Chapter Text
August 5, 2024
“Are you excited for the new school year?” Hange’s mother asked as they drove along the familiar route to school. Hange kept her gaze out the window, watching the same houses and trees roll by like they always did.
“Yes! Oh my god, how much I miss my friends so much! It’s tiring seeing Levi’s face in a video call every day! Hange bounced in her seat, practically buzzing with excitement at the thought of seeing her friends in person again after four long months of nothing but video calls and messages.
Hange’s mother laughed at her daughter’s enthusiasm. “Hmm, won’t you miss us at all, dear Hange?”
“Ouch,” her father chimed in with a playful pout, hands steady on the wheel. “Sounds like her friends matter more than we do.” His voice was laced with exaggerated sadness, clearly joking.
“Of course I’ll miss you both, too,” Hange said, playfully rolling her eyes without taking her gaze off the view outside the car window.
Still gazing out the window, Hange pressed the switch to lower it, letting the breeze rush inside and brush against her face. Carefully, she removed her glasses, cautiously not to let them slip, then leaned her head out the window, eyes closed, savoring the wind as it swept over her skin.
“Be careful, dear!” her mother called out, a gentle warning.
Hange opened her eyes at the remark, just in time to take in the breathtaking view as the car wound its way up the mountain road, the landscape sprawling endlessly beneath a wide, open sky. She smiled softly, quietly admiring the beauty of nature.
I need to send this to Levi, she thought, resting her head back in the seat. She pulled out her phone, snapped a quick picture, then opened her contacts to find his name saved as “Pocket-Sized Gentleman.
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“Pocket-Sized Gentlemen”
9:47 a.m.
Insane Glasses:
*photo sent*
IM OMW!!!!!!
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
👍
Insane Glasses:
what a non-chalant bitch you are
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
Kys
I nsane Glasses:
Love you <3
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Hange grinned at Levi’s response. They had been best friends since their first year of school. Though Levi was naturally introverted and had deliberately ignored her more times than she could count in year one, but for some reason she had somehow gone past his walls, and to her surprise, they clicked. From that moment on, they did almost everything together for the next ten years, joined at the hip like conjoined twins.
As time passed, their friendship grew so much more than just the two of them, slowly turning into a close-knit friend group. It felt nice to look back and see how far they’d come, from classmates to inseparable friends. And now, with less than two years left of high school, stepping into their junior year, their friendship felt more precious to her than ever.
Hange’s heart melted as she reminisced about the friendships she held so close. With a soft smile, she pulled her gaze away from her phone and back to the view outside the window. Her adrenaline buzzed, excitement bubbling to the surface. Gripping the back of the driver’s seat, she leaned forward.
“Are we almost there?” She asked her father eagerly, her voice practically bouncing with anticipation.
Her father chuckled. “Almost there. Give me about fifteen minutes, max,” he said, glancing at the car’s clock. “Why don’t you listen to the radio for a bit?” With that, he reached over and turned it on.
The small opening notes of “Super Trouper” from the MAMMA MIA soundtrack filled the car.
“Oh, I love this song so much,” her mother said, face lighting up as the song was played. Hange’s smile grew the moment she recognized the tune. She leaned forward and turned the volume up.
“Like I always do~!” Hange sang with exaggerated, yet playful flair, swaying herself in the backseat.
“Cause somewhere in the crowd is you!” her father chimed in next, off-key but enthusiastic.
Hange laughed, not minding his tone-deafness one bit. The car was suddenly full of warmth, music, and the kind of joy that only comes in small, shared moments.
The music played on, the familiar lyrics echoing through the car as they wound their way down the last stretch of the mountain road. Hange rested her chin on the top of the passenger seat, still swaying slightly to the beat.
Her mother hummed along, tapping her fingers on her lap in rhythm, while her father, now thoroughly committed to the performance, sang out another line, missing a note or two with confidence.
Hange was lucky, if not extremely blessed, with not only loving parents, but with ones who were easygoing and open-minded. As a child, she had always looked up to her father, a scientist, often staying up until midnight, ruining her sleep schedule just to catch him coming home, eager to ask about his work and discoveries.
That early curiosity blossomed into a lifelong interest in the STEM field. Her parents found her habits quirky—sometimes even a little chaotic—but always endearing. They supported her dreams without hesitation, proud when she declared her goal: to become a scientist, just like her father.
Motivated by their love and unwavering support, Hange worked hard to make them proud. School became her proving ground, and she gave it everything she had. And it paid off tenfold. She was picked for several research programs, ranked in the top 1% of the entire school, and consistently earned academic honors.
But in her heart, it still didn’t feel like enough. No matter how much she achieved, she never stopped thinking about how much she still owes them and how much she loves her family.
“Dad,” Hange giggled, leaning forward between the seats, “you’re gonna scare off the animals in the mountains.”
Her father glanced at her in the rearview mirror with a grin, completely unfazed. “They should be grateful,” he said with a mock-serious tone. “Live concert experience—free of charge.”
Her mother snorted. “Pain in the ears, believe me,” she said, rolling her eyes with a smile.
“Oh, come on,” her dad huffed dramatically. “No appreciation for raw talent in this car.”
“Keyword: raw,” Hange quipped, bursting into laughter. She later added with a grin, “Just stick to the STEM field, Dad. The idol industry isn’t ready for you.”
The car dipped slightly as it rounded a corner, and the school finally came into view in the distance, tall and nestled buildings behind a row of trees, the school flag flapping lazily in the breeze.
Hange’s heart skipped a beat. The sight of it made the butterflies in her stomach go wild.
“Oh my god. It feels like it’s been forever,” she whispered, half to herself, gripping the headrest a little tighter.
The closer they got, the more she could see students already at the front gates, suitcases and backpacks slung over their shoulders, parents giving out their farewells, and excited chatter filling the air, even from this far away.
Her mother turned slightly in her seat. “Nervous?”
Hange shook her head, though her smile was small now. “No. Just… really happy to be back.”
Her father gave a short nod. “Good. That’s what we want.”
The song on the radio shifted into a slower one, something soft and instrumental. Hange sat back in her seat, hugging her arms around her bag, the energy simmering under her skin.
She could already imagine the upcoming school year, seeing her friends in person again, laughing over stupid things, walking the halls like they used to when they were on their way to class. And Levi. As much as she pretended to complain about seeing his face every day on call, a part of her was more than ready to see her best friend.
Her phone buzzed again.
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“Pocket-Sized Gentlemen”
10:02 a.m.
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
I see your car
Don’t trip over the curb again like last year.
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She snorted, covering her mouth with her hand, already tapping out a reply with her thumbs. As her fingers hovered over the keyboard, she cringed at the fact that she had tripped over the curb last year.
The memory came rushing back: falling face-first in front of the entrance of the school, earning herself a bright purple bruise on her forehead, as if it was Ash Wednesday. And earning herself a first impression with the new enrollees.
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“Pocket-Sized Gentlemen”
10:03 a.m.
Insane Glasses:
Say that again and I’ll trip ON YOU.
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The car slowed to a halt in front of the school gates, tires squealing softly against the pavement. Hange finally tore her gaze from the window and reached for her bags beside her seat, slinging one over her shoulder before pushing the car door open. Cool air greeted her as she stepped out onto the gray pavement of the campus, her shoes clicking softly against the ground.
“I’ll get her things from the back,” her dad sighed quietly, watching his daughter practically sprint away from the car. His wife laughed and gave his thigh a light pat, “Love you, hun,” she said, planting a quick kiss on his cheek. He smiled softly, then climbed out of the driver’s seat and headed to the trunk.
Hange had only taken a few steps toward the entrance before she turned back. Spotting her father at the trunk, she jogged over. “I’ll help you with that,” she said with a quiet laugh, reaching out just in time to take the last suitcase from his hands.
He gave her a gentle pat on the back. “All grown up now, huh?” he said, smiling. As they pulled the suitcase down from the trunk together, it landed on the curb with a small thud. Hange quickly turned to face her father and wrapped her arms around him in a sudden hug.
“See you soon,” she murmured into his shoulder, savoring the warmth of the embrace. Her father hugged her back, rubbing slow circles against her back before pulling away slightly. She grinned up at him, cheeks flushed with emotion.
“Have fun,” he whispered, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear to get a better look at her face. Hange’s heart warmed at the gesture. She turned her gaze toward the car, catching sight of her mother smiling at her from the passenger seat.
Quickly, she walked over and leaned into the open window. “We’ll miss you,” her mother said, her eyes already misting. “I’ll see you soon,” Hange murmured, her voice just above a whisper. She stepped back and watched as her father returned to the driver’s seat.
Her mother rolled up the window slowly, never breaking eye contact. She gave Hange a wave, and Hange returned it with a small, trembling smile.
The engine hummed softly, then the car began to roll forward. Hange walked alongside it, waving continuously as the car moved down the lane. Her mother kept waving back until the vehicle picked up speed.
Eventually, she could no longer keep up. She slowed to a stop at the edge of the pavement, hand still raised. The car turned the corner and disappeared behind the trees, and she stood there alone, staring at the empty road.
“Oi.”
Hange grinned at the familiar voice behind her. She turned to see the short man approaching, both of her suitcases in hand, apparently the ones she’d abandoned in her emotional farewell with her parents. “Don’t leave your shit lying around,” Levi said, matter-of-fact as ever. “Someone might steal whatever useless shit you’ve got in there.” He stopped in front of her and handed both suitcases over.
Hange took them with a dramatic gasp. “Why, thank you! I didn’t know the school upgraded to having a butler service,” she jokingly answered with a wide grin.
Without a definitive answer, Levi slapped her arm and rolled his eyes at Hange’s teasing, earning himself a loud yelp as she rubbed her arm. “What the hell, man! That’s not how you greet your beloved favorite, and may I emphasize, best friend!”
Levi scoffed. “I won’t hesitate to hit your other arm.” He pulled out his phone, checked the time, and squinted at the screen before letting out a quiet sigh. “It’s almost 11:00,” he muttered. “You’re going to be late for registration.”
Hange grabbed the handles of her suitcases. “Well, then we better get going!” she declared, already swiftly walking past him. The wheels of her luggage clattering against the pavement as she walks to the entrance.
Levi watched her for a while, the corners of his mouth tugging into the faintest hint of a smile at her extreme energy. Without a word, he slipped his phone back into his pocket and followed after her, his footsteps naturally falling back into the same routine they always had.
He watched as Hange struggled to haul her suitcases up the front steps of the building, the wheels catching awkwardly on each stair. “Why the fuck are you taking so long?!” he barked, watching her take her sweet time.
“You don’t have a say in this, Levi! You abused my arm, so expect struggle when it comes to using it!” she shot back dramatically.
Levi shot her a flat look. “I barely tapped you. Get over yourself, four-eyes.”
Hange turned back to face Levi with a dramatic scoff, barely even managing to lift her suitcases each step. “Tapped me? That was a full-blown act of violence, I’m probably gonna need physical therapy and emotional compensation!”
With a sigh, he added, “Can you stop your whining? It’s ten in the fucking morning.”
He walked over and grabbed one of them without saying a word. Together, they dragged the two suitcases up the stairs.
“Finally! An act of kindness, thank you!” Hange chirped, slightly breathless, flashing him a grin as they reached the top. Levi gave a small nod, and the two stepped inside. Without missing any minute, they headed toward the registration table at the end of the hall.
The campus buzzed with the low hum of returning students, wheeled luggage rattling over stone, greetings echoing through the crisp morning air. Hange walking past a few students talking with each other, with Levi trailing just behind, quiet as ever.
“You know, I missed you, Levi,” Hange said out of nowhere, stopping mid-step and waited until Levi caught up to her before continuing again, but her pace was slower this time, Their footsteps fell into an easy rhythm as they walked through the hallway.
There was a beat of silence before Levi replied flatly, “We called and texted all summer.” Hange smiled to herself, not bothering to look back at him, but she could imagine the eye roll from Levi beside her.
“I know! But I got tired of seeing your big-ass head on my screen every time we video chat. It’s not the same as talking to you in person.” She had been quite lonely throughout the summer, despite being busy with one review center class after another. The only thing that kept her from falling into a full-on depression was chatting with her parents and friends. Living abroad, knowing all her friends were still in the same country from school, it was tough but bearable, or so she liked to tell herself.
“That’s because you live abroad. If you just stayed in the country, you could’ve hung out with us,” Levi quickly replied to Hange.
He couldn’t lie, and he certainly wouldn’t admit it out loud. It’s always felt emptier without her around every summer break, even with Erwin, Mike, and Mikasa lying around. Hange lived overseas and only came back to the country during the school year. So every summer was filled with online chats rather than hanging out in person. The distance didn’t ruin their friendship, but it always left something missing. Levi never said it, but he valued her more than most people he knew.
He thought about the concept of being apart even longer after high school ends. College plans, jobs, new cities. Hange would most likely be heading off to university, while he stayed behind to take care of the family shop. They will no longer be beside each other as often, and it made something in his chest ache unexpectedly. His eyes narrowed at the unfamiliar, unwelcome sting that came with just thinking about it.
Noticing the subtle shift in his expression, she thoughtfully snaps him out of his thoughts with her response, “I saw Erwin and Mike’s Instagram stories. I’d say you had quite a lot of fun this summer,” she said, remembering viewing their stories in between her packed review schedules, stories consists them at the beach, another in an arcade, a mall food court, and countless other places that they went together.
Levi hummed in response to Hange, and they fell into a comfortable silence, the memory of him and their circle of friends hanging out over the summer coming to the surface of his mind. He remembered it clearly: his mother calling out to him from the bedroom while Erwin and Mike stood at the front door like stalkers, practically begging for him to go out and interact with them.
He had said no countless times, but his mother wouldn’t allow her son to waste the summer rotting in the house. She kicked him out of the house and even bribed him with a new stock of tea and a firm declaration that he “needed sunlight for his height and friends.”
So, reluctantly and forcefully, he went. Despite how much he grumbled on the way to the beach or the arcade, despite how uninterested he seemed during movie nights, he had to admit he didn’t entirely hate it. Sure, listening to Mike go on about his unwavering, unrequited love for Nanaba was exhausting, and Erwin’s constant talk about college and future plans made Levi want to choke the guy with his bare hands, he enjoyed their company. He really did. Still, being the nonchalant person he is, he didn’t say it out loud to them.
“They forced me to get out of the house,” Levi muttered, his voice flat as ever, but there was a flicker of fondness in his tone, which someone who’s close with Levi can easily detect. “Mom said I was starting to look like a vampire. Said I needed sunlight for my bones or some shit.”
Hange let out a soft snort, glancing over her shoulder at him. “She’s not wrong. I saw that beach photo Erwin posted, by the way, your skin was reflecting the sun like a disco ball.”
Levi rolled his eyes. “That photo was overexposed.”
“Sure it was,” she said, grinning. “Just so you know, I’m fully on Team Edward. Hope you find your Bella Swan.”
They walked a little further until the inaudible murmur of student chatter signaled they were nearing the registration area. Hange’s arms were beginning to ache from the weight of her suitcases, but she didn’t complain. She was tired, not some malnourished loser who couldn’t handle the weight that she herself had deliberately packed into both bags.
Hange smiled knowingly, eyes forward. “I know you enjoyed those, deep down,” she added quietly, her tone softer now, more thoughtful.
Levi didn’t answer right away. He shrugged, hands stuffed deep into his pockets. “It wasn’t awful,” he said finally.
They continued walking toward the registration area. The clack of Hange’s suitcase wheels echoed through the hallway, mingling with the soft murmur of other students returning. A couple of juniors passed them, waving briefly in recognition. Hange returned their wave, her attention drifting toward the wide double doors ahead, where a table displayed neat stacks of paper, pens, and the familiar clipboard of the sign-in sheet.
She nudged Levi with her elbow. “You’ve been keeping me company since I got here. Did you even finish unpacking?”
Levi gave her a sideways glance. “No. Before you showed up, I was helping Mikasa.”
She grinned. “Aw, look at you! Such a family man.”
“She said Eren and Armin were supposed to carry her stuff, but they weren’t there yet. And she gave me that look,” Levi added.
Hange let out a soft chuckle. “So, you caved,” and he gave a small nod in acknowledgment.
“I can only imagine the meltdown you’re about to have once you get back to your room. I bet Erwin folded your socks the wrong way again,” she teased, laughing.
“Why do you think I’d even let Erwin fold my socks?” Levi grimaced. His roommates were none other than Mike and Erwin, and while the three of them had completely different definitions of “clean,” their room always ended up a disaster. Somehow, Levi was the only one with the discipline and, unfortunately, the patience to fix it once a month.
Just as Hange finished her sentence, they reached the registration table. “Look, after my stuff for me, hm?” she said, already walking away from Levi’s side without waiting for his answer.
Hange made her way to the table and spotted the sign that read “Year 11”. Approaching the teacher standing behind the table is Mr. Shadis. She grinned and teased, “Miss me, sir?” She bent down to the registration sheet and quickly found her name.
She heard his low groan in response. “Welcome back, Ms. Zoe.” She smiled at his greeting, then marked her attendance. “Don’t forget the 3:30 orientation today. I expect you not to be late,” he added sternly.
“Oh, don’t worry, sir. I’m planning on that no-tardy school year.” She laughed at her own lie; she will be late for many classes this year.
She left the table and went straight back to Levi, who was staring at his phone. She waved her hands in front of his face. “Hey, shorty! Were you even looking after my things?”
“I don’t give a flying fuck.” He does, by the way, Levi said without bothering to look up from his phone. “I’m off now. Furlan randomly signed me up to help the freshmen,” he added, clearly annoyed.
Hange laughed, imagining his frustration. “Try not to intimidate the freshmen this year, Levi! Who knows, you might end up on the next Instagram Freedom Wall with someone commenting about just how much of a bitch you are.”
Levi just glared at her in response.
She readjusted her backpack and grabbed the handles of her suitcase. “See you soon, Levi! I’ll be unpacking in the dorms.” She gave him a wink before heading off in a different direction.
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The hallways buzzed with happiness, it’s a chaotic welcome filled with laughter and greetings from returning students. Hange went past through the crowd, her bag slung over one shoulder, dodging swinging arms and rolling luggage. Her feet carried her automatically down the familiar route. With each step, anticipation coiled tighter in her chest. After months away, she was finally going to see her roommates again.
She stopped in front of the door to Room 456. The door slightly scratched numbers and pen marks, as usual, marred the door, and its handle remained somewhat stuck. She smiled, took a deep breath, and pushed the door open, excited to see two familiar faces.
Empty.
Her brows furrowed. The room was still and quiet, but someone had clearly been here: suitcases spilled open, a hoodie tossed on a chair, and Nanaba’s combat boots perfectly lined at the end of her bed. They must be out helping the new freshmen, Hange thought, stepping inside. As she turned around and reached back to shut the door-
“HEY, HANGE!”
She screamed and slipped, landing perfectly on her ass. “What the fuck?!” she yelped, hand clenching, her heart pounding as she looked up to see Nifa doubled over in the doorway, clutching her stomach and laughing.
“That scream! Holy shit, I got to say, you got the best reactions!” Nifa wheezed, still laughing at the outcome of her scare, but still kind enough to offer Hange a hand. Hange took it, only to get yanked into a tight, crushing hug.
Hange returned the hug. “It’s so good to see you, Hans,” Nifa whispered with a grin, her voice softening as she squeezed the hug tighter.
“Missed you too,” Hange mumbled into her messy hair, feeling quite emotional to see her again, until the hug kept tightening. “Okay, hey—HEY! Nifa, I need air. My lungs! Your hugs are great, but, fuck!” Hange shrieked.
“Sorry, sorry,” Nifa laughed, finally letting go. “Got excited. I was helping Petra fix her busted shelf earlier, and the excitement just... carried over.”
“Were you able to fix it? I can help if needed,” Hange offered, stepping past her to reach back for her suitcases.
Nifa waved a hand dismissively. “No need, it’s all fixed. Olou had the guts to sit on it while raiding her dorm. Don’t worry~! I made him help me fix the damn thing,” she said, sighing as she flopped backward onto her own bed. “Had to yell at him to get his ass off it first.”
Hange laughed as she dragged her suitcases over and sank onto her bed, letting her eyes wander around the familiar room before settling on the door. “Where’s Nanaba?” she asked, noting the absence of their third roommate.
Nifa sat up straighter on her bed. “She went out to help prepare the orientation,” she said, then tilted her head with a grin. “How was your summer, by the way? Other than the fact we were playing Roblox, listening to you complain about the review center.”
Hange let out a dramatic groan. “Same as usual. Advanced studying on cell respiration while solving fucking derivatives,” she muttered, flopping down on her empty, undecorated bed. “But don’t get me wrong, it was fun. I really do love learning new stuff, especially chemistry.” She imagined Nifa’s eye roll. “It’s just those review centers? Total hell. Too many drills regarding calculus,”
“What the fuck is a derivative, and why are cells having respiration?” Nifa snorted, tossing a pillow at her and missing .
“Exactly. That was my summer,” Hange groaned.
“You sound like you had a thrilling summer,” Nifa teased with a grin. “So many parties. So much wild fun.”
“As much as I love learning new shit,” Hange muttered, running her hand through her hair, “I can’t even pretend it wasn’t hell.”
The thought of those review centers still made her want to end it all. But she couldn’t deny the fact that she enjoyed the actual science part, especially chemistry. It was necessary, too; Either way, she had to keep up her grades and actually prepare for college. Better to start early than procrastinate last minute. The grind was exhausting, but hey, it could land her a spot in a great college.
The door creaked open, and Nanaba stepped in, getting her first look at Nanaba after the long summer. It was an interesting sight indeed: shirt untucked, ink smudges on her arms, and, most noticeably, her hair chopped into a short, uneven pixie cut that stuck out in every direction.
“What the fuck happened to your hair?” Hange blurted, eyes wide with laughter, just seconds from spilling out.
Nanaba blinked at the familiar voice, then her face lit up. “Hange!” She dashed across the room and tackled her onto the mattress in a full-body hug.
“Jesus!” Hange laughed, breathless. “Third hug today, and it’s not even lunch.” She commented, returning the hug as well.
Nifa popped up from her bed. “Nana, you’re back!” She jumped down and plopped onto the floor beside them, grinning like a kid happy to see her roommates again.
“No one warned me that prepping a damn court for orientation was actual labor,” Nanaba groaned, still with her arms wrapped around Hange. “I almost died just hanging the welcome sign. And with all the running and fixing, it felt like my limbs were gonna disconnect any second.”
“I can tell, you look like you aged five years,” Hange snorted, reaching up to ruffle her hair. “Also, when did you get an interesting haircut?”
“Five days ago,” Nanaba muttered, “thanks for noticing so kindly.”
“You look like a tired boy band member,” Nifa snorted. Nanaba sighs, pulling away from Hange and running a hand through her hair. “I asked my mom to give me a haircut, and this is what she gave me,” she scoffs, “so much for a big change.”
Hange gave Nanaba’s thigh a gentle pat, offering a small smile. “Don’t worry, it’s not that bad,” Nanaba sighed, rolling her shoulders as she sat up straighter. “Thanks,” she said dryly, her eyes tired but grateful.
For a moment, no one spoke. The room settled into that quiet warmth only three years of shared chaos could build. On the floor, Nifa lay sprawled, with her arms behind her head. Nanaba sat on the edge of Hange’s bed, while Hange still lying back on her mattress, arms folded under her head.
“Can’t believe we’re already juniors,” Nifa said suddenly, voice soft with disbelief. “Like… what the hell? It feels like we just transitioned from middle school to high school, and now we have less than two years left.”
Nanaba let out a tired laugh. “Time’s going way too fast. I still remember the first year we became roommates.”
Hange chuckled, eyes still locked on the ceiling. “God, remember when I got reassigned to this room at the start of high school?”
“That’s because your old roommates complained about the smell of smoke and chemicals every time you walked in,” Nifa recalled, grinning. “And our old roommate flunked middle school.”
Nanaba winced. “I still wonder what’s going on with her. Me and Nifa kept reminding her to take school seriously, but…” Nifa sighed. “I just hope wherever she is now, she’s doing better. Hopefully, found something that fits her.”
The room quieted again for a while before Nanaba spoke again, smirking, “Hey! At least that mess got us a walking encyclopedia for a roommate.” She slapped Hange’s leg gently. “And a great friend.”
Back in Year 1, Hange had been placed in a completely different room. Her first roommates weren’t bad. In fact, they’d gotten along decently. But… Hange had also brought open chemical jars, tripped the smoke alarm twice, burned a pair of pants by accident, and once accidentally left a frog’s heart in the communal fridge. The final straw came when one of her roommates almost drank a mislabeled beaker.
It wasn’t personal. They had all talked about it, and Hange had apologized. But in the end, the complaints piled up, and she had to be reassigned.
Meanwhile, Nifa and Nanaba’s original roommate had gotten expelled barely two months into the 7th year, flunking everything and sneaking out so often that the school just gave up. Nanaba and Nifa had tried helping her, warning her constantly. But it didn’t work. After she left, her bed stayed empty for the rest of year 7.
So, when freshman year started, Nifa and Nanaba were still roommates, expecting the third bed to remain empty again. Hange had walked in on the first day with a suspiciously heavy backpack, a microscope under one arm, and a strange glint in her eyes, like she hadn’t slept in days, which was surprising since it was the first day after summer.
Nifa had whispered, “Is she a serial killer or a scientist?” and Nanaba had just shrugged and said, “Probably both.”
And yet, somehow, it worked.
“Okay, enough of this emotional junior talk bullshit,” Hange declared suddenly, sitting up with a grin. “How were your summers?”
Nifa’s eyes lit up immediately. “OH MY GOD! It was so fun! Even though I didn’t do that much, I had a bunch of hangouts with Moblit, Rashad, Lauda, Keji, and Abel.” She started counting them off on her fingers. “We even had a sleepover at an Airbnb near the beach. It was amazing until I got sick.”
“I saw,” Nanaba said, dryly. “Pretty sure I spotted you guys at the arcade. You were so loud, one of the workers looked like they were going to combust.”
Hange laughed at that. Deep down, though, she couldn’t help but feel a little left out. Her summer had mostly been textbooks, review centers, and sending the occasional memes and late-night selfies to Levi. No beach trips. No arcades. No Airbnb memories to share.
“Hey!” Nifa gasped, turning toward Nanaba and slapping her foot, earning a startled yelp. “We weren’t that loud! One of us just left their bag in the karaoke booth. The worker was actually really nice about it!” Nanaba covered her ears with both hands. “Lalalala, I hear lies.” Hange burst out laughing as Nifa scrambled to defend herself with a dramatic reenactment of the arcade incident.
Then, Nifa stood up suddenly. “You don’t get to talk, Nanaba! You were on a date with Mike at the mall!” She revealed with a big smile plastered on her face.
Hange turned to look at Nanaba, her eyes wide with delight as she took in the sight of Nanaba’s entire face flushed a deep red.
“No way,” Hange gasped, pointing dramatically. “You’re blushing. Like full-on tomato mode. Oh my god, it really was a date!”
Nanaba groaned, covering her face with both hands. “I swear, it wasn’t—”
“It so was,” Nifa interrupted, pacing like a prosecutor mid-trial. “You ordered that matcha latte you always complain is overpriced because Mike said it was his favorite.” I saw you sipping it like it didn’t taste like wet grass!”
“I- th-that doesn’t mean it was a date!” Nanaba spluttered.
“You shared a piece of cake, Nanaba,” Nifa deadpanned. “A single cake. Who does that platonically?! “I’d like to add that you two have lovey-dovey eyes!” Nifa continued. ”You guys were basically eye-fucking each other!” Nanaba’s face turned even redder.
Hange gasped again, flopping backward dramatically on her bed. “I’m living for this. Nanaba, I’ve missed so much!”
Nanaba groaned louder, “Oh my god, I hate you both.”
“You love us,” Nifa said sweetly.
“Unfortunately,” Nanaba muttered, covering her red face.
Their laughter filled the room again. And though Hange laughed along, she couldn’t shake the small, quiet ache underneath. She smiled as she teased, but part of her wished she’d been there — at the arcade, at the café, in on the inside jokes and the stories she was only now catching up on.
Hange reached out, nudging Nanaba’s shoulder. “Hey. Seriously though. Mike’s cool. And if it was a date… I’m glad. You deserve someone who treats you right.”
Nanaba peeked out from behind her hands, the redness still there, but this time softened with a quiet smile. “Thanks, Hange. But it wasn’t a date,” Nanaba still not admitting it was a date.
“Oh, my god! Why are you still denying it?! It was 100% a date!” Nifa yelled again.
The room once again filled with chaos, the kind only they could create.
And despite everything — the study burnout, the missed summers, the chemical mishaps, and growing pains — Hange realized there was no place else she’d rather be.
Not minding the banter between Nifa and Nanaba, now turning into a full-on tickle war on the floor. Hange leaned over the edge of her own mattress and dug into her backpack. She rummaged past a stray highlighter, a crushed protein bar, and a tangled set of earbuds before finally fishing out her phone.
The screen lit up: 12:24 PM.
“Shit,” Hange muttered under her breath, eyes widening slightly.
She sat up quickly, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. “I forgot I was supposed to check the lab before lunch,” she announced, already getting to her feet.
Nanaba looked up from the floor where Nifa had pinned her, “Why? Do you have a chemical solution that will explode at exactly 12:30?” Nanaba teased.
Hange snorted, grabbing her bag and slinging it over her shoulder. “No, but I promised Moblit I’d help him set up the storage rack before the new equipment arrives. He gets twitchy when things aren’t labeled.”
“You mean your very patient lab assistant?” Nifa asked, sitting up on the floor and brushing her hair back.
“Yes,” Hange grinned, “Moblit. My ride-or-die. My scientific soulmate. My-”
“-second brain who keeps you from turning the entire school into ruins,” Nanaba cut in.
“Exactly!” Hange gave a dramatic finger-gun motion. “Anyway, once I’m done, I’ll be going straight to lunch, then orientation.”
As she turned toward the door, Nifa called out after her, “Tell Moblit I said hi!”
Hange glanced over her shoulder with a smirk. “Will do. Want me to pass him a note, too? Maybe draw a heart on it?”
“Shut up!” Nifa shouted, grabbing the nearest pillow and hurling it toward the door. Hange ducked just in time, laughing as it hit the wall with a thud.
“You two are so dramatic,” Nanaba muttered.
Hange laughed, stepping out into the hallway. The door creaked closed behind her as the noise from the room faded into a more muffled chaos. The hallway was quieter now, most students were either outside or still settling into their rooms.
━─━────༺༻────━─━
“HEY HEY HEY!!” Hange shouted as she pushed open the door to the science lab, her voice echoing. Inside, Moblit stood mid-stride with a towering stack of cardboard boxes in his arms, nearly blocking his view. His head turned at the sound of her voice, eyes widening in relief and joy.
“Hange!” he exclaimed, quickly moving to place the boxes down on the nearest table with a loud thud. “Thank god. I was beginning to think you’d abandoned me.”
Hange laughed, stepping inside and letting the door swing closed behind her. “I’d never do that to you, my dear Moblit,” she teased, striding over and clapping a hand onto his shoulder with playful enthusiasm. “Besides, I needed to see my favorite assistant.”
Moblit gave her a mocking glare but couldn’t suppress the grin tugging at his lips. “I’m more of a personal maid at this point.” She laughed.
Her eyes flicked past him, landing on a small mountain of unopened and half-unpacked boxes scattered near the sinks. Some were labeled with words like Microscope Lenses, Fragile, Glassware, and pH Indicator Kits. She whistled low. “Whoa. Looks like you got started without me.”
Moblit followed her gaze and sighed, wiping his hands on his pants. “Yeah. The shipment arrived about an hour ago. I figured I’d start sorting through them before you got here. Otherwise, you’d tear everything open, and we’d never find anything again.”
She nodded and stepped further into the lab, placing her bag down beside the lab stool. “Need help with sorting?” She asked, starting to roll up her long sleeves.
Moblit moaned in relief, “That would be great,” he said, motioning to the labeled stickers he had created beforehand on the countertops. “I’m just grouping by equipment type for now. We’ll do inventory after.”
As Hange moved toward the nearest box and began to tear through the tape with her nails, she called over her shoulder, “Oh, by the way. Nifa says hi.”
Moblit paused mid-labeling. “She did?”
“Yup!” Hange said, wiggling her eyebrows as she glanced over her shoulder. “Want me to pass a note next time?”
Moblit turned red almost instantly. “Hange- um..no. Absolutely not.” Hange burst into laughter, pulling out bubble wrap and a handful of chemical glass tubes from the box. “Relax! I’m kidding... mostly.”
“Hey! Don’t laugh while holding those!” Moblit warned, eyes wide as he glanced over to still see Hange laughing.. “Those are new, y-you might drop them!”
“Chill out! I’m very careful,” Hange said with a teasing grin, adjusting her grip on the fragile glassware. Moblit groaned, turning back to his labels, but Hange didn’t miss the small smile playing at the corner of his lips.
They fell into a comfortable silence, the only sounds filling the lab were the clinks of glassware and the rustling of boxes as they focused on unpacking the equipment. Moblit suddenly made a small oh sound. Hange glanced over, curious.
He reached over to the supply cart and pulled out a folded white lab coat and a sealed plastic pouch with protective goggles. “Before I forget, put these on.”
Hange looked up from the box she was unpacking. “Oh? You finally want me to cosplay as a professional?”
Moblit rolled his eyes and tossed her the coat, which she caught with a flourish. “No, I want you to not die. I’m sorting the equipment and labeling for now, you’re on chemical handling duty.”
She raised a brow, already slipping the coat on and fumbling with the sleeves. “You trust me with the dangerous stuff?”
“I trust you’ll follow the safety protocols I’ve taped to literally every cabinet,” he deadpanned. “And that you’re not dumb enough to splash any chemicals in your eye”
“That was one time, and I was wearing glasses!” Hange grumbled, but she slid the goggles over her glasses anyway.
Moblit pointed a gloved finger at her. “You almost lost your eye!”
“So?”
He just sighed and waved her off as he returned to a box full of labels and inventory sheets. Hange pouted dramatically, muttering something about “lab safety” under her breath, but there was a bounce in her step as she moved toward the chemical shelves. Truth was, being careful with dangerous things always makes her excited.
As she reached for the first sealed bottle of reagents, she caught her reflection in a metal cabinet door. Goggles too big for her face. Lab coat sleeves rolled up, she looked like a disaster, Hange winced at her appearance.
“Also, Armin came by earlier looking for you,” Moblit said, not looking up from a roll of labels.
Hange tilted her head. “Hm? Why?” He shrugged. “Not sure, exactly. I think it’s something about advice for his sophomore year?”
Hange hummed, placing a few pipettes into their designated tray. “I’ll tell him how much of a fucking bitch RNA and DNA are.”
Moblit snorted, trying to hold his laughter. “Hey! Don’t laugh!” she said, pointing a glass stirrer at him. “I almost flunked class because of that!”
Moblit didn’t even look up. “You mean the advanced biology class they picked you for with Zeke?” Hange groaned loudly, dragging a hand down her face.
God, Zeke Yeager.
She hated how he always managed to be one step ahead of her in that specific class. He didn’t even try that hard—at least not visibly—but somehow, he always pulled a higher score by a few points. Last semester, he beat her by three points on the big genetics exam. Three.
She remembered his smug little smirk when the teacher handed back their graded tests, as if it were an impressive achievement he could rub in her face. She could still hear his voice: “Tough exam, huh, Zoe? Better luck next time.”
Asshole. She does hope that Eren won’t take after his brother,
But she always swore to herself that she didn’t hate him, not really, for the most part. He had some humor left in his body, and he’s also a really nice study partner.
Hange said, exhaling through her nose. “I just remembered how much I want to throw Zeke off a cliff.”
Moblit blinked and gave a nervous laugh. “Please don’t do that on school property,” Moblit said, as he turned his head to face the clock. A few seconds later, he placed down the labels he was holding.
“I’ll get us some lunch.” Hange quickly turned her head, and her eyes sparkled. “Moblit.” She seriously said, “iloveyousomuchcanyoupleasebuymecheesebreadisweariwillpayyouback” Hange quickly yapped in one long breath.
Moblit sighed, knowing damn well she would forget to pay him back. “Sure, sure.” He walked toward the door, waving his hand in a half-hearted goodbye. Before he stepped out, he glanced over his shoulder. “If I come back and see the laboratory a mess, I won’t hesitate to report you.”
And then the door closed with a soft click, leaving Hange alone in the quiet lab, holding a glass of iodine, which was a bad choice. Then her phone buzzed in her pocket. She grabbed it, glanced down at the screen, and smiled.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
“Pocket-Sized Gentlemen”
1:12 p.m.
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
Have you eaten yet
Insane Glasses:
Aww are you worried
Moblit is bringing us both lunch
We are in the lab
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
Can’t you go through one day without being in the lab
I nsane Glasses:
Science doesnt wait
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
So is an ulcer
I nsane Glasses:
Chill out man
Im like
16 and thriving rn
Not on my mid 70s and dying
P ocket-Sized Gentlemen:
whatever
I nsane Glasses:
Are you eating rn??
P ocket-Sized Gentlemen:
Yeah
I’m with erwin and mike in the dining hall
I nsane Glasses:
I HAVENT SEEN THEM YET TODAY EUGH
TELL THEM I SAID HI
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
No
Find them yourself
Insane Glasses:
Okay bitch
I’ll drink this tasty chemical named iodine
infront of me if you don’t pass the message
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
Tell me how it tastes
Insane Glasses:
SCREW YOU
Pocket-Sized Gentlemen:
Cry me a river
Insane Glasses:
WHO TAUGHT YOU THAT
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
“Thank God you didn’t explode anything,” Moblit sighed as he stood in the doorway.
“I resent your lack of faith in me,” Hange replied dramatically, setting the glass and her phone down. She pushed her goggles up onto her forehead, leaving a faint dent across the bridge of her nose.
Moblit ignored her comment “Come on. Let’s eat,” he said. Hange frowned, glancing around at the still half-unpacked boxes, the half-finished label sheets on the counter. “Wait! Aren’t we gonna..?”
“No food in the lab,” Moblit's voice interrupted her. “Rules, remember? We’re not getting chemical dust in our bread just because you can’t take a break.”
Hange gave a defeated sigh but peeled off her gloves anyway, tossing them into the disposal bin and untying her lab coat with a dramatic flair. “Fine, fine. But I’m only obeying because my stomach is 60% air right now.”
Moblit held the door open for her, bag crinkling softly in his other hand. She stepped into the hallway.
They settled on the floor just beside the lab door, tucked against the wall under a dusty bulletin board filled with faded flyers about the chemistry club and student safety protocols. Hange sat cross-legged, already reaching for the cheese bread in the bag before Moblit could even unpack properly.
Moblit plopped down, handed her the bag, and cracked open his own drink with a tired sigh. “Here. Cheesebread, as ordered. And a juice box.”
“I love you,” Hange said seriously as she pulled out the foil-wrapped bread like it was some holy artifact.
“I know,” Moblit muttered. “You say that every time I feed you.”
She didn’t argue. Just ripped into the bread and let the warmth soak into her hands. “Moblit?” She asked through a mouthful of bread.
“Yeah?”
“Thanks for making sure I don’t starve.” He shook his head, smiling despite himself. “Someone’s got to make sure your body survives long enough for your brain to win a Nobel.”
Hange leaned back against the wall. She swallowed and said, “I should probably do something nice for you back, huh?”
Moblit raised an eyebrow. “Like paying me back for lunch?”
“Pfft. Let’s not get ahead of ourselves.” They both laughed.
After a moment of peaceful chewing, Hange nudged his shoulder lightly with hers. “Hey, can I ask you something stupid?”
Moblit gave her a side glance. “You’re going to anyway.”
She took that as permission. “When are you going to confess to Nifa?”
Moblit choked on his juice. He coughed into his sleeve, eyes wide. “I’m just saying,” Hange said, wiping a crumb from her mouth. “You’ve been friends for almost five years. And you’ve been pining for her for, like, three of those. I think it’s pretty mutual, coming from her friend, by the way.”
Moblit buried his face in his hands. “You are unbelievable.”
“Am I wrong?” she asked, popping the last bite of cheese bread into her mouth with smug satisfaction. “Trust me. You’re overthinking it. Just say something. It’s not like she’s gonna laugh in your face.”
Moblit peeked through his fingers. “You’re one to talk. You and Levi have been friends for, what, eleven years? And nothing’s happened. Zero progress. You’re not allowed to give romantic advice.”
Hange froze with her juice box halfway to her mouth. “Excuse me? Me and Levi?”
Moblit gave her a knowing look.
“That’s different,” she insisted, face wrinkling as if why would he think about that about her and Levi? “That’s like platonic telepathy. Ancient blood pact. We’re basically like a Spotify type shit best friend premium subscription!”
Moblit raised an eyebrow. “Subscription?”
“Yes,” she said firmly, sipping her juice like it was the final word. “You wouldn’t understand our friendship.”
“So, when will your Duo subscription turn into a family promo?”
“Moblit, I swear to God, if you don’t shut up, I’m going to pour hydrochloric acid into your next juice box.”
He held up his hands, laughing. “Alright, alright.” Hange rolled her eyes but didn’t bother fighting the smile that tugged at her mouth. She leaned back again, eyes closed now, letting the quiet hum of the hallway settle between them.
“... If I write you a script, will you actually confess to Nifa?” she asked lazily.
“No.”
“What if it rhymes?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Coward.”