17 Training Corps

Inside the training corps grounds, a group of new cadets stood at attention, their faces a mixture of anxiety and determination. Among them was Kaito, his thoughts occasionally drifting back to Carla's body, a frustratingly near miss from the previous night.

The famous trio, Eren, Mikasa, and Armin, were one row away from him.

As they waited, Commandant Keith Shadis, the grizzled former Scout Regiment commander, paced in front of them with a stern expression. He intended to address the new recruits and set the tone for their training.

"Listen up, you miserable lot!" Shadis's voice reverberated across the training grounds, causing a few cadets to flinch. "You think you're here to play soldier, to enjoy a simple life within these walls? Well, I'm here to shatter that illusion."

He slowly approached a blonde boy, Armin. "Hey, you there! Who the hell are you?!"

"Armin Arlelt, from Shiganshina District!" Armin replied, small beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Shadis scrutinized him with narrowed eyes. "I see! That's a ridiculous name! Did your parents give it to you?"

Armin answered, "My grandfather did, sir! Arlert!"

Shadis continued with his harsh questioning, directing it at the cadets one by one. Kaito paid little attention to the introductions of the others, knowing the ones that truly mattered. 

In his assessment, the rest were essentially expendable characters with little screen time, doomed to meet the unfortunate fates of becoming titan-snacks.

During this time, he couldn't help but cast a sly glance at the main female characters. With a nod of approval, he marveled at the level of detail the world creator had invested in their appearances.

Mikasa possessed a distinct Asian allure. Her long, flowing black hair and focused expression made her an ethereal beauty, a veritable snu-snu goddess.

Historia, also known as Christa, exuded a gentle aura with European features that contrasted with her seemingly demure presence.

Ymir, with her freckles and a certain 'take no nonsense' vibe, appeared to hail from a Slavic nation. Her rebellious spirit only added to her allure.

Annie, however, was in a league of her own. Kaito found himself at a loss for words as he gawked at her extraordinary beauty, characterized by distinct Germanic features. "Hot" was an understatement; she was absolutely captivating.

As Kaito continued to slyly admire the female cast, his gaze was suddenly blocked by a looming presence. He looked up to see Instructor Shadis, a stern expression etched onto his rugged face.

Shadis' steely gaze locked onto Kaito, and without missing a beat, he demanded, "Name!"

Kaito, acting as if caught off guard, stammered, "K-Kaito, sir."

Shadis raised an eyebrow, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Kaito, is it? Well, Kaito, it appears you've mastered the art of ogling rather quickly."

Kaito smirked, his reply filled with sly humor. "Well, sir, they do say observation is a crucial skill for a soldier. I'm just getting a head start."

Shadis, his anger evident on his face, said, "Is that so? 50 rounds! Begin now"

Once he was done with Kaito, he moved on to the next candidate, Sasha Braus, who had been standing behind Kaito. Kaito, as he moved toward the track to complete his punishment, couldn't help but take a glance at her.

Sasha had a mess of red hair that fell in unruly waves around her face. Her skin was lightly tanned. Her standard training uniform did little to conceal her athletic figure.

Shadis turned his attention to Sasha and demanded to know who she was. Sasha, with a hint of nervousness but a determined look, promptly introduced herself.

"Sasha Blouse from Dauper Village, on the south side of Wall Rose, Sir! Sasha Blouse."

Shadis' anger flared when he noticed something unusual in her hand. "What is that you're holding in your right hand?" he asked, his voice growing stern.

Sasha's expression was surprisingly innocent as she replied, "A steamed potato, Sir! I found one in the cookhouse that was ready to eat, so I couldn't help myself!"

The instructor was utterly baffled by her response. "You stole it? Why??" he questioned, struggling to understand her logic.

."I felt it would be a waste to let it get cold, so I gave it shelter in my stomach," she explained."

Shadis's face was still confused," Why did you decide to eat it now?"

Now it was Sasha whose face showed the expression she was trying to understand what the Instructor was saying," Sir, are you asking why we eat food?"

Then, after a moment of contemplation, Sasha broke the potato in half and offered Shadis the smaller portion with a conflicted expression, 

"Here, Half"

Shadis stared at the potato fragment she offered with a blank, dark expression, seemingly at a loss for words. 

_______

Well, in short, he got a punishment buddy with him now.

Kaito continued to jog at a leisurely pace, his stamina seemingly endless. He glanced back at the red-haired girl, Sasha, who was huffing and puffing, trying to keep up. She had a determined look on her face, but her endurance was clearly no match for Kaito's.

"Come on, potato, just three more rounds," Kaito encouraged her, maintaining a relaxed stride. Even without tapping into his vampiric strength, the physical exertion was almost effortless for him.

Sasha struggled to keep up, her breaths ragged. "Ha...ha...ha," she panted, her face flushed.

Meanwhile, in the distance, Connie, Marco, Reiner, and Bertholdt observed the ongoing punishment. Connie, in particular, was fascinated by Kaito's seemingly boundless energy.

"Is the potato girl and blonde still running?" Connie inquired, his eyes fixed on the two cadets completing laps around the training ground.

"Apparently, yeah," Marco confirmed, watching as Kaito and Sasha continued their punishment.

"That guy isn't tired at all, is he?" Connie noted. He had spotted Kaito running earlier, and to his amazement, the young cadet appeared just as fresh now as he did then.

"I don't think so," Marco agreed. "Did you see the way the potato girl snarled at the commander when he told her she wouldn't be getting dinner tonight?" He chuckled at the memory.

Connie pondered Marco's question. "Do you think they both are wildlings?" he asked with a mischievous grin, prompting laughter from both of them.

Reiner, on the other hand, didn't seem particularly interested in the situation. He ate his meal with a calm demeanor, while Bertholdt sat quietly beside him, discreetly stealing glances at Annie, who was seated across the dinner table.

Kaito, having completed the grueling 50 rounds, stretched his body with a satisfied grin.

"Ahh, nothing like that post-workout feeling," he said with a smirk. While he could tap into his vampiric attributes, he had to remember that his body was part human, too. Nothing like a good old exercise routine to keep the human side happy.

Kaito knew he couldn't overdo the vampire stuff; he'd pay the price if he did. The loss of his hand in that battle with the Smiling Titan was a perfect example.

Sure, it grew back in seconds, but it wasn't like he had a secret stash of hands lying around. Equivalent exchange, folks.

Regeneration was like a rapid self-heal spell, but it used up his life force to do its thing. Kind of like those Titan shifters, but faster and more chaotic. The downside? If he abused it without giving his body time to recharge, while the risk of dying was the obvious downside, but there were other quirky side effects like premature aging, back pain, and joint issues. You know, all the fun stuff.

But what haunted Kaito's nightmares the most was the dreaded …erectile dysfunction. 

Just the thought sent shivers down his soul. That was something he absolutely wanted to avoid.

That's why he had to put in the hard work, strengthen his human side, and hone his skills. That would naturally boost his life force and, in the most literal sense, keep him grounded and connected to Mother Earth. And hopefully, far, far away from any embarrassing supernatural mishaps.

Just then, Sasha fell beside him. Since he had been pushing her to run, she had completed her part faster than her canon counterpart.

As Kaito carried Sasha towards the mess hall, he couldn't care less about what the instructor might say. 

He had other priorities, and leaving a cute, potato-loving girl like Sasha hungry was definitely not an option. Screw the rules; she deserved some food after that run!

Sasha, who had been drowsy from the long run, was now becoming more alert, realizing she was standing in front of the food line. She looked at Kaito with a puzzled expression.

Kaito scratched his head, thinking on his feet. "Alright, Sasha. Stay here, and I'll get you something to eat. Just pretend like you're waiting in line. Nobody will notice. And remember, this is our little secret." He winked at her, a playful glint in his eye.

Sasha, appreciative of his assistance, nodded with a grin. "You're a lifesaver, Kaito!"

As he reached the front of the line, he picked up a couple of bread rolls and then added a bowl of soup to his tray. He acted as though he was going to get food for himself, all the while keeping an eye on Sasha's position. She did a good job pretending to be in line, and no one seemed to pay her any mind.

Once he had his food, he returned to Sasha and discreetly handed her the tray. "Here you go, Sasha. Enjoy your meal. You earned it."

Sasha's eyes widened in appreciation. "Wow, Kaito, you're amazing! Thanks so much." She quickly dug into her food, madly savoring the warm soup and bread as if it were her last meal.