Levi knew everything about himself. He was the definition of a self-made man and did not need anything from anybody.

He didn't know why he became a teacher. After all, he never had an affinity towards the high school brats he dealt with daily. All he liked was the subject, and that he could have followed elsewhere.

Thus, when Levi learned of the summer program and how he was forced to partake, he felt horrible at the loss of three months of bliss. Now he'd have to wake up and drive and teach and shrug and drive back and grade during his three months.

On the first day of the summer school program, Levi walked into class early as if it were the first day of school. The class which would enter in thirty or so minutes was full of failures and two aspiring students. All were going to be taught pre-calculus all day. Few would pass happily. Fewer would leave wanting a recommendation from Levi.

Leaving his stuff in the classroom, Levi ran to the office to pick up his papers.

Unfortunately he was greeted by Hange. "Hey, you met the new secretary?"

"What?"

"She's new… remember, the old one is on vacation…"

"Oh." Not that he cared.

"She's great." She. Was Hange being implicit again? Today of all days? "She organized everybody's paper's and …" Levi blocked off the noises as he realized that Hange wasn't shipping.

Levi reached his desk as Hange left him. On the desk was a small, neat folder. In it, Levi found everything about his classes - all the plans he posted, a fresh gradebook, new attendance sheets and the worksheets he would have had to copy during lunch.

On the inside back cover, Levi found a pink post-it note with black pen written on it:

"Morning Levi (I hope you don't mind - Mr. Ackermann sounded wrong),

I hope you find this exactly as you need this. I will try to have similar things everyday - don't worry, there are only five of you guys, it's not that hard. Tell me if there's anything I can do for you.

Have a great day,

Petra (new secretary)"

Levi almost had to steady himself. There were levels of chirpiness which anybody could see as inhuman - Hange proved it. Now the building seemed to have another Hange. At least this Hange couldn't creep up and bother him at any time.

Levi took the post-it off and wrote a messy "Thanks." on it and folded it onto his desk. Earlier than usual, Levi got to his classroom.

"Morning. Levi, right?" A new voice. If it were the secretary, it would have to be chirpier, so it must be one of the aspiring students.

"Mr. Ackermann."

"Sorry, I thought… That means you didn't like the note either…" Note? Levi messed that up.

"Levi's fine. I thought you were a student."

"Oh." Petra paused. "You're the only math teacher, right?"

"Yeah…" Wasn't she the secretary? Shouldn't she know?

"I want to be a math teacher." Levi's face read 'so' more blatantly than times square's advertisements. "I was wondering if you could tell me anything…"

"How…" The 'old are you' completing the sentence would've been rude, leaving Levi pausing for an alternative. Why did he care?

"This is my summer after high school." Petra completed the sentence.

"Just learn in college." Levi did not want to talk.

Petra turned to leave. "Thanks… And can I drop by if I have the time?"

"Just stay quiet." Petra began to walk. "Thanks for the… uh…" Levi lifted the folder, thoughts interrupted by a surging panic at Hange's arrival.

"See you…" Petra walked away.

"SO! You met the secretary!" Hange erupted. Levi shrugged. "What did you think, huh?" Shrugs. "C'mon! Isn't she great! I mean, she got all this stuff! WOW!"

"Maybe."

"C'mon! She's cool! And she's into math!" Shipping?

"Shut up." Hange looked unconvinced. "It's only been half an hour."

"AND YOU DON'T HATE HER!" Why did he not hate her. He was normally rude and unapproachable. Petra - her name as well; since when did he remember names - must have gotten to know that by now. Maybe he was scared of hurting her - that was it, she seemed delicate. After that chirpy note? So like a bird. A simile. What was his mind doing?

The day resumed. The class was the same old nonsense. Petra did not walk in on it, which left Levi happy - one less person to deal with.

The next morning was similar, only that neither Petra nor Hange bothered Levi. Yet, at the end of lunch, Levi found Petra waiting at the classroom. Petra sat quietly in the shadows, which due to her appearance - the chirpy bloody colors - ceased to be in shade. Petra ceased to exist as despite her appearance, she disappeared into her quiet watching. In fact, nobody in the class noticed her. Maybe because all but two were retarded. Thus, when she walked out, everybody was surprised to see her.

"She just wants an example of perfect teaching. Now focus." Levi dismissed the distraction.

The days proceeded in a similar way as the pre-calculus class and Levi learned to ignore Petra. The fact that Petra ever showed up surfaced only when Hange came to know.

"YOU LET HER SIT IN ON YOUR CLASS?!"

"Why not?"

"But…" Hange's image of Levi, cast into super-humanity, broke.

"She's quiet enough."

"Why did you…"

"She asked."

"And? Even I asked!"

"You're annoying, she's not."

"You…" Hange knew that she was Levi's greatest friend. Yet, Hange was considered annoying while Petra was not. Was there a level higher than friend in Levi's relationships? "Do you like her?"

"No."

"But…"

"No." Hange knew when to stop.

"Maybe you could be like friends or something."

"No."

"Why?"

"She'll disappear in two months."

"So what?"

Levi shrugged and walked away.

Over the two months Levi learned how not to hate somebody. That's what he called it. The reason he felt special towards Petra was because she was the one he could not hate. Because he normally hated everybody, the feelings he had for her must be normal feelings anybody has for anybody else. If only the rest of the world were like that.