Arise From Weakness (OC/ Male Reader x Arifureta)

(S3) Chapter 59 Loving Rant

No one's POV

(Elsewhere)

Currently within the Heiligh Kingdom, it was
still evening, a good hour or so before dinner.
Yuka would be walking across the palace courtyard, toward the mess hall. After Eri's unexpected betrayal, the death of one of
her classmates, and Kouki's departure, many of her classmates had almost given into despair. It was only thanks to her stellar leadership that they were still holding on.

However Yuka didn't really see herself as a leader, but now that Kouki was gone, she had filled in the void he had left naturally.  Not only was she the one all the students went to when they needed help, she was also assisting Heiligh's soldiers in rebuilding the city, and resolving any disputes that cropped up.

She was also helping shore up public safety, and many of the students looked up to her as a role model. It wasn't just the students either. The new pope, the queen, and even the prime minister came to Yuka for advice. On top of that, she served as the head of the pope's guard whenever he needed to leave the palace.

Yuka's thoughts: Ugh... I'm starving...

Yuka had spent the past few days running around the palace and was starting to get
exhausted. Her stomach growled loudly, surprising her.

Yuka's thoughts: No one heard that, did they...?

Yuka blushed and glanced around her. To her chagrin, there was someone nearby.

???: Ahaha... Are you going to get dinner, Sonobe?

Yuka: ...-_-... Ugh, you heard that didn't you, Ai-chan-Sensei...?

Aiko walked out of one of the nearby buildings and into the courtyard. Though Yuka looked embarrassed, Aiko just smiled gently. In truth, Aiko was on her way to get dinner as well. The two of them walked side by side and chatted about

Aiko: You look pretty worn out, Sonobe... Are you sure you're not pushing yourself too hard?

Yuka: I'll be fine. I just never thought kids could be so demanding....

Aiko: What happened?

According to Yuka, all the children that had been orphaned in the recent demon invasion were being taken care of by the church, and the new pope had asked for her help in comforting them.

Of course, Yuka had had absolutely no idea what to say to kids who'd lost their parents or relatives. She was barely 17 years old herself. However, despite her protests, the new pope had dragged her into the capital's church and gathered all the kids.

Once he had their attention he'd said, "Alright everyone, I brought the super pretty super-strong Apostle of God here for you!" It had been quite an ordeal. The speech Nhazul and Hajime had drafted and Liliana had delivered had hidden the truth from the citizens, and so most of them still believed that Yuka and the others were Apostles of God. And so, all the children had looked up to Yuka with reverence.

Aiko: S-So what did you say to them in the end?

Yuka: Nothing...

Aiko: Nothing?

Yuka: Yep, nothing. I couldn't think of anything to say. 'Cheer up?' 'Your dead parents are watching down on you from heaven together with Ehit?'

Now that she knew the truth, those words sounded too hollow to Yuka's ears. She couldn't bring herself to say that to the kids.

Yuka: So I juggled instead.

Aiko: You... juggled? As in threw balls in the air and caught them?

Yuka: Well technically it was ten of my knives, but yea...