Haruhi tried on her new Seiso school uniform. It was black with a gray collar. She also had a blue tie to represent what year she was in. The skirt felt a bit short and uncomfortable to Haruhi. She shrugged. She would get used to that.
Haruhi heard a knock on the door.
"Huh? Who could that be? Dad's already gone to work," thought Haruhi aloud. She walked up to the door and opened it.
Ritsu Kasanoda stood before her in the full boy's attire. He had the same basic top except his collar was less rounded. He had on a blue tie and the uniform's pants bottom. The blue collar clashed a little with his red hair, but it made Haruhi smile.
"Ritsu," she said happily.
"Is that your uniform?" Kasanoda asked. He looked her up and down.
"So, what are you doing here?" asked Haruhi adjusting her tie a little bit.
"Well, since it's the first day," Kasanoda began sheepishly, "I thought I'd give you a ride." He pointed behind him to a small black car. "Don't worry I have a driver. I won't try to drive it."
Haruhi nodded. "Thanks, Ritsu. Let me get my satchel and I'll be down in a moment. Would you like to come in while you wait?"
Ritsu froze. "Oh, uh, yeah."
Haruhi led him into the apartment and he looked around. Haruhi disappeared into the kitchen and Kasanoda started wandering around.
He fingered the doorknob to the bathroom. "This is Algoki gold." He opened the door. "Whoa," he said gazing into the bathroom. How poor is Haruhi again? This is the most expensive bathroom I've ever seen. Kasanoda fingered the towels.
"Ritsu-kun."
Kasanoda turned. Haruhi was in the doorway. "Oh, sorry, I was just looking around. Can we go now?" He didn't want Haruhi to think that he was fascinated with bathrooms, the type of conclusion she would often make.
"Yes, Ritsu-kun." Haruhi started walking towards the door. Kasanoda quickly followed her.
Haruhi got into the backseat and Kasanoda sat beside the driver.
Kasanoda stared back at Haruhi.
She smiled. "You nervous?"
Kasanoda jumped. He faced the front again. "No, no, I'm not nervous."
"I am," she said. "The first day of school. We have to meet all the teachers and the students. So many people..."
Oh, she's talking about that. Of course. Kasanoda turned back still red-faced. "Do you have your schedule yet?" he asked.
"No," said Haruhi, "I think I'll just pick it up at the main office when I get there."
"No need for that." Kasanoda quickly pulled a paper out of his satchel and handed it to Haruhi. "I've highlighted the classes we have together."
Haruhi looked up. "Ritsu, you didn't have to do that."
Kasanoda blushed. "I thought it would make things easier for you," he mumbled.
Haruhi looked down at the list. Then she met him with a smile. "Thank you, Ritsu-kun."
"Oh, and you're part of some music appreciation club thing. You don't have to actually play anything. Kyoya made it sound like it was just a class where you learned about music."
"You got these from Kyoya?" Haruhi asked.
Kasanoda sunk in his seat. Who else would have them before they'd even been given to the teachers?
The car stopped.
"Well, Ritsu," said Haruhi, "here we go." Haruhi started to open her car door.
"Wait, Haruhi." Kasanoda opened his and ran to the other side of the car. He opened it for her.
"Thank you, Ritsu, but that was unnecessary."
"I don't care," he said. "It's your first day. I'm supposed to do that."
"Wow," said Haruhi turning to look at the school. "There really are a lot of people."
"Who're those people in the white uniforms?" asked Kasanoda.
"Oh, those are the music students."
"Music students?"
"Yes, Seiso is divided into two schools, General Education and Music. See over there, that's their building. I have to go there for that weird music club that Kyoya signed me up for without asking."
"How many Ouran students are there?"
"Um...I know Hikaru will be there; and Tamaki too. Mori and Nekozawa are also going to be going there. And think there is at least one more—either a first or a third year." Haruhi remembered that Kyoya had said Tamaki was alone. So he would be the only new second year. "I'm pretty sure it's a first year," said Haruhi still thinking.
"Hello, young ones, and welcome to Seiso Academy."
A boy with long dark shining hair that reached nearly past his elbows stood before Kasanoda and Haruhi.
"I am Azuma Yunoki and I welcome you. The gen-ed building is right there as you can see. The doors have signs telling you which class room. You first years will be on the second floor." The boy smiled brightly.
He must be a senior, though Haruhi. He was wearing a green tie—or whatever that fluffy Edwardian style thing was—so he must be a third year.
"Thank you, senpai," said Haruhi.
Haruhi led Kasanoda over and they walked.
"Was that a guy or a girl?" asked Kasanoda to Haruhi.
"That was a guy," said Haruhi confidently.
"How can you be so sure?"
"First of all, my dad cross dresses and secondly I think after a full semester at Ouran disguised as a boy, I would be able to tell the difference between genders. Plus, that was a boy's uniform. The girls wear skirts."
"Your dad does what?" asked Kasanoda. He had never met Haruhi's dad.
"Nothing," said Haruhi. "Ever since Mom died, he's been really weird."
"Oh," said Kasanoda. "So, what floor did that boy say we were on?"
"Second," said Haruhi. She unlike Kasanoda had not gotten preoccupied over the fact that a senior boy had about the girliest hair ever on man. Of course, Haruhi's father's hair was even girlier, so it didn't bother her.
"Here we are." Haruhi opened the door to the main building, and they walked in together.
"Thank you again for picking me up, Ritsu."
He blushed. "It was no problem. Do you want me to come tomorrow too? I can pick you up every morning if you like." Kasanoda looked nervously at Haruhi awaiting her answer.
"Yes, thank you, Ritsu." She smiled. "I'll never be late again!"
"Late? Were you late often at Ouran?"
"Ouran?" came a voice. A girl with dark strawberry hair (with heavy layering) was standing before them. Her red tie declared her a second year.
"Are you Kyoya Ohtori?" she asked Kasanoda.
Kasanoda shook his head. "No, no I'm not Kyoya."
"Are you looking for Kyoya?" asked Haruhi.
"Oh, no, I just—hang on. Do you know Kyoya Ohtori?"
Haruhi nodded. "But I don't see how you could mistake Ritsu for Kyoya. Even if you've never seen Kyoya, Ritsu has a blue tie meaning he's a first year."
"Oh, right," said the girl finally noticing that. "Sorry. Um...so you two are both first years?"
Haruhi nodded.
"From Ouran?"
Haruhi nodded again. "I'm Haruhi Fujioka," she said. "And this is Ritsu Kasanoda."
The girl gave a nervous uncertain half curtsy. "I am Kahoko Hino, a second year."
"Pleased to meet you, Hino-senpai," said Haruhi smiling.
Kahoko Hino's face reddened.
"Um...Haruhi," said Kasanoda. He leaned into her ear. "You're acting like a guy."
Haruhi looked up confused. Was she? She hardly knew the difference anymore thanks to the Host Club. "Oh, right," she said. "Sorry, Hino-san, I didn't mean to...freak you out."
"No, it's nothing," she said.
"It's just the Host Club kind of got me used to that."
"The Host Club?" she asked excitedly. "You were in the Host Club...with Kyoya?"
Haruhi nodded. "I broke a—well it was a long story. Anyway I owed the club service hours. So they made me a host. But the Ouran Host Club is over now." Haruhi sighed. "It was fun though." Haruhi suddenly realized how much she would miss it.
"So what exactly is the Host Club?"
"You don't know what the host club is!" bellowed a girl from down near the hallway. Haruhi recognized Kanako Kasugazaki.
Kanako walked up to them to explain, but then she saw Haruhi. She blushed as red as a cherry. Now that she knew Haruhi's secret, the kiss they had had by accident near the beginning of the year was embarrassing.
"Hi, Kanako," said Haruhi oblivious to Kanako's reaction.
"Haruhi," said Kanako nervously. "Um...where is class 2B?" she asked nervously. She had planned on explaining what the Host Club was, but with Haruhi there, she just wanted to get out of there.
"Kanako Kasugazaki?" asked Kahoko.
"Yes," the girl said looking up.
Kahoko smiled. "You're in my class. I am also in 2B."
"Oh," said Kanako.
"This is Kahoko Hino," said Haruhi.
Kanako looked nervously back at Haruhi for a second and then turned back to Kahoko. "Hi, Hino. Um...can you take me to the classroom," she asked.
"Sure," said Kahoko. "Come this way." They started walking away. Haruhi caught the words 'Host Club' as they drifted out of earshot.
"I wonder why she wants to meet Kyoya so badly."
Kasanoda shrugged. "He's the new kid and a host. I'm sure most of the girls'll want to meet him."
Haruhi nodded. "Well, let's get upstairs before the bell rings."
