Am I in Attack on Titan with a Death Note???

After eating, he sat outside, staring at the sky. Well… well… soon, Wall Maria will probably fall. When that happens, Trost will be overcrowded, food will become scarce, and survival will be much harder. He needed to prepare before it was too late.

What can I do to stay unaffected? Zen muttered, rubbing his chin.

The best option was clear—leave Trost and move deeper inside Wall Rose before the chaos began. Unlike most people, he already had the means to do so. With the money he had accumulated, he could secure a decent house in one of the safer districts before refugees flooded in and drove prices up.

That night, he told Carla about their plan.

"We're moving inside the walls. Wall Rose will be safer, and we can afford a good place there," he said calmly.

Carla didn't question him—why would she? She trusted him. Mikasa, as always, remained silent but nodded in agreement.

The next day, they packed their belongings. No delays, no second thoughts. By noon, they secured passage on a boat heading past the inner gate.

As Zen watched the walls of Trost shrink behind them, he exhaled.

 ...

Time Skip – 1 Year

As Zen had predicted, Wall Maria fell just days after their evacuation. The chaos that followed was worse than most could have imagined. A massive wave of refugees flooded into Wall Rose, straining food supplies and overwhelming the inner districts.

Prices skyrocketed. Food became scarce. Crime surged. People who had once lived in comfort now fought for scraps like starving animals. The military struggled to maintain order, and tensions ran high among the displaced masses.

But Zen and carla? They were untouched by the worst of it.

Having moved early, they had settled in a stable district before the crisis hit. Their new home was modest but secure, and with their supplies stocked beforehand, they avoided the immediate suffering that plagued the others.

Sitting in his room, Zen glanced at the Death Note resting on his desk. It had been a year since he first arrived in this world, and he had spent that time carefully planning, ensuring he remained unaffected by the chaos that followed the fall of Wall Maria.

And how could he forget the so-called operation by the royal government to reclaim the lost territory? A desperate ploy disguised as a military campaign—250,000 people, nearly 20% of the remaining human population, had been thrown into the fire. Most were mere refugees, untrained and unprepared, sent to their deaths under the guise of reclaiming what was lost. In truth, it was never about regaining Wall Maria; it was population control, a method to ease the growing strain on food supplies.

Less than 200 survivors returned.

Zen had ensured he wasn't one of those forced into that suicidal mission. Careful planning, keeping a low profile, and securing a stable position within Wall Rose had been key. If the military had noticed him, they would have surely sent him to die alongside the others.

Just as Zen was lost in thought, the door creaked open.

Carla stepped inside, her damp hands wiping against the cloth she had been using to wash the laundry. Her long brown hair was slightly messy, strands sticking to her face from the moisture. The scent of soap clung to her, faint but noticeable.

"You're still sitting here," she said, her voice carrying a softness it hadn't had a year ago.

Zen turned his head, watching as she closed the door behind her. It was strange how much things had changed between them. In the past year, their relationship had grown—not just as people sharing a home, but something deeper. He wasn't a saint, and a widow like Carla, left alone in this world, had needed someone.

And so had he.

"Mikasa and Eren?" he asked, already knowing the answer.

"They're outside," Carla sighed, stretching her arms. "I told them not to wander too far, but you know how they are. Mikasa will keep Eren out of trouble, at least."

Zen nodded, leaning back in his chair.

Zen watched her carefully. The way she stretched, the way the candlelight flickered against her skin—it was different now. Carla wasn't just Eren's mother to him anymore. In this past year, things had shifted, slowly, naturally.

Without thinking much, he stood up. In one swift motion, he reached out, grabbing Carla's wrist and pulling her toward him.

"Z-Zen?!" she gasped, caught off guard.

Before she could react, he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. She tensed at first, her body stiff against his, but then—slowly—he felt her relax.

"W-What are you doing?" she muttered, her face turned away, though he could see the faint redness creeping up her neck.

Zen smirked slightly, resting his chin against her shoulder. "You look tired," he murmured.

Carla swallowed hard. Her hands hovered near his chest as if unsure of what to do, but she didn't push him away.

Silence settled between them, warm and heavy.

Then—

A low, grating chuckle echoed in the room.

Zen's eyes flicked to the corner, where his Shinigami was floating, grinning with amusement.

"How touching," the creature rasped, tilting its head. "Should I step outside? Or do humans enjoy being watched?"

Zen clicked his tongue, glaring at the death god. "Get out."

The Shinigami let out another laugh but drifted toward the window, vanishing into the shadows.

Once the presence was gone, Zen turned his attention back to Carla. She was looking at him now, her brown eyes searching his face.

"…Idiot," she muttered, but there was no real anger behind it. Only something softer. Something unspoken.

Zen smirked. "You didn't pull away."

Carla huffed, finally lowering her hands against his chest, her fingers curling slightly. "…Just for a little while," she murmured.

Zen held her closer.

Zen tightened his embrace, his fingers grazing the small of her back as he leaned in, his breath warm against her skin. Carla shivered, her body reacting before her mind could process what was happening.

He tilted his head down, his lips brushing lightly against the side of her neck.

A sharp inhale. Carla's hands trembled slightly against his chest, but she didn't push him away.

Zen took it as permission.

Slowly, he trailed soft, lingering kisses along her neck, his lips tracing the curve of her shoulder. Her breath hitched, her body tensing and relaxing all at once. A quiet, involuntary sound escaped her lips—a mix between a gasp and something more vulnerable.

Zen smirked against her skin before moving higher, his lips brushing just below her jawline.

"Z-Zen…" Carla whispered, but her voice was weak, unsure.

He didn't stop. Tilting her chin slightly, he finally captured her lips in his. It started slow, teasing, but as she melted into him, their kiss deepened. He could taste the warmth of her breath, the hesitation in her touch slowly giving way.

His hands tightened around her waist, pulling her closer, pressing her soft curves against him. Carla clutched the fabric of his shirt, as if anchoring herself, letting herself be lost in the moment—

Clank.

The sound of the front gate creaking open.

Carla tensed immediately, her body stiffening against him before she abruptly pulled away, eyes wide with realization.

"Eren… Mikasa…" she whispered, her breathing still uneven.

Zen sighed, running a hand through his hair as he stepped back, watching as she frantically smoothed her dress, her face still flushed.

They had gotten too caught up.

A second later, the sound of small footsteps echoed outside. Carla took another step away, swallowing hard before shooting him one last glance. Her lips were slightly parted, still red from his kiss.