AN: Guys, I am so sorry for not posting this sooner. I wanted to post this a week ago or so, but I couldn't because a) I wasn't done writing the chapter, and b) school. Yes, school problems yet again. It was a crazy week for me, but I'm glad I finally got this out. Also, special shoutout and thanks to a friend and fan of this story, sctwilightvampwolfgal! She betaread this chapter, and I'm so thankful for her! Cookies and hugs for her! On another note, there is a poll on my profile asking which pairing you prefer to win. If you have one, go and do that poll, please. :) Now go an read the chapter, you people.

…

The rest of their day was pretty uneventful for the preschoolers (and everybody else in the school, though they had different activities and schedules) from that point on - get in from lunch, resume class time (and if you were in preschool you got to take a nap! If we could all have that luxury…) then, bam! End of day, and you get to go home.

And so on and so on.

That's the routine that Feliciano became accustomed to over the time span of - oh, say, 7 years.

7 years is a long time, but it's practically the same for everybody. We all get used to that school routine, and we all wish for a break from the treacherous educational grounds.

Because everyone hates having to train their tired, little, bloodshot (you know, from lack of sleep) eyeballs onto mind-numbingly, tedious textbooks full of mundane content that bore everybody as their preferred torture method of choice.

So 7 peaceful years passed by (slowly) and 10-year old Feliciano Vargas was now smiling more than ever with Kiku still by his side, surprisingly. Yep, they had stayed best friends through all the years, even growing closer and closer to each other with every year, and still counting. By this point in time they were so close to each other, they should've just moved in together to compensate for the time they spent going from each other's house every day. (though it actually turned out that they only lived about 2 blocks away from each other).

Even Lovino was doing well over the years - after he had finally finished high school, (lucky for him!) had been able to get into a good college close by the Vargas home so that he would still be able to live at home and help take care of Feliciano.

Life was good for the time being. Everything seemed to be working out for them, and nothing was out of the ordinary.

Yet.

You all saw that coming, didn't you?

Well, surprise!

The beloved nonno Romulus died one day, smack dab in the middle of the year.

Another one down, another one dead

Well, it was sort of expected. He was growing old, and everybody dies some point in time, anyway. Yes, he did die in his sleep, so at least he died comfortable and safe in his own bed.

The saying "all good things come to an end" really comes to play in this situation, doesn't it?

How fitting.

Life changed so much for Feliciano and Lovino. Their only way of financial support and parental guardianship had passed, so who would take care of them now? They had no other surviving relatives, so guess who had to step up and take that responsibility?

Lovino.

Yep, that's right.

Lovino Vargas, 18 years old, was decided to assume legal guardianship over his younger brother Feliciano Vargas and care for him in every way possible. They were allowed to keep the same house that they had been living in, and everything would continue as normally as could get.

Nothing would change.

Except for the fact that their grandfather was gone now, of course.

But that would be easily overlooked, given another couple of years.

…

"Fratellone?" a small voice asked.

…

No response at first.

"Lovino…" Feliciano quietly tried.

"What do you want, Feli?" Lovino snapped back in response.

"...what will happen now?" Feliciano's meek voice was a stark contrast to the rude, snapping tone that Lovino had given him.

Lovino huffed and squared his shoulders. "We will go on with our goddamn lives like normal people. And you will shut the fuck up, you little dumbass." Lovino's snarky comeback delivered, including his signature bite without fail. But this time, his anger seemed…genuine, and sincere, very unlike the usual flailing type of anger that was present most of the time.

So Feliciano decided to randomly give him a hug (right in the middle of the sidewalk that they were walking on, not thinking twice about how stupid and weird that must have looked to others).

Because hugs always cheer everybody up, right?

Even if it's just a little bit.

Feliciano embraced his older brother. (it's strange how, at 10 years old, he still actually acts like a little kid yearning for affection).

Of course, Lovino instinctively stiffened from the contact at first. But, it's his little brother… the one that he cared for and looked after ever since they were both (admittedly) pretty young.

Yes, he did end up wrapping his arms around the Feliciano's lithe body, and burying his face into that soft cushion of auburn hair that framed his fratellino's petite face which so often gazed up at him in question or admiration or love-

Ahem, you didn't see or hear anything.

Think nothing of that little tidbit thought.

…

As they got back into their home, no aromatic scent of Romulus's pasta wafted out of the door to arouse their taste buds when they walked in the house. No enthusiastic greeting of "Ah, ciao, boys! Come in and have dinner!" called out to them. Their beloved nonno had gone earlier in the week, and now coming back to a cold, empty house devoid of the large, booming, hearty man was… shocking for them. They weren't used to the desolate, isolated feeling the house now gave off to them.

But they would soon have to if they were going to live on with their own lives… and not end up like their grandfather.

And then it all came crashing down

They were all they had left. And Feliciano had to rely on Lovino for support.

Looks like Lovino will have to save college for another day, because this year, he would have to work his ass off to pay for everything. Time to start calling up Antonio for a job recommendation.

Get to work, or else you'll be dead…

…

Feliciano's days of no homework on the weekends were long gone after 3rd grade. Now, as a 5th grader, teachers felt no need to restrict the incoming homework loads that were being piled on student's shoulders as "learning material." More like backbreaking torture worksheets.

At least he had his best friend Kiku throughout all of this. True to his word as a -what, preschooler? That was such a long time ago-, Kiku had stayed with him, was there through thick and thin (including the tragedy of his late grandfather), and, like he said way back when, helped Feliciano fend off bullies and the like. Not that there were many people willing to pick on two sweet, little boys, especially Feliciano. There was something about Feliciano that made you want to pinch his cheeks and coo at his innocent adorableness.

(But, still, Feliciano was really weak, as you may or may not have already noticed by now.)

Feliciano and Kiku were known throughout their grade (and partially throughout the school) as two friendly boys that were top-notch in their classrooms, and, undeniably, teacher's pets. But it's actually a little surprising that Feli is as smart as he is, considering how air-headed and happy-go-lucky he seems. He gets good grades in all of his subjects, even math, even when you'd think that he would never pay attention in class, and just spend time doodling in his notebook or something.

Just don't ask him about something dirty or anything, because Feliciano Vargas was the one 5th grader that didn't know any sort of… inappropriate, shall we say… er, jokes.

Which is another thing that's surprising about him when you realize that Feli and Kiku's peers are starting to discover the less innocent things about the world, and, consequently, are telling everything about them to all of their friends. Quite loudly, too.

Especially at the social hour known as lunchtime (ah, the good part of every student's day).

Feliciano and Kiku sat with their group of friends which consisted of a rowdy bunch, each with their own special ways of tormenting the teachers with their hyperactivity.

First there was 12-year old Gilbert Beilschmidt, an egoistic, narcissistic, "awesome" 6th grader that liked to hang out with them (probably because no one else was willing to).

Next up, 11-year old Alfred F. Jones. "The hero." Oh man, this guy. This guy. No one knew what to make out of him. Yes, he was very kind, helpful, and friendly to others, but his shrill, loud personality ticked people off to no end. He didn't know how to shut up and "read the atmosphere" as Kiku so eloquently put it.

Last of the "rowdy bunch" was the infamous Francis Bonnefoy, a perverted 6th grader that like to consider himself a "big brother" to everyone. This guy had a habit of groping anyone that came close to him, and he also enjoyed… well… being a pervert 24/7. Oh, wait, isn't Antonio Fernandez-Carriedo his cousin or something? Well, gee, that explains it.

Luckily, there were a few mature ones in their group, or else, Feliciano and Kiku would be doomed by all of Gilbert's, Alfred's, and Francis's shenanigans.

Arthur Kirkland was another 12-year old 6th grader that helped keep the troublemakers in control. He probably only hung out with all of them because of little Alfred, which Arthur fussed and babied constantly to no end. And, of course, to argue with Francis, who was basically his arch nemesis.

And finally, there was Elizabeta Héderváry, the only female in the group. She was also in 6th grade, and was also 12-years old, but, dang, did she know how to fight. If anyone of the mischievous boys dared become too much of a bother, she would hit them all with her fists or her feet. But really, they're all just lucky Elizabeta isn't allowed to bring her frying pan to school. If she was, then they'd all be begging for mercy by now.

But that was their little group that they stuck around with. And they were all pretty good friends, adding even more action and fun into their daily lives (did they really need all of it though?).

Well, they roll with it.

…

It's really too bad that lunch passes quickly, and many must bid farewell to their friends in different classes and go to their own dreadful one.

Kiku and Feliciano, the Dynamic Duo, were forced to enter their math class.

Oh, math. Why must your curriculum be so detestable?

For example, take right now, when Feliciano and Kiku are attempting to assemble paper geometrical prisms (like a cube, or a dodecahedron) from the nets on the worksheet.

You know, the ones that come in an unrecognizable shape outlined with dotted lines that you're apparently supposed to fold and cut along.

So, there was only one thing on Kiku's mind right now.

To get the loathsome, little shapes to fold, cut, and attach together correctly, of course.

Because cutting the nets out, folding them along the lines, and taping them together is so hard.

(It's probably because of Kiku's OCD that he's trying to be such a perfectionist for his prisms.)

(Feliciano, on the other hand, doesn't really seem to care, and is leisurely just folding and taping things about, not even caring if the lines don't quite seem to match up. Meaning that there is an obvious hole in his little tetrahedron that he constructed. Oh well, keep on trying, Feli.)

But, seeing as the whole math class were flipping their tongues out in frustration from the godawful disgrace of a math activity for today, most of the class also shared Kiku's dissatisfaction and annoyance.

It didn't help that the teacher got to sit back in her nice little seat at her desk and read a book.

And take out her phone to do things for non-educational purposes.

And drink a Coke as she sadistically watches her poor desk-chained students frantically try to fit together the despicable pieces of paper and make a prism, because oh shoot, the prisms were due by the end of day!

Of course, that is, the majority of her students frantically try to fit together the prisms.

As stated before, one particular student, named Feliciano Vargas, stood out from the rest by not seeming to worry about the prisms being due by the end of the day - he just seemed to happily hum to himself as his delicate hands worked on taping everything together.

Kiku must've been concerned for the oblivious, little boy, because next thing Feliciano knew, he was being asked something by his friend.

"Er… Feli-kun… ah… wouldn't you rather try to make your prisms a little… neater, maybe?" Kiku took one glance at the poorly built prisms Feli was constructing, and immediately wanted to take them apart and reassemble them himself (because, you know, OCD).

Which eventually he did. (because, again, OCD and not being able to stand the sight of crudely assembled geometry prisms right in front of his face).

…

AN: Thanks for reading this you guys! Have a nice day, and don't forget to address any concerns, comments, or anything in a review.