Some students whispered, and muttered after the teacher's announcement. "He's moved here all the way from Japan, so please by nice", the teacher added. Carly blinked, that catching her ear.
She looked over, to see a boy enter. He had black hair, dark eyes, and was full Japanese. Carly felt color reach her cheeks, he reminded her of the main character of Persona 5.
But at the same time she was wiser now, and didn't fall too head over heels. After everything that happened with Nathan, she decided to be more distant this time.
Many girls in the class muttered "He's so cute!" while Carly continued to blush. Emily noticed, and giggled.
"Down tiger", she teased, nudging Carly. "Now, please introduce yourself", the teacher said. "Pleased to meet you all, I'm Arashi Fukashima, I'm 16 years old, and my family and I moved here from Tokyo, Japan", he spoke clear English, impressing the class.
"Okay Arashi, you can sit over by the window", the teacher gestured to Nathan's now empty desk. "Thank you ma'am", Arashi said, polite as he went to walk over.
He then stopped in his tracks, seeing Carly. His eyes widened a bit, and he turned red. Carly blinked, noticing his staring. She turned red too, as they made eye contact.
She felt her heart began to race, as Arashi looked completely blown away by her beauty. "Ahem, Arashi", the teacher cleared her throat.
"Oh..! Sorry!", Arashi snapped out of it, and hurried over to his desk.
Carly glanced over, still blushing. This...what she was feeling felt very different from Nathan. Nathan was more of a lustful feeling...but this...this felt much more pure.
And so much stronger. Emily giggled. "Oh wow, he's smitten for you Carly", she whispered. Carly blushed, but she looked down.
"Please...I don't need a boyfriend...honestly after Nathan, I feel almost like going lesbian", admitted Carly, sighing. Emily laughed softly.
"Oh don't kid yourself, girl! You're as straight as a stick", she pointed out. Actually, as Emily and Carly grew closer, they learned more about each other, and even shared secrets.
Emily was actually bisexual, and showed attraction towards female celebrities. However, because of her religious parents, she's only told Carly about it.
She had even confessed she originally thought she had a small crush on Carly when they first met, but in the end she admitted she saw Carly as more of a sister.
If anything, the confession deepened their bond as sister like friends. And Emily even encouraged Carly to be into boys, since she knew that's what made her happy.
"His name is a bit interesting...", Carly admitted softly. "Oh yeah...what's it mean?", Emily asked. "Arashi is Japanese for Storm, or Stormy...", Carly started.
"Ahem! Girls! Class has started!", the teacher interrupted. The girls piped down, and class went on.
Throughout the entire class, Arashi kept glancing over at Carly, very red.
By lunch, Emily and Carly went into the courtyard. They had spent the morning in Health class, so they had gotten on the topic of Makoto's birth.
"No way! Your brother was born on Christmas eve?!", Emily said, shocked. The girls sat down under the Sakura tree.
"Yep! Makoto was born two months early...I don't remember a lot since I was so little, but according to mom, it was an insanely fast labor, and they couldn't even make it out of the bedroom. I woke up since I heard some commotion...the more I think about it, I think I heard mom groaning...but what woke me was Auntie rushing up the stairs...and when I looked in the bedroom, I saw mom holding my baby brother. Plus it was a dangerous blizzard", Carly replied.
"Whoa...that is crazy! What about you, Carly?", asked Emily curiously. "Mom said I was her longest labor, but she did it all at home with dad and my Auntie Rubi, and my grandma Jaeger", Carly replied, smiling softly.
"And my cute little sister was the only one of us born at the hospital", she added. "I was born at the hospital too, C-section", Emily said.
Carly opened her lunch. "Oh, we forgot our drinks", she just noticed. "I'll go get them", Emily got up, going to the soda machine inside.
As Carly waited, she noticed Arashi sit under the other Sakura tree near her. Carly blushed a bit, trying to avoid eye contact.
But she didn't want to be rude either. As she panicked in her mind, it was Arashi who broke the ice. "You're half Japanese, right?", he asked, in a kind voice.
Carly jumped a bit, blushing. "Not quite half...my mom's half Japanese, but my dad's German...", she replied, nervously.
"I see...forgive me, I don't really know anyone here so...", Arashi began. Carly blinked softly...he didn't have the cocky straight forward attitude Nathan had.
If anything, he was nervous. "Mom transferred here many years ago, when she was only 9 years old, from Japan", she admitted.
She glanced at him. "Arashi...interesting name", she commented, blushing. Arashi blushed. "I was born during a pretty violent storm, it was some of the worst thunder and lightening the area had ever seen", Arashi explained.
"My mom and my brother were both born during a violent snowstorm...", Carly said softly. "They say the harsher weather one is born during, the stronger they grow to be", Arashi smiled.
"That explains a lot...my mom is insanely strong, both physically and emotionally...and my brother, well that's a whole other story", Carly smiled.
Arashi looked at her. "And you?", he asked. "Born during a heatwave...so...when did you and your family first move here?", asked Carly.
"Two weeks ago, my dad works as police officer. We mainly moved since my mother's health has always been very poor. And well, due to radiation being an issue in my country, dad felt nervous of us staying there...", Arashi explained.
"Oh...I see. My mom...she's strong, but her health isn't 100% either to be honest...she has arthritis due to her ribs getting broken when she was a teenager, plus she's always suffered from severe migraines. She has PTSD as well", Carly admitted.
"Jesus...that is a lot...", Arashi said, looking worried. "She has dad, and Auntie Rubi though, who's a doctor. She has some worse days, but she's okay for the most part...what about your mom?", asked Carly.
"Oh, well she's always had a bad heart...she actually had breast cancer for a period of time too...but she beat it", Arashi replied.
"Whoa...that's...horrible, but amazing she beat it..", Carly ran a hand through her hair. "Sorry..this conversation sure got morbid", she blushed.
"It's fine, we clearly have something in common, we both worry for our mothers", Arashi smiled, his eyes kind.
Carly blushed, smiling. "Oh, forgive me! I never asked your name", Arashi just realized. "Oh..it's Carla...Carla Petra Jaeger, but everyone calls me Carly", Carly replied.
Arashi blushed. "I think I prefer Carla, its a beautiful name", he admitted. Carly felt more color reach her cheeks.
After talking about their interests, manga, video games, movies, and books, Emily returned. "Oh my god, sorry Carly! The soda machine was being such a pain in the ass...oh..", Emily stopped then, seeing Arashi.
She then grinned. "Am I interrupting?", she teased. Carly turned bright red, so did Arashi. "U-Uh no..!", Carly stuttered.
"Arashi, you can eat lunch with us", Emily smiled, sitting down. She handed Carly her soda. "Thank you", Arashi said.
"You speak really clear English, did you take lessons?", asked Emily curiously. "Actually yes, for about three years", Arashi replied.
After lunch, Arashi and Carly exchanged numbers.
When the weekend arrived, Eren and Mikasa were taking their kids to visit Carla and Grisha. Carly hadn't mentioned Arashi to her parents yet, considering the Nathan incident wasn't too long ago.
But at the same time, Carly was being smart. She and Arashi just saw each other in school, and only ate lunch together with Emily, and read manga.
It was a very comfortable relationship. Since the fire six years ago, Carla and Grisha had moved to a new home.
It was actually a few miles up a dirt road from the neighborhood, and it was a big cozy farmhouse.
It had quite a lot of land for the kids to play, along with a pool. Titan stuck his head out the car window, sitting in the back with the kids as Eren drove.
Mikasa gazed out the window at the beautiful land. Her eyes softened...it was true, she and Eren had remained devastated their childhood home was burned down.
So many memories were in that house...but this new house was beautiful too. It was perfect for Eren's parents, and they took the kids to visit almost every weekend, creating new memories.
Eren pulled up to the big house, as the kids hurried out. Titan leaped out excitedly, wagging his curled tail.
"Hey! There you are!", Grisha waved, coming down the porch steps, a friendly black and white Cocker Spaniel by his side.
"Hey dad!", Eren hugged his father, as Mikasa helped Akane out of the car, since she was shorter than her siblings.
Titan ran over, playing with the spaniel. "Hey Titan! You missed Daisy?", Grisha laughed, referring to the spaniel.
The female spaniel was adopted by Carla and Grisha about three years ago. The dog was around 5 years old.
Titan and Daisy sprinted off, chasing the chickens and running into the pond happily. Grisha hugged Carly and Makoto next.
"Hey kids", he smiled. "Hey grandpa", Carly smiled. "Did you guys get a horse yet?", Akane asked cutely, holding her mother's hand. Grisha laughed.
"Not yet sweetie", he replied.
Once they went inside, Mikasa saw Carla. Carla was in the living room, in her wheelchair. Her legs had remained damaged after the fire. "Hey mom", Mikasa smiled coming home. "Mikasa! Hey angel", Carla smiled, hugging her daughter in law.
"How you feeling, mom?", Eren and Carla hugged next. "Same as always...oh there they are!", Carla beamed then, hugging Carly, Makoto and Akane.
"You're all getting so big! Carly, how's High school been?", asked Carla. "It's been great grandma", Carly replied.
"Dad let me go see the new Godzilla movie!", Makoto added excitedly. "I drew a picture in art class of our family, and I made copies, here's you and grandpa's copy", Akane added sweetly.
"Awww sweetheart, thank you. It's really well done", Carla smiled, cuddling her youngest grandchild close.
That evening, Titan and Daisy were relaxing on the front porch, enjoying the country air. Carly was in her guest bedroom, texting a bit with Arashi.
Makoto was watching a movie with Grisha and Eren in the living room, Akane was already asleep for the night, exhausted.
"Does the elevator still work okay, mom? Eren can fix it anytime", Mikasa said, she and Carla were in the kitchen, making some cookies for tomorrow.
"It's working great, angel. Hey, how have you been?" asked Carla softly. An elevator was installed in the house due to Carla's wheelchair.
"I've been okay...", Mikasa replied, although avoided eye contact. Carla frowned, worriedly. "Sweetie, be honest", she pressed.
Mikasa sighed softly, leaning against the counter. "It's...it's nothing, its just...my flashbacks started up again two weeks ago", she replied.
"During the whole Nathan issue?", Carla asked, having already known about that. "Yeah...they've stopped I think...but my headaches and nightmares have been happening a bit too often. Rubi gave me some medicine to help...", Mikasa replied.
Carla gently squeezed her daughter in law's hand. "Do they know yet? About...", she asked. Mikasa shook her head quickly.
"I...have no idea how to tell them, mom. How their grandparents, from my side, died...I know I have to tell them eventually of course but...", Mikasa sighed, looking down.
"I understand angel...but maybe, if you talk about it to them...it'll get off your mind", Carla pointed out gently.
"Maybe...I just...sorry mom", Mikasa suddenly wiped her eyes. Carla's expression turned worried. "Mikasa, baby come here", Carla pulled her into a hug.
After all these years, Mikasa still only broke down to Carla about her parents. She never wanted to appear sad in front of her children, and she didn't want to worry Eren, Rubi or Armin.
Plus for the most part she was happy, in fact she hadn't felt depressed about her parents in over six years. But after not thinking about it for so long, naturally it was going to get to her a bit.
"You know angel...they'd be so very proud of you. For the beautiful children you had and raised", Carla said sweetly, stroking Mikasa's hair.
Mikasa smiled tearfully. "Thank you mom", she said.
After a fun but relaxing weekend at Grisha and Carla's, the Jaegers returned home and to their daily routine.
It was morning, the kids at school. Carly and Arashi kept throwing glances at each other, blushing while Emily teased her friends.
Makoto and Alex were sitting in class, waiting eagerly for the teacher to come in. They got to class a bit early, before the teacher, and rigged a bucket of blue paint to fall over her when she entered the room.
"Alex, isn't this a bit extreme?", Makoto whispered, biting his lip. "Are you kidding?! It's perfect!", Alex chuckled, grinning.
"You two are seriously so dead", a classmate chuckled. The door opened then, as Alex's eyes grew big in excitement while Makoto tensed, nervous.
"Okay class, today...", the bucket of blue paint tipped over, and spilled all over the teacher. Alex busted out laughing, while Makoto slightly chuckled, struggling to keep a straight face.
The teacher frowned, and then glared at the boys. She then took a deep inhale.
"MAKOTO JAEGER! ALEX ARLET!", she yelled, the whole school practically shaking.
At the Jaeger house, Akane was actually in bed, feeling ill. Her breathing was a bit labored, pale.
Rubi gently wiped the little girl's sweaty forehead. "It's just a mild cold, but you should keep her at home for a few days, Miki", Rubi advised her sister.
"Thanks sis...", Mikasa's eyes looked worried for her youngest. She gently sat on the edge of the bed, holding Akane's tiny hand.
"If her fever rises, bring her in?", Eren asked, also worried. "Yes, right away. But her fever isn't too bad, she should be okay in a few days. Just some rest and medicine, and lots of fluids is all she needs", replied Rubi.
Mikasa nodded, as she gently stroked Akane's hair. Her phone vibrated then. Mikasa looked at the text and frowned.
"What is it, angel?", asked Eren, as Mikasa sighed. "It's our boys again, isn't it?", Rubi grinned, already having a feeling.
"Yep...Rubi, this time they spilled paint on the teacher", Mikasa stated. Eren struggled not to laugh. Rubi sighed. "He's such a handful! Can we trade sons, sis? Please? Makoto's such an angel!", she joked.
Mikasa laughed softly. After Rubi left, Mikasa kept a watch over her daughter. Akane's eyes opened slightly, as she coughed a bit.
"M-Momma..", she whimpered weakly. "Hey, easy sweetheart...shhhh, just rest. Mommy's right here", Mikasa soothed her daughter.
"So is daddy, princess", Eren added, smoothing her bangs back. Akane shivered a bit. "Mommy...can I wear your scarf? It looks so warm", Akane admitted.
Mikasa smiled. "Of course angel...hey, you want mommy to make you one of your own?", she thought of then, as she wrapped hers around her daughter's neck.
"Yes please...I want it to look just like mommy's", Akane replied, giving a weak smile, as she nuzzled the scarf close.
Eren smiled, wrapping his arm around his wife's shoulders. "I'll go make her some oatmeal and juice, hon", he told his wife. Mikasa nodded, staying with her daughter.
At the high school, Carly and Emily were in the library. "Ugghhh...why?! Whhy did our teacher assign this?!", Emily complained.
"It is excessive...this should be a summer project, not a two week one...it's the friggin Titanic history", Carly agreed, looking at all the books.
"I want it to be summer already", Emily whined. Carly blinked then, seeing Arashi come in. She blushed, smiling.
Arashi bit his lip, looking a bit nervous about approaching her. Carly blinked, that was different. "Arashi?", she waved him over.
Arashi walked over, taking a deep breath. "Hey Carly...um so...", Arashi scratched the back of his head, nervously. Carly blinked.
"Arashi, what's up?", she pressed. "Well...there's some new movies out and...I got special coupons, where the tickets are half off for any G to PG-13 rated movie...so...I was...kinda wondering if you'd like to...go with me tonight?", Arashi asked then.
Carly turned bright red, and her mind actually shut down for a second as Emily grinned. "Y-You...mean...are you asking me out on a...d-date?", Carly stuttered.
"Y-Yeah...I guess I am...", Arashi replied, blushing. There was an awkward pause. "I'll just...leave you two alone", Emily chuckled, exiting quickly.
"So um...the only time we'd be able to go because of it being a school night is 6...", Arashi pressed. "Right...okay...um...I'd need to let my parents know...", Carly said.
"Is...that a yes?", asked Arashi. Carly blushed. "Y-Yes...Yes, you know where my house is, right?", she asked. "Yep...I'll pick you up at 5:30", Arashi smiled, beaming.
"I'll...I'll be ready", Carly replied, also smiling.
At the end of the day, Carly and Makoto were walking home from school. "Sis, what's up? You've been really quiet", Makoto commented.
Carly exhaled. "Listen kiddo..don't freak out...and let ME tell mom and dad...I..kinda have a date tonight", she confessed, running a hand through her hair.
Makoto gawked at his sister. "A date?! With who, sis?!", he asked. "His name is Arashi, he's a transfer student...he's NOTHING like Nathan. We haven't even kissed or held hands yet...", Carly added quickly, seeing Makoto's protective glare.
Makoto bit his lip. "Well..I guess he's different since you're being honest about him...", he admitted, crossing his arms.
"I haven't mentioned him because of what happened with Nathan...", admitted Carly.
When the siblings arrived home, Mikasa was making dinner while Eren came downstairs. "We're home", said Makoto.
"Welcome home kids", Mikasa smiled. "Akane's fast asleep, her fever's gone down", Eren let his wife know. "Sis is sick?", Carly looked worried then.
"She just had a little cold, she's feeling better now...how was your day?", asked Mikasa, as Eren set the table.
"Sis has a date!", Makoto blurted out then. Carly turned red and glared. "Makoto?! What the hell?!", she growled as Makoto ducked for cover.
Eren froze, his eye twitching while Mikasa turned around, surprised. "A date?! Sweetie...with who?", she asked, hurrying over while Eren remained where he was.
"Look...please..I don't want either of you freaking out, this isn't like Nathan. At all..Arashi is a transfer student from Japan...", Carly started.
"Oh, Japan? Eren, you hear that?", Mikasa smiled then, trying to get Eren to calm down a bit. Eren grumbled.
"Big deal, anyone of any country can be a psycho", he stated. "This is true, but my native country is very respectful", Mikasa pointed out.
"Give me a break, I've seen the kind of porn they make", Eren mumbled then. Mikasa froze, and she then glared.
"And HOW would you know that, exactly Eren?", she frowned. Eren turned white. "Believe it or not, from working for the video game company, one of my co workers had some freaky hentai up on his computer, needless to say our boss was not impressed...Mika it's the truth", Eren saw her look.
Mikasa frowned. "Really baby...I promise, how the heck could I watch that stuff when I have the most beautiful wife in the world to go to bed with?", Eren added. Mikasa blushed then.
"E-Eren...", she looked down, turning redder. Carly frowned.
"SERIOUSLY?! You two lecture me!", she piped in them. Eren and Mikasa both looked embarrassed.
"Okay angel..fair point", Mikasa said.
"Carly, how long have you known this boy?", Eren quickly turned his attention back to his daughter. Carly bit her lip.
"Only a week but...he's really sweet. We read manga together, talk about movies, and text", she replied. Mikasa's eyes softened.
"That...sounds a lot better than before, sweetie. Okay, when is this date?", asked Mikasa, while Eren still grumbled a bit.
"Tonight...in about...", Carly checked the time. "He's picking me up in two and a half hours", she replied. "What?!", Eren and Mikasa both gawked at their daughter, Mikasa looking excited and Eren looked protective.