You and Mikasa have known each other since your early high school years, and by fall, you'll be college freshmen. She's always doing things for you. Walking you home, carrying your bag whenever you complained about it being heavy, saying nothing whenever you rambled on about your latest heartthrob. She listens to everything and that's the problem.

While you droned on about boys, whether it be your latest crush following you back on your shoulders, a short conversation between classes, how your music tastes happened to be similar, Mikasa sat there, smiling like it didn't bother her like crazy. Nodding like her heart wasn't squeezing every time you said some dude's name all dreamy and pretty.

Her crush on you had been quiet for all these years. The kind that sat with her loudly when she was alone, the one she thinks extra about after hanging out with you. Of course she wasn't going to bring it up to you. She respected boundaries, and if you, her best friend, were happy, that was enough for her. Until you weren't happy.

This particular boyfriend of yours lasted longer than your past one by a year and a few months. He made you laugh, carried your things, walked you home. All the things Mikasa had done way before any guy came around. She didn't like him. Too smug. Too handsy. Too quick to dim you down when you were being yourself.

But then again, of course she wasn't going to say anything. She just listened when things between you and him started falling a part. She hugged you and pat your back when you cried, lent you her sweater when you showed up at her door a little before midnight all blotchy and angry and heartbroken.

It's been a few weeks since your breakup with that good for nothing ex of yours. The sweater she lent you sits in your clean laundry pile still. You're laughing again, sharing the couch with her like you always do. Except, finally, you're not talking about your ex. Or any other guy for that matter. She's glad.

You've always been affectionate, casual with your touch, but now you're laying against her with a leg over hers and just stay like that. You giggle and mutter stuff about how boys suck. She's not usually loud about stuff like that, but right now, she can't help but loudly agree with you. She listens again. Always.

She waits until the episode of the show you two are binge watching finishes, until the popcorn bowl in her lap is basically empty and the night is still. "Well I'm happy that you're doing well without him," she says, lip curling up just barely. "I'll always be around. Just in case you..." she pauses. Just in case you want to try something different.