here is the official rewrite! i've completely scrapped the old one, and thanks to some lovely critics i've refurbished it. the next few chapters will be following soon, so please enjoy!

as always, i do not own the selection nor hetalia. these belong to kiera cass and himaruya hidekaz respectively.

Arthur peered out of the door of their small apartment, his eyes seeking out his roommate and giving a relieved sigh as Kiku's dark hair came over the rickety stairs that led to their housing facility.

"Have our recent test results come back yet?" Arthur called.

"Not yet," his best friend said curtly. "But there is something else that I think that you would wish to see."

"Did you use too much water again this month?" he asked in response, shuffling through the white envelopes.

"I will pay more in advance this time," Kiku replied, sounding embarrassed, but handed him a thick bundle of multicoloured envelopes. "But these are the ones that I would like to bring to your attention."

Arthur's mouth twisted into a frown when he took one of each colour, turning them over and over in his hands. The coarse surface was a lot different than the smooth ones that were the norm in Hearts, so that could mean one thing.

"Did the head mention something about them coming this early? They only gave us that lecture last week. Now we have to choose?"

"You may say that I have already made a decision." Kiku said as he beckoned Arthur back into their apartment and locked the door behind him.

"I'm guessing you talked with Heracles?" He put the rest of the letters onto their kitchen table as he turned the dingy living room light back on. "He did mention something about the Signing at lunch last week."

"Who else would I have discussed such a topic with? He recommended that I would stay in Hearts, because even though there is a tiny chance that I will join their Suit, I do not have to marry anyone in the end. Unfortunately, I doubt that would help his predicament, because the farthest I might get is a recommendation," Kiku sighed, his face shifting into a dejected expression.

The atmosphere turned quiet as Arthur shelled the papers out of the envelopes, examining each one with a serious expression. Each one provided a small overview of each of the current Primary Suit members for each kingdom and some basic information and what would be required of them. After a few moments, Kiku followed suit, the other boy deciding to go and prepare breakfast. All these difficult decisions called for a good, strong cup of tea.

"Did the head council mention anything about Diamonds this year? I know they are not hosting this time around, but…they hosted one last year and that certainly was not to gain a new member."

"Monetary problems." Arthur replied over a mouthful of scone. "They've been in a trade deficit recently, and that's why King Francis didn't say anything about it this time."

"Do you really think the king will publicly admit that his country is weak? I am guessing that Clubs are in a similar problem, but of course due to their king they will not talk."

"Is there anything else I need to know about the other kingdoms?"

"Well, Clubs are looking for their Ace and Spades and Hearts are both looking for their Queens. However, if I remember correctly, you will have to marry the crown prince if you are to apply for Spades."

"Oh?" Arthur said, taking another sip of his tea. "His name's…Alfred, if I remember correctly."

They hadn't had much interaction at all with either of the Primary Suits, especially for a group of people whose lives had been prepped up to this point in time to become part of them. Arthur could only remember one time when they were a lot younger and the holding facility was still located in Spades territory. The entire royal family had visited that time, but other from that and occasional television reports, those were the only memories he had.

"Arthur, I am not sure you understand the situation," Kiku pressed with an amused expression. "In order to compete in the Spades Deciding, you will be expected to attempt to romance the prince."

His expression paused for a moment, then he quickly scanned the letter that Kiku had in his hands.

…this nature of the Deciding will be romantic, with the expectation of being able to be romantically interested in Prince Alfred. Most interactions will be expected to express romantic attraction, and it is discouraged if a participant's respects towards the prince are anything but a romantic nature…

"You're not making me do that!" Arthur protested, pushing the paper back onto the table. "Respects anything but romantic? I haven't even been involved with someone before!"

Kiku chuckled, putting down his cup. "I did ask whether you really did read the information before brushing it off."

"What, am I supposed to be a blushing teenager completely obsessed with him? I mean, I won't have the basis to hate him, but…!"

"Do you think that he would be so easy to dislike? This is an opportunity for you as well for him."

"Kiku, can't I join Hearts with you?" Arthur pleaded, running his hands through his hair. "Things like these usually don't end well."

His friend suddenly looked uncomfortable, and began to fidget nervously.

"Kiku, what's bothering you?"

"I…I have a big favour to ask of you," he said. "And well…let us just say that is the reason why I must ask you to join the Spades Deciding."

"Is it because of the alliance?" Arthur asked, to which Kiku nodded yes.

The kingdoms of Spades and Hearts had been aligned with each other since their creation and had held one of the longest trade and aid alliances. Only until recently had the two kingdoms resumed their military alliance over the long feud over two lands, and they were taking further steps to improve the status of their agreement.

"I am sure that whatever I will try to do to protect Heracles might not be enough if I apply for Hearts, it will not be much. But since Spades have an influence over Hearts, maybe someone from that kingdom may be able to influence them to at least send him home as soon as possible. It is the least I can do," Kiku said, but his expression was pleading. "It would mean the world to me, Arthur, if you signed up for not only his sake but yours. We have been preparing for this moment since we stepped into this facility, after all."

Arthur's gaze was lost as he nursed his cup, clearly deep in thought.

"But," Kiku sighed, shuffling around the room to get a pen, "If you are really against the idea, then I will sign up for Spades instead."

"That means you'll have to romance the prince instead! Don't you already love Heracles?" Arthur blurted, his gaze shooting up from the floor to his best friend.

"I would rather he be alive than me being content and him gone."

Silence filled the room for a few moments before Arthur exhaled and uncapped the lid of the pen. He didn't quite know what to say; even though he had been a third wheel for the pair for a long time there was such a strong devotion between the two that he couldn't help but admire. Why should he ask Kiku to give up their love, when there was clearly another option?

"Kiku…sign up for the Deciding in Hearts."

"What? Arthur, you know that I cannot sit back and do nothing for his situation-" he began, but Arthur shook his head, making him quiet.

"You're right," he said slowly. "We were trained to enter one, right? And if I don't…well, I won't fall in love with the prince, then I guess I should walk away with the fact that I've at least tried."

A small smile made it's way onto Kiku's mouth, and he nodded tightly.

"We should fill out the forms before we get too caught up."

"…for every week of your participation, you will be rewarded in a selection of ways-whether that be in monetary means given to you or other social favours…"

Arthur was slowly reading the letter aloud, skimming over the areas that had been already covered in the lecture they had the other day. But Kiku seemed to be reading another, smaller envelope-this time stained yellow. Kiku had taken a walk after their intense conversation, and so he had put off rereading the letter properly until the sun had began to dip underneath the towering tree in their compound.

"Anything interesting?"

"Oh, it is Matthew. He came in with the post," his friend replied. "There seems to be an issue with the new Deciding season."

"…has there been another issue? I thought the two of you were still talking."

"We are," Kiku said, keeping his voice down due to the substance of the conversation. "It's just that there seems to be added pressure for him to take in a companion by his advisership."

Arthur pulled his chair closer, whispering as he spoke.

"Is it about…Gilbert?"

Gilbert-or as everyone else in Cards knew him, the second Joker-had been romantically involved with the Ace of Spades since he turned sixteen.

Arthur wasn't aware of the fact that Kiku and Matthew had kept such close correspondence until last October, when he had come home late with cleaning up a table he had accidentally thrown a pair of scissors with his magic. He'd found the mail on a neat heap after Kiku had taken it in, and Matthew's lettering had not been enough to identify him but the palace issued stationery had been enough. The fact that he had become involved with the Joker, of all people, was baffling to Arthur since from reading the newspaper and occasionally watching the television Matthew seemed like a sensible person.

"It seems so. He is saying that he is expected to find a companionship…'very soon, as Yao fears that I may be lonely while Alfred and his bunch are visiting. Even more so when he chooses his Queen.' He apparently is asking for one of us to-oh, yes, that is correct."

"He's a very nice guy, from what little we know," Arthur said quietly. "Well, I suppose I'll just go on your behalf, then."

"It is more of the Gilbert issue that he seems to require assistance on. He apparently wants to confess the nature of their relationship to the rest of the court? I have advised him to hold back for quite a while now, but it seems like he really does want to do it even more so now. You would be a confidante, I assume."

"It's just a little thing. The only thing I have to do is to not blab and keep my mouth shut, right?" Arthur said, taking the paper from Kiku and reading. "It's definitely not going to be a problem."

"It is if you are refusing to fill our these forms. It is getting late, and we are going to have our goodbye ceremony in a few days, let alone be at the submission area. It is not just going to be us, you know."

Arthur waited for Kiku to reorganise the letters in a neat pile, then they both went upstairs to prepare for bed.

Tomorrow would definitely be a glimpse into the future they had in the kingdoms of Cards.

reviews would be appreciated.