When Zakia and Kyoya came back from their private meeting, the Vice President was smiling. Zakia returned to her sister's side, both girls turning their attention to the other cross dresser amongst us.

"Watching her all the time isn't going to make her open up to you or talk to you any sooner. Maybe the key with Zakia is in approaching her first?" my twin suggested.

"I've tried that. She barely responded, remember?"

"Kyoya did it somehow. Maybe you could ask him?"

"I don't need relationship advice from the likes of him. He's never even been on a date. The only reason Zakia has spoken to him is because he asked in context of the cart getting spilt on them."

"Why would she have pulled him aside today about that?"

My eyes widened in realization. "The deal they made. Both girls asked for something privately on behalf of the other. She probably wanted to learn how Kyoya planned to teach Furukia her life doesn't need to revolve around her twin."

"Kyoya asked me to handle it if I could, or he would step in in a month."

"Of course! The way to get her to start talking is to involve her sister."

"Brother, what are you thinking?"

"She said Furukia likes to read, right?"

"I think so. Why?"

"We're going to break down some walls. Come on, Hikaru."

Hikaru and I still hadn't had a guest come in, so we headed over to Haruhi's area near the fireplace. "Might we borrow the Paradox twins for a bit?" I asked quietly. Although I no longer had romantic feelings for Haruhi, it was still awkward to talk to her.

"Sure! Show them around the kitchen while you're at it. Zakia really liked Honey-senpai's cake and was hoping for more."

"Right this way, boys," I gestured as Hikaru grabbed Furukia's hand.

In the kitchen, I grabbed a plate with a piece of cake and a fork and handed it to Zakia.

"Would you like anything, Furukia?" Hikaru asked kindly.

"No thank you. I'm not fond of sweets."

"What about tea, or coffee?"

"Tea, please. A green variety if you have any."

While Hikaru started heating the water, Zakia dove into the cake almost as fast as Honey would have. She was finished before the tea leaves were added to the water.

"So, what did you want to pull us away for?" Zakia asked directly.

"Hikaru was just mentioning that he remembered you talking about how Furukia likes to read. He wanted to invite her to the bookstore in the square."

"You think I'm going to leave my sister alone with the likes of you?" she asked Hikaru as she stepped between him and her twin.

"Of course not! You and Kaoru would be nearby, at the home entertainment store. You like music, right, Zakia?" Hikaru quickly suggested to get out of her line of fire.

"Does she ever. You probably won't believe me but she can-"

"That's none of their business," Zakia cut Furukia off. "Why are the two of you so interested in us?"

"You're another pair of twins, in our grade, in our school. Kind of an anomaly, right? Don't tell me you guys aren't just as curious as we are," I suggested.

"Z-z..." Furukia pleaded softly.

The more hostile girl didn't even glance at Furukia as she deflated. "When did you want to go?"

I tried to keep my grin minimal as I informed her, "We can go tomorrow. Hikaru and I will pick you guys up. Furukia can pick as many books as she can carry, on us," I added as Furukia's eyes grew wide. "You can get whatever catches your eye, too. We can all meet back together for lunch, and then we'll take you home."

"How are you going to pick us up? You don't know where we live and I'm certain neither of you drive."

"We'll be in one of our family's limos. We already know your address. We've been to your house a couple of times, before you lived there. Our mother works closely with yours."

"Show up any earlier than ten, and I'm not responsible for what my sister asks me to do to you," Furukia warned.

Hikaru slid a cup of tea on a saucer past Zakia to Furukia.

"We should really get back out there. We're bound to have kept a lady waiting by now. See you in the morning," I called, almost tauntingly, behind me before they could change their minds.

oOo

I don't know what to wear," I sighed.

"This whole thing was your idea. Did you actually think it through before roping me into it?"

"Mostly. I was more concerned with getting them to agree than insignificant things like clothes."

"There you go, said it yourself. The clothes are insignificant, so just wear whatever."

"By comparison, they don't matter, but this is the first time Zakia and Furukia will be seeing a teenager in Japan not wearing an Ouran uniform. We have to show them not only Japanese style to show them exactly what their mother is involved in, but also our culture while we're in the square to compare to England and realize they want to stay here, and we have to express ourselves and our individuality too."

"I don't get why this is such a big deal to you. We don't know these girls. Why are you so worked up over them?"

"I don't know," I admitted. "It's like...the girls at the club. They all claim to love us, but none of them really know us. None of them can even tell us apart. I would say I love Zakia, but that's not what it really is."

"Infatuation. Admiration. Idolization. Any of those sound right?"

"All of them."

"Be careful it doesn't turn unhealthy."

"How will I know if it does?"

"Someone will beat the snot out of you if you get out of control."

"Thanks for always being around to keep me in check."

"What else are brothers for?"

oOo

"That was almost a disaster. I nearly blew it on the first date!" I vented to Hikaru.

"You saved it in the end, didn't you?"

"Yeah, but how am I ever going to get her to go anywhere with me again?"

"You learned a bit about her. Follow up on her interests."

"It was hard enough getting her to agree to go out today," I scoffed, thinking back to the media store.

We had a scathing fight because I teased her about liking a boy band when I caught her looking at one of their CDs. I explained I'd only been joking, and fessed up to a love of K-pop. It didn't entirely blow the matter over.

Aside from a wide variety of music, she'd also looked at comics and seemed to have a preference for antiheroes. She also had a fondness for anime, but had only ever watched it dubbed and was struggling in her Japanese lessons with the twins' weekend tutor. Many anime were closer to completion in Japanese only.

I offered to teach her over lunch at school, and she acted insulted, asked if I thought she was stupid, and stomped away to look at a handheld game console in a display case.

"I think the only thing that could have made today worse as a date were if the Vice-Pres had tagged along for some bizarre reason," I groaned.

"Maybe you should try a movie next? Hard to put your foot in your mouth during an activity you're not really supposed to talk during."

"Yeah, maybe. So how did things go with Furukia?"

"It was okay. We didn't talk a whole lot, but I got to see what kinds of books she likes to read and she lent me one of her favorites."

"What is it?"

"The Princess Bride. I checked online for a description. Her copy is so old I'm surprised it isn't falling apart. It sounds more entertaining than the play from the festival, at least."

"Are you actually going to read it?"

"Why wouldn't I? It's important to her."

I didn't know how to respond. Hikaru didn't fill the silence as he opened the book in his lap. I grabbed our cellphone and sent a text to the Notoskis: How about a movie Friday?