Tebanasu

Ch 16

"So people basically use the scary situation to their advantage by trying to play a 'knight in shining armor' with their crush." Armin remarked after hearing the story from Eren.

"Sort of I guess. But why were they laughing at me? Were they implying that I get scared easily? Are they trying to pick a flight with me?" Eren said, as he started to get stirred up.

"Sometimes I really wonder how you can be this dense. Even I got the reason and I didn't even have to see it myself. One of them obviously likes you, or maybe both, who knows?" Armin stated outright.

"What...!" Eren dragged his what, making a disgusted facial expression clearly implying that he wasn't delighted to hear that. After all, the only person he was romantically interested in was Levi. So the fact that other girls liked him was just a bother to him as it was troublesome to reject them if they confessed. Of course he would still do it in the nicest possible way, as he was aware of his own chances of being rejected and knew how painful it could be for the one on the receiving end.

"If only they knew of your huge obsession with Levi, how heartbroken would they be right?" Armin teased Eren as he chuckled to himself.

"Yeah yeah, whatever I just hope they don't do anything on the last day." Eren sighed as they started to walk to their group who were getting ready for their hike.

Everyone followed the instructor as she explained the different variety of plants and trees surrounding them. They all walked in a line in pairs with Levi in the front on whom the instructor was fawning over, making several girls and our very own Eren, quite jealous.

Hanji was walking behind everyone to make sure no one was getting left behind or getting separated from the group. Since Hanji was well liked by the students, people in the back were chatting with Hanji in delight.

Levi on the other hand was starting to get annoyed with the instructor who kept asking him a few personal questions every five minutes.

They came to a stop halfway through their destination for a break. Everyone started playing around on giant tree roots growing out of the soil. Levi sent Hanji to ask them to come back to the rest, but Hanji too started to play around with the students, while still making sure that they didn't do anything dangerous.

Meanwhile the instructor was still stuck beside Levi like glue and tried to engage in conversation with him, despite him showing absolutely no interest; until she got a call on her walkie-talkie, which compelled her to go away.

As soon as she did, Eren swiftly went and sat beside Levi.

"Having fun?" Eren chaffed

"...never have i ever had to talk to someone for this long against my will" Levi replied giving off a big sigh, he had a scary expression on his face which showed how his patience with her was running out.

"That seems like you," Eren said as he laughed a bit. "You can switch places with Hanji sensei though, sensei is pretty good at handling people," he added.

"Either that, or Hanji will turn the tables around. In any case, I'll be doing that. "Somehow my patience with you brats lasts way longer- ...How is the experience going for you and your friends?" Levi asked, looking at Eren.

Eren looked back at Armin and Mikasa who were staring at them but looked away as soon as they looked in their direction.

"Um...good I guess." Eren said, turning his head forward again and answered awkwardly.

"Wouldn't you rather be sitting with them? It's your school trip with your friends after all" Levi said as he stood up to stretch a bit.

"Well yeah, but I'm going to be with them most of the time anyway; besides, even Hanji sensei is having fun with the students." Eren told Levi with a smile.

Levi looked at Hanji, who was indeed having a lot of fun with the students. Though he had his neutral expression like always, Eren got a feeling that maybe Levi felt a little left out. 'If only he knew about the amount of girls crazy over him', is what Eren thought to himself.

"...it seems that a few girls want to talk to you." Eren said looking in the direction where a few girls were standing in a group staring at them, whispering. "Maybe I should let them talk to you," he gave Levi an awkward smile and was about to leave.

"If they want to talk to me then wouldn't they just approach me normally?" Levi remarked after seeing them.

"Of course not, they're reluctant to do that, not everyone is brave enough to approach you like me" Eren laughed as he casually said this, without having any intentions behind it, and then walked away.