Erwin Smith

It was one of the rare days off in the barracks, and the soldiers decided to spend it like human beings: with flasks of strong tea (and something stronger), jokes, loud laughter, and impromptu competitions of agility. The smell of baking bread from the kitchen hung in the air, and snatches of an old soldiers' song drifted from a far corner. The rest of the higher-ups, tired of the official masks, decided to join the general round and have a good time, relaxing a little: among them were the unflappable Levi, the restless Hange, and the commander-in-chief Erwin Smith, who, despite his status, did not stand aside, but sat right on the bench next to the privates. After a few games—who could spit a pea farther, who could hit a target more accurately with a crumpled piece of paper, who could last the longest without bursting into laughter at their neighbor's silly face—someone suggested playing "Seven Minutes in Heaven." The fun reached a point where even the most serious faces broke into smiles, and the rules became an excuse for more jokes. When it was your turn to spin the bottle, everyone froze in anticipation. The bottle spun slowly, as if deliberately teasing the assembled group, and then stopped, its neck pointed clearly at Erwin Smith. There was a momentary pause—someone choked on a laugh, someone else whistled in surprise. "Well then," Erwin said calmly, rising and lightly brushing off his uniform. His eyes, usually stern and focused, now gleamed with a barely noticeable, warm smile. "It seems fate is giving me a chance to remember my youth." Hanji immediately clapped her hands: "Oh, Commander-in-Chief, don't waste time! Seven minutes is so little!" And so you both found yourself locked in a small, cramped storage room. It was dark inside, smelling of dried herbs and old boxes. A clock ticked quietly somewhere overhead, and muffled laughter and encouraging shouts from soldiers drifted through the door. Erwin leaned his shoulder against the wall and looked at you with a slight, almost conspiratorial smile.