In the darkness, three voices echoed.
"We still have to destroy Wall Rose and force the King inside the Walls to show himself."
"Why? Didn't we agree—"
"Annie! Wake up! Haven't we confirmed over these past three years that Lock isn't trustworthy?"
"He's been lying to you from the start. Haven't you seen that yet?"
"Even if we still don't know why he got close to you, we can't waste any more time on him."
"You still want to return to your father's side, don't you?"
"Then fulfill your duty as a Warrior."
"Bertholdt, it'll be your turn when the time comes."
"Leave it to me, Reiner."
…
Failed.
Lock knew he had failed.
Maybe it was in one of Annie's refusals. Maybe in one of Bertholdt's lingering stares. Or maybe it was the revelation that came in a dream.
The gate of Trost would still fall.
Cadets would die.
Everything would proceed as it had before.
No—this felt less like deduction and more like an omen.
As if some unseen force had already passed judgment.
Lock woke one morning knowing the outcome.
Eren…
Will that be you?
Does it really have to reach that point?
…
It was also as if, in that dream, a furious voice had spoken directly to him.
Why are you like this?
This isn't your world.
You already knew the plot—why are you grieving over it?
These people, these emotions—they're not yours.
You're just playing at friendship.
What can you change?
Kill the Warriors?
Can you?
Would Eren allow it?
You can't change anything.
Surviving is enough.
Just do what you're supposed to do.
…
Back to the present.
"What do you mean… by that?"
Annie grabbed Lock by the collar and lifted him.
He slowly straightened.
He was now a full head taller than her.
Gently, he removed her hand.
He looked down at her.
For a brief moment, something fierce flickered in his deep blue eyes.
Like a lion hidden beneath calm water.
And then—
It vanished.
His familiar smile returned.
"I mean graduation's coming soon."
"You've already decided to join the Military Police."
"After this, you probably won't see most of them again."
He smiled lightly.
"So before it ends, let's spend a little more time together."
"Wouldn't it be a waste otherwise?"
He held her shoulders gently.
"You're rarely this agitated. Did I say something wrong?"
…
From a distance, several cadets noticed them.
"Ah, the blonde couple again."
"They're really well matched."
"I wonder if what Lock said back then still counts."
"What?"
"About inviting the top ten to their wedding. Said His Majesty would even attend."
"Of course it counts. When has Lock ever broken his word?"
…
Annie couldn't read him.
Reiner's words echoed in her mind.
She lowered her gaze.
Lock let go of her shoulders.
"Another round?"
Silence stretched.
Just as Lock wondered if he had pushed too far—
Annie looked up.
She smiled.
It was a real smile.
Even Lock was caught off guard.
"Don't beg for mercy later."
…
When they stepped onto an empty sparring ground, the surrounding cadets immediately sensed something.
Sasha shouted, "A couple showdown!"
Connie yelled, "This is even better than when Lock fought Mikasa!"
Marco laughed, "Deciding who runs the household early, huh?"
Someone asked, "Wait, when did Lock fight the top cadet?"
"You weren't in that class."
"So who won?"
"Not telling."
"Want to spar?"
"Bring it."
…
Annie settled into her familiar stance.
Lock smiled.
"If you're still the same as two years ago, you won't beat me."
He shifted into a balanced, grounded posture—arms open, weight coiled, ready to explode.
Mikasa's expression sharpened.
"You first? Or me?"
But Lock knew Annie excelled at counterattacks.
So he moved first.
He lunged forward.
His right arm cut toward her face.
Annie lowered her guard smoothly.
Her hollow fist intercepted his arm, elbow bending to redirect the force.
Her grip snapped onto his forearm.
At the same time—
A lightning-fast whip kick struck his advancing leg.
His balance was shattered.
He was thrown past her.
Clean. Precise.
Lock rolled and stood up, slightly disheveled.
The crowd gasped.
"As expected, Annie's stronger!" Eren shouted.
Armin stared.
"Lock actually got up after taking that head-on…"
Eren nodded seriously.
"When she kicked me like that, I couldn't stand for a while."
…
Lock realized he had miscalculated.
Last time Mikasa dropped him in one move.
This time Annie did the same.
He hadn't fully mastered that stance.
His leg throbbed.
Annie smiled faintly.
"Still want to continue?"
The entire crowd froze.
"Did Annie just smile?" Eren whispered.
"I saw it too," Armin said. "That was… unsettling."
Sasha yelled, "They really are perfect together!"
…
Lock adjusted his stance again.
This time, he settled into his most stable posture—shoulders squared, core tightened, power drawn inward like a coiled spring.
He smiled back.
"I won't hold back now."
…
Bang.
Annie was launched clear out of the sparring area.
Silence.
Absolute silence.
"What just happened?"
"I only saw Lock rush forward—"
Eren turned to Mikasa.
"How did he do that?"
Mikasa's eyes remained fixed on Lock.
"Pure explosive force."
Lock looked at Anni,e struggling to stand.
A trace of pride flickered across his face.
In the end—
Direct force was still his strongest weapon.
He walked over.
"You alright?"
Annie lowered her head.
"Monster."
Then she looked up, faint irritation in her eyes.
"You don't know how to go easy on a girl at all."
Lock laughed.
Then, before the crowd could process what was happening—
He lifted Annie in a bridal carry.
Amid stunned silence and renewed uproar, he carried her toward the infirmary.
---
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