[ As promised, after a late afternoon spent hiking Starlight Cliff with Eren to take some photos, Maruki is once again making himself at home at the cottage. It's been a while – definitely since the pre-Green Knight days – and it's strange to see someone else besides Eren and Jean (pour one out for Mikasa) around.

Not unwelcome, though.

They're nearly done with dinner and Maruki's legs still ache. Despite the hike being his idea, and his persistent enthusiasm for it all throughout, he simply still isn't an outdoorsy kind of guy... He's doing his best to change that because His Girlfriend Refuses To Get A House but it's slow going.

He stretches them out beneath the table for the umpteenth time this evening, groans like the old man he is. Both elbows propped up on the table now that he's finished with his food, he pillows his chin on his hands and grins at Subaru. ]

So, are you glad you moved in, Subaru-kun? I mean, outside of getting to enjoy the best cooking in Somnius nightly... aside from my own, of course!

[ It's clearly extremely good for Eren that Subaru is here now, but he wants to hear it from the horse's mouths. Forgive him for asking such a Dad Question. ]