Mayu was avoiding Kaoru. That was clear, even to Hikaru. Especially to Hikaru. They were a trio, and yet, whenever he'd walk the halls with his brother and see Mayu coming from the opposite direction, shed notice them, and turn on her heel and walk away with quick steps. Everyday Hikaru and Mayu raced to the cafeteria for some reason unknown to the both of them, they were just competitive, and when they sat, Kaoru would come in, see them, and walk out, sitting in the classroom to eat.

Finally, after about 3 weeks of this nonsense, Hikaru was losing his mind. No one would tell him anything, and both parties would change the subject cleverly if Hikaru brought up the other one missing from their group. If his friends weren't going to make up, if they weren't going to tell him anything- he'd just have to make them. He considered pranking them, but knew Mayu would just get angry and Kaoru would figure it out anyway.

So, finally, after Kaoru disappeared from the lunchroom once again, Hikaru shoved his chair back and stood; Mayu stopped eating her sandwich mid-bite and looked up at him curiously.

Hikaru's heart pounded. That was unfair. The way her eyes searched his soul. He felt like every action he did would be analyzed by her, and it scared him. He wanted to impress her, to surprise her, to make her happy…and Hikaru didn't understand why. Her eyes narrowed and he gulped inwardly but stared back.

"You two are acting like children." He put simply, which was extremely surreal for him to do so.

Mayu's eyes widened, because she knew that was weird of him to do too. She shook her head, swishing her ponytail, "Hikaru, you're the most childish of us all-"

"But someone has to step up and be the adult here. I can't believe I put up with this for this long. I've been agonizing over this for almost a month, but you two can't be together anymore, and it's not like we can actually hang out anymore, because it's just awkward! If you guys aren't going to tell me what happened, I'll find out on my own!" Mayu looked down, turning beet red; as if the thing she was hiding was something she would die for, if it meant Hikaru would not find out. A part of Hikaru wanted to smile and tease her somewhat flirtatiously, but the overwhelming majority told him to go to the classroom and drag Kaoru back by his heels.

He exited the room with a determined stony expression on his face, and Mayu stared after him, swallowing the food shed bitten, and then gaping at him.

If Hikaru ever found out that Kaoru had kissed her…there'd be hell to pay for it. The only possible outcomes Mayu foresaw in her head were bad ones, so it didn't look very good.

It was actually sad that she hadn't talked to the philosopher of her two best friends for so long. It was already like, March 8. It was almost pathetic. Mayu knew Hikaru was right. Kaoru and her were both acting like immature little children, avoiding and ignoring each other like this, as if the problem and awkwardness would simply disappear if they did. Of course, that wasn't the case, in fact, it was quite the opposite. If they confronted each other and sorted this out beforehand, maybe it wouldn't have been so bad. But the distance and reluctancy made it so much worse, to the point where they had stuck Hikaru in the middle of it all. Mayu slumped back in her head and closed her eyes. How incredibly foolish and juvenile Kaoru and she were. They had left their best friend to be tugged in two separate directions, to be stressed to the point of breaking, and they were too selfish and self-absorbed to even realize Hikaru's pain. It must be awful, to be stuck between two friends like that. And to have no idea or slightest clue to what was going on, just made it even more agonizing.

Mayu groaned and put her head forward on the table, banging it in frustration. What was Hikaru going to do? Mayu just didn't know what to herself to resolve this. She cared so much for the twins. More than it was healthy to feel for a simple friend, but she didn't know what she comfortable with. She didn't know who she liked more, or if she were willing to risk their trio for something as silly as a relationship.

Meanwhile. Hikaru was stalking down the hallway with purpose. He got to the class, and slammed the door open with one hand.

Kaoru looked up from his desk in surprise. "Hikaru, what-"

"Let's go idiot. I'm tired of this." Hikaru grabbed his twin by the collar of his uniform and dragged him, and Kaoru was barely able to grab his lunch before they were gone from the room.

"Hikaru, you can let go now." Kaoru gasped, not wanting to be dragged along.

Hikaru glared back at his brother. He let his brother breathe, but he grabbed Kaoru's wrist tightly so Kaoru wouldn't run back to the class.

"I know what you're doing, and why you're angry, but Hikaru, you don't get it-"

"Then kindly explain it to me! We're friends! And because of you, everything is falling apart. I like Mayu a lot! And you're screwing up everything! It's March! And you two have been acting funny since Valentine's Day." It didn't click in Hikaru's head what he had just said. "I gobbled up my candy as soon I got it, but you just shoved it into a closet, and left it there." As if Kaoru had not wanted to be reminded of Mayu, as if he could put her out of mind just by closing his eyes to her.

Kaoru was silent.

"Kaoru." Hikaru sighed, irritated.

"Hikaru, it's just-"

"You're going to sit with us today, you two are going to put this whole thing behind us, and we're going to go back to the way we used to be." Hikaru's voice trembled slightly, and they entered the cafeteria once more and crossed the room to their table and sat down. Mayu picked up her head and looked down nervously, just as Kaoru did the same.

"Even if you two won't tell me, just move on from it already. No fight is worth this estrangement, idiots. It's just stupid." The table ate in silence for a few minutes, before Hikaru stood up, slamming his hands on the table. "I'm going back to the class, and if you two haven't talked out your differences by then- I…I'm not talking to either of you until you make up!" Hikaru burst out, and then hurried out of the room.

The other two stared after him wide-eyed then looked down at their laps once more.

"Hikaru's right." Mayu said finally.

Kaoru snapped his head up; amazed she was actually talking to him. She didn't pick her head up though to look at him. She kept speaking. "We're acting stupid. And all we've done is hurt him. We never meant to, we can agree on that much…So…we should just go back to the way it was. Do what Hikaru says…" she paused. "And just forget that…that thing ever happened! We're a trio, we're friends, and that's all we'll ever be."

Kaoru held his breath as she spoke, his heart breaking, but his face was stoic. He nodded, noticing she was waiting for him to answer her. "Let's put this all behind us, for Hikaru."

"Yes, what happened on Valentine's Day was a mistake. A simple mistake, swept up in the heat of the moment, and that is all."

Kaoru gulped. What he didn't know what Mayu's hands were gripping the hem of her uniform skirt, shaking, as she kept her head down, so Kaoru wouldn't see her eyes were red and puffy. She cared about Kaoru, and wanted to fix this, but why did it feel as if she were breaking up with him or something?

Kaoru stared. "Done." He would forfeit his feelings if it meant Mayu and Hikaru could be happy once more, and that they could all be friends again. It was simply a part of who he was.

Mayu took a deep breath, and blinked away any trace that she was upset, and used her hand to wipe away any trace of tear, but made it to look as if she were simply brushing her hair back behind her ear. Every rich person had a façade, and she was no different from the rest. But now, she was hiding things from her closest friends as well. It seemed so long ago they had gone horseback riding at the Hitachiin estate.

She stood from her chair and announced she was going to talk to Hikaru now. Kaoru offered to come, but she shook her head. "Finish eating first. You've barely touched your lunch." And with that, she was gone.

"Hikaru!" she called, seeing a familiar head of red hair farther up the hallway.

He turned and saw her smiling. "Hey!" she grinned. "We made up!"

Hikaru studied her for a moment, not believing how easy that was, but if Mayu could act that well, she was another species.

"Kaoru's just finishing up his lunch. Let's take a walk! I want to show you something." She pulled him along; out of the building and laughing she tugged him all the way to the high school.

The older kids seemed shocked at the two middle schoolers, but didn't bother stopping them. Mayu skipped down the hall, and as they went up more staircases and down more halls, the amount of people thinned.

Finally, they stopped in front of a music room, in an abandoned part of the school.

"C'mon!"

Hikaru grinned at her new rebellious attitude, and suddenly he realized something. He'd known it all along really, but seeing her so carefree and happy as they went on this adventure…it actually opened his eyes. It took months, but he was finally able to appreciate his like for her…romantically.

They entered the room, and in the center of the room was a black, sleek grand piano.

"How did you find this?" Hikaru looked around.

Mayu paused for a second as she sat down at the piano. She then regained her composure and shrugged. "Exploring."

"Mayu-"

"Hikaru, let me play for you. I just want to forget."

Forget what? Hikaru wanted to know, but he'd rather indulge Mayu. She stroked her fingers gently and swiftly across the piano as she played a cheerful but sad tune that Hikaru had never heard before.

He listened intently, thinking he would never hear anyone play the piano as beautifully as she did ever again in his entire lifetime.

Once the final note drifted off, she looked up at him and stated, "It's original, I've been working on it for a while. I just wanted to make a song that speaks to me…that is me."

"Well you succeeded. It seemed like you were saying more than you could ever say about yourself then." He came around and pulled Mayu's hand tenderly and she stood, meeting his gaze.

"You're being so mature. Are you sure you're not Kaoru?" she joked and they both laughed for a moment.

The laughs quieted down, and all was eerily silent as they stared at each other.

Before Hikaru knew it, his lips were on Mayu's, and she was kissing him back.

Mayu was shocked once more. Was she sending signals or something? Didn't boys ask permission to kiss a girl anymore? Not wanting to hurt his feelings like she had Kaoru, she waited until he pulled back, but Mayu didn't smile or blush. Instead she just stared blankly at Hikaru.

Hikaru immediately tensed. Was it too soon? Did she not feel the same way? It was impulsive and stupid of him to do such a thing!

Mayu didn't say a word, and her expression didn't change, all she did, was turn and head towards the door.

As she opened the door, Hikaru watched sadly, not wanting her to go, but not wanting to tie her down either.

He turned to the piano once the door clicked shut, and kicked over the chair. What a fool he was. This room, this piano…it changed him, and he didn't like it one bit.

About 2 chapters to go! So this story will be done by February! :O Maybe March ;)

Happy holidays everyone!

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