Omg! The stats aren't rising anymore! TT That makes me so sad! So, please tell everyone about my stories, because, well, they're disappointing me a bit. So, yeah. Oh, and I'm trying to write this while watching the 3rd Naruto movie, so if I get things confused, please forgivith me!

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Haruhi scribbled an equation in her notebook. Glancing up at the board, she scribbled down that equation too. She was trying hard not to daze off during class, because she knew the twins would be wanting her notes later. (They were currently indulged in a game if hangman.) And that's when she figured...

She'd talk with Hikaru.

Haruhi bit her lip. When had this whole thing turned into a game? Hah! She was so stupid, comparing her current situation to a silly game.

Although...it did sound similar to one of the games the twins would play. Something that they would have to plan out, and execute with acute accuracy. But, now she was the one playing the game. And she didn't know if she could place the final step.

It hadn't been all that bad with Kaoru, Haruhi reasoned. I'm probably just being a pessimist as usual. Hikaru and Kaoru are twins, so their reactions can't be that different, right?

"Fujioka-san! FUJIOKA-SAN!"

Haruhi startled. "Err...yes, sensei?" she asked. She had just done what she had been trying so hard to put off.

"You were spacing off. Now, please explain how to do numbers 5 through 10."

Haruhi mentally groaned. She hadn't been paying attnetion in class the past few days, so she had no clue how to do the specified problems. Standing, she mumbled, "Ah, yes. Err, number five..."

That day was going to be extremely tedious and tiring.

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Haruhi sank into one of the chairs at the host club. Who knew there were actually two different ways to find the 'honored' sets for variables? And that she actually knew one of them? Or, rather, that she had made one of them up on the spot.

"Haruhi-kun, why were you spacing off in mathematics?" one of her customers asked. Haruhi tensed slightly and laughed it off. "Oh, I had something on my mind, was all. I like to work problems out on my notepad, and I might've gotten too involved in a problem to notice sensei was talking to me."

"Ooohhhh..." the girls moaned. "Haruhi-kun, you're so smart!" they cried, wooing their favorite host member. Haruhi shook her head modestly and said, "Oh, no, not really. I'm so surprised I actually understand the material sometimes!"

One of the girls raised her hand hesitantly. "Um, ano, Haruhi-kun? I thought you got here on a scholarship? Doesn't that mean you're really smart, and that you understand the material really well?"

Haruhi leaned back until she was looking up at the ceiling. "Well, I suppose so. But, I haven't had time to study much, and I think I'm starting to fall behind." After this came several girls offering study parties at their homes, all of which Haruhi gently declined, insisting that she studied best on her own. This also resulted in several protests, and Haruhi found herself making excuses feverishly. So, this is what having fangirls is like...I'd much rather have fanguys, honestly. Ewww...wait...

Haruhi didn't know that two people were talking about her at that very moment. Two orange-haired club members were sitting on a couch, watching their classmate with interest.

"Hikaru, you should escort her home. I'm sure she would appreciate it." Kaoru drawled out, eyes never leaving his favorite 'toy'.

"I have a feeling I don't have a say in this."

"Nope!" Hikary chirruped cheerfully, turning his back to Haruhi just in time for Kyouya to come up with more customers.

Hikaru just sighed. Somehow, he had been expecting something along these lines.

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"Haruhi!" Haruhi turned at the sound of her name. Surprised, she greeted the twin. "Yes, Hikaru-kun? Something you needed?"

Hikaru jogged over to the girl and put his hand on her head. "Nope. I'm walking you home today. And you have just as much a say in this as I had," he ended with a wink. Haruhi took the hint and shrugged, indicating she didn't care. "Well, I for one, am glad. Saves me the trouble of asking you to stay after school."

Hikaru blinked, trying to mask his surprise. She had...wanted him to stay after school? Why? As if to answer his question, Haruhi continued. "I wanted to tell you something. I've already told Kaoru, so..."

"Wait," Hikaru interrupted. "You've already spoken wih Kaoru about this? Why didn't he tell me about it?" Hikaru was starting to get an edge to his voice.

"I wanted to tell you, so I asked him not to tell you first," Haruhi said simply. "It's regarding...your guys' relationship."

Hikaru froze. He had been wanting to stay away from that topic for as long as possible. But, all good things must come to an end, and so did the peace that he had enjoyed when they had avoided the subject. "Well?" he choked out. "What about it?"

Haruhi looked her classmate straight in the eye and said, "The other club members and I are...concerned. We, they..." Haruhi bit her lip. This was not what she wanted. Copying her approach she had used on Kaoru, the girl took a deap breath and asked, "Do you remember when you were younger, and felt like you and Kaoru had your own world, and that no one else could enter that world? Well, if that was just brotherly love, what'll happen when you two become overly-protective of each other? The other members and I...are fine with the relationship itself."

Hikaru bit his tongue. He thought about all the things he could say, or do, then. He settled on just waiting and remaining silent. Haruhi obviously wasn't done with her speech.

Haruhi took another deep breath before continuing. "We...don't want you to go back into that world. We want you to stay here with us, and..." Haruhi was at a loss for words. She felt a despair in her stomach. Had she actually convinced him well enough?

Hikaru's long bangs hid his face, so when Haruhi looked at him, she couldn't tell what his reaction was to her quick speech.

"What do you mean...'stay here with us'? We're not...going anywhere, you idiot." Hikaru looked at Haruhi and smiled. Haruhi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled back. That smile was ruined, however, when Hikaru patted her on the head a little too hard.

"Ouch, that hurt, Hikaru-kun." she said, swatting her friend's hand away.

"Dummy," Hikaru said, patting Haruhi on the head again, softer this time. Even his voice was soft. Haruhi was suddenly aware of how close they were. Hikaru was standing right in front of her, his chest almost touching hers; his hand on her head.

Haruhi was taking in all of the tiny details, the shine on the buttons of his uniform, the heat radiating from his body. She tingled when he bent down and whispered, "You dummy. Those sorts of things will never come between us. We'll always be together, friends forever, right?" Leaning in even more, the older twin kissed Haruhi gently on the forehead, hand still resting protectively on the girl's head.

Haruhi's feet were stuck to the ground. She felt heat rush to her cheeks, and she found to keep it down. Her eyes widened involuntarily, and her breathing hitched a little. "Y-yes. F-friends forever."

Haruhi breathed a small sigh of relief when Hikaru stepped back. The boy grabbed Haruhi by the arm and pulled her down the hallway. "We better hurry and get you home, otherwise Ranka-san will be suspicious." Hikaru turned so she could se his brilliant smile. "And we wouldn't want that, would we?"

Haruhi shook her head numbly. Really, the messes she got herself into!

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Yay! squeals I honestly had no idea how Hikaru's conversation was going to go, but I figured this was best. Oi, should the story really end in HikaruxKaoru? Because I have a really brilliant idea, and I don't want flames and such for ending it differently. Please, send me a message, or tell me with reviews!

'Reviews are like cookies, you can never have enough!'

-me

Ja ne!