A/N: Another late chapter, but I have an excuse this time! I watched Deadpool with some friends last night, and I'm just going to say, I actually laughed aloud in the theatre (other people did too, it wasn't just me!) because it was so funny! I'm not about to spoil it for anyone, but if you can, I would seriously recommend trying to see it!

Here's the next chapter of Gakutalia, and happy Valentine's day for everyone tomorrow!


F.V.

He could see Ludwig was trying his hardest. All the pieces had arrived this week, and his friend was finally able to compile it into the stage. Next week, there would be auditions.

They had become accustomed to spending their lunchtimes devoted to sitting around, preparing the Talent Show stage. There was the occasion when he'd join Kiku at Manga Club, but other than that, the pair of them were set to the side to entertain themselves whilst Ludwig figured the arrangements out.

Fel rather liked being allowed to lounge around and do what he liked. He could take frequent naps without needing to be anywhere or concentrating on something else, and when he was awake, he could watch Kiku quietly sketching some new and interesting drawing that he would either document in his Art book or show to his Manga Club. To Fel, this was the life.

As far as organisation went, he had already had Lovino's party sorted. The Hallowe'en bet had worked out extremely towards his favour, since he had saved a load of his share of candy as reserve towards the party. Anything else that had needed ordering had long since arrived. He and his brother had already devised the perfect method of getting rid of their father for the night.

Just watching Ludwig hard at work reminded him how stressful it was to have the responsibility placed on one's shoulders.

"Hey, Kiku, do you think Ludwig would make a good engineer?" he asked, watching his German friend stress about how the lights needed to at least be symmetrical.

"Ludwig?" Kiku raised his head from his drawing and followed Fel's gaze. "Yes, actually. I think he'd make a great engineer; but that's the career he's looking into, right?"

"Yeah, that's what I thought," Fel smiled to himself. "What are you thinking of doing, Kiku?"

Kiku frowned as he pondered this. "Maybe development. Something technology related. And if not that, I'll pursue the life of a Manga artist."

There was a pause. Fel was able to imagine Kiku fitting into those roles easily.

"What about you, Fel?" Kiku suddenly asked.

He blinked, and then frowned in thought. "I'm not entirely sure. I'm thinking of taking a break rather than applying to university, just so I can get some experience in the real world and decide what it is I want to do."

"You look uncertain, though?" Kiku said, picking up on his troubled expression.

"I don't want to still be living at home when I'm in my thirties," Fel admitted. "I mean, Lovino never got into university, and he never tried to apply again. He's twenty, and he's living at home, and it doesn't seem like he'll be moving out any time soon."

"But you've followed the same procedures as everyone else," Kiku said. "You were looking at some art universities, right?"

"I am," Fel replied. "That's why I really want to get in. I want to feel like I'm progressing."

"It's fine, Fel," Kiku said. "You're a very good artist. I have faith that you can do this. Besides, university is also there to get you the skills needed for other jobs."

Fel nodded. "I just want…"

"What?" Kiku asked, when it seemed Fel wouldn't continue.

"I just want us all to be happy," Fel smiled at him. "I want us all to pursue the careers we want, and then, about forty years later, we can all be embarrassing dads surrounding a barbeque with our dad aprons and beers; and if one of us doesn't want a family, then being a single millionaire with a cruise ship to the Mediterranean every year would be just fine."

Kiku looked amused. "Of course we'll all be happy, Fel. Just take opportunities when they come for you. I can tell you that universities will offer you the opportunities you want."

Fel smiled, only to then look towards Ludwig. "Hey, Ludwig. What time are we finishing up here?"

Ludwig turned from where he'd been in close discussion with Matthias. "We're almost done, here. I think, if we continue what we're doing this lunch, we'll only need to spend an extra half hour after school."

Fel nodded. He knew he couldn't wait for his friend after school. He had responsibilities at home that called. However, in the idyllic world, Fel could imagine a lazy afternoon waiting for Ludwig to finish his project, so that the pair of them could walk down to the bus station.

That summer memory where the four of them – older brothers included – had laughed and talked just outside the bus. Fel always dreamed of that moment, always wished to replicate it, but he knew he could never recreate the wonderful memory of that summer. The sun had shone on his back, a warm, golden caress, and Ludwig had been leaning against the bus station, his blazer slung over his shoulder, because it was too hot to wear. Gilbert and Lovino had been in deep conversation with Antonio, but every now and then, the elder Beilschmidt brother would nudge his sibling and include them in the conversation, to ask a question, make a statement, give an opinion, anything.

Then, once the bus had taken enough time doing whatever it was buses did when they weren't on time, Antonio and the Beilschmidt brothers would wave goodbye, board the bus, and be done with the day. Fel would return home with Lovino, and if their father had anything to say, then a younger, more selfless Lovino would intervene and take the blame- needless to say, nothing had changed in that last aspect.

Those summer memories dipped in gold were something Fel always found himself yearning. The only thing he would change about it would be adding the presence of Kiku.

He called this ideal world Tranquility, because one day, Fel intended to walk out with a homemade pizza or three, and serve them to the eager families of Kiku and Ludwig. It didn't matter that it was a potential twenty to thirty years into the future – Fel could wait. So long as Tranquility happened, his dreams would come true.

And that scene would be dipped in the same summer gold.

A.J.

With his bag slung over his shoulder, Alfred prepared to hurry out of the classroom and escape school. However, a hand grasped his shoulder firmly and pulled him aside from the crowd. He turned and met the concerned expression of Francis, with Yao and Ivan in tow.

Arthur had already melted into the crowd, and Alfred was about to point this out, until Francis shook his head.

"What is it?" he asked, wondering what their forlorn expressions were about.

Their teacher had already left the room, which meant they could discuss whatever it was in full privacy.

"It's about Arthur," Francis said, and sat on one of the tables.

Alfred frowned. "What about him?"

"Are you completely oblivious?" Francis appeared to be affronted. "Arthur's barely spoken to us in the past days. Tell me how many times you've had a conversation with him this week."

"I asked him if he was alright in English today," Alfred replied. "But he said he was tired, so we moved on."

"Any other times you've spoken to him?" Francis asked.

Alfred thought for a moment, but then realised he really had barely seen Arthur this week. Numbly, he shook his head in response.

"What about last week?" Francis continued.

"No, I… barely talked to him," Alfred grimaced. "But, come on, dude. Have Yao and Ivan really noticed that much? Why am I getting all the blame for this?"

"That's because we noticed," Yao frowned.

"He's been so quiet that we'd have thought you'd notice," Ivan added. "I guess not, though."

"What do you think's wrong with him?" Alfred asked.

"We don't know," Francis admitted. "He won't tell me, and he's been so evasive that it's hard to corner him and question him about it."

"I don't know, dudes," Alfred shifted from foot to foot. "He said he was tired. Maybe we should just let him… I don't know. Sort things out?"

That answer didn't seem to satisfy Francis, who folded his arms and glowered at him.

"How can you be so selfish?" Francis demanded. "If there was anyone I could rely on to speak to him, then it would be you."

"Me?" Alfred gaped. "Why not you? You've known him the longest."

"That may be so, but you're exceptional with people," Francis countered. "Why don't you realise when you're friends need you? You're always so worked up about your own issues that you miss those around you. You're convenient ignorance of the rest of humanity seems to have served you well so far, but now's the time you put your selfish behaviour aside and notice what's happening around you for once."

"Where is this coming from, Francis?" Alfred cringed. "Why am I being attacked?"

"Because I'm worried about him and he won't talk to me," Francis said desperately.

"If he won't talk to you, why would he talk to me?" Alfred folded his arms. "You're being way too reliant on me. I don't think he'll tell me anything."

"Haven't you ever noticed the connection between the two of you?" Ivan looked amazed.

"It's true," Yao blinked. "Francis may be his oldest friend, but it's undeniable that you're the one he likes to look out for."

"Wh-what?" Alfred blinked.

"It's hard to talk to those you know better," Francis admitted. "I get that. But it's easy to talk to someone you've defended over the years. Arthur sought you out when you first arrived and asked you to hang out with us. Never, in my entire life, have I ever seen him seek out people. I don't know how to describe it, but you and Arthur have a connection that he's never had with anyone else before. Act out of character, show some concern, and he may open up to you."

There was some truth in their words. Six year old Alfred had thought nothing of Arthur asking him to hang out with him, and the same naivety had followed him through until this moment. However, the truth was obvious. Alfred was the friend Arthur could find emergency help from, and Arthur was strangely one of the only people Alfred sought approval from. His lack of enthusiasm towards the band that day had sunk deeper than Alfred himself had realised.

"Fine," he adjusted his bag on his shoulder. "I'll see what I can do. But I'm telling you, I don't think I'll get very far."

He hurried from the classroom and ran in the direction of the car park, where he knew Arthur would be waiting for Peter. His bag was heavy, but he still raced all the way, and saw the golden blonde head of his friend in the distance.

"Hey, Arthur!" he called out, just as he saw Peter join his brother. "Arthur!"

His friend turned his head, looked him straight in the eye, then turned away and disappeared into the crowd. Determined, Alfred pushed through the crowd, suddenly needing to see for himself this bad mood Arthur had fallen into. He reached out and grasped his friend's shirt.

Arthur turned. "What?"

"Dude, you gotta talk to me," he said. "What's wrong?"

"Why would you do this?" Arthur snapped. "Why would ask me in the middle of everything? What common sense must you be lacking to not consider that it's private?"

"Arthur…" Alfred frowned. "Tell me over the phone? In a private place?"

"No," Arthur replied curtly. "No, I don't want to tell you anything. Because it's none of your business. I'm under a lot of stress at the moment and don't need to deal with your shit."

By now, Peter had begun to look uncomfortable, but he said nothing whilst the two older boys faced each other.

"Arthur…?" Alfred frowned, ignoring the pain each of Arthur's words dealt.

"Oh, and whilst we're on the topic of stress and dealing with your crap," Arthur said thoughtfully as he started walking along. "Count me out of your audition. I have more pressing issues."

Alfred stood there and watched Arthur walk away.

Y.W.

"Do you think he'll succeed?" Francis asked, the three of them still standing quietly in the classroom.

"Nope," Ivan opened the door.

"What?" Francis looked at him.

Ivan turned in the doorway with a smile. "No matter how hard Alfred tries, Francis, Arthur will never show weakness to him. You of all people should've known that. Now Alfred's going to get hurt."

The door closed behind him, because Ivan didn't wait for Francis to reply. Yao turned to Francis, who was staring at the door with a pained expression on his face.

Francis sighed. "He's right. Alfred will only get hurt."

"You'd considered that?" Yao asked.

"Of course," Francis admitted. "But… Arthur's important to me. I needed to see that he was OK."

"They'll be fine, aru," Yao patted him on the shoulder. "They always are."

"What do you think Ivan's problem was?" Francis asked.

Yao looked at the door. "Eh, I don't know. But he'll be fine, too. Stop worrying. The three of them will sort themselves out."


A/N: Have a great Valentine's Day, everyone! I will be making cheesecake that day, and catching up with more Downton Abbey, because I'm only just about to start Season 2 and am seriously behind! I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and don't worry about the boys- perhaps Yao is wiser than he looks?

Lovino Vargas: Romano
Matthias Kohler: Denmark
Peter Kirkland: Sealand