Chapter 19

Keith was inside his office setting up his belongings when he heard a knock on his door. Expecting it to be an instructor, he was surprised to come face to face with Eren Yeager.

'What is he doing here?' He thought to himself.

"Cadet Yeager, what are you doing here so early?" Keith asked, even if he already had an idea on why Eren was here.

Eren himself just smiled and said. "Sir, I would like to talk to you about something important. Mind if I come in?"

Keith just turned around and walked over to his chair to sit down. Seeing the door still open, Eren just walked in as well, assuming that Keith was letting him in. He followed after him, not forgetting to close the door.

"So what was so important that you had to wake up extra early just to talk to me." Keith said to Eren who was now sitting in front of him.

"It actually has to do with me joining the survey corps and my time here. I wanted to ask you if I could start training on my own and without the other cadets from now on." Eren said as he looked right into Keith's eyes.

"If I recall, you said that you weren't ready yet to start training with the survey corps. Why should I let you train by yourself? Was the actual reason you wanted to stay longer because of your girlfriend?" Keith said.

Truth be told, he knew Eren was lying that time when he said he wasn't ready. Just by seeing how easily he did the workouts and drills here, he knew he was more than ready. He could only think it was because of the boys girlfriend.

An instructor might think they just spent their free time doing inappropriate acts and should focus on their training more, but Keith knew how hardworking Eren and Mikasa were.

No, Keith himself doesn't know what they were doing during their free time, but he was able to connect the dots when some instructors informed him on how the couple would come out of the forest sometimes covered in light bruises and sweat. He could only think the reason why they were ahead of most of their peers was because they trained themselves more.

Honestly, he was going to let Eren do what he asked anyways, but he wanted to hear his answer.

Why would he even agree? He himself didn't know. Maybe it was because Keith realized how young Eren was and he was going to be joining the Survey Corps so soon. Yes, he'd only be doing expeditions and face titans after he was finished with his training, but with his talent, he knew that it wouldn't take long for Eren to finish the training over there.

The kids are sent out to fight with the youngest being 15 so Keith knew that his age had nothing to do with why he was being so lax with Eren.

Back when the training was just starting, Keith had messed with Eren's gear, but the boy was able to figure it out. After that, he never tried to sabotage him ever again, especially after seeing his potential as a soldier for humanity. So why did he start to mellow down on him.

'Is it because of Carla?' He was broken out of his thoughts when Eren began speaking.

"Sorry sir, you're right. Even if I could have joined earlier, I wanted to spend some more time with my closer friends before I leave. That doesn't mean I'll be lazing around and doing nothing. I'll also be pushing myself harder." Eren said.

After about a minute of silence, he got his answer.

"Alright Yeager, ill talk to the other instructors about it, but if I ever see you messing around and doing whatever you want, then I'll have you sent right to the Survey Corps. You've already asked for so much so I don't want to see you here again." Keith said to him with a stern expression as he stared right into his eyes.

Eren just nodded his head as he got up from his chair to leave. He wanted to ask if he could possibly bring Mikasa with him to the Survey Corps, but decided not to. Keith was right, he had already asked for too much.

He didn't have to worry anyways. He had a year and a half left till he was going and Mikasa could just show the results of her training during that time. He was positive that Keith will ask Mikasa if she wanted to graduate early as well. Even if he didn't, Eren could just ask Erwin himself when he joined.

"Then I'll be leaving sir. Thank you for your time." Eren said as he left. Leaving Keith's office, he went right back to the cabin and laid down on his bed until the other cadets woke up.

When the guys in the cabin woke up, they couldn't help but find it weird how Eren was already dressed and awake.

"Eren...when did you get up? You're already dressed." Armin questioned him as he sluggishly rubbed his eyes.

"I've only been up for about an hour. I woke up early and decided I might as well get dressed." Eren said. The others around just shook their heads. To them, their sleep time was too precious. They would have just went back to bed.

After waiting for Armin, the two walked to the mess hall for breakfast and on the way there, they saw Mikasa and Annie. Eren greeted Mikasa with a kiss on the lips and gave a simple good morning to Annie. He couldn't help but notice how she chose to sit with him and Mikasa again over Reiner and Bertholdt. He thought yesterday was just a one time thing.

After breakfast, the cadets began walking to where the field was. Mikasa, Annie and Armin noticed how Eren wasn't coming with them.

"Eren are you not coming?" Armin asked him. Eren walked up to Mikasa and wrapped his arms around her shoulder to hug her.

"I'll give you the full details later, but I don't have to train with the other cadets now so I'll be training myself." Annie and Armin nodded while Mikasa just stayed in his arms.

"You can go along, I just need to say something to Mikasa" Eren said. Annie just walked away in a different direction because she wasn't going to walk with Armin. Armin himself just went along to find the group of Marco, Connie and the others.

"Mika, I'll see when you're done with your training. I'll need your help today to test my abilities." Eren said as he whispered in her ears because some people were still walking nearby.

Mikasa nodded her head in his chest and looked up him expecting something. Eren smiled and gave her a long sweet kiss.

Separating from each other, Mikasa smiled with a blush and left, not before giving him one last hug.

Eren just stood there as he watched Mikasa walk away. After a good minute, he went into the forest to find a secluded place to start training. Since he had way more time to train now, he was going to push himself even harder now.