☆~

"Don't you feel that [name] is acting differently lately?" Peru glanced at Greece as he chewed on his food. Usually [name] would come and eat. If not, he would come by and chat with others. For the past week, [name] hasn't visited the canteen once.

"Yeah. It's like he's ignoring us or something.." The other country didn't bother looking up and continued struggling with their food. Peru paled at their words, dropping his utensils.

"Did I do something wrong?! Was it cause I got corrupted and I was giving him problems?!" The Peruvian starts to panic, and all four of his arms are digging into his skin.

"Calm down, calm down... I have a feeling that it's something related to America." Greece continued, finally getting the hand to pick up their food. 'Doing normal stuff is going to be a hassle...'

The moth's antennae stood up, bewildered by the information the Greek had just given.
"Am..merica?"

"From what I observed, [name] has been following...America. He would follow her whenever he got the chance." Greece stabbed the food with their blade-like hand like a skewer. Their pointy tip managed to pierce the plate, cracking it slightly.

"... Do you think?"

"That he has a crush on her? Probably.. with how much time he spent stalking her, it's without a doubt that he'll like her.."

'I refuse to believe that he has eyes for someone better than me.'

♡°•○°●•

There was one odd thing that always occurred in the player's game. Every task the game protagonist did, a recurring country would follow. Whether it be, farming level-up materials or grinding affection points, they would always see the same country in the background.

There's one ethical option and that is to ask Reddit.

'Is this a new update or is my game just bugging?'
- 3 screenshots

'Nawh homie, I think your game bugged or smt, I don't see any [name] appearing in my game randomly.'

The player worried, checked [name]'s stats. There was an increase in the stats, however, the player hadn't paid attention to [name] in this run-through. It couldn't be raised if they didn't interact with him.

☆~~

Japan eyeballed [name] suspiciously, glancing back and forth between his papers and then [name]. It's been a while and he has noticed the other appearing wherever America is for quite some time now.

"Is there something you need?" [name] noticed his eyes on him, lifting his attention from his test papers to the Japanese.

Japan continued to stare at him with an unwelcoming gaze. [name] shrugged it off, knowing how weird students here are.

"Are you stalking America?" [name] raised his brow, trying to act all confused, knowing that he was indeed stalking her.

"Stalking America? But I'm just doing my work?" He tilted his head, bringing his palm to his face.

"Don't think I'm dumb, I see you everywhere she goes." He could practically see an irked mark on Japan's forehead as he acted clueless.

"Maybe you're the one stalking her." [name] couldn't stop himself from digging into the grave further. "I'm just doing my homework in class so I don't have to do it when I go home."

Bad choice [name]! The Japanese grabbed his collar, looking him eye to eye. "I don't know what your intentions are toward America, but you'd better keep your distance from her. Creep."

'Yeesh.. a feisty fella here. Let me observe her how I want.'

☆~~~

[name] rolled his eyes as he recounted what happened between him and Japan. It bugs him how someone is after his ass for doing his own research.

'Welp, I think that's it for one productive day.' He hummed, closing his locker door that was coincidentally next to America's.

"[name]! You and I need to talk." Australia leaned against the locker door right beside him. "It's about... you." He hesitated with the last word.

[name] frowned, already knowing what he would say. It was mad obvious.

"What's the matter [name]? You're acting unusual. "

[name] spun around, looking Australia in the eye. "I'm... busy.. with work." He thought of an excuse while forming his sentence.

His lie hurt Australia. As a best friend, Australia deserves to know why he's acting weird, right? Right?

"Y'know, I can see through your lies right? It's clear as day that you're lying." The Aussie felt too emotional for his comfort. "Why, why would you lie to your best friend?"

"It's complicated, a long story even."

"I'm willing to hear that story! It's what best friends are for right? You shouldn't keep what's hurting you from others."

[name] held his breath, absorbing all the words Australia threw at him. He didn't feel the hurt in his heart til his friend mentioned it.

But, would Australia even believe his story? Would anyone believe it?

☆~~~~

"Glad to have you back with us [name]!" Peru gave a wide smile at the other country. [name] took one good look at the group, realising that the once duo had grown into a friend group.

"While you're gone, we managed to bond over the fact of worrying about you." Australia as if he knew what he was thinking, answered his question. "With questions aside, let's goooOoo!!"

"Go where?"

"To the mall!"

[name] had forgotten malls existed, yet, he hadn't been to the mall ever since that memory wipe. He followed the friend group mindlessly, entrusting them that they wouldn't get lost.

That being said, is [name] even alive right now? What actually happened before he came into consciousness? Was it another [name] before he overtook the body? Another strange thought shrouded his head.

Or was he just dreaming?

"Come [name] let's go to that photo booth!" He felt someone dragging him, not in a harsh way, but in a soft and comforting way. "Let's cherish this moment together!"

The dark atmosphere and the bright screen made [name] uncomfortable, but with his friends smiling and happy, he didn't really mind it.

"Cheese!"

His lips curved up into a smile. The props made his friends look silly and stupid, but who is he to judge if he's wearing it too?

The group took a shit load of photos and when the bill came out, it was also a shit load.

"Yeesh.. I told y'all not to take that much.." Ukraine grumbled at the bill, and he glanced at Greece which was the sole reason why the gang took a lot of photos.

"Who cares!? It's Friday! Let's go eat now!" Greece sang happily, skipping away.

'They sure are in a good mood.'

☆~~~~

(Extra scene)

While the 5 countries' friend group ate dinner together, a familiar country appeared and dampened [name]'s whole mood. The same string of code appeared in his mind, disrupting his good food.

Greece, saw the scene immediately spring into action, bringing [name] out of the restaurant.

"You ok?" They leaned against the railing, looking up at the night sky filled with stars. "Be honest."

"I don't know..." [name] hunched over the same railing, observing the glimmering lake. Thankfully the codes weren't that fatal and he was able to walk.

"You don't have to tell us now, but. Just know that we're here for you okay?" [name] smiled at their words, grateful to have them.

☆~~~~!

Twitter post(s) for the day!

Did you know?

• Greece and Peru are now taller thanks to the corruption

• [name] was this close to figuring out 🤏

• Australia almost bawled his eyes out cuz he was too emotional

Group hangout!! + doodles

[name] has no cannon design, I'm just drawing hair on bro cuz he looks weird bald🤙