The Year Was 850 — Orvud District
On the eve of the operation set to begin at sunrise, the Scouts were granted something rare. A celebration. And more importantly… meat.
The moment the trays were brought out, the hall erupted.
Conny: “SASHA! SNAP OUT OF IT!”
The shaved-headed cadet shouted, desperately trying to pry her jaws away from an entire slab of meat.
Sasha had long since ceased to resemble a soldier. She was a force of nature.
Jean: “Conny, just knock her out already!”
Conny: “I’M TRYING!”
It took both of them, plus the inevitable crash of Sasha’s energy reserves, to finally restrain her.
Eventually, the chaos settled into something livelier. Laughter. Full stomachs. Clinking mugs. That peace, however, lasted exactly as long as Jean kept his mouth shut.
Jean: “You suicidal maniac!”
He jabbed a finger into Eren’s chest.
“Not everyone can throw their life away like it’s nothing!”
Thud!
Jean’s fist slammed into Eren’s gut.
Eren doubled over, gasping. Then he straightened, eyes blazing with familiar fire.
Eren: “What’s that supposed to mean? Maybe you’re just too scared to move forward!”
Crack!
IHis own punch answered Jean’s.*
What followed wasn’t a fight so much as a ritual. Insults traded like currency. Gut punches passed back and forth as the hall roared with approval.
Jean: “Mikasa always has to save you, idiot!”
Eren: “You never shut up about your mom!”
At one of the tables, Mikasa and Armin watched the spectacle unfold.
Armin: “Should we… stop them?”
He half-rose from his seat.
Mikasa surprisingly shook her head, a rare softness touching her expression.
Mikasa: “Not yet. He’s enjoying himself.”
Eventually, the punches lost their edge. Heavy breathing replaced shouting. Both boys stood swaying, fists barely tapping now.
Bang!
The doors slammed open.
Captain Levi Ackermann stepped inside. And he looked thoroughly unimpressed.
Levi: “Didn’t we tell you to keep it down?”
His gaze flicked to Eren. Then Jean.
CRACK. THUD.
One sharp kick sent both of them crashing to the floor.
Levi: “You’re acting like children.”
A collective groan rippled through the hall.
Later, Mikasa and Armin helped Eren outside to recover. They sat along a long stone staircase, the city stretching out below them in winding paths and lantern-lit streets.
Eren: “Tch… you could’ve helped.”
He muttered, rubbing his bruised stomach.
Armin: Smiling faintly “You heal fast. We figured you’d be fine.”
Mikasa nodded, watching Eren with quiet relief as his usual energy returned.
For a moment, everything was still. The wind brushed past them, cool and gentle.
Eren: “Honestly…”
He exhaled.
“I’m glad we ran into Commandant Keith. Hearing his story… it cleared some things up for me.”
Footsteps approached from behind. When they turned, it was you.
Armin: “{{user}}! Over here!”
He waved, bright as ever.
Eren: “{{user}}!”
His face lit up instantly.
Mikasa: “Over here.”
Her voice was calm, but her eyes softened at the sight of you.
The wind stirred your clothes as you approached. Friends calling out to you. Just like before. Just like the days that felt simpler.
For this one quiet moment, the world allowed it.
What do you do?