For the One I Love || Hanji x Female Reader

Chapter Thirty: Drunk

[Author's Note]

Hi guys! I'm really glad that I finished this just in time since I didn't want to keep you waiting for long <3 Originally this was going to be the angst-y chapter, but I decided to give a little 'intro' to it, so the angst portion will be included in next week's update (and I hope I give justice to it lol). Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and always stay safe!

_

Two months after Historia was crowned queen, it felt like everything was almost back to normal - back to the way it was before Wall Maria was breached. Most of the cadets still chose to stay in the headquarters, though the others visited their families more frequently now since our days mostly consisted of training and rare expeditions.

Mikasa, Armin, and Eren trained together in their free time, which wasn't that often since the latter was the 'favorite' subject experiment of Hanji, due to the fact they were still trying to figure out the range and extent of Eren's titan's abilities. Meanwhile, Sasha, Jean, and Connie usually goofed around whenever they weren't busy, though they still actively join training with Captain Levi to hone their skills.

Ymir had followed Historia to the Capital, Mitras, saying that all she wanted to do for the rest of her life was to be with the shorter girl, to be beside her always, to protect her from everything and everyone that was a danger to her.

I, on the other hand, was currently in low spirits.

It all started three weeks ago, when I had attempted to ask Hanji to go on a date with me to town - they hesitantly declined, saying that they were busy analyzing the results they got from a recent experiment.

Of course, I understood - research and experiments were everything to Hanji - after all, their intelligence was one of the things I loved about them, as well as their perseverance to learn more about the way of the titans despite all odds.

However, being declined three more times in the span of twenty-one days wasn't exactly helping lift my mood. We barely saw each other, and we don't even bump into each other in the hallways - Hanji was always cooped up in their room doing research, most of the time with Moblit.

Whenever I'd drop by their room, they'd always be buried in books and sheets of paper, and it was obvious that they didn't want to be disturbed or be distracted in any way. During those times, I had no choice but to leave after exchanging a few words, and I'd always return to my room with a heavy feeling in my chest.

On top of that, I did my best not to feel jealous of Moblit, to understand that what they had was a strictly professional relationship, but it was hard to do so when we barely had time to see and talk with each other while the two of them were always together.

The nights were the hardest as sleep remained elusive since then, with unbidden thoughts entering my mind one after another, and I'd end up questioning my worth and Hanji's feelings for me, among others.

'What do I do with all these emotions?' I thought to myself as I sank into one of the chairs in the common room, somehow thankful that I was alone so I'd be able to think and sort out my feelings.

It was short-lived, however, when Jean, Sasha, and Connie entered the area, opting to sit down on either side of me, already knowing that something was wrong.

Not that I was a good liar - Captain Levi did tell me before that I wore my heart on my sleeve.

"You've been looking down the past few days, [Y/N], whatever it is, we're here to listen if you're willing to share it with us," Sasha asked me with a worried expression on her face, and for some reason, I felt as though I was going to cry any second.