The Next Day
"I have gotten some information on how this situation will play out. It is an evacuation. And it will take place in approximately one week."
Hani spoke up immediately. Voicing what everyone else was thinking.
"But why are we being evacuated, Kyo-Chan?"
Kyoya sighed. Keeping his voice monotone for the sake of passing on the message calmly to everyone else without scaring anyone too much. Despite this, the way he stuttered indicated that he was slightly nervous about what he was going to say himself.
"It seems as if there may be some volcanic activity that we don't want to be in the crossfire of. We have plenty of time to pack and leave. We just need to be off of the main island. At least a few miles away so that we're all out of range."
Haruhi spoke up quickly. Picking up on the dread that settled between her friends overseas. And wanting to help ease it as soon as possible. Speaking what both her and her fiancé were thinking.
"You can all stay with us. Even if it's not temporary, we can also help you find a way to get you back on your feet after this ends."
Hikaru replied with a slightly anxious tone. But it was still clear that he was grateful for the offer. Especially as he caught Kaoru glancing at him a distance away.
"Thank you, but I don't think we'll need that since we'll be with our families."
Tamaki shrugged. A slight addition of pink in his cheeks as he replied with a quick pace.
"Eh, I guess that's true. Just know that option is available if you need it. Besides, what's the discussion we've been having for a while?"
Hani lit up.
"You're okay with that, right?"
Haruhi smiled.
"Of course. We just need to know if you're using an airport, or another mode of transportation like a boat. That way Tamaki and I can pick you up in a timely manner. It's going to start getting cold, after all."
"Will do, thanks so much, you two."
"Hikaru?"
Hikaru glanced down at his little sister, Ageha. Who had been holding his hand for a while after the rest of his family found out what was going to happen.
"Yeah?"
"Will you be gone for a while?"
Hikaru shook his head. Quick to try and ease how his sister was clearly feeling.
"No, we'll only be there for a wedding, so about a day or two."
Ageha looked all the way up at her brother. Giving him a warning for what she was about to ask him.
"Is it for the people you and Kaoru were arguing about yesterday?"
Hikaru swallowed. Unable to rid himself of the hot ball of lead that had wedged itself in his throat. It hurt to breath.
"Oh, you heard that...?"
Ageha nodded.
"Grandma did, too. Why did you get so mad at each other?"
Hikaru looked down guiltily.
"I'm sorry for making you worry about that. I'm not mad at Kaoru. Well, I am. But it's... I'm just upset that he doesn't trust me."
"Why were you arguing about your friend?"
Hikaru looked at the floor, a humiliated blush on his face.
"He thinks I like her romantically. Which I did for a brief period nine years ago when we were in high school. But not anymore. I thought she was someone else."
Ageha tilted her head.
"Why does Kaoru think you still like her, then?"
"I don't know. I've tried explaining it every way I know how. But I don't want to have to distance myself from Haruhi because she'd think she did something wrong and that's not fair to her. I don't know what to do."
Ageha looked down.
"Maybe you can tell her beforehand why you need to limit contact so she knows why. Then you can see if Kaoru gets the hint."
Hikaru paused to think about it. Maybe it would work. But another part of his mind shut it down.
"Kaoru probably won't be convinced if I just limit it. And Haruhi will still blame herself for us fighting. It won't do any good, unfortunately. I might try it, but I won't waste a lot of time on it."
Ageha stayed quiet for a moment.
"What did you mean when you called yourself a coward?"
Hikaru paled.
"I, I just wish I had the guts to tell Kaoru to get lost about it. But I'm scared of what problems that will cause. What if I lose my friends? What if he starts pinning others against me? Besides, I..."
Hikaru cut himself off. Ageha felt like she missed what was actually the incentive for him to call himself a coward.
"Do you like someone?"
Hikaru blushed, and nodded slowly. Ageha smiled a bit.
"Who is it? Do I already know them?"
Hikaru swallowed.
"Yeah, you know this person. I've, actually had feelings for them for years. Maybe longer than I'm aware at the moment."
Ageha giggled at how flustered her brother seemed.
"Who is it, though?"
Hikaru was about to say: never-mind. But he saw his sister's face. The hot ball of lead in his throat increasing in size until he could barely breath at all.
You need to stop being a coward at some point, Hikaru.
"Okay, I'll tell you. But only if you promise that you won't tell anybody else. Deal?"
Ageha nodded and shook her brother's hand. Her smile making Hikaru smile a bit in return. Hikaru bracing himself.
"Deal!"
To say that Ageha was surprised by what her brother admitted to her would have been an understatement. And Hikaru was lucky for his own sake that nobody else heard it. And that Ageha kept her promise.
After all, he had a reason to keep it hidden.