"Neh, Kaoru, are you done? I'm bored to death over here," exclaimed Hikaru.
"Ah, gomen. This problem of mine is really hard to solve, you know," replied Kaoru half-jokingly. Looks like it's time for me to find happiness on my own, he thought. Their days of "us-against-them" may be over...
The next day...
Haruhi, along with the rest of the class, was wondering what Kaoru was up to. Even Hikaru was initially puzzled over why the younger twin had "suddenly" become a lot nicer towards the transfer student. Then, it hit him. The elder twin smiled slyly.
"Kaoru, you like Sayuri-chan, don't you," whispered Hikaru into the younger twin's ear. He nodded. That would have to do, for now. Hikaru's grin became wider.
"Well, she does resemble Haruhi, although she's much more lady-like. Your bro here will be behind you all the way!"
"...Thanks." Kaoru knew that if his brother knew who his real target was, he would explode.
"First thing about wooing a girl: Try not to scare her. I think she's a little afraid of you." Indeed, on her end, Haruhi didn't know what to make of Kaoru's gestures. Her mind was still on finding ways to avoid the boy. However, the girls of Class 1-A have some ideas of their own...
"Sayuri-chan, do you think Kaoru-chan is in love with you," asked Momoka during recess. The group of girls were seated in a corner of the canteen. Haruhi stared back at her blankly.
"Kaoru never does anything on his own without his brother. So, this wooing is really something special," said Renge. The other girls nodded their agreements. Great, thought Haruhi. Just when she thought she had enough problems of her own, her alter-ego had created another one. The group could hear footsteps coming towards them. It was Kaoru, with his tray.
"Sayuri, may I sit beside you?" The girls decided to excuse themselves, and the pair was soon alone. As Haruhi continued her meal in silence, Kaoru apologized.
"I hope I'm not scaring you. It's just that... I'm not too good with girls, at least on my own," admitted the boy.
"Well, it's really gentlemanly of you to help me with the schoolwork and show me around. But, it's a little abrupt," commented Haruhi. Kaoru blushed a little. Hosting girls and actually trying to date them were really two different things after all, he thought.
"Are you free after school," he asked after a while.
"I am. Why?" Despite her calm tone, Haruhi had actually tried hard to hide her surprise.
"There are some things... which I need to tell you."
"...Ok." Meanwhile, the rest of the Host Club had noticed the pair in their corner.
"Hmmm, it looks like Kao-chan likes Sayu-chan. Takashi, what do you think?"
"...It's hard to say, really."
"Looks like the twins are growing up, aren't they, Okasan," said Tamaki.
"They are growing up indeed, Otosan," said Kyouya as he smiled to himself. The experiment was becoming more and more interesting by the minute...
When the last lesson of the day ended, Hikaru patted his twin on the shoulder.
"Ganbatte!" With that, the older twin made his way to the music room. The girls, too, gave their advice to "Sayuri". Frankly, Haruhi wasn't listening to them at all. If Kaoru was really in love with Sayuri...
The boy led the girl to a deserted part of the school compound. Although the trees and some flowers were already in full bloom, the sakura blossoms would have to wait. Kaoru cleared his throat. When he was sure that they were alone, he spoke.
"Sayuri, although I like you, there's another person whom I'm in love with. That someone, is Fujioka Haruhi."
"Eh? but I thought Haruhi-kun was a ..." Haruhi kept up her facade. But, with Kaoru's confession, she didn't know how long it would last. The boy looked around again before he continued.
"The rest of the school doesn't know it yet. Haruhi's actually a girl. Given your resemblance to her, I ... decided to use you as a practice. I intend to confess to her when she returns." Kaoru then braced himself for the slap which he thought would come. Instead...
"Aren't you worried about Hikaru? He's interested in Haruhi, isn't he?"
"Wait a minute. How did you..." Haruhi soon realised that she had a slip of the tongue. She really shouldn't hide it anymore, she thought, as she removed her glasses.
"Kaoru, the girl standing before you now... is Fujioka Haruhi." Kaoru's mouth dropped to the floor.
"Isn't Haruhi..." Kaoru stopped himself as he recalled what "Sayuri" had done so far.
"No wonder you could tell us apart! What's going on?!" Haruhi explained to Kaoru the plan which the chairman and Kyouya had come up with. The boy didn't know what to think. Should he feel angry that Kyouya and Haruhi had tricked him? Or glad that he had confessed to the first girl whom he ever loved?
"Kaoru, I didn't know that you liked me." Given Haruhi's usual behaviour, that sounded just like something she would say. The boy laughed.
"Guess I hid it pretty well, didn't I? To tell the truth, before I met Sayuri, I didn't dare to admit to myself that I liked...you." Kaoru's face went crimson red.
"But, what about Hikaru? What would he say if he..."
"We'll address the problem when it comes. For now, please keep it a secret, ok?"
"I'm not going to let him know who I really am either. At least, not yet." Kaoru then looked at the scenery before them.
"I wonder how Hikaru and Tono would react when they know the truth."
"The chairman's more worried about my closet fans," sighed Haruhi. The boy grinned. Suddenly, he had a little nasty thought.
"Haruhi, could you kiss me?"
'Eh?!!" The girl was so shocked that she put on her specs and stared at Kaoru.
"Well, Hikaru did get one from you," pouted Kaoru. Haruhi sighed.
"If you wish." She then closed her eyes. Kaoru deftly took off her glasses and kept them in his pocket. He then planted his lips on Haruhi's. It was a while before he straightened.
"Haruhi, which of us is the better kisser," teased Kaoru, as he returned the specs.
"..." Just as Haruhi couldn't decide whether the boy was being serious with his question, Hitachiin Kaoru had a simple request.
"When the sakura flowers bloom, can I be the first to see them, together with you?"
"Kaoru..."
"I'll leave you to think about it." With that, the boy left her as he slowly strolled in the direction towards the Third Music Room. As Fujioka Haruhi put on the glasses with their large lenses, she looked at the garden around her. Who, among the trio, would become her Prince Charming?
Afterthoughts
-Hope you guys like it.