Once Upon A Time | A Hetalia x Reader

Chapter 19: Lunch Conversations

[Unedited]

Today I was sitting besides Ludwig, eating my lunch and decided to talk to him. These passed few days around him was awkward, and I really wanted to change that for the better - in the future, he wouldn't be so awkward and timid around women like me.

"Hey, Ludwig," I spoke up after gulping in a bite. He perked up at his name and looked at me with a curious look.

"Yes, ma'am-? I mean...er...y-yes-? Wait- dammit!"

I giggled. "Don't be so hard on yourself, it isn't that hard to talk to the opposite gender. Like look at me, I'm talking to a guy."

"I'm sorry." He mumbled, looking away with a flustered expression.

"Don't be. Maybe," I scooted closer to him and felt him tense up. I grinned sheepishly.

"Maybe I could help you open up a bit, and then in return, you can teach me a bit about German!"

"Like...lessons?"

"Yep! Fair trade, right?"

"...you sound like a business woman."

I laughed at that. "Maybe pretend that I am a person who works in a market. Would that sort of help?"

"I suppose so," he replied hesitantly. "I'm not that uncomfortable towards business women."

I wonder why...?

"Anyways," I uttered. "Just act as if you are talking to Feliciano, or even Kiku. Like how friends talk to friends."

"...hallo....mein name is Ludwig." He spoke monotonously, staring out into the distance.

I giggled again. He sounds extremely off and out of character.

"No, look into the person's eye as you say that, and maybe even add emotion. Like..." I straightened my back and stared into his eyes with determination. As I flashed a wide grin, I said, "Hello! My name is (Name) (Surname)! Nice to meet you!"

"I-I'm fine." Ludwig stuttered, blushing slightly and scooted away. "How are you?"

His voice seemed to crack a bit.

"Damn it all..." Ludwig murmured. "I'm very sorry, I just can't do this."

But I thought exactly otherwise.

-

So in the end, I did manage to have Ludwig talk a little more clearly and normally around me. Now I just need to find another girl that he can practice with.

He also teached me a bit of German, however most of the words he taught me were familiar from my teachings with Elizaveta.

Then there was something I didn't recognize.

(If you do, go along with it please XD)

"Auf Wiedersehen."

It meant goodbye. It sounded beautiful, as if it came from a song; a tune.

"Auf wiedersehen, mein kleines Mädchen." Ludwig uttered.

I giggled. "Auf wiedersehen, mein kleines Mädchen. Have a good day in school!"

"You seem to know a lot about German, (Name). Did someone teach you?"

Shoot.

"Well," I said, slowly, a tad bit shaken to say anything. Just say something, (Name)!

"When I was little, I-I managed to stumble upon a library, back at my village. I, um, looked through the bookshelves and, I... I found this book. A book that... teaches German! So I brought it with me and was taught that way since... since I grew older."

"Interesting. It has been awhile since I've last spoken to a person who could speak my language."

I smiled in glee.

"Well, I'm glad that I am able to speak German to a person from Germany, then, too!"

He seemed to smile back, with this warmth and kindness.

Yep, I'm sure I really did teach him to grow more closer to women like me.

-

Tonight, once again, I had a weird dream. I didn't think this was a memory though, because it felt so...odd, and different.

Before me, in the distance, stood a girl surrounded by graves, like the cemetery I visited with Arthur and Alfred.

She was facing sideways, looking down to a grave, and her short jet-black hair was covering her face. She was short and petite, and she was speaking in a soft and kind voice, much like someone I probably new.

"Hello, sorry I'm late again. It's hard being alone and taking care of the kids at the village." The girl seemed to wipe her eyes a bit. There, in her hands, were a couple of flowers, particularly four to be specific.

I leaned in a bit closer, but a wall barricaded my way.

"So, apparently I found out about mom and dad. And the war. Wars these days. Don't they have time to be elsewhere? I really, really despise such a thing. Don't you too?"

She said those words with this bitterness, but she remained soft.

"I wish you were here. Everything isn't going all so well. A lot of people are mourning, and I know that if you're here, you can brighten everyone's day! Especially (Name). I heard one time that she's been down in the dumps lately. But it doesn't really matter now. More people are crying."

She took a gentle, shaky sigh. She started to wipe her eyes again. "I'm sorry for being such a crybaby. I'm hoping to be as strong as (Name), just as you hoped, too. For your sake."

Then, she knelt down, placing a flower upon a grave.

"I'll be back when I have time. I gotta go talk to (Name) and our parents now."

My weird dream ended, but it made me sort of worried because she had three extra flowers in her hands - and that I have no clue as to whom she really was. But, deep down, I guess I really did know her.

-

"Auf Wiedersehen..."

-

Auf wiedersehen - Goodbye.

Auf wiedersehen, mein kleines Mädchen - Goodbye, my little girl.

Sorry if our German is innacurate! Be free to correct us when you feel that our translations are incorrect.

- Author-kun