Since the Ouran Academy is a well-known private school in Japan, its students mostly come from upper-class households. Only once a year is there an exception to this rule: the winners of an incredibly rigorous entrance exam are given scholarships, but only if they continue to be the top students in their class. The 15-year-old Haruhi Fujioka is one of these scholarship recipients.
Due to her short hair, loose clothing, and grandfather's old glasses, most people even mistake Haruhi for a boy. She is middle class and, in contrast to her middle school days, is far more concerned with study and getting excellent grades than with her appearance. When Haruhi gets lost in their clubroom, this is what practically all of the alleged Ouran Host Club members experience.
However, she has an accident during this encounter, causing an 8,000,000 yen vase to break into pieces. An alternative offer is quickly made: she, too, is to participate as a host; if she has fulfilled enough requests and wishes, her debt is considered paid. Haruhi can't even come close to paying for the damage, and the club is otherwise known for providing its patrons with entertainment and diversion.
