The Ranking battles(1)

Days flew by, and finally, the much-anticipated day had arrived. The sense of excitement filled the air as I woke up early, deciding to take a break from Professor Joshua's training since I wanted to ensure I was in my best condition for the ranking battle.

I freshened up and had a small yet tasty breakfast in the academy's cafeteria. I also did some light exercises to warm up myself and I rested for a bit.

Today marked the second ranking battle for the freshman batch, but for two individuals, including myself, it was a completely new experience.

"I am very excited! Aren't you too, Eren?" Zephyr exclaimed, his newfound friendliness making me uneasy. 

His attitude towards me has changed a lot compared to the time before we entered the exile. But thai friendliness made me more uncomfortable. I couldn't help but feel cautious as this guy seemed to be getting too close for comfort.