That afternoon the three of them opened the room at the top floor of the west building. A mouse scurried in front of them while Gil felt around for the light switch.

"That mouse's got to go," muttered Gil. He looked in disgust at the spider webs all around the ceiling and the thick layer of dust covering everything.

"We've got to go," said Francis, not wanting to even take a single step into the room.

Gilbert had asked for help to clean the room just to ask for something and not seem like he'd do anything Antonio would ask for, but now he realized what a good idea it had been.

"No way. My little brother's arriving tomorrow, so this place has to be sparkling today!" he gave each of the other ones a mop and entered the room.

They found the mouse easily, and put it in a small box with holes for the time being, because it was too cute, and they realized that they didn't have it in their hearts to do anything too mean to it.

Francis named it Coco, and Antonio gave it a small piece of cheese he found in one of his pockets. Gilbert huffed and demanded they get back to work.

Francis opened the window to let the air in and set to cleaning all the surfaces. Antonio moped the floor, and Gilbert tried to fix the broken closet door that hung awkwardly from its hinges.

"Isn't there a better room? This place sucks. I don't want my little brother to have to live here alone in some abandoned room," said Prussia. He pushed at the closet door and set it in place.

"I'm sorry dear, but all the other ones are taken. You two were not expected, so finding accommodations has been a challenge. But, may I ask, why the sudden transfer here?"

"Meh, just…,some trouble at our last school. Our parents…," said Prussia, trying to find a way to not say anything too incrimitatory for him or his brother. Suddenly Antonio got up and crossed the room in just a few strides to get to Francis and hit him in the head. "What the hell?!"

"Don't ask him stuff like that! You know I hate it when you're manipulative like that. Geez, you're becoming too much like Arthur!" said Antonio to Francis, then he looked at Gilbert. "Don't mind it Gil. He's secretary of the school council. Whatever your parents told the school, he knows it."

Gilbert glared at Francis. "Fucker."

"Now, now," said Francis, holding up his hands. "I just wanted to hear it from you. I thought I'd hear things from your point of view. But you don't have to tell me anything. I'll just tell you that all the teachers have been instructed to keep an eye on you and to be more strict than usual with discipline. Hall monitors might give you a hard time too, since Arthur told them all to stop you for any infraction to the discipline code, no matter how small."

"Sheisse," muttered Gilbert, slinking to the floor against the closet door. "So, no new start at all, uh?"

Antonio sat down next to him and patted his head. "Don't feel down Gil! Nobody else knows anything about whatever happened before! I have no idea!"

Francis sat down in front of them with a serene smile. "You don't have any idea about anything most of the time, you dork!" he said and laughed. Antonio pouted.

Gilbert realized he really liked their company. Like that, not saying anything meaningful, and yet understanding everything. He smiled.

"Well, whatever. I was an asshole, did some bad stuff and I'm paying my time here. My little brother's arriving tomorrow and we have to make sure this shitty place is good enough for him. Now let's get going!"

He hurried them and in little more than an hour they had cleaned the place completely. They called the janitor to fix the bathroom and make sure there was hot water in the shower. Then Francis got some nice roses and a vase to decorate the dresser, and a small carpet to put in the center of the room. It looked much better than Gilbert's own half of the room with Roderich had, which made him feel better about the whole thing.

It was dark when they closed the door to Gilbert's brother's room and left for their own.

"I'll be signing you up for the gardening club," said Francis, rolling the keys in his index finger. "But remember Antonio, you still need two more people by this Friday."

"I'll find someone!" said Antonio, smiling.

"Maybe Lovino would like to-"

"No. Please don't tell any of this to him! I don't want him to worry."

Francis sighed. "Fine, but he'll probably find out on his own."

Gilbert scratched his head. He was covered in dust. "Who is this Lovino? You mentioned him yesterday."

Antonio blushed and looked down. "W-well, Lovino is this guy. We were neighbors for a while when we were kids and I ran into him here. Could you believe that? It's like, destiny!"

"So you like him?"

"Eeeh? Well, I…hmmm…."

"You do."

Antonio looked away, and Gilbert knew he didn't just like him. He was in love with him. The thought made him smile even more.