North's POV:

It's now been a day since we started this plan, and if I'm being completely honest with myself... it was going terrible. The only ones who have fused so far successfully have been China, Mexico, the pig, and Maple. Me and the other two haven't even been given a chance!

But now Mexico,Maple, and the capitalist are trying to all fuse together, and it's a disaster. They've been trying for an hour already, and they haven't come any closer to figuring it out. Clearly, that means they just aren't as close as they may think, or one of their hearts just aren't in it. Either way, they're all a bunch of failures.

"Okay, mate, I think we should give it a rest already. We're clearly not going to get it today." Australia said as he turned to look at the sun. It was high noon now, and we had wasted enough time. It was finally my time to shine like the great country I am!

"Alright, fine... it's your guys' turn now." America said with a sigh as he made his way to the porch and sat down. Then he asked, "So, who's next?" While giving all of us a sorta tired look. Either all of those attempts drained the energy from him, or he just didn't give a fuck about us. Which is fair cause I don't really care about this idiots who held me captive either. I'm mostly staying to see this through and for other reasons...

"Me and Kiwi wanna give it a try!" Australia exclaimed as he grabbed New Zealand's hand and proceeded to run over to the yard. I didn't really have an exact partner that I could fuse with, so I just sorta stayed put. Maple walked over to me and gave a questioning look.

"You're not going to try?" He asked, and I huffed at his ignorance. "I don't exactly have a partner here. Seeing as I'm the odd man out." I heard China chuckle at that and give a teasing response. "I wonder why that is. Do you think it's cause of our lack of numbers or your personality?~" Of course, he felt the need to tease me about my lack of friends other than him. I just wasn't in the mood today to listen.

"That's not it. We just have an odd number." Maple said, but I just rolled my eyes since I really just wasn't in the mood to have this conversation again.
"I'll fuse with you North if you want." Maple suggested, which wasn't too surprising. I've noticed how he's been acting pretty eager to fuse recently, which I believe may be his way to distract himself from his break-up with Ukraine. But I am anything but a rebound, especially in this scenario.

"No thanks, I'll just watch you guys." I told him as I saw his face become one of disappointment. Though I refuse to let him think I feel bad in this scenario no matter how much I may actually. "Nice going, Romeo.~" I heard China whisper to me as Maple went to sit next to that pig and Mexico who were having their own conversation. "Shut up." I whispered back angrily when I heard a yell. That's when I realized I had missed Australia and New Zealand fusing because there now stood their excited fusion.

"We did it! We fused!" He yelled as he began to examine his own body while tugging at his clothing. That's when the capitalist ran over to him and gave him a firm slap on the back. "Good job, guys! Though you don't really look any different... like at all. I think you only grew a couple of inches, too." The fusion just smiled at him and chuckled. "Are you sure about that?"

Then, without warning, a second pair of arms appeared out the fusion's sides and grabbed the American now holding him over their head. He screamed like a bitch, and I couldn't help but laugh at his predicament. "Put me down now!" He yelled, and the fusion compiled by dropping him. "Pretty cool, right?" He asked as he began to make his way towards us and completely forgetting about the idiot he left on the floor behind him.

"That is incredible! I didn't think you'd get two pairs of arms. What should we even call you now?" Mexico commented as he began to examine the fusion up close. "Just call me New Australia!" He said as he began to almost damn near pose for us.

"Yeah, sure, whatever. Let's just call it a day and head inside." The capitalist grumbled as he walked past us and headed inside the house. "Someone is a little grumpy." China said with a smile as he followed after him and headed inside.

Soon, we all went inside as well and decided to start cooking for dinner. And by that, I mean Maple, Mexico, and New Australia cooked while the rest of us watched TV.

(Time skip brought to you by New Australia eating all of the potential leftovers)

It was dark out, and I was just watching the stars while trying to think about everything that was happening. Was Japan right when she said we're all in a book? If so, does anything we do even really matter if our fates have already been decided by someone else?

"What are you doing out here?" I heard a familiar voice ask me. I didn't even need to look because I already knew it was Maple. "Just having a bit of an existential crisis. Want to join me?" I asked as I patted the grass next to me, and without a word, he came over and lied down.

It was quiet for a while before Maple finally broke it with an obvious question. "Why didn't you want to fuse with me?" He asked as he turned his head to look at me. I just told him what I told myself. "Because I'm not a rebound."

He seemed shocked by that answer as he quickly shook his head. "Of course you're not! I know a lot has been happening between us, and I'm still not completely over Ukraine... but you are not a rebound. You're my friend, and I just want to make you happy." Well shit. Now I feel like an even bigger asshole than usual.

"I'm sorry... I should have talked to you before pushing you away." I told him, and he just smiled in response. Then, without warning, he came over and hugged me either that or he was trying to suffocate me with his weight by laying on top of me. "It's okay. You're getting better at being more open with me. The old North wouldn't have even offered me a spot to lay next to him." Yeah. Sometimes I miss the old me.

"Maple... I think you're my best friend." I told him as I decided to just hug him back. He whispered, "I know..." And that's when I started to feel a warm sensation all over my body as I decided to close my eyes and let it consume me.

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I know I'm late, but Happy New Year's Eve! Hope you guys are doing well and enjoy this chapter that took too long to make. :)