Chapter Text
1992
It was at a small town's summer festival, about half an hour from the city where he lived, that eight-year-old Levi Ackerman saw someone play the guitar up close for the very first time.
He had been strolling along the little stalls with his mother, curiously eyeing all the handmade items and foods they were selling. The sun was shining brightly, and the good weather had drawn a lot of people out of their houses and onto the main street, where booth after booth was lined up on both sides of the road. Levi had already had a cold lemonade and some cotton candy, and was now waiting for his mother to pay for a new pair of sunglasses she had just tried on.
The closer they walked towards the main square, the louder the music became, and what had been a faint hum in the distance was now growing clearer with every step. Levi held tightly onto his mother's hand as they made their way through the visitors, a crowd of people already gathered in front of a small stage that had been set up right in front of the municipal building.
Levi was too small to see the scene from where they stood. So when his mother asked if he wanted to step closer, he nodded, and they weaved through the crowd and towards the musicians playing on stage, their music pulling at him in an unusual way. The audience made room for them until he was standing right in front of the stage, his mother just behind him. If he had reached out, he could've touched the wooden planks, and when he looked up, the singer met his eyes, a kind smile appearing on his lips.
Levi hadn't expected to get that close to the action, and he felt a gentle rush of excitement. It was the first time he was truly paying attention to a performance, and his head was filled with melodies and sounds he couldn't quite make sense of, but which he found beautiful.
When the band finished their current song, one Levi recognised from the radio, the singer pulled up a chair and picked up his acoustic guitar, while the other musicians stepped back, giving way to what was about to follow.
"I wrote the following song together with our drummer," he began, speaking into the microphone. His bandmate appreciatively lifted one of his arms as the crowd gave a short round of applause. "It's about moving to a new city, and the struggles, but also the beauty, in it. Enjoy!"
Everyone went quiet as the singer positioned the guitar on his lap and placed his fingers on the fretboard. Levi's eyes were glued to the dark brown instrument, which, all of a sudden, looked surprisingly beautiful, and he eagerly awaited the music it was about to make.
As soon as the man started playing, Levi's eyes went wide. He plucked the strings one after another, yet somehow, amidst the gentle backdrop, single notes emerged, forming a melody so soft and mellow it warmed Levi's heart. He didn't understand how the man did it—his right-hand fingers moved so quickly Levi couldn't even tell which string was being plucked. But the sound it produced was one of the most beautiful he'd ever heard, and he found himself wishing the man would play on forever.
When the intro ended, the guitarist began singing, and even though his voice was beautiful and the song's melody was lovely, Levi couldn't tear his eyes away from the instrument that was filling the air with such wonderful music. He followed the musician's hands, tracking every movement, and didn't even realise the song was over until the hands suddenly came to a halt and the pleasant tone in his ears faded away.
"Don't stop," Levi whispered, his words swallowed by the applauding crowd. Too late he noticed he hadn't joined in and quickly slapped his hands together, wanting to show just how much he'd enjoyed the performance. The listeners, though, had already fallen silent, making the clap of his hands the only noise in the square.
"Thank you, little man," the guitarist said with a smile, giving him a thumbs-up, and a few people around Levi chuckled. Heat rushed to Levi's face, and if he hadn't known the band was going to keep playing, he would've grabbed his mother's hand and disappeared from their spot. Instead, he pressed his face against her shirt, feeling a little better when she patted his back.
They stayed until the last song, and Levi enjoyed every minute of the performance. His attention was mostly on the guitarist, watching with curiosity how at some point, he switched to an electric guitar that produced very different sounds—sounds he enjoyed just as much. The man's fingers moved even quicker on the black lacquered instrument, and Levi tried to soak it all in, his eyes following every movement. Even though his legs were getting tired, he didn't want to miss a thing and leaned back against his mother for support, who wrapped her arms around him.
"You really liked their performance, didn't you?" his mother asked as she carried him piggyback on the way home.
"Yeah," Levi replied, tightening his hold around her shoulders. "I liked it a lot. I… I wish I could do that, too."
"Play the guitar? Or sing?"
"Play the guitar," he replied quickly, grimacing at the thought of having to sing. "His fingers moved so fast! And what he played sounded so pretty."
"I'm sure the music school offers lessons. You could try it out if you'd like," his mother suggested, readjusting her grip on his legs.
"I could?" Levi couldn't believe his ears, his heartbeat quickening as he pictured himself holding his own guitar. He rarely asked for anything, but the offer was too tempting—and he really wanted to try it.
"Of course, darling." She gave his knees a playful squeeze. "How about this: I'll call them on Monday, and we'll see from there."
Levi was so happy, it felt like his entire skin was tingling. He nuzzled his face into his mother's hair, giggling when she tickled the backs of his knees, his mind already filled with images of his first lessons and the feel of wood and strings under his fingers. Monday couldn't come quickly enough.
One and a half excruciatingly long days later, when his mother picked him up from school, he could barely contain his curiosity. After quickly hugging her in greeting, the question burst right out of him: "And? Did you call them?"
His mother leaned over, checking his seatbelt and chuckling as he kicked his feet impatiently. "I did," she replied with a smile, making him wait just a little longer before adding, "They told me they do offer guitar lessons. It's classical guitar, though—not the same style you saw at the summer fest. We could book a trial lesson, where you'd get to meet the teacher, try out the guitar, and see if it's something you really enjoy and want to learn."
"It doesn't matter if it's a different style!" Levi exclaimed, his eyes shining brightly as he met his mother's gaze. "I… can I please try it?"
His mother smiled, starting the car's engine. "Of course. So can I take this as a yes to the trial lesson? I'd give them a call tomorrow in the morning, then."
Levi nodded, his hair bobbing with the eager movement. "Yes, please," he said, his cheeks hurting from the constant smile he had on his lips. "Thank you so much, Mum."
If one and a half days felt long to him, two whole weeks seemed like an eternity.
When Monday finally came and Levi truly was on his way to the music school, holding his mother's hand, he could barely stop himself from skipping along the street. She had been right, though: the music school only offered classical guitar lessons, nothing in the pop-rock style. The song the teacher played for him—the first one he would learn—sounded nothing like the ones he'd heard at the summer fest, and he noticed he was holding the guitar a little differently, too.
But the moment the teacher handed him a small guitar and gently helped him position his fingers, the same excitement he had felt upon seeing the guitarist play bubbled up inside him. When everything was in place, he finally plucked a string, feeling a soft buzz against his body… and realised he had just made that sound himself. In that moment, he didn't care which songs he would play or how long it would take to master the instrument. If this was the path that would lead him closer to his goal, he wouldn't even think of saying no.
When his mother asked Levi afterwards if he'd liked the lesson, and if he could see himself learning the instrument, he didn't hesitate to say yes. She looked genuinely happy about his response, and promised she'd give the music school another call the next day. He couldn't remember the last time he'd smiled so widely, and feeling a bit shy about how clearly his emotions were showing, he pressed his face against his mother's arm who gently ruffled his hair.
So he really was going to learn the guitar!
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For the next three years, Levi attended guitar lessons every Tuesday after school. He learned quickly and turned out to be very studious, and a little over a year after he started, he had his first recital at the music school. It wasn't a big event, but it was the first time he stepped onto a stage and played for an audience beyond just his teacher and mother.
He'd been incredibly nervous, restlessly counting how many students were left before him each time a new kid stepped onto the stage, and his heartbeat picking up every time someone finished their song. He was terrified of messing up or forgetting the piece he'd been preparing. But the moment he sat down and placed his fingers on the strings, it was as if all his worries disappeared, and only he and his guitar remained. He did very well, only messing up one short passage, which he somehow managed to cover up. His mother hugged him afterwards, and he felt prouder than he had in a long time.
Around the time he turned ten, he started trying to figure out the chords to the songs he knew. He took his mother's CDs and barricaded himself in his room, replaying the songs he wanted to learn while searching for the right harmonies on his guitar. It was slow work—he moved through the music at a snail's pace—carefully noting down each new chord until he had the whole song written out and could play along with it on his little CD player.
The first full song he managed to play was a big milestone for him, and this way of learning songs became his favourite afternoon activity over the next year.
"I've got some… news," his mother said after dinner, on a Friday evening in early June. From the way she folded her hands and the tone of her voice, Levi could tell it was something serious. So he stayed quiet, nodded obediently, and waited for her to begin.
"I was offered a promotion a few days ago," she finally said, a crooked smile on her lips as he congratulated her. "The thing is, though: the job offer is in another town, about six hours south of here. Which means, if I accept, we'd have to move."
Oh. That was unexpected. He blinked a few times, still processing her words. They were moving… to a new town? Such a change was always a bit unsettling. But it wasn't like he had many friends in the city they currently lived in. He'd always been more of a loner, and among all his schoolmates, he hadn't really managed to make a close friend.
"And it's not only temporary—it would be a long-term position," his mother continued. "The advantage is that with the pay rise, we'd probably finally be able to afford our own house, with a garden and all. I've checked, and the prices aren't too high there." She paused for a moment, looking at him curiously. "But nothing is settled yet, which is why I wanted to hear your opinion."
"I… I think I don't mind," Levi replied hesitantly, noticing the hopeful glint in his mother's eyes. "A house sounds nice. And it's not like I'd miss many people here. It's… fine for me, I guess. As long as I can somehow keep playing guitar?"
The smile on his mother's lips widened. "Of course! They do have a music school, and if I'm not mistaken, they have a specific pop-rock division. I still have two weeks to decide. So I'd suggest we take a trip there next weekend and have a look at the town. Maybe we can even visit a few houses that are for sale, depending on what's available. That way, we'll get firsthand experience of the area and can make a proper decision."
Levi nodded, a hesitant excitement spreading in his chest. Who knew—maybe this was the place where he'd make his first true friends? And if he could finally move on from the classical pieces he was still playing in his lessons, he'd be more than thrilled.
The following weekend, they set off right after school. Levi had packed his bag the day before, and by around nine in the evening, they finally arrived. They had dinner at a small diner and soon headed back to their hotel to get some sleep, so they'd be ready to head out early the next day.
After a reasonably restful night, they went downstairs for breakfast and then set off to explore the town. The weather was warmer than what they were used to, so they took several breaks in the shade, spending a good amount of time in the cool grocery store where they stopped to buy some water.
In the afternoon, they went to three house viewings, which luckily were all scheduled for the same weekend they were visiting. The first one was right in the centre, on a street running parallel to the main road. The second and third houses were a little farther out, situated on quieter streets—something they both realised they actually preferred as they arrived at each address.
As Levi walked through the third house, a strange sense of happiness stirred inside him. From the moment he had set foot in the building, he'd felt welcome. Its façade was painted a soft yellow, with a little porch and pretty white-framed windows. Downstairs, there was a spacious, light-flooded living room and a separate kitchen. From the living room, you could step out onto the terrace and into the small garden. A pear tree stood in one corner, offering shade from the bright sun, and along all three sides ran a low, dark brown fence, with loose plants growing around it. The first floor held three bedrooms and a bathroom, and if you pulled down a ladder from the hallway ceiling, it led up to a quaint little attic room.
He felt very at ease in the third house, and as he climbed down the stairs to look for his mother, it almost felt as if he already belonged there. When he finally found her, she was in the middle of a conversation with the broker, which Levi took as a good sign, and he crossed his fingers behind his back, hoping it would bring them luck.
As they strolled around the town centre in the early evening, they talked over the three houses they had viewed. His mother hadn't been too fond of the first one either, and she definitely had a soft spot for the third as well. "We don't have to decide right now, of course," she said as they were waiting for their dinner. "But I think this town doesn't look too bad, does it?"
Levi nodded. He really liked this place, much more than the city they currently lived in. It was quieter, and he felt like he finally had room to breathe. He could see himself moving here, hopeful that the change might bring a lot of good with it.
They spent the entire Sunday scouting all the locations they'd need to know about if they moved there. His mother's new place of work, grocery stores. The middle school Levi would go to, and of course, the music school. The more they viewed, the more the two of them were convinced that this was a place where they could be happy, and by the time they climbed into the car to set off back home, Levi was almost a little sad to leave this place behind.
They talked everything through over the following days, and soon everything was settled. The yellow house with the pretty porch was theirs, and they were going to move in the second week of July, five weeks from now.
When the last school day before summer break arrived and Levi left his old schoolhouse for the last time, he found himself not overly sad. Yes, he'd grown up in this place, yet he hadn't truly build a deep connection to the area or the people, and he was hopeful things were going to chance once they had settled into their new home.
The move went more or less smoothly. They had been able to pack everything they needed and sell whatever furniture or items they didn't need anymore in the weeks before. On their last night, Levi only got a few hours of sleep, nerves finally making themselves known. When he met his mother at breakfast the next morning, she looked just as tired. But she reached out her hand and gave his a comforting squeeze, as if saying, "It will all be alright."
The removal van arrived two hours late, and they passed the time sitting amongst packed boxes and pushed-aside furniture, playing cards and making bets on when the van would finally arrive. They sighed in relief when they finally saw it pull up into their street.
Ten hours later, the furniture had safely arrived at their new house and the boxes were piled up in their respective rooms. Everything looked very empty, and despite the high temperatures they'd had in the afternoon, Levi felt a little cold in the bare rooms. Their new neighbours, an old couple who lived to their right, had just come over to greet them and offer their help with anything they needed. Now, Levi and his mother were sitting on the living room couch, both holding a box of takeout noodles while listening to the faint hum of the radio—very exhausted but also very, very content.
The following weeks of summer break passed very quickly. Soon, they had unpacked and put away all their things and got whatever utensils they were still missing. The weather was very hot, and under the scorching sun, Levi quickly ended up with a bad sunburn. His mother chuckled, gently tapping the peeling skin on his nose, her own skin now much more tanned as well.
They visited the older couple from next door, met their other neighbours, a couple with two little toddlers, and spent a lot of time outside, enjoying ice cream and exploring the area and nearby towns while his mother was still free from work.
And then, just a week after she'd started her new job, she came home holding something big in her hands, hidden inside a case that looked dangerously like a guitar. If Levi hadn't gotten so good at keeping his emotions in check, he might've screamed or rushed over to his mother to fling the case open. But he did none of that. Instead, he just stared at her, then at the case, his eyes sparkling with growing curiosity.
"You can touch it, you know? It's yours," his mother laughed when he still hadn't moved. Only then did he get up from his chair and wrap his arms around her in a tight hug, thanking her in a soft voice—because he knew what was inside. Finally, with shaky fingers, he took the case and opened the lid.
The guitar inside was made of light brown wood, its dark fretboard contrasting beautifully with the body. It was slightly larger than the one he'd rented from the music school before, and already the size just before moving on to a full-sized guitar, he realised with a small swell of pride.
His fingers immediately found the strings, having missed playing during the past few weeks without a guitar at hand. He began to play one of the pieces he'd memorised, the notes coming back easily. His mother slipped out of the room quietly, a content smile on her lips—one he didn't see, as he was already deeply engrossed in his music.
From that day on, Levi practised for hours every morning on his very own guitar, revisiting the old pieces from his lessons and continuing to learn new ones by ear. Whenever his mother came home from work with a new CD in hand, he grew excited—it meant there were new songs for him to learn. And once he was through with them, she would ask him to play them for her out on their little porch, where the late summer sun hung low in the sky.
That was how summer break passed, and in the blink of an eye, the last weekend before school started again had arrived. As he packed his backpack in the evening, a mix of anxiety and anticipation rose up inside him. But he had promised himself he'd face the change with a hopeful heart, and he fell asleep unexpectedly soon after his head hit the pillow.
His mother drove him to his new middle school on his first day, even though it was only a twenty-minute walk, pulling him into an encouraging hug before he could climb out of the car. Levi grimaced; he was eleven years old, and not a little kid anymore. He could definitely handle the nerves. But when he reached the stairs leading up to the main entrance and turned around, catching sight of his mother waving at him, a nervous flutter stirred in his stomach, and for a moment, he wished he didn't have to leave her behind.
A group of laughing students caught his attention, and he let his eyes follow them for a moment. It was clear how at ease they were—chatting excitedly and greeting their arriving friend with a warm hug. Encouraged by the easy friendship between them, Levi squared his shoulders and climbed the stairs with firm, determined steps. He could do this!
After a bit of wandering around the school building, he finally found what would be his classroom for the upcoming school year. Several kids were already standing in little groups in front of the locked door, clearly familiar with each other as they had probably come from the same primary school. So Levi stayed a little further back, leaning against the wall where he wouldn't attract too much attention, and stared at the drawing hung on the wall opposite him until the lines and shapes had burned themselves into his brain.
"Oh, whoops, I'm so sorry!" a girl's voice suddenly echoed from nowhere just as she collided with him. For reasons he couldn't quite fathom, she had been walking backwards around the corner, hadn't seen him standing there, and walked right into him. It happened so quickly he didn't even have time to warn her—his hands on her back were the only chance he had to cushion their bump.
"It's fine," mumbled Levi, barely meeting her eye, somehow feeling embarrassed even though it hadn't been his fault. The girl, who looked about his age, pushed her glasses back into place, relieved by his reaction. She flashed him a wide grin, revealing a mouth full of braces. Then, a neon orange bouncy ball hit her in the back of the head, and she whirled around.
She'd been followed by what he assumed were her two friends: a tall boy and a blonde girl, who had been tossing a small ball between them. That, Levi realised, was why she'd been walking backward. The girl with the glasses grimaced, rubbing her head where she had been hit and tightened her ponytail. "You did that on purpose, didn't you?" she complained, narrowing her eyes at the boy.
"How do you know it wasn't Nanaba?" the boy shot back, a challenging grin playing on his lips.
"Because Nanaba would've respected that I'm talking to—what's your name, by the way?" Levi mumbled his name when she turned around again, and the girl nodded in thanks. His eyes were quietly yet curiously following the scene unfolding in front of him as she continued, "Nanaba would've respected that I'm talking to Levi, which you apparently don't!"
"Nice to meet you, Levi," Nanaba said in a friendly tone, ignoring her two snickering friends. She tossed the little ball at him, which he caught easily. "I'm not sure I've seen you around. Are you new here?"
Levi nodded and gave the kids a very brief recount of his move, all the while they tossed the ball between them. The three introduced themselves as Nanaba, Mike, and Hange, and told him they had become friends in first grade when they formed the bug club, which unfortunately didn't exist anymore.
"You can sit with us, Levi!" Hange said, quickly slipping the ball into her trousers pocket when a bald man—Levi assumed their new teacher—turned the corner. "Because you're our friend now."
That was how, in almost the blink of an eye, he hadn't just made one but three new friends before class had even started. When he sat down next to Hange, with whom he was going to share a table for the next year, he couldn't help but feel hope spread through his entire chest.
Hange seemed to be smitten with Levi almost instantly. She talked to him during breaks, before and after school when they realised they shared half their walk home, and unfortunately, also during class. But for some reason, he didn't mind, finding an odd sense of comfort in her never-ending stories—for she had a lot to tell. His own contributions were rather short, something she didn't care about, and kept talking happily until the teacher gave her a warning and threatened to move her to another seat.
Mike was the calmest of the three and, just like Levi, preferred to let the girls do the talking while quietly planning all kinds of little shenanigans to prank the others. Nanaba was a kind soul—energetic yet very understanding—and she was the one who recommended the kiosks with the best prices for sweets around town to him.
With that, the first week of school was over, and Levi could hardly believe it when on Friday, the bell finally rang and he realised he'd just survived five whole days in a completely new school.
"What're you up to today?" Hange asked him as they trotted home, the sun shining brightly in a cloudless sky and making Levi excited for the upcoming weekend. She had tied her jacket around her waist, the sleeves swinging back and forth with every step she took.
"Nothing," he replied with a shrug. "Homework, and then I'll practice guitar."
"You play the guitar?" She seemed excited whenever he shared something about himself, eager to hear more, and he gave her a small nod in response. "Can I hear?"
"I don't have it with me now," he said, fully aware that it was a stupid answer. But he didn't know exactly how to respond, afraid he might misinterpret her intentions behind the question.
"I know, dummy," Hange laughed, nudging her shoulder against his. "I was trying to get you to invite me to your place," she added, confirming his assumption.
"Oh," Levi said and awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, still unable to say the words out loud.
"Soo?" she pressed, nodding towards the street sign at the corner they'd just turned. "We're almost there anyway, aren't we?"
"Yeah, we are," he replied, realising they'd long since passed the intersection where she usually turned off. He shoved his fidgeting hands into his pockets, trying to think of a natural way to agree. "I… can show you my guitar."
And just like that, Hange had invited herself to his home.
Levi had rarely had friends over before, so he felt a little nervous as he unlocked the front door. His mother wasn't home yet, so there was no one to help him feel at ease. But to his relief, Hange seemed genuinely excited to be there. Soon, they were sitting in his room, a box of cookies and bottles of juice and water resting on his green desk pad. She had taken his black desk chair and was happily swinging her legs as she chatted on, while he sat on the chair he'd fetched from the office.
Once they had finished, she immediately asked if he could play something for her. Levi nodded and darted off to the bathroom to wash his hands. When he returned, she gave him a funny look but said nothing, patiently waiting while he picked up his guitar from its stand next to the desk, and gave it a quick tune.
He had already played in front of parents and teachers at his class recitals in his old music school, yet he somehow felt just as nervous with only Hange present, or maybe even a little more, cursing his shaky fingers as his heartbeat quickened.
Of course, he messed up several notes, and his playing wasn't as clean as usual. The buzzing of the strings rang loudly in his ears from every misplaced finger, unsettling his concentration. He sped up toward the ending, his face growing hotter with every second, and the moment the last note rang out, he was deeply unhappy with his performance.
Hange, however, immediately started clapping her hands, completely unaware of his distress. "That was so cool!" she exclaimed with a wide smile. "You play really well!"
"It was awful," Levi mumbled, setting his guitar against the desk. "I messed up, this was really crappy."
"It wasn't crappy, I really liked it!" Hange said firmly, nudging his elbow. The blush on Levi's cheeks deepened, and he quietly mumbled his thanks. "There's a song I really like," she added, cocking her head. "Do you think you could play it?"
"Um… I can try. I think I can figure out the chords," he replied, surprised she still wanted to hear more. "Which song is it?"
"I'm not sure what it's called, but I can try to sing it," she said, pausing to think for a moment. Then she began humming the melody, which he thankfully recognised right away. Her voice was warm and mellow, despite a few shaky notes and the uncertainty behind them, and when she moved on to the chorus and began singing the words with a little more confidence, he found himself secretly liking the way she sounded.
"Do you know it?" Hange asked after breaking off at the end of the chorus. When Levi nodded, her eyes lit up, and she leaned back expectantly as he picked up his guitar again.
With every chord he played, her smile grew a little wider, and she started tapping her foot along to the beat. When he reached the chorus, she was humming along, and by the end, she was singing, albeit a little hesitantly.
Once he had finished, Hange asked him to play yet another song for her, and she sang along from the beginning, nudging his shin with her foot to make him join in, too. It took her two full songs of prodding until he finally gave in and started humming along very, very softly, feeling the heat rush to his face at the unfamiliar action. As soon as she heard his voice, her smile grew wider, and her own singing grew a little bolder when he finally opened his mouth to join in with the lyrics.
That's how they spent the next hour, and with every song, Levi grew a little more confident. He'd never really sung before and knew he wasn't good at it, but Hange seemed to enjoy it nonetheless, which made him feel better about his own terrible voice.
They were so engrossed in their little activity that they didn't hear either the clicking of the front door or the sound of soft footsteps on the stairs. It was only when Kuchel curiously peeked through the open door that the two kids broke off mid-song, startled by the new presence in the room.
"What a lovely surprise to come home to!" Levi's mother said with a smile, leaning against the doorframe. "That sounded beautiful. How did you get him to sing? I've only ever gotten a few hums from him—nothing more."
"I guess I just bugged him until he gave in," Hange joked, her initial shyness gone after hearing his mother's kind voice. "I'm Hange, Levi's friend. Nice to meet you, ma'am." She sprang to her feet and shook Kuchel's hand, who returned the handshake just as warmly.
"She's one of the three kids I met at school on my first day," Levi added, shuffling his feet, slightly embarrassed by the way his mother was looking at him.
Hange took this as her cue to tell his mother all about how she'd bumped into him, how their first week had gone, and how much she'd liked his guitar playing. Kuchel listened attentively, nodding and asking questions several times, clearly finding his new friend very likable.
"I didn't mean to interrupt you, by the way," Kuchel apologised after they had chatted on for a long while. "I'll let you get back to your music now. Oh, and Hange, why don't you stay for dinner? I'll drive you home after."
Hange glanced over at Levi, who gave her an approving shrug. Her eyes lit up, and she nodded enthusiastically as she agreed, her ponytail bobbing up and down. "I'd love to! I just have to call my parents and let them know." A phone call later, everything was settled, and the two kids returned to their music, lost in their little world until it was time to eat.
"I really like your new girlfriend," Kuchel said with a teasing grin after they had dropped off Hange at her home and were now on their way back. "She's very kind, and full of energy."
"She's just a friend, Mum," Levi mumbled, deliberately staring out the window as houses and parked cars passed by. "She… she's nice."
"You can bring your other friends over anytime you want. I'm really happy you've already met some kind people, Levi."
He glanced over at his mum who, upon noticing his gaze, reached out and gave his cheek a light brush. Of course, he couldn't tell if the friends he'd made in barely five days would still be around by the end of the school year. Maybe they'd just been kind because he was alone, and once he'd settled in, things would return to how they'd been before he'd moved here. He knew how difficult it could be to join an already existing friend group.
But he truly hoped that they'd continue to be his friends. He felt happy around them, and Mike, Nanaba, and especially Hange had already grown on him.