Four Months Later

Everyone was quiet for a moment, despite having started a phone call with the whole group.

"So, what was that about not jinxing ourselves?"

The twins sulked. Haruhi asked it sarcastically, and more as a joke. But it didn't stop the embarrassment and guilt.

"Not our fault necessarily. How was anyone supposed to predict a lockdown?!"

Kyoya spoke up.

"Do not call it a lockdown just yet. There has not been nation wide conformation. And the government does not appear to be handling this like a lockdown. More like an evacuation."

This made everyone pause. Haruhi spoke again.

"What do you think the problem is, then? Why would the government wait so long to come up with a way to handle it? At least in terms of leading the general population?"

"I am not entirely sure. But we will keep you both updated whenever we get more information."

Tamaki replied.

"Thank you. You know if you are being evacuated, let us know so we can pick you up somewhere."

"Yeah, and so we can make sure we have plenty of food and resources for you to stay with us."

Honey smiled.

"Aw, thanks Tama-Chan and Haru-Chan."

"That would be an interesting way to finally visit you both."

Haruhi shrugged.

"I was wondering if it would take something serious to allow a visit to happen, anyway."

"Haruhi?"

Haruhi was looking at her phone frequently for any updates on the situation.

"I just want to make sure if there is an evacuation, we have as much time as we can get to prepare."

Tamaki nodded in understanding.

"Should we figure out who should do what so we're more efficient? One of us picks them up, the other gets groceries?"

Haruhi nodded.

"That would work. Then it'll be about making a list before they get here. Depending on how they'd be coming over."

Haruhi briefly glanced at her stomach.

"Are you alright?"

"Wasn't I supposed to start showing by now?"

Tamaki looked, and paused. Becoming just as confused as Haruhi.

"Maybe? I don't have much knowledge of this, so maybe you're not supposed to show until later?"

Haruhi shrugged.

"I'm not sure. We have another check up in a couple weeks, maybe we can ask then?"

Tamaki nodded.

"Yeah."

Tamaki pulled Haruhi into a hug. Noticing a bit of nervousness.

"If they do need to come here sooner than planned, do you feel ready enough to tell them?"

Haruhi shrugged.

"I think so. I'm just wondering if we would need to get married sooner? We both wanted them to be with us when we get married, and I'm not sure when the next opportunity will come up."

Tamaki smiled, kissing Haruhi's knuckle.

"If we have an option, I'd prefer if it was sooner rather than later. Sooner being at least a couple months away so we can plan."

Haruhi smiled.

"I wouldn't mind that. We just need to make sure the others can be prepared as well."

Tamaki tilted his head.

"Then, would that mean...?"

Haruhi nodded, a small amount of guilt and disappointment creeping up on her.

"We'll have to tell them about the engagement over the phone."

Two Weeks Later

"You aren't planning on being upset forever, are you?"

Hikaru looked at Kaoru with a raised eyebrow.

"Who said I was upset?"

Kaoru shrugged.

"You seem off."

"That's because I'm looking for the right thing for the occasion. I want to find a good gift for them. And I'm anxious about them having to wait an extremely long time because of this bad luck streak we have going. I don't want them to put their wedding on hold if something goes south."

Kaoru blinked.

"What?"

"I thought you'd be jealous, to be frank."

Hikaru gave Kaoru a look.

"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not fifteen anymore."

"Yeah, but wasn't there that thing with Arai when you and Haruhi went on that date? Or when Hani said that Mori probably had feelings for Haruhi?"

Hikaru blushed.

"Yeah, that was childish. And I've apologized to all of them about it over a million times. But I'd like to think that I've grown up a bit after nine years."

Kaoru looked down. Hikaru seemed to freeze up a bit at the mention of Mori's crush on Haruhi. And he remembered Hikaru talking to him a bit more after he apologized.

"By the way, when you were talking to Arai after what happened, what was it about?"

Hikaru shrugged, more casual again.

"Mostly about how he and Haruhi became friends. And he also mentioned parts of his home life. Turns out, he never really had a crush on Haruhi in the first place. Just saw her as a sister, but he wanted to cover up the fact that he was attracted to men until he was ready. So he figured he could pretend he had a crush he knew would go nowhere. You can bet that didn't help how guilty I felt for being so rude to him."

Kaoru shrugged his shoulders a bit.

"Wasn't expecting that, I'm sure you weren't either, so don't blame yourself too much for that. You only seemed to find out because he actively told you. Maybe that's what it was with Mori as well, none of us knew he was attracted to men until he told Hani and we overheard."

Hikaru glanced away, it wasn't how he found out, but he didn't want to take the conversation to a weird turn.

"I guess you could look at it that way, and we did work it out after the whole ordeal. It seemed to make Haruhi happy, I don't blame her for getting mad."

There was a pause, and Kaoru glanced away.

"You really aren't jealous?"

Hikaru shook his head quickly. Looking offended that Kaoru was still asking.

"Of course not. Tamaki and Haruhi are happy, so I should be happy for them as their friend. And I am. What kind of friend would I be if I wasn't supportive of them?"

Kaoru shrugged, a bit of skepticism remaining in his head.

"If you say so. But you can tell me about anything that's bothering you, you know that, right?"

Hikaru nodded with a hopeful smile.

"Of course. We're the Hitachiin twins, we only share our secrets with one another. We trust each other."

Kaoru narrowed his eyes slightly at the last sentence.

"Not that I would really judge you. But if you are crushing on Haru—"

Hikaru suddenly shouted.

"What the hell, Kaoru?! This is the fourth time I've told you in this conversation! I don't have a crush on Haruhi. Maybe when I was fifteen, but that was over nine years ago! I've moved on from that, aside from everyone else bringing it up with me. I thought you moved on."

Kaoru blinked.

"Maybe I have a reason to be suspicious. Considering how serious you were about your feelings back then."

Hikaru looked at the ground.

"Should I take back what I said before? If I did have them, why would I—? Haruhi's like a little sister to me, Kaoru. I thought you would have recognized it. Or in the very least believed me when I said I was over it. It was just a childish crush. I'm trying to move on."

Kaoru raised an eyebrow.

"Trying?"

Hikaru nearly popped a vein.

"Because you won't let me move on! Every time I think I forgot my embarrassment about it, you bring it up as if I'm still making a fool of myself!"

"Maybe you are! Maybe it's worse now because you keep denying everyone the truth! If it started and ended quickly, I would have second thoughts. But you showed an attraction to Haruhi since the moment she stepped into the club room on the first day."

Hikaru went a little pale.

"That's because I thought she was... I thought she was someone different, but in hindsight, she was never my type."

"Hikaru—"

Kaoru cut himself off, surprised to see Hikaru looking at the ground with a sad expression.

"I'll, leave you alone."

Kaoru went to the door.

"By the way, there's another call tomorrow. It looks like Kyoya got some insight into what's going to happen And he wants all of us to plan out a strategy together."

Hikaru nodded.

"Okay, thanks for letting me know."

Kaoru glanced at Hikaru one last time before leaving his twin alone. Hikaru letting out a short sigh after he was sure he was alone. Turning to look at his phone, and smiling as he was met with an old photo.

The smile fell after a moment as he saw the other photos. Looking at the floor.

"Will I ever stop being such a coward?"