It was another early morning, and as usual, the camp was buzzing with activity. Sana, dressed in her Scout uniform, felt a mix of excitement and nerves. Today was the day. Today, she would finally be assigned her team, the very team she would lead. The weight of that responsibility wasn't lost on her, but for some reason, she couldn't shake the feeling that it was going to be an emotional day.
On the way to Erwin's office, she ran into Hange.
"Good morning, Sana!" Hange greeted her with her usual infectious energy. "Excited about your first day as a team leader?"
Sana forced a smile, trying to hide her nerves. "Yes, I am," she replied, her voice a little more upbeat than she felt.
The two of them walked together to Erwin's new office, the air thick with anticipation. As they knocked on the door, Sana's heart started to beat faster. She could already hear familiar voices from within.
Erwin's voice rang out, inviting them in. As the door opened, Sana saw the faces of her fellow Scouts—Levi, Farlan, Isabel, Mike, and a few others. They were all gathered around, waiting.
"Sana, Hange," Erwin greeted them warmly, his eyes scanning the room before resting on Sana. "I've been waiting for you both. Sana, step forward."
Sana took a step forward, heart racing.
Before assigning her team, Erwin smiled and reached for something in his desk drawer. "Before we proceed," he said, drawing everyone's attention, "I'd like to show everyone something."
Sana felt her pulse quicken as Erwin pulled out the photograph she had gifted him the day before. She saw the way the room fell silent as he held it up for everyone to see.
"This is a photograph," Erwin began, "a gift from Sana yesterday. It's a beautiful piece of work. But that's not all. I'd also like to show you something else."
He gestured to one of his subordinates, who quickly brought forward a sniper rifle and a gravity lamp.
"These," Erwin said, handing them over to Hange, "are also made by Sana." He turned to her. "Show them how the gravity lamp works."
Sana stepped forward, feeling the weight of everyone's eyes on her. She carefully set up the gravity lamp and demonstrated how it functioned. She could feel the intensity of their stares, but she pushed through, explaining how the lamp worked, even though she was aware that it wasn't perfect—she had struggled to get access to quality materials underground.
"This could be made on a larger scale if we plan properly," she added, glancing up at the group, her voice steady despite the nerves bubbling inside her.
There were murmurs around the room, whispers of admiration and awe.
"Wow, you made all of this yourself?" a girl with red-brown hair asked, clearly impressed.
Sana smiled awkwardly. "It wasn't easy," she said softly, unsure how to explain how much work had gone into each piece. She didn't have an answer for all their questions—she had simply done what needed to be done.
The room was quiet, except for the occasional murmur of amazement. Erwin, clearly proud of her work, gave her a small nod before turning back to the matter at hand.
"Alright, now for the team assignments," he said, his tone shifting back to business. "Sana, it's time to give you your team."
Several names were read off, and Sana felt a warm glow in her chest as one after another, her team members stepped forward to enlist. She could barely contain her happiness—they were accepting her as their leader, and that meant more to her than anything else. She had done it.
When it was Levi's turn, he already had Isabel and Farlan lined up for his squad. Isabel had originally been assigned to Captain Flagon's team, but she had insisted on being placed in Levi's squad. It was a victory for Levi—something he hadn't had to fight for.
Sana's heart ached at the thought. She couldn't help but wish things could have been different for her. But she knew she couldn't let her emotions get the best of her. She was a leader now.
After the team assignments were completed, Erwin gave her a private room, and Levi received his own as well. They were far from each other—too far, in fact, and she felt a pang of sadness at the thought of not seeing her friends every day.
The weight of the change hit her harder than she expected. She tried to hide it behind a smile.
"We won't be seeing each other every day now," she said, the words coming out with a forced cheer. "Let's enjoy ourselves tonight at Hange's. You all remember, right? She invited us for dinner."
Levi glanced at her, his brow furrowing. "Why do you talk as if you're leaving for another district? Tch, you'll still be near us. We're all going to be together, just in different places."
"Yeah, you're right," she said, but even as the words left her mouth, she knew it wouldn't be the same.
They all returned to their barracks. Sana felt the heaviness of the moment settle over her as she began packing her things. The door to her room opened, and Isabel stepped in, her eyes a little wet.
"Promise me," Isabel asked with a soft, pleading voice, "you'll cook me something delicious whenever I come visit you."
Sana smiled, a little choked up at the request. "Of course, I will," she said, pulling Isabel into a tight hug.
Isabel's voice quivered as she whispered, "I'm going to miss you, Sanaaa."
Sana chuckled, tickling her lightly until Isabel burst into giggles. It was a moment of lightness in the otherwise heavy atmosphere.
After a brief conversation, it was time to go. As she stepped outside, her two team members, who had been waiting by the door, offered to help carry her bags.
"No, it's fine. I can carry them," she said, but they were insistent.
"Please, Sana San. Let us help you."
Sana didn't have the heart to refuse them, so she handed over the bags. It felt strange, but it was nice to know that her team cared.
When she arrived at her new wing, she was surprised by how spacious and well-arranged her room was. Everything she needed was already there, and there was even a personal kitchen—something she would definitely make good use of.
Still, as she set about unpacking, a deep loneliness settled over her. She missed her old life, her old friends. In less than three hours, she was already aching for their company.
But tonight, they were going to Hange's for dinner, and that brought a little comfort.
She spent some time with her subordinates, giving them a proper introduction, explaining how the camera worked and answering all their questions. By the time evening rolled around, it was finally time to get ready for dinner.
She went to meet Levi and the others. When she arrived, they were already seated, dressed in their finest clothes, waiting for her. The sight of them made her smile.
After about half an hour, they made their way to Hange's place. Hange greeted them warmly, her ever-present enthusiasm lifting their spirits.
They all sat down and talked about their new teams, sharing stories about previous expeditions. Hange's stories were funny, but also insightful. As dinner was served, they all dug in, savoring the food and enjoying the evening.
Levi sat just across from Sana, and despite the light-hearted conversation, she couldn't help but feel the weight of the moment. How long could she ignore the feelings she had for him? Every passing day, her heart seemed to fall further for him, but she knew it was hopeless.
She couldn't be the one to win his heart.
But for tonight, she was content to just be near him.
As the night came to a close and they all headed back to their respective barracks, Sana felt a bittersweet pang in her chest. Things were changing. They had to. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to miss the way things were before.
Tomorrow would be a new day, and she would face it with determination. But tonight, she allowed herself to feel the weight of the changes and the emotions they stirred.
It was going to be a long road ahead, but she was ready.