Mikasa was lost at thought as she stared at the food that she placed on the table. Her mind drifted back to the time that she and Levi talked about the out-of-school activity.

"Why did Sempai said that I need to go instead of Sasha?" she asked herself. "Will it have something to do with food? But the teachers did not say anything."

If Sasha could be synonymous with food, then it might really have something to do with it. As she turned her back to go to the sink to wash her hands, the door of the condo unit opened, and came in Eren. He came in nonchalantly, reminding himself that he had done no wrong this noon.

"Tadaima," he greeted her as he kicked off his shoes and wore his slippers.

"Okaeri," Mikasa greeted him from the kitchen.

Eren stepped in and looked at his foster sister washing her hands. On the table was a generous amount of food that can feed a squad of ten people.

"Do we have a guest?" Eren asked in confusion, trying to break the awkwardness between them.

Sober as always, Mikasa replied, "No."

Eren went to the sink to wash his hands, and then took his place at the dining table. He was overwhelmed with the feast in front of him that he was wondering if something had happened to Mikasa.

"Daijoubu?" he asked, very worried if she had suddenly lost her mind.

"Eh?"

"You... cooked a lot, and we don't have a guest," Eren said, worry starting to lace in his words.

Mikasa smiled a bit, "I... am just happy."

Now Eren was curious as to whether Mikasa had some loose screws in her head. Or was she hiding something from him?

"Levi-sempai said... that the out-of-school activity that I will be attending tomorrow will give me additional merits in school," she said. "And who knows? If I do well there, I just might attain me a scholarship for university so I won't have to depend on Uncle Hannes all the time."

Eren was relieved. Mikasa cared a lot for her grades. He was relieved because she wasn't going lunatic and all. Though hearing Levi's name punched him to the gut, he was glad that Mikasa was looking forward to the activity tomorrow.

"I wasn't aware that I made a lot, but that's okay," Mikasa told him gently. "So, eat lots."

Eren helped himself to the food that Mikasa cooked. He ate heartily as usual. He always love to eat what she cooks.

"Delicious, as always," Eren praised her. "If not for your cooking, I will starve."

"You sound like Sasha," Mikasa said before biting into her food.

"But still, I might not survive with my own cooking if not for you," Eren said to her, trying to make her feel better.

"Then you should learn how to cook," Mikasa dryly said. "Cooking omelet and medicine soup is not enough."

"Wakatta, wakatta," Eren said. "Please teach me, huh?"

"Wakatta," Mikasa replied. "Do you want, Friday? Or..."

"Friday would be great," Eren said.

"You... don't have practices?" Mikasa asked.

When she came to that point, Eren noticed that Mikasa was being cautious with her words, like she did not want to provoke him.

"Practices will start on Saturday, so don't worry," he told her with a smile. "You can have me the whole afternoon."

Mikasa nodded and lackadaisically ate her dinner.

"I'll help you make delicious food so that you can always have energy for practices," she told him. "Music will be spoiled if you are hungry."

Eren was relieved that Mikasa finally approved of him entering the band, "Arigatou."

~~.

"You approve of me entering the band, do you?" he asked her as the two of them stood outside at the balcony.

"I... saw that you're happy," she told him. "I see even here that you love your guitar, and you finally have a chance to show your talent to the world. I'm sorry for hindering your dreams."

Eren reached out to hold her hand.

"You sure you're okay with it?" he asked, and she nodded. "Arigatou. Let's reach for our dreams, Mikasa."

"Ee," Mikasa replied solemnly. "I will go and watch your performances."

"You sure are my biggest fan, Mikasa, but my autograph ain't cheap," Eren teased her.

"I don't need your autograph, Eren," Mikasa retorted, still with her usual stoic face. "You can just give it to anyone who likes."

"Aw, come on now, don't be jealous," Eren said as he squeezed her hand even more.

"Chigai," Mikasa retorted again. She was not willing to admit that Eren's future fangirls might cause her distress.

"So, we're cool, are we?"

"Ee."

Eren pulled her so that they will go back inside the house, but as he turned around, Mikasa let go of her hand and gave Eren a backhug. Eren felt butterflies in his stomach as his foster sister's hug tightened around his waist.

"What now, Mikasa?" he asked playfully. "Don't you want to sleep?"

"Just let me hug you for a minute, and we're good," Mikasa whispered as she buried her face on his back.

"You're not acting as a foster sister to me, Mikasa," Eren thought with a smile. "You are affected with the kiss we had yesterday."