Time Passes

With the passage of time, the time will gradually come when I will take everything away from us. 　

Before Takashi and the others realized it, in April 850, 227 soldiers of the training corps were about to graduate. 

For three long years of pain and suffering, the recruit troops of the 104th cycle in the southern region had undergone rigorous training with three-dimensional maneuver equipment, physical training, cliff climbing training, snow training, hand-to-hand combat, marathon training with heavy equipment, and also learned theory about many important things. 

After taking history classes, military theory classes, titan knowledge, only 227 of the 317 people who originally signed up successfully graduated, the rest were dropped throughout the training and of course, there were also deaths and casualties from severe disabilities.

How many setbacks and beatings they have endured, only they themselves know, as instructor Keith put it, now only you are able to see if they are soldiers or titan food.　　

In three years, Takashi has turned fifteen and has grown to a little over 5'10, his dark black hair curling down to just below his ears, his big black eyes and a well-proportioned body that very few could ever have. In terms of height he is relatively tall and in physique he is someone who trained rigorously to be prepared for what is to come. 

He can be considered slightly attractive. Although he is not terribly handsome, he could be considered one of the best among his peers. There were also some people interested in the handsome Takashi, but now is not the time to take romance seriously.

Even Ymir had to admit that Takashi was slightly better than the rest, he could do anything with some female soldier, but he couldn't cheat on Christa otherwise she would beat him mercilessly. After all, they were in the same squad, Christa had a good impression of Takashi but that was all. 

Takashi knew that later on there were opportunities to consider Christa as a future girlfriend, considering the feelings he didn't feel much closeness with Christa so they were just thoughts in his playful mind. 

The general instructor named Keith Shadis, looked at all the recruits he personally built into good soldiers, even so he only said a few simple words, "You have graduated", many of the recruits silently cried seeing and feeling that he had reached this point, Takashi also felt a little emotional, this would be similar to a high school graduation in his previous world. Behind every word, there is an inexplicable amount of memories and sweat. 

Many training corps courses have a high risk factor, it is not easy to live and make it to the end, but everyone has not suffered in vain if they could endure until now, and today onwards, everyone will be a real soldier. 

Under the darkness of the sky, the torches in the surroundings illuminated the large courtyard of the special base of the recruit corps, today seemed to be the day when the end of this training was about to be announced. 

Takashi and a group of soldiers who were next to him in the training corps, a total of 227 people, stood in the large courtyard. On the high platform were a group of instructors, senior officers and general of the training corps.

One group of instructors gave their testimonies one after another, and finally it was Instructor Keith's turn. To say which instructor the recruits had the deepest impression of, it was the bald Keith. No matter if it was a pleasant one. Impression or not, he was included in more than half of the training courses, and in all the important courses, his rank was also considered to be top level within the training corps, he personally directly managed most of the affairs of the corps. 

By the way, even Takashi had tried the forehead strike with a nailed head of the instructor, it was at that moment Takashi realized that some people's heads were really made of iron. 

Instructor Keith cleared his throat, "More than 200 people have successfully graduated, to be honest, their performance is barely noticeable, but it's a relatively good generation."

"But don't be complacent, because you have just come out of the garbage level, no matter what regiment you go to, I hope you won't forget what you have learned so far..." 

Everyone in the audience was speechless. Which of the instructors who spoke didn't blurt out a lot of congratulatory words and blessings? When it comes to Instructor Keith, there is no need to be surprised, he seemed to be a little nicer today. 

The sky, which was now completely dark, enveloped the heavens with stars and darkness. 

A middle-aged officer with yellow hair stood in the center of the high platform and began announcing the ten corporals with the best final results of the 104th Training Corps. "Step forward if you hear your name." 

After a pause, he continued with the famous list of top soldiers, "In first place, Mikasa Ackerman. Second place, Takashi Ackerman. Third place, Reiner Braun. Fourth place, Berthold Hoover. Fifth place, Annie Leonhart. Sixth place, Eren Jaeger. Seventh place, Jean Kirstein. Eighth place, Marco Bott. Ninth place, Sasha Blouse. And finally with tenth place, Connie Springer - congratulations!" 

Mikasa, Takashi and the others numbered up front one by one, lined up in a row from left to right in ranking order. The applause erupted and stopped after a while. 

Because of the extra Takashi, even if Ymir helps Christa, she could not enter the top ten. Takashi noticed that the other changes were not too big, most of them were only one place behind, Connie and Sasha changed their positions which shows the subtle difference. 　　

It's normal that Takashi didn't catch up with Mikasa, he was the last to arrive with the injured cadet in the snowy mountain test, he didn't have any problems in other evaluations of the course either, second place is normal if you seriously consider it.

The senior instructor continued, "Surrender your hearts!" 

"Yes, sir." Everyone responded with a salute full of seriousness. 

"Graduating recruits have three choices. You may choose to join the garrison troops who protect the cities and reinforce the walls. To the Survey corps whose members risk their lives in the territory of the titans. The third option is to join the military police under direct orders of the king, charged with protecting people and maintaining order." 

"Of course, only the top ten in the results I just announced are eligible to join the military police." After saying that, he announced, "Relax at tonight's party, the day after tomorrow afternoon, you will officially disband this training corps!" 

The recruits in the audience cheered and left the courtyard one after another. They had all been standing for a few hours until the end. 

... 

In the dining hall of the Trost District Garrison Corps. The lights are bright, the atmosphere is lively and there are plenty of drinks tonight, after all, it is a graduation ceremony. 

Six people from Class 7 were chatting around a table. 

Christa suddenly asked, "Takashi, are you really going to join the Exploration Corps?" 

Seeing everyone staring at him, Takashi spread his hands helplessly, "Could it be that you think I'm always talking nonsense!" 

Nelson was adamant, "I want to go to the Survey corps too. My father worked hard to raise me, but he died in the last battle to retake the Mary Wall. He didn't have weapons to face the Titans with, I do." 

Christa said hesitantly, "So do I..." 

"No, you must go to the garrison corps with me!" Ymir interrupted Christa's words with a bit of sarcasm, "What's the matter, everyone in a hurry to die? What about you big man, you want to go to the Survey corps to feed the titans too?" 

Daz, who for the most part remained silent, took a sip of wine and said with a bit of embarrassment, "I've seen some titans on the city wall from a distance, I think they're pretty scary, I'll join the garrison corps." 

Grimacing, Ymir said, "It was foolish to ask the weakest of our squad, even if you join the garrison corps, don't think about getting the wrong idea with Christa."

Daz could only maintain an embarrassed but polite smile, Takashi shook his head, Ymir was paying too much attention to Christa, she would never have guessed that Daz was interested in her. 

Once he, Nelson and Thomas were chatting, and Daz accidentally said that he really liked Ymir, at that moment, both he, Thomas and Nelson looked at Daz with surprise and admiration. 

Of course, they are both very loyal and would not talk about this. They kept it a secret under Daz's pleas. For this reason, Daz invited the four male members of the squadron to a meal some time later to keep the secret hidden. 

Is Ymir a nasty girl? Of course not, in fact her looks are decent, but few people can stand her vicious tongue, plus she is determined to be with Christa, so very few men would approach her.  

As Takashi was thinking about what to say, Thomas suddenly said, "I'll join the Survey corps too." 

However, just as he was about to respond, a shout was heard on the other side of the dining room, "You're still naive Eren Jaeger, you can't beat the titans."