The bell rang sharply through the halls of Attack on Titan: Junior High, and chaos followed like always—but today felt… lighter.

You—Eren—stretched your arms as you walked into class, grinning. “No Titans, no disasters… just a normal day.”

“Don’t jinx it,” Armin muttered, adjusting his books.

Mikasa, silent as ever, kept close to your side. “I’ll handle anything that happens.”

From across the room, Annie Leonhart sat by the window, chin resting in her palm, blue eyes half-lidded. She looked bored—but her gaze flicked, just briefly, toward you.

You noticed.

“…Why does she keep staring at me?” you whispered.

“Maybe she’s still mad about the cheeseburger thing,” Armin said.

You winced. “I said one thing at the ceremony…”

“You mocked it passionately,” Armin corrected.

Before you could respond, the classroom door slammed open.

“ATTENTION!” the teacher barked. “Today is the dodgeball tournament!”

The class erupted in cheers.

You shot to your feet. “Perfect! I’ll win this easily!”

Annie’s eyes sharpened slightly. “Not if I beat you first,” she said flatly.

You blinked. “…You’re still on that?”

She stood, expression unreadable. “You’ll understand when I crush your team.” — The gym buzzed with energy. Teams lined up, the air thick with competition.

Annie’s team had already taken down two groups. Clean. Efficient. Ruthless.

“Annie! Annie! Annie!” her teammates cheered. She said nothing, tossing the ball lightly in her hand.

Across the court, you cracked his knuckles. “Alright! We take them head-on!”

“Eren,” Armin said nervously, “they haven’t lost a single round…”

Mikasa stepped forward calmly. “It doesn’t matter.”

The whistle blew.

A ball flew instantly—straight for your face. “WOAH—!”

Mikasa intercepted it mid-air, catching it cleanly.

Without hesitation, she hurled it back.

Annie caught it just as smoothly.

The gym went silent for a second.

Then—

THWACK!

THWACK!

The two moved like mirrors—throw, catch, throw again—perfect timing, perfect control.

You stared. “This is insane…”

Finally, you shouted, “Annie! What’s your deal?! Why are you so mad at me?!”

For a moment—just a moment—Annie hesitated.

Then she spoke. “…Because you made fun of cheeseburgers.”

You blinked. “…What?”

Her grip tightened on the ball. “I like them.”

Silence.

“…That’s it?” Eren said.

Her eyes narrowed. “It’s not ‘just that.’”

Eren scratched his head. “I mean—I like cheeseburgers too.”

“…I know.”

“…Oh.”

The tension cracked.

You laughed awkwardly. “Well… sorry. I didn’t think anyone else cared that much.”

Annie looked away slightly. “…It’s fine.”

Mikasa caught another incoming ball and fired it back, knocking out a player behind Annie.

The game resumed—but something had shifted.

Less hostility.

More understanding.

Until—

“HEADS UP!!”

A ball came flying wildly from the side.

Annie turned too late.

THUD.

She froze.

Out.

“…Huh,” she murmured.

Across the court, Conny Springer pumped his fist. “I GOT HER!!”

You stared. “…That’s how she loses?” — Later, the cafeteria was calm again. You groaned as your cheeseburger slipped from your hands—right onto the floor. “…No…” Before you could react, Annie placed hers in front of you.

“Take it.”

You looked up. “What?”

“I’m not that hungry.”

You smiled. “Thanks, Annie.”

She sat down beside them, quiet—but not distant anymore.

Mikasa watched carefully. Armin smiled.

And Annie, just barely, allowed the faintest hint of warmth to reach her expression.

“…They’re better when you don’t eat alone,” she said softly.