Note:

This takes place in September (: Based on my research, by September the captainship should already have moved on to the next person in line so Atobe is already captain at Hyoutei's high school. However, the regulars have not yet been determined for the next year.

I might be wrong here though, because my research only extends to fan-made Prince of Tennis games wherein there are multiple CGs of regulars in maid outfits. Take this with a grain of salt.

-day one, part two-

Atobe Keigo would never complain about his teammates slacking off ever again. As it was, he wanted to erase this afternoon from his memory forever. That, or erase this sad excuse for a tennis team from the world forever, because something had to go and it sure wasn't going to be him.

'This – this is your idea of a practice?' he spluttered, and he actually did splutter, which showed just how upset he was by the scene in front of him. 'But you're not practising!

'Sure we are,' said the team captain, as he sat down on the bench beside the admittedly amazing indoor court. If Atobe didn't know for a fact that he'd walked into the gymnasium through a pair of doors, he wouldn't have known he was inside at all, what with the all-natural lighting from the curved ceiling window and the wind blowing through the room. He would have been more impressed if there were more players actually using the courts though, rather than lounging on the bleachers and sipping sports drinks. 'We're more of a circle than a club – a casual get-together of people who enjoy playing tennis.'

Atobe had stopped listening after casual.

This had all been a terrible mistake. He missed his team – even Akutagawa did his drills properly when he wasn't sleeping through practice. The first-years at his club were more disciplined than these – these –

He had no word for them. There was nothing in his vocabulary which could express the inner turmoil these first-years instigated.

If the captain had time to be sitting, he had time to be practising. 'Do you participate in any tournaments?' Atobe asked. He couldn't remember actually hearing Ouran High's name, but perhaps the insanely rich had their own tourneys with gold-plated racquets and tennis balls made of ivory. It wouldn't matter that neither was very practical since they probably wouldn't spend much time playing with either.

'We have an intramural mixed doubles tournament every year, but that's it.' The captain raised his hand, and almost instantaneously, a sports drink as well as a fruit platter appeared on the table beside him. 'We finished that a couple weeks ago, so now we're just playing casually.'

It was that word again. If Atobe heard it one more time he might –

'Casual tennis is definitely the way to go.'

Atobe snapped.

'You.' He pointed with two fingers and his thumb up at one of the young men acting out a mockery of proper running. 'Get me a racquet and a tennis ball. And you,' he said, eyes narrowed as he stared down at the captain, 'are going to play a game with me.

Everybody's eyes were on the two of them. They were probably unaccustomed to seeing anybody actually doing anything notable while in the gymnasium. 'I am Atobe Keigo, captain of the Hyoutei tennis team.' He paused, but nobody seemed to recognise him. It didn't matter though. He'd make sure they all knew his name by the end of the week. 'After I reduce your captain to dust in the artificial wind current coursing through this gymnasium, I will be taking charge of this club.'

To let these magnificent facilities be wasted on these people who could hardly be called tennis players – Atobe Keigo would not condone it. So what if he was only here for two weeks? He was Atobe Keigo, which meant that he was somebody who got things done, and got them done the way he wanted them.

What Atobe Keigo wanted right now was a real, working tennis club.

-tick-

'Haruhi, you done changing?'

The lone girl in the Ouran High School Host Club quickly pulled her vest on, and then stepped out. She smiled when she saw an Oshitari sandwich with the Hitachiin twins as the bread.

'How did you find the Host Club, Oshitari-san?' she asked. She quickly looked up at the clock – it was a bit late, so the mackerel on sale at the super was probably all sold out...

But she was staying with Hikaru and Kaoru, she remembered, so it didn't matter.

Oshitari smirked. 'It's fascinating how you've managed to monetise your characters, Fujioka. You were certainly a much more dazzling sight in your costume. Not something I thought that somebody at the top of his class would have time for.'

What should she say? She couldn't tell him she was only here because she had broken a vase, because Kyouya wanted everyone to believe that she was in the Host Club because she loved the attention of wealthy young women as much as they loved hers. However, Kaoru saved her from having to come up with a response.

'He's actually just a pervert who likes to have girls fawning over him,' the redhead said in a stage whisper, cupping his hand around his mouth and Oshitari's ear. 'But it's a secret, so you can't tell anybody.'

Hikaru nodded, grinning. Into Oshitari's other ear: 'Haruhi only acts all innocent since it goes well with his scholarship student charm.'

'Yes, that's me,' she chimed in dryly. 'Debauched and contrived. Now can we go pick Atobe-san up from the tennis club so we can leave? I have homework that needs doing so I can keep up my image.'

There was, however, no need for that, because Atobe had appeared, with what seemed like the entire tennis club in tow. He was jogging at what seemed like a leisurely pace for him, while the boys that trailed after him were panting like dogs in the summer.

'Kaoru, is that – '

' – I think it is, Hikaru.'

The twins were looking at Atobe with something akin to astonishment, though Haruhi wasn't sure why. 'Atobe-san, are you not finished with your club activities yet?'

The brunet halted, and the young man behind him fell into Atobe's back, who stepped away. What ensued was a comic but pathetic human domino effect.

'I think that they can continue their laps by themselves now.' Atobe turned to look at his followers, and his expression was uncompromising. 'Am I correct?'

It took less than ten seconds for all the tennis club members to get back up and resume running in single file.

'Atobe. How on earth did you do that?'

'Seriously, our tennis club is the most pitiful thing ever, and that's taking into account our lacrosse team that only meets up on days of the month that are multiples of twenty-nine.

'Which means, only on the twenty-ninth.'

'Plus they sometimes cancel when the month has an even number of days.'

Hikaru and Kaoru looked a little bit like goldfish, although Haruhi was still not quite sure what the fuss was about. Atobe seemed pleased at the attention though, so it was fine, she supposed.

While they walked to the front of the school, Atobe told them the Tale of How He Slaughtered the Tennis Team Captain and a Ball Machine. Tennis was clearly his element, Haruhi decided. He'd seemed a bit out of sorts, but clearly the tennis club was a better fit for him than the Host Club.

On the topic of clubs, with Oshitari hosting for two weeks, she would have less work. Though that would mean her debt would be paid off more slowly, she would also have more time to study. As well, since as part of the program the hosts were expected to feed their guests, Hikaru and Kaoru would be providing the meals for Haruhi as well because 'your commoner ingredients would scare our elite ingredients to death if they had to be served on the same table'. However, she still needed to bring a lunchbox to school.

'Oi, Haruhi! What are you thinking so hard about?'

Somebody nudged her side playfully – she didn't have to look to know it was Hikaru. 'Tomorrow's lunch,' she said honestly. 'I need food for my lunchbox.'

-tock-

And that was how the Hitachiin twins, Oshitari and Atobe ended up in a commoner's supermarket. Atobe was still a bit miffed that Fujioka was more concerned about the future contents of his stomach than his riveting account of how he'd conquered the tennis club and made himself king.

Meanwhile, the twins were busy adding snacks to Haruhi's basket.

'Haruhi, we're getting this!'

'Hikaru, look! This one comes with a toy!'

'I'm not paying for you to rot out your teeth,' Fujioka finally said, handing the basket that was now filled to the brim with candy to the twin on his right. He took out a package of fish, which was the only thing he had put into the basket in the first place. 'Atobe-san, Oshitari-san, I'm sorry that you've had to tag along.'

'I don't mind,' replied Oshitari. 'I go shopping with my mother all the time.'

Atobe raised an eyebrow – that was a titbit he'd never heard before – but didn't comment on it, as Fujioka had turned to him.

'I suppose you've never been in a supermarket before, Atobe-san?'

He shook his head in reply, and Fujioka shared a smile with Oshitari, as if to say, 'Rich people.' So as not to be overlooked, Atobe turned to share his sentiments about commoners with the Hitachiins, but they were nowhere in sight.

'Atobe-san.' Recapturing his attention, Fujioka held out the fish. 'Would you mind holding this for me while I go grab another basket?' Atobe opened his mouth to reply, but stopped upon finding his hands full of fish. 'Thank you!'

And Fujioka was off too.

There was a stifled chuckle from Oshitari which Atobe did not appreciate. Eyes narrowed, he asked, 'Something you want to say, Yuushi?'

'Nothing at all, Keigo.' His dratted teammate was smirking now. 'I just thought it would be interesting if the rest of our team could see you now, holding a dead mackerel like it'll come back to life and start flopping in your hands.'

'Excuse me for not knowing how to handle uncooked ingredients,' Atobe retorted with a sniff. 'And if you tell any of the tennis club members about this then expect to be running laps until you are so sore that you cannot walk for days.'

'Oh, what's this about Oshitari being so sore he can't walk for days?'

'This sounds very interesting, doesn't it, Hikaru?'

'I have to agree, Kaoru.'

And the twins were back, each with two baskets full of sweets. 'Where's Haruhi?' they said at the same time, both looking in different directions with opposite hands over their eyes.

'Right here.' And Haruhi, along with a basket of food, was standing beside Atobe. 'Thank you, Atobe-san, for holding the fish for me.'

Atobe just handed the fish over – after all, it was just a fish; nothing to be thanked for – and asked, 'Is that all you need, Fujioka?'

The short young man nodded. 'This will be enough. Now, what were you talking about?'

'Oh, just about how Atobe plans to make Oshitari so sore he can't walk for days,' Hitachiin said, grinning.

'That's nice,' Fujioka said, 'but you only get one snack each so you better start putting the contents of your baskets back on the shelves, Hikaru. And Kaoru, you too – I thought I had told you to keep Hikaru under check.'

One of the Hitachiins smiled in a pathetic attempt at an apologetic manner, while the other one just rolled his eyes. Then they departed once more, leaving Oshitari, Fujioka and Atobe by themselves.

'If you like, you can pick a snack out too, Oshitari-san, Atobe-san,' Fujioka said. With a sigh, he looked at his basket. 'Though I suppose you don't think these are much of a novelty, do you, Oshitari-san?'

Oshitari just chuckled. 'No, usually I'm the one taking Keigo out to burgers and listening to him complain about how dirty the seats are.'

Why had the conversation turned to commoner commiseration again?

As Fujioka talked about one of her upperclassmen's fascination with toys that came with children's snacks, Atobe decided that it was going to be a long two weeks at Ouran.

-tick-

'Though you're still significantly wealthier than I am, Oshitari-san,' Haruhi said finally with a laugh, 'so you can probably understand my classmates better than I can.' They were now in Hikaru and Kaoru's limousine, having paid for Haruhi's yet uncooked lunch and the twins' snacks (one bag of watermelon candy and a can of curry-flavoured chips, both currently being eaten voraciously).

Oshitari smirked. 'I'm afraid that Hyoutei, unlike Ouran, does not have any scholarship students, though my marks would not have been enough anyhow. Keigo is the one at the top of all his classes, from World History to Greek.'

Atobe looked a bit surprised upon hearing his name – they had been on a topic that was hard for him to relate to, Haruhi reflected. 'Greek?' she asked. 'Would that be modern or ancient?'

At this, Atobe looked even more surprised. 'Ancient. I have an interest in the epics.'

Epics. 'Then you like Homer?' Haruhi could count on one hand the people she knew who were interested in the works of the ancient Greeks, and even then, she was counting herself. As a child, she had often read translations of old masterpieces to herself, from Milton to Vergil, but she had not had much time recently for such pastimes, and even when she did, her focus had shifted more towards the philosophies.

'The Odyssey in particular,' Atobe replied, and at this, Haruhi smiled, remembering the story. Her mother had bought the unabridged translation for her, and she had spent many nights reading it, hiding under her covers with a flashlight. Her father had noticed though when he came to check up on her, only to sit down on the edge of the bed until she had read to the end.

'Though I wouldn't say no to the Iliad,' Atobe continued, a small smirk on his face. 'Have you read them as well, Fujioka?' There was something that he was leaving unsaid, and Haruhi had a feeling it was along the lines of 'That's a bit unexpected', though really, Haruhi didn't think there was any particular type of person who would be more prone to reading ancient Greek literature.

Before Haruhi could say more, the limousine had come to a stop, and the driver had already opened the door for them. Making a mental note to discuss the matter further with Atobe later, she looked out at the Hitachiin grounds, which were just as lavish as she remembered them being the last time she had visited.

Then, she remembered exactly what had happened the last time she visited, and decided to make a beeline for Hikaru and Kaoru's father as soon as possible, since he would be able to hide her from his wife, though it would probably be quite a difficult feat to find him. She hadn't even noticed him until he'd spoken up, even though he had been in the same room as her for almost the entirety of his visit last time...

'Fujioka?' Atobe pressed – wondering why she hadn't answered, perhaps. She smiled at him in some form as acquiescence and then stepped out.

At least this time around, Hitachiin Yuzuha wouldn't be able to make her model in outfits since Haruhi was still masquerading as a boy.

-tock-

To think Fujioka was interested in Greek literature – Atobe would have taken more time to ponder that if he hadn't been busy thinking about something else. Or rather, someone else – someone with flaming red hair, a fabulous dress and positively radiating fashion sense.

Hitachiin Yuzuha was in the building. More exactly, she was out of the building – the Hitachiin mansion – and sitting at the wrought iron table on the terrace, but she was definitely very in. There was probably no place in the world where the Hitachiins' mother wouldn't have fit in – she just exuded an overwhelming sense of 'yes, I am the law here' and 'yes, I am fantastic'.

Immediately, Atobe liked her.

'So. Atobe Keigo and Oshitari Yuushi.' Yuzuha (who had insisted they both just call her Yuzuha-san, and that they also call the twins by their names because otherwise they would just be yelling Hitachiin! Hitachiin! all the time) turned a discerning eye towards the two of them, with a stunning grin. 'Your belongings have already been put away into your rooms, so there's no need to worry about that. Let's have a nice chat over tea.'

A maid had already filled up the Hyoutei and Ouran students' cups, while a butler had filled Yuzuha's. 'The tealeaves just arrived from China yesterday. Take a slow sip, and tell me the taste isn't absolutely intoxicating. Just try!' The fashion designer's eyes were on Atobe, then on Oshitari, so there was nothing else to do but to hold the teacup by the fingers and drink up.

And drink Atobe did, letting the tea sit on his tongue for a moment before swallowing. It definitely did not taste like any tea he had drank before – it was the shade of one of the stronger black teas, but when he drank it –

– he looked over at Oshitari, who seemed equally as confounded –

– it tasted like water.

He took another sip, but the result was the same. When he raised his eyes from his teacup, he noticed that Yuzuha's gaze had returned to him, awaiting an answer.

'This tea is...' Watery, Atobe could say. This tea is watery. But somehow that didn't sound quite proper, and then if Yuzuha asked 'What do you mean, watery?' he'd have to reply with something like 'Well it tastes like water'. 'Yuushi. What do you think?'

Oshitari coughed – maybe he choked on his watery tea. 'What do I think? Keigo, I think we would all like the honour of your deigning to give us your remarkable opinion first.'

Could he get away with saying that yes, Yuzuha was right, the tea was intoxicating? Or perhaps push the honour of replying back to Oshitari?

'This tea is,' Atobe said again, taking a pause in what he hoped seemed like serene contemplation. He stared at the teacup – Wedgwood, he noted – as if an answer could be read in the tealeaves at the bottom. 'Positively – '

'Isn't this just water with food colouring in it?'

Atobe's eyes snapped to the source of the voice: Fujioka, a teacup in his hand and a frown on his face, looking like he hadn't just said something extremely insulting to somebody extremely wealthy after drinking tea that was most likely extremely expensive.

Yuzuha would probably burst out in laughter. Or well, actually, she did burst out in laughter, but that had not been the reaction Atobe expected at all.

'Haruhi-chan, you're fantastic! Oh, I knew you'd say that! I just bought this fantastic tea-coloured food dye in Germany and had to try it out! Oh, the looks on your faces!' Yuzuha actually had tears in her eyes from laughing too hard.

'I'm sorry, Oshitari-kun, Atobe-kun. I just wanted to see how you'd react.' And Yuzuha had calmed down, laughter subsiding in favour of a stellar smile. 'Let's have some proper tea. Tell me about Hyoutei!'

And so they did, both Atobe and Oshitari talking about their experiences in the tennis club (with quite a few moments of 'How is that physically possible?' in terms of both human ability and physics), when something occurred to Atobe.

Yuzuha had said Haruhi-chan. Was there a story to that offbeat honorific?

Atobe couldn't ponder it further though, because he was too busy making sure the rest of his food wasn't fake. For good reason too, since no more than a minute later, Oshitari had bit into a biscuit made of rubber.

-tick-

Finally, Haruhi had been able to retire to her room. At tea, Atobe had mentioned that he liked Yuzuha's designs and then that had been the better part of an hour discussing various outfits. Haruhi was not particularly interested in the topic, so after the sun had completely set, she tried to excuse herself, only to be told that they would be having dinner in an hour or so anyway so why didn't she just sit and get to know her new housemates?

Then, at dinner – which had been delicious, so there was that – there had been so many courses that Haruhi lost count. It had been enjoyable, since she had had the chance to talk to Hikaru and Kaoru's father, who she noticed about halfway through the meal.

However, dinner had lasted for far longer than Haruhi's dinners usually did, so it was already ten by the time she could sit down at the desk in her room to review the materials covered in her classes. Luckily, there was nothing that she hadn't understood, so all she had to do was give the texts a cursory lookover. There was an essay that she needed to write for English as well as some maths homework, but she only needed to revise her essay and the maths homework was simple.

She would need to find out where the food she bought had been put though, since when she arrived, all of her bags, including the cloth one with the mackerel and miscellaneous vegetables, had been taken and put away. When she'd asked Hikaru and Kaoru's father, he had told her it was probably in one of the kitchens – the fact that the Hitachiins had multiple kitchens surprised her, though it really shouldn't have – but he wasn't sure, so she would have to wake up earlier tomorrow and ask a maid where she would be able to find them and then prepare her lunch. She had also received permission from Hikaru and Kaoru's father (and was feeling a bit guilty when she realised that she still didn't know his name) to use the kitchens at her discretion.

The room was furnished with its own bathroom and study; to be fair, it was more of a suite, since it was about the size of Haruhi's apartment. There was also a walk-in closet where Haruhi had found her clothes already hung up, alongside some other clothes that were obviously for her – a well-meant gift from Yuzuha, perhaps, but there was no way she could wear them and still keep up the pretence of manhood.

Suddenly, her mobile rang, and then she remembered: she had promised to call her father as soon as she had settled in at Hikaru and Kaoru's.

Picking it up, she held it a little ways away from her ear as she answered, because she was sure her father would be speaking loudly.

'Haruhi! Why didn't you call earlier?'

And she was right.

'Sorry, I got caught up in studying.' And she had, though she had also gotten caught up in a slew of other things. 'Did you reheat the dinner I put in the refrigerator for you?'

'Yes, but it just wasn't the same as food still hot from when you've cooked it! Oh Haruhi, when will you be coming back? I miss you so much already!'

'It's just a month.'

'A month! How can you say just a month? I don't think I can survive without seeing you for so long! On top of that, you're staying with those rascally twins – I wish you were staying with Kyouya instead; I can trust him.'

To be honest, Haruhi definitely preferred staying with the twins more than with her dark-haired upperclassman, but saying that to her father wouldn't be productive. Instead, she said, 'I met with my transfer student today,' changing the subject.

'I hope you know I have a problem with that too! Staying with so many boys under one roof – I can only condone it because Kyouya assured me everything would be fine, since you have separate rooms. But I still don't like it, especially since I don't know anything about the boy whose house you'll be staying at.'

Sometimes, Haruhi found the frequency with which her father and Kyouya spoke a little bit frightening. 'His name is Atobe Keigo. He plays tennis.' And reads Greek literature, Haruhi added inwardly.

'Hm. Is he cute?'

Was he? Haruhi wasn't actually the best person at gauging that sort of thing – she knew objectively that the rest of the host club was, by any scale, gorgeous, but she had never paid much attention to looks (which is why she had ended up with a terrible haircut and an unflattering vest that fateful day one year or so ago).

'Maybe?' she finally answered. Atobe probably wasn't ugly, at least.

'Maybe? What's that supposed to mean?'

Haruhi glanced at the grandfather clock to her left – it was almost eleven. 'I have to study, so I'm going to hang up.'

'Haruhi!'

'Good night.'

And she hung up.

-tick-

'Oh, that's gorgeous! Turn for me, could you?'

Atobe obliged, spinning on the heels of the strappy black boots Yuzuha had handed him (along with an overbearing trench coat, a low-cut dress shirt and fitted slacks). 'How's this?' he said, smirking. The private runway in the Hitachiin mansion was giving Atobe definite ideas – without doubt, a worthwhile investment. He could convert one of the ballrooms.

'Fantastic! Athletic young men are really the best. Oshitari-kun, won't you try some on too?' Yuzuha gestured towards innumerable racks of clothes. 'Perhaps a pinstripe suit?'

'I'm fine, thank you,' Atobe's teammate said drily. 'Atobe is more of a solo spotlight man anyhow.'

Atobe would have protested this poor representation of his character if it weren't true. Instead, he just directed his smirk towards Oshitari and said, 'Try not to become too enraptured by my beautiful form.'

'I will have to take you boys out to a fashion show some time – fantastic arm candy,' Yuzuha commented. 'My own two boys are handsome too, of course, but everyone's already used to them so I need somebody new. I'd take Haruhi-chan, except that child has no sense whatsoever. Looks completely unnatural when told to smile.

'Some other time though, since it's – what, it's midnight already? I'm sorry for keeping you when you've still got class in the morning. Though if you feel like skipping, we can hit the runway tomorrow.' Yuzuha was grinning, but Atobe had a feeling that she was completely serious.

'Oshitari-sama, Atobe-sama,' a maid said from behind them, 'please allow me to show the way to your accommodations.' She bowed as they looked at her, and then started walking briskly down the hall. Atobe gave Oshitari a glance, and then excused themselves and followed the maid out.

'Ta!' Yuzuha called out after them.

The hallway was long, with identical doors on each side. Mirror images like the twins, Atobe thought idly.

'Yuzuha-san is charming, isn't she?' Atobe remarked.

'Mm.'

'I looked magnificent in that trench coat.'

'Mm, yes.'

'I'm in half a mind to accept her invitation.'

'Mm, definitely.'

'Yuushi, you're staring at the maid's bare thighs, aren't you.'

'Mm – what?'

The maid in front of them did not even turn around, walking at the same pace as she had been earlier.

'You really are vile, Yuushi,' Atobe said with a sigh. 'I don't see what any of your fans sees in you.'

Oshitari just smirked. 'I'm a mysterious man with an accent. What's not to like?'

'Oshitari-sama, Atobe-sama, these are your accommodations.' The maid interrupted their repartee, with one French-manicured hand indicating a door to her left. 'This door leads to Oshitari-sama's rooms, while, Atobe-sama's are behind the door beyond this one. The next door leads to Fujioka-sama's quarters, if you wish to seek him out for whatever purposes. The young masters' quarters are in the west wing, so if you require their presence, please ask any of us to accompany you.

'If there is anything at all amiss with your rooms, please call immediately. Sleep well, Oshitari-sama, Atobe-sama, but please try not to dream of any of the staff's bare thighs.'

And with that, the maid was off, her rather short black outfit swishing about quite a bit above her knees.

'Cheeky,' Oshitari commented, eyes still glued to – and Atobe just shook his head, because sometimes he wondered about his teammates.

Holding his arm out between them, Atobe said, 'This is the berth I want you to give me because I do not want your depravity closer to me than necessary, Yuushi.'

'Good night to you too, Keigo.' Oshitari gave Atobe an infernal smirk before deliberately knocking their shoulders together.

Atobe made a mental note to assign Oshitari laps the next morning, because even if they were not at Hyoutei he was still the captain of the tennis team. Ten laps around the Hitachiin grounds would do nicely to make sure the bespectacled young man wasn't getting too careless from lack of practice. And another five laps for the smirk.

-to be continued-

Why yes this story is going at a glacial pace! Both in terms of story pacing and actual, real-life pacing. Oops. Here's another chapter after, what, over two years of inactivity? Anyhow, thank you for reading!