Just Look into It

44. Raindrops

Ryo sighed as she followed behind the hosts, Yuu holding tightly to her hand. They were stalking Haruhi and Hikaru from a distance, a plan that she wasn't too surprised by. It was the carelessness the hosts were showing that only exasperated her. 

Not only had Honey taken someone's ice cream stand, but Tamaki and Hikaru had broken into someone's store to give out a free cone just so that they wouldn't be sharing the same one. 

"Sorry about them," she told the owner, paying for the cone. "They don't get out much."

"That's quite alright miss. It was a good laugh," he replied. "Here, a sample for the young mister."

"Ah, thank you!" Ryo knelt down to hand the small cup to her brother, giving him a small nod. 

"Thank you!" Yuu chirped, rushing off to show Kyouya his gift. She chuckled, following after him and catching up to the others. While she hoped that Hikaru and Haruhi could make up and that the boy could get a clue, she wasn't too invested in watching their every move. It was probably better for them to work things out on their own. 

"Miss Ryouka, we're heading back now," Kyouya called out to her. 

"Ah, do you mind taking Yuu back with you?" she asked. "I saw a bookstore that I wanted to take a look at first. I shouldn't take long."

He glanced over at the others who were already leaving. "Do you want me to accompany you?"

Ryo shook her head. "I'll be alright. I'll be back at the pension soon."

"Alright. Be careful," he said, looking down at Yuu. "Let's go."

The brunette watched them walk off for a moment before turning back to the store she had seen. After getting the chance to spend some free time reading, she wanted to see if she could find the sequel that the book Misuzu had lent her was supposed to have. Ryo glanced at the sky, wondering if the two would get back to the pension before a storm arrived. 

"Not much you can do," she muttered, stepping into the store. 

She found herself surprised at the tall stacks of books that seemed to fill the walkways and cover every surface. There had to be an organization to the place despite the clutter. After looking around for a moment, she figured that she wouldn't be able to find anything. Unable to even spot an employee, she left. 

The sound of thunder reached her once she stepped outside again. Ryo instantly looked up, searching for any signs of a storm. The clouds were starting to cover the area. She bit her lip and started back towards the pension. 

"Hisakawa!" Arai's voice suddenly shouted. 

She paused, seeing him wave her over from his family's store. There was light rain starting. 

"Arai?" she called back, hurrying over. 

"Do you know if Fujioka got back to the pension?" he asked, a worried look on his face. Instantly she mirrored his expression. 

"No, why?"

"She was just here with one of the twins, I offered them a ride-" He cut himself off, rubbing at his neck. "He ran off and she went looking for him."

Ryo cursed under her breath. The storm was starting to get worse too. She pulled out her phone, dialing Kyouya's number.

"Yes?"

"Has Haruhi gotten back?" she demanded, scanning the nearby area. 

"No, she hasn't. Are you on your way back?"

Ryo bit back another curse, glancing at Arai. "No. Hikaru ran off and Haruhi went looking for him. Arai caught me to explain. I've got to find her."

"I'm sure they'll make it back safe," Kyouya said. "You should come-"

"I can't!" she argued, recognizing her own panic and forcing herself to explain. "Haruhi's afraid of thunder. Who knows where she is? I've got to look for her."

Panicked, she ended the call and shoved her phone away before turning back to Arai. 

"Thank you. If you see either of them, have them call me right away," she told him, already backing away. 

"Wait-"

Ryo didn't listen, darting off into the rain in search of either one. The rain beaded on her glasses, making it hard to see. It was starting to pour harder with every passing minute, and every crash of thunder sent her heart racing. 

Suddenly a glimpse of ginger hair caught her eye. 

"Hikaru?!" she called out, approaching the figure. He was leaning against a tree, headphones over his ears. "Hikaru!"

Suddenly he looked up, eyes going wide at the sight of her. "Hisakawa?"

"Hikaru, thank god," she panted, racing up to him.

"Why are you out in the rain?" he asked, grabbing her shoulders. "You should go back to the pension."

She wiped the rain from her face. "Where is Haruhi?"

His gaze instantly hardened. "How should I know? Didn't she get a ride with that Arai guy?"

She grabbed his collar. "No, you idiot! She's out looking for you!"

"How's that my fault?" he shouted back, knocking her hands off. 

"Because she's a good friend!" Ryo ran her hands over her face. "God! Are you that oblivious?"

His phone started to ring. As he answered it, she bit her lip and started to look around again, wondering where Haruhi might have ended up. Once the storm got too bad, she would have gone to the closest place she could to hide. She wasn't in any of the stores, so that meant it had to be something closer to the edges of the town. 

"How was I supposed to know?" she caught him mutter. "How was I supposed to know if she didn't tell me?!"

Ryo turned and glared. "That's what friends do. How the hell else do you think she can tell you and Kaoru apart? She cares and she pays attention."

"But-" 

She shoved a finger against his chest. "Clean up your mess, Hikaru. Find her or else I won't forgive you."

There wasn't a need to say anything else, as he was already racing out into the rain, calling her name. Ryo moved to do the same but heard her phone start ringing again. 

"Hello?" she answered, taking a step back under the tree. 

"Hikaru got thoroughly scolded by Tamaki," Kyouya said. "He'll find her."

"I'd hope so since I got to him just before Tamaki," she sighed. 

"You shouldn't be out in the rain. Come back to the pension."

She felt a small grin tug on her lips. "I appreciate the concern but I can't leave her in the storm."

"I trust that Hikaru will make sure Haruhi is safe. Ryouka, I'm asking this not as a classmate or business partner. Please come back before you get sick."

Something caught in her throat. "R-Right. I'll be back soon."

"Thank you. I'll be waiting."

Ryo wiped the raindrops from her face and glasses before she took off, her tongue flickering over her lips. The panic was starting to fade. He was right. She could tell that something had clicked in Hikaru. He was always right it seemed.