Young Adults

CHAPTER 6

[Author's Note: I want to clarify that my portrayal of Petra is not meant to villainize her. I actually have a lot of respect for her character and believe Hajime Isayama wrote her well. However, for the purposes of this story, she serves as a strong rival. Please keep this in mind as you read the plot. Thank you for your understanding!]

After (Y/n)'s mother had gushed over her daughter's appearance and her father had handed her the pepper spray as promised, (Y/n) left the house and climbed into Eren's black Honda Civic parked at the curb.

"Well, well, well~ Look who's here," Mikasa teased as (Y/n) fumbled with her seatbelt.

"You look so cute! Why don't you wear your hair up more often?" Armin asked, seated next to her.

"It's funny you ask that... I actually wondered the same thing," (Y/n) replied with a shy smile.

"Alright, let's get this show on the road," Eren announced, shifting the car into drive as they set off for their destination.

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Historia's House

After a ten-minute drive, they arrived at a grand two-story house. The driveway was considerably larger than (Y/n)'s, and the front yard was beautifully landscaped. A large accent rock sat in the left corner of the yard, with delphiniums blooming in vibrant shades of blue, lavender, and white nearby. People were already gathered outside, either arriving or enjoying the evening.

"This is going to be great," Eren said, rubbing his hands together with a mischievous grin.

Mikasa nudged his shoulder. "Seriously, Eren, you need to behave. You were a total idiot at the last party."

"What? It was a party! I acted like anyone else would," Eren retorted.

Mikasa rolled her eyes. "Fine, but if you do anything that makes us leave in a hurry, I'll make sure it gets noted on your tombstone," she warned.

Turning to (Y/n), she added, "Sorry about that. Don't be shy—let's go."

"R-Right," (Y/n) responded, following the group.

As they approached the entrance, Historia jumped up from her lawn chair in surprise upon seeing (Y/n) with Mikasa, Armin, and Eren. "Hey, guys! Welcome! It's been a while!" she greeted enthusiastically.

Mikasa teased, "We go to the same high school, you know. There's nothing stopping you from saying 'hi.'"

Historia gave a sheepish chuckle. "I-I know! It looks like you all have been getting along with the new girl."

(Y/n)'s ears perked up at the mention of her nickname, and she glanced at the short blonde girl. Historia had striking blue eyes, similar to Armin's, and long, blonde hair that fell gracefully over her shoulders. Her skin was pale and flawless. She wore a blue halter top with a 70s flower print and navy blue high-waisted shorts. "Hi, I'm Historia Reiss. I'm on the cheer team at our school," she introduced herself.

"O-Oh, hello. Yes... I'm, um, (Y/n). (L/n). Thank you for having me over," (Y/n) replied, her voice tinged with shyness.

Historia smiled warmly. "Not a problem. Um, Mikasa, could I speak with you for a moment?"

Mikasa leaned in to hear what Historia had to say. After a brief exchange, Mikasa nodded and gently took (Y/n)'s hand. "Let's head to the backyard," she said, leading (Y/n) away from the front entrance.

"Why aren't we going in through the front?" (Y/n) asked, puzzled.

Mikasa replied quietly, "Historia whispered it to me to be polite, but I don't see any reason to keep it from you. Their cheer captain, Petra, isn't too fond of you for some reason. Historia suggested we use the back entrance to avoid any awkward encounters. She'll keep Petra busy upstairs to give us some space."