The wooden barracks were simple:
three bunk beds, a wooden desk by the window, and an oil lamp hanging from the ceiling beam.
Nothing more.
"Looks like six of us will be packed in here for the next three years…"
Armin muttered anxiously as he pulled on his uniform.
He glanced at Eren.
"Eren, you need to… maybe hold back your temper a bit."
Eren froze, then frowned.
"I know. Mom lectured me eight times before we left. You don't have to."
Evan Cross, already wearing his trousers and boots, was just about to find a mirror to admire the uniform on himself when the door opened.
Two new recruits stepped in.
The first was a shaved-headed kid who looked like a lost monk.
He scratched his head shyly.
"Uh… I'm Connie Springer from Ragako Village in the south. Nice to meet you."
The boy beside him freckled, gentle, earnest followed his lead.
"I'm Marco Bodt. Also from the south. It's good to meet all of you."
"Oh…"
Evan's bed was near the door, so he got up and greeted them naturally.
"Connie, Marco, nice to meet you.
The three of us are from Shiganshina.
I'm Evan Cross.
The kid over there frowning like someone stole his lunch is Eren Yeager,
and the blond one is Armin.
We'll be sharing this room together. Let's all get along."
"Hey, Evan, what's that supposed to mean?"
Eren shot him a glare, but quickly shifted his attention to getting to know the two new roommates.
Soon after, the last recruit arrived, someone Evan didn't recognize. Probably a background character destined for oblivion.
With that, all six roommates had assembled.
A few minutes later, Evan finished putting on his cadet uniform.
Even without a mirror, he could feel it
the upright posture, the sharp brown jacket, the precise belt and boots… the entire look radiated clean discipline and reliable calm.
He cut a striking figure.
"Alright, let's head to the training field. Whatever we do, don't be late on day one," Evan said, stepping out briskly.
The other five quickened their pace.
Connie, strapping on his belts, turned curiously toward Armin.
"Armin, right? Evan said you're from Shiganshina.
Does that mean… you've actually seen Titans?"
Armin stiffened instantly.
But before he could answer
"Come on! A lot of recruits are already heading out we can't fall behind!"
Eren called from the door.
Noon - The Training Field
The sun was harsh overhead.
Nearly a thousand new cadets stood organized into ten long rows, spaced a meter apart.
Evan stood straight-backed, hands clasped behind him, like a lone pine tree rooted in the earth.
He scanned the faces around him.
There
a long-faced boy with sandy hair several rows ahead: Jean Kirstein, the future Military Police hopeful.
A few places to his left
a petite blonde girl with sapphire eyes, nervous and quiet: Historia Reiss.
Behind her
a freckled, dark-haired girl with a rough aura: Ymir.
Evan took all of this in.
He was about to turn to scan the recruits behind him when a cold, dismissive voice cut through the air beside him:
"Are you always this nosy?"
"...?"
Picking a fight?
That was Evan's first thought.
He frowned and slowly turned toward the voice.
And froze.
"Annie…"
Right beside him stood Annie Leonhart,
golden hair, icy blue eyes,
the expression of someone who found the entire world disappointing.
The infamous "Ice Queen."
But that wasn't what made Evan's heart tighten
It was the truth hidden beneath her cold exterior:
She was the Female Titan.
A Marleyan infiltrator.
A terrifying threat disguised as a quiet girl.
Evan swallowed.
His irritation evaporated instantly, replaced by a faint, instinctive tension.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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