It was another ordinary day at school for Armin. Ordinary, except for the fact that you were in the same class. His heart raced as he quietly slid into his seat at the back of the classroom, far enough to stay out of attention, but close enough to catch a glimpse of you when you walked in.

He ran a hand nervously through his blond hair, his blue eyes scanning the door, waiting for you to appear. It was a routine he had perfected over the past year: come in early, sit quietly, and try to look as invisible as possible while secretly admiring you from afar.

And then, you entered the room. The moment you stepped in, it was as if the entire classroom lit up. Your smile was radiant, bright and full of life, instantly drawing the attention of everyone around you. You greeted your friends with a laugh, your voice light and musical, making Armin’s stomach flip.

She’s perfect, he thought, his cheeks flushing slightly. Every single day, without fail, he found himself utterly captivated by you—your eyes, your hair, the way your lips curved into that beautiful smile. Armin had never been the bold type, and he knew that he didn’t stand out like the other guys who surrounded you. They were louder, more confident. But you… you were out of his league, or at least that’s what he told himself.

Armin sighed softly, resting his chin on his hand as his eyes stayed fixed on you, though he quickly averted them if you so much as glanced in his direction. He couldn’t help it—he was too shy to even approach you. Every time he even thought about talking to you, his heart would race uncontrollably, and his palms would get clammy.

What would I even say? Armin often wondered. He wasn’t funny like Jean or outgoing like Eren. He was… Armin. Quiet, shy, more interested in books than parties. But still, no matter how much he tried to convince himself to move on, he couldn’t. There was something about you that pulled him in, something irresistible.