"Hey, you!"
All the cadets straightened their backs and looked forward by instincts at hearing their instructors demanding voice again
"The years have not been kind on Commander Shadis" thought Hange
"Sir!" Armin saluted Keith.
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Armin Arlert, from Shiganshina District!"
"I see! That's a ridiculous name! Did your parents give it to you?!"
"My grandfather did, sir!"
"Arlert! Why are you here?!"
Armin closed his eyes and replied loudly.
"To help humanity achieve victory!"
"How very admirable of you! We can feed you to the Titans!"
"I was absolutely petrified" nervously laughed Armin
"Third row, about face!" Keith turned Armin's head and moved on. "Who the hell are you?!"
"Sir! Thomas Wagner, from Trost District!"
Some of the cadets saddened at hearing and seeing there fallen comrade again
"I can't hear you!" Keith got in his face.
Thomas flinched and repeated. "Thomas Wagner!"
"Can't hear you!"
"Look at them go." A young man walked with his silver-haired superior.
"Go practice in a barn!" Keith yelled.
"You went through the same thing when you started as a trainee, didn't you?" The elder man said. "It takes me back."
"Ya I sure do remember my training days" Nanaba said
"Same" spoke Gelgar "but this instructor seems a lot more tamed compared to mine"
"No! You're from a pigsty!" Keith said to Mina. "You're less than livestock!"
"Yes, sir! I am less than livestock!" Mina blurted, panicked.
Armin winced now having the image of her death in his mind and how he just stood by and watched it happen
"But what's all that intimidation for?" The young man asked.
"It's a rite of passage. We revert them to a blank slate through the use of self-denial, after which we mold them into proper soldiers."
"Huh never thought of it like that" said Eren
"It does make sense" replied Armin
Keith picked on another poor soul. "Why the hell are you here?!"
The silver-haired man nodded. "This is one step in that process."
"To devote myself to humankind!" Spoke Samuel
"There's Samuel" said Connie who then turned to Sasha "how is he doing after that fall from the wall, I haven't had time to catch up with him"
"Last I heard he is doing fine and will start his service in the garrison after his recovery " replied Sasha
"Wonder if he's here" Connie said while scanning the crowd
"Already checked didn't see him" Sasha assured
"Fourth row, about face!" Keith passed by Annie.
"There are some he's not talking to."
"It's unnecessary for those who've already been through their rites of passage. They most likely witnessed the hell that took place two years ago. They have a different look on their faces."
Shots of Mikasa, Bert, Reiner, Eren, and Ymir were shown.
"Huh never heard ymir's story of when she encountered the titans" thought Eren "must be too sensitive for her to speak about it"
"Let's go."
"Who the hell are you?!"
"Jean Kirstein, from Trost District!"
"Oh god" Jean moaned knowing what was about to come
"Why are you here?!"
Jean smiled slightly. "To join the Military Police and live in the interior!"
"Most of the time that is everyone's goal when they join the military" said Eld
Mike looked at Erwin "wasn't he in the top ten?"
Erwin nodded
"So he had a free ride to the Military police regiment" commented Hange
"Wonder what changed his mind" Moblit mumbled
"Can't believe you said that to your instructor" giggled Petra
"You haven't seen the best part yet" said Connie
"Oh. You wanna live in the interior, do you?" Keith asked.
"Here it comes" smiled Eren much to Jeans annoyance
"Yes!" Jean smiled.
And he was immediately head-butted, knocking him to his knees.
laughter came from the crowd at this while Jean winced
"Who said you could sit?! If you can't handle this, you can forget about the Military Police!"
"I doubt that most of the MPs could handle that" said a scout which was met by murmurs of agreement
"Who the hell are you?!" Keith rounded on his next victim. "Why are you here?!"
"Marco Bott of Jinae, on the south side of Wall Rose!" Marco smiled naively. "I want to join the Military Police and give life and limb to the king!"
"Nice excuse" said a scout
"No" Jean instantly replied "that was really his goal
"I see. That's a fine goal, indeed. Go ahead and strive for it. But, just so you know," Keith said, getting into Marco's face, "the king doesn't want your lousy life or limbs."
Marco stared, shaken.
"You're next! Who the hell are you?!"
"Connie Springer! I'm from Ragako Village on the south side of Wall Rose!" Connie was saluting with the wrong
"Um I think your-"
"I know it's on the wrong side!" Growled Connie earning giggles from the cadets
"How the hell you make it in the top 10 when you can't even solute right?" Ymir teased
"One of life's greatest mysteries" was Jean's only answer
"You have it backwards, Connie Springer!" Keith grabbed his head and squeezed.
This earn a few snickers from the crowd
"It was the first thing you were taught! This salute expresses your resolve to give your heart to the people!"
Two rows behind and to the left was Sasha…with a potato in her hand
"What is that girl doing?" Asked a confused garrison soldier
The cadets Squealed while Sasha sighed with a slight embarrassed blush on her face
"Oh my god how could I forget about this part!" Laughed Connie
"What part?" Asked a scout
"Let's just say You'll see why we call her potato girl" Jean snorted
"Is your heart on your right side?!" Keith demanded.
Then a crunch was heard. And Keith saw it.
The cadets couldn't control their laughter while the other soldiers looked on flabbergasted
"Did…did she just…" spoke a shocked garrison guard
"No way she just did that" said Gunther with a hilarious surprised face
"Quite Bold" snorted Hange
"Quite idiotic" said Levi who was wondering how such doofuses like Blouse and springer made in the top ten
The ominous music had disappeared, the only sounds being Sasha chewing and swallowing. Keith dropped Connie. "Hey, you. What do you think you're doing?"
"This won't be good"
Sasha didn't seem to have heard him and took another bite
"She did it again!?" Exclaimed a scout
At this point most of the room couldn't deny how stupid and funny the situation was and let out a few giggles
"What we're you even thinking back then" giggled Christa
"I was Hungry and that potato looked pretty appetizing" Sasha replied
Keith was suddenly in her face, yelling. "I'm talking to you! Who the hell are you?!"
She chewed quickly, swallowed, and saluted. "Sasha Braus from Dauper Village, on the south side of Wall Rose!"
"Sasha Braus." Keith towered over her. "What is that you're holding in your right hand?"
"A steamed potato, sir! I found one in the cookhouse that was ready to eat so I couldn't help myself!"
"You stole it!?" Asked Marlo shocked
"And you admitted to it!?" Asked Hitch equally as shocked
"You stole it? Why? Why did you decide to eat it now?"
"I felt it would be a waste to let it get cold, so I elected to eat it now."
Erwin smiled in amusement while Pixis was giving the classic grandpa laugh
"No, I don't understand. Why did you eat the potato?" Keith was so genuinely confused.
"I literally just told him" said Sasha who was still confused about The instructors question
"I think he was just in shock about the stupidity of the situation like the rest of us" said Ymir
"Are you asking me why people eat potatoes, sir?"
"Truly idiotic" groan Levi who was slightly amused
"Here's half of it for you." Sasha held it out almost reluctantly.
"That's not even half" snickered Moblit
"It's barely even a third" laughed Hange
"Half?" Spoke Kieth With Sasha then smiling
"Heh feels good to take a break from all the doom and gloom from the last episodes" sighed Connie
"All this is completely unnecessary and useless information to us" said Levi Annoyingly
"Whoa, he still has Potato Girl running," Connie observed.
"Huh that punishment isn't too bad" said a garrison soldier
"I expected something more severe with a situation like that" said another
"Man, she's been at it for five solid hours." Marco was impressed. "She's really something. Still, being told to run until she's on the verge of death didn't seem to bother her quite as much as being told she has to skip dinner."
"Dauper's a small hunting village in the mountains, isn't it?" Connie said to himself.
"What's that?" Eren asked, noticing a carriage.
"They're dropouts," Mina answered.
"They asked to work in the fields instead."
"What?" Armin said. "It's only the first day, too.
"That's just how it is here," Eren said.
"The powerless have no choice but to leave."
"Cocky little shit aren't you" said Olue
"Just wait" spoke up Jean "your about to see all that Confidence disappear" he snickered
Eren groan knowing what he was talking about, he was not looking forward to that
"I can't believe anyone would want to pick up rocks and pull plants again."
"That reminds me." Marco straightened.
"You weren't asked to state your name and birthplace or anything."
"I'm from Shiganshina, same as him." Eren smiled at his best friend.
"Oh. That means..."
"You were there that day, weren't you?" Connie asked.
"H-Hey!" Marco said.
"Did you see the Colossal Titan?"
"Y-Yeah."
"A little bit insensitive to question someone's trama don't you think" asked Ymir
"Sorry I was just so excited to hear an actual true story of the monster and not just folktale" responded Connie
Inside the mess hall, a group had surrounded Eren's table. "Like I said, I saw it."
"Really?" Thomas asked.
"How big is it really?" Samuel asked.
"Big enough to look over the Wall."
"What?! I heard it stepped over the Wall!"
"Me, too!" Hannah said.
"That's what they said in my village, too!" Franz jumped in.
"I heard that it jumped over the wall" said an MP
"I was told that it walked straight through the wall bringing the whole thing down" replied another
"I find it amusing how gullible us humans are" said Pixis
Eren took a sip of his soup. "No, it wasn't that big."
"What did it look like?" Mina asked.
"It had a huge mouth, and almost no skin."
"What about the Armored Titan that broke Wall Maria?!"
"That's what people call it, but it looked like an ordinary Titan to me," Eren said.
Reiner was drinking from his mug at a nearby
Ymir smirked at seeing Reiner paying attention to the story
"There nothing ordinary about that titan" spoke Rico
"He's just trying to act tough" said Jean
"I was not!" Yelled Eren embarrassingly
"Th-Then, what are ordinary Titans like?!" Samuel looked eager and a little scared.
The memory of the Smiling Titan came back, eating his mother. Eren dropped his spoon and covered his mouth. His fellow trainees fell silent.
Marco spoke up, "Let's spare him the questions, everyone. I'm sure there are things he doesn't want to remember."
"Sorry for asking—" Connie began.
"It's not like that!" Eren took a bite out of his bread. "Titans aren't actually that big of a deal! Once we've mastered the 3D gear, they'll be nothing to us!"
"Arrogant much?" Said Niles
"Even our most skilled veterans have trouble slaying titans" said Petra "well except Captain of course"
Jean was listening to the conversation in disinterest.
"We finally get to train as soldiers. I was just overcome with emotion, that's all. I'm going to join the Survey Corps and drive the Titans out of this world! I'm gonna slaughter—"
"Whoa, what are you, crazy?" Jean called out. "Did you just say you're gonna join the Survey Corps?"
"Yeah, that's right. Aren't you the one who wants to join the Military Police and live the easy life?" Eren said.
"I'm all about being honest, you see."
Some of the soldiers eyed Jeans scout jacket with curiosity about why he changed his mind since he seemed so dead set on the military police
"It's much nicer than being, say," Jean said, smiling, face in palm, "a loser who acts tough but is actually scared shitless.
Eren rolled his eyes annoyed
Eren stood, knocking his chair back. "Are you implying something?"
"S-Stop!" Marco held up his hands.
"Come on now."
Jean met Eren halfway. "I wasn't really…"
A bell rang outside, breaking the tension.
Jean sighed. "Whatever, I'm sorry. I don't mean to dismiss your ideas. Let's call it even with this." He held out his hand.
"How sincere" sarcastically spoke Ymir
Jean was getting kinda nervous for he knew what happened after this. They wouldn't show that right? I mean it's not important to the titans or anything else.
Eren walked away.
"Ok now cut off to the next scene" Jean prayed
Jean was looking at Eren's retreating back when Mikasa walked by
"…No" Jean's eyes widened in horror
It was as if time seemed to slow.
"NOOOO!" He screamed in his head with panic written on his face
The cadets eyes widened as realization came upon them
"Wait…" said Armin
"Don't tell me…" spoke Connie
"H-Hey, you!" Jean blushed hard when she looked at him. "Uhh, err, I've just never seen anyone who looks like you before. S-Sorry! You have very pretty black hair."
The cadets burst into laughter and squeals
While Jean covered his face In his palms wanting to disappear from the world
"Always knew he was pervert!" laughed Eren mockingly
"Ahh that's so cute!" Giggled Christa
"Looks like jeany boy has a crush!" teased Connie nudging Jean who was red as a tomato
"I call best man!" declared Reiner
"I call bridesmaid!" Sasha also declared
Mikasa looked on disinterested as did Levi
"Someone please tell me how a brat's secret crush on a girl is important information to us?" He asked already sick of this teen drama shit
"The being wanted reactions" began Erwin "and apparently that means reactions to humor as well"
"I don't find any of this humorous" groaned Levi
"What do you find humorous Levi?" Hange joked
"Thanks." That said, Mikasa walked away.
"How cold…" said Petra
"Oh…tough luck Jean" spoke Connie
"Looks like you struck out" Said Ymir
"Don't worry Jean you'll find someone who shares your feelings" Christa assured
"Guess I have to take a rain check on that best man deal" sadly spoke Reiner
"WOULD YA'LL SHUT UP ABOUT THIS ALREADY!!" he screamed with his face red with both embarrassment and anger
Jean paused for a second before chasing after her. Looking around, he saw her fall in step with Eren.
"oooooh…" the cadets groaned at the cruel twist of fate
"Best to move on bud" Connie patted Jeans back
"Ya seems like Mikasa has already found her man" teased Ymir
"Oh grow up" Eren rolled his eyes at the remark while Mikasa blushed slightly
"It's no big deal. Get off my back," Eren complained.
"You never think things through when you get worked up," Mikasa chided.
"That again? Anyway, don't you think your hair's too long?" Eren casually flipped her hair with the back of his hand.
"Just adding salt to the wound" said Hitch
"It could cause an accident during 3D gear training, you know."
"Alright." Mikasa pinched a few strands between her fingers. "I'll cut it."
Jean looked like someone had sucked the life out of him.
Some snickered but most felt pity for the young man, and some didn't care about the situation. The cadets tried to hold in there giggles but were failing miserably at it
"I hate you all…" Jeaned groan looking down at the floor
"But how short should I make it?" Mikasa asked.
"No wonder they always fight" whispered Moblit
"Jealousy is a powerful thing" said Hange
Connie was walking by, humming cheerily to himself when Jean wiped his hand on his back. "H-Hey! Don't mess with other people's clothes! What did you wipe on me?!"
"My faith in humanity."
Whatever laughter the cadets were doing there best hold in immediately burst out
Even the veterans and high ranking officials snickered or gave a small smile
"Finally…done…" Sasha collapsed on the ground. A figure came from the shadows. Her nose twitched. This is... Wild-eyed, she attacked the newcomer, knocking her to the ground. "Bread!"
Some jumped at this
"Damn!"
"She looks like an animal"
"Hmm your sense of smell is impressive" suddenly spoke Mike "Something we have in common"
"It's not much, but I saved it for you." Christa held up a waterskin. "Oh, but you really ought to drink some water first."
"That's very sweet of you Christa" spoke Armin
"You know I never thanked you for that" said Sasha
"Oh it was no problem, I love to help out other people" smiled Christa
Ymir stared at Christa for a second before turning her eyes to the screen again
"Are you a goddess?!"
"Yes" said half the cadets making her blush
Christa looked confused. "Huh?!"
"Are you?!"
"Uhh…"
"Goddess!" Sasha cried out again.
"Hey, what are you two doing?" Ymir came up to them.
Sasha, looking like she was afraid Ymir was going to take the bread from her, began eating it in a frenzy.
"Tch Have some manners instead of eating your food like a pig" Levi said disgusted
Sasha formed a slight blush of embarrassment "y-yes sir"
"Umm, she's been running non-stop all this time," Christa began, "so—"
"So you're trying to do something nice, huh?"
"Huh?"
Sasha passed out in Christa's lap.
Reiner looked on in Jealousy
"Did you do it for Potato Girl's sake? Was what you gained worth the effort it took?" Ymir asked. Christa didn't know how to reply. "Well, whatever. Let's just get her to her bed now." She picked up the unconscious girl.
"Are you trying to be nice, too?"
"I'm doing this so that she'll owe me. Her stupidity will come in very handy."
"Heh liar" said Connie
"Ya I know you love me" teased Sasha "your just too stubborn to admit it"
"Oh shut up both of you" Ymir said annoyingly
"We'll begin by determining your aptitude!" Keith began. "If you can't do this, you're not even fit to be bait! You'll be sent off to the fields!"
"Oh come on" Eren groaned
"Hah! let's see how you like getting laughed at" said Jean
Across the training field, trainees hovered, balancing using the wires.
"These are only just the bare fundamentals." The silver-haired superior of the Training Corps approached. "Still, you can determine a person's knack for 3D gear-mobility at this stage."
Something caught his attention. "Observe." Mikasa was balancing with ease. "Completely steady. She knows exactly what to do and how to do it. That's what aptitude is all about."
The military officials looked on in interest
"Impressive" Said Mike
"Ya doesn't even seem to offer a struggle at all" spoke Moblit
"She didn't graduate top of our class for nothing" Said Eren which made Mikasa smile at the compliment
"You know she kinda reminds me of you captain" said Gunther
"Please there's no way that brat is near Captain's level" scoffed Olue
"It looks like we have many talented trainees this year."
Connie, Sasha, and Jean were doing fairly well themselves.
The trio puffed up full of themselves
"Still find it shocking y'all even made it past basic training" Levi said
"Umm, what about him?" The younger man asked.
"Now that's another definition of aptitude," his superior replied. "Some people might have plenty of motivation yet turn out to be less than capable."
Eren was hanging completely upside-down.
The cadets laughed at this with Jean laughing the hardest to rub it in Eren's face
However everyone else was confused
"Huh" said a confused scout
"Wasn't this kid in the top 10" asked Gelgar
"Top 5 actually" said Nanaba confused
"That doesn't seem right" suddenly spoke Rico "I've seen him use Mobility gear at Trost with no problems"
"Ya and we've been training with him for the expedition" said Eld "kid is a natural at it"
"It wasn't my fault!" Eren defended himself "The damn thing was broken!"
"Faulty equipment?" asked Erwin
"Strange thought it was protocol to check gear before training" Hange said confused
Keith knelt next to him. "What are you doing, Eren Yeager?! Straighten yourself up!"
What is this? How am I supposed to… Eren was horrified. This can't be for real.
"Look at your face!" Mocked Jean
"Shut it Perv" growled Eren
"you fucking suicidal Ba-"
"I don't want to hear another word between you two for the rest of this viewing session" Said Levi sternly
Later that evening, Mikasa instructed him. "Just follow the basics and you'll be able to do it. Don't think about being fancy or anything. Focus on your front and back balance, then slowly place your weight into the belts on your waist and feet."
"You can do it if you stay calm," Armin continued. "Even I did it, after all."
"Alright, I feel like I've got it this time. Lift
me up, Armin." Eren was still for a second before face-planting into the dirt
"Ouch…" winced hitch and few others
In the mess hall, two trainees spoke, highly amused.
"Hey, Daz, isn't he the one who said he was gonna slaughter all the Titans yesterday? I guess it's off to the fields for him tomorrow."
"Yeah, we can't afford to feed the useless."
Eren had steam rising from his head
"Woah!" Said Hange "how did ya'll not see that?!"
"I…don't know" said mikasa confused "guess I was too focused on eating"
"Training all day really does bring up an appetite" said Sasha
"Eren you mean to tell me that you haven't received any wounds for the two years after your dad injected you with that substance?" Hange asked
"Hell how did you even make it past training without getting hurt?" Asked Mike
"I did get hurt sometimes ranging from scratches to bruises but nothing too serious" Eren said. He then paused and appeared to be in deep thought "now that I think about it my injuries did seem to heal rather quickly…"
"Eren." Mikasa gripped his shoulder, causing him to flinch in pain. "There's no point worrying about it."
"You can just learn to do it tomorrow," Armin said.
"How pathetic. There's no way I can wipe them out like this."
"You should just forget about that altogether."
"Good thing you were to stubborn to quit" said Eld
"Ya you have became a big asset for humanity, we're lucky to have you on our side" spoke Petra earning a smile from Eren
"What did you say?" Eren turned to her.
"I'm saying you should give up trying to be a soldier. Fighting isn't about simply throwing your life away."
"Hey, now! I saw what happened that day! Do you really think you can just convince me to quit?!"
"Still," Mikasa said, "it doesn't matter how determined you are."
"Huh? Why not?!" Eren demanded.
"Because you don't get to decide if you're fit to be a soldier or not."
"Sad but true" said Pixis
"Some just don't have what it takes for the life of a soldier" said Rico
The bell rang, signaling the end of the meal.
"I'm not saying you should return—"
"Let's go, Armin.
"O-Okay."
"—to the fields by yourself. You don't need to worry," Mikasa continued as they stood and walked away without her noticing.
"Because wherever you go, I'll go with you." She turned to see Sasha in Eren's recently vacated spot, the mess hall empty.
Another round of laughter hit the crowd
"So, umm… What you're saying is that I can have that?" Sasha pointed to the food.
Mikasa held up the bread. Then took a bite out of it. Sasha's face fell.
"You could have just said no, you didn't have to tease me with it first" pouted Sasha
"The trick to posture control? Sorry," Connie said, "but I'm gifted. All I can tell you is to 'feel' it."
"If anything," Jean mocked, "I'd like to hear your trick for staying sane after putting on such a pathetic spectacle."
Eren bit his tongue at this not wanting to face the wrath of Levi
"C'mon, guys! I'm begging you here," Eren said desperately.
"But didn't you say yesterday, 'If you can't cut it here, you have to leave?'" Connie paused. "Or, wait. Was it, 'If you don't got talent, you have to leave?' Which was it again?"
"Your a jerk for that Connie" said Eren
"Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk bud" Connie responded
"Please! I heard you're both really good at it, Bertolt, Reiner!" Eren begged.
Reiner crossed his arms. "Sorry, but I don't think there are any tricks to just hanging there. I can't think of any especially helpful advice, either."
"Oh." Eren looked down.
"I guess we'll just have to hope for the best tomorrow." Armin began to get up.
Bert stopped him with a question. "You two are, umm, from Shiganshina, aren't you?"
"Yes, we are," Armin answered.
"Then you know how terrifying the Titans are. So why do you want to be soldiers?"
"Unlike Eren, I didn't witness the Titan threat firsthand," Armin answered. "It's just I decided I couldn't sit there and do nothing after the Royal Government forced people into that absolutely awful retrieval operation."
"I still can't believe that the royal government would do such a thing" spoke Marlo
"Please those snobs would do anything to save their fat asses" said Hitch
"I see."
"Where are you two from?" Armin asked.
"Reiner and I are from a mountain village on the southeast side of Wall Maria.
"Oh dear" somberly spoke Pixis
"What?" asked a scout
"The garrison Wasn't able to warn the villages in the mountains in time" said Rico
"The Titans beat us to it" spoke Kitz
"Hey, wasn't that…?"
"Yeah," Bert said, "unlike the prosperous towns along the river, we didn't receive word right away. The Titans showed up well before the information did. It happened at dawn. The livestock was acting up, and these strange rumblings kept getting louder and louder. At some point, I realized they were footfalls of some sort. And then, when I hurriedly opened the window…" a titan appeared outside the the shutters
Most of MPs looked away still not use to seeing the creepy demeanor of the titans
The cadets felt pity for their friend for having to experience that, all except one
"That was an impressive performance, almost had me convinced" thought Ymir
"After that l, umm, don't really remember."
"Bertholdt…I had no idea" sadly said Christa
"I-I don't like to remember that event" said Bertholdt
Bert was lost in his thoughts. "Everyone was in such a panic—"
"Hey, now," Reiner interrupted. "What are you suddenly bringin' that up for?"
"Must be a touchy subject for Reiner too" thought Armin
"Sorry. Basically, what I was trying to say is that you guys probably aren't like them."
"Them?" Armin asked.
"The others here who don't know the horror of the Titans," Bert said.
"Hey." Reiner put his hand on his friend's shoulder.
Around the barrack, boys laughed and smiled, sitting in groups on their beds.
Outside, Bert and Reiner led them, lanterns in hand.
Annie squinted her eyes "they never told me about this"
"Woah are you guys going out after curfew!?" Exclaimed Connie
"Y'all got a deathwish or something" said Ymir
"Nature clears the mind" spoke Bertholdt
"We also had a spot we wanted to show them" said Reiner
"They're mostly here for show. To live up to society's expectations. You're seen as a coward if you choose production work when you turn twelve. Society has pushed them into becoming trainees."
They hiked through a forest.
"That said," Bert continued, "I'm no different than them. I chose to be a soldier in the hopes of joining the Military Police so I could work in the safety of the interior."
"Another inspiring Military policeman turned to the scouts?" Thought Niles
"What event made so many cadets have a change of heart" thought Marlo
"If that doesn't work out, I might give up entirely. I don't have any will to call my own, you see."
"There's nothing to be ashamed of for valuing your life," Armin assured Bert.
"As for me, I'm going to return to the hometown we lost. That's all I care about now. I will do it, no matter what," Reiner promised.
"A noble goal" said Pixis
"And one I'm going to achieve" said Reiner who then turned his head to Bert "Isn't that right Bertholdt"
"Uh ya" responded Bartholdt
"What about you?" Bert asked Eren. "Why do you want to be a soldier?"
"I…" His mother's death flashed through Eren's mind. "I decided I have to kill them. I decided I have to slaughter all the Titans with my own two hands." It then showed the face of Reiner
"I think you kinda scared him" giggled Sasha
"His passion can be quite intimidating" joked Reiner
"So, your encounter with the Titans didn't break your will?" Bert asked.
"That's right. But now it's a question of whether or not I'm actually cut out to be a soldier."
Overhead, the clouds parted, revealing a full moon. Its silvery beams highlighted the forest and the river, making it sparkle like a diamond.
The audience looked on in awe at the sight
"It so beautiful" gushed Christa
"If I knew a place like this existed so close to camp I would sneak out too" said Connie
"Check your equipment, starting with your belt adjustment," Reiner advised.
"You'll do just fine tomorrow. I'm certain of it. Eren Yeager, was it?"
"Yeah, thanks," Eren replied, smiling, "Reiner Braun, right?"
"Thanks for that Reiner, I really needed some reassurance" said Eren
"Don't mention it, soldiers are suppose to build their comrades up and be by their side for support" Reiner responded
Most of the soldiers nodded to this
Bertholdt and Annie shared a look of concern at Reiner's words
"Eren Yeager, are you ready?" Keith stared him down.
"Yes, sir!" Eren nodded. I'm going to do it! I am! I might not have raw aptitude, but no one has more guts than I do!
"Begin!"
To hell with logic! I know it's completely baseless but guts are all I got! The wires lifted Eren. They're my weapon! He was hanging steady. Around him, the other trainees let out whoops.
I did it! I'm doing it! Then Eren began to lose his balance. And he crashed. "N-Not yet! I can still do it!"
"Let him down," Keith said.
"I-I'm—!" He sat on the ground, ready to cry.
Mikasa's heart hurt at seeing Eren like this while Eren groaned at how pathetic he looked
"Wagner, switch belts with Yeager."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
This time, Eren easily hung in there. "Your equipment was defective. The belt you were using had a broken clasp. I've never heard of this part breaking before." Keith held the defective piece in his hands. "I guess we'll have to add it to the maintenance checklist."
"That's explains it"
"Still confused on why they didn't check the gear before training" said Hange
"Hmm" hummed Levi in deep thought which didn't go unnoticed by Erwin
"Something on your mind Levi?" Asked Erwin
"That gear looks like it's been tampered with" spoke Levi with his words shocking the others
"So your saying someone set Eren up to fail?" Asked Petra
"Someone sabotaged me?" Eren asked confused and shock
All eyes turned to Jean
"…what?" He said
"Did you break Eren's gear?" Ymir asked skeptical
"Huh!?" He exclaimed
"You two…did kinda get off on the wrong foot" said Christa
"Ya and jealousy can make people do crazy things" spoke Sasha
"IM NOT JEALOUS!" He screamed in anger "And I didn't mess with Eren's gear!"
While everyone else was focused on Jean, Eren and Armin had their own suspicions on who the culprit was
They both had their eyes on Mikasa
"Surely she wouldn't go that far to insure my safety right?" Thought Eren not wanting to believe Mikasa would do that to him
"It does make sense" thought Armin "But Mikasa knows how bad Eren wants this, would she really sacrifice his dream for his protection?"
"Then, even with broken equipment, he still managed to hang in there for a few seconds?"
"Whoa!"
"That was impressive" spoke Eld
"Don't let the kid get full of himself" groaned Olue
"Th-Then, what about my aptitude evaluation?"
"You pass. Train hard!" With that, Keith walked away.
I did it! I did it! Eren threw his hands into the air, grinning. Whadya think of that, Mikasa?! I can do it!
Mikasa stared, mouth open.
"She does seem shocked that I was able to pass…" Thought Eren
I can fight the Titans! There's no need for me to depend on you anymore. Eren thought.
Mikasa slightly looked down at the grown at this
"Looks like things worked out for him," Reiner said.
Armin smiled. "His eyes say, 'What do you think of that?'"
"No," Mikasa said. "He feels relieved that he doesn't have to leave me now."
"Ahh that's so cute" said Christa to slightly blushing Mikasa who wasn't expecting the scene to show that
Grisha, today your son has become a soldier. Keith thought.
Eyes widened
"He knew my dad!?" Exclaimed Eren
"Hmm After the viewing session I think it would be in our best interest to question him on his relation to doctor Yeager" said Erwin
The screen faded to black
"...that wasn't really eventful" said Hange who was disappointed they didn't get new intel about the titans
"Your telling me" said Levi "what a waste of time"
"Perhaps not" spoke Erwin "we have just learned that Former Commander shadis is familiar with Doctor Yeager, and that there is a saboteur among the cadets."
"What are you getting at Erwin?" Asked Levi
"Well I find it coincidental that we also have a saboteur who killed Hange's titans"
Hange's eyes widened "you think one of the cadets were responsible for the murder of Sonny and Bean?"
"Judging by the Kirstein's reaction I have a gut feeling it wasn't him" commented Mike
"Then who could it be and why?" Asked Moblit
The people who had left the theater had returned to their seats awaiting the next episode
"Let's continue with the viewing session" said Erwin
The Screen returned to life
AUTHORS NOTE(sorry for the sorta late update, this episode wasn't my favorite to write since it was mostly trivial stuff and didn't have a lot of material for the characters to have an interesting discussion about. The next episodes will be a lot better. Also to answer a question I saw in the comments, I do plan on doing the whole of season 1 and season 2 before the end of the year. Ideally I would hope to finish this fanfic before the end of the series but that seems unlikely if the AOT the final seasons airs in early 2023)