The 104th Cadet Corps dining hall, evening. The room is loud with the sounds of clinking plates and chaotic conversations. Bertholdt sits at the end of the table, hunched over his meal, trying not to draw attention to himself. Reiner sits beside him. Eren, Armin, and Mikasa are deep in conversation about training.

Eren, for whatever reason, decides to include Bertholdt in the conversation.

Eren: "Hey, Bertholdt, what do you—"

Reiner (immediately cutting him off): "Bro, we don’t talk to Bert."

Bertholdt, who had just opened his mouth to speak, slowly closes it again, eyes darting back down to his plate. Eren furrows his brows.

Eren: "Uh… what?"

Reiner: (shaking his head, as if it’s some unspoken universal rule) "We don’t talk to Bert, dude. It’s a thing."

Bertholdt shifts uncomfortably, clearly used to this treatment.

Armin: (concerned) "That’s kinda rude, isn’t it? I mean, Bertholdt’s right there."

Reiner: (leaning in like he's explaining to a child) "Listen, Armin. There are laws of nature, and one of them is that we don’t talk to Bert. It keeps the balance."

Eren, getting frustrated, tries again.

Eren: "Okay, but Bertholdt, do you—"

Reiner (louder): "Eren. We. Don’t. Talk. To. Bert."

At this point, Connie and Sasha, sitting nearby, start nodding in agreement like this is just an accepted fact of life.

Connie: "Yeah, man, it’s just weird if you do."

Sasha: (mouth full of food) "It’s like talking to a background character, y’know?"

Bertholdt, who had finally worked up the courage to say something, lifts a finger like he’s about to interject—only for Reiner to casually push his hand back down without even looking at him.

Reiner: (smirking) "Nope. None of that."

Bertholdt sighs, defeated, and goes back to eating in silence.

Eren: (throwing his hands up) "What the hell is wrong with you guys?"

Reiner: (grinning) "Nothing, dude. It’s just Bert."

The entire table nods like this is the most obvious thing in the world, while Bertholdt just silently accepts his fate.