The silence that hung after Eren's words was thick enough to choke on. It wasn't just a decision—it was a declaration, a spark thrown into a powder keg. The students in the classroom shifted uncomfortably, whispering in hushed tones, but their eyes never left the three figures at the center of the storm: Eren, Levi, and Tang Sun Moon.
Levi's chest heaved, his fists trembling with suppressed rage. His blue eyes locked on Eren, disbelief cutting through him like a knife.
"Eren… you're not serious. Tell me you're joking."
But Eren's expression didn't falter. His green eyes gleamed with a rare firmness, the kind that left no room for doubt.
"I'm not joking, Levi. This… is my decision."
The words stabbed deeper than any blade. For the first time, Levi felt like the ground beneath him had been pulled away.
Tang Sun Moon chuckled softly, his voice dripping with satisfaction.
"Well, well… the lamb walks into the lion's den willingly. How unexpected… how delicious."
Levi snapped, shoving Eren behind him protectively. His voice thundered through the classroom.
"Don't you dare touch him, Tang!"
But Tang Sun Moon was calm, almost serene. He stepped forward, each move calculated, like a predator closing in on its prey. His sharp gaze flickered between Levi and Eren, and his smirk widened.
"Levi, you fight like a cornered wolf. But wolves… they always lose to fire."
Before Levi could respond, Tang's hand shot out, gripping Eren's wrist firmly.
"Let go of him!" Levi roared, throwing a vicious punch.
The classroom exploded into chaos. Students scrambled back, knocking over chairs and desks as Levi and Tang collided with a force that shook the room. Punch after punch flew, each strike echoing with raw rage and defiance. Blood spattered the floor, their breaths coming in harsh growls.
Eren rushed forward, desperation etched across his face.
"Stop! Both of you, stop!"
But neither man listened. Levi's knuckles slammed into Tang's cheek, snapping his head to the side. Tang retaliated instantly, his fist connecting with Levi's jaw. They staggered but refused to fall, the air thick with tension, violence, and unspoken history.
Finally, Eren threw himself between them, arms outstretched.
"Enough!" he screamed, his voice cracking. "This fight isn't about you two—it's about the rules! The game! The decision has already been made!"
Levi froze, his chest heaving, his fists still raised. Blood dripped from his lip, his eyes burning with betrayal. Tang, meanwhile, wiped blood from his forehead with a smirk, his eyes glittering like icy flames.
"You see?" Tang said calmly, his gaze fixed on Levi. "Even your own Eren understands. He belongs to B Grade now. Nothing you do can change that."
Levi's voice broke, a raw mixture of fury and heartbreak.
"Eren… don't do this. You don't know what they'll do to you there!"
But Eren shook his head, his resolve unshaken.
"I know exactly what I'm walking into. That's why I'm going. If someone has to face them, it'll be me. Not War. Not you. Me."
The room fell silent again, the weight of his words crushing every whisper.
Levi staggered back as if struck, his breathing ragged. His voice cracked as he whispered,
"Then from today… we have nothing between us. No relationship. Nothing."
With that, he turned sharply, slamming his fist into a desk before storming out. The door slammed shut behind him, the sound echoing like thunder.
Eren stood frozen, the sting of Levi's words piercing him deeper than Tang Sun Moon's grip ever could.
Tang's smirk deepened as he stepped closer, leaning into Eren's ear. His voice was a low whisper, dangerous and intimate.
"You made your choice, Eren Yeager. From this day… you are mine."
Eren's jaw tightened. His voice was low but fierce, trembling with restrained fury.
"Don't be so sure, Tang. You might think you've won… but what you've really done is set fire to your own fate."
Tang tilted his head, intrigued.
"Oh? And what do you see in me, Eren?"
Eren's eyes burned as he met Tang's icy stare.
"I see only loneliness. A fire that consumes but never warms. You can burn the world… but in the end, you'll be left with nothing but ashes."
For a moment, something flickered in Tang's eyes—a crack in his perfect mask. But it vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by a devilish grin.
"Careful, Eren," he murmured. "Those words might come back to haunt you."
That night, silence reigned at the dining table. Mona sat between Levi and Eren, her fork untouched, her eyes darting between them nervously. The tension was suffocating.
Finally, she couldn't hold back anymore.
"What happened to you both? Why aren't you speaking? Why is there so much anger?"
Levi slammed his fork down with a metallic clang, his eyes blazing.
"Ask him, Mama! Ask your precious Eren what he's done. Because I have nothing more to say!"
He shoved back his chair and stormed toward his room, the door slamming shut behind him.
Mona turned to Eren, her face pale with worry.
"Eren… tell me. What is happening? Why did you go to B Grade?"
Eren lowered his gaze, his voice soft, trembling with the weight of everything.
"Mama… where is Dad?"
Mona blinked, caught off guard. Her voice softened.
"He's at a meeting… why? Eren, please, tell me what's going on."
Eren hesitated, then looked her straight in the eye.
"Mama… there's something I need to know. And you're the only one who can tell me."
Her breath caught, unease flickering across her face. The clink of cutlery and the faint hum of the ceiling fan filled the silence, amplifying the storm that brewed within the house.
Finally, Mona whispered, her voice laced with fear and something deeper—secrecy.
"Eren… there are things about this family you're not ready to hear. But soon… you will know everything."
The air grew heavier, the words hanging like a prophecy. Eren's heart pounded in his chest, his mind racing with questions he didn't dare voice.
The storm wasn't just between Levi and Tang Sun Moon anymore. It was inside his own home.