ℬℯ𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝒟𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓈𝓉ℯ𝓇 ⤕[𝓐𝓽𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓴 𝓞𝓷 𝓣𝓲𝓽𝓪𝓷 𝔁 𝓞𝓒]

Chapter 5

Awakening to the sound of Shadis' bold and blood-curling, yet raspy, commanding yell, the rooms began to bustle with liveliness as people clambered out of bed and, still half asleep, attempted to figure their way around the confusing harnesses. Being one of the first up and ready, Akira threw her hair up into a high ponytail, the pink tips grazing her shoulders as her bangs framed her face perfectly. Strolling casually out of the room, she spots Armin and Eren, both somewhat extraordinarily excited as they fawned over the uniform. Miika later popped up behind them, conversing a little with Eren before they all journeyed toward Akira's room, where she was stood, patiently waiting.

A bright, genuine smile spread across Armin's lips, "The uniform looks good on you, and you look nice with your hair up."

"Stop hitting on her." Eren teased as he gently nudged his now flustered friend.

Armin's face painted over with a raspberry pink, "I-it's not like that!" He exclaimed in embarrassment.

"I believe you." Akira said in a soft tone, placing her hand on his shoulder in a comforting manner. He looked down at her and smiled gratefully, his cheeks still flushed a pink as they all wondered off to the Mess Hall together. Upon arrival, they were met with the ecstatic atmosphere of hungry teens. Gathering up onto a table together, the four are accompanied by Connie and Sasha, both of them sitting on either side of each other. Connie shuffled up next to Akira as Sasha did the same as she slid onto the bench next to Miika, bowls of sludge and a small chunk of bread being the consistence of their meals. With no appetite, Akira stared blankly at the wall, waiting for the time to be called out for training. Sasha had gulped down the gloopy substance, shoving the bread down her throat and was now staring hungrily at Akira's serving. Noticing this, the female nudged it over to her with her elbow, sliding over the bread with it.

"Are you really letting me have this?" Her eyes widen as they sparkle as if she were staring at a goddess. Akira only nods, standing up and stepping over the bench. Before she is able to leave, a pair of arms throw themselves around her waist and squeeze her tightly, "Thank you, thank you, thank you! You're a goddess!"

Armin, Eren and Miika all stared, the three praying for Sasha as they knew physical contact with Akira was a no no unless she gave permission or unless you were an extremely close friend, which they had learnt the hard way themselves. Armin almost reached out to grab her wrist to prevent anything from happening as his eyes caught onto her hand twitching, however was stopped in his tracks as a whirlwind of shock drowned him.

Her hand landed gently on her head in a soft pat, "It's okay, just don't eat it too fast otherwise your body won't be able to process that it has actually eaten."

Releasing her, the brunette nods frantically as she slowly chews the bread. The white haired female, still compiling a monotonous expression, walks out and onto the field, where she sat under the shade of a tree.

"We were worried about Sasha back there." Armin giggles, startling the female. The one thing that scared her was jumpscares, and her friends seemed to be masters at that.

She shakes her head, "Why is that?"

Armin cocks a brow in response, "You really don't remember?" His voice clearly presented disbelief as he began to take her back to the time she first met them.

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Punching the Officer in the mouth, Akira mockingly stared down at him with a dark aura of venomous hostility seeping from her body. He groaned and pressed his hand onto his face, applying pressure onto the fresh wound as his tooth buried itself into his lip. He swore curse words at her under his breath as he spat blood out of his mouth, again reapplying pressure onto his face and covering the wound. Walking off, he bows his head down low as to prevent anyone from seeing his now bleeding face.

"That was amazing Akira! You really put him in his place!" Eren exclaimed in his boyish, high pitched voice.

Akira threw her shoulders up in a shrug, "It was nothing, but don't get yourself into fights with Military Officers because your chances of winning are low." She commands, turning on her heel to look down on the floor at the brunette. She held her hand out to him and he, gratefully, accepted, wrapping his hand around hers. As she hoisted him up, his body fell into hers, his arms reflexively wrapping around her small frame in a hug.

What she took as an unconsensual hug, he took as a grip onto her so he didn't go flying over her shoulder. Not realising her own strength meant just her pulling him to his feet could have led him to being thrown straight over her.

In response, she threw her fist into his stomach and swiped his feet from underneath him with her own, causing him to go crashing back down onto his back, "Don't ever touch me without permission." She hissed, her voice now dripping with anger rather than being slate bland and emotionless. Before he could explain himself, she stormed off back into the warehouse as she slid into the corner where they slept, leaning her head on the wall.

Later he explained and she apologised, allowing him to get a punch in as an act of proof to show she was truly sorry. His punch felt like nothing, but she acted as if it at least winded her to make him feel better.

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"And so we thought you were going to clock that poor girl around the face." Armin chuckled to himself.

Akira stared, suddenly the memories flooding back into her head, "Oh yeah, I'm not sure what came over me today but I suppose I'll try not to unnecessarily injure anyone just out of spite or annoyance." She shrugs, knowing she didn't actually have any reason to deny interaction with other people.

"That's good to hear." Armin smiled as he pushed himself up to his feet as their drill instructor called for them to 'get their lazy asses out and running'. He held his hand out to her, which she unhesitatingly accepted as he hauled her up, "Let's run together, Eren and Miika will probably catch up." He smiled as he began to start jogging, Akira quickly following next to him and effortlessly keeping up, her pace consistent throughout. As Armin had correctly predicted, Miika and Eren had easily caught up to the two as they made small talk during the run.

"Why are they making us run first thing in the morning?" Eren raises his brows in confusion, "Shouldn't we be training with the gear?"

"We need to keep our bodies healthy and in shape as well as improve our endurance, so we will probably to stuff like this on a regular basis on top of training with gear." Akira points out, internally rolling her eyes at how hollow his head must be to not know that himself.

After half an hour of constant running, all trainees were panting heavily, sweat pooling on their faces, with only few still standing strongly and not out of breath; Akira included in that category.

"How is your stamina so good?" Eren clenched his jaw through his heavy gasps for air.

Akira only shrugs, "I have no clue to be completely honest with you."

Eren chuckled and pushed himself up, standing upright as he wiped his brow with his sleeve, "Time for some ODM training I guess, this is gonna be tough if this is how it's going to be everyday."

"Oh, are you giving up?" Akira tests, smirking gently to herself, quickly wiping it off and plastering on the monotonous expression again.

"Never." He grins, jogging over to where they would begin their training with the ODM.