Time passed, and Bai Yu and Xiate continued their daily routine of going to work, coming home, and sleeping. Neither of them grew tired of it.
For Bai Yu, things were quite exciting in the training grounds. For Xiate, as long as Bai Yu was there, nothing else mattered.
And so the year 845 arrived.
Bai Yu had somehow climbed up a large tree. Now around ten years old, he sat on a branch, his eyes slightly narrowed as he watched the Survey Corps trudging through the open gates in the distance, bedraggled and dejected, their heads hanging low.
Bai Yu had no idea which expedition beyond the walls this was, but he did not care about that for now. All he knew was that when they returned from an expedition, a human who had transformed into the Colossal Titan would smash through the gate.
At that thought, an indescribably complicated look flickered in Bai Yu's eyes. He glanced back at the bustling crowds of Shiganshina District, which could certainly be called prosperous.
Today, Bai Yu had taken the day off.
[Personal stats: Strength: 68.9 Stamina: 79.2 Speed: 80.3 Mental reaction speed: 121.1)]
"Bai Yu, did you take the day off just to sit here and enjoy the view?"
Xiate stood beneath the tree, looking up at Bai Yu with a rather impassive expression. After noon, they had been about to leave for work, but the moment he heard that the Survey Corps had returned, he hurriedly dragged her here for some reason.
Bai Yu did not try to keep her in suspense. With a hint of weariness in his eyes, he leaned against the trunk and spoke, not the least bit worried that Xiate might think he had gone mad.
"The Titans will breach the wall. It'll be dangerous."
Those words made Xiate's expression freeze. Only after a long while did she speak, somewhat awkwardly.
"B-Bai Yu, you said the Titans will break through the wall? You didn't misspeak, did you?"
Bai Yu yawned without explaining. Instead, he glanced at a building in the distance where the Garrison Regiment stored its Omni-Directional Mobility Gear in Shiganshina District. It was not far from where they were. Then he withdrew his gaze.
The distant tower was the gas resupply point. Bai Yu knew that very well, and he had waited a long time for this day. He did not feel the nervousness he had expected. He had already killed more Titans than he could count-hundreds, or thousands-and had died countless times himself.
He was like a monster, though Bai Yu maintained that it was simply a matter of personality.
When Bai Yu fell silent, Xiate pressed her lips together and looked worriedly toward the distant gates, which had just begun closing. She did not ask again whether his words were true. She had never doubted anything Bai Yu told her.
It had always been that way, from their first encounter when he had taken her in until now...
As the gates closed completely, Bai Yu took a large bundle from behind the tree, drawing a curious look from Xiate.
"What's that?"
Bai Yu opened the bundle, and the contents instantly made Xiate's pupils contract.
"Th-this is..."
Inside the bundle was a complete set of Omni-Directional Mobility Gear, along with gas cylinders.
"Oh, this? I swiped it from the Garrison Regiment's base. Those guys might as well not exist. They've gotten ridiculously lazy."
Meanwhile, with a seemingly unconcerned expression, Bai Yu began fastening the straps around himself.
Xiate did not understand. She could not understand what he intended to do.
"Bai Yu, you..."
"A lot of people are going to die, aren't they?"
Bai Yu murmured softly as he put on the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.
Xiate hurriedly reached out and grabbed him. Her usual composure had vanished, and her eyes were filled with panic. She had no idea what Bai Yu intended to do with this Omni-Directional Mobility Gear.
"Bai Yu, what are you doing?! The soldiers will arrest you for taking that without permission!"
Bai Yu looked toward the gates, his expression unreadable.
"In a little while, they'll probably have their own hands full."
He secured the scabbard assembly at his waist and checked his equipment for damage.
Xiate released him and took a step back, biting her lower lip tightly. She said nothing more, simply watching Bai Yu as she gradually regained her composure. Her expression looked calm, though her eyes remained fixed on him.
He sat down on the grass and spoke softly while adjusting the tension of the buttons on the blade grips.
"All right, don't worry."
"What are you going to do?"
Xiate's voice suddenly turned cold and flat, as though her earlier agitation had been an illusion.
"Get ready to run, I guess."
Bai Yu smiled at Xiate, looking perfectly relaxed.
But Xiate did not respond to that. Instead, she asked again.
"What are you going to do, dear big brother? Don't tell me you stole this Omni-Directional Mobility Gear just to play with it."
The way Xiate addressed him made Bai Yu's eyes widen, delight slowly filling them.
"Little Xi, what did you just call me?"
But Xiate grabbed Bai Yu's collar again with one hand and hauled him straight up off the ground.
"I said, dear. Big. Brother. What. Are. You. Going. To. Do?"
She enunciated every word, her grip tightening steadily.
"W-wait, I can't breathe! I'm dying! I'll tell you, I'll tell you!"
His air of a hero setting out to face certain death instantly evaporated.
Thud.
Xiate let Bai Yu down, and he gave an awkward smile.
"Well, the Titans are about to get in, and I'm worried something might happen to Eren, Mrs. Yeager, or Senior Sister Shishi. Those guys in the Garrison Regiment probably won't be much help."
Xiate looked at Bai Yu, who had put on the Omni-Directional Mobility Gear with practiced ease, but she still did not understand.
"Leaving everything else aside for now, do you know how to use that?"
"Of course."
"So you're going to fight the Titans?"
"Uh... not necessarily...?"
Bai Yu sounded rather uncertain.
For a moment, Xiate could not process so much information. She closed her eyes, then opened them again after a while and looked at Bai Yu seriously.
"Big brother, do you remember the vow we made?"
Looking at the solemn Xiate before him, Bai Yu nodded gently.
Xiate spoke slowly.
"You have to indulge this one selfish wish of mine."
Then she stared intently at Bai Yu, waiting for his response. Bai Yu smiled too, a truly happy smile. At that moment, a gentle breeze drifted in from the distance, stirring the grass on the ground as his soft voice rang out.
"No matter what I do, I'll always keep you by my side."
Xiate smiled as well, answering with genuine happiness.
"Even if it puts you in danger, even if I get caught up in it too, even if we die! I have to stay by my big brother's side! That's my selfish wish."
"Of course, Xiate."
"So, dear big brother, please tell me what you're going to do."
Before you continue