Music Piece 17: The Mind Game

" Takara! Takara! "

The girl herself turned round and she waited for Haruhi to catch up with her.

" What can I do for you? " she asked her, the moment Haruhi caught up.

" No, it's nothing. I just wanted to ask you how you'd be going back home from here? " Haruhi told her.

Takara shrugged her shoulders, casually.

" The bus. I've always been taking the bus home. Why do you ask? "

" Do you need a lift? " Haruhi offered, helpfully.

Takara smiled and shook her head.

" It's alright. I don't want to trouble anyone. "

Before Haruhi could reply, the twins suddenly stepped in.

(Or more like, they suddenly appeared.)

" Did anyone say 'trouble'? " Hikaru interrupted.

Haruhi sighed as she answered Hikaru's question, inwardly, everywhere you guys go would surely bound to lead to trouble.

" Yes, I was telling Haruhi that I didn't want to trouble anyone, " Takara told them.

" Oh, come on, Takara! Let us take you home. It's the least we could do after you stayed on with the Host Club. "

Takara raised her hands.

" There is really no need. Besides, the bus will go pass my house. It takes just a few minutes to reach my house. "

Both the twins shook their heads.

" Nope. It's getting dark soon and you wouldn't know what would be lying out there waiting. Perverts, robbers, r- " they were interrupted by Haruhi.

" There's no need to list every sort of criminal down, you're scaring her! "

Both Hikaru and Kaoru grinned mischievously.

" So, if you're afraid. We'll take you home! " They declared, still ginning.

In the end, Takara gave in and followed those two energetic guys.

NNN

" So, you guys are both twins. "

Takara was sitting in between them in the limousine. She knew that it was a silly question but she was fascinated.

" Nope, we're far from being twins, " Hikaru and Kaoru said. " We're different as can be. Like the Sky and the Sea, never meeting. "

She looked confused.

" But, wouldn't it be fascinating to think that only a few people in this world have sort of another 'you'? "

They shook their heads in disagreement.

" Oh, okay. I-I didn't know that you thought that way. I'm sorry for asking if you think I've offended you or anything, " Takara added quickly. " It's just that I've been an only child ever since, I don't know about that feeling which you have when you have a sibling, be it a brother or a sister. I-I only have my mother there for me… " She trailed off sadly.

Unshed tears glistened in her eyes. Both of them stared at Takara. They smiled at her fondly. They knew that they had taken a great liking to this girl.

As if suddenly realizing where she was, Takara quickly rubbed her eyes.

" Oh, I'm sorry. I-I must have been thinking aloud. "

" There is no need to apologise, Takara. We don't mind, " one of them told her.

It was then she realized her stupidity. She cringed.

" Uh, you know my name b-but I didn't even ask for yours, " Takara stammered.

" Names' Hikaru and Kaoru but there's a catch. You'll have to tell us apart. The 'Guess which is Hikaru' game! "

Takara inspected the twin on the right carefully.

Messy brown hair and matching eyes, she told herself and then turned to the next twin sitting on the left. They were both identical in terms of facial appearances but…

" I-I'm pretty of myself that Hikaru is sitting on the right and Kaori is sitting to my left! " Takara declared, looking at each twin in turn.

They grinned and shook their heads.

" Nope, you're mistaken. Hikaru is on the left and Kaoru's on the right! "

They waited for her reaction but she laughed.

" Oh, I get it! You don't want yourselves to be told apart! "

Hikaru and Kaoru could only stare at her while she continued to laugh. Then, the limousine slowed to a stop, in front of Takara's house.

" Thank you both. I'll see you tomorrow, " she bade them goodbye before scrambling up.

As she leaned over on the right to climb out of the limousine, Kaoru got a whiff of lemon and cinnamon. Takara stood by the sidewalk as the limousine started up and pulled away from the curb. She kept waving until the limousine disappeared from sight. After that, the girl sighed and turned around and began walking towards her house.

Meanwhile, inside the limousine, the twins glanced at each other.

" Hikaru, how in the world did an outsider tell us apart on sight? I mean she hasn't even gotten to know

us! " Kaoru demanded.

He was shocked.

" I-I don't even know, Kaoru. I don't know, " Hikaru replied, looking dazed.