Note: Boldfaced and Italicized words are lyrics.

***

"Nah, man."

"Why on earth?!" The class burst out whining which didn't took long when Mikasa emitted a dangerous aura, screaming superiority. The outburst eventually turned into murmurs.

"F-F-FU—yeah. Y-You should have protested before the poll!" Jean, being the other class representative, frantically jerked on his seat.

Mikasa faced the blackboard and erased the writings: band, stage play + dance performance, maid café, disco, film showing, ramen shop...

"We'll going to prepare for a stage play, everyone." She mumbled with her back facing the class.

"Y-Yes!" They synchronously answered out of fear.

It was 10 days before the cultural festival and everyone was occupied with their designated tasks. Class 1-A has followed a thorough democratic way in choosing their activity for the said festival, though some talents don't quite fit to what the majority wants.

Eren leaned on his elbows, mulling over the fact that he can't dance or act. Armin on the other hand, sat on his desk to make his friend feel that they share the same problem.

"Marco gave me a 'tree' role." He beamed.

"Horse face Jean was pushing me to be the horse! How low can that be?!" Eren pounded his fist on his desk.

"But I'm willing to give my tree in exchange of horse."

"I can't believe this, Armin." Eren returned to spacing out.

"Alright, for the choreography committee! Can I have your attention?" Marco called out across the room, making Armin's head perk.

He was still confused why Mikasa put him in that place.

I don't even know what is pleasant and what is not in dancing! He retorted earlier but their class rep just gave him a tap on the shoulder and here he was, eyes wandering to his fellow committee like he was searching for someone in particular.

Wait, Connie? His confidence slightly increased with his friend's presence.

"Armin?" Connie noticed him as he walked along side, "You'll never know how relieved I am right now!" He gasped.

"I—hah." Armin nervously chuckled in return, "Honestly, I didn't know why I am here either."

"Me too! But at least you're here!" Connie cheered pointlessly.

Before they even notice, they were all gathered up at the hallway. Armin scanned his classmates again, almost stumbling at the intimidating Annie Leonhardt on his side who suddenly appeared.

She's so close.

Armin's face heat up by his crush's presence. He could not even imagine being an inch close to her, so their elbows colliding only caused goosebumps all over his body. He suddenly tensed up when Marco called him, realizing that he wasn't listening for the whole time.

"Ah, I'll leave the formation to you, Armin!" Marco who was not aware of Armin's zoning out said in excitement, "You'll do well with Annie!"

Annie. His eyes widened as his heart skipped a bit.

Shoot. The first thing that blocked his mind was the fact that he sucks in dancing. His esteem was starting to trick him.

What would she think if I failed?!

"Is that a go?" Marco once again cut his train of thoughts, only to kill him with the plain, "Ok." of a particular someone beside him.

...

Armin was never going to get used to Annie's flawless movements. Every night, he'll stare at his bedroom ceiling for a day review but for the past few days, all he remembered was her face and all she did. There were few moments when he'll cringe over the memory of him getting in her way during their practice. But at least he gets to touch her.

It was the last day of preparation before the cultural festival when Mikasa popped out over his shoulder with her neutral expression that he actually understood.

"I saw you yesterday." Mikasa started.

Armin already knew where this is coming, "I-I tried!" He stammered.

"Your reflexes are way better than any of us in 1-A. I can't see why you don't give yourself a chance." Mikasa's face relaxed as she gave him a reassuring smile.

Armin begun to contemplate, almost crying whenever he touches the reality that his body won't get along with his mind. He's gifted in music, excellent actually. He has a good taste in beats. Whenever he hears a song, he would automatically drum his finger anywhere. However, his whole body won't react, like his hands were not connected to his feet.

He leaned his face on his hands, stressed.

His imminent procrastination was cut off by Eren who was whining about a 'Reiner being the leading man and he gets to kiss Crista's hand'.

"How ambitious." Eren mused, and these were the only words that Armin absorbed.

I have to...

The bell finally rang. "At last. Buddy, let's go." Eren invited as he swung his ready-to-go school bag over his shoulder.

Armin, however, dashed off his seat out of the room with determined eyes, saying, "Just go home with Mikasa, I have something left to do," leaving his friend confused.

"Is he possessed?"

...

Armin pushed the gym door, panting.

Lucky.

The gym lights were still on and the person he's looking for has welcomed him with an innocent blink.

He clenched his fists and said at the top of his lungs,

"Dance with me!"

Annie blinked again in response. Suddenly, realization struck him and he felt absurd by his actions, thinking, 'what if she's tired, or itching to go home, or has plans for the night?'.

"T-That's if you're not busy—" He added, only receiving another blink.

He's not sure if she's simply not catching up or thinking that he's crazy.

She's too quiet... and perfect. Another blink and he'll kiss her.

"I'm free." She answered, cocking a brow before continuing what she's been doing.

"I-I'll help you with that." He was more than relieved, knowing that no one was there except Annie, yet he's still internally cursing himself in embarrassment.

Annie went on the stage to test the sounds, putting the headphones on, "Can you try the lights?" She asked.

Armin turned of the main lightings and let the colorful stage lights dance on the curtains. He can clearly see Annie's pale skin in the dark, her tied hair glamorously matching her bright blue eyes.

She tucked her loose hair behind her ear.

"Perfect." Armin whispered under his breath.

It's not helping, really. He thought as he stiffen at the backstage. I wonder what she's listening...

It seemed like she has heard his thoughts when the sound slowly amplified on the speakers, enough for him to feel the beat.

Guitar strings were plucked in a country song style.

Don't take yourself so seriously...

Look at you all dressed up for someone you never see...

Annie walked closer until she reached the center of the stage.

You're here for a reason but you don't know why,

You're split and uneven your hands to the sky.

It was then when he realized that she was attracting him like a magnet.

Surrender yourself.

And I wonder why I tear myself down to be built back up again...

She started snapping her fingers with her head slightly nodding along the sudden upbeat, but his heartbeat was deafening, it was all he could hear.

"Move your head along the beat." She muttered, and he complied.

...Oh I hope somehow, I'll wake up young again.

All that's left of myself, holes in my false confidence...

And now I lay myself down, and hope I wake up young again...

Now she started moving her feet and her shoulders. Pulling him closer and he swears she stepped on his feet. He knew, she did it on purpose.

Now his legs started to go with the beat.

Hope I wake up young again...

During the interlude, Annie went over the equalizer to repeat the song and start again.

"I think you got it." She said with a leaking excitement in her tone.

Armin noticed that she was ecstatic when it comes to dancing. Who would thought that the cold emo-like and intimidating Annie will show her interest and weakness to him?

Nothing excites him more to know that he's doing what she loves.

He accepted the challenge and did everything she says.

Don't take yourself so seriously...

Look at you all dressed up for someone you never see...

Her hand touches his face, slowly sliding the tip of her nails from his cheek down to his chin. Then, suddenly pulling his head down, her hand already resting on his nape. Her eyes played, staring at his eyes down to his lips.

Captivating. Breathtaking. He watched her attentively while the stage lights do the magic.

You're here for a reason but you don't know why,

You're split and uneven your hands to the sky.

Annie held his hands and pulled them shoulder level, clasping her palms with his, slowly motioning them in circles down to his chest. They fit perfectly.

She pushed against his chest and leaned in, feeling his throbbing heart.

Armin felt her nose pressed on his shoulder, making him shiver. It's not helping.

Surrender yourself.

She pushed him at the end of the stanza.

"..."

And I wonder why I tear myself down to be built back up again...

...Oh I hope somehow, I'll wake up young again.

All that's left of myself, holes in my false confidence...

And now I lay myself down, and hope I wake up young again...

At the chorus, Annie started dancing around him as she pulled down his unbuttoned blazer, completely lost in her world.

This is what she loves. Armin grabbed her left hand with his right like it was moving on its own, or was she manipulating and controlling his body? He didn't know.

Don't let those demons in again...

I fill the void up with polished doubt, fake sentiment...

Surrender yourself.

The beat started to reach him, his body moving on its own, matching every gestures that Annie makes.

He pulled her, she pushed him before she leaped closer again. He turned her around, hands still locked to each other. He was now facing the part of her that he never dared to stare at. Her nape is perfect. He bit his lip.

Annie can feel his quiet breathing against her nape, making her smile as she swayed her waist and shoulders. It's not helping. She turned him around to face her as she let his hands slip out of her grip. She freed her hand to pull his tie, drawing him closer.

Their eyes met again, this time it hits differently. This time, their blue orbs were filled with amusement, like they just did something they never experienced before.

He's falling. The feeling was a new discovery for Armin Arlert.

And then that happened... both heads darting at the backstage.

"Huh?" A scornful snort echoed in the almost empty gymnasium as the light turned on, revealing the unamused Levi Ackerman along with the famous student council secretary.

"That was classy!" Their upperclassman, Hange Zoe applauded.

I didn't notice! Armin's face was almost blood red, and the sight made Annie chortle.

He rolled his eyes to peek at her laughing image, only adding up to his blush.

"Time?" Levi crossed his arm as he stood mightily in front of them. At least he's taller than Annie and a little, almost, taller than Armin.

The two looked at the clock across the room that was placed above the main entrance.

5:43...

"Come on, Captain." Hange gave him a pat on his head, earning a 'tch' from him.

"By the way, Armin, President Erwin's looking for you." Hange reminded.

"Ah," Armin was perplexed, probably still catching up to reality after his happiest moment in 16 years.

"..."

"AH! YEAH! I ALMOST FORGOT!"

"Almost?" Hange cocked a brow.

"Last time I saw you, you were f*ck*** your girlfriend with this deafening music. Say you just forgot to do the task that the President entrusted to you." Levi snapped, although everyone knows it was his natural mood. He walked towards the equalizer and turned off the music, disconnecting all the wires on their sockets, while Armin and Annie took that brief chance to flee from further scolding.

"I wish I can dance to, eh. Levi, why don't you dance with me?" Hange giggled as she let the two ran off and hide.

Levi on the other hand was ready to hunt them down if Hange did not stopped him.

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End note:

Song title: False Confidence by Noah Kahan

(Disclaimer: I do not own the song)

Btw, you can watch the dance choreography of False Confidence (by Sean and Kaycee)