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Chapter 13: The Plan...?

Japan furrowed his brow as he noticed Seborga whispering to Spain, Spain's snicker following whatever he had said. What were they planning? He stood as the two sloshed through the water to the shore.

Seborga reached forward and grabbed Japan's arm. "Come on, Japan!"

Japan pulled his arm away. "Why? What's happening?"

"We have some schemeing to do, Mi amigo." Spain answered, chuckling.

Japan reluctantly followed them, wondering what they were going to do. He had heard horror stories from Germany about the hijinks Spain got into with Prussia and France. Surely, Seborga was about as bad of an influence. The other two nations strode confidently to Romano, who had yet to look up from his paper.

"What do you want?"

Spain kneeled down and ruffled Romano's hair before pecking him on the forehead. "Come on, mi pequeño tomate, be nice!"

Romano blushed heavily and swatted Spain's hand away. "Okay, okay, piss off!" He sat up. "What is it?"

Seborga plopped on the sand next to his brother. "We have a plan..."

"It's a shock you could use your one braincell long enough... what is it?"

Spain sat next to Romano, propping an arm out behind the both of them. "Have you noticed the tension between Italy and Germany?"

Romano scoffed. "Even America has noticed the tension betwen Italy and Germany."

"Spain and I," here Seborga gestured to Spain. "Have decided that we need to get them together tonight."

Japan furrowed his brow. "Oh, I don't think we should..."

"Finally," Romano inclined his head to Japan. "Someone with a brain. Leave them alone."

"Oh come on, 'Mano!" Spain pleaded. "It's been almost 80 years! You can't expect them to realize anytime soon."

Japan cleared his throat. Little did the others know that they had already figured it out... that they had almost kissed already.

Seborga narrowed his eyes at the shy nation. "You're hiding something, aren't you?"

Japan's usually composed face was covered in a light blush. "I- no, not at all!"

"Wow." Romano lowered his sunglasses, raising an eyebrow. "You're a worse liar than Seborga."

Seborga lightly smacked Romano on the arm. "Shut up, Romano. Come on, Japan, spill it!"

"I..." Japan turned to Romano for help.

He shook his head. "You're on your own on this one."

"Come on, Japan! We can help your friends! You have to be getting as tired of this as we are." Spain tried.

Japan sighed, thinking. It's been almost painful, watching the two dance around each other for this long. For almost a full human lifetime. It was almost as sad as his own unreciprocated feelings... Suddenly, he was struck with inspiration to help his friends. "Okay. Fine."

Spain sat up. "Yes!"

"Sshh!" Seborga hushed, waving his arm. "Be quiet! He's talking!"

Japan shifted under the attention he was getting. "... So yesterday-"

"As recent as yesterday?" Romano asked, sounding interested.

"... yes. So they came back from Rome and they were acting strangely. So I asked Germany what had happened. They almost kissed and he didn't know what to do."

Romano's eyes widened. "Holy fuck."

"Almost? How do you almost kiss someone?" Seborga asked.

"His phone went off."

"Oof." Spain cringed.

Romano pulled the sunglasses off his nose. "Wait, so they almost kissed? They almost touched lips. There was almost contact. It was mutual and all that shit. And he was wondering what he was supposed to do?"

Japan shook his head, surprised that he was relating to Romano at all. "It was lost on me too. The worst part is that Italy asked me the same question earlier before Germany did."

Seborga face palmed. "Mio Dio, our brother is useless, Romano."

"Are you even surprised?" Romano asked.

Segorga smiled. "No."

"Is that all that happened?" Spain questioned, unusually serious.

Japan nodded.

"Okay, here's what we have to do." Spain decided, closing his eyes in thought. "We have to get them drunk tonight."

Romano scoffed. "That shouldn't be hard, they both like their alcohol."

"Then what?" Seborga asked. "You can't just get two people drunk and expect them to get lip locking, I've tried many times!"

Japan raised an eyebrow.

Seborga shrugged. "England and France."

"Now that's a lost cause." Romano said.

Spain. "Try hanging out with France. If I have to hear one more time about England's 'pert ass'..."

Seborga shook his head frantically. "Ew, gross, I don't want to hear about that!"

"Yeah, me neither." Spain replied dryly.

"Okay, focus." Romano said, drawing them back in, much to Japan's relief. "The hell are we supposed to do about Italy and the kraut?"

The four paused in thought, trying to think of what could possibly get them together. Japan opened his eyes as it dawned on him. He had seen loads of movies! He'd seen lots of media that proved that this idea was foolproof. "I have an idea."

The others focused their attention on Japan.

"Would truth or dare work?" He asked.

Romano furrowed his brow. "Could be a long shot."

Seborga snapped. "Long shot!" He leaned over and shook Romano's shoulders excitedly. "That's it!"

Romano slapped Seborga's hands.

Seborga hissed with pain and withdrew his hands, but his smile returned. "Truth or dare or shot."

"So we drink every time we don't want to do something?" Spain asked.

Seborga snapped his fingers into finger guns. "On the money!"

"That could work." Japan decided. "Germany is very competitive, and Italy enjoys those kinds of things."

"The Italian brothers know how to party." Romano said.

"Plus, it could be fun!" Spain said.

"What could be fun?" Germany's voice said.

Japan peeked around the umbrella. Germany and Italy were standing there, their arms laden with boxes of pool toys.

"We're going to play truth or dare or drink!" Spain revealed.

"We are?!" Italy jumped up and down. "I'm a champ at that game!"

Germany looked over at Italy, surprised. "You are? When did you play that?"

"Karaoke night." Italy looked over at Germany smugly.

Romano shuddered. "Ugh. Wish I could forget it."

"Which one?" Japan asked.

"The Fergalicious Incident of 2018."

Spain laughed as Germany let out a suffering sigh. "Oh, yeah! That was great, huh?"

"I think the worst part was the choreography." Romano growled.

Germany blanched. "What?"

"You didn't see it on Youtube?" Italy asked. "It was trending for weeks!"

Germany groaned, sitting down on his blanket. "I can't believe I'm related to him."

"Me neither!" Seborga added. "You need to loosen up! You know a great way to do that? Truth or dare or drink."

"Fine, I'll play."

Japan smiled to himself. Little did Germany know that he dug his own grave.