The presence of Mikasa Ackerman had always been noteworthy, even from the first day. Her quiet intensity, the effortless way she carried herself, the subtle shadow of tragedy clinging to her – these things set her apart. But in the weeks since Shadis's terrifying welcome, the ripples emanating from her had grown into distinct waves, altering the currents of perception among the 104th Training Corps. She was still Mikasa Ackerman, yet somehow… more. More focused, more potent, more unnervingly present, especially where Eren Jaeger was concerned. And everyone, in their own way, had noticed.
Eren Jaeger:
Mikasa… she's always been strong. Always been there. Since Mom… since Shiganshina… she just is. But something's… sharper now. It's not just that she's good at everything – expected that, she's an Ackerman, right? Though even Shadis seemed surprised by how easily she took to the gear, how she just knew what to do during sparring. It's… the way she is. When Jean opened his stupid mouth that first day, she shut him down cold. No hesitation. Just ice. And when he tried it again during sparring, talking trash while I was fighting Reiner… she didn't even look, just called out his mistake, helped me win. Like she knew. Like she was watching everything, all the time, even when she wasn't looking.
And that fall… Sasha falling… Mikasa moved before I even processed what was happening. Like lightning. Didn't even seem scared, just… acted. Got her. Fixed her gear. Said it was duty. But the way she looked at me afterwards, when I thanked her… it wasn't the usual quiet look. It felt… heavier. Deeper. Like she was checking if I was okay after seeing someone fall.
She's always right there. When I struggled with the belt, she didn't doubt me, just said I'd figure it out. Believed me. When I stumble, her hand is there. When I miss something in maintenance, she points it out before I even get frustrated. Even in class, when I was arguing about tactics, she came up with that idea… fast, smart, used my idea but made it… better. Safer, like Armin wanted.
It's good. Having her watch my back, knowing she's that strong, that reliable… it's essential. We need strength like hers to kill all the Titans. But sometimes… sometimes it feels like… too much? Like she's anticipating things before they happen. Like she's carrying some weight I don't understand. But she's family. My only family left, really, besides Armin. And she's dedicating all that strength to helping us. To helping me. I won't question it. I need her. We need her.
Armin Arlert:
Mikasa has changed. It's subtle, perhaps imperceptible to those not paying close attention, but it's undeniable. Her physical prowess was always exceptional, a given considering her lineage. The speed, the balance, the combat instincts – they seem even more refined now, honed to an impossible edge. Watching her move during the ODM drills in the forest… it wasn't just skill, it was mastery. Instinctual. When she saved Sasha, the speed and precision defied normal human reaction times.
But it's not just the physical. Her demeanor… it's shifted. She was always quiet, reserved. Now, her silence feels… purposeful. Calculated. Her eyes, those calm grey eyes, seem to miss nothing. They track Eren constantly, anticipating his needs, his mistakes, his emotional shifts with an accuracy that's almost unsettling. When she intervened verbally during Eren's spar with Jean, it wasn't impulsive; it felt deliberate, timed perfectly for maximum effect with minimum exposure.
And her contribution in the strategy class… that wasn't the Mikasa I knew from Shiganshina, who mostly deferred tactical thinking. That was sharp, insightful, integrating complex ideas effortlessly. She understood my concerns about risk mitigation while simultaneously validating Eren's focus on offensive power, synthesizing them into a viable tactic on the spot. Where did that come from?
Her devotion to Eren has always been absolute, a defining characteristic. But now… it feels less like quiet loyalty and more like a… strategic imperative. Every action, every display of strength, every word seems geared towards supporting Eren, protecting him, enabling him. Even her rejection of Jean, while understandable given his approach, was delivered with a finality, a coldness that felt less like personal dislike and more like eliminating a perceived obstacle. She said 'protecting family is natural', and I believe she means it, but the intensity… it feels like she's guarding him against a future only she can see. I trust her, implicitly. Her strength is vital for Eren, for all of us. But I can't shake the feeling that there's more going on beneath that calm surface than any of us realize.
Jean Kirschtein:
Ackerman… Damn her. One minute I think, wow, she's incredible – that hair, those eyes, the way she moves… maybe someone actually worth impressing exists in this hellhole. The next? Ice queen. Worse than ice. She looks at me like I'm something she scraped off her boot. That first day, her telling me my opinion was irrelevant… humiliating. In front of everyone. In front of Jaeger.
And she's always defending him. Suicidal maniac Jaeger. Why? What's so special about him? He's reckless, loud, obsessed with dying. And she sticks to him like glue. When I tried talking to her again, suggesting maybe she shouldn't follow him to her death, she practically threatened me. Said her place was beside him, told me never to speak to her again. The look in her eyes… it wasn't just dismissive, it was… hostile.
Then the sparring crap. She 'accidentally' trips me? Bullshit! She sent me flying so Jaeger wouldn't look bad against Reiner. And then, when I was finally getting the upper hand on Jaeger later, she calls out my form? From across the field? Just to give him an opening? She's actively working against me! It's like she sees me as some kind of threat to precious Eren.
It makes no sense. She's got talent oozing out of her ears. Perfect scores, moves like a goddess in the gear, strong as hell. She could easily get into the MPs, live comfortably, have her pick of guys who aren't suicidal morons. But no. She chooses Jaeger. And she chooses to treat me like dirt. Fine. Whatever. Let her waste her life babysitting him. But damn it, why me? Why does she hate me so much? It burns. More than Shadis's yelling, more than anything. That cold, dismissive look… and knowing she's doing it all for him.
Reiner Braun:
Ackerman. She's… significant. The Ackerman clan was known for their strength, protectors of the King. Seems the stories weren't exaggerated. Her physical abilities are off the charts. Balance, speed, reflexes – easily surpasses anyone else here, maybe even some instructors. Her takedown of Hoover was efficient, controlled, barely breaking a sweat. Minimal force, maximum effect. Professional.
But it's the focus. The intensity directed solely at Jaeger. It's almost unnatural. She orbits him. Protects him instinctively. Saved the potato girl without hesitation. Intervened subtly when I had Jaeger pinned – that 'stumble' near my foot wasn't accidental, too precise. She disrupted my stance just enough. Later, she verbally aided him against Kirschtein. It's consistent. Calculated.
Is it just childhood loyalty? Or something deeper? Her skills make her a valuable asset… or a dangerous obstacle. If she's this devoted to Jaeger, it means controlling him might be harder. She acts as a shield, anticipates threats to him. Her strategic input in class was also notable – surprising depth. She's not just muscle.
Need to keep an eye on her. Understand the depth of this bond with Jaeger. Is it a weakness we can exploit? Or a strength we need to neutralize eventually? She rarely interacts with anyone else unless necessary. Her world seems to consist of Jaeger and, to a lesser extent, Arlert. That narrow focus could be a vulnerability. But underestimating that kind of devotion, coupled with her abilities… that would be a mistake. A potentially fatal one.
Bertholdt Hoover:
Ackerman… she's… scary. Not loud scary like Shadis, or angry scary like Eren sometimes. Quiet scary. When we sparred, I barely saw her move. One second I was attacking, the next my arm was numb and I was off balance. She didn't even seem to be trying. And her eyes… they're calm, but it feels like she sees right through you. When she 'stumbled' near Reiner and Jaeger, it happened so fast… I don't think it was an accident. She moves with too much purpose for accidents like that. She saved Sasha, too. Everyone saw it. She's incredibly strong. It's… intimidating. I try not to get too close. She seems focused on Eren and Armin anyway. Best to just… stay out of her way.
Annie Leonhart:
(Observing from her usual detached position) The Ackerman girl. Predictably exceeds the baseline physical parameters. Textbook Ackerman traits – enhanced strength, speed, combat instincts operating almost subconsciously. Saw it in the sparring; Hoover never stood a chance. Saw it in the forest rescue; reaction time beyond normal limits. Interesting specimen.
The deviation lies in the application. This extreme, almost singular focus on Jaeger. It borders on obsessive. Emotional attachments are liabilities in our work, but this… it's channeled into heightened protectiveness, proactive intervention. She anticipates threats to him, neutralizes them with chilling efficiency – witness the handling of Kirschtein. Strategically sound, if emotionally driven.
Her sudden tactical input was also… unexpected. Suggests a cognitive processing ability beyond simple instinct. Is she merely mimicking Arlert, or is there independent analysis occurring? Requires further observation.
Does she pose a threat to the mission? Potentially. Her skills are formidable. Her devotion to Jaeger makes him a harder target to isolate or manipulate. However, that same devotion could be a predictable variable. Unlike Jaeger's volatile emotions, her actions seem consistently aimed at his preservation. An obstacle, certainly. Manageable? Perhaps. For now, she remains an intriguing variable in a complex equation.
Connie Springer & Sasha Braus:
(Connie): Whoa, Mikasa! She's awesome! Did you see her fly in the forest? Zip! Zap! And then Sasha falls, and bam! Mikasa just swoops down like some kind of hero! And when she took down Jean? Didn't even touch him, just talked, and boom, Eren flips him! She's so cool! Kinda scary cool, though. Like, you don't wanna get on her bad side. Definitely don't want to spar against her again.
(Sasha): (Eyes wide, clutching a piece of bread she might offer later) Mikasa saved me! I was falling… I thought I was going to hit the ground so hard… and then she just… caught me! She was so strong and calm! And she fixed my gear! She even knew what was wrong with it! She's amazing! Like a guardian angel… but with swords! I owe her… maybe more potatoes? She didn't seem too excited about the bread… Maybe she likes meat better? I hope she likes me…
Marco Bodt:
Mikasa is certainly remarkable. Her abilities are truly top-tier, maybe the best among us. It's inspiring to see that level of skill. And she's incredibly loyal to Eren and Armin; it's clear they mean everything to her. The way she defended Eren against Jean's comments, and how she stepped in during the sparring… it shows real dedication.
I do feel a bit sorry for Jean, though. He clearly likes her, and she shut him down so harshly. Maybe she could have been gentler? But then again, Jean can be pushy. Still, her focus on Eren is intense. It's admirable in a way, that fierce loyalty, but I wonder if it isolates her sometimes? She doesn't seem to interact much outside of her circle with Eren and Armin. I hope she's okay.
Other Cadets:
"Did you see Ackerman in the ODM drills? Barely touched the ground."
"She aced the balance test first try. Didn't even wobble."
"I heard she took down Hoover without even trying."
"She's always with Jaeger and Arlert. They say they're from the same town."
"Don't mess with Jaeger when she's around. Remember what happened to Kirschtein?"
"She saved Braus, you know. Plucked her right out of the air."
"She's incredible… but kinda intimidating, right?"
"Yeah, like she's not even human sometimes."
"Definitely someone you want on your side in a fight, though."
Keith Shadis:
(Internal Assessment during observation) Ackerman, Mikasa. Potential: Exceptional. Exceeds baseline expectations across all metrics. Physical conditioning, ODM aptitude, combat instinct – all top percentile. Discipline is adequate, follows orders, but there's a detachment… except when Jaeger is involved.
Her focus on Jaeger is… noteworthy. Intense. Protective instinct bordering on obsessive. Interventions observed – subtle physical disruption during Braun/Jaeger spar, verbal cue during Kirschtein/Jaeger spar, forest rescue of Braus (initiated due to proximity to Jaeger's squad). This loyalty could be a powerful motivator. A soldier fighting for something personal fights harder. But… can it compromise broader tactical awareness? Will she follow orders if it puts Jaeger at perceived risk?
Her tactical contribution in the classroom was unexpected. Suggests latent strategic capability not initially apparent. Ackerman lineage known for combat prowess, less so for strategic depth. Requires monitoring.
Overall Assessment: High-value asset. Potential for unparalleled combat effectiveness. Primary motivating factor: Eren Jaeger. Potential risk: Narrow focus, emotional decision-making disguised as logic where Jaeger is concerned. Monitor closely. Push her limits. See if that focus enhances her lethality or becomes a fatal flaw.