Training Days Contest

Salutations.

This yonder post be my challenge entry.

Happy Olympics, and may the odds be ever in-

#TrainingDays

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His soup had a hair in it.

Connie Springer's gaze lingered on the thin black strand floating on the surface of the wood bowl, its ends clinging onto a diced carrot and a potato chunk. He knew for a fact that it couldn't be his, as every faint breeze that tickled his scalp between the short gray roots proved his point. There was little doubt that it was probably one of the other cadets, as he swore it hadn't been there earlier.

The young trainee was unsure as to why he had suddenly paid attention to this small detail from his dinner. Typically, Connie might've been goofing around with Sasha, challenging each other to steal the most cups off others' trays without being noticed. However, something felt different in him today. It felt like a knot was twisting and writhing inside of him, and it made him lose his appetite.

With a small scowl, he glared around the dining hall flooded with the other trainees. His day had been rough enough when he had been pushed around by Jean, who was acting all serious throughout the entire training exercises. But now his food wouldn't make him feel any better. Despite the lively clamoring and chatting amongst the others, Connie was beginning to feel less like himself, and began to worry about what he was doing by trying to enlist in the military. What was his end goal? What would he decide to-

"Yo, Connie! Chin up, eyes here!"

Connie blinked for a brief moment to glance up at Reiner, who had been standing next to the table with a wide grin. Reiner's face was bright red, presumably from laughing to hard earlier at some kind of joke. With a small, nervous chuckle, Connie broke his bread into thirds and responded distractedly.

"Hey, Reiner. What's up with yo-"

Connie glanced up again and widened his eyes in surprise as Reiner slid right next to him, giving Connie a light shove to make room for the newcomer.

"You seemed down, so I wanted to check up on you. What's bringing you down?"

Reiner nudged Connie with his arm, resulting in Connie sighing softly and glancing around the hall again. He noticed that Eren was glaring at someone out of his view, along with Mikasa and Armin. In the corner, Annie was already finished with her meal and was resting against the cabin wall. Connie paused momentarily before replying.

"I just don't know where I'll fit in after all this....if I even get into the top ten. There are so many talented people here...do I make the best out of it and settle with the Garrison? I just want to do my best...for..."

His voice faltered, so he shut his mouth before he could embarass himself any further. He knew that Sasha was someone who probably would laugh off how he was feeling about the whole experience, so he found no reason to continue with Reiner. The blond cadet listened carefully, then rubbed Connie's head with his palm.

"Connie, you don't need to compare yourself to everyone else. You've got your own talents, and no one knows what they are. Believe me, even I don't. But whatever regiment you end up in...they'll have gained a proud warrior."

Connie felt his lungs caught in mid-breath, as he wasn't sure how to respond to such praise. He had always seen Reiner as a terrifying guy, yet there was a sense of comfort being near him. He seemed so strong and brave, and it wasn't often that Connie would gain such respect from people like him....those who actually had a chance at being at the top. With a light chuckle, Connie brushed away Reiner's hand and shot him a relieved expression.

"Thanks, that means a lot...especially coming from you. I think I'll give it a bit more thought, though. Don't want to mess up and stuff, you know. Yeah."

With a hearty pat against Connie's back, Reiner stood up and headed back to his own table with Bertholdt. Connie gazed into his bowl of soup, his eyes fixated on the floating hair strand but with less intensity than before. A small smile tugged at the edge of his mouth. Maybe he still had a bit more value in him than he thought.

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Credits:

Connie Springer - Connie Springer

Reiner Braun - Reiner Braun

Eren Jaeger - Eren Jaeger

Mikasa Ackerman - Mikasa Ackerman

Armin Arlert - Armin Arlert

Bertholdt Hoover - Bertholdt Hoover

Annie Leonhardt - Annie Leonhardt

Jean Kirstein - Jean Kirstein