It was a beautiful summer day at Gakuen Hetalia. The bright glow of the midday sun was beaming down on the lush green grass that was freshly cut the previous day. The birds were singing their sweet songs as they flew past the clear windows of the classrooms.
And sitting on the other side of one of those windows was none other than Arthur Kirkland.
The summer talent show was on its way, and the class was getting everything ready to help prepare for the show. The class representative, Ludwig, was discussing what things the other students would be doing.
"OK, Kiku! I'm putting you and Heracles in charge of lighting!" The German bellowed over the constant chatter.
"I will do my best, Ludwig-san." Kiku replied politely. He looked over at Heracles only to find him taking an afternoon nap. Kiku chuckled and shook the young man gently to wake him up.
"Huh... What did I miss?" Heracles said slowly, looking rather drowsy. The Japanese man smiled sweetly and explained to him about their job.
"Let's see... Feliciano, you will be painting the scenery." Ludwig announced.
"Fantastico, I love painting! This year's talent show is going to be great! Grazie Ludwig!" the hyperactive Italian beamed whilst waving his arms in excitement.
The usually stern German couldn't help but smile at how adorable he was. But he snapped back to reality to continue reading the list. "Ahem, now let's see... Yao and Ivan, you two will be checking to see if everything is safe."
They both smiled and happily accepted the job. "OK Yao, I'll test the trap doors." the Russian stated.
"Are you sure you'll be alright, aru?" asked the Chinese man, a hint of concern in his dark brown eyes.
Violet eyes looked at him reassuringly. "Of course I will. I mean I have you there with me right?" Ivan smiled sweetly. Yao couldn't help but blush at the sweet comment. 'He really is a nice guy, aru.' he thought before he started to discuss with Ivan about what their job.
"Next... Francis you will-"
But Ludwig was cut off by a familiar voice, owned by a certain perverted young blond man.
"Oh, am I the costume designer?" the Frenchman ask hopefully.
"Um nein, that's Feliks and Toris' job."
"Alright, that's, like, totally awesome!" Cheered Feliks, as he jumped for joy, and then hugging Toris tightly.
"Well what about make-up artist?" Francis tried again.
"Nein, that's Ukraine's job."
"Then what is my job!" the Frenchman whined, demanding to know what he would be doing.
"Hmm, let me see. Ah, you and Matthew can be in charge of opening and closing the curtains." The German said.
"Gee thanks." said the small Canadian student, who was a little offended about not getting a more important role.
"But Monsieur, that is a waste of my many talents!" Francis complained, wanting exactly what Matthew wanted; a more important role.
"What talent do you have if you can't even shut that big mouth of yours'?" Ludwig retaliated.
"You'd be surprised at what many talents I have, monsieur." Francis turned to wink at Matthew, who blushed as a response.
Ludwig sighed and rubbed his temples. "I really don't want to know about what you were up to last weekend." Pushing the horrifying thought aside, Ludwig tried to actually finish reading the list.
"OK, Lovino and Antonio, you two will be putting up posters and handing out flyers."
"That should be easy enough to do, right Lovi~?" asked Antonio brightly.
"You're just lucky that I didn't put that restraining order on you yet. Just make sure you keep ten paces away from me otherwise things will get ugly." Feliciano's brother threatened.
No-one ever understood why Antonio insisted on being friends with someone as cruel as Lovino. It's kind of obvious that Feliciano is the complete opposite of his brother.
"Now don't you think that was a little harsh? I mean I am your amigo after all." Antonio said, still remaining cheerful.
"We're friends?" the usually scornful Italian's facial expression softened just a tad. "Sei mio amico?" he asked slightly confused.
"Si! Of course I'm your amigo! What did you think I was? A stalker?" the ever cheerful Spaniard beamed.
Lovino had to chuckle at the stalker comment, partly because it was true.
"Now there's that smile I wanted to see. And I want you to keep on smiling because I want to see you happy. So whenever I'm around, all I want to see is that cute little smile on your face, okay?" Antonio said rather sweetly to Lovino. The Italian couldn't help but feel touched at that sweet remark, but he tried to remain stoic.
"You know... that sounded kind of perverted." He stated sarcastically.
"Hey! I'm being nice to you and you say I'm perverted? That's not very nice." Antonio pouted, causing Lovino to giggle. They then both started giggling together for the first time. Lovino usually wasn't easily amused, but today was different. He was laughing for the first time with his first real male friend. He was more of a ladies' man, and hardly got along with the guys in his class, including his brother.
"Finally, Arthur-"
The Briton jumped at the sound of his name, turning his attention from the scenery outside to the German man standing at the front of the classroom.
"-you will be paired up with Alfred to help decorate the stage with banners and stuff like that." Ludwig finished, glad that he was done reading the list. But before he was about to walk back to his seat, he remembered something that he had to say to the class.
"Oh yeah, I almost forgot, anyone in here who would like to participate in the talent show may do so at the auditions on Friday, but you must finish doing the jobs you have been assigned first. That is all." Ludwig finally sat back in his seat next to Feliciano and started talking to him casually.
Arthur was actually looking forward to the show. He was thinking about going to the auditions, but then realised that he had to finish his job first. Just the thought of it was a total buzz kill. But if it meant that he would get to audition, then he would put up with it. But he was slightly worried. He had been paired up with Alfred F. Jones.
Arthur started to imagine Alfred causing havoc and almost setting the stage on fire. And everyone would blame him for not keeping his partner under control.
Even though Alfred really meant no harm, and he was great friends with most of the class, he was known to be rather clumsy and absent-minded.
'So basically, he's pretty useless.' This is what Arthur usually summarises Alfred as, useless.
"Hey Iggy!" came a well-known American accent. The Englishman turned his head slightly, only to come face to face with the hamburger-loving idiot himself, Alfred F. Jones. "It looks like you and I are now partners." Alfred chirped to the blond teen, giving him one of his flashy smiles and a wink.
"Will you please stop calling me I- wait a minute did you just wink at me?"
The sandy blond chuckled "Wow, nothing get's by you does it IGGY?" He purposefully emphasised the little nick-name that he had given to his fellow classmate.
"For the last time don't call me Iggy!" The Briton practically screamed before realising that he was in a classroom, thus making him hiss the worlds through gritted teeth.
"OK fine then. How about I call you Artie then?" The American teased playfully, that signature smile still plastered across his face.
"I prefer Iggy, thank you." Arthur bluntly stated.
"And besides Iggy, you really need to stop frowning otherwise you're going to get wrinkles." The ever playful Alfred stated. "Oh yeah, that's a real good look to have. Look out ladies." Alfred teased some more and started fanning himself with his hand when he added the 'ladies' comment.
"You know, you're really starting to piss me off now." Arthur hissed in a hushed tone. Silence had fallen upon them until Alfred finally plucked up the courage to break it.
"I take it we're still on bad terms with each other ever since the big fight?" Alfred had a more serious attitude now. He looked at Arthur with a stern look in his crystal blue eyes, waiting for him to answer.
"Yes, I suppose we are." Arthur looked down at his desk. Nothing but sadness filled his emerald green eyes. He glanced to his side only to find that Alfred had already gone back to his own desk.
'This is going to be a long week, isn't it?' This was his last thought before the school bell rang to signal the end of the day.