The Ereri Project!

1,000

Did you know if you fold a thousand paper cranes, you can have a wish granted

1

Fourteen year old Eren had never really thought himself the superstitious type, but somehow when he went home that night, he found himself looking up how to fold paper cranes.

The first one didn't come out quite right, one wing was bigger than the other and the head was a little crooked, but he marked the larger wing with a "1" anyway and left it on his desk to decide if he actually wanted to fold that many cranes later.

17

Eren stared at his first crane for three weeks before deciding he wanted to fold more. He folded quietly and calmly in a corner of his bedroom with his parents voices as his background music.

"If you didn't plan on giving a shit about me, why did you even bother asking me to marry you?"

"Maybe because I didn't expect you to turn into such a high maintenance whore!"

"I'm high maintenance?! You're the one wastes half our money on useless old records you never listen to!"

"At least I'm not wasting in on frivolous bullshit!"

Eren knows his folds aren't exactly right, he's crying too much to see very well, but somehow it makes him feel better. He numbers the last one with a "17" before tucking himself into bed.

29

When Eren and his mom leave Shiganshina a month later, Eren can tell she's barely holding it together but he doesn't really know what to do other than offer her a shoulder to lean on.

It was his decision to leave with her (more fueled by his need to keep her safe than any true bias because, to be honest, he hasn't and doesn't want to pick a side in their war) instead of staying with his dad so he's more pensive and melancholic than angry at anything that's happening around him.

He's mostly just lonely, but he thinks that'll go away when his mom starts acting like herself again.

He runs out of paper forty-five minutes into the ride so he marks the last crane with a "29" before turning on the radio.

He's singing along to a Nikki Minaj song when he notices his mom smiling for the first time in a long time.

35

Their new house is a decent size, but it's almost more work than it's worth. Eren's glad it's still summer so he can be home to help his mom clean it up.

Nearly the whole place is wood which gives Eren the sneaking suspicion it's not insulated enough to keep them warm in the winter but they might be far enough south that won't matter much.

And even if it is cold, this is a new adventure for him and his mom so it'll be a fun story someday (maybe not while they're actively freezing, but someday).

When they're done cleaning on the first day, Eren and his mom get comfortable on their new couches since their beds aren't there yet.

"Thanks for coming with me sweetie," she says.

"No problem, mom," he replies.

He's only just finished folding a sixth new one when he falls asleep from exhaustion.

51

Eren doesn't tell his mom how much he doesn't want to be left alone on her first day at her new job. The most he's seen of Trost so far is the convenience store up the street, they haven't even been greeted by any of their neighbors yet.

It's too hot in the house so he goes to sit on their front porch to fold cranes.

He's just glad there's a big tree in front of their house to he's in a little bit of shade. He's not used to summers being this hot yet.