Chapter Text
The training camp isn't exactly a fancy resort housing a few hundred recruits. Most of the time, a handful of them are assigned tasks to keep the place in order. But not all tasks are menial ones and some were lucky enough to be assigned in groups to get the job done quicker. Sometimes the officers would take advantage of the cadets and have them run errands for them. Unfortunately for Reiner, he happened to pass by one of his superiors who cleared his tasks for the day and instead made him run an errand for them.
He stared at the piece of paper given to him. It was a short list of food supplies that was obviously not for the cadets. The officer then gave him some money before sending him on his way.
He quickened his pace. The sooner he was done, the better. He took another look at the list and didn't realize he was about to collide with someone at the corner.
"Oof!"
The paper fell from his hands. He mumbled an apology and saw the person he bumped into was Krista.
"I'm sorry, Reiner. I didn't see you," she muttered while picking up the paper.
"Uh no, actually... I'm sorry," he managed.
"Oh, you're going to the market?" she asked after a quick look on the paper.
"Yeah. I have an errand to do."
"Do you need some help? I'm free."
He felt a tinge of pink rush to his cheeks. "Uh... sure. You can tag along," he said trying to sound cool. He instantly regrets it and winces to himself. But she didn't seem to mind and was even excited to go.
The market place was as busy as one might expect. The two cadets walked around looking almost out of place in their assigned uniforms. She seemed so thrilled as she looked around with a sparkle in her eyes. Reiner doesn't leave it unnoticed.
The first item on the list was a bushel of red apples. Reiner was about to take a few when Krista stopped him.
"You're supposed to check if they're good, you know. Like this..."
She gently took the apple from his hands and demonstrated how.
"You can tell it's good when it feels nice and firm. Or if it doesn't bruise easily when you press it with your finger."
Krista held the apple as she explained. He was unsure why he was so impressed with her knowledge of apples but he was certain their proximity was turning his cheeks into the shade of the apple.
"You can also sniff it. A good apple shouldn't smell like it's rotting." She held the fruit close to his face and he took a whiff. At this point, he prays she doesn't see the similarity in color between his face and the apple. "Smells good to me," he comments. She smiles and hands it to him before moving on to the next one.
They continued on, crossing every item on the list one by one. She was so considerate of the purchase even though it wasn't for them. He watched as she would put her index finger on her chin, looking over which of the blocks of cheese seemed worthy or which of the vegetables was the freshest. He chuckles to himself.
"You really know a lot about this stuff," he said as they walked to another stall.
Krista turned to him. "Oh, I grew up in a farm and I helped around a lot."
Her short answer gave him a hint that he shouldn't pry more about her life. He was curious though, if she did well as a simple farm girl, what prompted her into joining the military?
His thoughts were interrupted by the grumbling sound of a hungry stomach. He looks at Krista and her cheeks has rather turned to a shade of pink.
"Uh..."
"Sorry. I guess I'm a little hungry," she admitted, slightly embarrassed.
They made it back near lunchtime and though he was annoyed at first for running someone's errand, Reiner felt a little grateful for the chance to spend time with her.
"Thank you for letting me come with you, Reiner," she said as she handed him some of the bags she offered to carry. "We rarely ever leave the camp just to go out and be... like regular people."
"What? You had some free time and you decided to spend it by teaching me how to choose some good apples. I should be the one thanking you. You really helped me out there." A boyish grin crosses his face.
Krista chuckled. "I'll see you at the mess hall, Reiner." She turns to leave after a little wave.
But Reiner knew a little something about apples too. He used to hear about this unique tradition back in Marley where throwing an apple at a girl is considered a marriage proposal. At the time, it sounded so ridiculous to him.
"Wait, Krista..."
She turned around and caught an apple that he threw at her. She was surprised and mildly confused. On his part, he realized she didn't know about the apple proposal. But maybe she'll consider it as a thank you for earlier. He figured he can make an excuse if the officer ever notices a missing apple.
"Don't worry, it's a good one."
Reiner walked away, wondering if she will ever know. Unbeknownst to him, she wondered about the same thing too.