His mother was at the gate when he got off the bus. She saw him walking up the road and her hand went to her mouth then run to hug her son.
"Eren..."
He tried to dress normally. A small hoodie like cap pulled over his ears in this hot day was already too much but on the top of that, he also got his father's jacket buttoned all the way up, the least conspicuous jeans he could fit into.
This was the end summer by the way, so Eren bet he looked weird. But there was no hiding the height or the ears or the way he moved now. Even walking felt different because every step was balanced and controlled in a way the clumsy kid she'd raised never managed.
She hugged him so tight it would've crushed the old Eren. He barely felt it physically but everywhere else it hit hard.
His father appeared in the doorway. He looked at his son for about three seconds and nodded.
"You got big."
That was it. His father expressed emotions through short sentences and consistent presence. It was enough.
