~from Hanji's POV~
Levi came out of (y/n)'s room looking exhausted, and yet...I don't know...something in his face maybe...there was an aura of peace about him.
It looks like Levi's stepped up and become someone (y/n) would be proud of, I realized, and a small smile crossed my face. Looking over at Himuro, I saw that he still wasn't ready, so I grabbed Sasha's hand and darted in.
"Can we both go in?" she whispered at me, her eyes a bit wider than usual, and I force a smile, shrugging in a carefree manner.
"Who knows? But...I'm too scared to go alone," I admitted, and she squeezed my hand for comfort.
Then we went over to (y/n).
Her eyes were closed, but from how long Levi had been in here, I'm pretty sure that she's not sleeping, just conserving her energy.
An oxygen mask had been placed over her mouth, and although it was probably just a precaution, I didn't want to touch it. Knowing me, I'd screw things up and deplete her oxygen source.
So instead of trying to have a conversation, I just grabbed her hand, and Sasha took her other hand, and we stood there for a long moment before I started talking.
I told her about when we'd first met and how we became friends and how I'd known Levi forever. I told her every aimless little story I could think of, just because I wanted to keep talking while her heart was still beating.
Eventually, though, I ran out of words, and the room fell into silence.
Then, "(Y/n)...thanks for always giving me food," Sasha said sincerely, and we both squeezed (y/n)'s hands as though trying to pretend that everything was okay.
Then (y/n)'s eyes fluttered open, and her lips formed a smile as she squeezed our hands back, and without knowing what else was left to do, Sasha and I each hugged her in turn before leaving the room.
When I left, though, there was a feeling of emptiness about me, and I guess that that moment is when it hit, the realization of how much (y/n) meant to me. I don't think I realized before how much her subtle presence really left a mark.
Without a word, I slid down against the wall and started crying, and Sasha silently sat next to me and removed my glasses before hugging me, and I couldn't let her go because part of me was still stuck in that room, hugging (y/n)...

~from Hanji's POV, present day~
Objects, pets, clothing...you can replace all of that.
You can't replace friends. You can make new friends, but you never quite lose the old ones.
Even now, I can't forget that hand that I squeezed that day.

~from Himuro's POV~
After Hanji and Sasha, I silently understood that it was my turn. I got up and went in...and just stood inside the doorway.
After a moment, as though sensing my presence, (y/n)'s head turned towards me and she opened her eyes.
"(Y/n)...I'm so sorry..." I whispered, not daring to come closer. "I know I wasted all the time I could have spent with you avoiding you, all because I was being stupid. I was being an immature asshole, and (y/n), I'm-"
She moved slowly but pushed herself so she was sitting up, and used one hand to wave me over. With the other, she moved her oxygen mask so she could speak.
"Nii-san..." she whispered, and by just that one word, I could tell that she'd already forgiven me a long time ago.
"(Y/n)," I whispered, back, hugging her close to me.
"I know," she murmured. "I know."
And somehow, the past weeks of worrying melted away, and it was as though we'd never separated in the first place.
But there was something that I needed to tell her, so I pulled away first. "(Y/n)...you always thought that I saved you, and you told them all that I'm a good person, but...you saved me, (y/n). That day, when I showed up at your house, it was because I didn't like my mother being in a relationship, and when I heard her talking about you, I decided that I show pay you a visit and tell you and your family to back off, but...that day...when you opened the door...you looked so lonely, even moreso than me, and although I meant to hate you, I just...I couldn't. So...(y/n)...I'm not the perfect brother you thought I was."
But (y/n) just hugged me. "It's okay," she whispered, and my gut clenched because she should not be the one telling me that it's okay.
I hugged her back and patted her head. "I'm always going to be here for you, (y/n)," I said through tears. I was ashamed that such an awful person as I was allowed to embrace such a pure-hearted girl like (y/n), when in the beginning, I'd only had bad intentions in mind.
Funny to think that now, (y/n)'s existence monopolized my life.

~from Himuro's POV, present day~
I can still recall walking out of the hospital room after clutching (y/n)'s hands tightly and feeling utterly lost. Lost, because I'd spent so much time working to earn money so I could take care of (y/n) after I graduated, time that I could have just spent with her instead, time that I had wasted.
I remember the shame that I felt, but what rose above it was a resolution to become someone worthy to be called (y/n)'s brother, even though we shared no blood.
And every day since then, I wake up, hoping I've become that person.
And every night since then, I still go to sleep holding my cell phone, waiting for that call or message that's never going to come.

~from Eren's POV~
Himuro came out. I was next.
I suppose that, given all the time I'd had to think about it, I should have been ready, should have somehow prepared myself, but everyone had already known about her existing condition.
This - everything - was new to me. I was going to war with a million conflicting emotions that everyone else had time to at least consider.
I wasn't ready for this.
Then again, I never will be.
I went inside the room.
***
I'd been in (y/n)'s hospital room once before, but that time, there was a fear of the unknown had been at play.
Now, I know what's going on, but I still can't tell whether that makes it better or worse.
(Y/n) was sitting up in the bed on the far side of the room, so I took my time walking over, as she was looking out the window.
Then I was standing next to her, and she finally turned to look at me.
"Eren," she said, my name just a breath. "You can sit down," she whispered, nodding to the chair beside her bed.
But if I sir down, we'll be closer, and I'm already failing to keep my composure.
When I didn't move, her eyes and tone became pleading. "Please, Eren? It's hard to talk to you like this."
After a moment, I nodded and took the seat as I continued to let my various emotions duke it out for dominance. Finally, "Why not me? They all knew, but I was the only one left in the dark. Why?" I asked. Looks like anger won the first round.
She was quiet for a moment. "You couldn't know. Nobody else...nobody else was supposed to, except for Himuro, because he took care of me. But..you're right, Eren. I wanted you to know the least of all, and I suppose you think that's wrong of me."
Damn right it's wrong! I thought, but I instinctively kept my mouth closed. My mother raised me in a way that demanded respect for women, and swearing at (y/n) would contradict my standards. Anger is never an excuse to lose oneself. After a long moment, I formed a better phrasing of words. "But why me?"
She looked down, and I realized that her hands were twisted together tightly. "Because you were the one person who I didn't want to watch walk away."
"(Y/n), you have to explain it so I can understand," I murmured, and she nodded tensely.
"Levi and Himuro...they're my brothers. We're tied together by our blood and our parents, so no matter how tough things get, we'll always hold a place in each other's lives. But...you and I...there's nothing holding us together. If I had to transfer schools again, sure, you might miss me, but you'd forget about me eventually." Before I could protest, she held up a slightly shaking hand in defense. "It's not your fault, Eren. It's just how life works. I completely understand that. But...even so...I didn't want you to find out and change how you treated me as your friend. I didn't want for you to become so involved in my problems that you, too, became bound to me. I didn't want to take away your freedom like that..."
I swallowed, taking her hand in mine. "Did you ever think that maybe I'd want to be bound to you? You aren't taking my freedom, (y/n). I'm giving it to you."
"Eren, what are you talking ab-" (y/n) began, but I shook my head, still holding her hand in both of mine even as tears glistened on my cheeks.
"(Y/n), I like you," I said, my eyes burning. Half of my heart was weighed down by (y/n)'s current condition, but the other part of my heart was still alive, and it was soaring. "I've liked you for a while now, but I never got up the courage to tell you. I want you to get better, (y/n), because as soon as you're strong enough, I want to confess to you properly. Don't..." I blinked, closing my eyes for a moment as tears still cascaded down my face. "Don't give me your answer now, okay? Tell me when you're all better."
When I finally opened my eyes, (y/n) was crying too. "When I get better," she whispered, "I'm going to tell you yes, okay?"
And so the two of us cried, her tiny hand still enclosed between two of mine, and when I finally got up to leave, I turned to her. "Promise me that you'll get better, okay?"
Her eyes were wet, but she nodded. "I promise."
Even though my own tears were still wet on my face, I grinned. "Good! Then you just focus on getting better! Don't worry about anything else, got it?"
She nodded and smiled at me, and there was a long moment where both of us were crying and smiling at the same time before I finally turned and walked out.