Chapter 89: You Like Annie?
"Why did you make that wish?" Eren's voice held a probing tone. He didn't understand why Armin would make such a wish. Wasn't it inevitable that Annie's power would be taken away eventually? Why would Armin use the "miracle" offered by Kyubey for something that was bound to happen? That was a wish powerful enough to reverse death! The Armin he knew wouldn't normally do something like this. Did Armin have some other reason? After all, Armin was much, much smarter than him.
Beside them, Mikasa's gaze also fell on Armin. She didn't speak, but her face was equally filled with confusion. She added softly, "Armin, that wasn't necessary. Her power would have been taken from her sooner or later. We didn't need… to do it that way."
They had Eren, they had Captain Levi; they would have found a way to deal with Annie in her crystal eventually. Using a contract for a predetermined outcome was a huge waste and risk. Why would Armin do such a thing?
Armin's breath hitched. Here it comes. The questions I knew were coming.
He kept his head down, unconsciously twisting the hem of his clothes. Under the cold moonlight, the focused gazes of Eren and Mikasa made him feel exposed. He had to explain. He had to give them a very reasonable explanation.
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his voice steady. "Eren, Mikasa… I… I thought about it carefully. Annie possesses vital intelligence about the outside world, especially Marley. By inheriting her power myself, not only can I ensure we acquire the Titan power, but it also preserves the possibility of getting more information from her later. It also allows—" His voice grew quieter, his words speeding up unconsciously. "It also allows me to better study and master both these powers, providing more options for our future battles. It was a… strategic consideration."
He finished speaking. The street fell silent once more. Armin didn't dare look up. He could clearly feel the waves of doubt radiating from Eren, and Mikasa's gaze felt like it could see right through him. His explanation sounded weak, even to himself. Intelligence value? Studying powers? Those reasons might convince others, but could they convince Eren and Mikasa?
Apparently not.
"Is that so?" A soft voice, laced with clear confusion, broke the silence. It was Mikasa.
Armin looked up and met her somewhat surprised eyes. She saw the forced calm he was trying to maintain, the flicker of panic deep within his eyes. She didn't understand why this friend she knew so well would do something so out of character. The "strategic considerations" sounded plausible, but her intuition told her Armin wasn't telling the whole truth. There had to be another reason. A deeper reason, or perhaps a more personal one.
Her brow furrowed slightly, and her gaze drifted to Armin's slightly reddening ears. An uncontrollable thought popped into her head.
"Armin…" she began, pausing as if choosing her words carefully, or perhaps confirming her own slightly absurd suspicion. "Don't tell me… you like her, do you?"
"You like Annie?"
Armin felt the blood rush instantly to his head. Like her? No!
"What are you talking about, Mikasa?!?" he practically shouted. "How could I possibly like a traitor like her—" He stopped abruptly. He saw the undisguised shock on Eren's face, and the flash of understanding, mixed with deeper confusion, in Mikasa's eyes. The heat in his cheeks spread rapidly to his ears, making him feel like he was on fire.
His denial was too vehement, his reaction too flustered. It was… basically an admission.
"Huh?"
"Armin?"
"You're kidding, right?"
Eren's eyes widened in disbelief, looking back and forth between Armin and Mikasa. Then, seeing Armin's reaction, his expression shifted. His mouth twitched, and he quickly turned his head, scanning the empty, silent street warily before lowering his voice.
"Hey! Armin! You—you— How could you?!" Eren's tone was full of frustrated exasperation, like scolding someone for being foolish. "Do you have any idea how many people she killed?! You absolutely cannot let Captain Levi know about this kind of thinking! Have you forgotten everything Annie did?!"
And if the Captain found out that Armin not only let their sworn enemy Annie escape, but even had feelings for her— Eren didn't dare think further. He was afraid Armin would be put on trial. He was afraid of losing Armin again.
He let out a heavy sigh and gave Armin a complicated look. "You idiot, really— ugh—" He couldn't stand being there any longer. Eren spun around and stormed off down the street.
"Eren!" Mikasa called out, but he didn't turn back. She looked at Armin, still standing there, his face beet red, his eyes filled with panicked helplessness. Her own surprise hadn't faded. Armin… really likes Annie? Since when? Why? She and Eren had both sensed it.
Finally, Mikasa just gently raised her hand and hesitantly patted Armin's rigid shoulder. Then, she too turned and followed Eren, her footsteps fading into the distance.
The street fell completely silent. Only Armin was left.
Feeling completely drained, he slowly slid down the cold wall of a building and sat on the stone pavement. The burning heat hadn't left his face, and his heart felt so heavy he could barely breathe.
It's out. Even though I didn't say it. His ridiculous reaction had told Eren and Mikasa everything. His feelings for Annie… At the same time, a faint sense of relief flickered deep inside, something he didn't dare admit even to himself.
Annie had escaped. She had survived.
Was it worth it? Using a wish—for an "enemy," for a "traitor"?
Armin closed his eyes and buried his face in his knees.
He didn't know. He really didn't know.
[Non-Human Chat Group]
Tom Cat: [Cat_kisses_a_white_cat's_paw.gif]
SpongeBob SquarePants: Oh no! Did they have a fight? His friends left! Armin looks so sad! This is terrible! Me and Patrick would never do that!
Squidward: Quiet! Finally, some quiet! Making such a fuss over boring teenage angst… SpongeBob, can you just shut up?
…
In the shadows of the building across the street, a pair of emotionless red eyes silently watched the boy huddled on the pavement. The creature was pure white, with long ears and a constantly swaying tail. It sat there, looking docile and harmless, simply observing everything that happened.