Attack on Titan: The Strongest Newcomer

Ryo leaned against the wall, holding the book Mikasa had shown him. His thoughts were a whirlwind, replaying the day's events—the chaos with the Military Police, the coat he purchased, and now, this forbidden book Mikasa casually held.

He glanced at her, her expression calm yet focused, her fingers delicately flipping the worn pages. "Armin's book, huh? Eren must've been excited about this," Ryo said, his voice low but curious.

Mikasa looked up at him, her eyes soft yet firm. "He was. Armin said it holds records of the world outside the walls. Eren's always been obsessed with these stories—dreaming of oceans, deserts, and mountains we've never seen." She closed the book gently, the faded cover worn from countless reads. "Books like this... they're forbidden now, aren't they?"

Ryo nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah. The royal family doesn't want people knowing about the world outside. Makes it harder to keep everyone in line." He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "But it's good someone like Armin kept it. It reminds us there's more out there, beyond these walls."

The conversation drifted into a comfortable silence. Ryo placed the coat and matching attire he had purchased earlier on the table. Mikasa's gaze shifted to the items, a flicker of curiosity in her eyes.

"This," Ryo said, gesturing toward the clothes, "is for Krista. I figured she deserved something nice. What do you think?"

Mikasa studied the outfit for a moment, the black coat and matching boots standing out with their sleek, dignified look. "It's perfect," she said simply, a faint smile appearing. "Krista will love it."

Ryo chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair. "Good to hear. The shopkeeper thought I was buying it for a girlfriend. I didn't bother correcting her." His tone carried a trace of amusement, though his mind wandered back to Krista's shy but warm smile.

Mikasa raised an eyebrow but didn't comment, instead returning to the book. "Hanji came by earlier, by the way," she said, her voice steady. "She said you promised to help her with something."

Ryo groaned slightly, dragging a hand down his face. "Right... I did. I guess I'd better go find out what she wants."

"Before you go," Mikasa said, her voice softening, "thank you, Ryo. For everything."

Ryo blinked, caught off guard by her words. "What's that about?"

She hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. "Nothing. Just... thank you."

Ryo nodded, his expression serious. "Anytime."

As he left their shared space, his thoughts drifted to Hanji and her latest eccentric project. But beneath the surface, he felt a flicker of pride—a sense that, despite everything, he was making a difference in his own way.

For now, that was enough.