The night of the closing ceremony and graduation had arrived, and a grand feast was underway within the walls. The central attraction of the evening was the much-anticipated chicken stew.
Kaito couldn't help but chuckle at Sasha's dismay as she eyed her bowl of chicken-less stew. It was clear that she had expected something more substantial.
Sasha poked at her bowl with a look of disappointment. "I mean, seriously, is it too much to ask for actual chicken in the chicken stew?"
Kaito grinned mischievously. "Well, maybe it's a symbolic stew. You know, the chicken represents what we aspire to be in the Scout Regiment—swift, agile, and resourceful."
Sasha raised an eyebrow, her skepticism evident. "Symbolic my ass! I want real chicken!"
"I can symbol you ass if you want to"
"Haha so funny", Sasha said with a straight face and narrowed eyes.
Their banter drew the attention of their nearby friends, who couldn't help but join in on the fun. Connie chimed in, "I second that! Who wants symbolic stew when you can have the real deal?"
Kaito leaned back, resting his arms on the table. "You guys just don't appreciate the culinary arts of Wall Rose. It's an acquired taste, I promise."
Sasha's stomach growled, and she couldn't help but laugh. "Acquired taste, my foot! I'll just eat the bread, thank you very much."
Kaito's seat was close enough to overhear every word Eren and Jean exchanged. It was a familiar scene, mirroring the heated dispute he'd witnessed in the anime.
Jean's words were sharp and unforgiving, criticizing the Scouts for what he saw as their reckless disregard for their own lives. Eren, on the other hand, lashed back, calling Jean a coward who sought refuge within the walls while humanity's true enemies loomed outside.
The argument was tense, the air heavy with their conflicting ideals. Eren's passionate speech was met with disdain from Jean, and it seemed like it could escalate into something more.
But then Eren delivered an inspirational speech that echoed with hope and determination. He reminded everyone of the importance of standing together in the face of the Titans, emphasizing that they needed to overcome their differences to fight for a better future.
Kaito watched with a knowing smile. He had seen this moment before, and Eren's words were as powerful as ever.
As the argument concluded, Mikasa followed Eren out, moved by his unwavering spirit. Armin, too, left the scene, deep in thought, as he often was.
Kaito, still lounging at his spot, decided to tease Sasha and Christa, who were sitting nearby.
He flashed a playful grin at Sasha. "So, what do you think, Sasha? Are Scouts fools forsaking their lives, or are they brave heroes facing the Titans head-on?"
Sasha, never one to be easily embarrassed, smirked and retorted, "Brave heroes, of course! But if the Titans breach the walls, I'll be hiding in the food storage with a lifetime supply of potatoes."
Kaito chuckled at her response, thoroughly enjoying her sense of humor. "Ah, a woman of culture, I see. A true hero always has a snack plan."
Turning his attention to Christa, he couldn't help but notice how she seemed a little flustered by his teasing. "And Christa, what do you think? Are you with Eren or Jean on this one?"
Christa, her cheeks tinted pink, no doubt the beer being too much for the girl, stuttered as she replied, "Well, um, I think, maybe... everyone has their own reasons, and we should all try to understand...each other..."
Kaito couldn't help but smile at Christa's innocence, which only made her blush deepen. He leaned in closer, teasing gently, "Aw, Christa, you're too sweet for this world. But you know, you don't have to be so shy around me."
Ymir, who had been silently watching the exchange, couldn't hide her annoyance any longer. "You're not helping, Kaito. Quit picking on her."
"All right, all right, I'll behave... for now."
Christa's flustered expression slowly eased, and she shot Ymir a grateful smile, thankful for her intervention.
The next day, after watching the scouts leave on their expedition this morning, Kaito found himself back on top of the Wall.
This time, he was joined by Sasha, Eren, Connie, and a few other cadets. They had been assigned the duty of inspecting the Wall's equipment, including the cannons and tracks used for defense.
Kaito wondered what were the chances that he had been assigned this specific group among so many others
As they went about their tasks, Connie, always quick to catch any irregularities, noticed Sasha acting a bit suspicious. He raised an eyebrow and called her out, "Sasha, what are you hiding over there?"
Sasha tried to appear innocent but couldn't contain her grin. She promptly revealed a small packet she had hidden. "Hiding? I don't know what you're talking about, Connie."
Connie playfully accused her, "Oh, come on, Sasha! Is that another stolen ration? That's the second time this week!"
Sasha's facade broke, and she burst into laughter. "You caught me, Connie. But it's not just for me, I promise. It's for all of us."
With a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, Sasha enticed her comrades with the prospect of indulging in the flavorful meat. "Imagine the taste, the tenderness, the pure joy of savoring this. It's the perfect motivation to make our day of work a little more enjoyable."
Sasha's love for good food was evident as she described the mouthwatering meat. Her fellow cadets couldn't resist the temptation, and with the promise of a delicious reward, they eagerly accepted the shared treasure.
As the cadets went about their tasks and Sasha's meaty diversion, Kaito's gaze remained fixed on the distant horizon, his thoughts drifting elsewhere.
His ears caught a faint noise of something in the distance. The small vibrations of the ground pointed toward something moving.
'So it begins... '
A flash of yellow lightening, and time seemed to stand still for a moment.
Then, as if breaking the silence with a thunderous exclamation, an explosion of steam erupted on the scene.
The colossal, grotesque figure of the Colossal Titan manifested itself in all its nightmarish glory. Its massive head loomed just meters away from the Wall, casting a terrifying shadow.
It's eyes focused on the small insects daring to stand in front of it.
The sudden appearance of this monstrous Titan sent shockwaves through the cadets. They froze in their tracks, their faces etched with fear, uncertainty, and disbelief.