The end of June.
The sun was vicious, burning the earth like a furnace.
On the blazing training field, one lone figure ran lap after lap.
Sweat streamed down his face, boots thudding against the dirt.
Every recruit who saw him whether they knew him or not gave him a look of pure sympathy.
And beneath the sympathy… a little respect.
After all, he was the first madman who dared talk back to the drill sergeant.
"Look closely, all of you!!"
Keith Shadis pointed straight at Evan Cross, who was circling the outer track.
"Anyone who defies orders will end up JUST. LIKE. THAT!
Eyes wide! Ears open! AM I CLEAR!?"
His voice thundered like a cannon.
He turned his murderous glare toward Connie Springer.
"You! Brat! Your turn!
Tell me your name!"
Connie stiffened like a terrified squirrel, snapping into salute
unfortunately, on the wrong side.
"R-Report, sir! New recruit Connie Springer! From the village of "
Silence.
Keith walked toward him slowly… ominously…
Then
he grabbed Connie's head with both hands and lifted him clean off the ground.
"YOU IDIOT!!
A SOLDIER DOES NOT PUT HIS HAND OVER THE WRONG SIDE!
IS YOUR HEART ON THE RIGHT SIDE, SPRINGER!?"
crick… crick…
But just then
In the dead silence, a quiet crunching noise suddenly echoed across the field.
Every recruit froze.
Every head turned.
Even Keith turned… mechanically.
And saw
right behind Connie…
A red-haired girl with a ponytail.
Calmly.
Casually.
Blissfully…
Nibbling on a steamed potato.
"Sasha… Blouse…"
Someone whispered in horror.
But Sasha didn't hear a thing.
She chewed solemnly, guarding her food like a starving mouse checking for thieves.
A collective shiver ran through the rows.
First someone yawned at the drill sergeant.
Now someone was EATING A POTATO in front of him.
This year's class was… special.
Even Eren's face went sheet-white.
"This… this is impossible… twice!? In the same morning!?"
Keith dropped Connie like a sack of grain and stared blankly at Sasha.
Then, slowly, he stepped toward her.
"...You.
You there.
What… are you doing…?"
Crunch. Crunch.
Sasha didn't lift her head.
She continued eating.
Keith's brain almost blue-screened.
He had trained countless recruits…
He had never seen a day like this.
He finally snapped:
"I'M TALKING TO YOU
WHO ARE YOU!!!"
His roar shook the air.
Sasha choked down the last mouthful, jumped upright, and saluted:
"R-Report, sir! Sasha Blouse! From Dauper Village, southern Wall Rose!"
Keith stared at her.
Dead inside.
"And… what is that… in your hand."
"A steamed potato! Sir! I saw it in the kitchen while passing by and took it!"
Keith inhaled sharply.
"You… STOLE IT!
Why
Why are you eating it NOW!?"
Sasha lowered her eyes, thinking seriously:
"Well… if it gets cold… it won't taste good…"
Keith clutched his heart.
The pain.
"The question is WHY ARE YOU EATING A POTATO !"
"You mean… why do humans eat potatoes?"
Sasha asked sincerely.
"..."
"GO RUN LAPS!!!"
Meanwhile, Evan Cross kept running in circles under the merciless sun.
His jacket clung to his sweat-soaked skin.
The heat was suffocating.
He still didn't know why Keith Shadis was targeting him so viciously.
He wiped the sweat off his face, panting heavily.
It felt like he'd been thrown straight from class into a sauna.
Just when he thought he might melt into the dirt
Footsteps approached from behind.
Light, quick steps.
Then:
"Hey! Evan!
Wait up for me!"
A girl's bright, boisterous voice rang out.
Evan nearly tripped.
He turned his head
And saw
Sasha Blouse jogging toward him… waving the OTHER HALF of her potato.
~~~~~~~~~~
~> Bonus Chapter every 300PS!!