Attack On Titan- Wings of liberty*

They were having tea together, seated around a small, simple table. Isabel's curious eyes lingered on Sana's outfit, which stood out sharply from the plain clothing everyone else wore. Sana shifted uncomfortably, fully aware of how out of place she looked. She was wearing vintage denim shorts in a skirt style, paired with a short black undershirt and a white full-sleeved placket blouse. The modern ensemble seemed alien in a world where denim wasn't even a thing.

"Your clothes," Isabel said, tilting her head as she spoke, "they're… different. What is that material? We don't wear anything like that here."

Sana hesitated, unsure how to respond. Before she could think of a reply, Farlan intervened, his tone calm but inquisitive. "How did you end up here? We've never seen you around before."

Sana clasped her hands together nervously, avoiding their gazes. "The Military Police threw me down here," she answered, keeping her voice steady despite the lump in her throat.

Her words drew sharp, focused stares from all three of them.

"Why would they do that?" Levi asked, his tone direct and probing. "What did you do?"

Sana swallowed hard, her thoughts spinning. She couldn't possibly explain the truth—not without sounding crazy. "I… I don't know," she admitted. "I'm lost. I don't know how I ended up here." She sighed, shaking her head slightly. "I can't explain it because I don't understand it myself. You can assume whatever you want and make your verdict."

The weight of her words settled in the room. Farlan leaned back slightly, studying her with a thoughtful expression. "We're thugs, you know. Is that going to be a problem for you? You seem like someone from a decent background. Staying here won't do much for your reputation."

Sana smiled faintly, a hint of sadness in her eyes. "I'm fine with that. I don't need a decent reputation until I have a decent family."

Isabel's eyes widened, her lips curving into a warm, encouraging smile. "You know, I came here not too long ago myself—maybe a month or so. Aniki and Farlan took me in. Don't worry—they're really nice."

Her words eased some of the tension in the air.

Sana glanced at Farlan and Levi. "I can't do much to help with… whatever it is you do. But if it's okay, I'd like to cook for you all. I'm a pretty good cook."

Levi's sharp gray eyes fixed on her, skeptical. "You can cook, huh? Let's see how good you really are."

"Does that mean I can cook for you?" Sana asked, her tone hopeful.

"Do what you like," Levi replied with a dismissive wave of his hand. "But keep it clean."

"I will," she said with a small smile.

"Alright," Levi said after a moment. "From now on, you're staying here."

They finished their tea quietly, a tentative sense of camaraderie beginning to settle over the group.

"Can I borrow some clothes?" Sana asked after a moment. "I didn't bring anything with me, and I'd like to take a bath."

"Of course," Isabel said cheerfully. "You can take mine!"

Isabel brought her a simple tunic and loose trousers. The clothes were snug on Sana, who stood a good 5'6", but they would suffice for now. Isabel guided her to the bathing area, a small but surprisingly clean room.

As Sana washed, she let her thoughts wander. How was it that she could understand and speak their language so effortlessly? And how had she ended up in the world of an anime? The surreal reality was something her mind struggled to process.

She decided to keep her knowledge of this world to herself for now. It was too soon to reveal anything that might make them suspicious. Trust would take time.

Feeling refreshed, Sana returned to the kitchen, where Isabel was boiling potatoes.

"What are you making?" she asked.

"Just boiling some potatoes. I'm starving," Isabel replied.

"Let me cook something for you," Sana offered, stepping closer.

Isabel stepped aside, watching curiously as Sana inspected the available ingredients. She found wheat flour, cooking oil, salt, and chilies—just enough to make something simple yet flavorful.

Sana began kneading the dough and preparing the boiled potatoes for stuffing. Without a rolling pin, she improvised, flattening the dough by hand. The aroma of spiced potato-stuffed flatbreads—aloo parathas—soon filled the air.

Isabel took the first bite, her eyes widening with delight. "What on earth is this?" she exclaimed.

"Do you like it?" Sana asked, smiling.

"Absolutely yes! Who wouldn't?" Isabel replied, eagerly taking another bite.

Drawn by the delicious aroma, Farlan and Levi soon appeared.

"You're cooking?" Farlan asked, intrigued.

"Please, join us," Sana said, gesturing to the fresh parathas.

The two men each took a bite, their expressions softening as they chewed.

"This is… good," Levi admitted, his voice begrudging but genuine.

Farlan nodded in agreement, his approval evident in the way he quickly reached for another. Sana smiled, her heart warming at their reactions.

After they finished eating, Isabel suddenly turned to Sana, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "Sana, would you like to learn how to use 3D maneuver gear?"

Sana's breath caught. The thought sent a thrill through her. "Yes!" she exclaimed, almost jumping out of her seat.

They retrieved a set of gear, and Isabel helped her put it on. Levi stepped forward, his expression serious. "Listen closely. This trigger releases the ropes," he explained, pointing. "The cylinder holds the cables. Aim carefully and press the trigger to attach the rope to a surface. This other trigger retracts the rope. Use your legs to adjust direction. It'll take muscle strength, so brace yourself."

At first, Sana struggled. She missed her targets and couldn't balance in mid-air.

"Focus," Levi snapped. "You're overthinking it. Trust your instincts."

Sana took a deep breath and tried again. Gradually, she began to improve, hitting her marks and learning to balance.

"Good," Levi said finally. "You're learning quickly."

Sana felt a rush of exhilaration. Flying through the air, she felt as though she had grown wings—the Wings of Liberty.

"You were amazing!" Farlan said, clapping her on the back.

"I knew you'd get it!" Isabel cheered, her energy infectious.

When they finally returned home, Sana was utterly exhausted. Her muscles ached, and she could barely move. After a quick bath, she ate a small meal and set about washing her clothes, determined to keep her promise of cleanliness.

When she finally lay down to sleep, the underground's stifling heat pressed down on her. Too tired to care, she stripped down to a sports bra and folded up her pants, seeking relief from the warmth.

The others were still awake, their low voices carrying through the room. But for Sana, sleep came instantly.