[Conny]: Oh my, look how long it has been! I'm sure my dear friend will enjoy this chapter. Nana-chan, I know it's been too long, but here's your character, Connor, with his roommate Matthew! Nana-chan (aka Do You Really Want to Know-oops, now nottheh), TheNextAlice, Illusion Fox, and 2Resonance, thank you for the reviews!
Do you remember any of the French I taught you in the first chapter? Well, here's a refresher for you!
New phrase~ "Tu as tres pervers" well, what does it look like to you? It means, "You're very perverted!"
"Ca va?" and "Comment est-il?" means, how are you?
"Salut" and "Bonjour" means hello.
"Désolé" means sorry.
"Réveillez-vous" means wake up.
"Aide, s'il vous plaît" = "Help, please!"
"Anglais" is English.
"Mon Ami" is my friend, while "Mon Cher" is my cherished. And "Mon copain" is "My companion"
"Je m'appelle..." Literally means, "I call myself..." "Mon nom est..." is "My name is..."
"Pas" is not. "Est" means "is." "Enchantee" is "nice to meet you."
"Mon Dieu" is "My God" and "Zut" means "Darn."
"Hey, bud, look!" A man with a stereotypical military buzz cut marched into his son's room, only finding a huge mess. Posters of various bands and anime littered the walls, while the floor had bed sheets and dirty clothes. On the bed, a pile of pajamas, pillows, and coppery fluff was snoring away. "Connor, come on!"
Slowly, the boy rose. His sea-green eyes sharpened, as he looked to his father.
"It's still August and I'm awake at," he paused, to look at the clock. Connor took in a deep breath and tried to stay calm. "I'm awake at four in the morning for what exactly?" He knew he inherited his eccentricism from his father, but this was just plain nuts! What sane person is up so early and is this excited?
"I never knew my only son was this smart!" He was waving around a torn open envelope, showing a goofy grin. It was like there was something to celebrate. "To think you got a scholarship!" He tackled the poor boy, who understood none of what was said.
"What scholarship?"
Connor just never knew this would happen to him. Hetalian Academy—a school located in Rome—requested that he attend for a year. All expense free and no hidden consequences. Who in the world would turn this chance down?
"Conner, you should go! It's an awesome opportunity," his older sister said, while playing with his russet hair. It was just so soft and wavy, not to mention it was medium length for a boy (there was just so much to tease!).
"Can you stop?" He swatted her hand and tried fixing his hair. Having someone messing with him did not help his thinking process. "I don't know if I want to go." It was an entire ocean away from his family, plus he didn't know anything about this school! For all he knew, it could be a plot to kidnap him. Although, why would anyone want to kidnap an average fifteen year old Canadian boy?
"I don't want you to go," his little sister said, while clinging to his body. Her blonde curls framed her face, making her bright emerald eyes just irresistible. "I don't want to play dolls with Cassie!" Aside from playing with them, who else would fix up the dolls if they broke or make new ones? That's right, make, not buy.
"Come on, Cisa. I'm not that bad." The four year old started bawling, so everyone cover their ears. It was worse than a sobbing siren, when the little girl threw a tantrum. Connor's mother came in and picked up little blonde girl. While rubbing Cisa's back, their mother calmed the child down.
"It's just a school year and it's in Italy. I think it's a chance that won't come again." His father had a point, but his little sister doesn't want to miss her brother. He looked to his mother, seeing if she wanted to state her opinion in this matter.
She was far too busy rocking her youngest child to look to her son. She smiled softly and sang melodicly, hushing the child's cries. Her ember eyes locked onto her son's, hoping to pass along a message. It's your choice, sweetheart.
"I'll decide tomorrow." After all, it was still four a.m. As he crawled back into his bedroom, he was running senarios through his dreams. If he were gone, his older sister would find out who his current crush was and embarrass him. His younger sister would be tearing apart the room, hoping to find something she could play with, aside from her own toys. His mother would actually clean it up, to the point where there would have to be a guide to finding everything he used on a daily basis.
Connor sighed, smiling up to the poster of Miku Hatsune. "I've got a lock on the door, so everything will be safe."
There were way too many people at the airport. Connor's family all bid him a grand farewell and reminded him several times to always call home. Cisa wouldn't stop reminding him to send home Italian dolls and other trinkets that she could play with. Cassie wouldn't stop complaining about how her plans for the school year was ruined (considering they were going to be in the same school and she could tease him thrughout the entire year)!
While getting on the plane, he noticed the person ahead of him. The blond was in a ski jacket, which wasn't completely unusual in this region of the world. He had glasses and goggles, which still didn't seem out of the ordinary. He was, however, holding a stuffed—wait, that toy just sneezed.
"Bless you, Kumajiro," he spoke softly, as if he were whispering. Connnor stared at the bear, admiring its cuteness. Curse having sisters and having such attraction to adorable things. He inwardly sighed, but ignored that thought.
The polar bear cub looked up to its master, or at least the person that was holding it. "Who are you?" Connor's eyes widened, after hearing that childish voice. It was both cute and shocking. He started thinking about everything that 'Kumajiro' could be. A toy from Japan? A kid in a realistic bear costume? Maybe it was a bear that was adopted from an animal-testing plant?
"I'm Canada," the blonde sighed, which still kept the boy confused. What sane parent would name their child after a country, especially Canada? Nothing against the country or anything...but the most people know of Canada is maple syrup and hockey.
Apparently, fate had it so that Connor would sit next to this person with the bear. No one asked about the bear, nor did the flight attendant say anything of it. The brunette was clearly confused about this, and just couldn't get his eyes off the bear.
"Nice bear," he said and almost regreted adding, "he's cute." Big, black eyes turned to Connor, showing a smile and some shiny teeth.
"Thanks. His name is Kumajiro." He smiled to the boy, as if glad someone finally recognized his existence. Truthfully, that was somewhat right. The airport security and flight attendants completely overlooked him. Even his own bear sometimes forgot about his caretaker.
"Who are you?" the bear said to Connor. His soul melted like butter, due to the adorable voice coming from the animal. It was still strange that it could speak, but it was like logic didn't matter. Who cares if it's a bear? It's so charming!
"Connor," he answered, then looked to the bear's owner. He looked likehe was about to fade away into the background. "Who are you?"
"I'm Matthew." Take that, Alfred! Someone has finally noticed the Ghost of North America!However, whil Matthew was internally cheering in glee, Connor was confused and suspicious. Didn't this person previously call himself Canada?
Connor didn't have any problem finding the school. As it turned out, the person he sat by on the plane was also heading to the same place. In another turn of events, they found out that they shared a room. Connor didn't quite get time to bond with his new Canadian ally, for he had went off to survey the school. It was definitely bigger than he first believed, and it was a lot more majestic than the letter had intended to portray.
He had entered the European building. The russet-headed boy only realized that because of sign outside with the many languages of Europe. He recognized something that was Russian, then saw the French, and then finally the English. It clearly stated it was for the specific contintent and he was curious of what it would look like on the inside. Obviously, he wished he were from some country like Spain or France. The paintings and the ornate structure truly personified the different cultures, something that just overwhelmed him.
Suddenly, a scream rang through the marble walls. A girl, who was wearing the school uniform (which he had failed to switch into), came running, a harsh blush straining her fair face. It was like she was the gazelle being chased by the hungry lion.
"Tu es tres pervers, Francis!" Without intending to, she tackled the Canadian into the stone floors.
"Jeanne, ça va?" She sat up, unable to believe this situation. It wasn't her messy curls that mattered at the moment, or the fact that her school uniform was cringed, but for the fact that the boy beneath her was unconscious.
"A-ah, salut? Bonjour? Désolé! Réveillez-vous!" Panic was starting to build up within the French girl, unsure what she could do at this point. At least her mind was smart enough to catch onto Francis's close encounter with her skirt. "Francis! Aide, s'il vous plaît."
She hooked her arms under the boy's arms, while her roommate handled his legs. Jane was unsure if that was such a good idea, considering Francis would have a perverted view of both of them, but it didn't matter all too much at the moment.
"Should we take him to our room?" Francis was only thinking of the boy's health, and the chances of bringing him down the stairs did not sound like a good option.
"The nurse's office would be better." It all sounded like a recipe for disaster, but even she believed it would be a bad idea to go down the flight of stairs. "Fine, Francis."
Connor looked around, unsure how to handle the situation. The lights were too bright and he believed he was seeing hallucinations. Why in the world would he be seeing an angelic face in front of him with concerned eyes? Why would he feel the tickle of her golden curls upon his face?
"What is going on?" The two French students looked more carefully upon the boy, wondering if he were truly conscious. "Where am I?" The room he was carried into was similiar to his own. The last he remembered, Connor had been snooping around the European building. Replicas of famous portraits and the classic architecture from many of Europe's renowned designers so easily influenced the beauty of the building. Then there was a shout of French that he had understood. All he remembered was that there was some pain and then a black out.
"Ah, Anglais. Mon ami, Jeanne had severely harmed you, as she tackled you. In a declaration of lust and passion, she thrusted her lovely bosom—" With the closest item she could find, Jane had grabbed a miniature model of the Eiffel Tower and collided it with Francis' skull. He hit the ground with such force, that he became knocked out.
That comment alone made him blush. Connor took in a breath, wishing he didn't have such sensitive skin. Maybe he would be able to hide his embarrassments and feelings better if he didn't have such a curse. He had to thank his father mentally for that pale skinned trait.
"Je m'appelle Jane, pas Jeanne." Connor sat up slowly, smiling slightly to the girl. Her school uniform looked similar to the ones he had seen in many of his favorite animes. She wore the plaid skirt that girls were given an option to wear, but matched it with the blazer the school had offered. Underneath, he noticed the button-up dress shirt and the tie around her neck. It looked rather adorable on her, but he'd never admit that.
"Mon nom est Connor." A smile with a hint of recognition showed upon her face. Jane was glad that there was another francophone in the school, aside from Francis. At least she wouldn't have to be alone now.
"Enchantee, Connor." The butterscotch blonde smiled more, avoiding the perverted gaze from the Frenchman. "Comment est-il?"
"I'm fine, just a headache," he said, while gently touching his head. "Where am I?" The room was very similar to his own room, but already had many things that belonged to the couple. Francis sat up, groaning from the slight pain in his head.
"You are in Jeanne's—er, ah, Jane's room. It is mine as well, but you are on her side of the dorm." His accent was quite thick, but he spoke English as fluently as Connor's mother. "So, Connor, what are you doing in the European Building? I know that French too well. You must be Québécois." That last word meant the person came from the territory of Quebec. It's the area that strongly relates back to France, but still retains the Canadian lifestyle.
"My mother is Québécoise, but I am not entirely." Francis nodded, examining the boy more. Something soon hit him. If this Canadian boy was here, then...
"You're bunking with my adorable Mathieu! How is he? Has he arrived?" Connor simply nodded, which in return caused the blonde to run off. A wave of fear overcame them, believing something was soon to come for the roommate of Connor.
"Oh, Mon Dieu," Jane sighed, as she sat down beside the brunette. "Désolé, mon copain. Francis est..." She could not come up with a logical and truthful way to describe her roommate. She could only be sorry for the situation she had put this innocent bystander through.
"No, Jane, you don't have to be sorry." He tried getting up, but felt rather disoriented. The dimpled girl stood quickly and steadied the boy.
"Could I go to my room please?" He thought he would feel better after laying down in his own bedroom, rather than that of a strangers.
"Yes, you may," Jane said, though struggling with her English. She smiled, thinking maybe it was just worth it to speak it with this boy.
After descending a flight of stairs and gliding across a field of flora, Jane had found the room to which he belonged. The door had been left open, but she couldn't see anyone inside.
"Salut? Ah... hello? Is anyone here?" Her eyes widened at the sight of a ghost holding a white bear. Just before it spoke, she screamed in terror.
"Jane! Jane! Shhh, this is my roommate! Matthew, say hello?" As if now being fully recognized, the Canadian boy became more solid in her eyes. She let out a shaky sigh, disbelieving how she had acted towards this person.
"Désolé, Mathieu." He shook his head, as Connor moved to the bed he had occupied. "Oh, Je m'appelle Jane Belrose. Enchantee." She reached out to shake his hand, which he had took and jostled lightly.
"It's nice to meet you, too, Jane. I'm Matthew Williams, and I suppose you've met my roommate Connor Cote." He slightly smiled to the brunette, who kinda avoided his eyes. "What happened to him?"
"I accidentally ran into him in the hallways." Matthew checked over his friend, being completely used to such injuries. He did play hockey often and knows how brutally abusive the game can be. He obviously didn't see too much wrong, but still advised Connor to lay down.
"He'll be fine. I'll take care of him from here, Jane. Thank you." She nodded and immediately left the room. "She's Francis' roommate?"
"I believe so," Connor sighed, while laying back. He thought in the back of his mind what it would be like with a female roommate, but couldn't hide the slight blush on his face.
"What are you thinking?" Connor sat up, hand covering his face and hiding the mole on the right side of his chin. "Come on, if we're going to be roommates for the whole year, we might as well be honest." Canada was putting himself out there, relishing the feeling of being noticed without having to force it.
"Well, Jane seems like a nice girl." Kumajiro slipped out from under Matthew's bed, then did his best to get up onto Connor's mattress.
"She's cute like Kuma, here." The coppery headed kid picked up the polar bear and brought him close to his side. As if it were a dog, he started petting the adorable mammal.
"You really like Kuma, don't you?"
"I like Connor lots," the bear affectionately replied, causing a twinge of jealously to spark in the glassed boy. Kumajiro never remembered his name, but he knows the name of a complete stranger! It's just unfair!
"And I like you lots, Kuma." Connor did try to resist the urge to take up the bear and cuddle with it, but couldn't stop himself. Never before had he cuddled with something so cute (maybe aside from his little sister), so how could he not give so much love to it?
"You better rest, okay? I'm going to go and get you something to eat." Matthew stood and left the room with ghost like silence. Unfortunately, his stealth did not last long. Francis snooped up behind him and began groping his long lost colony.
"Oh, mon cher, I've missed you so much!" He tried terribly hard to shake off the pervert of Europe to no avail, so simply sighed. "Ah, you're not struggling anymore? Zut."
"What do you want, Francis?" They ascended the staircase, leaving the American building. The sun was already beginning to fade into the darkening sky, and the lights of the wonderful school were starting to glow.
"Ah, such romantic atmosphere this school provides," he paused, draping his arm around Canada's shoulders. "Don't you think there needs to be a love story?"
Canada was praying he would not be a part of this plot that Francis wanted to make. Then the girl came to mind, and he knew that the Frenchman would take just about anyone. Especially a poor girl whom he's sharing dorms with. "Between a normal person and a country? No!"
"Ah-ah-ah~" he said teasingly. "I did not mean that at all! Simple flirtation is acceptable, but I mean of something greater." Francis continued to whisper his brilliant plan, which Matthew seemed to agree with. Jane and Connor looked out from their rooms, wondering what on earth they were talking about.
"Maria!" Rizal was staring out the window of the his dorm room, looking at the gate. "How many students are there?" He noticed many have already arrived, but he just didn't want to leave his friend behind just yet.
"Well, you have to consider the number of countries, principalities, regions, islands, cities, and so on... it will be a lot of people. Twice as much as last year." Rizal thought about it for a moment. He understood there wasn't that many countries in the world, but condensing them to people and the possibility of being many people changed things. He guessed roughly two hundred would be attending this school, at least.
"That's still not as bad as the four hundred students in a single grade back home!" They both laughed, as he enjoyed the sunset of the Roman sky.
[Conny]: So... what did you think of Connor and Matthew together? Nana-chan, your opinion matters as well, it greatly does. I don't believe this chapter was really up to standards like the others were, but I suppose it's still good, right? Don't worry people, I will update this more often now. I just have to get the ball rolling. Inspire me with constructive and nice reviews? I look forward to writing the next chapter and seeing you read it! So... have a good day! I hope you liked the giant French lesson~