After ten minutes of waiting for Levi to return from wherever he had disappeared to, I began looking around nervously. "Where is he?" I mumble, suddenly finding myself sliding out of my chair when I only got responses of shrugging shoulders and nervous glances.

Weaving past other tables I make my way to the main hallway, quickly walking up and down the space in search of Levi.

Checking doors I passed along the way, I still seemed to find no signs of my teammate.

I guess the only other place would be the bathrooms right? I jog over to the men's room, pushing open the large door after reaching my destination.

Honestly, I felt completely stupid for not checking this place first after instantly spotting Levi hunched over the marble sink.

"Oh thank g--wait! Are you okay?!" I rush over placing a hand on his back. Oh god, I don't know what to do in situation like this! Gah, maybe I should have brought Armin. I heard he reads medical books in his free ti--

"Relax kid. You're looking at me like I'm about to explode."

I take a step back, mumbling an apology. Silence quickly hung over us to the point it began getting awkward. I cleared my throat, desperate to fix the atmosphere. "Nervous?"

Levi chuckles. "More like ready to accept my inevitable loss. I'm horrible with people, Eren."

I couldn't help but widen my eyes out of shock. Levi, the same man who was seemingly fearless, cocky, and uncaring of another's feelings...was hiding away in a bathroom because he was actually worried about his horrible people skills.

I cant help but smile, and look at him as an equal for seemingly the first time after meeting him.

"Listen, don't treat this like a competition..." I was going to say be yourself, but we all know that would be...disastrous. "Make sure to enjoy yourself before anything. Look, I'm not the best at giving helpful advice but I do know that I've been in your shoes. Figuratively of course."

Levi raises an eyebrow playfully, standing up straighter with a smirk.

"My first year doing this competition, I was freaking out, and stressing exactly like you--"

"Oi, im not freaking ou--"

"--the only difference? I didn't have someone who cared enough to help me."

Oh shit, that came out a lot more sappy than I intended...please don't take it the wrong way!

Levi looks at me with an expression I couldn't quite read, but I could tell the nerves he was feeling a few moments a go were now gone.

"Care to enlighten me on what you did then?"

It took me a second to realize he was referring to what I said about my first competition. "Oh...well, I just pretended I was cooking for someone I respected and was comfortable around."

Levi scoffs. "I'd try that if there were even someone like that in my life."

"Wait what?" I couldn't have heard that right.

Levi flashes me a small smile. "Thanks kid, I better get going." And with that, Levi jogs out of the bathroom.

I sort of just stood there in disbelief of what I heard, and the fact that my words actually got across to Levi.

"Maybe we had just gotten off on the wrong foot...." He has the potential to be a pretty cool guy! I couldn't stop the smile that grew on my face.

Suddenly, I hear the muffled cheering of the crowd that was back in the auditorium.

Aaand that's my cue to get back to my seat.

I waste no time in running back to my chair, searching the crowd for my shorter teammate until Pixis' voice booms on the speaker.

"Break is now over, and the competitors are ready! If they could please join us on the stage." Pixis gestures behind him and there stood Levi and the one named Oluo or however the fuck that's pronounced.  Only seconds after they stood on stage, looking equally as eager to win, long tables with covered dishes were being rolled out behind them.

Pixis clears his throat. "In a few moments, ladies and gentlemen, our two competitors will hand out these dishes to each one of the tables you are currently sitting at!" Excited murmurs waft through the room.

"Now, this isn't a relay race or anything, but these two will be timed. They must deliver all of their assigned dishes to a table before time is up. If they cannot, then they will automatically loose this round. To briefly touch up on rules, the way to win is to swoon the judges at each table with your excellent waitering skill, and manners."

My sight instantly snaps over to Levi, whose stoic expression was starting to falter. Shit, is he getting nervous again?!

"And remember, the reactions of the competitor's own table won't be counted, but pleasing that judge can still benefit you!" Pixis says, talking to Levi and Oluo.

"I'm sure the crowd is hungry, yes? So let's begin!"

Oulo and Levi stand next to their designated table covered in dishes, ready to go.

"20 minutes on the clock! Ready...and....START!"

The crowd goes wild, and I don't know if it's because they're ready to eat or it was the fact that both Levi and Oluo stack and balance multiple dishes on their arms at lightning speed.

My attention only on Levi, I nervously chew my bottom lip as he rushes off the stage to his first table. It was too far away for me to hear what dialogue was exchanged between him and the people Levi served, but I think their smiles--the judge included--were a very good sign.

I can't help but cheer for him to keep it up, and before long my table joins in.

The shorter male seemed to practically flow through the tables, before gracefully sliding the plates on his arms off in front of the awaiting people. He's a natural! Looking at him now, I would have never guessed that he was nervous of failing only minutes ago.

Levi continued, doing table after table, at a decent pace. He really took his time in making the people he served happy.

I thought all was going well, until I checked the timer and the opposing team. Five minutes on the clock. Oluo was almost finished serving all his dishes and behind him were very happy tables.

Shit. I look back at Levi, and see that he's also noticed this...problem.

Levi rushed to grab more plates, stacking more than usual. He was serving our table next.

He rushes down the steps, nearly tripping over the last one. The plates clank together gently, and Levi takes a moment to fully re-balance himself, before speed walking over.

As he quickly places things down, not a word leaves his lips. Sure, weather or not we're satisfied isn't going to matter, but Levi still needs to calm down.

When Levi places my dishes in front of me, leaning in close, I take this as my chance.

"Levi," I mutter quietly. "Relax, take a deep breath...remember what I told you."

Levi's eyes flick over to mine, before he nods and clears his throat.

What came next, was something I never thought I'd live to see.

Levi smiles, placing down his last dish in front of our table's judge. "Careful, the plate is hot too."

The judge, Ilse, looks confused. "Uh, too?"

Playful smile still on his lips, Levi winks at her, before disappearing to grab his last few sets of platters.

The table just sat in complete silence, staring at one another with wide eyes and open mouths.

My head snaps over to Armin, because the next thing I knew he had two fingers in his mouth as he did the loudest wolf whistle I've ever heard.

Laughing, I join in and cheer for the shorter male.

I may have began to panic with there being only two minutes left on the clock, but with that confidence and skill? I think Levi's got this competition in the bag.