NOVEL NEXT Chapter 38: Chapter 35
"Ryo, where are we even going?"
Eren, still fixated on the idea of getting back to the bathroom, bombarded Ryo with questions.
Armin, however, was sharper. The moment he saw the path Ryo had chosen, he figured it out.
"Oh... we're heading to the lake in the back mountain, aren't we?"
Ryo grinned. "Exactly! No one's there. It'll just be us—free to bathe however we want, in peace. Plus, if we're lucky, we might even catch some fish to grill."
At the mention of grilled fish, Ryo's stomach rumbled.
The supplies he'd received from the system had run out for the month, most of them given to the little angel. Between keeping himself fed and buying gifts for her, he'd used up his share quickly. Recently, he'd been forced to endure the cafeteria food alongside Eren and Armin—bland, overcooked, and barely edible. If he had to chew through another piece of that dry bread, he might just lose a tooth.
The idea of fresh, grilled fish was enough to make his mouth water.
"Fishing? That sounds awesome!" Armin's eyes lit up, already imagining the aroma of sizzling fish over a fire. "A lake that size must have plenty of fish, maybe even big ones! We could have a feast!"
But Eren, ever the realist, frowned. "That's great and all, but how are we going to catch them? We don't have any tools."
Armin's excitement faltered. "Oh… true. Fish are fast, and we have no nets or rods."
Ryo smirked. "Who says I need tools?"
He pulled out a small knife, its blade gleaming in the fading sunlight.
"Wait… that's just a knife," Armin said, blinking in confusion. "How's that supposed to help?"
"Haha, just watch."
Ryo raised his arm and, in one swift motion, hurled the knife into the air. It flew straight and true, embedding itself with a *thunk* in a distant tree trunk.
Armin and Eren stared in disbelief.
"That tree is over ten meters away," Eren murmured. "And he didn't just hit it… the blade's fully lodged in the trunk."
Ryo crossed his arms. "That's not all. Go check out what I hit."
The two walked closer, their curiosity mounting. As they approached the tree, they froze.
The knife had pierced a butterfly's wings, pinning it to the trunk. Remarkably, the insect was unharmed, its delicate body untouched.
"How is that even possible?" Armin whispered, equal parts awe and disbelief.
Eren shook his head. "He's insane… but I think we'll catch fish just fine."
---
The trio reached the lake, their excitement growing. The temperature was perfect, and the crystal-clear water glimmered invitingly. After a grueling day of training and helping the Survey Corps with supplies, the thought of a refreshing swim was irresistible.
Without hesitation, they stripped down and dove into the water.
"This is *so* much better than that disgusting bathroom!" Eren declared, floating on his back.
Armin nodded, splashing happily. "No cramped stalls, no awful smells, no lines—it's perfect!"
Ryo, on the other hand, was all business. He grabbed his soap and began scrubbing himself clean, humming a cheerful tune as he worked.
Eren and Armin, having finished their minimal attempts at washing, started a playful water fight.
"Can you two grow up for five minutes?" Ryo groaned, rolling his eyes. He grabbed his soap and dove underwater, swimming to a quieter spot.
---
When Ryo surfaced, he glanced around. The area was silent, peaceful.
"Finally, some peace and quiet," he muttered, running soap through his hair. "Honestly, they're like kids..."
But just as he was about to rinse off, he heard a faint noise nearby.
He froze, listening carefully.
It wasn't Eren or Armin—they were too loud and clumsy. This voice was softer, lighter... feminine.
Ryo's heart skipped a beat.
Was there a girl here? Could someone else have had the same idea and snuck out to bathe in the lake?
His mind raced. If there *was* a girl nearby, this could get awkward very quickly.