The two boys walked Blackie over to Tino's house to meet the Finnish boy and Bomber, walking around together as a fun little trio. Berwald was often seen snacking on Swedish meatballs as his mother told him they'd make him as tall as a tree.

Luckily for Ludwig, his voice broke over the summer so he could return back to school, having escaped the worst of it. They were all shook at how Ludwig and Berwald had saved themselves from the pits of embarrassment. The two were still distinguishable as Berwald's growth spurt had made him an inch or two taller than his German pal.

The two boys were sat in registration when Ludwig had finally realised that him and Berwald were getting quite tall. He looked around uneasily. Then he realised that now would be the perfect time to talk to Berwald about something bothering him.

"Berwald?"

"Yeah."

"I'm gay."

Berwald laughed. Oh, how he laughed. He laughed so hard that it was audible to other people, that's how hard he laughed.

"No kidding. You eat sausages non-stop."

"Yeah, well," Ludwig huffed indignantly, "You eat meatballs all the time."

"I never claimed to be straight."

The German boy laughed back. That was a valid point.

.

In later years, lunchtimes and break times were spent messing with Kiku and playing football, but Ludwig still sat with Berwald during class. Ludwig thought the slow separation would prepare them for later life. He sent Mathias to go see if Berwald was okay during his new plan.

"He's made friends with the girls."

"He's what?"

"He's sat around braiding their hair. He's playing the role of 'gay best friend'."

"Thank you. That is all." Ludwig felt a bit sad for some unknown reason. Jealousy, perhaps. At least Berwald was okay, Ludwig shrugged to himself. Later he found out that Berwald was accepted due to his ability to braid hair, make flower crowns, and the fact that he loved reading his mother's fashion magazines.

Ludwig took this opportunity to seize his 'political career', as he had decided that maybe being an astronaut was too difficult. He took to the school council, where he was invited in due to Gilbert threatening everyone. He was a very enthusiastic member of the school council, unlike Gilbert. Ludwig took down the minutes, created the agenda (Gilbert's job), and even had to sort out the treasury (the Austrian boy's job). He was exasperated by how people took the school council's meetings as an excuse to chat and cut class. He sat there, running the place, often with only Vash- a Swiss guy who had been bullied up to this point for the number of patches made to his school uniform- for company.

.

At the age of sixteen, and the stress of GCSEs, the boys finally found Tino, who had gone missing for a year. Puberty had hit him late but damn Berwald was melting again.

"Thicker than a snicker," Berwald whispered to Ludwig, "help me, I'm so gay."

"His butt jiggles. That's my religion." Ludwig replied.

"We're so gay."

Tino turned around, a very old Bomber wagging behind him.

"Oh! Look at how tall you two are!"

It was true. The two of them towered over everyone else in their class, except Ivan, at this point. They both had done well in their determination to be 'Arnold Sausage' and were both quite handsome. However, they were still awkward fucks who were gay as Hell.

"You're thicker than a snicker." Ludwig blurted out. Berwald internally screamed so loudly that a weird noise came out of his throat.

"Really?! That's so kind of you! I want to be cute like a Moomin!" Tino replied enthusiastically.

"You are." Berwald added coolly. Ludwig felt, suddenly, that somewhere in his past, Berwald helped him with love, but he couldn't put his finger on it.

"Are you gay?" Ludwig asked, trying his hardest to repay Berwald. Berwald gave him a look that could have killed him. Ludwig regretted everything. Tino gave him a look of distrust, and raised an eyebrow.

"What's it got to do with you?"

"I think you're hot. That's why." Berwald blurted out, hoping to save Ludwig this time, not even bothering to look up from his shoes.

"REALLY?! I think you're hot too! Like tall guys with glasses are my favourite! You're like a giant!" Tino exclaimed, bouncing a little. "You look so tough and intimidating!"

Berwald fidgeted a bit. Ludwig stared at Bomber. Tino gleamed with some sort of excitement, until he looked at his watched and realised the time.

"Oh dear! I'm late for tea. See you soon, Luddy and Mr Swedish Guy!" With that, Tino waved eagerly and ran home with his dog in his arms. Berwald and Ludwig watched him for a bit and then sighed.

"We are so lucky that he is eccentric." The shorter boy sighed, his heart racing from the awkwardness.

"So lucky."

"Does he know your name?"

"He has the rest of our lives to learn it."

"Smooth."

.

College started (for Americans, this is like the two last years of high school for you) and time was getting more and more strange. Sundays was Tino day for Berwald but "Help me I'm bored" day for Ludwig. Berwald claimed he chose Sunday because it was the day Ludwig was the busiest as he had to run to Church with his family and do his homework. But Ludwig hated Sundays enough as it was, now he hated them more, especially as Gilbert would go to flirt with Roderich or Elizabeta (which one, he did not know). Tuesday was also 'Girls Day' which meant Berwald went to the girls' houses for sleepovers to braid hair and talk about gossip and crushes. Tuesday was KIku day for Ludwig so he did not mind.

College is wild, at least it was in this college. It was so much more mature than high school, but it was not quite university yet. There were only two colleges in the town for them to go to. For once, Tino was in the same place as them.

"Berwald! Join 'Death Metal Club' with me!"

"Hmmm, only if you join 'Cooking Club' with me."

"Okay! Luddy, are you going to join too?" Tino exclaimed.

"No thanks. Is gym day still Thursday?"

"Yes."

Ludwig went to 'Cooking Club' to find Berwald. Berwald had lied to him, gym day was on Fridays. Ludwig wanted to track him down and just double check Berwald knew what he was doing. Then suddenly, his gayness hit him…