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iiapplemouse · 5 days ago

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05: your rose within the thorns, my heart yearns || diagnosis: terminally adorable, mildly unwell

☆ : hikaru & kaoru hitachiin x reader

☆ : series masterlist | h.twins masterlist

☆ : previous | next

it’s lunch break, and the east wing hallway is oddly quiet. save for the echo of identical footsteps and the hushed murmuring of two very determined twins.

"you think they ate?" kaoru asks, peering around the corner.

"nope," hikaru answers, holding up a convenience store bag. “that’s why we brought emergency food"

they round the corner and slow to a stop.

your classroom door’s cracked open. and inside? you, in full meltdown mode.

not the dramatic kind. not even the loud, crying kind. just the quietly horrifying kind, where you're hunched over three sets of club records, five student council documents, and what looks like a handwritten master schedule of everyone's midterm exam dates. color-coded. underlined. laminated.

your lunch is still neatly packed on your desk. unopened.

you don’t hear the bell ring.

you barely hear anything at all.

your brain’s turned to oatmeal. the bad kind. like the one where you forgot to add sugar and it’s just sad beige paste and the spoon keeps sliding in with no purpose.

it’s that kind of day.

or week. or life. who knows anymore.

your desk’s practically buried in folders, charts for committee work, officer reports, deadline reminders, and some hand-drawn map of the school for a charity event.

your handwriting’s gotten worse over the past few hours, devolving into squiggles. your eye’s been twitching since third period.

you’re convinced if you breathe wrong, everything’s going to collapse like a papery avalanche and drag you down with it. having to get everything done while exams are around the corner.

“...you look like you’ve been trapped under paperwork since the dinosaurs,” says a voice from the door.

you don’t look up. “hi, hikaru.”

“rude. it could’ve been kaoru.”

“wasn’t.”

kaoru peeks in right behind him, sipping something from the vending machine. “you’re scaring the underclassmen. one of them ran off after making eye contact with you.”

you grunt, elbow-deep in charts.

kaoru tips his head. “have you eaten anything?”

“i ate the idea of food.”

“that’s not a thing.”

“it is when your soul dies inside a manila envelope,” you mutter, flipping a page aggressively.

hikaru kicks off the doorframe and strolls over, peering at the top paper. “you’re still doing the budget reports? didn’t you finish that last week?”

you press your palms into your eyes. “that was version one. this is version six. the club heads keep changing their minds and somehow everyone’s decided i’m the magical spreadsheet fairy.”

kaoru sits on the edge of your desk, narrowly avoiding knocking over a stack of folders. “...okay, no offense, but you kind of need a break before your brain melts and takes the rest of the class down with it.”

“can’t,” you mumble. “deadlines. duties. disaster.”

“you’re alliterating now. it’s serious,” hikaru says.

you reach for another paper, and kaoru grabs your hand.

you blink up at him. “…what?”

“lunch time. you’re coming with us.”

“i literally can’t move. i’m a paper goblin now. i belong to the folders.”

“wrong,” hikaru says, dramatically slapping a clipboard into his hand. “you’ve officially been diagnosed with acute overcommitment syndrome.”

kaoru grabs a pen. “symptoms include: loss of color in the face, aggressive chart-making, and murmuring numbers in your sleep.”

“how would you know what i—”

“we’ve seen things,” hikaru says seriously.

you blink at them. they both stare back with mock-solemn expressions.

“…what are you doing,” you mutter.

“therapy,” kaoru says. “we’re your therapists now. please state your name and the last time you experienced joy.”

you let your head fall to the desk. “i hate you.”

“hate is just love wearing a dramatic cape,” hikaru says wisely, scribbling something down.

kaoru gestures with his pen. “we’re going to ask you a series of questions. answer honestly. your snacks may depend on it.”

you sigh. loudly. dramatically. then lift your head just enough to squint at them.

“fine. what’s question one.”

kaoru clears his throat. “on a scale of one to spiraling, how are we doing emotionally today?”

“chaotic evil.”

“good, good,” hikaru murmurs, writing it down. “very scientific.”

kaoru leans in. “what is your current coping strategy?”

“aggressively micromanaging everything i touch.”

“hm,” hikaru says. “textbook.”

“when was the last time you slept?” hikaru asks, poking your cheek gently.

“um.”

“and when did you last eat something that wasn’t, like, instant noodles or air?”

“…does coffee count?”

they both gasp.

“oh, this is worse than we thought,” kaoru murmurs.

“they’re terminal,” hikaru whispers dramatically.

kaoru crosses his legs. “do you believe in love?”

you squint. “…what does that have to do with anything?”

“it’s a test of your spirit,” he says simply. “science can only take us so far.”

you stare at them. both twins blink innocently at you.

“…yes?” you say, slowly.

they both scribble furiously.

you finally groan, dropping your pen. “okay, fine. you win. i give up. i’ll take a lunch break.”

“miraculous recovery,” kaoru says, beaming.

“a true breakthrough,” hikaru adds, already pulling out his phone. “i’m texting tamaki. you’re officially off host club duty until exams are over.”

“wait—”

“too late,” he says, pressing send. “doctor’s orders.”

kaoru’s already standing and tugging your arm. “come on. we’re kidnapping you.”

“isn’t this technically a medical abduction?” you mutter, grabbing your bag.

hikaru grins. “shhh. don’t ruin the moment.”

somehow, the moment stretches into the entire afternoon.

they drag you to the third music room first. not for a club event but for emergency rest and ridiculous levels of lounging. you end up on the couch between them, a warm blanket thrown across your lap, a cup of tea that kaoru insists is “soothing,” and the sound of hikaru playing with your pen like a cat.

you don’t talk for a while. and it’s nice.

eventually, hikaru plucks a chart from your folder and squints at it. “...do you actually understand any of this?”

“barely,” you mumble.

“can i throw it out the window.”

“if you want me to cry.”

kaoru pats your head. “no crying. just soft ambient suffering.”

you crack a tired laugh.

hikaru watches you over the edge of the paper. something gentle flickers in his expression.

"hey," he says. "you know you don’t have to do everything alone, right?" you glance at him. he’s not smiling, not even teasing.

just… looking at you. soft and serious.

kaoru nudges your foot with his.

“he’s right. you’ve got us. even if it’s just running fake therapy sessions.”

you try to speak. your throat tightens instead. so you just nod.

by the time your last class ends, your brain’s more fog than thought.

so when kaoru leans against your desk, flipping a keyring around his finger and casually says,

“wanna come over and study?”

you blink at him like he asked if you’d like to fly to mars.

"what?" you mumble.

"study, our place. we’ll help you prep for midterms. we have snacks.”

“and flashcards,” hikaru adds, sliding in from the other side. “and really nice pens.”

“color-coded,” kaoru nods. “for maximum academic illusion.”

you stare at them.

and then sigh. “...fine.”

"yes!" kaoru fist-pumps.

“we’ll be so productive,” hikaru lies, already texting the driver.

you weren’t supposed to stay over, really. it was just supposed to be a quick after-school study session at the hitachiin house.

“two hours tops,” you said.

“we’ll finish the biology review, eat dinner, and go home,” you promised.

you were lying. unknowingly, maybe. but still lying. because you’ve barely touched your textbook, the review questions are mostly unanswered, and it’s somehow 11:47 pm.

the living room looks like a battlefield.

highlighted notes and open snack bags are scattered across the floor. pillows have migrated from the couch to the rug.

kaoru’s laptop is still playing a piano lo-fi playlist from earlier, volume turned low.

and you? you’re curled up between the twins, head resting on hikaru’s shoulder, legs stretched across kaoru’s lap.

dead asleep.

“they’re out cold,” kaoru whispers, poking your cheek.

“they were blinking in slow motion for, like, twenty minutes,” hikaru says. “i was waiting for the inevitable collapse.”

"and you let them keep talking about enzymes while half-asleep?"

“you think i had the heart to stop them? they were trying so hard to say ‘photosynthesis’ but it came out like ‘photo... sin... sis...’ and they just looked so tragically determined.”

kaoru covers his mouth to stifle a laugh.

then he sobers. "they really are exhausted."

hikaru nods. quietly this time.

he shifts a little so your head can rest more comfortably, brushing a hand through your hair without thinking.

"...it’s kinda weird, huh?"

"what is?"

hikaru glances down at you, a faint frown tugging at his mouth. “seeing them like this. like... all mushed and tired. letting

themselves be taken care of.”

"i like it," kaoru says, fingers gently tapping the hem of your sleeve. "feels like... i don’t know. like we’re getting a part of them no one else does." a pause.

“it’s different. the way they look at us.”

"how?"

"like... they’re always listening. even when we’re not saying anything.” hikaru looks at him, confused.

kaoru glances over at your sleeping form.

“when tamaki says something dumb, they laugh. but when you say something dumb, they look at you like it’s their favorite thing about you.”

hikaru goes still. and then a small smile spreads across his face.

“…you think they like me more?”

kaoru scowls and smacks him lightly with a pillow.

“ow—! hey, that was a moment!”

“you ruined it, you idiot.”

they glare at each other. then look down at you again. you’re still asleep. one hand resting over the matching bracelet on your wrist. hikaru lifts your hand and presses it gently against his.

kaoru watches, eyes softening.

“…do we let them sleep here?” he asks.

“we’re not waking them up,” hikaru says immediately. “they’ll cry. or worse... start talking about charts again.”

they both shudder.

the room is quiet, save for the soft hum of lo-fi and someone breathing nearby. your eyes blink open to dim lighting and something warm draped over you.

and arms. one of them’s definitely an arm. possibly two.

you shift a little, only to realize your legs are tangled with kaoru’s, and your head is still on hikaru’s shoulder. his palm resting, open and steady, over the back of your neck like he’d been anchoring you there all night.

morning doesn’t come gracefully. it crashes in all at once. your phone buzzing like it’s possessed.

"please tell me that's not mine," you groaned, voice half-muffled in someone’s sleeve.

"depends," kaoru mutters sleepily from where he’s curled up against your side.

"are you the one getting blown up by tamaki?"

you blink. force your eyes open. squint at your screen.

(29) MISSED CALLS – tamaki

(13) MESSAGES – group chat: [Ouran Host Club 💐]

(4) MESSAGES – haruhi

you let out a long, soul-weary sigh. “i regret waking up.”

hikaru shifts next to you, his hair messier than usual, face still pillow-creased.

“he’s probably planning a dramatic search party by now.”

“...and this is why i should’ve just turned off my phone,” you mutter. you try to sit up. promptly flop back down.

“…i think i died.”

“you didn’t,” hikaru says. “we’d remember that.”

kaoru pokes your cheek. “you just burned out and collapsed halfway through photosynthesis. it was tragic. also kind of funny.”

“i hate everything.”

“no you don’t,” kaoru hums. “we got you tea and blankets. you love us a little.”

you close your eyes again and groan softly. “i was supposed to go home.”

“yeah,” hikaru says. “and we were supposed to finish the biology review. guess we’re all liars.”

you lie there for a second longer. and then crack a smile.

“…did i really pass out mid-sentence?”

“you slurred the word ‘enzymes’ like it was a love confession,” kaoru says, sounding too smug. “i got emotional.”

you throw a pillow at him. it lands nowhere close.

you end up staying for brunch. not out of laziness. well, mostly. but because hikaru swears their housekeeper makes the best french toast in the prefecture and kaoru wants to show you how to make jam from scratch using the weird strawberries in the back fridge.

you’re halfway through your third cup of tea when it hits you. you feel… better.

not perfect. not fixed. but lighter. your brain’s still got a dozen tabs open, but none of them are glitching. and for the first time all week, your hands aren’t shaking when you reach for a fork.

kaoru’s still in pajama pants, hair a mess, laughing about something hikaru said five minutes ago. hikaru’s buttering toast like it’s a competition and throwing crumbs at his twin when he loses.

and you’re smiling.

without thinking. without effort.

just smiling.

you look up. and they’re both looking back.

something soft flickers between the three of you. warm. unspoken.

hikaru looks away first. clears his throat. pretends to study his juice.

kaoru stares a little longer. not saying anything. just watching the way your fingers trace the rim of your mug, then the way your eyes crinkle when you try not to laugh.

his heart makes a weird little noise.

he ignores it.

after brunch, they don’t take you home.

they take you to the mall.

“why are we at the mall,” you ask, trailing behind them as they wander toward the escalator.

“retail therapy,” kaoru says.

“post-burnout recovery,” hikaru nods. “doctor’s orders.”

“you’re not doctors.”

“and yet we have perfect instincts.”

they buy you melon bread from your favorite bakery and argue over which color hoodie would look best on you. one of them insists on trying sunglasses, and the other dares you to pick something horrible just to see how long it takes tamaki to notice during next week’s host event.

you’re pretty sure you’ve been talked into a matching keychain at some point.

you’re definitely sure they both stared at you a little too long when you smiled at a bookstore window display.

when you duck behind a display to check your phone, you catch sight of your reflection in a mirror. your matching bracelet glints under the store lighting.

you’re smiling again.

you didn’t even realize.

by monday, you return to school. better-rested. still tired, but not shaking. not unraveling.

and when you walk into the host club room, everyone notices the change.

tamaki flutters dramatically and says something about "the glow of renewed energy." honey gives you three cakes and says he missed your face. haruhi glances up, says nothing at first.

but when you sit beside her on the couch, she leans over and says it quietly.

“you smile more when you’re around them.”

you freeze a little. glance across the room, where the twins are bickering over flower arrangements and occasionally looking your way like they’re trying not to.

“…is it that obvious?” you ask.

haruhi just lifts an eyebrow. “only when you’re conscious.”

you look down at your hands. the bracelet. the warmth in your chest that hasn’t really gone away. maybe you’re not the only one realizing something.

it starts in the library, you’re half-asleep on a bean bag. your brain is soup. your limbs are noodles. your soul has ascended.

you are approximately six seconds away from becoming one with the library beanbag chair when two shadows loom over you with matching grins and highly suspicious energy.

someone kicks your foot.

“are you dead?”

you open one eye. the world is blurry, orange, and kaoru-shaped.

“…maybe.” hikaru plops down dramatically beside you. “that’s a yes.”

“stop talking at me. my brain’s still rebooting.”

“you said you only had one exam today,” kaoru says, kneeling to poke your forehead.

“i did.”

“was it written in blood?”

“felt like it. it was kind of beautiful,” you mumble. “like… frogs and capitalism and—”

“nope,” kaoru says immediately. “we’re staging an intervention.”

“the frog thing again?” hikaru says.

“they need help.”

“they need snacks.”

“they need sleep.”

you close your eyes again, resigned.

“you guys are annoying.”

“and yet,” kaoru says brightly, “you still show up to hang out with us.”

“do i have a choice?”

“absolutely not,” hikaru smirks. “you’re contractually obligated.”

you mumble something about filing a restraining order. they ignore you.

you expect them to leave you in peace after that. you were absolutely wrong. they return twenty minutes later with three things: a bag of chips, a bottle of juice, and a plan.

“okay,” kaoru says, kicking your bean bag gently. “up. we’re going.”

“no.”

“yes.”

“i can’t feel my legs.”

“we’ll carry you.”

“i’m not letting you gremlins carry me through the school like a sacrifice.”

“we could get a cart,” hikaru offers.

“or a wheelbarrow,” kaoru adds.

“absolutely not.”

“you’re no fun when you’re academically deceased.”

you sigh and sit up. “where are we going?”

kaoru grins. “home.”

hikaru slings an arm around your shoulder. “ours. not yours.”

“…why?”

“movie night,” they say together.

you blink. “why?”

“because you survived midterms,” hikaru says. “and we’re proud of you,” kaoru adds.

“and you look like a haunted victorian child.”

“and you deserve to lay down in front of a screen and not think about frogs for at least two hours.”

you stare at them.

“…you already set this up, didn’t you.”

“we brought a blanket fort.”

“oh my god.”

it escalates. you were not expecting a movie night ambush after midterms, but here you are, staring at the ceiling of the hitachiin household’s guest room as kaoru dramatically dims the lights and hikaru throws a blanket over your head like he's taming a wild animal.

"no more exams. no more sleep deprivation. no more existential essays about capitalist frogs," kaoru declares.

you coughed.

"that frog essay was philosophical."

"it broke my will to live," hikaru says. "i read the first line and aged six years."

"you just don't understand symbolic amphibians."

"i understand that you need therapy and a nap." you sit up, pulling the blanket off, and look around.

“what is this?” you ask.

hikaru grins. “your official you survived midterms celebration.”

“sponsored by,” kaoru says, holding up a very dramatic handwritten sign that says:

🎓 THE TWIN RECOVERY AGENCY ™️

mental health via junk food & cuddles

you stare at it.

“…you made a logo?”

“we considered uniforms,” kaoru says solemnly.

you end up between them on the floor. kaoru curls up with his legs over yours. hikaru slouches against your side like a weighted blanket with opinions.

“okay,” kaoru announces. “movie selection time.”

“we get one vote each.”

“but [name] gets two because they’re the recovering victim of academic warfare.”

"nothing where we need to use our last three remaining brain cells."

“wait,” you say slowly. “what about that dumb fantasy romcom you two made fun of the other week?”

hikaru pauses. “you mean the one with the guy who turns into a goat?”

“he was cursed!”

“you said he was hot.”

“i stand by it.”

kaoru makes a face. “you’re into goat men?” you glare at them. “you two like villains with tragic haircuts.”

“that’s called depth.”

“that’s called delusion.”

hikaru glares. “you are not allowed to fan over the goat during movie night.”

“you can’t stop me.”

“i will turn off the wi-fi.”

twenty minutes into the movie, you’re exactly where you always end up cocooned between two dumb idiots and too warm under a pile of blankets you didn’t ask for. kaoru is curled up on your left, head on your shoulder.

hikaru is leaning against your right side, hand tucked suspiciously close to yours. someone’s foot is in your lap. you’ve stopped trying to figure out who it belongs to.

“see?” you say smugly, pointing at the screen. “goat guy has depth.”

hikaru groans. “he has horns.”

“you’re just jealous he has more character development than you.”

kaoru chokes on his drink. “oh my god.”

“take it back,” hikaru says, grabbing a pillow like he’s about to duel you.

“you’re just mad you’re not the one turning into a goat.”

“i could turn into a goat. you don’t know my journey.”

at some point, the movie ends, but no one moves. and you’re sandwiched between two sleepy disasters who’ve both kind of melted against you. still tangled up on the floor, too warm, too soft, too sleepy to care.

"this is nice," you murmur.

kaoru hums. “it is.”

hikaru doesn’t speak, but his hand shift. just a little, until your fingers brush again.

“hey,” kaoru says gently.

“mm?”

“next time you feel like dying during exams… just tell us.”

“yeah,” hikaru adds, quieter. “we’ll do more than just movie night.”

“like what?”

kaoru smiles. “nap hostage situation.”

hikaru smirks. “emotional support kidnapping.”

you chuckle. “what did i ever do to deserve you both.” they didn’t answer, only grinned.

you fall asleep that way, warm. full of pillows, snacks long forgotten, the weight of exams lifted off your shoulders. and somewhere between kaoru’s sleepy humming and hikaru mumbling something about how you better not dream about the goat, you think

maybe midterms were worth surviving.

maybe this is the best kind of curse after all.

@iiapplemouse : do not copy/repost my works on other platforms!

taglist: @yuzu-kun123 @poflous @iwannabearealman

☆ : you may req to be in the taglist!

#hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hitachiin twins #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader #ouran high school host club #ouran hshc #ohshc x reader #ohshc #tamaki suoh #kyoya ootori #mitsukuni haninozuka #ouran host club #takashi morinozuka

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iiapplemouse · 7 days ago

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@iiapplemouse : hitachiin twins x reader masterlist

☆ : starring hikaru & kaoru hitachiin

☆ : you may req to be in the taglist!

01. your rose within the thorns, my heart yearns | series [incomplete]

☆ : gender neutral reader, slice of life, romance comedy

02. double the trouble with snow white

☆ : female reader, stage performance

#hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hitachiin twins #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader #ohshc x reader #ouran high school host club #ouran host club #ohshc #ouran hshc #tamaki suoh #kyoya ootori #mitsukuni haninozuka #takashi morinozuka

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iiapplemouse · 7 days ago

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double the trouble with snow white

☆ : hikaru & kaoru hitachiin x f!reader

a/n: short break from the series because this cute idea came up

act one: the host club’s newest theme

it all started with tamaki storming into the clubroom with a storybook and a dream.

“this,” he declared, slamming the vintage hardcover onto the tea table, “is the theme of our next event.”

“a fairy tale theme! our most ambitious event yet!”

honey gasped. “like dressing up as princesses and princes?”

“exactly!” tamaki twirled dramatically. “and for our grand finale, a live performance of snow white starring—”

“[name],” kyoya said flatly, not even glancing up from his clipboard.

“wha—how did you know?” tamaki blinked.

“you’ve been sketching her in a ballgown on official club documents for the past three days.”

“they were preliminary concept drafts, kyoya!”

you blinked. “wait—me?”

“of course you,” honey giggled, bouncing where he sat. “you’re pretty and sweet and you already faint when you’re tired!”

“i do not—”

“you even look good holding apples!” tamaki cried, clasping his hands. “remember the fruit picnic in spring? it’s destiny!”

you stared. “…you bribed me into that picnic with pastries.”

“the point is,” kyoya interrupted, “the guests are already invested. there are bets on who plays the prince.”

“what” you sputtered. “bets?!”

“twenty-four participants, six contenders,” kyoya continued. “though the top two are obvious.”

honey squeaked excitedly, raising his fork. “can i be a dwarf?”

“you can be all seven,” mori said beside him.

you didn’t have to ask.

hikaru and kaoru stood side by side, arms crossed, faces suspiciously identical in their smugness.

“what makes you think you’re playing the prince?” kaoru said first, glancing at his brother.

“maybe because i’m the older twin,” hikaru shot back, “which makes me the obvious choice.”

“yeah, by like ten minutes.”

“still counts.”

“does not.”

“you cry when you laugh too hard. you’re gonna ruin your makeup.”

“at least i have control! you’re gonna improvise something weird, i know it!”

you sighed. “you guys do realize it’s just a role—”

“a role that includes a kiss,” tamaki chimed helpfully.

"what." all three of you said flatly.

“only the most iconic, story-defining, true love’s kiss,” tamaki whispered, hands clasped like he was about to cry.

“…can’t we use, like, stage tricks or something?” you tried.

“we could,” kyoya said. “but the guests would know. they always know.”

“it would ruin the immersion!” tamaki wailed.

hikaru turned to kaoru. “okay. now it’s serious.”

“agreed.”

the club decided to settle it democratically, by letting the guests vote. and, naturally, that resulted in an exact tie. it wasn’t hard to guess by now that they craved the thrill of the twins fighting.

act two: wardrobe menace

the room was turned into a glittering forest, roses and golden apples scattered across the tables. silk drapes in emerald and gold. you could barely recognize the place. by the time the stage was set up, the music room had transformed into a storybook forest.

you never actually said yes. but the next day, there was a gown waiting for you in the music room, and your name printed neatly at the top of the cast list:

snow white: [name]

and beneath it, in all caps:

PRINCE CHARMING: TBD (HITACHIIN HIKARU / HITACHIIN KAORU)

“we should’ve been cast already,” hikaru muttered, glaring at the list like it had personally insulted him.

“why are we ‘TBD?’ we’re clearly the main candidates.”

“clearly,” kaoru agreed, peeking at the costume rack.

“maybe if one of us kisses her first, they’ll be forced to cast the other as the evil queen.”

“they're both charming!” one guest giggled. “i couldn’t possibly pick.”

“maybe they can both be prince?” another suggested.

girls whispered in the distance, yet still heard. tamaki gasped, eyes sparkling.

“twin prince narrative! two hearts united to protect one snow white! oh, it’s inspired!”

that thought completely forgotten once kyoya had called him for stage blocking.

you don’t know what you were expecting. but it wasn’t this. because when you stepped out in full costume; gloves, hair ribbon, lace-trimmed skirt that actually swishes when you move. the entire club room went quiet.

you stared at the mirror, snow white.

your makeup was soft. your eyes looked wide from the contact lenses. even you had to admit it, you looked like you belonged in a fairytale.

and the twins?

the twins stared.

kaoru’s mouth opened slightly. hikaru made a quiet, stunned noise like he’d been physically punched in the lungs. neither of them said a word.

feeling their presence, you turned around.

the twins stood in the doorway, both in royal tunics and capes. kaoru in red. hikaru in navy. both staring at you like you’d walked off the page.

you clutched the hems of your skirt.

“do i look weird?”

“no,” kaoru said quietly.

hikaru blinked a little too slowly.

“you look…”

soon caught off gaurd, honey clapped. “waaah! [name]-chan’s a real princess!”

you could feel the twins' eyes still on you as tamaki launched into his dramatic welcome speech, one arm thrown wide across the floral archway.

act three: rehearsal disasters

it was chaos from the start. kaoru insisted on red velvet curtains and snowflake confetti.

hikaru rewrote his lines to be cooler.

you caught tamaki trying to choreograph a sword fight.

“there’s no sword fight in snow white,” kyoya said, dry as sandpaper.

“well there is now!” tamaki declared.

and when the “kiss scene” finally came up during blocking, all hell broke loose.

“i’ll be prince today,” kaoru said, stepping forward.

“no way,” hikaru said. “you were prince yesterday.”

“i was just standing in!”

“you still tried to kiss her!”

“it was rehearsal!”

“you closed your eyes and everything!”

“—we both know i’m the hotter prince!”

"we look exactly the same!"

you watched in real time as their bickering escalated into a full-on audition war. dramatic lines, makeshift swords from curtain rods, improvised monologues about destiny and devotion. all within fifteen minutes.

haruhi who was controlling stage lights in the background, definitely regrets being dragged into the host club.

“i feel like we’re in a soap opera.”

backstage bloopers

scene: hikaru’s failed dramatic cape entrance

“cue the prince!” kyoya called.

hikaru sprinted in from stage left, caught his foot on a fake log, and absolutely ate it.

his crown rolled across the floor like a fallen halo.

you tried not to laugh. kaoru didn’t.

“truly, a graceful royal,” kaoru clapped.

“shut up,” hikaru groaned from the ground. “i’m method acting.”

scene: snow white’s sleepy disaster

you were practicing your “asleep under the curse” pose during rehearsal.

except the stage was too comfortable.

tamaki: “and now, the prince approaches her still form—”

you: soft snoring sounds

hikaru: “did she actually fall asleep?”

kaoru: “well, it is in character.”

they let you nap for ten whole minutes before waking you with pokes and whispers.

“wake up, princess.”

“your audience awaits.”

“you’re drooling.”

scene: the twins fighting over your shoes

you’d kicked them off during a break.

somehow they turned it into a duel.

“i get to return the glass slipper,” kaoru said.

“wrong fairytale,” hikaru said, holding it up like a trophy.

you snatched it back. “you both need help.”

you were halfway through rehearsal when you realized: this wasn’t just a performance for them.

you’d played games with the twins before. you were used to the teasing, the rivalry, the constant volley of affection and challenge between them. but today felt different.

hikaru helped you adjust your cape without making a joke. kaoru offered you water between lines. both of them flanked you during breaks like you were some endangered species being protected from extinction.

act four: opening night

there was approximately 10 minutes left before the show began. whispers from the audience could be heard, the cast hiding behind the curtains. room dark, only the corners of the room were illuminated. you came up to the twins, clearing your throat.

“so who won the coin toss?”

“we didn’t do a coin toss,” hikaru said.

“we had a duel,” kaoru added.

“…with fencing foils.”

you stared.

“and then tamaki made us draw straws,” kaoru sighed.

hikaru grumbled, “i still say mine was bent.”

“it wasn’t.”

“it was.”

“anyway,” you cut in. “who’s the prince?”

both brothers raised their hands.

you blinked. “what.”

“tamaki cast us both,” kaoru groaned. “we’re alternating acts.”

“he said it adds tension,” hikaru muttered, adjusting his cape.

“and mystery. and drama.”

you tried not to panic. “so... who does the kiss?”

they both looked at each other.

“…we didn’t think that far,” kaoru admitted.

“one of us could do the fake-out kiss,”

hikaru offered. “and the other one could—”

“we’re not flipping a coin for that,” kaoru snapped.

“rock paper scissors?”

“you always do scissors first.”

“not true.”

“you literally told me that yesterday—”

“okay,” you interrupted, throwing up your hands. “seriously? it’s a stage kiss. and it’s my face.”

both twins shut up.

you exhaled, smiling just slightly. “how about this? you both get your scenes. you both get your cheers. and at the end… i’ll improvise something.”

kaoru raised an eyebrow. “improvise what?”

“you’ll see,” you said, already stepping into the wings.

your costume felt familiar by now. nestled in your hair, your bow tied neatly. you peeked out from behind the curtain and spotted a full crowd of excited guests.

your heart pounded, hands shaking.

kaoru noticed. right before your cue, he leaned in and bumped his forehead gently against yours.

“you’ve got this,” he whispered.

“we’ll make sure of it,” hikaru added from your other side, adjusting the bow in your hair with surprising gentleness.

“besides,” kaoru said, “you look so good in that dress, even tamaki forgot his lines.”

you giggled nervously. “he did?”

“froze like a statue. haruhi had to elbow him.”

“don’t worry,” hikaru said on your other side. “we’ll carry the whole show if you forget yours.”

“gee, thanks.”

“no really,” kaoru grinned. “we’ve memorized your part too. worst case, we can mime everything behind the curtain while you improv.”

you laughed, a little less nervous now. “you two are ridiculous.”

“you love it.”

“...maybe.”

“break a leg,” they said together.

their confidence steadied you.

you stepped onto the stage.

and everything after that was a blur of lights, laughter, and glittering applause.

the crowd swooned. tamaki cried. you remembered all your lines. kaoru did not, but covered it with flair. hikaru tripped once, then pretended it was on purpose.

and at the final scene, your eyes fluttered open as snow white. the twins stood on either side of you.

but they both hovered a little too close anyway. your heart thumped once, loud. you can feel the warmth across your face.

the audience held their breath.

“only one prince,” someone whispered.

you smiled.

so you reached up, cupped each of their cheeks, and kissed them both, quick and soft, on the face.

kaoru’s breath caught. hikaru froze.

“for a good show, thank you” you said with a sleepy smile. “both of you.”

you curtsied to the audience as the lights dimmed.

and when you turned to look at them again, they were still staring at you like they’d never seen you before.

act five: behind the scenes

the music room was empty now, soft lights dimmed, scattered flower petals still littering the floor.

you sat on the edge of the stage, legs swinging gently, dress wrinkled and makeup slightly smudged from all the hugs and flashes of camera shutters.

kaoru came up behind you, draping his jacket over your shoulders.

“our leading lady,” he said.

“that was fun,” you murmured, voice soft and tired. “i can’t believe i didn’t mess up.”

“you were amazing,” hikaru said from the steps. “though next time, maybe don’t kiss both of us unless you’re trying to start a war.”

“i wasn’t trying anything,” you said innocently.

“mmhmm.”

“though,” kaoru added, slipping beside you, “you did play it smart. now neither of us can complain.”

“...yet you’re still finding ways to,” you teased.

“yeah,” hikaru admitted. “but mostly because you looked really good in that dress.”

kaoru nodded. “seriously. like... unfairly good.”

a beat of silence passed, warm and awkward.

“thanks,” you said, trying to hide your smile. “you guys looked good too. very princely.”

hikaru smirked. “obviously.”

kaoru nudged him. “modest.”

“it’s only fair,” hikaru said. “since we’re taking snow white out for the evening.”

you raised a brow. “taking me out?”

“festival night,” kaoru explained. “we're going by train.”

“you’re not getting out of it,” hikaru added. “we already stole three of kyoya’s tickets.”

“they were in a drawer.”

“which we broke into.”

you laughed. “you two are the worst.”

“but you love it.”

you sighed, standing up. “...fine. but i’m changing first.”

“booo,” hikaru said, grinning. “the dress stays.”

“you want me to walk through a crowd in a full gown?”

“yes.”

“no.”

“yes.”

you rolled your eyes. “fine. compromise. i keep the bow.”

they both blinked.

and smiled.

“deal.”

later, at the festival you ended up changing back to your casual attire, but the bow stayed in your hair. kaoru wouldn’t let you leave it behind.

“for brand consistency,” he said. the lights of the festival sparkled in your eyes. the twins walked on either side of you, fingers brushing yours sometimes when the crowd shifted.

you shared takoyaki, lost to kaoru at a goldfish scooping game, and somehow hikaru got roped into doing a love fortune charm with you.

“this is embarrassing,” he muttered.

“then why’s your face red?” you asked.

“sunburn.”

“it’s night time.”

“it’s a very strong moon.”

kaoru watched from the side, laughing as the little charm tied itself into a perfect knot.

“oh wow,” he said. “says you’re destined for a romantic encounter.”

“maybe it’s with you,” you teased, nudging him.

he flushed, but smiled. “maybe.”

kaoru held your cotton candy while you tried a ring toss. hikaru won you a plush bear, then tried to pretend he didn’t care when you named it prince.

you sat on the edge of a fountain, watching paper lanterns drift into the sky.

“you were the best part of today,” kaoru murmured beside you.

“even with the cheek kiss scandal?” you teased.

hikaru snorted. “especially that.”

hikaru leaned against your left shoulder with a dramatic sigh.

“i’m exhausted.”

“you did five lines and fell onstage,” you muttered.

“acting is emotionally draining,” he replied.

kaoru sat on your other side, more quietly.

he didn’t lean right away, just looked at your profile, your wind-blown bow, the faint shimmer left on your cheeks from stage makeup. he’d seen you a thousand times, but something about tonight made his chest ache.

you glanced at him. “you okay?”

he blinked. “yeah. just… you look happy.”

“that’s 'cause i won the plushie,” you said, wiggling the bear in your lap. “hikaru’s a menace with the ring toss.”

“you called it ‘prince,’” hikaru grumbled. “that’s favoritism.”

“i’m literally your princess,” you shot back.

kaoru chuckled. “she’s got you there.”

the fountain bubbled behind you, soft and steady. the crowds had thinned, families heading home, lights dimming slightly as the night crept deeper. you could still smell yakisoba from a nearby stall, mixed with the faint sharpness of early summer air.

“hey,” kaoru said suddenly. “what was your favorite part of today?”

you thought about it. the applause. the lights. the ridiculous backstage chaos. their bickering. their devotion.

“probably this,” you said quietly.

hikaru raised his head just a bit. “this part?”

you nodded. “just… us. being together. no script.”

kaoru smiled slowly. it reached his eyes.

hikaru didn’t say anything at first, but he reached for your hand where it rested on your skirt. his pinky brushed yours once, then again. like asking permission. and when you didn’t pull away, he laced your fingers gently, like he’d been waiting years.

“you’ve always been our favorite part,” kaoru said, voice soft.

you glanced between them, heart a little louder than before.

“you guys…” your voice caught.

“hm?”

“do you ever think about…” you hesitated, suddenly shy. “what happens after all this?”

hikaru shifted. “after what?”

“after school. after host club. after we stop playing parts.”

a pause.

kaoru bumped his knee into yours again, gentle. “then we stop playing. but we don’t stop this.”

“what’s ‘this?’” you whispered.

neither answered right away.

but hikaru’s grip on your hand tightened a little.

kaoru leaned in, resting his forehead against yours, just like he had before the curtain rose.

“whatever you want it to be.”

you looked down at your interlocked fingers.

then leaned your head onto hikaru’s shoulder, letting your other hand find kaoru’s.

the fountain kept bubbling.

and above you, a lantern broke loose from its string, floating higher than the rest.

“...so next time,” kaoru murmured, “can we do sleeping beauty?”

“no way,” hikaru said. “you just want the kiss scene again.”

you didn’t answer.

but you were smiling.

when you were half-asleep between them on the train ride home. kaoru carefully tucked his jacket over your legs, and hikaru stealing your bear and pretending not to smile, they didn’t say much.

they didn’t have to.

you’d kissed them both onstage. but this part, this quiet softness. this was the real show.

@iiapplemouse : do not copy/repost my works on other platforms!

#hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hitachiin twins #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader #ohshc x reader #ouran high school host club #ouran host club #ouran hshc #ohshc #tamaki suoh #kyoya ootori #mitsukuni haninozuka #takashi morinozuka #female reader

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iiapplemouse · 8 days ago

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hi!! could i be added to the hitachiin twins x reader series tag list? (sorry if this sent twice, it didn’t seem to work when i sent it the first time so i figured i’d try again)

ofc!! i'll add u in the next chapter

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iiapplemouse · 8 days ago

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04: your rose within the thorns, my heart yearns || the host club effect

☆ : hikaru & kaoru hitachiin x reader

☆ : series masterlist

☆ : previous | next

a/n: i feel like they keep getting longer as they come.

the east wing of ouran was finally finished.

after weeks of temporary room-sharing with class 1-A, the school had finally completed renovations. and honestly? it was kind of luxurious. everything smelled like polished marble and rich mahogany.

the hallway lights felt brighter, the windows taller, and the air itself weirdly expensive. maybe even pretentious.

you came early, because class officer life demanded it, especially after being volunteered for it by your teacher in a moment of silence that you hadn’t been fast enough to fill. typical.

you were balancing folders, your bag, and a half-eaten piece of french toast when you turned the corner toward your new classroom.

what you didn’t expect to see was tamaki suoh standing just outside the door, arms folded, posture dramatic, like he was rehearsing a musical number in his head.

you stopped walking.

he looked up at the exact same time.

“ah! [name] !”

you blinked. "hi...?”

“a beautiful morning, isn’t it?” he said with all the poise of someone pretending he hadn’t been lurking for ten minutes.

“are you perhaps lost?”

“what? no. why would i be?.. haha what a strange thing to ask!” sweat drops visibly pouring down. he stepped closer, then gently, dramatically, took the folders from your hands.

“you shouldn’t carry all of this alone. may i help you inside?”

“…you’re scaring me.”

he held the door open with a little bow. “after you, my liege.”

you side-eyed him and stepped inside anyway. “you’re acting weirdly strange today.”

“today?” he echoed, mock-wounded. “only today?”

you set your things down on your desk, but tamaki didn’t leave. he stood near the front like he had something important to say but couldn’t decide how to start. finally,

“you and the twins.”

“what about us?”

“you’ve known them since you were children, haven’t you?”

you leaned against your desk, wary now.

“…i guess.”

“you must be very close.”

“you ask like you don’t already know the answer.”

tamaki didn’t respond right away. he looked toward the window, contemplative.

“when i first met them, they refused to speak to anyone. not even to look anyone in the eye. it was like… the world outside the two of them didn’t exist.”

you stayed quiet.

“then,” he said softly, “i found out someone they knew was in the school now. someone they didn’t shut out. someone they talked about. rarely, but with that same look you get when you remember the best part of a dream.”

“…so you found out i go here, and started creeping around?”

he blinked. “i wouldn’t call it creeping.."

you gave him a look.

“fine,” he admitted, “gentle observation.”

“tamaki.”

“listen—!” he stepped closer, suddenly excited.

“the host club is something special. you’ve seen it. how the others are, how we bring joy to people who walk in that room. but imagine how it would be with you in it.”

you tilted your head. “you want me to be a guest?”

“a guest?” he scoffed. “no. far too simple. too limited. but as an honorary host? i’ve seen the way people react around you. soft-spoken affection, unintentional charisma, that mysterious air—”

“i’m literally just trying to get to homeroom.”

“and yet!” he pointed triumphantly. “you capture the moment!”

you squinted at him. “i’m not sure if this is a compliment or an ambush.”

he sighed, then gently circled around you—pacing. “i understand. you’re humble. you don’t like attention. but there’s something… compelling about your energy. if we honed it, nurtured it, perhaps gave you a tailored uniform—”

“is this your pitch?”

“and—!” tamaki stopped mid-spin, eyes catching on something hanging off your bag. “what’s this?”

you immediately stiffened.

he leaned closer, grinning.

just barely peeking from under the strap of your bag was a small pin and keychain. simple, cute, clearly well-loved. assumingly a well known character. maybe not even a character.

“ohhh,” tamaki said, amused.

you stepped to the side. “don’t.”

“do you collect things like this?”

“i—no. maybe. a little. it’s just—i like them. not a big deal.”

“adorable,” he muttered. “you’re so defensive about it. how precious.”

“stop staring.”

“too late,” he said, already on his phone.

“i need five minutes.”

“…for what?”

“trust me.”

you didn’t, but he left anyway, like a whirlwind in a blue uniform jacket.

fifteen minutes later, you were filing handouts when you heard the door open again. tamaki reentered, smug, holding a box like it contained something sacred.

“…what did you do?”

“i visited the second-year art club girl whose parents own that specialty merchandise shop near campus.”

your brows furrowed.

“and i made a few calls,” he said proudly, opening the box to reveal an entire matching set of merch; plush keychain, enamel pin, a lanyard, and a tiny charm bracelet. all of them: your mystery character. upgraded.

“how did you even know who...”

“i have good eyes.”

you stared at it.

he pushed the box gently toward you. “please accept this humble offering, o mysterious guardian of the twins’ hearts.”

“…you’re bribing me.”

“is it working?”

“…maybe.”

“yes!” he fist-pumped.

“on one condition,” you added. “i’m not doing anything weird.”

“define weird.”

“anything involving dancing, singing, glitter, or cosplay.”

“done.”

you hesitated, glancing down at the keychain plush sitting in the box.

your fingers brushed against it.

“…fine,” you muttered. “i’ll come by.”

tamaki’s face lit up like a chandelier.

“but if you tell anyone about this—”

“my lips are sealed,” he said, practically bouncing with joy. “this is the beginning of something beautiful.”

“i already regret it.”

“you’ll love it! i promise!” he beamed, already halfway out the door again. “meet me at the music room before lunch! you won’t regret this!”

“…you’re exhausting.”

“flattery will get you everywhere!”

by the time you finished your class officer duties, tamaki had already texted you seventeen times.

and they weren’t normal texts, either.

they were more of..

🌹: awaiting your royal arrival

🌹: the grand reveal awaits

🌹: do you prefer dramatic lighting or natural sunlight for entrances

🌹: this is not a drill. i repeat. not. a. drill.

you texted back a single:

🌻: i'm literally grabbing my bag

and he sent three heart emojis and one rose. you were pretty sure he was sweating through his blazer from excitement.

the walk to the music room was suspiciously quiet. tamaki had that “i’m hiding something expensive” smile

plastered on his face, and his hands were clasped behind his back like he was resisting the urge to skip.

“you’re being weird again,” you told him.

“am i?” he replied innocently. “perhaps i’m just a man on a noble mission.”

“you’re a man who gave me an entire merch set to get me in this room.”

“that’s not a bribe,” he said quickly. “that’s a gift. a thank you. a pre-hosting celebration package.”

“you just made that term up.”

“yes. and it sounds excellent, doesn’t it?”

you sighed. “i swear if this ends with you putting me in a heavy weight costume or something, i’m out.”

he stopped outside the music room doors and turned to face you, suddenly serious.

“you will not be such,” he declared. “you will be in something divine.”

“…i don’t trust that wording at all.”

tamaki dramatically opened the door to music room 3.

it looked the same. polished floors, soft lighting, fancy chairs and tables. but near the far end of the room, a clothing rack had been set up like a boutique display. there were boxes stacked neatly nearby. one of them had your name scribbled on a tag, surrounded by doodled roses and sparkles.

“what is that.”

“that,” he said proudly, “is your honorary host uniform. custom-tailored, perfectly measured, and handpicked by yours truly.”

you blinked. “you measured me?? when??”

“visual approximation,” he said, waving it off. “i’m very gifted. also i asked kyoya to run the numbers from security footage.”

“you what!—”

“it’s fine! totally ethical!”

“no it isn’t!”

but tamaki was already pushing you gently toward the rack.

your personalized uniform hung neatly in the center. same Ouran blazer cut—but adjusted to your shape and style, crisp and clean. the inner lining of the jacket had a soft hint of your favorite color, subtle but warm. the tie was loosely knotted, and a fresh pocket square had been added for flair.

“…it’s actually kind of nice,” you admitted.

“kind of nice?” tamaki gasped. “this is fashion rebirth. you’re about to ascend.”

you rolled your eyes. “where’s the dressing room?”

“behind the piano. go! i shall wait here, trembling in anticipation.”

several minutes and one very skeptical change later. you stepped out from behind the piano, adjusting your sleeves.

tamaki turned. his hands flew over his mouth. he gasped so loudly he might’ve swallowed air.

“magnifique,” he whispered.

“you’re being dramatic again.”

“i’m always dramatic,” he said proudly. “but this? this is worth fainting over.”

“please don’t faint.”

“i might.”

he placed a hand on his chest. “you look incredible. how do you feel?”

you looked at yourself in the mirror.

a little silly. a little shy. but…

“…kind of cool,” you admitted.

“you’re more than cool,” he beamed. “you’re elegance incarnate. charm redefined. our newest honorary host!”

you gave him a side glance. “what exactly am i hosting, anyway?”

“joy! wonder! daydreams! and possibly tea.”

you opened your mouth to respond—

and then the door burst open.

“we’re back!” came honey’s cheerful voice, loud and early.

“tamaki-senpai said we had to come twenty minutes before club hours today,” haruhi added, clearly unimpressed. “he wouldn’t say why.”

kaoru and hikaru strolled in after her, mid-conversation.

“i bet it’s just another speech about ‘unity through beauty’ again,” kaoru said.

“or another crying fit about our school’s lack of heart-shaped napkins,” hikaru added.

kyoya walked in last, already scribbling something in his clipboard. “this better not involve my budget again.”

then, one by one, they all saw you.

everyone stopped.

even haruhi looked mildly surprised.

kaoru blinked. “…what.”

honey dropped his cookie.

hikaru pointed. “is that—”

“[name]?” kaoru said at the exact same time.

tamaki beamed. “ta-da~!”

“you actually convinced them?” kyoya asked, eyebrows raised.

“with the power of friendship,” tamaki said proudly.

“a literal bribe,” you added.

“a minor detail,” tamaki whispered behind his hand.

“wait wait wait,” honey gasped, running over to you. “you’re joining the host club?! really?!”

“just honorary,” you said quickly. “i don’t even know what that means.”

“it means we get to see you more often!” honey said, hugging your arm. “this is so fun! we should celebrate with cake!!”

“we literally just got here,” haruhi mumbled.

kaoru and hikaru flanked your sides, identical smirks slowly forming.

“so,” kaoru said, poking your sleeve. “they tailored this?”

“looks good,” hikaru added, tugging gently at your blazer hem. “kind of fits better than ours.”

“is this favoritism?” kaoru asked dramatically.

“definitely favoritism,” hikaru said.

you rolled your eyes. “you’re both just mad i look better in this than you do.”

they gasped in mock betrayal.

“they’re already fitting in,” kyoya said flatly.

tamaki twirled on the spot. “as i planned. now, everyone! we must decide what type of host they shall be!”

“do we have to label it right now?” you asked.

“we must!” tamaki cried. “it is tradition!”

and suddenly, just like that, the whole room erupted into discussion. each member chiming in with ideas, you caught in the middle of it all, wearing a uniform you weren’t supposed to like as much as you did, and somehow already being pulled into the chaos.

you didn’t say it out loud,

but for the first time that day,

you were kind of excited.

“—moving forward.” tamaki continued, “is to determine your specialty. your identity as a host!”

you blinked. “do i really need one?”

“absolutely,” kaoru said, slouched upside-down on a chaise.

“without it, you’re just a pretty face,” hikaru added. “no offense.”

“this coming from you two?”

“we had to earn our brand,” kaoru said with mock offense. “years of fine-tuning.”

“debauchery and chaos,” kyoya muttered without looking up.

“so?” tamaki leaned forward. “who are you? what’s your charm?”

you looked at the group. “you tell me. apparently you’ve been spying on me.”

“observing,” kyoya corrected, still writing.

“you’re... funny,” honey said, tapping his cheek. “but not in a loud way. just kinda... sneaky-funny.”

“subtle,” mori nodded beside him.

“you’re easy to talk to,” kaoru said. “people feel comfortable around you.”

hikaru scoffed. “a little too comfortable.”

“what, are you jealous?” you teased.

“of who?” he shot back, ears pink. “you don’t even have a client yet.”

tamaki hummed dramatically. “you’re gentle. smart. and sarcastic when you want to be. there’s a quiet confidence to you.”

“‘quiet confidence’ isn’t a host type,” you said.

“it could be!” honey insisted. “or—or how about… ‘the calm before the storm’ type!”

“what storm?” you laughed.

“the one in people’s hearts,” tamaki declared, overly sincere. “you bring peace before the emotional devastation.”

“again, what storm?!”

“too dramatic,” kaoru waved off. “they’re not tragic enough.”

“they’re unbothered,” hikaru said. “like, in control but not stiff.”

kyoya adjusted his glasses. “i’d call it... ‘the grounded type.’ balanced. level-headed.”

“that sounds like a teacher,” you frowned.

“nooo,” honey pouted. “we need something cuter!”

“okay,” tamaki snapped his fingers. “new options. everyone pick a type that suits them—without using big words, kyoya.”

kaoru sat up and pointed at you. “you’re like… the ‘lowkey flirty but doesn’t realize it’ type.”

you stared. “...what?”

“that! that exact look right there,” hikaru laughed. “you just blinked like five times.”

“oh oh!” honey chimed in. “what about… the ‘effortless charm’ type?”

everyone paused.

“…huh,” kaoru said, sitting up. “that actually fits.”

“yeah,” hikaru nodded, looking at you thoughtfully. “they’re not trying to impress anyone, but they still do.”

“naturally likable,” tamaki added with a proud smile. “appealing without needing to dazzle.”

kyoya finally looked up. “it’s marketable.”

“is that all i am to you,” you said, deadpan. “a brand opportunity.”

“yes,” kyoya replied without hesitation.

“it’s decided then!” tamaki twirled once and pointed at you like a stage magician. “our newest member, graced with effortless charm!”

“you’re gonna be super popular,” honey giggled, clapping.

“we should start the bets now,” kaoru muttered.

“bets?” you asked.

“how many guests fall for you by the end of the week,” hikaru grinned.

“you’re both banned from betting,” tamaki scolded.

“why?” they said in sync.

kyoya scribbled something in his notebook. “because you’d both throw the game.”

“alright,” kyoya nodded. “now all that’s left is your color.”

“my what?”

“your rose color,” honey said, holding up his own pink rose from his pocket square. “everyone has one!”

“i didn’t bring a flower.”

“it’s assigned,” tamaki said. “based on your presence. your vibe.”

“your aesthetic,” kaoru added.

“do i get to pick it?”

“no,” kyoya said, already scribbling. “we vote.”

“it’s tradition,” tamaki explained. “the rose you wear represents how the host club sees you. and how you carry yourself as a host.”

“so don’t mess it up,” hikaru said, smirking.

“i’m literally standing still.”

tamaki led you toward the long glass case against the wall, where a row of silk roses sat in individual compartments; white, blue, orange, navy, pink, lavender, and a few untouched ones.

he paused, then reached for a box you hadn’t noticed before. it wasn’t in the case, but resting beside it on the table, almost like it had been saved.

he opened it slowly and inside was a pale yellow rose.

soft, buttery. not too bright, not too dull. something that looked like spring mornings and worn books and tea in your hands before you even realized you needed it.

“…yellow?” you said.

“not just yellow,” tamaki smiled. “your yellow.”

“it’s warm,” honey added, eyes sparkling. “like sunshine!”

“and it’s not too much,” kaoru nodded.

“not loud, but not quiet either,” hikaru said, almost without thinking.

kyoya finally looked up from his notebook. “it fits.”

tamaki tucked the rose into your pocket square gently. “welcome to the host club.”

you looked down at the rose.

you didn’t expect to feel anything. it was just fabric, just a color. but still, something about the way they chose it together… it meant something.

you were part of it now. really part of it.

“so,” you said after a beat, trying to shake the feeling, “who exactly am i hosting?”

“your first three guests should be here any minute,” kyoya said. “they’re underclassmen. gentle, very chatty. they asked to meet you after seeing you talk with the twins yesterday.”

you turned. “huh.. ?you told people about me?”

hikaru shrugged. “maybe.”

“a little,” kaoru admitted. “we mentioned you might join.”

“you planted rumors?”

“we planted interest,” tamaki corrected.

“you’re already in demand.”

“no pressure,” kyoya added.

just then, the door opened again.

three students peeked in, holding invitations and clutching their school bags like they were walking into a magical realm.

“is this the host club…?” one of them asked.

you turned, nerves kicking in. you glanced at tamaki.

he gave you the tiniest nod.

you stepped forward and smiled.

“hi,” you said. “thanks for coming.”

the moment you were swept off by your first guest; smiling a little too sweetly, yellow rose tucked neatly into your blazer.

the twins were quiet.

which was unusual.

kaoru sat with one leg crossed over the other, arms folded, eyes tracking you from across the room. hikaru slouched beside him on the couch, chin in his hand, pretending to listen to his own guest while clearly watching you laugh with someone who was not them.

“they’re doing well,” kaoru said after a beat, voice low. “like. really well.”

hikaru scoffed. “of course they are. they learned from the best.”

a beat.

“you mean us?” kaoru teased, nudging his brother.

hikaru didn’t answer. just stared a little longer as you poured tea into someone else’s cup, soft voice too far to make out.

“we’ve always had them to ourselves until now,” kaoru said suddenly, quieter. not accusatory, just… stating a fact.

“so?” hikaru muttered.

“so…” kaoru trailed off, fingers tugging at the hem of his sleeve. “it’s weird. they look good in the uniform. it suits them. but also… i kind of hate it.”

hikaru shifted. “you’re being dramatic.”

“am i?”

hikaru didn’t reply. but he didn’t look away, either.

across the room, the guest you were hosting laughed. one of those bright, shy laughs you did when you were nervous but trying to be polite.

kaoru visibly flinched.

“what if they start liking this?” he asked, and it was barely audible. “more than hanging out with us.”

“they won’t,” hikaru said flatly. “it’s just one guest. it doesn’t mean anything.”

“you sure?”

“shut up, kaoru.”

“you’re sulking.”

“so are you.”

they sat there, staring at you like you were some rare artifact they weren’t allowed to touch anymore. until,

“hey..” honey chimed from behind the couch, leaning over the cushions with a cupcake in one hand. “you two look so gloomy! is it because [name]-chan is hosting someone else?”

kaoru blinked. “…no?”

“hm~ you suuure?” honey smiled innocently, then whispered like it was a big secret: “you’re not jealous, are you?”

“who’s jealous?” hikaru muttered. “they’re doing their job.”

haruhi sighed nearby, casually flipping through the guest list. “you guys are acting like they got married and moved out.”

“they might as well have,” tamaki wailed, clutching a silk handkerchief that definitely came from his own pocket. “and to think! i was the one who brought them into our home—”

“it’s a club room.”

“—and dressed them in gold—”

“that’s a yellow rose.”

“—only to watch them get stolen by some random second-year with dimples!”

kaoru raised a brow. “do you even know who their guest is?”

“i do not. but i hate him,” tamaki whispered fiercely.

hikaru, despite himself, snorted. a small one. but it broke the tension between them for a second.

kaoru leaned into him just slightly, voice quieter now. “we’ll get them back after. right?”

“duh,” hikaru said. “they’re still ours.”

they both looked back toward you.

you were still smiling. still laughing. still dazzling someone who wasn’t them.

and yeah. they hated it.

but they also knew when you were done hosting, you’d come back to them.

you always did.

you hadn’t realized how tired you were until you stopped moving. your legs finally gave in when you sat down, and suddenly, everything felt like it weighed five times more. your limbs, your eyelids, even your brain.

your hands fell into your lap. your shoes felt tight. your back slumped like you had no bones.

“they're deflating,” kaoru whispered, crouching beside you with his chin on the armrest.

“i can see their soul leaving their body,” hikaru added, leaning forward to poke your sleeve gently. “it’s floating toward the chandelier.”

“don't poke them,” kaoru swatted his hand. “they might actually die. or worse—fall asleep drooling in public.”

“s’too late,” you murmured, voice muffled as you slumped further. “i'm already a ghost. tell my fanclub... i tried.”

hikaru snorted and slid onto the couch beside you. “wow. first day hosting and they’re already hallucinating.”

kaoru joined on your other side, sitting backwards with his arms slung over the backrest. “it’s the host club effect. people think it’s all sweets and flirting, but no one tells you about the social exhaustion.”

“or the cramped fingers from pouring tea,” you added, eyes barely open. “or the anxiety from trying not to drop fine china in front of people who look like they own yachts.”

“true,” kaoru said, reaching out to fix your collar like it was a casual habit. “you didn’t drop anything though.”

hikaru leaned his head against yours. “you did better than our first day.”

you opened one eye. “really?”

“kaoru spilled an entire sugar bowl on a guest’s lap,” hikaru said, grinning.

“you accidentally kissed someone’s hand when you were supposed to shake it.”

you blinked at him. “...how.”

“no one knows,” kaoru muttered. “he panicked and bowed too fast.”

you snorted softly, but didn’t move. you were squished between the two of them now. arms brushing, warmth sinking into your shoulders. your eyes slipped shut again.

“see? they like me more,” kaoru said triumphantly, nudging closer as you leaned his way.

“you leaned first,” hikaru argued, tugging your other sleeve until your weight tilted his way again. “they’re obviously more comfortable with me.”

“guys,” you groaned, barely lifting your head. “please stop playing emotional tug-of-war with my body. i’m trying to expire peacefully.”

“you’re not dying,” hikaru rolled his eyes. “you’re just clingy when you’re tired.”

“it’s kind of cute,” kaoru admitted, patting your head once. “like a half-conscious kitten.”

you didn’t have the energy to fight them. in fact, you didn’t even realize how naturally you'd leaned into both of them, head tilted until you were resting between their shoulders. it felt... familiar. like nothing had changed.

except maybe the way their voices softened around you now. the way they noticed things faster. the way they made room for you, like it was instinct.

a blazer appeared across your lap a moment later, neatly folded, warm from someone’s arms.

“you’re not collapsing on my antique furniture without a protective barrier,”

kyoya said dryly, passing by with a clipboard. “take your recovery break responsibly.”

“thank you... mom,” you mumbled, pulling it closer.

honey peeked over the back of the couch with wide eyes and a slice of strawberry shortcake. “aww! are you tuckered out already?”

“tuckered is an understatement,” you sighed. “i'm pretty sure i left my soul at table five.”

“cake helps!” he chirped, placing a plate in front of you before skipping off to get more forks.

tamaki came swooping in shortly after, positively glowing. “you were magnifique! your smile! your poise! the way you poured that tea like you were born to host!”

you gave him a thumbs up without lifting your head.

“so humble,” he sniffled, wiping a nonexistent tear. “truly, a modest star.”

kaoru nudged your cheek with the back of his knuckle. “next time, warn us when you're about to burn out, okay?”

“we'll cover for you,” hikaru said, quieter this time. “or, like, start a distraction. pretend to faint. you know. twin stuff.”

you cracked a smile. “appreciated.”

“just don’t forget who your favorites are,” kaoru said, brushing a thumb under your eye like he was checking for sleep-deprivation.

“they already forgot,” hikaru whispered. “look at them. totally zombified. zero loyalty.”

you didn’t argue. you just slumped further between them, head settling on someone’s shoulder. maybe hikaru’s, maybe kaoru’s. you couldn’t tell anymore. they were warm, and you were tired, and everything smelled like cologne and expensive upholstery.

no one moved to wake you. not yet.

the music room buzzed softly in the background. laughter, teacups, footsteps, and the gentle rustle of roses in their vases. but here, tucked between your two favorite disasters, everything felt a little

slower. quieter. safe.

just like it used to be.

@iiapplemouse : do not copy/repost my works on other platforms!

taglist: @yuzu-kun123 @poflous

☆ : you may req to be in the taglist!

#hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hitachiin twins #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader #ohshc #ohshc x reader #ouran high school host club #ouran host club #ouran hshc #tamaki suoh #kyoya ootori #mitsukuni haninozuka #takashi morinozuka

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iiapplemouse · 9 days ago

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03: your rose within the thorns, my heart yearns || still you, still us

☆ : hikaru & kaoru hitachiin x reader

☆ : series masterlist

☆ : previous | next

you didn’t expect to open that door and feel your entire childhood come together. but there they were.

music room 3 was warm, scented with tea and roses, lit by golden sunrise. velvet couches, polished tables, the boys who you once knew in crisp uniforms. and in the center of it all, lounging like they owned the place.

the same faces from your childhood, but older. taller. sharper jawlines. looser ties. same bracelets on their wrists. they looked up.

and when they looked up from their couch, the world slowed just a little.

“no way,” kaoru blinked.

“you're..?” hikaru muttered, squinting like

he wasn’t sure if he was awake. you stood in the doorway awkwardly, hands in your blazer pockets.

“hey..” you said, trying to sound casual, even though your stomach was doing somersaults.

they stopped just in front of you.

“you're all grown,” hikaru said, squinting slightly. “but...”

you lifted your arm. “yet i still manage to wear this everyday.” said with a smile on your face.

their eyes dropped to the bracelet. vibrant beads, still strung neatly, a little worn at the edges. both of them looked down at their own wrists.

“you didn’t take them off either,” you said.

“we promised,” kaoru replied, soft.

“figured if we did, you’d disappear for good,” hikaru laughed.

“not even in the bath?” you teased.

you huffed a laugh. “you’re both still dramatic as ever, now im doubting if you two even grew at all”

“maybe not, but you’re still you,” kaoru said, a smile tugging at his lips. and just like that, everything snapped back into place.

tamaki’s dramatic gasp broke the moment like glass. “a reunion! childhood sweethearts! destiny!”

he flew across the room, his voice bouncing off the pillars.

“who is this mysterious guest? what heartbreak have you endured? what summer of love was lost to time?!”

“tamaki,” kyoya called dryly from behind his clipboard. “you’re scaring off the customers.”

“i am romanticizing the customers!”

you blinked. “he’s always like this?”

“worse,” hikaru replied, already tugging you toward the sofa. you were planted on the couch between them, one twin on each side like they’d claimed your personal space for themselves.

“you two,” he pointed accusingly, “are hiding secrets from me. first, your tragic loneliness. now, a past connection with our newest guest!”

“you’re dramatic,” you said.

“i am poetic!” tamaki countered, flipping his bangs with flair.

“we usually scare people off,” hikaru said with a shrug.

“but you’re harder to shake,” kaoru added, resting his chin on his palm as he looked sideways at you.

you give a teasing smile. “i’m that special, i suppose.”

“clearly,” kaoru murmured, a little too genuine.

a few minutes later, you were laughing harder than you had in weeks. catching up, reminiscing the moments you lost.

“okay, okay,” you gasped, wiping a tear. “serious question.”

“uh-oh,” kaoru said.

“we’re listening,” hikaru added.

“how many girls have confessed to you since middle school?”

the twins groaned in unison.

“too many,” kaoru rolled his eyes. “we lost count.”

“most of them don’t even try guessing who’s who,” hikaru said, grabbing a cookie from the tea tray.

“they just hand the letter to whoever’s closer.”

“what do you do when that happens?” you asked.

“once,” kaoru said, “a girl handed a letter to hikaru thinking it was me. he returned it with red pen corrections on grammar.”

“that’s mean,” you laughed.

“educational,” hikaru corrected, smirking.

“they always get it wrong,” kaoru said. “we used to think it was funny.”

“now it’s just annoying, no one’s ever guessed right,” hikaru said with a sigh.

“the twins are cruel!” tamaki wailed from the corner, where he had somehow wrapped himself in a curtain.

“we’re not cruel,” kaoru said innocently, “we just don’t like liars.”

“and people who can’t tell us apart don’t really want to know us,” hikaru finished, shrugging.

you watched them carefully. “...so no one ever guessed right?”

“nope,” they said.

you tilted your head. “i think i still can.”

they both leaned closer. “oh yeah?”

you studied them. their posture. the glint in their eyes. and then pointed.

“kaoru,” you said to the one on your left.

his eyes widened.

hikaru raised an eyebrow. “you’re sure?”

“yep,” you said. “kaoru’s voice gets all mushy when he talks about feelings. and hikaru’s the one who deflects with jokes.”

a beat. how embarrassing yet, on point.

kaoru’s ears turned pink.

hikaru clicked his tongue. “...showoff.”

“still undefeated,” you teased.

kaoru leaned into your shoulder. “okay, now that’s not fair.”

“you cheated,” hikaru added, nudging your side. “you know us too well.”

you smiled. “guess you can’t shake me off.”

tamaki, meanwhile, had recovered from his dramatic episode.

“twins!” he declared, pointing. “i challenge you once again! if i guess correctly today, you must join the host club!”

“still going with that, huh?” hikaru said lazily. “you never get it right,” kaoru added.

“my intuition is improving,” tamaki claimed, striking a heroic pose. “i can feel it, today is the day destiny bends in my favor!”

the twins exchanged a look.

“fine,” kaoru smirked.

“give it your best shot,” hikaru added, both of them stood up and randomized their positions.

tamaki squinted at them, pacing in a circle like a game show host.

“the one on the left… has the faintest edge of mischief in his smile… that one must be hikaru!”

“wrong,” they both said flatly.

tamaki collapsed to the floor in a heap of poetic despair. “why must my heart deceive me!"

“he’s gonna cry,” hikaru muttered.

“quick, hikaru” kaoru said, “hide the mirror.”

after the club closed, you, hikaru, and kaoru walked to the courtyard together.

the sun was lower now, gold and pink spilling across the path.

the twins stayed close, too close, really.

kaoru kept looping his arm through yours. hikaru slung his arm around your shoulders casually. once, he even leaned his head against yours while yawning.

“you two are being awfully clingy,” you said.

“we’re just making up for lost time,” kaoru replied smoothly.

“and making sure you don’t disappear again,” hikaru added.

they shared a look; quick, unreadable, but said nothing else. at the fountain, you all sat again, like you used to. you kicked your feet gently against the stone.

“…do you guys still go back to that playground?” you asked.

“sometimes,” kaoru said. “not as often. doesn’t feel the same.”

“we tried,” hikaru added. “but the bench just felt… empty.”

“we used to save you a spot,” kaoru admitted.

your heart ached just a little.

“…you didn’t forget about me?” you asked.

they both looked at you.

“how could we?” hikaru asked softly.

you didn’t answer. you just smiled and leaned your head on hikaru’s shoulder, and kaoru instinctively leaned into your side too. just like that, the space between you felt a little less distant.

“they’re soulmates!” tamaki wailed, not so secretly hiding behind a potted plant.

since your visit, everything has changed. not just for you, but for them as well.

by the end of the week, people were whispering.

“hey, aren’t those the hitachiin twins…? didn’t they used to ignore everyone?”

“who’s that always hanging out with them?”

“they’re… smiling more.”

although it was true.

the twins had never really let anyone in before. sure, they entertained. they played games. but no one got close. now, they sat with you at lunch. walked with you to class. clung to your arms when bored. shared their snacks. ruffled your hair. poked your cheeks.

and people noticed.

once, hikaru leaned his head against your shoulder during study hall. kaoru looped your pinky in his during a walk down the hall, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

tamaki noticed sadly.

he burst into the courtyard one afternoon in full dramatic despair. “you’re changing the twins! this must be the power of true connection!”

“we’re just hanging out,” you said, amused.

“they’ve never let anyone in but each other! now they let in you! how am i supposed to compete with a childhood bond?!”

“you’re not,” kaoru said flatly.

“besides,” hikaru added, “we like them better.”

tamaki fell to his knees. “betrayed by my own sons…”

kyoya sighed in the distance. “they’re not your sons.”

"mom!!.." tamaki yelled defeated.

a week passed. tamaki still hadn’t guessed right. every day, he tried.

“the one on the left! it’s definitely kaoru!”

“wrong.”

“it’s gotta be hikaru today!”

“wrong again.

but he never gave up. and one day, with an unusually serious tone,

“…you two are more than your game. you know that, right?”

the twins paused.

“what?” hikaru blinked.

“people don’t need to tell you apart to love you,” tamaki said.

“they just need to want to.”

kaoru swallowed.

“…that was actually kinda nice,” you muttered.

tamaki beamed, his dramatic pose returning. “of course it was! for i am the king of hearts!”

the twins rolled their eyes.

“…fine,” hikaru said. “we’ll check out your stupid club.”

“but we’re not promising anything,” kaoru added.

“SUCCESS!!” tamaki yelled, throwing a handful of rose petals you weren’t sure where he got.

tamaki twirled with a rose in hand, spinning dramatically toward the door.

“Ah! my precious hitachiin twins have arrived!”

hikaru visibly flinched. “why is he yelling like that..”

“because,” tamaki interrupted, “this is a momentous occasion! the dynamic duo finally joins our elite ranks! our sales will soar!”

kyoya scribbled in his clipboard without looking up. “statistically, he may be correct.”

haruhi, sipping tea, waved from her spot near the corner.

kaoru leaned over to whisper, “you sure we’re not joining a circus?”

you snorted. “bit late to back out now.”

the grand doors of the music room swung open, revealing the usual opulence: ornate chandeliers, plush seating, and the ever-present aroma of fresh roses.

tamaki stood at the center, arms wide open. “welcome, my dear guests, to the ouran host club!”

today was different. today, the hitachiin twins were officially part of the hosting roster.

kaoru adjusted his tie nervously.

“ready?” hikaru smirked.

kaoru nodded, though his heart raced.

“i present to you… our new additions!” tamaki announced, nearly slipping off the tea table he was standing on. “the devilishly charming, dangerously mischievous—”

“—kaoru and hikaru hitachiin!” as guests filled the room, the twins slipped into their well-rehearsed act:

synchronized movements, playful banter, and the occasional "forbidden brotherly love" tease that made the ladies swoon.

amidst the performance, kaoru's eyes kept drifting to you. you were seated at a table, sipping tea, watching with amusement.

kaoru felt a flutter in his chest.

Why did your smile make him feel... different?

you were the only person in the room who didn’t stare at them like a fantasy.

you knew them before the chaos. before the spotlight. before the rose petals.

“[name],” kaoru called during a break. “be honest.”

“hm?”

“how are we doing?”

you sipped your tea. “you’re horrifying.”

“perfect,” hikaru grinned. “we’re aiming for that.” which had earned them a laugh.

later, you wandered the lounge while they entertained guests.

“kaoru, you’re so gentle!”

“hikaru’s boldness is so thrilling!”

“kaoru, say that line again—”

“no, hikaru, pour the tea instead—”

you rolled your eyes and sat beside haruhi on the couch, watching the show unfold.

“they’re eating this up,” you mumbled.

haruhi deadpanned. “so are you.”

“i am not!”

you absolutely were.

“they have the whole school wrapped around their fingers,” haruhi added, sipping from her cup.

“you know they practiced their poses in the mirror, right?”

you choked on your tea.

“they what?”

“mm.” haruhi nodded solemnly. “kaoru had a ruler. measured angles and everything.”

you blinked. “i can’t tell if you’re kidding.”

haruhi looked at you. “neither can they.”

when the break ended, the twins waved you over.

“[name], come sit with us,” hikaru said.

“you don’t have to host, you just have to exist,” kaoru added, making room beside him on the couch.

“you’re part of the ambiance,” hikaru grinned, snapping his fingers. “you complete the aesthetic.”

“is this part of your act?” you asked, amused, sliding between them anyway.

“obviously,” kaoru said.

“obviously not,” hikaru muttered at the same time.

you looked between them. “...you two practiced that too?”

they exchanged a quick glance.

“no,” they said in unison.

you narrowed your eyes. “liars.”

mid-conversation, a girl complimented kaoru’s bracelet.

“it’s so cute! is it a gift?”

“yeah,” he said without looking. “from someone important.”

“oh?” she asked with interest. “a lover?”

kaoru smiled. “something like that.”

you pretended not to hear, as curiosity took your interest. hikaru definitely did.

his hand brushed your knee as he leaned closer. “you okay?”

“yeah,” you said, blinking. “just... thinking.”

“you’re allowed to eavesdrop, you know,” he teased.

“i was not eavesdropping—”

“sure. and i’m a modest genius.”

kaoru leaned in. “eh..you two flirting without me?”

you threw your napkin at him.

☆ . . . . .

when club hours ended, tamaki insisted on a debrief. “as your fearless, dashingly handsome leader,” he declared, striking a pose, “i must say today was a resounding success!”

“no one asked,” kyoya said flatly.

“you’re just jealous of my leadership,” tamaki sniffled.

“we literally have a spreadsheet that disproves that.”

tamaki turned to you instead. “well? did the twins dazzle you?”

“i don’t know if dazzle is the word,” you said.

“correct,” kaoru chimed in. “it’s more like... assaulting the senses.”

“we’re trying to overwhelm people into loving us,” hikaru added.

“it’s working,” you admitted, deadpan.

they both smirked.

as everyone packed up, you lingered near the window. the evening sun bled orange through the glass.

“hey,” kaoru called softly, joining you.

“you okay?” hikaru asked, coming to your other side.

you nodded slowly. “i don’t know. just feels weird, seeing everyone here.”

“what do you mean?”

you hesitated. “you two have so many people around now. it’s good. just... new.”

kaoru nudged your shoulder. “you’re not getting rid of us, you know.”

“even if we become famous host stars,” hikaru added. “you’re still stuck with us.”

“forever,” kaoru said. both brothers pulling you into a big bear hug.

“whether you like it or not,” hikaru grinned.

your chest ached a little in the best way.

☆ . . . . .

the room was quieter than usual, and everyone else had left. the scent of leftover tea drifted lazily through the air, mingling with rose petals on the tablecloths. you helped sweep confetti off the floor, leftovers from whatever nonsense tamaki had cooked up that day.

kaoru leaned against the piano, watching you.

“you're seriously doing the clean-up?”

“someone has to,” you replied, tossing a ribbon into the bin.

hikaru laid across the floor on his back like a cat in the sun, arm flopped over his eyes.

“you’ve been corrupted. first, you show up here, now you’re volunteering for chores?”

“i was always the responsible one,” you said with a smirk.

“ugh, you were,” kaoru groaned fondly.

you tossed a pillow at him. he dodged.

“today was…” you started.

“a circus?” kaoru offered.

“a mess?” hikaru added.

you smiled. "weirdly fun.”

kaoru leaned closer. “you didn’t look

uncomfortable.”

“actually,” you said, “I was kind of impressed.”

hikaru peeked from under his arm. “with what?”

“you weren’t mean,” you teased. “you smiled. you… let people in.”

kaoru nudged hikaru’s leg with his foot. “kook at us. being likable.”

hikaru scoffed but didn’t argue.

there was a pause. then you added, softer, “you two changed. a little.”

“maybe,” hikaru murmured.

“but you’re still you,” you said, glancing down at the bracelet around your wrist. “and I like that.”

neither of them replied, but after a beat, the twins exchanged a glance. something softer passed between them.

“you… like being here?” hikaru asked.

you looked at him, surprised by the sincerity.

“yeah,” you said honestly. “i think i do.”

it was only after school hours, the air was cooler than usual, brushed with the scent of early summer grass. the metal bars of the swing set still creaked in the wind, just like they did all those years ago. some of the paint had chipped, but everything else.. the faded blue slide, the crooked monkey bars, the worn-down path that led to the big oak tree was exactly the same.

you sat on the bench near the center, arms loosely wrapped around your knees. your eyes lingered on the carvings still etched into the tree bark across the yard: rough initials, a few jagged hearts, and somewhere near the bottom, three tiny stick figures that looked like they were holding hands.

you didn’t hear footsteps at first. just the rustle of grass. but then,

“figured you’d be here,” kaoru’s voice called gently, calm as ever.

you turned your head as the twins approached side by side, kaoru with his hands in his pockets, and hikaru tossing a small rock from hand to hand like he didn’t know what else to do with himself.

“we looked around school first,” hikaru said, glancing toward the swing set. “but then kaoru said this felt more like you.”

kaoru sat down beside you on the bench without asking, like it was still his spot after all this time. hikaru plopped down on your other side, knees wide, his shoulder brushing yours without apology.

you stared out at the playground together. a soft silence settled between the three of you, the kind that didn’t need to be filled.

“…we used to race to that tree,” you murmured, pointing lazily.

“i always won,” hikaru said immediately, smug.

“you tripped me,” you shot back.

“that’s part of racing,” he shrugged, not even trying to look innocent.

kaoru laughed under his breath. “you two were disasters.”

“you were no better,” you nudged his knee. “you cheated during tag.”

“strategic retreats,” he corrected.

you all laughed, the sound quiet but real.

the breeze picked up slightly, tugging at your sleeves. for a second, you felt young again. mud-streaked shoes, skinned knees, matching bracelets around three small wrists.

you remembered the way the world used to feel back then: infinite. Safe.

kaoru leaned back on his hands, looking up at the sky. “we used to dream a lot here.”

“big houses,” hikaru added. “secret rooms. never going to school again.”

“and now you’re in a host club,” you teased lightly. “you’ve really matured.”

kaoru chuckled. “it’s not that bad.”

hikaru stretched his legs out, sighing dramatically. “It’s weird. But it’s fun. people are weirdly easy to figure out once you talk to them long enough.”

“they don’t know you like I do, though,” you said softly, and the words lingered heavier in the air than you expected.

neither of them said anything at first. kaoru tilted his head toward you.

“you were the only one who ever saw us clearly.”

hikaru didn’t even look at you. he just added, quieter, “still are.”

you looked at the ground for a second, blinking the sting from your eyes. It wasn’t sadness. not really. just the ache that comes with remembering something important.

kaoru reached over and gently nudged your hand with his, linking his pinky with yours. A silent promise. familiar. steady.

hikaru leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, but his hand found yours too, fingers brushing before they stilled beside kaoru’s. his touch was warm, genuine.

“i missed this,” you whispered.

kaoru leaned his head against your shoulder. “us too.”

you stayed that way for a while. hands quietly entwined, shoulders close, old memories dancing on the breeze.

the sun dipped lower behind the tree, casting golden shadows across the grass. you knew, deep down, that everything had changed. but sitting here, in the space where your childhood lived… it felt like the beginning of something new.

and for the first time in a long while, it felt like you were home.

☆ . . . . .

@iiapplemouse : do not copy/repost my works on other platforms

taglist: @yuzu-kun123

☆ : you may req to be in the taglist

#hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hitachiin twins #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader #ohshc #ohshc x reader #ouran high school host club #ouran host club #tamaki suoh #kyoya ootori #mitsukuni haninozuka #takashi morinozuka #gender neutral reader

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iiapplemouse · 10 days ago

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02: your rose within the thorns, my heart yearns || something about you feels like home

☆ : hikaru & kaoru hitachiin x reader

☆ : series masterlist

☆ : previous | next

a/n: i've added more content to chapter one, sensing that it felt short and quick. which, i felt like it needed more depth and context to the next part. feel free to reread that post!

time slipped by without asking. gone were the messy-haired kids on a cramped playground bench. now stood two tall figures in tailored uniforms, identical in stride and posture, walking the polished floors of ouran academy as if it belonged to them.

but even now, with all the shine and luxury around them, their wrists carried something simple. something that didn’t match the pristine gold of their school’s crest.

bracelets faded and handmade. vibrant beads now dulled, strung tight on frayed cord. a promise, still worn like it meant everything.

“still wearing it?” kaoru asked, glancing sideways as they walked the quiet hallway, voices and footsteps echoing in the distance.

hikaru tugged at his sleeve slightly, exposing the bracelet. his thumb brushed over the worn knots.

“…obviously,” he muttered.

kaoru hummed, holding up his own. the beads rattled softly. “we did promise.”

hikaru didn’t answer. not directly. but his eyes flickered, briefly, with something caught between memory and longing.

school without you felt… loud in the wrong ways.

every conversation was noise. every smile, thin and forced. they kept to themselves. sat in the back row during class. ate lunch on the roof where the sky felt wide and untouchable. people noticed, of course. they always noticed the hitachiin twins. but no one really got close.

“you should hang out with us sometime,” a girl from 1-B offered, voice bright.

“pass,” hikaru replied flatly, eyes still on his book.

kaoru smiled politely. “we’re not very social.”

“but you’re always together.”

“exactly.”

confession letters came and went.

some were shy and handwritten. others were bold, glittered, perfumed. none of them mattered.

“you gonna read it?” kaoru asked, holding up a red envelope.

“no,” hikaru said.

“we could play a game,” kaoru teased, shaking the envelope. “wanna pretend we like them and swap halfway through?”

hikaru raised a brow. “five minutes.”

“deal.”

“kaoru,” the girl stammered by the courtyard, cheeks red. “i like you.”

hikaru tilted his head. “are you sure?”

“yes!” she blurted. “i mean— i think so?”

“he’s kaoru,” hikaru cut in. poiting at his brother standing by the trees

the girl blinked, eyes wide. “w-wait, what? i thought—”

“you don’t even know who you’re confessing to?” kaoru asked gently, walking towards the two

“but you’re the one who left the note—”

hikaru laughed softly. “nope. sorry.”

the girl looked like she wanted to disappear.

“you should go,” kaoru said kindly, though his eyes didn’t soften.

“we’re not interested,” hikaru added, expression unreadable.

they sat by the window afterward, the sun casting long shadows through the glass.

“felt a little cruel,” kaoru said, playing with the beads on his wrist.

hikaru rested his chin on his hand. “they pretend they know us. but they don’t.”

“…someone used to.”

hikaru didn’t reply.

sometimes they’d lie on the rooftop, letting the wind carry their silence. hikaru stared at the sky. “think they’d recognize us now?”

kaoru sighed. “not if we keep hiding.”

“you think we are?”

kaoru glanced sideways. “aren’t we always?”

they let the silence stretch. then, almost in unison, they raised their arms, bracelets glinting faintly in the light.

“…we still kept the promise,” hikaru whispered.

“even if they couldn’t.”

the feeling had changed over the years.

it wasn’t just missing someone.

it was... unfamiliar.

restless.

like a piece of themselves had gone somewhere else and never come back.

sometimes they remembered the way your voice cracked when you said goodbye. the bracelets. the guessing game. the softness in your eyes when you finally said, “i know who you are.”

and then they’d feel something tight in their chest they didn’t know what to call.

not yet.

tamaki suoh was impossible to avoid.

he found them during lunch, practically glowing, hands dramatic and voice too loud for indoors.

“ah, the beautiful hitachiin twins!” he declared. “ouran’s most mysterious pair! untapped potential just waiting to be adored by the masses!”

“you two!” he beamed. “i’ve been watching you!”

“gross,” hikaru muttered.

tamaki pressed on. “the host club needs you! you’d be sensational!”

“no thanks,” kaoru said, trying to walk around him.

but tamaki blocked them with flair. “your chemistry! your mystery! you’re perfect!”

“you’re exhausting,” hikaru said.

“guess which one of us is which, then maybe we’ll think about it,” kaoru challenged.

tamaki’s eyes sparkled. “deal.”

he pointed dramatically. “you’re kaoru!”

“wrong,” hikaru said.

“damn!”

but tamaki wasn’t done.

he showed up again the next day.

and the next.

every time, same challenge. every time, wrong.

he kept trying.

guessing.

watching them.

listening.

but never getting it right.

“it’s the voice!” he claimed one day. “kaoru’s is softer!”

“maybe we’re faking it,” kaoru said with a smirk.

“maybe we switched bracelets,” hikaru added.

tamaki’s eye twitched.

but one day, after another failed guess, he didn’t protest.

he just looked at them. really looked.

“…you know,” tamaki said quietly. “i don’t think people see you for who you really are. not even each other.”

the twins blinked.

“you don’t have to keep playing games to be understood,” tamaki said, tucking his hands into his pockets. “you just need somewhere safe.”

he turned and left them standing there.

the silence between them felt heavier than usual.

“…wanna go see what the idiot’s up to?” hikaru mumbled.

kaoru shrugged. “can’t hurt.”

the sun was already beginning to dip as they walked toward the school gates. their pace was slower, shoulders brushing.

as they rounded a corner, hikaru stopped.

“hey.”

kaoru followed his gaze. a small crowd of students chatted in front of the courtyard, casual and distracted. one figure among them stood out, not for anything grand, but because something about them felt familiar.

the tilt of their head. the way they adjusted their bag strap.

a keychain swung from the zipper.

“…third from the left?” kaoru asked.

hikaru nodded slowly. “yeah.”

the figure turned slightly, laughing at something. not enough to see clearly.

but enough to make something ache.

“…probably just someone else,” kaoru whispered.

“yeah,” hikaru said, but didn’t look away.

they stood still, just watching, until the crowd dispersed and the familiar-not-familiar person disappeared down the steps.

the walk home was quiet again.

but different now.

and that night, in the soft darkness of their shared room, hikaru whispered across the space between their beds.

“…what if it was really them?”

kaoru turned on his side, voice gentle. “then maybe this time… we find them first.”

'that whole thing was a first.'

the next morning came with its usual gold haze spilling through the windows. breakfast was quiet, filled with clinking cutlery and silent thoughts. the kind of quiet that doesn’t come from peace, but from being stuck somewhere between what was and what could be.

“you’re zoning out again,” kaoru said, setting his empty glass down.

hikaru blinked. “was not.”

kaoru didn’t argue. just stared for a moment longer. then stood.

“we’re gonna be late.”

classes dragged. teachers talked. students whispered and passed notes behind their backs. the same routine. the same noise.

yet everything felt a little too sharp around the edges.

like something was about to happen.

during lunch, tamaki found them again.

“still thinking about my offer?” he asked, hopeful.

“still thinking you’re insane,” hikaru replied.

kaoru leaned against the wall, eyes narrowed. “but…”

tamaki’s eyes lit up. “but?”

kaoru exchanged a look with his brother.

“we’ll stop by. once. just to see.”

tamaki gasped. “really?! i—”

“if you scream, we’re leaving.”

he immediately nodded, miming zipping his mouth shut. true to their word, the twins passed by music room 3 after school. the door was cracked open, warm light spilling through like a welcome mat. inside, soft chatter and the sound of a piano filtered out.

they didn’t step in. just listened.

“cheesy,” hikaru muttered.

“...but kind of nice,” kaoru admitted, voice low.

they turned to leave but paused as the doors down the hall opened. a new group of students filed in, laughing and adjusting their uniforms.

and there it was again.

that familiar feeling.

same height. same way of walking. same subtle fidget with their sleeves.

“you see that?” hikaru murmured.

kaoru didn’t answer. just watched quietly.

the group passed by. not even glancing their way.

but for a moment, just one second, one of them looked up.

brows pinched. a flash of surprise. confusion.

and then they were gone.

“…was that?” kaoru started.

“i don’t know,” hikaru cut in, already turning away. “probably not.”

'that's the second time it's happened.'

a beat passed. then they both quietly laughed. the next morning brought a school-wide buzz.

a new class was being merged temporarily with Class 1-A due to “renovations in the east wing.” classic ouran, always dramatic over the smallest things.

“think it’s the rich kid version of a field trip,” hikaru muttered as he scanned the bulletin board.

“or a way to make things more chaotic,” kaoru said.

they both pretended they weren’t curious.

but when the door opened during homeroom, and unfamiliar students filed in, their eyes snapped up immediately.

both were still. alert.

and then—there.

someone stepped in near the back, head slightly down, fingers adjusting the strap of their bag.

hair a slightly longer. posture a little different. older, sure.

but that presence?

undeniable.

“oh,” kaoru breathed.

“wait” hikaru leaned forward, squinting. “it can't be…?”

but the homeroom teacher spoke up too quickly, calling names, directing students to sit. the moment passed.

the person.. maybe them, maybe not ended up two rows across. too far to know for sure. too close to ignore.

they didn’t look the twins’ way once.

but their fingers were fidgeting with something tied to their wrist.

bracelet.

during break, the twins stepped into the hallway in silence.

“you saw it?” kaoru asked, voice low.

“yeah.”

“looked like ours.”

“i know.”

they didn’t say anything else. their hearts were racing, but their expressions stayed flat.

'a third time couldn't be a coincidence'

by lunch, tamaki had already cornered them again.

“you’re coming today,” he insisted.

“to the host club?”

“yes!” he beamed. “our first joint event with the new class, what better time to see the magic unfold!”

“fine,” kaoru said, eyes flicking across the hallway.

hikaru crossed his arms. “…but we’re just watching.”

“excellent!” tamaki spun dramatically. “i shall prepare the rose petals!”

after class, they slipped into the host club, standing quietly by the windows as students filled the music room.

they weren’t watching the guests.

they were watching for someone.

“do you see them?” kaoru asked.

“not yet.”

then, the door creaked open again.

the last wave of students entered.

and there, near the end, someone paused on the threshold.

like they were hesitant.their eyes swept the room. their gaze landed, just briefly on the twins.

a flicker of something behind their expression. recognition? doubt?

they stepped in quietly. stayed close to the walls. didn’t say anything. but they didn’t look away again.

tamaki approached the twins later, still buzzing from his event.

“so?” he asked, grinning. “how was your first host club experience?”

hikaru shrugged. “not bad.”

kaoru smirked. “still think your rose petal machine’s overkill.”

tamaki gasped. “blasphemy!”

“but seriously… did anything stand out?”

the twins didn’t answer.

but both glanced, at the same time, across the room. toward the quiet student near the piano. the one with a bracelet on their wrist. the one who hadn’t looked away since they arrived.

☆ . . . . .

on the walk home, it was kaoru who broke the silence first.

“still think we’re imagining it?”

hikaru shook his head.

“…i don’t know how to say something after all this time.”

“then maybe we don’t say anything yet.”

hikaru looked at him.

“maybe we wait. just a little longer,” kaoru said.

“…until we’re sure?”

kaoru nodded. but his voice, when he spoke again, barely carried past the breeze.

“i hope they’re still the same.”

hikaru looked down at his bracelet.

“i hope they remember.”

'this time, maybe this time'

☆ . . . . .

the next day, they arrive early. the music room is still empty.

hikaru crosses his arms. “why are we even here this early?”

kaoru sits on the piano bench, shrugging. “wanted to see.”

“see what?”

but before kaoru can answer, the door clicks open. someone steps in.

not the host club.

not tamaki.

not staff.

just them.

alone.

you.

the bracelet on your wrist catches the morning light.

you stop. eyes meeting theirs.

no one says anything.

the moment stretches.

kaoru stands slowly. hikaru's breath catches.

you blink once. surprised. unsure.

but something in your face begins to soften. recognition starts to form.

☆ . . . . .

@iiapplemouse : do not copy/repost my works on other platforms!

taglist : @yuzu-kun123

☆ : you may req to be added to the taglist

#hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader #ohshc x reader #ohshc #ouran high school host club #ouran host club #tamaki suoh #kyoya ootori #mitsukuni haninozuka #takashi morinozuka #hitachiin twins

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iiapplemouse · 11 days ago

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@iiapplemouse : compiled masterlist

☆ : req status. opened !

My Hero Academia:

01. sero hanta masterlist

02. denki kaminari [soon]

Ouran Highschool Host Club:

03. hitachiin twins x reader masterlist

☆ : don't copy/repost my works on other platforms

#bnha x reader #mha x reader #ohshc x reader #my hero academia #ouran high school host club #sero hanta x you #sero hanta x reader #denki x reader #denki x you #hikaru hitachiin #kaoru hitachiin #hikaru x reader #kaoru x reader

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iiapplemouse · 11 days ago

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01: your rose within the thorns, my heart yearns || a pinky promise, with fleeting hope

☆ : hikaru & kaoru hitachiin x reader

☆ : series masterlist

☆ : next

it was an eventful afternoon as the laughs and squeals from children kept the playground busy, each has their own group finding joy amongst each other. the hitachiin twins, on the other hand, would exclude everyone off except from themselves. sitting on the bench whilst the other children play their hearts out.

"sorry to disturb.. but, would you both mind playing with me?" came a voice— yours

the twins turned to look, taking a moment to observe the stranger in front of them. your hands were tucked awkwardly into your jacket pockets, your tone soft. after a brief pause, they exchanged a knowing glance.

"okay, but with one condition—" one twin had started, a playful grin tugging at his lips.

"let's play who's hikaru! if you win, we'll let you play with us!" the other chimed in.

you hesitated, caught in the middle of a dilemma. you hadn't met them before, so there was no way to tell.

"i haven’t seen you guys around until now... maybe next time i’ll be able to guess right. what are your names?" you asked, curiosity flickering in your eyes. they stood out from everyone else.

"i’m kaoru, and this is my brother hikaru. bet you wouldn’t have guessed who’s who!" kaoru said proudly, something light blooming in his chest. hikaru tilted his head, eyeing you.

"there’s tons of other kids around the playground. why ask us?"

"oh, well.. you guys just seemed cool. i thought it’d be nice to get to know you better. but i have to go now!.. i hope we meet again, bye bye!" you called out, giving one last wave before running off to meet your fetcher, leaving the playground behind.

the twins sat in silence, still staring after you.

"they're different, huh."

"mhm.."

the next day came since that afternoon, but the memory still lingered; the sound of your voice, your curious eyes, the way you waved goodbye like it wasn’t the end.

the playground remained the same. busy, loud, full of laughter. and once again, the hitachiin twins sat on their usual bench, watching the world from the sidelines.

“do you think they’ll come back?” kaoru asked, legs swinging idly.

hikaru shrugged, though his eyes scanned the crowd more than usual these days. “maybe they forgot.” but then,

“hey..! remember me?” your voice came from behind them, a little breathless from running. the same jacket, a little more worn now. same spark in your eyes. they both turned at once, surprised but not really. like they’d been waiting.

“you came back,” kaoru said softly, a small smile forming.

“yup! i didn’t think i’d see you two again either, but... here we are.”

hikaru smirked, arms crossing. “so? you ready to play our game this time?”

you blinked. “the guessing game?”

“mhm. who's hikaru?” they said in unison, stepping closer.

you squinted, studying their faces. the tilt of a smile, the curve of their eyes, the way one of them fidgeted with his sleeve.

“...that one?” you pointed confidently, but still wrong.

they both burst into laughter.

“wrong again!” kaoru grinned.

“you’re terrible at this,” hikaru teased, nudging your shoulder.

you pouted. “i knew i’d mess it up... does that mean i don’t get to play?” the twins shared a look. this time, no smirk. just a silent agreement. kaoru shook his head.

“you can still tag along.”

“we’ll give you another chance next time,” hikaru added, pretending to sound serious.

your eyes lit up. “really? then let’s play!”

as the sun dipped lower, the three of you ran across the playground, loud laughter trailing behind. two boys who never let anyone in, and one soul who didn’t need to win a guessing game to be let into their world.

the three of you play until the sky turns golden, shadows stretching long on the pavement. after rounds various games, attempting to build a lopsided fort out of twigs and leaves, you all end up back at the bench. out of breath. sweaty. happy. a foreign feeling to the twins.

"you still can’t tell us apart," hikaru said, lying on his back, arms behind his head.

"you’re impossible to tell apart,” you huffed, plopping down beside them. “maybe you like it that way..”

kaoru tilted his head. “what if we do?”

you grinned, “then i’ll just keep guessing. one day i’ll get it right.”

there was a pause, the kind that only happens when the moment feels a little bigger than usual. then, hikaru sat up, brushing dirt off his pants.

"hey… let’s make a promise.”

"what kind?" you asked.

kaoru leaned forward, eyes warm. “that we’ll keep meeting here. same place. same time. every week.”

“until we grow up?” you asked, eyes wide.

“until forever,” they said together, pinkies held out.

and so you linked your pinky with theirs, tied together one promise. when your fetcher called again, you got up with a smile, this time not sad to leave.

“bye hikaru! bye kaoru!” you called, waving.

they blinked, your first real guess.

still wrong.

but this time, they didn’t correct you.

as you ran off, hikaru looked at kaoru.

“they’re really bad at this.”

kaoru just smiled. “yeah... but they keep trying.”

they stayed sitting on the bench a while longer, pinkies still warm from the promise that, somehow, already felt important. like they were blooming into separate individuals.

2 months pass by, and just like always, the playground was full of voices. laughter echoed from the swings, kids ran barefoot across the grass. in the middle of it all were the hitachiin twins, sitting side by side on their usual bench, quiet, unreadable, and content with just each other. until they saw you again.

you came running toward them, holding something small in your hands, a shy smile tugging at your face.

“you guys came again,” you said, cheeks a little pink. “i was hoping you would.”

kaoru stood up first. “of course we did. we said we would.”

hikaru leaned back, squinting up at you. “what’s that?”

you held out your hands; two simple bracelets, made with vibrant colored beads in shades of orange, red, and soft gold. they were a little messy, the knots slightly uneven, but you held them like they were treasure.

“i made these,” you said quietly. “for you two. they’re… friendship bracelets.”

kaoru stepped closer, eyes bright. “for us?”

you nodded. “yeah. they match. exactly the same. i didn’t want to make them different, ‘cause… i still can’t really tell you apart.”

hikaru stared at the bracelets, then at you. “so instead of figuring us out, you’re giving up?” slightly hurt which was concealed by a laugh

“no,” you huffed, puffing your cheeks out a little. “i’m not giving up. i’m just saying i still have time to learn. and until then… i want us to match.”

an unexpected answer, warmth creeping up the roundness of their cheeks.

kaoru laughed softly. “you’re strange.”

“a good kind of strange,” hikaru added.

you handed each of them a bracelet, watching as they slowly slid them onto their wrists. the beads shimmered softly under the sun, and for a second, they didn’t look like twins. just two kids, standing close, holding something rare.

“we have to promise to never take them off,” you said suddenly, holding out your pinky.

kaoru’s eyes flicked to his brother’s, then back to you. “never?”

“never ever,” you confirmed.

“even in the bath?” hikaru teased.

“yes! always!” you insisted.

they both laughed, and with twin smiles, they linked their pinkies with yours.

“fine,” kaoru said. “we promise.”

“pinky swear,” hikaru echoed.

you smiled so wide it hurt.

after that, the three of you fell into your usual rhythm; a little chaos, a lot of laughter. you raced each other up the monkey bars, made up silly names for every bug you spotted, and even invented a game called “grass tag” where the only rule was to run wildly and fall dramatically.

“you’re so bad at fake fainting,” hikaru laughed as you flopped into the grass.

“i’m not! that was my most dramatic fall yet!”

“looked like a turtle getting flipped over,” kaoru grinned, and you threw a leaf at him in protest.

the sun was warm, and the breeze soft, and everything felt perfect, which is why the shift in your energy didn’t go unnoticed when you sat down for a break.

you were quiet. eyes on your shoes. picking at your sleeve.

kaoru nudged you gently. “hey, what’s up?”

“you’re not pouting ‘cause you lost grass tag, right?” hikaru teased lightly.

you shook your head, then slowly looked up at them.

“i… need to tell you something,” you said, voice soft. “i was trying to wait until the end of today but… i can’t.” both twins sat up straighter, faces suddenly serious.

“i’m moving,” you said, hands trembling slightly in your lap. “not like, across town. far away. really far. we’re leaving this weekend. and i won’t be able to come back.”

the silence that followed stretched long and still.

kaoru blinked. “what?”

“like… gone gone?” hikaru asked.

you nodded, trying to smile even as your lips trembled. “i didn’t want to leave without saying goodbye.”

kaoru’s voice dropped. “why didn’t you tell us sooner?”

“because i didn’t want to ruin today,” you whispered. “but it’s happening no matter what… and i just… wanted to make the most of it.”

hikaru’s fists tightened. “that’s not fair.”

“i know,” you said. “it really isn’t.”

kaoru stood up, dusting grass from his pants. “then let’s not waste it.”

you blinked up at him.

“if it’s our last day,” he said, eyes a little glassy, “we should make it our best one.”

hikaru got to his feet too. “yeah. let’s go.”

and so, without wasting another second, you all ran off.

you played tag until your legs ached, climbed up the jungle gym and yelled nonsense into the sky. you made a crown out of leaves, put it on hikaru’s head, and called him “king of the playground.” he didn’t even argue. you laughed, and cried, and laughed some more.

when the sun began to set and the wind turned cooler, the three of you sat together by the same bench, the place you had always ended up.

“i don’t want to go,” you whispered. “not really.”

“we don’t want you to go either,” kaoru replied, voice soft.

“can’t you sneak into a suitcase or something?” hikaru offered, half-joking, but not really.

you let out a small laugh, even through your tears.

then you looked at them— really looked and said, “hey… can i guess one more time?”

hikaru blinked. “you’re still trying?”

“last chance,” you said. “before i go.”

they looked at each other, nodded. “okay,” kaoru said. “guess.”

you looked at them— really looked. so many days running through the same games, laughing through the same jokes, listening to their bickering, their teasing, and their silences. you’d been watching them for days, weeks even. same face, same height, same mischief. and yet… they weren’t really the same, were they?

you’d started to notice the small things.

how one of them always jumped into things first, louder, bolder, but quicker to get upset when things didn’t go his way.

how the other always followed with a smile, softer-spoken when he wasn’t in teasing mode, more thoughtful, more patient.

how one of them looked at you like he was still guarding something, and the other like he already trusted you completely. you took a breath, eyes flicking between them.

then you pointed, quiet but confident.

“you’re hikaru.”

they both froze. the one you pointed at blinked, lips parting slightly.

“…you got it right,” he said slowly. “how’d you know?” neither wanted to play trickster and lie once more, they were intrigued by their answer.

you hesitated, then looked down at your shoes before meeting their eyes again.

“it’s not about how you look,” you said. “when you two are playing around, yeah, it’s impossible to tell. but when you're not trying to trick me… i can feel it.”

you nodded toward hikaru. “you’re quicker to talk. more forward. when something bugs you, it shows right away. you try to pretend it doesn’t, but it’s always there in your voice.”

then you looked at kaoru. “and you… your voice is a little gentler. like you think first before saying stuff. you don’t say as much, but you listen more. it’s like… you care how people hear you.”

a pause.

“it’s not just about telling you apart anymore,” you whispered. “i know you both now. for real.”

hikaru let out a soft laugh, almost stunned. kaoru was quiet, but his eyes shimmered just a bit.

“…you really figured us out,” kaoru said, almost in awe.

“yeah,” hikaru added, voice low. “you actually saw us.”

kaoru pulled you into a hug first, arms tight. hikaru followed, resting his chin on your shoulder, the three of you holding onto the moment like it could last forever.

“promise you’ll never forget us?” kaoru whispered.

“i won’t,” you said. “you guys are my best friends.”

“and you’re ours,” hikaru replied, voice thick with something unspoken.

your ride was calling in the distance now. it was time.

“goodbye, kaoru. goodbye, hikaru, you both meant everything to me” you whispered, stepping back, fingers brushing theirs one last time.

and just like that, you ran.

the bracelets stayed on.

the night felt heavy.

in their shared room, the twins lay in silence. the usual banter had faded. instead, they both stared at the ceiling, arms behind their heads, the bracelets made with care still wrapped snug around their wrists.

kaoru turned slightly. “it’s quiet.”

“too quiet,” hikaru muttered.

“do you think they’ll really never come back?”

hikaru didn’t answer right away. “i don’t know.”

they were both quiet for a long time.

then, kaoru whispered, “i miss them.”

hikaru rolled over, pulling the blanket up over both of them. “me too.”

they stayed close that night. no pranks, no jokes, just two brothers clinging to the warmth left behind by someone who understood them without needing to win a guessing game.

the next day, the playground looked the same. but it wasn’t.

kaoru and hikaru sat on their usual bench. kids ran past, giggling. someone was blowing bubbles. a little girl tripped and cried, her friend helping her up. but for the first time in weeks, the bench felt empty.

“hey, want to play tag with us?” a boy asked, holding a stick like it was a sword.

the twins looked at him.

kaoru shook his head. “no thanks.”

hikaru turned away. “not today.”

the kid shrugged and ran off.

the twins sat there, bracelets catching the light. saying nothing. waiting for someone who wouldn’t come. the playground buzzed around them, but all they heard was silence. and for now, that silence was theirs alone.

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