Run | Shingeki no Kyojin/Attack on Titan

乂4乂

~~~

Year 847, 104th Training Corps Grounds

The year 847 began, as did the 104th Military Training Corps. After the harsh, cold winter, spring began and the snow melted rather quickly.

Currently, Armin, Mikasa, Eren, and I stood in formation among many other cadets. Hands clasped behind my back, I stared straight ahead as the commander, Keith Shadis, moved between rows, glaring at each cadet as he walked past.

He reached the end of the row, stopping in front of Armin and he scowled at him.

"Hey, maggot." He growled.

"Sir!" Armin saluted, pressing the backside of his fist against his chest.

"What's your name, maggot?" Shadis screamed in his face.

"Armin Arlert of Shiganshina District, sir!" Armin shouted back with equal force.

"Is that right?! What a dumb name! Your parents give it to you?!"

"My grandfather did, sir!"

Their screaming match continued for a couple of minutes, as did every time Shadis decided to intimidate a cadet.

"Row three, turn around!" He said, yanking Armin's head in a circle, forcing the boy to turn his body so his head wouldn't twist off.

I was next. Shadis stood in front of me, a flicker of recognition blooming in his eyes as he looked into my own. He nodded his head before moving on to the next person.

It was barely noticeable, but as I was the only one in front of him, I was able to catch it.

At first I didn't recognize him, but once he introduced himself, the image of the man who brought me inside Shiganshina two years ago appeared in my mind.

Though he no longer had hair on the top of his head and more wrinkles defined his face, the same hollow, sunken eyes remained. Haunted by many many years of horror and witnessing his comrades die by the titans' hands.

I flinched internally as he roughly slammed his forehead into the one of an ashy haired boy. The boy fell to the ground, clutching his head in his hand.

His next victim was a bright boy with short black hair and freckles dotting his face. He enthusiastically answered Shadis' remarks until his face dropped at the latter's final words to him.

The following cadet he halted at saluted with the wrong hand, leading Shadis to lift the boy by his head, squeezing his face and stretching his eyelids outwards. He then dropped him and the boy collapsed to the ground, drool spilling out of his mouth.

Shadis was staring in disbelief as the girl in the row behind the collapsed cadet was casually munching on a potato during the whole process.

"Hey... What the hell are you doing?" He said slowly, marching up to her.

"You scum! I'm talking to you! What the hell is your name?!" He spat, livid at her ignorance.

"Sasha Braus, sir! Dauper Village, Wall Rose South District!" She stated, saluting with the potato still grasped in her hand.

"Sasha Braus... what's in your right hand?" He asked, looming over her.

"A steamed potato, sir! I happened to see them in the kitchen and I couldn't help myself!"

"So, you stole it. Why are you eating it now?" His words had become slower.

"They lose their taste when they get cold, so I thought it would be best to eat it while it was still hot." Sasha explained, clearly not getting the hints.