Schlacht Am Häuptling
首席の戦い
Battle Of The Chief's
849–Trost District
In the quiet early morning of Trost District where a light morning fog was present. A young man in the prime of his youth was already up and doing a special project.
"That day, the young man remembered something."
Jean was currently in his bedroom with a blanket over him, doing something that required his absolute concentration. Someone was coming up the stairs that led to his room though, but he paid it no mind.
"The fear of being dominated by them,
He was concentrating so much that a bead of sweat actually fell on the paper he was currently drawing on. The person he was drawing wasa familiar black haired girl, but Jean's drawing showed the girl smiling.
Seeing the water droplet on the paper, Jean wiped it away—only for it to stain a little of his work. Panicking slightly, he tried to erase the spot before blowing away the particles.
"and the shame of being a prisoner in a cage."
His eyes widened suddenly as he heard the footsteps draw closer, the door was slammed open, prompting him to hide underneath the covers completely.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's time for lunch!" His mother yelled at him, standing by the door and holding a pan in her other hand.
Jean showed his face a little as he scowled at her, "Knock before you come in, hag!" He yelled at her, "Why did you bring that thing up here?"
She moved the food around the pan a little before replying, "You wouldn't come down, no matter how many times I called you, so I had to come all the way up here!"
"Just get the hell out!" He yelled, getting out of bed and pushing her out the room, "You rotten old hag!" After she was all the way out, he slammed the door in her face.
"What's with that attitude?" She said from the other side of the door.
Jean stands there in his room, the paper he was clutching in his hand was unfolded. Staring at it, his whole body begins to shake before deciding to tear the drawing up.
"Damn it all!" He exclaimed, tossing the shredded remains of the drawing in the air, stomping over towards the window.
Placing both hands on the edge of the window, he takes in his surroundings as the sun begins to rise.
'I will have it for sure!' Jean thinks, 'A safe and exhilarating life within the inner walls as a member of the Military Police!' He vows, glaring ahead, 'I will definitely get it!'
-進撃の巨人-
Jean was walking down the street, not even looking back to say goodbye to his parents. His mother wiped a tear from her eye as she watched her son leave.
"With that determination in his heart, the young man left home and survived the strict training."
At the training grounds, Jean was flipped on his back by Eren, and once again in the dining area.
"All manner of humiliation only made him stronger."
He made a face when he saw Mikasa and Eren together, walking and talking.
Shadis was taking the cadets somewhere within Trost as a forest of trees were around them.
"After two years, the young man returned."
The wall was in sight as the cadets were headed towards it. Jean saw the place that felt like a cage to him. He was home, but hopefully it won't be for long as staying here any longer than necessary wasn't what he wanted at all.
"To the cage that he had supposedly escaped from."
-進撃の巨人-
"I heard it's shown up again." A citizen said.
"Someone should go and get rid of it already." Another complained.
"We can't even work in peace with that thing around."
Plastered on the wall was a hand drawn image of a colossal boar that was causing nothing but trouble for the citizens. Those who attempt to go out in the woods where it decided to make its territory, it would charge at them. One man described his horrific experience and stated that he barely made it out alive.
Connie walked past the gossiping citizens, backpack strapped to his back, "This is awesome! I've never been in a walled city before!"
Sasha was walking next to him, "There are all sorts of tasty things here!"
Jean had an unenthusiastic expression on his face before smirking at the two, "You guys!" Sasha and Connie turn to him, "If you join the city Garrison, you can stay here as long as you like. And I'll come to check up on you when I join the Military Police!" He said before laughing arrogantly.
Sasha and Connie give him bored looks as they've heard this way too many times before.
Armin decided to ask Jean something, "Hey Jean, where do you live?" He asked, walking on Jean's right side, while Marco was walking on his left.
"Does it matter?" Jean frowned, not even bothering to answer.
"You're going to visit your home, right?" Marco asked, oblivious to the side glare Jean was sending his way, "Thomas said he was going home. I'm sure your mom would be happy!"
"Shut up, already! It's none of your business!" Jean yelled at him.
Armin and Marco go quiet as Jean turns away from them, making the once peaceful atmosphere now tense and uncomfortable.
"Listen up, you swine!" Shadis stands before the cadets, "During tomorrow's training for the upcoming attack on Trost, Commander Pixis, who is in charge of the southern region, will be present."
This was how they ended up here in Trost to begin with because it was another exercise.
"Show him how much closer you vermin are to becoming soldiers after these two years!"
"Yes, sir!"
Now the cadets were currently on the rooftops, ODM gear in hand and ready for the exercise to begin. Jean sported a determined expression, wanting to get this started already.
The bells began to ring, signaling the exercise had begun and the cadets were running on the roof's they were stationed at. Below them, the Garrison officers were evacuating the citizens.
"Please follow directions and evacuate safely!"
One of the citizens stopped running before looking up, trying to spot a certain cadet. It was Jean's mother, but another citizen grabbed her arm and pulled her away.
Running along the rooftop was Jean, followed by Annie and Armin, "Jean, is it okay to move this far ahead? Our orders were to hang back and deal with the titans that break through—" Armin started to say, but was cut off.
"We can't afford to be so laid back!" Jean tells him, "Soldiers are meant to cut down titans!"
All three leap off the roof they were running on, "Aren't you more concerned with getting a high score?" Annie mutters, moving through the air.
Unknown to them however, they were being watched by a member of the Garrison. A female Garrison officer was spying on them from her position on the roof, looking at them through a telescope.
"Commander, Team 21 has abandoned their post." Anka reported, but when she heard no response she looked up, "Commander?"
Pixis was fast asleep while standing up, cheeks flushed, and arms crossed. He was wobbling a little, but managed to keep his balance.
Anka sighs as she stands up and puts her telescope away. Leaning close to his face, she yelled in his ear, "Commander!"
Startled out of his nap, Pixis wakes up confused, "Is it chow time?" He asked, still half asleep.
"You just ate a little while ago." Anka said with a sigh before snatching the flash from his hand.
She walks over by her comrade, "He's far too relaxed."
He simply smiles at her exasperated expression, "He hasn't had time to loosen up lately. Just leave him be."
Pixis takes out another flask and drinks it, "I wonder what we're having for dinner." He wondered.
Back with the cadets, Jean and his team were flying through the buildings. Jean soon spots a fake titan, "Found one! I've got this!" The sound of gas got his attention and sees that it was Mikasa, who came out of nowhere.
Mikasa wastes no time in cutting the nape of the fake titan, soaring in the air with grace. Jean was shocked, but then smirked up at her, 'Awesome, as always. You really are the only one who can pass me.' He thinks, arrogantly, "You guys, this way!"
He leads them to another zone and spots two more fake titans, "Got 'em!" But his kill was taken from him again when this time Eren came swooping in and cutting the nape of both targets. Landing on the roof, he didn't see the glare Jean was sending his way.
'Damn show off!' He snarled inwardly before heading to a different zone. It wasn't long before Jean spotted three more titan dummies, This time for sure!' He thinks, smirking.
"Thanks a bunch, Jean!"
Surprised, Jean looks up to see Connie flying above him with a grin before shooting off, "Gotcha!" He said, cutting the nape.
"Damn you!" Jean cursed, swinging back around, "Quit screwing around!"
The other two fake titans had their napes cut, getting his attention. Landing on one of the roofs was Reiner, who looked down at him, "Sorry, Jean." He said, smiling.
Sasha landed on the fake nape of the other titan, waving both anti-titan blades in the air, "Yahoo! Yahoo!"
"You've improved!"
Jean landed on the ground, expression growing gradually angry as he glared up at them.
"I've always been this good."
"You're still no match for me, though."
His glare only intensified.
-進撃の巨人-
A woman's back was shown as she was purchasing some vegetables from a sales stand. The vendor in front of her was a kind man that was holding something in his hand that looked like a radish, while another man with a sack slung over his shoulder walked past the woman.
"That was cheating, you thieving scum!"
Connie was about to take a bite out of his potato, but stopped when he heard Jean yell, "Huh?" He frowned, unamused.
"I found those targets first!" Jean yelled at them, leaning forward.
Standing off to the side were Annie and Armin, who were watching the whole exchange. Reiner was also watching, both hands on his hips.
Sasha gives him a smug look, "Cheating? I didn't expect you to sound so petty, Jean. There are no rules when it comes to hunting." She states, munching on her potato.
"Keep your hunter logic to yourself, Potato Girl!" Jean snapped, scowling down at her.
"Potato Girl?" Sasha squawked, indignantly, "I thought everyone had forgotten about that!" She grumbled, looking away with a scowl before standing up, "That's cruel!" She said, pouting.
Connie also got to his feet, "She's right! Apologize to her!" He demanded, jumping to her defense.
After staying quiet, Reiner decided to speak up, "We were assigned to that area, not you." He reminds Jean, who had both fists clenched in anger.
"That's right!" Connie said, agreeing with Reiner, "You know, you're acting strange today. All this shouting and everything," his eyebrows were furrowed then he sneered, "Are you that anxious to see your mommy?" He teased.
"Oh, is that it?" Sasha asked, eyes wide and surprised.
Jean got in her face, "Hell no!" He screeched, fist raised as he was about to hit her.
Sasha glared at the fist, eyes having red streaks as her head lowered in preparation to make her own counterattack.
"Yaaahhh!" Both her and Connie did weird fighting poses—Sasha's arms were spread out, while her knee was lifted, and Connie got in a praying mantis pose, with a knife in his mouth.
In the background, Armin had both hands raised as though he were about to stop them, while Annie looked away, unbothered.
Reiner took a step forward, hand outstretched, "Stop that, you two!" He said to Sasha and Connie before turning to Jean with a frown, "You too, Jean. Or you won't make it into the Military Police." He tells him.
Angry, but knows that Reiner is right, Jean lowers his fist and stands up straight, "Let's settle this at training tomorrow!" He said to Sasha and Connie as the two were still battle ready, "We'll see who takes out the most targets!"
"That sounds like fun!"
All three turned to see who said that and noticed that the other cadets around them started to salute the person walking in Jean, Sasha, and Connie's direction.
Jean recognized the person immediately and saluted them, Sasha and Connie following his example.
"Commander Pixis!"
Pixis was smiling, cheeks still flushed, "Allow me to put that on hold," he said, "Your tireless spirit is wonderful indeed, but settling scores during training is outrageous!" All the cadets have their eyes on him, with the exception of Annie's closed eyes.
Jean was silent.
Pixis takes a sip from his flask, "Do your fighting in the kitchen." Anka and the man next to her look at their commander with surprised expressions, or like he'd finally lost his mind.
Jean, Sasha, and Connie lean forward at his declaration, "Sir?" Jean questioned, wondering if he'd heard the man right.
"You will compete to see who is the better chief!" Pixis declared, making it much more clear.
Jean was still confused.
Sasha, however, looked excited. Her eyes sparkled, holding her hands together and leaning forward, "Cooking?" She sounded very eager to get it started.
Pixis opened his eyes, "Yes, cooking," bending forward, he stands upright, arms outstretched, "We will have a cooking competition!"
"Cooking?" A cadet questioned.
"Did he say cooking?" Another cadet said.
"Why cooking?"
Gustav had on a straight face, We should have confiscated all of his alcohol." He said.
Anka nodded firmly in agreement.
Jean was conflicted as he wasn't expecting things to turn out like this, "My apologies, Commander Pixis. We are soldiers, not chefs—" he jerked back when a potato was shoved in his face—courtesy of Sasha.
"Jean, what do you know about cooking?" Sasha questioned, face completely serious.
"That's right! I bet your mom always cooked all of your medals!" Connie commented from Sasha's side, fist raised in the air to emphasize his point.
Sasha puts her arm down, "I will teach you what cooking is really like, little Jean!" She takes a bite out of her potato, crumbs scattered all over her face, munching on it while staring at Jean with a determined look.
Jean's whole body shakes as does his hands before clenching them tightly into fists, "Bring it on! Whether it's cooking or cleaning, it doesn't matter" he moves his arm to the side dramatically, glare firmly in place.
"If I win, you stay out of my way from now on!" He pointed at her, the sun's rays hitting his face, "Potato Girl!"
Sasha glared at him in return, still chewing.
"It's settled," Pixis voiced, "The showdown will take place tonight. Each of you will prepare a course for dinner," he suddenly shouts, looking fierce, "Bring your best dishes to the table!"
The cadets around them began to cheer, anticipating the showdown that would soon take place.
"A cooking showdown between Sasha and Jean!"
"We can't miss this!"
"I won't be able to sleep tonight!"
"More like, we wouldn't let you sleep!"
Off to the side were Eren and Mikasa, both were standing there holding a small crate and basket in hand. Kruger was perched on Eren's shoulder, tilting its head to the side.
"What's going on?" Mikasa wondered, curiously.
"Not sure." Eren replied.
Kruger tilted his head.
-進撃の巨人-
Hooves were heard running through a vast green area—three horses that belonged to Jean, Armin, and Annie were riding along a path, with Jean acting as the leader.
"Alright, I can see it!" Jean announced to the two.
Annie didn't care about that as there was something else she wanted to know, "Why are we going hunting?" She complained, grumbling a little.
"We have no choice, Annie," Armin said, riding next to her, "We were ordered to work as a team."
Jean was grinning, "I used to play in that forest often. It's famous for being the habitat of a giant boar. If we manage to get that meat, we'll win for sure!"
"What about practicing your cooking technique?" Armin asked.
"I don't have time to think about that!" Jean replied, angrily.
"Well, isn't this a coincidence?"
Hearing a familiar voice, Jean looked to his left and saw it was Sasha. She was rising with Reiner and Connie.
"You guys…" Jean uttered, "Why?!"
"Sasha's nose caught the scent of some prime meat." Reiner answered.
Sasha was grinning, "I'm not just gonna let you take all the meat for yourself!" She snapped the reins to make her horse go faster, "Hyah!"
Seeing they were gaining ahead of him, Jean glared, "Dammit!"
"Let's go, Jean! This is your backyard, right?" Armin was urging him to remember the objective at hand, "We have the upper hand!"
The three were now walking through the forest. Jean was taking the lead, with Armin behind him and Annie walking behind Armin. As they were walking though, Armin looked around and noticed something.
"Jean…" Armin's tone sounded unsure as he spoke, "We're not lost, are we?"
"No." He answered quickly.
Armin wasn't so sure, "But I swear we've passed that—"
"No, we haven't!" Jean denied, pointing in front of him, "Look!" He runs up to a beaten up tree, "You might've seen a mark like this earlier," the look on Armin's face showed he wasn't buying what Jean was telling them. Annie was looking bored at this point, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, eyes closed, "but we're definitely in on it!"
In another part of the forest was Sasha's group.
"Hey, now. We're not going to find it by just wandering about." Reiner states, walking behind both Sasha and Connie, "I'd understand if there was snow, but tracking footprints in mid? We'd need four or five days at least…"
"There it is, Connie!" Sasha's excited time cut him off. He watches as the two kneel down in front of a giant turd—Sasha poking it with a stick.
"It's massive…" Connie observed.
"Yes. It's a beast, all right. Fresh, too." Sasha examined.
"Its den must be nearby." The look on Reiner's face expressed how he was starting to consider his life choices at this moment.
Reiner then composed himself, "You guys just got lucky. But you won't find the boat itself so easi—"
"There it is!" He was again cut off by Sasha's excited exclamation. His face was shocked that they were able to even find the beast.
Sasha and Connie were leaning over something, getting closer—Reiner saw the giant boar snoring away without a care in the world.
"That's one big hog." Connie stayed the obvious.
"You said it," Sasha agreed, "It's probably a colossal class."
Reiner still had his shocked face on beige once again composing it, "Right…" he then proceeds to walk away, "We're going home. That thing's uncatchable." Sasha runs in front of him before slapping Reiner across the face dramatically.
She wasn't done though as the next thing Sasha did was hit him in the face again with her elbow.
Reiner grunted in pain, 'She elbowed me?!'
There were tears in Sasha's eyes as she stood upright, "How can you say that?! That makes me sad! Can you hold your head up before your ancestors with that kind of attitude?" She covers her face with both hands, "Can you connect the world?"
Clearly befuddled, Reiner stands, "I'm sorry, Sasha. I don't understand what you just said, but I was wrong."
Connie watches the exchange before looking back, "It's fine, as long as you get it." He turns his whole body around, alert and aware.
"Let's go! Dedicate your heart to getting that meat!" Sasha said, encouraging him.
"Right!" Reiner said, making the salute.
"Uh, you guys…?" Connie called out, getting their attention.
Curious, the two turned around to see that the colossal boar was wide awake and glaring at them with its one eye. Only one thing went through Reiner's mind at that moment.
"Son of a bitch…"
-進撃の巨人-
Jean's group was still streaking through the forest, but suddenly stopped dead in their tracks when they heard loud sounds coming from below them as they stood on top of a cliff. Jean looked down, wondering just what the hell was going on.
Needles to say, both Jean and Armin starred, mouths hanging wide open when they saw Sasha hanging onto the colossal boar with the help of her ODM gear. Connie and Reiner weren't too far behind her.
"Meat! Meat!" Sasha chanted.
Without even thinking, Jean and others took off after them, "It's the boar! And the others!" Jean exclaimed.
"So fast! We'll never catch up to them!" Armin said.
Somehow, Sasha managed to climb on the back of the boar's back, "Stew! Steak! Sausage!" She grunted, climbing ore on top of its back.
It was then Armin had a brilliant idea, and it involved him waving potatoes at the girl, "Over here, Sasha! I have potatoes!"
"Smoked! Minced! Cutlets!" Sasha didn't hear him as the overwhelming power of meat overtook her. Her eyes were glowing red to prove that.
Seeing this, Armin pulled the potatoes away, "No good! We can't overcome the power of meat!"
Sasha stood from the boar's back, bow and arrow in hand, "There are so many ways to cook it! The most delicious thing in this world!" Eyes glowing red again, she spun backwards, flying high in the sky, an arrow aimed right at the boar.
"MEAT!" She cried, releasing the arrow, killing it instantly.
Landing on a tree branch, Jean couldn't believe his eyes as Sasha was able to kill the colossal boar with just an arrow. He'd underestimated her, greatly and it may have cost him the competition.
Now back in Trost, Sasha, Connie, and Reiner display the colossal boar to the people, showing them that it had finally been killed. Connie was being dramatic as he addressed the people, "Behold! Colossal boar coming through!"
Sasha was all happy smiles as she sat on the dead boar's back, "Meat! Meat!" She happily chanted.
Behind the gathered crowd were Jean, Armin, and Annie. Jean's whole body was shaking, while Armin and Annie were standing off to the side. Unable to contain his rage any longer—Jean let it all out.
"You bastards!" He hollered.
Armin and Annie look at him as though he'd finally lost his mind.
Maybe he has.
-進撃の巨人-
Later on that evening when the sun was starting to set, Eren was in the middle of picking up crate boxes and stacking them on a cart. To say the boy was good at displaying his strength was an understatement as he was carrying three crate boxes like they'd weighed nothing before setting them down on the cart.
Once he was done, Kruger perched right back on his shoulder with a happy "hoot" much to the brunette's amusement. Passing him was Mikasa as she was carrying two crates before setting them down.
"Is that all we have to do?" Mikasa asked.
"For now." He answered.
Kruger tilted his head.
Mikasa then remembered something, "That reminds me, I overheard some cadets talking about some competition between Jean and Sasha taking place tonight."
"I heard." He said, stroking underneath Kruger's chin, earning a small noise from the animal.
"Are you going to watch it?" She questioned.
He went quiet for a moment before answering, "No…" his response was drawled out, while his gaze seemed to be elsewhere.
Just as she was about to call out to him a woman approached them, "Um, is Jean-boy—I mean, is Jean Kirstein around here?"
In the dining hall were the gathered cadets as they were just sitting around and chatting about nothing in particular. Jean. Was sitting at a table with Armin and Annie, thinking about what he was going to do now.
'The battle begins tonight. I need even better ingredients in order to beat Potato Girl's meat!' Grunting in frustration a little, Jean rubbed the back of his head—accidentally knocking his water over, the spill getting all over his pants. Annoyed, he sets the cup back upright.
"Is Jean Kirstein here?"
Jean stands to his feet before walking over to the Garrison soldier that was standing in the middle of the stairs. He stood before the man respectfully, "Yes sir, that's me!"
"Your mother is here to see you." The soldier told him.
Instead of being happy his mother came to see him, Jean was horrified that she was here, "Huh?"
"Jean-boy!" His mother calls out his childhood nickname, approaching him and getting the attention of the rest of the cadets.
She walks closer to him, placing a hand on his jacket, "Why didn't you come home, Jean-boy?"
"You...why…?" Jean didn't answer, instead wanting to know why she was here.
"Even Thomas, from the Wagner family, made sure to visit!" She went on, Eren and Mikasa were standing behind her and watching Jean's reaction, "You're such a problem child," She kept fussing over him, unaware of his horrified expression, "Did you spill soup or something on yourself? You're hopeless." She bent down to try and wipe it off with her handkerchief.
Embarrassed at this point, Jean didn't hesitate to show it, "Stop that!" He yelled.
"But Jean—" Around them, the other cadets were either looking on in amusement, frowns, or just plain didn't care, "Just go home, already." He growled, pushing her away a little, but Eren was right behind her in case she lost her balance.
She turns to Eren with a forced smile, taking out an apple from the basket she brought with her, "Then—These are for everyone." She placed two apples down on the table.
"We don't need them!" Jean yelled, swiping them off the table in anger.
Eren frowned at his actions before moving to pick them up, while Jean's mother also frowned at him, "Jean-boy!" The boy said nothing as he stood there, head hanging down in stubbornness.
The kind woman looked around at all the gathered cadets, "Everyone! He's a little rough around the edges, but please be nice to him!"
Jean was still holding on to his stubborn attitude, or simply pouting.
Standing off to the side were Eren and Mikasa, the brown haired boy holding the two apples in his arms. The frown on his face expressed how he was feeling about Jean's behavior towards his own mother.
His mother stood there as everyone was quiet and not saying a word but then remembered the reason why she was here, "Ah, that reminds me, Jean, I brought your favorite—" digging in her basket, she took out a homemade lunch box and was about to hand it to him.
"Just freaking go home!" He hollered before slamming the door in her face. Taking heavy breaths, he stood there in front of the closed door on top of the steps—uncaring of the looks being sent his way.
The previous frown on Eren's face soon morphed into a cold, icy look that would make even the most hardened veterans spines shiver. It was rare to see Eren angry, but seeing Jean treat his mother in such a way set him off.
"Undankbare Göre." He uttered, coldly.
Near him, Mikasa flinched a little as did Armin—who heard it from beside Annie at the table. Annie's eyes widened slightly before returning to their normal indifferent setting.
Jean threw him a glare over his shoulder, but flinched slightly at the look Eren was giving him. Still being stubborn, Jean refused to say anything.
-進撃の巨人-
Later, where there was no one around and the torches were lit—Jean opened his palm to reveal a key to both Armin and Annie.
Armin was horrified upon seeing it, "Are you serious Jean?" He questioned, praying Jean wasn't being serious.
But the crazy expression on Jean's face said otherwise, "I hear they've got beef in the officers' store room. I'll make use of that." He explained, but in truth he was just going to steal.
Armin backed away, nervously, "N-No way! I can't steal! I've always been clumsy. I always placed last in races," his face soon became crazed due to feeling nervous, "Even when we played hide-and-seek, I couldn't hold my laughter in!" The flames around him weren't really helping things—only adding to his crazed look.
"Armin…?" Jean gave him a concerned look.
Armin didn't seem to hear him, "And you expect me to steal?" He turned and ran away, "I can't do it!"
"Hey, where are you going?" Jean called out, hand outstretched.
Running up the stairs in a panic made Armin slip and crash his knee into the steps. His eyes grew wide before falling and landing on his back, cradling his injured leg while crying out in pain.
The three were in the infirmary, Armin had both legs bandaged as he laid in bed, "I'm sorry, Jean. I don't think I can help you with my body in this state." He apologized.
Annie was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, eyes closed. She stood off it, hand on her hip, "Count me out, too. I can't risk being branded as a thief."
Jean was shocked by her backing out, "But I thought you wanted to join the Military Police too, Annie!"
"Sorry." She said, casually before walking out of the infirmary. The two boys watch her leave, Jean was lost on what to do next before deciding in his mind that he had no choice but to do the deed himself.
Leaving the infirmary, he was creeping down a tunnel slowly so as to not get caught.
'I need beef. I need the best beef if I'm going to beat Potato Girl,' He determined inwardly, 'I'm a desperate man who will use any means necessary in order to win! I'm not incompetent Jean-boy anymore!' Peeking his head around the corner, he sees two Garrison soldiers walking and conversing with themselves. Gritting his teeth, he leaned against the wall.
"Kirstein!" A Garrison soldier called out his name, making the boy jump in fright.
It was the same one from earlier that told him his mother had come to see him, "I've been looking all over for you," he holds the lunch box out to him, "Your mom asked me to give this to you."
Jean takes it from him.
"What are you doing all the way down here?" The man questioned.
Instead of telling the truth, Jean lied, "Umm...the bathroom." It was a pathetic lie to say the least, but a classic one that always worked.
"What are you saying?" The man pointed behind him, "The bathroom's that way."
Outside, Jean was sitting down as there was still a sunset. Letter in hand, he folds it open.
Dear Jean-boy,
Eat this and keep working hard. Don't cause too much trouble for everyone, okay?
Love, Mom.
Scoffing, he crumbles the letter before putting it in his jacket pocket and unwrapping the lunchbox, revealing a nicely homemade omelette. Overwhelmed with emotion, he thinks back to his childhood of when he loved his mother's omelette. Then remembered how when he came home crying and dirty, his mother patiently waited for him to tell her what was wrong before wiping his face. Finally, he recalls the time she was sick and he nursed her back to health.
"Mom." He said softly.
Flames soon appeared as Jean was in the kitchen intensely cooking. Armin and Annie just watch him. Meanwhile in another kitchen was Sasha, who was cooking—eyes blazing red with a battle cry of, "Meat!" Connie and Reiner doing their own thing and not bothering her. Both were doing their best and determined not to lose.
"I—
"I—
"I will not lose!"
-進撃の巨人-
The time had finally come.
It was now night and cadets were lined up and waiting for the competition to start. Shadis was standing on the stage, with Pixis and his two subordinates behind him. Standing on the stage were Jean and Sasha respectively—standing on opposite sides. Jean looked anxious, while Sasha was excited.
Pixis smiled at them both, "Looks like you both brought your best skills to the table!"
Shadis decided to get things started, "The cooking competition between 104th Training Corp members, Jean Kirstein and Sasha Blouse, will now commence!" The gathered cadets cheered, ready for things to get started.
"Starting things off is Sasha Blouse!"
"Yes, sir!" Sasha fearlessly walks over to Pixis, placing her dish before him then taking the lid off, revealing just the meat and nothing else.
"Woah!"
"Meat!"
"That's meat!"
"What kind of meat is it?"
"That looks delicious."
Jean started growing nervous at the impressed mutterings of the gathered cadets.
Intrigued, Pixis decided to take a bite, "Let's put it to the test." Cutting into it without any difficulty, he takes a bite. He stills as his eyes widen. The earth around him began to shake as he closed his eyes, "It's...It's…" snapping them open, they were blazing red, "It's delicious!"
"Is this boar meat?! It is! Such fine texture! The more you chew it the tastier it gets!" Pixis started having a wild fantasy due to the taste of the food. Back in reality, Pixis was still as a statue and not moving an inch. Everyone watched him silently wondering what was wrong.
"What's wrong?"
"He hasn't moved an inch!"
"What in the world?"
Connie grinned, "Look at that! He's in a peace of mind state!"
"We can win this!" Reiner said, confidently.
"It's your turn now, Jean!" Sasha said.
Jean nods at Armin before bringing his dish up next. Placing it on the table he grabs the top, "Here you are." He takes the lid off, revealing the omelette his mother made him.
Pixis hummed.
Sasha and Connie looked dumbfounded.
"What is that?"
"An omelette?"
"He's trying to win with that?"
This didn't seem to bother Pixis though, "Oh, this is pretty cute." He was eager to eat it.
Still a little nervous, Jean stood even straighter, "Please try it, sir."
Pixis took a bite out of the omelette, everyone around him waited with bated breaths as he ate the whole thing. Wiping his mouth, he sat there for a moment.
"The commander isn't saying anything." Connie said.
"That means we've won!" Reiner believed.
"Yes! Nothing in this world is tastier than meat!" She stated in absolute confidence of her victory.
Pixis stands to his feet, "I will now announce the results. In this cooking contest…" Everyone was quiet as they waited for him to reveal the results, "...the winner is Jean Kirstein!"
Sasha and her team were shocked by the results while the gathered cadets cheered for Jean's victory.
Jean was surprised he won as his mouth was open a little. Feeling a hand on his shoulder, he turned around to see Armin giving him a thumbs up, while Annie crossed her arms, looking away with her eyes closed.
Sasha slammed her hands down on the table, "I can't accept this!" She protested, "Why? Why did meat lose?"
Pixis looked at her calmly, "Tell me, young trainee. What exactly is meat?" He questioned.
"Meat is meat!"
He hummed, "That's right. Meat is meat. It is nothing more than that. Meat is meat. That is why you lost." Pixis explained as the sun began to rise and beam its blinding light down on them.
Hearing his words, Sasha began to cry and fall to her knees, "I'm so embarrassed!"
"That sense to her?" Reiner muttered, utterly confused.
"I completely forgot about the potatoes and carrots that I had until now," she lamented as Pixis walked away, "and tried to win with just cooking meat!"
Jean stretched a hand out at her, "You don't need to be embarrassed," she sniffles, looking up at him, "You're not the only one who did nothing but roast." He gave her a gentle smile.
Feeling touched, Sasha responded in kind, "I'm sorry, Jean." He grabbed his hand.
"No problem."
Walking down the empty halls, Pixis begins to ponder, "When you eat that much late at night, you get sick in the morning. Compared to that, that omelette...leaving the taste aside, it was a great late snack."
Back with Jean and others, he turns to look out at the horizon with a calm smile, 'Maybe I'll go see how my folks are doing at home tomorrow.'
Sitting down in a chair, blanket over her shoulders, Jean's mother was sowing something before looking out at the window with a smile. In his room lay a single red apple sitting on the letter she wrote to him.
Undankbare Göre: Ungrateful Brat
Beobachtungen Von Ilse Langnar (Observations Of Ilse Langnar)