He was stunningly handsome, almost like a duplicate of the prince.
He had blazing light green eyes, and slightly untamed blonde hair. I blinked twice, the twin's mouths gaping at Mitsuru. He smiled.
"I'm glad to be here with you all!" he said joyously.
"He reminds me of Ari…" Kaoru said under his breath.
"Who's Ari?" I asked quietly, as Tamaki shook hands with Mitsuru, both wearing ecstatic grins.
"One of Haruhi's friends from middle school. He liked Haruhi, and I think he's got the hots for you." Hikaru said a bit too harshly, his tone brushed over in envy.
Mitsuru turned my way and winked.
"You're Kokoro, right?" he asked, walking over politely.
"Yeah, that's me." I told him, Hikaru looking a bit abashed, Kaoru giving him a cold smile.
"I do look forward to being in the club with you." He said, and turned to Hikaru.
"And you and your brother, Kaoru." He said.
"Yeah." Hikaru replied, not giving him the usual 'You got it wrong. He's Kaoru.'
"You too, Mitsuru-kun." Kaoru replied, acting as Hikaru.
"Mitsuru, would you like some cake?" Honey-senpai asked, jumping up and down.
"Honey-senpai, I'm actually quite full from lunch." He said apologetically.
"What about if you hold my bunny Usa-chan?" he pressed his pink companion to his chest, the red bow smashed against his black and purple tie.
"Really, its fine." Mitsuru pushed away the offer gently, and turned to a nodding Takashi.
"So, you're the new gardener, right?" Haruhi asked him, causing his gaze to shift to her.
"That's correct, because of Tamaki and Kyouya-senpai's gracious exceptions." He said, showing a peace sign.
"Mitsuru Hiroshima!" Renge shouted obnoxiously, her eyes sparkling as she came over, bouncing ecstatically.
"I've heard so much about you from Kyouya-chan!"
"Oh! You're the female manager, Renge Hoshakuji!" he smiled brightly, and shook her hand.
"That's me! We can't wait until you start tomorrow!" she squealed, as I covered my ears to block the noise.
Mitsuru's eyes flickered to me like jades, as he winked. I bit my lip, trying to not blush. The only reason why I would blush is because of the Hitachiin Twins. And only that. Hikaru looked unamused, and draped an arm around my shoulder. I was surprised, as Kaoru followed suit.
Did they like me back?
"That's great Mitsuru-senpai." The twins said to him with false smiles, saluting him calmly.
Now I get it. It's just some kind of act to make Mitsuru buzz off. I felt used, but accepted their acts, because I like them. Stupid… isn't it?
"Mitsuru we look forward to your time here!" Tamaki excitedly said, a few moments before the clock tower rang through the school grounds.
Everyone's head turned to the sound, the arms of the Hitachiin brothers not moving from my shoulders. Even Honey-senpai stopped chewing on sweets for a moment. Blinking, there was still weight on my shoulders from two males. I turned to Kaoru, who's amber eyes winked.
So it wasn't an act.
"Just follow along." Kaoru whispered into my ear.
"It's a pleasure seeing you Mitsu-chan!" Honey-senpai exclaimed, climbing onto Takashi's back.
"And you as well, Honey." He replied charmingly, as the twins stood up, taking my hands in theirs.
"Let's get back to class, Haruhi." Hikaru said calmly, taking Haruhi's hand awkwardly, as Mitsuru watched us with a smile.
"There's something weird about that new guy…" Kaoru said under his breath, having released hands and stuffed them in his pockets, walking to our classroom.
"You think?" Hikaru snapped suddenly.
"Hey, he seems like a nice person." Haruhi said quietly, frowning at both of them.
"Give him some time." I told them, looking at Kaoru's softened gaze, and Hikaru's hard one as they looked at me.
"Whatever you say…" they chimed, sitting down at their desks.
Tamaki was overjovial, most of the time. And Mitsuru was a bit cooled, but still in the same nature, except more shy in nature. And yet we didn't suspect Tamaki to be up to anything. I had a sense of something about him, but I decided to put it in the back of my mind.
The end of class came sooner than I had expected, my thoughts on Mitsuru blocking out the lectures of the sensei. Still, I couldn't help but wonder if Mitsuru was new to the school. I had never seen him around. But I guess it wouldn't be uncommon, since he was a second year.
"Hey, are you still going to teach us piano?" Hikaru prodded my side.
"Yeah, you told us you would." Kaoru said, tucking away his bag under his arm.
"Don't worry, I keep my promises!" I told them with a smile, as Haruhi waved goodbye as she went to study in the library for the exam coming up later that week.
"Good, because if you didn't we'd have to do something…"
"Like what?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Oh nothing you need to know about!" they patted my head innocently.
"We'll meet you over there, okay?" Kaoru said lightly, helping Hikaru pack his things.
"Uh, sure." I agreed, and headed over to music room #3.
The room was silent, as I walked over to the piano. My footsteps echoed, as the afternoon sun cast a shadow across the floor, a more lazy version of this morning.
A few scales came from my fingers, as I warmed up my hands, smiling. Really, I was very excited. Teaching the Hitachiin Twins how to play piano? Amazing!
A B flat scale… then the decrescendo into the E flat… F major… G minor… E flat major chord… I continued to play the movements in my mind and on the keys, my eyes closed as my fingers moved in the rhythm of music. I finished, and opened my eyes, to see Hikaru and Kaoru leaning against the door frame with two soft smiles, that didn't seem to suite their generally mischievous ways.
"Come in." I replied softy.
They followed my command, and came into the room with smug looks in their faces.