Honorary Scout

Chapter Twenty

You can't deny how adorable these two look together.

Evelyn's POV

I stared at the tomb stone above Sasha's grave, unsure of how to control the tears constantly rolling down my cheeks. The only reason I was still standing straight was because Mikasa was gently holding my shoulders from behind to keep me steady. Mrs. Braus and Kaya, however, had fully collapsed to the ground. Just the sight gave me a very sore reminder of the last three nights of restlessness and sobbing and weeping and Kaya constantly lamenting about how she couldn't be there to save Sasha's life the same way that Sasha had saved her life four years ago. I hadn't known how to respond to that. All I had known was that even Sasha had left me like Commander Erwin, Bertholdt, Mr. Moblit, Ms. Petra, Mr. Oruo, Mr. Gunther and Mr. Eld did.

I slowly lifted my head when I heard Mr. Niccolo speaking to Mr. and Mrs. Braus, but removed my attention back to the grave and slowly sat down in front of it, after which I gently took a packet out of my dress.

A single potato and piece of meat was held within it.

"I remember you once told me that when someone dies, we should put food instead of flowers on their grave so they don't go hungry in the afterlife. So, here. This...this is f-for-"

I broke down sobbing hysterically as I placed the packet down on the grave, but the sobbing didn't stop. My sadness was amplified by the fact that on this mission, this cursed mission which had taken Sasha away from us, had also brought Eren back to us. As a prisoner, yes, but at least he had been brought back. And I needed him. Regardless that we hadn't spoken to each other for the last ten months, I desperately needed the hugs and support of my brother right now. And he needed me too. At this point, after everything that had happened, I no longer cared about the number or the magnitude of the crimes he apparently kept committing. I was just exhausted of seeing my brother thrown into jail time and again.

"Evelyn."

I sniffled one last time as I felt Mikasa gently lift me into her arms and lay my head on her chest, allowing me to seek comfort in the familiar scent and wool of her scarf. She gently began to stroke my hair as Mrs. Braus smiled at us once, at which Mikasa kissed my cheek once and nuzzle her cheek against my own.

"You'll have to go now. But I promise you we'll meet soon again."

"But...I wanna see Eren. Please?"

I implored, though Mikasa simply shook her head sadly.

"You know that's not possible, sweetie. He's not the same Eren who left us ten months ago. If you see him now...he'll only break your heart."

"But-"

"Goodbye, Evelyn."

Mikasa quickly set me down on the ground before I had the chance to say anything else and turned around, striding away as fast as she could with Jean, Connie and Armin in tow. Neither of those cowards dared to turn around and look me in the eye one last time, making me clench my fists in both anger and frustration, until I felt Kaya gently place a hand on my shoulder and I sighed. Guess it was time to return to the Braus stables again.

Life had been relatively peaceful for the last two days since we'd returned from Sasha's funeral. Even though nothing about the Braus stables had changed because she would barely live here, her absence was as profound as a stone wall crushing our hearts with each passing second. The only reason that we were still able to go on was because Mr. Braus constantly kept telling us that Sasha would've wanted us to go on.

So if that was what Sasha would've wanted, then that was what her soul was going to get. I still remembered the last words she'd said to me in the Paths; she was going to a place where she would never run out of meat. And I hoped that were true. I hoped with all my heart that that were true and that Sasha was currently sitting somewhere up among the stars with a big chunk of juicy meat in her mouth.