Armin determined

In October 848 there was a heavy thunderstorm.

Under the heavy rain, a group of soldiers from the training corps ran in the dark forest with raincoats over their bodies, a heavy backpack and equipped with their three-dimensional maneuvering equipment. 

This time there was a race that tested physical strength, regardless of whether it was a sunny day or there was a thunderstorm, this test should be performed regularly. 

Instructor Keith rode a horse with a raincoat and kept urging everyone closely. 

Takashi this time did not run in the middle of the group of soldiers, this time he kept some speed in the front position, next to him was Mikasa, Eren and surprisingly Nelson. 

Nelson had been outdoing himself next to Takashi, he could now be among the top forty to thirty soldiers in the corps. 　　 

Eren looked back and said, "Damn, Armin is about to fall behind again." 

Takashi comforted him, "Don't worry, he's not that bad, I've never seen him give up since he got here." 

At the back of the group, Armin gasped deeply and gradually began to fall behind. 

"Run, you're too slow!" shouted instructor Keith. 

"What's the matter with you, Arlert! You're falling behind, is it too heavy! Do you want to be the only one to take off his gear?" Instructor Keith spat. "If this was a mission, you'd be titan food by now." 

Armin startled and ran forward with morale high. When Instructor Keith saw this, he led his horse to the front to urge other soldiers forward. 

Amin feels that his feet are getting heavier and heavier and, although he has been training for more than two years, his fitness is not responding to him the way he wants it to. 

Reiner ran when he saw this and carried Amin's weight on himself. I must say, if Reiner is really more sociable, it would give a very inspiring feeling. "Give it to me, you'll slow us all down! This exercise scores for the final grade." 

Armin was a little surprised, "No, Reiner, if you help me, you'll lose points too." 

Reiner said casually, "Then don't let him find out." 

Keith was watching: Do you really think I can't see? However, he waited a moment while he analyzed Armin's next moves. 

Amin gritted his teeth, reached out and grabbed the heavy backpack, loaded it on his back and ran forward: "I don't want to be a burden!" 

Running frantically, Armin's face was sore, he kept running and running, not thinking about anything, running the path forward with heavy steps, and when he didn't know the direction of the time, the training finally ended. 

The boy named Armin Arlert leaned against a tree, panting heavily. Due to the rain, the melee training was canceled, so that everyone could rest for a few hours before lunch and then conduct the training with the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment in the afternoon. This training is also regardless of wind and rain. 

The Survey Corps generally chooses good weather for expeditions outside the wall, but if they stay outside the wall for a long time, they may encounter any kind of weather, so the training with the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment must also be carried out under any kind of weather and conditions. 

In the dining room at noon, Takashi, Thomas and Armin were sitting together, this time it was Eren and Mikasa's turn to perform some extra tasks so they were present.　　

Armin rested his head on the mass and could barely support himself during the physical training, it was also because it was raining heavily and the road was muddy with mud, which left him completely exhausted.　 

"Takashi, are you really so determined to explore outside the walls?" asked Armin suddenly. 

Takashi who was struggling with Sasha who suddenly arrived to steal his bread, was stunned for a moment and said, "Yes, if you ask me the reason I would tell you that she is not focused on something extraordinary. I grew up in the forest and learned how important it is to hunt. The difficulty all hunters faced after humanity was attacked by the titans was depressing. At first I was safe and now there is no turning back, I want to create a better future for everyone and follow the next one to continue the fight against the titans." 

Armin raised his head and stared at him, "Really, is that why you do it?" 

He looked a bit entangled and Armin finally asked, "If I join the Survey corps, will I be of any use?" 

Takashi understands that Armin is really suspicious of his physical abilities now and said, "It's just what you think right now, everyone can be good at something, think about your strengths and you can find your place in the team, this might be what many soldiers who only know how to kill titans lack." 　 

With a somewhat unsure expression, Armin whispered, "But I don't seem to have any strengths or talents." 

"Don't say that, at least your brain is better than ours." It was not his intention to congratulate Armin. He was never that smart a man so he focused on being observant. If he and Armin were compared, he wouldn't be able to think of many brilliant ideas. 

Armin feels a little embarrassed. No one had ever praised him before, except for Eren. 

Before he met Eren and Mikasa, Armin had no friends. Because of his fragility, his thoughts were out of sync with those of his peers. He almost almost grew up being bullied by all kinds of people until Eren appeared in his life! 

He appreciates his friends, but doesn't know what else he can do for them in the future. He wants to help Eren, but he doesn't know if he'll be a hindrance in the end. 

Anyone could say it's a great friendship, Takashi wouldn't dare say he carries that same feeling for other people he had just met. 

The only person Takashi cared about was inexplicably Sasha, he felt he should take care of her but he still doubted if they were because of Sasha's dad's words. 

Armin looked at Takashi and remarked, "I'll do my best not to be a hindrance, but I've always been curious, what was it that happened to you to make you think that way? You say you're a hunter, but you're different from Sasha just like you don't seem to be afraid of titans either. I can't understand it, is it because you've never seen a titan?" 

Takashi was silent for a moment, in his previous world, earth, he was an ordinary person with the chance given to him by life to be able to win the lottery.　　

As for his experience once he left school, there was not much to say. He lived normally pursuing his goals, led his family life and took care of his parents.　　 

Later, when those thieves broke into her house to steal, it was unexpected but he defended and gave her life for her family. Now it could be said that she was a lonely person between her passing self and what she is now. 

Laughing casually, Takashi spread his hands and said, "I don't think so, I want to do something meaningful in this life and if I can become a soldier, I will do it with all my heart in it. what do you think about that?" 

Therefore, he was silent for a while and said, "It is good and admirable that you have a vision about the future, honorable and suitable for our world. By the way, Mikasa should have told you already, your surname is the same as hers, you could have a closer relationship with her family." 

Takashi shook his head, he didn't necessarily have a family relationship with Mikasa in this world, what if he unexpectedly is Mikasa's cousin and a certain captain of the Exploration corps in his uncle? 

Mikasa actually didn't like Takashi at all, thinking about how he filled Eren's head with many frustrating things. 

At this, Takashi felt a bit of a headache and remarked, "Maybe, who knows?" 

He doesn't remember the rest of the story and knew nothing about the Ackermans besides that they were strong and invincible in battle and the previous Takashi's father didn't mention anything significant in the forest life, even his last name might be false. 

So far all he can remember is his life as a child in the forest, shortly after a conversation with his father before his father entered the forest and disappeared. He vaguely remembered that his father's name was Cordell Ackerman, he was not a soldier and lived normally until his wife died and he decided to go into the woods to become a hunter. 

However, it was all very confusing and Takashi always felt a pounding headache when he tried to remember anything more than that. 

Takashi's father once said, "There will always be people who want to hurt you, others will need you to protect them. Live your life protecting those you love and keeping away those you don't want in your life." 

"Oh, it's like that!" Armin didn't ask any more questions. Although the relationship wasn't good, at least Takashi didn't fight with Mikasa. He took a deep breath and shouted loudly, "I've decided, I'm going to the Exploration corps, for no reason, I just want to go there because my friends are there! I want to see the sea, but I also want to protect and support my comrades." 

Armin has made his decision and intends to find an opportunity to tell Eren and Mikasa about it. 

Takashi nodded, even without him in this world, Armin would naturally go to the Exploration corps and this outcome has nothing to do with him. However, Mikasa didn't want this outcome, she hadn't given up her dream of letting Eren live a normal life together with her. Even so, just as she diverted Armin's attention, Armin made up his mind to go to the Exploration corps. 

Mikasa was tired. 

Takashi just felt that this had nothing to do with him. Without him, Eren, Armin and Mikasa would have to continue to fight for their freedom. 

In the dorm at night, Thomas in the top bunk couldn't help but complain, "Takashi, when do you think a day is going to be bad?" 

Today it was raining all day, and as a result there was only physical training and practice with the three-dimensional maneuvering equipment. Thomas felt that at this rate the future was not bright! 

Takashi who was manipulating his Chakra said, "Future military soldier, we graduate in a little over a year." 

Thomas, who was lying on the bed, thought about his life ahead, "Training is so exhausting and I feel like I'm on the verge of collapse. Today I almost passed out on the morning run, and almost hit a tree in the afternoon." 

"Don't Te complain, those who still stay are very tenacious and lucky, don't forget that we are only 241 people in this base." Takashi said with a slight smile. 

"Well, I hope we can all graduate smoothly." Thomas muttered silently.