After a week or so, young soldiers entered school as mere students . They were divided and gender-segregated into their own rooms of dorms, only being mixed genders in classrooms and campus. Luckily, Armin and Eren were roommates, but much to Eren's surprise, Jean was the third member to join in.

Eren asked, rather annoyed '' You ? ….ugh ..of all the people ?''

''Well, same to you then. I am not happy to see you either, suicidal freak ! '' Snapped Jean, in a bothered manner.

It was already evening. Eren started satirically '' just hit the hay, horse face.''

Armin facepalmed, '' here we go again…''

The following week, Armin, Eren and Mikasa gathered and as usual sat together. They saw all the rest of their friends at the school campus chattering together like there's no tomorrow.

Armin looked at them with a cheerful smile printed on his stretched lips, ''what do you think of school so far Mikasa ?'' He glanced at her and at the vast campus pointedly. Mikasa held her gaze which showed no emotions, only her voice did, when she spoke ''since we were recently separated into several rooms, I feel strangely lonely even when I go back to accompany my own roommates. Sasha snores unbearably too much, not to mention the recent blabber about so-called commander handsome, Krista is a sweetheart though, but still, -''

Just to brush away all her upset and loneliness, Eren came out with a sudden suggestion, but not quite a relevant one. ''Let's go visit someone I knew from the survey corps, and particularly, from special operations squad, one of the soldiers I knew and had teamed up with earlier before you guys came along and joined us. A part of me tells me that we all missed some of those folks. Trust me you'll feel better after knowing her. Her name is Petra Ral.''

Students were given the green light to do visits outside school to their families, friends or colleagues as long as they go from 2 p.m up until 6:30 p.m . Except for weekends, they could stay over at their homes sharing enough time with beloved family members and then go back to school whenever a week starts. Eren's home was too distant, so he was content with his father visiting him instead. He knew his father was busy giving medical treatments to patients but would still see him nonetheless. After they were given a permission to go, they walked along the road.

Armin tilted his head ''Wait a second, wasn't she one of captain Levi's squad members that got married to him a year ago when we enlisted at the survey corps before we had deadly ruthless fights with titans last year ?''

The event finally popped in his mind as he remembered, Armin's memory would never allow to escape any details of any occasion he would witness.

Eren nodded to his friend showing agreement, He knew that Armin was one smart cookie ever since they were children.

''oh, now I remember'' said Mikasa, ''I only saw her that day with…..captain Levi.'' Suddenly, at her reference of the well known corporal, Mikasa's face changed to a frightening glare that almost held all the anger of the world at once because she recalled his atrocity when brutally hitting Eren until he literally choked on his own blood.

'' That short man… how dare he harm you..?!'' She momentarily fretted.

''Mikasa, that was a long time ago… stop making a mountain out of a molehill, I am right here safe and sound.'' Eren warily placated her, knowing that no good would happen if Mikasa sees red. The last thing that he would want is to have Pandora's box opened.

''Well at least we are not really visiting him and not for his sake.'' She uttered in a matter-of-fact tone beside her deep look.

After 20 minutes of walking on foot, they finally arrived.

At the entrance of the garden, Petra caught sight of them, generally surprised by who were intending to visit her. Drifting into their direction, she welcomed them in her own way enthusiastically ''What a splendid surprise , Eren. Long time no see.''

''Miss- I mean Mrs. Petra-… I mean Mrs. Ackerman-'' He friendly replied, but feeling rather flustered for faltering and calling her by the wrong title and then quickly corrected himself.

Before he completed his speech, Petra interrupted, playfully ruffling the brunette's hair:

''stop addressing me so formally ,silly.'' She chided him ever so gently, ''I have known you long enough to treat you like a younger brother.''

At that short moment of what Petra did and said, Eren sensed a blush that he had rarely felt its existence in his whole lifetime.

''anyway,'' Petra continued, ''you must be his best friends that he mentioned to me, I saw you once , but I can't seem to remember quite when or where.''

Interestingly enough, both introduced themselves to her.

''guys, I am sorry to keep you still standing outside'' she smiled warmly,'' come on in.''

By entering the threshold, Eren saw her noticeably swollen belly, she was 5 months pregnant. Inside his thoughts, Eren reckoned that it unsurprisingly suits Petra to be a mother, since he and the rest of Levi's squad have always experienced her maternal aura when making them tea and coffee, advising Eren to retain his faith in them ,caring for him, sympathizing mostly with him when he was a new member and of course, smacking Auruo on his back due to continually bragging then biting his tongue like a moron. Eren giggled to himself amusingly when he recalled that last foolish memory.

They sat down on the sofa, Petra passed tea cups for each. Pleasant was the aroma that spread through the air…enchanting their olfactory senses... Petra took a slow sip of her warm tea. While they all were drinking the brisk tea, Petra curiously watched the ambitious glimmer adorning their juvenile eyes. They secretly reminded her of herself when she was at their age having the sensational bloom of hope blossoming from within. In fact, she wasn't that older than them, she was only 23 years old. She knew that Eren did not seem to have changed, at least not in his selflessness and motivations.

The atmosphere was oddly loaded with silence until Petra spoke ,''I have been busy taking care of my father and Levi at home, but I really missed you all in the scouting legion. I have always told Levi to send you all my regards'', then she took a small sip of her rich scented tea.

''Captain Levi sure did, and we never forgot about you either. We asked him about you and he told us that you were ok but still missed working with the special operations squad.'' He placed his cup on the table.

At that fact, she felt happiness dancing in her heart and she joyfully grinned at them. Caring for others and seeing others care back for her was enough to make her world go round.

'' Levi told me that the survey corps really outdone great success last year. Time after time he would return home from expeditions fatigued but not caring to rest much. It required him to always be busy and engrossed in training and paperwork till another expedition comes up. He rarely even managed to take a small break or tell me details.''

Petra wanted to hear from Eren, as for Mikasa and Armin, they never mind listening again to their best friend, they would always be there.

He adjusted his posture more conveniently, and at the sight of their eyes focused on his, he started describing how each body of soldiers partook in the fight, all dispersed at several directions. The spontaneous burst of power and prowess filled the soldiers at the climactic moment as they eagerly darted and slashed the titans' napes, all of their movements were prompt. A mixed up gush of excitement surfaced on Eren's face when he told them he emerged into his titan form. From his evident facial expressions, Petra felt how he clearly revels in killing such creatures. The more he had described the more his facial expressions grew fixed and decisive. His emotions were a rollercoaster changing from excitement to determination and ending up with melancholy.

Eren was entangled between two things that fuel his pain, the anguishing imagery of the loss of his mother and being encaged with the pathetic feeling of living as cattle. It would take only a spark of both ideas to rekindle his ache and madness leading him to get extremely jittery about titans. But above all, his speech tone and the glisten in his green eyes bespoke a youthfully tenacious spirit to achieve the dream of reaching salvation of humanity. His friends knew how he hated to back down. Petra never forgot that he fully wanted to kill titans even the last one of them. At that specific thought, she remembered that he and Levi had the same objective of willingly exterminating titans.

Quiet yet obvious, he suddenly fell into sad thoughts, and the brightness of his eyes faded away. He spoke no more.

Mikasa wanted to remove his distress. She patted him on the back , ''I am starting to feel relieved that all this tragedy will soon be over. Don't be upset about what happened back then, no one died in vain, nothing can ever be nobler than what those soldiers did; they sacrificed their lives for others. You always said to me If you don't fight you can't win, do you remember, Eren?''

Her reference made him lift his chin up, he sat back relaxed, regaining his calm smile.

Armin nodded agreeably.

At the strength of their loyalty and friendship, Petra spoke to them in appreciation, ''All people are proud of what you and other soldiers did, it is unforgettable.'' She softly laid her hand on her belly, looking at each one of them '' I wish my child would be as brave and pure hearted as you are .''

Mikasa wouldn't easily be read or open up to new people, yet she felt comfortable towards Petra's endearing kindness. The former liked her.

Armin, the timid boy, felt a swirling emotion of happiness tickling his heart and causing him to smile unconsciously at the compliment.

This time, Eren didn't know what to say, he rubbed the back of his neck bashfully. They curtailed their visit and stood to leave. Petra approached them, and hesitantly opened the door . a slight hint of sadness in her voice, '' I don't consider this a full visit, please come again.''

'' I promise you, we will.'' Eren replied before stepping out of the door with his friends.