The infirmary corridor was wrapped in the silence before dawn. Each time the wall lamp flickered, Yeager Eren's shadow stretched long across the floor where he sat. He had been here all night. His fists rested on his knees, clenched tight, unmoving. His mind was still a blank slate. Follow Leonhart Ani and become a test subject for the Military Police. Or refuse and have everything exposed. Either choice would destroy Ackerman Mikasa. If he disappeared, Mikasa's record would be protected. But that meant leaving her alone. (How do I protect us both?) The aftereffects of his Titan transformation still numbed his right hand. He was holding Mikasa's bandaged hand, but he couldn't feel its warmth. That had terrified him since last night. Was she alive? Or was she— Eren closed his eyes. There were no answers anywhere. That was when it happened. The door opened without a sound. He raised his head. Standing there was Captain Ackerman Levi. His sharp gray eyes glanced at Eren, seated on the floor. Then, quietly, he closed the door behind him. "[cold]What did Leonhart Ani threaten you with?" Eren gasped in shock. How did he know that? Levi leaned against the wall and crossed his arms. His expression remained blank as he continued, matter-of-fact. "[cold]It's written all over your face. Don't try to lie badly." Eren's throat tightened. But he had no strength left to hide anything. Staring at the floor, he began to speak. His Titan transformation being witnessed. The fabricated accusation letter about their secret relationship. The deadline—exposure at morning assembly. He spilled everything in a hoarse voice. Levi listened without a single change in expression until the very end. When Eren finished, silence fell for a moment. The weight of Levi's silence was unbearable. Had he disappointed him? But then. "[serious]I've been moving since last night too." Levi spoke. His voice was one note lower than usual. "[cold]During the battle in the forest in Episode Four, I sensed something off about Ani's movements. She ignored the fight and kept watching you two. After the retreat, I tracked her alone late at night. That night, Ani made contact with a Military Police messenger." Eren could say nothing. He just stared at Levi's face. Levi continued, unruffled. "[cold]I've confirmed the records of information leaks, and that the original accusation letter is in Ani's quarters. The original isn't at Military Police HQ. Ani is keeping it herself. All the evidence has been seized." With that, Levi pulled a folded bundle of documents from his inner pocket and held it out before Eren. There it was—the original accusation letter, stamped with the Military Police crest. Eren took it with trembling hands. "[crying]Why... how did you..." Levi paused briefly. The lamplight cast shadows across his profile. "[whispers]This is a story from my days in the Underground." His voice became fainter, lower than usual. "[whispers]There was a relationship they called forbidden. I couldn't protect that person. Because of me, they disappeared." Eren held his breath. Levi's past. A confession so brief it was chilling—the first he'd ever heard of it. His voice was utterly devoid of emotion, but Eren understood. That voice was the other side of a loss too deep to express. "[cold]I lost someone once. I'll be damned if it happens again." Levi's gray eyes glinted coldly. The reason Levi had decided to protect them—it wasn't just a superior officer's duty. "[cold]Save the sentimentality for later. Ani will be here soon." Levi's expression hardened again immediately, and he stood up. Twenty minutes until morning assembly. The infirmary door burst open. "[cold]You didn't answer, so I came." Leonhart Ani entered. Her blonde hair swayed, and her icy blue eyes looked down at Eren. "[cold]Then as planned, I'll tell everyone at morning assembly." The moment Ani turned on her heel to leave— A blade stopped, centimeters from her neck. Levi's blade. "......!" Ani's movement froze. Her cold eyes slowly turned back toward Levi. "[sarcastic]What is the meaning of this, Captain Ackerman?" Without moving his blade, Levi thrust another set of evidence documents before Ani's eyes. "[cold]Three charges. Leaking internal information to the Military Police. Fabricating a false accusation against a Survey Corps member. And unauthorized departure and external contact on the night of the retreat. All are disciplinary violations. You're under arrest, caught in the act." Ani smiled. "[sarcastic]Even if you have evidence, the Military Police will bury it." At that, the corner of Levi's mouth twisted slightly. "[cold]Copies for your Military Police superiors were delivered to the Royal Government Inspector through the Commander last night. Before they can bury anything, the higher-ups will move." For the first time, Ani's expression changed. Her cold blue eyes wavered, and her lips tightened. Her calculations had crumbled. Her ironclad, expressionless mask—here, now—clearly cracked. Eren watched Levi's back. While he had been suffering on the floor last night, this man had prepared everything. Alone. All of it, alone. His throat tightened. Thirty minutes later. A Military Police lieutenant colonel stormed into Survey Corps headquarters. A stout man in his forties, his face etched with the arrogance of someone accustomed to power. "[angry]Leonhart Ani's custody falls under Military Police jurisdiction. If she is not returned, the Survey Corps' authority for expeditions beyond the walls will be suspended. I am prepared to file an appeal." Levi, still seated in his chair, glanced at the lieutenant colonel. "[cold]While you're filing your appeal, the Royal Government Inspector's response will arrive. If you can wait until then, then wait." He turned his back. The lieutenant colonel raised his voice to argue further—that was when it happened. A messenger from the Commander came rushing in. "[excited]The Royal Government Inspector has formally accepted the Survey Corps' evidence submission! Leonhart Ani's expulsion from both military branches has been confirmed!" The lieutenant colonel's face changed in an instant. Pale, he opened his mouth, closed it, and left the room without another word. In the corridor, Eren, who had been listening to the entire exchange through the wall, placed a hand against it and hung his head. Levi had confronted power head-on. For his sake. For Mikasa's sake. Behind his eyes burned with fierce heat. Past noon. Ani's punishment had been finalized, and the infirmary was quiet. Eren remained seated beside Mikasa's bed. He still held her hand. That was when it happened. Mikasa's breathing suddenly deepened. He raised his head. Mikasa's blue eyes slowly opened. It took a few seconds for them to focus. Then her gaze found Eren. "[gentle]Eren." A faint, small voice. Eren couldn't reply. He just nodded. His throat trembled, and no voice came out. "[sad]Your hands are shaking." Mikasa said that. Eren tried to smile. But it didn't work. His facial muscles wouldn't move properly, and his expression came out strange. Instead, he pressed his forehead against the back of Mikasa's hand. He stifled his voice, his shoulders trembling. Relief and weight collapsed at the same time. Everything he had endured alone all night—at the sound of Mikasa's voice, it all broke. Mikasa didn't move. She just gently touched Eren's hair with her other hand. She said nothing. That alone was everything the two of them needed right now. After a while. Outside the door, a short cough. "[sarcastic]Planning to cry forever? Save the sentimentality for after you've eaten." With just those words, the footsteps faded away. Eren, tears and all, let out a small laugh. Mikasa, too, raised the corner of her lips just slightly. Between them, the first honest warmth after the threat had passed flowed quietly. But. Watching Levi's back as he walked down the corridor, Eren thought. The secret hadn't been protected by Levi alone. Their comrades were already vaguely aware. Just as Jean had noticed. Just as Ani had tried to exploit. From now on—how would they protect this relationship? He still had no answer. But, for now. Eren squeezed Mikasa's hand back. This time, he could properly feel its warmth. Warm. That alone was enough to keep fighting. Through the infirmary window, the afternoon light was beginning to stream in.