Chapter 2
Desperation
Miyuki's POV
Parents. They say that they are the only people you can rely on when you're in your "Worst Case Scenario". But most of the time they're the ones causing it in the first place.
I walked towards the principal's office and opened the door. The room was unusually dark, the only light on was from the principal's lamp. And it was emitting a dim light too. My eyes tried to adjust to the darkness.
"Ah, Takayagi-san you're here." The principal said. The principal was a woman in her late forties. She wore small glasses that look really principal-like. Her graying hair was tied to a tight bun, giving her a really clean look. "We were waiting for you."
At first I thought I heard her wrong. We? There's no one else here but-
"Hi sweetie." I heard a familiar female voice said. The same female voice that rocked me in my crib long ago and taught me how to read and everything.
"Mom?" I said. My mom was sitting in a chair beside the principal's desk and I saw a figure behind mom's chair.
Oh no. "Dad?"
"Yes, I'm here too Miyuki." He said smiling.
Why were they here? Did I do something wrong?
My mom saw how uneasy I was, she stood up and said, "You didn't do anything wrong, dear." She smiled. "Okay, maybe you did. But it's not entirely your fault."
I blinked. What was she talking about?
"We're here today to discuss about your grades, Takayagi-san." The principal said. Thank God. Just the grades.
"Why? Did I fail a subject or something?" I asked.
"No, you passed all of your subjects." The principal said. "Barely."
"But I still passed didn't I? Isn't that enough?"
I saw my parents look uncomfortable and the principal frowned.
There was a moment of silence. Then my dad said, "That's exactly why we're here Miyuki. You can't always have that kind of philosophy in life."
Philosophy? What philosophy?
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"Takayagi-san just a while ago you said something like "As long as I pass its okay"." The principal started. "That's not really something a student should do."
I looked thoughtful for a moment. Where was this conversation going? I glanced at my mom and dad, they seem to be giving me a sympathetic look. This was not good. Something terrible was about to happen. I could feel it.
"I'm sorry, but what exactly are you trying to say?" I asked.
"Miyuki, you're obviously not working up to your fullest potential here," My mom started.
My dad smiled and finished what mom said, "That's why we're transferring you to St. Lobelia's All girl's High School." Cue scary music.
My face turned pale. "S-Sa-ai-n-t L-lo-lobe-li-a?" I stammered.
"It's St. Lobelia dear." My mom said calmly.
I walked towards the wall, I leaned on it using both of my hands. Then I screamed my lungs out banging my head against the wall until I lost consciousness.
Okay that really didn't happen but I did scream, mentally of course. There was no way I was going to break down in front of my parents and principal. My parents explained to my why I was going to Lobelia and when I was transferring. Both of my parents agreed that it would be better for me, saying I'd be working at my fullest potential there since St. Lobelia is such an elite school.
I kept a straight face and nodded every time my parents finished a sentence. I'm pretty good at keeping a straight face and nodding as if I've understood something.
So I just stood there, practically not listening anymore, when really I'd rather hit my head against the wall screaming, "NOOOO!!! YOU CAN'T TAKE ME ALIVE!" repeatedly.
"Miyuki? Are you listening?" My mom said. I nodded. Technically I was listening; well half of it maybe even a quarter of it. I heard the words this, that, is, girls, school and library. So I guess I was listening to about a quarter of it.
The principal also said that it would be good idea for me to transfer to Lobelia. Whose side was she on? A student of hers was about to be transferred to a school that isn't her school. I thought principals liked the idea of having many students. Guess I was wrong.
There was a sudden gust of wind coming from the window. The papers on the principal's desk were blown down to the floor. The principal stood up and began picking the papers, my parents helped as well. I decided to pick some up too.
I picked up some random papers until one of them caught my attention. The paper was partially covered by another piece of paper but I could still read a few words. I could read the words our, elite, year, for, and student. Our elite year for students? That sounds like a good title for a book. I picked the paper up, hoping that something interesting or book-related is on it.
I held up the paper at face level, read it, and let's just say what I read wasn't what I expected at all. Instead of "Our elite year for students" it was actually "Ouran Private Academy, an elite and prestigious school, is now offering students from all year levels to participate in our search for our next scholarship student." Darn. It's just some random paper.
I sighed as I placed the paper on a stack of papers. I really needed a distraction to keep me from sulking because of the news my parents just gave me. But it was just some ad for some school offering scholarships. I didn't need that.
After a while, we finished cleaning up. My parents made small talk with the principal while I just spaced out, which wasn't very rare for me. In fact, I think spacing out is one of my hobbies right next to writing and drawing of course.
I really, really didn't want to go to Lobelia. But my parents really wanted me to. What should I do? If I refuse, my parents will want a reason. A really good one. If I give them that reason they'll want me to go to Lobelia even more. They might even force me!
I inwardly shuddered. I'm as good as dead. Oh great now I'm sulking. I looked at my parents, who were talking and laughing with the principal. I sighed again. My mom heard me and she gave me a really bright smile. I just blinked, I couldn't smile back because I really had no reason to smile and I'm not really good in faking smiles. I tried once, Kaya said that I looked like I just had a root canal. Not like my other girl classmates, they're professionals when it comes to faking smiles. I always did wonder how they did that. But I guess it doesn't matter now since I'm going to transfer.
I sighed for what seemed to be the fifth time today and looked down on the floor. The floor was tiled and the tiles were a plain white, no distraction there, so I sulked. I couldn't believe my parents would transfer me to St. Lobelia just because it's so elite and prestigious and some other stuff. If St. Lobelia was so elite, why are there only girls there? Then a thought hit me. Elite? Prestigious? Haven't I read something like that before? I thought about it for a moment, when I did remember it my face lit up. Obviously the three people in front of me noticed this because they all gave me questioning looks.
I quickly walked towards the principal's table, which were only about seven steps. I heard my father ask me something but I ignored it. Something I wouldn't normally do, but hey I was desperate. I saw the stack of papers and I skimmed through them, looking for the piece of paper I saw earlier. After a while I found it. I held it up face level and read it. It said,
"Ouran Private Academy, an elite and prestigious school, is now offering students from all year levels to participate in our search for our next scholarship student.
But there can only be one student who will receive the scholarship in our prestigious school. In order for us to find this deserving student, we will have an entrance exam which will be held in Ouran Private Academy. For more information about this, please ask your teacher or principal."
Teacher or principal huh? I looked at the principal, who just looked at me curiously. My parents looked at me and then stared at the piece of paper I was holding. There was a momentary wave of silence. I blinked.
Finally I said calmly and politely, "Excuse me principal, but what is this exactly?"
The principal raised her eyebrow, like she wasn't taking me seriously. I showed her what I was reading. She looked at the paper I was holding and for a second her eyes widened. "That's just nothing."
I looked at her disbelievingly. "Really?" I asked.
"Well, yes. And besides you wouldn't be interested in something like that Takayagi-san." The principal said, smiling.
"I'm sorry, but what's going on?" My mom finally asked. "And Miyuki, what is that you're holding?" She pointed at the paper I was holding.
I heard the principal sigh, which was the first time I've ever heard her sigh actually. "Alright, I'll tell you." She stood up and took the paper from me.
"Tell us what?" My dad asked.
"Have any of you heard of Ouran Private Academy?" The principal said. She looked at us as if we were students asked to answer a complicated question, which come to think of it is somehow true.
"Is that the school filled with rich kids?" My dad asked. I saw my mom raise her eyebrow.
"Yes." The principal said. "That's the school where most students come from wealthy families. But in very rare occasions scholarships are given to students that aren't from wealthy families. In fact, only one scholarship student has ever been accepted in Ouran."
"So it's a pretty special school." My mom said.
"Yes it is." The principal said.
"Wait, what does this have anything to do with my previous question?" My mom asked. She looked at me. I, who was quiet all along, just blinked. "Miyuki what's going on?" She asked me.
I had no idea what to answer. So I just mumbled something even I didn't understand.
"What?" My parents asked simultaneously.
I was about to say something when the principal cut me off. "I'm sorry I didn't explain it very well did I? The paper that Takayagi-san was reading earlier was an advertisement of Ouran."
"Advertisement?" My parents asked again simultaneously, which was really starting to freak me out.
The principal nodded. "They are offering a scholarship for the student who can pass their entrance exam. Only one student from a certain school is allowed to participate though. And only a few schools in the city can participate."
"Oh I see." My dad said, nodding.
"So who's this schools' participant?" My mom asked.
I realized that I was holding my breath, hoping that no one has yet to participate. If there already was a someone, I would be a dead duck.
The principal was quiet for a while. She looked outside the window, the way people do when they're spacing out, sad, or maybe even suicidal. I'm guessing it was the second one.
"Sadly no one in our school wants to participate." She said softly. "I've tried asking some of the school's best students to join but they all said no."
"Why?" I managed to ask.
The principal faced us her face was serious and angry. "Because they all say that it's too difficult and that even if they try they still won't have a chance. How could they say something like that? They just gave up without even trying. And to think that they're the school's top students!" The principal's voice was so loud that I swear I could hear an echo of her last sentence. I've never seen the principal lose it like this before. She really doesn't like it when people won't unleash their full potential. I guess all people working in some school do.
The principal breathed in and out trying to calm herself. After a while she apologized for what happened and said that she really hates it when people give up without trying. She even said, mostly to me, that people should always work hard in order to succeed. See? Just like what I told you earlier.
"So no one's going to represent this school?" My mom asked.
"I'm afraid not." The principal replied.
There was a long silence. All that could be heard was the clock inside the office. No one had anything to say. Except for me. I hesitated for a while, weighing my options and thinking of several excuses. I got it.
"Maybe I could." I said in a barely audible voice.
"What was that sweetie?" My mom asked.
"Maybe I could do it." I said, louder.
"Do what?" The principal asked.
"You know, the scholarship thing." I said.
You should've seen the principal's face when I said that. She looked like she was suppressing a laugh and she looked really weird doing it too. It was so awkward. Or maybe insulting? I'm not sure.
It took a while for the principal to regain her composure. "I'm sorry, it's just that caught off guard back then Takayagi-san. I didn't mean that you don't have a chance. And also, I never thought you'd want to go to school there."
"Yes that's right Miyuki." My mom added. "We also never thought you'd want to go there."
"It's not that I want to transfer to Ouran, it's just…" I trailed off. I hadn't thought of a reason why yet.
"Just what?" My dad asked.
Then I thought of something. "Well, you said earlier that I'm not working hard enough in this school," I started. "And in Ouran it would require hard work to get in right?" I saw the principal nodded. "So I thought that maybe it would be better if I transfer there instead of Lobelia."
"Miyuki, that's kind of…" My mom said.
There was yet another silence. Was it really that much of a bad idea?
"I don't want to sound pessimistic, but it will be really difficult for you to try and get in Takayagi-san. What with your grades and all. No offense." The principal said. "What do you think Takayagi-samas?" She asked my parents.
"Let us think about it." My dad said. Both my parents then whispered to one another some things I couldn't hear. After a while my dad faced me and said, "Miyuki, do you really want to do this?"
I nodded. It beats St Lobelia, that's for sure.
My dad looked at my mom. But they didn't look worried or anything, in fact they were smiling.
"Alright, if you can pass the entrance exam in Ouran, we won't transfer you to Lobelia." My mom said. When she said this I could have smiled. The principal just looked surprised.
"But it would be really difficult for you Takayagi-san. You'll need to study all your previous lessons and even advanced lessons." The principal said.
"I don't mind." I said.
"But-
"No it's alright." My mom said to the principal. "But if you don't get in, you're transferring to Lobelia, do you understand?"
I nodded. Thank God. My worst case scenario has now ended.
"When is the entrance exam?" My dad asked. Oh right, the date. I almost forgot.
The principal still looked worried. "Next month. But still-
"Alright." I said. I checked my watch and lunch time was almost over. I bowed and said I'd be going to my next class. My parents hugged me and told me to work hard. I nodded and realized that I haven't hugged my parents for a while now. Sadly, my parents would go back to Italy later that day. After one last hug (courtesy of me) I dashed to my classroom.
Now, time to study my brains out.
Normal POV
The principal looked confused, and at the same time worried.
"But why did you let her?" She asked to no one in particular.
The father smiled and answered her, "Because once Miyuki starts something she doesn't quit very easily. And she always does her best in the things she wants to do."
"And that's what we want." The mother added, smiling.
So what do you think? Please review. Sorry the host club isn't here in this chapter, but I promise they will be in the next.
This chapter has been rewritten. I feel so embarassed. "Advertisement?" My asked again simultaneously. "So who's this schools' your participant?" My mom asked. I feel like an idiot. I'm so sorry for not editing this chapter, I was kind of in a hurry. I promise it won't happen again. (hopefully)