A Fight For Humanity

Chapter 7: Graduates

"We're trained for this! What do you think the last three years were about!? We survived. We stared death in the face and we lived! Not everyone can say that, can they!?"
-Eren Jaeger

IMPORTANT: The original graduate order was like this; Mikasa, Reiner, Bertholdt, Annie, Eren, Jean, Marco, Connie, Sasha and Krista. As I wanted Aria to place in the top 10, I decided to have her outrank Krista, which slightly disturbs the plot. In the manga, Ymir had slacked off to ensure Krista would get into the top 10, saving her a place in the Military. Just keep that in mind. Thank you.

It was the night of graduation.

After everything we'd gone through. After everything we'd done. This was it.

Out of the original recruits, only 218 had graduated. Some with honours.

"As of this moment, you have three options open to you! Choose wisely!" Commander yelled to us. "The Garrison Regiment, whose job is to reinforce the walls. The Scout Regiment, who rides out into Titan country to take back what was once ours. And the Military Police Regiment, retaining law and order for his loyal majesty. Those cadets eligible for the MP have already been named. The rest of you take a look! These are the top of your class!"

I stood there proudly. Out of 218 of us, I'd graduated 5th. To my right stood Eren, and to my left was Annie. Mikasa had graduated at top of the class, of course. Armin had graduated 12th, so whilst he wasn't in the top 10, I was still super impressed. He'd make a great General in the Garrison.

That night, everyone was celebrating. And somehow word got out that Eren was joining the Scouts. I sat at a table in the corner, by myself, avoiding everyone. It was easier this way.

"Are you insane!?" I heard Thomas shout. I turned to see where the noise was coming from. Of course. He was talking to Eren. No surprises there.

"How many people have died? We're talking a fifth of the population. If that doesn't paint a picture for you, I don't know what will." Thomas spoke. "This is our life now. We can't beat them."

An eery silence fell upon everyone. Was this it? Had everyone already accepted their fates? Was everyone okay with just giving up and accepting humanity's losses?

"Yeah? So what?" Eren asked. "We buckle, taking it all lying down? Things have changed. Maybe not a lot, but enough. They aren't the mystery they were five years ago. There's still a long way to go, but we've made progress. Every battle we lost was a lesson, and gave us the tiniest inroad towards hope! Are you telling me it's better to cut our losses, and let all the death and destruction be meaningless!? Just to ball it up and accept it!? Not on your life! Humanity's future lies outside the walls, and I'm gonna clear the way! I'm gonna take back what was ours! I'm gonna drive them out. And as long as at least one of us can say that, we're not done."

Everything was silent again. Everyone was listening to Eren's outburst.

Eren ran off, Armin and Mikasa following after him. I got up and ran after them too. We found him sitting on one of the steps, not too far outside. We went and sat down beside him.

"That was, uh, quite a speech you gave us back there." Armin said.

"Yeah? Most of it was yours. All that stuff you used to say back in the day." Eren smiled.

"You saying stuff like that makes me doubt becoming a Scout a lot less. It still is practically a suicide squad." I said. (Unintentional pun I actually wrote this part before the movie Suicide Squad was even released so yeah)

Armin looked down, before looking up in determination. "Yeah, well I'm joining the Scout Regiment too."

"What!? Now you're just being stupid. Come on, you're not a fighter! Your life is with books!" Eren protested. The Scout Regiment was definitely the Regiment least suited for Armin.