new day
As you walk into the conference room, trying to find your spot as a new small European country, you accidentally choose the wrong seat without realizing it. You start unpacking plans and papers, getting ready for the conference, when a man with dark brown hair approaches and fixes you with a cold stare. “This is my seat. Move,” he says.
You quickly stand up, flustered. “Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know. I thought this was my seat. This is my first world conference, so I don’t really know where to sit.”
He raises an eyebrow. “New, huh? Makes sense. This place can be confusing your first time.”
You nod, smiling nervously. “Yeah, I guess I’ll get the hang of it eventually.”
He gestures to the seat next to him. “That one’s yours.”
“Thank you.” You settle your things in the right spot.
He smirks. "I heard a new country was going to join us, but I wasn’t expecting you to come this early.”
“Oh sorry I forgot to introduce myself , I'm Y/n!” you say as your eyes meet his again.
“Hey, so what’s your name?”
He looks offended. “You don’t know who I am?”
You just stare, searching your memory. This guy is obviously someone important, but he’s giving nothing away.
He studies you. “How could you not know who I am? I am Romano, of course.” He clears his throat. “You know, the one from the South.”
You tilt your head. “Ohh, you’re Italy’s older brother. Nice to meet you.” You smile.
Romano blushes slightly, brushes it off, and sits down. After a few hours, the world conference ends.
After the conference, you see Italy running toward Romano, waving his arms. “Romano! Where were you? I was trying to find you. Did they switch your spot?” he calls out, sounding worried.
Romano crosses his arms, scowling. “Yes, they did. Why do you care so much?”
Italy stops right in front of him and pouts. “Because you’re my brother, and I care about you! You always act like you don’t need anyone, but I know you do.”
Romano grumbles, looking away. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t make a big deal out of it.”
Suddenly, Italy’s eyes widen as he notices you. “Oh! Who’s this? ” Who is this pretty lady here?” he asks, smiling brightly.
You blush at the compliment and smile back. “Oh, um, I’m Y/n. I’m a new country in Europe.”
“That’s a beautiful name!” Italy exclaims, taking your hand and giving it a little shake. “Oh, and I’m Italy! It’s really nice to meet you.”
Romano rolls his eyes at his brother’s enthusiasm. “My brother and I have to go.” His tone is tinged with jealousy.
Italy looks confused. “Wait, what? Where are we going? We have free time, Romano!”
Romano grabs Italy’s arm and starts pulling him away. “No, we don’t. Let’s go.”
Italy protests, looking over his shoulder at you. “But I wanted to talk more! Arrivederci, Y/n!”
You wave, smiling at their bickering as they disappear down the hallway.
As you stand there watching them leave, you decide to pack up as well. As you’re putting your things away, a tall man with blond hair, gray glasses, and blue eyes approaches you with a wide grin on his face.
“HEY DUDE, WHAT’S UP, NEW COUNTRY!” he shouts energetically.
You blink in surprise, then smile shyly. “Hi, I’m Y/n. What’s your name?”
He laughs. “I’m America! It’s so nice to meet you. I’ve been wondering who the new country would be!!
You smile, relaxing a little. “Oh, it’s a pleasure to meet you, too.”
America gives you a thumbs-up. “If you need help figuring things out here, just ask! Conferences can get pretty wild your first time.”
“Thanks, America. I might take you up on that.”
He winks. “Anytime! See you around, Y/n.”
You wave goodbye as he walks away, feeling a bit more at ease after your first day.
You take a deep breath, gather your papers, and tuck them into your bag, feeling a mix of exhaustion and accomplishment.
You glance around one last time, making sure you haven’t forgotten anything. As you sling your bag over your shoulder and head toward the door, you peek into the hallway and spot Romano walking alone.
You catch up to Romano as he walks down the hallway, his hands stuffed in his pockets. For a moment, the silence stretches between you.
You clear your throat. “Hey, Romano. Mind if I walk with you?”
He shrugs, not meeting your eyes. “Do what you want.”
You both stroll side by side, the evening light filtering through the windows. “Thanks for helping me out today,” you say quietly. “The conference was... a lot.”
Romano glances at you, his expression softening just a bit. “It was nothing. I just didn’t want you to get lost or do something stupid.”
You laugh softly. “Well, thanks anyway. I appreciate it.”
He grumbles, but you catch the hint of a smile. “You did okay for your first day. Most people can’t handle all the craziness.”
You grin. “Maybe I’ll get used to it. Especially if I have someone to walk with at the end of the day.”
Romano blushes faintly, looking away. “Just try not to embarrass me next time, okay?”
You both laugh as you reach the exit,
As you both make your way down the path, the evening wrapping you in a comfortable silence, the start of something new lingering in the air, Romano glances over at you, his expression softer than before.
He clears his throat, looking a bit uneasy. “So... did you actually enjoy today? I mean, aside from all the chaos.”
You glance up at him and offer a genuine smile. “I did. It was overwhelming, but having you there made it easier. I’m glad we walked out together.”
Romano shrugs, but you notice the small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Guess you’re not as hopeless as I thought,” he teases, bumping your shoulder lightly.
You laugh, nudging him back. “And you’re not as grumpy as you pretend to be.”
He rolls his eyes, but doesn’t deny it. The two of you fall into a natural rhythm, footsteps echoing softly on the pavement as the city lights start to flicker on around you. Every so often, Romano points out a landmark or tells you a bit about the area, his voice growing more relaxed with each step.
