Chapter 1: Cold Night

Hanji's POV

I don't think that Moblit knows it, but I notice all his fidgeting while I eat my lunch with him. This is the first time that he seems so uneasy around me.

"Hey" I said as I pointed my fork at him. Moblit looked at me for a moment. "Tell me, whats your problem. Really." He was startled as I harshly stabbed my salad while glaring at him. We stared at each other for more than a minute, before I shrugged and just decided to continue eating.

"I like you"

For a second, I felt myself stop. I put on a blank face and acted as if I heard nothing.

"Hanji please, I like you and wish to go out with you. I hope you-"

"No thanks" I said as I put my fork down and looked at him. Moblit is shocked but after a few seconds, he just smiled warmly at me.

"It didn't even took you a minute to think" he said.

"I don't need a minute for it. Heck, even a second is a waste of time thinking about it. I'm just sure with myself that I don't need a man and that Science is the only thing that I'm gonna marry someday" I said as I smirked

"I didn't know that getting rejected feels like this" Moblit smiled sadly making me feel a bit guilty. He is a good friend after all.

"I'm so-"

"No its okay. I just want you to know how I feel" he said before he started eating his food again. "But if it bothers you, just act as if nothing happened earlier. Okay squad leader Zoe?" I laughed a little at what Moblit called me.

"Sure Moblit" I said. We ate in silence after that. I don't know what to say after all and I'm sure that he is thinking the same.

I swallowed the last bite of my food amd was gulping my drink when a slightly tall brunette woman approached us, panting as she stopped in front of me. I put the water bottle down and wiped my lips with the sleeves of my polo. Moblit stopped eating as he looked at the woman too.

"Ms. Zoe" she said before she took a deep breath and looked at me "Mr. Smith is looking for you"

"Erwin?" I asked raising an eyebrow. She just nodded. "Why? Did he tell you?"

"No ma'am"

I hummed in reponse and nodded at her. Then she made a bow before turning her back at me, leaving the place.

"I have this feeling that Erwin has some weird plans going on in his mind again" I put my hand in my chin while I think.

"You do?" Moblit asked.

I smiled and got up from the chair. "Yep so I better get going now. Bye!" I said and skipped my way out of the cafeteria.

"Wait-" Moblit called for me but I already left the place grinning. I'm sure that he called me to remind me of the utensils I just used for eating earlier. I just always left it at the table with all of my mess which almost all of the people note as 'inappropriate'. Oh well, I don't care anyway.

After a few minutes of walking, I finally reached Erwin's office. Without knocking, I opened his office door and casually went inside, sitting at the couch. Erwin, on the other hand, just continued to read the papers, greatly aware of my presence.

"So" I said getting his attention "Why did you call me?" I asked as I crossed my legs. Erwin just sighed and threw an envelope in my direction. With my great reflex, I perfectly caught it, tripping on my own feet in the process.

"I highly appreciate your help with regards to that" he said getting back on reading papers. I looked at him confused before reading the envelope that Erwin just gave me.

100th anniversary of Reiss' Group of Companies.

"Seriously Erwin? A formal party?" I asked while I sat on the floor. "Don't tell me that you're planning on making me wear a silly gown, acting as your date" I rolled my eyes as I imagined how horrible that might be. Erwin put his papers down and looked at me with his eyes narrowed.

"No. You're just gonna embarass me if that happens" Erwin stood up from his chair and looked out the office window "and Lynne is gonna fill that job out"

"What do you want me to do then?" I asked. He looked at me before pointing his finger at one of the stacks of boxes in the far corner of his office. I tilted my head a bit before going in there and opening one of the boxes.

"Holy cow" my eyes widened as I saw the things inside the box. It is filled with artifacts and figurines. Not to mention the jars that looks like it cost more than a million. "What am I gonna do with this craps?!" I continued opening the other boxes as Erwin made his way towards me.

"That craps you are talking about are the replicas of the treasures that the Reiss family found in their century of excavating in numerous caves. They want that to be displayed in the venue during the party" Erwin said. I looked at him with my eyebrows raised, eyes wide, and my mouth hanging open.

"The heck Erwin? You are seriously assigning me on displays when you are greatly aware that I'm a person with disorganized habits?" I literally lost my cool, accidentally slapping one of the replicas. Before it even falls on the ground, I immediately caught it, burying my face on the carpeted floor of Erwin in the process.

"I assigned you on that because I'm sure that you could pull it off perfectly. Plus, you have great knowledge in research and artifacts so you're a good fit in it"

Before I could even say something against his decision, the door bursted open revealing the brunette woman earlier with piles of papers on hand and a phone on the other.

"Mr. Smith, Mr. Pixis wants to talk to you" she said raising the phone a bit.

"Ah yes. Connect the call to my phone here please Lynne"

"Yes sir" she said before going out of the office. Erwin sat on his table afterwards and reached for his phone while I just sat there looking at him with an unexplainable expression. The phone rang but before he picked it up, he looked at me first as if saying to go out.

"But-" i tried reasoning out but was immediately cut off.

"I will be expecting so much on that Hanji. You may now get back to your work".

I rolled my eyes and slammed the door shut. Gritting my teeth, I stomped my way towards my own desk.

There is not doubt that I like researching and going in excavations and discovering more scien-cy stuffs. But designing? Oh boy. You won't expect anything from me on that. Not if you know how to appreciate garbages and craps.

I heave a sigh before opening my desktop computer. I have to deal with more stuffs other than that "assignment" which Erwin gave me.

~*~

The day inched by and it was already 7 when I went out of the building. As I walked, I felt the cold night breeze blew so I adjusted my coat to cover my body more. It is unbelivably cold even though we are now reaching the last weeks of winter. The flowers are blooming again and the trees are all starting to grow leaves. I smiled as I think of spring which is about to come.

*kring~

I stopped and immediately scooped my phone out of my bag. I looked at the caller and found that it is Nanaba probably informing me of the date she set up yet again. A sigh came out of my mouth and I can see my breath due to the temperature. With a bored tone, I answered the call.

"If it is a date again, I'm serious Nanaba. I will definitely cut my ties with you" I heard her hissing at the other line.

"Trust me it's not. I have already used up all the unmarried guys I know on my list just to set up with you" I can imagine her rolling her eyes as she said that which made me smirk.

"Good. Why are you calling then?"

"I just want to ask you if you already had your dinner. Mike is currently working overtime so I don't have anyone to share my cooking with" Nanaba said. From the other line, I heard the sound of plates and utensils which implies that she really did prepare one.

"Can't you wait your husband to come home?" I asked as I started walking again.

"Nah. I want to be with you. I'll be cheating on him tonight"

Her answer made me laugh as I switched my phone from my right ear to my left. I leaned my hand at the road, calling for a cab.

"Oh shut it Nanaba. I know that I said that I don't want a man but I'm not into girls too" Nanaba laughed from the other line but she immediately stopped.

"Shit. I almost forgot about the chicken" I heard stumbling from the other line and a few more cursing.

Just as I was about to say something, a cab stopped in front of me. I went inside and settled myself at the comfy seat of the car and dropped my phone a little to tell the driver our destination.

"Hey-" I was cut off when I heard something metallic falling from the other line and a hissed.

"Heck that pot was hot" Nanaba laughed. I just smiled while imagining her grinning. "Anyway I'll be expecting you Hanji. Don't disappoint me" she ended the call with me still holding my phone to my left ear. I raised an eyebrow as I looked at the phone screen but just shrugged it off. I put my phone back to my bag and adjusted the coat to myself. It is so cold tonight.