Chapter 9 : Eren : why aren't you wearing pants?

Darkness began to blanket the sky, creating a tense atmosphere as Eren, Mikasa, and Carla ran away from the frightening ruins of their home. Mikasa was carrying Carla, who looked pale and in pain due to her injured leg. With every step, Eren felt anxiety building up inside him, mixed with a growing sense of despair. He knew time was running out.

"Where should we go, Mikasa?" Eren asked, his voice trembling.

Mikasa, doing her best to stay focused, replied, "We need to find Hannes. He can help us get to the ship."

Not long after, they spotted Hannes running toward them, looking both anxious and relieved. "Eren! Mikasa! Thank God you're safe!" Hannes exclaimed, his face filled with concern. "We need to evacuate before more Titans come!"

Eren nodded, "We have to help my mom! She's hurt."

Hannes immediately moved closer to Carla, "Alright, let's get her to the ship! Everyone's waiting there."

Mikasa added, "Her leg is injured. I can carry her, but we have to hurry!"

They rushed toward the dock, where Armin and his grandfather were already waiting on the ship. As soon as they arrived, Eren pulled Armin aside and quickly explained what had happened. "The Titans attacked! Mom—she's almost—"

Armin's face turned pale. "What?! We have to leave now!"

Mikasa nodded in agreement. "We can't stay here any longer."

Meanwhile, despite her pain, Carla tried to comfort them. "You need to stay strong. We'll get out of this."

Eren, unable to hold back his emotions, said, "I'll kill all the Titans! I swear I'll avenge everything that's happened!"

Armin, moved by Eren's determination, added, "We'll do it together."

Once everyone was on the ship, Eren turned to Hannes. "Hannes, please find Katsura! He's still out there!"

Hannes hesitated, "But Eren, the city is overrun by Titans. How can I even look for him?"

Eren clenched his teeth, "I don't care! He needs to be saved!"

Hannes could only nod, though the uncertainty of finding Katsura in this chaos was clear in his eyes.

As the boat began to sail, the atmosphere suddenly shifted. In the distance, the Armored Titan appeared, looming over them like a terrifying threat.

---

The Armored Titan Appears

The ship carrying Eren, Mikasa, Carla, Hannes, Armin, and Armin's grandfather trembled as it sailed over the waves, desperately trying to escape. The sound of soldiers running and panicked shouting echoed around them. Eren was restless, his gaze fixed on the city gates as shadows of fear continued to haunt him.

"Set sail now! Don't wait!" Hannes shouted, his face filled with worry as he watched the soldiers frantically prepare the ship for departure.

Mikasa, her expression firm, carried the injured Carla. "We need to leave! Now!" she urged, not wanting to waste any time.

Armin grabbed Eren's arm, trying to stop him. "Eren, we can't go back! We need to focus on escaping," he said, his voice filled with concern.

Suddenly, a loud rumble shook the air. All eyes turned toward the gate, which was shaking violently. In the distance, a massive figure emerged, radiating an aura of terrifying strength. The Armored Titan, its massive body gleaming, broke through the city gate with brutal force, sending debris flying in every direction.

"No!" a soldier screamed, his face twisted with fear. "It's the Armored Titan!"

The ship shook as everyone panicked and ran in different directions. Eren felt a mix of rage and fear burning inside him, challenging every bit of reason. "I'll kill them all!" he shouted, his voice full of fiery determination, though it was drowned out by the chaos around him.

Mikasa, with calm yet firm resolve, held Eren back. "Eren, we can't fight right now! We have to survive first!"

Meanwhile, Carla, her face pale and filled with pain, whispered, "Eren… Mikasa… hurry… we need to go…"

The ship started moving away from the harbor, but the Armored Titan continued to march forward, its massive form crushing any hope they had. With every step the titan took, the ground trembled, signaling that a greater danger was fast approaching.

As the ship sailed farther, fear enveloped them all, as if darkness had swallowed their hopes, and with the emergence of the terrifying Titan, they knew their struggle had only just begun.

Eren, Mikasa, and Armin's Reflection

On the boat, which rocked as it sailed away from the destruction they had just witnessed, the air was thick with sorrow and despair. Eren, Mikasa, and Armin sat quietly in a corner, their eyes fixed on the dark horizon, filled with smoke. Their thoughts were buried in a heavy silence.

Eren bit his lip, his eyes filled with determination, but also a deep sense of loss. "Katsura…" he whispered softly, his voice barely audible amidst the crashing waves. "He was there… He should've been with us."

Mikasa, gripping Eren's wrist tightly, looked at her friend. "We can't think about that now, Eren. We have to survive." But her voice trembled, showing she shared the same sadness.

Armin, sitting beside them, recalled the moments they had with Katsura. "He always had a way of making everything feel lighter, even in the toughest times. Somehow, he always managed to distract us from all this," he said, his voice full of longing.

Eren nodded. "He was a crazy troublemaker, but… he was always there to help. He distracted the Titans for us. We should've been there for him."

Mikasa looked at Eren, her gaze firm. "Eren, we have to focus on what's ahead. We don't know what's going to happen next. But we have to fight. For us. For Katsura."

"Exactly," Armin agreed, "We'll survive and fight for all of this. Katsura's sacrifice won't be in vain if we don't give up."

Eren straightened his back, the pain in his heart slowly turning into resolve. "We'll go back. We'll go back and make sure everyone is safe. And if there's a chance, we'll find Katsura."

The three friends held each other's hands, drawing strength from one another. In the quiet stillness, they silently vowed not to forget Katsura and to keep fighting for the freedom they had always dreamed of.

They sailed away from the shadow of death looming behind them, carrying hope in their hearts, even as the waves roared around them. Beyond the crashing sea, a new adventure awaited.

---

Katsura Escape

Katsura sprinted through the chaos of the Shiganshina District, adrenaline pumping through his veins. With a sack of donation money slung over his shoulder, he dodged debris and panicked people as Titans wreaked havoc around him.

He had to find an escape route. He ran towards the river, hoping to catch up to the boat carrying Eren, Mikasa, and Carla. As he ran, he saw a Titan in the distance, terrorizing the area. The fear around him was palpable, but Katsura focused solely on survival.

"If they can escape, so can I!" he thought, pushing himself to run faster. He didn't have time to think about anyone else; he needed to get out alive.

When he reached the riverbank, he dove into the water without hesitation, ignoring the biting cold. He swam hard, determined to reach the other side. Once he pulled himself out of the water, he glanced back at the destruction behind him.

With the sack still on his back, Katsura continued to run along the river, searching for a boat. He didn't care about anyone else; survival was all that mattered.

"If I can make it to the other side, maybe I can still help them!" he murmured, his resolve pushing him onward.

---

Katsura's Return

The boat carrying Eren, Mikasa, Carla, Hannes, Armin, and several other refugees drifted away from Shiganshina. Smoke filled the sky, and distant Titan roars echoed. The atmosphere on the boat was heavy; Eren sat with his knees drawn up, filled with rage.

"I'll kill them… the Titans… I swear it…" Eren whispered, determination burning in his eyes.

Mikasa sat beside him, her gaze fixed on the destruction fading behind them. She wanted to say something, but the weight of the situation left her silent. Carla, despite her injuries, watched her son with worry but didn't speak. They were all consumed by their grief and anger.

Suddenly, a loud splash echoed from the river. Something hit the side of the boat, causing it to rock.

Armin leaned over the edge, eyes wide. "There's someone there!"

Mikasa and Eren turned to see Katsura—soaked and carrying a large sack as he climbed onto the boat.

"YOU?!" Eren exclaimed, part shock and part anger.

Katsura grinned widely, still dripping wet. "I made it! I escaped—and I brought a little something with me!" he said, patting the sack proudly.

Eren's anger flared again. "You… you almost died saving my mother… and now you show up here naked? What do you want?"

Katsura looked at Eren with a carefree expression. "Pants," he replied casually. "I need pants. You can give me yours, right? I saved your life and your mom's!"

Eren was taken aback, torn between frustration and disbelief. He had sworn vengeance against the Titans, yet here was Katsura asking for his pants.

Mikasa glanced at Katsura and then turned her face away, trying to hide her embarrassment. "You can't just ask for someone's pants, Katsura," she said, her voice calm but filled with disbelief.

Katsura waved her off. "You don't understand. Clothing is just a symbol of material freedom. Right now, I need pants for comfort."

Hannes, who had been watching, glared at Katsura. "I can't believe it's you again! This is all your fault, isn't it? You knocked me out at the bar last night!"

Katsura smiled awkwardly, trying to avoid Hannes's gaze. "Ah… about that… I was just helping an old lady cross the street. Nothing to worry about."

Carla shook her head slowly. "Thank you, Katsura… but this isn't the time to discuss pants."

As Eren stared in frustration, Mikasa turned her gaze back to the destroyed city, her face filled with mixed emotions. Around the boat, other refugees began to whisper. Some recognized Katsura and were amazed he had survived the chaos.

But the tension returned as Eren faced the ruins again. "I will kill them all… the Titans… I swear it," he repeated, his determination growing.

And despite the absurdity of the situation, Katsura sighed, still trying to convince Eren to give him his pants.

"Come on, Eren. It's a small sacrifice. In a world filled with chaos, pants are a small thing that can change someone's life," Katsura said with a grin.