A Choice with No Regrets: Part One

A Choice with no Regrets (Part 1) ( 悔いなき選  Kuinaki Sentaku )  is an OVA, episode 0.5A, of the Attack on Titan anime. It was produced by Wit Studio and Production I.G. The "Choice with No Regrets" saga is considered canon, having been approved by Hajime Isaiyama.

Overview
Within the underground district, beneath the walls, Levi Ackerman and his partners Farlan Church and Isabel Magnolia are seen evading a small group of Survey Corps soldiers, including Erwin Smith and Mike Zacharius. At an earlier time, Farlan is shown distributing profit money to his comrades at their home. Shortly after they leave, Isabel appears at the door seeking shelter from pursuers. Levi and Farlan then fend off the pursuers and shelter her. They later take in Isabel and train her to use Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear. Soon after, they are offered an anonymous job with the reward of money and citizenship on the surface. Returning to the chase between the thugs and the Survey Corps, Levi begins to fight with Erwin before he is forced to surrender due to his comrades capture. After a brief interrogation, Erwin offers Levi and his comrades an opportunity to join the Survey Corps.

Summary
Before the fall of Wall Maria, below Wall Sina in the underground district Levi and his comrades Farlan and Isabel are operating a heist. By using their Three Dimensional Maneuver Gear, they knock over and open supply crates owned by merchants, one of their comrades grabs some of the contents and escape on foot and quickly escapes. The merchants then alert the Survey Corps of the thugs' misdeeds. Levi and his teammates notice that they are now being pursued by what they assume are only some elite soldiers of the Military Police. They then accelerate the gas in their maneuver gear to begin their escape.

Earlier on, Farlan is seen at what appears to be his and Levi's accommodations, distributing profit money to his comrades. While handing out everyones cut, he slips a large sum of extra money in with his teammate Jan's pay. After everyone has been paid and left, Farlan proclaims that their jobs have been far easier since they acquired maneuver gear and that they have been making more money. Levi then states that he is aware of Farlan favoring Jan and asks him why. Farlan explains that his leg is becoming crippled and the price of medicine has just gone up. He also states that the stairway toll had recently gone up as well and that even though they have to pay to go up no matter what the reason, without citizenship they are unable to stay above ground for very long. Farlan also mentions that the lack of sunlight causes peoples legs to go bad. Levi then claims that Farlan is doing this because his mother was the same way, and then states he is giving a very large sum of money away. Farlan then says that it is compensation, that he is afraid it may already be too late and hopes for him to find a good hospital. Farlan wonders aloud, how much more they're going to need before they can live on the surface.

At that moment, Levi and Farlan hear a slam on their door and both jump to their feet. After hearing another slam they draw their knives, get into a safe position and swing the door open, only to see Isabel fall on the ground with her arms to her stomach. Farlan states that he was surprised by it only being a kid, and Isabel angrily denies that she is a child. Levi then claims he if that is the case he won't feel bad for kicking her out. He scoffs at her dirtying his floor then tells her to get out. Isabel hesitates to move but then sits up revealing a small bird she is holding against her stomach. Then voices of pursers begin to close in and she then falls against the door. Farlan asks Levi for his opinion on their next move. The pursers notice Levi and Farlan standing outside of their door and questions if there is a 'dirty little kid' around this area, Farlan mockingly states that those are the only kind around. As the pursuers approach the doorway they claim that Levi and Farlan are the thugs in this area. They then notice Isabel sitting against the door and demand that they hand her over for trying to get past the 11th stairway without paying, and that they will be charged if they don't. As one of the men walk up to grab her, he puts his hand on Levi's shoulder; in response Levi immediately slices his hand with his knife, punches him three times, and grabs his shirt threatening him to not touch him with his filthy hand. He then shoves him down the stairs and he is caught by his comrades, who flee in panic. Levi turns to Isabel and asks her how long she is going to hold the bird to her stomach, claiming it will die. Isabel states she thought it would be warm and then takes it away from her stomach. Farlan questions why she has the bird and Isabel states that it got lost probably through some duct and ended up underground. She claims she was going to bring it to the surface because she knows it would rather fly in the sky. Farlan then informs Isabel that the birds wing is injured. He then bandages its wing for her. After introducing themselves, Isabel begins calling Levi, Levi-aniki (meaning older brother) and asks to become one of them and claims how envious she is of the way they 'fly around like birds' using their maneuver gear. After brief thought, Levi states that she must learn to clean before she can learn to use maneuver gear.

Isabel gradually learns to use maneuver gear, failing at first. She is shown cleaning with Levi and Farlan, and also eating around a fire where she offer Levi some of her breads but he declines and tussles her hair. She is later shown using her gear with her comrades while being cheered on by other thugs. Levi and Farlan are with Isabel at a opening to the sun where she releases the bird with its wing healed.

The three are later seen walking towards their home where they are stopped by an anonymous old man asking them for a job. Levi tells him to leave and he states that he has 'already paid the deposit' and points them to their comrade Jan being helped into a cart. The man states his leg is at his limit and that he needs treatment on the surface. He refers to leaving with his name by saying "Isn't that right, Levi?". They agree to listen to the terms of the job and soon after are seen walking with the man up the stairs to the outside. Another man in a high class carriage speaks to them and says that the three will soon learn to trust him. Levi claims that they haven't given a deposit but have only taken a hostage.

The man states that that was only a contingency plan they laid into place. He claims that once they successfully complete the job they will not only be receiving a large sum of money, but also citizenship on the surface.

The three comrades are seen with their maneuver gear on leaving their residence. Farlan claims that he has received confirmation from Jan that he is in a first rate hospital. The identity of the man offering their job has also been confirmed. Farlan asks if they are going to do it, Levi is then reminded of when they left the man offering the job he claimed that regardless of their acceptance the target would make contact and they would be unable to stay unrelated to the matter. Levi tells his team mates to act normal and as soon as the target appears, "our work starts".

The scene shifts back to the heist at the beginning as Levi, Farlan, and Isabel knock over supply crates with maneuver gear and are pursued by what is thought to be only the Military Police. The three continue to evade them and Farlan notices that their movements are not those of the Military Police. Levi states that he has identified the pursuers by the their crest (the Wings of Freedom). It is none other than the Survey Corps. Farlan states that this is their job and they all split off into different directions. Levi then pondering how good the Survey Corps really can be. He then maneuvers into a building and exits after running to a different spot within, only to be met by Mike Zacharius who crashes down on Levi as he attempts to escape. The two slam into another box of crates, causing a mess, and bruising Levi's face. Levi then draws a knife and engages Mike in combat, knocking one of his blades away. As Mike quickly steps back Levi's moves in for the kill. However, Erwin Smith, intercepts Levi's attack and the two face off. Erwin then swiftly counters Levi and the two hault each others blades and stand off. Erwin suddenly tells Levi to stop and look around and Levi sees that Isabel and Farlan have been captured and he surrenders his knife as Erwin and himself back off each other. Erwin proclaims that Levi is quick at reading the situation.

Levi, Farlan, and Isabel are shackled at the wrists and sit on their knees in front of Erwin. He asks them where they obtained their maneuver gear but they don't answer. He then states that they are skilled with the gear and asks where they learned it, but again they don't answer. Erwin approaches Levi, asking if he is their leader and if he was trained in the military but Levi continues to stay silent. Mike grabs Levi's head and smashes his face down into a puddle below him. Isabel and Farlan are visibly angered as Levi turns to look up. Erwin states he will ask once more and again asks where they learned to use their maneuver gear. Farlan states that they were all self taught but Erwin does not believe him. Farlan claims it was so they were able to rise even slightly in their horrible town and that people who are used to sunlight like the military wouldn't understand. Isabel then implores him to let Levi go and for them not to abuse their power as soldiers. Mike lets Levi up as Erwin kneels down to his level. Erwin introduces himself and asks Levi's name. Levi states him name and Erwin offers to make him a deal. Erwin claims that he will let all of his crimes go unpunished if he agrees to lend him his strength and join the Survey Corps in return. Levi asks what will happen if he refuses and Erwin states that they will be handed over to the Military Police who will not treat them very nicely. After a brief thought, Levi agrees to join the Survey Corps.