𝕠𝕣𝕡𝕙𝕒𝕟𝕤 ➸ 𝐥𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐡𝐚𝐧

10 - The Dumb Group Project

Another day of school came, bringing with it the same stresses of most days.
"Alright class! I've organised everyone into groups - when you hear your name you need to get into them and then I'll explain your task."
She read out a list of names, until Hange's was called out.
"Hange, Rico, Kyo, Erwin and Jimin."

Levi and Hange made eye contact, the two of them raising their hands.
"Questions will be taken after, please wait for all names to be called out."

Levi scowled, and Hange buried her head in her hands - for once, they weren't working together. She only knew Erwin out of everyone in her group and she'd heard that Kyo and Rico were people to stay away from. Jimin looked like a shy kid - he wore rounded glasses, and his hair was a silvery colour, but he didn't look like he'd cause any trouble.
Hange felt a hand brush against her fingertips - thankfully it was only Levi's, with a folded paper note between his fingers. He slid it between her thumb and index finger, and as she opened the crumpled note in her hands, it said:
'This is bullsh*t, I don't know anyone in my group apart from Nanaba and she talks too much.'

Hange chuckled lightly, before writing her response.
'Then how do you put up with me? I do a hell of a lot of talking :P I don't know anyone in my group either - and Erwin looks like he's gonna be caught up for the whole task,'
she jotted down, as she watched how Rico was now invading Erwin's personal bubble.
She handed the note to Levi. He groaned a little when he read over it, then hid it in the pocket of his jacket as he looked forward.

"The reason you have been put into these groups is to complete a project on cells. It can be in the form of a poster or a model, brochures etcetera, but it needs to comply with this brief," their science teacher explained, handing them a worksheet with their criteria. "This needs to be worked on during and after school, because the best ones will be showcased at the science fair later on in the year. It's a group effort and anyone who decides to slack off will get a detention. Any questions?"

Hange raised her hand.
"Are these groups permanent?"
"Yes, why?"
"Uh..." she looked at Levi for a second, who seemed to be uninterested.
"I was... just asking."
"Okay, you can start planning with your group for the last ten minutes then I will dismiss you."

Hange turned to her group - Jimin was already mapping out ideas in his exercise book, Rico and Erwin were...well...occupied. And Kyo was the only one looking directly back at Hange.
"Hey, Hange-san," he chimed.
"Hi, Kyo-kun..."
"So, do you have any ideas?"
"Um...sure. Let's ask Jimin."Jimin raised his head, and nervously looked back down at his page.

"This freak's a mute. Hasn't talked since his parents divorced," Kyo said, pulling on the silvery strands of Jimin's hair. Jimin shot a somber look at Kyo, then looked back down at what he was writing, clearly wanting class to be over as soon as possible.
"I'm...I'm sorry to hear that, Jimin," Hange said, flickering a tender smile in his direction. Jimin shook his head, and formed a broken smile - more a smile out of politeness than kindness.

Kyo leaned back in his chair, balancing on two legs of the chair, then came forward. "I'm bored. How about we just do the work after school at my house, even this freak can come," he said, ruffling Jimin's hair. Jimin flinched.
"He's not a freak, he's just quiet. There's nothin' wrong with being an introvert."
"Hah, you dropped your honorifics with me..." he mumbled, before speaking up again. 

"Why're you defending him anyway? Do you like him or something?" 

"No, you don't have to like someone to stand up for them. And honorifics are used to show respect - the general respect that you don't deserve so far," she snapped.
"...Damn, Hange-san, you're pretty feisty. I like that about you," he said, stroking her fingers, which were rested against the desk.
"Don't touch me," she said, jerking her hand away from his and turning to politely converse with the silver-haired boy about their project.

Fortunately, the bell rang before things between them got too intense. As soon as Levi and Hange got inside, she changed out of her uniform into something more comfortable to wear for work.
"Where're you going?" Levi asked, with Nike in his arms and leaning against the doorframe of her bedroom.
"To work."
"Oh right...get home safe."
"Thanks, I'll come straight back when my shift ends. Bye-bye fuzzy one," she said, kissing the kittens head and giving it a stroke.

When she slammed the door shut, Levi and Nike were left to their own resources.
"Guess it's just me and you, Nike. So...what do you wanna do?"
Nike simply tilted its head.
"Shall we cook a feast...so when Hange comes back she's not hungry?"
"Meow?"
"Well...come on I'll show you."
He guided the kitten who followed, tottering slightly. He picked up Nike, then put him in the pocket of his apron. Nike "meowed" and stuck his head out of the fold, while Levi proceeded to cook whatever he could use. The aroma of spices filled the air and circled the apartment complex, probably making everyone's mouths water at the scent. When he was done, he took his apron off and carried Nike to Hange's bedroom. They sat on her bed and switched on the TV.

Nike, however, toppled off the bed and speedily scooted out of the room, Levi getting up from his position and following him.
"Where're you going, little man?" he mumbled softly. The kitten sat directly in front of the door and didn't move.
He tilted his head and stared at the door.
"What are you doing, Nike?" He copied the kitten's actions, folding his legs and sitting in front of the door.
"There're better things to watch on TV, little guy."
 After a little while of sitting, it clicked in his mind.
"You...wanna chill with Hange?" The kitten continued looking at the door. He sighed. 
"I miss her, too. Gets quiet when she's not around, huh?" he said, picking up the kitten in his arms and placing it in his lap.
-----
Meanwhile:

Hange had nearly finished her shift, and was wrapping up for the day. She put her apron and hairnet in her respective locker. Sasha tugged on her jeans, chewing one of the pastries.
"You're always eating aren't you, little one?" she said, lifting the toddler and brushing her nose against Sasha's. Sasha giggled, then halved the custard pastry and stuffed it in Hange's mouth. "T-thanks," she said, her words muffled by her chewing the pastry.

She was about to leave, when she overheard Lucy having an argument in her office - she would've left, if she wasn't so curious about it, but she decided to stand outside the door of her office a while longer. 
"Eric, don't ask me how, I just know. I know it's her. What do you mean, 'I never cared before'? There isn't a day that passed where I didn't think of her. You know what, you're really no help. I'm gonna hang up now and I'll be home with Sasha in a bit. Bye. Yeah, I love you too," she huffed stressfully, as she slammed the phone down and beat her fist against her desk in anguish.

Hange took a deep breath in, then knocked on the door.
"Lucy, I'm going to leave now, here's Sasha," she said, transferring the toddler into her arms. 
"Yeah, that's great. You did a good job today."
"Lucy...is everything okay?"
"Everything's fine, Ms Zoe. I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"
"Okay..."

'If only she knew,' Lucille thought inwardly, as she watched Hange leave and close the door softly behind her.

*****
A/N: And I -oop... ( ͡❛ ‿‿ ͡❛) Don't forget to vote and comment! :) 
This chapter is dedicated to MalaikaM18, whose bias is Jimin.