Haru was headed to school at a leisurely pace - the first time in what seemed like forever. Only recently had her rash of bad luck She gave a nod of recognition to most cats she passed by, it was only out of respect because Haru could talk to cats. At least, certain cats tended to talk back to her. Although Haru had managed to get her act together and make it to school on time, she was still scatterbrained as always. She wandered slowly through the hallway, not paying any attention whatsoever to where she was headed. She turned a corner and thought she felt herself run head on into something or someone, but she couldn't be sure because she fell down and was more preoccupied with her sore rear end. On the ground in front of her, bundled up in a boy's school uniform, was an orange cat.

I must have tripped over him, Haru thought. "Gee I'm sorry kitty." Who would have left him bundled up like this? Haru was a little surprised when she heard the cat speak, not because he was talking, but because he was swearing. "Really, kitty, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to trip on you." It seemed to calm him down. "What's your name? Was it some boys being stupid again? It's not fair when they pull stupid pranks like this."

He stared back dumbly with his dark amber eyes. "Really, I'm sorry."

"Kyou! Where are you? Class is starting!" A girl's voice rang down the hallway. A moment later a girl with long brown hair and big doe eyes turned the corner. Haru recognised her, she was a third year student, one who spent a lot of time with the Prince Yuki Souma, but she didn't know the girl's name. She seemed surprised, and although she tried to hide it, her voice betrayed her shock at every word. "Oh, Kyou, there you are! I was looking all over for you!"

Haru looked up, "So this is your cat? What's he doing at school?"

"Oh... um... you see... I was bringing him for a project. Yeah, that's it! A project... on cats and I thought 'he's so well behaved that maybe he'd make a good visual aid, you know?" She began to collect the clothes and the cat. "Well, I'll see you around." The girl seemed to be in all too much of a hurry to leave.

She's probably got a class to get to. Oh my gosh! I have to get to class!

"See you around!" Just as Haru made it around the next corner she hear a popping noise which made her jump. Still, she was determined not to be late for class again, especially because she was already at school on time. Who wants to clean eraser brushes when they weren't even technically late?

Haru was a first year student at Kaibara High, and she had always had trouble adjusting to high school life. She did, however, know the one important name she needed to know: Prince Yuki Souma. Although nearly every girl in the school fawned over his good looks, Haru felt kind of sorry for the poor guy. Besides, she thought, he looks a bit like a girl to me. But because Haru never was one for names, she never knew anyone else by name. She knew her best friend Hiromi, and some of her classmates names. Machida for one, whom she had a crush on up until recent events changed her mind.

It was only now that she began to wonder how many people she didn't know - it would have been a wonder that she knew Yuki's name if she didn't hear all the girls speak about him in hushed whispers. She wasn't completely lost on who people were, in fact she recognised many faces, she only had difficulty remembering names. What on earth was the name of that girl Yuki was always hanging out with? Haru knew that she wasn't his girlfriend, otherwise she would not be spending so much time with the prince. In fact, judging by the way all of the girls talked about Yuki, Haru figured there wouldn't be anything left of the little brunette.

After class was out, Haru noticed the girl again, she was walking with Yuki and the boy with the most curious orange hair. Wait! I know! He's Yuki's brother... or cousin... or something. Haru decided to go up to the girl and see the cat one more time. "Hi!" She yelled across the schoolyard. 'Hi'? You idiot, she's two years ahead of you, of course she doesn't want to talk! The girl looked bewildered for a moment and then suddenly her face flushed red. "Oh, hi." Yuki gave the girl an indescribable look and the orange-haired boy tried to hide his own expression that was either embarrassment or anger, Haru couldn't tell which.

Haru was fighting the red from entering her cheeks now. "So um... where's your cat?"

Yuki's expression suddenly turned to open curiosity. "Of course, Kyou, what happened to the cat?"

Kyou? Isn't that what the girl said the cat's name was? The orange-haired boy looked over at Yuki with veiled anger and was about to say something when the brown-haired girl interrupted, "I took him home at lunch. I got permission! I didn't want him to stay at school all day through my other classes!"

"Oh, okay. My name's Haru. I was just hoping to see the cat again." Haru tried not to look disappointed.

The girl just looked at Haru with her big doe eyes for a moment before realising that Haru had been talking to her. "I'm sorry! I'm Tooru Honda."

"Well, maybe I'll see you around again Tooru."

Tooru nodded sincerely and Yuki responded pleasantly with a "It was nice meeting you Miss..."

"Takahashi! Haru Takahashi." Why on earth are you blushing! You think he looks like a girl!

"Miss Takahashi."

Haru bowed and turned away to leave as fast as she could. Although she thought she heard the boy with the orange hair - Kyou was it? - say "I thought she'd never leave..."

Haru only sprinted faster.