that. While it would be nice if she could live on her own, the American's are very particular on ensuring the safety of their own while in another country. We've been pondering the Haninozuka Estate, as they already have relations with the Military, but we have not heard a response."

Music Room 3

"Hani-sempai, did you know about Saitou-san?" Kyoya asked as he was reading her file and researching her on-line.

"Yes. My father did (monch) mention her to me (monch) but, he has reservations." Tamaki's head perked up and he walked over to sit with Hani and Mori. "While he agrees (monch) that it would be safer for her to stay at our Estate, I think he's nervous because Sai-chan is a girl. Father doesn't have any daughters, so I think it makes him uneasy. Plus, she's American."

"Hani, I don't understand what American has to do with anything," Harui stated, with a hint of irritation.

"Well (sip), American's are more blunt, less conservative… it's just not a very good image. Plus, she doesn't look Japanese." Hani looked at his cousin, who nodded and grabbed Hani's bag. The rest of the group gathered as Mori retrieved several pictures.

"Wow, she's kind of dark for being mixed." The twins noted. "But she's got a nice butt." The group flipped through her pictures – some of her in dance costumes and a few candid with friends.

"She's really pretty, right Takashi?" as Usa-chan bounced in Hani's lap. The group circulated the pictures and scrutinized them with much detail.

"What's she mixed with? I thought half-Japanese were… well lighter. I mean she's really tan right, Kaoru?"

"She looks Hawaiian" as Tamaki daydreamed about her in a Hawaiian costume.

Concerned, Haruhi asked, "What will happen to her if your father declines? It's not like Ouran has housing on campus…"

"I'll make sure my father says yes. I just didn't want to rush him, ya know?"