Chapter 3

[Training Camp. One year later.]

Keith Shadis was the head instructor of the Military Training Corps. He was in charge of training and evaluation to become soldiers. Keith was a tall and intimidating man. He was bald, with prominent wrinkles on his forehead and dark circles around his eyes. He had a small beard growing from under his chin. He was formerly a Commander of Survey Corp.

Right now, He going around intimidating and frightening trainee after trainee, asking them their names and place of origin. This was called "rite of passage," it was meant to break trainees down so that they can become stronger. He did ignore a few of the trainees, with Finn being amongst these.

He roughly turned Armin around with his hand. He asked the third line to turn around and watch him as he proceeds. After hearing that Jean Kirstein wanted to join the Military Police Brigade, he gave him a headbutt, making him fall. When Connie Springer performed the salute with his left hand, he picked him up, holding his head and stretches his eyes, and then asked him if his heart was on the right side

*Chomp*

A sudden silence fell upon them. Everyone tensed up and moved their eyes toward the sound. What they saw was a brunette girl with a ponytail, eating a potato. Finn had to blink twice because he couldn't believe what he was seeing right now.

'Wait…Is that Sasha?' -He thought with realization. It was her. They used to hang out when his Grandfather and Mr. Blouse went hunting.' She's as bold as ever….Guess her food addiction didn't change.' -Finn saw the look in Shadis eyes.' She's fucked…'

„Hey, you…!" -Shadis called out to Sasha. But she didn't seem to realize that he was talking to her."What do you think you're doing?" -Sasha took another bite, not knowing who Shadis was referring to. He walked up to her and scream straight into her face."YOU ARE OFFICIALLY ON MY SHIT LIST! WHO THE HELL ARE YOU?!"

Quickly chewing her potato, Sasha straighten up and gave a firm salute."Sasha Blouse from Dauper Village, at your service! Reporting for duty, Sir!"

„Sasha Blouse, huh?" -He asked."What is that in your right hand?"

„A steamed potato! It sat there in a mess hall, begging to be eaten, Sir!" -Sasha explained with a serious expression. Finn found it hard to hold his laughter.

„Theft, I can understand. But here of all places? Why are you eating it here?" -Shadis asked, his voice somehow far calmer than a second ago."Why would you eat the potato?"

„Are you asking me why people eat potatoes in general? I'm surprised you don't know that Sir." -Sasha replied with a confused tone.

Another silence. This time, Finn had to bit his lips hard not to laugh.

'Sasha…you unnaturally dense girl…You haven't changed one bit.' -Finn thought as Shadis stared at the Potato Girl with disbelief.

Realizing something, Sasha snapped 1/3 of her potato. She scoffed and offered to Shadis."Here, Sir. Half-Half…" -Shadis took the 'half-half from Sasha and looked at it.

„' Half-Half'? Really?" -He repeated as if he didn't hear her right. Sasha gave him a dumb smile, thinking she was in the clear.

'Sasha…You're not meant for this world.' -Finn thought with a chuckle.

Sasha Blouse, now dubbed the 'Potato' Girl, was ordered to run around the premises for 5 hours as punishment.

„Man, I thought Shadis was gonna kill the Potato Girl." – Connie said with a laugh.

„Yeah, one helluva day." -Finn agreed with a nod."She hasn't changed one bit. Still dense as ever…"

„You know her?" -Eren asked, surprised."You've never mentioned her before."

„We've known each other since my Grandfather was hunting with her father." -Finn explained, and Connie glanced at them.

„I know a thing or two about a few of us, but you never mention where you come from." -Marco asked.

„We're from Shiganshina." -Eren explained while placing his hands on Armin and Finn shoulders.

„Wait, you're there when…" -Marco trailed.

„You saw it, right?" -Connie asked with a curious expression."The Colossal? And the Armoured?"

'Right, gotta remember. There's a huge chance that Colossal and Armoured are somewhere in here.' -Finn thought as he watched Conne bombard Eren with all kind of questions.'Wish I could tell them. Whenever I think about my mission I feel a massive pressure…But I can't get them involved. It's enough that Eren wants to join the Survey Corp.' -Finn followed his friends to the Mass Hall. Soon enough, a small group of trainees asked Eren questions.' I'll have to try and convince him to join the MP. There is no way that He'll survive out there. And I can't join the Scouts to keep an on him.'

Finn wasn't really paying attention to the conversation next to him. He was focused on making up plans for the future. Because of it, he didn't hear arguments between Eren and Jean.

„Are you okay?" -Armin asked, looking at his friend with worry. He barely touched his meal.

„Oh, yeah, I'm fine Armin…" -Finn reassured with a smile."Just a lot on my mind, that's all"

„Same…Where will go after graduation?" -Armin asked."Will you join the Scouts like Eren?"

„No, I'm aiming to join the MP." -Finn explained and Armin was surprised."I hope you can help me convince Eren to do the same."

„You're asking for impossible." -Armin said with a weak chuckle."He's dead set on joining the Survey Corp. We both know that."

„Yeah, but I made a promise to Miss Yeager." -Finn said with sadness in his voice."To watch over him, you know. I want to keep that promise."

„I understand…" -Armin said knowingly."I'll try to help out; however, I can."

„Thanks, Armin. You're a big help." -Finn said and Armin blushed a little."It's getting late. We have a big day tomorrow, so let's get some shut-eye."

The next day revolved around a basic aptitude test with ODM gear. To his surprise, Finn found it pretty easy to balance himself. He looked at the other trainees and was impressed with how well they were doing. Even Armin managed to find his balance pretty quickly.

Then, there was Eren. Instead of being upright, Eren was hanging down with a pure terror on his face.

'What the hell?' -He thought as he saw other trainees were snickering at him.'How do I work this thing?! This can't be happening!' -Even the screaming form of Shadis couldn't snap him out of his thoughts.

„Look that him! Can't even balance himself up!"

„What a joke!"

'This is weird.' -Finn thought as he watched Eren trying to get up.'He immediately fell back and couldn't get up. I didn't expect that…But maybe it's not a bad thing. If he fails, Mikasa and Armin will go with him. That way I can focus on my mission. But still…' -He looked at Eren's face.'Something doesn't feel right…'

He, Mikasa, Armin, and Eren were later allowed to practice on their own. Despite giving Eren's all the right pointer, he still couldn't do it. He hit his head so hard that he had to go to the infirmary before the supper. Something was still bothering Finn, though. Like something was wrong with the equipment, not Eren's balance. Observing his friend, Finn knew that Eren was doing everything he was told.

'I'll check it out later…When no one's watching.' -He thought to himself. Glancing at his defeated friend, Finn couldn't help but feel sad for him.

Later, during the super, Eren was a laughing stock. People were making fun of a boy who wanted to kill all the Titans but couldn't even balance himself. Even after going to the barracks, people were making fun of him. At least Reiner and Berthold didn't laugh. Eren, Armin, and Finn quickly befriend the two.

„You three are from Shiganshina, right?" -Bert asked.

„Well, yes…" -Eren replied with a shrug.

„So you know first-hand how scary the Titans are." -Bert said, feeling a shiver down his spine."Why on Earth would you want to be a soldier?"

„We don't want people's sacrifices to go in vain." -Eren explained, clenching his fist. Finn looked sadly at his friend."Anyway, where you two from?"

„Me and Bert?" -Reiner asked."We were both from a mountain village just southeast of Wall Maria."

„But that means…" -Finn trailed, his eyes widen.'Hold on…South-East of Wall Maria? I think I've been there with Grandpa once. Don't remember ever seeing them…Maybe I'm just imagining things. The way they speak is genuine. I'm getting worked up for nothing…'

Instead of thinking about it, Finn continued to listen to their story. He felt sorry for the two; especially for briefly suspecting them. They didn't give him any real reason to think that. He wanted to say sorry, but he couldn't.

Reiner and Berthold later offered to go to the forest, but Finn had to decline. He still wanted to check the ODM equipment. Fortunately for him, Eren and Armin decided to go with the two. After waiting for them to leave, Finn snuck out of the window and carefully made his way to the training ground. With enough luck, Finn reached his destination and examined the equipment Eren was using.

„So far…nothing." -He said to himself. After checking the belt, he noticed that something was off.

„What do you think you're doing?" -Finn almost jumped at the sudden voice. He quickly turned around to see who it was.

It was a young girl of considerably short height, who somehow possessed a small yet very muscular build and physique. She had moderately short pale blonde hair that was tied at the back with her right fringe mainly draping over the right side of her face. She had an oval-shaped face, blue eyes, a Roman nose, and a pale complexion.

„Um….I…" -Finn was at the loss of words. For some reason, he couldn't utter a sentence.

„What are you doing with that equipment?" -She asked again. Her face was expressionless and eyes, although of considerable size and proportion, had a sullen vibe to their appearance."Don't tell you're messing with the equipment."

„No, I'm not." -He replied quickly."I'm just checking the state of it."

„Wasn't this the one that Yeager was using today?" -She asked with a bored tone.

„Yeah, that's the one." -Finn explained."I have some sort of hunch that it's defective."

„Or maybe Yeager is not meant to be a soldier?" -She said, causing Finn to chuckle."What's so funny?"

„Well, you see…" -He started."Eren's dead set on joining the Survey Corp. No matter what you tell him, he's not the type to back down. It can be admirable sometimes. But-" -He paused and looked at the girl in front of him. She still had an expressionless face." it can get him into trouble. As you probably know, most of the Scouts don't come back. I've made a promise to Eren's mother; that I will look after him. That was her last request before she died."

„So what are you going to do?" -She asked.

„I'm not sure. On the one hand, I don't want him to get killed." -He said and looked in the direction of the Walls."On the other hand, Eren's my friend. If I leave this faulty equipment alone, it's like I'm betraying him. My goal is to make sure that nothing bad happens to Eren, Mikasa, or Armin. Yet, I feel conflicted right now." -He almost wanted to laugh."Sound silly, doesn't?"

„Not at all." -She said with shrugs."Why not leave it to fate?"

„To the fate?" -Finn asked surprised."What do you mean?"

„Basically, 'Whatever happens, happens." -She explained."If Yeager succeeds, he becomes a soldier. If he fails, he'll go to the field. If you're Yeager's friend, then let him prove himself. You shouldn't hold his hand every time something goes wrong. He won't learn anything if you do that…"

Finn was taken by her words. Because of her appearance, he didn't expect anything her to say anything like that. She was right, he thought. He can't babysit and control Eren. He shouldn't interfere with Eren's destiny.

„You're pretty considerable, you know?" -He said with a smile. The girl glared at him.

„What did you say…?" -She asked dangerously. Finn blinked in surprise.

„Eh? I'm sorry if I said something wrong…" -Finn apologized with a weak smile.

„Whatever…" -She said as she turned around."It's not my problem. Do what you want…"

As she began to leave, Finn felt like he needed to know her name at the least. So, he called her.

„Hey! I don't think We've caught each other names." -He said with a smile. She stopped and turned her head toward him."My name is Finn Broed."

„Annie Leonhardt." -She replied and left him. Slowly, her figure was engulfed by the night.

„Nice to meet you…" -Finn said to himself.' She's…an interesting person.'

Looking back at the faulty gear, Finn thought about what Annie has said. He can't control what Eren does or does not. It's not up to him. He doesn't want him to risk his life, but taking away his choice would have been worse. This is why he turned around and star walking toward the barracks.

'We'll see what tomorrow brings…' -He thought without looking back.

Instructor Shadis decided to give Eren one last chance to pass his maneuvering equipment test before being shipped to the landfills. At first, Eren manager to maintain his balance. But Eren quickly lost control and fell over.

'Woah…He actually did it.' -Finn thought with surprise.

„N-No! Not yet!" -Eren pleaded."Once more! I can do it!"

„Lower him…" -Shadis said with a monotone voice.

„I'm finished…" -Eren said dejectedly, looking down at the ground.'Mom…How am I suppose to avenge you?!'

„Wagner, switch the belts with Mister Yeager." -Shadis said, surprising everyone. After switching up the belts, Eren found it easy to balance himself. After checking Eren's belt, Shadis scoffed."Hmph! Your equipment was defective. If given a piece of functional gear, you might not be so worthless after all. Guess I'll have to visit a supply depot and crack some skulls…"

'Destiny has different plans for him.' -Finn thought. Looking to his right, He saw that Annie wasn't listening or paying any attention. Finn couldn't help but smile at her.' She's right. Eren…I won't be able to keep you safe all the time. The least I can do is to help you get stronger.'

„I did it!" -Eren exclaimed with a big grin.

„Don't let it get to your head, Cadet!" -Shadis reprimanded, causing Eren to snap out."You still have a long way to go! That includes everybody!"

„Yes, Sir!"

'Everyone will see! I'm going to kill as the Titans!' -Eren thought with a smirk.' I'll avenge your death….Mom.'