Have you ever wondered what emotions are truly for? Despite all the answers one might hear, none seemed to truly explain them, none revealed their essence in a concrete way. And it was this absence of certainty that had haunted Eren for two years two long years spent observing people, their gestures, their routines, and their reactions. Two years of being nothing more than a silent extra in the theater of the world. Two years searching for what was missing in his own heart, trying to understand fear, love, pain… everything a human being could feel. At least once, he wanted to experience that same inner existence everyone else seemed to possess naturally.
In the middle of the main street, life moved forward with almost mechanical precision, yet every moment felt saturated with emotion. Children threw tantrums, forcing their parents to give in despite their initial refusals. Nearby, a couple tried to understand each other, the boy's hand reaching for the girl's, her rejection painting his face with a complex mix of embarrassment and frustration. All these states intertwined in the air, spreading like an invisible but undeniable scent: anger, irritation, anxiety, dissatisfaction, hypocrisy, joy… sensations filling the space around Eren without ever truly reaching him. And yet, he analyzed them with cold, almost clinical precision.
He kept walking, a bag slung over his shoulder, heading toward the academy the place where he had hoped, for the past two years, to understand humans. Still, a question lingered in his mind with every step: was feeling these emotions truly worth it? Despite his doubt, a deep curiosity pushed him to want to experience what it was like to live with that inner turmoil, even if he already knew, through repeated observation, how humans behaved and reacted.
The academy was not far now, and murmurs drifted through the air. "Are you coming tonight?" "I don't know, I've been exhausted since yesterday…" Voices overlapped some eager, others indifferent a ballet of human interactions that might have escaped a less attentive observer. The sidewalks, still damp from last night's rain, were filled with students: some heading to their classrooms, others chatting in small groups, and a few absorbed in their phones. Eren walked calmly, observing everything, recording every movement, every reaction, every breath of emotion passing around him unnoticed by everyone else.
Inside the classroom, he had chosen a seat at the back, a strategic position that allowed him to observe his classmates the way a scientist studies his subject. Moments later, the professor entered imposing, known for his absolute dominance over the students. Silence fell instantly, almost funereal, as if every breath had been suspended in the air. Eren watched the transformation with methodical neutrality.
The professor broke the silence, his authoritative voice echoing through the room. "What did we talk about yesterday?" No one answered. He walked down the aisles between the students, scanning their faces, then asked again louder, more pressing until a few suppressed laughs could be heard.
Irritated, the professor descended the steps toward his desk, visibly annoyed. A female student muttered, almost to herself, "All muscles, no brain." Her quiet words were enough to provoke a few stifled laughs. The professor shot a glare across the room. "Who said that?"
Silence returned.
"I see… you all get a zero for the semester," he declared coldly.
One student, reluctantly, pointed at the girl responsible. The professor fixed his gaze on her. "Leave, miss. And never come back."
She tried to protest, but his decision was final. His eyes then turned toward the timid student who had exposed her. The boy could not hold his gaze; his eyes seemed to say, just wait.
Eren, resting his cheek on his hand, looked out the window as he reflected on the enigma of humanity: physically imposing, yet mentally fragile… was that what it meant to be human? The question followed him throughout the day, through the remaining classes and into the break.
In the hallway, as he headed toward his usual balcony, the sound of struggling made him stop. Before him, the expelled girl was pulling the hair of the one who had betrayed her. Around them, several other girls formed a silent circle, witnesses to this ordinary yet revealing violence.
"I didn't have a choice…" cried the girl on the ground, trying to free herself.
"Shut up, you filthy bitch," the other snapped, punctuating her words with a slap.
Eren observed, motionless, until a modest-looking boy holding a ball intervened timidly. "Hey, what are you doing… stop or I'll call the teacher."
The vengeful girl clicked her tongue in annoyance and moved toward the door, frowning. "Hey, move."
Eren, partially blocking the way, remained silent for a moment before asking calmly, his eyes fixed on her, "If you hate her… why not just kill her so you won't have to see her again? Why did you choose to hit her instead?"
The girl stared at him in disbelief. "What the hell? Are you crazy? Move, you psycho." She pushed past him and disappeared.
Eren glanced at the girl who had just stood up with the boy's help. He had asked that question more than once before, and everyone always reacted the same way. Did they fear the authorities, or was there something deeper behind it? The girl who had been struck remained there, her posture suggesting she was waiting for the others to leave.
Approaching her, he gently touched her cheek and lifted her head. Her empty eyes suddenly shifted to a vivid shade of orange under his touch, and the mixture of shock and curiosity left her momentarily frozen, unable to pull her hand away from his.
With measured movements, Eren took a handkerchief, poured a little cold water onto it, and pressed it against her cheek. Without a word, he turned and walked away, leaving the young girl holding the cloth. She tried to speak, but no sound came out, and he disappeared from her sight, leaving her alone, intrigued by what he had done.
As he descended the stairs toward the auditorium, he was bumped into by a hurried boy. "Sorry… I" The boy stopped abruptly upon recognizing him. Smaller and less imposing, he immediately corrected himself, blushing slightly. "Watch where you're going next time," he muttered before continuing on his way.
Eren remained still for a moment, reflecting once more on how fascinating humans were.
After the break, classes resumed, and soon it was already evening. The routine felt unchanging, but Eren knew something had to shift.
"It seems it's time to change environments. This one offers me nothing new."
As he approached the gate, a voice stopped him.
"W-wait."
The girl from earlier ran toward him, slightly out of breath, head lowered, holding out the handkerchief. "I couldn't return it or thank you earlier because you left too quickly… but here. Thank you."
She hurried away, embarrassed.
Eren watched her retreating figure and understood that this simple gesture had offered him a new perspective. Until now, he had been an extra silent observer. But now he realized he had to step into the main story, to learn through interaction, not merely observation.
That decision marked the beginning of a new, active approach in his pursuit of humanity.