Sana woke up early the next morning, feeling a mixture of excitement and nervousness. Today was going to be busy—she had gifts to prepare, shopping to do, and a party to attend later in the evening. But there was one thing she knew for certain: she was ready to make a gesture for Levi. Today, she wanted to give him a gift, not as a family member, but as Captain Levi—the one who had earned her respect and admiration.
Her gift for Levi was already in the works, something carefully made just for him, but she still needed to gather a few more materials. After that, she would focus on preparing Erwin's gift. The thought of having to buy a new dress for the evening's party also lingered in her mind.
Sana made her way downstairs for breakfast, her mind already racing with the tasks of the day. The rest of the scouts were seated at the long table, as usual, but today there was a noticeable difference. No one was merely passing by her; they all stopped to wish her well, acknowledging her new role. "Captain Sana," they said, the words both foreign and fitting on their lips.
Sana took her seat at the table, a small sigh escaping her as she settled in. Among the faces that greeted her, Hange's beaming smile stood out. She had always been so full of energy, so warm, that it was almost impossible not to be drawn in. Sana figured it was time to take the opportunity to talk to her.
"Good morning, Hange-san," Sana said, her voice a little hesitant as she tried to calm her nerves. It was strange to have all this attention on her now, and she wasn't used to standing out.
Hange's face lit up instantly. Without missing a beat, she slid into the seat beside her. "Oye, Sana! You having any trouble? Make sure all four of you come to dinner tomorrow. And congratulations on your promotion! Remember I promised to treat you to a meal. Also, don't forget to take me on your team! I asked Erwin, and he said it's okay. I can help with your team, which will focus on technical research. My old squad will still be around, and I'll lead them on expeditions. But I'd love to join you for the research. I think it could be fun!"
Sana blinked, taken aback by how quickly Hange had offered her support. She was so warm and easy to talk to, it made Sana feel a little more at ease. In fact, she had always wanted to work with Hange.
"Thank you, Hange-san," Sana replied with a smile. "I'd be honored to have you on the team. Actually, I was hoping to invite you to dinner sometime, too. Would you like to join us for dinner this weekend? I'd love to show off my cooking skills. I'm happy I could help all of you," she added, feeling a sense of contentment that she was able to offer something back to them.
Hange's face lit up at the invitation. "I'd love that! I'll be there!" she exclaimed, before quickly adding, "And if you ever need any help with research, just let me know! I'll be there for you."
"Thank you so much,"Sana said.
Sana's thoughts drifted to the cup of tea she had been hoping to enjoy. She had an idea of where she could find some refreshing tea, but first, she finished her breakfast. Looking around, she spotted Levi and Farlan sitting at a corner table, deep in conversation. She made her way over to them, feeling the slightest flutter of nerves in her stomach.
"Good morning, Levi Heichou-dono," she greeted him with a hint of playful formality, the words slipping out with a little more mock-seriousness than she intended. "Can I join you for a cup of tea? I hope you don't mind."
Levi glanced up at her, his expression as unreadable as ever. "Oye, stop acting like that," he muttered, clearly not impressed by the formal address. "Are you going somewhere?"
Sana nodded. "Yes, I'm going to buy a dress for the party. Have you both decided what you're going to wear? I assume you won't be showing up in your scouts uniform, right?" She glanced at Farlan, who was still focused on his conversation. "I don't know about you, but I want to look good for the occasion. And Farlan-san," she added, pointing subtly in the direction of a shy girl standing nearby, "someone over there wanted to talk to you."
Farlan, noticing her gesture, immediately stood up and made his way toward the girl, a small smile on his face.
Sana turned back to Levi, a playful grin on her face. "Hehe, don't you think those two would make a good pair?" she asked, taking a sip of her tea.
Levi raised an eyebrow, looking slightly amused. "So, Farlan's already famous, huh?"
"Yeah, you're right," Sana replied, nodding. "He's got that charm, I guess."
Levi leaned back in his chair, clearly done with the conversation. But Sana wasn't ready to let it end just yet. "Oye, can I come with you to shop? Isabel already went with Sairam and Mia. And I think Farlan's already busy with someone." She smirked as she added, "So that leaves just you and me."
Levi let out a sigh, his exasperation clear. "Sure, whatever."
She grinned. "Great! And I'd really appreciate the time. I'm not sure when we'll have the chance to hang out like we did before."
Levi, who hadn't expected this conversation to get personal, let the comment slide without comment. "Fine," he said, his tone indifferent. "But don't drag this out. I'm not a fan of shopping either."
Sana smiled at the thought of spending time with him. There was something calming about his bluntness, even if it made her nervous at times. "Hange-san invited us for dinner tomorrow," she continued casually, "so I invited her for dinner this weekend, too. Is that alright? I thought it would be nice if we all had dinner together."
Levi simply shrugged, not really showing any preference either way. "Whatever."
Sana hesitated for a moment, then asked, "By the way, are Isabel and Farlan on your team?"
Levi glanced at her, his expression unreadable. "I want you all to be with me," he said. "The teams aren't decided yet. We'll see how things go."
"Good," she replied, satisfied. "Then let's go shopping. I've got a few things I want to buy, but I don't think I can handle more than that today."
Levi, never one to waste time, stood up abruptly. "Tell Farlan we're leaving. I'll be back in a minute."
Sana nodded. She got up and went over to Farlan, giving him a quick heads-up that she and Levi were going shopping. "You should go with your new friend," she added with a grin.
A few moments later, she and Levi were on their way to the market. He had changed into his casual clothes, though his outfit was simple—practical, as always. Sana couldn't help but tease him a little. "Why'd you change out of your uniform? Are we going on a date?" she asked with a laugh.
Levi shot her a look of irritation. "Just shut up."
Sana smirked, thoroughly amused. It was clear that shopping with him was going to be a pain. He was always so picky, taking forever to decide on anything. But at least, she thought, it would give them a chance to spend some time together—something she hadn't been sure she'd get again.
As they walked side by side, a quiet anticipation settled between them. It wasn't quite like before, but maybe, just maybe, this was a step in the right direction.