Willow Schnee stood alone in the courtyard outside of Beacon Academy's main academic building, her hands clasped in front of herself and around a small white clutch purse. Despite the constant bustle of other students moving about in the area and the ever-present groups and cliques of individuals standing around in packs near the fountain and benches, Willow felt very much alone. She watched with a sad smile as what appeared to be a first year team of students spoke animatedly amongst themselves, and tried to glean bits of their conversation. As far as she could tell, they were discussing Professor Port's class, before the conversation meandered to the semblances of various students. Try as she might, Willow found herself unable to really focus on anything else that was being said, and worriedly slipped her scroll from her purse to check it once again. There were still no messages from Raven, Kali, or Summer.

"Kinda crazy, isn't it?"

Willow jumped despite herself as the brash voice interrupted her thoughts, and she looked up into the face of Robin Winchester. The bearded redhead was looking at her in a way that reminded her of a lion overlooking the savannah, trying to decide which antelope to pursue. He wore a set of golden plate mail with the Winchester family crest of a phoenix upon the breastplate, and had his gigantic, multi-bladed mace slung up over his right shoulder. The boy's curly hair hung in messy spirals down to his beady, lecherous eyes, and his beard was messy and unkempt. Willow instinctively took a step backward from Robin, and hurriedly pushed her scroll back into her purse.

"I'm sorry?" she asked while averting her eyes back to where the team of first year students had been mere moments before. No other students were standing anywhere near her anymore, and the thought that all she had for protection was Myrtenaster crossed her mind.

"You know- us. The upper crust," Robin explained while tilting his chin slightly skyward. "Isn't it kinda funny how the heirs of Winchester Military Technologies, the Schnee Dust Company, and the Torchwick kid all ended up here at Beacon, in the same year? Torchwick's a faunus-loving lost cause, but you should stick with us, Junior, and Yatsu. Heard you didn't have a team, anyway, so why not spend your time among the best one here?"

Willow offered the Winchester boy the kindest smile she could manage, and was pleased that it came out convincing. Pretending to be interested and accepting was nothing new to the heiress, and deflecting Robin was practically second nature to her.

"I suppose it is rather interesting, yes, but… I would rather leave myself available to all first year teams as a support member, and try to learn from everyone I can," Willow said sweetly. She batted her eyes softly and shook her head as she raised her shoulders in a noncommittal shrug. "Besides, Roman Torchwick is a friend of mine. If your teams are at odds, then I'm afraid that means that I won't be seeing much of Team JHRY."

Unlike Willow, Robin seemed to have quite a bit of trouble controlling his facial expressions, though whether it was due to lack of ability or apathy was unclear. His cocky smirk slipped into an immediate scowl, and he rolled his eyes before spitting onto the ground and just missing the toe of Willow's high heels. The girl instinctively raised an arm and recoiled at the gesture, while Robin snorted dismissively.

"Is that right? I bet your daddy wouldn't be too happy to hear that you favor the son of a washed-up painter over the twins that will one day run all of Atlas, and eventually, Remnant. It's only a matter of time before the SDC just becomes another branch of the WMT," Robin sneered while cracking his neck.

Willow fought back her own frown as best she could, and clenched her fist as she lowered her hand back down toward her waiting rapier. "What my father desires has little to do with what I want, especially right now. If there are business deals to be made in the future between you and I, they will be just that- business, and nothing more. Until that time comes, I think it would be best if we saw as little of each other as possible. Otherwise, I may start to interpret your boasting as a threat."

Robin opened his mouth to retort, only to be stopped by a silver gauntlet clutching his shoulder.

"Hey," came a lighter, though still very masculine voice from behind the teen. "Leave Schnee alone."

Robin whirled on the spot and nearly took off his brother's head with his weapon as the taller blonde leaned backward out of the way.

"And watch where you aim that thing!" Jay hissed as he returned to standing upright. He was clad in armor much like his brother's, though the plating was a shimmering silver that contrasted nicely with his golden hair. His spiky, choppy style was far more professionally maintained than that of Robin, though his mood seemed even lower than his brother's.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. She's just been busy telling me how she's too good for us, so I'm done, anyway. Meet me in the practice field," Robin finished after hiking a thumb backward at Willow. Without another word, he stalked off toward the designated training grounds, and Jay heaved a labored sigh before stepping forward to take the place of the other Winchester while offering a hand.

"Sorry about him," Jay offered as Willow accepted his armored hand with her own elegantly gloved one. "Just ignore anything that comes out of Robin's mouth. He doesn't get enough attention at home, apparently… but I swear he's not always that bad, either. Jay Winchester."

"I know," Willow confirmed as the pair shook, and then parted hands. "As for Robin, it's… quite fine. We're all out of our element here, and it's been a very rough week."

"You have no idea," Jay grumbled as he folded his arms over his breastplate. "Really, though- I'm sorry if he's causing you any trouble. I'll do my best to keep him out of your way, and get him to leave you alone. I hear you've been seen around campus with STRQ and OKRA…"

"Is that a problem?" Willow cut in as she mirrored the boy's stance by folding her arms.

"No. No, it's not," Jay insisted. "But he doesn't like it. Rob thinks the Atlesian families should be sticking together, and that the majority of students here aren't worth our time."

"And I'm sure you're about to tell me that your intentions are far more noble, and you're not like him," Willow deadpanned as she leaned slightly to one side to look over Jay's shoulder. "Spare me, if that's the case. I'd rather see it for myself than simply be told, and I've been hearing some interesting things about you from some of the faunus on campus. Regardless of what you two think, I see them as legitimate hunters in training."

"That's fair," Jay admitted with a frown. "But honestly… I don't know what I think, anymore. I'm busy trying to figure that out, and whatever you've heard, take it with a grain of salt."

Jay stiffened as he heard several sets of footsteps on the pathway behind himself. He turned his head slightly to find Raven, Kali, and Summer approaching, with the faunus at the head of the pack. All three girls were in their casual 'combat' outfits, and each was armed with their weapons and a handbag of some sort.

"Hey, sorry we're late," Kali apologized as she maneuvered around Jay and moved to stand next to Willow. "We had a little… thing happen, that held us up. No biggie… as long as he's not giving you trouble," she finished with a judgmental glance at Jay.

Willow hesitated, before shaking her head. "No, it's no trouble at all, from you, or him. We were just talking about our time at Beacon thus far," she replied as Raven and Summer took up positions on her other side.

"Are you still giving Adam shit?" Raven asked with a moody inflection.

"What? No, I… you didn't tell them? I thought you all hang out all the time," Jay asked as he gave a nervous glance down to Kali. The faunus shrugged, and shook her head while keeping her expression neutral.

"I didn't tell them anything about your decisions, because it's not my place to. That includes what happened between us. If you want them to know, you tell them," Kali said simply.

Jay scratched at the back of his head, looking rather uncomfortable. "Listen- all of you, I know you've probably heard from Adam that my brother and I haven't exactly been pleasant so far. I'm trying to come around and change that, but I can't say the same for Rob. Maybe sometime soon, I can swing by your dorm, and try to make it up to you all?"

The girls looked between each other, while Kali kept her eyes on the path below. Willow took notice after finding Raven completely uninterested, and cleared her throat.

"…Kali? It would seem like you're the closest to the issue."

Kali slowly raised her eyes to meet Jay's, and gave him a curt nod. "I'll be coming by your dorm sometime this week. We'll talk then."

Jay returned the nod, and refused to break away from her gaze. "Alright. I can't control the others, but... that's fine. I'll try to protect you."

"You might need to protect them," Kali warned before slipping her arm around Willow's waist. "Now, come on, girls. Today's supposed to be fun. Let's get going."

"Don't let me keep you," Jay agreed as he dropped his arms to his sides. "I'll… go and knock my brother around for you all. Make sure he's good and bruised by the time you drop by. And Willow… let me give you my scroll info. You guys are headed out to go shopping, I guess?"

"We are," Willow confirmed as she offered the boy her scroll. "Do you need something?"

"Not quite," Jay replied as he entered his information into the device. "I've got an idea for something small that might go a long way. We'll leave it at that," he finished before handing Willow her scroll once again.

"Well, that's awkward and secretive. I'll be seeing you, Jay," Kali replied with a satisfied smirk before turning and dragging Willow along. Raven and Summer followed shortly thereafter, and the leader of STRQ leaned in to speak in a hushed whisper as the group made their way toward the fountain.

"You think he means all that? Or is he just trying not to get in trouble, or something?"

"I think… breaking away from the ideologies of those that raised you is more difficult than you might think," Willow said carefully. "But I do think it can be done, if one is willing to accept that they're on the wrong path. Jay Winchester does seem like he sincerely regrets being so hasty to judge the faunus, and I think he wants to at least explore the alternative. After all, he certainly isn't stupid, and the fact that he's been going about things the wrong way is obvious."

Willow and Summer nodded slowly, and began to carry on the conversation as the girls made their way off campus. Raven said nothing, but felt an unpleasantly cold sensation in her chest that she suspected would be there for the remainder of the day.


"Oh, come on!"

Adam looked up from his position reading a textbook upon one of the beds in the STRQ dormitory to find that nothing at all had changed from the last round. Qrow and Taiyang were sat before a small television with a bulky game console plugged into the back of the screen. Each of the teens had a large, cumbersome controller in their lap, and the pixelated huntsman representing Taiyang laid dead on the screen once again, while 'PLAYER 1 WINS' flashed above the black 8-bit huntsman on the opposite side. Qrow had his arms raised in a confident shrug, while Taiyang kept his folded across his chest in a silent bout of spite.

"Guess I'm just a natural," Qrow cooed as he braced his hands behind himself and into the carpet. "Or maybe you're just a really good teacher."

"I'm not buying any of that," Taiyang replied as he shook his head. "It's your semblance. Gotta be. You're getting lucky shots, every time… or I'm getting unlucky hits, or whatever!"

'My semblance doesn't work like that," Qrow explained as he interlaced his fingers and cracked them all in one go. "Or at least, I don't think it does. The way you explained this to me, there isn't really 'luck' involved. It's just a matter o-"

"Hitboxes, timing, and mind games," Adam finished without looking up from his book. "Even I get that part, given how in-depth your explanation was. Now, are you two actually going to get any work done, or are you just going to waste time with games all afternoon?"

"Well, I'm done," Taiyang said with a sense of finality as he stood from his spot on the carpet. "Qrow keeps kicking my ass, and it's making me look really, really stupid, so…"

"Hey, don't walk away mad," Qrow replied with a mocking grin. "After all, I learned from you."

"Sure you did," Taiyang replied as he moved to sit on the edge of his bed. "I seriously don't believe that you've never touched a video game before. Either way, though, why should we be studying? It's the first weekend, we've got no tests coming up, and it's been a stressful week. Why not just relax, Adam?"

"No tests coming up that we know of," Adam corrected. "Would you really put it past any of these professors to give a pop quiz?"

Taiyang's cheeks drained of color at the suggestion, and he drew his legs inward before crossing them. "Uh… you don't think they'd actually do that as soon as week two, do you?"

"I'd be a little surprised if they didn't," Qrow offered as he looked over his shoulder at Adam. "Still, though, you're the most prepared out of any of us, so why not just chill out for a bit? Wanna go a few rounds? I'll stop cheating, just for you."

"You'll what!?" Taiyang roared with indignation as he glared daggers at Qrow. The dark-haired boy merely laughed and waved a hand.

"Kidding. I'm not cheating. Probably," Qrow teased.

"…no," Adam said slowly as he eyed the colorful spectacle on the screen once again. "Thanks for the offer, but it just seems like a waste of time."

Qrow shrugged once again, only to jolt slightly as the door creaked open. Bartholomew made his way into the room carrying two boxes of pizza, and tossed his keys onto one of the beds from beneath the stack.

"Gentlemen. I trust that you missed me?"

"Like flowers waiting for rain," Qrow quipped as he rose to shut off the game console. He then made his way toward the kitchenette to grab a stack of paper plates and napkins, while Taiyang and Adam began to shuffle off of their respective beds.

"Barty's been studying, too," Adam pointed out as he closed his book and made his way down to the carpet to sit with his leader and Taiyang. "I'm not the only one focused on academics."

"I have, yes," Bartholomew agreed as he sat with his back to the TV stand. "I want to be prepared, in the event of a surprise exam."

Taiyang let out a tortured groan as he slammed his head backward into the wooden stand while taking position next to Bartholomew. "You guys are making me worried. Really worried."

"Eh, it's early," Qrow pointed out as he passed plates and napkins around to the group, before taking a seat across from Adam. "If you bomb a quiz, you can make up for it later. We should be focusing on the fun and important things, while we're alone without the girls. We haven't had an opportunity to just talk amongst ourselves as guys, yet."

"Ah, yes, the fun and important guy things," Bartholomew mused as he opened the pizza boxes to reveal a large plain and large pepperoni pizza. "Do enlighten us with your wisdom as to what is worth doing and talking about, Qrow."

"Now this, I've gotta hear," Taiyang said with a smirk as he picked up a slice of pepperoni. "Got some girl on your mind, or is this just your way of suggesting that we get back to the game after pizza?"

"…the two of you can get bent," Qrow threatened as he pulled a slice of plain cheese from the pizza and drew it onto his plate. "I was kinda suggesting we talk about and maybe do some stuff we wouldn't normally do, since it's just us guys. But fuck me, I guess."

"What sort of stuff?" Adam asked near immediately as he held his paper plate in his lap while looking over his plain slice curiously. "You clearly have something on your mind."

Qrow hesitated as he suddenly found all eyes in the room on him, and he took the opportunity to take a bite of his pizza before pulling it forward to create a strand of cheese between his mouth and the slice. He slowly made a show of trying to salvage the cheese bridge in hopes that any of the other boys would say something, only to find them all continuing to stare despite his gambit.

"…alright, fine," Qrow griped as he rolled his eyes. "Look, I haven't really had many friends before now, and I'd like to get to know you all better. Yes, Tai, even you."

Taiyang quietly raised a middle finger at Qrow as he used his other hand to hold his pizza to his mouth.

"…I'll confess that I'm the same way, but you all knew that already," Adam said softly.

"You'll likely find this positively shocking, but I've never been the most popular or social, before Beacon," Bartholomew added. "So, let's talk, and get to fixing that, for all of us. I understand that the stakes are too high to get serious when girls are watching."

"Hey, now," Taiyang interrupted. "I've been a social butterfly since I was a baby. It's really not that hard- you've just gotta know how to keep a conversation interesting, and hit on things that everyone can contribute to."

"Alright then, let's hear it, oh master of social dynamics," Qrow replied. "Start us off."

Taiyang paused as all attention shifted from Qrow and onto him, and he cursed under his breath. "Well played, asshole. Alright, well, it's pretty obvious why we're all here, but what about afterward? You guys got any plans after Beacon?"

Qrow and Adam paused, clearly lost in thought as they both neglected their food. Bartholomew raised a brow and pushed his glasses farther up his nose, before offering Taiyang a gentle nod.

"An interesting question, to be sure. I'd like to become a professor, personally."

"Really?" Taiyang asked with a bit of surprise. "I mean, I guess that's not that surprising, but… me, too."

"Really?" Qrow asked, his surprise topping Taiyang's.

"Yeah, actually," Taiyang deadpanned as he gave Qrow an unimpressed look. "Got a problem with that?"

"No. No, not at all," Qrow said defensively as he waved a hand. "I actually think you'd be good at it. Considering your empathy semblance and how much you seem to care about everyone, no matter how much they're pissing you off, the world could use more professors like you. Besides, you did just teach me how to kick your ass at Road Brawler."

Taiyang blinked in surprise, before allowing himself a small smirk. "…huh. Well… thanks, man. Any idea what you plan on doing?"

"Not a clue," Qrow responded suspiciously quickly, before nodding toward his faunus friend. "Adam?"

Adam's lip twitched as the other boys looked him over, and he shook his head. "…skip me. It's predictable, likely hopeless, and not something I really want to talk about. Next question."

"Revolution, of some sort," Bartholomew said softly. "You want to do something for the faunus people. Kickstart meaningful change."

Adam looked up, and his grimace shifted into a tight line. "Yeah. I know it's probably impossible, but it's also important. Maybe… maybe I'll just become a solo mercenary, and prove to people that a faunus is just as capable at getting things done and saving people as any human huntsman. Maybe I'll write an influential book. Maybe I'll lead rallies, or do all three. I don't know. I need to master the basics, first, now that I have the opportunity."

"Well, whatever you do, I'll have your back," Qrow offered. "And if you go the mercenary route, maybe we can work as a pair."

Adam merely chuckled, and finally tore into his pizza. "Maybe. Thanks, Qrow."

"I'll do what I can, from an academic setting," Bartholomew added, and Taiyang backed him up with a nod. "Change is coming with our generation, one way or another. That being said, if you'd rather not talk about it, we could always meander toward another topic to make Qrow and Taiyang uncomfortable, instead. Perhaps, which of our female companions is most attractive?"

Taiyang quite nearly choked as he began coughing harshly. Finally, he brought his napkin up to his mouth, and cleared his throat.

"What the hell, Barty!? That's a Qrow question, and also not even fair! You're gay!"

"I am, yes," Bartholomew confirmed. "That just means your answers are all the more interesting to me, and besides, I can still appreciate physical attractiveness in women, even if it does nothing for me, personally. I'll start us off- Summer, by far."

"Summer?" Qrow asked with a nervous laugh. "Really? I mean yeah, she's cute, but I dunno. She's not at all what I'd expect you to say. I would've said maybe… Kali, for you?"

"And that's partially it," Bartholomew countered. "Yes, she's a bit 'plain', I suppose, but she has a natural, no-makeup sort of beauty. Her personality adds to it, and almost makes her face seem to glow. I think she's criminally underrated, compared to the rest of the girls. I will agree, though, that Kali is quite attractive- perhaps… second place?"

"That's fair," Taiyang agreed as he folded his arms, his cheeks hot as he avoided the eyes of the other boys. "You all already know my answer, so let's just get it over with. Raven. Sorry, Qrow."

"Sorry?" Qrow asked. "I've told you already, I don't care what you think of her in that way, and she'd be lucky to have a guy like you. Go forth and multiply with my blessing, or whatever. She could stand to get laid, anyway."

Taiyang gave the other boy a nod of affirmation, and a tight-lipped smile. "Thanks. What about you?"

Qrow took a deep breath, before blowing it heavily into the air between himself and the other boys. He made a show of cracking his neck, and then his knuckles, before fixing Taiyang with a serious look. "This all stays between us, because I don't want it getting weird. I think my answer changes based on some parameters, but all-around? Gotta go with Willow."

"I knew it!" Taiyang said confidently, as Bartholomew settled for a soft chuckle.

"You haven't exactly been subtle, my friend. Fortunately for you, she's sheltered enough that I think she's entirely unaware."

"Gods, I hope so," Qrow lamented. "I'm not even going to start down that road, but I'm content to just watch from afar. She's absolutely gorgeous, and the more time I spend with her, the more I like her, but… I don't know. I'd rather just leave it there, for now. A girl like her and a guy like me don't mix."

"Never say never, but I'll let you off the hook for now," Taiyang replied as he slowly turned his eyes toward Adam. "You've been awfully quiet. I'm guessing either Kali, or you aren't interested in any of them at all?"

Adam slowly raised his eye to meet Taiyang's.

"…Raven."

A moment of silence passed between the other three boys as they looked at each other, seeming absolutely stunned.

"…is… there an explanation, to go along with your choice?" Bartholomew asked.

"She's naturally beautiful, physically," Adam began as he seemed to stare through Bartholomew. "It's clear that she's a warrior, well-trained, and incredibly passionate about many things, only letting that passion be known when it's necessary to contribute or defend something. She's soft-spoken, well-spoken, and kind, until she's pushed. She's extremely skilled with a katana, and holds me, and really, all of us accountable when we need to hear something unpleasant as a form of reality check. I get the feeling that she's the most mature out of any of us, and that alone is enough to make her attractive. Add in everything else, and you've got the clear winner, in my mind."

Another period of tense silence passed, before Qrow cleared his throat and spoke up. "Well… you're not wrong, about any of that. I just don't think any of us were expecting you to see her that way."

"Nor am I going to act on it," Adam replied as he returned his gaze to Taiyang, who let out a sigh of relief despite himself. "I'm not really 'looking', as some would say, and I know that you harbor feelings for her, as well. That's merely my answer."

Taiyang set the plate holding his half-finished slice down beside himself, and turned to face Adam fully. "I mean… yeah, fine, I've got feelings for Raven. I'll just say it plainly, right now. That doesn't mean I can just 'claim' her, you know. She's free to choose one of us, or neither of us. I'm not gonna be mad if she falls for you, man."

Adam rolled his eye, and shook his head. "As though she would. Leave it, Tai. And before any of you bring up Kali, Roman's got a crush on her bigger than Tai has for Raven. I'm not about to even try, out of respect for him."

Qrow suddenly shifted uncomfortably from his spot on the floor, and then stood up. "…yeah, I'm gonna get some water, or something. Anybody else want anything?"

"Just now thought of that, did you?" Bartholomew mused. "Or are you simply trying to avoid talking about Kali?"

"Round of water it is," Qrow replied before slipping off into the kitchenette.


Jay let out a grunt of effort as he crossed his swords in front of himself to barely catch his brother's mace as it descended in an overhead slam. The two golden blades let off sparks as they ground against the bladed head of Robin's weapon, and then suddenly, the upper half of one of the swords extended into bladed fragments connected by a thick metallic wire as Jay engaged the weapon's alternate mode. The linked portions formed a loop around the shaft of Robin's gigantic mace, and then constricted to capture the large weapon. Jay flung the bladed loop and attached mace off to the side to disarm his brother, and then dashed forward with his remaining sword to take a swing for Robin's breastplate.

Suddenly, large chunks of grass-covered dirt and rock rose from the ground and arranged into floating wards around Robin as the boy raised his arm and curled it toward himself. Jay expected the move, and gripped his sword with both hands as he began to bat at the rocks to fling them backward toward his brother. Robin summoned up more fragments of rocky ground to encase his right arm in protective stone before punching the incoming pieces of his shield back toward Jay, and the blonde Winchester leaped to the side to narrowly avoid being hit in the face by chunks of flying earth.

"Not bad!" Jay complimented as he flourished his remaining sword. He pressed a slider on the handle to extend the top half into its chained whip form, and the fragments began to coil once again. Jay then lashed the bladed tendril outward to drag his other sword and Robin's mace farther away from his brother, before converting his weapon back into longsword form. "But now you're unarmed, and I'm not. What's your next move?"

Yatsuhashi and Hei Xiong both leaned forward slightly from their positions on the bleachers and watched carefully as Robin's rock-encased fist began to subtly vibrate. The floating fragments of rock slammed together in front of him to form a dome-shaped shield, before the entire mass flew forward toward Jay. The defending Winchester raised his free hand and summoned up a swirling ball of azure flame that spewed a coating of blue fire onto his blade before he gripped it in both hands and cleaved straight downward with a spirited yell. Jay managed to slice straight through the speeding rock wall, and the giant halves of curved stone fell cleanly to either side of him as Robin's green aura fizzled and broke. Jay's chest heaved with effort as he stared down his brother, and neither of the boys moved for several seconds. Finally, Robin raised his hands in surrender, and shook his head with a smile.

"Alright, alright. You win this round," the boy admitted. "Been working on your superheating, huh?"

"You could say that," Jay replied as the flames coating his sword and the floating, fiery wisp disappeared into thin air. "Good thing you tapped out- my aura's almost blown, too."

"Never mind that," Hei Xiong interrupted as he made his way down from the stands with Yatsuhashi in tow. "Tearing chunks out of the ground probably isn't the best idea, consideri-"

"You aren't supposed to be sparring unsupervised," came a call from behind Jay. The hairs on the back of his neck bristled as he turned to find Professor Goodwitch, riding crop in hand and a scowl etched upon her features. "Or did you somehow miss that message, which I've repeated at the beginning of class, all week long?"

"Our sincerest apologies, Professor," Yatsuhashi began as he made an approach for the slightly older, yet much smaller woman. "The Winchesters just wanted to demonstrate their combat abilities to Junior and I, since they're used to sparring back at home. A sibling rivalry, and all."

"Be that as it may," Professor Goodwitch began with narrowed eyes, "rules are rules, and the two of you fought to a broken aura. You're lucky that no one was injured, regardless of whether or not you're familiar with each other."

Jay let out a sigh as Robin handed over his brother's missing sword. "Sorry, Professor. We'll serve whatever detention or discipline you might have in mind."

"But leave Junior and Yatsu out of it," Robin added. Jay blinked in surprise, and turned to look at his brother curiously. "They didn't do anything wrong."

Professor Goodwitch looked amongst Team JHRY with a scrutinizing gaze, before raising her riding crop as the tip swirled with a light blue glow. The fallen fragments of earth rose into the air and then settled back into the ground from which they had been torn, before an invisible force seemed to smooth them back into their original positions.

"Consider this a first, final, and very lucky warning," Professor Goodwitch said icily. "If you wish to spar on weekends, then submit a request form for a professor to judge, and wait for approval. First years are banned from sparring outside of class without prior paperwork and agreed-upon supervision, and that is final."

"Yes, Professor," the boys replied in chorus. Without so much as another word, Professor Goodwitch nodded and began to walk off toward the courtyard.

"…lucky," Hei Xiong commented as he stroked at his closely-trimmed beard. "Very, very lucky."

"…and since when are you looking out for us?" Yatsuhashi asked as he raised a brow at Robin. The redhead merely shrugged, and hefted his mace back up over his shoulder.

"I'm nice to people who actually matter, and we're all a team, so you guys matter," Robin explained simply. "Of course, sometimes, I'm an asshole to Jay, but that's what brothers are for."

Jay rolled his eyes as he received a gauntleted punch to the shoulder, and then fished in his pocket to find his vibrating scroll. "Yeah, it is… but at the end of the day, you're still my brother. Asshole or not."

A small portrait of Willow popped up on Jay's screen as he tapped at the device, along with a simple message.

It's done.

Jay chuckled softly to himself as he sheathed his swords, and began to walk with his team in tow. "Well. The day's looking up. Let's go and find some food."


Author's Note:

One more chapter of the weekend, and then we'll start hitting some significant time jumps forward.

-RD