Chapter 2: Pushing Ahead
Haruhi approached the receptionist's desk, mentally bracing herself. "You can do this He's an old friend of mom's. It's for the guys. I have to protect them."
"May I help you?" the petite brunette sitting at the desk asked quietly. "Do you have an appointment?"
Taking a breath to steady her nerves, Haruhi replied, "Yes, I have an appointment with Mr. Naruse. My name is Haruhi Fujioka."
"Please have a seat. I will inform Mr. Naruse that you have arrived."
"Thank you."
Haruhi settled on the edge of one of the chairs lining the walls of the reception area. She was too intent on her interview to examine the tastefully appointed room or the magazines artfully fanned out on the coffee table.
The receptionist picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Good afternoon, Mr. Naruse. Your four o'clock appointment, Haruhi Fujioka is here." She then hung up the phone and returned to her other tasks.
A minute later, the door to the right of the receptionist's desk opened and a tall distinguished gentleman with streaks of grey in his hair stepped out. "Ah, Miss Fujioka, so good to see you again. It's been years. Ryoji is right, you really do favor your mother," he said, offering his hand.
Haruhi rose and walked over to shake the proffered hand. "Thank you for seeing me."
Gesturing through the door he came out of, he said, "Please come into my office. It's the first door on the right."
Entering the office indicated, Haruhi stood and waited for Mr. Naruse. As he walked around his desk to his chair, he waved towards the chair in front to his desk. "Please, have a seat."
She settled in to the comfortable chair and examined the room as she waited.
"Ryoji told me you would be interest in an internship here at the law firm. We've been looking for an intern, but none of the candidates we've spoken to so far have been acceptable," Mr. Naruse stated ruefully.
"Just what are you looking for in an intern?" Haruhi inquired.
Mr. Naruse chuckled. "This reminds me of my interview with your mother. No nervous chattering or starry-eyed glances, just a 'let's-get-down-to-business' attitude. I think you'll do well as in intern now and a lawyer later."
"Thank you. What exactly does the internship entail?" she asked.
"Let's see. It will be three days a week—Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Your tasks will mostly be menial things like filing and typing. Occasionally you may be asked to research a topic, run papers to the courthouse and file them, or go out to pick up coffee or meals.
The hours are six to nine in the evening. Because of the lateness of the hour, one of us will drive you home. This neighborhood has become much rougher in recent years, so no one should be out alone after eight."
"What if I have someone pick me up?"
"Just let us know and have them come inside to get you. It's just a matter of safety."
Haruhi considered for a moment. "That's reasonable."
Mr. Naruse nodded. "Now, let's talk about what is usually the biggest sticking point—compensation. Because it is an internship, the pay is minimal. Is that a problem?"
"Okay, now's the important question, will he consider legal advice too valuable to compensate an internship," Haruhi thought. To Mr. Naruse, she said, "What would you say t compensating me with legal advice rather than money?"
Mr. Naruse looked puzzled and intrigued. "It depends. What kind of advice are you looking for?"
"Family law and adoption, mostly," Haruhi replied.
"Is there something I should know about between you and Ryoji?" he asked, concern evident in his expression and voice.
"No, Dad and I are fine. I have two friends from Ouran that might be disowned by their families. I want to create a family that they can be adopted into to protect them. I've read all sorts of law books and I know, in theory, it's legal. However, none of the books cover the document filings required." Haruhi watched Mr. Naruse's face to see his reaction.
He cocked his head, "Hmm, that's an interesting solution to the problem. Why not have them adopted into an existing family?"
"Well, they are both from powerful families. By creating a brand new family, there won't be any collateral damage to the extended family members of the adopting family."
"That's well thought out. Yes, I think the internship would be comparable exchange for the legal help."
Haruhi hesitated. "There is one more detail. I have to secure special permission from my school for the internship. Generally, students are not allowed outside jobs of any kind. However, I can argue that all of my classmates have access to work experience through their family connections so this is just leveling the playing field."
"That's right, Ryoji mentioned that you got yourself into Ouran. So that's why you have friends there," Mr. Naruse chuckled. "With the kind of thinking you've displayed during this interview, I expect you to be a formidable lawyer in the not-too-distant future."
"Thank you for your kind words. So, do we have a deal, if I can secure the waiver from the school?" Haruhi stood and held out her hand.
Standing up behind his desk, Mr. Naruse took her offered and shook it firmly. "Let me know when you can start. I have no doubt that you will be successful in securing the waiver. I'm looking forward to your work here. Let me give you my business card to pass along to the school so they can contact me about the validity of the internship."
"Thank you so much. I'll let you know when I can start as soon as I can." She took the card and slipped it into her wallet.
Walking around his desk, he said, "Let me walk you out."
"I would like to make an appointment to speak to Chairman Suoh, please," Haruhi asked the secretary.
Bored, the secretary inquired, "What is this regarding?"
"I need to request permission for an internship."
Before the secretary could respond, the door to the Chairman's office was flung open. "Miss Fujioka, so good to see you. Please, please come in." He grinned and gestured broadly for Haruhi to enter. To the secretary, he said, "Please hold my calls. I do not wish to be disturbed during this meeting."
Shutting the door, Mr. Suoh indicated for Haruhi to take a seat on the sofa. "Please, I asked you to call me Uncle Yuzuru. Now, what can Uncle do for you?" he said as he dropped dramatically onto the facing sofa.
Haruhi settled onto the sofa and got straight to the point. "Thank you for seeing me on such short notice. I know that the student handbook states that students may not have jobs. However, I would like permission for an internship at the law firm where my mother used to work."
Soberly, Mr. Suoh asked, "Why should you be given this special dispensation?"
"Actually, it would put me on a more even footing with my classmates. Most of them have access to work experience through either their parents or some other relative that helps round out and apply their learning. Their families provide them with an advantage to which I currently have no access. Because I do not have family influences, I have to make my own opportunities."
"You make a very good point. It speaks well of you that you recognize the value of work experience as part of a well-rounded education. Do you have any particulars on this internship?" Mr. Suoh inquired, leaning towards her in interest.
"Ryo Naruse, a lawyer at the firm where my mother used to work, contacted me about my availability for an internship. It would be three days a week, in the evenings, so as not to interfere with my class or club schedules. This will be an excellent opportunity since I intend to become a lawyer like my mother." Pulling the business card from her wallet, she handed it to Mr. Suoh. "Here is his business card with his contact information. Mr. Naruse is expecting to hear from you."
Mr. Suoh took the card and contemplated it for a few minutes. Haruhi sat quietly, allowing him to consider the matter. Finally, he said, "Will you allow me a few days to check into the appropriateness and validity of this internship?"
"Certainly. Shall I expect your answer next week?" Haruhi replied.
"Come back to see me on Wednesday after classes are over, before club hours begin. I will have my secretary put it on my calendar."
"Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing your determination next week." Haruhi started to stand up to leave but a gesture from Mr. Suoh stopped her.
"Before you go, please allow me to ask how you are doing. Still excelling in your classes? Club activities going well?"
Haruhi was puzzled, but she responded, "Classes are challenging, but that's what makes them interesting. Club activities have been a little quiet since we just had the Ouran Fair."
"What do you think of my son, Tamaki? Isn't he a fine boy? A good prospect?" Mr. Suoh asked, a hint of intrigue in his voice.
Haruhi decided to be uncharacteristically diplomatic, since her scholarship could be riding on the answer to these questions. "Um, we're friends and we have a lot of fun in the host club. As you can probably tell by the way I dress, I don't pay a lot of attention to outward appearances, but Tamaki has a good heart and he really cares about people and their happiness."
Mr. Suoh hummed and smiled. Then he said, "Well, I'll let you get back to classes. Remember, if you ever need anything at all, don't hesitate to ask Uncle Yuzuru."
Nodding skeptically, Haruhi replied, "Thank you for your time today. I look forward to hearing from you next week."
Kyoya pulled out his phone and looked at the alert that had just chimed. "What's Haruhi doing in the Chairman's office?" he wondered. "Father mentioned that he and Yuzuru both have their eyes on Haruhi as a suitable match for me or Tamaki. Was Yuzuru pressing Tamaki's suit?"
Taking his lunch to a small private dining room, Kyoya set up his laptop and pulled up the security footage from the Chairman's office, running it back until he saw Haruhi enter the office. Clenching his fists, Kyoya thought, "Uncle Yuzuru indeed. Who does he think he is?"
When Haruhi started to talk about the internship, Kyoya's eyebrows inched up in surprise. "Could things be worse than I thought? Is Haruhi getting a job to support herself?"
Deep in thought, he shut down his laptop and returned it to his bag. He no longer had any appetite for lunch so he packed up and headed to his next class.
Uncharacteristically, for the rest of the day Kyoya walked around in a fog, fixated on Haruhi and all the recent changes. When Tamaki tried to question him about it before club hours, Kyoya just gave him the 'Shadow King' look and returned his focus to his laptop.
After a few minutes, he decided that he couldn't stand the suspense any longer. "I can't talk to Haruhi with the rest of the Host Club watching her like hawks. I know, I can ask Ryoji what's going on."
Kyoya pulled out his phone and sent a text to Ryoji.
***Do you know why Haruhi has been acting strange lately?***
Kyoya expected it to be several hours before he received a reply, but within minutes, there was a chime for an incoming text.
***I do know what is bothering her. She will tell you when she's ready.***
Ryoji's cryptic answer did nothing to assuage Kyoya's worry so he decided to try a different tack.
***Had something happened between the two of you?***
Once again, a prompt reply.
***No. We're fine. She will probably tell you soon. Just be patient.***
"Not one of my strong suits," Kyoya growled to himself. He knew he was being petty, but he sent one last text anyway.
***Very well.***
First thing Wednesday morning, the teacher called Haruhi to her desk. "This message from Chairman Suoh is for you," she said as she handed it over with a questioning look on her face.
Haruhi's face lit up in comprehension. "Oh, I've been waiting for this. Thank you."
"Now, if you'll return to your seat, we can start class." Her tone was clipped, curiosity and disappointment present as Haruhi made no move to open the note or reveal the expected content.
"Yes, sensei," Haruhi replied.
As she walked back to her seat, Hikaru and Kaoru sidled up on either side of her and asked, "Whatcha got there?"
"A message," she teased.
"What's it say?" Hikaru prompted.
"I haven't opened it yet, so how would I know?"
"So open it," Kaoru pouted.
"I'll get around to it. Class is about to start. I don't have time right now." Slipping it into her pocket, she smirked, settled into her desk, and took out her books.
"Rude," the twins said in unison as they sat down on either side of her and pulled out their own books.
Haruhi could barely concentrate during class with the twins taking turns pestering her about the message. As soon as class ended, she packed up her books and announced, "I'll see you in the next class. I need to use the bathroom." Abruptly she stood up and walked away.
Hikaru and Kaoru could only stare after her. "More strange behavior from Haruhi," Kaoru remarked.
"Yeah," Hikaru responded. "We need to tell Tono."
Meanwhile, Haruhi slipped into the nearest bathroom and locked the door. Taking the note from her pocket, she read:
'Please join me in my office for lunch today. Uncle Yuzuru.'
"Hmm, I guess he didn't want to wait until after classes. How am I going to give the boys the slip so I can make it to my meeting?" she pondered.
Haruhi wracked her brain through the next two class periods, trying to come up with a plausible excuse not to eat lunch with the twins or other members of the Host Club. "How ironic. I'm doing this to be with them, but I'm avoiding and hiding from them while I get all the pieces in place."
The answer to her dilemma came in the form of a harried secretary appearing ten minutes before class was to be dismissed for lunch. "I have an urgent message for Fujioka," she 'whispered,' as she was heard in the back of the classroom.
The teacher called, "Fujioka," and gestured for her to come to the front of the classroom. Given the time, Haruhi collected her materials and then made her way to the teacher's desk.
"Please come with me," the secretary said, motioning for Haruhi to proceed her.
"What's that all about?" Hikaru asked Kaoru.
He shrugged and responded, "I haven't got a clue."
Haruhi waited outside the classroom door. After the secretary closed the door, she said, "Your parent has an important delivery for you. Please follow me."
Puzzled, Haruhi followed the secretary to the small salon where Ranka was waiting, holding a large manila envelope.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" Haruhi asked.
"Mr. Naruse needed to get these documents to Chairman Suoh today, but he had to be in court early, so he asked me to bring them. You mentioned that you have a meeting with him today, so I figured you could deliver them," Ranka rambled a little as she was overwhelmed by the opulence of the salon.
"Oh, okay." Haruhi shrugged and accepted the envelope.
Ranka stood up and pulled Haruhi into a hug. "I have to get to work, so I'll see you when I get home."
Haruhi returned the hug and said, "See you tonight." Then she walked Ranka to the front steps and waved farewell.
When the chimes rang a minute later, Haruhi realized it was time for her lunch with the Chairman, so she hurried up the stairs to the Chairman's office, knowing that the twins would come looking for her as soon as class was dismissed.
When she entered the reception area, she found Chairman Suoh talking to his receptionist.
"…not be disturbed for the next hour, especially by my son. If he doesn't show up—though I suspect he will—please send him a message that I would like to see him between the end of classes and the beginning of club hours."
The receptionist nodded and made a note on her tablet. "Of course, sir."
Just then, Yuzuru spotted Haruhi. "Come in, come in. I've been looking forward to our lunch together." He escorted her to the table in his office which was opulently decked out with an extravagant luncheon. "Tamaki mentioned that you rarely get the opportunity to eat fancy tuna so I made sure that it was included in our meal today."
Haruhi murmured, "Why, thank you. That's very generous."
As Yuzuru held her chair, Haruhi suddenly remembered the envelope she was carrying. After she was seated and he pushed her up to the table, she said, "Oh, by the way, Mr. Naruse sent this for you via my father."
Yuzuru accepted the envelope absentmindedly and tossed it on his desk before settling in the seat across from her.
For the next half hour, Haruhi listened, bemused, as Yuzuru flitted from subject-to-subject like a hummingbird in a flower garden. When he finally stopped to eat a bite of lunch, Haruhi snatched at the opportunity and asked, "So, have you decided about whether I can accept the internship?"
Yuzuru's eyebrows shot up and he swallowed his mouthful of food. "That's right. That was the point of our lunch today, wasn't it?"
"Yes, Chairman, it was," Haruhi replied, smiling mischievously.
"But of course. I have decided to grant permission. Mr. Naruse said he would bring some documents for each of us to sign—a permission waiver for me and a confidentiality agreement for you. I wonder when he will arrive," he asked absently.
"Maybe the envelope I gave you from him?" she prompted.
"The envelope? What envelope?" he asked, confused.
Haruhi pointed to the envelope on his desk. "I handed it to you and you tossed it on your desk."
Yuzuru got up and walked over to his desk. Opening the envelope, he pulled out two documents. "Ah, just what we were talking about. Here, you sign yours and I'll sign the one for the school. Then I will have my secretary see that they are delivered to Mr. Naruse this afternoon."
Haruhi took the proffered document and read through it. Satisfied that is was a standard confidentiality agreement, she signed and dated it. "Here you go," she said, handing it back.
"Thank you. I will take care of things from here. Thank you for the wonderful lunch companionship. Please enjoy the rest of your day."
Bowing respectfully, she replied, "Thank you for lunch and the approval for the internship."
Yuzuru walked her to the reception area where he waved a dismissal and said, "You go on to your class. It's almost time for the bell." Then he turned to his secretary and instructed, "Please see that these documents are delivered to the law office of Mr. Ryo Naruse."
As Haruhi walked to her class, she thought happily, "One step closer. Soon I'll be able to tell them all about it."
Haruhi walked into the third music room with a bright smile on her face. Everyone noticed but Tamaki as the only one willing to ask, "What are you smiling about?"
Not quite ready to tell them yet, she replied, "Nothing special. Just feeling happy right now."
Kyoya watched her from across the room. "She must have received permission for the internship today. I'll have to check the security tapes later," he surmised under his breath. Despite Ryoji's assurances, between the law books and the internship, Kyoya couldn't help speculating that Haruhi was preparing to support herself.