The feel when you forgot your username and the fact that I've been stuck with author's blocks for months.

Disclaimer: I do not own Hetalia and its characters

Warning(s): Refer to the previous warnings. They might help.

Chapter X: September 21 (I)(I)

Date: September 21, 20XX, Wednesday

Location: Hetalia World Academy, Office of the Student Council

Time: 5:12 pm

When Francis ran his fingers on the old wooden table, it was rough and cold. The careless stains of coffee spills were persistently etched on the wood, silently reminding the French of the limitless effort the Brit threw into each stacks of paper works, the eye bags he had to endure during those overtime nights and the sleep deprived snarls he delivers to him when the upperclassman is in his office, and sighed despondently.

It has been a day after Arthur died and seemingly, he observed, there were few people, if not too many, who were, just like him, suffering from the Brit's death. The football captain, Alfred, was just one of those who left right after Romulus' speech in order to find some time alone and released all his regrets in a crying manner and following him was someone akin to a ghost, calling the American's name as he ran away.

Francis didn't exactly know who left after Alfred and the ghost, and he didn't bother because he too fled from the scene short after. He did see, however, the Kirkland brothers standing meters away from the crowd, under the shade of a tree, whispering to themselves before one of them caught Francis glancing at them and frowned. He looked at the Frenchman at the eye, furrowed his brows and averted his glance as he nudged his brothers to move and leave as well.

During that very short moment of eye contact, Francis realized what was on the other's eyes; it was regret.

He knew that it was not actually a secret that the Kirkland brothers, sans Dylan, hated the Brit with a fiery passion and messes with him in the wicked way as possible. It wasn't really clear as to why and how did Arthur become the object of the suspects' "bullying" or why was Arthur afraid of them. And back then, it was unspoken rule that no one should think twice about leaving them with Arthur in their sessions as they fear of becoming a target as him so no one could really fathom the answer.

(Francis tried but he stopped soon after he got into a relationship.)

Sighing, Francis went back to his reality and leaned against the table. He fished out his phone from his back pocket and scrolled the messages upward after receiving a notification on his long unanswered messages. He first thought it was Gilbert as the albino kept asking him if he was okay or if he wanted to talk all of out, but after seeing a smooch emoji, he grimaced.

He tapped it to open and read the contents:

"From: Marceline

Hey HoneyBear where are you?! You haven't answered any of my messages since yesterday and I'm worried that the news of that *insert swear word here* affected you as well. I hope you didn't as I know, you also hated that *insert swear word* as much as he called you a frog. Anyway, I need you here NOW. My sassy sister wanted us to go to the mall and I need, like, rescuing from her before she turns me into a loony *insert disgusted emoji* Please reply ASAP, HoneyBear, I need you! *insert smooch emoji*"

Francis, after reading the whole message, sighed as he swiped a thumb to reply. His eyes trailed from the message he composed before he deleted them to compose a new one that doesn't looked like a cruel reply.

(First Composition)

"To: Marceline

Will you shut the hell up?! Can't you see I'm suffering right now and all you do is to whine about your sister who wants to drag you to the mall? I mean, can't I have any time for myself? Are you really that selfish? And second, Arthur was never a *insert swear word* to me because Arthur was the best thing I ever saw. So will you f—

(Second Composition)

"To: Marceline

Is that so? I didn't really notice, sorry. I was actually quite busy at school today so I think I might not be able to meet you right now. Tonio also wants me to stay after class for some curricular activities, so I'm afraid I might not be able to make it *insert sad emoji*. On a positive note, maybe I might get off the hook tomorrow so I could meet you up and grab a smoothie. Is that a good compensation with you? *insert wink face* See you later!"

After being slightly been satisfied with his not-to-genuine-reply, he closed his phone and placed it back to his pocket. He already considered dumping the girl in the first place, seemingly because of her cruel nature and thus, forcing him to do things he never wanted, but because her father was of an influential family, he couldn't. One mistake and he could die.

When the Frenchman decided it was time for him to move from his position, he straightened his back and stretched, pulling his arms up in the air. He then started to stretch his legs until before he accidentally knocked over the table and winced at the noise it had produced. He panicked and glanced from left to right, hoping that no one would come out of nowhere, and hurriedly held on the table to flip it back.

That is when he noticed, however, the small paper tucked and neatly folded under the wood of the table.

He gradually took it out and unfolded it, mentally prepping to see what he could see and blinked as he read the contents. It was a receipt from a nearby tea shop called Tea Garden (A/N: Forgive me if I accidentally copied an actual shop's name. I didn't do it on purpose). Written on the lower upper section of the paper was the date supposing when the visitor visited the shop and Francis' eyes rolled over the name of the cashier man that assisted that person's need and his eyes widened.

"Dylan?!" Immediately, Francis jolted up and made his way outside the office to wherever the Tea Garden was located. He ignored the careless shouts of the prefects to calm down and walked down the stairs where he leaped every fast to sprint out.

He has to confirm it. He has to know if Dylan knew something about Arthur's suicide. After all, the day when the receipt was created was the day before Arthur's death and the funny thing was that

...the time the receipt was created coincides with the time the Brit had died.

Location: Hetalia World Academy, Grounds

Time: After which Francis dashed from the room

"Hey Mattie, where do you think should we first start looking?" Alfred asked, his arms folded behind his head as he leans on it.

Matthew tried to think for a second. "Well if we think about it, the first sensible place should be on the rooftop but since it was closed down for police investigation, the second thing we have is his office...if it's possible to go there."

True to his words, it seemed like the Brit's office was also subjected for investigation seemingly as to how it may or may not be connected to the dirty blond's death. He already heard rumors even before the classes earlier had started and was nervous because that was the only clue they have left after the rooftop was closed down.

It would be a waste of both opportunity and time for both of them if the authorities did try to hinder people entering Arthur's office, and the fact that Matthew trying to fulfill his promised with his used-to-be-sulking-brother was preventing him from giving up, making it stressful for the Canadian.

Sighing, Matthew blinked as he saw the Frenchman and nudged his brother. "Hmm isn't that Francis? Why was he running like there's something following behind him and distraught?"

"Who knows? A fight and dash for his girlfriend?" Alfred shrugged. "Anyway dude we should get going. The prefects might see us!"

Location: Unknown

Time: Unknown

"Do you have the pixie wing?"

"Yup"

"How about the Unicorn's tear, you got them?"

"Exactly a half cup"

"Okay then, do you have his hair strand prepped?"

"Fresh and cool from today's shower!"

"Thank you Vladimir for your efforts to get the freshest of the fresh ingredients" Lukas said, internally smirking and held the book closer, reading the procedures.

Vlad gave him a toothy smile. "Of course—it's for Arthur after all!"

The both of them smirked, their faces obscured by shadows and their eyes peeked from their bangs, red. They held the unknown mixture from a beaker and dropped the strand of his hair, saying. "Now it's time to curse a certain Scott"

I had troubles pulling an in character Scotland and his brother here so I can't really much update this frequently, and I'll probably have them appear in the next chapter with Peter and their mother...hopefully.