But then at night, when you were alone, running one last set of chores. Instructor Shadis approached you. As much as he tried to remain neutral and angry at all cadets, there was no denying that your circle of friends knew him personally.
After all, he was the reason that Eren's mother was not forced into begging on the streets. He was there when she needed medicines and food, even through the depression of losing her husband and family from the district. Then he was always more relaxed, calm, and...human around them. You had never spoken to him directly, but he had seen you and perhaps even heard of what you had done for Carla, Eren's mother. He looked at you as you were about to carry some heavy wooden logs.
"Conrad Almonacid." His voice was lower than when he bellowed at the group. "Walk with me."
You held onto the logs without effort. You fell into step beside him, the two of you walking along the perimeter of the training ground. Where the other sleeping cadets could not see you, even if they woke up in the middle of the night.
"What do you think about Eren Jaeger?" Shadis asked. He didn't look at you. His gaze was fixed on nothingness.
"He's struggling, but he will never quit." You told him, "We've been training with him every day." You added.
"Hmph," Shadis grunted, a sound you took as agreement. He stopped walking. He turned to you. "You may be right in that regard, but I have to ask you, have you thought about what will happen if he goes out there?" He pointed towards the dark beyond the walls. "With all this rage... and no skill to back it up? He'll die. I have seen it so many times, the incompetent are best kept away from the Titans. For their sake and the sake of humanity."
It was a harsh thing to say about a boy whose home had been destroyed; it was also a truth you had seen in Griffin's journal; the world of humans and Titans was not forgiving.
"Not everyone needs to be born with skill; he can learn." You replied, your tone even.
Shadis sighed. "I've seen what he can do and what you can do; there is a league of difference. Some are born to be great soldiers; others... die." He looked straight at your eyes, "What will happen when the news of his death reaches his mother?" He said. The unspoken question was a shock to you.
The thought of death had reached you many times, ever since that fateful day in Shinganshina. But you swore never to cower before that fear ever again, and live so that others wouldn't have to. Still...For Eren's mother, Carla, he was the last thing she had of her husband, Grisha. His death would break her. Perhaps even more than the fall of the district had.
"It would devastate her." You answered honestly, as your grip tightened on the logs. Your sister had told you as many times, and it was the reason that the relationship between Eren and his mother was not the best at times. The boy wanted to be away from his mother's protective grasp.
"Mhmm, then you'd better make sure he doesn't die." He said, and the two of you resumed walking. "I know he won't stop until his spirit breaks...and that will never happen, not from me. So he'll keep going until one day he dies."
He stopped and turned to you again. "But you? You are his friend, almost a hero to him, if you told him...in no uncertain terms...that he isn't good enough to die with the rest of us..." He trailed off, letting you fill in the blanks. "You are the only one who can get through to him. To make him see reason. Then he may quit...and live a long life." He then finished and continued walking.
You had to decide, then and there, whether or not you would take the words of the Commander to heart. To deny someone a dream because they might die was a cruel thing to do, but perhaps it was also an act of kindness. You felt both anger and compassion, the desire to be like Griffin and the desire to protect your friend and family.
-x-X-x-
There was something strange about this whole situation. It was not just Eren. Others had failed, sure, but not to the extent that they had their legs go over their heads in an instant, no less. Most struggled but eventually found their balance.
Even Jean had managed to keep himself up. And he certainly wasn't a prodigy. Yet Eren, who possessed a fierce will, could not stay in the air for more than a second. There was an unnatural quality to it, as if someone had tampered with the gear. You let the thought settle in your mind, making a note to investigate the equipment later.
Shadis stopped and turned to face you. The moonlight carved shadows across his severe features. His gaze lingered on you. "Well?"
You looked at the logs in your arms. They felt lighter now. "I understand your concern. But I also know Eren. Telling him to quit will only make him try harder."
"Very well," Shadis said, with a grunt of acceptance. "I hope you aren't making another mistake as with your friend Adelaide," He then added a cryptic phrase before walking away. "When you make it to the top ten, go to the military police, for her sake." With those words, he walked away.
You stood there, holding the logs, the weight of Shadis's words settling in your mind. 'Another mistake? What did he mean by that?' You thought, your mind racing. 'For her sake?' You had always assumed you would join the Survey Corps. It was a promise you had made to yourself. A vow to honor Griffin's sacrifice. But what if others followed you to their deaths because of that...You refused the thought, for now, but it remained dormant in the back of your head.
You went back to your barracks. But before you could go to sleep, you inspected the harnesses. You went through Eren's gear, your fingers tracing the leather and steel. Then you found it. A slight fraying on the right hip belt. A worn-out buckle. It was subtle, but it was there. You compared it to the other harnesses. The others were fine, and so you began to tinker with the belt to see if you could fix it.
It took some sweat and effort, but you managed to fix it and leave it ready for tomorrow. You also made a mental note to check the other gear more thoroughly in the future. You were a soldier now, and a soldier must be prepared for everything. The smallest detail could be the difference between life and death.
You went to bed, your mind still churning through the thoughts of what Shadis told you. The light from the window filtered through the room, and the other cadets were still snoring. The day progressed as usual, with the last examination being the practical test of the ODM gear. The training grounds were abuzz with anticipation. The cadets stood in a long line, their faces a mixture of excitement and fear.
Eren was somewhat nervous but still determined; he hadn't noticed your handiwork on his gear. He stood up straight, ready to face the test again.
"I can do this!" Eren said with a confident look on his face.
"Eren..." Mikasa said, her hand moving to her scarf. Her expression was as unreadable as ever, but you saw the subtle tension in her shoulders.
"I'll be fine, Mikasa," Eren replied, a small smile on his face. "I promise."
Eren's name was called out. He walked to the harness, your repaired belt unseen by the assistant who strapped him in. You watched him. He looked at you, and you gave a nod. Meanwhile, you threw a glance at Shadis, who seemed to completely ignore you, as if the conversation from the other day had never happened.
The assistant pulled the lever. The rope went taut. Eren lifted into the air. His legs started to go up, but then...they stopped. He wobbled, but he found his balance. He stayed in the air. A few seconds passed. Then a minute. The cadets stared. Then they started to cheer. Eren himself was the most surprised at the sudden success.
"He passes!" Shadis shouted, but with little enthusiasm. "Next!"
Eren landed on the ground, his legs a bit shaky, but with a wide grin on his face. He ran over to you, Mikasa, and Armin, grabbing you all in a group hug.
"I did it! I did it!" Eren shouted, his face flushed with excitement. "Thanks a lot! You're the best!"
The small group seemed to share a moment of pure joy, while the rest of the cadets were still cheering for Eren's success. Even Jean was clapping for him, though with a reluctant expression.
You had done it, and seemingly, Shadis, through his steel gaze, was not disapproving of your action...But then, you remembered the words of the Commander...His advice about the military police, a safety net that would guarantee a long life away from the Titans, for her sake...It felt like betrayal...of yourself.
Soon, you would all be starting manuevers over the forest and hills, and you would truly be on the path to becoming soldiers. A path that, for you, seemed to be already paved. But you couldn't help but wonder what the future held for you and for your friends. For now, all that remained to do was to celebrate and enjoy the extra food that the girls gave you. Though, as you looked at them, you now understood what they were trying to do, and you couldn't help but feel...somewhat responsible for their actions. But as you looked at Eren's joyful face, you realized that it was all worth it. After all, this was all part of the promise you made long ago.
***
As the ODM training began, you began to set your sights upon mastering the gear. Of course, you were not the only one. Emelina, Annie, Mikasa, and Reiner were also top students. The four of you moved through the training grounds like wraiths, your hooks biting into the wood of the trees with extreme precision. Your movements were fluid and natural enough to allow you to cut the dummy titan's napes with precision and speed.
At this time...
Your goal was unchanged; you were going to join the survey corps, no matter what. You took the ODM training with absolute seriousness, while at the same training all your muscles to the extreme. You needed strong arms to cut, a strong back and core to stabilize your body, good legs to brake and resist the impact. You were also training to increase your stamina, as the survey corps expeditions demanded a lot of endurance.
Every morning, before the trumpet even sounded, you were already outside. Push-ups. Sit-ups. Squats. You worked until your muscles burned, until you could feel the tremor in your limbs, until sweat dripped from your brow onto the dusty ground. Then you'd go for a run. Your feet pounded against the packed earth, sweat running down your chest and back, the cold morning air coming in and out of your lungs.
Your only companions this early in the morning were Mikasa, Annie, and your sister, the last of whom used this time to read and observe you.
"You're going to overdo it, you know?" She called out one morning from her perch on a fence, a book in her lap. "Then who will protect me? You have to consider that."
.
---------------->
.
The thought was always at the back of your mind, but the desire for more power had not stopped. You would not allow yourself to become weak. You would not allow your friends to die. You would not allow your sister to get into a situation where she would hate you.
"You don't have to worry about me, I'm not the one who'll be getting myself eaten by a Titan," You replied between breaths, not stopping your run.
Emelina only smiled at your words. "Is that so? We'll see about that." She said, but you did not have the chance to ask what she meant, as you saw the other top performers start their own morning training routines.
Mikasa would do a series of stretches, her movements precise and powerful. The way she trained her body was like a statue being polished to perfection, each muscle gaining its perfect shape, though you couldn't help but notice her frequent glances towards Eren. She trained for him. To always be by his side. Though that did not stop her from asking for your help when she needed a new exercise to train her upper body strength. You had suggested a series of very particular pull-ups using the wooden beams of the training grounds.
The times you did train together with Mikasa, you attracted the attention of both boys and girls alike. There was eye candy for both genders, but no one dared to speak a word lest they disturb your training. Reiner was also often at the front lines of the training sessions with a cocky but well-earned smile, often showing off to others and offering unsolicited advice. Bertholdt, on the other hand, would follow him silently, always trying to keep up.
Finally, there was no denying that the attempts by the girls to capture your attention through food became more and more frequent. Their creations had grown from simple bread to more elaborate meals. Mina's stew had indeed been surprisingly good. Hanna had tried to make a sweet, albeit a bit burnt, pie. But the best ones were always from Adelaide, who had already been an excellent baker, but now her skills seemed to have improved tenfold. Even Krista had managed to make a delicious-looking meat salad. Though she had to give a lot of it away to Sasha, who had an uncontrollable urge to eat it the moment she saw it.
For the girls, this was both competition and an outlet for the stress from the training; to their male counterparts, it was a source of envy. Jean, in particular, couldn't believe you had managed to become the object of attention from so many girls, but so long as Emelina remained your sister, he refused to speak of it. Still, he made sure to tell you that you were 'a lucky bastard.'
However, with the girls closer, you felt a growing attraction to the women around you. Not just because of their efforts, but because of your own admiration towards them. In particular, there were two girls who had caught your eye and who, through chance and effort, you got to know better. The events that would transpire would show a side of them you had yet to see, and at the same time, awaken thoughts that only the opposite sex could harbor for one another.
You were not prepared nor ready for the events that were to come. Regardless, if there was any comfort to you, it was that the food that the girls were making was put to good use in your training. The extra protein resulted in an increased growth of your muscles and your endurance, which meant that you could train for longer and harder. Your manuevers in ODM gear were becoming more and more refined with each passing day.
Slowly but surely, you became acutely aware of your equipment and its sounds. From the whistling of the gas to the way the metallic rope strained against the spool inside. Each pull of the trigger was a second chance, a new opportunity to move faster or change direction. You began to predict and feel when your hooks would connect, and how each movement of the waist or legs would affect your precision and angle of manuever.
Whenever you managed to get up in the air, with the wind against your face and the feeling of your body moving against the world's gravity, you couldn't help but feel the sense of freedom.
For each small moment up in the air, you were in complete control. Your body and reflexes reacted to each obstacle, not with the fear of crashing down, but with the certainty that you belonged here.
However, there were those who seemed not to want to belong, or at least found it more difficult than the rest. One such person was Annie Leonhart, a blonde haired girl with a stoic and almost cold expression. The way her eyes looked forward without a care in the world, as if going through the motions. She only talked during class when thrown a question by the teacher, or under team training lessons, beyond that? She preferred to sit by herself and talk to no one...except for one particular person, Emelina, your sister.
Since the first night at the grounds, Emelina had been intrigued by the girl.
"She is strong," Emelina once told you as she began to perform pull-ups in the training yard. Her biceps flexed from the strain of the exercise, and her body had visibly more muscle than when you had just begun. Yet, it still held a softness in her curves that was quite noticeable.
You were lying on the ground performing sit-ups. "She is shorter than you," You said.
"I am not talking about that kind of strength," Your sister insisted, not even looking at you. Drops of sweat were dropping onto the sand below her feet as she performed the exercises. "Isn't it strange? To join the military but not want to talk to anyone...You don't get anywhere in the world like that, do you?"
"I am not the best person to ask about that," You replied, your own abs burning from the workout.
Emelina let out a small laugh as she let herself down from the pull-up bar and wiped her forehead. "I suppose you are right, you are only good for catching girls' attention through heroics. Anyway," She stretched, arching her back in a way that seemed almost feline and that strained the fabric of her shirt against her chest. "I've been talking to her," she announced, her tone casual. "Annie."
You stopped mid-sit-up for a short second, wind ruffling your hair before you continued on with the exercise. "And how is she?" You ask her,
"Cute..." She replied with a mischievous glimmer in her eye. "She is like a cat. She doesn't let anyone touch her, but she will come and lie on your lap if she is interested enough." Emelina said, a sigh of disappointment coming over to her, "I thought she would be more like me, but we can't all be perfect, I suppose." She added as she looked at Annie, who at the same moment was ignoring the world.
You merely listened to her, but you did not understand her at the time.
"Speaking of which, how's the endless supply of food treating you?" Emelina's gaze shifted back to you. "I'm surprised you haven't turned into a butterball by now." She approached, the crunch of her boots on the gravel a familiar sound.
She crouched down, her face close to yours, and her hair's side locks almost touching your nose as you continued to perform sit-ups. "You have been eating a lot of food from those girls, haven't you? Especially from your little baker and your little angel." She said with a smirk as she poked your stomach with her index finger. You tensed your abs, and her finger stopped, pressing against the hard muscle. "Hmm...Looks like my brother is not just strong but also quite popular. I wonder if they have already figured out your favorite food..."
Her finger withdrew shortly, only to be replaced by her whole hand pressing against your abdomen. "...I would make it but... I just don't have the time to bake for you." She sighed dramatically, "It's a shame, really." She traced her fingers over your skin, and you stopped your sit-ups, looking at her, her grey eyes filled with a playful fire.
"What do you want, Emelina?" You asked her, your voice flat.
She tilted her head, a strand of her silver hair falling across her cheek. "What? Can't a sister check on her beloved brother's physical condition? To make sure he's not overdoing it?" She leaned closer, her breath warm against your ear. A hair fixing that strand of hair and brushing against your cheek in the process, the scent of her lavender and sweat reaching your nostrils.
"I still don't want you on the survey corps." She whispered, a statement that was both her own wish and a warning. "...But until then, I don't mind you being happy trying to play the hero." She pushed herself up and stood over you, looking down with a smirk. "Just be careful not to get eaten, okay?" With a final, patronizing pat on your chest, she turned and walked away towards the barracks, leaving you alone with your thoughts and the lingering scent of her perfume.
The sun beat down on your skin. You got up and wiped the sweat from your brow. You had little idea of what she meant...Only that her soft voice could be as powerful as her fists when she wanted to.
'Playing the hero.' You shook your head at the thought as you picked up your training gear and returned to your morning routine, pushing your sister's words and the lingering scent of her perfume to the back of your mind. For the rest of the morning, you focused on your exercises, but the thought of Emelina's warning lingered in your mind like a persistent shadow, just out of sight.
It was then that you noticed a small orb of blue in the distance, they belonged to Annie. She was stretching, her movements precise and economical, not a single wasted motion. She was focused on her own world, not wanting any disturbance, yet your reflexes had caught a brief glance from her. A flicker of curiosity, perhaps? Or just her scanning her surroundings. You weren't sure. But what you mind.
-x-X-x-
In the following days, the morning training routine was replaced with hand-to-hand training classes. Most cadets went through them with a mixture of fear and excitement. Shadis, ever the traditionalist, believed that a soldier should be able to defend themselves even without their gear, and so, he paired the cadets for sparring matches.
Your partner was, as you guessed, Reiner Braun. The tall and robust blonde seemed eager to have a good time at practicing; there were very few who could actually go toe to toe against him, besides Annie or Mikasa.
"You ready for this, Conrad?" He asked with a grin, patting you on the shoulder as the two of you stood in the sparring circle. "Let's see if that strength of yours works for actual fighting." He said, with a gentle teasing tone. Trying to set the mood for a good spar.
You merely nodded, and before Reiner could even prepare, your fist was already swinging at him. He managed to block it with his forearms, quickly and efficiently.
"Well done," Reiner said, a bit surprised by the speed and strength of your punch. "Let's see if you can handle this!" He retaliated with a punch of his own, but you sidestepped and prepared an immediate counter. The response by Reiner was quick, and the two of you were exchanging blows as if you were actually professional boxers.
The match attracted a large crowd. Eren watched your bout with a look of admiration on his face. Jean, meanwhile, reluctantly agreed to bet with Connie over who would win. He obviously picked Reiner. But as the fight went on, it became clear to the cadets that you and Reiner were in a league of your own. Your movements were fluid and powerful. Reiners were slower but just as effective. A clash of titans, or at least, a clash of top cadets. The two of you exchanged blocks and parries, you enjoyed the exercise, and instead of relying on brute strength, you began to learn and read on his movements. You could see the patterns in his footwork, the tell-tale twitch in his shoulder before a punch. It was fun.
"Come on, you can do it, Reiner!" Sasha shouted, having also made a bet with Connie and Jean, in which next week's meat ration was at stake.
Meanwhile, Krista and Ymir watched the fight with their respective expressions. Ymir seemed to be bored, while Krista seemed to be impressed by the display of skill, with her mouth making an 'Oh' every time it seemed that one of you would gain the upper hand.
On a different side of the training ground, Emelina and Annie were paired up, but Emelina interrupted the spar between them to watch the fight between you and Reiner. She had a thoughtful look on her face, as if analyzing your every move.
"You are not going to finish our spar?" Annie asked, her voice flat, not even a hint of annoyance in her tone.
Emelina turned her head and looked at Annie. "I will," she said, a mischievous smile on her face. "I just want to see what my brother is up to... and his friend Reiner is doing, too."
Annie's expression did not change. She simply watched the fight from afar, accepting the break.
"Look at him go," Emelina said to Annie, her eyes following your every move. "Glad to know, he isn't using his strength like a brute."
"He relies on reflexes more," Annie commented, her eyes scanning the fight. "It's what someone should do if they were taking their opponent seriously." She said as she saw you sidestep another of Reiner's attacks. And for a second, your eyes met hers. Immediately, she muttered. "He is pulling his punches," she said, her tone making the statement an objective fact.
Emelina's smile widened. "Maybe he's just being friendly," she said. She then stepped into her fighting stance again. "Now, where were we?"
Annie simply sighed and got into her own stance, ready to continue her sparring with Emelina.
Meanwhile, Reiner was starting to sweat. He had a confident look on his face, but it was starting to fade, and soon it all came down to one final exchange. Reiner threw a powerful right hook, a blow that would have at least given you a minor bruise. But you saw it coming. You ducked under it and pivoted, and for the briefest of instants, your body's movement turned into a blur. You swept your leg, catching Reiner's ankle. He lost his balance. He stumbled forward, his momentum carrying him. But before he could fall, you made sure to grab him and steady him with your other arm. The two of you were now face to face, your bodies close.
He smiled, "That was a good move," Reiner admitted, a bit breathless.
"Good match," You said, smiling back at him with genuine respect for your opponent. Though it was true that Reiner was really a top candidate among the cadets. His punches make you both think and prepare for them properly.
"HA! I WON!" Connie shouted, pumping his fist into the air.
"NO WAY!" Jean yelled, his face a mask of disbelief. "He didn't fall! So it's a tie! At best!"
Connie was about to argue back, but Sasha interrupted him. "MEAT! I am getting MEAT!" She shouted, jumping up and down with joy. The boys' pouting faces were ignored by the potato girl.
"Hey, big brother!" Emelina's voice cut through the cheers of the cadets. She walked over, wiping a bead of sweat from her forehead, her silver hair catching the sunlight. Annie followed a few paces behind her, looking as bored as ever, though her blue eyes were fixed on you.
"I'm bored," Emelina announced, placing a hand on her hip. "Annie here is too defensive. She doesn't want to play with me anymore. Why don't you switch?"
Reiner wiped his brow, grinning. "I think I've had enough of being a punching bag for today anyway. My ribs need a break." He clapped you on the back. "Go ahead, Conrad. See if you can land a hit on the Ice Queen."
The cadets murmured. A match between the top male recruit and the most enigmatic female recruit after the previous match? This was top entertainment.
You looked at Annie. She stood with her weight shifted to one leg, arms loose at her sides. She looked small compared to Reiner. Fragile, almost. But you remembered her eyes during the ODM training. You remembered the way she moved, efficient and sharp.
"I don't mind," You said, stepping toward her. "If you're up for it."
Annie let out a small, sharp exhale through her nose. "Does it matter?" She raised her hands, assuming a strange stance—fists high, protecting her face, elbows tucked in tight. It wasn't the standard military stance Shadis taught. It was something else. "Just don't cry when you lose."
"I won't," You replied, mirroring her stance but keeping it loose.
You circled each other. The noise of the training ground seemed to fade.
You made the first move. You stepped in with a jab, fast but controlled. You didn't want to hurt her. You pulled the punch slightly at the end, aiming to stop just before impact.
Annie didn't even blink. She slipped her head to the side, the air of your fist ruffling her bangs. In the same motion, her hand shot out, slapping your forearm away with surprising force.
"You're holding back," she said, her tone as deadpan as ever. "Do you think I'm weak because I'm a girl? Or are you just arrogant?"
Her leg lashed out, a low, snapping kick that connected with the inside of your thigh. It stung.
"If you don't take this seriously," she said, her eyes cold, "You won't learn anything." She took a step back, her hands still raised, not giving you a chance to recover.
However, you were not about to change your stance; after all, she was a girl, and you did not want to end up harming her. Yet her attack made you feel that she was indeed taking the fight seriously. She caught you off guard, but she didn't press her advantage. She waited, her posture a silent challenge.
The crowd was getting antsy. "Get her, Conrad!" Eren shouted, his face red with excitement.
"Kick his ass, Annie!" Jean yelled, causing some to turn and look at him in surprise. Yet, they all merely dismissed it as him wanting one of the 'top' male students to lose.
You decided to try again, this time with a bit more speed. You feinted left, then pivoted right, aiming a hook at her ribs. It was a complex manuever, one that you had tested on Reiner earlier and had proven to be quite effective.
Annie saw through it instantly. She blocked your arm with her forearm, her own arm moving like a piston. Then she retaliated with a swift kick to your midsection. You grunted as her foot connected, the impact knocking the wind out of you. You had to take a step back.
"You're still holding back," she said, a hint of frustration in her voice. "Are you scared of little me, I wonder?" She kept a perfect neutral expression. "Why?" Her expression shifted just in the slightest, raising a single eyebrow.
"Because you're small," You stated as a matter of fact, reminding yourself of the instinct you felt for the past few months. To never use your full strength against a friend. To always use it to protect, not to hurt. There was not a single whiff of mocking in your words, just an honest response.
In that moment, a small spark lit within her eyes. It broke her concentration for a short instant, as if she had not been able to process the statement. Even the faces of the cadets around you froze in disbelief. Jean himself slapped his own forehead at your comment.
Emelina, on the other hand, put a palm over her own mouth. It looked as if she was holding a laugh, and failing terribly. Even Reiner and Mikasa, who usually kept their expressions in check, had raised an eyebrow at your comment. Annie's eyes narrowed. She moved towards you at a speed that caught you off guard, but the training with Reiner had helped you predict her next move.
She feinted a kick, and then, in a flash, she closed the distance, placing a kick that, if you hadn't stopped it, would have kicked you square in the jaw and would have had a good chance at knocking you out. Still, your arm stopped it in a split second. You held her leg, just enough strength to hold her but not using your grip to hurt her, an iron grip but a gentle one.
Even then, you were surprised at yourself for having even blocked it.
"Small?" she repeated, the word dripping with a level of disbelief.
She didn't try to pull her leg free. Instead, she hopped forward, closing the distance instantly. She drove her elbow toward your throat. It was a vicious strike, one meant to end the fight.
Your instinct screamed at you to dodge, but that would mean twisting her leg at a bad angle. You could snap her ankle if you moved too fast. So, you didn't dodge. You didn't counter. You simply let go and took the hit to your chest, stumbling backward.
But she had overcommitted to the strike, expecting resistance. As you fell back, she fell with you.
"Watch out!" You shouted, your arm instinctively wrapping around her waist to cushion her fall.
You hit the ground hard, your back taking the brunt of the impact. Annie landed on top of you, your arm between her and the hard gravel. Silence descended on the training ground.
She was straddling your waist, her hands planted on your chest. Her face was flushed, her breath coming in short gasps. She looked down at you, her eyes wide. She realized what you had done. You took the fall to ensure she didn't get hurt.
"You..." Her voice was quiet, trembling with a mix of adrenaline and frustration. "You could have thrown me. You had the leverage."
"And you would have twisted your knee," You said simply, wincing slightly as you sat up on your elbows, bringing your faces dangerously close. "I'd rather lose a match than break a comrade."
Annie's gaze dropped to your lips, then back to your eyes. Her hands curled into fists on your shirt. She should be angry. She should call you soft. But the warmth of your arm still around her waist kept her frozen.
"You're too soft for this world, Conrad," she finally whispered, leaning in just an inch before pulling back. She stood up abruptly, hiding her face. "It may get you killed." She walked away without another word, leaving you on the ground, the taste of dirt and the ghost of her proximity lingering.
Given that this time the battle was completed inconclusively, the cadets were about to react when the bell for lunch rang. The moment was gone. The crowd dispersed.
"Hey, you okay?" Eren asked, offering you a hand to get up.
You accepted, dusting off your uniform. "Nothing serious."
Eren grinned. "That was insane! You should have seen your faces when she tried to kick you in the head!"
You just nodded and noticed Emelina, a smirk on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. She made a show of moving away after Annie, her hips swaying with an exaggerated grace.
You saw the other girls gather, whispering, and for a moment, you caught Adelaide's worried gaze.
"You've got something on your mind," Eren noted, his grin fading.
"It's nothing," you said, though the thought of Shadis's words returned to you. 'Another mistake,' he'd said, referring to Adelaide joining the corps. Then Annie's statement came to you. 'What if I am too soft?' You questioned yourself for a moment...But here were your comrades, and it was your job to make sure they made it. No matter the cost to yourself. Your body could handle it, and if that meant a little extra pain to save your comrades from suffering, it was a price you were willing to pay.
Still, Annie's body was indeed small...You had confirmed as much when she fell on top of you. You couldn't help but remember the way she straddled your hips, her blue eyes staring down at you, the warmth of her body on yours. But most importantly, she should not have commited that mistake in combat...You had seen her fight before, and it was not like her to make such a mistake. She was calculating and efficient. But her attack was emotional. She wasn't trying to win; she was trying to punish you, to prove a point to you...or perhaps to herself.
-x-X-x-
Training Camp.
At night.
You dusted the training gravel off your uniform, the dull ache in your back a reminder of the fall. The lunch bell had scattered the cadets like pigeons, leaving you with Reiner, Bertholdt, and Eren, who were waiting for you near the mess hall entrance.
"You've got a death wish, Conrad," Reiner said, shaking his head but grinning. He slapped you on the back, sending a fresh wave of dust into the air. "Calling her small to her face? I thought she was going to rip your throat out with her teeth. For a moment, I thought that I would have to jump in and save you."
You shrugged. "It was just a statement."
"It was a crazy statement," Eren chimed in, bouncing on the balls of his feet. The adrenaline from the fight hadn't worn off him. "It was amazing! You saw that kick coming! And you just... caught it! I didn't even see you move!"
Bertholdt, standing silently beside Reiner, shifted his weight. Just touching his face with his finger as he laughed a little. "Maybe, be a bit more careful, Conrad," He said quietly, not quite looking at you.
"She is small," you said, shrugging. It wasn't an insult. It was an obvious observation. She was much shorter than Mikasa, and certainly around the same height as Historia, if only a bit taller. And you? You were significantly taller, and risking going all out, your strength could easily break one of her bones without much difficulty.
"Doesn't matter if she is small," Reiner said with a shrug, "Perhaps, you should apologize later." He added, and soon they made it to the mess hall.
You scanned the room as you entered. The usual cacophony of clattering trays and shouted conversations filled the air. You spotted your friends—Armin and Mikasa were already saving a long bench for the rest of the group, and they were likely waiting for Eren. The girls, too, were gathered at their usual table, but the dynamic felt different today.
Adelaide sat next to Krista; she was talking to her about something, but you couldn't tell what. Regardless, the idea of an apology did come to mind, and you remembered one of the lessons from Griffin. 'Resentment is a very deadly poison,' he wrote, 'One that you cannot afford to have, especially when you rely on your comrades for survival.'
It was then that you remembered that you still had one of the sweet pastries that Adelaide had given you earlier that morning. A peace offering might be in order. So you placed your hand on Eren's shoulder and then looked at Reiner. "Go ahead without me," you told him. "I am not hungry right now."
"You sure? They have stew today," Reiner said, a bit surprised at your refusal.
"Very sure," You replied, walking away from the group, and with a clear goal in mind.
The lack of your presence in the dining room was noticed almost immediately. Krista nudged Adelaide with her elbow, a knowing smile on her face. But Adelaide wasn't looking at her. Her eyes were fixed on the door through which you had just disappeared. She also noticed the absence of the pastry you had been saving in your pocket.
Of course, your efforts at trying to find Annie were all for naught; it was as if the girl had vanished after the fight. She was not in the mess hall, nor was she in the barracks, and you had no idea where she could be. Before you gave up the search, however, Emelina appeared before you like a ghost.
"Looking for someone?" She asked, her head tilted to the side, a smirk on her face.
You decided not to be evasive. "I am looking for Annie."
Emelina's smirk widened. "Ah, yes...Didn't I tell you she was like a cat? You really are dense," she chuckled. "You can't find her, but I can. She is usually where there are the least amount of people. But after your little comment...She might feel like a place where there are no people." She suggested, a glint of mischief in her eyes.
"You're not going to tell me, are you?" You asked, your tone flat.
"Oh, I will. But I will also ask you a question." She stepped closer, her eyes looking straight into yours. "Why are you going to her? Did you perhaps...like the feeling of her legs on top of you?" She whispered.
You didn't even react to her question, only sighing. "I want to apologize." You told her the truth.
Emelina looked at you for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she laughed. A genuine laugh. "My brother, the hero," she said, shaking her head. "Okay. I will tell you where she is. But only because I am curious to see what happens."
She leaned in a bit closer, "The Arlan lake," She said as she stood on her tiptoes to whisper the words in your ear. "Follow the path behind the training grounds. Now...go...If you really want to...'apologize' to her," She said the word with a mocking tone before turning around and walking away, leaving you alone once more.
You turned to look at the path behind the training grounds. It was a narrow dirt trail, flanked by tall pine trees. The sun was starting to set, casting long shadows across the ground. The air was cool, and the scent of pine needles filled your nostrils. You followed the path.
The trees grew thicker, their branches forming a canopy overhead. Soon enough, there was no sunlight; instead, by bright moonlight. The trail wound its way up a small hill before descending into a clearing. And there you saw it. The lake. It was a small, secluded body of water, surrounded by tall trees and grass, it had taken you a few hours and avoiding more than a fair share of instructors to get here. The moon's reflection was shimmering over the surface.
And there she was. Annie. She was sitting on the shallow lake, her legs against her chest. The water came up to her shoulders; her blonde hair was tied in a small bun. She was not wearing her military uniform...In fact, she was not wearing anything at all. All you could see was her bare back, her pale skin, the smooth curve of her spine, and the slope of her shoulders. The water was cold; you could tell by the goosebumps on her arms and the slight shiver in her body. Her eyes looked straight ahead at the moonlight.
You decided that it was best not to approach her in her state of undress...But you stomped on a broken branch. The crack echoed in the silence, and it made her head turn.
Her eyes narrowed. They locked onto you from across the water. Eyes that usually had the cold sheen of winter steel now held a flicker of something else. Surprise. Frustration. And something deeper, something you couldn't read.
"You should not be here," Annie said, her voice flat but not as angry as you would have expected. In order to avoid peeping any further, you walked towards a tree and sat with your back towards the lake. Now you were facing the forest, the darkness of the trees a welcome distraction.
"I came to apologize," you said, your voice steady. The sound of your own words surprised you. You had not planned to say that.
The silence stretched. Only the gentle lapping of water against the shore and the chirping of crickets filled the air. Then a soft splash.
"Who told you where to find me?" The question was direct. There was no accusation in it. Just a question.
"My sister." You answered truthfully.
Another splash. You could hear her moving through the water.
"What for?" She asked, her voice closer now.
"For what I said. About being small." You kept your back to her, staring at a patch of moss on the bark of the tree in front of you. "It was out of line."
You heard nothing but the silence of a few steps moving out of the water; if you turned, you could have had a clear view of her naked body, but you didn't. Instead, you listened to the sound of water droplets hitting the ground as she stepped onto the grass.
.
-------------->
.
"You have a strange way of apologizing." She said. Then you hear her search through her clothes for something. "Is trying to see me naked part of it?"
You didn't turn your head, and then heard the approaching footsteps...Until...You felt something sharp against your neck. Cold steel. The bite of the dagger she must keep in her uniform.
It was cold. The metal of the blade pressed against your throat, not enough to cut, but the threat was clear. Her body was behind yours. The warmth of her breath on your ear, carrying the chill from the lake. Neither of you spoke.
Your body felt the instinct to grab the blade, disarm her, and turn the tables. But there was no increase in your heartbeat. There was no cold sweat running down your back. There was no sudden gasp for air. You closed your eyes. You didn't want to die, but your focus was not on the blade. It was on the feeling of her breath, the scent of the lake on her skin, and the way you came to apologize.
She pressed the blade a little harder. Still, you didn't move. It was just your breath and hers, a silent battle of wills without a single word spoken. Was this the reason that she had told you you were too soft? That you didn't know when to kill someone because they might have been your comrade? But if that were the case, she might have had the point.
Then, the blade was gone. You heard her take a step back. "You are not a normal person." You heard a rustle of clothes and a quiet sigh of relief from her.
"Why didn't you move?" Annie's question cut through the silence, her voice steady but laced with an undercurrent of confusion.
"I came to apologize. Not to fight." You turned your head slightly, just enough to see her out of the corner of your eye. She had managed to put on her uniform pants, though she was still shirtless. Her skin, pale and smooth, gleamed in the moonlight, dotted with goosebumps. She turned away before you could see more, pulling on her shirt.
"That's a stupid answer," she said, her back to you now. She buckled her belt with a metallic click.
You raised your hand into your pocket and brought out the sweet pastry Adelaide had made. It was a little crumbled, but still intact. You offered it to her, not moving from your spot on the ground. "I brought this."
She turned her head, her eyes falling on the pastry in your hand. Then her gaze lifted to yours. Her expression was unreadable, a canvas of blank neutrality. The lake behind her rippled, distorting the moon's reflection.
"What is it?" she asked, her voice flat.
"Bread. Cinnamon and some sugar."
Silence. The crickets resumed their chirping.
You looked down at the offering in your palm. The sticky glaze had started to seep into the creases of your hand. "My friend... Adelaide made it. She makes good things." You paused, then added, "I thought you might be hungry."
That last word hung in the air. 'Hungry.' Not for food. But for something else. A purpose. A reason. A home. It was a guess, a shot in the dark. But it landed.
Annie's shoulders, which had been tense, sagged just a fraction. It was almost imperceptible. Then she let out a soft laugh. A single, dry puff of air without any humor.
"You really are an idiot," she said, but there was no bite to it. She walked over, her boots silent on the damp earth. She stopped in front of you, plucked the pastry from your hand, her fingers brushing against yours. Her skin was cold. She looked at it for a moment, turning it over in her palm.
Then she took a bite. She chewed slowly, as she usually did, her gaze fixed on the moonlight dancing on the lake's surface. The crunch of the pastry and the quiet lapping of the water were the only sounds. But then her movements changed; a small amount of sugar from the glaze had stuck to the corner of her lip. And for the briefest of moments, she wasn't the stoic soldier who nearly slit your throat. She was just a girl, tasting a piece of sweet bread under the moon.
She wiped her lip with her thumb, her eyes still on the lake, then she lowered them to you and crouched down. She brought her face close to yours, her blonde hair brushing against your cheek. She still smelled of the lake, of the cold water, and something else, something faint and floral, feminine even.
It was then that in her blue eyes, you saw doubt, a glimmer of the indecision that had made her fall on top of you in the spar. Her eyes were not the cold steel they were before; instead, they were a deep blue like the ocean, but one with a storm brewing inside. She raised her thumb to your lips and traced their shape, the sugar from the glaze on her thumb, now on your lips. A sweet taste that was a stark contrast to the coldness of her touch.
You opened your lips, instinctively, and tasted the glaze. Her thumb entered your mouth. You held her gaze, your mind trying to make sense of the situation. She was testing you. Pushing your boundaries. Seeing how far she could go before you would react.
Her thumb was still in your mouth when she spoke. "Does my weakness disgust you? That I am a small, weak girl?" Her words were quiet, but from this distance, you felt them as a hot breath.
A beat of silence. Then two. Until you finally answered.
"If you are weak then..." You started, your tongue moving to taste the last drop of sugar from her thumb. "...Let me be strong for you." Her gaze faltered, her pupils dilating. A silent gasp escaped her lips. A gasp that belonged not to the Ice Queen of the 104th cadet corps, but to Annie, the girl. In that instant, she seemed to shrink before you, her confident facade crumbling into a raw vulnerability that she had only shown once before, when she fell on you.
.
------------------>
.
Then her hand retreated from your lips as if it had been burned. The blush that had graced her cheeks turned into a full-body blush that traveled down to her neck and chest. Her breath hitched, and her eyes dropped. The connection was broken.
For a moment, you saw in her someone you had seen before...A small, frail girl with a tear-streaked face, looking at a big, calloused hand that was being offered to her.
Before you could ask her what was wrong, she stood up and retreated from you, her steps unsteady. She was trying to put distance between you. The moonlight reflected off the polished metal of the dagger that she had dropped on the grass.
As she left, she gasped again, but you could tell it was a ragged gasp filled with fear and pain. Not for your own safety but for hers. She said nothing, but her face and expressions lingered in the forest. You saw how she was fighting her own feelings and how your own simple actions had affected her so deeply. A single tear rolled down her cheek, a glistening trail in the moonlight, before she wiped it away with the back of her hand. She turned and disappeared into the forest.
You remained seated on the ground, the sweet taste of sugar still on your lips. The sound of her footsteps faded, replaced by the gentle lapping of water and the chirping of crickets. You looked down at the dagger. You picked it up. The handle was cold, the grip worn smooth from use. It was a weapon, but it felt different now.
You stood up, the pastry you had offered still half-eaten on the ground. You didn't pick it up. You turned and looked at the spot where she had been standing. The water was still, the moon's reflection a perfect circle on its surface.
You walked back to the path, the dagger in your hand. The forest was quiet now, the sounds of the night a gentle hum. You walked for a while, the rustle of leaves under your feet the only sound. Until finally, your heartbeats began to pump faster. The taste in your mouth was gone now, and the coldness of the night replaced her warmth. And yet you could not help but want to have her there again. It was a desire. But not a physical one, but one for a connection that you felt you could not ignore.
Not anymore.
-x-X-x-
Dinning Room
"Oh, he left?" Krista said, her smile faltering for a second. Though more due to the surprise than the sadness.
Adelaide's gaze was fixed on the empty spot where you had been sitting. She smiled back at Adelaide, though there was a bit of worry in her eyes. "Maybe, he is just full after all the food we gave him," Adelaide said, forcing a little laugh.
It was then that Mina Carolina threw herself at the table, her face a mixture of despair and dramatic sorrow. "He hasn't noticed me at all!" She lamented. She then looked at her friends, who were also looking at the empty spot. "We keep giving him food, and he only says...Thanks and just once!" She said, her hands on her face. "I tried everything! I even made the stew the way my mother taught me!"
"Well," Hanna said, patting her on the back, "At least, he is eating it! And he is not a man of many words."
Mina's face didn't brighten at this. "But I want him to say something more! To look at me! I don't know!"
"Mina...you're being a bit..." Krista started, but then she stopped, not knowing what to say.
"A bit what?!" Mina shot back. "A bit like a girl who has a crush on a boy? Well, what about you, Krista?! You are always looking at him too! Always making those little treats for him, and you don't even eat them yourself!" She complained, a bit angry now.
Krista's smile faltered, just for a second. She looked at Adelaide, who had been quiet the whole time, her hands tightly clasped around her cup. "I... I'm just being friendly," she said, her voice a little too high.
"Friendly?!" Mina shrieked, but then she was shushed by a few of the other cadets who were eating nearby. She lowered her voice to a loud whisper. "Friendly is giving someone a piece of bread! Friendly is not making a special lunch for them every single day!"
There was clearly some level of jealousy and tension rising in the group. The boys were eating with a sour face, not only because of the stew, which was not that bad, but also because of what they overheard from the girls.
"I... I..." Krista stammered, her face flushing.
Mina was about to press the issue, but Adelaide finally spoke. "Stop it, Mina."
The other girls turned to look at her, surprised by the quiet but firm tone of her voice. Her face was still turned towards her cup, her fingers tangling with the edges of the fabric. It was totally unlike her, for a girl who was usually as sweet as the bread she baked. She finally calmed herself down and looked at Mina. "He's our comrade. We're all just trying to help each other get through training." She said, trying to derail the conversation.
"Yes, I mean...haven't we all been having fun making food for the group?" Krista quickly added, her smile returning with practiced ease. "It's good practice!"
"I guess so..." Mina mumbled, pouting. She still looked at Adelaide with a bit of suspicion..."Well! I am done making any more food for him until he says something more than a simple 'thanks," She declared, crossing her arms. "I will keep my award-winning stew to myself!"
The rest of the girls were a bit taken aback by her sudden declaration, but they all nodded in agreement, except for Krista and Adelaide.
"Finally, some sense got into you," Ymir commented as she took a large bite of Sasha's stolen bread. She had been listening to the whole conversation with an amused expression on her face. She looked at Adelaide with a sly smile. "You should honestly just make treats for Krista, you know. She would appreciate them more." Ymir then nudged Krista's shoulder, her touch a bit more forceful than necessary.
Krista just smiled at her, a gentle, patient smile. But her eyes darted towards the entrance of the mess hall, a hint of worry in them. She was not as worried about the competition with Mina as she was about him. But her worry was laced with something more than just worry. She looked at Adelaide, who was one of her closest friends here; their personalities, though different, were still similar enough. There was something in her beyond the blonde hair that reminded her of herself. Of her own lies and her own wishes.
She wanted to comfort her.
"Addie, after dinner, can you help me with the horses?" Krista asked, her hand touching Adelaide's shoulder. "I think I missed something there when I went to feed them last time,"
"I can help—" Ymir immediately volunteered, her grin a little too wide.
"No, no! I need Addie," Krista insisted, her grip on Adelaide's shoulder tightening just a fraction. "Please? It will be quick."
Adelaide looked at Krista, who was like a little sister to her, and so she made the effort to put on a nice smile. She gave a small nod. "Okay."
Ymir huffed, but didn't protest. She just stared at Krista with a look that was a mixture of annoyance and affection, an odd combination that only made sense to her. "Fine. But I am coming with you."
"Alright," Krista said, her smile unwavering. She turned to Adelaide, who had already finished her meal. "Shall we go, then?"
-x-X-x-
Stables
The stables were quiet, the air thick with the scent of hay and horse. The occasional snort or stomp of a hoof was the only sound. Adelaide and Krista walked through the aisle, their boots crunching on the straw-covered floor.
"So, what was it that you missed?" Adelaide asked, her hands already reaching for a brush.
"Oh, I... I just wanted to check on the saddle," Krista said, her eyes fixed on a particular horse, a brown mare with a white star on its forehead. "I think I might have left it on a bit too tight." She said, trying to sound convincing.
Adelaide gave her a nod, and the two of them went to work on the mare, who seemed to enjoy their attention, nudging Krista's pocket in search of a treat. Adelaide smiled at the sight, her hands moving with practiced ease as she checked the saddle's straps.
Then, Krista took a step back, her hands dropping to her sides. "Addie," she said, her voice quiet.
Adelaide looked up from her work, her hands still on the leather of the saddle. "Yes, Krista?"
"Why do you do it?" Krista asked, her eyes fixed on Adelaide's.
"Do what?"
"The bread," Krista said, her gaze unwavering. "The food. All of it. For Conrad."
Adelaide's hands stilled. She looked down at the saddle, at the worn leather, at the brass buckle. She took a breath. "I told you, I'm just trying to help."
"Are you?" Krista pressed. "Or are you trying to... claim him?" She asked, her words direct but gentle, a rare combination. Her small stature made her look like a child, but the question she asked was not.
Adelaide's fingers tightened on the strap. She looked at Krista, her green eyes meeting Krista's blue. They were both so young, and yet the world had already forced them to become something more. They were both trying to find their place in a world that had already taken so much from them.
"I'm... I'm not trying to claim him," Adelaide said, her voice small. "I just... I owe him so much." She paused, her gaze dropping to the floor. "He saved me. Twice."
"I know," Krista said. "He's a hero. We all know that." She took a step closer. "But... there's more to it, isn't there? You're not just grateful, Addie. You're in love with him."
Adelaide's head snapped up, her face a mask of shock. "I... I..."
"It's okay," Krista said, her voice soft. "I'm not judging you. I just... I want to understand." She took another step closer. "Because... if you are then...You should be serious about it, don't you think?" She said, giving a comforting smile.
"What do you mean?" Adelaide asked, her heart racing.
"Well," Krista started, her smile turning a bit more sly, "...You keep making him food, and you say 'thank you'... and that's all. That's not going to make him see you as more than a friend." She put her hands on her hips, a posture that made her look like a seasoned commander. "You need to be more direct. More confident. You need to show him what you want."
Adelaide's face blushed a deep shade of red. Remembering that night at the shade...She remembered what she had told Conrad that night...What he had seen from her, and the thing that she feared losing the most. It was him. The fear of him being taken by someone else. It was a fear that she couldn't ignore, a fear that was now eating her from the inside.
"I've tried...," She finally confessed, remembering the way she had been trying to get closer to him, but she felt a barrier between them that she couldn't break. She thought that she had a lot of time for the two of them to become closer, but the events of today had proven her wrong.
"No, you haven't," Krista countered gently. She pointed her finger at Adelaide's chest. "You've been hiding behind your gratitude and your feelings as a friend. But you're not just a friend, are you? You are more than that, and I think he would appreciate having you as more than that if you were to be a bit more honest."
But Adelaide didn't know what to say or how to react to the sudden directness of the question. So instead, she stood there, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions. She then stuttered. "H-He...saw my—"
"What?" Krista leaned closer, her expression full of interest.
"...He saw my..." She couldn't finish the sentence. Her face turned even redder, and she had to look away, her heart hammering against her ribs. "My...my behind." She finally whispered, her voice so low that it was almost lost in the quiet of the stable.
Krista's eyes widened, a slow, knowing smile spreading across her face. She didn't laugh, not outright. Instead, she let out a small, almost imperceptible gasp. "When?"
"That...the night before we started training," Adelaide whispered, her hands fidgeting with the hem of her skirt. "I was... changing my clothes to see if something fit better, and he just... walked in. He said he was sorry and turned around... but I know he saw it."
A beat of silence passed; only the horse's soft whinny broke the stillness. Krista's face was filled with a bit of shame as she remembered when she fell down, and he saw her panties just a few weeks ago. The memory made her blush and fidget as well.
"So... he knows what you look like, then," Krista said, her voice a bit more serious now. "And he hasn't said anything right?" She asked, with a smile.
"He would never...he's too proper," Adelaide answered, still embarrassed by the memory and the topic.
Krista smiled to herself, 'I know,' she muttered to herself. After all, Krista had not minded being seen like that, and yet even after such a thing, Conrad had never treated her differently. Perhaps it was the way he was, and perhaps it was this quality that made him so charming to the girls.
"Well then...I think you have to be a little more confident...He may have saved you, twice...but you are not the girl he saved anymore." Krista said as she placed her hands on Adelaide's shoulders. "You are pretty skilled. You passed the test. You made good food, and you are a pretty girl." She then leaned closer to her ear and whispered, "I will help you out if you need it, of course." She said, making a show of flexing her small bicep.
Adelaide couldn't help but laugh at the small gesture. She smiled at her. "What...are you going to help me with?"
"Your confidence! You must have a secret weapon! Something that will make him remember that you are not just a friend! That you are a woman!" Krista declared, her eyes shining with determination.
But then Ymir entered the stables, her arms crossed over her chest. "What are you two plotting?" She asked, her eyes scanning the two of them.
"Nothing!" Krista said, a little too quickly. She turned to Ymir, a bright smile on her face. "We were just... talking about the horses! Right, Addie?"
Adelaide, still a bit flustered, just nodded in response. She was not a good liar, and Ymir could tell.
"Right," Ymir said, her expression unconvinced. She walked over to them, her boots thudding against the wooden floor. She looked at Adelaide, her eyes narrow. "What are you two up to? Don't tell me it's about lover boy again."
"What if it is?" Krista said, her hands on her hips. "Are you jealous, Ymir?"
Ymir snorted. "Of that oaf? Please. I'm just trying to make sure you don't get yourself into trouble. Again."
"I never get into trouble!" Krista protested, pouting like an angel to her.
Her protest was enough to make Ymir stop for a second and give a little sigh of defeat. "Whatever..." Ymir said.
"Anyways, Adelaide. Try to be a little more forward," Krista said, trying to bring the conversation back to its original topic. "Sit with him, mark your space, and make that boy say more than just thanks. You can start by sitting a little closer to him at dinner tomorrow, for instance."
Adelaide's face turned a deeper shade of red. She looked at Krista, her eyes wide. "I... I don't know if I can do that...It's normally him who comes to talk to me."
Ymir rolled her eyes. "Just go and talk to him. It's not that hard. Or you can just trip and fall into his lap again. That seems to work for some people." She said, remembering today's events.
In any case, the pumped up Krista then turned to Adelaide and gave her a warm smile. "But for now, let's just go rest for the night, we have a long day tomorrow. Don't you think?"
Adelaide, in the face of such positivity, smiled at the blonde girl. "Okay, I will try my best," Adelaide said, her hands still fidgeting. "But... thank you, Krista."
Soon, they were all going back to the female dormitory. Krista walked close to Ymir, but then she saw something that she had not expected to see. A certain blonde-haired girl appears out of the forest. The girl in question was Annie. Her eyes looked forward without a care in the world, as if she had just gone for a walk. She had a little bit of dirt on her clothes, but that was it. But a few minutes later, Conrad too appeared from the same path.
Krista's eyes widened. So that was where he had gone to. To see Annie. She felt a small pang in her chest, a feeling she quickly pushed away. She looked at Adelaide, who had thankfully not seen them. She felt both relief and an awakening with her. She had just been talking to Adelaide about how she was going to help her with Conrad...But perhaps...Just perhaps...She was only helping herself. And now that she had proof that Conrad had other interests, she felt something else. Something that she had not felt in a long while. A mix of guilt and jealousy.
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.
Guilt for using Adelaide as a proxy for something she had tried to deny within her. And jealousy for not being the one Conrad had gone to see. Her angelic smile didn't falter for a second. She gave Adelaide a small wave before returning to the dormitory, her mind awhirl with thoughts. 'I am sorry, Addie,' she thought to herself, 'I guess I am not as good as I thought I was.'