~from Eren's POV~
Hanji and I were sitting in the kitchen in awkward silence. I say awkward because Hanji seemed to be enjoying my level of naivety and discomfort.
Thankfully, a few minutes later, there was a knock on the door. I immediately went to go get it and found Sasha outside, holding a cake in her hands and chewing something - who knows what - in her mouth.
"Good thing you made it," I said (awkwardly), opening the door a little wider to let her through, and she nodded at me as she went into the kitchen and put the cake on the table.
"Where's (y/n)?" she asked after swallowing.
"In Levi's room," I responded hesitantly, brows furrowed with worry. When Levi had come into his apartment with (y/n) unconscious in his arms, I hadn't know what to think or how to react. Is (y/n) okay? What happened? Was she hurt? All of these thoughts were running through my mind, but not a single one had forced its way out of my mouth.
Now, however, I couldn't wait any longer. "I'm going to go check on her," I said quickly, leaving the girls behind in the kitchen and missing Hanji's evil smile as I turned away.
I paused in the doorway of Levi's room. Himuro was crying and thanking Levi.
What?
Driven by curiosity and concern for (y/n), I entered the room, clearing my throat, and both males turned to look at me. "Is...is (y/n) okay?" I asked, and Levi parted wordlessly to let me closer.
"See for yourself, brat," he said, but his voice lacked the usual tone.
I took a few hesitant steps forward and swallowed hard. (Y/n)'s throat was circled with a ring of bruising, and there was another bruise forming on her face. Her thin wrists also seemed in the process of bruising over. "What happened?" I asked, horrified.
Levi's jaw clenched, and he lifted his chin slightly.
Himuro sighed before turning to you. "I'm sorry that this was all kept a secret, but...that was the way (y/n) wanted it."
"Wanted what?" I said, my eyes still wide.
Himuro's eyes were laced with pain. "Last year, at her old school, (y/n) was...raped," he said, choking slightly on the word, but I was too shocked to respond. "By that bastard Shougo Haizaki. She transferred here to get away from him, but then he followed her, and he-"
Since Himuro didn't seem to be able to go on, Levi took over, his tone frosty at best. "Then that bastard tried again, only I was able to get there in time." He flicked his eyes towards Himuro. "And he'd be dead right now if someone hadn't called the police."
Himuro forced a painful smile. "What was I supposed to do, let him die there?"
Levi crossed his arms and looked away. "That was kind of the plan."
My next words were quiet, but both of them still heard me. "And it was...her birthday."
Himuro gritted his teeth, but Levi looked up sharply.
"What?" he asked.
"Today is her birthday," I repeated, mentally scolding myself for saying was the previous time. (Y/n) is still alive! So why do I feel like she's just one step away from leaving this beautiful, cruel world? "That's why we all decided to meet up here after school, to wish her a happy birthday...we even got a cake," I broke off, feeling more and more lost. I've been around (y/n) all this time, but I didn't know? I didn't even think that something could possibly be wrong with her. I never asked her what was on her mind, never asked about her past...
Damn it. I'm so useless.

There's a dream my heart just can't seem to leave behind
Like a flower holding on for life, inside my mind
Time and again, I push it away from me
But it finds a way back in sleep

My beating heart drowns my thoughts away
Tearing apart this dreamer's way
But still I know deep inside my soul
That I never can let it go

How can anybody live in a world that's so cruel and beautiful?
Always asking why we're really here
Losing all of our control to our fears
Some of us are strong, some of us are weak, but still we seek...
For a new day that can offer more
Do we really know the world we're fighting for?

Up above the grey of the sky reflects my eyes
All the air that sweeps around me seems to coldly sigh
And to join us in our despair the heavens weep
As we wait on eternal sleep

Try to escape from reality
By searching for a fantasy
But still I know that I have to go
Can't hold on to a dream of home

How can anybody live in a world that's so cruel and beautiful?
Always fighting to survive the day
Giving all we have to keep death at bay
Are we really here, is it really clear despite the fear?
Should we fight on for the ugly truth?
Or should we hide behind the lies of distant youth?

What if I could turn into a melody
And traverse the world at the speed of sound?
I'd go all the all the way around
Like a song of hope profound
For the ones who need answers to distant pleas

How can anybody live in a world that's so cruel and beautiful?
Always asking why we're really here
Losing all of our control to our fears
Some of us are strong, some of us are weak, but still we seek...
For a new day that can offer more
Do we really know the world we're fighting for?