Two | Mei Honami

A month before the new semester began, the Honami Industry collapsed. Once big in the business world, the Honami industry provided the highest technology in factory pieces. Be it textiles, medical, or mechanics, the Honami group was behind the makings of most of the world's products. Trans-national Corporations world wide bought Honami labelled machines for their factories.

However, the Honami group were too kind. They got cheated into debts and soon many companies pulled out of their contracts with Honami. They sunk to the level of ordinary suppliers, dealing business with only small independent companies.

In the new semester, Mei Honami transferred into Ouran Academy. Before the collapse of her family's business, she had already completed all formalities of entry into the school. As her family moved to central China to re-build their company, the children of the Honami family were sent to Japan to live in their mansion with their university student cousin.


Mei walked gracefully down the corridors of Ouran Academy. Grudgingly carrying her school bag which had been thrown into the dumpster, she headed to the bathrooms.

Always prepared, she took out a pack of tissues and ran it under the tap, squeezing some soap on it. She made the stains on her bag less noticeable, and basically drenched it in deodorant.

As she was cleaning her bag, a group of three snobby looking girls came into the bathroom to top up their make up.

"Oh dear," said one of them, "Look what the commoner dragged in."

"My," said another, "we better call the cleaner in her after, ladies. Don't want the bathroom contaminated with…"

"Filth?" answered another. The three broke into laughter.

A creeping darkness twisted behind Mei. Her long, black hair covered her face; she tucked a lock behind her ear, and turned to the girls. The girls were expecting something like Sadoko. But, she revealed a dazzling, sparkling smile. "I'm sure I'm not at all as filthy as you ladies, who feel the need to smoulder yourselves with that junk. I wonder, what in world's name compels you to smear orange paint on you?" her smile was radiating pure evil as she continued, "Must be to hide, hm, what was it, your face."

The girls, shocked, tried to rebel. "Says you, we've all heard about your company. Tragic, isn't it? Don't try to make yourself look better; you've lost all 'face' you originally had! You can't even afford the school's uniform!" the girl pointed at Mei, who was wearing her cousin's Ouran uniform from when he graduated, with a black pleated skirt from her last school. "It just goes to show how lacking your father is. Well, there's nothing we can do about that. He is after all... handicapped."

Something in Mei snapped. "Physical disabilities do not affect the competence of one's work. And outer appearances do not make one look any smarter. On the contrary, you all look rather dumb. A circus clown knows more about make up than you three do." She gestured to the pink highlights, fake eyelashes and orange skin.

The air between them cracked with tension. And at that moment, a toilet flushed. The girls turned to the cubicles, where a girl-dressed Haruhi emerged.

Haruhi was in girl's uniform because Tamaki apparently 'lost' her uniform after their club cosplay. Her hair still in the Old Nippon pony-tail style, she looked up; I never thought I'd see a bathroom argument in a rich kid's school. I never thought I'd find 'gals' like this in a rich kids school. This is so troublesome.

"Um…" she began, "Honami-san, was it?" She remembered this girl who had transferred to her class a week ago. Haruhi awkwardly shuffled to the sink and quickly washed her hands. She came up with a lame excuse, "A teacher needs to see you…" grabbing Mei's hand; she rushed her out of the bathroom. This should be okay. No one will recognise me again since I won't be in girl's uniform. Since Haruhi made the decision to be more enthusiastic, she decided that this would be a good start by helping someone.


Haruhi and Mei ran down the corridors. It was a free period and Haruhi found herself instinctively taking Mei to Music room Three. She got to the door, came to her senses and quickly let go of Mei's hand.

"Um…Honami-san, sorry for dragging you this far."

Mei smiled a soft, heiress-like smile, much like the aura she had around her. "Don't worry about it. Thanks for getting me out of there. You are…?"

Hunny's voice and Tamaki could be heard on the other side of the door. The door swung open, and Tamaki launched on Haruhi.

"Haaarrrruuuuuhhhiii! You look so cute! Good, good, verrryy goooodd!"

"Haru-chan! Haru-chan!" called Hunny, "Sorry we lost you boy's uniform!"

From inside the club, Kasanoda's voice could be heard. "Fu-Fu-Fujioka! Don't worry! You can have mine!"

"Oooh!" applauded the twins in unison, "Bossa-nova's striping!"

There was a pause as Tamaki and Hunny realised Mei was there. Colour drained from Tamaki's face while Hunny still had little flowers orbiting him.

"Haruhi… Fujioka?" said Mei, "if I memorized my class correctly, Fujioka-san is a boy…"

"NOOOOO!" squealed Tamaki, like a girl. He grabbed at Haruhi's and Mei's collar, dragging them into the club room, and kicked out Kasanoda, who spun out in a continuous cartwheel.

Music room three's door closed with a 'clunk'. The sign, 'Not open for business' hung at the handle.


:) Care to review?