Retrieving ?Eremika

Mikasa's P.O.V.
Feeling utterly elated, I quickened my pace to school, eager to see Yeager. I opted to not tell him via text messaging as I wished to be as emotive as possible in explaining everything to him. Falling asleep was difficult last night, knowing that he was the one I had been searching desperately for. A part of me still did not believe what my aunt had said, which had come so suddenly. I could recall the moment I heard the truth, how my heart constricted, every muscle in my body tensing. My aunt had seen the way I reacted, thus she slunk back into her room, no longer questioning me about my bruises. It had overwhelmed me, yet a load had lifted been off my shoulders. I did not break my promise, he was right there, with me. This was unfathomable, the whole idea of the boy from six years ago being beside me again.

My heart sank, wrenching at the thought of something I had forgotten to remind myself. He had lost his memories. He was not going to remember my real identity. If I told him everything, I could predict the way he would widen his emerald eyes to stare at me as if I was from another planet. I dropped my head slightly, thinking of various ways I could break the news to him.

Driven by exhilaration, I was early to school, entering the near-vacant classroom. There was no one, except for Armin, who had his face hidden behind a thick book of theories. I perched on the table next to his, my usual spot, crossing my legs. I flashed him a radiant smile, subtly nudging his knee with the tip of my boots.

"Oi, Mikasa, you're looking very cheery. That's not a very Mikasa thing to do," Armin peeled his face from the book and inclined his head in query, his brows furrowing, "What happened?" After he had asked, his lips curled into a knowing grin, possibly remembering what occurred yesterday. Damn. I forgot he walked in on us.

My beam diminished as I pouted, glancing away. As I reached behind me, I felt a something coarse beneath my fingers. It was a memo, neatly folded in half. It was directed to me, with my name written on it in cursive.

Meet me outside the lockers- A.L.

A wave of confusion surged through me. I gave Armin, who was once again engrossed in his book, a brief tap on the shoulder, to tell him that I was leaving to the lockers, yet he did not seem to notice, hence I left the note on my table. He would be smart enough to piece things together and figure out my location, if he really wished to find me.

I was in no mood to see Annie Leonhardt today, because talking to Eren right now was of utmost importance. My legs carried me reluctantly to the lockers nonetheless because it was a peculiar act of Annie's to write something to me on a piece of memo. She could have intentions of apologizing to me after the locker incident several days ago, and if she really did, I would quite possibly accept her sincerity. I could see her blonde hair with the corner of my eye. She had her torso leaning on something, or rather, someone. I could not get a clearer view of who she was murmuring to, as she had her back facing my direction, concealing the person's identity. Surreptitiously, I ambled closer, squinting to see the certain somebody. A spark of green. I bit my tongue as I saw Eren, pinned against the wall, dazed, goggling at Annie. She cupped his cheek with one hand, tip-toeing to reach him.

I could not bear this. My lips parted, yet no voice came out. Feeling numb and breathless, I blindly walked away. Pain had embedded itself in every inch of my heart, making every breath excruciatingly agonizing. I had thought better of Eren. I had thought a lot better of him. All my hopes of telling him about my real self faded away.

"Mikasa."

I lifted my gaze up to see Armin, hugging his book securely to his chest. We were in the dimly lit corridor, quite a distance away from Eren and Annie. At the sight of him, someone I could rely on, I broke into fountains of tears. He stabled me with a hand, supporting me by the shoulder, "What...?"

"Go see for yourself, Armin," I stammered, my voice shattering. He nodded briskly and dashed off, towards the lockers. He had read the note.

Tears streaking my face, I returned to the classroom.
End of Mikasa's P.O.V.

Eren's P.O.V.
Annie ran her fingers down my cheeks as she lifted her face, licking her lips. This felt entirely wrong.

"No, Annie, I'm sorry but I can't do this," I stuttered, "I like you but not in that way, sorry." Her face fell, her blue eyes gazing intently at me, astonished by my statement.

"But don't you reckon I'm better than Mikasa, Eren?" she whimpered. Mikasa? Why would she compare herself with Mikasa? My throat visibly undulated as I gulped, faltering. I did not wish to compare the two, because they were not comparable that way, due to the fact that I did not hold feelings for Annie romantically. The echoes of incoming footsteps bounced off the narrow walls of the hallway of lockers. I winced, hoping that it was not Mikasa.
End of Eren's P.O.V.

Armin's P.O.V.
I screeched to a halt in my tracks. Annie had her fingers on Eren's neck, yet the both of them were not speaking, neither were they moving. They were facing each other, Annie holding Eren in a passionate embrace. Their eyes were locked on each other's, yet I could not comprehend what was between the two.

"Annie...?" My whisper echoed. She whipped her head around, gasping as she saw me. No, please, not Annie. She loosened her grip on Eren, detaching her fingers from his neck. His face was pale, all the colors drained.

The book in my hands fell with a heavy thud. I darted out, unwilling to see Annie, not to mention Eren. Mikasa's tears fell for a reason. Heading out to the basketball courts outside, I tripped on my shoelaces, landing on all fours. My knees were bleeding profusely.

"Armin? Oh my gosh, Armin! Are you alright?" A hand slipped under my arms and pulled me to my feet. It was Annie, wrinkles of worry lining the corner her lips. She had knelt down, a look of horror plastered on her face as her eyes rested on my scratches.

"Annie, why did you kiss Eren? I've liked you so much for so long! Annie, just why?" I half-cried, neglecting the stinging pain in my kneecaps. Her cheeks flushed at my response, her other hand gently lifting my chin.

"Armin, I can't believe you just said that. Armin, I didn't kiss Eren. I would not give my first kiss to that jerk. I was just trying to make Mikasa envious," she muttered, slowly pronouncing each word to put emphasis on it.

"...Then who would you give your first kiss to?" I asked nervously, as I was no expert in the romantic aspects of life. The question rolled out of my mouth in an awkward manner, my mind spinning. My mouth contorted into a weird shape as I said the word 'kiss', something I had not said since time immemorial.

"You," Annie planted her gift on my mouth, pulling away to wrap her arms around him, "I promise, I won't do things like that to you ever again. I promise." I had stilled when our lips touched, my gaze wandering into space, too shocked for words. Eventually I returned the hug, as Annie wept, rubbing her face against my shoulder, "I'm so sorry."

I had never seen Annie cry until that day.
End of Armin's P.O.V.