Chapter 7 A New Journey Begins
"A-are you sure? This is too much, Levi. You can just buy me a few new clothes and a new pair of shoes!" Nami said, feeling embarrassed by Levi's gift for the first time.
Ever since they'd gotten to know each other and become close, Levi had bought her new clothes every month. Sometimes he felt like a father figure to her. She didn't have parents and didn't know what it was like to have them. But just being five years older than her made her feel the love and attention of a father.
"It's okay, I think you'll need all of this later," Levi said. Nami felt touched, wanting to hug Levi to express her gratitude. But she knew he would refuse.
"L-Levi, let me hug—"
"No, don't try to hug me!" Just as Nami was about to hug Levi, Levi immediately stopped her.
He didn't like being touched by anyone, including Nami. Even though Nami knew this, she still tried to hug him when she wasn't paying attention.
"Just this once, Levi, come on! I'll be staying in the dorm and we won't see each other much, so at least let me hug you just this once. Please!"
"Don't do anything unnecessary!" Levi replied coldly. He didn't care at all about Nami's nonsense, because once she graduated from the academy and started working as a Yeager, they would be colleagues again. Besides, he knew Nami better than anyone, she wouldn't be able to be away from him for even a month. He was sure she would cause trouble and come after him, though deep down he really hoped she wouldn't cause any major problems this time.
"Come on, I thought I was special to you!"
"You're like a little sister to me."
"Little sister?"
"At least this time, I want you to do your best."
"I've been doing my best too, Levi!"
"I know, but I have faith that this time you'll succeed."
Hearing Levi's sincere words stunned her. She suddenly remembered that whenever she tried something, Levi would say, "Good luck," which meant he had hope, but he couldn't be sure whether it would work. But this time was different, this was the first time Levi had had such confidence in her.
Nami smiled softly, holding back the emotion and happiness that almost brought her to tears. She reassured herself that this time she had to succeed.
"Levi, thank you. I promise I'll make you proud. I promise!"
Her eyes widened at the sheer size of the Yeager Academy building. Many young people, seemingly trainees like her milled around.
They wore the academy's signature uniforms, classy and modern. They gave anyone who wore them an air of arrogance and pride, as not everyone was capable or brave enough to take on the role of a Yeager.
As she entered the dormitory she would be living in, she saw several people gathered around, demonstrating their superhuman abilities. She knew that a small percentage of the academy's students were espers, meaning they were humans with a genetic abnormality that gave them special abilities.
Six young people, four men and two women, gathered in the dormitory living room, trying to show off their abilities.
A young, blonde woman demonstrated something that amazed her. The beautiful woman demonstrated how flexible and elastic her body was, as if everything was made of rubber.
"Wow..." Her five friends gasped in amazement, wondering how someone could be so flexible.
Nami, who happened to be passing by and saw the group, was immediately intrigued and approached the group to see what other superpowers she would have difficulty finding in the outside world. People with superpowers typically tend to avoid crowds and the center of attention to avoid scrutiny and direct contact with ERI. No one wanted to be used as research and experimentation subjects, even if they and their families were promised a life of luxury.
"Cool." Nami gasped in amazement. She hadn't expected to witness such esper prowess firsthand. Unknowingly, she had gotten so close to them that one of the six young men noticed her presence.
A young, brown-haired woman turned to her. The woman gave her a confused look, clearly not recognizing the girl who had suddenly appeared near them.
"Who are you?" The girl asked. Nami, realizing she had approached without permission, felt awkward.
She enjoyed socializing and being around people, but people who knew she was a troublemaker would usually avoid her as much as possible or not want to be around her.
"Ah...s-sorry, I didn't mean to—" she stammered. Nami felt awkward, the image of the rejection she had experienced since her time at the orphanage haunting her with feelings of regret and guilt.
"I was just asking who you are? Are you a new cadet?" The young woman asked. Her five friends who heard her words also immediately turned to Nami who was standing between them awkwardly.
"Hmm... I think I've seen her before!" A young man with bright blonde hair remarked. He rose from his seat and approached Nami, who wasn't sure what to do.
"Hey, George, you're too close to her! You're scaring her!" Another young man said, holding back laughter.
"Scared? It's strange that someone would be afraid and still dare to enroll in the most dangerous military academy ever."