𝐁𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐒𝐖𝐄𝐄𝐓.ᴀɴɴɪᴇ ʟᴇᴏɴʜᴀʀᴅᴛ, ᴍɪᴋᴀꜱᴀ ᴀᴄᴋᴇʀᴍᴀɴ

『 𝟕 』𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐓𝐈𝐌𝐄

𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 𝟏𝟓𝐓𝐇, 𝟖𝟓𝟎 𝐀𝐓 𝟎𝟗:𝟑𝟒

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  "If you shit-heads don't start taking this more seriously, you'll end up as titan-fodder before you even know what's happening!"

  Despite the fact that the booming words the supervisor shouted were loud and harsh, you found yourself barely even noticing them; seeing as not only were you used to his shouting -when it wasn't directed at you, at least- but you were also anticipating your training partner's move with caution, 'I need to win this, maybe Mikasa will start to see that I'm not weak if I do!'

  It was right after you and the rest of the cadets were allowed thirty minutes to eat your breakfast that Shadis had pulled everyone outside to practise a skill that most saw as useless -especially given that it wasn't something that you would be graded on. It didn't have a proper name -some called it knife-training, others armed attack and defence- but regardless everyone knew what it was for the most part; in this exercise, everyone was paired up into groups of two and given a wooden dagger. One person would play the part of the bad guy -the person who 'attacked' the other with the false knife- and the other person would play the good guy -the 'attacked' one; currently, Marco was playing the role of the good guy, allowing you to make the first move with the oaken blade against him as you both stood across from each other, 'I have a disadvantage here -Marco is insanely tall, and while he's known for being kind, he's not known for being a wimp. At least not while he's actually trying.'

  You turned the oaken dagger within your grip, your skin feeling the white fabric that was tied to its handle to ensure a secure grip as you squinted your eyes smally in concentration, trying to go over the best plan to take over the bigger -and ultimately stronger- freckled male, 'Ok, so all I've really gone over with Annie so far is how to kick someone better for defence, but I can't really be sure that I'll be able to actually get him if I do it because I haven't been able to hit Annie yet, not even to mention that I'd be playing an offensive role here. I guess what it really comes down to is if Annie is more difficult than Marco to beat, and if I'll be able to get away with making such a move on Marco if he's not expecting it -unlike Annie. He's also taller than her though, so it'll be more difficult to make such a kick.'

  A frown fell upon your lips, your eyes glancing over at Mikasa who was training with her own partner -Bertholdt Hoover- and fluidly evading most of his hits without a problem; for the few that he did manage to make, you noticed that she rapidly bounced back from them.

  "Life is too short, don't waste it."

  You almost let out a gasp as the voice played out in your head, Annie's words once again playing at your mind before you could even realise it, 'What she said applies here too, doesn't it?' you asked yourself while looking to the ground, a small, dark aura growing about you as you did your best to steel your nerves, 'If I fail this, I might become the laughing stock of the entire 104th for a week, maybe even months if they're critical enough, but... I can't get anywhere if I don't try!'

  "H-Hey, (Y/-!"

  You abruptly cut the black-haired boy off -who had started to call out your name, probably in some form of concern- as you let out a scream, holding the dull end of the knife to your one hipbone as you looked for an opening and rushed ahead, 'I need to put myself in an offensive role! I just need to make sure he doesn't apprehend me until then!' As you ran towards him, you took note that he started to move out his one hand in an angle that would better allow for him to grab your wrist and stop you from 'attacking' him like you would need to in order to win; so, keeping that in mind, you slid your body to one side to evade his hold and momentarily backed away slightly. Marco made another attempt for the false blade you held in your grasp, your eyes almost widening as you thought you saw an opportunity to properly try out Annie's kick on him, 'This is my chance!'