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"Ragghhhh!" Colt heavily groaned and panted. He was on the ground being pinned by Y/N with a practice stick that was designed like a sniper gun. "Shit..."

"You're such an idiot, Colt. Are you holding back and going soft at me?" Y/N taunted as sweat drooped down her cheeks with a smirk on her face.

"I-i swear I'm not holding back." Colt pleaded to surrender from the constant heat and exhaustion. "You're just... Too strong."

"Tch... Too strong my ass. If you put much more effort into our daily duelling then you could've at least beat me for just one time." Y/N held out a hand to the tired Colt.

"I am putting effort. You're just very... Amazing." Colt scratched the back of his head as the dust of pink reached through his cheeks chuckling. The blonde admired Y/N. Colt couldn't remember the last time he fell for someone. I mean who wouldn't fall for her kind personality and strong attributes.

"Yeah right. Praise all you want 'cause if I'm not here to be strong to protect you and the kids then who should they rely on?" Y/N asked with a small frown forming.

A small silence echoed throughout the training grounds. It was peaceful. The four kids have finished their duelling just hours ago and it was already turning sunset. Colt could sense that Y/N felt uneasy about something and stood up.

"Hey, let's get ice cream. My treat." Colt shyly smiled trying to cheer her up with Y/N's favourite dessert.

"Umm sorry Colt. I think I'll pass for today. I feel a bit... Not fine. I just want to be by myself for tonight." Y/N forced out a smile. "Though I'm grateful for your suggestion..."

"I-i oh... Okay... I understand." Colt tried to hide the huge amount of disappointment from the words that came out of Y/N. He tried to give her a reassuring smile but it turned out to look like a weird smile...

"Thanks, Colt." Y/N smiled gratefully as she turned around and walked away.

Colt sighed in frustration that Y/N couldn't come with him though he understood that she wasn't in a good mood. It made Colt question if he should confess his interest to Y/N.

Thinking of confessing to Y/N and visualizing her accepting him made Colt excited and confident. Colt has never felt anything for anyone around him but when Y/N showed up, it all changed rapidly with both his emotions and his heartbeat. His imagination took the best of him and his confidence as he chased after Y/N and held her hand startling her.

"Y/N I like you! I like you so much." Colt exclaimed as his face turned rosy red. His heart pounding hard as his smile brightened.

But all of this made Y/N thunderstruck and stunned. It was all too forward for her especially when she was worrying a lot about her plans. It took Y/N a few seconds to recollect herself from shock and held Colt's shoulder giving him an expression of both guilt and the emotion to try to be soft.

"Colt... I'm so so sorry but... I don't feel the way the same way." Y/N's eyebrows knit together while giving a regretful smile. Y/N only sees and treats Colt like a good friend. That was all it. Besides she already had someone she loves to this day. "I hope you understand..."

Colt took about a complete 10 seconds to process the words in his brain. When he did realise what she said, Colt bit his lip as his expression turned to bitter sorrow. Seeing his face, Y/N instantly felt regret in her stomach.

"Y-yeah I understand... At least we're still friends, right?" Colt choked out as he looked like he was about to fall apart.

"Of course... If you'd excuse me, I'll be going." Y/N couldn't handle the awkward atmosphere that was coexisting between the two of them as she gave him a last reassuring smile and finally went away, out of his sight.

"Heh... I was an idiot for confessing." Colt chuckled to himself covering his face with his hands as a tear fell. "Though... If that was what she feels then I'll respect it. Our friendship is better than anything."

Even so, Colt still felt bitterly hurt by the rejection.

______________________________

"Aghhhgg!!!!" Y/N groaned in frustration.

Y/N wasn't the type to receive confessions. Most of Y/N's admirers which were in Paradis knows that she was off the market because of the one and only Lance Corporal Levi. It was her first time receiving a confession that involves her needing to reject it.

It all just ties to a conclusion that Y/N felt differently with Colt than being with Levi. Though Y/N isn't comparing the two with each other but comparing them on how she feels about them. Y/N feels romantically interested in Levi while when it comes to Colt, she feels friendly around him.

The girl could only sigh in regret for hurting Colt's feelings but she yearned that their friendship will continue.

"Fuck human emotions..." Y/N sighed as she walked through the city as began to pass by the hospital.

"You're hurt. Did that happen in warrior training?" Y/N's ears perk up as she looked at the wall that was blocking the source of Eren's voice. Y/N came close to the wall and began to listen more.

"Yes. But I don't think I'll make the cut. There's this other candidate who's good at everything. I don't stand a chance." Falco spoke.

'Oh, so Eren and Falco are together... And as it seems Falco is talking about Gabi being so-called perfect at everything identity.' Y/N rolled her eyes already imagining Gabi's arrogant face. 'The only thing she's not good at is being a good kid like Falco.'

"That's a good thing," Eren answered.

"Huh?"

"You're a good person. I'm glad you'll be able to live a full life." Eren explained as Y/N gave out a bitter smile while leaning at the wall.

'I don't even know if the so-called experimental titan inside me could live a full life.' Y/N gripped her fists together.

"But I don't want the other candidate to become a warrior." By Falco's tone, Y/N could already realize that he wanted Gabi to live a long life.

"Why not?" Eren asked as Falco stood silent while Y/N silently snickered knowing it already. "Is this person a girl?"

"She's famous around here," Falco answered.

'Famously annoying.' Y/N rolled her eyes.

"She even played a big part in ending the war. Everyone knows she's the best pick for the next Armoured Titan." Falco explained. "But I'm too weak. I won't be able to change anything before it's too late."

"Every day since I came here, I've been thinking. Why did things end up this way? Having your body and mind rot away, having your freedom taken away, losing your sense of self... Anyone who knew there ends up this way would never set foot on a battlefield." Eren continues to say. "But something pushes them onward. And they all walk into hell anyway. Usually, that something isn't their own will. The conditions and people around them leave them with no choice. But people who push themselves onward see a different sort of hell. They're looking at something past that hell. It might be hope or it might be yet another hell. Only the people who keep moving can know for sure."

Y/N began to have flashbacks of the times back in Paradis when she was fighting to kill titans... Only to finally remember that they were humans... She remembered the times that she saw the past Levi crew being crushed and killed by the female titan... Only to know that the Female Titan was her close friend... A lot of things happened when she moved onwards to the deep secrets that lie there waiting. Just like the secret of the experimental.

The experiment was an experiment conducted by Frieda and Rod. Only the two of them know. The experiment was enclosed in an injection that contained a small part of Frieda's spine. Y/N questioned how it could even happen. Though she hoped one day to dive into the depths and see the truth.

"Falco, can I ask you a favour?" Y/N broke out of her thoughts when hearing Eren.

"What is it, Mister Kruger?" Falco asked as Y/N chuckled when hearing the name Kruger.

"I want to send a letter, but if I do it from the internment zone they'll inspect the contents," Eren answered.

'Heh. Even, you smart hobo.' Y/N snickered.

"Yeah, that's true."

"Then they'll find out I'm faking my amnesia so can you stick this in a mailbox outside the internment zone?" Eren asked.

"Sure thing." Y/N heard Falco approach Eren as she assumed he took the letter from Eren. "Is it for your family?"

"Yeah. Just wanna tell them that I'm here and I'm okay."

___________________________

Falco waved goodbye to Eren as he left. The girl could tell Falco was happy to deliver the letter. Y/N sighed in relief that Falco didn't seem to see her and went inside the hospital.

It has been a while since she saw the hospital which was her grandfather's workplace. Y/N turned left and sat beside Eren on the same spot Falco had just sat on.

"Wow... Faking amnesia as your excuse. You really like using my plan as well" Y/N jokingly chuckled.

"What plan?"

"I'm pretending to have amnesia because if I don't they'll have to use force to take information about Paradis from me," Y/N answered as Eren nodded.

"Falco is a good boy..." Eren changed the subject.

"He is... I'm about to adopt him soon but with force." Y/N snickered then stopped while looking at Eren. "You know you could've given me the letter instead of you asking Falco to do it."

"I didn't know you would send your letter so I asked him and he agreed."

"But still you lied to him about the real contents of the letter." Y/N sneered

"I half lied." Eren sneered back.

"So what? That boy is too pure for the cruel and fucked up world we have." Y/N deeply sighed and felt genuine care for the boy. Y/N reminds Falco of Eren back when he was still pure.

"Are you ready for what's gonna happen?" Eren asked.

"I'm not sure but I'll be ready..."

___________________________

"Peick be careful..." Y/N guided a crawling Peick on the ground as they heard a yawn approaching them.

"Aghh!" Porco exclaimed startled because of Peick?

"Morning Porky!" Peick greeted.

"Pick what are you doing?"

"You idiot stop screaming in the morning." Y/N snickered.

"Walking this way just feels right. Did I scare you?" Peick asked.

"Stand up and walk like a normal person," Porco said.

"Damn porks, that's rude," Y/N said helping Peick stand up.

___________________________

"The titans always approach from the south. That's why the closer you are to the mountain range north of the walls, the thinner their defences get." Reiner pointed at the whole map of Paradis Island. Y/N could only snicker in her mind.

'They really do have the map of the whole island...' Y/N gazed at the map being pointed out by Reiner.

"So your advice is to strike from the north?" A Marleyan asked.

"I'm saying that is an option. But we still only have the one wharf our largest ships can dock at. If we want to make full use of our resources-"

"Then from the south?" The man asked.

"But we lost our scout ships in the south. That's where the enemy's attention is, so they may have destroyed the wharf." Reiner explained.

"Then what are you trying to tell me?"

"I just wanted to provide the information I know for your reference," Reiner answered

"Fine fine you can stand down." The Marleyan dismissed. "We should've known better than to let an Eldian speak."

"What an dickhead." Y/N muttered as Zeke elbowed her ribs to quiet her down.

Zeke, Y/N and Colt were standing at the corner of the room listening. Though Zeke noticed that there was an awkward tension between Y/N and Colt but he decided to dismiss it and continue.

Porco and Peick were on the other side of the room as Commander Magath was on the front. Marleyans was writing about the scene besides.

The warriors alongside Y/N and Colt went outside to the balcony to take a break.

"The Paradis Island operation's coming along swimmingly. Our superiors are showing their vast intellects. I can't wait to find out what plan they'll come up with." Porco confessed as he leaned on the railing.

"Yeah like entrusting the entire operation to four little kids," Peick spoke up as everyone's heads turned to the ground seeing the four warrior candidate kids training.

The candidates were racing as Gabi took the lead Falco was behind her trying to catch up. Zophia and Udo were behind. Falco was now catching up to Gabi as the warriors, Colt and Y/N watch. With Falco coming neck to neck with Gabi, he gave it all and sprinted as he overpassed Gabi.

"He passed her," Reiner muttered. "Falco passed Gabi

"Let's go, Falco," Y/N exclaimed so loudly and proudly for the boy. Y/N looked like a mother who's so proud of her son for winning.

Zophia and Udo catch up to Falco panting hardly as they celebrate the win except for a disappointed Gabi. Colt's mouth just stayed wide open with surprise in his eyes and ut was the same for Reiner.

"He wins one time and they go wild. Good grief, think about how we feel." Porco spoke up sighing with a smile.

"I feel like a proud mother. I'm coming this close to adopting him by force." Y/N wiped the none existential tears.

"No matter how much Falco improved now, Gabi still has the advantage," Colt spoke

"You never know the odds, Colt" Y/N answered not wanting to burst the delighted aura she's having because of what's happening.

'Even though it's only a race. I always see Falco striving and working hard to pass Gabi even in the smaller things. I'm proud of him that he hasn't lost hope.' Y/N thought.

____________________________

"Hey, Er-" Y/N went inside the gates of the hospital as she immediately stopped when seeing Eren and Falco looking at her.

"What are you doing here, Y/N?" Falco genuinely asked as Eren looked at her expecting her to come up with a lie.

"I... Um... I'm here to visit my grandfather who's a doctor here." Y/N half lied but she had to.

"Oh, I see..." Falco said and as the kind-hearted kid he is, he introduced Eren. "This is Mr Kruger. Mr Krugee, this is Y/N Yeager, a warrior candidate just like me."

"Nice to meet you, Ms Y/N," Eren spoke out staring at her while giving out a hand to shake. Y/N internally sneered and stared at Eren's hand.

"It's nice to meet you as well, Mr Kruger," Y/N spoke back refusing to shake his hand. Falco felt Y/N was off since Y/N would always accept a handshake but Falco just shrugged off the thought.

"I think I should go since I don't see my grandfather and I don't want to bother him while working... See ya!" Y/N dashed away before Falco could offer her to seat with them.

Y/N dashed back to the same spot where she also eavesdropped last time. Of course as the info, hungry Y/N is, she began to listen once again to their conversation.

"Good for you, Falco." Eren changed the subject.

"It's all thanks to you, Mister Kruger. Honestly, I don't think I'll be able to surpass Gabi this late in the game, but at least now I can push forward with a clear head." Falco thanked with a smile.

"Good. I should be the one thanking you. I never would have been able to send all of those letters myself. You've been a real help." Eren gave his gratitude while Y/N could only eye roll.

"Oh, it's nothing," Falco said. "Did you get that from your family?"

"They said I must be bored living in a hospital. It's been hard on my body." Eren explained as Y/N's eyebrows knit together in confusion then to realization because she figured it was the helping walk stick that she gave to Eren to give the so-called not obvious look. "I have to move forward too... After this festival, I'm going to go back home."

Y/N could only chuckle at Eren's last sentence.

"Oh, I see..." Falco stood silent for a second till he spotted a doctor coming and stood up. "I'll see you later."

"Yeah," Eren answered as Falco left the hospital.

"Do you mind if I sit here?" Y/N was about to come inside but stopped when she heard her grandfather speak. Her eyes widened and startled since she didn't expect her grandfather to appear so randomly.

"No, go ahead," Eren answered.

"Then if you'll excuse me" Y/N's grandfather sat next to Eren as the two looked at each other.

"I'm Yeager, a doctor from this internment zone. I come here to drink tea every once in a while." The old man introduced.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Kruger." Eren spoke back.

'Damn... Eren is meeting his grandfather for the first time and so unexpectedly.' Y/N leaned at the brick wall once again and continued to listen.

"Nice to meet you, Kruger. You seem to get along well with that boy."

"Yeah."

"That's good. I think I'd get along with them, too. He came to this bench looking for someone to talk to."

'Of course, you would grandpa. Falco is a good and angelic boy. I would also think you would get along with him.' Y/N thought.

"That boy's uncle was one of the ring leaders of the Eldian restoration movement. The restorationists and their families were all sent to Paradis. That boy and his brother aspired to become warriors to protect their family." A frown formed on Y/N's face when her grandpa mentioned it. A flashback replayed in her mind about the time she cried hard when her parents were captured and it goes on. "Although his brother has earned the right to inherit the Beast Titan, my daughter was an exception for the higher-ups to reconsider the right. But with still that the Grice is safe."

"Why are you telling me this?" Eren questioned.

"Stop asking that boy to run errands for you. If suspicion falls on the Grice family again, all their efforts will have been in vain." Yeager said. "And if your mind is healthy, go home to your family. If you lose the opportunity to see them again, you'll regret it for the rest of your life."

'Spoken like a true mad lad, gramps.' Y/N smirked.

"Life long regrets?" Eren asked as a silence longed through. "Sounds like you're talking about yourself."

'Oh, shit...' Y/N thought getting ready to jump in if it gets ugly.

"Not a day goes by that I don't regret it." Y/N didn't hear anything else except for silence which worried her... But then she heard her grandfather hyperventilating. "It was me... It was all my..."

"Shit..." Y/N cursed out as dashed into the hospital, seeing her grandfather screaming and panicking. "Grandpa!"

"Deep breaths, grams. Just deep breaths." Y/N immediately came up to him and held his hands from gripping his face.

"Mister Yeager! Please don't wander away like that!" A Doctor came up with a nurse.

"I'm so sorry. We only took our eyes off him for a moment." The nurse apologized to Eren and then turned to Y/N. "I'm sorry Ms Yeager. We promise to take more care of him"