My computer's been acting in a way that makes it almost impossible to write, and I'm being forced to use an on-screen keyboard. I probably wouldn't have written this if not for the outrageous amount of views this gets *sweats nervously*.

Sometimes, Armin didn't even know why he bothered being surprised anymore. He knew this would happen. He just didn't believe it, for good reason too. And it was a troubling thing to be extremely smart (he refused to call himself a 'genius'), because he noticed a lot more than other people.

Armin was certainly capable of simple deductions, and it went like this:

1. The Recon Corps fight the Titans.

They are strong, they have a strategy, and they are ruthless.

2. The Recon Corps have captured his classmates.

They want something from them. They have a means to get it.

3. The Recon Corps have very few members.

They want Armin and his classmates to join them. And their job is probably incredibly dangerous.

Armin had the misfortune to understand this before he could be effectively schmoozed by the nice PowerPoint some girl named Hanji was showing. The PowerPoint showed happy teenagers doing parkour, hanging out together, doing parkour, bowling, camping, and doing parkour.

Associate a new idea with good experiences, a very clever marketing strategy?. But, in Armin's opinion, it would have worked a lot better had they not be tied to classroom chairs and held against their will. And the absolute evil-looking boy guarding the door was kind of distracting.

The smart people -Armin, Ymir, Marco- were totally silent, probably trying to figure a way out of the situation.

Jean mentally saluted their bravery. Trying to think through a situation, and then having to deal with the absolute certainty that there's no hope, took guts. But he would stick with mindless faith.

"As you can see here, doing parkour will make you happy, live longer, and get all of the girls. Or boys," Hanji said, looking at Bert.

Jean smirked and closed his eyes. He's seen better persuasion from an infomercial. There's no way his classmates would-

"Huh?! Really?!" Connie gasped, his eyes wide in awe.

'Connie you idiot!' half of the room thought simultaneously.

"Will there be free food?"

"Will we get to annihilate Titans?!"

"Will we get to help people and make them think we are a really generous and kind person, so they'll miss us when we're gone?"

"Will our friends be in great danger so I can repeatedly save them until they eventually fall in love with me?"

'I don't know you people. I've never seen you in my life,' Jean thought to himself.

"Uh, yes?" Hanji said.

4/11 poor, young and impressionable children sold.

'Sasha and Eren, that's not surprising. But Christa and Mikasa?' Jean mentally face-palmed.

Ymir glanced at Christa out of the corner of her eyes and nodded.

"Sure, but you people are pretty pathetic, to be scamming children into an organization."

5/11. How horrible and merciless was this world? People had to join sketchy groups just to make their gay romance work. There couldn't possibly be a universe more cruel than this one.

Armin, of course, understood exactly what was going on. But he didn't want to be left behind by Eren and Mikasa.

Intellect was no match for a weak will and a sad yearning.

"I-I'll join too!"

6/11.

Eren turned around grinned at Armin. "You, me and Mikasa together! Let's do this!"

Jean was really starting to hate his life.

'No, you must stay strong!'

Marco scratched the back of his head. "Well, if everyone's doing it, I will too."

6.5/11.

HAD TO CUT THIS SHORT BECAUSE SOMETHING CAME UP

SORRYYY

WILL MAKE A PART 2 OR A REALLY LONG CHAPTER NINE OKAY DONT KILL ME