New Money VS Old Money

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi was aware that not all rich kids had a good background; some of them were part of the yakuza and definitely not people you should walk by. They might not be mean and mind their business but who knew what they could do? She smiled at his promise. “Oh, I trust you.” She assured him. She doubted that he would be laughing and chatting with her if that wasn’t the case!

Joining a martial art club would help her in terms of self-defense for sure, she never intended to use it otherwise. “I am aware of it, I don’t intend to fight the bully away, even if it’s a wish.” She said with a light laugh. “I’d never be able to do that, but it’s good for self-defense and to help with the focus. Might be a sport I’d be good at, who knows.” She wasn’t the sporty kind and what she tended to do was more like Yoga and easygoing ones. She could definitely try her hands at joining a club and see what they had to offer. She never had before, it was worth trying. She did consider Judo too but Kendo wasn’t for her.

“That’s something you build up over the years.” She said to him, not holding it against him. Not everyone starts off being able to stand up against others. She was lucky she did, mostly because she had a brother and wasn’t afraid to talk back to him. She only got lucky over it she thought.

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

Kyousuke love boxing. It turned the cute, shy little kid he was into a more mature and imposing man. It toughened him. And, as he told her, gave him someting to take his mind off of his worries for a while. No more students making comments on his birth or upbringing, no more father he desperately wanted to get the approval of, no more friends in trouble he felt he couldn't help enough. He could empty his mind for a while. Meditation worked for some, boxing was his thing.

Self-defence, yes, he supposed it helped for that too. "It's more a matter of finding something that helps change your mind and calm you. Sports work for me, both boxing and running." He was no longer in any track team but he had been while in middle and high school. He still loved running. It was a good training, useful to keep in shape. "But if you don't want to join the school's club, you should try a gym. The clubs here can have very competitive people in it. In gyms, they all want the same thing, people are more likely to encourage each other." It all depended what she wanted. By joining a club, she'd be part of the school and might find her place, but she could also decide that it was a bit late for that and should focus on finding a place in the world in general and not just this building.

He nodded, absent-mindedly, as she complimented his efforts. He thought of Ryoko, and how she had always been strong, at least in his eyes. Back then, his only wish was to have a family, and pointing that he had a weird one left him unable to respond. He supposed he managed to get over it and ignore those comments. "Kind of have no choice, if you want to be here. Otherwise, they just find you an easy target and keep coming back." And without Ryoko by his side anymore, he had to toughen up.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi could definitely use that, something that would change her mind and keep her off her worries. She was having too many as of lately and needed something to keep herself busy that wasn’t related to her future career or working. She needed to find ways to relax that would help her out and doing that while practicing a sport could bring the bonus of being in shape.

“That’s true, I’ll have to find something that suits me then.” She agreed with him. She didn’t think she’d want to get competitive though. She might be argumentative but she couldn’t see herself handling a competition even if she ended up being talented in martial arts. She just wanted something to use to vent. Shishido-san’s suggestion to go to a gym had to be a good one. “That’s probably the best option for me, I can’t see myself going in a competition.” It was leaving her so much to think through!

She had no idea of his upbringing, but she felt like she could relate to him somehow. “You seem to be doing fine though.” She said, giving him a small smile. She could tell that he seemed to doubt something but couldn’t guess what it was exactly. “We have to grow and I guess that this is part of our growth. I know not all of them are annoying but some like to remind us where we come from. I’m not ashamed of it though.”

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

Kyousuke had done a few competitions in the past. Not in boxing, that was for fun, but with the track team. It was why he was asked sometimes to visit the track team and encourage his juniors in there. He didn't quite see the appeal, as he never aimed at being the fastest runner, but he did from time to time. "Not everyone in clubs are there for competition, but it's definitely a reason why they take members, at least in sports ones." Schools didn't only try to excel in academics after all, there were several national competitions amongst schools. It was a good opportunity to travel around and meet people. But kyousuke doubted those who wanted to be professional athletes really bothered with university. They were at their peak physically during that time, they were out there performing, not sitting in a classroom and taking notes.

He shrugged as she said he seemed to be doing fine despite any bullying he might be the target of. "Let's say Ouran is not the only place where you could deal with it. It was worse at first when I came here, but you learn not to react to it." He was minimizing it, he felt. It hit him so hard at first and led to him trying to be whoever he thought people wanted him to be in the situation. He nodded, glad she said she was not ashamed. He was not either. Maybe he felt some shame at first, and not just when joining here, but he knew who he was, where he came from. "They can say all they want, we've experienced far more than they ever will, and have a better understanding of the world at large for it." Not all of them bothered to learn how everyone else lived or what they thought. They had that going for them, having lived it.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi nodded, agreeing with him. It was true that there were some sports that had high levels of competition and she didn’t see herself attending any of those. She wasn’t an expert, she could use some as a way to vent but that was it. She’d probably be as cliché as some girls doing dance or sports that required flexibility. “That is true, but I’m guessing that they send the members that are more experimented with to the competitions, no?” she asked Kyousuke. He seemed to know about it and to take part in those clubs. She could see what was offered to her if that was something that interested her. Perhaps he could guide her and give her a few pointers. She wondered if he had tried a few clubs yet or if he just went with what he liked the most.

She could only agree more with what he said and nodded at him. “That is true, unfortunately. I just wish people around here could understand more other than when there’s a scholarship student. I know I’m not one but I jumped in Ouran when I was in High school so it was quite a clash.” She had to admit to Kyousuke. She felt like she could talk to that sort of thing to him and that he would understand, unlike many others who didn’t.

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

Kyousuke was forced to nod at her question. Like he said, not everyone was into competition, but it was also a part of club activities, and it was not always the most competitive ones who were good enough to participate against other schools. "I participated in a few too, but I can't say I'm really interested in those." It explained why he had no desire to be a professional boxer or... marathonian? Well, he wouldn't mind running a marathon, but not just for the sake of running one. He preferred his sports to be done because he wanted to, not because he was forced into it. "But that has to be the same of pretty much every club, no?" Then again, he was reminded of that host club that newly opened in high school. Not sure what they could be competing in...

He had always dealt with some level of bullying. It was the price for living alone with his mother. And being quiet at times or not as bright as some other kids on certain topics. People had a talent at finding something to mock others over when they wanted to do it.

He nodded. He could relate to her story. "It was middle school for me but it was no easier. Was it because your family made enough money to take you there?" He realised it might be a rude thing to ask. But weren't most people here because they had money? "I went to live with my father, that's why I'm here. And they loved bringing it up." Well, they loved bringing up he was an illegitimate child, but that was more or less the same thing. And there was a limit to how much he was willing to share to someone, no matter how nice she was. If she really wanted to know more, he bet it would be easy to find out, if she did not pick it all up already.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi nodded as he explained to her how a few of their clubs worked. Quite honestly, she was never bothered with those as she tried to focus on her studies. Some might have interested her in the past and she wondered if she should attend some now, have something that wouldn’t get her into competitions, she didn’t think she was up to that level. She smiled at his questioning over the other clubs. “I don’t think that the Ikebana club has competitions.” Working on floral arrangements could be fun, she did consider it a few times in the past perhaps it was the time for her to give it a shot before she was done with her studies. She could always go to a gym if she really wanted something to help her vent without having to do competitions.

She nodded, not being offended by his question. At least, he bothered to ask how she got there. “Indeed, they were able to send my brother first and I’m fine with that, I then joined in later when they had enough money.” Some students here really didn’t get the concept of having to save money for your family’s well-being. She was glad that she had been able to talk to someone like Kyousuke who could relate to her.

“Isn’t that annoying when all they think about is how you got enrolled in the school? It’s almost as if who we are as a person doesn’t matter anymore, it’s what makes us rich.” She was slightly annoyed with the thought.

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

He was surprised that she did not participate in any club. He thought it was something strongly suggested on all of them, something as important almost as the lessons teachers gave them. Or maybe he was just the one who had been told to go there and she ended up with more freedom. He laughed soflty when she brought up the ikebana club. "You never know, that could be something to look forward to." Wouldn't it be funny to have tables filled with flower arrangements and people judging them to give them little medals. "Some club are more to learn about something that interest you, I guess." Weren't there calligraphy or book clubs? And he didn't know how much 'competition' there was with the newspaper club. Sports however, it was part of the reason to have those.

He had no idea what her family was making money in or whether her brother was older or younger. It did feel discriminatory to allow the son, who was probably the one they intended to show the business to, and bring in the daughter later. Or maybe they considered that all-girl school. Kyousuke only heard of that place. He never went to look up or deal with the girls from that school. He had his hands full with the ones here already.

He shrugged at her comment. There weren't a lot of people ready to be this critical of others, not like this. In a way, she reminded him of Ryoko. "That's not a money thing for me. I was always teased about it. As a kid for not having a father and here because he finally recognized me. My status wouldn't change based on the school." There, he said it. It was more than enough for her to get why he would be judged differently. At best, his parents divorced, or... Kyousuke did struggle a lot here. Students pulled pretty mean tricks and said cruel words to him. He was trying his best to move past that though. It wasn't always easy but he built himself a persona to help. And he understood pretty quickly that he wouldn't be the guy the most sought after by girls. He was not amongst the richest students here, far from it. He was here for the education. At least, it was a way he found to cope with it.

He could understand that it was a money matter for her though. The girls earlier made it clear too. "Considering how most of these girls are likely going to just marry some rich guy and never work, they're probably afraid you'll take away their best options because you have as much to offer in that regard than them. More, probably." He shrugegd again.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi nodded to what Kyousuke said, he was right, some clubs could teach her things, and she could hardly see competitions in the floral arrangements or even in calligraphy but it did sound like the type of clubs that she would prefer. It might be highly suggested to take part in one but she often claimed that she wanted to value her studies first, it was important to her, and she could tell that a few students here could relate to her too. “That’s true.” She said to him with a smile. Honestly, she was just happy to have found someone who had similar values to what she had and who understood the hardships she might have to go through.

She felt bad for him when he explained to her why they disliked him. “This is stupid, people really have nothing to do here other than judging others on the money they have or their status. It’s not what matters the most.” It angered her, but she figured that it wasn’t something they could change in a day. “It doesn’t make you any less interesting, quite the contrary.” She said to him. “Not to add that people need to mind their own businesses.” She finished, upset for him, luckily, he seemed to handle things quite well.

“Honestly, I don’t think I’ll get swooned by a rich kid here. Life is not like a shojo manga.” She said with a laugh. Oh dear, she could already see the school plot, her having rivals because she was a commoner and the rich kid paying attention to her because she was different and more grounded than the rest…yeah, no not for her.

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

His mother always encouraged him to join clubs. It might not always show, but Kyousuke could be a bit shy at times. Or more like he tended to be careful showing who he was to people at first. Clubs could be a good way to meet with people, having already something in common, making it easier to interact with each other then. She encouraged him even more once he came to the Academy. This was not his world and she didn't want him to feel like too much of an outcast. Plus Ryoko wouldn't be there anymore. He toughened up a lot since his days as an elementary school kid, but he tended to revert back to this soft boy when around his childhood friend. Maybe Maemi's parents should have encouraged her in the same way. Then again, it wasn't like Kyousuke really felt that much more included than she did.

He didn't expect Maemi to get so fired up, especially since it was not about her but about his life. He started feeling bad, in part because of how badly she talked and viewed this school when he tried to temper it by pointing out he always lived that. He shifted on his seat as a result. "That's not something that happened only here. Like I said, I've always dealt with that," he said, or more liek mumbled. He had been the weird kid without a dad but constantly talking of him. Surely even if he remained at public schools, someone would have brought up eventually how he was the result of an affair. He remembered what his brother once said to him to help him cope with how hard it was here. They were expected to reach the top of society and given the education for it, that could be a lot on one's shoulders. Kyousuke didn't feel like it excused their behaviour but it helped him understand a little better. He thought at least. It didn't stop him from not really wanting to interact with them more than he had to.

Was it because she was still upset over the way they were treated that she said that about a potential suitor? It felt like it. "It's not really like a manga, more a reality of life," he said out loud. He realised it might sound cryptic. He straightened up as he tried to find the best way to explain what he meant. "You will get closer to people you spend a lot of time with. Right now, it's the other students." He would have to admit he thought the same as her, he didn't see himself marrying any of the girls here. But he also only expected to become a surgeon. Funny, anywhere else, it would seem like a big deal, but when surrounded by future top lawyers, journalists, politicians or busisnesspeople, that sounded not as impressive.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi didn’t think that the bashing was as bad as it used to be in the past. People tended to judge you more when they were teenagers after all, but it still didn’t stop. She had to defend herself and felt like an outcast on various occasions. She didn’t see the point of having high fashion clothes or the latest newest tech device that existed. She didn’t care shopping elsewhere than the mall besides, everything looked and was so expensive for her that she felt like it was an outrage to pay thousands of yens just for a simple piece of clothes while she could have much more for much less! Having her cousin who liked mixing and matching outfits helped too. She liked when they did that together. Matsumi always had great ideas when it came to styling and looking fashionable.

She nodded. “I still don’t think that it’s respectful and you’d think that attending to a private school would have people more civil.” She said with a slight sigh. Hopefully she didn’t scare him off but. He was someone with common sense and there weren’t a lot of people with this.

She wondered if Kyousuke felt the same way as she did. Did he consider himself as an outcast? Did he try to interact with other students? It was hard, she had to admit, to do so when they tended to look down on you. “Sure but most of them don’t understand where we’re coming from.” She said. So far, no one proved to be the prince charming she was looking for and honestly, she wasn’t looking for the time being.

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

Kyousuke shrugged. From what he could tell, people were always that hard with each other. He just had to look at his friend Ryoko, who was judged, turned down when not laughed at for getting pregnant. Or him, in kindergarten, being told to stop looking out every time a dad came to pick his child, because he had none who wanted to be with him. "It has nothing to do with the place. From the outside, you'd think it's only the elite in here, but once inside, you realise even the elite has its sets of classes." It was true that when you lived outside of this world, the view you could have of Ouran was different from when you were from there. Kyousuke should consider himself as a part of this world and yet... Apparently, Maemi felt the same. Some weird imposter syndrome, not helped by the fact that many of the other students wanted to keep them at the bottom of the social ladder here.

Kyousuke did feel like an outcast but what might help him in this situation was that he always felt that way. She might have been just a normal child until she came here, making it brutal. Then again, he used to be a far more joyful, naive boy too. Every now and then, that side came out still, but he grew careful around the other students. Too many back stabs to fully trust them.

"I guess they don't. And don't want to." A more intellectual person than Kyousuke might add that maybe they don't understand where the others come from either. But he was too busy thinking that even his father might be doing that to him. "But were here now, for better or worse. And it would suck to give up when that's what they want." They too had a path to follow that was taking them here. Well, Kyousuke was not always sure it was his path, but it was given to him and he didn't quite know what else to do. So medicine it was.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi nodded, it was true, and it seemed like the older classes refused to let the newers one, it was like a clique that was hard to get into. "Have you come across a lot of bullying here?" She knew how to handle herself, and others, she wasn't afraid to talk back when needed. She didn't get why Ryohei believed that she was in the wrong. Had he ever witnessed hr getting laughed at for not having the highest standards in fashion? Who cared if she bought 'regular' clothes or used things that would be labelled more for commoners specifically?

"Sometimes I wish I had gone to the regular school but I understand that if I come here, I have better chances for success." She wasn't an idiot, Ouran had its positiveness amongst all the negative. She could admit so far that it would help her with the business career. She thouht it was a bit silly to base yourself on the school you went to because regular schools could give you good employees too but having the chance to get there was a plus.

She had to agree with him there, they couldn't let them 'win' over the idea that this school wasn't for them. They only had to prove them wrong and fight for their places. It was just like the scholarship students, they had to make double efforts to be there. "Hopefully, we won't have to face this too often." she said with a light sigh when she referred to earlier's events.

[SHISHIDO KYOUSUKE]

Kyousuke looked at Maemi when she asked if he had been bullied a lot. "I'm the illegitimate son of a famous surgeon. Even if I was not born from an affair, my father works at clinics they own. I was never meant to be at their level." Which made him wonder why his father chose to recognize him and bring him into this world. Did his brother Shun dealt with that too? But Shun seemed better at handling this, perhaps because it had been his world since the very beginning. Or it was just Kyousuke, too happy to have a family, already bummed that said family meant his mother would not live with him anymore, was even more affected by their words. He also used to trust people more than he did now. At least he thought so. All of this because his father couldn't accept the idea of a child of his being at a 'commoner' level. He shrugged. "I can't say it did not bother me at the beginning, but I learned how to deal with it. At least I don't think they still believe I may be yakuza." It might have been the case for a small period of time while in high school, that he may be a delinquent or worse. Ryoko made sure to knock it out of him fast. Plus, he supposed it might be believable in high school, but he doubted a lot of those moved on to university afterwards. Still, if he could let some believe he was short-tempered, he'd let it go around. It prevented him from dealing with more of them.

Much like her, he often wondered if this was his place, if he had anything in common with the people here. They knew of another world, outside of Ouran's walls. He too often wished he had gone to regular school. He likely would have been with Ryoko, or at least aimed for the same school. He would feel less like he had to prove anything. "I get what you mean. It is one of the top schools and can give you a leg up." It was the same logic both his parents and his brother gave him to make him stay and work hard. Wouldn't that be nice though to have a chance at something he wished for instead?

"I mean, we're almost done, no? Well, you are. As for me, it's med school after so I guess it would be a whole other type of elite to deal with." Well, whatever they thought of the other students, he supposed they would be done with them in only a few more years.

[HIRAYAMA MAEMI]

Maemi could understand that the first impression was important for people from the Ouran Academy. It was all a matter of status and the amount of money you had. The friendships you formed here were meant to be long-term business relationships for the future. She didn’t fancy it too much but sometimes, she had no choice but to play along. “They must have had some things to say about it for sure.” She couldn’t help but say. People were cruel. “The only thing that helped was that I don’t mind standing my ground but it seems that people here find it entertaining and use it against me.” She wouldn’t just sit back and watch others get bullied.

She nodded, agreeing with him. “Indeed, it opens doors to us but I feel like an imposter most of the time when I come here.” She said with a light sigh. It was hard to think otherwise. Luckily, her younger cousins didn’t seem to be affected by the old views and the younger generations seemed to be more tolerant in that subject.

“That’s true, at least, we will have an idea of how to deal with them.” She said with a small smile. Anyway, whatever she wanted to do with her job, she would have to deal with them in some way or another so might as well know their taste if she wanted to make sure to give good customer service in the long run because it was what she was meant to do.