WARNING: The following contains spoilers for the Ouran High School Host Club manga.
Haruhi Fujioka is surrounded by attractive, available high school boys in Ouran High School Host Club. In the manga, she does ultimately end up with one of the members of the Host Club, which is quite satisfying after seeing her build relationships with each and every member. It may come as no surprise to readers, but Haruhi ends up with Tamaki Suoh after being continuously alienated by his intense romantic actions, which eventually turn into respect and then affection.
However, was Tamaki really the best match for Haruhi after all? There's another character who's shown to be highly compatible with Haruhi, and may actually be better suited to her personality without forcing it. Hitachiin Hikaru, one of the Hitachiin twins, is a fair competitor for Haruhi's heart, especially against Tamaki.
Is Hikaru The Best Match for Haruhi?
Hikaru had spent his entire life as a single entity with his twin Kaoru, so when Haruhi becomes the first person to tell them apart, Hikaru's world is rocked. She is the first and seemingly only person to tell the two twins apart and easily recognize their personality differences. This causes Hikaru to find a connection with someone outside of his brother for the first time, and he eventually falls head over heels for Haruhi. She makes him feel like an individual and not just the twin brother of Kaoru.
As for Haruhi, she simply wants to be seen for who she is, not what she looks or dresses like. While Hikaru does have moments where he would much rather see her dressed more feminine, he ultimately just likes being around her. In Episode 16, "Operation Haruhi and Hikaru's First Date," they spend some time together during summer vacation and end up trapped in a storm. While Hikaru tends to put his needs before others, he tosses this aside for the first time in order to make Haruhi feel safer in the storm, putting his headphones over her ears so that she can't hear the thunder. Haruhi and Hikaru bring out the best in each other and communicate their needs, even as friends.
Is Tamaki The Best Match for Haruhi?
Similar to how Haruhi brings out the best in Hikaru, she also brings out the best in Tamaki. He's selfish, entitled and self-absorbed by nature, but when Haruhi is around, he seems to drop that facade and actually sees and understands Haruhi's real emotions. Even though they end up together in the manga, the anime leaves off with a mere suggestion that they might have feelings for one another. Both characters struggle with identity and expressing themselves, so in that sense, they're perfect for one another. However, Tamaki's inherent narcissism and a tendency for the dramatic is a huge hurdle in their relationship.
Firstly, it prevents Tamaki from understanding his real feelings for Haruhi, as he often confuses this for "fatherly love," given that he views the members of the Host Club as his family. This proves confusing for him and everyone else in the club, especially Haruhi, as he pays particular attention to her. In addition, he is extremely possessive of her, which is not a favorable look on him. Considering how independent Haruhi is, Tamaki's possessive nature could prove to be a big obstacle for them to overcome.
Who Is The Better Match For Haruhi - Tamaki or Hikaru?
In the end, the manga's choice to pair Haruhi with Tamaki was the most reasonable choice. Even though Hikaru is a fair competitor for her affections, his insanely close relationship with his twin would become a much bigger issue to overcome than anything that Tamaki has to offer. Tamaki has also shown a willingness to change for Haruhi despite his instinct to put his needs first. Ultimately, they bring out the best in one another even though they are challenged by their diametrically opposed personalities. Still, opposites can attract, so it makes sense for Tamaki and Haruhi to be together.
