Chapter Two: Come along, Shoujo-chan!

"Makeup is a wonderful tool." the woman explained, blending the pink blush she'd brushed onto the little girl's cheeks. "It reminds people of how beautiful they really are." she smiled, looking over the little girl's face, "Okay, Aya, you can look now."

The girl opened her bright blue eyes and turned to face the grand mirror behind her, standing on the stool, she beamed, "Saki-san! I look just like Mama!"

"That was what you wanted, wasn't it?" Saki Watanabe met the child's eyes in the mirror. She'd given the girl the exact same look as she had her mother, Kyomi, for that day's shooting.

"Mhm." Aya nodded, crawling up onto the counter, heedless of the clutter of concealers and eyeshadow palettes. She put her chubby fingers on the mirror, making faces at herself, "I'll be in movies like Mama, when I'm grown up."

"You will?" Saki sat in the stool, "I think you'd be good at it."

"Yeah." the girl plopped down on the counter, swinging her legs over the edge. "I can be doctors and lawyers and the police!"

"What about princesses?" Saki smiled at her, resting her head in her hand.

"I guess so." Aya picked up a brush, running her fingers through it. "If I wanted."

Kyomi came to stand in the doorway of her dressing room, "Jesus, Watanabe, what did you do to her?"

Saki straightened up, "She wanted it to look like yours."

"I look just like you, Mama!" Aya cheered, holding out her hands to her mother.

"She's just a girl!" Kyomi ignored her daughter.

"What's the harm? It's just for playing around."

"Get that off of her! She looks ridiculous! I have a meeting with the producer and then we're going home, so hurry it up!" she grabbed her coat from where it hung behind the door, turning on her heel and heading back down the hallway.

Aya's face fell, within moments tears were in her eyes. She rubbed at them, smudging the eyeliner all over.

Saki sighed, digging out the face wipes from her bag and picking Aya up, "Come on, Aya, it's okay. Your Mom's just been going through a lot lately."

Aya linked her hands behind Saki's neck, hiding her face in her shoulder, "It's because of Daddy. She says I look like Daddy. She hates me!"

Saki struggled with the door to the bathroom, balancing Aya with one hand before pushing it open with her back, "No she doesn't. Your Mom loves you, she's just been upset today." she set Aya down on the counter beside the sink, "Close your eyes, honey, we'll get this all cleaned up, okay?"

"Okay." Aya said, hiccupping.

"Maybe you don't look much like your Mom, but that doesn't mean you aren't beautiful, Aya." she began washing off the dark streaks that lined her cheeks. "Just give your Mom some time, she'll see it."

Aya nodded, twisting her skirt in her hands.

Aya sighed, looking at herself in the mirror, the downside to going for her certification in cosmetology was that everyone was judging her appearance down to the last detail. She spent hours perfecting the dewy look of her skin, getting her eyeliner just right, straightening her hair just to curl it afterward. When she was finally satisfied that she would pass today's inspections she plucked her coat from the stand and slid on her flats at the door.

"Goodbye, house." she said as she looped her scarf around her neck and scooped up her bag. "Today is Yasumura-san's show." she reminded herself, locking the door behind her. "Right after school." she entered the elevator.

She hadn't had to beg her mother much for her to agree to foot the bill for the flat during the summer after highschool graduation. After she'd repeatedly refused her mother's insistences on getting her into acting, Kyomi admitted defeat. It was easy to get her to agree with just about anything now. But of course, the place was about as high end as one could get, "What would the tabloids say if I let my daughter live in some hovel?" Kyomi was always worried about what the tabloids would print.

The elevator stopped on the floor below. When the doors opened, Kiiro Harper stood there. Even in heels the woman was a couple of inches shorter than Aya.

"Good morning, Shoujo-chan!" she said with a smile, though she seemed tired.

Aya nodded, "Morning, Harper-san."

"Haven't I told you to call me, Kiiro?"

"A few times, yes." Aya said with a small smile of her own.

Since they'd met the week previous Kiiro had insisted on giving Aya rides to school. Of course, Kiiro's sunglasses-wearing, dark-suited driver Aijima was the one chauffeuring her to Nozawarai.

"Are you really sure your driver doesn't mind dropping me off?" Aya began as Kiiro took her hand and led her to where the town car was waiting.

"Please, Aijima is always asking me if there's anything more he could do." Kiiro shrugged. "Considering his last charge was my fiancé, I'm probably underworking him." she smirked. "Besides, Nozawarai is only a few miles out of the way."

"Right." Aya wondered why she still bothered being reluctant, by the third day she was resigned to accepting rides to school as part of her new routine. Though, the girl did feel embarrassed every time they pulled up to the entrance to the gates, the rest of the students had a tendency to gawk as the sleek car drove up. It only made matters worse that Aijima insisted on opening the door for her and wishing "Miss Sjöholm" a nice day at school.

She enjoyed the company on the way over, however. For as loud as her friends Mei, Hikaru and Kaoru were, Kiiro was a quiet woman, content to sip her morning coffee and chat about class. Aya was surprised the fashionista that practically worshipped Yuzuha Hitachiin was getting a degree in business (though it did explain why she always dressed so business casual), but then again she had said something about her family managing hotels all over the world. Aya's mother was rich, but she was new money, having grown up in the middle class. Kiiro's family was on a completely different level. She wondered how Mei had become involved with her and the Hitachiins, but she didn't want to seem nosy.

"I'll see you at Mei's show!" Kiiro waved as Aya was let out of the car. "I'll have Aijima take the pictures from the point of the audience, okay?"

"Okay, Harper-san." the girl replied, dodging the curious stares of her schoolmates.

"Have a nice day, Miss Sjöholm." Aijima intoned with a slight bow.

Aya smiled awkwardly, walking briskly to her first class.

Aya entered the auditorium, there was a small crowd of students and teachers seated around the catwalk that had been erected in the center of the room. Already models for other students being tested were strutting their way up and down the stage. None of which looked as fabulous or as professional as Mei's friends, of course. She made her way to the prep room. Which, except for a few designers and the odd model or two was surprisingly empty. Aya smiled, wondering if Mei realized how overboard she was going today compared to her classmates.

"Shoujo-chan!" she was quickly enveloped in a pair of...no, wait, two pairs of arms.

She was nearly pushed off her feet by the two Hitachiin boys, "Ah, hello, Hita-"

They cut her off, "Please call us by our first names." Hikaru said flatly.

With a grin, Kaoru added, "It'll get confusing otherwise."

"Ah, yeah, you're right." Aya struggled out of their grips. "Hello, Hikaru-san, Kaoru-san."

They did a little victory dance, "Yes, you owe us, Kiiro-senpai!" they pointed at their senior as she entered the prep room.

"Ne?" Kiiro's eyes widened in realization. "Shoujo-chan! Don't let them bully you into dropping your formalities!"

Aya laughed, "Ah, Harper-san, they both have the same last name." she explained. "It just makes more sense this way."

Kiiro drooped, "You two are so rude." she directed at the twins.

"I suppose if it really bothers you, I could call you Kiiro-senpai, also."

Kiiro's eyes lit up, "We're not in the same school but I'll take it!"

"Jeez, Kiiro-senpai, sometimes you're just as bad as Tono." the brothers said, deadpan.

"Don't you dare compare me to that loon." she said, frowning.

"Why are you guys just standing around?" Mei strode up to them, arms full with their outfits. "Hurry up and get changed! We have half an hour left!" she thrust a pile of clothes into the brothers' arms.

"Roger!" they hurried away, fearful of Mei's wrath.

Kiiro took what was left over in Mei's arms and made for her dressing room.

Mei shook her head before looking over her shoulder at Aya, "Ah, speaking of familiarity, you can call me Mei-chan now, right?"

Aya grinned, "Sure thing."

"So, um, exactly how many people are out there do you think?" Kiiro trembled, peeking out from behind the curtain of the stage.

"It's a little late for stage fright, don't you think?" Hikaru shrugged.

"Besides there's only like forty people out there." Kaoru shrugged.

"F-forty?" their senior stuttered. "I'm not as used to being the center of attention as you two!"

"You'll do fine, Kiiro-senpai." Mei bumped the girl with her hip.

The three of them looked even better than they had the week before. Seeing how dedicated Mei was to give off such a professional impression inspired Aya to go all out.

The final model for the previous student completed their walk, "Hikaru, you're up." Mei said, patting the brunette twin on the shoulder.

"Good luck!" Kaoru said with a sweet smile.

As with before, when Hikaru took to the stage, it was immediately apparent that he was highly trained in commanding the attention of others.

'To be expected since his mother's such a high profile designer.' Aya saw how the crowd, especially the girls, reacted.

He kept his expression neutral, but it was obvious he was enjoying being studied, he ran a hand through his hair as he turned. Free hand casually in his pocket.

"Show off." Kiiro muttered, smirking.

"I know, right?" Mei grinned. "I'm totally going to ace this exam. Get going, Kiiro-senpai."

Kiiro inhaled deeply before setting out, she may have not had the ideal height for the runway but she did her best.

Hikaru came back, expression returning to his usual playfulness, "As usual, they can't keep their eyes off me." he said, laying the arrogance on thick. "Beat that, Kaoru."

"Do you want a competition?" Kaoru grinned. "But, we have the same face."

"So? Shoujo-chan can judge." Hikaru's eyes sparkled as he headed back to the dressing room.

"I don't get a say?" Aya raised an eyebrow at the younger twin as he strutted off toward the end of the catwalk.

And just like that an odd competition was underway. Aya wasn't quite sure what the objective of the contest was anyway. Either way, Kaoru arrived at the end of the runway and pulled at the hem of his shirt, one of his hands on his hip.

"Exactly what am I judging?" Aya cocked her head as Hikaru took to the stage again.

He placed one hand at the back of his neck almost shyly and looked up at a group of girls in the audience, they swooned.

"What's with them?" Mei chuckled from Aya's side.

Aya was reminded briefly of the girls that followed the Zuka Club like lost puppies in high school.

The rest of the twins' time on center stage was spent trying to win more and more attention from the women in the audience. Kiiro was laughing as she completed her final circuit, "I didn't even need to worry! I felt more like filler between those two!"

"C'mon, Kiiro-senpai, there were plenty of male onlookers, you know!" Mei waggled her eyebrows.

"Mei-chan!" Kiiro swatted her arm. "I'm engaged in case you haven't noticed!"

"Yeah, Kyouya-senpai would probably be happy to make someone disappear if they looked at you wrong." Hikaru chuckled.

Kaoru was last up, at the end of the stage he winked at a student paying him rapt attention, running a hand over his collar bone.

"I'm definitely passing this with flying colors!" Mei said between giggles. "You two really are too much!"

Kaoru returned, linking his arm through his brother's, "So which one of us won, Shoujo-chan?"

"Yeah, Shoujo-chan, which one of us charmed you more?" Hikaru grinned at her.

"Charmed me?" Aya laughed. "You guys are so funny."

"Yeah, you two really are dorks." Kiiro smirked at them.

They smiled at each other, "Which one, Shoujo-chan, which one!" they pestered her, grinning ever wider as she laughed harder.

"You both win!" she decided, catching her breath.

"Fine, we'll just do a rematch next time!" they struck poses, winking at her.

"Goodness, you two are as bad as King." Kiiro said with a chuckle.

"Mei-chan!" a voice called.

"Is that...?" Kiiro turned.

"Speak of the devil." the brothers crossed their arms.

Aya turned as well, and noticed four people approaching them, a woman, two men and a small boy. The one that had called out was a tall blond boy with striking violet eyes, he was holding the hand of a cute brunette girl, and behind them a guy that must have been 6' 4" followed with an adorable honey-blond boy clutching a stuffed pink rabbit on his shoulders.

They were all more attractive than most of her mother's famous coworkers.

'What is with Mei-chan's friends?!' Aya looked to the girl behind her.

"Your show went beautifully!" the blond at the head of the group. "Can I model for your next one?" before he could let her answer, he turned his attention to Aya. "Ah, is this a friend of yours?"

Aya didn't even get a chance to introduce herself before he knelt on the ground in front of her, bringing one of her hands to his lips, "My name is Tamaki Suoh, it's a pleasure to meet you, princess." his smile was perhaps one of the most serene things she'd ever seen.

Aya looked confused and felt more than a little weirded out by his forwardness. "Ah...what?"

"Oy, King, what have we talked about with the forwardness?" Kiiro raised an eyebrow.

"Don't mind this empty-headed Lothario, Shoujo-chan." the twins pulled her away from him, each keeping an arm around her shoulders. "He flirts with everyone, we're surprised Haruhi hasn't kicked him to the curb yet."

"I was just trying to be polite." Tamaki looked crestfallen and he wilted, clutching at the stage's curtains for support.

"Sorry about him." the cute brunette addressed her. "You must be the stylist Mei-chan was talking about, I'm Haruhi Fujioka." she smiled.

"And I'm Hani and this is Mori." the kid on top of the dark-haired boy's shoulders said.

"Nice to meet you." Mori said, his deep voice the polar opposite of Hani's sugary tone.

"Likewise." Aya bent at the waist, over polite in her greetings.

"This is Aya Shoujo." Hikaru introduced her.

"She did our hair and makeup today." Kaoru explained, tucking an errant hair behind his ear.

"Wow, Mei-chan, you weren't lying when you said you were going all out." Haruhi addressed the aspiring designer.

"Of course not." Mei stuck out her tongue. "It's the first exam, after all. Anyway, I'm glad you all could make it, but now that it's over I do believe we have a celebratory appointment with the karaoke place? Courtesy of these two." her eyes were sparkling with mischievous glee as she placed a hand on each twins' shoulder.

"We never agreed to that." they replied flatly, looking back at her with identical furrowed brows.

"You don't have too." Mei grinned, pushing the two of them and thus pushing Aya as well as she was still stuck between them.

"Yay~! Karaoke~! Karaoke~!" Hani cheered as Mori followed them.

"C'mon, senpai, stop sulking so we can join them." Haruhi tried coaxing Tamaki out of his brooding, tugging at his shirt.

"Oh, forget him, Haruhi, he can wallow if he wants." Kiiro slipped an arm around Haruhi's waist, guiding her forward.

Tamaki snapped out of it, chasing after everyone else, "Kiiro! Unhand my Haruhi!" he cried. "I should be the one holding her!"

"You do love to egg him on, don't you?" Haruhi looked up at Kiiro with a raised eyebrow.

"Guilty." she replied with a wide smile.

"Okay! Okay! Mei-chan, enough pushing!" Hikaru protested, pulling away from the other three clustered around him.

"How else am I gonna make sure you guys don't skip on the bill?"

"We're rich, why would we bother?" he returned rather haughtily.

Aya felt Kaoru squeeze her shoulder, "Sorry if we're dragging you along, Aya-chan." he said with a pleasant smile.

She shook her head, "It's fine, Kaoru-san. I've had a lot of fun with you guys so far. But, I have to ask, is everyone you know so weird?" she lowered her voice, worried she might offend someone.

He grinned, eyes lighting up, "Yeah, I'm like the only normal one."

"I heard that, and I'm calling bullshit." Hikaru slung an arm around his brother's shoulders. "If I'm weird, you're weird, too."

"Besides, Kaoru-san, no one's any fun if they're not at least a little weird." Aya smiled, breaking away from the two.

"That so?" he rested an elbow on Hikaru's shoulder.

A limo was waiting for them at the curb, tinted windows and everything. Before Aya even knew what was happening she was being pushed inside, crammed between the brothers yet again.

"Tamaki, there's no way we'll all fit in the back of this." Kiiro gave the blond a withering look.

"I've had it renovated!" he motioned to the extra three seats along the right side. "In fact, we even have an empty seat!" he cheered, grinning ever wider.

"You should know by now his extravagance knows no bounds." Haruhi said with a wry smile.

"I've never been in a limo before." Aya inspected the car with interest.

"Really? I thought your Mom was a movie star?" Hikaru asked.

"I never really went to any of her red carpet events or anything." she shrugged.

"Wah~! Shoujo-chan, your Mom's a movie star~?" the boy seated across from her, Hani, asked excitedly as he swung his feet.

She nodded, "Well, she hasn't done a movie in a while now. She's in a soap opera contract right now."

The other blond, Tamaki, perked up, "What soap opera?"

Aya thought for a moment, "Uh, Flowers of Bunkyo. She plays Fumiko Something-or-other."

Tamaki bounced in his seat, "Fumiko Arashi?" his expression was that of unbridled wonder. "Ah! Her storylines are some of my favorites!" he cheered. "Like when she rediscovered her long-lost sister! Or the romance she had with Tadashi Matsumoto! Your mother has exceptional talent!"

Aya smiled a little uncomfortably, she'd never even seen the show, "I guess she does." she said neutrally.

The Twins kicked their friend, "Tono, you're being weird!"

"Shoujo-chan doesn't want to talk about her Mom's career." Hikaru levelled his flat gaze at his "boss".

"You've lost your edge, bringing up something so boring." Kaoru crossed his arms, tilting his head.

"Though it's no surprise our leader is a sucker for such sappy shows." Kiiro said with a smirk.

Tamaki wilted again, attempting to brood amidst the cramped car.

"Senpai, please stop sulking in these conditions." Haruhi said flatly.

Aya had to wonder why he was called "Tono" and "leader".

"We were movie stars once, right, Takashi~?" Hani asked his tall friend sunnily.

"Mhm." Mori replied with a nod of his head.

"I'm not sure you can call twenty minutes of film a movie, Hani-senpai." Kaoru pointed out politely.

"W-wait, "senpai"?" Aya piped up questioning the honorific he'd used.

"Yeah, Hani-senpai's our senior." Hikaru grinned down at her.

"He may not look it, but he's twenty-one." Kiiro explained.

The shock on her face elicited a cute giggle from the "senior".

"Ne, King, you've been up for like ten songs already!" Kiiro reminded Tamaki as he began searching for the next song he wanted to sing.

"But the selection is wider than the other place!" Tamaki bounced on his heels as he scrolled.

"We don't want to hear your ugly singing voice anymore." the twins booed. "Give someone else a turn. Maybe..." they looked around, settling on the brunette to their right. "Haruhi?"

She glared at the two, but they were already laughing so hard tears were coming out of their eyes.

"You don't want to?" Aya asked.

Haruhi shrugged, "Singing's not exactly my forte."

"You guys are asses." Mei raised an eyebrow at the cackling pair.

"How dare you two insult Haruhi!" Tamaki huffed. "Don't you realize you'll hurt her feelings if you tell her her singing voice is terrible!"

This only caused Haruhi to turn her glare to him, "Way to defend my honor, senpai."

He paled, "Wha! I- I didn't mean it that way, Haruhi!" he flailed.

The Twins bent double, holding their sides.

"How many feet can you fit in your mouth at once, Tamaki?" Kiiro sighed.

Hani finished his fourth helping of honey toast and hopped up to the podium, "If no one's singing, Takashi and I will do a duet!"

Mori's part, however, did not involve singing but he did back his friend up with a tambourine.

This karaoke visit was definitely the most high energy thing Aya had ever been to.

The twins were calming down from their laughing fit, wiping tears from their eyes. Once they were able to speak without giggling Hikaru turned to Kaoru, "Do you think this place has one of those juice dispensers?"

"You mean like the vendor thing?" Kaoru tilted his head.

Aya gave them a confused look, "You, uh, mean a vending machine? I think I saw one in the hall."

"Great!" they beamed, scooping her up by the arms and rushing out the door.

"What? Why am I going too?!"

"What kind of juice does Shoujo-chan like?" the two surveyed the selection of juices.

"Hmm." she popped her coins into the machine, "I think I'll just have apple." she pressed the button.

"Apple? What?" Hikaru's brow furrowed.

"That's boring." Kaoru shook his head.

She shrugged, "What's boring about apple juice? I like it."

"Is that commoner wisdom?" they consulted each other.

"Only get things you know you like?"

"Does she even count as a commoner?"

"Commoner?" she wondered aloud.

They dismissed the thought.

"We try something new every time we get something." Kaoru admitted, looking over the array of drinks with a serious face.

"Kaoru look! Spicy Mango!" Hikaru pointed out a bright green can.

Aya grimaced, "What if you don't like it?"

They grinned, "We'll just trick Tono into drinking it." they selected the weird flavored drink.

Hikaru cracked it open and tried it first, he smiled at his brother, "This is actually really good!"

Kaoru took the can from him, sipping for himself, "Yeah! Wow, who would have thought?"

Aya raised an eyebrow as they looked at her.

"Here. Try some." Hikaru plucked the can from his brother's hand and offered it to her.

"We don't have germs. Promise." Kaoru added when he saw her skeptical look.

She accepted the can and took a drink.

She nearly spit it out, "Oh my God, that's awful!" she downed about half of her apple juice to try to kill the flavor. "It's like dirt and fire! What's wrong with your taste buds?!"

They burst into another fit of giggles, "She actually tried it!" Hikaru wheezed.

"That stuff is terrible!" Kaoru admitted, covering his grin.

"You tricked me!" her eyes widened in disbelief.

"We're sorry! We couldn't resist!"

"How did you pull that off without saying anything?" she knitted her brow.

"Twins, remember?" they grinned at her. They turned their attention back to each other. "Let's go switch out Tono's drink!" they tore off in the direction of the karaoke booth.

"But what will you two drink?" she called out after them. When it was apparent that they hadn't heard her she reached into her coin purse, studying the selection in front of her again. After choosing two she followed after them.

"What're these?" Kaoru asked as she set down the two cans on the table before him and his brother.

"Orange cream and watermelon lemonade." she explained. "You guys didn't get anything for yourselves. They're a lot tamer than that nasty stuff, but still a little exotic, right?"

"You didn't have to get us anything." he smiled, examining the watermelon lemonade.

"Why'd you get two?" Hikaru eyed the cans.

She shrugged, "Well there's two of you. Besides, now you can try two things at once." she took her seat, missing the impressed look they gave each other.

Tamaki took a sip of his drink and spat it out, "This isn't my drink!" he cried, looking disgusted and confused.

The brothers tried to stifle their laughter.

"Hikaru! Kaoru! What did you do?!" he glared at them, making them laugh harder.

"Senpai, you made a mess." Haruhi gave him a look of disapproval.

"Bu-but it was all their fault, Haruhi..." he pouted, gesturing to the hysterical twins.

As they were filing out Aya was surprised to find that it was already eight o'clock. She'd had a good time but now it was over she found she was a little sad. She'd really liked these people she'd met over the course of this last week, but who knows when she'd see them again now that Mei's show was done with.

Kiiro glanced at her phone as she stepped into her car, "The photos of today's show should be delivered by three tomorrow, Shoujo-chan. Would you mind stopping by my university to pick them up? I'll send Aijima to pick you up."

"Um, sure, that's fine." she nodded. At the very least she had had fun and she got the added bonus of some good photos for her portfolio.

Aya had nearly forgotten about the arrangement by the time she was picked up. She had never been to see Ouran University, but the grounds were massive and the buildings were larger. Even bigger than Lobelia had been, she noticed.

They were also very pink.

Kiiro had given her simple directions to the room she was waiting in.

When she opened the door, Kiiro beckoned to her from a settee to her left. She made her way to her, not really bothering to give the room around her much thought. Kiiro produced a folder from her bag, "Sorry about not delivering these to you, I won't really be home this weekend." she admitted. "After club ends I have to catch a flight."

"Oh, it's no problem." Aya accepted the folder, stashing it carefully in her purse. "Is this your club?" she turned her head to survey the room.

Everywhere she looked, overly plush sofas decorated the room. Girls her age and older filled them, their attentions all turned to one of the few boys in the room. Here all of the men she had went to karaoke with last night were being fawned over by at least four young women each.

'What kind of people are Mei-chan's friends?' she found herself wondering for the hundredth time.

"Anyway, it was a lot of fun." Kaoru somewhere to her left was saying.

She caught sight of him and his brother on one of the sofas, surrounded of course by three ladies paying them rapt attention.

"The best part was seeing Kaoru on the runway." Hikaru said in a low tone, giving his brother a look that grossed Aya out.

"Hikaru." Kaoru pressed a hand to his cheek, blushing.

Aya's eyes widened, "What the hell is going on here?"

Kiiro sputtered, shaking with laughter.