Finding Love (China x Female Reader x Japan)

Drifting Apart

The following day. I was in my room, holding a teddy bear in my hands and thinking about Yao.

I shouldn't have said like that to him. He was only looking after me as a friend...and that hug was probably just a friendly one too.

But that feeling...How can I feel like that for someone else other than Kiku? No, I must be overthinking it. Maybe it was because I wasn't feeling well back then. I must apologize to Yao.

As I got up from the bed, I heard a knock on the door.

Was it him?

"Please come in," I called out.

"Good to see you, love," Arthur said as he closed the door behind him. I frowned in disappointment. I was expecting Yao to come.

"Good to see you too, Arthur," I somehow managed to smile.
"There is something that I need to talk to you about."
"Yes, please say."

He went over to the sofa and sat down. I followed him and seated myself across him.

"You see, love. Today is Italy and Romano's birthday..." He cleared his throat.

"Wow, really?" I never knew countries had birthdays too. There is so much more that I need to learn.

Arthur smiled. "Yes. Which is why we are planning on giving them a surprise birthday party today. And we were thinking if you could help us with that."
"I would be glad to!"

The Englishman softly chuckled and looked at his side. "Isn't she a wonderful girl, Flying Mint Bunny?"

I turned to the direction where he was looking. Nothing was there. But Arthur kept talking to this invisible force.

"U‐Umm...Arthur, who are you ‐ "

He suddenly stood up. "O‐Oh, I forgot that I have a lot of work to do. Anyways, I will talk to you later, love!" he spoke in a bashful way and quickly walked towards the door.

"Wait!"

He turned around.

"Have you...seen Yao?" I asked him.
"China? He's helping us with the arrangements."
"Oh, I see. Thank you for telling me."
Arthur gave a gentleman‐like bow before walking out the room.

Yao...I need to talk to him.

I headed to where the other countries were. They were making plans for the birthday party. Ludwig was put in charge. I looked around but couldn't see the Italian brothers.

"Ludwig, where are Feliciano and Lovino?"
"France has taken them outside the mansion. We can't plan a surprise for them if they are here, can we?" he answered.

While the German country announced everyone's job, my eyes kept searching for Yao.

"Are you looking for someone, (Y/n)?" Antonio came up to me.
"Antonio, I was ‐ "

"(Y/n)."

I turned as my name got called. "You will be preparing the cake along with me and Russia," Ludwig said.
"Oh, okay."

After everything got sorted, I followed the two countries to the kitchen. As I entered, I froze in place. Yao was there cooking something on the oven, his focus on what he was preparing. I stood there, staring at him when Ludwig called me.

"(Y/n), we need your help here."

Yao must have heard my name as he turned towards my direction. He looked at me, surprised. I didn't know what to say either. We stayed like that for a while.

"You know..." I heard a cheerful voice behind me. "The cake won't bake itself, da!"

I shivered in fear as I realized who said that. "Umm, yes!" I quickly went and stood beside Ludwig, my back facing Yao.

We started gathering the supplies for the cake and mixed them. Ludwig blended the batter like a professional. I was impressed by his skill.

"Are you a professional baker, Ludwig?"
"What?! Uh‐no, we were taught these stuff while training," he said with an embarrassed look.

That's strange. I never heard that baking was taught in military training.

"You know what would make the cake more fluffy, da?" Ivan asked, smiling.
We turned to him.
He took out a large bottle of...
"Vodkaaaa!!"

After a moment of silence...

"(Y/n), can you put this in the oven?" Ludwig asked, ignoring the Russian man.
"Umm, sure."

I took the batter to the oven. I was about pull the tray out when I accidentally touched the hot oven without gloves on. A small shreik escaped my mouth.

"(Y/n)!" Yao cried out.

He ran up to me, leaving his work behind. He was about to check my burnt hands when he stopped. I looked up to see an agonized look on his face. I remembered what he had said before.

"I promise I will never touch you again..."

Yao was keeping his promise.

The burn on my hand was painful, but Yao's silence was even more heart‐wrenching. I could not stand it any longer.

"Yao, I ‐ "

He suddenly strode across the kitchen towards the freezer and brought an ice‐pack with him. He placed the ice‐pack on my burnt hands and waited.

After I felt a bit of relief, I turned to Yao. He was looking down.

"Yao, please forgive me. I did not mean to hurt your feelings. I'm deeply sorry." I bowed.

"(Y‐Y/n), I'm not mad, aru. I just..."
I looked up at him. He did not look back into my eyes while he spoke.
"I...don't want to make you feel uncomfortable, aru..."

He thought that being around him made me feel uncomfortable? I felt crushed from inside. I...really did lose a good friend...

I kept the ice‐pack down and slowly walked out of the kitchen.

"(Y/n)..."

I heard Yao taking my name but I did not turn around. Closing the door after me, I stood in the corridor alone. Fresh tears fell on the floor as I realized our relationship will never be the same again.