Finding Love (China x Female Reader x Japan)

In Search of a Friend

"Antonio? Where is he?" I was about to turn around when Yao took my hand and pulled me behind a cut‐out board.

I was surprised. "Yao, why are we hiding?" I asked him
"We can't let Spain see us together, aru," he whispered.
"But why?"
"Because..." His cheeks turned red.

"B‐Because if he sees us, he would think what that salesgirl thought back then, aru," he said, looking away.

I was confused. What the salesgirl...wait...So he would think that we're dating?!

"But that's ‐ "
"I know, aru. Which is why we need to hide from him."
I nodded.

We peered from our hiding place and saw Antonio walking towards our direction with a girl beside him.

I think I have seen her before...

As if he read my mind, Yao answered,"That's Belgium, aru. Spain's friend."

Oh, that's why she looked familiar! I must have seen her at the party.

The two of them sat on the same bench where we were sitting a while ago. They didn't seem to have noticed us yet.

"It's our chance! Let's go, aru!"

We turned and saw a botanical shop there. Finding no other way of escape, we made our way along the narrow passage through the shop. We found a staircase that led to the top floor of the arcade.

We hurried up the stairs and soon reached the terrace which was filled with kids' rides and games. The parents watched as their children played.

After climbing so many steps, we sat down on a bench to catch our breath. As we looked at each other, we broke into laughter.

"That was a close call, aru," Yao said after he stopped laughing.
"Yes, it sure was," I smiled.

We sat there under the blue sky, looking at the kids. They looked so adorable while playing.

"So adorable..." The words slipped out of my mouth.

"They are, aru...You like kids, don't you (Y/n)?"
I turned to Yao. "Oh yes, I love them!"
He smiled.

"I hope I can become a good mother someday..." I thought aloud.

Yao placed a hand on my shoulder. "You will be a great mother, (Y/n). Besides, I can tell you how it's like to raise a child! I have raised Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan...and even Pand‐"

Suddenly, Yao's face went blue. He stood up and searched his clothes.

"What's wrong, Yao?" I asked him.

"P‐Panda...I can't find him, aru!"

I stood up in shock. Panda was missing?

"Where did he go, Yao?"
"I don't know, aru..." He looked around in panic.

I could understand why Yao was so worried. Panda is so small. What if he's scared right now? But panicking won't solve anything.

I tried to calm Yao down. "Yao, please listen to me." I held him by both his arms.

"We need to search for Panda. But first, you need to stay calm. We have to think and take steps accordingly. Do you understand?"

He nodded. But I could still see worry in his eyes. I took his hand in mine and whispered softly,"It will be alright, Yao. We will find him, I promise you."

My words seemed to have calmed Yao a bit as he took a deep breath and looked at me with a determined face. I smiled at him.

We decided to look where we last saw himーAt the ground floor.

We took the elevator and stepped into the familiar floor. We went over to the bench where we had our ice‐creams. Panda wasn't there.

"He isn't here, aru! Panda!" Yao dropped onto the bench, disappointed.
I sat beside him. "We'll find him. Don't worry."
"But what if we don't, aru?"
"I believe we would."

While Yao was on the verge of tears, I tried hard to figure out where the panda could go. My eyes landed on the cut‐out board where we hid back then. I stood up and went over to check. He wasn't there either.

I sighed. Where can he go?

"Tropical plants for exhibition! Palms, dates, bamboos, orchids and many more on display!"

I heard the salesgirl from the botanical shop call out. All of a sudden, something struck my mind. I went back to Yao.

"Yao, what is Panda's favourite food?"
He looked up at me. "He loves bamboos, aru..."

Just as I thought.

"Yao, please come with me. I might know where we can find him," I told him.
"You do, aru?!" He stood up.
"Yes. Follow me."

We entered the botanical shop again and searched for the tropical plants section. As we found it, what do we see there?

"Panda, aru!"

There he was. Happily chewing on a bamboo shoot. As he saw us, he jumped from the table and ran towards us. Yao bent down to pick him up.

"Panda, we looked everywhere for you, aru!" Yao hugged his friend tightly. The panda snuggled in his arms. I watched the lovely reunion as the small animal went inside the Chinese man's sleeves.

Yao finally turned to me.

I smiled at him. "I told you we will find‐"

A pair of strong arms pulled me into a warm embrace as I found myself leaning against Yao's chest. His broad shoulders enveloped my small frame. I could feel the warmth of his body at this proximity.

"Y‐Yao..." I finally blurted out in surprise. My heart was beating very fast.

"Thank you, (Y/n)..." he whispered into my ear.

His warm breath on my skin made my cheeks burn red. A feeling that I knew very well teased my heart. But...why was I feeling this way now?

We stayed this way for a while when...

"Uh, hey guys."

We heard a familiar voice. We turned and saw Antonio and Belgium staring at us.

We looked at each other for a moment. An awkward silence between us. Then realizing the situation we were in, Yao and I quickly separated ourselves.

"S‐Spain! This isn't what you think it is, aru!"
"Uh, it's okay! We promise we won't tell anyone! Right, Belgium?"
"Yes, we won't!" The girl nodded.

The two countries headed towards the exit, smiling. "Anyways, we have to go. Sorry to disturb you. See ya!" They ran out.

We stood there, thinking what just happened.

Yao sighed. "How troublesome, aru. Well, let's go now, (Y/n)."

He was about to hold my hand when I stopped him. He looked at me, confused.

"Yao...you know that I love Kiku..." I said, looking down.

"Hmm? Of course I ‐ " he stopped. Maybe he finally realized. He looked at me for a few moments and then averted his gaze.

"I'm sorry, (Y/n)..."

I looked up at him. His expression held pain and sadness.

"Yao...I ‐ "
"I was getting ahead of myself, aru...I'm very sorry. I promise I will never touch you again..."

My eyes went wide. I was about to apologize to him when he turned around and started walking.

"Yao..."

Did I just lose a good friend?