Year 848
Mikasa's POV
Sigh.
I could hear Eren's loud, deliberate breath, the weight of it echoing in the cold air. He started walking toward me, slow and measured, the tension between us growing like an approaching storm. His eyes were dark, unreadable, but I could feel it—the shift in him. The moment was coming.
I clenched my fists tighter, bracing for the inevitable clash. My heart pounded in sync with my sharpening instincts, ready for whatever came next.
I'll save you, Eren. Whether you remember me or not, I'll save you.
Eren's steps were slow, steady, but there was a weight behind each one that made the air feel heavy. My heart pounded in my chest as I watched his every move, knowing that this time, I couldn't afford to lose. Not again.
He stopped just a few feet away from me, his eyes narrowing as if calculating the exact moment to strike. I couldn't wait any longer. With a burst of speed, I launched myself at him, my fist aiming straight for his chest, but he moved like a shadow, sidestepping effortlessly.
I spun, pivoting on my heel to throw a backhanded strike toward his head. Eren blocked it with one arm, his other hand shooting forward to grab my wrist pulling me close. A minor sting shot up my arm, I grit my teeth and fought through it, using the momentum to flip backward and kick out toward his legs.
He jumped, dodging the kick, but as he landed, I was already on him, my foot connecting with his side in a solid strike. He grunted, but it barely slowed him down.
Eren retaliated, driving his palm toward my stomach with enough force to knock the wind out of me. I blocked just in time, but the impact still sent me skidding back a few feet, the force rippling through my arms but, his strikes didn't hurt not at all.
But, Eren didn't let up. He was relentless, his movements fast and precise. He wasn't just dodging my attacks anymore—he was testing me, pushing me to see how far I could go.
Each strike I threw was countered with a block or a dodge, and every time I tried to close the distance, he found a way to slip past me.
But I wasn't going to stop. The power surging through me, the primal instincts that had awoken in my blood—they weren't just for show. I felt them guiding me, sharpening my every move. Eren was fast, but I could be faster.
I ducked under one of his swings and lashed out with a low sweep kick, catching his ankle. He stumbled, and in that moment of imbalance, I surged forward, my fists raining down in rapid succession. He blocked, but this time I could see the strain on his face.
With a burst of adrenaline, I grabbed his arm and swung him down toward the ground, using all my strength. But Eren twisted in midair, landing on his feet like a cat, his gaze locking onto mine with a new intensity.
"Not bad..." he muttered, his tone dark but impressed.
I didn't respond. There was no time for words. I charged again, this time aiming for his throat, my hand a blur of motion. He caught my wrist mid-strike, his grip like iron, and in one swift motion, he flipped me over his shoulder.
The world spun, and I slammed into the ground, the breath knocked out of me. But I didn't let it stop me. I rolled back to my feet, my muscles aching but ready. I could feel the burn of exhaustion creeping in, but I refused to let it slow me down.
Eren's gaze never wavered, dark and focused. I could see it in his eyes—he was getting serious. And so was I.
As I stood up, my legs trembling slightly from the impact, I locked eyes with Eren. His face remained unreadable, a blank mask with dead eyes that only fueled the storm of emotions within me.
But I wasn't afraid. This was what I wanted—to fight him, to prove that I wasn't just some weak girl. That I belonged by his side, no matter what.
Eren came at me again, his movements as fluid as ever, but this time, I was ready. I sidestepped his first strike, his fist barely grazing my cheek, and then ducked low to avoid the follow-up blow aimed at my ribs. The rush of air from his punches brushed against me, but I was faster now, more focused.
I spun behind him, sweeping my leg toward his feet to knock him off balance, but he anticipated it. Lifting his leg above ground just so slightly avoiding my sneaky attack.
We circled each other, neither willing to give in. I could feel the raw energy coursing through me, my instincts guiding every movement, pushing me to go further. The tension between us was palpable, like a coiled spring waiting to snap.
Eren lunged, and I met him head-on. Our hands clashed in a flurry of blows—fast, calculated, and relentless. I managed to block most of his attacks, but each one sent a jolt of force up my arms, reminding me just how strong he really was.
And then, in a flash, I saw my opening,
"Heh? What's he doing? Why isn't he covering his abdomen?" I thought but Eren threw a punch, I deflected it with my forearm and twisted around him, my hands latching onto his arm. Using his own momentum against him, I flipped him forward— slamming him into the ground.
In a wink I knelt over him, my fingers entwined with his, I felt the tremble in my body, not from the fight, but from the rush of emotions coursing through me. My long hair draped over his chest, the warmth of our proximity overwhelming.
My heartbeat was wild, chaotic, but it wasn't from exhaustion—it was from everything I was holding in, everything I wanted to say.
"You... you were holding back, weren't you?" I whispered, my voice fragile, teetering on the edge of a breakdown. "Why aren't you taking me seriously...." Tears welled up in my eyes, spilling onto his cheek, but Eren remained silent.
His unreadable gaze stared up at the sky, not acknowledging my words, yet his silence spoke volumes. I could feel it. He was holding back, and that realization made my chest ache. "Do you still think I'm not worthy enough to be your sparring partner?"
Again he didn't reply to any of my questions his gaze just piercing through me.
Even though Armin warned me I just couldn't hold back myself. I leaned closer, our foreheads touching, my breath shaky as I struggled to hold back the torrent of feelings threatening to spill out.
I didn't care about anything else. I just wanted him to understand, to hear me. But as the silence stretched between us, I realized that maybe, no matter what I said, he wouldn't truly grasp what he meant to me.
"Why.... Just why won't you understand... Eren..." I murmured letting my tears flow freely.
Then, his eyes shifted, not toward me, but toward the crowd of cadets that had gathered, watching our fight unfold. I hadn't even noticed them before, too caught up in the moment, too focused on Eren. My heart sank further as I realized how public this had become.
I sighed, pulling myself off him, feeling a cold emptiness settle where my emotions had once been so full. I stood back, watching him as he slowly got to his feet, sliding his hands into his pockets like nothing had happened.
His gaze turned toward the horizon, where the sun was beginning to set, casting an orange glow across the field. It illuminated him, reflecting in his eyes, making him seem almost unreachable—like the distance between us was growing wider with every second.
I was about to walk away, the weight of defeat heavy in my chest, when I heard him speak. His voice was soft, low, yet the words he said... were something I never expected.
"I don't need to understand others... Nor do I care if anyone understands me."
I froze, my heart stuttering, breath caught in my throat. Slowly, I turned to face him. His gaze, once so distant and cold, now carried the slightest flicker of something else—something far beyond what I could comprehend.
He paused, his dull eyes locking onto mine, as though weighing every syllable before he spoke again. "I got over a hundred chances to win... But I continued anyway, thinking you might have something that could make my heart skip a beat. But I was wrong. All I saw while that fight was a weak and frail girl bound by her past."
Tears blurred my vision as I stood there, trying to process his words. Even though I'd pinned him to the ground earlier, finding that one opening, maybe it had been a test. Maybe he'd wanted to see if I was capable of recognizing that obvious chance. The breeze rustled his hair, the air pressing down heavy as he continued, each word hitting like a blade.
"If you're not part of my growth, you're just a distraction for me, Ackerman."
My chest tightened at the sound of his voice, calm yet unyielding. This wasn't the Eren I knew. It couldn't be. He saw people not as friends, not as comrades, but as tools—or obstacles. No... this wasn't Eren. This was a shadow of him, a fragment. And I wasn't going to let it stay that way.
Sigh
Now's not the time to get emotional. I stepped forward, icy determination burning in my eyes as I met his gaze. His expression didn't shift, but I refused to back down.
"Fine," I said, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. "But listen—the one thing I can never let go of is Eren. I just can't... No, I won't ever forget him. And no matter what, I'll bring him back."
I took a breath, holding his gaze with unwavering resolve. "I'll get stronger—far stronger than you. And one day, you'll see. I'll defeat you. And when that happens, promise me—you'll help me bring Eren back."
The tension between us hung heavy, and for a moment, I thought I caught a flicker of something in his expression. Interest? Amusement? It was impossible to tell.
He said nothing, only turned and walked away, his figure disappearing into the distance, leaving me standing there in the swirling dust.