Another World Again

by WwEpsilonwW

The sixteen-year-old Rio - or the twenty-year-old Haruto Amakawa he held memories of - woke up in a place completely unknown to him. The only landmark, one unable to be ignored, is the sublime visage of a shattered moon in the sky. Rio... was not in his world anymore. A tragic past that cannot be washed away, new people in a strange place- Rio's life in another world begins anew.

2. One Arduous Day

Back at it again.

The lighthearted humor, respecting women to an unnatural degree, and light action sequences, will continue in earnest.

"(Yawn~!)"

Yang sat up from her bed with a cute yawn, stretching her arms above her head, trying to get relief in her stiff muscles. She blinked numerous times in succession, staying in that position until her mind caught up with her.

Blearily, she looked around her, noticing the stationary forms of the girls still fast asleep in their beds. Yang noticed, from the other side of the room she was on, that Ruby looked especially adorable curled up in a ball clutching her pillow to her.

(Cute.)

The big sister smiled.

"Hm?"

However, just as she was basking in that precious sight, she noticed movement in Ruby's proximity. To clarify, not on Ruby's bed itself, but rather a neat and orderly outline of sheets and bedding to Ruby's right.

Yes. There existed another 'sleeping bag' type bed in their room beyond their four teammates. Of course, Yang knew exactly who this belonged to, especially by looking at the grayish white hair sitting atop a pillow. Before she knew it, her lips curved upward, performing her next action before she could process it.

Clad in her pajamas, Yang slipped out of bed and treaded closer to Rio, the lone boy who was sleeping soundly in the room full of young women.

By the way, Yang was wearing small black shorts that left much her bright thighs exposed, and a thin orange tank-top that revealed a portion of her smooth stomach. That and her beautiful blonde messy hair, just the sight of her alone would likely be the cause of a heart attack for any healthy young teenager.

Anyway, with no hesitation in her movements, Yang plopped herself right next to Rio's sleeping form, effectively sitting on the soles of her feet.

(…He really does have a pretty face.)

Staring at it up close as she was, Yang couldn't help but be more convinced.

She said 'pretty' because there was a certain amount of androgynous charm about it, looking both feminine and manly at the same time. While Yang had a type for boys perhaps more rugged and muscular looking than Rio, she couldn't deny that he wasn't bad either. Of course, she knew just how much muscle he was hiding underneath that lean form.

As she was thinking this, perhaps unconsciously, Yang moved the slightest bit closer to the boy, starting to lean over his face, her knees touching the ground and keeping her upright as she did so. Her blonde locks were dangerously close to touching his shoulder and neck, but still, she tentatively reached out a hand to touch the boy's hair.

Her fingers met the white strands, and she quietly marveled at just how soft it was.

(Is this really a boy's hair?)

She would comb ant run her hands through her own and Ruby's hair all the time, not to mention the few times Weiss and Blake allowed her to touch theirs. This naturally set quite the bar for who's was the softest.

Yet, she couldn't get over the fact that the feeling threading through her fingers right now was on par if not a little better than someone of her gender. It almost seemed a little unfair.

However, not five seconds into her action, her balance naturally began to become uneven as she leaned over him, with one hand petting the boy softly, and the other supporting the ground next to Rio's head. Additionally, the girl's form caused a shadow that eclipsed Rio's face.

In the very next moment.

—It happened so fast that Yang didn't have any time to react.

Rio's eyes shot open instantaneously, head jerking to the side, effectively robbing Yang of her gentle ministrations. Then, just as fast, Rio grabbed her wrist, and in the same movement hooked his hand underneath her thigh, springing out of his laying position with nothing but his abdominal muscles. He hurriedly pushed her down, causing a fleeting sense of vertigo which made Yang gasp, lose her balance, and unceremoniously fall below Rio with him on top, all in one moment.

But there was no respite.

"Kyah…!?"

Not wasting any time, Rio pinned her two wrists above her with his left hand, leaving her entire body exposed, all while clenching his right fist off to the side of Yang's vision, ready to strike.

"…"

"…"

It was then and only then, did Rio stare at the person who attacked him.

His head lulled slightly, still groggy from waking up so suddenly, but his eyes were somehow narrowed in hardened seriousness as he stared at Yang's features from above.

"…!?"

Having had this happen to her all in the span of a few seconds, naturally, Yang didn't breathe as she looked at Rio on top of her, his eyes still unfocused from just waking up, yet fixed onto her like an eagle. She could see the bags under his eyes, as well as the murkiness and lack of clarity in his vision, as if he was still trying to determine what exactly he was staring at.

(Did he… think I was attacking him?)

Yang didn't say a word, mouth forced shut by the boy's sharp stare, but she thought this while meekly looking back, as if she was being held down by a much greater force than the boy's all too superior strength.

But she didn't focus on that strength, more like she couldn't.

In actuality, she should have been terrified, especially since this position was so reminiscent to the fight she shared with him yesterday, no— the one sided assault that took place. The fear she felt back then should have come back to her in waves, causing her to cry out in desperation, maybe even cry. However…

—It was precisely because she had been on the receiving end of a similar situation yesterday, did another feeling well up inside her instead.

Yang's face went bright red as the boy's eyes bore into hers. Nervous and embarrassed met hardened and serious.

(H-Huh? W-Why am I…?)

Yang probably wasn't aware just thunderously loud her heartbeat was as the seconds passed by, nor just how red her ears were, along with her mouth slightly agape. But she just couldn't calm down. Likely the difference between yesterday's spar and now, was that this time, Yang was overly aware of Rio's presence, as a man.

Her body had been handled so easily— arms pinned above her, and legs so promptly trapped below the boy's weight. Not only that, but she was currently being intently stared at while wearing such loose-fitting clothing. Rio was no exception with his black tank top that exposed a healthy collarbone and forearms. Moreover, they were also in his bed laying in an extremely compromising position.

(Wha… What is he going to do…?)

Yang was downright nervous. Fighting back, trying to push him off of her, screaming out; none of that passed through her mind in the slightest. All she did was wait for Rio's action, whatever it may be. But that in itself made her heartbeat grow even louder, this time being able to hear quaking and thrashing.

Her blush deepened, and she closed her eyes tight—

But…?

"Y…Yang?"

A beyond confused whisper filled her eyes, causing her to open her eyes.

Yang saw Rio blink multiple times, his sharp glare slowly dissipating and softening. She saw her own surprised face reflected in those perplexed and mollified amber-ish orbs of his.

Looking at the boy's perplexed stare of his surroundings, Yang felt her breath further hitch in her throat. She had thought the boy had been secretly awake and waiting to tease her in this manner, but… but…

That reaction confirmed what she thought. That she had unknowing triggered some kind of danger sense within Rio as he was sleeping.

(A-Are you serious…? That's…)

Whatever opinion Yang had on such hardcore behavior was unclear, yet her blush darkened considerably as she noticed one thing.

"Eh?"

Looking down, she could see that her shirt had risen up along her body when she was pushed down, exposing a majority of her smooth stomach. In addition, she could feel the left strap of her orange tank top slipping off her shoulder, revealing even more of her soft skin.

Her own vulnerability at the present moment made the embarrassment and shame she felt reach its peak, and she opened her trembling lips to cry out—

"Hmmm…(Yawn…~!)"

—but a stifled elongated yawn filled her ears, a sound so very close to Yang.

"H…Huh?" Proper words left Yang's mouth for the first time, looking towards the source of the sound that echoed right in her ear.

However, naturally, it was not from one of the three occupied beds a little bit away from them. In fact, it came from right beside them, and stunning Yang even further, someone stirred, catching both of their attention.

You see, after Rio had deftly pinned Yang in place, he had subconsciously ripped the blanket away to leave his periphery unhindered. But in doing so, that had revealed the form of another who had been quietly and motionlessly sleeping that entire time. Actually, they had stirred once, that which being the movement Yang saw which drew her attention to Rio in the first place.

At any rate.

An extraordinarily beautiful girl with pink hair was laying side by side with Yang, completely naked. Fortunately (for Rio), her long hair covered up the important bits of her upper body, but nonetheless, her form made for quite the eye-catching sight.

They both stared at the girl with wide eyes, Yang's mind completely blanking, however a crushing look of gloom (re:despair) hung off of Rio in particular.

However, after a few seconds of silence. Yang's thoughts caught up with her. Though, it wasn't the expected, "Who is she?!" but rather….

(N-N-Naked!? W-Why is she naked!? A-And what is she doing in Rio's bed!? Wait, d-d-does that mean… to me… he also…!?)

Just like that, all the logic and reasoning she had gathered towards Rio's actions came crashing down like demolished building. Consequently, she then acted exactly how someone of her age should act when being pushed down into a boy's bed with minimal clothing.

Thus, there was a startled yell, a panicked retort, multiple people waking up in a frenzy, and another sleepy yawn that did not look bothered in the slightest.

…

…

…

"Once again, I am so sorry."

Rio clenched his fists and bowed his head.

"R-Relax Rio, that's like the fifth time you've said it." Yang said, trying to placate the boy.

"Yes, and I'm aware you said I shouldn't be apologizing needlessly, yet this time really merits one. Not only did I unintentionally shame you and make you uncomfortable, I kept Aisha a secret from everyone else as well."

Rio was currently sitting seiza style in the middle of the room, his head dipped low with a truly apologetic expression on his face.

This was starting to become a habit.

Four girls watched this spectacle with various degrees of confusion, surprise, and embarrassment. Aisha was right next to Rio leaning against his shoulder, still looking half-asleep. Luckily, she had her usual one-piece dress on, much to the fascination of those who saw it "magically" appear on her.

Back to the point, Yang flushed at the boy's words.

"Y-You didn't shame me, I was just surprised is all, ah, actually, I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating for a sec when you pushed me down." She laughed sheepishly.

"EH!?" Cries echoed.

Upon waking up to the slight uproar, there were three girls who were still fairly lacking in the context, so naturally, their eyes shot up in surprise.

"P-Pushed you down!? Rio did!?" Weiss exclaimed, imagining all sorts of things in that teenage mind of hers, her cheeks adopting a red hue.

"W-What does that mean Yang!?" Even though she said that, Ruby also must have had a slight idea as she reddened as well.

Blake seemed content just watching in silence, but her expression surprised.

"H-He didn't do it on purpose! …Y-You didn't do it on purpose, right?" Her rebuttal dying out, Yang looked at Rio with a meek stare, likely still feeling embarrassed how weak and powerless she felt in Rio's grip.

"I-It wasn't my intention at all. I gather… that my body reacted before I had time to think." Rio said, frowning as he looked at them.

But Yang and the others still looked confused by that alone, so he swallowed to wet his parched tongue, and continued to speak.

"…There were… various struggles that I experienced during my time as an orphan that made me… especially wary of others. Actually, I was living in a city's slums between the ages of five and seven…"

Yang and the others stood rooted in place at that, shocked. Except—

"Slums…?" Ruby resounded, looking unfamiliar with the word.

"It's a place people live outside of a main city or kingdom, one of extreme poverty. Living in a place like that… it's not at all healthy for a child trying to live an honest life…" Blake muttered, seeming to have her own suppositions on the matter.

Rio nodded sadly.

"It was truly every man for themselves. People would steal from you if you weren't careful, prostitution was abundant, and murder was commonplace. It was a cesspool for those who wanted to engage in crime without being punished. This survival of the fittest rule made living exceptionally difficult someone just five years of age. During that time, sleeping without being attacked or ransacked was a luxury. I… thought I'd forced down that nasty habit of mine as I grew up, but it seems I was too naïve. To think I would lash out at Yang for simply walking by me. Again, I deeply apologize."

His head lowered even further.

No one moved or said anything. But, as they listened the boy's story, their expressions softened.

They've heard about it numerous times already, but Rio's life after becoming an orphan must have been truly unbearable. Rather than scolding him for something he had no control over, they wanted to soothe and comfort the boy instead.

Yang was about to tell Rio not to worry about it but—

…

…

…

"To think I would lash out at Yang for simply walking by me."

…

…

…

"Ah." Yang froze, her body stiffening.

Blake saw this.

"Yang? What's wrong?"

"Ah, um…"

Her eyes darted nervously to and from Blake, however they ultimately settled on Rio. Her shoulders then slumped.

"Actually Rio, I didn't just pass by you. I um, was petting your hair while you slept…"

.

. .

. . .

Huh?

Everyone stared at Yang with shock etched in their features. Then, as the seconds pass by, Weiss looked exasperated, Ruby still unable to process, and Blake staring with no emotion whatsoever. Of course, Rio's reaction was the most noticeable.

"Petting… my hair…?" The boy's smile grew strained.

"Y-Yeah, and I was kinda leaning over you as I was doing it." Yang offered, trying to hide her embarrassment.

"…"

"A-And then you suddenly opened your eyes and the next thing I knew you were staring at me from above, holding my wrists together, looking like I had attacked you. T-Then I saw her and freaked out even more."

At that point, Yang looked at Aisha, who they had momentarily forgotten about, who had her head nestled into the crook of Rio's neck.

"I… I see." Rio said stiffly.

The boy really didn't know how to react to this. But luckily, he didn't have to.

"No matter how you look at it, isn't this Yang's fault?" Ruby jumped in.

"Ruby!? While I agree with you, that doesn't mean you should throw me under the bus!"

"But didn't Rio do his cool ninja move because he sensed an ominous presence — that's you by the way — and reacted accordingly?"

"Calling it ominous is a bit much! Argh, But I get it okay. I'm sorry Rio, that was totally my bad." Yang apologized herself, looking at Rio.

"No, I'm sorry as well. There was no reason you should have had to experience what you did just because you were, um, touching my hair."

Rio looked a bit awkward as he brought that up, and so did Yang as she looked away. But she remembered something, something extremely important.

"A-Anyway, who is that girl? You said you were sorry for keeping her a secret from us. T-That your girlfriend?"

Yang tried to be nonchalant in asking, but it was clear just how uncomfortable she was. Nonetheless, she was curious. Plus, the girl hanging off of Rio who was naked previously (something she still didn't have an explanation for) was absolutely beautiful. It would make sense if they were together.

(A-And if they had that kind of relationship...)

But still, where had Rio been hiding a girl like this?

"Right. This is what I wanted to explain. I'm sorry for the belated introduction but this is Aisha, an application of my semblance and an irreplaceable partner to me."

"…Semblance…?" Weiss uttered. looking mollified.

That was the lie that Rio had decided on, though parts of it were true. He figured there was no point in revealing something as otherworldly (literally) as spirit arts, and just told them Aisha was the ability his semblance granted him.

"So you can fly because…" Weiss continued.

"Yes. Think of Aisha as a being that can manipulate the elemental vectors of wind dust without needing the power of crystals at all. By manipulating the wind, Aisha allows me the ability of flight." Rio further explained.

This made their jaws drop.

"Your semblance manipulates wind dust… without dust…" Blake echoed.

"Yes." Rio nodded; his smile cramped.

(It's a lot more believable than telling them that Aisha and I can control practically every element, with or without each other's presence. This way, I can keep her near me without it being suspicious. While it is a concern that this world's magical abilities are rooted in planetary resources and soul contracted aura, Aisha's and I's irregularity should be able to remain incognito.)

"That's… amazing." Weiss said, looking astonished. "While a bit unbelievable, I guess that's just what some semblances are."

There was a lull in the conversation as they stared at the pink haired girl that was actually part of a semblance. But suddenly, said girl broke it. She opened her eyes sleepily and stared at each of the girl's in turn.

"Haruto, introduce me to your new friends." Aisha suddenly tugged on his sleeve, looking cute as she did so, but still with that apathetic face.

Rio smiled. "Of course."

Ruby couldn't help but gulp.

(S-She talked…! And more than that, her voice is so beautiful too!)

Ruby didn't know why she was surprised that the girl had spoken, maybe it was because her being a literal 'semblance' was skewing her perception, but it still didn't change the fact that this girl was absolutely stunning.

Rio stood up, taking Aisha's hand and helping her up as well— the girl smiled at the action, something everyone noticed as well, as they had gotten used to seeing her unresponsive face.

"Right, as I said, this is Aisha, my precious partner. Aisha, this is Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Weiss." Rio said, gesturing to each of them in turn.

"I'm Ruby. N-Nice to meet you, Aisha." Ruby stammered.

Yang grinned and gave a short wave of her hand. "It's Yang, good to meet you."

"A pleasure, Aisha. My name is Weiss." The white-haired girl gave a short bow, but still was looking intently at the girl.

"Blake." The faunas nodded slightly in Aisha's direction.

Aisha stared at each of them in turn without any change in her expression. But then, she smiled warmly. "Haruto, they're all so beautiful."

Rio looked shocked for a moment, but then slipped into an amused smile. "Yes, I think so as well."

Weiss reacted honestly with her face dyed crimson, while Ruby squeaked and dipped her head down. Blake's cheeks reddened only slightly as she looked embarrassed by the compliment. However, Yang took it in stride.

"Aw, thanks~ Aisha. But aren't you even more beautiful? You're like totally drop dead gorgeous!"

"Drop dead… gorgeous…? Haruto, do I look dead?" Aisha asked with a confused expression.

"T-That's not what she meant. It's an exaggerated expression. It means that you're so attractive that it might cause someone to 'drop dead'. Not actually of course, but it's used as a compliment." Rio explained with a smile.

"Oh. Thank you." Aisha bobbed her head at Yang— who found that action extraordinarily adorable.

"Um, she's been calling you Haruto…" Blake muttered, cocking her brow in confusion. The others also looked curious about that.

Rio nodded, a bit solemnly. "Ah, yes. There are some special circumstances regarding that. …You all heard about the crime I committed, correct?"

Weiss had been staring rather transfixed at Rio and Aisha for some time now, but she immediately sobered upon this mention.

"Y-Yes." She nodded her head nervously.

"Haruto was an alias I used for some time, as what I did was naturally against the law. But due to certain circumstances, there is no more need for it. So, I'm just Rio now. Aisha here has just gotten used to calling me Haruto, but there's no reason for you all to change the way you address me."

Rio had indeed changed his name because he committed a crime, however it was because of one he didn't commit rather than the one he did in this case. The false accusation levied on him during the Outdoor Drill back in Beltram, and the act of killing he had committed against that slave trader, were used interchangeably in this case. Not revealing the truth behind his false accusation had nothing to do wanting to further lie to Blake and the others, but rather not wanting them to feel bad for him or change the way they viewed him further.

However, Rio didn't notice how utterly contradictory this was considering he would rather have them know he had killed someone in self-defense, instead of something he was forcibly accused of while completely innocent.

This showed just how deeply rooted Rio's mindset was when it came to struggling to open up to others. Sharing the bad things he has done when the topic came up, not shying away from it in the slightest, giving others an out in case they hated him, not once assuming the feelings and thoughts of others without checking— Rio was considerate to an extreme fault.

It was not how a normal person was supposed to interact with others, yet his perception had been greatly skewed by his past experiences, making him unable to realize this.

"Haruto wants to be friends with you all, but he's scared to close the distance. It's why he spoke to you so formally." Aisha said suddenly, having all eyes on her.

"Ah, eh?"

Rio looked startled at this admittance on his behalf, slightly embarrassed. However Yang, who rarely got to see the boy with such a face, instantly took her opportunity.

"Really, is that true Rio?! Aw~! I didn't know you cared that much. But too bad! We were already friends! Glomp attack!"

"Y-Yang, hold—"

With that Yang rushed at Rio and tackled him in a bear crushing hug, which would be enough to knock most boys to the ground, yet—

"I—ah-haha—I forgot how strong you were." Yang said, suddenly feeling embarrassed that she hadn't been able to move the boy at all, much less that she was now in close proximity with him.

Rio also looked a bit stiff at the contact, looking at Aisha who was smiling warmly at the scene. So, he just turned his head to cough into his fist, then addressed Yang.

"Yes, if you'll accept someone like me, I would love to be Yang's friend." He smiled softly, tilting his head down to look into lilac eyes, ones suddenly gazing up at him in a daze.

"(Y-You see, there you go again…)"

"Yang?"

"W-What!? I'm fine! J-Just distracted is all, yeah!"

Yang took on a hearty reaction as her eyes darted every which way except for Rio's. Her teammates looked at her with varied looks of exasperation.

"I think you broke her…" Blake muttered.

"No fair! No fair! No faiiiirrrrrr!"

A sudden shout tore their attention as a red blur impacted Rio's side, latching onto him as well. It was Ruby, squeezing his arm with her eyes shut tight. "I thought we were already friends too Rio!"

The white-haired boy looked startled at the girl's action, just like Yang's, but nonetheless smiled. "Yes, it's my fault. I would like to be friends with Ruby as well."

"Yay~!"

Yang chuckled at her sister's ecstatic expression. However, she turned her head. After all…

"What about you guys, you have to reassure Rio as well. He's lonely so make him feel better~." Yang said, looking at Blake and Weiss with a coy smile.

Weiss flushed scarlet, and Blake looked way awkwardly, latching onto one of her arms with the other.

"Please don't tease them too much Yang. I also see them as my friends. They don't need to say something so embarrassing for my sake." Rio said, giving the two of them an out.

But…

"…"

"…"

They didn't look satisfied with that at all. Weiss slowly walked up to Rio's front, where Yang had kindly stepped aside, although Ruby was still hugging his arm.

"Then, I would also like to continue this arrangement." She said bowing stiffly, however once she lifted her head up again, she felt herself being pushed from behind—

"Way too stiff Ice Queen~!"

"Kyah~!"

—and straight into Rio's arms.

Weiss immediately flushed red.

Rio had deftly grabbed her by the shoulders before she could make contact with him, but looked behind her with an exasperated look.

"Yang, wasn't that a bit unnecessary? You shouldn't force her to do something she's not comfortable with." He then looked down at Weiss who was still in his arms. "Your words were enough Weiss. You don't have to say anything more."

However, even with the culprit being found out, and Weiss being given a way out of this situation, she did not turn on Yang in a frenzy, nor struggle out of his grip. Instead, she went completely silent, as if hesitating on something. Then, she seemingly made up her mind.

"I um…"

She suddenly felt a lot more conscious of the gentle grip the boy had around her shoulders.

"I-I would also like to be friends as well. P-Please continue to take care of me."

Weiss batted her eyelashes at him shyly, unknowingly making for a very breath-taking sight. Rio froze for a moment, seemingly stricken, but his expression soon relaxed, forming a smile that was no less genuine than the ones before.

"Of course, nothing would make me happier." But then, he chuckled.

"W-Why are you laughing?" Weiss said, sounding indignant, growing even more mortifyingly red.

"It's nothing. Weiss just looks very cute is all."

"Cu—!?"

Weiss stopped functioning. Her face exploded in red, and if not for Rio holding her, she would have collapsed on the spot.

"Ah, did she faint?" Yang asked.

Almost. Weiss' eyes were swirling, her mouth opening and closing at an impressive pace.

"Weiss? Are you alright?" Rio asked worriedly, wondering why she looked so close to a fever all of a sudden.

"Y-Y…."

She somehow got the words out.

"Yesh. I'm fime."

Rio's lips curved in an awkward expression at the girl's flustered state, but he nonetheless understood her. "That's good. Do you want to sit down?"

The girl nodded meekly without hesitation, so Rio slowly guided her to her bed. Once he did so however, he felt someone tap his shoulder. It was Blake, crossing her arms under her chest, looking away slightly.

"Yang… would never let it go if I was the only one left out so…" She made eye contact with him shyly. "I want to be friends with you too, Rio."

"…"

(Ah, As I thought, this is really embarrassing…!) She thought, her face reddening.

But despite that, she needed to say it. She had to.

Ever since she had that conversation with him about his views on faunas and his life goal, she wanted to be friends with a person like that. To her, someone like Rio was dazzling, too bright in a world she only knew to be dark.

Of course, Rio would greatly disagree with such praise, but that's exactly what kind of personality he had, a very likeable one. He wasn't controlling, he didn't assume her feelings for her, and he even gave her reason to cut ties with him by telling her a closely guarded secret.

It was someone respecting her boundaries and being considerate to her feelings from the very beginning. How could she not want to remain close to a person like that?

Plus…

(Even now, my heart is beating out of my chest…)

Her cheeks grew hot as she waited for a reply.

And Rio put her anxieties to rest without further delay. "I should have been the one saying such words, but thank you. I feel the same way, Blake." Rio smiled.

"R-Right. G-Good." Blake eyes tried to listlessly look to the side once again, however they landed on a smirking Yang, causing Blake to lightly scowl.

(Oh…)

Rio's eyes flickered as he suddenly remembered something. He reached into the pocket of his sleepwear and pulled out a device made from modern technology; one he had gotten from Glynda just the other day. They called it a 'scroll'. It was a device that allowed the user to interact with a virtual interface, as well as contact others. Er… he was aware he was thinking about it stiffly, compared to how he really should just recall how similar it is to a phone on earth, but the sixteen years he's lived without such technology cannot be ignored.

Incidentally, the scroll worked almost exactly the same as how a phone would work on Earth, even regarding the aspect of time. Clocks, or rather, the virtual screen shown on the scroll, used a twelve-hour format to represent the time digitally in numbers, much like how he was used to on Earth. It would certainly take some time getting used to not having to rely on the position of the sun, but Rio felt his memories as Haruto Amakawa would surely smooth the process quicker than it would have without.

Nonetheless, Rio checked the time on his scroll, noting it was several hours before breakfast would start, as he memorized what Glynda had told him of the particulars of a regular school day.

(I should have enough time then.)

Yes. He actually had an appointment — or rather punishment mind you — with the very same person. He really should be heading to Miss Glynda's office.

Rio cleared his throat.

"Would you ladies mind terribly if I take this chance to use the bathroom to get ready? I have a meeting with Miss Glynda I can't miss."

Yang, who had chosen to whisper in Blake's ear about something or the other — causing her to get flustered by it — looked up at Rio as he spoke. Also, Ruby was poking the cheek of a still dazed Weiss as she looked to be in some sort of dreamlike trance, but the red-clad girl also looked interested all of a sudden. Aisha just yawned cutely as she stood in place, most likely still feeling sleepy.

"Hm? What does Professor Goodwitch want?" Ruby said off-handedly, still poking Weiss' cheek.

"I believe I got 'detention'." Rio said, trying out the Earth word he hasn't used once since his reincarnation. "I'm sure she will find some way to punish me for my misdeed."

Yang made a face that Rio couldn't decipher. "P-Punish, eh? Rio, you really did unlock the teacher route, huh? Hm? But 'misdeed'? What did you do? Ah, don't tell me you were engaging in risqué behavior with the girls of the school Rio!?"

She made an exaggerated show of surprise.

"I'm not really sure what you mean by that first part, but… yes… that's exactly what I'm being punished for."

"Eh?"

"Huh?"

"What?"

"Hm?"

Yang, Blake, Weiss who suddenly snapped to attention, and Ruby, all voiced their confusion at his words.

Rio looked hesitant to say any more, but he scratched his cheek and looked away. "It was because of my actions yesterday… when I…"

He gestured to everyone. It took a while, but they all flushed in unison, especially Weiss who had been seen not once but twice.

"But uh, didn't we already forgive you for that?" Yang asked.

Rio nodded with slight smile. "Maybe so, but if I don't receive the proper admonishment for it, my regrets won't subside. More importantly, an unmarried woman showing her beautiful skin to man, even accidentally, isn't something that should be let off so easily, even if the victim forgives it."

Blink. Blink. Blink.

Everyone stared at Rio with varied expressions of surprise, cheeks coloring slightly, not only at his eloquent way of speaking, but the sincerity and consideration contained within. Not to mention, he had slipped a compliment in there as well, leaving them a bit embarrassed.

"R-Rio, I've been thinking this for a while, but if you say that to every girl, they're going to misunderstand your intent. Make sure to choose who you say it to even if it's just flattery." Weiss said with a bit of sigh, reaching a hand to her chest as if to feel for something.

Weiss voiced the collective opinion. She had begun to gather that Rio would say things without thinking, causing them to be easily misconstrued if they didn't know his personality, which is why she felt the need to point that out to him. But—

Rio tilted his head in confusion, looking at the girl. "It wasn't flattery. And I said it because it's you, Weiss."

"Wha!?"

Weiss opened her mouth in retort, but nothing but her unintelligible surprise leaked out. Her face reddened even further as she met his gaze.

"Calm down there Loverboy. Any further, and you really will break her—haha." Yang jumped in.

Rio still didn't look like he understood, but he nodded nonetheless. "Alright. Then please excuse me. I'm going to get ready.

And with that, he entered and closed the bathroom door behind him, uniform in hand, completely missing Weiss' flustered mutter.

"(I-I really will get the wrong idea, you dolt.)"

…

…

…

After promising that he would try to join them for breakfast before classes started, and a very interesting reaction to Aisha disappearing out of thin air — to which Rio gave a brief explanation as to the properties of a spirit's materialization — Rio made his way through the Academy halls towards the office of Miss Glynda.

It was rather quiet, as it was a few hours before most of the school was up and about. However, the few students that Rio did pass stared at him intently for some reason. He smiled back politely, but that seemed to make a few of the girl's avert their eyes frantically. He not tried not to let it get to him.

"—Ugh, you're insufferable."

A barbed voice made him look up.

"Don't say that, Em. All I'm saying is a smile goes a long way. You don't want anyone to get suspicious just because you're cranky all the time, right? Plus, as a girl, you have a duty to look pleasing to the guys around you, no?"

"(Sigh…)"

He heard a conversation taking place a few feet ahead of him, drawing his eyes.

Walking along the hallway towards him, was a group of three people. They were students given that they too were wearing the Beacon uniform. There was one boy with gray hair talking animatedly— hair a much darker shade than Rio's own — and two girls. Of the two, one was looking at the boy with a annoyed glare, sporting maroon almost crimson eyes, shoulder length mint green hair, and dark skin, while the other walked ahead of them, with long dark hair, caramel-amber eyes, and almost pale skin. The latter woman looked rather annoyed at the bickering that was happening behind her.

Rio's first impression was that the girls were beauties in their own right, and even the guy had a handsome roguish flare about his features. Though, Rio didn't know too much about masculine charms anyway, so he really didn't have much ground to make opinions.

Either way, Rio was content veering off to the side in a way to let them pass unhindered, however, the second Rio appeared in their immediate sight, the black haired woman said something quietly, causing the two behind her to immediately stop talking, and perhaps coincidentally, look directly at Rio.

He took the gazes calmly, nodding slightly, and smiled just as he had done before, and continued to walk forward, just about to pass them when—

"You there. Boy. You just transferred in did you not? We're also something of transfer students. My name is Cinder, it's nice to meet you."

The girl with the black hair, a bang covering one of her eyes suddenly called out to him and introduced herself. She wore a kind smile on her face, one that looked well-practiced, enough to make anyone feel at ease.

Rio knew this, because he too had learned to do the same thing.

Not wanting to appear rude, Rio responded in kind, bowing slightly. "It's an honor to be recognized, Miss Cinder. It is a pleasure to meet you as well. My name is Rio. Rio Amakawa."

"Oh? Not a Schnee then?" Cinder's brow quirked up in question.

Rio shook his head. "I'm afraid not. Although that seems to be the reoccurring question on account of my hair color."

"Hm. Yes, though now that I look at it, it is more of a light gray. No matter. Ah, how rude of me not to introduce my… friends. This girl is Emerald, and the boy is Mercury." She gestured to the two beside her respectively.

"Sup."

"Nice to meet you."

Mercury lifted his chin up in greeting, while Emerald did the bare minimum of acknowledging him.

"Likewise." Rio responded.

He noted that Emerald then turned looked at Cinder's profile from the side, as if she was waiting patiently for instructions, not daring speak out of line. It made for a rather odd sight, but Rio let it go. Mercury on the other hand looked at Rio inquisitively, suddenly striking up a conversation.

"Ah, Rio, yes. You're the one making waves with the girls, aren't you? Heh, lucky bastard." He said jokingly.

Rio's smile strained.

(Is that how I'm being seen?)

"I… wouldn't go that far."

"No, no. You're even rooming with the ones from RWBY aren't you? Hah~. Must be nice, being in the same room with such knockouts…" Mercury sighed.

"…While I do agree that they're beautiful, that just makes it that much more nerve wracking to be the only male." Rio said honestly.

"Oh, I feel that. These two and the other one might look like cute little roses, but you have no idea how much thorns they have." The boy retorted with a grin, shooting a thumb at the two of them, as well as referring to some unknown third teammate.

This comment made Emerald look very vexed, while Cinder actually stopped staring at Rio to glare at the boy next to her.

Rio forced a laugh. "I can only imagine. Though, that makes the softer aspects of their personalities more attractive, no?"

He said this just to be conversational, which is why he wasn't expecting to be stared at with surprised looks. Rather, it was more accurate to say that Mercury and Emerald stared in surprise, the latter looking exceedingly caught off guard, while on the contrary, Cinder's eyes rose up in amusement.

"Why, what a flatterer. You even managed to make Emerald a little happy."

"T-That's not true Cinder." Emerald flushed and looked down, seemingly embarrassed that she was called out by the girl, at least, that's how Rio took it.

"It really wasn't flattery, but I'm happy to hear it." Rio smiled, unabashed.

Mercury then snapped out of his stupor, sideling up close and putting an arm around his shoulder, speaking quietly. "(Damn dude. You're more skilled than I gave you credit for. Mind teaching me how you did that?)"

"I'm sorry?"

"Don't play dumb. I'm talking about your game. While I personally wouldn't recommend it, they're both single. You just have to tell me ahead of time who you're going for."

Mercury started speaking normally, thus allowing the other two to hear him properly, making their brows twitch in annoyance. Furthermore, Emerald made a move to grab at Mercury's collar—

"Tch. Stop speaking nonsense…! Come on, we have to—"

—But instead, Mercury performed a rather unexpected act. He darted out of the way, spun the girl around lightly, and stuck his foot at her heels, making her fall backwards.

"Wha…?"

However, right in the midst of feeling the sensation of falling, a pair of hands had caught her shoulders, stopping her in place. She was too shocked to move at first, her brain slow in understanding what had happened. But someone then spoke, directly behind her.

"Um, are you alright, Miss Emerald?"

That unsure soft-spoken voice echoed closely next to her ears, and Emerald flushed a dark red, looking exuberantly noticeable due to her dark skin tone. She hesitantly turned to the right to be looking at Rio's face from an extremely close distance, his amber eyes looking a bit troubled as they stared into her maroon ones.

"F—"

"Hm?"

"F-Fine. Thanks for catching me."

As she muttered that, she separated from Rio in a panic, trying to ignore the shit-eating grin Mercury was wearing, as well as the amused glint of a smile Cinder had. Emerald's face flushed even further, taking numerous furtive glances at Rio before repeating the process.

"There's no need to thank me. Rather, I'm sorry for touching you without permission."

"Eh?"

Emerald looked up suddenly, not expecting him to say something like that. She also noticed Rio looked a bit uncomfortable at the prospect of what he mentioned.

"Hey Em, you should close your mouth. It'll catch flies." Mercury retorted with a smirk, causing the girl to properly send a much-deserved scathing glare in his direction, just before looking back at Rio. "D-Don't worry about that. Thank you again."

Rio nodded, then turned back to Cinder.

"I'm terribly sorry, but is there anything else? I have an appointment with someone, and I don't believe they'll appreciate my arriving late." Rio said apologetically.

Cinder quickly shook her head with that same practiced smile, although it looked a lot less forced now for some reason. "Oh no, please carry on. I'm sorry for stopping you when you had plans. It was nice meeting you once again."

She politely gestured for him to take off.

"Yes. It was nice meeting you as well, Miss Cinder, Miss Emerald." He looked at the two of them in turn, however Emerald nodding back to him rather meekly.

"What, I don't get a farewell too? Hmph, and I thought we became fast friends." Mercury said in mock disappointment.

"That wasn't my intention at all… Mercury. It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Embarrassing as it is to admit, most of the men in this school seem to dislike me, so I'm honored that you consider me a friend. I feel the same way." Rio said, tilting his head with a bit of a sheepish smile.

Mercury stroked his chin. "Huh, usually when guys say that to each other they don't mean it, but it's oddly persuasive coming from you…"

"I see, then I'm happy to hear that."

Rio bowed once and started to walk away.

Of course, the three of them watched his retreating form as he did so.

"So beyond the fact that Emerald got a crush, why did you stop to talk to him?" Mercury asked, ignoring the cry of surprise he got.

"Hm, I wonder~."

That's all Cinder said as she gazed at Rio intently with a smile, eyes flickering as if they were on fire.

…

…

…

After Rio left the hallway Cinder and the others were in…

'Haruto…'

'Yes. I noticed it too.'

It was no wonder Aisha was bringing it up. In fact, it would be more concerning if she didn't. The one with the black hair, Cinder— she had an extraordinary amount of magical essence for someone who was just a student. It was an amount that even surpassed Glynda and the other teachers.

'It would probably be best to keep an eye on them. And also, their dynamic, it didn't look like three friends… but rather a superior and their subordinates…'

Aisha agreed, and the both of them were sequestered into silence soon after.

Eventually, Rio had arrived at a particular door.

[ — Professor Goodwitch — ]

Rio let a smile appear on his face as he rose a hand to knock, being pleasantly reminded of days long passed. However, unlike the past, upon knocking he received a professional taciturn response that differed from Celia's.

"You may come in."

Rio didn't waste any time and opened the door gently. "Please excuse me."

Exposing the room, the first word that came to mind was 'orderly'. Extremely orderly. Again, completely unlike Celia's cluttered study that she insisted had a method to its madness.

It was a quaint square office with bookshelves lining the left and right walls, chalk full of both what looked to be textbooks and ones for pleasure. In the very middle of the room was a mahogany desk, a grand window overlooking the outside main pavilion of the Academy, and of course, the woman who sat in between the desk and window, who had just looked up from a substantial stack of paperwork.

"Ah, Mr. Rio, you have arrived."

"…"

However, she received no response, causing Glynda to raise a brow.

"What is it? Why are you looking at me like that?"

Glynda questioned the boy, who was looking rather shocked for some reason. Of course, the second he had been called out on it, Rio stiffened and schooled his features.

"Ah, I'm terribly sorry. You're office… I couldn't help but be captivated by it."

That was the truth. The window caught the rising sun perfectly, casting a beautiful glow about the room, stilling Rio into silence. Though, he did not make mention of one thing. He was really just staring at Glynda who was in the center of that glow.

"Beautiful."

Thus, which was why such a word left his mouth.

But Glynda must have took the comment for what is was, because her features softened considerably as she looked around.

"Yes, it is rather pleasant, isn't it? It's one of the perks of being the Deputy Headmistress. I'm glad you like it."

A silence enveloped, and Rio suddenly realized his lack of composure when in the presence of his teacher, Because of this, he quickly switched gears, lightly coughing into his fist. "Right, what um, did you have planned for me, Miss Glynda?"

As expected of teacher, Glynda's face turned professional in an instant, impressing Rio quite a bit.

"Normally, a punishment for misdeeds would include a weighty literary assignment of some kind, or even manual labor…"

(A-As expected…)

Rio sweat dropped.

It was only natural that most punishments would be split into those two types of work, but for some reason, the boy felt that the words 'manual labor' coming out of the teacher's mouth was quite terrifying.

"…However, you will be assisting me in one of my duties today, so please prepare yourself accordingly." Glynda finished.

"And what would I be preparing myself for, exactly?" Even Rio was getting a little nervous now.

…

…

…

"Why do I get the feeling that this isn't a typical form of punishment?" Rio asked, smiling wryly as he followed after the buxom blonde, weaving through the myriad of shrubbery and trees.

They were in the Emerald Forest.

"It's not. Yet because you were all too willing to be punished for something that no one reported, I won't accept any complaints." Glynda retorted.

Rio lightly sighed. "Yes ma'am."

Clearing out Grimm in the Emerald Forest.

That's why he was currently accompanying his teacher in the sparse of forest they were delving in.

'An influx of guests would be arriving shortly, so safety is a top concern'

—That's exactly what Glynda had said, though Rio didn't understand what that meant. It might be something she didn't feel the need to tell him because of common sense, but Rio was very much lacking in that department, given his other worldly status. So, he just chose to let it go and do as he was instructed.

(But killing Grimm?)

Assuming things went well, this would be his first time encountering the mysterious creatures, ones bred from darkness and negativity.

His sword swayed as he walked, it of course being attacked to his hip in its sheath, the small gleam of silver slightly exposed to the early morning glare. Rio was also dressed in his combat outfit, rather than the school uniform. The black dragon leather coupled with the blue outlines hugged his slender frame, making for quite the imposing sight. Those that saw him would easily make him out to be an adventurer of some kind— or on this world, a huntsman.

At the very least, Rio did not look as if he was an amateur. His posture, gait, and expression gave that impression quite clearly. Honestly, he looked like a veteran.

"…"

(Even when I saw him fighting yesterday, it doesn't look like the moves of someone without experience…)

Glynda cast a glance back, making such observations.

His muscles were very defined and well-built from the little she's seen, and scars that riddled his abdomen spoke of countless bouts with danger. His movements too, despite being in a younger body, were polished, as if he had been living twice his age.

Yes, the boy had clearly been fighting for a very long time.

(But I suppose things like that aren't too out of the ordinary. Grimm attacks wiping villages off the map leaves for a lot of abruptly ended childhoods. Miss Valkyrie and Mr. Ren are no different in that regard. And yet…)

Glynda couldn't release the idea that the boy walking behind her wasn't simply a child who was forced to grow up too quickly, but someone who had experienced events no one could even imagine. She recalled him saying he had lost his parents, and that he had even killed before, but maybe that was just tip of the iceberg.

Did she really want to know exactly what formed him into the person he was? Was that something she was wondering as a teacher, or was it something she wanted to know as just a woman?

"!?"

Glynda abruptly stopped walking, making an odd face. Her stomach lurched at the sudden thought she had, so far off from her typical self that she couldn't help but be surprised by it.

(Wait, why did I—?)

"As expected of Miss Glynda. You had also noticed."

Rio's words tore into her befuddled state, making her give him a perplexed look.

"…? Noticed wh—?"

AH—WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

Just then, guttural howls tore through the air all around them, stilling any and all conversation. Glynda's face stiffened, her posture going rigid. They subsided only briefly, allowing for the sudden sounds of countless stomping and footfalls of creatures unknown closing in on their location.

They were Grimm, and by the sound of them, it was a pack of Beowolves.

Seconds extremely scarce before they were upon them, Glynda raised her riding crop threateningly, ready to dish out the destructive power capable of a fully graduated and achieved huntress, and was about to prompt Rio to do the same—

She felt a back touch hers.

"I will follow your lead on this, Miss Glynda. I'll assist as best as I can."

Rio's surprisingly sturdy back meshed into to hers, and upon looking, she noticed that he already had his sword out, and he was in his own combat stance. She had not heard him draw his sword in the slightest, something she quietly marveled at.

And not just that.

In no time at all, Rio had reacted to the danger and gotten into a position that would best support her, without hesitation. Meanwhile, she had been caught off guard and distracted by unruly thoughts, no doubt alerting the Grimm to their presence to begin with.

Thus, the words came surprisingly quickly.

(How shameful.)

Only allowing one look of self-derision to appear on her face, she did exactly as Rio was expecting, giving her student instruction.

"They are just Beowolves, but there sounds to be a lot of them, approaching from multiple directions. I will send as many as I can flying in order to disrupt their formation, if you could pick off the stragglers when I do so. Of course, I will not be letting you do all the work, however I have a feeling your offensive capabilities far exceed my own…"

Rio listened to her calmly. not once shifting his gaze from the tress just beginning to reveal numerous red and black forms.

"I believe you might be overestimating me, but I appreciate the trust. That being said, because of that, I will endeavor to not allow a single one of them to touch you. Though, I'm sure if it's Miss Glynda, she won't be needing any protection."

The soft tone that didn't seem to convey any distress or fear came from behind her. Glynda at first felt surprise, then her cheeks reflexively cramped.

"(You are way too cheeky for a teenager, you know.)" She muttered, Rio being unable to hear due to their surrounding getting increasingly louder.

Then—

(There…!)

Glynda's gaze locked onto a sudden movement.

Out of a clump of bushes, jumped several Beowolves, claws and fangs outright, ready to slash any incoming flesh to blood-soaked shreds. That of course would have happened, had Glynda not immediately shot her riding crop forward, enveloping the six or seven Grimm in a magenta hue, ceasing their movements mid-air.

Glynda was about to open her mouth to relay additional instructions to her charge, but it proved to be pointless.

Rio darted to the side briefly, as a means to avoid hitting Glynda, and rapidly his swung his sword numerous times in place. Glynda wondered the point of such a meaningless act, that is until several blades of wind materialized into existence, speeding towards the Grimm held aloft.

Kshhhkrr!

Countless limbs and heads flew through the air, the black colored mist following soon after. One second there were several Grimm, and in the next, they had all been wiped away by the green arcs that cut through.

Glynda's expression hardened at the masterful display, even going as far as to gulp.

Rio's action was not lost on her. He had quickly shown her that he had impressive ranged capabilities beyond the reach of his word, and that she did not need to move their enemies into close quarters in order to dwindle their numbers.

But Glynda had no time to be further impressed, or to look at the undaunted look on the boy's face, as the next wave came with even more fury.

Twenty of them appeared, ten each flanking both Rio and Glynda respectively. The backs of the two found each other once again, but this time Glynda found it more comforting than anything.

Rio spoke not a second later.

"Will you be okay on your own, Miss Glynda?"

"I should be the one asking you that. I am older, and a teacher after all."

She felt like Rio smiled at that, because his voice suddenly gained a bit of mirth. "Right. It's exactly as you say."

And with that exchange, they each tore into their enemies.

Glynda wasted no time uprooting a log covered in moss and undergrowth, and hurling it at the approaching Grimm spawn, effectively ending the life of two of them right off the bat. If that intimidated the rest, they certainly didn't show it. In fact, it only seemed to make them angrier.

Howls echoed in a frenzy as they tried to close the remaining distance, but the woman shut that down immediately as she tossed a cool to the touch dust crystal up in the air, instantly manipulating it to cause a sizeable storm cloud to appear.

The few Grimm who actually stopped and looked up did not stand a chance.

Icy spears rained down in the artificial blizzard, impacting bodies with the following sounds of cries of pain, which ended up ceasing the lives of half of the remaining number with that elemental attack.

The last couple who had not halted their advance at all vigorously jumped at Glynda, maws wide open, however she nimbly dodged the telegraphed blows and simply flicked her weapon from side to side, sending each and every one of them flying quite fatally into trees and other obstacles.

Realizing that was all of them on her side, Glynda relaxed slightly, but ultimately tensed when she realized she wasn't the only one fighting. But, as she turned around, it was clear as to why her body naturally calmed.

There was not a single Grimm left in the vicinity, only the faint wisps of black smoke indicating their timely demise. Rio was standing in the midst of this, sword held outright, looking none the worse for wear, much to Glynda's relief.

As if somehow sensing her stare, he turned to her and gave a smile.

"Well done Miss Glynda. As expected of a professor at Beacon."

'Yes well. It looks like you took yours out just as quickly." She responded.

"Haha. I wonder about that. They gave me quite the trouble."

"…"

He said that, but Rio did not look winded in the slightest, as opposed to Glynda, who was trying to control her breathing, almost panting. Swinging that sword around, one that was heavier than it looked the brief time she had to carry it, no doubt would cause anyone to lose stamina fast, yet that did not look to be the case at all.

They didn't really run into any larger groups of Grimm, just the occasional short skirmishes here and there. Of course, none of them were quite as intense as their first fight. Thus, they began to make their way back.

Incidentally, Glynda took this chance to properly observe Rio's fighting style, further than she was able to before. This also was her plan from the very beginning, as she had not been able to see the extent of the boy's combat prowess in his duel with Miss Xiao-Long just the other day.

It was… fluid. She didn't know how else to describe it. Glynda had seen the combat of her students a plenty, but none of them left a deeper impression than Rio's– someone who is a first year no less.

It honestly amazed her.

No wasted movement. Quick and agile to the point of impossibility, and his use of his wind ability too– the boy's attacks and reaction speed was already insanely fast, but the well-timed gusts of winds only accelerated his capabilities. Rio hadn't done much "flying" during their time out here, but she knew that if he did, the opposing Grimm wouldn't stand a chance.

She even amused herself with the idea that he could chase down a Nevermore, not only successfully overtaking it, but flying circles around it too. It was honestly a little vexing.

(I can fly as well, but it's more of 'complicated floating'. Not to mention, I can't go nearly as fast as he can…)

Suddenly, Glynda felt like the gap in their ages was becoming narrower just due to the clear rift in their physical abilities. Not only that, but it was clear that Rio had an exceedingly calm head on his shoulders— something she was becoming increasingly more aware of.

"Are you tired, Miss Glynda?"

That sudden question roused her from her thoughts. It came so suddenly, or rather the type of question must have surprised her, because she looked at him rather inquisitively with a raised brow.

"No. Not particularly. Why, do I look tired?" She asked rather dryly, not looking forward to hearing if she was spot on.

She was a woman after all.

"No, you actually don't. But it can't be easy navigating through a forest with heels, no?"

Glynda blinked, looking down at her feet. "Oh…"

She was indeed wearing heels, and she would be lying if she said there were no feelings of discomfort, but she couldn't tell him — a teenager and her student — that. She would also feel lacking as an adult if she complained in any manner. So…

"Rest assured, I'm fine. I wouldn't have made it this far in life if I couldn't handle the strain of combat heels."

Rio nodded thoughtfully.

"Hm, yes. Ah, but now that you mention it, Weiss wears them as well. They must be more common than I initially thought." He mused.

Glynda looked at him, ducking under a low branch. "Weiss, is it? Did those girls finally corner you into addressing them more personally?"

This was her own way of subtly making a playful jab at his expense, which is why she couldn't help but raise her lips slightly in amusement when she witnessed the boy's stunned expression. It then turned sheepish.

It looked like she was right on the mark.

Rio coughed lightly into his fist.

"Yes, well, they drilled it quite thoroughly into me that my behavior was too distant for their liking." The boy chuckled as he looked down, perhaps recalling something amusing.

Then his head shot up, looking at her with a look that resembled something of an epiphany.

"Ah, which reminds me, but it should be the same with Miss Glynda too, no? I should be referring to you as Miss Goodwitch after all…"

However, Glynda just sighed.

"We already discussed this. Refer to me as you have been doing. I'm the one who gave you permission already, correct? Besides, it would be weird if you suddenly stopped."

Glynda honestly believed that, even if she didn't know why. Was it because none of her students had ever tried to be friendlier with her? Even if that was the case, she would have instantly shut them down if they made advances.

But that was the thing.

Rio's behavior towards her wasn't that of advances made to a woman, but the refined respect and manners a well brought up child would treat a lady of higher status. It was as if, he came from a very influential family which made him used to this sort of thing. Yet he wasn't a Schnee, and he said he came from a rural village.

It really was most curious.

Because she was thinking of such things, Glynda almost missed what Rio said.

"That may be so, but—" Rio's words failed him for a moment, before donning an awkward expression. "If…someone you hold feelings for heard me addressing you so casually, wouldn't they get the wrong idea? Professor still looks to be in the prime of her youth, after all. Surely there are a few you want to leave a favorable impression on. I'd feel horrible if I got in the way of something important like that."

"—."

Glynda, who had been walking slightly ahead of the boy, suddenly stopped in place. Because of this, Rio stopped as well. He was confused by the sudden behavior, and even feared he had said something wrong.

But.

"(You really shouldn't tease adults…)"

"Um, professor?" Rio didn't hear Glynda's low mutter.

Glynda paused, before shaking her head slightly. "That's… kind of you to say, even if it's just pleasantries. And you don't have to worry about the other thing. There's… no one like you're imagining, not now anyway."

And then she briskly walked off, striding further into the forest, just about reaching the outskirts where the Bullhead they arrived in was waiting for them.

"Then…"

Rio wasn't sure if she would be able to hear him, but he spoke nonetheless.

"…Please allow me to continue calling you as I have, Miss Glynda."

He barely caught the nodding of her head, yet she didn't stop.

No, it was more like she couldn't stop. Glynda did not want Rio to see the expression on her face right now. His words, ones that might have seemed fine to him, left her in a rather precarious state. That is to say…

(Just now…)

Glynda could not get over the fact that her heart had unnaturally skipped a beat.

She was so conscious of this, that on the whole way back, meeting the boy's eyes at all proved to be quite the challenge. The invisible barrier of teacher and student, one that she had always maintained without fail, felt incredibly weak and flimsy all of a sudden, and for the life of her, she couldn't figure out why.

…

…

…

After completing Glynda's questionable work task, which was a rather interesting experience all things considered, Rio showered, changed back to his uniform, and made his way to the mess hall to try his luck at eating breakfast with the girls.

Entering the large room filled with countless rectangular tables holding numerous students, Rio eventually spotted the four he was looking for and headed over to them. They were engaging in an animated conversation with another group four in the same table, a group comprising of two boys and two girls.

There was a blonde boy who was all smiles as he spoke, a long red-haired girl next to him who nodded pleasantly to what the boy was saying. And then sitting across from them, was an orange haired girl literally bouncing up and down in her seat, waving her arms around exaggeratedly as she too moved her mouth, though Rio couldn't hear a thing from this distance. And then there was a rather stoic black-haired boy trying to calm her down. He had a magenta streak running down what could be mistaken as a feminine hairstyle.

By now, Rio was close enough to the table to be recognized by the two girls who were facing him, Ruby and Yang. The younger sister lit up in excitement, while the older one flashed him a welcoming grin.

"Hey there Rio, have fun putting the moves on Professor Goodwitch~?" Yang greeted, wriggling her eyebrows with suggestive meaning.

All conversation at their table ceased.

Of course, Yang's colorful remark managed to skillfully draw all eyes to him, that includes the six others who either didn't know he arrived or didn't know who he was. Nonetheless, Rio inwardly sighed at Yang's sense of humor.

But just when he was about to reject her misunderstanding lest unsavory rumors will start, another idea came to him instead.

So Rio nodded, albeit trying to put on a melancholic expression. "Yes, I had fun, although I was rather distracted by something else the whole time, so my heart wasn't in it."

By now he had unknowingly gathered their all their attention, even the four new ones that looked mollified due to what Yang initially said.

"Distracted?" Yang properly showed her confusion.

"Of course. The prospect of being able to see Yang later in the day made it hard to focus on anything else." Rio said with a smile.

Yang's mouth fell open, truly not expecting such a retort. Neither was anyone else, as Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and the other four looked startled as well.

Rio's smile cramped and his expression truly faltered. "As I thought, that's a bit too out of character for me. I'm sorry Yang, but I was just teasing you."

He got no immediate reaction.

"Yang?"

"Wha…!? N-No I knew that! Of course I knew that! I was just surprised is all. G-Good for you Rio! Not many people can get one over on me like that, hm! Yeah!"

Yang was twirling her beautiful golden hair with a finger, refusing to meet Rio's eyes even as she spoke with so much energy.

"Well, that aside, are you girls going to introduce us?" The boy with the blonde hair asked, looking at Rio.

That seemed to prompt the change in conversation as Ruby took the chance to switch gears, slamming her hands on the table as she stood up. "Oh, that's right, you guys haven't met yet. This is Rio Amakawa, the new transfer student! And Rio, this is Team JNPR. Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, and Ren."

Ruby had gestured to each of them in turn, making Rio nod his head in understanding. He then gave them a slight bow, showing proper respect.

"As you heard, my name is Rio. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Jaune, Mr. Ren, Miss Nora, and Miss Pyrrha."

They stared at him blankly, RWBY as well. Ren blinked multiple times.

"Mister?"

"Hm? What is it?" Rio had a feeling he did something wrong.

However, Weiss suddenly looked thoughtful. "You know, I had only assumed you spoke to us in that way because we were girls, but it seems I was wrong. Boys aren't off the table either."

Such a comment could be heavily misconstrued if taken out of context, but Rio chose to ignore that for now. Back to what they were saying, Blake cut in as well.

"Rio, I don't know how you don't know this, but kids our age don't typically add honorifics like Miss or Mister. It's not as if any of us are royalty… sans Weiss."

"Heiress in different than princess!" The girl retorted, but Rio barely processed that, in fact, he completely tuned them out, freezing in place.

Blake was right.

He wasn't in a school full of nobles that demanded respect at every turn anymore. In fact, he probably wasn't even in a world where that was a commonly used practice. Rio had to slowly get used to the idea that this world did not share the same values of his old one. Also, besides the Grimm, dust, and aura, this world wasn't too different from Earth, technologically and verbiage-wise.

Thinking this, Rio thought to apologize and refer to them all by their first names properly, but—

"Miss? Miss… Nora…?" The girl with the orange hair, Nora, slowly, ever so slowly, gained increased color to her entire face in what looked to be excitement, before gasping.

"Oh no."

"What have you done!?"

Ren's reserved terror, and Jaune's accusing question threw Rio for a loop. However, he didn't have a chance to question it.

"Hear that my subjects! From now on, it's MISS NORA! With a capital M! And don't forget the two S's! HA HA HA HA HA!" Laughing grandly, Nora shot up from her seat with her hands on her hips.

She jabbed at a finger at Rio. "You!"

"Me?" An unsure smile made its way on his face.

"I'll forgive any of your earlier disrespect if you kiss my hand."

And to further illustrate, Nora shot out her hand and looked away in a feigned pompous manner. Ren sighed in his hand, Pyrrha looked particularly amused, and Jaune blinked in a delayed reaction— all while Rio looked perplexed at the sudden request.

"Pardon?"

"I don't have all day, knave…!" Nora further acquiesced.

Rio's eyebrows quirked slightly, unsure of how to handle this sort of this satiation.

(I'm not really sure what's going on here, but this is due to my actions, right? So, I should be the one to take responsibility. Anyway, if all I have to do is kiss her hand…)

"A…Alright."

Rio didn't see anything particularly wrong with it.

"Eh?" Nora let out, definitely not expecting the boy to agree.

But, it went to show just how deeply ingrained Rio's rigid manners were, as he actually made to grab at Nora's hand, cupping it gently, slowly beginning to raise it to his lips—

"S-S-Stop! You can't! It's not allowed!"

Ruby suddenly appeared between them in an instant, numerous rose petals jettisoning off her person. Just when Rio was internally questioning that insane movement speed and phenomenon, Ruby had clasped both of her hands over Rio's mouth, which was probably how her brain saw fit to resolve the issue in the easiest manner.

Her face was bright red, almost as red as her cape, much to Rio and company's great confusion,

Was Ruby not okay with the seemingly intimate act being performed right in front of her, or was she just trying to be considerate to Ren? The latter reason was completely lost on Rio though, who had no idea what kind of relationship the two had.

Everyone else was just as lacking in context.

Blake, Yang, Pyrrha, and Jaune gaped like fishes. Ren simply raised a brow in surprise. Nora however, looked like a balloon popped in her face, both at Rio's lack of hesitation in what he was about to do, as well as Ruby's action to separate it so suddenly with a suspicious amount of urgency.

Then, Weiss crossed her arms in front of her chest. "Why on Remnant are you freaking out like that…? Sure, it's good that you stopped them because it's a breach in etiquette to do such things upon first meeting, but why is your face so flushed…?"

Rio also wanted an answer, as he still had yet to do anything about the two strangely soft hands clamped over his mouth.

"Wh-What are you guy's taking about? If Rio does that, he'll—" Ruby stopped, trembled, then closed her eyes tight, yelling the rest. "Y-You'll get Nora pregnannnnnttttttt!"

And just like that, another bombshell was dropped, and this time it was heard by everyone in the mess hall. Everyone gave them extremely weird looks.

But Ruby kept going.

"E-Even if it's you Rio, yes— even if it's you, you can't so something like that with Nora…! U-Um, I can't give you a definitive reason why, but it has something to do with Ren so just leave it at that, 'kay!?"

"Ruby." A strained smile made its way onto Rio's hidden mouth as he tried to speak.

(Even… Even if it's me, she said…)

Meanwhile, Ren's face twitched, and Nora fidgeted slightly in what looked to be embarrassment.

"Ah, b-but I'm not assuming they're together together or anything, it's just a consideration. Yeah, that's right, an invisible unspoken consideration we all agreed on without words. I don't really understand it myself, but if you look hard, you'll see it! Um, I think? Ah, no, the point is, you can't go getting girls pregnant, especially ones you just met!"

"Pfffttt!"

Yang at first had paled in disbelief, but then she started trembling, clutching her stomach terribly. Someone without context would mistake her to be in pain, especially if they failed to notice her smile.

Rio saw this in the corner of his eye and instantly felt drained. He had a feeling this was somehow her fault. But he could deal with that later. First things first…

"Ruby…!" He raised his voice a bit more firmly, even going as far to push her small hands down from his face, holding them in front of her in a way to greater get her attention. This must have snapped her out of it, because she jumped, her eyes gained focus.

"Y-Yes!"

"I feel like there's many things wrong with what you just said, and I can't deny the questions I have about your opinion of me, but let's start with the easiest one."

He paid the gazes of others no heed and looked at her, speaking gently.

"Ruby, how do you think babies are made?"

"When a boy kisses a girl's hand." She replied instantly, as if she was regurgitating what she had been told.

Rio sighed, properly glaring at Yang now, who had promptly burst out laughing.

This was most definitely her fault.

…

…

…

"Yang, you lied to me!"

"Haha, um— sorry?"

"You don't look sorry at all!"

Ruby and Yang were currently having a brief familial spat due to the earlier misunderstanding. Basically, Yang had confirmed that she told Ruby a fib about how offspring was created, thus leading to the girl's adorable anger.

Meanwhile…

"Right, I feel like I was partially responsible for that upset, so allow me to apologize. Please allow me to introduce myself once again. My name is Rio. Nice to meet you, um, Jaune, Pyrrha, Nora, Ren."

Rio took this time to once again introduce himself to Team JNPR, at least while Ruby was still currently hashing things out with her sister.

"Nice to… Nice to meet you too." Jaune responded in kind first, though he still looked a little bedazzled at what had just happened, but Rio's polite and sociable smile lowered his tension.

"Yes, it's a pleasure to finally meet you, Rio. We actually saw you yesterday in a few classes, but we didn't know how to approach you…" Pyrrha smiled.

"Yeah, you were getting swarmed by the girls! Haha!" Nora jumped in with a laugh. "Right, Ren?"

The stoic boy simply nodded. "Yes."

Rio looked a bit awkward at that. "Well, even I wasn't expecting to garner that much attention as new student. I'm sure it will pass soon."

He really hoped it did.

Jaune visibly showed confusion. "New student? Well that's part of it, but it's mainly because you're handsome dude…! Right, Blake, Weiss?"

He asked for support from the two people who had remained outside of the conversation; Blake who had been intently focused on eating some kind of tuna dish— which Rio had to crack a smile at, and Weiss, who was currently elegantly sipping tea with her eyes closed, when all of a sudden—

"Puuuuu! (Cough, cough, cough!)"

The beverage came flying out of the heiress' mouth, and she began to cough violently. Additionally, Blake also stabbed into the plate by accident, completely missing the grilled fish.

"W-What are you asking me for?" Weiss coughed out, applying a whole mass of napkins to her face and the table with a noticeable fluster.

"…" Blake said nothing as she looked away.

Nonetheless, Rio shook his head with a smile. "Haha, I'm not so sure about that. Rather, I've been told my face is rather feminine. Of course, Ren and Jaune's faces look a lot more handsome and masculine." He said kindly, honestly meaning it.

"Agreed!"

"(…—reed.)"

Nora had boisterously yelled in affirmation, but Rio didn't quite hear what Pyrrha said. Then, Yang and Ruby once again rejoined the conversation.

"Well, that was a thing. Explaining all that was tiring!" Yang feigned wiping sweat from her forehead.

"All you said is I'd understand when I'm older!"

"Yes, multiple times. Which is why I'm tired."

"Fine! I'll just ask Dad then!" Ruby retorted.

But Yang let out a short bark-like laugh. "Ha! Yeah, good luck with that. He'd probably go his whole life without telling you if he could."

Ruby whined even further, then looked at Rio. "Hey Rio, tell me! How are babies made!"

(We're still at this?)

He tried not to let his discomfort show on his face.

"Um, I really think you should grow up a little more before you're told Ruby, honest." Rio smiled, bringing his hands up in a placating motion, eyes half-lidded.

Ruby didn't look satisfied with that, which is why she was about to protest but—

"Besides, your innocence is your most charming quality. Call me selfish, But I would like you to continue being as you are, Ruby."

"Wbuauh?" The words died in her throat.

Ruby's face went red, while the others looked on in shock.

Then Jaune whispered to Pyrrha, "Could it be Rio's an unconscious flirt?"

"I am, arriving at the same conclusion, yes." Pyrrha said after some consideration.

"Heh, must be nice being that oblivious—ow!"

Something must have bothered her, because Pyrrha instantly pinched Jaune's side.

Sitting with them, Rio looked at all of this warmly.

While he was by no means close friends with these people, they were kind of enough to welcome him with open arms and treat him amicably. He was truly grateful for that. But he also couldn't help but think of the world he left behind, or rather the people in it.

Memories blurred together.

Waking up in that new world as a seven-year-old orphan and getting caught up with various royal scandals.

Running away, allowing him to meet his adoptive little sister Latifa and becoming friends with everyone at the spirit folk village. as well as meeting the relatives of his departed parents in the Yagumo region, where he affirmed his desire for revenge.

Those heavenly lights of the hero summoning that led him to Miharu, Aki, and Masato. Awakening his humanoid spirit, Aisha. Seeing Celia again, allowing him to save her from a life she otherwise wouldn't have been happy with.

He met Liselotte Cretia and her attendants, one-sidedly reunited with the Princess Flora from his Academy days, almost killed the object of his revenge, and attended a party where he was able to form a good relationship with several people, one of them being Miharu's school friend, Satsuki. There, she had beaten it into him to be a little more selfish, making him reconsider how he tried to push Miharu and the others away from him.

He stumbled across Princess Christina, the seemingly cold older sister of Flora, and helped her flee to Galarc at Celia's bequest. He was awarded a mansion in Rodania for his efforts, and then… and then…

Right before Rio planned to leave for the Proxia Empire for information on Lucius, he woke here, in this place called Remnant, where he managed to become a part of this school for Huntsman.

"…"

Rio's eyes hardened, glimmering with resolve.

(I'll do whatever it takes to come back to everyone. But for now…)

"Hm? Rio, are you not going to eat anything?"

Ruby, noticing that Rio had not yet grabbed anything to eat, voiced her question. Rio looked at the girl, noticing the friendly expression she was giving him, as she always did. Rio felt like he should be continuously trying to repay that kindness. No, he felt that way with everyone who had accepted him since he came here. Ozpin, Glynda, and everyone from Team RWBY.

Honestly, Rio felt like he didn't deserve it. Not someone like him.

But even so.

Rio lightly took a breath to calm himself, then offered the girl a smile. "Thank you for reminding me, Ruby. I'll get right on that."

"O-Oh, take your time."

She answered with a fluster, her face warming at the kind expression given to her, but Rio didn't pay it much attention as he stood up from the table to where the food was distributed. However, as he tried to leave…

"Hey Rio, you grabbing something? Can you bring me back some pancakes, pretty please!" Nora clasped her hand in prayer with an eager look in her eye.

"Feel free to refuse her." Ren plainly said.

"Ren!?"

However, it was simply too amusing to Rio, so he didn't think of doing such a thing.

"I would love to bring you back some pancakes, Nora." Rio said with nigh amusement.

"Yay! You're the best, ah— but Ren's still THE best. No offense."

Rio chuckled. "None taken."

He walked off, approaching the numerous items served for breakfast at the Academy. Rio marveled at the selection. It seemed like the choices were for all kinds of people— Japanese cuisine being no exception. Though, Rio had no idea what they called it over here.

He grabbed a dish with rice, miso soup, and some salmon, and even began to fill a plate full of pancakes. It was perhaps five minutes into his endeavor did a voice come from behind him.

"U-Um, excuse me?"

A prodding on his shoulder snapped him out of his musings. He set his tray down and turned around, making eye contact with the fidgeting girl who had nervously called him out. She was having trouble looking him in the eye, making Rio assume she was rather shy. But beyond her behavior, he noticed a pair of fox ears atop the girl's head twitching irregularly, and similarly, a bushy tail swiping left and right in a nervous fashion.

Rio's expression instantly relaxed, for a reason only known to him. "Yes, how can I help you Miss?"

"O-Oh, I um, just wanted to ask for your scroll number? W-Would that be a bother?" She sounded increasingly more nervous near the end.

Rio widened his eyes a bit, but only for a moment.

(I see, maybe she saw me by myself and is trying to be nice. That, or she just wants to make more friends.)

Rio grinned. "I don't have a problem with that, but you don't know me, right? Are you sure that's—"

"I know who you are, R-Rio…! My friend's in a few of your classes. She told me about you." The girl said quickly.

She then noticed Rio's shocked face and instantly reddened.

"Uwaa… I-I'm sorry for interrupting you!"

"Please don't worry about it, I truly didn't mind at all." Rio said in an attempt to put her at ease, but then gestured at her with a hand and slight bow. "You know my name, but may I have the privilege of knowing yours?"

"…"

Rio thought he said something wrong, as the girl said and did nothing for the next few seconds, but the girl suddenly went completely rigid, her face growing an even deeper shade of red than before.

"O-Oh! Y-Yes! M-My name is Lilith. Lilith Marron." 'Lilith' said shyly.

Rio chuckled. "What a very pretty name, I'm Rio Amakawa as you already know. It's nice meeting you."

"S-Same here."

"You said you wanted my scroll number, right?" Rio reached into his pocket and grabbed the device, unaware that Lilith's tale began wagging even faster in anticipation. "You'll have to do it for me though, I actually haven't had one for very long."

"That's okay, I don't mind at all…!"

Rio noticed the girl was starting to act less nervous, which made him glad. he handed it over to her, waiting patiently as she eagerly manipulated the buttons that appeared on the display. But just then, a group of four boys appeared in Rio's periphery, walking in a way that would have them passing directly behind the unaware girl.

At first it looked like they'd pass with no issue, but the one in the lead took one look at the girl's ears and wagging tail, and a look of pure revulsion appeared on his face. And as they made to pass by, the main boy, one with slick black hair, grabbed the girl's tail and squeezed it.

"Owww!" Lilith instantly cried out, pain clouding her features.

She had also dropped the scroll, making it clatter on the floor. But the black-haired boy paid that no heed, only focusing on the clenching and unclenching of his fist around the girl's animal appendage.

"Wow, that's disgusting, it's actually moving even as I'm touching it like this. What a freakish abomination." The boy muttered, his face expressing a snarl, looking at his friends behind him as he then laughed, however not once loosening his grip as he did so.

"P-Please stop. That hurts!" Lilith cried out; her eyes closed tight as she went rigid in place.

"Hah!? Why do I have to listen to the words of a filfy faunas? It's bad enough that you're even here to begin with. Tch, even Cardin went all soft recently, so just think of this as me laying down the law. Stop complaining."

The boy's sneer seemed to grow wider as he grew more and more pleased with himself. He even squeezed harder, completely unbothered by the pained reaction it got as a result. In fact, he looked to be reveling in it.

Lilith did not dare move, fear for if she did, an even greater punishment would be awaiting her. But all she could think about was that it hurt. She wanted the pain to go away. Tears began to form in her tightly shut eyes.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

It hurts.

—But the pain stopped as a hand shot out, squeezing the boy's wrist in the same manner he was, causing him to quickly lose his grip.

…

…

…

[ PLAY MUSIC ]

EIGHTY-SIX — Season 2 Opening 1 — (Japanese)

…

…

…

"Geh! What the—!?" His face morphed in discomfort.

"She looked to be in pain, so I hope you don't mind my intrusion."

Lilith opened her eyes in surprise to find Rio standing in between her and the black-haired boy, who to his credit, look exceedingly miffed at the presence of someone he had not noticed. The boy very violently wrestled his hand to try to get it out of Rio's grip, not that he made much progress doing so.

Regardless, Rio sighed, as he let go of the boy, making him take several steps back trying to regain his balance.

Rio turned to face Lilith, completely ignoring the four. She looked startled at what to do, scared at the prospect of conflict, and also guilty for being the reason Rio had gotten involved.

"Miss Lilith, I'm sorry if I acted without asking for permission. Please tell me if I overstepped."

Lilith looked shocked for a moment, the girl's wavering eyes met Rio's soft and gentle ones. She blinked multiple times however her shoulders relaxed, then quickly answered. "N-No, thank you so much for helping me. …Not many people would have."

"I'm just glad to be of help." Rio said sincerely.

The black-haired boy's expression twisted, staring as the white-haired head had the nerve to actually TURN away from him. He no longer cared for the faunas girl. This guy was having a fucking conversation while he was merely pushed away like a bug.

This guy was making fun of him.

He seethed.

"Casually having a conversation, fucking flirting with that freak like I'm not even here…! Don't get cocky… don't get cocky you first year braaaattttt!"

Screaming in anger, anger with nowhere to go, the black-haired boy sent a fist flying towards the back of Rio's head, gritting his teeth in a hateful expression.

"—!?"

Lilith was able to see it clearly because of how she was situated, with Rio between her and the four boys, so her face instantly warped in surprise and fear. But as if Rio had eyes on the back of his head, the white-haired boy nimbly dodged to the side, which was revealed to be an insanely quick reposition of his footwork.

Naturally the punch hit nothing but air, and it would have gone sailing towards Lilith instead, had Rio not — in the same movement — grabbed the boy's bulky arm and sidestepped behind him, and wrapped his own appendage around his neck.

"Gh!?" The boy briefly gurgled, expressing his discomfort and surprise due to being practically choked, but Rio quickly pushed him straight back, nearly sent sprawling into his three friends.

Rio waited for their next move, not noticing that all noise in the mess hall had ceased, and eyes pierced them from every direction.

"Can we really not talk this out? I don't think continuing this sort of action will benefit anyone." Rio said, trying to placate.

"Talk it out? Talk it out!? We are way beyond talking this out you cocky first year! Don't look down on meeeeeeeeeeeeee!"

The black-haired boy was on him again, sending several more punches at Rio, but they were all avoided with ease. Rio fluttered around the boy, not wasting a single movement, allowing each and every one of the blows filled with a now lethal amount of aura to crash into the air, hitting absolutely nothing.

(So the aura can be used to augment physical ability as well, not just defense. Hm, the similarities between our two worlds is really astounding.)

"Tch! Why are you three just standing there! Help me pummel this arrogant prick!" The boy huffed irritably as he missed another punch, making the three boys who were watching jump slightly.

"R-Right, Clay!"

"Of course!"

"Try to hold him down…!"

"Clay's" three friends jumped in a second later, making it what should have been a very impossible four on one. Lilith cried out, and various other gasps and sharp intakes of breaths were heard.

But.

"How the—!?"

"How is he moving like that!?"

Everyone's eyes widened in amazement.

Punches flew through the air all focusing on one target, but none of them landed. Rio dodged his head, spun his body, and even vaulted over the arms trying to get a hit on him. Two of them managed to score a perfect flank, coming from both sides, yet Rio darted at the one in front of him, grabbed the incoming limb, and redirected the entire body weight at the threat approaching him from behind. They knocked into each other, taking several seconds to gain their bearings.

Of course, at that moment—

(Clay and the other one.)

Rio instantly ducked low to the ground and swept his legs behind him, disrupting the impromptu sneak attack off their feet completely. Yet during miniscule airtime, Rio did not let Clay hit the ground, instead using the boy's elbow as an anchor to spin him around, suddenly letting go to send the black haired boy straight into the unsuspecting partner who was already in hitting range.

"Geh!"

"Gugah!?"

"H-Hey watch—gfhfhf!?"

"Augh!?"

But Rio had not just perfectly made the two before him collide, but it was also hard enough to send them spiraling into the two others still trying to rise back up. It made for a rather pitiful sight as they all collapsed in one heap, struggling to unentangle their mess of limbs.

Eventually, Clay stumbled to his feet, panting. "Y-You, why are you not properly hitting back?"

Ah.

His words made everyone realize.

Rio's movements were all purely defensive and reflective, not having landed even one solid hit on his opponents. Of course, not that they could say they had either.

But in response. Rio gave an expression that didn't seem right in the circumstances. He smiled sheepishly.

"Ah, it's just you seem to be genuinely angry at me. Ending the fight too quick will leave you feeling dissatisfied, no? That's why, please don't worry about me and fight to your hearts content. I can go as long as you are able." Rio said politely.

Everyone froze, not just Clay and his team, not just Lilith, but everyone. That includes the fifty something students who had been watching this whole time— that which also being Team RWBY and JNPR. And then—

A snort was heard somewhere, or more like the beginnings of one, but it was then masked by Clay's scream of fury.

"I'm gonna break that perfect face of yours! What right do you have to make fun of me, your senior!"

"It wasn't my intention to make fun of you, Rather, I assumed you were a first year based on the way you were fighting. I will keep my judgement to myself from now on." And Rio actually bowed.

"Kh!?" Clay bit down on his teeth, hard. "AHHHHHHHHH!" Then a scream came out of his mouth like a frenzied animal, suddenly charging at Rio with nothing but hate clouding his eyes.

But then—

"CEASE FIGHTING AT ONCE!"

A loud, sharp feminine voice came through the mess hall, stunning everyone completely still. The particularly familiar sound of heels made its way into Rio's ears, making him sweat slightly.

(Oh dear.)

"What is going on here!?"

Glynda came in like a hurricane, leveling a glare at anyone who dared make eye contact with her, that is until she saw who was at the center of the fight. Clay, three of his teammates, and Rio.

The minute she saw him, she sighed.

Rio could only greet her awkwardly. "Hello again. Ms. Glynda. It um, wasn't long since we spoke last, huh?" He said, looking incredibly awkward as he stared up at the celling, trying to avoid her gaze.

"It was half an hour ago." She said evenly.

"R-Right."

Glynda took a look of the various bystanders, to which Rio now nervously realized they were all crowding around him. The teacher then called upon one person with a true authoritative voice.

"You. Tell me what happened."

"M-Me?"

Lilith pointed to herself, to which Glynda nodded.

It wasn't apparent that she had been chosen because Glynda was able to quickly pinpoint the root of the conflict, or if she saw Lilith looking on anxiously from the side and based her decision off of that.

"T-That's, I was talking to Rio, and um…"

Lilith faltered as she looked at Clay's direction, stiffening in fright as the boy was giving her a glare that was borderline murderous. It very well promised hurt in the future if she said the wrong thing here.

Lilith went still, throat dry.

"We um, were talking, and, um—"

"The fault lays with me, Miss Glynda." Rio suddenly said, causing all eyes to turn to him in shock. Even Clay's eyes bulged.

No matter how one looked at it, Rio acted in clear self-defense the whole time, and even then, his attacks were minimal and halfhearted at best. They wondered what on Remnant he was thinking saying such things.

"…And how is that?" Glyda asked, raising a brow in suspicion.

"Yes. I had been conversating with Miss Lilith here, and Mr. Clay came and greeted me. We got to talking about combat, in which I shamelessly asked him to show me one of his team's pincer attacks. I lost myself in the moment and things got rather heated." Rio finished with a measured tone.

Many people whispered all around them, however not one person called Rio out, despite it being clear that it was a flat out lie. Even Glynda didn't seem to believe it, yet she had no choice to accept his words as the truth of matter.

"And?"

Glynda then turned to Clay.

"Is that what happened, Mr. Wreath?"

The boy flinched and grit his teeth together.

Replying anything other than in the affirmative would have him explaining why they had come to blows— or in Rio's case, why HIS team had been the only one coming to blows. Then the matter of the faunas girl would surely be brought up as well.

Clay's displeasure became even more apparent as he realized this.

Not even he was smart enough to come up with a lie that got him out of this situation while also only punishing those two, so he was left with no other choice.

"Y…Yeah. That's what happened. …The new kid asked for pointers, and I… obliged." Clay said while looking away, humiliation clearly present on his face.

"I see, then if that's the case there is nothing to be done, however I will warn you that the next time you want to spar, wait for your respective combat classes. Although I understand the want to ask an upperclassman in such a way, the rules exist for a reason. Please follow them next time. Do you understand?"

She glared at all present.

Lilith, Clay, and his team nodded quickly.

"Mr. Rio?"

"Of course I understand Miss Glynda. My actions were beyond foolish. I apologize for making a strain on your no-doubt busy day."

Glynda looked briefly at a loss for words, but she quickly recovered.

"It's the job of a professor to look after their students, so this is only natural. Don't trouble yourself with such thoughts. Now, breakfast is almost concluded, so I suggest you hurry if you haven't eaten. Good day."

And with that Glynda briskly walked off.

Of course, the whispering started immediately afterward.

"(Hey did you hear that? Mr. Rio? Isn't that his first name?)"

"(Yeah, yeah. And he called her Miss Glynda…!)"

Rio's sweat dropped as he heard these whisperings, wondering if something rather troublesome was going to spread as a result.

"Hey, don't expect me to thank you for that or anything." Clay suddenly said, glaring at Rio with his arms crossed.

But Rio shook his head. "Of course not. I merely saw an option that would benefit both of our interests and took it. You shouldn't feel gratitude for something I did for the sake of myself."

"Guh, always that way of talking. Come on! We're leaving!"

Clay Wreath and his team stormed off as well, seemingly nauseated with Rio's presence. And as soon as Rio confirmed their departure, a long-winded sigh escaped him, and his tensed-up shoulders relaxed.

He was glad things had been resolved without issue. It would have been annoying to face punishment for something as serious as getting in a fight with another student. It was because he didn't know what would happen is why he acted in such an overly cautious manner.

"R-Rio…?"

A timid voice broke him out of his thoughts.

"Yes, Miss Lilith?"

Lilith approached him and looked at him with a troubled face. Rio immediately guessed what she was thinking about.

"Allow me to apologize to you. Because of me, punishment was not given to them despite your hardship. I selfishly decided and excluded you from that choice. If you choose to hate me now, I completely understand."

Lilith's face looked briefly mollified by the words coming out of Rio's mouth, but she jumped out of it quickly.

"Th-That's not it!" She yelled, suddenly performing an action that left Rio rather surprised.

She reached out for his right hand and grabbed it with the two of hers.

"I wanted to say thank you! Because you handled it like that, I don't think those boys will bother me in the future. You understood what would've happened if you harmed them, and you even helped me out when I was worried about what to say. Seriously, thank you so much. You seriously saved me!"

Rio did not know what to say to such heartfelt words. Though, he soon relaxed, because his eyes then gazed at her warmly.

"Then if it really is as you said, then you are very welcome Miss Lilith. I'm glad I was able to help." Rio said, smiling.

However, something must have triggered in the white-haired boy, because he performed his next action almost instinctively. He reached out with his own hand, the one not being held by the girl, and petted the top of her hair gently. He made sure to avoid her ears though.

"Fueh!?"

An embarrassed yelp came tumbling out of Lilith's lips, her face turning a delicate shade of scarlet as her hair was caressed in such a way.

"R—Rio?"

Rio froze, and instantly yanked his hand back, missing the disappointment present on the girl's face as it happened.

"Ah, I don't know what came over me. I'm sorry if it was unpleasant."

It seemed… this girl reminded him too much of Latifa.

"(…n't …lly mind.)"

"Hm?" Rio blinked, leaned in closer, and strained his ears to hear the girl better.

"I um, don't really mind, if you touch me like that, Rio." She said this as she looked at him with a gaze filled with embarrassment, yet another emotion just as fierce began to cloud her eyes.

"…"

Naturally, Rio's brain stalled.

"Dang Rio! We look away for one second and not only do you get into a fight with a 2nd year team, you're picking up girls too!" Suddenly, a voice coming from the crowd of onlookers tore Rio's attention off of Lilith.

Pushing past a multitude of students, was Yang.

She of course was followed by the rest of RWBY, with JNPR tagging along after them. Incidentally, seeing a group of eight people come to the middle of a crowd must have made the rest of the onlooking students feel restless, as they suddenly began to disperse, not before taking a few more awed looks at Rio.

Nonetheless, Rio directed his attention back to Yang, who sidled up next to him, seemingly unbothered by Lilith's presence, and the fact that she was still holding onto the boy's hand— which she now noticed.

"Eep!"

Lilith let out another embarrassed yelp and took a step back, her ears flattening. Rio briefly chuckled, before speaking to Yang.

"It is… unfortunate that our little squabble was seen. I'm sorry for interrupting your mealtime."

Yang quite literally sighed at that.

"Hah… only you would call a four on one, 'a squabble'. And I'm pretty sure there wasn't a single person who didn't see it, not with you darting around them like that. That was awesome by the way~!"

Yang gave a wide smile and a thumbs up. Then with that same smile, she turned to Lilith.

"So who's this? I'm pretty sure I've seen her around but,,,"

Yang trailed off, and that's when Ruby and Weiss made to approach as well, but Blake held them back after noticing Lilith's ears. Their mouths moved a bit, but then they eventually relented, content with just waiting patiently, same as Team JNPR.

Lilith stiffened up at the sudden question, but she somehow forced her mouth to move. "O-Oh, um, I'm Lilith Marron."

"Hey Lilith, I'm Yang Xiao-Long. Looks like you already know Rio, what happened?"

The question seemed innocent enough, but Yang could not deny the curiosity laden in her voice.

"I um, asked for Rio's contact information, and then—um…"

Lilith seemed to realize how uncomfortable the latter part of the story was to tell, causing her words to falter.

But.

"Miss Lilith was in a brief spot of trouble, and I assisted. That's all." Rio said, causing Lilith to look at him with wide eyes, and then they softened in relief.

"I get it." Yang nodded, putting two and two together.

It was just a guess, but she assumed that team started a problem because of the girl's race, which made Yang scowl slightly. But then it instantly vanished from her face.

"But good for you girl, taking the initiative. You have to get the good ones while their still free. Of course, I'm of the same mind."

Rio wasn't exactly sure what Yang meant by that, but he was vaguely certain it did not mean anything good. Lilith even bristled in surprise, but then her eyes focused and she gave a determined look Yang's way.

"Understood. T-Then, I'll be trying my best!" Lilith said resolutely. But then it crumbled as she cutely gasped. "Th-That's right Rio, I almost forgot. Here!"

She reached into her skirt pocket and pulled out a scroll, however Rio soon recognized it wasn't her own, but rather his.

"I'm so sorry for dropping it!"

Lilith must have felt exceedingly guilty about because she even bowed deeply. But Rio brushed it off, accepting it from her hands.

"Please don't trouble yourself about that, Miss Lilith. In fact, I should be thanking you for picking it up for me during the…er…"

Yang snorted at Rio inability to find a word. Thus, she offered with a smile, "One sided humiliation?"

"No, putting it like that is a bit…" Rio looked uncomfortable.

Lilith saw Rio's troubled face, unknowing smiled, thinking it looked rather humorous.

The fear gripping her before was no longer present.

She was scared when her tail was suddenly pulled, and as much as she was training to fight monsters, her whole body just felt weak. She had seen others get bullied for their faunas heritage before, and she was slightly ostracized for it herself, but no one had ever physically done something like that. It had honestly terrified her. The moment she was on the receiving end of such raw discomfort, she froze up and was fully ready to just endure whatever happened.

But then Rio stepped him, completely aloof and charming as what had drew him to her in the first place.

When she had heard the rumors of a new student, she was undoubtedly curious. Her friend wouldn't stop gushing about him after all. But she wasn't expecting the boy to have such a handsome face AND polite demeanor. And that didn't change at all when he involved himself in a situation that should have only affected her.

He didn't rise to their taunts.

Calm and collected, he defended himself, though wishing to not escalate the situation.

He never even raised his voice.

He even apologized for taking action without her permission.

So cool…

—she thought.

That level of maturity, those eyes and face that looked like a prince from a fairy tale, how he had petted her hair in a gentle manner making sure to avoid touching her ears, something Lilith didn't fail to catch—she thought for sure he'd be able to hear just how loud her heart was pounding.

In fact, even now, her heart grew fuzzy thinking about it.

…

…

…

"I um, don't really mind, if you touch me like that, Rio."

…

…

…

It was probably why she let something so embarrassing pass her lips.

Before this, Lilith did not believe in love at first sight, soul mates, or even fate.

But.

Was it really any wonder, that those beliefs Lilith had, had come crashing down upon such a happenstance meeting? After all, Lilith Marron may have just fallen in love.

…

…

…

The elevator ascended upward slowly, a soft melody playing in the background. Rio found it odd, to say the least. Not only to be listening to automated music like this once again, but also to be riding in a metal box that was being elevated through machinery and electrical engineering…

Again, even though he was aware of how crudely he was describing it, it didn't suppress the surprise he felt. He basically had to relearn the common sense he had when he was a nothing more than a simple Japanese student.

Rio lightly chuckled.

(I die in the twenty-first century, am reborn in the midst of a feudal and medieval era, then I get whisked away to a place like this, where there are so many similarities to Earth it's almost suspicious…)

Whoever was controlling fate behind the scenes must be having quite the laugh at Rio's expense right about now.

The elevator chimed, indicating that another floor had been passed, steadily continuing it's ascent.

'Are you worried? About what Ozpin wants?'

Aisha's voice suddenly echoes into his mind, ceasing the silence.

Just as she said, Ozpin had asked him to come to his office later in the day right after classes had ended. He had told him there was quite a few things they needed to discuss in further detail. Apparently, from what the man explained briefly, there was still a lack of cohesion on where to place Rio in this school, officially, that is.

The reason was obvious.

Rio didn't have a team. Thus, he couldn't be treated like any other student in this case. There was also something he had been hearing rumors about, a festival of sorts, one where a combat tournament was held. If he was required to participate, he couldn't do so without a team.

'Hm, yes. I would say that I am. My position at this school is rather fragile after all. I wouldn't be too surprised if it even came to pass that Ozpin was rescinding his offer to accept me into this school.' Rio answered.

Aisha was silent for a moment, then…

'Does Haruto… want to leave?'

That question made him wonder.

Did he? He wasn't sure.

Understanding this world, finding a way home; he didn't know if staying at a place like Beacon was the better choice in the long run. There were tons of 'what ifs', and there might be tons of downsides that he couldn't see at the present moment.

(Trying to do this the legal way might have been foolhardy from the start.)

That was on his mind as well.

But.

If there was a reason to stay, just one, then…

'It might be selfish, but I want to try to find the correct answer, alongside the people here. It might be easier to do it on my own, but if I can, if I'm allowed that choice, I want to remain in this place.'

Rio's thoughts felt unbearably strained. It wasn't hard to imagine how difficult it was to verbalize such things, even if it was to Aisha.

He was being cowardly.

By choosing to stay here, he might be renouncing the easiest path to return, the option where he did anything he had to for the sake of his goal. But, if he did that, would he even recognize the person he returned as? Would his friends? Would they welcome him with open arms despite the mass of sin that it took to get there?

And if he rejected that way of life, and lived his days at this Academy, trying to amass knowledge, wasn't that also cowardly? Wouldn't he just be living for the sake of himself this way too, avoiding conflict, avoiding the further staining of his hands?

It was a double-edged sword, each being the peak of arrogance. The fact that Rio's hands were already dirty, but he still had to the gall to try to do things the right way, and the fact that despite already having dirty hands, he refused to walk down that dark path yet again…

Yes. Arrogant, hypocritical, and most of all, cowardly.

.

..

…

And yet, Aisha already knew this.

'I want to remain here, at this place, but only as long as you are here. And if the day comes when you choose to leave, I will accompany you at that time as well. I will never be leaving you alone, Haruto.'

She knew him better than anyone, which is why the words came out happily, warmly, and without judgement. It was only the love of someone speaking for the sake of expressing their affection.

'Haruto is indecisive and cowardly, so if others aren't there to look after him, he'll run away someplace far without looking back.'

Rio brought up a small smile. 'That's a bit harsh.'

'It is. But it's that part of Haruto that I like as well, because it allows me to take care you.'

The unexpected words left him rather surprised, so much so that he didn't know what to say. But Aisha paused for a moment before she continued.

'And I'm sure… those four have realized that by now as well.'

"…"

The elevator doors opened in the next second, making Rio's rising inquiry as to what that meant die in his throat.

After a bit of hesitation, he stepped out, immediately met with the sight of a very peculiarly designed room.

It was Ozpin's office, so he was expecting some degree of grandness, but definitely not this. It was like he was in the middle of a clock tower, one that had been intricately refurbished. Thus, he silently marveled at the ornate room

"I take your reaction as a sign that you like it." A man's voice hummed, gesturing to the space beyond the desk he was sitting behind.

It was Ozpin, mug in hand, with a pleasant smile on his face, and Glynda standing behind him. Rio approached the two, smiling as he looked around.

"Yes, it's rather impressive. After seeing Miss Glynda's, I was convinced it wasn't possible to top it in my head, but it seems I have to refigure my evaluation. Apologies Miss Glynda, but it appears I have to give the point to Professor Ozpin here." Rio joked.

Normally, under no circumstance would the woman known as Glynda Goodwitch respond to such a casual statement proposed by a student, but she was found herself already having a retort on the tip of her tongue.

"Those are certainly bold words, coming from the same person who gave such lavish praises towards my own." Glynda replied, with a subtle curve of her lips.

"…"

"…"

Ozpin and Rio stared at her with slightly widened eyes.

"…What is it?" She asked, slightly unnerved by the odd reactions.

Ozpin simply chuckled in amusement but didn't say anything. He instead gestured towards Rio, who all of a sudden looked as if he had been tossed a bomb.

After a clear show of hesitation, the boy then fumbled with his words.

"Ah, it's just, Miss Glynda, you surprised me by responding like that. I thought for sure I'd be scolded for talking about unnecessary things." The boy said, trying to gage Glynda's reaction.

But the woman blinked. Then her cheeks stiffened.

(I… I did it again!)

Glynda had to remind herself once again that the white-haired male in front of her was sixteen, and her student. She didn't know what she was thinking, but she had once again treated the boy like he was older than he actually was.

She really had to wonder just what it was about him that made her slip so easily. His height? Mannerisms and polite speech? Or maybe it was his eyes. There were eyes that reminded her so much of the man next to her, spirit and intensity if nothing else.

Glynda coughed, as she suddenly realized she hadn't answered the boy.

"Right, well, e-even I like to drop down my professional attitude once in a while. I'll do a better job in the future."

She said that, yet once again, she was talking politely in a manner reserved for entertaining adults. But Rio's next words caught her completely off guard.

"Ah, no. You're misunderstanding me."

Rio shook his head, a smile forming on his lips.

"The students are under the impression that Miss Glynda is a no-nonsense disciplinarian, but if I may, I'm rather pleased to know about this other side of you. It's rather selfish, but it makes me happy to see it."

"—!?"

Glynda's mouth opened and closed, but no words came out. Her cheeks even went as far to darken slightly, making for a very interesting sight from the bespectacled woman. Even she, as rigid as she sometimes was, couldn't keep a straight face at that.

But, she was further denied a response, as a rising sound began to echo in her ears.

"Ha ha ha…!"

Ozpin, who started chuckling uncontrollably, was trembling so much that he nearly spilt his coffee, unable to suppress his mirth.

"That side of you, Mr. Rio—ha ha. It makes me question if you're really only sixteen. Whether it was purposeful or simply intuition, it's no small feat to make Glynda here lose her composure. You should feel proud."

"T-That really wasn't my intention." Rio replied awkwardly, not knowing what else to say.

Ozpin's words sounded congratulatory, but the reaction they were causing Glynda made Rio feel anything but. The boy cast an uneasy glance between the two of them, making note of the woman's sudden scowl.

He was still a bit worried, but chose to let it go, lightly coughing into his fist. "Um, it seems I have derailed the conversation. What would you like to talk about, Professor Ozpin? Would it be about the Vytal Festival?"

The intense atmosphere seemed to subside somewhat as Rio changed the topic, and he even quietly sighed in relief.

"Quite. That and other things. Let's begin with the first one." Ozpin nodded.

He then gestured to a virtual display on his desk. He spun it around, an action performed by simply swiping his fingers, and the blue holographic screen was now facing towards Rio.

"As I'm sure you're aware, the Vytal Festival is an event that is held every two years at one of the four different kingdoms. These kingdoms send their students to enjoy festivities, mingle with the other academies, as well as compete in a rigid multi-faceted combat tournament." Ozpin explained, even though he assumed that Rio had this bare minimum of knowledge already.

Rio smiled inwardly.

(I actually didn't know that, but that explanation helped a lot…)

Ozpin continued.

"Now, I said 'multi-faceted tournament', care to guess what that entails?"

Rio thought about it for a moment, but he couldn't come up with anything. But then, Team RWBY flashed in his mind.

"…Team battles." He murmured reflexively.

Ozpin smiled. "You're exactly right."

The display in front of Rio changed, now showing him a picture of a team of four.

"If a four-person team advances, they choose two of their team to compete in the next round. Those winners then choose one to compete in the finals."

Supplementing this information, the screen highlighting the team of four escalated to two, then, to just one.

"That being said, I hope you can understand the difficulty in deciding what to do with you, Rio Amakawa, someone who doesn't have a team, nor even a partner."

Rio nodded his head at this.

Technically, he did have someone who could be counted as a partner, but that would require him to reveal their existence to everyone. Rio didn't want to do that with Aisha if he could help it. Even Ozpin, as much as he trusted him for now, is someone he wanted to keep that from.

With Team RWBY, he had explained she was a part of his semblance, so they probably wouldn't think of her as a 'student', but rather a sentient power. He felt bad not being honest, but that was something he'd have to live with.

"But, is it necessary that I participate in the Vytal Festival, professor?" Rio asked, wondering if there was a reason to have this much thought put into on his behalf.

Ozpin hummed, looked at Glynda out of the corner of his eye, and responded. "You don't have to, meaning I'm not going to force you to do so. You lacking a team already gives you the perfect exemption. However, I think you should. While there is a hefty amount of prize money for winning, the prestige of winning the tournament itself cannot be ignored. The first-place winner, or even the runner up; someone like that cannot be ignored when it comes to scouts looking to make connections with aspiring Huntsman."

Ozpin chuckled.

"Have you met Miss Pyrrha Nikos? She could tell you about the importance of placing well in tournaments like these, as she's been the concurrent champion of the Mistral Regional Tournament."

(Miss Pyrrha? And Mistral, that's one of the four kingdoms, right? She didn't strike me as someone who's used to the spotlight. …She must be a very humble young woman.)

Rio raised an eyebrow at that, having no idea the red-haired girl he met was such an impressive person.

"I'm sure she has received quite the number of endorsement deals from companies all over. I imagine the entertainment industry most likely isn't something you would care for, but how about access to the latest in dust technology and research?"

"Dust research, you say?" That got Rio's attention, and by the way he additionally stiffened in his seat, Ozpin noticed as well.

"Yes. If you were to win the tournament, it's only natural for head researchers and developers to put their money on you, and by extension, share with you the inner workings of their businesses. You wouldn't even have a problem asking Atlas for their advanced and up and coming blueprints of technology that has yet to be revealed."

Rio's thoughts raced a mile a minute at all of this information.

(That… doesn't sound too bad.)

Even if there wasn't a concrete method of returning him to his previous world in a place like Atlas, like Ozpin just said, he would be given the knowledge that would allow him to find that answer himself. Besides, when, if ever, would he get another chance to receive such benefits?

If anything should come of Rio's decision to stay at Beacon Academy, this definitely had to be the most promising.

Yes.

Just one step at a time. Then, surely—

"Okay. You have my attention. Now, how would I go about solving the issue of how I would compete without a team?"

…

…

…

(After all that, all he said was, 'I'll handle it'…?)

Ozpin had excused him, and Rio was currently on his way back the academy dorms, but the man's words troubled him a bit. It looked like various things would be decided for him, and Rio didn't know how to feel about that.

But if it was Ozpin, he probably knew what he was doing.

Of course, Rio's participation in the Vytal Tournament wasn't all they talked about. Incidentally, Rio's dorm room had finally become available to him— his actual dorm room. Not the one he had been sharing with Team RWBY.

Personally, he was quite glad about that, yet he could somehow tell that his (now former) roommates would have something say about it. It shouldn't be too much of an issue though. After all, Rio was a teenage boy, and they were four young women. He couldn't imagine there would be much outcry over this.

.

. .

. . .

He was wrong.

"What do you mean you're not rooming with us anymore!?" Ruby cried, as soon as he relayed the news upon returning to the room.

The others had shown shock as well, but their reactions were more silent. Though, Rio might be wrong, but Yang looked rather disappointed. Rio tried his best to be as gentle as possible in his breaking of the news, but it seems he'd underestimated how it would be taken— Ruby being the most vocal.

Rio rose his hands up slightly, adopting a placating motion.

"It had already been decided that my stay here was temporary, and me being a man in a room of young women isn't irrelevant either. Please understand." He spoke softly to Ruby, trying to prevent her from being further upset.

"Well, that might be true, but we weren't having too many issues…! I mean, I-I don't mind that you s-saw that one time…..…"

Something ridiculous came out of her mouth and judging by her voice dying out near the end, coupled with her cheeks reddening, she too found the topic embarrassing. Even the others flushed slightly, Weiss chief among them.

Ruby words implied she didn't mind any more accidents happening. So, while everyone was wondering what to say to that, Rio made his stance clear.

"I'm sorry Ruby but that is not okay."

His face became firm, and his voice gained an authoritative edge to it that wasn't there before. Instinctively, Ruby, Weiss, Blake, and Yang's shoulders tensed up slightly

This wasn't the boy who got swept away in everyone else's antics, trying to be as considerate as possible, but the serious disposition of someone older than them. Yet, for most, that shouldn't have been the case, so they wondered where such a feeling was coming from.

Though it was plenty enough for just Ruby, as she flinched slightly. Rio's face turned a bit regretful as he saw this.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to make any of you uncomfortable." The boy apologized.

"Don't be sorry Rio, you're only saying what I should have told her to begin with. Sorry you had to step up for me." Yang said, offering an apologetic smile of her own.

Weiss and Blake still remained silent, but they didn't show that they disagreed with what was happening. Even they knew Rio's actions were for the best, even if they would miss having him here.

In this lull of conversation, Rio once again locked eyes with Ruby, who was still looking disappointed. Because of this, he lightly exhaled, and smile gently. "Ruby."

"…What?" She met his gaze, frowning.

"I'm deeply flattered to receive favor from you in that way, but what you just mentioned, you shouldn't allow something like that to be seen by just anyone. In fact, you should only do so to the person you like. There should be no exceptions."

"I-I know that! That's why I'm saying it's—! …It's…? Ah…eh?"

Ruby's immediate retort suddenly lost all its momentum.

Her face morphed into confusion, then surprise, then confusion again. However, she suddenly twitched with a start as a mortifying look came over her. And to supplement that, her face slowly began to heat up as well, even brighter than before.

Something she was about to say must have startled her greatly to cause such a reaction.

"Ruby? What's wrong?" Aside from Rio, Weiss also showed her puzzlement, questioning the girl.

Ruby quite literally jumped, careening her head to meet Weiss' gaze, then Rio's, just to avert it just as quickly. "W-W-What? I-It's nothing! I-I'm fine! A-All good!"

Weiss looked like she didn't believe her, as did everyone else, but no one questioned it, even as the girl continued to duck her head and fidget awkwardly, mewling in place.

Nonetheless, Rio cleared his throat.

"Well, that's how it is, so I should probably take my leave for the night."

Ruby still looked like she wanted to argue, but she nodded her head, albeit a with a bit of hesitation. Rio considered turning to leave right then and there, but something suddenly dredged up in his head, something regarding a talk he had earlier in the day.

…

…

…

"Haruto wants to be friends with you all, but he's scared to close the distance. It's why he spoke to you so formally.

…

…

…

(Closing… the distance….)

His nerves stilled slightly, but he opened his mouth.

"Actually, um, before that…"

Rio's expression, a smile that seemed a bit awkward, came while sounding hesitant, or maybe even nervous.

They looked at him questioningly.

"Before that…?" Blake asked.

They all didn't know what was causing such a look on the boy's face, but he spoke before any more questions could be asked.

"Would it be okay, if I came and grabbed you girls for breakfast tomorrow?"

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…"

They all stared at him, dumbfounded.

It was a simple question, no, a simple proposal, something you might hear every day without even batting an eye. Yet, coming from who it was coming from, coming from the young man before them, that made all the difference.

"Or is that, no good?"

Rio sounded unsure as he wasn't immediately given a response.

(Was I perhaps too forward? Did I end up misjudging the distance after all—?)

But those worries were unfounded, as it happened the very next moment.

Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Weiss perhaps coincidentally exchanged glances, all sharing the same mollified look, before it changed just as quickly. They grinned, even going so far as to giggle slightly.

Weiss was the first one to speak, puffing her chest out slightly.

"W-Well, if a kind gentleman wishes to escort us, it would be quite rude to refuse."

"Sounds good." Blake said warmly.

"Y-Yeah, me too! You better pick us up tomorrow Rio! We can eat together before the festival!" Ruby cheered, finally able to suppress her embarrassment.

Rio's expression softened, his anxiety disappearing. The relief that replaced it made him glad he mustered up the courage to ask.

'Good job, Haruto. I'm proud of you.' He could sense Aisha smiling as well.

However, one girl had not marked her consent.

"No. I don't agree."

Yang crossed her arms over her chest, giving Rio a side look. However, it was hard to tell just what she was feeling, as if looked quite impassive.

"Are you serious?" Weiss asked, in exasperated disbelief.

"Yeah Yang, what's wrong? Why are you disagreeing!?" Ruby cried.

"I dunno, but I'm a stubborn girl you know. I suppose I could be convinced, if Rio did me a quick favor that is."

In that moment, she sent a coy smile his way, making the whole show of defiance completely fall down.

"…A favor?" Rio asked, almost hesitant.

It was a simple request, or at least, it sounded like one. But on the other hand, it was Yang who was asking, so naturally, Rio was a bit wary.

The girl nodded. "Yeah."

"Then, what would you like?" Rio tried to be as accommodating as possible.

Yang looked him right in the eye and flashed a killer smile.

"Give me a hug."

Everyone in the room blinked, and blankly stared at the girl.

"Did you say, hug?" Rio repeated, making sure he didn't mishear.

"Yep~! Ah, but you have to be the one to initiate it~!" She smiled, quite cheekily.

Blake sighed, Weiss performing a similar action however cupping her face in one hand. Ruby looked scandalous though.

"(A-A hug, f-f-from Rio…!? That's…!)" Her whisperings could not be heard, but she looked a little distraught.

"Can I ask why you want something like that?" He questioned, hoping it was a reasonable thing to inquire about.

"I tried to give you one this morning, but you didn't reciprocate it. Don't you know that it's criminal to not pay back the affection offered to you?" Yang put a hand over her heart in mock distress.

"Is… that how it is?" Rio really wondered.

The blonde girl just nodded eagerly.

If Rio thought about it, Latifa would get rather dissatisfied if he didn't pet her while she was curled up next to him.

(Pay back the affection, is it?)

It was really saying something how Rio was becoming more and more convinced, something that Ruby, Weiss, and Blake noticed as well.

"(Hah… You're always like this…)" Yang either chose to not listen or didn't hear the quiet sigh from Blake.

But nonetheless, silence reigned as they waited for Rio's response, one that he was truly hesitant to give. But it came regardless.

"R-Right then. If you're fine with me, then I'll hug you now." Rio said politely, yet not without awkwardness.

"Appreciate it~!" Yang chirped.

Though even though the conversation progressed in such a way, Yang made no sign of moving, meaning that she wanted Rio to come to her. The boy took a deep breath and made his way towards her.

"Then, excuse me Yang."

And then with a brief amount of reluctance, Rio brought the girl into his chest and wrapped his arms around her upper back. He heard a small sound of surprise, before silence once again echoed. He was facing the other way, so he couldn't see the reactions behind him, but Blake, Weiss, and Ruby watched with gaping red expressions.

It was quite the intimate action between a young man and woman after all.

And it quickly got worse.

Yang spoke up, barely above a whisper, only audible to Rio. "(M-Move your arms lower.)"

"Eh…!?" Rio's surprised voice sipped out instantly.

"(H-Hug me from my waist o-or I won't count it.)"

Confirming he actually correctly heard her this time, Rio made a troubled face, but eventually consented, lowering his arms to the small of her back, but unknowingly increasing the tightness of his embrace.

"(—kya!?)"

Yang yelped slightly, making Rio panic.

"What's wrong? S…Should I stop?" He immediately asked.

"(N-No, you're fine.)"

Then, as if to prove it, Yang reached her arms around Rio, clutching the broadness of his back more firmly. Rio naturally stiffened up, but slowly eased his nerves, just continuing to hold her. He didn't want her to ask him to do it again just because she found it lacking.

"…"

"…"

But still.

(But this is surely long enough, right?)

"Yang?" Rio called out her name tentatively, probing whether or not he could release her. The stares that were stabbing into him from behind were starting to make him really uncomfortable.

But all he heard was a soft mewl in response, a sound so far from what he thought the blonde buxom girl could make. But then— "A-Alright~! Thanks Rio, that felt good."

As if it never happened at all, Yang disentangled from him, taking a few steps back. She was wearing a very bright smile that looked dangerously infectious. yet despite that being the case, Rio could only feel drained.

"I-Is that so. Well if it made you happy then there isn't a problem." Rio replied somewhat strangely.

But he had to wonder why she had asked him to do such a thing.

Even if Yang was the type of person that preferred physical touch as a way of expressing intimacy, he would have thought her sister or the other girls would have been able to help better than he could.

Did she not care for the fact that he was a man?

…

…

…

After exchanging a rather awkward goodbye from Ruby, Weiss, and Blake, ones that felt as if he was silently being judged from invisible criteria, Rio took his leave, tracking down his new accommodations.

Pulling out his scroll, he confirmed the room number that Ozpin had sent him.

(204, is it?)

Eventually, after a short trek, he stopped at the aforementioned door, which was two hallways away from Team RWBY. At least they were relatively close, making his promise to meet up with them all the easier. With these pleasant thoughts in mind, he was about to enter and sleep away the tiresome day—

The door adjacent to his slammed open.

"I swear to oum, one of these days, I'm gonna kill that gray-haired bastard…!"

To Rio's surprise, out stormed a livid Emerald, huffing in an irritated manner. She seemed to have changed out of her uniform and was now wearing a rather provocative outfit that emphasized her bust and stomach.

Emerald didn't seem to notice him yet, as she chose to glare down the hallway to the right (Rio was on her left), no doubt cursing some invisible enemy— or rather the gray-haired bastard she was talking about.

(Um?)

Rio's smile strained as he took that to mean one thing.

"I-Is everything alright, Miss Emerald?"

At Rio's question, which he truly wondered if it even a good idea to speak up at all, the girl quite literally jumped in place, whipping her head around to look to her side, just now noticing the boy.

"R-Rio!?"

"Yes?"

"How long have you been there…!?"

Even though he was a bit wary, he chose to answer truthfully. "…Right when you were complaining about someone with gray hair. I apologize if I've done something to offend you. It wasn't my intention to cause you any irritation." Rio said with a bit of a solemn expression, even going as far as to dip his head.

"…Eh?"

Rio's words didn't seem to register in Emerald in the slightest, that is, until she looked up from his eyes, gazing at his hair color. If Rio actually knew the whole story, he would have found the subsequent color draining from her face exceedingly amusing.

"W-Wait, that's not it…! I wasn't talking about you, I swear…! Mercury, I was talking about Mercury…!" The girl floundered, waving her hands in the air in a nervous and (urgent?) manner. It looked like she really didn't want him to get the wrong idea.

Rio's lips slowly tugged upward at the earnest reaction, understanding. "I see. Then it was my mistake then. Sorry for assuming."

Hearing that must have calmed her down a bit, because her tense shoulders relaxed, looking as if visibly deflating.

"Y-You're cool. Don't worry about it."

Emerald then tossed him a few bashful glances, but upon suddenly realizing something, she quirked a brow up, instead choosing to gaze at him inquisitively.

"Wait, why are you here?"

Rio met the stare with a pointed gesture with his hand, that being the door beside him. "Well, this is my room."

Emerald blinked, looking from him to the door, then back to him, then to her own door, and then back to him. Her cheeks gained a red tint to them right before showing her surprise. "E-Eh? You live here? Right next door? S-Since when!?"

"Since just now. I believed it was brought up when we talked in the morning, but I had been staying with others since I arrived a few days ago. And it was only within the last few hours was I told my new living arrangements."

"And it's right next to me— I-I mean us?" She sounded strangely torn between two extremes, the fact that Rio was living next to her, and that he was next to her team.

Though Rio didn't understand the complexities behind that. He couldn't.

"Yes. Does that bother you?" Rio tilted his head with a slight frown.

"N-No." The girl hurriedly shook her head, looking at the floor for some reason. "It really doesn't. It's totally fine."

He chuckled. "Glad to hear it. Incidentally though Miss Emerald, I am quite tired, so I am going to turn in. I look forward to seeing you again."

"Y-Yeah. Same here."

They exchanged their goodbyes and headed back into their respective rooms.

However, Emerald did so with a pep in her step, completely unaware that her previous foul mood was nowhere to be seen. Her teammates— Mercury, Cinder, and a girl with black pigtails and mismatched eyes, had no idea what brought on the sudden smile on her face.

(If he's right next to us, then I have every excuse to talk to him, right? Yeah.)

Emerald rationalized it this way in her head, unaware of the sudden spike of her previously steady beating heart.

That being said.

A slight changed had occurred.

Cinder's plan, incongruous plots yet unseen, and subsequently even suspicions, weren't in Emerald's mind in the slightest when she had such thoughts. If anything — for perhaps the first time since she had been brought into this dastardly fold — she had a thought, no, a feeling, that was inherently her own.

It wasn't given on loan for the sake of necessity, nor was it a begrudging reward for loyalty. This feeling, one that was proof of Emerald's own heart, was infinitely more complex than the cheap substitute she had come to see as 'real'.

And for a reason yet to be discovered, the friendly face of the white-haired boy was the cause.

"…"

Siting on her bed, as her co-conspirators talked, Emerald unconsciously grabbed her pillow and wrapped her arms around it, staring off into space.

No one knew just how crucial this beckoning feeling would become in the coming days, not even Emerald herself.

And done.

That ending felt rather good, even if it wasn't as pronounced as the other parts.

Next chapter however, when I get to it, will finally jump into canon. This is my first crossover, so I'm not sure how well I'll be able to match pace with it, but I'll try my best. I will tell you though that I have absolutely no intention of having Rio just get swept along by plot, and by that I mean just inserting him as a mere "tag-a-long".

I really dislike stories that do that.

It's Rio, so he'd definitely be capable of "overturning fate", you could say. But no spoilers, sorry.

Next, even if it looked like it, I have no intention of "infecting" Nora and Pyrrha. Emerald on the other hand, she's fair game. Sorry Mercury, you just didn't make the cut. And Glynda, well… anything I say can be used against me in a court of law, so it's probably best to keep my mouth shut.

Also, I don't know if it was already apparent, but I don't have a firm grasp on how dust and aura work. So please forgive the inconsistencies when it comes to combat.

And as for Ozpin's idea? His way to get Rio into the tournament? I can't wait to show you what I have in store.

Please review, it gives me immense joy reading them.

Have a wonderful day—oh, and have you guys watched the Spirit Chronicles Drama CD's? They're amazingly hilarious.

—EPSILON