Chapter Text
Mikasa was five when she started going to school and she did not like it one bit. Even though her brothers would meet her in between their classes, she wants to hang out with them instead rather than the ones in the room with her. No one wants to play with her there anyway. And it's not because she doesn't ask them, she does, but every time she did another kid would interrupt her. Mikasa hates that every time, it makes her wanna cry and sulk.
Erwin noticed his daughter's behaviour soon enough when she plastered a grumpy face every time he picks them up from school. Back when was in daycare, Mikasa would always be smiling, talking about the drawings she made, the adventures she had at the park - now it seems like his princess became grumpy. Much like his Dada.
When Erwin told Levi about Mikasa's sudden behaviour, it was no secret to the other man that Mikasa had a hard time adjusting to her new environment. Petra, Mikasa's preschool teacher, addressed this to Levi when she found Mikasa playing alone and sad at the sandbox. It made Levi cringe because one, gross. Explains a lot why Mikasa's socks were full of sand. Two, it broke his heart knowing his baby's situation. He may not be a talker himself but he knows the feeling of being left out and he does not want that to any of his children.
When Mikasa's sulking became like an everyday thing now, despite how both parent kept their support for Mikasa, they think it's time to really talk to her once more. "Mika, are you okay?" asked Levi, stroking Mikasa's hair as they cuddled.
Erwin took Mikasa's small hand and gently drew circles. "You can talk to us, love. Is anything good happening at school?"
Their little girl always expresses her concern but now she seems so compressed. It's breaking their hearts out.
"I don't make friends at school…" she started, squeezing more into Levi's side burying her face. "Every time I do, they ignore me. I don't want to go to school anymore."
Wet heavy tears dropped from Mikasa's eyes as she told them what was bothering her. Erwin gently wiped them off with his other hand, heart shattering. "We can understand, Micki. Do you really don't want to go to school anymore? How about we transfer, do you like that?"
Mikasa blinked through her bleary eyes. "What does transfer means?"
"Transfer means moving to another place like school, house, or an object." Levi explained. Mikasa pouted her bottom lip, deep in thought with her options. "You know, when Dada was still at school, I didn't have friends either. They all think of me as a small lanky kid, your Daddy was the lanky kid by the way."
"Rude." Erwin interjected. Mikasa just chuckled.
Levi rolled his eyes, continuing his story. "Anyways, bad stuff happened to me at that school but then Grandpa Kenny, do you still remember him?" Mikasa nodded. Grandpa Kenny was the best grandpa in the whole wide world! He built a slide for them before so they can have a playground at home. "Yeah, and he said 'squirt, pack your sh- stuff. You're gonna transfer schools.' and I did."
"Did you became sad at the new school?"
"No, not really. It took me time to have friends, of course, but I'm glad I transferred schools. Because there, I met Auntie Hange, Uncle Mike, Auntie Nanaba and of course, Daddy." Levi smiled. "What I'm saying, baby, is sometimes we gotta move somewhere to start something new. Kids at your school are just plain rude, blame their parents for that. Moving also means meeting new people."
Erwin nodded smiling. "Moving schools might be the biggest thing for you because you'll adjust again and you'll be away from your brothers but it makes us so sad that you're becoming so sad at your school. That's why I really want you to think about it, alright?"
"I want to transfer, Daddy."
Erwin nodded. "Are you sure? Even if your brothers will not be there with you?"
"I-I'll be fine… I wanna make new friends there. Even if it's scary." Mikasa admitted. They understood what she meant.
Erwin grinned as he kissed his daughter on the forehead. "Alright then. Let's give it a week and if you don't want to be there, we can find another alternative and if you do then we'll settle there, deal?"
Mikasa nodded. "Deal."
-
Mikasa felt squimish as she hid behind her Dada's legs as they introduce her to the class. Everyone's attention is on her and she's scared it's gonna be like her previous school. Daddy enrolled her in Auntie Hange's school a bit far from her previous one. She thought she was ready but now that she's here, home feels like a good place to be in right now.
"Mickey, it's okay. There is nothing you can be scared about." Her new teacher, Teacher Nimfa, gave her such a sweet smile. "If you want, we can skip introductions and you can meet your new classmates personally."
"N-No. I," Mikasa gulped as she nervously stepped out slightly to show her face to the class but the hand on Levi's pants stayed. "I, uh, My name is Mikasa Ackerman-Smith and I like apples."
"Hello, Mikasa!"
"I like apples too!"
"Apples are my favorite!"
The class responded gleefully. Mikasa smiled shyly, looking up to Dada and Daddy who's at the doorway. Teacher Nimfa gestured her to an empty seat beside a girl with brown hair and is eating a half eatened muffin. "Hi, my name's Sasha!"
"Mikasa, but you can call me Mika."
"Okay, Mika!" Sasha grinned from ear to ear. Her cheeks puffing out like cute little cheepmunks. "Do you want to play later? I know a great spot at the playground. I really like your scarf, it's so red! Woah, like apples!"
Mikasa's cheeks turned red from being too happy and shy. Erwin and Levi watched from the doorway as their daughter made a new friend and getting surrounded by a positive atmosphere. It made their hearts incredebuously happy.
For the first time, Mikasa went home filled with stories and with a smile.