The walk to school alongside Levi was calm and quiet, not like I quite expected it to be anything but calm and quiet. 

Not to be overly sentimental or anything, but I had admittedly thought about this sort of scenario a lot. I'd thought the odds of it happening were astronomical, and in a way they were, and in a way I still couldn't quite believe that this was all happening right now. But it was happening, and it was vastly different from what I imagined.

Truthfully, what I had imagined was something from out of a storybook or maybe even a movie. Instead of seeing him here, the clever set-up from a friend we unknowingly shared, I'd see him only in passing, at first. 

We'd lock eyes and time would slow but all too soon the moment would be ripped from us and we were brought back to the present. From there, I figured I would try to find him again, persistent as I was, except in a perfectly angsty twist, he'd either pretend to forget, or actually forget, who I was. 

And it would break my heart. Only when he realized how much he had hurt me would he try to make things right. But he would be too late, for I would have found the love of my life and in true poetic justice, I'd be the one to forget about him.

Maybe I read too many books.

Well. Back to what was really happening... 

I found myself looking to the surroundings we passed by more than I did yesterday, imprinting the details to my mind.

All the houses we passed as we left the neighborhood we unknowingly shared until only moments ago were similar in build and in color, and only varied in decoration. Where one house would have garden gnomes, their neighbor might have rosebushes. Where one house had a line of flowers leading to their front step, another used simple flat, gray stones.

Oh, and we passed now the rogue, the renegade of the neighborhood. Not only was their house painted a different color, but their roof was also adorned with solar panels. I stifled a smile. I bet they drive an electric car, too.

Aside from that lone ranger, the rest of the neighborhood was rather uniform. It was just the usual suburb, I supposed. It was cute, sure, but all I knew was that it was a damn good thing that I memorized my address and knew the decoration outside of it very well, otherwise I'd never get back to it.

The rising sun peeked out now from between two houses as we walked, shining right into my eyes and making me squeeze my eyes shut momentarily by instinct alone. My eyes adjusted slowly and if Levi noticed the way I'd nearly bumped into him in my slight surprise from being temporarily blinded by the sun, he didn't mention it. Not verbally, anyway.

What I missed was the quick glance sent my way as my shoulder bumped his. Though initially confused, he quickly clued into why I'd stumbled a bit and let the smallest of smirks grace his lips because I was, as he had always called me, an idiot. The smirk was gone before I could see it, and so I was never aware that it was there.

But he knew, of course, and immediately wiped it from his face quickly to ensure I remained none the wiser.

I'm not sure what it was. Maybe it was only because I was actually paying attention to the walk today, and the sights that I'd have to grow more accustomed to seeing day in and day out on my way to school, or maybe it was just because Levi was here, but everything just seemed... brighter. 

It wasn't much, not enough for concern or for me to think that I was crazy, just... everything looked a little prettier this morning. Everything came to me in sharper focus and in stunning detail, and I cursed myself internally for not having paid attention to it yesterday morning.

Maybe I just hadn't noticed it enough to appreciate it yesterday because I'd walked hurriedly, with my shoulders hunched up, and so I'd hardly seen anything aside from the sidewalk and street corners where I'd glance up only to make sure that I was still going the right way and that I wasn't about to walk into traffic.

I'd been so nervous, after all, and I was far more concerned with making sure that I remembered the directions I'd been given on how to get to the school than looking around the neighborhood.

But today, well... Everything was just so pretty.

The pale blue of the sky seemed not to be as dull or bleak as it appeared on all other mornings. The morning dew was not just a simple reminder of how chilly, or of how early, it was. The early morning sun seemed to be less intrusive than it normally appeared.

The pale blue of the sky served only to remind me of Levi's eyes, for in certain lights they were of the same hue. The countless drops of morning dew clinging to the grass all shimmered as they caught that golden morning light. It was incredible.

I couldn't help but smile. Strange how just the added presence of another person could make you pay attention to things you didn't normally. I mean, really? The morning dew? When had I ever paid attention to something so mundane before?

But all of it, all the details I'd normally never pay attention to, were suddenly in focus today, and in stunningly gorgeous detail. I could see the distinct movements of each leaf in every bush and in every tree as they shifted slightly in the wind, the same driving force as with the individual blades of grass, even weighed down by dewdrops as they were.

The breeze carried with it the pleasant, fresh scents of nature, of summer fading into fall. 

Birds, already up and about for the day, hurried back and forth far above our heads. The coo of a morning dove rang out from someone's backyard, only to be met with the chirps of chickadees and the occasional discordant caw from a crow. I was happy that, unlike downtown, this area wasn't populated heavily with pigeons, for these morning songs were the perfect ones to hear when on an early walk.

Squirrels skirted across the sidewalk many paces in front of us, climbing back into the safety of a tree's branches before we could even come close. A line of ants marched across the pavement as well, some carrying leaves, others bits of food, and some carried nothing at all, the lazy things.

All such mundane, regular things, and somehow I found it in me to appreciate it more than I ever had. 

When Levi and I would sneak out, I'd notice quite the same thing happening: me noticing things I never had before. Things that normally I would acknowledge unknowingly in the back of my mind were now at the front of my focus and became the very things directing my train of thought.

Only then, we would sneak out at night.

Depending on the night, the breeze might be cool, or the air would shift on humid waves. We'd watch the city nightlife go by with distinct interest, commenting on their outfits and cars and whether or not it looked like they were having a good time.

Other nights were tamer, and we would sit and stargaze. On those nights, more often than not I would fall asleep and at the very least get a power nap in before Levi would have to wake me up. Being out so late meant that we would get to see owls wake up, preen themselves, and head off for their nightly hunt. Along with them, there were lots of raccoons and bats and the occasional stray cat.

It was a completely different feeling to not be sneaking out and to be somewhere with him, for one thing, and for another, for it to be daylight...

After a few minutes of walking with only the sounds of the morning to interrupt the silence alongside the rhythmic scuffs of our shoes against the sidewalk, the school grounds finally came into view. We passed right by the greeting sign, continuing along the sidewalk to reach the main school building.

Hell, even the ivy clinging to the bricks on the outside of the building seemed prettier, today. I supposed it had something to do with him, with how happy I was to have finally reunited with him.

Don't be stupid, I thought. Of course it has something to do with him.

A few kids already here were sitting on the benches, standing in small groups, or using their jacket as a cushion to sit on the ground. We paid them no mind, instead walking right into the school.

The temperature difference was the first thing I noticed upon entering the building. It seemed that in preparation for the warm weather that was on the way today, they were preemptively cranking all the A/C units to blast cool air into the school. I'd dressed for a warm day, not a morning in the Arctic.

"Jeez," I huffed, tucking my free arm closer to my body. "Why the hell is it so cold?"

"It'll warm up," Levi said uselessly. Well, of course I knew that. I wasn't exactly expecting us to be hit with a sudden Ice Age. I stuck my tongue out at him in response, only for him to roll his eyes.

Nice to know that even with so much time spent away, we fell right back into our usual dynamic.

We were just passing through the atrium when I was suddenly burdened with the weight of a second person. I barely had the time to see who it was before I fell over from the sudden onslaught. From the overjoyed smile alone I could guess who it was, though the brown hair and glasses very quickly confirmed that, along with the boisterous laughter that escaped them, of course.

If it weren't for Levi's superhuman reflexes, I'd have fallen to the floor in a heap with Hange atop me but as it was, his instincts were sharp and therefore he'd managed to haul me back up to my feet by the arms, leaving Hange to fall to the floor with a yelp and a thud that both echoed down the halls.

I did my best to stifle a laugh. "Good morning again, Hange."

Hange, apparently unperturbed by what had just happened, perked their head up and grinned at me from their spot on the floor. "G'morning!"

"Any reason in particular that you decided to attack me?"

"I was only saying hi," Hange said placatingly. "It was hardly an attack." The look on my face must have instilled a fear in them because they raised their hands defensively. "I swear I didn't mean to scare you or anything! I only wanted to give you a hug!"

"Most people say hi and then ask for a hug, if that's what they're going for," I said. It was in that moment, when Hange's eyes oh so obviously trailed between me and Levi, seeing the way that he still had a tight hold on my arms keeping me upright and close, that I realized just how close we still were.

I might have been new to this whole public-school thing, but I could guess that this probably wasn't appropriate. I stepped away, adjusting my backpack on my shoulders sheepishly as Levi's arms fell to his sides, now without something to hold up.

Already, the sharpness had returned to his feline-like eyes, and the annoyance returned to his features. "Anyway," Hange said, "Moblit and I need you for something! Come on!"

In one quick moment, Hange was back up on their feet, looping my arm through their own once more, just as they were accustomed to doing when leading me somewhere. Honestly. It seemed that personal space meant very little to them.

"Oi!" Levi hurried to catch up with the fast pace Hange set as they all but dragged me to... wherever it was that they needed me.

If I knew Hange – which I did, even though it'd only been a day – then I had to guess that they were leading me to one of the science classrooms to help with whatever research or experiment they were doing this morning. Levi futilely grabbed my free wrist, falling into step alongside us now.

"Hange," he hissed, "you can't just-"

"I can," Hange pressed, without letting him finish. "And you wanna know what's cool? I just did." With another boisterous laugh, Hange picked up the pace, only to get almost immediately chastised by a teacher just stepping out of their classroom to slow down in the hall.

"Hange," they called, "it might be early, but slow it down! We don't run in these halls!"

"Sorry, Ms.," Hange called back in what I was sure was a tone merely meant to placate the teacher.

"Mm-hm," the teacher hummed, shaking her head with disapproval. But then she caught sight of Levi. "Ah, Levi," she called, "could you come see me for a moment? We need to discuss what you missed yesterday."

I slowed, looking back at Levi. He let go of my wrist, looking like he absolutely did not want to meet with this teacher but knew that he had to. "Levi," I said, resisting Hange's insistent tugs on my arm, "want me to wait up?"

"No," he answered, already stepping towards her. "Go ahead. I'll catch up."

"Alright," I said, falling back into step alongside Hange, giving in to what they wanted.

"You two really are close, huh?"

"I told you that already," I huffed. I could vaguely recognize the route Hange was taking me along, and it wasn't to the science room they and Moblit had occupied the day before. Instead, I realized they were leading us to the lockers, assuredly to put our things away so we wouldn't have to lug them around.

"Yeah, well, in the short time I've known Levi, I've realized he's not really what you'd call a people person," they responded. "So when you said you were close, I wasn't sure what that'd even mean. I assumed being close with him meant that he acknowledged your name."

"With other people, sure," I mused. "But the two of us are close."

"That's good, though," Hange said. "I don't know why he is the way he is, but... Well, I kinda always assumed he was just weird, but I'm sure there's more to it." They smiled then, warm and kind, totally unlike their usual wicked grin. "It's none of my business anyway, but it's good to know he's got someone like you in his life."

Well, that flustered me. "W-Well, I mean, it's not like-"

"Don't even try," Hange teased. "I saw you holding hands. Levi only touches people to shove them out of the way. But he held hands with you. There's something special there, whether you like it or not!"

"Shut up," I muttered, heat flooding my cheeks and ears. By then we reached our lockers, and I went to mine, trying to remember how exactly to do it. Did you turn it to the left or right first? I tried one way and realized very quickly that it was incorrect.

"Oops," I said under my breath. "Maybe this way...?"

"Do you need help?" This was a rather unfamiliar voice; one I could only vaguely recognize. I glanced to my right and there, a few steps away, stood one of the students I shared homeroom with. What was his name... Shit... Was this Gunther? No, Gunther had dark hair. This wasn't Olou, he looked goofy. This must've been Eld, then.

"Uh, I do, actually," I said sheepishly. "I'm still not great at this."

"That's ok," Eld replied with an easy, friendly smile. "I can guide you through it. What's the first number?"

From there, he did, stepping only close enough to help guide me through how to open my locker. When I got it open the first time, he advised that I close it again, if only to practice opening it more. And because it was a good idea, I did it, practicing opening it over and over again, gradually getting the hang of it.

I worked it enough to get it somewhat accustomed to muscle memory; of course, actually getting to that point would take time, but the less I had to think about it, the better, because the more I thought about something, the morel likely I was to confuse myself.

Eld leaned against the locker beside mine, starting a casual conversation, asking mostly about how I liked the school so far. I hadn't gotten the chance to talk with him all that much yesterday, mostly because a lot of my time had been dedicated to clinging to Hange's side like a lost little kid... mostly because that's what I had been.

But Eld was a cool guy, from what I could tell so far. He had blond hair, not quite as golden as Armin's, but it wasn't a dull, dirty blond that other people had. He had kind eyes, a kind smile, and overall... he seemed very kind.

That's what I took from the conversation, anyway. As I put my things away, having wasted enough time – both my own and his – at the locker, the conversation flowed naturally, and we began talking about whatever came to mind.

We seemed to share a lot of interests, and I was surprised to find that he was a fan of my favorite movie, which we got to talking about then, sharing theories, our favorite characters, and more. At the orphanage, well, there was little else to do besides play with the other kids, read, do arts and crafts, or watch whatever was on TV.

I wasn't expecting Eld to be a fan of the movie, I mean I hardly knew the guy, so I had little to expect of him, but I was pleasantly surprised. Because he already had his stuff from his locker that he needed for homeroom and the following class, he waited patiently as I gathered up my things – after a few looks at my schedule, of course, only to be disappointed by the fact that today I had math directly after homeroom – and once I closed my locker, we set off together towards homeroom.

We continued to talk, and I accidentally got him to go on a tangent about the video game he was playing right now. He'd already poured eighteen hours into it and had only done about a third of the mainline story missions. An impressive feat, to be sure, but he assured me that there were plenty of side missions to be done, which was what he was getting out of the way before progressing further in the story.

But before he could get very far into telling me about the main character of the game series, there were hurried footsteps behind us, signaling someone quickly approaching. All of a sudden, someone's arm was looped around my own and there stood Hange, pouting as though I'd killed their dog.

"(Y/n)," they whined, interrupting Eld who was still walking on the other side of me, "why'd you leave me behind?"

"Oh, sorry," I said. "Just got caught up talking to Eld, I guess."

"I didn't realize you were waiting up for each other," Eld said. "Sorry about that."

"Eh, don't apologize," Hange said. "I get it. I mean, who wouldn't want to have (Y/n) all for themselves?"

I rolled my eyes. "Hange," I sighed, "no one wants that."

"Oh, but someone does," they said teasingly. Goodness, is that all Hange knew how to do? Tease?

"And who exactly-"

"Hey, Eld, back off," came Levi's voice. It seemed he'd hurried to catch up with us, too. Eld, though he looked unsure, slowed in his pace. The smile on his face faltered when Levi brushed past him wordlessly to reach my side. Eld's eyes widened, and for good reason, too; from what I could see, Levi had shot him a nasty look on his way to me. 

"Come on," Levi said quietly. "Let's get going."

---

As time approached the first bell, more and more students streamed in through the front double doors and from there made their way to the cafeteria for breakfast, crowded the halls to chat, or got to their homerooms to sit and wait out the remaining few minutes before the school day started.

I could tell when the buses arrived one by one, because hordes of students would enter the school all at once and make their way to wherever it was that they were going. As for me, I'd been all but dragged there by Levi. Hange had laughed as they followed, and Eld had trailed off after us in a rather confused manner.

I'd be confused too, if I were him. It wasn't every day that people saw Levi act anything other than... cold. Stoic. Aloof.

Levi had just dragged me along to where he sat, which was towards the back of the classroom, near where Eld and the rest of that little friend group sat, but I'd pulled away. "I sit up there, next to Hange," I said to him, only to get an incredulous look in return.

"What?"

"I had to sit somewhere yesterday," I explained, "and because Hange was the only one I knew..."

"It was also the only available seat," Eld piped up from a few seats away. He'd only just set his things down, setting a book atop the desk to read until class began. "You're kinda surrounded there, Levi. There isn't a place for her to sit."

"Not that it's a bad thing, is it?" The new person to join the conversation was Petra, I think her name was. There was a well-meaning smile on her face, and she held her books close to her chest. Already there was a pen set behind her ear, her hair tucked back as well. Beside her was Olou, holding a stack of what looked like flyers. "It isn't so bad sitting back here with us, is it, Levi?"

Levi didn't answer, not for a moment. When he did, it was without words. His only reply was to look at me, his eyes meeting my own. "It's just for homeroom, right?" I asked placatingly. "In the other classes we share, we can ask to sit together."

"Petra," Olou said, "where do you want these? Aren't we going to hang them up before the bell?"

"Oh, right," she replied. "I just wanted to stop by here, remind everyone that elections start up soon, and to vote for me!"

"What position are you going for?" I asked, not entirely sure what positions were even available.

"Vice-president," she answered happily. "I'd go for president, but I think Erwin is a shoo-in for that spot. People just like listening to him, I guess."

"You're up for a good race then," Gunther said, entering the classroom now.

"Oh, no," Petra sighed. "Don't tell me."

"Yep," he said. "Mike's going for vice, again."

"Damn it," Petra hissed. "The two of them always win." I must've looked as confused as I felt because Petra's gaze softened as she looked back at me. "It's really rare for the younger kids to win elections, especially since there's a cabinet for middle school and a separate one for the high schoolers. But since we all joined the school, Erwin and Mike have always managed to nab the top spot."

"Probably has something to do with what Principal Zackley said at the start of sixth grade," Eld said. "Something about our grade being the biggest?"

"Maybe," Gunther said. "It makes sense, anyway. Especially since those two were the only sixth graders to run for anything at the time. There were lots of seventh and eighth graders running, so even their grades were split in their decisions."

"We kinda all rallied behind them, anyway," Eld said. "Class pride, you know? Ah, well. They're good at it, so why not just elect them again?"

"Eld," Petra whined, "I'm right here!"

Eld smiled slyly. "Sorry, Petra."

Levi cleared his throat. The others looked to him, as though he was some figure of authority. I'd be inclined to believe it, if not for just hearing that apparently Erwin and Mike were the figureheads of our grade.

"If you're all about done," he said plainly, "this is-"

"(Y/n)," Gunther said. "Yeah. We all met her yesterday. You're a day late, dude."

Levi's eyes narrowed at him. "(Y/n)'s-"

"Your best friend? Got that, too." That time, Eld was the one to speak out, that same sly smile on his lips. I did my best to hide my laugh, but I did an awful job of that; Eld's eyes met mine, his smile growing upon seeing that he'd made me laugh.

And Levi, well... he clicked his tongue as he always did and set his hands on my shoulders, pushing me towards the front of the room. "You little shit," he muttered under his breath. "I was trying to be nice."

"I'm not sorry for laughing," I said, "because it was funny. But I am sorry if I hurt your feelings."

Another annoyed click of his tongue. "Whatever."

"Don't be so grumpy," I said teasingly.

"I'm not grumpy," he protested as we came to a stop by my desk. I smiled, due in part to his smile but also because I was finally able to put my things down. Before I could say anything more, the teacher breezed into the room, her eyes widening at the sight of Levi.

"Levi, welcome back," she greeted. "I'm assuming Mr. Smith got what you missed to you?"

"Yes," he responded curtly.

"Good, good," she replied, either ignoring his tone or refusing to acknowledge it. "Strange to see you in the front of the room. Did you need something?"

"I'd like my seat changed, actually," he said easily.

My smile grew. This boy was something else. But damn, if I wasn't happier than I'd ever been, reuniting with him again.