The Attack Titan (2)

Mina's POV

The plan is simple: Blind and subdue. If done correctly, then all of us will have the chance of not only acquiring gas here at HQ but also making sure that no one will die. The only thing that was a bit challenging was to know whether these people would blindly trust what Armin was trying to say. 

"It's a good plan, Armin," I repeat once more after he has explained our next move to the trainees and soldiers. 

Back in my second world, I was one of the people who was assigned to blind the Titans as we went down the lift. However, for this round, the seven people who are assigned to kill the Titans are as follows: Mikasa, Connie, Jean, Bertolt, Reiner, Annie, and lastly, me. 

"I'm sorry to make you bear the weight of everyone's lives…" Armin mumbles, referring to us seven. 

Reiner could only smirk, telling him that it was fine. 

"Regardless of who goes, everyone dies if we fail." 

I nodded my head at Annie's words before finally taking a step back to go into position. Armin was still saying something, but I knew that someone would lift his spirits. It doesn't have to be me. 

Wasted time means wasting the opportunity to aid Eren in killing the Titans outside HQ. 

"You're as quick as ever."

I stopped in my tracks and noticed that Reiner had followed me. It took me a lot of patience to keep myself from clicking my tongue in annoyance. And so, I coldly replied, "This plan will work as long as we do our job."

He shrugged his shoulders. "You won't even comfort him? I thought he was your friend."

"Mikasa is there with him. I'd rather finish this job quickly." I turned my back on him and added: "It's suffocating here."

Even at a distance, I eventually heard him say: "Cold as ever, Mina."

I could only deepen my frown, thinking that I was not here to befriend everyone.

Especially not a traitor who, at some point, kidnapped my father.

***

I had already positioned myself on the steel bar above my target just when the others came to position themselves on the other steel bars. Mikasa nodded her head at me, and I at her, as we waited for the lift – along with the trainees – to come down. 

This scene was so familiar, yet different at the same time. It must be because I have been given a different role to fulfill. 

And then, they finally arrived. I tightened my grip and focused on the task at hand. 

Their expressions, after being noticed by a titan, immediately became terrified, and I remember noticing that most of their bodies were trembling. With that in mind, I waited for them to fire before I could finally kill my target. 

"Fire!"

The only thing that invaded my sense of smell was the gunpowder that was being produced. I squinted my eyes and bolted after noticing that they had successfully blinded the Titans. And, with one final step, I jumped. 

I can tell that training school paid off because I successfully sliced the nape of my target like it's a natural thing. With that over, I started running in Connie's direction, remembering that he hadn't killed his target. 

And I was right. Before it could even take a step backward, I jumped as high as I possibly could and vertically sliced its nape. I had this inkling that I also missed my mark, but to my surprise, the titan eventually fell to the ground.

I heaved a long sigh before turning around to ask Connie if he was all right. 

"Yeah.." He was showing signs of regret, which I couldn't ignore. "Sorry…"

"It's all right."

There was nothing I could do to comfort him, so I could only say those words, wishing that he'd eventually come around. 

"That was close, Mina." Reiner moved in closer, making me remember that Annie was the one who was supposed to kill Connie's target. "Glad you weren't hurt."

And, just like what she did, I simply walked away. 

After verifying that all the Titans were indeed dead, we all began to resupply. To me, however, time is of the essence. So, after making sure that my gear had a full supply of gas, I bolted.

"Oi Mina!" 

I didn't even stop to identify who called my name and proceeded onwards. Worry and anxiety filled my heart, even after knowing that Eren would come out of this battle alive. So far, everything that has happened in the second world has been repeated in this round, even after an unknown variable entered its fray. 

Me.

As I continued to run towards the exit, my eyes eventually found themselves fixated on two figures: Marco and Jean. 

Ymir wanted me to become a supporting character back in the second world, so I didn't have the chance to identify what killed him. Or maybe I did learn about it, but given the future circumstances, I doubt I paid any attention to it. Maybe this time around, if I have time, I'll investigate.

Upon reaching the open area here at HQ, I openly maneuvered myself toward the rooftop. It didn't even take me a minute before I finally located where the young version of my father was. 

He was still fighting, and it once again broke my heart to see him do so.

Minutes later, Mikasa landed beside me as we both watched the Attack Titan. 

"It's still going at it." She whispers to me while we watch him punch another titan's head off.

Then came Armin, who was telling us both to run. But after noticing that our attention was directed toward something else, he also took it as a chance to observe that certain titan.

I gripped the side of my pants and forcefully refrained from frowning after witnessing such a gruesome scene.

The other Titans were eating Eren, and I had no other choice but to watch them do so. Altering the future by saving him at this moment may come off with a price, and it's not something I'm risking myself to take.

It's painful, but it has to be done. 

Mikasa and Armin continued to chat until Reiner decided to butt in, saying that if that specific titan got eaten, we won't learn anything.

Unconsciously, I scoffed, claiming all of their attention. 

"Is something funny, Mina?" He asks, clearly annoyed, as I come up with a response after displaying such a careless remark. 

"That titan won't die from this," I spoke with utmost confidence as I whipped my head to stare directly into his eyes. "Its rage towards Titans is almost human-like, don't you think?"

"Yeah." Mikasa agreed with my statement, which I gleefully accepted. 

Reiner, once again, spoke. "I'm just saying that we should kill the ones that are clinging to it-"

"And I'm telling you that we should stay put and not throw ourselves in danger." I eventually grinned as I came up with a line that would make his statement even more suspicious. "You're quite adamant in wanting to keep that titan alive, Reiner. Most would have thought to flee or kill it before it targets humans. Do you know something that we don't?"

I knew, deep inside, that they'd begin to observe my actions after this battle. However, I at least wanted to lessen Eren's emotion of betrayal once Armin begins to feel suspicious towards their group.

And I was right. I claimed a tiny bit of victory after noticing Armin's gaze toward them. 

"She's right, Reiner!" Jean added, making me want to pat his head in approval. "We can finally get out of here! Why'd you suddenly want to throw yourselves in that madness?!"

Annie interjected. "What if it might be able to help us? Might it not prove a greater weapon than any cannon?"

"We're still, technically, trainees, Annie." I sighed. "We barely have any knowledge of them, yet you want to use this titan? It's a nice idea, but we lack any knowledge of how to deal with an unusual being. I'm not risking my life for such a hypothesis."

"Unless, of course, you're quite sure of the fact that it won't hurt us. Is that what you're implying?"

I know that my statement contradicts my actions earlier, and I can only hope that Armin won't say a thing about it. All I wanted was for them to become slightly suspicious of this certain group among the trainees.

Her dark gaze that was directed toward me didn't go unnoticed as I tried to add more statements that would provoke them even more. I, however, was forced to stop upon noticing Mikasa shielding me from Annie's gaze, allowing me to witness how protective she truly was.

It's a moment that I'll forever cherish. Too bad I can't see her face.

Our attention eventually made its way to the titan that Armin was pointing at, saying that it was the one that ate Thomas. 

This was the moment that I was waiting for. I unconsciously pulled the hem of Mikasa's uniform as we all watched how the Attack Titan angrily roared as it forced its way out of the wall. With small titans still attached to his arms, he ragefully ran towards the abnormal, tearing his right arm in the process.

However, it didn't stop him from biting the nape of the abnormal, using it as a tool to thwart the nearby Titans. Finally, he threw it toward another titan, killing them instantly.

"Come on…" Jean was terrified at how horrendous this fight was. "It doesn't need help." 

I recalled him saying those words in the past world, making me realize that it was time. I began to pull Mikasa's arm as the titan finally fell to the ground, exhausted and drained.

"Mina? What are you doing?" 

After finally dragging her to the edge of the roof, I stopped and answered her question. "Let's go down. It's already safe from the looks of it."

And so, without waiting for a reply, I dove right into the back of Eren's titan form. I honestly didn't expect Mikasa to tag along, but I didn't want us to waste any more time.

"Mina! It's dangerous to be here!" 

I hummed in reply as I finally noticed his body emerging from the Titans' nape. Without hesitation needed, I grabbed Mikasa's arm and pulled her forward. 

She panicked. "W-What are you?!"

"Look at its nape, Mikasa." I let her arm go as my gaze landed on his unconscious figure. "Someone's there."

It broke me to see the younger version of my father like this, and even more so after noticing Mikasa's expression.

She ran and finally caught the family she had vowed to protect. 

I forced myself not to tear up by applying pain to my hand. However, just like always, I couldn't feel it.

I could only close my eyes as her wails began to flood my head.

Welcome back, Eren.

*****