Chapter 1
Day 1: The First Big Hit

"Hikaru," that sweet voice calls out in that fake tone he uses whenever we have customers and have to put up our little act. His almost meek words pull my attention away from a horribly blushing girl who obviously hadn't recovered from five minutes ago. I still don't quite understand why some of the girls just lose themselves whenever two boys get close. Not that I'm complaining. Looking over to my brother and his seeming down-casted features perfectly fitting his face, I suddenly realize that "five minutes ago" was more like "half an hour" to "forty-five minutes ago".

"Y-You seem a little distracted today," Kaoru continues softly. It was still obviously part of his act. But of course, only we would know when it was or wasn't. It's weird, though. Kaoru's "act" gets more and more flawless and perfect every time. It's not gradual either. Of course we're both great actors, but… now I'm starting to buy it a little. I even had to remind myself one time, he's just acting. "There's nothing wrong, is there?" That fake concern in his voice gets me every time. It's not helping that he's gotten better at it, either.

"Kaoru," I say it as though I'm truly concerned. In a way, I am. This isn't what we planned, at least that I remember. I decide to go along with it, seeing as there seems to be something he's planning. What's the harm in adding a little more "brotherly love" today? "I'm sorry. I guess there is something distracting me." I turn my attention away from the girls and move closer to my brother. His skin feels almost too soft to be that of a boy's when I turn his head toward my own. A few years ago, we've established that we don't have a "too close for comfort" between us. This, as usual, gets a few faces red and the beginning of the whole "fan-gasm" that some of our customers seem to have when they see us even mention anything suggestive. It just makes me wonder even more. Seriously, I just don't understand.

"I guess I just—"

"Hikaru, don't lie." That startles me. Not just the fact Kaoru cut me off. He never does that. What's really getting me, my dear brother is smiling but his eyes aren't. They're not even looking at me. My hands move away, though they're still lingering close, and I just look at Kaoru and it's painfully obvious that I'm confused and almost hurt. Those girls are also surprised. He suddenly stands up and still won't look at me. There's still that painful smile in his face (at least… it's hurting me) and he's silent for a moment. His voice strikes a cord in me again.

"I don't feel like pretending today," He turns to the few girls sitting at the table and apologizes then turns and leaves, saying he doesn't feel good. I just sit in my chair; my hands are clenching into fists and slowly tightening in my lap. He's getting too good at this. I wish he wasn't.

"Hikaru-kun? Are you okay?" One of the girls seems to finally catch on, and she asks one of the stupider questions. The answers obvious, so why bother even to ask? Especially when nerves are more sensitive. "Is something wrong?" Her voice is too high pitch. It almost gives me a headache.

I don't have to look around. I can already tell that Kaoru is gone, and the other members of the Host Club are staring. Especially Hunny-Sempai. He's always the one who seems the most concerned, yet it's Tono who speaks up first. Of course.

Some of the girls that Tono was "entertaining" seem to whine when he comes over to me. Others are less selfish; almost truly concerned. I really don't know how long it took, but he's standing next to my chair, looking down at me. I don't know if it's true or not, but I sometimes get the feeling that even Tono has to look at my brother or me for a moment to figure out which one is which. I'll give him credit, though: he does it faster then others (if he has to at all). I can only assume that he only saw Kaoru walk off and didn't hear him. Not a surprise.

"Hikaru," If only I could hear his voice like his customers did sometimes. Then he probably could make me feel better. But I don't. So I don't understand why he even bothers. He's probably going to give me a headache, too. Tono leans down close to my ear and whispers his stupid question so only I could hear. I don't really know how he does it. I mean, the room's practically silent. "Is this one of your mock fights?" Sometimes, I seriously want to punch him in his pretty little face. What would make him think that? Just because we had one fake fight a while ago doesn't mean that every argument we have is fake, right? I quickly stand up and stare my blond sempai down in his violet eyes for a moment when I think of that. I'm pretty sure he's starting to get the idea that it's not and he looks a little stunned. I really was going to basically explode at him, but someone just has to interrupt.

"You probably just haven't been paying enough attention to Kaoru, Hikaru," Haruhi's looking over at us from her table, a small tray with a small steaming tea pot and some cups rattles a bit as she puts it down. "He's most likely just trying to make you feel bad to get his point across." I know she's trying not to sound mean or anything like that, but it still hurts nonetheless. She's honest about everything, but doesn't seem to know how it affects others the way she says it. I guess it's that honesty that I admire the most about her. And the fact that she's extremely cute sometimes. Most of the time, actually. I will admit, I do spend a lot of time looking at her. At least I don't shamelessly fawn over her like Tono. I have dignity. At least more then him.

"Maybe you should go apologize or at least see what's wrong," Haruhi always seems to know what to do. Though that is the most basic thing that someone can do. Anyone could have thought of that, even Tono. But the fact that she was the one who suggested it made it more special.

"That's just what I was thinking!" Tono says in a way that's rather dramatic; pointing to himself and I could have sworn I saw sparkles around his head. He's such a bullshitting lair. I know he means well, but that doesn't take away from the fact that he's an idiot.

I finally decide to chase after Kaoru, and as I'm leaving I can hear Tono tell Kaoru's and my customers that they'll get a refund since their time with the twins was cut short. Just before I leave the Third Music Room, I turn to see Kyouya's "lifeless" expression when he hears that, too. Tono's going to get an earful. I'm going to have to see if I can get to see that later. Kaoru would enjoy it. I know that much…