Although Tamaki's classical piano performance seemed to turn the tide in his favor, I believe it was Misuzu's particular inclination that led him to declare the twins as winners, after a touching physical display of their 'brotherly love.' But as I had explained to Haruhi, she wasn't rid of the rest of us just because the twins won the room. The following morning everyone was present for breakfast at the Pension.

I arrived later than the others, and so missed the big event. While I ate, the others filled me in on the rather awkward reunion of Haruhi and Arai, the young man who came to deliver produce to Misuzu. When Haruhi laid her apron aside and went to sit with him, Tamaki disappeared and Hikaru pointedly moved to the bar and turned his back on the couple. I recognized for the first time that behind Hikaru's teasing, and beneath Tamaki's bluster, they were beginning to harbor some special feelings for Haruhi. They might not recognize it themselves, and it might prove to be a passing fancy, but the possibility of competition was rousing its head.

As I watched her blushing for this stranger, I had to admit that I too wanted to pursue a relationship with Haruhi. That for some time I had been seeking excuses to be near her whenever possible. That I somehow knew where she was in a room without consciously tracking her movements. That I could read her like a book because I had been watching her so closely for months. I was keenly attuned to her moods and facial expressions, jumping in to rescue her when she showed signs of distress, or basking in the sunshine of her contentment.

But always with subtlety, hiding behind self-serving excuses so no one would guess my true feelings.

Nothing to gain from it, she said… She had no idea how my life would change if she returned my regard. Others saw me as cold and calculating…not quite human. But sometimes in her perceptive gaze I really believed she could see through my persona to the person inside. A person who would delight to share his thoughts with an equal. Who was more used to condemnation than affection. A relationship with a girl like Haruhi would bring color to my shadowed world.

Yes, I had much to gain. But what would it cost?

"Want some cake?" Honey asked, waving his fork in my face and bringing me back to earth.

I realized all of us were quiet, eavesdropping on Haruhi's conversation as best we could.

I gave him a slight shake of my head. "He's a friend of Haruhi's from middle school, is he?"

Hikaru responded, "If he's had zero contact since graduation, he's not a friend, just a former classmate."

I slanted a look at Hikaru's back. Kaoru was doing the same. It wasn't long until Hikaru started going off on Arai.

"You're being unusually critical, aren't you?" I asked him.

He intentionally raised his voice to be heard by the happy couple. "It's obvious this guy has a thing for Haruhi. It's sickening to watch him try and flirt!"

Haruhi was ready to tear someone limb from limb, but her guest intervened and made an attempt to clear the air. "He's right, I did have a thing for you once. But who cares, you already turned me down once," he said, shrugging it off good-naturedly.

This was news to us, of course. Who knew Haruhi had a romantic past? Apparently not Haruhi—she looked as shocked as the rest of us.

"Why do you look so surprised?" I asked her.

Haruhi claimed she had no idea, and Arai proceeded to explain how she misunderstood his confession. Even Tamaki gave up his brooding and joined us to hear the story.

Watching her reel in embarrassment, I tried to rescue her with humor. "Haruhi," I mock scolded her. "You broke this innocent young man's heart just to get a laugh from some sick joke?"

"No, you see, I didn't realize that's what he meant." Turning to Arai she said, "I'm sorry."

Arai willingly picked up on my attempt to lighten the mood by teasing Haruhi. "So you're turning me down again a whole year later?!" He pretended distress, but then dissolved into laughter. "Don't worry, Fujioka, I'm over it."

This set all of us at ease, and soon all but the twins were sharing the table with them. Hikaru seemed determined to keep his distance, but the rest enjoyed hearing what commoner middle school was like. It almost felt like Arai was one of us.

Hikaru must have been feeling this too, but his response was somewhat different. "Doesn't that guy realize that Haruhi wants nothing to do with him. She's got plenty of friends," he snarled, addressing Arai directly now. "She doesn't need you around, get it?"

Haruhi slapped him resoundingly and gave him a proper dressing down.

"Aren't we enough for you?" he asked her before storming off, followed by a worried-looking Kaoru.

Watching them go, Tamaki spoke what we were all thinking. "Their world is still so small, huh?" He told Arai enough about the twins to help him understand and, hopefully, overlook Hikaru's rudeness.

"I should get back," Arai said after awhile. "My father will be wondering what happened to me."

We followed him outside. As he settled himself on his bike, Hikaru emerged and admitted. "I was out of line. I'm sorry."

Arai accepted the apology with good grace and took his leave.

When he was out of hearing distance Haruhi asked, "Kaoru, why are you pretending to be Hikaru?"

Wearing Hikaru's clothes and hiding the scratch on his face with concealer, he had fooled the rest of us. But somehow she always knew. A fascinating young woman.

Kaoru (and they call me a schemer) cleverly played on Haruhi's guilt to extract a promise that she would accompany him on an outing the following day. And then cleverly feigned illness to compel Hikaru to take his place.

The rest of us met in the dining room for breakfast that morning, as was becoming our habit, so we were on hand to see the new and improved Haruhi appear for her date. She did look adorable in twin tails, earrings, and a flirty dress that showed off her legs. She even carried a matching purse, which was definitely not Haruhi.

"I had our maids dress her up," Kaoru admitted, appearing once the couple was out the door and headed toward town.

Tamaki was near to having a breakdown, coveting the one-on-one time Hikaru would have with Haruhi. The sight rankled me as well. If I were honest, I'd have to admit that ever since our tète a tète in her apartment I had been craving more time alone with Haruhi. Yet my desire to be with her warred with my concern for Tamaki's feelings. Confused though he was, I thought I detected something more than fatherly affection in his responses to her lately.

At Kaoru's instigation we stealthily followed the couple as they strolled down the village's quaint Main Street. Though awkward at first, they eventually grew comfortable and seemed to be having a pleasant enough time. It was…difficult…to watch Haruhi dangle her ice cream cone in front of Hikaru's lips, but when she started feeding him bits of pickled yam from her fork, I was more than ready to leave. Thankfully Kaoru let us off the hook soon after, and we hiked back to the Pension to await their return.