Chapter 11 New Friends
Nami sighed, relieved to finally have finished organizing her clothes in her closet and setting up her desk. It wasn't a difficult task for her, but since this was her first time being separated from Levi for such a long time, everything felt a bit overwhelming.
"I miss Levi. What's he up to now? I already know his daily routine, but why am I still so curious?" She thought. She glanced at the clock on her phone, it was already 6:00 PM. She considered calling Levi.
Tit...
Her phone rang, but Levi hadn't picked up. Usually, at 6:00 PM, Levi would be getting ready for dinner. If he were still in the lab, he would have asked his personal chef to come over and cook dinner for him and everyone else. But if he was home, he would probably be having dinner at his house or at a restaurant.
"He's not picking up. He must be really busy. He didn't even text me even though I was already in the dorm. That busy Levi!" She groaned in annoyance because she had been hoping that when she opened her phone tonight, she would receive an encouraging message from Levi. After all, Levi was the only person who cared about her.
"Huh..." Nami sighed once more, feeling a little disappointed. But just as she resigned herself to the fact that she might not receive any messages from Levi today, he called her instead.
Nami's eyes lit up. Levi rarely called her, and even rarely texted her, so this was a rare opportunity she couldn't waste.
"H-hello, Levi?" She felt nervous for some reason. The person calling her was someone she had seen almost every day for nine years.
"You called me earlier?" Levi asked in his deep, heavy voice.
"I-I wanted to tell you that I was back at the dorm!"
"Is that so? Good." He replied nonchalantly.
"Is that so?"
"What?"
"I mean, you didn't text me at all. I was so far away!"
"Not that far. The Yeager Academy dorm is on the outskirts of town, only 18 km from the lab."
"B-but I can't always come home every day!"
"You've been wandering around a lot, and I've been out of town a lot, too. So this isn't anything new for you."
"But this is different, Levi!"
"So what do you want me to do? Are you feeling uneasy and want to go home?" Levi's question made her feel guilty. She had already decided to join the Yeager Academy, but because she had grown so attached to him, it made her feel insecure in a new place. The fear that she might not be accepted here made her anxious.
"No, it's not like that. I'm not uncomfortable or wanting to go home, I just want you to keep an eye on me even though we won't see each other often."
"I'm busy right now, I have a lot of work to complete. If I have some free time, I'll send you a message. Are you satisfied?"
As she had hoped, Levi would definitely comply with her request. Hadn't she already had excellent parents? She had always thought of him as the perfect parent.
"Yes, thank you, Levi. I'm so happy. I actually have something to tell you, but it seems you're busy. So I'll tell you another time."
"Okay, take care of yourself and try not to cause any trouble, understand?"
"Yes, I understand, don't worry! I'll take care of my own business this time. See you later?" She said as she ended the call. She didn't realize that Lea and Sydney were eavesdropping behind her.
"Wow, Nami, are you talking to Professor Levi?" Sydney suddenly started teasing her, putting her arm around her shoulder from behind.
"Just casual conversation, I was just telling Levi that I was back at the dorm."
"Are you and Professor Levi that close?" Lea asked, having just finished showering. Lea looked a little displeased, but she seemed to be trying to hide it.
"I told you, he's like a parent to me, didn't I?"
"But he's still young, Nami! He's more suitable as a husband." Sydney caressed Nami's face affectionately, teasing her. Nami got goosebumps, she had never been this close to anyone before besides Levi.
"L-let go of me! Sydney, what are you doing?" She screamed in panic, her face flushing red. Physical touch was something she rarely did because she didn't have any close friends, especially girls.
"Ahahaha...why are you so panicked, Nami? I was just teasing you a little!"
"Syd, stop that! Nami might not be used to it, so don't do that!"
"But I'm just trying to get closer, and besides, we'll be roommates for two years. So we should get used to physical touch, right?"
"Even now, I'm still not used to your physical touch, especially since Nami has only known you for a day. Don't do anything weird, Syd!"
"But I just-"
"I'm fine! Honestly, I'm just so happy because this is the first time I have a friend besides Levi. That's why I'm a little nervous," she said. Even though she hoped for that, she knew that once they found out who she really was and how everyone in the town she lived in called her a troublemaker, they would probably distance themselves from her like the others.
Sydney and Lea fell silent for a moment, moved by what Nami had said. However, that emotion actually made the atmosphere awkward. Realizing that Lea, who tends to be quiet and reserved, might have difficulty reacting, Sydney decided to take over.
"Okay, I hope after this, the three of us will become closer and more united until graduation. After that, let's promise to defeat the monsters together!"