I Shall Be Happy

(3rd person's POV)

After Athanatos was finally done with integrating the fake memories into everyone, he disposed of Carla's body by disintegrating it completely. Then, time finally resumed once.

"That's one hell of a crash."

"Yes... this is so terrible."

The Ackermann couple was the first one to break the silence after no one spoke up at all. From their perspective, they felt lucky that they managed to get out of the restaurant safely. However, seeing the terrible damages all around them, everyone became speechless for a while.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!! HELP ME!!!"

Then a scream was heard beneath the restaurant. But before anyone could react and go to help, a pile of rubble fell on top of his head, crushing it completely.

Eren, being the nearest at the scene, was utterly shocked. Some of the blood from the head was splatter on Eren's face, painting the right side of it completely red.

"Ah..."

"EREN!! Are you fine?"

Then Armin ran up to him, worrying about his friend's condition. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and offered it up to Eren.

But Eren wasn't moving. He kept looking at the dismembered corpse. He felt something was wrong but wasn't sure. This scene... It felt like someone important to him was killed but there was no one, except his parents, who were dead a month ago due to a bunch ghost eating them.

Armin then turned his head toward the corpse of the man. His eyes suddenly constricted and his face was full of horror. He didn't see it clearly earlier as he was farther away but now that he was closer, he could see the terrifying scene in front of him. It was the first time that he had seen someone died, and it wasn't good looking at all.

Then he felt his stomach churned around and his throat swelled up. His eyes slowly get a bit teary. No longer able to hold it back, he vomited out everything he just ate.

"Kids! Get away from this place! WE NEED TO EVACUATE QUICKLY!"

Karl was then finally able to get a hold of his composure back. He didn't want these children to keep witnessing the terrible event and demanded them to move.

Deciding to put his thought into the back of his mind, Eren finally budged from his position.

Taking one good look at everything behind him, he finally made up his mind. He was going to the survey corp, and he was going to become stronger. Stronger, and strong enough to protect his few only friends. He was going not going to let anyone die again. HE was never going to incompetent again, just like how his parents were killed for trying to protect him.

---------------------------------

(Mikasa's POV)

What is happening to everyone?

Eren's mom just died and no one is showing any sign of grief. It was as if nobody even realized that she died. But,... Eren was just crying over his mom's death so why is he acting like it never happened?

I felt helpless. Like I was too weak.

Even though I trained together with Thana-kun these last few months, I knew I would be killed instantly if a boulder was hurling straight toward me.

Deep down inside, I was relieved that everyone and I were safe from the disaster. But... Carla didn't make it. She was killed before she could even say anything, like a feeble animal, waiting to be silently slaughtered.

It reminded me of the day the kidnappers came and almost killing me and my mom. I felt the same helplessness as I was back then. Before I was as strong as I am now, I was just a weak girl. Now... the same feeling is resurfacing again. Even if I'm stronger, so what? I can still be killed. My family can still be killed.

This feeling of being weak made me feel nauseated.

I don't want to experience the same thing again. I want to be strong enough to prevent any disaster from befalling onto us.

I will no longer be weak.

I can't afford to be weak again.

[Mikasa... Don't be sad. It's alright. Nothing will ever happen to you, not when I'm here.]

[Thana-kun? Is that you? Why did everyone not remembered Carla? Tell me...]

I'm having the feeling of helplessness again. The feeling of Thana-kun abandoned me. Not telling me because I was too weak to know. Because in his eyes, I'm just a little girl.

I felt a little angry at him. Even though it's not his fault, I hate it when he does things without telling me. I want to know more about him, if not now, when would I?

[... Yes. I altered their memories. I didn't want anyone to remember such a tragic thing.]

[Then... Why not me?]

[I- I thought that you deserved to know the truth.]

What he said made me felt a bit better. But I was still afraid that he would leave me in the dark again. I want him to tell me everything from now on.

[Thana-kun... Will you ever leave me?]

[NO!!! I-I-- I]

[Then, promise me... Please don't make me feel helpless again. I want to be useful to you...]

[Mikasa. Don't say such a thing again.]

Then Thana-kun's tone changed. It sounded harsh, like a parent reprimanding a child.

Did I say something wrong?

[You are my everything Mikasa. I don't want you to ever be just useful to me. No, not like a tool. I want us to be equal. I will do anything you ask, and in return, I want you to keep being... you]

I... I misunderstood him. I felt bad for a bit but there was also something wrong in his words.

[I will Thana-kun... I will forever keep being me... but I don't want our relationship to be just a give and take.]

[...]

[I want to be stronger. So nothing can harm us. I don't want to be a dead weight for you. I want to at least be able to help you, so we can help each other... To be even more than we already are.]

I spoke these words with a lot of determination. I want to clearly convey my message to him. I want him to also rely on me from now on.

[Silly girl... We're always going to be together. Yes, let's depend on each other. Let's be together forever...]

[I, I also want to forever be with you! I want to know you more Thana-kun... I want us... to be like mom and dad.]

I mumbled out the last sentence. What's happening to me? How can I say such a thing. I hope he doesn't think of me as a bad girl.

KYAAA!!

[...Okay... I promise.]