As time gradually passed, White Fish and Xiate continued their daily routine of working, finishing work, and sleeping, but neither of them felt any boredom.
For White Fish, it was because his time at the training ground was quite exciting, while for Xiate, as long as White Fish was there, there were no problems.
Until the year 845 arrived.
White Fish had somehow climbed up a large tree. Now about ten years old, he sat on a branch with his eyes slightly squinted, watching the members of the Survey Corps walking dejectedly with their heads bowed as they emerged from the open gate in the wall.
Although White Fish didn't know which Expedition Beyond the Walls this was, he didn't care about that for now; he only knew that when they returned from their expedition, the Colossal Titan, transformed from a human, would break the city gate.
At this thought, a strange complexity flashed in White Fish's eyes, and he looked back at the Shiganshina District, which could be described as bustling with people coming and going.
Today, White Fish had taken a day off.
[Personal Data:
Strength: 68.9
Stamina: 79.2
Speed: 80.3
Mental Reaction Speed: 121.1)]
"White Fish, you took a day off instead of working just to look at the scenery here?"
From beneath the tree, Xiate looked up at White Fish with a flat expression. After noon, she had originally been preparing to go to work, but as soon as he heard that the Survey Corps had returned, for some reason, he had hurriedly pulled her here.
White Fish didn't keep her in suspense at all. Leaning against the tree trunk with a hint of fatigue in his eyes, he spoke without worrying in the slightest that Xiate might think he was crazy.
"Titans will break the wall. It's very dangerous."
As soon as these words were spoken, Xiate's expression froze instantly. It was a good while before she spoke hesitantly.
"Whi... White Fish, are you saying Titans will break through the wall? You're not joking, right?"
White Fish simply yawned and didn't explain. Instead, he looked toward a building in the distance; it was the storage facility for the Garrison Regiment's Omni-Directional Mobility Gear in the Shiganshina District, not very far from where they were, then he retracted his gaze.
The high tower in the distance was the gas resupply point, as White Fish knew very well. He had waited for this day for a long time, yet he didn't feel the expected nervousness; he didn't know how many Titans he had killed—hundreds or thousands—and he had died who knows how many times.
Like a monster, but White Fish felt it was just a matter of personality.
Seeing that White Fish had fallen silent again, Xiate couldn't help but purse her lips. She looked toward the recently closed city gate with worry, no longer questioning whether White Fish's words were true; she had never doubted him.
From the moment she was first picked up and had her first contact with him until now, it had always been this way...
As the city gate fully closed, White Fish pulled a large package from behind the tree, which Xiate watched with curiosity.
"What is this?"
White Fish opened the package directly, and the contents caused Xiate's pupils to contract instantly.
"Thi... this is..."
Inside the package was a complete set of Omni-Directional Mobility Gear and gas cylinders.
"Oh, this? I swiped it from the Garrison Regiment's station. Those guys might as well not be there; they've become incredibly slothful."
At the same time, White Fish began buckling the straps onto his body as if he didn't care much at all.
Xiate didn't understand; she didn't understand what he wanted to do.
"White Fish, you..."
"Many people will die."
White Fish murmured softly while putting on the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.
Xiate hurriedly reached out and grabbed White Fish. Her face no longer held its usual calm, and her eyes were filled with panic; she didn't know why White Fish was taking this Omni-Directional Mobility Gear now.
"White Fish, what are you doing! If you take this without permission, you'll be arrested by the soldiers."
White Fish looked toward the city gate, his expression unreadable.
"In a little while, they'll have their hands too full to care."
He fixed the scabbard equipment to his waist while checking his equipment for damage.
Xiate let go of him and took a step back, biting her lower lip tightly. She said nothing more, only watching White Fish as she gradually regained her composure. Her expression looked calm, though her eyes remained fixed on White Fish's figure.
Sitting down on the grass, he adjusted the tension of the buttons on the blade handles while speaking softly.
"Alright, don't worry."
"What are you going to do?"
Xiate's tone suddenly seemed to turn cold and flat, as if her previous agitation had been an illusion.
"Prepare to run away."
White Fish smiled at Xiate, looking very relaxed.
But Xiate didn't respond to his words, simply asking again.
"What are you going to do? Big Brother, don't tell me you stole this Omni-Directional Mobility Gear just to play with it."
Xiate's form of address caused White Fish's eyes to widen instantly, filled with surprise and joy.
"Xiao Xi, what did you call me?"
Xiate reached out with one hand and grabbed White Fish by his collar again, lifting him directly off the ground.
"I said, Big... Bro... ther... what... are... you... going... to... do?"
She spoke one word at a time, her grip gradually tightening.
"Wait, wait, I can't breathe, I'm dying! I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
In an instant, that tragic and heroic aura vanished.
Thud.
White Fish was set down and smiled sheepishly.
"Isn't it because I'm afraid something will happen to Eren, Mrs. Jaeger, and Senior Sister Shi Shi when the Titans break in? Those guys in the Garrison Regiment probably won't be of much use."
Xiate looked at White Fish, who was expertly putting on the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, but she still didn't understand.
"Setting everything else aside, do you even know how to use this?"
"Of course."
"So, you're going to fight the Titans?"
"Uh... not necessarily... right?"
White Fish's tone wavered slightly.
Xiate couldn't process such a large amount of information all at once. She closed her eyes, and after a moment, she opened them again, looking seriously at White Fish.
"Brother, do you remember the vow we once made?"
White Fish looked at the serious Xiate and nodded gently.
Xiate spoke slowly.
"You must tolerate my only selfishness."
She then stared fixedly at White Fish, waiting for his response. White Fish smiled, smiling very happily. At that moment, a gentle breeze in the distance blew past, carrying small blades of grass from the ground into the air, accompanied by his soft voice.
"No matter what I do, I will always keep you by my side."
Xiate also smiled, responding very happily.
"Even if it makes things dangerous for you, even if I get dragged into it, even if I die! I must be by Big Brother's side! That is my selfishness."
"Of course, Xiate."
"So, Big Brother, please tell me, what are you going to do?"