Disclaimer: MODERN AU PROMPT: Levi and Mikasa are best friends who grew up together since childhood. Both are struggling with their feelings and go through dramatic changes throughout the story.

Side Note: The setting is in Japan because I've been reading too much mangas and what not. I apologize. But I hope you do enjoy.

It's early, and the air is crisp and unexpectedly bitter on their way to school.

Although, It isn't so much the frigid weather that makes the walk discomforting. It is, without a doubt, the unreadable and thick atmosphere that's transpiring from her childhood friend.

He is acting more unusual today of all days, she notices, shifting her cloudy eyes and taking a peek at him out of concern. He doesn't look her way or tries to say anything. And for the life of her, she doesn't understand why.

It's the first day back from winter break and neither of the two had spoken a word to each other since the day they were let out from exams. She wonders if he is purposely avoiding her. Though, she doesn't recall ever doing anything wrong to anger him. They were fine just weeks ago— talking and hanging and going over to each other's houses like they always have.

But for some reason, the subtle current that use to be between them has slightly drifted and it was bugging her to no ends.

Alright. Just talk to him normally.

Taking the initiative to start a conversation, she halts in her tracks.

"Levi." She asserts.

He doesn't budge to the call and continues to walk ahead.

That rude jerk..

She fists her hands into balls and clears her throat more promptly.

"Levi!"

A few seconds passes by before he suddenly stops and whips his head around.

"Huh."

His voice is soft and firm, yet there is a certain edge to it.

"… How are you?"

"Fine." He shrugs.

Mikasa scowls. "No you're not liar. You've been avoiding me for weeks already. So quit being so damn stubborn and tell me what's wrong."

A short pause.

He doesn't reach her eyes and she wonders if she's even there anymore.

"There's nothing."

Nothing?! When did he become so distant towards her? She definitely did something wrong and it was a matter of when and how.

"Bullshit." She says, a glimmer of hurt spreading across her face. "I don't believe that as much as you do." And it's the truth. She knows him better than anyone else. Even better than he does.

But he doesn't seem affected.

"What do you know."

Her mouth goes dry. "Enough to know when my best friend is lying to my face."

"You're annoying," is all he says. "Don't concern yourself with me."

And with that, he walks off. Rendering her speechless in the middle of the street.

It is five minutes close to the late bell as Levi approaches the threshold of his classroom. He glances around his settings, almost ready to waltz his way inside—when a girl(whom he's never seen before in his life)—grabs him forcefully by the arm and pulls him aside effortlessly.

His morning was definitely not in his cup of tea. And this further proved it.

Glancing down, he narrows his eyes in irritation. "Let go." He mutters, rather more coldly then what he intends.

The girl blinks a few times, but obliges almost immediately. She unhooks her right arm from his and bows her head apologetically. "A-Ah, sorry senpai."

Senpai?

This explained his unfamiliarity with the girl. She was a first year, considering her undeveloped chest and awkward attitude towards him.

"What do you want."

"I-I uhm…," she gulps nervously, "… like you! So please accept me!" She cries, bowing her head again

He doesn't flinch. This type of thing; the confessions, he was already used to it since the beginning of middle school. After being constantly chased after, confessed to, and having former girlfriends that never lasted a week—it no longer surprised him.

"You're mistaken." He says, his voice firm and cold. "You're infatuation for me is merely based on what you think you feel."

"You think my feelings for you is fake?"

"I do." He replies.

"Y-You're wrong!"

She shakes her head and steps closer to him.

"I-I-I've always admired you since middle school, " she explains, lips trembling, "you helped me one day when I was being bullied by the other girls. You don't remember it, and you shouldn't, but I do! I know the kind of person you are. And I love you for it." She glances up.

Her eyes well up with tears and he swears that he hates himself for it.

Levi opens his mouth to speak but then closes it; his shoulders stiffening into place.

Curious eyes wander off towards the classroom and he notices Mikasa sitting down, her rosy lips bent into a frown, and her body leaning over the desk. She's pouting to herself and glancing at his chair every few seconds with saddened eyes.

This makes him happy somehow; the way she looks for him when he's gone.

Though, that happiness shatters and rebuilds itself into irritation when he spots him staring at her.

Eren Jaeger.

The boy who has been infatuated with her since the beginning of the school year; or rather, the desperate kid who took every chance he had to go talk to Mikasa whenever she was alone and defenseless.

What the hell is that fucking kid doing…

Levi clenches his jaws and watches him as he greets her with a 'good morning' and 'how are you doing today?'

Sly fucking ba—

"Senpai?"

He blinks once, twice, before staring back down at the girl. "Sorry." He says, lifting his gaze towards the classroom again.

She looks up and follows his fixed stare, disappointment filling her stomach. "What's so good about her?" She asks, annoyed.

A slight pause.

The answer itself was still a mystery to him.

"Nothing. She's a complete mess when it comes to school and dating. She complains almost every day about shit that I could care less about and often forgets to do simple tasks that don't require that much effort or time. She's careless, ignorant, and a pain in my ass." He explains, observing Mikasa from the short distance. "12 long years and she's still a blind idiot." He shakes his head, frustrated.

Watching her, his hardened gaze went soft; and he finds it hard to stare at her without his chest hurting. "But to me, that person is special and I don't think I could ever get tired of her. Even after 12 years, I'm still trying to catch up to her. So I'm sorry, I can't accept your love." He bows, his eyes meeting the ground.

Wiping her tears and managing a straight face,"I'm glad that you at least listened to my confession senpai," she smiles, half-heartedly. "I can move on now that I got it out of my chest, so please do your best and win her over someday."

Levi glances up and nods in return.

Bidding him farewell, she wishes him luck again and escapes down the hallways with a smile embracing her face.

Somehow, he envies her courage to confess(something he's never done before or will be doing any time soon) and finds it frustrating on how the term, 'love', always manged to break people; shattering them apart before even accepting the feeling into their lives whole-heartedly.

It was an incurable disease.

And he was no exception on catching it either.

"I'm doing alright."

"Are you sure? You seem pale."

"Yeah… It's just the weather. Not use to it being this cold."

"I see." Eren replies. "If you want, I can lend you my scarf?" He suggests, unwrapping the material from his neck.

"Really? I—"

"She's going to have to decline." A voice suddenly cut in.

They both stare up; Mikasa's eyes widening in shock.

"L-Levi?"

He strides around the corner of her desk and removes the beige muffler from around his neck. "Here."

He throws the soft, yet very neat fabric at her face and shifts his eyes towards Eren.

"You're in my seat."

"I am." Eren says curtly.

"Mind moving?" He asks, though it could easily be interperted as, 'get your filthy ass out of my seat and sit the fuck away from me'.

"Levi!" Mikasa cries, sending him daggers. "Be nice."

"It's fine. It is his seat after all."

"He's right." Levi says, folding his arms. "It is my seat." He stress heavily on.

"I'm well aware that it is."

"Are you? Seeing that you're still in it."

Mikasa suddenly cuts them both off, trying to prevent any further sparks from flying. "A-Ah, thank you for offering your scarf Eren."

Nodding, he stands up. "No need to thank me. It was nice talking to you Mikasa. Hope we can see each other more often." He smiles, walking past Levi and bumping his shoulder against his.

It took him all the self-restraint in the world to not grab the goddamn kid by the neck.

Little shit sitting on my chair and making it filthy—

"I haven't forgiven you."

"Hah?"

"I said I haven't forgiven you. This morning remember?"

"You're still on about that?" He asks, making himself comfortable in his seat.

"Well, you practically brushed me off. Thanks for that by the way." She rolls her eyes. "I'm expecting an apology for compensation."

"Not happening."

"And why is that?"

"You deserved it. Don't ask me why."

Mikasa ignores him and stares ahead. "You really made me upset you know."

Silence.

She adjusts her body to the side and repeats herself again." Hey—"

Though, she is startled by how close his face is and how much his body is leaning in towards her.

"I know." Levi says, his warm breath brushing across her skin. "Come by my work after school and I'll make it up to you." The edges of his lips curl up.

"Oh yes, the Barista man who makes all the women go weak in their knees."

"Not funny."

"Oh come on, you like the attention."

"I do," he stares at her intently, "but only when it's from you Mikasa."

Doki. Doki. Doki.

Before she can say anything else, the bell rings and he's properly back into his seat again.

What was that…

She ponders, clutching her chest tightly and breathing in the lavender scent from his muffler. It smells just like him and she can't help but smile because it reminds her so much of the days when they would lay in her backyard and play Shiritori for hours upon hours; just being little kids with no worries.

Thwack.

Startled, Mikasa glances down at side of her desk and sighs at the crumpled piece of paper.

She tilts her head to the side and gives Levi a 'are you serious?' look.

He just shrugs and gestures her to read the note that's written on the front.

Your hair looks good down with my muffler.

- L

She gives him a soft smile and stuffs the paper inside the pocket of her bag. He never changes. Even after all these years, he still writes his compliments and thoughts through a piece of paper with his messy scrawls.

But little did he know, she kept all of his notes inside the comfort of her room; and deeply, beautifully, inside the innermost part of her heart.

[Side Note]: The next chapter will be about their childhood and how it all began between them.