Infinity Begins in Attack on Titan

"Haha! Weren't you the guy who swore to wipe out all Titans? Can't even pass the first test?"

As Ryan approached, he heard a mocking voice from the onlookers surrounding Eren.

The test was already over for the day. The crowd around Eren now was just there to watch the drama.

"Jean, stop it. That's enough. Eren's doing his best," another voice said—Marco Bodt, Jean's good buddy, ever the kind-hearted peacemaker.

(In the original story, Marco overheard the Marley trio's conversation and ended up dying early. He was one of the top ten cadets, and the first among them to die.)

"I didn't say anything wrong, did I? This guy is always shouting about killing all Titans, but what's he got to show for it? Anybody can shout slogans," Jean sneered at Eren while sneaking glances at Mikasa nearby.

Ryan saw it all and couldn't help but sigh. Jealousy really could cause organ failure.

As Ryan squeezed through the crowd, he was hit by a familiar sour stench. In his mind, A Chinese Philosopher's voice narrated: "Spring is here. Life awakens. And once again… it's mating season on the grasslands."

"Hey! Cut the crowding. Move along, all of you!" Ryan pulled Jean by the shoulder, yanking him forward into the open.

He used a decent amount of force—Jean almost fell. His face flushed with anger. "What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

Wham!

Before Jean could even finish, Ryan struck first with a side kick, cleanly tripping him to the ground.

Why argue when you can just fight?

Jean was actually pretty capable. But Ryan used to be a squad leader in the Thorn Knights on the frontier, commanding over fifty soldiers. If he couldn't beat Jean, he might as well go back to farming.

Ryan: Opponent's too weak—showboating just doesn't feel satisfying.

That single side kick floored Jean. His momentum was cut short and his intended threats were swallowed back down his throat.

Jean glared up at Ryan, furious. He caught me off guard… I didn't dodge in time.

"Ryan! Stop! Don't hit him again. Jean was out of line, but you shouldn't just attack people like that. Can't we talk things out?"

Marco reacted quickly to Ryan's sudden strike and stepped protectively in front of Jean, ready to block any further hits.

See? Girlfriends might let you down, but bromance is eternal. Anime girls always drag you down—except for Mikasa, Saber, Misaka, and Zoro.

"I wasn't actually going to beat him up," Ryan said, shrugging. "There was a grasshopper on my foot, that's all."

"Marco, don't get the wrong idea. I was just helping Jean wake up a little."

Ryan felt like he was doing Jean a favor. If he kept mouthing off like that, the next one to shut him up would be Mikasa—and she wouldn't be so gentle.

"Hmph! Just you wait!" Jean shouted angrily, brushing himself off and storming out of the crowd, humiliated. He hadn't even seen Ryan move and he'd already been flattened.

Ryan just shrugged. Whatever. That was a fun little side episode.

He turned to the crowd and called out:

"Alright, show's over! Everyone go home, go find your moms! Anyone still here is a fool!"

What kind of nonsense was that?

The crowd collectively rolled their eyes, but they still dispersed. They'd watched Eren's failure long enough—it was getting old. And sticking around might just earn them a beating too.

A certain blonde-haired, blue-eyed cold beauty glanced at Ryan—not because she was impressed, but because his side kick showed some technique.

Back at the balance training equipment, Eren finally let out a sigh of relief.

Being publicly humiliated like that was no fun. If he hadn't been strapped into the gear, he might've gone after Jean himself.

Armin and Mikasa were both helping him. Armin pulled Eren up, and Mikasa gently dusted him off and tended to his scrapes.

"You okay? Maybe take a break?" Mikasa asked, gently checking the bump on Eren's head. "It's just a bit swollen."

"I'm fine," Eren nodded to Mikasa, then motioned for Armin to help him back up.

"Rest for a bit first?" Mikasa held onto his hand, trying to persuade him to stop.

"I'm not done. No way I'm giving up on this test!" Eren pulled his hand free, full of stubborn pride.

He signaled to Armin to keep going—pure steel-hearted behavior. Ryan respected that. Eren was nothing if not persistent.

Ryan himself was also a hard-headed guy. He wasn't the emotional type, and in his two years on another continent, he'd spent all his time training or fighting beastmen—no time for romance.

Still trapped in his teenage phase.

For him, chasing girls could wait—but a good fight was always worth it!

Ryan gave Eren a few pointers: adaptability training was all about balance—keeping your center of gravity between the waist and soles of your feet.

From what he saw, Eren's technique was fine. Mikasa had already corrected his form earlier.

Ryan was basically just repeating the obvious.

As for the faulty belt… that could wait. For now, consider it weighted training.

He'd tell Eren tomorrow. Decision made.

Once Ryan finished giving tips, he walked off. No point being the third wheel. And Armin—he was way too adorable to be called a third wheel anyway.

"Ryan Ackerman!"

A familiar shout rang out behind him. Instructor Keith had somehow snuck up and was now staring expressionlessly at Ryan.

"Sir!"

Ryan instinctively snapped to attention. Damn! That stealthy appearance—just like a homeroom teacher popping out of nowhere.

What now? Was the bald instructor here to share tea?

"You! Ten laps around the camp! Finish before dinner!" Keith barked.

"Sir! May I ask why?"

Ryan looked confused. Why the punishment? Was it because he was too handsome?

"Humph! You're already fighting on day two! Who else should I punish?!"

Ryan had no comeback. This was the military—orders were orders. No room for debate.

He was annoyed. He'd even looked around before striking Jean. Keith hadn't been there… and Jean didn't seem the type to snitch.

Who ratted him out?

After Ryan left, Keith turned to Jean: "Five laps!"

"Huh? Why me?" Jean was baffled.

"You're asking? Picking fights on day two! And not only that—lost the argument, lost the fight! What use are you?! Make it eight laps! Finish before dinner!"

"Damn it…" Jean trudged toward the track, face like thunder. Nothing was going right today. Wait—wasn't the instructor absent earlier?

Who tattled?

Keith: I am always fair and just. Both of you get punished!

Ryan was already two laps in when he caught up with Jean, who was also serving punishment duty. The moment he saw him, Ryan felt a strange sense of balance.

Now that Jean was running too, the sky seemed bluer, his legs less sore, the sun less harsh—

Well, less harsh because the sun had already set!

"Hey, was it you who ratted me out?" Ryan asked Jean, who looked gloomy as he jogged. "I respected you, man. And you went behind my back?!"

"What?! You think I told on you? You were the one who secretly reported me!"

Jean exploded.

Someone as amazing as him would never stoop to snitching! Not in this life!

I, Jean Kirschtein, would rather fall, starve, or get eaten by Titans than rat anyone out!

"Oh? You really didn't?" Ryan narrowed his eyes.

"Never!" Jean said with a scornful snort.

Who did Ryan think he was?

"…Not bad. You've got guts," Ryan said thoughtfully. Maybe Keith had just been hiding and watching from a distance before jumping out to punish them both.

Was the bald instructor that bored?

Actually, no—Ryan was overthinking it. Keith wasn't that free. It had been a younger instructor who had witnessed their scuffle and reported it to Keith.

Ryan had only checked for Keith's presence and missed the other guy observing nearby.

"So what now?" Jean asked when Ryan suddenly fell silent, looking wary.

Was Ryan going to hit him again?

After all, he'd thrown hands without warning earlier, and Jean now had a bit of trauma from that. After some analysis, he concluded he probably couldn't beat Ryan.

"Haha, it's nothing." Ryan grinned. "I respect you. I apologize."

"…Huh?!"

What the hell? Jean stood there dumbfounded.

The guy who'd sucker-kicked him just apologized?