Chapter 3 folks! Sorry for the late Update...s... TT~TT Really though, I don't even think I have a schedule of when to update. Inspiration for me is hard to come by *gloom* But I WILL write this I SWEAR!
Nyways XDD Thanks all for the reviews and etc! I LOVE YOU GUYS!
DISCLAIMER: I Do not own Hetalia
Please enjoy! XDDD R&R
"Ah! There's someone else here! Hello there, are you a new student? Oh! Were you the one singing just now? You're really good! Veh, could you be that idol that transferred this year?" Feliciano smiled innocently, his head tilted to one side.
Chapter 3: My New Japanese Best Friend
"F-Feliciano-kun! What are you saying?"
"Ve? Am I wrong?"
"IDIOT! You don't just go right to their faces and say that Feli!"
"L-ludwig… s-sc-ary…"
Albert was horror stricken. 'Oh my GOD someone just heard me!' his brain panicked. His heart was beating faster than normal because of the one brunette with the curl in his hair's sudden comment, but his shock slowly died away when the three started to bicker. He didn't know what to think of the situation. On one hand he was terrified of his secret being found out so soon, on the other he couldn't help but find the three's exchange to be just a bit amusing…
At some point, it seemed as though the others had forgotten he was present, and he was debating on whether he should just leave… but again, it's not as though he knew where he was going. He already knew the map was semi-unreliable.
Swallowing once, he decided to call out. "Uhm… hello?"
Immediately, the three stopped talking and turned to him; he shifted nervously on his feet. "Y-yeah Hi… My name is Albert Johnson. I'm new here and… I'm sort of… lost?" he decided to cut to the chase, pretending he was oblivious to their earlier conversation and that he was just singing Hannah Montana a few moments before. (He refused to think about that. Singing Disney songs was one thing. Having someone hearhim singing Hannah Montana songs was a whole new level of embarrassing. Just what compelled him to sing that in the first place?) He flashed an awkward grin for the record.
The brunette, whom he picked up as 'Feliciano', perked up. "Ve! I see, so you're going to the Gymnasium right? We are too! I'm Feliciano Vargas, but you can call me Feli!" he introduced himself, and Albert was able to pick up the Italian accent from the teen's voice. "These two here are my bestest friends Ludwig and Kiku!" he stated, gesturing to the intimidating blond and petite noirette behind him.
Albert gave them a smile and a 'hello' before Feliciano began skipping down the hall. "Ve~ This way's a short-cut to the gym! Follow me!"
The idol-in-disguise made to follow when 'Ludwig' suddenly towered next to him, giving him a critical glance. He gulped.
"Sorry about earlier. Sometimes Feliciano just blurts out whatever pops into his mind" the blond stated; his voice hard and deep and his eyes narrowed in suspicion.
'Dude, this guy's German' Albert thought with a shudder. 'And he's on to me… already...!'
"VEEEH! Luuuudyyyyy!" Feliciano suddenly whined, making everyone jump in surprise. When they turned they found a panicked look on the brunette's face. "I left the pasta in the Kitchen!"
The pop star sweat dropped.
"DUMMKOPF! HOW CAN YOU LEAVE SOMETHING LIKE THAT BEHIND?" Ludwig bellowed, causing the poor Italian to cringe at the volume.
"Ve! I'm sorryyyy!" Feli sobbed.
After a few more moments of silence with a sobbing italian, the blond German let out an exasperated sigh. "Kiku, you go on ahead. I'll just take Feli back to the kitchen real quick" he instructed the quietest of the group, who nodded.
Immediately, Feliciano perked up. "Really?" he beamed, clinging to the blond. Ludwig merely shrugged before walking off. "Luddy is so nice~"
Ludwig refused to turn around.
Albert watched them go, a small amused quirk decorating his lips; forgetting the third presence in the hall, he nearly got a heart-attack when Kiku finally spoke.
"You are Alfred-kun… yes?" the Japanese spoke cautiously, quietly, and this simple sentence sent the idol's into renewed, justified, panic.
This isn't gonna work is it?' Alfred's mind reeled. 'My disguise is paper thin. I'd be found out before the end of the day. Ah~ I even thought things were going well too! I was sure no one recognized me when I got in here! What was I even thinking when I thought hair dye, contacts and make up was gonna work? –Well, they worked with Clark Kent, but that's not the point!— Maybe I really should've just convinced Toris to let me get plastic surgery… but then I'll feel really creepy, and it's no good to get plastic surgery like every other day or something cause I'll have work and something might go wrong and I'll start looking like Cobra Commander and my parents'll definitely be super pissed and the media'll be having field-days all over it and I won't be getting lead roles anymore and they might even cast me as the monster in those Horror Movies and OH HELL NOT THE HORROR MOVIES NOOOOOO…'
His irrational thought process was finally, thankfully, cut off by a firm shake to his shoulders courtesy of his current companion before he started really hyperventilating at the thought of being the Chainsaw Murderer in those really scary Horror movies…
"Albert-kun!" Kiku called as he shook the dyed-noirette awake, sighing when the idol came to. "It is alright, please do not worry. You're disguise works quite well…" he assured, inspecting the taller male. His skin was made paler that the famous idol's trademark tan, his face rounded slightly, and the thick lensed glasses worked to conceal the idol's brown-contacts from immediate view. No one would be able to see through the disguise immediately… unless they looked closely enough of course.
Kiku watched as the teen's thin lips formed into an unsuspected pout. "If that's true then how'd you know?" the blond accused.
The smaller of the turned to the side, a bead of sweat dropping down the side of his face. "Well… you could say I was...erm… well acquainted… with your image…" he stated vaguely, awkwardly in a way. "I promise I won't tell anyone though" he assured with a calm smile.
Alfred's ears perked up a bit, and his eyes brightened behind double lenses. "Really? Awesome!" he grinned, slinging a hand across the asian's shoulders.
Kiku flinched a little at the sudden gesture, but being friends with Feliciano for so long has made him a bit more used to having his personal bubble breached.
"So… are you one of my fans?" the idol in dusguise asked curiously, then, as if just realizing it, added "And you're Japanese?"
Kiku ignored the way the two questions were completely unrelated and just answered both honestly. "I am Japanese, yes, but to no offense I am not…exactly…one of your fans"
The taller wasn't offended by the rejection; instead he seemed more interested on the former's nationality. "Japanese? Really? That's so awesome!" he exclaimed, a bright grin stretching his face. "I've been there a few times and the place is seriously awesome! And, although I'm loyal to American Comics, your Animes and Mangas are epic!" he praised, starting off into a rant about his favourites and how often he ordered manga's from the source even though he couldn't read the writing to save his life.
Kiku's eyes were bright the entire time as he seemed to relate to everything the idol was saying, adding in his own two cents every so often.
It seems Comics and Mangas became their common ground and Kiku became excited with that fact. Maybe he could introduce Albert to the Otaku Club? He was sure Eliza-san would discover everything sooner or later on her own anyway, so perhaps he could get her to back him up.
In the span of five minutes, the two were acting as though they were the best of friends.
They didn't even realize they were already walking until they noticed the crowd of people in front of them. Apparently they have already reached the gymnasium.
"Oh, it seems the Opening Ceremony has begun" Kiku observed, looking around the crowd of people in front of him to see if could spot his two friends.
"Woah, sure is crowded in here" Albert voiced, looking around as well. However, in the time he took to observe his surroundings, the petite japanese suddenly dissapeared from his side. "Huh? Woah, HEY! Kiku?!" he looked again only to face hordes of students moving around him, none of them his new-found Japanese companion.
It seems he lost Kiku in the crowd. He groaned. 'Well, better find an empty seat at least' he thought, pushing through the crowd with muttered 'excuse me's and 'sorry's. In the end, he was pushed somewhere near the front and was thankfuly able to sit down. He didn't know why exactly, but he didn't seem all too worried about Kiku knowing his secret. He supposes it's because the guy seemed more of the silent type, like the incognito-supporting characters in movies. And Alfred is most definitely knowledgeable when it came to his movies.
Suddenly, the lights in the hall grew dim, leaving only the the spotlights on stage where a middle aged man, most likely a faculty member, stood with a mic on his hand.
The Opening Ceremony has begun.
Albert inspected the dark stage a bit. It was his first time in school, and everything was interesting to him –Although not the setting or even the people, but the entire experience of it all – thus keeping his attention slightly on stage where others were chattering amongst themselves.
After a short while, the Principal –Roma— entered the stage with a wide grin; the mischievous twinkle in his honey-brown eyes making Albert uneasy.
"Welcome Everyone to World Academy W. I am Principal Roma Vargas" the old man began, his eyes sweeping through the crowd. "I have a feeling this will be an interesting year" he spoke, eyes landing on the disguised idol just long enough to make the teen shift uneasily on his seat. Then the Principal's grin widened. "Weeel anyways, to ALL students! Make sure you study hard and follow the Rules ok! That means No running in the hallways, no littering, no talking during class and most importantly, NO FIGHTING! And also, did you all know that most of the Wonderful paintings hanging on the walls of this Academy were made by my cuuuute Grandson? Aren't they brilliant?! He's such a cute boy! My cuute Feli~"
"Ve~ Nono!" a somewhat familiar voice called affectionately from within the sea of students.
Albert nearly fell over at completely unexpected speech. What the heck? Although this was his first time in formal school, he was sure that wasn't a normal speech. It seems the Principal really is as eccentric as his teachers make him out to be.
And it seems the old students were already used to it too if the casual atmosphere was anything to go by.
'Wait, Feli? As in that Italian dude from earlier? He's the guy's grandson? No wonder he knows about me… Ooooh Boy….'at the back of his mind, Albert made a note to take a closer look at the paintings the old man was talking about.
"Now here's a speech from your Student Council President, Mr. Arthur Kirkland" the principal announced, and the idol returned his attention back to the stage just in time to see the mike being passed to a blond boy, probably his age, who seemed to have caterpillars for eyebrows.
'Woah, cool eyebrows… eh? Déjà vu?'he blinked.
Later found Kiku beside his two bickering best friends as they walked out of the Gymnasium. No matter how hard he tried it seems, he couldn't at all find Albert in the sea of students around him still. The population of World Academy W. cannot be underestimated after all.
If he was correct, then Alfred should at least be in the same year as him and the others, which means he shouldn't be too hard to find later on.
"Ve, is something wrong Kiku?"
The petite Japanese nearly jumped at the sudden inquiry, and he turned to face Feliciano –who was looking at him curiously. He gave the Italian a small smile in reassurance. "It is nothing Feli-kun. I was just thinking of something" he explained.
The Italian seemed content with that answer when he gave a wide smile of his own. "I see! Oh did you hear Nono's speech? He was cool wasn't he? Ve~ And he even talked about me too! …" the brunette chattered on, getting a light scolding from their German friend because 'they were sitting side-by-side, of course they all heard his eccentric Grandfather's speech' .Then suddenly, the brunette seems to realize something. "OH! That's right, what happened to that singer guy from earlier? He was with you before right?" he asked.
"S-Singer guy…?" Kiku inquired with a sweatdrop. Feliciano may be the most oblivious person in the world… but he can also come dangerously accurate in all his deductions. Ludwig suddenly leaned over too, also interested in knowing the answer.
Kiku gulped. "We-Well, I did escort him here, but I'm afraid I lost him before the ceremony started" he explained truthfully.
"Vee?"
Suddenly, a somewhat-familiar voice rang out, and the three turned around. "HEY KIKU!" it was Albert, fighting his way though the crowd.
Feliciano was the first to react. "Veh! It's him! Buonjourno!" the Italian greeted when the black-haired teen reached them.
Albert regarded the brunette for a moment, slightly intimidated by the sudden pointed stare his way from the German dude. "H-Hey, Feli right? And L-Lud…?"
"Ludwig" the tall blond supplied, and the idol-in-disguise grinned nervously at them.
He turned to Kiku. "Sorry 'bout earlier dude, lost you in the crowd…" he bowed in a very Japanese way.
Kiku mimicked him. "No, it is alright Albert-kun! I was also partly at fault" he stated with a small smile.
Albert grinned at him too. "Yeah guess so. Lots of people here huh? Anyways, do you—" before the idol could say anything more, a new voice –female this time— called out to the Japanese as well.
"Kiku! I've been looking for you! Hey are you free later? I suddenly got this plot for a doujinshi and I totally spent all night writing it out! I need you!" a girl with flowing silver-brown hair stated as she approached them. Then she saw Albert and blinked. "Hello. You're a new face" she grinned, giving him a once over.
The idol shifted under her contemplative gaze, and noticing his discomfort, Kiku took over.
"Eliza-san, this is Albert-kun. He is a transferee" he introduced, giving Eliza a pointed look.
The girl blinked once, twice, before her eyes lit up. "A transferee huh? Elizabeta Hedervary, nice to meet you" she greeted, extending her hand in a boyish manner (a contrast to her appearance in a light green sundress)
Albert took the hand and gave it a shake. "Nice to meet you too" but as he made to pull his hand away, he found the other's grip tightening. He gulped as he looked up at her sparkling green eyes inspecting him rather closely. What was with today really?
A cough. "Eliza-san… you are scaring him" Kiku stated, and the girl blinked in realization.
"Ah! Sorry, sorry!" she bowed, scratching the back of her head. "It's just that… I dunno actually, there's something interesting about you…" she smiled mysteriously.
Kiku sighed a bit to himself. He knew that Eliza-san was perceptive, but not to the point that she'd realize immediately. However she has quite an eye for ships, especially when it came to boys… "Anyways, you said you have a script?" the Japanese inquired, and the girl immediately refocused on him, bringing out a manuscript from her bag.
Albert watched in awe. People could be pretty random, he thinks with a sweatdrop. He was still nervous about the girl's onceover, but then a certain anime he liked was mentioned and he just had to pitch in! It wasn't often he found people to go all out Otaku with!
"You guys draw MANGA?" he exclaimed when he saw the manuscript/'name' in Elizabeta's hands (which was thankfully, safe… for now…).
"Ve, they seem to be getting along well" Feliciano observed from the side-lines, forgotten. Ludwig could only nod.
And that was how Albert officially became a member of the Otaku Club.
The next day found Alfred humming to a familiar tune. The lyrics floating about in his head as he got ready his first official day of school.
I've been working hard so long
Seems like pain has been my only friend
My fragile heart's been done so wrong
I wondered if I'd ever heal again
He frowned a bit as he thought of his past, of his parents, of all the times he'd been alone, and all the fake-ness of the world around him...
Yesterday has come and gone
And I learned how to leave it where it is
And I see that I was wrong
For ever doubting I could win...
Then he thought of yesterday. It had been fun, a lot more than he'd expected for the first day in a brand new environment where he didn't know anyone and no one knew him… (and the people who did know him were kind enough to keep it secret. Alfred was indeed nervous about things… but Kiku and Ms. Maes seemed really cool)
He soon found himself singing.
Oh just like all the seasons never stay the same
All around me I can feel a change
And he'd actually made friends… real friends. (Minus the German dude maybe, he still makes him really nervous with his steely looks. But Kiku is totally a bestie… pretend none of you heard that)
For the first time in his life, he felt free… he grinned.
I will break these chains that bond me
Happiness will find me
Leave the past behind me
Today My Life Begins
A whole new world is waiting
It's mine for the takin
I know I can make it
Today my life begins, Ooh
Alfred decided he's gonna stop worrying about stuff too much and just enjoy his 3 weeks with no strings attached. And even afterwards, he's so gonna make the best he can of the year or two he'll have left of school!
Life's too short to have regrets
So I'm learning not to leave it in the past
and try to forget
We only have one life to live
So you better make the best of it
I will break these chains that bond me
Happiness will find me
Leave the past behind me
Today My Life Begins
A whole new world is waiting
It's mine for the taking
I know I can make it
Today My Life Begins
Today My Life Begins
Once he got to school that morning, his first thought was to go and see Kiku. There was still a good half-hour before his first class started, and Feliciano was kind enough to show him the way to most of his classes when they met for Lunch yesterday (there were no formal classes yet that day, so he spent most of his time in the Otaku Club room with Kiku and Lizzy –whom he now calls her— improving her manuscript and getting it started. Hey, he's pretty good with a pencil ya know!)
When he got to the Club room though, the Japanese was nowhere to be found. Mei-Lin, another member of the club and Kiku's cousin, informed him that the noirette was in the Student Council's Office for some last minute organizing.
The pop-star in disguise was surprised to find out that not only was Kiku the Co-President of the Otaku Club, but he was also the Secretary/Photographer of the Newspaper club AND the Student Council.
Talk about Busy!
And from this news, he wondered to himself if it would be a good idea to visit the Asian at all, he means… he could be busy…
His phone rang once, signalling an incoming e-mail, and with light humming, he flipped the phone open and nearly screamed.
Apparently his pre-ordered Super-Limited-Edition Shounen JUMP issue was tucked safely inside Toris' Mailbox! (He couldn't stay at the dorms and it'd be suicide for him to return to his own condo like this, so the older Brunette was awesome enough to let him stay in his second apartment not far from the school. Alfred seriously loves the guy!)
He TOTALLY had to tell Kiku!
So with only one thought in mind, he speeded through the semi-populated hallways towards the Student Council room and burst in, a huge grin on his face as he scanned the room for his first friend outside of work.
He didn't realize there was a meeting going on there until his eyes met outraged emeralds.
And once again, words were out of his mouth before he could think. "Hey! You're the Eyebrows dude!"
"GET OUT!"
Oops…?