Settling In and Making Plans

Akira sat on the edge of a wooden bed, staring at his hands, still adjusting to the fact that he was here.

Shiganshina District. The start of the Attack on Titan storyline. He was inside a world where humanity was on the verge of extinction, surrounded by 50-meter walls that wouldn't hold for much longer.

His heart pounded as he inhaled the scent of aged wood and the distant aroma of bread baking. The streets outside were alive with murmurs of civilians going about their daily routines—completely unaware that, in just a few years, their peaceful lives would be shattered by the Colossal Titan.

He clenched his fists, shaking off the thought. Now wasn't the time to panic.

[Dungeon Objective: Survive and Adapt] [Optional: Change the Fate of This World]

"Adapt, huh?" he muttered, glancing at himself in a mirror. His new identity had no name assigned—just a civilian. That meant he could build his own life here, at least for a while.

And if he wanted to survive… he needed a plan.

The system had assigned him an identity, and with that came a place to live—an orphanage near the outskirts of Shiganshina.

It was a small, modest building, run by an old woman named Greta, who had taken in children who had lost their parents to accidents, illness, or—on rare occasions—Titan attacks during expeditions. The orphanage wasn't cruel, but it wasn't warm either. Greta did what she could, but resources were always stretched thin.

Akira had quickly learned to keep his head down and blend in. There were a handful of other kids, most of whom had formed their own little groups. A few older boys acted as bullies, lording over the younger ones. Nothing extreme, but enough to remind him that the weak always suffered in places like this.

He didn't bother making close connections. There was no point.

Because in a few years, this place would be gone.

After washing up, Akira decided the best way to integrate himself into this world was simple: make connections. And what better way than to start with the main characters themselves?

The opportunity arrived faster than expected.

As he stepped outside, a small commotion caught his attention near the marketplace. A group of kids were huddled together, seemingly caught in an argument.

Curious, he walked closer, only to recognize them immediately.

Eren Yeager, standing tall with fire in his eyes, was in the middle of an argument with some older boys. Armin Arlert stood behind him, visibly nervous but supporting Eren's stance, while Mikasa Ackerman stood slightly to the side, watching with quiet intensity.

Oh.

He had walked right into one of their classic childhood conflicts.

"Give it back!" Eren snapped at one of the older kids, fists clenched. "That book belongs to Armin!"

Akira's eyes flickered toward the book in question. Ah. The one about the world beyond the walls.

He sighed. He knew how this would go.

The older boys would start a fight, Eren would recklessly charge in, Armin would get pushed around, and Mikasa would end it in an instant. A predictable pattern.

But today, he felt like messing with fate.

Before Eren could lunge forward, Akira casually stepped between them, hands in his pockets. "Oi," he said, his tone lazy. "Why are a bunch of kids making such a big deal over a book?"

The older boys frowned, eyeing him with suspicion. "Who are you?" one of them sneered.

"Just a bystander," Akira shrugged. "But, seriously, fighting over a book? That's lame." He turned to Eren and smirked. "You gonna start swinging again?"

Eren scowled. "They stole it! We can't let them—"

Akira sighed, shaking his head. "Violence isn't always the answer."

Eren blinked. "What?"

"Sometimes, you gotta be smart."

Without another word, Akira suddenly lunged forward—not towards the boys, but towards the book. In a fluid motion, he snatched it out of their hands and flipped back before they could react.

The older kids stood there, stunned.

Armin's jaw dropped. "W-Whoa."

Mikasa's eyes narrowed slightly, analyzing Akira's movements.

Eren, after a brief pause, grinned. "That was awesome!"

The older boys, realizing they were outmatched, grumbled something about "not being worth it" and walked off.

Akira casually handed the book back to Armin. "Here. Don't let it get stolen again."

Armin clutched it tightly, eyes filled with gratitude. "T-Thank you…!"

Eren slapped Akira's shoulder. "That was cool! What's your name?"

Akira smirked. "Akira."

And just like that, he had successfully entered their circle.

Mapping Out the Town

The next few days passed quickly. Akira integrated himself smoothly into life in Shiganshina. Carla and Grisha Yeager welcomed him without question, happy that Eren had made another friend.

But while the others played and dreamed about the world beyond the walls, he was planning his escape.

The Colossal Titan would appear soon. And when it did, everything would fall apart.

So, he started mapping.

[New Skill Unlocked: Observe (D-Rank)] Description: Grants basic insight into people, objects, and surroundings. Higher proficiency reveals more details.

[New Skill Unlocked: Mapping (C-Rank)] Description: Passively records areas visited, creating a personal map. Can highlight escape routes and important locations.

He spent hours walking around the district, memorizing everything. The layout of houses, back alleys, guard patrol routes. He noted which buildings were structurally weak, where people gathered the most, and which areas had hidden passages.

Even the Wall's gates.

Because when the Titans came, escape would only be possible if he knew every path better than anyone.

A Quiet Realization

One evening, as they sat near the riverbank, Akira found himself staring at the sunset, deep in thought.

Eren sat beside him, skipping stones across the water. "What do you think is out there?" he asked, eyes filled with curiosity. "Beyond the walls?"

Akira remained silent for a moment before answering. "Freedom."

Eren turned to him, surprised. "You really believe that?"

Akira smirked. "Yeah. But freedom isn't free."

Eren clenched his fists. "Then I'll fight for it."

Akira chuckled, glancing up at the sky. The countdown had begun.

He had integrated himself. Made connections. Mapped the town.

Now, all that was left…

Was surviving the day the Titans arrived.