There was this tradition in Harvard during sophomore year, where students were 'sorted' into their respective houses. Kyoya and a few of his friends applied as a group hoping to enter the Leverette hall. It was known to have larger rooms, better plumbing, and the quintessential Harvard image of common rooms. The fact that a number of tenants were international students and a substantial subset of had their own "family businesses", families in politics, and broad circle of influence was a plus.

To blend in, Kyoya simply entailed "Do as the Romans do" philosophy. He carried his suitcase and a small box filled with his belongings up the grand staircase that mimicked Hogwarts. He was lucky enough to have Tachibana and Ajima accompanying Fuyumi a few days ago so they were able to stay and move his furniture in advance.

He initially had plans with living off campus, but Fuyumi made a fuss that he wasn't enjoying the full American university experience to the fullest.

'My, my Kyoya-kun. Don't you think you should spend more time embracing the joys of youth?'

The thought briefly brought a tiny smile to the corner of his lips. He finally located the room he'd be staying in until graduation. He opened the door and the size was underwhelming. At least he was lucky enough to have a room to himself.

"Wow, nice place you got, Ootori."

Richard Lee sat on the edge of the bed and propped the window open. "Hey Andrew! I saw the list. You're on this floor." He called out to one of their friends on the courtyard.

He turned back and had a smug look on his face. "Dude, the rooms we got..." He gestured a chefs kiss. This guy's theatrics were also on a different level. There was a short pause as he looked around cautiously as if he was spreading classified information. "I heard Nadine Jeong is moving in upstairs."

"Now's your chance to meet her then." Kyoya replied with little interest.

"I don't know her circle of friends." He whined. "You know what? We'll make a gameplan with Andrew for introductions while having lunch. You in?"

Kyoya nodded followed Richard. There's no point in refusing this guy. He didn't think he'd find someone who rivaled Tamaki in their drive for making things happen. Although, fate just had a funny way of making things work. Right in front of them was the said girl and a familiar face trying to carry a couch up the stairs.

"Pivot!"

"I'm trying!" Chizuru replied with her voice breaking. She took a deep breath and ignored the burning sensation in her arms and she carried the couch. All in the name of aesthetics were they carrying up this designer couch for the small reading nook near their room. She tried to pull and readjust her position, but to no avail.

"You have to push harder!"

Kyoya whispered to his dumbfounded companion. "I think this is your chance."

Richard walked towards the two struggling individuals. "You guys need some help? My friend and I just finished moving our furniture."

"Oh my god, yes!" Nadine Jeong looked like she saw salvation and was saved.

Richard gestured to Kyoya and they lifted the couch at such a weird angle, but it got through that awkward curve.

"What the hell Nadine? Where were you hiding this strength?" Chizuru tried to balance herself on the stairs as she looked at the two guys carrying the other end of the couch.

"O-Ootori-san?!" Chizuru blinked a few times. She was caught off guard. "Where's Nadine?"

"Behind me."

It didn't take long for them to setup the couch and bring it to its rightful spot. The corner nook had a fireplace, classic Persian rug, and the couch elevated the entire ambiance. They moved some more shelves, tables, and other things to their floor much quicker with the help of their saviors. Chizuru straightened her shirt and tried to process the situation that was happening.

"So, how do you guys know each other?" Richard asked as he pointed back and forth between Kyoya and Chizuru.

"We…" She paused. She wasn't entirely sure how to explain their circumstance. A story involving a female student dressed as a man in a Host Club. How she and her friends tried to get this said student to transfer to their school by means of a song and dance number. Then being rejected because the other members of the Host Club decided to wear Victorian styled gowns to convince the said student to stay wasn't something she could easily explain.

"Our schools are in the same area." Kyoya completed Chizuru's statement. It was easiest way to put things.

"Yeah, that's basically it." Chizuru smiled sheepishly.

The usual introductions were done. They all mentioned their concentrations and secondary fields. Apparently, Chizuru just chose economics as her secondary field. It seems like she'll be taking a few classes with Kyoya and his friend.

It's been a few days since the moving in incident. Kyoya and Chizuru haven't said much to each other besides the polite curt bows they'd exchange when they'd pass each other. They both went on their respective lives. He made his way to the middle of the auditorium and placed his backpack on the floor.

At least this class started at 10 in the morning which was a reasonable hour for starting the day. The leniency of the American educational system was new to him and by far less rigid compared to Japan. He might as well use this to his advantage since he hated waking up early. He opened his laptop and just waited for class to start.

"Is it okay if I sit next to you?" Chizuru waved her hand and gestured to the seat to the left of Kyoya. She was holding her laptop on one hand and her iced coffee in the other.

"Go ahead." Kyoya replied with a short bow. He didn't think they'd be taking the same Econ 10A.

"Thanks."

They were being civil with each other despite the initial misunderstanding between their friend groups. They didn't think about having much in common. It also didn't take a genius to realize that they were probably differing in principles anyways. Not to mention Chizuru's tastes were also contrasting from his. The pink laptop case, pink tumbler, pink pencil case, pink highlighter, and the list could go on. The amount of pink was already rivaling Honey-senpai's cute image. The difference was even more magnified when placed beside his black or grey color scheme.

Though he knew better than to judge people based on outward appearances. The fact that Maihara Chizuru made it to this institution proved she had a good head in between those shoulders. They didn't speak for the rest of the class and just listened intently to what the professor was discussing.

Kyoya started taking down important notes and suddenly his handwriting just skidded across the page. The force from Chizuru's elbow hitting his arm surprised him and instinctively glanced at her.

Chizuru looked briefly at the sudden physical contact between them and was just as equally shocked. "I'm so sorry. I didn't realize you were left handed." She whispered. She placed her hands together and bowed to express her apologies.

The rest of the lecture went by quickly. The next set of readings were given and a brief rundown on the schedule of activities and deadlines were flashed on the screen.

"Since I'm feeling nice…" The professor said with a large grin on his face. "All your outputs, papers, and project for your finals will be done in pairs."

Mixed reactions were heard but the professor ignored this. " Just go ahead and pick anyone in this class or the person next to you then you can leave."

Kyoya looked around, the guy to his right practically had drool on his notes. The one behind him had a reputation for disappearing. He turned to his left and it seemed like the best option.

"Do you want to be partners?" he asked. At least he was assured that it would be much easier to communicate with each other.

"Yeah, that would be convenient." Chizuru smiled back politely. This also seemed like the best option for her. "Is it okay if I ask for your number? Since I'd need to contact you for class."

The pair exchanged numbers and emails. There was this sense of relief that at least they can communicate using their mother tongue. It made life much easier for the both of them.

Chizuru noticed that her companion wasn't standing from his seat. They were the only ones left in the auditorium. She wanted this class badly because the scheduling was convenient and the next class used the same lecture hall. "Is your next class Econ 10B?"

"Yes, are you also taking it?"

As the semester went by, the projects and readings forced people to get to know one another on a different pace. Liters and liters of coffee were shared. Multiple readings and essays just filled their days. Proximity was a great ally in forging relationships. They often found themselves meeting at a coffee shop in the school grounds, library, or the common areas in their dorm.

Being in this arrangement brought Chizuru to notice certain eccentricities Kyoya had.

First, Kyoya was neurotic to a fault. She hasn't seen anyone as organized as he was. An organizer within a bag organizer? Really?

Second, he had a certain look when he observed anyone or anything. It was like as if he knew something that others didn't which was most likely the case. Third, was…

"You think I can predict your thoughts?" Kyoya suddenly asked with an amused tone.

Chizuru stiffened. He proved himself yet again. "How do you do it, Ootori-san? I've never met anyone with that kind of…skill."

Kyoya sipped his water. It was almost unsettling how much questions Chizuru asked about him. He wasn't sure if she was sizing him up or if it was just out of sheer curiosity. He leaned forward and his lips turned slightly upward and he shrugged dismissively. He didn't feel the need to explain himself further.

His actions in itself were a clear statement, but Chizuru still couldn't fully grasp it. She wasn't the type who saw through people fully with a certain clairvoyance. "It feels like you're playing a game. I couldn't understand it myself."

Kyoya's initial hypothesis that Chizuru was a mellowed down version of Tamaki or Benibara was scrapped. She wasn't obnoxious. She also didn't see through others with extreme accuracy but was the opposite. She let things unfold slowly and took it as is. She carefully extracted information from others and put two and two together.

"You're like that jigsaw puzzle my aunt got me last Christmas." Chizuru had a nostalgic expression that quickly turned sour. "She got me a 1,000-piece jigsaw puzzle that formed a blank page. All the pieces were white. No one could possibly solve something like that."

The food arrived and suddenly, the woman's attention was shifted to the food in front of them. Naturally, she started talking about the food. Kyoya found himself genuinely enjoying the discussion. If there was something he had to commend, it was how great of a conversationalist Chizuru was. She's able to talk about virtually anything without overwhelming others and really is able to steer a conversation into any direction without it feeling forced.

"Ootori-san, is it fine if I start calling you by your name?" she asked cautiously. "I just find it odd when I call you by your last name when we speak in English."

Kyoya nodded briefly. He was taken aback with the request, but he understood where she was coming from. Rarely do people here address each other by their last names on a regular basis. "It would be my pleasure. How do you wish to be addressed, Maihara-san?"

"Just call me by my name. And will you stop talking to me like we're complete strangers?" Chizuru sighed. "I know we got off on the wrong foot, but I think we've gone past that."

"I would appreciate if we could forget about that day." Kyoya replied before he took another sip. There was no point in lying. The whole charade between them was what made their situation awkward. He was more ashamed than anything. More often than not, he knew when to put a stop to Tamaki's harebrained ideas, but admittedly he didn't want to lose Haruhi. In his opinion, Lobelia was a better choice for Haruhi considering the career path she wanted. Suddenly, the buy 'one get one' commoner principle was the only logical solution to keep her within reach.

Chizuru started snickering. The sudden change in demeanor surprised Kyoya. He pushed his glasses up and he watched the woman who sat across him. She had to bite her lip to stop herself from erupting into a fit of laughter. The mental image of the Host Club in their gowns. The tacky singing and their makeup. She couldn't even call it a mockery of the Zuka Club since it was just too tacky and borderline stupid. There were mental images she buried deep into her subconscious and as it surfaced she found herself unable to control her laughter.

"Are you done?" Kyoya tried to hide the slightly irritated tone in his voice.

"Yes, yes. I'm sorry." Chizuru wiped the tears off the corner of her eyes and took a deep breath.

"Kyoya, not to state the obvious but please don't mention to anyone back home that I work part time." Chizuru said after regaining her composure. "I know we first saw each other ages ago, but I think you understand, right?"

"Duly noted." Kyoya didn't feel the need to mention their brief encounter to anyone. He didn't really talk to anyone else beyond the occasional messages between him and Tamaki. Fuyumi would also ask for all sorts of updates, but there wasn't much to talk about.

"Thanks." Chizuru let out a sigh of relief. "You know, I realized yesterday when we went shopping with Nadine and Richard that you were being too polite." Chizuru sniggered. The memory of her shopping spree with Nadine and their poor escorts came to mind. "Even I could tell you wanted to die halfway."

"What I couldn't understand was how you could differentiate all those shades of nude." Kyoya jibed. He knew the colors theoretically and could identify it in groups of two or three, but twenty shades were too much. No matter how much he looked, it was still just nude colored heels.

"Those shoes were a steal. I didn't have it in that shade." Chizuru scoffed. "That's why I offered to help you choose a pair of loafers. You don't seem to know any other color except brown, white, black, and grey."

Kyoya cleared his throat. It's not that he wasn't fashionable, but he just preferred more subdued colors and classic styles. He was about to defend himself, but she didn't even give him the opportunity to speak.

"Is there a prescribed Ootori dress code? Are you like the British Royal family with all these social protocols? Would you get scolded if you accidentally wore the wrong shirt?" Chizuru finished the remains of her pasta.

"I am quite satisfied with the way I dress, Chizuru." Kyoya's smile started to strain. He didn't like where this was going.

"I know you are, but will you be satisfied with not looking like your best?" Chizuru played the only card she had. "Are you willing to be just slightly above average in that aspect?"

Kyoya was a perfectionist by nature and the thought of above average bothered him. Somehow, he found himself being dragged to the nearest mall after they finished their project. He didn't plan on buying any new clothes since he had more than enough, but Chizuru strongly suggested that he get a fresh look.

I told you it would work." Chizuru gave a thumbs up to her new work of art. "You look like an actor. Like those kdrama men girls are all crushing on these days. Glasses are a signature look for you."

Kyoya found himself responding to Chizuru more openly. "The royal blue sweater was something I was quite surprised with."

"Right?!" He could hear the pride in her voice. Chizuru felt like a proud mother showing off her son. "I could practically see the girls and boys staring at you when we were at the dining hall. Were you part of the set course meal? Probably hoping you were up for dessert. I-"

Their conversation ended abruptly when they saw what was happening on television. They found themselves at a sports bar on a Friday afternoon because it was the FIFA world cup semi-finals Japan against Germany. Chizuru suddenly stood up from her seat when the referee gave penalty to the goalkeeper. It gave Germany a two point lead now.

Chizuru let out a resigned sighed then looked at Kyoya questioningly. "I didn't expect you to like burgers so much. You didn't seem like the type to enjoy this."

"I was quite surprised myself." Kyoya wiped the corners of his mouth. "The first time I had this was with Haruhi, but the quality of the food was different."

"You were too prideful to admit you liked it at that time and pretended to find it satisfactory." Chizuru had a mischievous smile. She knew pride when she saw it.

Kyoya pushed his glasses. "I don't understand what you're implying."

"You know exactly what I'm implying." Chizuru said as she took a sip from her beer. The more time she spent with Kyoya the more she couldn't fathom one thing. She wasn't sure if the alcohol was making her tipsy, but it was making her unusually blunt and voice out whatever it was it came to mind.

"How did you end up forming a Host Club with Tamaki? I doubt you broke a vase or something." Chizuru crooked her head to one side. "I've heard about Haruhi's story when we asked her to join our play. You know… the one you guys kind of interrupted.."

"Because it was a drastic idea in itself." Kyoya reiterated.

Chizuru looked at him with an expression that had more questions that needed answers. Their pleasant dinner suddenly turned differently when suddenly a fight erupted at the other end of the room.

It was one group of guys against another. It looked like fight between two schools in the area. Certain people had a way of reminding people they didn't belong. Kyoya watched in Chizuru eavesdrop without any sense of shame.

"Chizuru-" Kyoya was about to suggest that they leave discreetly, but Chizuru had other plans.

"Shhh…. they're arguing already." Chizuru ordered another round of drinks just to justify their extended stay in the restaurant. This level of confrontation was rare in their country.

Kyoya could hear them fighting and could hear a few plates breaking. "What are they fighting about?"

"You see that girl in the tube top? They're fighting over her." Chizuru took a bite of her nachos. Suddenly the girl in the tube top was pulling the hair of the girl with the denim jacket. "Oh wow, so the guy wearing the grey sweatshirt got her friend pregnant."

"So why is the other guy fighting the guy in red?"

Chizuru shrugged. "Maybe he just wanted to join in?"

Kyoya had a small smile on his face. Not to stereotype or to be judgmental, but he did look like the type to join in some tavern brawl. "Or the lights upstairs just don't work at all."

Chizuru looked at him. Her amusement and disbelief was clear. "Kyoya, I can't believe you just said that."

Another thing Chizuru's learned was how Kyoya had a way with words. His humor was dark, dry, and sarcastic. It wasn't the type of humor that worked with people who didn't read between the lines. He was rather witty if he let himself speak his mind more, but there must be a reason why he keeps his thoughts to himself. One could only imagine how dark his thoughts could get. In certain events that he let it out, it was actually funny and was usually at the expense of his target.

"I'm sure you were thinking of it." Kyoya's smile was almost too refreshing for his statement.

"But you said it."

Kyoya glanced briefly at the commotion unfolding right in front of their eyes. "Either she's going to walk out, or the other guy is going to exert his dominance."

Chizuru almost spat out her drink. She found herself in a coughing fit and tried to breathe. "You really like witnessing these kinds of things." It suddenly made sense. Understanding bloomed in places where it shouldn't . "That's why you enjoy the Host Club. I can't believe a you pretend to hate drama, yet you spend a considerable amount of time 'observing'."

"Well, I can't believe you could eat while watching Human Centipede." Kyoya pushed his glasses up.

Yesterday after dinner, there was a film showing at the common area and they insisted on watching something that…distasteful.

"Well, I can't believe the first thing you thought was what if the second person in line got massive diarrhea because of eating the other guys feces. How could you even-" Chizuru couldn't even properly phrase her words.

She decided to pushed an invisible pair of glasses and mimicked her companion and commented coolly. "If the last individual needed medicine, would you just give one since their digestive system is connected or give enough for three?" Chizuru started laughing without any inhibition.

"Don't you think that's important? What if the first person suffers from overdosage" Kyoya commented loosely with an amused expression.

"So that's how your real smile looks like." Chizuru had a mini celebration. It was the first time the smile reached his eyes.

She was seeing a different side of Kyoya now and it was slightly different from the first version she saw. The first one was cold and more like a politician running for office. This new version was far more interesting to hang around with.

Here it is. I want to hear your thoughts, comments, anything really.

It's been established that Kyoya went to Boston for college. I wanted to show his international student life more because why not? Then I know this opinion is controversial but the Zuka Club was portrayed so poorly! If there's one thing I can change in the series it would be this one. Can you imagine an all girls club with tea ceremonies, healthy debates, and musicals? It sounds absolutely amazing.

Also, I wasn't sure how to work with Chizuru. I didn't want to create an entirely new OC (since there's plenty of them). She was just minor character in the series so there's very little to work with but it helps to have a uniform physical image of her. I also wanted to try something new. She doesn't even have her own character tag. Anything that goes beyond her minimal appearances and screen time is purely mine, but the character herself isn't. I don't own Ouran or anything related to the series. If I did own it there would be a second season by now.

Another disclaimer is that I didn't go to Harvard to my education so this was all based on research and various media sources with a touch of fantasy.