Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

"You... will never... leave me... again..."

Krista sobbed, her words broken between hiccups and tears. Ryo felt his heart ache as he gently wiped her tears away, but they kept falling, unchecked, as if they would never stop. Seeing her like this, so overwhelmed with emotion, he could do nothing but hold her tighter, offering silent comfort.

"Okay, okay, I promise," he whispered, his voice soft with reassurance. "But if you keep crying, your eyes will be all swollen, and you won't look as cute. Look, everyone's watching us… Even though we usually don't hold back with our affection, the instructors are here too. This is getting a little embarrassing."

Krista sniffled, finally realizing the number of eyes on them. Her face turned red in an instant. Quickly, she stepped out of his embrace, lowering her head as if trying to disappear. But curiosity got the better of her, and she peeked up—only to confirm that Ryo was right. Nearly everyone was staring at them.

She immediately looked down again, her embarrassment deepening.

Just as Ryo and Krista were about to step away from the center of attention, Instructor Keith cleared his throat and stepped forward.

"Ahem, quiet down!"

The recruits settled down, their murmurs fading as Keith took command of the moment.

"First, let us welcome Ryo and Mikasa back with the warmest applause. They represented our Training Corps on an expedition outside the walls, performing exceptionally well in battle. Their efforts have earned them high praise from both the Survey Corps and the Supreme Command. Now, let's show them our appreciation!"

Keith's voice carried authority, but beneath it, there was genuine pride. The recruits didn't hesitate—thunderous applause erupted from the crowd.

Ryo had always been well-liked, and now that he had returned victorious, they respected him even more. Mikasa, too, stood strong beside him, earning admiration from her fellow trainees.

Keith continued, his tone shifting slightly.

"In light of Ryo and Mikasa's outstanding performance, the Military Police Corps has taken notice of the 104th Training Corps. They have decided to expand their recruitment. This year, instead of the usual ten, the top twelve graduates will be eligible to join the Military Police."

The crowd reacted instantly—this was unexpected news.

"That means if you want to be in the Military Police, you have to train harder than ever before!" Keith declared. "And if you want to join the Survey Corps, you should know that Ryo alone took down twenty-two titans in a single battle and was personally commended by the Commander himself!"

A stunned silence followed. Twenty-two titans?!

Everyone knew Ryo was strong, but that number was beyond belief. Whispers spread through the ranks, a mixture of awe and excitement.

Keith seized the moment.

"If you want honor like Ryo, if you want status, safety, and a future in the Military Police, then you must train harder than ever before!" His voice rang out with conviction. "No more slacking off. You have seen with your own eyes that skill and dedication are rewarded. Make your choice—will you be strong, or will you be left behind?"

His words struck a chord. The hesitation that had plagued the recruits after Ryo and Mikasa were sent to the Survey Corps was fading. Now, their eyes burned with determination. The fear of being drafted unwillingly was overshadowed by a newfound ambition.

Keith observed the shift in their expressions and felt relieved.

This generation... might just produce more outstanding soldiers than expected.

And as for Ryo—his potential was limitless. Killing twenty-two titans in a single mission... it reminded Keith of another soldier. A young man whose skills had once seemed unbelievable.

Levi…

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Ryo, however, didn't care about the instructors' speeches. While Keith kept the recruits occupied, he took Krista's hand and slipped away from the crowd.

"My palms are sweaty…" Krista muttered, still sniffling.

It seemed she hadn't fully calmed down yet. She clung to his hand tightly, as if afraid he would disappear if she let go.

Ryo chuckled. "If only we had a thermometer, I wonder what the temperature between us would be?"

Krista looked up at him, puzzled.

"It's said that when lovers hold hands, the warmth between them can be measured. The closer they are, the higher the temperature gets," Ryo explained with a grin. "Since my hand is practically burning up, I guess that means we're pretty close, huh?"

Krista's face turned even redder. She didn't reply, only squeezing his hand tighter.

For her, warmth wasn't just in their hands—it was in knowing that Ryo was here, safe and sound.

And as long as she could hold onto him like this, nothing else mattered.

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