Pov Before Leaving Jean Behind,
"New recruit Ryo Carter has outstanding physical strength and endurance, is full of explosive power, has a rather eccentric personality, and has an A+ growth potential. His subsequent progress needs to be observed!"
The instructor originally wanted to give Ryo a higher evaluation, but since he didn't know him very well yet, he gave a more conservative rating. He planned to reassess after observing Ryo's performance further.
Unbeknownst to Ryo, he was already the center of attention. Charging ahead, he had overtaken most of the recruits, leaving only three people ahead of him: Mikasa, Annie, and Jean.
It was strange that Mikasa wasn't with Eren. Ryo had noticed earlier that Eren and Armin were still somewhere in the middle of the pack, while Mikasa had surged far ahead. He didn't dwell on it too long—there were less than five kilometers left. Ryo needed to focus.
Increasing his speed, Ryo quickly caught up to and surpassed Annie.
When he passed her, he turned his head and flashed a playful smile. Annie glared at him in return, her icy expression unchanging.
*She's got a temper, huh?* Ryo thought, amused. He knew her to be ruthless and quiet, a girl whose calm demeanor masked her true strength. She was a deadly opponent—one Ryo knew to avoid antagonizing unnecessarily.
A New Pov (from Jeans Perspective)
Next on the list was Jean.
Jean, still sprinting hard to stay ahead, gritted his teeth as he pushed himself.
"Damn it! How is this guy so fast?!"
Jean had been clinging to the hope of first place. He was chasing Mikasa, thinking he could close the gap and claim victory. But just as he was mustering his last reserves of strength, Ryo shot past him like a bolt of lightning.
Jean's hope shattered instantly.
Up ahead, Mikasa remained a formidable challenge. Ryo's pace slowed slightly as he caught up with her, matching her stride and energy.
"Hi, Mikasa! You're running, too? What a coincidence!"
Mikasa shot him an annoyed glare, as if questioning his sanity. *Of course we're running. The instructor literally ordered us to run.*
Unfazed, Ryo chuckled and added, "I noticed Eren's still in the middle of the group with Armin. Why aren't you with him?"
Mikasa said nothing, but her sharp gaze softened for a split second. It was clear she was concerned about Eren, though she didn't show it outwardly.
"Armin is under Eren's care," she finally replied curtly. "He'll be fine."
"Fair enough," Ryo shrugged.
But he wasn't done yet. After a moment of thought, he added with a sly smile, "Mikasa, are you working so hard to make sure Eren can join the Military Police Corps?"
Mikasa's eyes widened in shock, and she turned to look at Ryo in disbelief.
"How do I know?" Ryo grinned. "Simple. Eren hates Titans. He's dead set on joining the Survey Corps, but we both know how dangerous that is. He'd put himself in harm's way without a second thought. If he were to join the Military Police, at least he'd be safe. That's what you want for him, isn't it?"
Mikasa stared at him, unable to deny the truth of his words. Her silence said everything.
Ryo nodded knowingly, his expression turning serious for once. "It's not a bad goal. Just make sure you can keep up this pace, or someone else might take that top spot."
With a lighthearted laugh, Ryo surged forward, leaving Mikasa to process his words.