#krista lenz
Three Viewpoints Selected Cases
The Case of the Disappearing Steamed Potatoes - File No. 03 Ymir’s Side (3/3)
So Krista and I are in different squads tomorrow for the logistics march.
A few hours before the stomach-shaking case of the many missing potatoes was discovered…
It’s a long route, but there’s so little food… This seems pretty tough. Knowing her…she’ll probably give her food to some second-rate recruit.
Alone and on water-fetching duty, Ymir thought to herself as she passed by the storehouse with a bucket in her hands.
Are those…Garrison soldiers? Are they slacking on the job?
“Hey, what about guarding the storehouse?”
“Who’s going to steal that gruel they feed the recruits?”
Ymir clicked her tongue as she watched the soldiers chat away.
It’s like they don’t have a care in the world… Wait a second.
A thought came to Ymir’s mind. If anything was to happen, guards this flippant about their duty would surely try to cover it up.
******
Then, after dinner that day.
I feel bad about what I did to Sasha, sending her into the kitchen like that…but she’ll just have to hold on. If I can just skip those into the cargo that’s being distributed…
Ymir was walking to the stables while trying to avoid being spotted by anyone. A voice came out of nowhere from around the waiting horses.
“…So it was you.”
“Armin! …What’re you doing there?”
“What about you, Ymir? Why are you in these stables?”
“I dunno… Why don’t you answer my question first?”
With strong, determined eyes that didn’t match the rest of his frame, the short boy looked at his fellow corpsmate.
“I…was hiding here to talk to whomever came here right now at this hour.”
When he saw Ymir wasn’t going to say anything, Armin began to explain his thoughts in full.
******
“…The case of the missing potatoes was more than someone stealing food to eat on their own. While that was happening, a huge number of potatoes was taken as well.”
“…That’s no good. Thieves?”
“They would have gone for something more valuable if they were motivated by money… I think it’s someone who needed food used in training.”
Armin lowered his eyes for a moment before looking Ymir in the face.
“It was a gamble…but I thought that if a recruit was going to hide food, they’d hide it in the horse fodder. You could even carry it on horseback to a separate location that way. That’s why I was here, waiting for that recruit to come to the stables.”
“How do you think I did that, then?”
“It’s only a guess, but…when you were on water-fetching duty, you pretended to start carrying water before throwing it out near the storehouse, then filled your bucket up with potatoes that you hid in the fodder. The area around the storehouse being wet was proof that you threw the water out.
Ymir let out a deep sigh when she heard Armin putting the pieces together.
******
"So? Are you going to squeal on me?”
“I…want to let you decide that. There should have been no need for you to steal an entire box of potatoes if you were just trying to make things easier for yourself.”
And if she had wanted to pad the number of potatoes her squad got, she didn’t need to take so much that she’d be discovered. Armin continued to explain with disappointment in his voice, like it was something he had done himself.
“Could it be…that you risked getting noticed and stole a whole box so that everyone would have more food?”
“Do you really think I’m that good of a person?”
“You wouldn’t need this many unless you were also considering the squads of your friend like Krista and Sasha.”
“Hm…Is that so?”
Ymir scratched her head and looked back at the stolen potatoes, as if she wondered what she should do. Now that she had been discovered, perhaps it would be best for her to return them with grace.
But if the training exercise goes forward as planned, she'll…
“This case made me notice that there’s not enough food during tomorrow’s training, too.”
As if he had anticipated Ymir’s concerns, Armin took out his notebook and showed her his notes. In it was a detailed plan describing how to get through the training exercise with only the food provided.
“I tried to come up with preparations. The numbers make me think it’ll work… What do you think?”
“Are you going to tell Krist–all of the others?”
Armin nodded. Ymir decided that if this work had come from none other than Armin, they would somehow be able to survive.
“I’ll return the potatoes. If needed, I’ll accept whatever punishment they give me… Because I trust your calculations.”
“You’re such a kind person, Ymir. You did this for your friends, and…”
“I did this for myself. Now get out of the way, I’m returning these,” Ymir said, cutting Armin off and pointing the loaded horse toward the storehouse. She didn’t like the thought of having to beg and plead with Garrison soldiers, but she did feel a little better. It was like a lingering concern had been lifted from her heart.
SOURCE:Attack on Titan: Short Stories 2
Three Viewpoints Selected Cases
The Case of the Disappearing Steamed Potatoes - File No. 01 Connie’s Side (1/3)
A free moment between training sessions…
As Connie tried to take a shortcut, he went the wrong way and passed by the kitchen.
Sasha? What’s she doing there?
The door was cracked open, and through it he saw Sasha, a fellow corpsmate, snooping around. When Connie stopped, wondering what she could be doing, Sasha noticed him and let out a surprised yell.
“C-Connie?! Were you watching?!”
“Huh? Watching what?”
Connie hadn’t seen what Sasha was doing. But he had a vague idea. She must have been sneaking a bite again.
******
“Hm? Aren’t we missing some food for dinner tonight?”
“Do you ever listen to what people say, Connie? The instructor just now told us we’re all being punished by only having one plate each for dinner because someone pigged out on potatoes.”
It wasn’t until Connie had finished half of his dinner before he realized that the mood in the room was heavy.
Jean seemed as disgusted as could be, and he was looking at Sasha, who acted openly suspicious.
“Like I said, it wasn’t me!”
“Coming from you, that’s hard to believe.”
Even Connie was dubious of Sasha. While it was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, he thought that idiots like her were bad liars. Just then, Marco asked him a question.
“Speaking of which, didn’t you say you were taking a shortcut and going by the kitchen, Connie? You still just barely made it in time… Did you see something there?”
“Ah… Umm… I don’t know.”
“What you mean, you don’t know? You must at least remember if you saw someone there or not.”
Connie couldn’t find the words for an answer. Armin, who had been deep in thought until then, began to speak.
“This is just a theory… But Connie, did you…?”
To everyone’s shock, he guessed the exact words that were stuck in Connie’s throat.
******
“…Would you please take this and keep quiet?”
“A potato? You didn’t steal this, did you?”
Sasha offered Connie something in the kitchen. It was, without question, a freshly-steamed potato.
“No, I didn’t take it! I was just here because it was my turn to get some water!”
“I know you must have taken this from that pot. Why else would I need to stay quiet? If I do, I’m gonna lose out on food, too!”
While he was as right as could be, Sasha had already eaten it. There was no turning back now.
“It’s not like I can give it back… It won’t be a problem for anyone as long as you stay quiet, Connie. By the way, what about our next training…oh, there’s the bell.”
“…Crap! We’ll be late!”
Sasha popped the entire potato in her outstretched hand into her mouth before running off. While Connie had his reservations, being late for his next training session was the bigger concern. Somehow, nothing came of it in the end.
******
Connie agreed with Armin’s Defence of him and explained everything that had happened. All the others looked at him and put their head in their hands.
“So you let Sasha win you over.”
“Why would you say that?!”
“You just admitted it.”
Only Sasha looked panicked now.
“Oh! Wh-What’re you talking about…? I was only in the kitchen to fetch some water… And that’s when I met Connie… And…”
“Sorry. We were on duty too, but someone suddenly asked for our help. We made Sasha go to the kitchen by herself…”
Krista tried to take some of the blame with this flimsy excuse. While they were all ready to take Sasha down, Armin was the only one who still seemed puzzled.
“There's…no way that Sasha could have done it.”
“What did you just say, Armin?”
Connie was astonished to hear the words. But Armin was always able to explain everything in a simple way. Connie waited for Armin’s next conjecture, hoping that he would reveal an unseen truth.
[PART TWO | PART THREE ]
SOURCE: Attack on Titan: Short Stories 2
Good Night, Dear and Sweet Dreams (Goodnight. Sweet dreams, dear)
It was once said the dreams are a mirror of one’s heart. Perhaps dreams are a respite that allow one to forget their cruel and brutal day, or they might be an abyss even harsher than reality… What will tonight’s rest bring?
- Vol. 01 Sasha Blouse
- Vol. 02 Levi
- Vol. 03 Bertolt Hoover
- Vol. 04 Armin Arlert
- Vol. 05 Hange Zöe
- Vol. 06 Marco Bott
- Vol. 07 Annie Leonhart
- Vol. 08 Jean Kirstein
- Vol. 09 Moblit Berner
- Vol. 10 Mikasa Ackerman
- Vol. 11 Connie Springer
- Vol. 12 Reiner Braun
- Vol. 13 Carla Yeager
- Vol. 14 Ymir
- Vol. 15 Eren Yeager
******
Good Night, Dear and Sweet Dreams series is published in the Attack on Titan: Short Stories booklet that was included in the Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 1 Manga Box Set[BUY HERE]
The Following Stories under the same series had also been published on the AU Smartpass Website[LINK ] but not included in the Booklet
- Nile Dok
- Oluo Bozado
- Hannes
- Erwin Smith
- Krista Lenz
- Mike Zacharias
- Keith Shadis
Good Night, Dear and Sweet Dreams Vol. 14 Ymir
She once had a very long nightmare.
That’s why she didn’t like dreams.
She tried to tire herself out as much as possible and fall into a deep sleep, then wake up as fast as she could in the morning.
“You’re so lucky, Ymir.”
“Huh? With what?”
“You always seem to sleep so well every night, and you’re able to get right up in the mornings, right?” The girl always by her side smiled casually.
“You don’t even sleep during lectures.”
“Well, I’m not like you,” Ymir said, nudging Sasha, the other girl present–before turning to face Krista, who stood beside her.
“It’s not something that just happens, you know? I don’t want to tire myself out more with weird dreams, anyway.”
******
Ymir was telling the truth. Not only did she live the regimented life of a recruit, she never joined the other girls in the dorm in staying up late, she skipped out on any odd jobs that seemed like they would keep her long, and she always did a small bit of exercise on her bed before falling asleep, making sure that she could go straight to sleep once she closed her eyes. This was because she hated nightmares.
…I messed that one up.
But tonight was different.
She had been placed on the same squad as Krista for their camping training, but when Krista separated from the pack in search for a reserve horse that had run away, Ymir had been sent to find her as the most talented recruit present.
“Sorry, Ymir! Thanks for coming to help me.”
“This is the last time, okay?! Sheesh… Look at how late it is already,” they galloped side by side down the moonlit path back to camp. There would be a little bit of time before they had to leave…but the bright moon had the effect of keeping her strangely awake. Ymir now thought it would have been better if she had no time to sleep at all…
******
What…is this place?
She was submerged in darkness, somewhere that even light of the moon could not reach. Her thought were interrupted by noises every now and then.
“No–!”
“Stop–!”
Screams, groans, and voices that shook in fear. Then, silence. She wandered alone for a long, long time.
…Stop it! I’m different now!
A headache. Her body was heavy.
Most of all, she felt sick–she felt lonely, isolated as if she was a pariah to the world, and she could feel the heat building from behind her eyes…
“Ymir… You can’t cry…”
The clear voice came from nowhere and turned into a shinning light. Ymir reached out as if to grab it, but the drops of light that came raining down passed through her fingers.
“I’ll fall together with you…”
“Y-You idiot… What would be the point then…?” Ymir grit her teeth and held onto this frail light. “I’m going to protect you…and live a great life. I’ve already made my decision!”
******
Ymir snapped awake to see Krista watching her with a concerned look.
“Are you okay, Ymir? It’s not like you to groan in your sleep like that… And look at how much you sweat, too.”
She enjoyed the feeling of Krista’s cool hand against her forehead.
“I wonder if you might have a fever. Probably because I kept you up late yesterday…”
“Do you seriously think that would happen…? I just wasn’t getting a good night’s sleep, that’s all.”
She brushed Krista’s hand aside to wipe away her sweat with her own hand. She felt better, but she didn’t want others–in other words, Krista–to know.
That’s right. I woke up from that dream. And then…I found something.
Ymir got up on her own, put on an unconcerned face, and started cleaning up the dorm with members of another squad.
“You’re okay, then?”
“Yeah. So hurry up and start helping out,” she replied gruffly to the girl who continued to be concerned for her, only to smile in the next moment.
Even if this world is like a nightmare, I made a decision to live a great future in it.
The morning sun illuminated her powerful, hidden determination.
SOURCE: Attack on Titan: Short Stories
Photo-Scan of the Shingeki no Kyojin: Short Stories (Japanese) and Attack on Titan: Short Stories Booklets (English).
SnK: Short Stories came with Shingeki no Kyojin Vol 20 Tankōbon Limited Edition,SnK: Short Stories 2 was with Shingeki no Kyojin Vol 21 Tankōbon Limited EditionandSnK: Short StorieswithShingeki no Kyojin Vol 29 Tankōbon Limited Edition
AoT: Short Stories was included as part of Attack on Titan Season 3 Part 1 Manga Box SetwhileAoT: Short Stories 2inAttack on Titan Season 3 Part 2 Manga Box Set.
Ps: SnK: Short Stories Backcover is missing as too much reflection of me in its photo-scan due to the Glossy Paper used for the Dust Jacket and its Black Background. ;___; Will add it in one day when I have a PC and thus can Scan the Covers using a Real Flatbed Scanner!
SCANNER:CamScanner Apps (iOS Version)
Good Night, Dear and Sweet Dreams Vol. 07 Annie Leonhart
New soldiers, even ones in the Military Police, have a lot to do. That said, they still have more free time than in the Training Corps, so Annie’s peer seemed to occasionally go out to town and enjoy themselves, shopping and so on.
“Take a look, Annie. This skirt was on sale for fifty percent off!”
“…Hm.”
Annie met every piece of clothing that her roommate Hitch showed her with the same uninterested glance as she rolled about on her bed.
“You should come with me some time for a change. You’re not social at all, Annie.”
“…Leave me alone.”
******
Annie’s new post was in Stohess District, a town that protruded from the Wall and had a door allowing passage through it. These kinds of towns–such as Trost District and, of course, Shiganshina District in previous days–were full of people due to the Royal Government’s actions, making them also centers of distribution.
“Hm…?”
“C'mon, don’t you think this one would be perfect for me, Annie?”
Annie suddenly found herself in the center of its main street. Nearby, Hitch pointed at a show window. An aristocratic dress was on display in the shop.
“I can’t buy that dress…not on the kind of salary we get.”
“I know that! I was just saying,” Hitch said, letting out a trademark cackle. “Anyway, we’re soldiers. We don’t have any chance to wear clothes like that.”
“We’re soldiers, sure, but you know we’re MPs, right? What if one day we end up acting as guards for nobles, and there a handsome young aristocrat falls in love with one of us while we’re on duty… Something like that!”
“You dream too much.”
By Annie’s standards, she was being talkative.
Had she and Hitch…no, had she and any of her fellow recruits in the Training Corps ever joked back and forth like this?
The scene began to faintly blur.
******
“Oh, Annie!”
Someone began waving her hand and running toward Annie from the other side of the hazy scene.
“…Krista?”
It was the girl who was kind to everyone, someone who was always considerate, even to someone as unsociable as Annie.
“You’re going shopping? What a wonderful store.”
“Why–”
Why are you here? She wanted to ask, but her question was drowned out by the procession of figures who came to take to her.
“So you’re finally interested in dressing up, Annie?”
“Ooh, there’s a cart selling meat over there!”
Those she knew from the Training Corps walked through town, cheerful and excited. The scene was an impossible one, but it also reminded Annie of something.
“You're…all here.”
While only a few words came out of Annie’s mouth, they were filled with kindness.
“The boys are here, too. I think Reiner and Bertolt are on that street over there,” Ymir’s indistinct voice said, pointed in a different direction.
“Reiner and Bertolt…”
Annie’s spine froze in shock at the two names.
…That’s right. I'm…
Soon the cold was everywhere, and Annie held herself in her own arms, shivering.
I don’t have any right to smile.
As Annie’s senses grew colder, her happy Corpsmates began to disappear like fog.
“I’m sorry… I’m sorry!”
******
“You sleep every night with such a scary look on your face. How do you do it?”
When Annie opened her eyes, Hitch was there, peeking at her bed with an astonished expression.
“…Is it morning?”
Hitch nodded, then stepped away from the bed to stretch as she put on her jacket.
“Yep. You’d better hurry up and change, or else we’ll be late.”
“…I know.”
The emotions in her voice was restrained, unlike in her dream. Annie felt relieved to hear the voice coming from her mouth.
I…can’t be the person I was in that dream. Not ever, no matter what happens…
Annie gulped down hard as something began to well up inside of her. She crawled out of bed. The sun seemed unusually bright.
SOURCE: Attack on Titan: Short Stories
Late Night Stories Vol. 03 Krista Lenz : A Heart-Pounding Story
“Nngh… Meaaaat… Breaaad… Mrrgh.”
“Wake up, potato girl! Your textbook is covered in drool!”
Whack!The dull sound of someone’s head being struck filled the room. It was late at night, but the girls barracks still glowed bright.
“Hey, whose idea was it again to copy the boys and pull an all-nighter?!”
“You, too, Ymir. Calm down…”
“Then do you want to give up and go to sleep, Krista? You know this test about the history and construction of the Vertical Maneuvering Equipment is ridiculously hard, right? And it’s even going to be counted in our overall marks!”
“Ugh… I won’t sleep. I’ll study.”
“L-Let us join, too!”
Mina and Hannah, two other recruits, gathered around the trio sitting around the table. Unable to sit there and watch everyone desperately try to rub the drowsiness out of their eyes any longer. Ymir crossed her arms and made a suggestion.
“Now that I think of it, the boys said they had someone tell a story to wake them up. Hey, Krista. Give us a story.”
“Whaat?!”
••••••
Now that she had been put on the spot, Krista looked around at everyone, flustered.
“B-But, what should I talk about…?”
“Oh, I want to hear a story about a time when someone made your heart race, Krista!”
Hannah’s proposal put a glimmer in all the girls’ eyes, aside from Krista’s. She looked skeptical, like she didn’t even understand what was being said.
“But…”
“It doesn’t have to be anything special. For example, a time you saw someone as a good person because of something unexpected they did. You know, that kind of thing!”
The girls all agreed as they looked on expectantly. Krista thought, and then she suddenly clapped.
“Oh! Then what about this?”
••••••
It happened during a training exercise meant to take place in a scenario where the recruits had to plan an escape with multiple horses from a Titan-filled area. Notifying the people of danger and evacuating them on horses during emergencies was an important part of a soldier’s duties.
At the time, Krista was in a team with Ymir and Sasha.
“The pack of horses meant for the citizens has made it to the Forest of Giant Trees!”
“I’ll use Vertical Maneuvering to be on watch! Sasha, you protect the rear!”
“Alright!”
As Krista led the horses from the front, she was concerned about Ymir overhead. Because there would be sudden Titan appearances during the training, log traps meant to recreate a Titan’s long, outstretched limbs had been placed in their way, as well as dummy Titans meant to obstruct them.
“In front!”
A dummy Titan appeared from nowhere in front of Krista. She immediately put her horse on a detour and made sure the pack had changed directions before using Vertical Maneuvering to leap into the air herself. But then—
“Guh?!”
“Ymir!!”
Now a log trap had appeared, this time in front of Ymir—
“HIYAAAAA!”
••••••
“…And that’s how Sasha saved us!”
“Yeah, that was pretty surprising.”
Though Sasha should have been in the back, she used her Vertical Maneuvering Equipment to appear in the very front, where she used both her legs to land a kick on the log, changing its direction. Thanks to her, Ymir avoided taking a direct hit while Krista was able to focus on destroying the dummy Titan, allowing training to come to a safe end.
“That was cool.”
“I’m sure it was just her intuition, but she did save us.”
Sasha had already fallen sound asleep while the story was being told, and Ymir forced a smile as she gently poked her head.
…But Mina and Hannah looked unamused, as though they had been deceived.
“Um… That’s not what we meant…”
“We wanted to hear a story about…well, a different kind of person, I guess…”
“What, that wasn’t good enough for you?”
“No…it did help us wake up, but…”
The disappointed recruits suddenly realized something. Couldn’t the trio’s trust in one another and their close teamwork be the cause of their high marks?
“…I guess that means we should be more serious about training, too, instead of just trying to hear about silly love stories.”
“Hmm? Mrrgh…”
“…It is plain annoying that the hero of that story is out cold right now, though.”
And so, the night marched quietly on in the girls barracks.
SOURCE:Attack on Titan: Short Stories 2
TRANSLATION:Ko Ransom
Three Viewpoints: Selected Cases
The Case of the Anonymous Invitation - File No. 11 Krista’s Side (2/3)
One day, the Training Corps received a letter with no address inviting someone to a meal.
Speculation about its sender, as well as the intended recipient that this sender must have forgotten to write, was the topic of much discussion even after they returned to the barracks.
“I wonder who that invitation was for? A boy, or maybe a girl…?”
“I really would like to know! Oh, I’m so jealous!”
While the girls barracks were always alive with discussion, it was especially animated today. Krista smiled as she listened in, and then the conversation turned to her.
“If anyone is going to get a letter like that…don’t you think it’d be Krista?”
“What…?”
Everyone’s attention suddenly turned to her, putting Krista at a loss.
I don’t remember ever saving anyone…
••••••
“The letter said it was by someone who was saved, right…? I don’t remember ever doing something like that…”
Confused, Krista tried to nonchalantly signal the nearby Ymir for help.
“You’re always fussing over people, even when you don’t realize it yourself. So…I could see someone mistaking that for you saving them, can’t you?”
Hmm…I’m not very happy to hear that.
Krista knew that her kindness and caring that everyone thought so highly of wasn’t the real her. She was afraid of being praised for her false compassion, and so she desperately tried to find something that would let her deny it. Not out of the kindness of her own heart… but out of selfishness.
“Um, didn’t Marco also say something like, ‘When I got lost on that mountain, I thought I was going to die by the side of the path'…?” In other words… I think the person who sent that letter must have met the person it was for during mountain training the other day.“
••••••
"Mountain training…? Oh, that really tough one?”
“Now I remember! Where we had to hunt, even though we didn’t have enough food… I was ready to steal other people’s prey, forget about saving them.”
The girls in the barracks all held their heads heavy in their hands. Memories of the harsh, mentally and physically exhausting multi-day training exercise was still fresh in their minds.
“It would’ve been amazing if you managed to pull that off, potato girl. You shoulda tried.”
“There was no one to try on! The squads were far away from one another, and we were nowhere near any populated paths… We only saw our squadmates during that exercise.”
“…And even if you did, you wouldn’t get yourself invited out for a meal if you robbed someone in the middle of the road.”
Though Sasha talked about how tough of a time she had during training, Ymir was mildly bewildered by the toughness she showed regardless of the fact.
“I didn’t have any chances to talk to anyone outside of my squad, either. I had a hard enough time keeping up with the training exercise… You know that, don’t you, Ymir?”
“Oh… True. Unfortunately, I don’t recall coming across anyone rich enough to have a 'restaurant they often patronize.’”
“Oh… So it must be for someone in a squad that helped someone out.”
Krista’s gentle nudging had taken the girls’ conversation into a different direction.
••••••
As the group excitedly recalled their stories about the rigorous mountain training exercise, one girl raised her hand.
“Oh! I was in Reiner’s squad during the training… I want to say that he was the squad leader and that he saved a civilian then.”
“So the letter was for Reiner?!”
“Hmm… But if it was, that would be a little…”
“Wh-What do you mean by that? Come on, details!”
While it was only getting later, there seemed to be no signs of the discussion coming to an end. Krista simply watched them with a relieved smile, completely uninterested.
Phew… I got them to stop talking about me.
…And so she failed to catch the truth of the matter when it was revealed. While she would be fairly shocked to learn it alongside the boys a few days later, she was at least satisfied that she was now free of any suspicious.
SOURCE:Attack on Titan: Short Stories 2
“Destruction & Regeneration”
Historia’s sorrow.
進撃の巨人タクティクスの夏イベ記念絵✨
An old commission for a friend of mine
I’m the kid
