You turn to see a face only inches away from your own. Squealing, you fall off of the bench, dropping your manga in a nearby puddle, as it had rained earlier that morning.
Whoever was in your face had gasped, and you turned, to see a man with short, reddish-brownish hair and an awkward curl protruding from the left side of his head. He had amber eyes was wearing a bright blue military jacket with black slacks. You were too busy comprehending what had just happened until-
"Hello? Anybody in there?" the man said, lightly rapping on your head.
"Wha- oh!" You break out of your trance. "Yeah, sorry 'bout that..." You finish, grinning sheepishly while running a hand through your (h/l), (h/c) hair.
"Why are you apologizing? I'm the one who scared you!" He replies, picking up your manga.
The man, whom you've figured out by his accent he was Italian, had carefully examined your manga. Cover seemed fine, but he opened it only to see a few pages had torn and the ink had smeared and still running. He frowned, as well as you. The glint in your (e/c) eyes changed from one of confusion to one of sorrow, and this didn't go unnoticed. The strange Italian had latched onto you and cried, apologies and begs for mercy coming out in choked cries.
"I'm so terribly sorry!" He cried. "I didn't mean to do it! Please don't hurt me!" Now you were a tad confused.
"Don't worry, I'm not going to hurt you or anything, promise." You say, patting his back. He immediately lightens up.
"Ve~ really?! Grazie!" He replies.
"Oh! By the way, what's your name?" You ask.
"My name is Feliciano Vargas!" He cheerily exclaims.
"Nice to meet you Feliciano, I'm (f/n) (l/n)."
After that, you and Feliciano had become fairly good friends. You learned that he had a foul-mouthed brother named Lovino, that his two best friends were a German named Ludwig, and a small Japanese man named Kiku, and that there wasn't anything he loved more than pasta.
After about 20 minutes, the topic of manga came up, which reminded you about your previously ruined one. Both yourself and Feliciano stared at it sadly. Suddenly, Feliciano perked up.
"Hey (y/n)!" He said.
"Yeah Feli?" you reply, turning to him.
"I could replace your book for you if you like?"
"Really?" you perk up a bit. "How? This stopped selling years ago, and the only place you can get a copy of it today is..." You sigh "Japan."
"Exactly!" Feliciano exclaims. Now you're confused. Feliciano notices this and adds on.
"Ve~ You remember when I told you about Kiku, right?" He asks, receiving a nod.
"Okay, well Kiku is from Japan, and he still spends a lot of time there, so he's bound to know how to get a copy! Replacing your book will be as easy as asking Kiku!" Feliciano is grinning from ear to ear now.
"Really? You'd do that for me?" You ask.
"Of course, that's what friends are for, right? Ve~" He says, as you chuckle at his small 've'.
"Thanks so much Feli!" You exclaim, hugging him.
You then proceed to take out a pen and a small piece of paper and write out your address and cell number. You give it to Feliciano, who happily pockets the piece of paper just as your bus pulls up.
"Well, there's my ride" You start, pointing towards the bus "Gotta go Feli, I'll see ya later 'kay?" You shout as you board the bus. As your bus drives away, you look out the window to see Feliciano waving after you.
Maybe coming early wasn't such a horrible mistake after all?
