Disclaimer: I have no rights over any Ouran characters.

"Well, Ms. Fukuoka, it's so nice to have you interviewing here at Tachiki and Sons. Now, how about you tell me a bit about yourself? I admit, after reading your resume and accompanying documents I'm a bit curious how a girl from such an unremarkable childhood found herself in your position."

Part of Haruhi was annoyed at him calling her background 'average', but, compared to how he had likely grown up, she supposed her background was average. After all, he was one of the 'Sons' in Tachiki and Sons, so his childhood was likely as different from hers as Glasses Boy's.

So, instead, she merely smiled and began speaking. The words may not have been the exact same as the ones she'd practiced with Masaye and Chiye, but they conveyed the same message.

"Well, I'd have to say that most of my life has been defined by the fact that I lost my mother at a young age. You see, she was also a lawyer and from a very young age I wanted to be just like her, only, I had no one to show me how. So I took matters into my own hands," Haruhi smiled and looked down at her hands demurely, just like Masaye had told her to. After a few seconds she looked back up, "I sent out applications for scholarships to several well-regarded private schools. I ended up accepted at Ouran High School Academy and Brekleys Academy. After careful consideration I decide upon Brekleys."

"Why?"

"At the age of fourteen I may've still been ignorant of many things, but I did realize the importance of English. I also knew that a good lawyer must truly know people. Know how they think and why they do things. I determined the best way for me to truly learn about a wide variety of people was to put myself in a position that required me to leave my comfort zone. So, I accepted Brekleys and turned Ouran down."

"Ah, and what about afterwards? Why did you go to Oxford?"

"For the same reasons I chose Brekleys, though, there were two additional reasons."

"Oh?"

"Yes, you see, when I was at Brekleys I made good friends that I never would've met in Japan. I didn't want to limit myself by going back to what I might view as safe and familiar. So, I decided on an overseas university. Again, the decision came down between two schools – Oxford and Harvard. I ultimately chose Oxford due to its location. I wanted to be able to travel and see new things easily, which cannot be accomplished in the USA without a car."

"So, you can't drive?"

Haruhi shook her head, "No, I'm sorry I gave that impression. Merely, a vehicle ties you down and places limitations on a person's mobility and time. As a full-time student I did not need such an unnecessary asset. I got my license upon returning to Japan for law school."

"Ah, yes, you went to Tohoku University, where you graduated top of your class while still managing to hold a part-time job at Tokyo National Museum working directly with Dr. Miho Koenig. May I ask how you obtained a position with such a prestigious Japanese historian?"

"Oh, yes," Haruhi smiled at him, "When I was at Brekleys I roomed with her daughters, the Koenig Twins. During a dinner at their house one evening their mother discovered my talent for organizing. She asked if I'd be able to assist her for an upcoming exhibition. And, well," Haruhi shrugged, "somehow how I ended up working with her for every exhibition."

Mr. Tachiki's eyebrows had risen quite a bit. "That's quite an impressive connection. Do you have any more that you might feel to be relevant to a young lawyer such as yourself?

Haruhi couldn't believe he'd asked that question, though she should've known he would. After all, every other prediction Masaye and Chiye had made about the interview had come true. So why wouldn't this one? According to Chiye he wanted to determine if was good at socializing with her 'betters' or if she'd just gotten lucky with roommates.

Stupid rich people.

Couldn't it be both?

Haruhi smiled and gave a little head nod. "Possibly. Now, while the Roux Family isn't Japanese, Mr. Roux is the current French ambassador to Japan. I'm good friends with his daughter, Alianore, who I went to school with at Oxford. I also was acquainted with their son Zackarie at Brekleys."

Now his eyebrows were practically one with his hairline. "Well, Ms. Fukuoka, those are some impressive connections. I just have one last question for you."

Haruhi had to fight to keep a frown off her face. Only one question? Didn't he want to know about her classes at Tohoku? Or ask her some difficult questions that gave him some clues about her thoughts on morals and ethics?

"What is the most important thing in your life currently?"

Oh, that was an easy question.

"The most important thing in my life is to achieve my goal of being the best lawyer I can possibly be."

Mr. Tachiki nodded, "Good, and would you be willing to do anything to achieve this goal?"

Haruhi nodded and answered without thinking, "Yes, if it was legal."

He grinned then and stood up. Haruhi quickly rose to her own feet.

"Very good Ms. Fukuoka. Thank you for coming to this interview. You'll receive a call in the next week or two. I hope you have a pleasant day." He gave her a short bow.

Haruhi returned it before leaving the office and making her way out of the building. As soon as she was on the street she called Masaye.

"Hello?"

"How in the world did you know he'd be so impressed by my friendship with you two and Alianore?"

"Wait! Let me put you speakerphone."

There was quiet and a beep before Haruhi heard Chiye say, "Haruhi, is that you?"

"Yes, I just finished my interview at Tachiki and-"

"Oooo! What did they say?!" Mei squealed.

Haruhi hung her head and sighed.

"Mei, you're there too?"

"Of course I am! So is Alianore!"

Haruhi began to get a very bad feeling.

"And, where, exactly are the four of you?"

"Oh! We're at your apartment! Your dad let us in before he left for work!" Alianore said cheerfully.

"Alianore! That was supposed to be a surprise!" Mei whined.

Haruhi heard Alianore snort, "The surprise disappeared as soon as you spoke! Especially after you said I was here too! I'm not even supposed to be in Japan right now! You're the idiot that gave away the surprise!"

"Take that back!" Mei yelled. "We could've still come up with some sort of lie! What if we said we were somewhere else?"

"Mei, you're an idiot! What if Haruhi decided to come meet us at this other place, and then found we weren't there?!"

"Hah! You don't really know, Haruhi, do you? She would-"

Haruhi didn't stay on the phone long enough to find out what she would or would not have done. She hung up and then pointedly turned her phone off. Why had they invaded her home? All she wanted to do was relax after such a potentially stressful interview.

Groaning, she leaned against a wall and just watched people walk by for a few minutes.

It was one of the people walking by that caught her eye, or, rather, it was what this person was wearing. It looked quite a bit like the taekwondo uniforms she'd worn at Brekleys. Curious, and needing something to do while her friends camped out in her house, she followed the person.

He led her down a few side streets until they reached a strip that contained a number of martial arts studios. Just looking down the road she saw signs advertising kendo, karate, taekwondo, kung fu, and judo. Part of her wondered how so many different types of martial arts from different cultures all ended up on the same small street, but she immediately dismissed it. There were odder things than this in Tokyo.

Looking at the Korean writing on the tae kwon do sign Haruhi had the sudden urge to begin studying again. She hadn't done anything beyond basic stretches since she left Brekleys. She'd always seen taekwondo as a requirement than something she did for herself, but now, with all the feelings bothering her about her interview and the idea that she might be hired because of her connections, not her own ability, she really needed an outlet.

And taekwondo sounded like a good one.

Smiling, Haruhi entered the taekwondo studio to sign up for classes. And, as she walked through the doorway, she put her interview behind her.

She'd worry about that when they called her.

Author's Note: Well, she's had an interview for a position as a lawyer and is settling into her new, post-education life. Now, where will this take her? Should have the next chapter up on Wednesday or Thursday. It's Lunar New Year here in Korea this week though and I need to go with my husband to visit my family, so if I don't get it up on Wed or Thur I apologize.

Enjoy!