Disclaimer: I don't own Hetalia.

SweAus: Arrangement

Berwald fiddled with his fingers, before he looked over towards Roderich. The Austrian was engaged in a discussion with some of his friends, and Berwald didn't want to interrupt, but he also really wanted to get close to Roderich. And he might have found a way. It was a combination of need and desire, and he hoped that Roderich wouldn't mind.

He walked closer and cleared his throat. The conversation stopped as all turned to him. Berwald knew that he looked intimidating, so he needed to be very careful about what he said.

"Roderich, may I speak with you?" Berwald asked.

"Anything you have to say to him, you can say in front of us," Elizaveta, one of Roderich's friends, snapped as she stepped between them.

Berwald knew that she was protective of him, and he supposed that what he wanted to ask of Roderich wouldn't raise any alarms.

"Alright then," Berwald said. "I'm going to be playing for the UNIJO music exam, but I need piano accompaniment. You're the best pianist I know, and I would appreciate the help."

Roderich cocked his head. He at least looked intrigued, while his friends looked dumbstruck.

"Which instrument and grade?" Roderich asked.

"Violin, fifth grade," Berwald replied.

Roderich nodded as his mind processed the information.

"Alright," Roderich said. "Could you bring me the piano accompaniment, and I'll see what I can do?"

"I actually have it in my bag, if you would like to…"

They were interrupted by the arrival of the teacher. Berwald at least managed to give the sheet music to Roderich in the next class, and Roderich asked to meet in the music room after school the next day. Berwald felt really giddy at the prospect.

…

"So, the piece doesn't look too complicated," Roderich said. "I'm going to assume that you would prefer it if I played piano."

"I think you need to be more specific, all things considered," Berwald said, his mouth twitching.

Roderich paused, before he chuckled.

"I think I fell into that one," he said. "No, what I mean is, you'd probably prefer if I played softly. This is your exam, after all. Do you mind playing for me so I can have a general idea of how I should play?"

Berwald nodded. He had assumed that they would play, so he'd brought along his violin. He had to take a moment to tune it in, before he placed it comfortably on his shoulder.

Berwald started to play. He had already memorised the first part of the piece, so he could play it without sheet music. He played until he could no longer remember, and he turned towards Roderich, hoping for his approval.

"You're good," Roderich said. He pursed his lips. "When is your exam?"

"In two months," Roderich replied.

"Alright, that gives us some time, at least. Give me a week or two to practise this on my own, and then we can start practising together."

Berwald nodded. He could see the sense in it, of course. It wouldn't do well to try playing together if they didn't know their own parts.

…

"Your exam is this Saturday," Roderich said. "Are you nervous?"

"I would be lying if I said I wasn't," Berwald replied. "And foolish."

"I don't think it's foolish to be confident."

"It is if you almost failed last year's exam."

Roderich winced.

"Alright, I see your point," Roderich said. "But I'm sure you will do fine."

Berwald smiled.

"Thank you," Berwald said. "What about you? When's your exam?"

"I finished grade eight last year," Roderich replied.

"Oh, right. So, are you going to pursue a career in music?"

"I've already been accepted to study music at Cathalvlas University."

"Really? I'll be studying there too. Not music, of course, but it looks like we're going to the same university."

"They have an orchestra. Perhaps you can audition. You don't have to be a student of the music program to be a part of the orchestra."

"Would you come watch me if I joined?"

"I wouldn't miss it."

Berwald nodded, a soft smile on his face. As stressful as his exam was, at least it had brought him closer to Roderich.

While writing this, I started remembering more and more about my days as a music student in primary school and high school. The University of South Africa (UNISA) has music exams for students, and this naturally helps if you want to study music at a university. There are eight grades, and there's a practical and theoretical part of the exam, though the two don't need to be done simultaneously. Practically, I reached fourth grade with the piano, and sixth grade with musical theory. I had to stop because the pieces were becoming a little impossible for me to play. Long story short, I don't have pianist fingers, and it's pretty much impossible for me to play two notes an octave apart with one hand. I've almost dislocated my wrists many times. And a lot of the pieces sent by UNISA involved something like that.

Piano in musical theory means to play softly.