Complexity- Armin x Reader

Chapter 23: Competitive

"It could have been worse, to be honest."

"What are you talking about, that was our worst game!" Eren shouted and then promptly downed his whole thermos of water before he kept yelling at friends.

"It may have been our worst," said Bertholdt reflectively. "But it's not our last. We'll play against Marley again. And we'll be ready."

Eren sighed and frowned. He looked down to the ground and kicked a pebble.

"I guess you're right." He nodded at Bertholdt and, though still reeling from the loss, found solace in the fact that there was a second chance.

"Thanks, Bertholdt."

From out of the school sprang Connie and Sasha, with the red head holding onto her saxophone case tightly and looking at the football players sympathetically.

"Sorry you guys got your asses kicked," said Sasha, garnering annoyed glances from Jean and Eren. "But, who cares! Let's go eat!"

Eren slumped. "Sasha, I can barely stomach the fact that we lost. What makes you think I can eat?" Eren complained.

"But they're having a promotion on bottomless fries at the diner right now!" Sasha exclaimed.

Eren perked up immediately.

"Ok, let's go."

~♢~

Connie exited the dining room and addressed the hungry crowd of kids waiting impatiently outside.

"Waiting time is 20 minutes. Y'all good with that?" he asked.

The teens agreed and talked amongst themselves to pass the time. Mina Carolina had shown up to that same diner, and Hitch lit up.

"Mina!" she exclaimed as she told Armin she'd be right back after greeting the girl.

Eren took the opportunity to shuffle over to Armin and to question the blonde. With a raised brow, he whispered, puzzled.

"Dude, you and Hitch are still hanging out?"

Armin pressed his lips together and nodded, glancing over to see if Hitch was still busy.

"Yeah. She wanted to come to the game tonight." And on a more serious note, Armin leaned in closer to Eren and begged for help. "Eren, I don't want to sound conceited or anything, but I think Hitch has a crush on me. What should I do?"

Eren's emerald eyes went wide, and he grinned at the blonde.

"I'm so proud of you, buddy!" He noogied Armin's head and the blonde protested. "You're starting to pull--!"

"Eren!" Armin fought off Eren's grip and scowled at the boy. "I'm most certainly not!" The blonde checked up on Hitch one last time and then turned back to his friend. "Just tell me what to do!"

Tilting his head, Eren shot Armin a confused look.

"What do you mean?"

Armin looked exasperated and the brunette kept questioning him.

"You mean like asking her out?"

"No!" Armin shook his head like mad. "I-I don't want to lead her on or anything! I just..." Armin paused in his anxious bout, and out of the corner of his eye, he saw Y/n a bit further ahead, smiling at Sasha's antics. The girl felt his stare on her and she turned to him. She smiled, catching his eye and mouthing something inaudible to him, waving happily.

Armin calmed himself and smiled back briefly, finding solace in Y/n's warm smile. He then focused back onto Eren and looked him in the eyes.

"I don't want to be rude, but she's not the one I like," the blonde admitted. "You know who I like." Armin glanced towards Y/n again and saw beauty in the way she smiled. He just couldn't imagine being with anyone else other than her. He was love sick.