One hundred and ninety-five days.
The number echoed in Eren’s mind as he closed the hidden calendar beneath his bed.
Every passing day brought him closer to the nightmare he had already lived once.
This time...
He would be ready.
"Eren!"
Carla’s voice came from downstairs.
"Breakfast is getting cold!"
"I’m coming!"
The moment he entered the dining room, the smell of fresh bread and soup filled the air.
Grisha was already seated, reading a medical journal.
Mikasa quietly placed another bowl on the table before sitting beside Carla.
It looked...
Normal.
Peaceful.
Like an ordinary family.
Eren silently prayed it would stay that way forever.
Carla noticed him staring.
"What is it?"
"...Nothing."
She smiled.
"You’ve been looking at us strangely lately."
"Have I?"
"Mhm."
She reached over and gently brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.
"You’ve grown so much."
"You used to complain whenever I made vegetable soup."
Eren laughed.
"I still don’t like it."
"Oh?"
Carla folded her arms.
"Then no dessert."
"...I suddenly love vegetable soup."
Grisha chuckled without looking up from his book.
Mikasa quietly hid a smile behind her cup.
For a few precious minutes...
The room was filled with nothing but laughter.
After breakfast, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin headed toward the hill overlooking Shiganshina.
Armin carried three books.
Naturally.
"I found records about the old districts."
"You always find something."
Armin grinned.
"Someone has to."
They settled beneath their favorite tree.
Armin immediately became absorbed in reading.
Eren lay on the grass, watching clouds drift across the sky.
Beside him, Mikasa quietly braided blades of grass together.
Neither of them spoke.
Silence had become comfortable between them.
After a while, Mikasa broke it.
"Eren."
"Hm?"
"...Do you think we’ll always live here?"
His smile faded slightly.
He looked toward the massive wall surrounding Shiganshina.
"I don’t know."
She lowered her gaze.
"I like it here."
"So do I."
He answered honestly.
Because he truly did.
He loved this town.
Its noisy streets.
Its market.
Its people.
Its warmth.
That was exactly why he couldn’t allow history to repeat itself.
The afternoon passed peacefully.
Until Armin suddenly looked up from his book.
"Eren."
"What?"
"If you could go anywhere..."
"...where would you go?"
Eren smiled.
"The ocean."
Armin’s eyes widened.
"The ocean?"
"I want to see water so wide..."
"...that you can’t see the other side."
Armin stared at him in amazement.
"That sounds incredible."
Mikasa looked between the two boys.
"...Then I’ll go too."
Armin laughed.
"You’ve never even heard of the ocean."
"I don’t need to."
She looked at Eren.
"If he’s going..."
"...I’m going."
Eren couldn’t help smiling.
"Then it’s settled."
"The three of us."
"We’ll see it together."
The three friends extended their hands into the center.
One.
Two.
Three.
A childish promise.
Yet somehow...
It felt more important than anything else.
That evening, Hannes stopped by the Yeager house carrying a wooden practice sword.
"Eren!"
"I’ve got something for you."
He tossed it over.
Eren caught it instinctively.
"It’s lighter than your old one."
"Try it."
They moved into the yard.
"What are the rules?"
Hannes grinned.
"Land one clean hit."
"If you do..."
"I’ll admit you’re getting strong."
Eren smiled.
"You’re on."
The spar lasted only a minute.
Hannes easily blocked every strike.
Yet...
He frowned.
"Your footwork improved."
Eren remained silent.
"So did your timing."
After one final exchange—
Tap.
Eren’s wooden sword lightly touched Hannes’ shoulder.
The older man blinked.
"...Well."
"I didn’t expect that."
Eren lowered his sword respectfully.
"I got lucky."
Hannes laughed loudly.
"No."
"You’ve been working hard."
He placed a hand on Eren’s shoulder.
"Keep training."
"But don’t forget something."
"What?"
"A strong soldier fights for people."
"...Not glory."
Eren nodded.
"I’ll remember."
He already knew exactly who he was fighting for.
As night fell, Mikasa quietly approached the fence outside the Yeager house.
"Eren."
He looked up from sharpening his practice sword.
"What is it?"
She hesitated.
Then held out a small cloth pouch.
"I made this."
"For me?"
She nodded.
"I noticed your backpack was missing a pocket."
Inside the pouch were several neatly stitched compartments.
Perfect for storing medicine or small tools.
Every stitch was careful.
Every corner was reinforced.
It must have taken her hours.
Eren looked at her with genuine surprise.
"You made this yourself?"
"...Is it bad?"
"It’s amazing."
For the first time in weeks...
Mikasa smiled without hesitation.
"I’m glad."
Eren carefully attached the pouch to his travel backpack.
"It’ll stay with me."
"Always."
Mikasa looked away, trying to hide the warmth spreading across her face.
"...Good."
Late that night, after everyone had gone to sleep, Eren opened his warehouse.
Food.
Medicine.
Blankets.
Tools.
The backpack.
Now...
Mikasa’s handmade pouch.
He gently ran his fingers across the stitching.
It wasn’t expensive.
It wasn’t magical.
Yet somehow...
It felt like the most valuable thing inside the warehouse.
A quiet notification appeared.
Ding.
Hidden Mission Completed.
Protect What Truly Matters
Reward:
Passive Skill Acquired
Steadfast Resolve
Effect: Your determination strengthens when fighting to protect your family and cherished companions.
Eren smiled faintly.
The system understood.
Strength wasn’t only measured by muscles or skills.
Sometimes...
It was measured by the people waiting for you to come home.
Outside the window, the lights of Shiganshina slowly went out one by one.
The district slept peacefully.
Unaware that, with every sunrise...
The day that would change their lives forever crept closer.