I'm back and with more news.

First, stories not dead, yay. Last, I'm taking a stab at this again from a slightly different angle. With this just being me now, I took a time away to not only procrastinate but think of where I wanted to go. So, yeah.

"Hey, why isn't there butter on your pancakes?" Nora asked, having paused her fork midway to its destination.

Issei blinked several times before looking down at his meal and back up to her. "Well, technically I'm supposed to be eating healthy. Pancakes are stretching it but are okay once and a while but butter, I feel, is a bit too much."

"Oh please, just look at me!" Nora proclaimed as she flexed her arms. The world traveler wasn't jealous of the fact he could see her rippling muscles and a vein or two. Nope, not at all. "Pancakes are the healthiest thing ever! They keep me strong and energetic!"

Issei could only stare, no clear reaction on his face. "Right... I'd still prefer other healthier options."

Ren's eyes lit up. "Well, if you'd like, I have a few herbal supplement drinks that I used to make. They're very healthy and actually improve the immune system and flush out toxins. I would be happy to share some with you. Only if you're interested in them, that is."

The brunette turned to the other male of the group. Now, in his world, Issei would have brushed off the gesture from the pretty boy and simply prided himself into doing his own thing. But he planned to be a better person and a great leader for his team. Besides, the guy was practically his bro at this point. Couldn't hate on a bro.

"That actually sounds good, Ren. I'd appreciate it."

His fellow man nodded in reply before turning back to his food. He had initially been hard to read but Issei had actually begun to pay attention and learn some of his teammates' antics and signs. So when he saw the shimmer in the ninja's eyes, he smiled to himself before returning to his own plate.

"Ugh!" That was until Nora threw herself against the back of her seat and groaned. Her head rolled to the side, looking at her female teammate before she reached over and grabbed her fellow redhead's arm with both of her hands. "You think having another guy like Renny would be amazing. They could train and get all sweaty. Possibly meditate shirtless. Or even cook for us and bring breakfast in bed. But all I hear is a future of disgusting plant juice and stupid boy stuff."

Pyrrha had started to blush as she cast a glance at Issei. She imagined him training and getting stronger. Displaying that same power from initiation that had essentially made her jaw hit the floor. She could only imagine the body that lay underneath to produce such an attack. "Oh my…"

Drip!

"I actually don't see a reason why we can't do such things," Ren remarked, causing Nora to go stiff as stone. "Meditation while shirtless is merely getting closer to nature and letting it flow better through you."

"Is it? I didn't know that, actually. As for breakfast in bed, it's totally fine as long as it's a weekend and you two behave."

"You can cook?" Ren asked, surprised.

"My mom always used to tell me that a way to a woman's heart is through her stomach," Issei replied with a soft chuckle. The small smile didn't reach his eyes, something all three of his team members picked up on but didn't comment. "Anyways, there's always a way to compromise, Nora. Maybe you two can join us every now and then and we'll make it a special team exercise. After all, a team needs to bond outside of fighting Grimm. Wouldn't you agree, Pyrrha, to some special bonding?"

"I-I-I..." Pyrrha couldn't find the right words as her mouth continued to open and close with her face burning.

"Ren?" Issei held out a fist.

"Mm, I would agree. Good team cohesion and knowing what works best for one another. Not just for myself and Issei but with you two as well." Ren's fist met his.

Pyrrha fainted with blood spurting from her nose.

"P-Pyrrha!?" Issei shouted as he shot from his seat and to her side. Ren moved to grab the medkit while the brunette tried his best to stop the bleeding with napkins.

Nora cackled as she not-so-subtly slid the spartan's pancakes in front of herself. "This is gonna be awesome."

-XOXOXOXOX-

"Now, how many of you have been subjugated to discrimination due to your faunus heritage?"

It was another day in Oobleck's history class, a place Issei had actually come to enjoy. Despite the teacher's crazy antics, addiction to coffee, and quick lipped lessons, he actually liked the teacher and the history lessons themself. Not only because he was essentially learning of an entire new world and how it came to be but also because of the passion Dr. Oobleck spoke with. Something Issei's old teachers seemed to lack back home.

It was that same passion that helped Issei with his extra lessons after school and kept him up to date with his "faunus heritage". If there was one thing with Beacon's professors, they knew how to keep things interesting. Except Port...mostly.

Back to the current lesson, the Sekiryuutei watched as several of his classmates raised their hands. Some of them were very slow to do so, obvious signs of fear on their face. Issei felt pissed at seeing the amount of people who had been treated differently simply because of their extra traits and appendages. It wasn't their fault that they were different from the other type of human nor should it be that appearance that they were judged on.

"Mr. Hyoudou, you need not be afraid of judgement from your peers," the doctor said. Issei turned back to him and saw that Oobleck was giving him a knowing look from over the rim of his glasses. That was when he remembered his cover and slowly raised his hand as well. "Dreadful, simply dreadful. Remember students, it is this kind of ignorance that breeds violence."

Issei knew that all too well from the history of his world. Except it wasn't the animal traits that people argued over but the simple color of one's skin. Truly, ignorance was not something possessed by one world. He didn't care who it was, he would protect everyone. Human, faunus, cat, dog, fish, or bird.

"Now, who can tell me why General Lagune lost the battle at Fort Castle?"

Issei raised his hand, and Dr. Oobleck didn't hesitate to call upon him. "The general was cocky and greedy for glory. In his conquest for a place in the history books, he did not take into account the faunus' many advantages over his army. He attacked at night, which was his downfall. Not only do the faunus possess near perfect vision in the dark but they also possess more sensitive hearing, better features for traversing the terrain, and, in the case of a few faunus, abilities to set traps and lures. Ultimately, a commander who was ignorant of the enemy and arrogant to the point of charging in blindly, he set himself up for failure and became the worst general in history."

"That is very astute of you, Mr. Hyoudou! Very well done!"

Issei beamed at the praise, mentally patting himself on the back. He had actually answered a question in class and had been right. Even Ddraig gave a hum of approval.

[Seems you are taking your education seriously this time around.]

'I have to. Not just for me but also for my team.' He looked over to his partner who gave him a cheerful smile. He couldn't help but smile back. 'Thanks for helping me too, by the way. The extra hours at night with you taking me from my dreams is also really helping me catch up.'

[We are partners, are we not? This is all for you and I simply do what I can.]

"Pfft." Cardin Winchester scoffed from the back of the class. "So a lizard knows of his own terrorism. It's simple to just say that it's easier to train a beast than a soldier to follow orders."

That made Issei's eye twitch. "Says the human who can't help but disrupt the class with his own ignorant input." Issei shot a look over his shoulder directly into the larger boy's eyes. "With your performance in Combat Class, it would seem your bark is worse than your bite. I'm sure Lagune was the same way."

There were a few "oofs" from the crowd.

Cardin scowled. "You better watch it, Hyoudou. You don't even fight in Combat Class, and if you did, I'd demolish you without breaking a sweat. Only reason you're not fighting is probably because Goodwitch thinks you're too weak. That shit during initiation is nothing, you're just a lowlife reptile who's only place is on a rock or behind some glass. Who's the disgusting savage who carries the disease? Your deadbeat dad? Or your whore of a mother? Or is it possibly both?"

Issei's eyes flashed green and stayed green for a second before flickering back. Cardin felt several drops of sweat drip down his brow but didn't back down. Issei, on the other hand, could feel a torrent of rage surging and his wings bursted from his back, sending a powerful gust of wind through the room. Papers and books flew and everyone caught in the wind's blast shielded their eyes from it.

"Say something else about my parents and I'll gladly kick your ass up and down this school." Issei's eyes flickered again and his wings began to expand to their full size. He couldn't understand where all this rage had appeared from but he wasn't focused on that. Only on Cardin. "If it's a fight you want, I'll make you my little bitch boy, carrot top."

"What was that, you little shit?" Winchester growled, leaning forward in his seat. "You think you can take me?"

"For gosh sake, watch your language," Yang remarked, earning a groan from Pyrrha. Other than that, she was completely ignored.

Issei growled something primal. "I'll bury you..."

"Is that a threat?

"It's a promise."

"Boys!" Oobleck shouted. "This is a place for learning and education, not violence. The point of this class is to teach you from making the same mistakes as those before you. Mr. Hyoudou, I'll ask that you please return to your seat so that I may continue." Issei stared at the redheaded boy a few seconds longer. "Now, Mr. Hyoudou."

[Do as he says. While I'm usually all for instilling fear into the weak, this isn't the way you want to go about it.]

Issei begrudgingly relented and recalled his wings as he returned to his seat. Ruby was to his left and Pyrrha to his right. Both were rubbing his arms in an attempt to comfort him but he couldn't snuff out the raging inferno inside of him. He still felt the desire to destroy Cardin in every violent way possible. Hell, he even felt a smidge of desire for blood if it meant teaching him a lesson.

He continued to seethe throughout the lesson, feeling many different pairs of eyes train on him throughout the remainder of the class. But it was thanks to Ruby and Pyrrha that he was able to stay just calm enough that he didn't do or say anything more. It was better that way as he still couldn't understand why he had gotten so upset so easily. It almost felt as if a rage bomb had been set off inside of him.

As the lesson came to an end, the bell rang and the other students began filing out. "Mr. Hyoudou, a word if you would?"

Ruby gave him her best reassuring look and Pyrrha gave his shoulder one last comforting squeeze. Nora flashed him a thumbs up and Ren nodded. Even Blake met his gaze and Yang patted his back from the row behind him. Weiss was indifferent but that's how she always was towards him.

The brunette turned back to his partner who hadn't left just yet. He could see the concern in her eyes and could read that she would stay if he desired. He gave her a soft smile and jerked his head towards the others.

"It's okay, I'll be fine. Go with the others and I'll see you guys for lunch," he assured. She was hesitant but nodded her head and made her way out the room. Issei gathered his things and moved towards the teacher's desk.

Oobleck erased the board with incredible speed and packed his bag within the same blur. However, he didn't even look back as he spoke. "Anything to say for yourself?"

Issei was still angry but it had calmed down considerably to where he felt his emotions were back in check. "I apologize for my lack of control, Doctor," he began. "I've just been a bit wound up lately. I guess everything finally got to me and Cardin said some things that touched a raw nerve."

"That is understandable, Mr. Hyoudou," Oobleck replied. "While I know little of your situation, from what Ozpin has told me, you have been through a lot and a lot is expected of you for the coming future. I'm sure with all of the changes that have happened to you, there are points where it seems like everything is coming down upon you. Now, with all that said, do you believe that getting into a scuffle with Mr. Winchester would help alleviate any of that weight?"

Issei couldn't meet his gaze and took a deep breath. "...No, sir."

"Very good. You're a bright young student and I'd hate to see you easily manipulated by Mr. Winchester. You are better than this and have a good head on your shoulders. However, if you ever feel that you're troubled or feel like things are too much, my door is always open."

Issei couldn't help the small smile that tugged at his lips. "Thank you, Doctor."

"Yes, yes, very good," he replied as he gathered his things. He sped to the door but, just before leaving, he turned back to Issei. "And don't forget that you also have a team and friends who would do the same as I. You don't have to carry these burdens on your own, Issei. You're free to show some vulnerability to those who believe in you. Just as you do them."

And, with that, he was out the door.

-XOXOXOXOX-

The two teams, save one world traveler, sat at their usual table to start enjoying their lunch. However, all of them couldn't help the nagging thought on all of their minds. Besides Nora, of course, who was devouring her food with gusto. Everyone else could only find themselves staring at their plates, some taking bites here and there, but mostly just picking at their food.

Yang decided to be the ice breaker and voice the group's shared thoughts.

"Okay, I know we're all thinking about it. Issei..." She trailed off.

"Was extremely angry, right?" Nora added.

"Yeah, it almost puts my spats to shame," the blonde answered. "Like, I've never seen him get that upset before."

"It's kind of understandable though," Ruby chimed in. "Cardin said some mean things. You just get mad if someone takes the last piece of pizza."

"Hey!"

Ren leaned forward, resting an arm on the table. "Even still, we haven't seen him like this before. There wasn't even a build up to it, just...that. He's usually so calm and composed that this genuinely caught us off guard."

There was a brief moment of silence as they thought over what was said.

"Do you think Cardin has been bullying him?" Ruby asked.

"What!?" Nora shouted before bursting from his seat. "I'll break his legs!"

Ren placed a hand on her shoulder and brought her back into her seat. "I don't think that's the case."

"Yeah, Life Coach seemed eager to pound him into a smear on the floor," Yang noted. "Besides, we've seen what Issei can do. There's no way Cardin's that dumb."

"Could it be because of what Cardin said?" Blake asked. "He said some very cruel things about both the faunus and Issei's parents."

"It's a possibility," Ren replied. "We noticed a strained reaction from him this morning when he mentioned his parents. We didn't comment on it because we didn't find it to be our place to ask."

Nora nodded along and everyone turned to the last member of the team. Normally they would have expected her to simply have agreed but the group had noticed that she seemed to be out of the conversation entirely. She was staring down at her plate and her eyes were focused but not on the food themselves. She also seemed to be conflicted if the furrow in her brow was to be believed.

"Pyrrha?" Ruby called out.

The fellow redhead then blinked as her focus shifted back towards the table. "Huh?"

"Do you know anything about Life Coach and his mood swing? You are his partner after all and you two have almost become connected at the hip at this point."

Pyrrha immediately thought back to the first day in Professor Port's class and the look he gave to Weiss. The spartan spared a glance to the unusually quiet heiress and watched her stiffen as their eyes met. It was safe to say that she remembered the look too. While not so intense as his outburst from earlier both celebrities could assume that the two events had some possible connection.

Now, the big question was should she say something about the initial gaze and the flashing eyes? Then again what really could she say? Whatever was causing these outbursts dug deeper than Cardin's mockery. There was a connection between the two instances of his emotions getting the better of him.

When she took away the burst of emotions, Issei had been one of the most mellow person's she could have met. It had been a week or two since the incident in Grimm studies and she had actually forgotten about it until this current situation.

Albeit, this was different from what happened before. It wasn't the small ire that he had held towards Weiss for how she acted against Ruby. That had seemed like an over protective brother protecting his sister, at least by her assumption. And he had eventually let that go because Ruby accepted Weiss and the two had patched things up.

This, this was different. It was the first sign of his emotions getting the better of him. Issei genuinely looked like he wanted to hurt Cardin and, while many students wanted to as well, Issei actually seemed ready to follow through. She saw the way Cardin had tensed under her leader's gaze and knew that little could stop Issei if he chose to fight. Even she didn't think she could stop him before he hurt Cardin or destroyed something in the process.

And she still didn't take into account the fact that Issei had an advantage over all the students in the classroom. None of them had their weapons, except for Issei who could carry his where he desired. The only one who could probably subdue him was Prof-, Doctor Oobleck and there would still be a few seconds between Issei bashing Cardin's skull in and the doctor being able to break it up.

If it wasn't for Oobleck's interruption, Pyrrha believed that Issei may have acted on his anger.

"I'm really not sure, guys. This was completely different from how he normally is..."

At that exact moment, the doors to the cafeteria opened and Issei stepped into the room. He made his way towards them, looking much more like his usual self and less like angry rage man. It was crazy to believe that the calm and, sometimes goofy, leader of Team HVNL was the same inferno of a man from history class.

"Hey guys," Issei greeted as he sat down.

"H-Hey, Issei," Ruby stuttered. Her eyes widened and the table felt an awkward air fall upon them at the slip up.

If Issei was hurt by it, he didn't show any signs, another sign that he was his usual self. He did release a sigh as his gaze drifted down to the table. "Look, I understand that you're all a bit on edge. Even I don't know what came over me back there. Cardin had said some things that got under my skin and I overreacted. I'm sure all of us have at one point or another."

Both teams shared knowing looks. All of them had known the feeling a tad too well and actually couldn't fault Issei for it when they were victims of those raw emotions themselves.

"I made a mistake," he said softly. "There's a lot that's happened in my life and there are plenty of scars that I guess still need time to heal. Cardin got the better of me but I won't let his bullshit fill my head next time."

"Ah, Pyrrha, he said a swear word," Ruby teased.

"Quiet you," the spartan retorted, earning a chuckle from the group. Even Issei as he stared down at the table.

A hand gently covered his own and he looked over to see Pyrrha smiling softly. "We're here for you, Issei. If you need us, don't be afraid to ask."

He couldn't help but smile back. "Thanks. This just seems like something I have to work on myself and, possibly, think of ways to keep calm in those situations. Maybe Ren and I could start those meditation sessions a little early."

The boy in question nodded his head immediately. "Of course."

"That's actually pretty mature of you to recognize," Blake said from behind the cover of her book. "I've always found that a material object that brings you joy could also help as well."

Issei cocked his head to the side. "Like a security blanket?"

"Precisely. Is there anything you know that could help calm you down? Like a stuffed animal, or a stress ball, or-"

"Boobs," Issei answered a little too quickly. He almost immediately realized what he said and clamped a hand over his mouth. He had not meant to blurt out such a perverted answer and had actually planned to keep his perversion under wraps. Now he was for sure to receive disgusted looks and possible distancing from his circle of friends. It would be Kuoh Academy all over again.

"I'm sure Yang wouldn't mind," Ruby answered, jabbing her thumb at the blonde boxer.

Issei's eyes widened at the sudden proclamation from his first friend. Even more so by the fact she didn't even seem bothered by what she had just said.

"Yeah, these babies are pretty powerful," Yang added, squishing the two mounds of flesh together. "I always knew they would be needed one day to stop the forces of evil."

The boy's jaw dropped. She wasn't even bashful about it. In fact, Yang looked at him confidently, knowing exactly what her actions were doing to him. The smirk, however, he couldn't exactly read. Was she teasing him? Inviting him? Both? Neither?

"Y-You can't be serious..."

"I concur, this is deplorable!" Weiss shouted from the end of the table. Issei was actually happy to see the familiar look he was accustomed to from the many girls in his world that thought of him as garbage. Her reaction was normal. It was expected. The expected kept him from freaking out.

Yang's smirk turned to a shit eating grin. "Oops, sorry Weiss. I forgot that not all of us are so gifted as to have these big beauties. I was merely offering my services to our Life Coach in need."

"Wait! You mean-" He couldn't even finish the sentence. But Yang didn't need him to as she shot him a wink in reply.

"Most guys try some roundabout way to touch them," she began. "But you, you were honest with yourself, even if you didn't mean to. Plus, I know you're a good guy and would genuinely take a girl's emotion into consideration. Not to mention, you're a teenage guy and I know how much you guys like girl's milk makers. I'm simply woman enough to not only understand it but let you indulge as long as it helps you in the long run, Fly Boy."

Issei could feel his entire face start to burn. He couldn't even meet her gaze and settled for what came natural as he looked down at her breasts. Damn, they were nice. And she was actually offering them to help keep him calm. She even leaned against the table to give him a better view! This must have been a dream!

Grip!

The Sekiryuutei felt a hand grab onto the sleeve of his blazer and begrudgingly pulled away from the sacred treasures, that was Yang's honkers, and turned to them. It was Pyrrha, who's cheeks were bright red. She couldn't even meet his gaze at first but, with a strong resolve, she turned to face him and took hold of her own breasts which were equally as large as Yang's, if not a bit smaller.

"I-Issei, y-y-you can also...use my b-b-b-boobs if you n-need to," she stuttered out, her entire face trying to mimic the color of her hair.

Issei stared blankly at the spartan for a moment. The pregnant pause made everyone turn to him as his face showed no emotion whatsoever. He didn't move, he didn't react, it was even hard to tell if he was breathing. It actually got to the point where the others started to worry for him.

Drip!

That was until the thin line of blood leaked from his nostril. And, to make matters worse, his wings also decided to burst from his back in all their full glory.

"Uh..."

"He's fine, P-money," Yang reassured her with the biggest of grins. "I'd say that's his own special way of appreciating and thanking us for our generosity."

"O-Oh..." She lowered her head to try and hide both the growing blush and small smile on her face. "Okay."

"This is absolutely ridiculous," Weiss spoke up, gaining everyone's attention once more. "I expected this of Yang. But you, Pyrrha? He just openly admitted his perversion and you're all okay with it?" She asked the table.

Ren shrugged. "I see no reason to tell them what to do with their bodies and how they want to help Issei."

"Yeah and Yang's probably a way bigger pervert than Issei. Like wayyy bigger. I should know, I've lived with her," Ruby added on before continuing to devour her cookie.

"I actually find it interesting. It reminds me of a story I read where the protagonist used their body to calm the beast that was their long lost lover," Blake threw in as she turned a page in her book and continued reading.

Weiss turned to the last member of the table. Nora had actually been awfully quiet, especially on a subject that she usually would chime in on. If only to say something absolutely insane or to join in on the "fun" with Yang.

Nora stared back with an uncharacteristically straight face and simply said, "it is what it is."

Before Weiss could even fathom a response she was cut off as they heard a cry of pain from across the cafeteria.

"Ow! Let go! You're hurting me!" A rabbit faunus girl cried out as the boys of Team CRDL surrounded her, allowing Cardin Winchester to pull on her long, brown-furred rabbit ears.

Cardin laughed as he gave them another rough tug, a smug grin across his face. "See? I told you they were real."

"Haha, what a freak," one of his lackeys added.

Pyrrha growled with her fists clenched. "How atrocious. I can't stand people like him."

Blake's gaze narrowed into amber slits. "You're not the only one."

Yang rested her cheek into the palm of her hand. "It must be hard being a faunus."

[Boost!]

And that was when they noticed something. Looking around, they took note that the faunus of their group had disappeared.

"Issei!" Ruby called out. Everyone turned to see the world traveler storming over to the other table.

"Oh boy," Ren muttered.

"What happened to 'not letting him get the better of me'!?" Weiss asked out.

"Ow! Please, let me go!" The girl cried out.

[Boost!]

"I'm giving you one out, Winchester. Let her go," Issei shouted over.

Cardin growled and shot a glare back at the brunette. "Oh yeah? And what are you going to do about it, Crocodile Dunce-y?" He tugged again, eliciting another cry of pain from the girl.

[Boost!]

"Either you let her go and I walk away, or I will make you let her go..." Issei could feel the inferno coming forth again and, once more, he found himself unable to control the torrent coming forth. It felt like he was on a massive wave. There was no way to stop it and all he could do was ride it out.

[Boost!]

"Hah, as if you could-."

Issei's hand latched onto the arm holding the girl's ear. What came next for Cardin was a pressure the likes of which he never felt before. He could feel the hand crushing down on his arm guards, the metal actually squeezing.

"Let. Her. Go. Now!"

Cardin tried to stay defiant but the pain was becoming too much and he relinquished his hold on the rabbit girl before turning a pained and angered look at Issei. The faunus girl looked back and forth between them before slowly backing away.

[Boost!]

"You're nothing but scum, Winchester," Issei seethed as a grunt sounded from the redhead's throat. "You're a bully and do so because of your own issues with yourself. You have to feel superior so you try to belittle and hurt everyone you deem weak. You're just...you're just..."

"I had a lot of fun these last few days."

"You're a real sucker..."

"What is going on here?"

"!"

Glynda had finally arrived and stood just a few feet from them, hand on her hip. "Mr. Hyoudou, I shall ask that you release Mr. Winchester this instant."

There was a moment of relief that passed as the students were happy to see Glynda's arrival. The power that had started to surge from Issei had many of them fearful but the moment she spoke, it vanished and a weight on their shoulders was momentarily alleviated.

That was until Issei came to challenge authority and turned his glare onto the professor. She wasn't intimidated by him and her bone chilling glare met him with equal ferocity. And that was when everyone felt a heavy tension fall upon the room.

"He attacked another student, hurt her, verbally assaulted her. Where were you?" He shot back.

[Boost!]

Grip!

"Gaah!" Cardin could feel his aura straining as the pressure on his arm increased. If it wasn't for the protection, it was obvious that his bone would have snapped.

"Mr. Hyoudou, release him at once! I will not ask a third time!"

"Why does he continue to abuse the faunus and you do nothing to reprimand his behavior," Issei asked. "Why should I let him go when he will just continue to attack and hurt others? You are a professor at this school. A disciplinary, too, yet I see that his actions have gone unpunished ever since his arrival. Why do you continue to do nothing?"

"Mr. Winchester will be dealt with but, as of right now, you have to let him go."

There was a pregnant pause as Issei stared her down. He then looked back at Cardin to see the boy's pained expression, much similar to the girl's from earlier when he tugged on her ear.

"Fine," he finally relented and let him go. The larger boy cradled his arm in his hand, sending one last angry glare which did nothing to the brunette. "The next time you try to touch her. The next time you try anything against anyone, there won't be someone to save you."

[That's enough, hatchling. I'm sure he's learned his lesson.]

'But he-'

[He's not her.]

'R-Right...'

Issei closed his eyes and took several deep, calming breaths. The wave had subsided and he felt himself returning to his normal self, or what he considered normal of himself. He turned back to his friends to see that they were staring at him. He then looked across the cafeteria to see all of the students staring at him. There was a fear in their eyes that he had not seen before.

'What...is happening?'

[Your emotions. Because of you, they have felt the power of a dragon.]

'But-'

[I suppose God didn't tell you much about Sacred Gears and Longinus, has he?]

'I...don't know.'

He could hear Ddraig groan. [A conversation for another time, then. For now, you must do your absolute best to keep your emotions in check. The more you lose control, the more of our power leaks out, and believe me, our power is much more potent than theirs. Any more rage and you'll make more people fearful of you when you're supposed to be their hero and unite them.]

Issei felt the link go quiet after that. He looked around at the room once more, many more people avoiding his gaze to avoid his wrath. Glynda was one of the few who actually met his gaze and the look of disapproval didn't help. Instead, he held up his left hand and stared at it, thinking to himself, 'what the hell is happening to me..?'

-XOXOXOXOX-

Issei sighed as he looked up at the stars. They looked so similar to the ones back home. Home. Back with his family. His mom. His dad. His friends at school. Even the kendo girls who beat him senseless everyday.

...And then there was Yuuma.

Just the thought of her was enough to make his hand curl into a fist. He could feel the pool but kept his eyes on the sky, focusing on the stars and the shattered moon and, slowly, felt the anger subside and his hand relax. He inhaled deeply before releasing a slow exhale through his nostrils.

Has it really become that easy for him to get upset? Just the thought of her made him angry. Had it really gotten so bad that any bad thing someone did caused him to think that they were her? Weiss berating Ruby, she was like Yuuma. Cardin and his superiority complex, he was like Yuuma. What next? If one of his friends took him to a fountain in the middle of a park, would he immediately assume they'd attempt to kill him?

Why couldn't he just be over this already? Why couldn't he just let go of the past? The cartoons that he watched never focused on moments like this where he could have used the knowledge of knowing how to move on from life altering events. It was always back to the shouting and fighting.

Click!

Issei heard the door to the roof close and he looked over his shoulder. Of all people, he was surprised by who had stepped out onto the roof.

"Yang?"

The buxom blonde stood at the door and waved. "Hey, Life Coa-, I mean, Issei. You doing okay?"

The boy paused, hearing the sincerity in her voice. It sounded like pity to him and he turned back to the sky and sighed. "No, not really."

He heard her walk towards him before he saw movement out the corner of his eyes as she sat down next to him. "I kinda figured that. What with the outburst in Professor Oobleck's class and that staredown back in the cafeteria. You're actually a pretty scary dude when you want to be."

Issei flinched at that and kept his gaze to the ground several floors below. "Yeah... I didn't mean for it to happen and I don't like being the scary dude. I just...I hated the way everyone looked at me. The way you guys looked at me." He rose his hand to his face and released a defeated sigh. "I hate it. I hate feeling like this. I just told you guys I was going to be better and, literally seconds later, I go and do that. It's disgusting."

Yang bumped her shoulder into his. "I don't think so. You had told us that you wouldn't let Cardin get under your skin. What you did back there was save that girl from her bully."

"Yeah, but-"

"Nope."

"N-No?"

"No, not no. Nope."

"But I-"

"Nope!"

"But what about-"

"Nope!"

"Can you-"

"Nope!"

"Listen, I-"

"Nope, nope!"

"Knock it off!"

Yang looked to contemplate the idea but only for a few seconds before she smiled. "Nope!"

"I hate you..."

"No you don't," she replied, the smile slipping to a smug grin. He didn't meet her eyes nor her face, feeling his own start to grow warm.

"Fine, I don't. But what I did today was too far."

"Did anyone get hurt?" She asked.

"Well, technically no..."

"Did you get in trouble?"

"I...don't think so. But Professor Goodwitch was upset," Issei added quickly.

"She's always upset. Makes me think she's not getting laid," she commented, crossing her arms behind her head.

"Yang!" The boy's face was now beet red.

"What? I'm just being honest here," she retorted, throwing her arms out in a 'can't blame me for thinking that' gesture. "There's no way you can be getting dicked down and be that uptight. It's just not nature."

"..."

"..."

"Ruby's right, you are a pervert," Issei stated flatly.

"Got you out of your funk though," she commented, throwing a finger at him.

Issei went to deny the claim but, after a momentary pause, realized she was right. He wasn't really upset as he was prior. The feeling was still there but the distraction had made him forget it. Even if just for a few seconds.

"And that's another thing. Ruby still thinks the world of you. You're her best friend, somehow tied with Weiss, but her best friend nonetheless. Even today, after all the stuff in the cafeteria, and after everyone's heads finally cleared, she still is awe struck by how awesome you are."

There was a brief pause.

"But why?"

"You're pretty dense, aren't you."

"Hi pot, I'm kettle," he shot back.

"There's a difference between being blissfully unaware and simply choosing to ignore it."

"I'm assuming you're the latter?"

"Shut it, smart-ass!"

"Oop, don't let Pyrrha hear you."

The duo shared a brief laugh at the redhead's expense. But as the silence slowly returned and Issei was left to his thoughts, he once again found himself asking the same questions again. Only, this time, with how Yang had a response ready for him. Even if they were as childish as a simple nope.

"How..."

"Because I went through something similar, Issei," she answered immediately.

The brunette clamped his mouth shut, looking at the blonde. She looked back, lips curled in a small smile. No smugness, no hint of teasing, but understanding and reassurance. He pressed his lips together, looking at her looking at him. Then he opened his mouth again.

"Are you-"

"Reading your mind? Nah, you're actually just really easy to read."

Now that made Issei pout. But an idea struck and he couldn't stop the sly grin from stretching across his face.

"Really? You can read?"

Oh how he could table the turns. "Haha, very funny."

"I'm just saying."

"Yeah, well, that's gonna cost you a helping hand." She turned her back to him and crossed her arms.

Issei stopped mid reply, the brawler's words reaching him just before his brain could give him another gibe. "Wait, helping hand?"

Yang peaked over her shoulder. She could see the confusion clear as day on his face. Honestly, it was almost impossible that this was the boy who had Cardin at his mercy earlier that day. But, it was the fact that he was that she had come searching for him in the first place.

"Yeah, a helping hand. To help you get that anger in check."

"Huh? What do you mean-"

A finger was shoved into his face and he jerked his head back just in time to avoid being jabbed in the nose. He followed the appendage back to the source until he saw lilac eyes looking at him with a force that sent a chill down his spine.

"Like I said," Yang started. "I understand what you're going through." The appendage was pulled back and the duo slowly returned to their original position, with Issei looking up into the stars and Yang bumping her shoulder into his. However, she wasn't playful this time and it was more seen as comforting. "You're angry, I know that type of feeling well. I know it's because you're hurting."

This caught Issei off guard and he could only reply in the best way he knew how.

"Huh?"

Yang groaned. "Look, you're hurting. You're grieving about something. And I want to help you, you idiot."

This made Issei's heart jump in his chest. He must have not hid the reaction well if the look the girl gave him was anything to go by.

"I just told you twice now that I know what you're going through. The signs were so obvious that it amazes me that the others haven't noticed it as well," she said, annoyed at the fact. But, it was replaced by a prideful smile a second later. "Then again, I was always pretty good at reading people, so maybe it's a better show of my awesomeness."

This made Issei's face fall into a flat stare.

"Uhhh, less bragging and more explaining how you're supposed to be helping me."

"Oh yeah, right," she waved off. He rolled his eyes as the blonde stood up and turned towards him, pointing down at him and striking a dramatic pose.

"Issei Hyoudou, you and I are going out!"

"..."

"..."

"..."

"..."

[I like her.]

Then it finally hit him.

"...WHAT!?"

So, there is finally a reason behind Issei's recent nature and I can finally slap an arc on this damn thing. Not Jaune, I mean story arcs. For now at least.

He's going through grief. He had his debelief. Now his an angwy dwagon boy.

Now, will I try to make consistent updates, probably not. I'm a procrastinator, plain and simple. But I will try to not procrastinate as hard as to give you guys something interesting. Sooo...positives. Let's try optimism, right?

No? Okay.