Humanity's Strongest Pair-A Rivamika Story

Into the future

Its been few months since we visited the basement. We discovered that there is life outside the walls. Erwin's dream is fulfilled, though people outside aren't kind towards us. Nearest city to our city is Marley, at the end of our Island, the Paradis Island. The Marleyans hated Eldians, they took our children to make them soldiers to conquer world, etc. 

Eren got to learn much about his family history. How his father trespassed into Marley, how is aunt died, how his father plotted against Marley, how he was betrayed by his own son, Zeke, how he lost his first wife and friends, how Owl helped him escape, how he got that Titan form, and last, why he stole the Founding Titan.

Eren is now more serious than before, I'm afraid he forgot to laugh. All he wants is to avenge his father and bring the world together at any cost.

He left the Survey Corps and us. He says that we are not free and he desires Freedom. He even hurt me with his words, telling about Ackermans, they aren't free, the Survey Corps, always bound to orders, have no free will, and at the end, he said he never loved me. All this time, all these years, I was bound to him due to my Ackerman instincts. I know it isn't because of that. I did it because of my love for Eren, but he never understands. That day, I cried like a baby, when he told these. He had a fight with Armin as well, because of which Armin got severe bruises.

Speaking of seriousness, I remembered Levi. He didn't come on terrace in midnights since the night he told me about Erwin. I waited every night for him but he didn't come. The day Eren hurt me, I wanted to open up to someone, for the first time, too sad no one was there for me. I was wrapping the scarf around my mouth, curling it between my fingers, going into my deep thoughts. In these months, what not have happened. 

Right now, we are in middle of a battle. We waged a war against Marleyans. Eren is fighting the Founding Titan, Levi is facing Beast Titan, remaining Corps members are facing Marleyans and Cart Titan. I am helping Eren, right now. We came here for Zeke.

I was standing on a destroyed building, watching everything. Then I saw, Levi killed Beast Titan and took out Zeke from it. "We got him. Evacuate everyone!" Levi ordered. I looked behind, Eren used Jaw Titan's jaws and ate the Warhammer Titan.

Suddenly, Reiner got up in his Titan form and began the fight against Eren. They stood starng each other for a while, then both advanced to each other. They both punched, but Eren dodged and hit the Armored Titan that his jaw broke. Then Eren came out of his nape and we advanced to the Flying Boat where Scouts are.

Upon entering, Levi suddenly kicked Eren. He kicked Eren again. I was about to charge at him, but Armin stopped me again. Levi, Jean and two three comrades started kicking him. I was getting enraged but couldn't do anything.

"You're still easily kickable as you were back then" Levi remarked, "Your face, I get irritated when I see it". Levi's this statement, reminded me of something, back that day, Eren said same, "Your face, I get irritated when I see it." to me.

I got into flashback. That day, when I was deep inside my thoughts, I felt someone grabbing my shoulder. I got up and turned around. Levi. I told him everything, he gave a look as if he already knew, his usual expressionless face gave me a strange feeling. Suddenly he pulled me into embrace. It was one of the most comforting embraces I ever had.

Then he held my cheeks and told me, "You know, we both needed this." He rested his forehead on mine, "I got letters from Jaeger and we have a great mission ahead. That's why I couldn't come these days. Maybe from tomorrow, I still may not be able to come. Stop waiting for me. I know you waited every day, but that isn't right. What lies ahead is so severe that I can't guarantee of me coming back alive the next day, so stop."

I was dumbstruck. "Why are you saying so? Is anything bothering you?" 

"No". He replied and pulled me to hug. His hug was pretty tight. Something was wrong with him, I can clearly feel. 

Suddenly, I was snapped back to present when Connie entered with a worry-turned-grief face and tears in eyes. "Sasha...Sasha's dead..."

"What!?" escaped my lips. I and Armin hurried towards Sasha's corpse. We tried to wake her up but she laid dead.

"How did this happen?" I asked Connie.

"A girl out of nowhere appeared and shot her." Connie replied, "I tried my best but failed."

Sasha's gone now.