Lovino was quick to make breakfast and pack his lunch that morning so he could get an early start to walking to school. Both Matthew and Gilbert walked with him, and the three were making pleasant conversation as they usually did when they were together. Lovino was standing in the middle of them, an unusual smile gracing his lips as he walked into the school building.

It was only a small smile, barely noticeable except to those who paid attention, but a smile nonetheless. He felt really happy, he was finally together with his friends again and he had a good feeling about the week ahead. The Italian was looking forward to Friday next week, as while he was somewhat scared about confessing he had hope that Antonio would feel the same way about him. He would hang out with him in the afternoon, and sometime during the time they were out he would confess, and the hanging out would turn into a date. He wasn't a very extravagant person and so he saw no reason to try and do some large romantic act since it was out of character and more likely to be taken as a joke than as an actual confession.

As he walked into school Antonio came over to them, giving the other two a large smile and moving to give Lovino a hug. Surprisingly to both of them, he returned the hug, only for a moment before pulling away. He felt too happy to be bitter over a hug, and god only knows how deprived of affection he was. It was tempting to continue the hug, but it was in the middle of a hallway and it would be weird if he did so. Not to mention he had a reputation and people would likely tease him about the hug if it continued. Lovino didn't fail to notice the joyful look in the Spaniard's eyes, though, and it was quick to become obvious that it meant a lot to the other that he'd returned the hug even for a short amount of time.

"Tonio," he stated, giving him a half smile and before glancing nervously at his two friends. "Uh, I can call you that right? Whatever, well... if you don't mind, do you, do you want to hang out this afternoon?" He blushed and fiddled with his sleeves, trying his best not to look too much like a schoolgirl. Gosh, he wasn't even asking him out tonight, that was next week, and already he was a mess. He didn't know how the hell he was going to make it through asking him out, and if not for the fact that Antonio could be extremely dense when it came to all things romance he would have been screwed because he was making it completely obvious that he liked him. He was just trying to be nicer to him, partly because he was having a good day and partly because he wanted to show that he didn't mind Antonio's presence (since he thought it would be strange if he suddenly asked him out with no signs showing that he liked him).

Antonio simply laughed, a joyous sound that made Lovino blush even more, because if his voice didn't seem perfect enough already, Antonio's laugh was so much better. "Of course, Lovi! To both things, of course, since friends hang out and give each other nicknames," he said with a smile, giving him another hug. "And you should smile more, you have a nice smile. Not that you don't look nice usually, but your smile is super cute! Um, I mean..."

Of course at this point Lovino was a blushing mess, and the other male was blushing too despite it being less obvious. "Dumbass," Lovino murmured, lightly hitting his arm to break him out of his rambling and once again pulling away after returning the hug. "I get your point, you don't need to keep on going. And I'm really not cute, but whatever you say."

Antonio looked over to him, laughing sheepishly and giving him a closed eye smile. He was somewhat surprised that he didn't get a more violent outburst or more profanities than just 'dumbass', but he didn't want to put too much effort in it since he might just be having a good day. He did think it was sweet that he was being more responsive to his affections though. It just felt so right to have his arms around the Italian and the other returning the hug. It made him feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, and seeing him blush and hearing him say 'Tonio'? Well, let's just say he would probably be ranting to Francis and Gilbert about it later because it was so damn adorable.

"So about this afternoon, I have an idea! So how about we meet up after school at the front gates, and then we can go to the place I have in mind. If that's okay with you of course," Antonio said excitedly, giving him yet another bright smile.

"Sure, whatever. I'll see you in English so it's not like we have to sort out everything now."

"Great! I'll see you later then, I'm heading off to my locker!" Antonio chirped, his green wings shuffling excitedly behind him as he went to his locker. Lovino looked to Matthew and Gilbert with a small smile, before blushing profusely and going to his locker while the two followed behind him.

"That went well, see, he totally likes you! He only hugged you two out of both of us, and just look how happy he was. You did really good, I know you'll be perfectly ready by next week when it's time for you to ask him out," Gilbert said with a large grin, patting him on the shoulder lightly.

Lovino just blushed more and sighed softly, shaking his head. "But what if someone asks him out before me? What if this afternoon goes wrong? Wouldn't it be better to ask him out earlier?" He had so many worries floating around inside his head and he didn't want anything to go wrong. He knew how hard things could be especially if there was a misunderstanding or something, and he didn't want to lose the chance at happiness he had, since Antonio was the only person he really liked who seemed to truly like him back.

Matthew placed his hand on Lovino's other shoulder and gave him a gentle, encouraging smile. "Look, you just do what you think is right. He's a kind person, he'll understand if you take the time to explain to him. If tonight's the night you tell him, then so be it. It won't be any easier to wait a week than to tell him that you like him tonight, so if you feel you're ready then tell him. You'll know what to do, Lovino."

"I hope so."

x-X-x

Most of the day went along quite nicely, with Lovino enjoying working on the project with Ivan and Antonio. It was a relaxed and comfortable environment and all in all he was having quite a good day. Antonio even asked to hang out with him at lunch, which he didn't hesitate to agree to since he wanted to spend more time with him. Ivan had said Matthew was going to hang out with him at lunch and that it wouldn't be too big of an issue if they hung out. And so, the two spent time together on the school roof, just the two of them, as the rest of the group apart from Francis began talking. Gilbert and Matthew were worried about the state of Lovino's wings and knowing Ivan was studying medical science surrounding wings they wanted to talk to him about it.

"I don't quite see the problem here," Arthur said, concern and confusion present in his voice because of how worried they seemed. "Birds naturally fold up their wings, it shouldn't be an issue, right?"

Ivan shook his head and sighed, beginning to explain with a time of sadness in his voice. However short a time they knew each other, he would consider the Italian a friend. It made him sad to have to realise the consequences and explain them. "Normally, da, that would be the case. But because of the position he has them in to pin them down and prevent them from getting seen, his wings probably have adjusted wrongly to that position. It is like the man that held his arm up for so long that he can no longer take it down. Lovino has been folding his wings severely for a long period of time and it has damaged them. Without seeing them I cannot do much, since it is hard to tell what is an exaggeration and what is not. But it is very likely he will need a brace, should he hope to fly normally and have his wings return to a healthy position. If he does not, in a few years he may reach a point where he might never fly again. It will be the decision for him, revealing his wings to the world to wear a brace, or never fly again."

All three of the other people present were shocked, and they only nodded wordlessly in response to it. "Has he said anything to you about his wings?" Matthew asked softly, hoping that maybe they might be able to convince Lovino to show them to a Ivan so they could figure out what to do.

"When I asked previously about them since I had a few concerns like these before you came to me, he said that because of criteria if he could trust me he might show them," the Russian man explained, his fluffy wings shuffling as he was worried.

Arthur spoke up next saying, "I was told a similar thing just yesterday when we had gotten onto the topic of wings. We were more talking to each other about the wings of the person we liked, since we both kind of figured it out without asking, and it just came up since Lovino mentioned that he didn't think his wings were all that great and I said that I would be the judge of that. I do not know if it means he'd show me, but he said 'maybe you will be' and then walked off since it was time to head to our lockers before class."

Gilbert and Matthew looked to each other and nodded, the latter talking once more. "Look, we'll try meet up sometime in the next week, I want to wait until after Friday though. It'll be too much stress on him since he's planning on asking Antonio out and I know it's obvious to all of us he really likes him and wants it to go well. Then we can tell him, gently and stuff so he has time to process it. I want him to get better, I really do, but when he gets upset he can tend to sneak off flying in the night and I doubt that's good for his wings."

The group nodded and discussed potential plans, before deciding perhaps a sleepover at Matthew's on the Friday night and Lovino can come over after his date (since the plan was for Lovino to ask him out as they were hanging out) and tell them about it. The future, however, held much, much more than anyone could have planned.