Attack on Titan © Isayama Hajime
This was the fourth day of her period. She supposed to feel better, not still wincing in pain. And today's training couldn't be better. It took place inside the forest and required a lot of physical actions such as running, flying, and slashing titan dummies as many as they could.
What a bad luck she had to endure it under her delicate condition. The universe seemed to play a cruel joke as well by placing her on a team full of testosterones. With her to be the only female, there was nobody she could turn to for support in regard of her discomfort.
"Krista, you look pale!" Jean was eyeing her in concern.
"Should we slow down?" Connie offered.
"I… I'm fine. Let's keep going." Krista forced a smile. The idea of holding her teammates sent a pang of guilt inside her heart.
The only one who didn't bother to care was Eren. He kept on going with steady speed in front of them with clear goal on mind: to finish the training with impeccable result.
The next twenty minutes had passed with no target in sight. They were fully aware of the prospect of wasting gas so they decided to come up with a new plan: split into two groups and head to opposite directions to find more dummies.
Connie and Jean had insisted to be paired up with Krista. Eren knew exactly what was inside their freaky heads which he grew weary of. He almost got into heated argument had Krista not stepped in and declared that it would be best for her to go with him. She met with disappointed stares from the duo and no objection from Eren.
"We should walk to save the gas," she had suggested before they took off. She had other reason in mind, like not upsetting her stomach from unnecessary leaping and swinging. Soon, they went on separate way with a spot near the river as rendezvous point.
Eren led the way with Krista following a few steps behind. Other than random grunts, he wasn't very talkative. She felt a let down. As on their last encounter, he had been kindly enough to help her, naturally she had expected him to be nicer now, or at least, more civilized towards her. Contrary to that he seemed not interested to articulate any coherent sentence, which was a basic courtesy to acknowledge her as another human being.
Suddenly recalled she still had his article of clothing as well, she determined to start a conversation.
"E-Eren, a few days ago, you helped me to the infirmary… A-And I haven't said a proper thank you…" she said between gasps of breath, trying to keep up with his fast pace. "… And also…"
Eren stopped all of the sudden and turned to her with a cold look that conveyed he'd rather keep on walking than listening to her bumbling nonsense.
Krista could sense the air of resentment and held her breath. She couldn't possibly tell what he was thinking. His face was a mixture of annoyance and impatience. What had gone wrong?
Eren had implored to leave her on her own device. That was exactly what he felt like doing. He was not here to sweep Krista Lenz off her feet. The cold treatment he gave her was a part of his way to show that he blamed her for what happened with Armin.
"Armin told me about that stupid game. He ended up with fractured arm thanks to you." And Ymir, he gritted his teeth. "I know he was partial to blame. But it's not on his nature to just brazenly assault a girl..."
He glared at her with such intensity. "…Unless you provoke him first, which you did, didn't you?"
Krista looked away in shame. Face flushed, hands shaking. Still, it wasn't enough to stop him, though.
"You were fully aware putting yourself in that kind of situation." He moved forward, bringing himself closer to the trembling girl. "Can't blame the guy for trying, I guess."
"Please stop, Eren…" Tears started to well on the corner of her eyes. The truth hurt more than she thought…
"Do you really believe you are that innocent?"
That brought Krista on her knees, choking on her own breath. She tried so hard to hold back her tears but failed miserably. Drop by drop came rolling and she wiped them hard.
"Should I be worried that Ymir will come after me?" Eren asked with voice devoid of emotion, undeterred by her tears. "I don't want to end up like Armin when she finds out that I make you cry."
Damn Eren and his mouth. She knew he was a jerk, but obviously a better jerk when he didn't let his mouth running. He had pushed her sensitive button: her unnatural kindness, her goddess complex and he didn't even known when to stop...
Biting her inside cheek, Krista stood up abruptly and pushed him. She was meant to shove him but her rather smaller than average physique lacked the power to do so. Instead of accomplishing her objection, the small girl only managed to exhaust herself. In the end, she hit him hard on the chest.
Eren flinched a bit, but didn't do anything to stop her.
"I am so sick of you and your not-giving-a-shit-attitude," she muttered in defeat.