The Love We Give

Flashback 04 - Plot Holes

Welcome to yet another flashback, this one taking place just two weeks after chapter 13, though. This time, you will get to dive in to yet another moment between Reiner and Sira, to further develop their relationship, as well as some more backstory about the Smith siblings.

Song recommendation for this chapter:
"Guilty Hero" by Kohta Yamamoto

When Sira had stood in front of the cadets of the 104th Training Corps a few weeks back, she spoke from her heart, unsure about whether or not she would reach these kids with her words. For all she knew, they could have cared less about her and her intentions. Who was to say that even one of them would want to have anything to do with the Scouts, especially after she straight up told them about dying – and that there were going to be deaths among them. But not long after her speech, right on the next day, an eager Eren Yeager stood in front of her cabin, asking her millions of questions, wanting to know what it was like to fight for the Scouting Legion and how it felt, to be making a difference. He looked at her with sparkling eyes, as if her every word set ablaze a fire inside of him, that could burn down the entire world. He was so determined – and with his determination came other cadets that might have felt curious, at least, infected with his spirit.

Day and day again, there were cadets standing in front of her cabin, asking all kinds of questions – and talking about their fears, too. One time, a girl named Carolina would sit in front of Sira's desk, crying, because she was so scared even thinking about standing on the open battlefield and she defeatedly remarked about how she was sure, she wouldn't make the top 10, so she should get used to the idea of becoming a Scout.

Sira didn't expected all sorts of cadets wanting to talk to her – but they did, and it felt like Erwin had been right about this idea all along. With every day she spent here on the training grounds, Sira tried getting to know all these cadets more and more, and she truly did. Usually, during the day – but it just so happened that her and Reiner Braun's ways met once more at night, too, on top of the hill, with the still lake in front of them. He didn't come knocking on her door to go together; he went all by himself and Sira did as well. But upon their second, unarranged meeting, they gave each other a silent smile, as Sira sat down next to him again. This time, he didn't look as defeated and their talks didn't feel so heavy as they did, when they first met. Reiner would share a bit about his time here in the Training Corps, and about the friends he made – and Sira would just listen; because she felt like taking in any information about all these possible new recruits, but also, because she liked looking into a much more light-hearted face this time, not painted with despair or sorrow.

Two weeks had since passed since her arrival, and Keith Shadis had organised the first training lesson Sira would hold. Beforehand, the two of them would raid the weaponry inventory, gathering as many different arms as possible, since this was what Sira had eventually come to specialise in. This was what she wanted to bring to the table – even if she was met with many doubting looks from the cadets, as they lay their eyes upon the daggers, throwing knives, bows, axes, and more.

"And how are we supposed to fight a titan with all of... this?", one of the cadets asked with raised eyebrows, as he spun one of the throwing knives between his hand. The tone on his voice was very revealing about the fact, that he didn't think much good about this kind of training. Jean Kirstein had a habit of sounding arrogant, although he might not have meant it like this – well, he always did a little, at least.

Before Sira could give an answer, though, Keith Shadis let out a bellowing laugh, slapping his hand against her back. He even pulled Sira closer to him and had a proud look on his face. This truly was something that she would still have to get used to.