Young Adults

CHAPTER 13

The girls sat around the dining table, their plates of food half-empty as they chatted animatedly. By now, Caidence had fully warmed up to the two new faces, giggling at Ymir's witty remarks and sneaking shy glances at Mikasa, who, despite her often serious demeanor, had a knack for making Caidence laugh with her dry humor.

(Y/n)'s mother, too, seemed to be enjoying herself, smiling warmly as she observed the lively exchange. Ymir's tomboyish charm reminded her of her own younger self-rough around the edges but endlessly fun. Mikasa, on the other hand, intrigued her with her stoic yet open personality. Beneath the composed exterior, it was clear Mikasa enjoyed trying new things, a fact she'd shared over dinner when she mentioned experimenting with makeup and different styles recently.

The atmosphere was warm, filled with the sound of laughter and the occasional clatter of silverware. It was Mikasa who broke the rhythm, her brows knitting together thoughtfully as she leaned slightly forward.

"You know... I just realized something," Mikasa began, her voice curious yet hesitant.

(Y/n) glanced at her, tilting her head. "What's up?"

Mikasa paused, biting her lip as if weighing her words. Finally, she asked, "Where's your dad...?" She hesitated, clearly unsure whether the question might be too personal.

"Hm? Oh, right," (Y/n) said, catching onto Mikasa's train of thought. "Yeah, my dad's in the picture. He actually just went out of town. He's taking a flight to Arizona to check on his sister. Bike accident."

Ymir and Mikasa's faces instantly shifted to concern.

"Is she okay?" Ymir asked, her tone uncharacteristically serious.

"Ah, but she's alright, mind you," (Y/n)'s mother interjected quickly, her voice calm and reassuring. "Just banged up. Nothing too serious," she added, shooting a subtle, implicit glance at (Y/n), a silent reminder not to worry her friends too much.

(Y/n) nodded, her mother's steady presence easing the moment. "Yeah, she's fine. My dad just wanted to make sure she was okay in person."

Ymir and Mikasa nodded, relief washing over their expressions. "Good. Bike accidents are no laughing matter," Ymir said, her tone briefly serious.

The comment instantly made (Y/n) think about Levi, the way he had zipped through the streets during the race that night. Her mind wandered to the sound of the roaring engines, the sharp turns, and how effortlessly he had maneuvered his bike. What if something happened to him out there?

"Earth to (Y/n)?" Ymir's voice snapped her out of her thoughts, accompanied by a hand waving inches from her face.

"Huh? Oh, yes?" (Y/n) said, blinking rapidly as she refocused on the table.

Ymir raised an eyebrow, her lips twitching into a smirk. "Want the rest of your 'pigs in a blanket'?" she asked, gesturing to the plate in front of (Y/n).

(Y/n) glanced down at the last two morsels on her plate, then back up at Ymir. Without a word, she picked them up and popped them both into her mouth in one swift motion, her cheeks puffing out like a chipmunk.

The table fell silent for a moment, everyone staring at her in mild shock before laughter erupted.

"You brat!" Ymir cackled, leaning back in her chair. "I was being polite, and you just-wow, okay."

Mikasa shook her head, a rare grin spreading across her face. "I didn't know you could do that, (Y/n)."

Caidence giggled, covering her mouth with her hands. "(Y/n)'s secretly a food thief!"

(Y/n) laughed along, her face flushing slightly as she swallowed. "I didn't want them to go to waste," she said innocently, her tone betraying her mischievous intent.