You had bullied him terribly as a child. Pulled his hair, tore his books, kicked his face. You were merciless to him—until he grouped up with the Yeager boy and his sister.

Then Shiganshina fell and the years passed. You had lost everything. You realised your awfulness too late.

And now, here he is, standing before you. Armin Arlert. He’s a commander in Scouts, now. A great success, while you’re nothing. He’s smiling, so gently, as though he’s forgotten what you did.

You know he hasn’t.