Final Chapter: The Meaning of Two

On the other side of the Wall, the Survey Corps' military horses (originally prepared to chase Annie) now served as Haruya's escape vehicles.

The pursuers had given up, knowing Haruya still had the stamina to transform again.

The open plains were no place to fight a Titan, especially one who had once been human and understood their tactics all too well.

Haruya draped Annie over a horse's back, confirmed no one was following, and rode toward the 'Forest of Giant Trees'.

A few reckless Titans crossed their path, but Haruya disposed of them effortlessly.

The journey was uneventful... And by nightfall, they reached the forest.

Now, all that remained was waiting for the Supreme Deity's confirmation... had he truly cleared the mission?

Logically, yes. Haruya had captured the Female Titan. No threats remained. Even if Annie tried to flee now, he could stop her... though in her exhausted state, that seemed unlikely.

...

Using his stolen ODM Gear, Haruya carried Annie up to one of the forest's massive branches, settling her against the trunk before sitting beside her.

The sun dipped below the horizon, staining the clouds in hues of fire.

Wind rustled through the leaves, carrying the distant cries of wildlife... sounds that soon faded into the dark.

With nothing left to ponder, Haruya's thoughts turned to the future.

"I can't keep letting the Supreme Deity toy with me. There has to be a way to fight back..."

But could an 'observed' existence ever overthrow its 'observer'? The idea felt laughable.

A sigh escaped him, his breath crystallizing in the cold air.

The untouched wilderness before them was beautiful, more so than the scarred lands behind the Walls.

A few Titans lumbered past, some lingering beneath their tree.

To pass the time, Haruya hummed a tune, an anime theme from his world.

"…Ngh."

Annie stirred, her bleary eyes scanning their surroundings before locking onto Haruya.

Then, with a sigh mirroring his own, she spoke, "Why did you save me? We have no connection."

"True. I'm not altruistic enough to rescue you from an entire army," Haruya shrugged, "But I'm also trying to return home. Though our 'homes' are… vastly different."

"Home…" For once, Annie's guarded expression softened, nostalgia flickering across her face.

In a way, the mission to 'capture the Female Titan' had twisted into 'saving her'. A fortunate accident...

This girl would defy the world to return to her homeland. That resolve was undeniable.

'Everyone has a place they long to return to...'

Even under the same sky, on the same earth... home meant something different to each person.

"Then answer me," Annie pressed, "How does my return connect to yours?"

"Think of it like your mission to capture Eren. That's your path home, right?"

Annie's eyes sharpened, "How do you know that?"

"Don't ask," Haruya waved her off, "My goal is achieved. Soon, I'll be gone. What about you? Still planning to take Eren?"

Silence. Her hesitation was answer enough.

When Annie finally looked up, suspicion had returned to her gaze...

Haruya tensed... both of them were cornered creatures, both were willing to do anything to survive.

But for now, he held the advantage.

To fill the silence, Haruya asked, "What was life behind the Walls to you?"

"Why ask?"

"Curiosity. My 'home' had its own Walls, ones built by society," He exhaled, "People there judged everything as right or wrong, as if their opinions were law. Maybe I was one of them."

He'd mocked what others mocked online, not out of malice, but to feel human... To belong...

That collective hypocrisy bred chaos.

"And you still want to return to that?" Annie murmured.

"Yes." He answered with no hesitation.

Not because he loved that world, but because it was his.

His happiness, his suffering, all of it had roots there.

This journey across worlds had been thrilling, but… It wasn't living...

"You're strange," Annie said, "If you hated it, you wouldn't want to go back. Maybe… you never truly disliked it to begin with."

"Never disliked it?"

"Mm." She pulled her coat tighter, "You were just… throwing a tantrum. Now that you're away, you've realized it wasn't so bad."

A tantrum... A childish rebellion... All faded with time.

Annie stood, her hostility gone, "I promised my father I'd return."

"Then now's your chance. You're free."

Exposed and exiled from humanity... she could leave.

But...

Annie shook her head, "Not yet. Not without Eren." Then, she muttered softly, "Why am I even telling you this?"

They were strangers.

Haruya studied his hands, remembering the weight of taking lives.

To Annie, that might've been routine.

What defines a human?

What can humans even do?

Arrogance made them believe they ruled the world, yet they couldn't even govern themselves.

"My purpose is to bring Eren back. Nothing else."

"They'll hunt you," Haruya warned, "A 'traitor' like you? You're worth more alive than dead."

"I've made my choice." She persisted.

"Stubborn..." He chuckled, "For me, bringing you here is enough. I won't interfere further."

'Not that I'll have the chance...'

Stars dotted the twilight sky. The Titans below grew sluggish in the dark.

"How will you return?" Annie asked.

"Not your concern."

The evening wind carried the scent of pine and earth.

Haruya just wanted his ordinary life back.

This world was fascinating, but it wasn't home.

'Still… staying a little longer wouldn't hurt...'

"Annie," he said, offering his hand, "You want to go home... to take Eren. Then… good luck."

Annie fell silent for a moment, then she clasped his hand, her grip firm, "To think my 'captor' would be you..."

Her laugh held no malice, just weary relief.

The wind swept her hair aside as distant torchlight flickered between the trees.

'Horses? Voices?'

Had the Survey Corps dared to pursue them at night?

Then..

[Mission complete, Nangou Haruya...]

The Supreme Deity's voice echoed in his head.

"Wait! Not yet–"

[Initiating transfer...]

Even if he stayed, he couldn't change Annie's fate.

Her path was set.

"Get home safely… Haruya." Her final words reached him as the world dissolved.

No matter the world…

Everyone fights so desperately to survive...