"I liked Kaoru a lot." Ren stated as the car pulled away from the end of Hikaru's driveway.
That statement made Hikaru a little uncomfortable. This was all a huge shock, and enough to make him really confused. He didn't feel like dealing with a girl confessing her love for his brother to him. Especially since Kaoru doesn't exist.
"Do you remember when we first met?" She asked him, but she didn't need him to answer so she kept going. "When I fought that annoying thug off, Kaoru said that he liked how I handled myself, but that the dress and long hair could prove to be a disadvantage." The memory made her look away and smile slightly. "That's why I cut my hair and started wearing the boys' uniform."
"Okay..." Hikaru drew out the word. He didn't see how that mattered.
"The thing is," Ren said, turning back to him. "It was you and Kaoru who angered that thug in the first place, so without Kaoru, there was no fight." She shrugged. "And even if their had been, there wouldn't have been anyone to tell me about my skirt and hair."
Hikaru fidgeted a little. Ren's feelings for Kaoru were so clear. He cleared his throat and looked out the window. "Alright, but what happened to Kaoru?"
"Your wish was granted." Ren muttered so quietly that Hikaru almost didn't hear her.
"Huh?" He looked back at her.
"Yesterday." She said simply. "When you and Kaoru were fighting, you said that you wished you were an only child." She shook her head sadly. "I told you not to say things like that. Now you got what you wanted and Kaoru's gone. He never existed."
"So, does that mean..."
"Nobody will remember him, since there is nothing to remember." She gave him a very serious look. "The only reason I remember him is that I'm here to show you what you have done."
"I get it." He muttered. Then he spoke louder. "I already see that I'd be very lonely without him, so you've proved your point." He closed his eyes. "Now bring Kaoru back."
"It's not that easy." Ren said firmly. "You haven't seen what your life would be like yet. Remember how the teachers always tell us to make an informed decision?"
"No." Hikaru said, opening his eyes again.
Ren made an annoyed face at his response. "Well they do, and that's what you'll have to do. Live a day without Kaoru, and then make your decision."
"Wha!"
At that moment, the car pulled up in front of the school and the driver opened the door for them. Ren got out first and Hikaru quickly followed her. They started walking toward the front doors.
"Good morning Hikaru." A group of nearby girls chorused, making him look at them. They all waved at him while smiling brightly.
"Yo! Hitachiin!" A boy that Hikaru didn't recognize came up to them and pounded him on the back, making him stumble. Then the boy turned to Ren. "Hizuki, you're looking stunning today." He went and put an arm around her shoulders. "Like a blooming flower."
Ren didn't miss a step. "It's the disguise of a poisonous bud."
The boy froze and Ren stepped away from him. Then he turned to Hikaru. "One of these days." He said, shaking his head. "Eventually she'll realize that we're meant for each other." Then he waved and ran over to a group of girls who were staring at him with hearts in their eyes.
"What was that all about?" Hikaru asked, catching up to Ren.
"Just the usual Teru Hinata." She said casually. "You know, your best friend." She smiled slightly.
"Best friend?" Hikaru repeated. He glanced back at Teru, who was now flirting with a short blond girl. "That can't be true." He turned back to Ren. "My best friend is Kaoru."
"But there is no Kaoru." Ren reminded him. She nodded around as more students said good morning to Hikaru. "And without him, there's no reason for you not to make other friends." She pulled open the front doors and they walked inside. "Now you're considered the most popular boy in the high school division."
"Most popular- Wait!" Hikaru grabbed Ren's shoulder to make her stop walking. "Does that mean I have a girlfriend?" He glanced back, wondering if he had just ignored his girlfriend when she said good morning to him.
"No." Ren said, with a hint of a laugh in her voice. "You're at war with a second year for the heart of one of your classmates."
Hikaru looked back at her in surprise. "At war? With who? Who over?" Then he took a step back, a thought having crossed his mind. "Is it over you?"
Ren burst out laughing. "Me?" She doubled over, gripping her sides. "That's a good one! No, Hikaru, it's not over me." She straightened up and wiped a few tears from her eyes. "It's over Haruhi."
"Oh." Now that he thought about it, that made sense. He had always thought that there was something about Haruhi that made her special. "And who am I fighting?"
Before Ren could answer, they heard a voice. "Tamaki-senpai, please stop following me."
They looked over and saw Haruhi walking to class. She was being followed closely by Tamaki. It looked like Tamaki was trying to watch both Haruhi and everyone else in the hall.
"But Haruhi!" Tamaki said. "If I'm not careful, someone might steal you from me."
Haruhi turned on him. "I don't belong to you!" She snapped. Then she turned around again and disappeared into a classroom, leaving Tamaki to look around helplessly.
"Better luck next time, King." Hikaru said as he and Ren walked past Tamaki into the classroom.
"Don't mock me!" Tamaki yelled after him. Then he turned and walked away.
"Huh?" Hikaru turned to Ren, looking for an explanation. "What was that about."
Ren rolled her eyes. "I already told you." She sighed. "You're his rival for Haruhi's heart."
"Oh." Hikaru was feeling confused as he adn Ren took their seats. He was a little hurt when he realized that she was sitting in what should have been Kaoru's seat.