Chapter 30: Late Night Chats!

"Hey, it's getting pretty dark out."

"Maybe we should turn in for the night. It'll take at least five minutes to drive to our cottage from here."

The twins shared a somber look before cracking up. The other six teenagers didn't outwardly react. The four boys continued to watch the card game the sisters were playing, trying to quell the urge to strangle the redheads.

Another fifteen seconds of hysterical laughter later, however, and Jin sighed aloud, "Yes, yes, you won the game, even though I'm sure that last bit was borderline cheating. What do you want, a medal?"

"Well, if you're offering."

Jin rolled her eyes, "You know, for 15 year olds, you're surprisingly immature." She returned her attention back to the game, laying down a 5 on one of the piles, then discarding, "Your turn, Haru."

Her sister nodded, picking up two cards from the deck. The name 'Skip-bo' was scrawled on the back of each blue card and Jin had to fight the urge to flip her sister's cards so they were all facing the right way up. It was such a pet peeve of hers; to avoid doing it Jin forced her gaze up to Haruhi's face instead. It was clear in the set of her eyebrows that she was still struggling a little to remember all the rules, but so far Haru looked like she was enjoying the game. Of course 'Phase 10' was still her favorite card game Jin had brought back from America.

"To be fair, we did just turn 15 a few days ago."

Misuzu-chi looked up from where he was wiping the bar counter down, "Oh, you had a birthday a while ago? Did you have fun? I always love birthday… parties!" He gasped, washcloth falling from his fingers, "I completely forgot!" And with that, he bolted into the kitchen. Frowning, Jin set her cards down and went to follow him, but he was back out just as quickly as he'd left. This time he had a rather large package in his arms. It wasn't very solid, as it kept sagging over his arms, but he was beaming as he shoved the balloon wrapping paper into Jin's arms.

"Misuzu-chi?"

"Is that what I think it is?"

"Of course! I can't believe I forgot about it!"

The boys were leaning in, "Forgot what?"

"It's the present I bought for their last birthdays! I had to miss it because a sports team rented out most of the Pension before I could announce it was closed for the day! I can finally give it to them now!" Haruhi set her own cards down and went to help her sister tear at the wrapping. As they did so, the hosts began grilling them for answers.

"Misuzu-chi comes to your birthdays?"

"Hold on, do you two celebrate your birthdays on the same day?"

"Haruhi was born the day before my 1st birthday. Her date is February 4th, while mine is the 5th. And since we've always been so close, we just figured we'd hold one big celebration every year, alternating the dates of course. And of course Misuzu-chi comes to our birthdays! He's like an uncle to us!"

Finally the balloon paper was ripped in half and the two pulled their present out. Whatever it was, it was big and fluffy and a nice dark blue color.

"It's a little useless in the summertime, I know, but I hope you still like it."

The girls didn't respond. Their eyes were all but bugged as Jin held the top corners of the blanket high above her head, the bottom still trailing against the floor. Now that it was unfolded all the way, they could see the few spots of white and black and even a tiny little pinpoint of yellow, making a strange pattern across the fabric. The very top of it read, in English, 'Police Box' and 'Public Call'.

Before the boys could ask, Jin started jumping up and down, making the blanket shake, " It's the Tardis! It's a Tardis blanket! Oh my gosh! "

Haruhi didn't look any less excited, "Where did you find this?"

" Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh! " Jin began rubbing her face in the blanket as Haruhi pulled her pseudo-uncle in for a huge hug. The older Fujioka, head still buried in the blanket, reached out and hugged him as well. Honey was the first one brave enough to sneak forward and touch the edge of the blanket himself. Instantly he cuddled it close.

"It's so sooooft! "

Jin pulled her head out, hair a rumpled mess, "I know, right? I just wanna-" She broke off the sentence by dropping to the floor and rolling herself over the blanket, effectively burritoing herself inside, only her feet and some of her hair sticking out of the ends. The lump that used to be Jin Fujioka wiggled twice before going still. A voice called out from inside, muffled from the many layers around her.

" Wake me if civilization ends. "

The others laugh, Kyoya throwing in his two cents, "If even Jin is growing tired, perhaps we should all go to bed. That is, if we all want to meet back here early tomorrow morning." Tamaki was quick to second the motion, and a few minutes later four of the boys were waving their goodbyes and the two sets of siblings disappeared into their rooms.

Hikaru and Kaoru were in the far corner of the Pension, completely opposite of the Fujioka siblings. Since they were technically "employees" they were in the room next to Misuzu-chi's on the ground floor. While there was also only one bed in their room, it was a double so the two girls fit on it just fine.

Jin hummed a random tune as she lay on her stomach, thumb lifting and falling on the 'channel up' button, eyes regarding each program for perhaps three seconds before moving on. Her brown eyes noted her sister as she exited their bathroom in pajamas.

"There is nothing on."

Haruhi crawled onto her side of the bed, happily tucking her bare legs underneath the Tardis blanket, "Then put in one of the movies we brought."

The elder Fujioka pondered the suggestion for a moment before huffing and rolling off her half of the soft blanket. She pulled out Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone out of one of their bags and stuck it into the DVD player, but she wasn't fast enough. Jin turned back around just in time to see Haruhi tucking the rest of the 7 foot blanket under her legs with a smug smile.

"Hey!"

The girls laughed as they pretended to fight over the blanket. It wasn't until Jin whapped her sister's arm with a pillow that she relented. Before the title screen was even up they had settled once more, Haruhi with half of the blanket over her legs and Jin laying on her stomach over the other half.

The taller sibling readjusted her glasses, which had slid down during their 'battle', "Do you think we should take a look at the Japanese Dub versions, Haru?"

"Why? I think the original English version would be better in my opinion. Besides, we both understand it just fine."

"True… but I'm still curious-"

Vvvp! Vvvp!

"Haru, can you tell me who that is? Pretty please?"

Haruhi leaned across her sister's legs, scooping up the phone and taking a look at the screen, "Nēchan? Why does Kyoya-senpai have a million emoji's next to his name?"

Jin quickly pushed herself up off her stomach, snatching the device from her sister, "I hardly think that two emoji's counts as a million, Haru. Besides, I couldn't chose between the laptop or the glasses. Forgive me."

The short haired brunette watched as her sister quickly unlocked her phone to read the message. She waited until Jin was in the middle of typing out a response before speaking up.

"How come I only have one emoji by my name?"

"Because you only need a single red heart."

"What if I want two?"

"Haru…"

"Fine."

The girls settled down again and sit through the first twenty minutes of the movie in peace. Whenever Haruhi's eyes strayed from the screen to her sister, she was either texting or watching the movie while she waited for Kyoya to respond. Smiling, Haruhi leaned more comfortably against the headboard.

I never would've guessed that Kyoya would be the kind of person to text someone late at night when they saw each other not even ten minutes before. But then again, he doesn't seem like the person to share his teacup or let someone lay their legs over his lap or even flirt at all. Looks like Nēchan just… pulls out the sweeter side of him, without having him change anything about his personality. Huh. I guess everyone really does has someone.

She grinned as Jin's shoulders bounced with silent laughter before responding to her latest text.

Ding ding! Ding ding!

"Hm?" Haruhi turned her head to the left, seeing her own phone's screen light up from its spot on the nightstand. Swiping it off the table and flicking the volume off, she read the message.

Kaoru: We need to talk

"What?"

"What was that, Haru?"

"Oh, nothing. Just Kaoru being weird."

"Alright."

Nodding, even though she knew Jin couldn't see, Haruhi unlocked her phone and went straight for the message. She was quick to notice that she wasn't the only member of this chat. At the top of the screen she saw the names Hikaru, Tamaki-senpai, Mori-senpai, and Honey-senpai beside Kaoru's. The only two people not included…

Her eyes trailed over her sister's back and the phone that was still occasionally lighting up in her hands.

Haruhi: Guys? What's going on?

Tamaki: Haruhi? Is that you?

The small brunette groaned. Oh no...

Tamaki: Haruhi! Look, I now have your number!

Tamaki: Daddy can text you whenever, now!

Tamaki: I'm so happy Haruhi! I wish I could just give you a big virtual hug!

Hikaru: Boss, focus. This is serious

Kaoru: Yeah, we didn't make this group chat just to give you Haruhi's number

Haruhi: Then why?

Hikaru: Hold on, Haruhi. Just to make sure, is Jin-senpai going to ask why your phone's blowing up all of the sudden?

Haruhi: Nah, we've got Harry Potter in and I'm pretty sure she's still texting Kyoya-senpai

The brunette looked away from her phone screen. Jin was in the exact same position she'd last seen her in: feet in the air, head at the foot of the bed, and face bright with the light of her screen. The movie was still playing on in front of them, but both girls pretty much knew it by heart. It was more the comfort they felt whenever Harry Potter was on the television screen than actually watching the movie.

Haruhi: Yup

Hikaru: Then we'd better get started

Honey: Wait, what are we talking about?

Hikaru: Isn't it obvious Honey-senpai?

Kaoru: We need to talk about Kyoya-senpai and Jin-senpai and their feelings for each other

Haruhi felt like she shouldn't feel this amused at the knowledge that the twins texted just like they spoke. On the other hand-

Honey: YOU KNOW ABOUT THAT, TOO?

Kaoru: WAIT, DID YOU FIGURE IT OUT?

Tamaki: HOLD ON, HAS EVERYONE HERE DISCOVERED THAT THEY'VE FALLEN FOR EACH OTHER? HIKARU AND KAORU YOU DIDN'T BELIEVE ME WHEN I TOLD YOU!

Haruhi: Everyone needs to stop text-screaming

Hikaru: HOW WERE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE YOU, BOSS?

Kaoru: WE NEVER THOUGHT IT WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN!

Haruhi: Guys…

Tamaki: THEY'RE SO CUTE! MY BEST FRIEND HAS FINALLY FOUND LOVE~

Honey: He'd better treat her right or else I'm not holding back…

At Honey-senpai's threat the texts stopped. Haruhi took this as an omen that she could put in her two-cents.

Haruhi: Listen, you guys. I haven't known Kyoya-senpai for as long as you all, but I know Nēchan. She knows what she's doing when it comes to her life. If she's chosen Kyoya-senpai for whatever reason, then I trust her. And if Kyoya-senpai's 'fallen' for her, too… then I don't think we have anything to worry about. They'd be good for each other.

Kaoru: Yeah…

Hikaru: That's true…

Honey: So should we tell them?

Mori: No.

Hikaru: Why not?

Tamaki: Mori-senpai, if they've taken this long, then how much longer will we need to wait?

Haruhi: Look, I'm glad that we all think that they should be with each other, but I agree with Mori-senpai. We should really just let them figure it all out themselves, when they're ready. We can't just… push them into a relationship. Neither of them have experienced this before, correct? They're going to be freaked out of their minds if we shove them at each other! So… let's just let it happen, in it's own time.

Tamaki: WE'LL BE IN OUR THIRTIES BY THEN! THEY'RE SO OBLIVIOUS!

Haruhi: Do you really think they'd be oblivious for that long? When Kyoya-senpai and Nēchan both keep turning down dates and not-so-subtly flirt with each other? No, I think they'll be together before they graduate. Most likely before this year is out.

Kaoru: Well...

Hikaru: If you're sure…

Honey: Then we'll leave them alone!

Mori: Agreed.

Tamaki: Then that's settled! We'll just let them figure it out themselves. And on that note, I'm going to bed. Goodnight!

Hikaru: Night, Boss. And we're turning in, too.

Kaoru: Night, guys.

Honey: Goodnight~

Takashi: See you tomorrow

Haruhi: Night, boys.

Sighing, the brunette set her phone back down on the nightstand and yawned. Her eyelids were feeling a little heavy. It had been a long day. Maybe she could turn down the movie's volume and go to sleep while Jin continued to watch? Leaned forward, Haruhi grabbed the remote laying beside her sister, and paused. Jin was fast asleep, head resting in the crook of her elbow and her free hand still curled around her phone.

Cute.

Smiling, Haruhi stopped the movie and turned the television off. The room fell into complete darkness, so she risked pulling the phone out of her sister's hand and moving her into a more proper sleeping position. Considering Jin was obviously exhausted from the day and the fact she slept like the dead for the first hour after she fell asleep (as Haruhi recalled from their train ride to the Pension a few days ago), she managed to do so without waking her sister.

Throwing half of the blankets over Jin's body, Haruhi grabbed her sister's glasses off her face and placed them on the nightstand. Just as she set them down, Jin's phone screen lit up.

Hesitating for a moment, but unable to withstand the curiosity, she picked it up.

Kyoya: Goodnight, Jin.

Haruhi shook her head, a small smile playing on her lips. Maybe this won't take as long as I thought it would...

Vvvv! Vvvv!

Groaning softly, Jin lifted her right hand and pressed the red button on her phone. Instantly the vibrations stopped. Shoving herself away from the warmth of her bed, she rubbed at her eyes. The final traces of sleep began bleeding out as Jin forced her eyes open and picked up her phone.

Now that the alarm was off, she could see the very last text message Kyoya had sent the night before. It pulled a giggle from her lips, which she stifled quickly as to not wake her sister. Rolling out of bed, Jin took only ten minutes to get ready for her day out. She didn't need to be 'dressed for work' until after she got home from the hospital, so she grabbed a random pair of tan shorts, a t-shirt, did some morning cleansing and she was ready to go.

Just before she walked out of the bathroom, a sparkle caught her eye. Her kudu klip. Jin only hesitated for a moment before grabbing it and started twisting her hair up. She didn't wear the clip often outside of summer vacation, as she mostly used it to keep her hair off her neck on hot days. It was very pretty, with it's brown beads that matched her hair, the silver accents, and the four long aquamarine stones in the center. It was her favorite accessory, mostly because it was easy to put in and also because her best friend had bought it for her while they were in America.

It was special.

She gave Haruhi a quick kiss to her forehead before grabbing her bag and slipping out the door.

* Time Skip *

"I'm free~!"

Jin happily sprang out of the hospital, grinning from ear to ear. A gentle breeze brushed past the girl and she sighed as her left wrist was exposed to fresh air once more. Her wrist was very pale, but looked better now than it did when she first got the cast off. It had been gross looking and flaky, and as soon as the doctor finished listing the Do's and Don't's, she had slipped into the first bathroom she'd come across and gently washed the area with some warm water and soap. After rubbing some cocoa butter lotion on the area (she had done a little research before coming here) her wrist now just looked like it had missed out on some tanning Jin had done.

She knew she'd have to take it easy with her wrist for the next few days, but she would be happy to do so now that the cast was off. After a month or two her wrist would be back in working order. Grinning, Jin began heading for the Pension, which was about a twenty minute walk from the hospital. The boys would be thrilled to see her cast gone, even though she still had it in her drawstring bag. What else could she say? The drawings and signatures were cute!

"WATCH OUT!"

"AH!"

Jin barely moved back in time to avoid being run down by a bicycle. The boy riding it swerved to his left, jumping off the seat and pulling the bike to a complete stop before it was sent into oncoming traffic. The tan box attached to the back of it nearly went sailing if it weren't for the boy's quick reflexes.

"I'm so sorry! Are you alright?"

The brunette's heart was pounding loudly in her chest, forcing her to breathe a little heavier than normal before replying.

"Yeah… I'm okay. You?"

"I'm fine. Really, I'm sorry! I didn't see you there!"

Jin was about to respond again when something registered. That voice… Her eyes widened in surprise as the boy removed his helmet. He was using his right hand to unclip the strap, his left arm still holding the box. It had an orange painted on the side with the words 'Arai Produce' written beneath it.

A mess of ruffled dirty blond hair appeared when the helmet was gone. Two blue eyes widening comically behind a pair of golden glasses as they registered who exactly was in front of them.

"Jin?"

"Oh… my…"