Greetings, friends! We are back with our favorite oblivious ninja dork. He's on his second to last summer. What will happen next, I wonder?

Enjoy!

Summer. Ren: Age 17. Nora: Age 16.

Adrenaline rush

Familiar, stranger thoughts

An unknowing heart

Ren stared eagerly out the window as the bus came to a stop. He didn't see Nora, but that was okay. She was probably hiding in the bushes. Shouldering his bag, he stepped off the bus and looked around. Any minute now… He waited.

He waited for a few more minutes. Maybe she's at the camp. Though, he couldn't imagine why. Jaune wouldn't be there. He had texted Ren a few weeks ago saying that he wouldn't be attending this year.

Him and Blake… The bus ride had been incredibly dull without Blake to talk to. Ren could text, but Blake was apparently on a date with Yang, and Nora wasn't texting back for whatever reason. So, he was stuck with his own thoughts.

He arrived at the camp, realizing belatedly that he had to find a counselor, since Jaune wasn't here to be his roommate and take him to their cabin He went to the welcome area and noticed a new counselor walking around. She looked to be in her late thirties and had a very no-nonsense air about her. "Hello," he said as he approached. "I'm Lie Ren."

The woman looked at him, then at the clipboard she was holding. "You are in Cabin F." She graced him with a small smile. "I'm Glynda Goodwitch. I'm going to be running the workshops from now on. What do you write?"

"Haikus mostly," Ren replied. He felt a small surge of hope. This looked like someone who took everything seriously, which could mean that she'd be better at actually running the workshops and providing unbiased advice.

Glynda nodded. "Interesting. Those can be hard to do well. I look forward to seeing your work."

Ren smiled. "Thank you." As he walked to his cabin, he thought of Blake and Jaune, who had decided against coming back to the camp due to the lackluster quality of the workshops. If this Glynda person turns out to be good, and if she stays on, maybe they'll come back next year.

He sighed, shaking his head. There was no point in thinking too far ahead. As he reached the cabin, he glanced at his phone. Still no messages. He saw a bag on the other bed, and guessed that his roommate was off somewhere else. Not sure what else to do, he put his clothes into the provided dresser, packed his notebook and folder in a smaller backpack he had brought, and headed into town by himself.

Everything was the same. To some, that would be boring. To Ren, it was a comfort. Senior year was approaching, along with college applications, figuring out what he wanted to do with his life, and starting to become an adult. It was terrifying! A large part of him wished that he could just get a job somewhere in Oniyuri, buy a house or decent apartment somewhere, and just live a quiet life with Nora always nearby.

He blushed a little as his fantasy automatically included Nora living with him in said home.

Blake was right, he thought mournfully, looking back to several talks he had had with her after finally fessing up to what had happened at the end of last summer. I have a hopeless crush on my best friend.

In the weeks following last year's departure from camp, Ren had tried convincing himself that the kiss with Nora had been nothing more than the result of a dare. However, he couldn't stop thinking about how soft her lips had been, about that adorable little gasp she had let out when their lips first touched, about how she had tasted vaguely of maple syrup…

He shook himself, checking his phone again. Still no messages. He tried not to panic, but the worry that Nora was avoiding him still managed to worm its way into his mind.

She was totally normal on the phone and in the emails this past year, he told himself. She's not going to avoid you now just because of last year. Besides, she dared you to do it first!

He paused by the candy store, then kept walking. It didn't feel right getting candy without Nora. He thought about going to Books n' Brews, but that was on the other side of town. Instead, he kept walking along the same sidewalk, glancing at the familiar stores, parking lots, and the old elementary school. Finally, he reached the playground.

A few kids were running around, playing and shouting without a care in the world. Ren noticed that some of the old equipment had been replaced with newer, shinier pieces.

Probably for the best, he mused. That wood equipment gave kids so many splinters. And there wasn't a single summer when there weren't yellow jacket nests somewhere.

Letting out a sigh, he leaned back against the bench, allowing his thoughts to wander. Jaune was in the next town over. Pyrrha was probably busy with summer classes. Blake and Yang were totally focused on each other. He wasn't sure what Nora was planning.

Where did that leave Ren? Alone, just like he'd been before that first summer? Taking out his notebook, he scribbled down a new haiku off the top of his head.

Empty, silent, still

The desolate gale chills me

My eyes see nothing

Even his haikus were getting worse! He closed his notebook with an annoyed grunt.

….

Fall. Ren: Age 16 and a half.

Steeped in denial

Metaphorical head slaps

Obliviousness

It was evening, and Ren had been spending the past half hour focused almost entirely on his sushi. Yang was chattering away, as usual, and Blake was listening, nodding occasionally while munching on her tuna sashimi.

This was a normal setting. There was no reason for Ren to feel different, left out, or sad, but he did. Even the taste of his Spicy Dragon Roll wasn't helping. He sipped his green tea, suppressing another sigh.

Blake seemed to finally notice her friend's expression. "So, Ren. Any word from Nora?"

Ren looked up from his food. "She, Pyrrha, and Jaune are going to a Halloween party downtown. Apparently, one of the scariest haunted houses in the state is nearby."

"Ooh, we should do something for Halloween!" Yang said eagerly. "I'm sure we can find a costume party somewhere."

"When Nora and I were kids, we always coordinated our costumes for Halloween," Ren remembered. "There was one year when we were both ninjas, and tried switching places in our classes."

"No way! Did it work?" Yang laughed.

"No. We had to take our masks off before even coming in the door. Security and all that." Ren shrugged. "We didn't really have much of a plan on how to do it successfully, anyway. We weren't even the same height."

"I bet Nora came up with that," Blake noted.

"She did. She's been messaging me lately about starting a plan for a huge senior prank. I'm trying to talk her out of it."

"Why?" Yang asked. "Sounds awesome! I'll have to talk to her."

"You're friends with her online, right?"

"Hell yeah, she's amazing!" Yang said with a grin. "Seriously, Ren. You need to snag her before someone else does."

"Who says she needs to be 'snagged?'"

"Not saying she needs to be. Just saying it's gonna happen. Someone as cool as she is can't remain single for long."

"It won't happen," Ren said calmly. "We-" He paused, realizing belatedly how his vow with Nora would sound to them.

Of course, Yang latched on immediately. "You what? Tell!"

"Yang," Blake murmured. "He doesn't have to." Even as she spoke, however, her eyes were keenly focused on Ren.

Ren glanced at the two, then stared at his sushi. "Nora and I…promised each other not to date anyone. We want to put our friendship first."

There was a long pause followed by a thump. Ren looked up again to see that Yang had slammed her face onto the table next to her plate. "Oh my god," she groaned. "You can't be that stupid. No one is that oblivious!"

Blake was gaping at Ren, shaking her head slowly. "Wow…"

Ren glared at them. "What?"

Yang sat back up, rubbing her forehead. "Ren. Buddy. Do you wanna know what it's called when two people promise not to date other people in order to focus on each other? It's called a freaking exclusive relationship!"

"A relationship that is not necessarily romantic!" Ren cut in.

Blake facepalmed. "Ren… I'm not saying that's not a thing that can happen, but… Come on. You kissed her at the end of summer. Whenever she texts you, I can tell because your face gets this weird combination of a happy smile and really sad puppy eyes."

"It does not!"

"It does," Yang affirmed. "It really does."

"I don't get it," Blake said. "You two would be amazing together. What are you so afraid of?"

Ren took another bite of sushi to buy himself some time, then sipped his green tea for a minute. When his friends showed no sign of relenting, he sighed. "It's safer for both of us."

"Safer, how?" Blake asked.

"Safer, as in things won't change," Ren muttered. "As friends, everything is fine. We can talk to each other about anything. Nothing is awkward. But romance…" He shook his head. "I know nothing about it. I've seen enough couples at school to know there's a lot of needless clinginess, jealousy, and this…obsessiveness that I'm not comfortable with. If something happened to take away from what Nora and I have now, I don't know what I'd do. Besides, what if she doesn't feel the same way?"

"I promise you won't have to worry about that last part," Blake said flatly.

"As for the rest, that seems a bit dramatic," Yang noted. "I mean, look at Blake and me. Do you think we're not gonna last?"

"I don't know." Ren shrugged. "You're different. Honestly, if it wasn't for seeing you kiss on occasion, I'd think you were best friends the same way Nora and I are."

"Gal pals, you mean?" Yang said with a snort.

"Maybe that's the answer," Blake noted. "Because, that's honestly how it feels with Yang: Like we're friends first, girlfriends second. I think that's what makes it so easy. If your relationship was formed on that basis, would it really be so bad?"

"But, what if we broke up for whatever reason later on?" Ren asked. "Wouldn't that ruin things?"

"I doubt it," Blake said. "You two aren't the types to get into petty arguments. If you did break up, I'd imagine it being very amicable. If your friendship is as strong as you say it is, that shouldn't be an issue."

Ren picked at his sushi. "I'll…think about it."

"Good!" Yang said. "Think about it, then snag that adorable little ginger next summer!"

Ren found himself smirking. "Careful, Blake. Sounds like you have competition."

Blake swatted Yang playfully. "Hands off Ren's woman!"

"She's not my-!"

"Anyway, are you going to eat that sushi or just poke it? Because this is seriously driving me crazy."

Ren chuckled, pushing the plate to the middle of the table. "Help yourself."

…

Summer. Ren: Age 17. Nora: Age 16.

Unspoken relief

The heart sings what lips won't say

Truth is freed at last

A buzz from Ren's phone caused him to jump. He looked at the screen, seeing a text from Nora.

"ARRRRGGGHHH! Track team sucks! They called a last-minute practice, and my stupid phone was dead, so I couldn't text you! I'm really, really, really sorry! You're not mad, right? Where are you? Please don't be mad!"

The most intense feeling of relief flooded Ren's body, causing him to slump back against the bench. He laughed quietly at himself for being so worried. Of course Nora wouldn't be avoiding you. She'd never do that. Maybe this senior stress is starting to get to you already.

Quickly, he texted back.

"Of course I'm not mad. I'm at the playground. See you soon!" After closing his phone, he focused on the parking lot, guessing that Nora's mom would be dropping her off. Minutes later, the sight of a familiar pale pink car proved him right.

The car barely stopped before Nora jumped out and ran over to Ren, who stood up and braced his feet just before getting hit. "Oof!" he groaned, even as his arms came up to wrap around his best friend.

"Ren! Hi! I'm sorry I wasn't at the bus stop!" Nora said, her voice muffled by his shirt. She snuggled closer, squeezing him tightly.

Ren rested his head on top of hers, letting out a quiet sigh. The last few coils of loneliness and agitation that had been in his chest loosened at last. "It's fine," he murmured. "I know how clubs can be."

"Yep. At least I'm not in the Marching Band Death Cult."

"I highly doubt that band is a death cult, Nora," Ren said, rolling his eyes.

"It totally is! I'm not even kidding!" Nora giggled as she looked up. "You really missed me, huh?"

Ren blushed, realizing that he hadn't let go of Nora, and quickly stepped back. "Of course I did," he said. "I always do."

Nora smiled, her beaming face easily outshining the brightness of the sky overhead. "Good! Wanna go to the candy store? I'll buy this time, to make up for being late."

Ren nodded. "Lead on." As Nora's hand slipped so easily and so perfectly into his, he realized something with a jolt. I don't just have a crush on her.

He knew this with a strangely-deep sense of certainty. The warmth in his chest, the fact that his smile just wouldn't go away, and the sheer relief he had felt upon seeing her text were more than enough to confirm it, even if this was totally new to him.

I'm in love with her!

Took him long enough, but he finally got it! I love typing his interactions with Blake and Yang in this story. There are just so many character combos that would have been so amazing to see in canon! I know we get a taste of it in Chibi, but this is also the show that makes Nora a yandere, so we can't really take it too seriously.

If you like what you see and want to show extra support in exchange for rewards, my P/atreon is Solora Goldsun.

Peace out!