Earth and Sky

On the way back, the 26 Survey Corps recruits began to voice their thoughts. 

Thomas snorted nervously, "Survey Corpsman, it's really bad and my family will have to live with the wrong idea all the time!" 

"I won't let you die, buddy." Nelson said with a determined look on his face. He had changed all this time, he now had a mindset ready for what was to come. 

Armin persuaded, "It's not that bad, with Eren's power, we have a much better chance of getting Wall Maria back." 

"If to get to the basement of Eren's house we need to seal the wall, it won't be an easy job even with Eren in his titan form." Nelson disagreed that it would be easier, this will only speed up the process. 

Jean was very dissatisfied, "I hope that idiot works harder, I'm really ready to give it my all and I'm starting to believe that he is the hope of humans!" 

Jean Kirstein is a young man who likes to tell the truth, he has his own way of speaking and is not afraid to hold back his words like Armin, he even believes that the other party is a submissive friend. 

Ymir, who was walking next to Christa like a protector, teased her friend and said, "Come on, if you were going to regret it, it's too late!" 

"I'm not afraid, the  one who's afraid is Jean." Christa said with a serious look. 

Jean looked at Christa, who had said she was afraid and turned around to complain, "I don't regret it! Ymir Witch, if you're going to be complaining, you'd better defect now." 　 

Ymir snorted coldly and looked at Christa, "Jean, honey, I hope you're not the first to die. Even though I really wanted to be in the garrison, Christa insisted on staying and fighting with that crazy man who walks in front." 　　 

It is obvious for whom that stone is intended. 

Takashi, who was walking along with Thomas and the others, replied, "Ymir, you're as wild as a titan, no wonder you're just spouting bad words from your mouth." 

"Haha!" 

Thomas couldn't help but wince with laughter. 

"Wow, ugly monkeys make noises too, Thomas, I thought you died in the battle of reconquest." Ymir said in a mocking voice. 

"Thomas, the funny thing is, we almost died." Said Nelson with a strange laugh. 

There was a sudden silence in the surroundings. 

"That was... Straight, haha!" Takashi said before cutting off his laughter dryly. "My mood is broken?" 

During the training period, Takashi, Ymit, Thomas, Nelson and Christa were members of squad seven. Takashi was the squad leader and always openly argued with Ymir. That titan woman is very poisonous. Even if Takashi knew her secret, she would not hold back under any circumstances. 

Everyone who was closest to her already knew her and reluctantly accepted her jokes and comments. 

Ymir covered her forehead and said, "Indeed, it only takes a few hours of you being around me to give me a headache. It will be punishing to have most of my original class around me, still I hope and hope they don't die quickly." 

Connie interjected, "Ymir, don't talk nonsense, I shared a room with Takashi for the last few months and he was never someone annoying, sometimes he snored but everything else was normal." 

The atmosphere suddenly became quiet for some unknown reason. 

"I snore?" Takashi asked, puzzled. 

"Yes..." 

"A little..." 

"Haha, Takashi, I didn't know that." Sasha said with a smile. 

Mikasa all this time was worried if Eren had spent a good time in Survey Corps. After all Levi hit Eren the last time. 

Seeing this, Takashi walked to his side and said, "You seem to be worried about Eren, you shouldn't be, it was all a plan so that Eren could stay with the Survey Corps." 

"I know..." Mikasa replied quietly. 

"Maybe my uncle overplayed his hand when he hit Eren, but I can assure you it won't happen again." Takashi whispered in a deep voice. 

"He's your family?" Mikasa asked in surprise. 

"Well, I found out recently, it would help me if you keep it a secret for now." Takashi said before saying goodbye to Mikasa. 

Everyone had their own concerns and said nothing more. 

Takashi, Thomas, Nelson and Connie went back to the dormitory to rest before leaving for the Survey Corps base. 

"Well, I'm glad we're all in the Survey Corps." Connie said as he lay down.　　 

Takashi sat up and closed his eyes to practice, "In general, if we don't risk too much, once we are experienced soldiers, nothing will happen." 

Thomas seemed to be the most affected and said, "I just hope my family will have a good time, I don't want to give them misfortune." 

The reason Thomas joined the Survey Corps was very simple, he didn't want to be the only one of his friends fighting for a better future, he had to take care of his family personally and now with Eren, he was sure victory was closer. 

Thomas said, "Let's leave it all to the future, we are not in control after all." 

"Sleep well, tomorrow will be a great day." Takashi said and then kept silent.

The night was silent, and the next morning, everyone went their separate ways. Those in the 104th cycle went their separate ways. 

"Dude, be careful!" 

"Damn it, I'll never see you again you bastard!" 

"Don't worry, we're not far away, see you later." 

"This environment is annoying, if we can't seal the wall Maria we'll die anyway." Jean said angrily. 

"Well that's something they naturally ignore." Connie agreed. 

Takashi stroked the back of his horse's mane. "The horse he called 'Babas' will continue to accompany him, and the others will continue to have their horses they are already familiar with. 

In any case, those who went to the Survey Corps will be assigned another horse to use alternately when inspecting outside the walls. 

Takashi mounted his horse and rode out of the city with the recruits who from now on would be his companions, who joined the Survey Corps. Captain Levi and the others had already been waiting for them outside. 

The group and the Survey Corps elites, about 50 people, rode towards the abandoned castle away from the cities and towns. 

Takashi was riding his horse, watching the towns and rivers slowly receding, and he knew he would arrive soon. 

The reason it was the former headquarters was that although the castle was quite elegant, the transportation conditions were not good and it was finally abandoned until recently. 

Now it is being cleaned up and reopened to protect Eren. Of course, there is also a reason and that is because it is closer to Karanese, where he will start the new investigation outside the walls to re-plan the route. 

Nanaba from Mike's squadron said to Takashi, who was looking at the scenery, "Hey, newcomer, with your contribution in the recovery battle, you could become the overall leader of a squadron." 

"Still, because you have absolutely no experience outside the walls, that rank will have to be postponed for a while, understand?" 

Takashi nodded and said casually, "No problem, I'll learn well." 　 

He really didn't know much about off-wall research, especially the long-distance enemy search formation that was definitely unfamiliar at first. Blind command would kill people, so there was no rush to be a squad leader for the time being. 

Nanaba was a little surprised, "I thought someone as young and powerful as you wouldn't be satisfied with this." 

Takashi smiled, "I'm not proud at all, I just want to do my best and learn as much as I can to make a good performance." 

"I'm glad to hear that, I thought I had the wrong idea about you." 

She had met Takashi twice. During the meeting and the cleaning battle, Takashi showed himself to be someone very intense both times. She thought he was arrogant and difficult to deal with.

Takashi looked at Nanaba, who had a relatively average appearance. Her hairstyle was short and blonde, something interesting and very rarely seen. "I really want to win and be able to enjoy the rest of my life peacefully, I hope that life won't be any shorter than expected." 

Nanaba did not understand Takashi's words and said, "My father thinks I should spend the time I have left with my family, it is really uncertain whether we will live in every exploration outside the walls." 

"Everyone wants to live in peace, but if we want peace we have to seek war." Takashi showed a serious expression over his words. 

"I hope you are not impulsive, everyone wants to live but not everyone can be saved, the sooner you accept it the better you will do on the front." Nanaba said directly.

"I will keep that in mind, thank you for sharing." Takashi accepted those words. 

"Do you have a family?" Nanaba asked, he had been very much struck by this new recruit. 

"My family is in this place." Takashi looked slightly at Levi not understanding how he had ended up being his uncle and more importantly, what he really thought of his power? 

"Don't worry, we are all family within the Survey Corps." Nanaba didn't seem to understand Takashi's words. 

Of course, no one would believe that Takashi was Captain Levi's nephew. 

After a while, they had all arrived at Survey Corps headquarters. Takashi looked up and looked at the former Survey Corps headquarters, the abandoned noble castle was already in sight.