Chapter 39: Restless Day

                                    

                                          
The morning air was brisk as the tea shop stirred to life, though the usual rhythm felt off. Levi stood near the counter, meticulously arranging tea tins that didn't need rearranging. His hands moved with purpose, but his sharp eyes betrayed a restlessness that even his practiced stoicism couldn't fully mask.
By the door, Hange's satchel sat ready, packed for her journey back to Paradis. She stood nearby, her grin wide as she chatted with Onyankopon and Gabi, her energy as infectious as ever. If she felt any apprehension about leaving, it didn't show-not outwardly.
Falco entered from the tea garden, brushing dirt from his hands. "Everything's set for the day, Captain," he reported.
Levi gave a curt nod, his gaze flicking toward Hange's satchel for the briefest moment before returning to the counter. "Good. Keep it that way."
Gabi tilted her head, watching Levi with a mix of suspicion and curiosity. "You're not going to see her off, huh?"
Levi didn't look up. "I've got work to do."
Hange's laugh broke the tension. "Oh, come on, Gabi. You know Levi—he's all about priorities. And besides, he doesn't want to admit he'll miss me."
"Tch," Levi muttered, his fingers tightening around the edge of a teacup. "Don't flatter yourself."
Gabi smirked, leaning closer to Falco. "That's basically him admitting it."
When the carriage arrived, the atmosphere shifted. Hange slung her satchel over her shoulder and gave a mock salute to the small group gathered at the tea shop. Onyankopon offered her a handshake, while Gabi and Falco lingered nearby, their expressions tinged with concern.
"Hold down the fort while I'm gone, team," Hange said brightly. "And don't let Levi scare off the customers."
Levi, who stood a few paces back, crossed his arms. "You're assuming they come here for you."
"Obviously," Hange replied, her grin widening.
"Do you really have to go?" Gabi blurted. "Can't you just... send a letter or something?"
Hange crouched slightly, her grin widening as she ruffled Gabi's hair. "Sorry, Gabi, but this is one of those things I have to do in person. Besides, you and Falco will be holding down the fort with Levi. I trust you'll do a great job."
Falco nodded earnestly, though his eyes flicked to Levi, who stood a few paces away with his arms crossed. "We'll make sure everything runs smoothly," Falco promised.
"Good." Hange straightened and turned to Levi, her voice lowering so only he could hear. "No words of wisdom for me?"
Levi's sharp gaze met hers, his voice low. "Just make sure you come back."
Her grin softened. "I always do."
"You better," he muttered, his tone sharp but betraying the faintest trace of worry.
Hange's grin softened. She gave him a gentle pat on the arm before climbing into the carriage. As the wheels creaked to life and the driver snapped the reins, Hange leaned out of the window, waving until the carriage disappeared down the cobblestone street.
Levi returned to his task, his movements brisk and purposeful. He scrubbed the counters, rearranged shelves, and swept the floors with an intensity that left even Gabi and Falco bewildered.
"Captain's really on edge today," Falco whispered, stacking a tray of clean teacups.
"Yeah, no kidding," Gabi muttered, glancing toward Levi. "He's trying to act normal, but look at him. He's practically scrubbing a hole into that counter."
Onyankopon chuckled softly from his corner. "Levi's always been good at hiding what he feels. But even he has his limits."
Levi's sharp voice cut through their murmurs. "If you've got time to gossip, you've got time to work."
Falco flinched, hastily returning to his tasks. Gabi rolled her eyes but fell into silence, though her glances toward Levi grew more frequent.
By the time evening arrived and Gabi and Falco left for the day, the shop was spotless—almost too spotless. Onyankopon lingered briefly, watching Levi as he brewed a pot of tea.
"You know she'll come back," Onyankopon said quietly. "She always does."
Levi didn't respond immediately. He poured the tea, his hands steady despite the tension in his jaw. "Doesn't mean I have to like it."
"No, it doesn't," Onyankopon agreed. "But you trust her. That counts for something."
Levi's gaze flicked toward him, his expression unreadable. "Go home, Onyankopon. The shop's closed."
Onyankopon smiled faintly, giving a nod before stepping out into the night. "Don't drive yourself crazy, Levi."
The tea shop was eerily quiet without the usual chatter of customers or the steady hum of activity. Levi sat at one of the tables, his hands wrapped around a cup of tea that had long since gone cold. The lantern on the counter cast soft shadows across the room, amplifying the stillness.
Levi's gaze drifted to the hook by the door where Hange's coat usually hung. The empty space seemed larger than it should, a glaring reminder of her absence. He looked down at his hands, his fingers tightening slightly around the teacup.
This wasn't the first time Hange had left for Paradis, but something about this departure felt heavier. It gnawed at the edges of his mind, a quiet unease that he couldn't shake.
He stood abruptly, pacing the length of the shop. His eyes darted to the counter, the tables, the tea tins-anything to keep his thoughts occupied. But no matter where he looked, Hange's absence lingered like a weight pressing on his chest.
Levi paused by the window, staring out at the empty street. The faint glow of lanterns in the distance did little to ease the restlessness clawing at him.
"You better come back," he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible in the quiet room. "Damn idiot."
He stayed by the window for a long while, the tea shop silent except for the faint creak of the floorboards as he shifted his weight. The hours stretched, the night pressing in, and Levi found himself wondering how he was supposed to endure the days ahead without her.
When dawn broke, the tea shop came to life again, though its usual warmth felt muted. Levi moved through his tasks with the same precision as always, but Gabi and Falco noticed the shift in his demeanor.
"Do you think he slept at all?" Gabi whispered as she polished a tray.
Falco shook his head. "He looks worse than usual."
Onyankopon, arriving with a fresh supply of tea leaves, gave Levi a knowing look but said nothing. He understood better than most that Levi's silence spoke volumes.
Still, the unspoken worry lingered among them. And though Levi would never admit it, the quiet moments without Hange's voice, her laugh, or her presence were almost unbearable.