The cafeteria was crowded that Friday morning, official day one of classes at Hetako academy. The excited noises of talks was going nicely, and one had to elbow their way to move at a decent pace between the overwhelmed tables. Which didn't really bother Ludwig.

Aged sixteen, the German third year student already had a respectable height and a nice athletic look, perfect to fray his way in the screeching crowd of pupils and impress all the most daring out of getting on his nerves. Well, "all" obviously didn't include his brother who was wildly wiggling his arms from his table so that he'll come and sit next to him and the two pains in the neck he called his friends. Ludwig, in a theatrical overdone effort, looked away as if he hadn't seen anything and looked for another seat where he could lay down his tray and eat in peace, even if he had to go outside.

It was counting without the tenacity of the albino boy who appeared right in front of him and grasped his arm to bring him and sit him at his table, all of this under the very personal laughs of the trio. It was the first day, the new kids just arrived and all the students had been warned a week ahead so that they'll remember to look normal that day, Ludwig thus had no other choice than to endure the dumb authority of his beloved older brother.

"Well, Luddy? Have you gone blind since yesterday? Or do you don't like the company of your awesome bruder anymore?

"Neither, Gilbert," her sighed as he started eating his potatoes sauté. "I never liked your company. That's very different."

"Kesesesesese, my Lud' hates mornings! But I know you're just teasing, lil bro'!"

Since the lil bro wasn't answering, the albino focused again on his two friends who were munching on their breakfast while listening to the conversation in a not-really-discreet fashion.

"So, Nini? How's your girlfriend? Did you finally get a home run, this summer?"

Antonio choked on his tomato juice as Francis smiled mischievously, hidden behind his hot chocolate.

"Gigi! Rude! We'd said we won't talk about it while eating!"

"It's breakfast. It doesn't count. So?"

The Spanish rolled his eyes.

"Nothing new under the sun, mi Corazon," he grumbled as he scanned the table, five meters away, where said girlfriend was getting ecstatic about NC-16 pictures along with a hyperactive Hungarian girl.

"Seriously? You're still a virgin? That girl is your bitch! Tell her one word and she'll jump in your bed!"

"Honhonhon… I know very well why you are taking so much time, my Nini… Honestly, that's cowardly from you…"

"Cici, it's already a pain to be you pal because we can't hide those things from you so no need to be a blabbermouth on top of it!"

"What? What? Dude, tell! We didn't see him in two months while living on the same floor, if he doesn't talk he's screwed!"

Francis giggled, Antonio suddenly felt like admiring the apple core he was munching on and Ludwig did a beautiful facepalm to show the he participated even if it didn't made him enthusiastic.

"Our little Nini is scared to hurt his gentle Bella when he'll tell her he isn't sure about his feelings for her. I actually understand. There is her psycho-crazy yaoist friend and her eighteen years old brother who already cannot stand him, so a vengeance would hurt…

Gilbert burst in laughter as the Spanish backed off into his chair.

"Wow dude, you're getting better… You probably looked for a while before finding out all of this…" the brunet grumbled as he exterminated the remains of his cereals at the bottom of his bowl.

"But do you love her or not?"

"Well I don't know, that's the problem! She's nice, super cute and all. I love it when she comes to see me when I sleep until ten AM to tell me she made me waffles with all her love. I love it when she cheers me up after I get bad grades. And I also loved the week-end we spent at the hot springs – you know? The ones the principal just opened in the mountains around the campus. And she loves tomatoes, like me, and…"

"Then what is your problem, Tonio? You're the perfect couple, why are you hesitating?

"I don't know! That's why I feel bad! She's perfect and I'm being picky and I hate myself for this. I love that girl, but when I look at her I don't feel like doing her at all, you know? Not to mention that I can see how much she loves me and that if I tell her this I'll just break her heart…"

"Well dude, aren't you screwed. Besides, you're the only virgin in the group, now."

"I know, I know…"

"Honhonhon… You know I could take care of this real quick, mon trésor à la tomate?"

"No thanks, mi amor perverso."

"Gigi didn't mind my help, though…"

"I didn't need help, it's just that I am way too awesome for all those normal girls…

"Normal, uh… I don't think that's the word…"

"So, since none of them wanted to have something with you, you let your best bud pop your cherry."

"So eins : it's not that they didn't want my awesomeness, I didn't find one good enough for me. Zwei : I asked him and I was on top, he didn't "pop my cherry". And drei : Cici is really good at this, so shut up, virgin!"

"Thanks, Sweetie! It's all about training, you'll see."

"But I thought there was that pretty Hungarian that you liked, Elizaveta. She's Bella's best friend and since you keep clinging to her I thought that maybe…

"Me? Liking that violent yaoi-addicted feminist tomboy? I hope you're kidding, Nini! She's cute, okay… But… But…

"Dude, remember. First year here, you assured me that even if she already had a boyfriend she was your main target and it was only a question of days before she feel for you. Three months later, you burst into my room crying because she had rejected you for the fifty-sixth time since the beginning of your flirting."

"I can't always be this awesome, don't ask for the moon! Besides, I'm okay now, I'm over her!"

"That doesn't change the fact that you still don't have a girlfriend! Talk about glory…"

"Say, you cabaret-flirt! Okay, you had more than enough girlfriends, but never for more than a week. And I didn't mention that cute English boy you keep starring at during breaks…"

Francis frowned immediately.

"Stop kidding me with this, guys… Arthur is… Not like the others, that's all."

"You almost look in love when you say that, mi amigo!"

"Of course no, Nini. What are you saying? Francis Bonnefoy, greatest ladykiller of all history, in love for real? What a joke!"

And it was the French boy's turn to lay back in his seat as his two pals laughed their lungs out. Truth be told, he was afraid he was indeed in love with the pretty little English with large eyebrow. Even the thought that he could curse him didn't stop him. With his lonesome, slightly disdainful, rebel and – he had find this out later – intimately fragile personality, Arthur had fascinated him since their very first meeting, three years ago, on the first day of classes. Thinking he was purely hetero at that time, he hadn't really mind that thought and had just flirted with all the girls he could find… At thirteen year old, right!

That didn't mean Francis was totally indifferent to the young English. He had tried to be his friends, sitting next to him at the cafeteria, asking for his notes or offering to take him to the different school events. But as much as he tried to be nice, he had only got vexing words and cold gazes in return. It was like Arthur was allergic to his presence. Or any human presence, actually. He was always the last one to choose a partner in PE, categorically refused to attend any party or dance that were really common on the campus, and never let anyone outside of his family touch him. He was lonesome and a lot of pupils liked to mock him about it. But the French wasn't disgusted at all, he was actually quite intrigued. He seemed to have a secret to tell. A dark past? A psychological issue? Something else? It didn't mattered, he was dying to know.

This desire turned into a dare when Francis discovered he was attracted to males. Arthur was the only person, up to this day, who could resist his flirting technics. And you know what they say : "you always want what you can't have". The English was out of his reach, yet he attracted more and more the playboy that was the young French. As for a revenge, he flirted more and more like a real Don Juan. But nothing seemed able to move Francis's heart anymore, except for the cold gaze of his favorite English. Since then, he only admired him from afar and constantly teased him, which was the only way he could think of to get his mysterious Arthur to notice him…

His two besties knew this, even though he never clearly admitted it. And even though they teased him about it, they'd never go much further in their friend's feelings. Which is why, once they were done laughing, Gilbert quickly oriented the conversation on something less delicate than his pal's sentimental state.

"What about you, Luddy? Will my little bruder loose his virginity, this year?"

The "little bruder" didn't answer as he was busy pretending he didn't hear anything. He was hurrying to eat his breakfast, hoping he could escape the albino's predictions about his love future. Said albino didn't like his silence and kept speaking.

"Come on, you're not gonna tell me you don't like anyone, in the entire school, even just a little? Look, there are all the new kids and some of them are really cute!"

"You know very well that's not the problem," Ludwig grumbled, glancing unsurely at the "newbie corner", the three tables on the left of the water fountain.

All the first years were gathered there, under the vigilant yet discreet gaze of professors standing around. The tall blond noticed auburn twins looking away from him, a feminine presenting though sexually undetermined creature and a little boy who had probably skipped several grades to be there.

"Then what is the problem?" Gilbert said to draw his brother's attention back. "Don't tell me you still hope to find that girl?"

"I never said…"

"Oh please, stop it." The albino interrupted him, rolling his eyes. "I do know you want to see her again. I told you : she lives in Italy. We don't know her name or address and all you got from her is a vague memory that passed through your amnesia crisis and a picture you took in primary school during a carnival. That kid was seven! She must be the double now. You have more chances to win the lottery than to meet her again!"

When Ludwig stood up from the table to put his plate to wash, Gilbert understood he had gone too far. But he wouldn't apologize. That would have meant he was wrong and he was way to awesome to be wrong!

But why was his brother this sensitive about this one memory from before his accident?

"Alright, let's recap the club's goals for this year."

Bella nodded, more focused on the list the Hungarian and she had just finished than on the sugared waffles going cold on her plate. The cafeteria's constant brouhaha was the perfect cover against anyone trying to listen to their conversation. The situation was dead serious.

"One : make sure no one is alone during February Bal."

"Okay," the Belgian confirmed.

Last year wasn't a catastrophe since most people had had the nerve to dance with someone. But the time, the unadmitted goal was to make long-term couples. February Bal was the best time to check the advancement of their different projects and to make priorities for the end of the year.

"Two : find someone for Ludwig, Alfred, Toris, Berwald and Rachelle."

"Okay," the pretty blond said again.

Five persons to set up. For a year, that was reasonable. The too numerous attempts from last year had been literal fiascos. You just had to see how they messed up trying to set up the "adorable shy shota" (alias Raivis) with a really nice last year guys that wasn't quite fond of their work. This time, they needed to take the time to evaluate the situation before their matchmaking plans.

"Three : opening Arthur, Yao, Gilbert, Heracles, Sadiq, Lukas and Emil's eyes on their love situation."

"Okay."

Saying some people in the academy weren't honest about their feeling was a euphemism. The seven chosen persons were only priorities. Sometimes, Bella felt like she and her friends from the club were the only ones able to see who loved who. The girls trained for hours to gain some tact and try to prove the students they had feelings for someone, or the other way around.

"Four : stay away from the psycho-trio."

"Okay," cringed the Belgian.

Last year, they had tried to found someone for the two sisters of Ivan, the biggest bully of the school. It hadn't really worked… long story short, they ended up with death threats from the Russian giant if they "didn't leave his two innocent sisters alone". When Ivan threatens, he's not kidding, so they didn't insist.

"And last but not least : take as many pictures of the new couples as we can!"

"Double-okay!" smiled Bella.

Now they were talking! The club's photo-album was way, way too empty for their taste. This years, they would have to surpass themselves to immortalize the best moments between the lovers! Besides, a former member that had finished her studies last year had send them some material that will definitely help…

"Say, Bella, can I add a sixth entry?"

"Hum? And what would that be? Talk Berwald into helping us in the shipping?"

The Belgian smiled as she thought about it. The Swedish student, though scary, could really be a great help with his… abilities. They had even asked him several times for some advice last year but he had sent them away saying they should find a way themselves. Or at least that's what they had understood from his unarticulated gibberish…

"Oh, right, there's that too!" exclaimed the Hungarian. "But that's not exactly what I want to talk about."

"Then what?

Elizaveta paused, slightly unsure.

"Well… You know… I was thinking we should do something about the situation between you and Antonio…"

"Oh… Yeah, there's that too, it's true… But it's fine, nothing urgent…"

"Bella…"

"It's fine, really, Eliza! I can manage…" she paused, thinking. "… Yeah, no, actually you're right, I do need some advice."

"See! Ok, so… We'll find something but it depends on what you want."

"Yeah, well I'd like to know what I want too… It's crazy, I love him, I know it but… I don't know…"

The beautiful brown-haired Hungarian scratched her chin with a focused face, sign she was thinking seriously. That sat in silence for a few seconds.

"… Have you tried turning him on?"

"Not that loud!" the blond hissed, panicked. "Of course I tried, what do you think? We were at the hot springs for two days during the summer vacations. See what I mean? Him, I, almost naked in hot water, beautiful scenery, a few clever suggestions when I was in his arms…"

"Well?"

"Nothing. He was as sensitive as a brick wall. I think he didn't even get my hints. And before you ask, no, I wasn't "too subtle". Not at all. I was talking like a whore, I'll never do it again, it's way too embarrassing!"

"… Well maybe he's just in the closet. That wouldn't surprise me."

"E-EH? Are you serious? Him?"

"I don't wanna hurt you, Bella, you know me. But you have to admit it's kinda suspicious. It would explain a lot… Try imagining for a second."

Bella closed her eyes. She imagined her Spanish boyfriend, his body hot as ember, his tender and loving eyes, giving his passion to another boy, a cute uke a bit wimpy but not too much, kissing him, cradling him, drowning him in the heat nailed into his body by the Spanish sun… Her heart stung a little but the mental show was… How to say that… captivating. She bit her lips without opening her eyes. True, her boyfriend would be such a great seme… If he actually had that kind of interests… It was still possible, after all, and it would be like him not to realize it…

"Raaaaah, it's so complicated!" she complained as she opened her eyes over her best friend. "You're so lucky! How did you found one that is nice, intelligent, polite, loving, good at music, with a rich-ass family… Actually, he's perfect! Seriously, where did you get him?"

"That's a secret, sweetie," Elizaveta laughed. "And he's nit that perfect. But almost! And loyal with that, you'd see how I caught Sophie hitting on him the other day! He didn't have a reaction! But I yelled at Sophie, she won't do it again, that's for sure!"

They shared a smile as the bell rang. The speakers resonated with the principal's deep voice, ordering to all the students to go to the amphitheater for the information reunion. They glanced at the newbie corner as they left. The show would probably be amusing…

Tino swore for the third time since he'd left the cafeteria. Of course! Of course he could found his way to the dorms to get pens! Of course he could find his way back to the amphitheater after this! Of course… not!

Long story short, the young Finnish boy was lost. Not only did he not have his pencil case, but he was also late for the information reunion planned this morning. No better way to start a school year. Panicked and annoyed, he was running in the corridors, hoping to find another latecomer like him who'd show him the way. He turned left, right, took two stairs, went back, turned again… and that's when drama came. A concrete wall had suddenly had the brilliant idea to place itself in front of him. Or at least, that's the only possible explanation that came to Tino's mind when he was violently thrown on the ground, his two notebooks slipping out of his bag.

He sat up and had to wait till he gained back the slightest sense of balance in order to glare at the obstacle that had placed itself on his way. He immediately regretted it. He didn't actually hit a concrete wall like he thought. He had simply ran into a blond giant carved in stone with a face that could freeze your veins. A real scaring-machine with a furious ice-colored gaze, outlined by thin glasses. In other words, he had hit the person he shouldn't have.

The man was staring at him and Tino wasn't at ease at all. He would have said something to apologize but those freezing blue eyes were petrifying. After a moment that seemed like an eternity, the giant squatted down to him, diving even deeper into the brown and frightened eyes of the Finnish boy who had no idea what to do. He tried to calm down the frenetic pulse of his heart he found way too loud at the moment. Don't move, don't panic. It's like a bee : if you stay still, there is no reason for it to come and sting you. At least, in theory.

Slowly, the stranger's unmoved face changed into an expression of… surprise? His eyes widened slowly, his eyebrows raised on his forehead, his jaw almost dropped. Seeing this, Tino kinda wondered if he had something on his face to draw so much attention from this man, but he didn't have the time to ask the question. The stranger stood up and took his hand to help him back on his feet before bending down to pick up the two notebooks on the ground.

"Th-thanks…" Tino stuttered when he took them back. He quickly put them back in his bag, under the once again unmoved gaze of the giant blond. And, when he realized he had the ability of speech again, he added : "I'm so sorry I ran into you! I wasn't looking where I was going and I was in a hurry and I dodn't know you were there. I should have been more careful, besides, you're not easy to miss! I, I mean, I don't mean you're… Well…"

"We're late."

Tino suddenly stopped. Not to mention the fact he was hearing that man's voice for the first time and honestly it was as deep as he was scary, but the giant just had brought up something that made him panic on the spot. "Shoot! You're right! The amphitheater! I have no idea where…"

"C'me."

Without another word, the stranger took him by the hand and guided him through the corridor. He was walking fast and seemed to know where he was going. Tino had some trouble following him but his guide's huge hand was pulling him forward with a surprising gentleness, considering its size. Looking at his clothes, the Finnish boy realized he was wearing the school's uniform. So he was actually a student? How old was he? Well, he wasn't going to stop and question him… But still! He looked like and adult! A last year, maybe? Yeah, probably. Definitely.

They git down to the first floor and left the dorms. Tino bit his lips when he remembered Luna saying the amphitheater was outside. They walked for a few minutes before Tino sa a few students entering a building that vaguely looked like a gym from afar. They quickly entered.

The amphitheater was probably the most impressive place of the academy. The large room, inside, was circular and divided in two halves : a scene that prolonged itself to the middle of the room and was completed by curtains and a hidden backstage, and bleachers divided by stairs in nine different sections. Obviously, the eight first corresponded to the eight classes of the academy while the last one was reserved for the teachers.

Tino felt uneasy, and a few gazes on him, more precisely on the hand his makeshift guide was still holding in his. He wanted to ask him to let go but he was cut short once again :

"Yo'r n'w?"

"Uh… Yeah, I'm a first year."

"I'm a th'rd year. Yo' n'me's Tino, right?"

"Yeah, but how…"

"I'm Berwald. And yo'r my w'fe now. See yo' l'ter."

Then he let him go and went to sit in the third section, right next to a guys with spiky hair who greeted him with a large smile and a friendly punch. As for Tino, he stood there for a few moments, stunned. That guys he'd just met had he really called him his "wife"? Uh? What did that mean? Did he think he was a girl? Now, he was dressed as a boy. Then maybe he didn't understand? That wouldn't be surprising since the other mispronounced everything. But then, what did he mean? He kept trying but couldn't think of an explanation for his strange behavior. After a few moments, he ended up going to sit in the first section, right next to little Peter he shared his room with.

Since the reunion still hadn't begun yet, Tino allowed himself to quickly analyze his class's students. He quickly realized there was quite few of them. There was roughly a dozen of pupils in each section, and the last year was the largest group, probably because of the ones repeating their year. He noticed a blond brother and his sister at the front row. The boy was literally looking daggers at anyone who dared to look seeming to appear having the idea to try and sit next to them. Further, near the middle, auburn twins were making a scene. From what Tino understood, one of them had had the nerve to come sit next to the other and was now being yelled at by his brother. He ended up leaving, head down, and went looking for the company of a short Asian boy playing statues two rows lower. He seemed to seriously view the option of running away screaming but held back his urge and stayed put when the unwanted mate started babbling next to him. Finally, there were three girls, a blond and two brunets, chattering in the back row.

The Finnish boy couldn't pursue his observations. Luna had just entered the scene. For that occasion, she was dressed in a strict and serious night blue outfit. She tapped her microphone to catch the attention of the numerous students talking on the bleachers. Since that didn't work, she asked for some silence, once, twice, three times, before letting out a discouraged sigh. She ended up sending a pleading looking to a third year boy, a blond and muscular guys who was among the only ones that weren't talking. He nodded knowingly, stood up, opened his mouth and…

"SHUT UP, EVERYONE! THE CO-PRINCIPLE TRIED TO SPEAK THREE TIMES JUST NOW SO SHUT IT AND LISTEN YOU GRUBS!"

His scream was so loud the walls of the amphitheater shook. Most of the students felt their ears hiss and some of them shrieked in terror. The announcement had the expected effect, no one tried to speak after this. Luna cleared her throat before she spoke.

Thanks for your help, Ludwig. Everyone, I'd like you to remember this for once. It's the same thing every years, it's getting old.

The targeted students (well, most of them), apologetically rubbed the back of their head.

"Well, anyways, students of all classes, welcome for another year at Hetako academy!

Two or three claps happened and vanished almost immediately. Luna kept speaking, embarrassed with the way things had turned out.

"Uh, yeah, so… For those with a short memory, I'm Luna Chrones, do-principal of the school. I'm also the PDC teacher of each class. Hands down, keep your question for later, please."

For hands feel at the same time. The others stayed in the air for a bit before falling as well. Luna kept going.

"In order to inform the new kids," she gave the first section a large and warm smile, "I'll start by presenting our school and the rules to follow here. After this reunion, you'll be free to go have lunch with your new classmates, then you'll spend two hours with your teachers that I'm going to introduce to you right now."

She paused for a bit before calling every teacher, one by one, telling their name and class as they joined her on the stage.

Mrs. Kirkland was the English teacher. She was the second year's main teacher, which she seemed satisfied of. Of average age with a few wrinkles, she had charming green eyes and shiny reddish-blond hair kept in a bun. Her face was serious, slightly closed, but kept a certain malice in her expressions.

Mr. Beilschmidt, second to be called, was the geography and main teacher of the third years. His hair were of a platinum blond and fell, straight, behind the back of his neck. He didn't have the slightest expression on his pale face, apart from some sort of annoyance. Obviously, he wasn't thrilled by the reunion. When he arrived on stage, a clever boy from fourth year thought it'd be really funny to yell something in German, which the teacher didn't answer to.

Mrs. Bonnefoy, literature teacher, was third to be called. She was the main teacher to the fourth years and obviously took this role to heart for she glared severely at the comedian who brought attention on him a few moments before. Apart from that, she had extremely soft features, though confident. Her ash blond hair brushed her back, held together by a brown hair band.

It was then the math teacher Mrs. Hassan's turn to enter the stage. The young Egyptian woman was the fifth year's main teacher. She had as little reaction as Mr. Beilschmidt and just scanned the room, sighing.

Mr. Bondvik, fifth to be called, was the biology and geology teacher and mained the sixth years. He was walking carefully, a file pressed against his chest. When he took his place, he gently smiled to the crowd. He had white skin and very pale hair that looked almost grey in the electric light.

The next one, Mr. Carriedo, who was teaching physics and chemistry, was his complete opposite. He proudly walked onto the stage with the confident smile of the one who like to be the center of attention plastered on his lips. He was the main teacher for the seventh years. His medium lengthen brown and messy hair and his tan skin made him look younger than he actually was. He greeted the students with large signs before taking place with the other teachers, blasé of his attitude.

Mrs. Karpusi, seventh on the list, taught philosophy and took care of the last year's class. She had, on her face, the kindness of Mrs. Bonnefoy and the mystery of Mrs. Hassan. She waved hello at the students, gazing at them with her beautiful green doe eyes. Her brown curly hair was nicely kept in a low ponytail.

Mr. Edervari, PE teacher with no assigned class, jumped on stage with an amused spark in his eyes. Everything in him, from his short brown hair kept by a bow behind his neck to his proud and arrogant posture defied anyone to measure up to him. It was obvious he'd expect a lot from his students.

Finally, Mrs Jones was teaching music and art and didn't have an assigned class either. The dark-skinned black-haired woman looked like she had just left a native American reserve. However, she spoke perfect English.

"And finally" finished Luna. "Let me introduce you to our new history teacher who'll replace miss Tyr from now on and will be the first year's main teacher. My dear student, this is Mr. Vargas."

Romulus climbed onto the stage winking at his sons and went to stand next to his peers.

After a few more moments of rest, the co-principle spoke again with an even larger smile.

"Well, now that the introductions are over, let me explain to you, dear new students who just got here, why you are here."

An amused whisper ran through the crowd, except for the new kids. Luna waited for things to calm down before she kept going.

"There are many things you don't know about this place. Actually, Mr. Vargas doesn't know more than you do on that matter."

An offended "What?" was followed by a few laughs.

"You may not know it yet but we have, here, a really specific selection criteria. You are not here because of money, nor thanks to your grades. If you are here, it means something in you is different from all the other people your age. And you are here so we can discover what this talent is…"