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Alfred signed the letter with a nervous exhale. This would be his final attempt at swaying the introverted and quiet nation. It was quite obvious how the American felt about the Asian nation, at least to everyone else. Kiku was too naïve. Not a stupid and childish naïve, but an uncultured and shy type of naïve. It wasn't very shocking, since the nation had barely opened its doors to the world a century or two ago.
The note was rather awkward, sappy even, as the loud boastful nation tried to accurately portray his true emotions. He never thought of himself as a homosexual, though due to recent uproars in his nation, he had been much more open to the idea. Since the 70's, gay rights movements have been gaining popularity, and now, his Nation was rather split between acceptance and conservatism, though 50% was better than nothing.
He looked outside from his office. It was an awfully pretty night, much too pretty during such an embarrassing and nerve racking moment like this. Japan was currently one of his strongest allies, who he has great companionship with. Since the Cold War, him and japan have grown closer and closer, and their militaries are intertwined like a Palomar knot.
He finished with his signature, putting the note in its envelope and sealing it. This was going to be a make it or break it, but you only live once, yolo bro.
He took one last glance at the blue paper pocket. Was it too much? Maybe things were better the way they were. America wasn't the best with relationships. The woman in his country were rather demanding, and the men expected too much. It gave him mixed feelings. What should he expect, what if Kiku returned his feelings? What then?
It was sort of a taboo to be dating another nation. Have as many human partners you want, but dating a fellow country was rather looked down upon. There were exceptions, that being Hungary and Austria, which many didn't really bat and eye at, but fellow nations managers did give him odd looks whenever he stood close and talked with Japan, since again, his feelings were obvious to everyone besides japan himself.
Even China gave him weird looks, but he didn't give a rats ass about that Asian. He was a commie anyways. He just did his thing, ate his hormone rich beef burgers, drank his corn syrup cola, and talked loudly. He was the hero after all, wasn't he?
He never really was so down in the dumps. It felt weird. Yeah, he had emotions other than confident and obnoxious, but he surely didn't experience them often. The last time he cried in front of someone was at Japans place.
He stuffed the paper in his pocket and headed out his office. He put a stamp on it, signed the address and return, and grabbed his coat as he walked outside.
It was a rather mild night, a gentle breeze in the light polluted night sky. Who gave a shit about a 'milky way' anyways? That's for nerds. He walked down the street, heading to his nearby post office. He talked politely to the person at the counter, shipped his note, and walked home. Who knew what would happen next, but whatever it would be, it wasn't going to be very casual as America expected.
—
He didn't check his mail often, but his letter collection was taking too much space in his tidy house. Kiku sat at the table, sipping on green tea as sifted gingerly through envelopes and packages. It was a calm morning, and there was nothing more Japanese than relaxing after a quick jog around his neighborhood. The average Japanese morning.
A letter from the concluded United Nations meeting, January 1st. Magazine line he forgot he subscribed to. Random ad for a new opening maid café. Normal mail. Just as he was about to collect the papers into a bag to go recycle, something in the pile stood out to him. A blue envelope, from an American address, with Alfred's signature.
Kiku seemed a bit surprised, since Alfred's messages usually came in the form of random phone calls, text messages with too many emojis, and random gifts in the mail he felt guilty for receiving. A written note was knew. Kiku took the envelope and walked outside on his backyard porch to read the note.
Dear Kiku Honda-
"Hey bro! So you know like how your always quiet around me and stuff and I'm like always super loud and stuff? Yeah I think it's pretty cool, right? We are like opposites, or ying and yang, and opposites attract, right? So I was like thinking if you I don't know, agree on that or somethin? Does that make sense? Ying yang is like Asian or somethin yeah? So I was thinking about and and stuff and.. I kinda maybe agree, idk. Oh yeah, have I ever told you that ya look like a girl, in a good way yeah? Like a nice way, not like your a pussy or somethin. Anyways, you'd totally be a cute girl. But you are pretty hot as a guy too. Well not hot but your cool, get it? And I was thinking about it and..."
As Kiku read, he mentally winced at the poorly formatted letter. He sighed softly, continuing to read, just trying to get through the letter.
"So I was thinking if like.. you thought I would be a hot girl, tits and all? Do you think I'm hot already? Not in a gay way of course but like if it was in a gay way would you be into that and all? Totally hypothetically. I mean, you're pretty hot and stuff, I was thinking if you thought I was too? No homo btw. I really think you are cute and shit, no homo. Your quiet and all polite, and you are always agreeing with me, which is super hot on your part, no homo, so I was thinking. I think you're hot and all, I'm I hot? Not in a gay way."
Kiku seemed a bit bewildered at the note. Was he serious? A slight rosy tint appeared on his cheeks. This American was so.. so...
Stupid? No, that's not the right weird.
Innocent?
Japan sighed, blushing a bit as he put the note back into the envelope and closed it. Just as he was trying to enjoy his morning, it was interrupted by America. Similar to when he lived with America for that small period.
He stood up, taking empty cup of tea to wash and store, and the note.. to keep.