A college AU. What if all the characters went to Ouran University, not the high school? I want to explore the characters more as individuals as the anime was cut short, and feel that placing them in a (American, sorry) collegiate environment could be just as fun as high school, if not more! I'll be following the plot lines of both the anime and the manga. A disclaimer: I have always struggled with past and present tense in my writing, so I apologize ahead of time.
Possible tw: anxiety/about food, swearing
Ouran University is not well known for its scholarship program. The sprawling, city-like college is more known for the reputation it holds in its faculty, the prestigious alumni, the vast array of programs and degrees offered; and, most importantly, the students who attend. A college can not boast a large and impressive list of rich and affluent graduates without first scooping up just as many wealthy families as benefactors. With such a beautiful campus, Ouran University has attracted many prospective students over the years that were not from upper class families. Those that tour the campus that are not used to such a sprawled estate tend to overlook the state of the art forensics labs, and twin 14-story library buildings, they typically end up marveling at the hedges shaped like animals or how the freshmen dorm buildings have pools on the roofs.
Prospective students from middle class homes marvel at the campus, as most of them know they will not be able to attend the university. The tuition is only part of being accepted. The entrance exams are only part of being accepted. Over 98% of the student body at Ouran University are legacy students, children of the 1%, or had parents that rubbed the right elbows and kissed the right feet. They got in because they had the money and the social standing to go to the most elite school in Japan. The remaining 2% of those at Ouran were like me; scholarship students, charity cases, the lucky few who slipped in under the radar of the benefactors.
That is exactly how I got to be a student at Ouran, by being lucky and skirting by. I wasn't rich, my family never has been. My mother's family used to know some low level politicians, but they've all died off by now so there were no favors to call in. I was never at the tippy top of my class or school, but near enough in the 10-5% to brag about my grades if the chance ever arose. I was accepted to Ouran University because of a "powerful, moving, and inspirational" personal essay about what it means to be a poor girl from a pepper farming family with a moderately big brain and "the potential that was not able to be shown" in such a small village. Or so the admissions board believes. I still think I got in because they still have to meet a diversity quota every year. But no qualms will be had from me. So long as I am within the top 10% of the entire school, not just my grade, every semester and go to fund raisers and galas as a token oddity, I get my full ride through college. Pretty easy living. Besides the constant stress and papers and backaches from dehydration even though I swear I drink water every day. Mostly every week.
These are all the things I say in candor to new scholarship students at the beginning of every semester. New students and transfers come in at the start of the fall as well as the spring semesters, and it is the job of the upperclassmen to brief them of what to expect. All third year students are assigned to a first year over the summer before the start of the fall semester as a mentor in the program. Assigned during the first and third years of respective students, it ensures that the new scholarship student will have someone with them throughout the next two academic years at Ouran before becoming a mentor themself. My first year scholarship shadow was named Haruhi Fujioka, a very kind but rather blunt kid from Tokyo. I feel like I lucked out getting assigned to them. Haruhi may be direct when it comes to approaching problems, but the bluntness can be needed from time to time, as the bull of the rest of the world can be scraped away by a spoken truth. They're also just as cute as could be. With a pixie haircut, big brown doe eyes, and a tinkling laugh, it would be easy to mistake her for an actual fairy had we lived in a fantasy world.
"Haruhi," I started, as we walked to the cafeteria building, "I think I love you."
She made a face and flicked my earlobe. "Buzz off, senpai." They smiled and adjusted the cross-body backpack they wore. Haruhi was dressed rather femme today, which surprised me. They typically only 'dressed up' on special occasions; such as the first day of classes or for a scholarship program function. Tan sandals that added an inch, making them slightly taller than me; a black sundress that fell to the knee, speckled with daisies; and a couple of bangles on the left wrist completed the fit for the day. What a doll, what a cutie!
"No, no," I continued. "I truly do adore you! I have said it before and I will say it again: I am incredibly lucky to have been chosen to be your scholarship student mentor. I'm so glad you agreed to be our roommate!" I could see Haruhi's ears grow pink at the tops from my compliment. "Who knows who Reiko and I would have ended up with in filling out the apartment?"
Haruhi let out a puff of air, smiling. "Speak of the devil." I looked up at her words and saw down the sidewalk in the direction we were headed was our friend and roommate Reiko Kanazuki. I raised my arm and waved it wildly, knowing she would not return it. Waving to your friends would give up the mysterious and spooky airs about a person. You can't have that.
Reiko looked lovely as always. With her long dark hair, big platform boots, and black leather jacket, she could have been taken as a sore spot against the wonderfully pastel background that is Ouran's campus. But anyone who knew her was aware that her clothes were just her statement to the world; you can still spread love and kindness while being punk rock.
Reiko had her hands clasped in front of her as we approached. The way she rocked back and forth slightly in her platforms could be seen as a nervous tic to others, but I knew it was out of habit from keeping herself from giving a quick bow in greeting. She had such a formal upbringing and often forgot to be casual even amongst friends. "Good afternoon Haruhi, Hisa. Are you ready for lunch?"
I smiled outwardly as I felt my chest tighten. "Always! But I haven't looked up the menu yet."
Reiko grinned and turned to Haruhi. "Haruhi, what pronouns would you prefer today?"
Crap. I forgot to ask that this morning. Wow I'm a shit friend sometimes. Haruhi shrugged. "Fem, I guess?" We nodded, tucking that in the back of the mind.
"I've got the menu" Haruhi said, pulling out her smartphone from her bag. I slowly made motions to begin walking again as Haruhi scrolled through, trying to find the menu that matched not only today but this specific cafeteria. The university had 3 buildings just for food stationed across campus, different levels having numerous dining options within. The two noticed I had made the motions to start walking to the cafeteria, and began to follow. I crossed my fingers and silently hopped that the cafeteria would have something boring and bland so that we could pick up a quick meal at another dining service inside to take back to the apartment and eat there. I hated having to eat at the cafeteria. It was always so crowded and noisy. All those already seated after getting thier food tended to people watch those looking for a seat. It always made my skin prickle when trying to locate somewhere to sit. I could feel the dozens of eyes on me every time, judging me. It's what the wealthy did best. No matter what would be on my tray: pasta, maki, air, sandwiches, I could always see them seeing me as just another little fat girl waddling to her seat to stuff food in. Logically, I know it's not true. But also, whenever I would lock eyes with a stranger in the caf I would watch thier pupils flick to my face, my rounded torso, the tray in my hands, and the canklels held in my worn sneakers, before looking at the food I had chosen once more.
"Oooh, it looks really good today!" Haruhi exclaimed, staring down at thier phone screen as we rounded a corner. "The sushi specialty of the day is tuna as well as salmon. The European Corner has 3 different pasta dishes, as well as some Slavic soups. The Vegan Station has some dishes from West Africa today that look good."
"What's at the American Station, today?" Reiko asked.
"Hmmm," they hummed, scrolling through the table of options. "Looks like 4-5 entrees as usual. Burgers...fried chicken...oh, something called a twice baked potato? The description sounds rich."
Reiko's eyebrows went up. "I've heard about those! They're very popular in America in commoner's households. They're not exactly a delicacy, but they are often thought of as a treat because they are more likely served in restaurants than prepared in the home." Reiko had actually been to the US two or three times in her life. She was not always accurate in describing things, but I never felt the need to fact check her.
Sounds like we would be eating in the cafeteria before Haruhi and I headed off to our psychology class. After opening the front doors and swiping our meal cards at the front of the caf, I noted that it was just as crowded as ever. I decided I'd get some soup. I typically hate soups and stews, but I'm trying to venture out. Plus the line at that part of the European Corner only had 3-4 people at it. A quick moving line meant that I could duck in and out and go get us a table before another group marked it as thier own. I nodded my head towards the seating area, Reiko and Haruhi understanding my unspoken meaning, and I walked over.
I could tell I was beginning to sweat a bit, feeling like all eyes were on me as I made my way over to get in line for a bowl of borscht. No one is looking at you, I told myself. Everyone is here to eat. Stop thinking about the stories where starving bodies absorb the body fat first when there is no food on hand in order to survive on a deserted island. Bowing and thanking the man who handed me my bowl, I picked up my speed as I headed to the back of the dining hall. I passed two tables, three, six. Nearly there. I heard the porcelain of the bowl begin to rattle on my tray, so I slowed down so as not to spill. I saw a handful of tables along a wall with large windows. I set my tray of food down at one near the end, but not the very end, nor in the perfect center of the row of tables along the western wall. There were a few napkins and cutlery sets already on the table, set askew in front of chairs. I rolled my eyes. Rich kids may have grown up learning manners and etiquette but they can't seem to clean up thier own used silverware to dispose of properly?
Grabbing the sets of silverware to place in the proper area, I made my way back to the food area. I dropped the forks off at the conveyor belt that led dirty dishes to the kitchen area, saying a 'thank you' to those in the back, and rounded a corner to grab my drink. I grabbed a lemonade and saw Haruhi, waving her down and pointing to the area I was headed so that she and Reiko knew where to go after getting thier food. As I closed in on our lunch table I could see a trio of boys walking in the same direction. Knowing my luck they will sit at the table right behind ours.
Setting my lemonade down, I shrugged my shoulders and began to take my backpack off. As it was sliding down my arm, a throat cleared behind me.
"Did you not see that this space was reserved?"