Levi's POV

"You're going home now?" Hanji asks as I was packing my things. "Summer flew quickly, huh? College a week after you get home, right?"

"Don't bring that up again," I muttered as I zipped up my suitcase. "Besides, don't you have school?"

"I do. Do you have any advice for surviving the senior year? Or am I just wonderful?"

"Do your work. No parties. No friends. That's how you survive."

"Huh?!" I winced from her cries so much that I wanted to cover the phone with a pillow. "Is that how you lived?  That sounds depressing, Levi."

I sigh, pulling the sheets off my bed so it could be cleaned later. "When you lived through the things I went through, you would isolate yourself too. Even if it means to survive... little by little."

Hanji remained silent for a bit before replying with something witty. I can't believe her... "Why did you make it seem like some sort of antagonist's backstory? Unless... you are the antagonist in my hero story..."

"What?"

She continues to laugh cutely. Even I felt ashamed to hear such a laugh. I felt like I didn't deserve it. That or I'm not the right person to hear such a wonderful laugh as hers. But there was something about her laughter that I loved... something that I couldn't explain.

"Hanji, what's going on?" From the corner of my eye, I saw Erwin walking towards my cabin. "I have to go. I'll call you when I get home."

"Eh? So soon?"

"I'll talk to you later. Bye, Hanji."

"Hey! Wait-."

I hung up on her as Erwin walked into my room with a grin. "So, returning home. How do you feel?"

"Better than ever," I say, folding the sheets. "When's the bus?"

"In an hour. Forget anything?"

"My pride," I say, tossing the folded sheets onto the naked mattress. 

I put my backpack on and grabbed my suitcase before leaving my cabin. A few steps out a, Iurned back around, stunned and reluctant to leave. Yes, I've been here for 3 months, and it became my second home. Now, I have to go back to a small apartment. Erwin has been proposing a plan for us to live together in a bigger apartment. I wouldn't mind it, but I'm too afraid to move forward. 

Once I take that bus back to the city, I'll be back in real life. Sure, I disliked being tricked into staying at this camp and not caring too much. I admit I was pouty and always had a bad vibe just because I didn't want to be there. I think I clammed myself too much. I should've had some fun instead of sulking. Oh well... I can't change that now.

"Levi, you coming?"

"I am, I am. Just making sure I didn't forget anything."

"You did say you forgot your pride."

"Shut up, Erwin."

*   *   *

It was nearly midnight when I got to my apartment, yet I mustered the strength to drag myself to the bathroom for one last bath. Leaving Hanji's messages on reading, I nearly fell asleep in the tub. I'm happy to be home... and tomorrow, I'll talk to her and apologize. She deserves some sort of answer. At least I won't leave her without an explanation.

*   *   *

I woke up to Hanji's ringtone, and I see that it was 9 am. I sigh, picking up the phone. "Morning. What do you want?"

"You didn't call me back last night. Is everything okay?"

"Fell asleep. Don't worry about me. What are you planning to do today? Something fun or what?"

Hanji laughs a bit, "Well, some back-to-school shopping. What about you?"

"Find another job while I get things ready for college." I sigh heavily when I said those last words. "What could go wrong?"

"For one, your attitude."

"Shut up, Hanji." 

We continued to talk for a bit until I had to eat something. Even I had to convince her to eat something small in the morning. I'm not her babysitter anymore. But it was nice to hear her voice again. I'm worried that when school starts, we will fall apart. Just like every summer fling.