For the One I Love || Hanji x Female Reader

Chapter Two: Black Signal Flare

Contrary to what I expected, I was not able to sleep well. Not that I had any dreams though - just thoughts of how the expedition will go. I wondered how many titans we'll encounter, how many of them are aberrant, if we'll have any casualties, or if I'll be able to get back alive.

Nonetheless, it was daybreak, and I was still in bed. Outside, it was still dark but I could see the beginnings of the sunrise, so I assumed that it was a little before 6 in the morning.

"[Y/N]! Get up already! We'll be late for breakfast!" Sasha, who was my roommate, exclaimed as she literally pulled on my leg trying to get me up. I did my best to make myself heavier, even though I know that resistance was futile.

"You know that I'm heavy, right?" I managed to mutter, a second before I landed hard on the floor. My behind felt as if it were on fire upon contact with the cold and unforgiving ground.

"Hey, that actually hurt!"

"You may be heavy, but I'm hungry and you also know that nothing can get between me and food!" Sasha winked with a smile, but still held out a hand to help me up.

"Thanks, Sasha. You know, for being a highly effective alarm clock."

"You're welcome, my princess," she replied dramatically, even doing a low bow with hand gestures.

"And now, our breakfast awaits!" I answered, suddenly getting a surge of energy. Sasha tends to have a certain aura that I just couldn't help but admire. How she's able to remain positive even in times like this is just beyond me. Never mind the fact that literally nothing can come between her and food.

After quickly freshening up, I headed down the stairs after Sasha and into the dining area, only to find that I wasn't the only one who had a sleepless night. To be frank, Eren looked positively dead. Armin was even asking him how his night was, to which Eren simply responded with, "Tired."

"Mikasa, is he alright?" I asked her worriedly as I sat down in front of her and threw a concerned look at Eren.

"He won't tell me anything, but if his face is a clue, I'd say that he's tired from recent events," Mikasa answered as she glanced over at the brown-haired cadet beside her.

"Eren, do you want some of my bread?" I asked as I offered a portion of my breakfast to him.

"Thank you, [Y/N], I like bread," Eren answered absentmindedly, and almost everyone on our table exchanged worried looks. We all knew that Eren was a bit muddle-headed, but this was just of a different caliber. Usually, especially before an expedition, he'd be ranting about how he'd obliterate all the titans, with horseface joining him and contradicting everything that Eren would say. And the rest of us, of course, would watch in amusement as the two of them argue like an old married couple.

"You know, [Y/N], I also liked brea-"

"No, Sasha." I turned her down gently with a smile and mouthed, "Eren needs it more today."

"I tried," she muttered with a slight shrug then proceeded to eat the rest of her breakfast.

"Eren, you must've been dreaming last night. You were mumbling and screaming but I couldn't bring myself to wake you up," Armin asked as he poured a glass of water for Eren, who promptly thanked him.

"I dreamed of my father last night - he seemed to be saying something, but I couldn't hear him well," Eren started, and everyone was silent as he continued, "It's as if I know what he's talking about, but for some reason, I really can't bring myself to remember."

Connie opened his mouth as if to say something, but thought better of it and remained silent instead.

"Eren, you shouldn't push yourself too hard. Everyone's worried about you," Christa said, and I could've sworn that Mikasa's expression suddenly shifted to something that was hard to determine, as well as Ymir's.