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“Do you regret it?” Armin asked, both of his hands on the ground, ignoring the dirt, supporting his weight from sitting. His eyes then went to Eren for a short while before returning them to Sasha fixing Mikasa’s hair.
He and Eren decided to practice their firing skills. Only two guns are currently available, so they took turns. It was Eren and Armin’s turn, meanwhile the two girls took a break on the bench under an umbrella a few meters away from them.
Her hair is getting long. Eren thought before firing a gun once more, hitting their target can in front. Then suddenly, a yawning Connie came to put another target can.
He blinked for a while before processing Armin's question. He looked at his best friend, brow raised. Puzzled, he asked back in a low voice. “Do I regret what?”
His eyes went to Mikasa. His grip on the gun was tight, his eyes instantly turned soft and focused on her. But naturally becomes disinterested once his eyes returned to Armin.
“Getting your hands dirty,” Armin paused. He lowered his voice. “For her, at such a young age.”
“You know,” he added, slightly hesitant to add more. “At that cabin... in the forest.”
“I don't.” Eren answered, that fast. Without any other thoughts, without hesitations.
“Not a tiny bit.” his eyes returned to her once again.
When Mikasa released a chuckle and showed a grin at Sasha, his eyes blinked and all Armin could see was no longer the boy he used to know.
“I never will.” he uttered.
He always had this look of yearning for something beyond their reach. But as they grew up, as they faced and overcame multitude of struggles and fears, just like everyone else, Eren changed.
And every time, Mikasa was there for him.
“The thought of what would have happened to her if I didn't get my hands dirty makes me feel things that I can barely fathom. I can’t describe it,” he added, brows furrowed. Eren’s always been terrifyingly brave, but for some reason, it relieved Armin.
His eyes lowered for a while, then went to the target can once again. He fired the gun, and the bullet went right through the target.
“What could’ve happened to her, it tightens my chest so much to the point that my heart could barely beat.”