𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐓𝐨 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭 || 𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐢 𝐀

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝟑𝟓 : 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐖𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠?

The warm sunlight streaming through the kitchen window cast a cozy glow over the room, illuminating the quiet afternoon atmosphere. The soft rays danced across the countertops, highlighting the gentle sheen on the polished surfaces. With Levi absent, attending to some pressing matter, and Hange and the others out on their various pursuits, the house was bathed in an unusual stillness. The silence was almost noticeable, a physical presence that wrapped itself around me like a soothing blanket.

I stood at the kitchen window, gazing out at the serene landscape, feeling the gentle breeze rustle my hair. The trees swayed gently in the wind, their leaves whispering secrets to one another. A bird perched on a nearby branch, its melodious song filling the air. The scene was peaceful, a world away from the chaos and madness that often seemed to follow us.

As I lost myself in the idyllic scene, my mind began to wander. Thoughts drifted lazily through my head, like clouds drifting across a summer sky. I felt my worries and cares slowly unraveling, like the gentle unwinding of a spool of thread.

Just as I was becoming completely absorbed in the serenity of the moment, Blake's voice called out from the living room, breaking the silence. "Hey, where are you?" he asked, his tone gentle and inquiring. The sound of his voice was like a stone dropped into a still pond, sending ripples through the calm atmosphere.

I turned away from the window, my footsteps quiet on the floor as I made my way to the living room. Curiosity sparked within me, wondering what Blake wanted. As I walked, the floorboards creaked softly beneath my feet, the only sound in the stillness.

Blake's expression was etched with concern, his brow furrowed and his eyes clouded with worry. I could sense a subtle tension in his posture, a quiet unease that seemed to radiate from him like a palpable aura. His gaze met mine, and I could see the faintest glimmer of tension lurking in their depths.

"What's wrong?" I asked, my voice soft and inquiring, as I tried to coax the source of his concern out of him.

Blake's eyes narrowed slightly, his mind focused on the issue at hand. "Do you remember that device Toji made for our houses?" he asked, his tone measured and deliberate.

I nodded, my memory stirring as I recalled the occasion. Toji, with his creative mind and quick thinking, had designed a clever device that would alert us in the event of a fire breaking out in any of our three houses. It was a precautionary measure, one that we hoped would never be needed, but was reassuring nonetheless.

"What about it?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.

"I just received a notification from the device," Blake said, his voice low and serious. "There was a fire at Toji's house."

My heart skipped a beat as I processed the information. "What? That's impossible."

Blake's eyes locked onto mine, his expression somber, as he held out his mobile. On the screen, a photo displayed a scene of eerie destruction. The image showed Toji's living room, but it was unlike any ordinary fire scene. The flames seemed to emanate from within the walls themselves, as if the very structure of the house was burning from the inside out.

"The fire was contained to this one area," Blake said, his voice low and measured, as he pointed to the photo. "Just the living room, and only the photo frame wall was on fire."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I gazed at the image. Something was unsettling, almost deliberate, about the way the fire seemed to have targeted that specific area.

"It's as if the fire was lit internally," Blake continued, his eyes narrowing. "I've never seen anything like it."

The implications were ominous, and I could sense Blake's unease. This was no ordinary fire, and we both knew it.

I gazed at the photo on Blake's mobile, a sudden realization dawned on me. The pieces of the puzzle fell into place, and I felt a shiver run down my spine. It was all too clear now - Toji's anger, his hurt, and the deliberate targeting of the photograph wall.

I took a deep breath and turned to Blake, my voice barely above a whisper. "I think I know why Toji set fire to his own house," I said, the words tumbling out of my mouth in a rush.

Blake's eyes narrowed, his expression intent. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

I hesitated, unsure of how to reveal the painful truth. "It's because of me," I began, my voice cracking. "Toji confessed his feelings to me, but I rejected him. I didn't mean to hurt him, but I think he took it really hard."

Blake's expression softened, his eyes filled with compassion.

But there was more, and I knew I had to reveal the rest. "And then, to make things worse, Levi blurted out in front of Toji that I'm pregnant," I continued, my voice barely above a whisper.

The room fell silent, the only sound the heavy weight of my words. Blake's eyes widened, his expression a mix of shock and understanding.

"No wonder Toji was devastated," Blake said finally, his voice low and somber. "He must have felt like he'd lost everything."

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt and regret. I had never meant to hurt Toji, but it seemed that my rejection had unleashed a chain of events that had led to this moment.

As the weight of my words hung in the air, Blake's expression slowly transformed from shock to contemplation. He let out a deep sigh, his shoulders sagging slightly as he released the breath. His eyes, filled with a deep understanding, locked onto mine, and I could sense the wheels turning in his mind.

"Toji will calm down soon," Blake said finally, his voice low and soothing. "He's not the type to hold grudges forever. And it's not like he could ever think of hurting you," he added, a hint of reassurance creeping into his tone.

"I hope so," I replied, my voice barely above a whisper. "I feel terrible about what happened. I had no idea he felt that way."

Blake's gaze drifted off, his eyes clouding over with thought. "We should have seen it coming," he said, his voice tinged with regret. "Toji's always been a bit of a loner, but we knew he cared about you deeply."

"I had no idea it was that deep," I said, shaking my head. "I feel like I've been blind to his feelings all along."

Blake's eyes refocused on mine, his gaze snapping back into sharp clarity. "You can't blame yourself for that," he said firmly. "Toji's a grown man, and he should have been honest with you about his feelings instead of bottling them up."

"I guess you're right," I said, feeling a small sense of relief wash over me.

"We'll talk to Toji, okay?" Blake said, his voice firm and resolute. "We'll get to the bottom of this, and we'll make sure he's okay."

I nodded, feeling a sense of gratitude towards Blake. "Thanks, Blake. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Blake smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "You'll never have to find out," he said, his voice filled with warmth.