Two hundred days.
Eren quietly crossed another mark off the calendar hidden beneath his bed.
Only two hundred days remained.
His heart grew heavier with every passing morning.
But today...
He pushed those thoughts aside.
Today was the annual Harvest Festival.
For the people of Shiganshina, it was a day to celebrate another year of peace inside the walls.
For Eren...
It was a reminder of how precious that peace truly was.
The streets were packed with people.
Colorful banners stretched from building to building.
Children chased one another with wooden swords.
Musicians played cheerful melodies in the town square.
Even the usually serious soldiers smiled as they patrolled.
Carla clapped her hands together.
"Alright!"
"No wandering off by yourselves."
Eren, Mikasa, and Armin exchanged amused looks.
"We’re not little kids anymore," Eren protested.
Carla raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"So you don’t need the sweets I was going to buy?"
"...I never said that."
Carla laughed.
"I thought so."
The three friends explored the festival together.
Armin disappeared every few minutes to examine old maps and books at the merchant stalls.
Mikasa quietly followed Eren wherever he went.
At one stall, a craftsman displayed handmade wooden charms.
Each one was carved into a different shape.
Birds.
Trees.
Stars.
And one pair shaped like two wings.
Eren picked them up.
"Those are the Wings of Freedom," the old craftsman explained.
"A symbol of hope."
"They’re popular with children who dream of joining the Survey Corps."
Eren gently traced the carving with his thumb.
Without thinking...
He bought the pair.
As they walked away, Mikasa tilted her head.
"You bought two."
"I know."
He handed one to her.
"For me?"
"You’ll lose yours if I keep both."
"...I won’t."
"I know."
"But now we’ll each have one."
Mikasa accepted the small carving with surprising care, as though it were something priceless.
"...Thank you."
She tucked it safely into the small pouch at her waist.
"I’ll treasure it."
Eren smiled.
"So will I."
Not far away...
Carla had seen the exchange.
She leaned toward Grisha with a knowing smile.
"Our son is surprisingly thoughtful."
Grisha glanced at the two children.
"I suppose he is."
"You still don’t see it?"
"See what?"
Carla simply chuckled.
"You’ll understand one day."
Grisha looked genuinely confused.
"...Should I be worried?"
"No."
"If anything..."
"...I think we should be happy."
As evening approached, fireworks were prepared outside the district.
Everyone gathered near the wall.
Children sat on their parents’ shoulders.
Merchants closed their stalls.
Even Hannes wandered over carrying a mug.
"This is the best part of the festival!" he declared.
Moments later—
Boom!
A brilliant flower of red light blossomed across the night sky.
Another followed.
Then another.
Gold.
Blue.
Silver.
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Mikasa watched silently, her eyes reflecting the colorful lights.
"They’re beautiful."
"They are."
Without realizing it, she stepped a little closer to Eren.
The crowd was dense now.
People bumped into one another as they searched for a better view.
A group of excited children ran past them.
One accidentally shoved Mikasa forward.
She lost her balance.
Before she could fall—
Eren caught her wrist.
Their eyes met.
For a heartbeat...
Neither of them moved.
The fireworks exploded overhead, bathing their faces in shimmering light.
"...Are you alright?"
Mikasa nodded slowly.
"Yes."
"...Because you caught me."
She didn’t pull her hand away.
Neither did Eren.
Another explosion lit up the sky.
This time...
Carla happened to glance in their direction.
She covered her smile with one hand.
Grisha followed her gaze.
"...Oh."
Finally.
He understood.
A quiet chuckle escaped him.
"They really have grown close."
Carla nodded.
"I told you."
After the fireworks ended, the crowd slowly dispersed.
The streets were quieter now.
Lanterns illuminated the road home.
Armin walked several steps ahead, enthusiastically describing how fireworks probably worked.
"It has to be some kind of special powder..."
Eren listened with half an ear.
His attention remained on the girl walking beside him.
"Mikasa."
"Hm?"
"When we join the Cadets..."
She looked at him.
"...Stay close to me."
She blinked.
"I always do."
"No matter what happens."
Her expression softened.
"...I will."
Then, after a brief pause, she added,
"But..."
"...you have to stay close to me too."
Eren laughed quietly.
"Deal."
She extended her little finger.
"A promise?"
He smiled.
"A promise."
Their fingers linked once again.
No system notification appeared this time.
None was needed.
Some promises were more important than any reward.
That night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Eren stood outside the house.
He looked toward Wall Maria.
The towering structure stood as proudly as ever.
Strong.
Silent.
Unchanging.
To everyone else...
It represented safety.
To Eren...
It had become a countdown.
He reached into his pocket and took out the small wooden Wings of Freedom charm.
The matching charm rested safely with Mikasa.
A small smile crossed his face.
"I’ll protect this future..."
"...No matter what."
Far beyond the walls...
A lone figure watched the distant lights of Shiganshina.
Then turned away.
The march toward destiny had already begun.
And with only two hundred days remaining...
The race against fate had truly started.