🍲 Chapter Twenty-Four: The Quiet After the Clash
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The mess hall was alive with clattering trays, the dull hum of conversation, and the exhausted groans of sore cadets.
At one table, Armin sat surrounded by the usual group: Eren, Mikasa, Kaelen, and Krista—who seemed to tag along more often now.
"I think the whole top ten incentive system is just a way to force cadets to get used to the omni-directional mobility gear," Armin explained, poking at the slop on his tray. "If you reward the best with safe, cushy Military Police positions, it motivates everyone to improve faster—even those who are scared."
Kaelen lazily stirred his own food.
"Personally, I prefer pure swordsmanship."
Armin raised an eyebrow.
"How do you plan on hitting a Titan's nape when they're, y'know, fifteen meters tall?"
Kaelen smiled. Haha...f*ck. I'll just add jumping to the to-do list...
And then promptly changed the subject.
"But tell me more about that incentive logic. You always explain things so well."
Armin narrowed his eyes, catching the dodge, but smiled anyway. "Right, so…"
...
A few tables away, Eren's attention drifted.
Jean Kirstein was in the middle of an animated conversation with Marco.
"All I'm saying," Jean was saying, "is that if you minimize gas usage by alternating burst timing and retraction speed, you don't just move smarter—you increase your survival odds. It's efficient. Less stress. More control."
Marco nodded. "That could really help raise your ranking."
Jean grinned. "Exactly. And once I'm top ten? Military Police. I'll never have to see a Titan again."
Eren scowled.
"What a shallow goal."
Jean turned. "Excuse me?"
"You want to run away," Eren said, standing now. "People died to give us a second chance, and you want to use that chance to hide?"
Jean's tone sharpened. "I'm smart. I don't need to throw my life away."
Eren stepped closer. "Cowards always say that."
Trays clattered as cadets leaned in.
Jean's fist clenched.
Mikasa was there in seconds, her hand on Eren's arm.
"Stop," she said firmly.
Jean glanced at her.
The way she stood beside Eren.
The way she looked at him.
Jealousy flared, and apparently, his brain forgot what happened last time.
...
And he threw a punch.
Eren ducked.
Just barely.
And then something clicked.
A memory.
Annie's technique.
Pivot.
Slide.
Grip. Twist. Drop.
Jean slammed to the floor, eyes wide.
"Where'd you learn that?!" he barked from the ground.
Eren exhaled slowly.
"During combat training. While you were too busy planning your cushy life in the capital."
The door slammed open.
Commander Shadis stepped in.
"What's going on here?!"
Silence.
Everyone froze.
Then—
Mikasa pointed at Sasha.
"She farted."
Shadis blinked.
"…What."
Mikasa nodded. "Loudly. Cleared half the room."
Sasha, mid-bite, froze with bread halfway to her mouth.
"...Huh?"
Shadis sighed, rubbing his temples.
"Carry on."
And left.
Krista leaned over to Sasha.
"Don't worry. Mikasa said she'll pay you back with more bread later."
Sasha, still confused, grinned anyway.
Back at the table, Eren sat down, arms crossed, still simmering.
Kaelen looked at him, half amused, half thoughtful.
"Do you resent Jean?"
Eren shook his head.
"No. I just don't understand him."
Kaelen tilted his head. "Why not?"
Eren stared into his tray like it held answers.
"How can you accept living your life afraid of Titans? Hiding behind walls, pretending they're not out there?"
Kaelen hummed.
"So if you had the choice to live peacefully back in Shiganshina, you'd still go out there?"
Eren nodded, eyes burning.
"Because any fantasy… any quiet life I try to dream of…"
His voice dropped.
"…can be shattered. All it takes is one Titan to walk through the wall."
Armin sighed, wiping his face.
"Your determination scares me sometimes."
Mikasa, across from him, didn't speak.
But her thoughts were loud.
Eren… how far will you go?
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[Auther: I'm Back~!]