Brothers in arms

I couldn’t move.

“In the year 2307, we contained and controlled over a hundred isolated cases across the city. If your neighbor or coworker shows symptoms, call 222 and we’ll handle it!” echoed in my head.

Even though I wanted to follow her to the ends of the world, when she ran away into the rain, I couldn’t bring myself to go after her.

“Please refrain from visiting the outer districts. There’s been a surge in infections over the past week. If you must go for an urgent matter, ensure you’re well protected…”

Breathing nervously, soaked and defeated, I was taken home by Carlos.

What now…?

My good comrade accompanied me all the way to my apartment. He waited in my kitchen while I showered, dealing with his own tasks via the wrist hologram on his arm.

“It’ll be a miracle if I don’t catch a cold… I used up my luck last time…” I muttered, watching the water cascade down at my feet amidst the rising steam.

As I lathered shampoo into my hair, memories of Katy in the rain filled my mind—I could still feel her hand on my cheek.

I’m such an idiot… What’s going to happen on Monday? How are we supposed to keep working together after this?

I turned the faucet again, letting the water pour over me.

It wouldn’t surprise me if she’s already filling out a partner transfer request form tonight…

DING DONG

The sound of the doorbell snapped me back to reality, cutting through the hum of the water.

“Leave it to me, Isayama,” I heard Carlos say.

Without replying, I stayed under the stream, silently rinsing off the soap.

Could it be Rin?

Once I finished my shower, I dressed without looking at the mirror. I could hear muffled voices on the other side of the bathroom door, but I tried to ignore them.

“Hey, Carlos,” I called as I stepped into the main room of my apartment. “Who was it? Huh?”

I froze in surprise at the sight that awaited me.

They were sitting there in silence, gathered around my room on chairs and on the floor.

“I didn’t know you lived here…” joked one of the guests, his voice muffled by a mouthful of food.

“Hiro, Felix, Ryunosuke…” The three of them, along with Carlos, were eating from the first of four pizza boxes they’d brought. “What are you all doing here?”

Seated around the food, all four of them smiled at me.

“Logistical support,” replied Ryunosuke.

“Colleague support,” Felix added. “And honestly, we could all use a bit of a break…”

“Guys…”

“Oh, little Isayama…” Hiro raised a slice of pizza high, as if making a toast. “Did you really think we’d let our pup stay sad? In these uncertain times, we must support our comrades…”

I didn’t know what to say, but seeing them there made me happy.

“Come on, don’t just stand there—Felix is a pizza devourer…” Carlos nudged one of the boxes away from the muscle man’s lap.

“Of course!” I sat on the floor between Ryunosuke and Hiro.

“Let us inaugurate the Division 3 Brotherhood Dinner!” Hiro proclaimed.

Together, we laughed at funny anecdotes, some of which happened before I joined the team.

Felix and Hiro were right. It wasn’t just about my failure with Katy—Shinpei’s illness had cast a shadow of uncertainty over the division. It was comforting to know that we were here for each other when needed.

Soon, chaos reigned. As Hiro and Felix fought over the last slice of pizza, I simply laughed, watching Carlos try to separate them.

“You don’t have to worry about what happened today,” Ryunosuke said.

“It’s okay. Things like this happen…”

“Believe it or not, I was rejected at that very same aquarium once…”

“Huh?! You confessed to someone there?”

I can’t imagine Ryunosuke doing such a thing…

“Well, it’s not quite that simple…” He smiled wistfully. “I hadn’t planned on confessing…”

“What happened?”

Meanwhile, the fight between my colleagues turned into a full-on grappling match.

“I was a couple of years younger than you. I went to the aquarium with the girl I liked and a mutual friend. Seeing her surrounded by the fish and the water was a vision that rivaled the finest paintings… Unfortunately, all I could do was watch as my friend confessed to her. They soon became a couple.”

“Ryunosuke…”

“I’ll never forget the pain of standing just a meter away, watching the girl I loved slip away. I never even got the chance to screw it up like you did. I think you’d regret it more if you’d never told her how you felt…”

The regret of not trying…

“You’re right.” I smiled and took another bite of pizza. “Not trying would’ve been worse. Thanks, Ryunosuke.”

“No problem. Sometimes, it’s all about timing…”

DING DONG

The doorbell rang again.

We all froze instantly, even the two wrestlers.

“What if it’s a superior here to scold us for the noise?” Hiro suggested.

“If that’s the case, the rookie—uh, the owner of the apartment—should answer.”

What happened to camaraderie?!

“Alright… I’ll handle it…” I walked slowly toward the door.

I opened it cautiously, trying to appear calm. Softly, the light from my room spilled into the dim hallway. The person standing there...

…to my surprise, wasn’t a superior from another division.

Nor was it someone I ever expected to find standing there…