I scramble off of Hikaru as fast as I can and stand up, blushing furiously. If only I wasn't in such a rush. If only I wasn't so klutzy.
"I-I'm so sorry, I was in a hurry, it was an accident." I stutter, rushing my words as Hikaru picks himself up off the ground.
"No, it's fine." Hikaru waves it off nonchalantly. But as he walks by me, he whispers in my ear, "I didn't mind." I blush further. A trick like his brotherly love act with Kaoru? Or does he mean it? I rush out of the door and down to my car and head home. When I walk in, my mom is there waiting.
"How was it?" She asks.
"Not bad. There are people I'm talking to." I shrug. "Is there any news?"
"I'm sorry." My mother looks down. That means no. My grandmother did invite us to Japan, but that is not the reason we came here. We had another reason.
"Just keep me updated." I smile weakly.
"We always do, sweetie." I go up to my room, where I have so many pictures from when I was seven years old. No new ones. But I can't tell anyone what happened back then. It would be too upsetting.
A week goes by and I start to grow accustomed to the host club. I actually rather enjoy it. I've also spent a small amount of time talking to Ryoko. She seems nice, though I'm a little afraid of what would happen if I were on her bad side. I've observed Kyoya and he seems like a scary person to be on the wrong side of, and the twins keep insisting that Ryoko is so much like him.
I walk into class and sit next to Ryoko, as has become my habit.
"Ryoko?" I ask.
"Yes?" She asks, glancing at me sideways through slightly narrowed eyes.
"Kyoya-senpai seems so underhanded and, shall I say, devious at times. Do you never argue with him?"
"No of course not." She laughs and I look at her in surprise. "Kyoya and I think the same way, so we tend not to get angry with each other without good reason. And also, when it seems like an argument is about to start, I simply agree with Kyoya." She grins.
"Wouldn't that be frustrating?" I ask in shock.
"Not at all, actually. Kyoya rescued me from a horrible situation. And I love him, so him always being right is a fair trade-off to me." She smiles. She actually seems content with it.
Later, I pass by Hikaru and Kaoru in the hall, but stop when I realize that they seem to be arguing. No, not arguing, Hikaru is angry and Kaoru is trying to calm him down.
"Is everything alright?" I ask, walking over.
"Yeah, just fine." Kaoru answers with a nervous laugh, running a hand through his hair. I look over to Hikaru, who's pacing angrily back and forth.
"Hikaru, whatever is going on, I'm sure it will turn out alright." I smile at him. He stops pacing for a moment and glances at me.
"Thank you." He says, and then we all head back to our classes.
That night: Ryoko's POV
I wait for it to get dark and then walk down the hall, quiet as a mouse. Ever since I've lived in the Ootori house, I've been kept in a room on the opposite side of the house from Kyoya. I'm sure everyone knows by now that I tend to sleep in his room anyway, but we still are subtle just to keep up appearances.
I get to Kyoya's door and open it just a little, so it doesn't creak, and slip inside. I sigh and slip my shoes off sitting on Kyoya's bed. He's sitting at his laptop as usual. He always is up so late. I try to get him to bed earlier, but usually my efforts are pointless.
"Ryoko, come look at this." Kyoya says, waving me over. I get up from the bed and walk over to the desk, sitting in the chair next to him.
"You really should go to bed." I sigh. Kyoya picks up a piece of my hair, rubbing it between his fingers before wrapping it around his finger. He does it almost unconsciously – a new habit of his that I happen to love.
"There is stuff I need to get done, you know." He replies to my comment, his tone revealing slight irritation.
"Of course you are right." I smile at him, and he sighs.
"You don't always need to just agree with me." He says.
"I know." I smile.
"What do you think of Etsu Moreau?" Kyoya asks.
"She seems nice. Her father is in the banking business. She grew up in France. There is not much more to the story." I shrug.
"But there is. Look." Kyoya tugs the piece of hair wrapped around his finger ever so slightly, bringing my attention to his laptop screen.
"Oh. That is…very interesting." I muse.
"I wonder why they covered it up." Kyoya wonders.
"We could always ask."
"But it's more fun to watch it all play out, isn't it?" He asks, glancing sideways at me with the sly look I love.
"Too true." I smirk in response.
Two Weeks Later: Etsu's POV
I sit in the host club, carefully watching Hikaru. He's been very agitated lately, and I've been trying to understand why. And I think I may have the answer. I observe a little more just to be sure. Yes. Every time Haruhi seems to be really nice to Tamaki, he reacts badly.
"Kaoru?" I ask, facing Kaoru. Hikaru is arguing (not in a mean way) with Tamaki right now, so Kaoru is alone.
"Yes?"
"Is Hikaru jealous of Tamaki-senpai over Haruhi?"
"W-what makes you ask that?" Kaoru laughs.
"Well it just seems as though he's jealous. Which is strange, is it not, since Haruhi is a guy?" I blink innocently at him. I've been sure for the last few days that Haruhi must be a girl. Now I just need someone to confirm it for me.
"The thing is…Haruhi isn't actually a guy." Kaoru answers slightly nervously. "Hikaru thinks he's in love with her." He sighs.
"Thinks?" I raise a brow.
"Well, to be entirely honest…I think Tamaki-senpai knows Haruhi better than Hikaru does."
"What are you saying?" I ask suspiciously.
"Etsu, you're very shy and reserved. You never say a cruel word to anybody, and you're always smiling. You're kind of perfect." Kaoru laughs.
"T-thank you." I blush. "But Kaoru, you're just my friend." I continue, and his eyes widen in bewilderment.
"Oh no, I meant perfect for Hikaru." He laughs.
"Hikaru?"
"He doesn't really know how he feels about a lot of things. Kind of unstable. You're stable. So it's perfect." He grins mischievously.
"Hikaru doesn't notice me like that." I laugh. "But it was a nice idea." I smile, before walking over to Hikaru and Tamaki to help separate them.