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1. How to find yourself in your brother’s shadow: a step by step tutorial by butterscotchbiscuits

   Fandoms: Hetalia (Anime & Manga)  

   • Mature
   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • M/M
   • Complete Work

   29 Jul 2026

   Tags

   • Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
   • Germany/North Italy (Hetalia)
   • Prussia/South Italy (Hetalia)
   • Minor Austria/hungary
   • Austria/Spain implied exes
   • America/South Italy (Hetalia)
   • Germany (Hetalia)
   • North Italy (Hetalia)
   • South Italy (Hetalia)
   • Prussia (Hetalia)
   • Hungary (Hetalia)
   • Austria (Hetalia)
   • Spain (Hetalia)
   • America (Hetalia)
   • Attempted Suicide
   • References to attempted suicide
   • Discussions of Self Harm
   • mentions of smoking
   • Angst
   • Itabros angst
   • Angst with a Happy Ending
   • There’s relationship angst in Germany/Italy and Prussia/romano
   • Spain is a great big brother figure
   • south Italy has never read the metamorphosis by Kafka
   • Alternate Universe - Modern Setting
   • Kind of out of character? I tried to make it fit but idk if it worked that well
   • Brief mention of pills/allusions to overdose in a throwaway line
   • south Italy thinks about violence
   • Prussia and south Italy break up
   • Grandpa Rome character assassination
   • I would also like to issue a formal apology to Prussia fans
   • use of human names
   • The narration is influenced by Romano’s attitudes
   • How Do I Tag
   • Why does everyone in this fic have issues?
   • Itabros lowkey have anxiety
   • the first few chapters are genuinely just Romano going through it I don’t know what else to say
   • Implied/Referenced Sex
   • Bi Romano
   • Fake/Pretend Relationship

   Summary

   Lovino has lived his entire life second to his brother. In the wake of a startling revelation, Lovino’s world is thrown upside down as he tries to find himself in the shadow of his brother’s increasingly-perfect-life. Thus, he starts his long, arduous journey of self discovery to find meaning and purpose in his own life. Under the surface, however, things may not be as they seem.

   Language:

   English

   Words:

   20,393

   Chapters:

   7/7

   Comments:

   12

   Kudos:

   52

   Bookmarks:

   11

   Hits:

   396