Introduction: Scream
"Come on, Ro; kick their sorry butts."
Shooting a quick glare at his friend, Rowan Hartins pushed against his opponent, putting him off balance, then rushed forward. Knocking aside a strike, he buried his leather gloved fist in the boy's lower abdomen. A smile of fulfillment crossed Rowan's face as his opponent fell to the ground in a heap.
"And time," the supervisor called. "Results will be sent out by the end of this week. Next combatants to the floor, please."
Walking towards the bleachers the crowd was using to view the entry exams, Rowan shook his head as his friend scurried towards him, carrying their things.
"I can't believe you, Ro," she squeaked excitedly. "That was amazing."
"Thanks Tati," he muttered, throwing his bag over his shoulder. Tatiana shot him a pointed glare, a look he knew meant that the conversation was far from over. Sure enough, once outside, the girl barred his way from walking home.
"What is wrong with you? You did great in there. Give yourself some credit, Rowan."
"Tati," he sighed, "I was sloppy, inexperienced…if anyone on Beacon's staff is in their right mind, I won't be getting in."
"Rowan," she growled, "you could get in on academics alone."
"If they cared only about grades, but Beacon's a combat school, Tati. It's not just any other school."
"Listen here, mister," she snarled, making all 4 foot 8 inches (142 centimeters (I think)) as big as she could, "I will not have you bashing my friend. Do you know how much I've invested into you going to this school? How much Olivia wants you to go?
"You are going to go to Beacon with your sister, just like I'm going to go to the University of Remnant. Don't you dare give up on yourself, Rowan Hartins!" she screamed. "You're better than that."
"Tatiana," the boy said evenly, "have I ever told you how thankful I am that you're my friend?"
The girl's hazelnut eyes lit up and her short nose scrunched as she grinned. "Maybe," she teased, "but I still like the reminder."
"Thanks for the pep talk," Rowan sighed. "You really think I can make it in?"
"I've never known you to back away from a challenge, Ro, especially when it involves your sister."
It was true; when it came to Olivia, Rowan would do anything. So when she was approached to attend Beacon, there was no way he was letting her go by herself. After all, no one quite understood his sister the way that he did.
Granted, Beacon was a school for fighters, not for youths hoping to enter into financial business to better the living and work expenses of the Faunus community, but who was to say that he couldn't do both. He could help Olivia and fulfill his dream, right?
"If I do go…"
"When, Rowan, when you go; think positively."
"When I go to Beacon," Rowan corrected himself, certain to place sarcastic emphasis on the recommended word, "I'm really going to miss you."
"Nah," Tatiana said. "You and I'll be so busy, we won't have time to worry about it."
"You're my best friend, Tati. No matter how busy, crazy, or insane, you are stuck with me."
"And you me," the girl smiled, showing off her teeth. "Now come on; we've still got work to do if you and I are going to conquer the world."
Laughing, he ran after her in the direction of his house.