Sana eventually dozed off because she was so exhausted. Levi slept outside on the chair.
*_ _**__* _ NEXT MORNING .. ___ ** _ *
When Sana awoke, she was in Levi's bedroom. She found it hard to believe it was all true. Her expressing her love and the fact that Levi feels the same for her and they were so close yesterday was still like dreams to her.
As she was thinking all this she heard a knock on the door. She couldn't decide if she should answer it as it was Levi's room. The door opened. It was Levi at the door.
He had tea in his hands.
" Go and get ready fast, I have made tea for you," he said so casually as if what happened yesterday didn't bother him a bit. Sana went to the washroom without saying anything as it was still difficult for her to look him in the eye. And she had zero ideas about what she should talk about.
**** A few moments later *_ * *_ "
"You sure took your time, but you better hurry because the court isn't going to wait for you, and we only have about 30 minutes to leave. You must not go hungry there. Drink some tea and eat something." Levi said in his monotonous style but there was a touch of sweetness in it.
Levi's head was completely messed up, even though it appeared as though what happened last night didn't concern him. Sana's mind was experiencing the same thing. She struggled to collect her thoughts. It wasn't until yesterday that they both realized they were so deeply in love with one another.
Levi served Sana food after she finished the tea.
" Why don't you est as well?" she asked Levi in a polite voice staring down.
"ahh, I'm fine with just tea," he replied in hesitation.
She reached for a piece of bread and brought it close to Levi's mouth.
He was speechless by what was going on. Although he remained silent, he did slightly open his mouth and cast his eyes downward. How shy he felt at the time was evidently quite apparent.
He ate the bite and sat quietly.
" Now, now eat it by yourself. I'm not gonna feed you all. Weren't you the one who said we were getting late and the court is not gonna wait for us?" she said in a teasing manner.
****** *** The scout members set off for the court.** ******
Everyone reached the court and was waiting for Zachary to arrive. Sana has never done such a thing before. It looked as if she would just break into tears at any moment.
"Sana, it will be fine", said Hange San as she approached her. "I'm here with you as well. You don't need to be concerned about anything. I already worked on that because I knew you couldn't stand formal events. You are not alone, so don't worry. Aren't we all here together? I always have your back. I want to ask if I can join you in such a fantastic project after carefully reading everything. " She attempted to uplift Sana. She didn't want Sana to have to handle anything by herself.
As Hange San finished talking, Zachary arrived. Everyone in the courtroom stood up in respect.
Farlan kept grinning as he stared at Levi nonstop, and Levi reciprocated by giving Farlan a death gaze. What it was about was clear from Fralan's impish smile.
The proceedings were opened by the court. Zachary viewed all the arguments again. All religious groups and administrators were against it as it would mean cutting all their budgets in half.
"Lieutenant Sana, I examined every aspect of this case, and I believe it to be a superb project. However, you are well aware of the issues related to the funding you require for this. What is its success rate, exactly? is all I have to ask. " he put the papers down and looked at Sana for an answer.
Courts need concrete proof that's how they work.
Those present in the court began to mutter.
There were arguments one after the other from the people who were against it. Sana was unable to speak a word. It was her project so she had to be the one who wins the trust of the people in the courtroom. Hange San couldn't say anything as she was yet not an official member of the project.
There were all sorts of accusations people were claiming against her.
Levi couldn't stand those statements about Sana. As Levi could take another step he was interrupted by Erwin. "Let her do her part.." That's all Erwin said to Levi to stop him.
Erwin caught Sana's attention. His expression made it clear that he had great faith in her abilities and was willing to stake all on them.
This gave her confidence and surety that she was not alone and all her comrades would make it happen no matter what.
Her whole team was present there, they were all there for her. The trust they put in her was enough.
Franz made a smiling face revealing his teeth just to act a little dumb and make Sana feel at ease.
"Your honor,.." there was a sudden silence in the courtroom as Sana said these words.
" I'm not the commander so my actions are limited and I don't have much to put on stake, and regarding the budget of the survey cops, I don't have any authority to say that you can cease the budget if I fail. I'm not selfish enough to take away the dreams of the young people. So I would like you to continue providing the scouts with their part even if I fail. The only thing I can put at stake is my own life that's all I have got." Sana finally spoke in the courtroom.
Everyone in the scouts was shocked.
"And your honor, I know that many of the individuals in this room would agree how much precious a human life is inside the walls." She added at the end. She already knew a lot of them would want her dead because of the technology she can build.
Zachery asked the groups who were against it. Some of them who were only after money didn't agree to the condition. But the majority of them who were present there agreed to it.
But Farlan and Levi couldn't take it either. But they left this one decision in her hands.
Now all they could do was have trust in her.