Nine-year-old Eren Jaeger was sitting at his table, drinking the water his mother, Carla, had given him.
The next day he'd be going to the Ackerman's house with his father. He heard they had a daughter, but he didn't know her name quite yet.
"Eren…you have a strange look on your face," Carla said, her brown eyes worried.
"I'm fine mom."
"Eren…pull down your scarf," Carla said knowingly, tightening the tie that kept her black hair up in a ponytail.
"Mom…"
Carla walked over and pulled it down. There was a cut on his chin. It wasn't likely that it was going to last very long, but she knew how he got it. She gently touched it.
"Ow! Mom, that hurt!"
"You got into another fight, didn't you? Eren, how many times do I have to tell you not to-"
"They started it!"
"It doesn't matter who started it or not, Eren!" Carla said, getting a wet rag. She pulled his head up and began dabbing it.
"You can't be so reckless, Eren! You will get yourself killed! And what am I supposed to do if that happens…?" Carla mumbled that last part absentmindedly, but Eren heard.
He fell silent for a moment.
"…Sorry Mom," Eren apologized. Carla looked slightly surprised.
"…No…it's okay. Just be more careful, okay?" Carla said, giving him a soft, but stern look.
Eren nodded.
"I will Mom…"