Tamaki could tell that it was Kaoru. Not because he could inherently tell the difference between the Hitachiin twins, like Haruhi could (because he couldn't). Not because they were dressed differently or wearing jackets with their names embroidered on them (because they weren't). Not because he'd heard the sweet, soft voice that could never belong to Hikaru, only Kaoru (because he hadn't). The unusually quiet redhead was sitting in the library, a hardcover book propped up his lap, reading. It wasn't for school - Kaoru had no paper, pens, or highlighters - and it wasn't one of the library's ancient, musty encyclopedias. Kaoru was reading a library book for fun.
Tamaki knew it was Kaoru; Hikaru wouldn't be caught dead reading for fun, unless it were a comic book or a magazine. Feeling proud at his deduction, Tamaki strode across the library and stood in front of Kaoru. The redhead turned the page without looking up.
"What are you reading...Kaoru?" Tamaki beamed charmingly. Kaoru didn't look up.
"A Midsummer Night's Dream. We read a Shakespeare play earlier in the year, and I liked it, so I picked up another," Kaoru answered distantly, totally immersed in the play. Tamaki smiled; it was kind of cute how Kaoru got when he was reading a good book - he could just tune out the world.
Tamaki waited for it to dawn on Kaoru that he had distinguished the Hitachiin twin before him. Kaoru continued to read. Tamaki continued to wait.
"So, do you like it, Kaoru?" Tamaki tried again, emphasizing the twin's name more.
"I do. You get sucked in right from the first page," Kaoru smiled, turning another page, still not looking up. Tamaki was now 110% sure that he was talking to Kaoru; Hikaru wouldn't have the patience to bother with someone distracting him from something he liked. Tamaki sighed and flopped down on the couch beside Kaoru.
"Kaoru!" he whined, unable to take it anymore. Kaoru finally looked up, expression confused.
"What is it?" Kaoru asked gently, smiling. Tamaki was 120% positive.
"You're Kaoru," he said proudly, finally having the twin's attention. Kaoru stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter.
"Ah, I get it, milord, I get it," he said. "Yes, I'm Kaoru. Obviously." Ruffling Tamaki's blond hair and smiling before turning back to his book, the twin chuckled, "Hikaru wouldn't be caught dead in a library on a sunny spring day." Tamaki considered this alternate reason for Hikaru not being in a library and wondered if the older twin really did enjoy reading. It was lucky he hadn't considered this before, he guessed.
Kaoru tilted his head a bit, leaning comfortably against Tamaki as he continued to read. Tamaki glanced down at him, watching with some fascination as he read. Kaoru's hair was soft and sweet-smelling, like strawberries, and it tickled Tamaki's chin and neck. He didn't mind. As if this position were totally natural, Tamaki slid an arm around Kaoru's thin shoulders and rested his own head atop the redhead's. Kaoru smiled a little.
"What is it?" Tamaki asked, a goofy grin threatening to overtake his face. Kaoru turned a page.
"Good part in the story," he replied.