Small Blade

Short Blade is the third chapter in the second volume and the seventh chapter overall of Shingeki no Kyojin.

Summary
Desperate and running out of supplies, a group of soldiers uses tables and chairs in an attempt to fortify an upstairs room. With titans surrounding the building and peering at them through the windows, the situation is bleak. When a titan crashes their arm through the wall trying to get at them, a trainee decides that suicide would be preferable to getting caught and shoots himself.

Mikasa, reaching the front, joins Conny, Jean and other trainees on a nearby roof. With very little gas left in their 3D Maneuver Gear, they are unable to escape or help their comrades in the upstairs room. Jean reveals the reason for the supply shortage. Two trainees, charged with the task of supplying the soldiers, have barricaded themselves in the headquarters, too scared to go out. In an attempt to motivate the others, Conny declares that they should fight the titans with the remaining gas, otherwise, they risk being in the same position as the upstairs group. In a morose yet realistic response, Jean asks if Conny really thinks they can make a difference given their current manpower. On another part of the roof, Sasha tries to raise morale, suggesting they pool their resources. She asks Armin, but he is still in shock. Reiner, Annie and Marco converse about the situation. They are soon joined by Mikasa, who asks where Eren's team is. They say that haven't seen him, point her to Armin.

Armin notices her running towards him, but can't bring himself to look her in the eye, thinking back on what happened. She asks if he is okay, still looking away, he doesn't answer. When she asks where Eren is, he bursts into tears. He then announces the casualties for his team, saving Eren's name for last. This has everyone's attention, especially those that were among the top ten in the 104th Trainees Squad. Armin begins to cry again. Mikasa comforts him, but dissociates herself from the news, appearing emotionless. She then repeats the advice Eren gave her years ago, if you want to live, you have to fight. After shaming them into fighting, they follow her one by one. Armin notices that she isn't her usual clear-headed self and surmises that she's staying active to keep from shaking. Mikasa runs out of gas and falls, fortunately landing on a cloth covering. Thinking about the news, she worries that she is losing her family again. On the ground and without the mobility of the 3D Maneuvering Gear, two titans start to close in on her. Remembering her friend, she says that she's had a good life, prepared for it to end. However, flashing back to the day Eren saved her life and him telling her to fight, she rises to her feet and readies herself for battle. As she is about to attack the oncoming titan, the one at her back attacks it instead, smashing its face with a single punch. Suprised, Mikasa tries to figure out what's going on, as this titan turns on its own species.