"It's got nothing to do with being weak." As Eren replies to Arthur, he halts his steps long enough to direct a questioning look over Melissa's way. Was she feeling okay? Normally, he wouldn't see such a subtle shake of the head as a cause for concern, but with her, he takes notice. Perhaps it has something to do with how strong Melissa's presence beside him feels.

After a moment though, he continues on with what he was saying, "It's because you're different."

...Which is not exactly the most comforting thing to say, but Eren believes it to be true. As an afterthought, he quickly adds on: "You're smart and stuff. They probably feel threatened by you, so that's the only way they can think of to make themselves feel better about it. They're the weak ones. They're rotten."