A/N: Hey, all! Just posting this a week early, since I'm travelling a lot tomorrow. I'll be gone for 6 days, roughly, but that shouldn't affect next week's posting time. Even so, you know the reason why if I don't post any time soon. I also want to let you know that, in about a month's time, my exam period starts. I'll have about 2-3 weeks where I can't guarantee a stable posting routine, but after that, you have me for 4 months! Once the exams are over, I have no excuse for not posting, because my summer holidays will have officially started at the beginning of June, and I won't go back to university until the end of September! So, no excuses, unless I go on holiday (which I might, huehue...) Anyway, without further ado, the next chapter of Gakutalia!

Chapter 9

F.V.

It was a rough morning.

Feliciano had Germaine's birthday planned for today. It was a perfectly normal Saturday, where Feliciano woke up, made breakfast himself, and enjoyed a peaceful siesta in the back garden. For him, it didn't matter that it was cold. Whether it was a warm sun caressing his skin, or a chilled frost prickling his body, Feliciano was purely grateful that he could close his eyes and have a few extra moments sleeping.

The dream world was far greater than the real one. It was where Fel could escape his problems, where he was safe to float amongst his dream clouds and embrace his dream life. The dream world was a good place.

A tapping on his shoulder alerted him to the real world. Fel sat up and glanced over his shoulder to see Lovino standing in the doorway. Usually, his brother slept in on weekends, and wouldn't be awake until afternoon.

"Lovino?" Fel rubbed his eyes tiredly. "Is something wrong?"

"Why you sleeping outside?" his brother asked.

"I usually do," Fel admitted. "Why?"

"This is what you do during your day?" Lovino glanced around the frosted garden. "You may as well stay in bed…"

"I get hungry, though, and need a snack or breakfast," Fel yawned, and sat upright. "But I do have things to do today, so thanks for waking me up."

"Things to do?" Lovino watched as he stood.

Fel nodded tiredly. "I'm meeting Ludwig, Kiku and some others at the pizza place later. It might mean you have to make dinner… Are you OK making pasta?"

"Dunno," Lovino looked ashamed.

"There's instructions on the fridge for pasta," Fel said. "Or you could just order pizza. Papa won't mind either way."

"Right," Lovino shifted awkwardly in the doorway.

"You'll get the hang of it, Lovino," Fel smiled as he forced himself to stand. "Cooking isn't easy!"

"I know…" Lovino sighed. "It's just… Antonio's at uni, and he's only had his Mama watching over him since he was a little boy; he can cook for himself, and Gil's not too much different. They're both capable, whereas I still live at home and depend on my younger brother."

"You can always help me cook meals?" Fel suggested. "You can learn that way?"

"I suppose," Lovino shrugged. "Yet, at the same time, I can't be arsed."

"That's fine, too," Fel walked past him. "Did you want breakfast, Lovino? You're not usually up at this time so I haven't made you any…"

"That's fine," Lovino followed him. "I dunno. I'm not that hungry…"

"Hmm, I'll get you some cereal," Fel nodded. "You need to make sure to eat in the morning!"

He busied himself preparing a simple bowl of cereal as Lovino watched him. He never blamed his brother for his incapability. Lovino had failed all his exams in Year Thirteen and had left the education system promptly after that. Even though it had greatly bothered him, he never went to university with Antonio and Gilbert, yet also refused to retake his year. He spent about a month at the Carriedo household, leaving Fel at the hands of their ruthless father. That summer had been very difficult… Even now, Fel sometimes got the feeling Lovino could never forgive himself for leaving him like that. After his short period of misery, Lovino picked himself up. He found himself a job that paid enough for him to survive and pay the bills, he began to defend Fel with his life, and that was when the tension between him and their father built up once more. Fel, once again caught in the middle, had to defend the Vargas name by brushing the conflict under the rug and taking each physical and emotional hit without a complaint.

That was how he'd coped, alongside the dreaming. Pretending nothing wrong was happening around him. Sometimes, he wished he could just talk about it to Ludwig and Kiku, but he felt ashamed of his father's behaviour, and his own actions. He was weak and let himself get pushed around, whereas Lovino had tried to fight back and still attempted time and time again. It was Fel who remained the easy punching bag, the encouragement for such behaviour with his weak pleas and subservient nature.

He handed the cereal bowl to Lovino, pushing those dark thoughts aside. It was when his mind became clouded that it became too difficult to bear. He needed to prevent himself breaking down, for fear that the truth would come rushing out alongside his emotions. Feliciano Vargas had the purpose of hiding everything.

L.B.

His day began at six-thirty in the morning. He dressed, brushed his teeth, gelled his hair back and then dealt with any laundry that his father hadn't already gotten around to doing. The house was cleaned within an inch of its life, but if Ludwig deemed anything a little unclean in the slightest, he would sort that out. It was only two people cleaning the house since Gilbert had gone to university. Ludwig could only hope he would keep doing the laundry.

His father had already gone to work by the time he was awake. He wouldn't see him until the end of the day, and he was to be out then, so all he could do was leave a brief, shorthand reminder on the fridge in the form of a post it note attached with a magnet. He had a busy day ahead of him.

Ludwig started with work. It was always good to get work out of the way. Perhaps he should also call Fel, just to make sure he remembered to do his work? He decided against it, with the excuse that it was only Saturday, and Fel could do his work tomorrow.

F.B.

It had been under Yao's suggestion that he'd invited Ivan along. After what had seemed like a continually rough week for him, Yao had taken pity and decided to include him on their activities. Francis had never truly dreamed of someone else joining them, but he was not against it, either.

Ever since he could drive, Yao had exercised the use of his car as much as he could. He had started picking Francis up from his house, rather than the chauffeur guide them around town to the delicate little restaurant on the corner. It was just out of sight, but good feedback and reviews had made it especially popular. It didn't just serve food, but also little classes.

Being the gourmets they were, Francis and Yao enjoyed good food, even if it meant they had to take charge and make it themselves. Yao had been positive that Ivan would share their love of delectable meals.

As they'd never actually been to Ivan's house before, neither of them had known where it was. Yao had had to figure it out on the vague instructions Ivan had provided. Francis had helped with directions, and when they'd found the house, they'd been surprised. Neither had expected Ivan to live in a gothic, secluded manor just outside town. They had sat, stunned, in their car, staring up at the house that looked more suited in a horror film.

Ivan had come hurrying out upon seeing their car and had climbed in the back. He had been perfectly pleasant, but Francis had to remind himself it was not them who he was mad at, but Alfred. Ivan had no reason to be aggressive towards them, and Francis shouldn't have expected him to act negatively.

"This place is so nice," Ivan looked around the little bistro, a wide smile on his face.

It seemed he'd liked the idea of attending their Saturday cooking class with them. He'd been enthusiastic throughout the car journey, and he was brimming with the same excitement.

As they were cooking, he became increasingly lost in thought, until Francis had the nerve to inquire.

"Is something the matter, Ivan?" he asked. "You look like you're on another planet."

"I was just thinking about these Buddies of ours," Ivan sighed. "Did you guys get one?"

"Yes, we did," Yao pursed his lips. "I have to babysit Yong Soo for the rest of this term, aru."

"I have the lovely Lien," Francis smirked. "I'll make her fall for me eventually."

"Well, I have a girl called Mei, but we really haven't started off well at all," Ivan admitted, and Francis worried his Buddy was only causing him additional worry. "I creeped her out and insulted her without meaning to… I got the feeling from the start she didn't like me…"

"Hmm, well, I know a thing or two about women," Francis said. "Perhaps I could offer a couple words of advice? What happened?"

"I complimented her hair out of the blue," Ivan grimaced.

"Despite only just having met her?" Yao cringed.

"Yeah, but in my embarrassment I claimed it was a joke," he sighed. "I could tell I offended her and she didn't seem inclined to talk to me again."

"Well, that was one fuck up after another," Francis chuckled. "Have you never spoken to a girl before, Ivan? Sisters don't count!"

"Well, duh," Ivan rolled his eyes. "No, not really…"

"Wait… you have never spoken to a girl before?" Yao leant a little closer.

"Of course I have spoken to girls," Ivan folded his arms, agitated. "Just… never with intent on getting to know them."

"Ah, I see," Francis waggled his eyebrows. "I didn't realise you were that type, Ivan."

"I think you misunderstand me," Ivan frowned. "No, not like that, just… as a friend."

"You've never even been friends with a girl?" Yao asked.

"Hey, Yao, you are a fine one to talk," Francis scolded. "Needn't I remind you about your lies concerning Elizabeta in Year Ten?"

"Please don't," Yao groaned. "I'm surprised she ever forgave me."

"He told everyone he'd made it to fourth base with her," Francis explained to a confused Ivan.

"Oh," Ivan glanced at Yao. "Why?"

"Why do you think, Ivan?" Yao glowered at him. "Because I was a stupid boy who thought he was cool, and she was hot. She still is, aru."

"This is not helping me deal with my Buddy," Ivan frowned. "You're giving me relationship advice, not friendship advice."

"Ah, your Buddy…" Francis paused in thought, halfway between kneading dough. "I… could say… just try and arrange a hangout time with her during school. Get to know her, but let her know you as well. She's probably nervous, that's all."

"Yeah, try to be welcoming," Yao said. "That's what Francis did with Lien and she managed to speak up a little."

Francis watched as Ivan mindlessly kneaded his dough.

"OK," he nodded. "We'll see how it goes."

F.V.

Yes, it had been an ordinary Saturday. That was until his father had woken up early and encountered him on the stairs. He had stood there, taking the violent abuse hurled towards him. It was often like this. It was his fault their mother had left, because the first child had been bad enough.

Feliciano could feel himself get shaken, trying to snap him out of that blissful dream world where everyone was happy.

"Get off him," Lovino shouted from the bottom of the stairs.

"You ruined everything," Papa yelled into his face.

His eyes stung with tears. It was normally Lovino who took the hits. It was normally Lovino who defended himself. Fel rose his hands to block his face, trying to drown out the real world.

"If it wasn't for you, Mama would be here with us," Papa cried.

"Don't be fucking delusional," Lovino yelled, an edge of worry in his voice. "She left because of you and your shit personality, not Fel."

"Papa, please stop," Fel gently held his father's wrists. "Papa, you're scaring me."

"Neither of you know nothing," their father's breath smelt of stale alcohol. "It's not my fault she left."

"We can sort it out," Fel tried. "We can all be happy one day, I promise."

"You can't promise for shit," his father lashed out, and Fel jumped back, terrified-

-and lost his footing.

L.B.

They were waiting ages for Fel. At this rate, they would miss the film, but there really was no sign of him. Ludwig was about to call him when he himself received a call.

"Fel?" he answered. "Where are you?"

His friend laughed nervously from the other side of the phone. "I won't be able to make it today, Lud. I'm very sorry!"

"What?" Ludwig frowned. "I'd be fine about you cancelling, but this is very last minute?"

"I know, but I lost my footing and tripped down the stairs," Fel replied. "Silly me!"

"W-what?" Ludwig frowned. "Are you OK?"

"Oh, yeah, sure, I'm fine," Fel laughed again. "Enjoy the film and pizza, right?"

"Um…" Ludwig didn't get another word in, because Fel disconnected the call. He glanced awkwardly around the group. "Fel won't be able to make it due to… unexpected circumstances."

"Oh," Michelle looked surprised. "Is he OK?"

"He's fine," Ludwig sighed. "He said to go on."

He exchanged a brief glance with Kiku before the pair of them went in. It seemed they would have to suffice without Fel…

A/N: Thank you for your patience, and I'm glad to be getting more stable with my posting routine! A quick note: I know canon Lovino is an absolutely excellent cook, but he's a bit shaken in this AU, bless him. Until next time!