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Eren, Mikasa and Armin had lived together ever since their loss at Shiganshina. At least that's what Eren considered it. They were being worked like they never were before, and that shook up all three of them. After each long day of farming, the trio would be given their ration of bread and then they'd head back to the same abandoned church.

"I can't wait to get out of this place." Eren finally said one night. He was was of age - they all were, but recruitment didn't begin for another month. It was shameful the most for Eren, he had the strongest will of the three to finally get his revenge on the titans.

"...We all can't wait." Armin said, still cold even though they were sitting close on the floor. But he was gazing at his loaf, deep in thought. Mikasa, on the other side of Eren, quietly finished her ration rather than give words of encouragement to her foster brother. Eren held his determined stare out the open church door, where it was still light out. Sunlight glinted off the key hanging on Eren's chest, and he was reminded of his damned father who plain wasn't there at the worst possible time.

Armin stood up from his place where Eren was quivering from flashbacks. "Eren!" Mikasa tried to soothe him. "Eat your bread."

Armin didn't look behind him at the scene he had lived out for almost a year now. It was torment. Everywhere they went they were suffering, but at the same time building up inside their will for resolve. He stepped outside the church to see that many townspeople still grouped by the breadline. Armin sighed and held up his own uneaten loaf of bread. He wasn't acting like his usual upbeat self. None of them were. When Armin let his arm drop, he saw her.

...

"You left Hermina all by yourself?!" Armin questioned Hinami, who was surprised herself that she'd made it thus far. Her shoes were worn, and her clothes were now torn and dirty rags. She fit right in. Hinami gave a weak smile. "I left home without telling my family." she told him. Armin gasped in horror. "You ran away from your home and family for this?" he thought.

Armin was saddened by the fact that his friend was going to have to suffer a similar life there, but at least now she could meet Eren and Mikasa! "Here, follow me." Armin said and led her inside the big empty building, and to where Mikasa was still consoling Eren against one of the stone walls.

Mikasa and Eren looked up at the new girl. There was dirt on her face and her hair was done back in a messy bun. "You two must be Armin's friends from Shiganshina!" she said with a smile despite her tiredness. "I'm Hinami Carlson from Hermina."

The trio was amazed. "Mikasa." the name's owner said in response. Eren's quivering stopped. "E-Eren." he said. They kept their eyes on Hinami, not knowing what to do next.

Hinami didn't take notice and turned to Armin. "Can I stay here with you guys? I don't have any money with me, and-" "Of course!" Armin answered, and glanced at Eren and Mikasa still seated on the floor. They nodded back their silent agreement that the girl should stay; after all Armin had influenced her to enlist. When Armin saw how happy she was at this, his heart sank. "But..." he began, his eyes on the floor. "You're gonna have to work the farms with us everyday. All the refugees have to do it. Until we enlist into the military, in less than a month."

"I see..." Hinami looked like she was really weighing the good of the situation to the bad. Then she looked at them all and grinned. Eren's eyes widened a little. "That's the fighting attitude I should be having! Why, until now..." he contemplated and immediately grew to envy Hinami.

...

Life inside Wall Rose had grown to become hell for everybody. But in some areas you still had a place to call home and people to call family. Wasn't that what they were soon going to risk their lives for?

The four continued to live together, hauling rocks and planting seeds everyday. Until there was only one day left before they could enlist at the training academy.

"I can't believe we've made it this far!" Armin said during their labor at the farm. Mikasa gave a rare smile to this. Hinami beamed and said,"I know! We'll be training to fight the titans in no time!" She raked the soil under her with care. She'd grown accustomed to farming, and enjoyed doing it. She wondered if she could have her own farm after they took back their land.

Rows and rows of other people tended the farm, enriching the soil and planting the seeds. Eren was down in a crouch, pushing seeds into the ground. Hinami's comment had left him with a confident sense. He grinned and asserted,"For sure!"

Mikasa slowly poured her bowl of water over her planted seeds. Her arms went to her sides, and she turned to the three. "That's it for me. Want me to wait for you guys until you're finished?"

Armin, Eren and Hinami replied that she didn't have to, and she left with a quick "okay". The sounds of hacking and running water seemed to fill the farm. Armin finished watering his seeds next and told them he'd be at their home. Eren and Hinami nodded and went back to their farm work.

Eren dumped the bowl of water out onto the seeds, and stood triumphantly."Finally!" he thought."My work for the day is done!" He glanced over and saw how Hinami was fumbling with planting her seeds into the soil. Eren stooped down beside her again. "Oi. Let me help you out." he said, and held out his hand firmly. Hinami produced a weak smile. "Okay." she gave the seeds.

They alternated poking holes and planting, to watering the seeds. Soon Hinami poured the rest of the water over the soil. She eagerly clasped Eren's hands and pulled him up. "Thank you, Eren!" she exclaimed. Eren wiped off the dirt on his hands and smiled warmly. "It's nothing. Nobody wants to be left behind like that." He took her sleeve and led her out of the field. "Come on!" he urged. Hinami gaped at him in admiration. "Yeah." she mumbled and scurried to his side.

The farm was only a mile or two from the town where their church was. "So, Hinami." Eren viewed the pink sunset ahead, ruffling his disorderly brown hair with a hand. "We're finally going to do it tomorrow. Do you mind me asking, what are your reasons for wanting to enlist?" Hinami thought about her answer slowly. She looked up. "Well, it might not be as significant as the reason why you're enlisting." she murmured, blushing. "But I wanna enlist because I don't want to lose any more friends." Eren looked up.

"When the wall broke many people were forced out by the king, you probably know. Two of my friends had the misfortune of being closest to the wall break, and they.." Hinami envisioned it right there; giants lifting Venia and Pete to their big mouths. It felt too real - no, it had happened. "Hinami!" Eren shook her shoulders. "Snap out of it, Hinami!"

Hinami came to reality, and she shuddered open-mouthed at the ground. Eren stared at her until she quietly croaked,"...That is why I want to enlist. To destroy them before they destroy us." Eren understood, and also decided to abandon the conversation factor for the rest of the way home.

Armin and Mikasa had taken the liberty of waiting in the breadline for all of their rations. The four ate close together on the floor of the church. Afterwards they didn't talk much. Armin had his nose in a book, Mikasa packed all their belongings, Hinami tried out all kinds of hairstyles to tie her long hair up in, and Eren was sprawled on the floor staring up at his golden key. All were aware of the fact they had to get up early in the morning.