Always want to be WITH YOU || Reiner x Historia

Chapter 22

"Reiner! You're back!" The class was quite excited this morning, plus Christa who immediately ran to hug me tightly right when I opened the classroom door.

They all looked relieved that I was back again, some of them tried to hold back Ymir who was already angry and wanted to kick me out of class because he saw Christa who still wouldn't let go of her hug. As for me? I didn't do anything, all I did was turn my face away to avoid everyone.

I felt Christa's hug start to loosen, she looked at me with a pitiable face, "R-reiner ... Why-"

"Sorry Christa, I'm tired." I said briefly and hurried to my old seat. I put away Ymir's books and equipment so that she could sit next to Christa, and Ymir seemed to start looking at me with a strange look, "h-hey, what are you possessed by after taking months off from classes?"

But seeing me not responding to anything, Ymir finally fell silent and did not dare to bother me any further. Instead, she just pulled Christa's hand back to her seat.

"W-wait, Ymir-!" Christa seemed to make a small rebellion, but that did not make Ymir determined to keep Christa away from me.

"We'd better get back to our seats, Christa. Class is about to start."

"... Umm ..."

The small expression of disappointment that was caught in my eyes, made my chest ache. 'Will I really be able to do this later? Am I- Ah!'

Bertholdt clenched his hand into a fist and smacked it lightly against my left arm, offering support. As if he could read these thoughts, I replied with a small snort.

'Everything will be alright. Be determined,' was what Bertholdt's gaze meant to me at this moment.

Finally the class started, and even throughout the lesson, I could still feel Christa's gaze. Several times instructor Keith reprimanded Christa for looking unfocused, but thankfully instructor Keith did not have the heart to throw chalk from the blackboard at the petite girl. Meanwhile, I could only continue to follow instructor Keith's lessons while hoping that this war in my head would end soon.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

As the days passed, I continued to avoid Christa. At the end of class, I would always suddenly grab Jean and Connie with the excuse that I was going to teach them a difficult lesson. During lunch and dinner, I chose to bring my food into the dorm room. Even on holidays, I always made sure that Christa and her friends weren't around so that I could get to the market faster than the others.

Obviously, that would hurt Christa, and Ymir scolded Christa for chasing and depending on me too much. I know that's not what Christa meant, she was just asking for an explanation for my change in attitude. Although I don't know if she's aware of the fact that it was her father who kidnapped us, I hope she doesn't misunderstand because I don't hate her for it. But because I should have done this a long time ago.

But will she really understand?

"REINER!!!"

A small, shrill voice called out to me in the distance, as Christa ran towards me as I lounged under the trees. It was break time now, and we were free to do anything as Instructor Keith was in a meeting. But this didn't allow me to relax, because I knew that this would happen.