Chapter 12

"Good, no one gave up! Very good! I'm proud of your choice!" the instructor's voice boomed across the training field. "Now, cheer up and practice hard for me!"

The recruits were about to begin their first lesson in three-dimensional maneuvering: balance training.

Before them stood a massive balance frame. Using a winch, each recruit would be hoisted into the air and forced to rely solely on their sense of balance to control their posture. If they failed, they would be disqualified. The simplicity of this exercise belied its importance; mastering balance was fundamental to operating the three-dimensional maneuvering gear.

In real combat, soldiers battling Titans would need to constantly adjust their balance and posture while moving at high speeds to either strike or evade. Without this foundation, advanced techniques were impossible.

Ryo Akira stood among the recruits, his gaze steady as the instructor explained the exercise. Balance was something he excelled at, and he approached the task with calm confidence.

After strapping into the gear, Ryo felt the uncomfortable pull of the straps digging into his body. He winced slightly but adjusted himself quickly, finding his center of gravity with ease. The sensation of hanging mid-air was unsettling, but Ryo's natural agility allowed him to stabilize without issue.

Still, as he looked at the gear's design, he couldn't help but feel it was flawed. *If only I could move freely without relying on this cumbersome device,* he thought. *Flying should feel natural, not forced.*

The instructor observed Ryo from a distance, his eyes narrowing in approval. "This one's got potential," he muttered under his breath.

While Ryo passed the exercise with ease, others struggled. Recruits wobbled and fell repeatedly, their frustrations mounting. Among them was Eren Yeager.

Ryo watched as Eren repeatedly failed to maintain his balance. After several attempts, it became clear why—his belt was broken, throwing off his center of gravity. Despite his determination, Eren's flawed equipment made success impossible.

"Ha! So much for his big talk about killing Titans!" one recruit jeered.

Others joined in, mocking Eren's earlier bravado. "He can't even complete balance training. How's he going to survive out there?"

Eren's face burned with frustration, but he refused to give up.

Ryo observed the scene in silence. While he sympathized with Eren's struggles, he decided not to intervene. *Sometimes, failure is the best teacher,* he thought. *He'll grow stronger from this.*

With the balance training over, Ryo had other priorities. He scanned the crowd until his eyes landed on a familiar figure.

---

"Krista!" Ryo called out, jogging over to her.

Krista turned at the sound of his voice, her expression lighting up with surprise. Beside her, Ymir frowned, her protective instincts kicking in. She glared at Ryo before reluctantly stepping aside.

"What do you want with Krista?" Ymir asked coldly.

Ryo smiled disarmingly. "Just a chat. No harm intended."

Ymir hesitated, then left, though not without a final warning glance.

"Brother Ryo, do you need something?" Krista asked, her voice soft and polite.

Ryo chuckled. "Nothing serious. I just thought we could go for a walk. Are you free?"

Krista's face brightened, and she nodded eagerly. "Yes, I'm free!"

As they strolled through the training camp, Ryo pulled a bouquet of small, fragrant yellow flowers from behind his back. He held it out to Krista with a grin.

"For you," he said.

Krista's eyes widened in surprise. She took the flowers, bringing them to her nose for a deep inhale. The sweet scent brought a look of pure delight to her face.

"Wow, these smell amazing! What kind of flowers are these?"

"They're osmanthus," Ryo explained. "I found them near the back of the training grounds. They're rare around here, but where I'm from, they bloom every summer and fill the streets with their fragrance. They're even used to make tea."

Krista smiled warmly. "Thank you, Ryo. These are beautiful."

As they continued their walk, Ryo found himself relaxing in her presence. Krista's gentle demeanor and genuine gratitude made her easy to be around. For a moment, the harshness of their world faded, replaced by the simple joy of sharing a quiet moment with someone he cared about.

But as the sun dipped below the horizon, Ryo's thoughts turned serious. The challenges ahead would only grow more intense. For Krista's sake, and for everyone he hoped to protect, he knew he couldn't afford to falter.