"You bastard!" Romano shouted. "I told you, it was squirrels! It's always them, trying to embarrass me!"

"Sí, sí..." Spain just sighed. He didn't feel like arguing anymore. Normally, he was used to Romano cursing at him and getting angry, but lately it was starting to get to him. He knew he shouldn't take the insults seriously, but he now wondered whether or not Romano actually hated him. How could he? Spain had been his boss (well, more like just a guardian considering Romano did not follow orders well at all) for a long time now and had taken good care of him. Then again, Spain at first had attempted to trade Romano in for his younger brother, which was a pretty cruel thing to do. And he probably only made Romano feel embarrassed otherwise whenever he yelled at him for things like wetting the bed. Spain supposed these were pretty good reasons to hate him.

Romano's anger lessened when he saw the guilty look on Spain's face. He was confused. Normally, Spain would scold him even more but this time he just dropped it. "Well, I'm not lying..."

"It's fine, Romano. I'll just go make dinner now. Go wash the sheets."

"Hmph. Fine."

They parted ways, both deep in thought.

"What the hell is up with him!" Romano grumbled as he shoved the blankets into the wash. The frown faded slightly from his face. He now wore a guilty expression, similar to Spain's. "Did I actually hurt his feelings?" He already hated that he always made his boss mad, but now he made him sad too.

Romano was starting to feel frustrated, this situation was really beginning to bug him. "Arghh! What do I care! I don't know what the hell I should even do...!" Romano stood there for a minute, glaring at the floor. Finally, he simply mumbled "This sucks."

Spain stood at the stove, staring blankly into the pot. Why haven't I been more considerate towards him? All I ever do is make him feel useless. No wonder he spends the whole day doing nothing and just refuses to do any of the work I tell hm to do... He sighed again, something he had been doing a lot the past couple of days. "I guess I can't blame him for hating me... Huh-?"

Spain suddenly felt something warm wrapped around his waist. He turned his head to see. Romano, eyes averted, face as red as a tomato, had hugged Spain seemingly out of nowhere. "Romano...?"

"I don't hate you okay?"

"What are you doing?"

"Grr! You've been acting all depressed the past few days! ...I miss that stupid smile of yours is all..." Spain was silent, so finally Romano turned his gaze in his direction. "What!" Spain looked shocked. Romano's face only got redder. "I just don't like you being all sad! It's stupid! And it's stupid to think that I'd hate you-!" At that point Spain had turned around and hugged Romano back.

"I'm so happy, mi tomate!"

"Don't call me that!"

"I was so worried! I'm sorry if I've been too harsh sometimes."

"You...! Urgh! You're not harsh, I'm just useless. I'm an idiot and I'll never be as sweet as Veneziano."

Spain stepped back and crouched down so he could be eye level with Romano. He looked directly at him and said, "That's exactly what I was worried about. You're very cute and sweet and you're not useless. I know you just don't do anything because you don't think that you'll ever be as good as your brother, but that's not true. You're just as good. Romano, I love you, and you should know that!"

Romano felt too embarrassed to say anything other than, "I-idiot." He looked down.

"...You don't mean that do you?"

"...No...stupid."

Spain just laughed. Then he leaned forward to kiss Romano on the forehead. "Mi tomate~"

"GAH! IDIOT!" And Romano's face once again flushed that bright, tomato red.