It was nearing 2 AM. A small figure quietly slipped out of a room. She pressed her ear to the room next to her's, satisfied to hear the slow, soft breathing that signified that the person inside was asleep.

She signalled to the other figure that the coast was clear, then the two departed from the house to embark on their mission.

An excited grin appeared on her face as the girl has never been out this late. Checking her phone to clarify the meeting spot, she nodded to her companion as they approached a nearby alley.

The other three people whom the host had gathered together were already discussing the situation deeper into the alley.

Despite her childlike behavior to want to hop around with joy, she composed herself and crossed her arms in a professional fashion.

The two finally met up with the other four.

"You got the stuff?" The girl demanded.

The host nodded and adjusted his glasses, pulling out a multitude of plastic bags. She inspected them, carefully looking in each one, which contained a plethora of both money and memes.

"Perfect." She grinned.

"You already know exactly what to do." Distributing the bags, the host gave them a smile. "Have fun, kids."

One of the men frowned. "But America-san, I am older than you. But holy crap, history of Japan memes."

"Yahoo! We sure will, da-ze!"

"This is a good form of payment, da?" Another of the men pointed out at the group's similar obsessions with memes.

"You guys better get back now before he notices you were gone," America advised.

"Feel free to crash at our place," the man that accompanied the girl offered. "The old man wouldn't notice a thing."

"Alright," she said, turning to the exit of the alley, "let's go."

******

China blinked his eyes open as the sun radiated in from his window. He brushed his teeth, hair, and washed his face. As he went to make some breakfast, everything seemed normal until...

"Wah! What are you doing here?" he exclaimed as he saw Russia taking up his whole couch. The tall man rubbed his eyes, then turned to him.

"Good morning, little friend," he greeted the Asian.

China didn't reply. He sighed, walking over to the stove. As he opened the fridge, he glanced over at Russia again. But there on the floor, in a sleeping bag, was Japan.

"Japan?! You too?" He ran his fingers through his hair.

"I apologize, Shina-san, I just wanted to pay you a visit but you were still asleep," Japan explained.

"Ah." China waved him off, not even noticing the slight change. He poured the cereal into five bowls.

"I better go wake up Sammi. The cereal is going to get cold."

China walked over to her room and opened the door.

"Hey Sam, it's time to wake up. I made breakfast and--HA?! South Korea what are you doing here?" He screamed as he saw Samantha lying unconscious on the floor with one of the pillows.

"Hi Shhhhiiiiinaaaaa~" he said sleepily. "Thanks for letting us borrow your house."

China rushed over to the sleeping girl. He put her back on the bed. "What did you do to Sammi?"

South Korea sat up. "Oh so basically after we came in we just slept wherever. Loung didn't let me in so I just slept on the end of her bed."

"Then?"

He shrugged. "Then she rolled off the bed after she fell asleep."

"Morning, Shina!" Samantha sat up and smiled.

China frowned. "Am I hearing things?" He muttered to himself.

"Probably," Samantha replied. "Come on, let's go." She got up from the bed and headed out the door.

China and South Korea followed her out, almost running into Hong Kong on the way.

"Morning Shina." Hong Kong sat down at the table.

As everyone gathered at the table, the other four nations and the girl began to pester China with questions.

"Ah, it's so long that I've seen you, good friend Shina. How are you today?" Russia smiled.

"Your hair looks a lot longer today, Shina! Can I style it later?" South Korea offered.

"Aiya, don't think of touching my hair! And my name is China! You know this already."

Samantha glanced at the country. "But we are calling you by your name, Shina."

"No you're not!"

"Your hearing is probably unclear today, Shina-san. Should we take you to a doctor?" Japan asked, seemingly concerned.

"Or maybe your physical form is finally catching up to your old age?" Hong Kong suggested.

China put his face into the palm of his hand. "Ah...you guys...!"

"What's wrong, Shina?"

"We can help you and give you advice, big brother Shina!"

"Shina-san, you must tell us whenever you have problems. We won't be able to help you this way."

China frowned. What they were calling him was slightly familiar. It was something from a video on YouTube that Samantha showed him a while back.

"You guys are so annoying! I told you already not to call me Shina!" he protested. "What's wrong with everyone today, aru?"

"I do not know what you're talking about, friend Shina."

"Yes you do, you just said it again!" China complained, clearly irritated.

Russia tilted his head innocently.

"Aniki, we don't know what--"

"Why are you guys so hard to take care of, you're all so...so..." He gave up, sighing.

China suddenly remembered where he had heard this from. He had watched a complication of the newest American president - Donald Trump - saying "China" so many times that it sounded like "Shina." He massaged his temples, wanting the image of that orange carrot to disappear.

There was an awkward silence.

"We were hired," Samantha put in.

"By who?"

"Who else?" said Russia.

"Let me guess, America?"

They nodded.

"For what reason did he give you so that you would participate in such a useless prank?"

Japan snapped his head towards his older brother, looked him square in the eyes, and whispered,

"Memes."