〜 Chapter One: Late for Class? Me? More Likely Than You Think〜

Kiyomi Kinomoto walked from what was the campus of Ouran High School. With her was her little sister, Hanako. She was on her way to drop her off, as it was her first day at the middle school campus.

Kiyomi wore her usual uniform: the pastel yellow dress. Most of the girls loved it and she didn't mind it, but would rather something different. The dresses were personally too poofy and an odd shade of banana yellow. Ouran officially had started classes a week ago, but Hanako had been sick and so today was her first day, technically.

"Big Sister, are you sure it's okay for you to miss class to bring me?" Hanako asked innocently. She wore the Ouran Middle School uniform with a fluffy white backpack that had a bunny face embroidered into it, which was slung over her shoulder.

"Yes, Hanako-chan, it's okay... Now, remember what I told you?" Kiyomi looked down at Hanako. Her curly, ginger hair was in pigtails.

Hanako looked back up at Kiyomi. Her green eyes sparkled in adoration.

"Of course, Big Sister! Make friends, be safe, and have fun." She recited, pointing one finger up as she skipped a little ahead of Kiyomi.

"Good." Kiyomi nodded, satisfied with Hanako's answer.

Kiyomi knew the truth, that Hanako was her half-sibling. Nobody in her family had ginger hair, so it was obvious to Kiyomi that Mother had cheated on Father. However, she still loved her dearly.

Kiyomi let slip a carefree smile through her Mask.

After dropping Hanako off at her classroom and being thanked by the teacher, Kiyomi began to head to her own classroom. In her hand she held a slip from the teacher, explaining why she was late. The bell rang right as she made it onto the high school campus.

"Looks like we'll be leaving home a little earlier." Kiyomi sighed, walking through the empty halls. The sound carried throughout the halls, however nobody came to reprimand her because of the noise.

After a few minutes, Kiyomi stood in front of the door to class 3-A. Biting her lip, she heard her teacher talking. Raising her free hand she gently knocked, using her knuckles to rasp against the wooden door.

The teacher stopped talking, and after a few moments the door opened. "Ah, Kinomoto-san. Where have you been? You're late."

She held out the slip for her teacher to read. With a small bow of her head as if ashamed, she apologized, "I'm sorry, Teacher. I had to help my little sister get to her class. She just started today and didn't know the way to her classroom."

Of course, she was not ashamed at all. This was just a part of her Mask. Every emotion she showed was.

Her teacher took it gingerly, eyes scanning over it. She stared at it for a few moments, before looking up and stepping aside to let her in. "Try not to let this happen again, please. Or at least, come and let me know."

"Yes, Teacher." Raising her head, she stepped in.

Almost immediately she saw the annoying group of girls in the back. It wasn't hard to not notice them, mainly because they were all huddled in the back of the classroom, loudly whispering. They all wore heavy makeup and just gossiped. Of course, they talked badly about her. Her polished appearance, of how her hair was straight and perfect, how she didn't bother with makeup, and how her clothing was unwrinkled, clung and loose on certain areas of her body. They spread rumors of her being stuck-up, rude, conceited, and more.

It wasn't new for her. She was aloof, of course they would target her. Even though they were third-years now.

Indifferently, she took a seat in her assigned seat and dropped her bookbag at her side. Huffing, she pulled out her notebook.

Today would be a long day. She could tell that much.