information - thedollsyhouse
Character: Haruhi Fujioka
Series: Ouran High School Host Club
Version: Anime, after episode 23
Age: Sixteen
Gender: Female (posing as a male)
Appearance: There’s nothing particularly special about the way Haruhi looks. Standing at only five feet tall, her hair is an ordinary shade of chocolate-brown, cut short, just reaching her neck in the back, while her bangs brush slightly in her face. Her eyes are golden-brown and big, almost raccoon-like, and tend to show her emotions openly. She’s thin, but her silhouette is boring and flat; though often called cute, Haruhi is rather androgynous, if not merely boyish after her Host Club transformation.
That being said, “feminine” isn’t a word typically found in Haruhi’s vocabulary. Were it always her choice, she’d only throw on whatever was handy, no matter how ratty the result. Unfortunately, she’s used to being forced to dress up; between certain members of the Host Club and her own father (who would even go so far as to repack her bags with girly clothes for trips), Haruhi’s closet should be overflowing with skirts, dresses, and pink. Of course, that’s exactly where those clothes would stay: collecting dust in the darkest corner, out of sight and out of mind. Haruhi could care less about genders and looks, which explains why she has no qualms about posing as a boy to repay her debt to the Host Club.
Normally, she’s found wearing Ouran High’s boy’s uniform: black slacks and dress shoes with a tie to match, a blue jacket, and a white collared shirt beneath it. A small Ouran symbol is embroidered in gold on the left side of the coat. The clothes are at least practical, for her -- and much more comfortable than the girl’s uniform alternative.
Personality: It’s easy to establish that Haruhi is a very practical girl. Calm and casual, if not a bit reluctant, she has a level-headed way of thinking and rarely becomes frazzled (though the Host Club had much to do with that, their antics leaving her numb to everyday disorder). She’s non-materialistic, and she likes things simple; Haruhi doesn’t appreciate anything that’s too flamboyant or over-the-top. She’ll often mentally rebuke the female guests, for example, who swoon over the Host Club and their obvious acts, claiming that they come from another world entirely.
Haruhi is unexpectedly friendly, and a “natural” when it comes to hosting guests; her untrained demeanor makes her genuine, as she never feels she needs to put on an act to please other people. Haruhi has nothing to hide, and it makes her forget that her honesty can be brutal. If you can get past the blunt way that she speaks her mind and her general obliviousness to the mayhem it might cause, she’s easy to get along with.
Extremely independent, Haruhi enjoys taking care of things herself -- household chores, for example. That doesn’t necessarily mean that she’s a high achiever, though; she’s rather lazy, and if the task isn’t absolutely necessary or relevant to her interests, she’ll probably decline. This tends to make her seem detached and uncaring, but she’s surprisingly observational, and can pick up on subtle things. Honestly, she likes helping others, and doesn’t mind giving advice. She might deny getting an ounce of enjoyment out of the Host Club and its members, but even in her indifference, she’s more attached than she knows.
Fears: Haruhi has been chided for appearing fearless due to her listless disposition, and while it is hard to intentionally frighten her, even she has her phobia: thunderstorms. The earsplitting snarls and lightning-flashes are enough to bring her to tears, or send her hiding beneath the nearest object she can find. Very few people in her life aware of her fear, because she tries her best to avoid it, and often ends up bearing the storm alone. Really: an aspiring lawyer cowering under her bed over a childish fear of thunder? Ridiculous.
Weaknesses: Generally, Haruhi is apathetic, lethargic, and a little too blunt. She’ll often find herself inadvertently stepping on landmines with her liability to say whatever first pops into her head; she tends to speak her mind without first considering the feelings of the person she’s talking to. She doesn’t sugarcoat things, but she doesn’t speak with malice -- she’s merely oblivious to the fact that her honestly might be taken as an insult. That innocent sort of ignorance proves to be one of her biggest downfalls, as she grows increasingly naïve in topics she’s not well accustomed with, crushing a heart or two along the way. Occasionally, she also has trouble sorting out her own emotions, making herself flustered over her lack of social experience.
Because her mother died when Haruhi was young (and her father was too preoccupied working to take care of the house), Haruhi has struggled to become independent. She’ll often flat-out refuse help from others, either because she thinks it would be too bothersome with someone else in the way, or she’s just plain used to working alone. She’s never relied on others before; she wouldn’t know how, or who, to ask.
Then, there’s food -- the ultimate diversion. Looking to bribe her? Bring out the ootoro. While she doesn’t care for sweets, if there’s food around, there’s a good chance that Haruhi will eat it.
Strengths/Abilities: As the Host Club’s “Natural Type,” Haruhi is surprisingly affable, and often (unintentionally) charming. It depends entirely on who she’s talking to; her unfaltering honesty can either make or break her.
Her strong sense of independence has helped her become very responsible, easily completing household tasks by herself (she probably wouldn’t want your help, anyhow -- chores get done faster if no one’s in the way). By constantly trying to perfect her mother’s dishes, she’s become a pretty good cook, too, though she’d much rather throw together whatever’s quick and handy than make a gourmet meal.
History: On February 4th, Haruhi was born in Japan to Kotoko and Ryoji Fujioka. Her mother was an attorney, still learning the ropes, but bringing in cases nonetheless, while her father made deliveries for a local liquor store. Their incomes were hardly worth bragging rights, but they lived as comfortably as commoners could. They were happy, and little else mattered.
When Haruhi was around the age of five, Kotoko came down with a serious illness. It was mysterious, and quick; she died soon after being diagnosed. Though her death inevitably shook him, Ryoji tried to balance both parental roles as best as he could, while upholding their comfortable lifestyle with the meager money he was paid at his job. It goes without saying that he wasn’t home much, and when he was, he was asleep, too tired to cook or spend much time with his daughter, who began to grieve in her own way. Haruhi learned to do everything like her mother: she cleaned the house; she replicated her meals; she even took on the grocery shopping, forcing her father to watch from the sidelines as she nurtured a stubborn sort of independence. Even in death, her mother was her role model -- Haruhi wanted to be that picture perfect image she saw in her head when she thought of Kotoko.
Eventually, Ryoji switched jobs, becoming a cross dresser at an Okama Bar (and changing his name to “Ranka” in the processes, specifically for business). While Haruhi was occasionally teased by other children for her father’s hobbies, his new job only intensified the fact that she didn’t care for superficial differences between the genders, and she was never bothered.
It was almost inevitable: as Haruhi got older, she decided that she wanted to be a lawyer, just like her mom. Ten years after Kotoko’s death, Haruhi applied for a scholarship at Ouran High, a very prestigious private academy. As studying had become her life, she easily passed the entrance exam, and was allowed to attend the school for the rich.
Only two things mattered at Ouran High: blood, and money. As a nobody and a scholarship student (or “commoner,” as she was otherwise called), Haruhi quickly found that she was far from fitting in; she couldn’t afford to wear the school’s uniform, much less partake in the leisurely way that the students spent their spare time. They were in one of the most highly esteemed high schools in Japan, and yet, none of them seemed to take it seriously -- Haruhi couldn’t fathom it.
As after hours were rarely used for studying in Ouran, it was hard for Haruhi to find peace. Home was just as poor an alternative, as her father often brought back friends from work. So, having heard rumors that the Third Music Room was temporarily abandoned, Haruhi climbed the stairs and opened the door -- possibly one of the biggest mistakes of her life.
Inside was definitely not the quiet, deserted study room she’d been hoping for, but six gorgeous, rich men: The Host Club, a group of students dedicated to catering to girls with too much time and affection on their hands. Due to her disheveled appearance (and lack-of a female uniform), Haruhi was instantly mistaken for a boy. They flustered her until she accidentally knocked over an expensive vase, which would have been shown at the school’s auction. The estimated price? 8,000,000 yen. With no way to pay it off and now in-debt to the Hosts, Haruhi essentially became their slave -- the Club’s “dog.”
First, she performed menial tasks, such as cleaning up after the guests and buying groceries. Through this, she introduced the Club to various “commoner” products -- i.e. instant coffee and ramen -- bringing her more (rather degrading) attention than she would have preferred, as she hardly understood the thick ridge that separated her from the wealthy. This ended when Tamaki, the Host Club’s “King” and founder, claimed that he saw potential in her, and insisted that she join them. A few training sessions and one (forced) makeover later, Haruhi was a full-time Host; by catering to 100 guests, her debt would be forgotten. Needless to say, she was appalled.
Somehow, the guests grew a strange sort of fascination with her, admiring her honesty. At the same time, the boys slowly began to realize the unintentional secret of her gender. Tamaki was the last to find out that Haruhi was a girl, only by thoughtlessly walking into her changing room while she slipped into the uniform that she’d been given by the Hosts. Still in debt, however, and very aware that she had no other method of payment, Haruhi decided that she would continue to pose as a boy and cater to her guests. Thus, the “Natural Type” was added to The Host Club’s lineup, and they worked together well to hide Haruhi’s true gender from the rest of the school.
The Host Club was... interesting. While she once confessed that the girls hassling over her seemed cute, she couldn’t help but feel that Ouran was another world, between watching hoards of fans swoon over handsome boys, and the general chaos that the Club seemed to attract. Melodramatic Tamaki Suoh had even taken to calling her his “daughter,” truly believing that their Host Club was an intricate family. He, apparently, was their father; Kyoya (otherwise known as the “Shadow King”), the mother; and Hikaru and Kaoru (two devilish twins in her class, with whom she managed to bond) additional siblings. While Hunny and Mori, the third-years, were more like dear neighbors in their fake family, they seemed to be the wisest, sometimes understanding what no one else could see.
Haruhi endured. Her debt was raised, halved, and raised again -- but she learned to tolerate the Hosts, steadily working toward her goal.
With the school festival just ahead, Tamaki decided that he wanted to do something extravagant; The Host Club would participate, offering their own themed event for parents to attend. Much planning was needed, and on one of those meeting dates, Haruhi was, predictably, late. Fearing the scene that Tamaki would create, she rushed to the Third Music Room, but, just upon reaching the door, she slipped -- and found herself in the Dollsyhouse.