"You'd be surprised by how much of my loyalty you can earn with lien," Jaune admitted. "It's not the lien itself, but the gesture of offering something you know that I'd like. Going out of your way to say, buy me a sandwich, and getting my order perfectly... That earns about like, a heck of a lot of my respect. And it'd cost no more than, what? Ten lien?"

Pyrrha held her mug with both of her hands. The warmth of it must've been comforting. He should've gotten a cup for himself. What was he thinking? Betraying his love of coffee for this poor excuse of a beverage. Water wasn't necessary, right?

"If I were to buy you a bag of chips, which cost a lien, how much of that loyalty would I earn?" she asked. "Are you saying your adoration is worth a mere lien?"

"Teasing me about the possibility of a good bag of chips right now won't get you anywhere, Pure." She raised her hands as a sign of surrender. "But yeah, my price is about a lien. Negotiations begin from there."

Jaune wondered how much Professor Port would appreciate a bag of chips. Not that he'd want to contribute to the professors presumably diminishing health. Managing to punch an Ursa through the air like that was still rather impressive though.

He had mixed feelings about the man. He did indeed manage to save plenty of people throughout his years. His achievements were well-earned, and he'd go as far to say he should be more recognized for his deeds. Yet he was a bit too self-centered. It was justified, and it didn't approach the levels of truly rotten people, but it was still lingering in his mind.

The professor was somewhere in the middle of his list.

"What are you fond of?" he inquired. "For future reference, of course."

Pyrrha placed her mug down and pondered on that. A few emotions appeared to danced in her eyes. He hadn't asked a serious question, had he? This was one of the rare times he didn't want to get a read on someone.

"I… I'm afraid I wouldn't know. I've never gone out of my way to explore my tastes whether it came to food, entertainment, or hobbies besides my training." She traced the rim of her cup with her finger. She appeared to be a bit… melancholy. "I'm sure you remember I've mentioned I was never well-versed when it came to interacting with others. I don't think I was ever the type of girl to go out and hang out on weekends and develop any meaningful relationships."

That was sort of sad, actually. And he wasn't mocking her. She certainly wasn't trying to earn pity points. Her tone was genuine, and she hadn't done anything to suggest she wasn't the kind, shy girl she clearly was.

"Well, I commend you for making a difference." Jaune gave a small smile to reassure her. "Now that you've got your super charming, totally intelligent friend, I can help you catch up on what you've missed."

Pyrrha coughed into her cup. She had to catch her breath for a second.

"I-I'd appreciate that, Jaune," she hacked. "I'm not too sure on how to proceed with that offer. I-"

"Just say 'yes'." Pyrrha looked like she had just witnessed a pig fall out of the sky. "It's not that hard."

She appeared to have shuddered a bit. Her expression kept switching between excitement and hope among the others he couldn't quite make out. She appeared to have some semblance of control when she collected herself with a deep breath.

"Jaune, forgive me, but like I said, I'm not used to this sort of scenario. I just want to be clear but, are you by any chance asking me out on a date?"

Jaune blanked. She was being serious, wasn't she?

"Let me get this straight; you, Pyrrha Nikos, a champion or whatever, with an endearing personality, and looks to make any onlooker melt, with thighs I've personally given a twelve out of ten, has never been on a date before?"

Pyrrha's cheeks flushed as she averted her gaze and slowly nodded. It was actually quite adorable.

"By the gods, there is something wrong with Remnant."

"I-I just wanted to be clear so that there's no misunderstandings."

Jaune didn't want to ponder on the intricate details. He didn't even want to tempt himself with the possibility of having something of that nature with Pyrrha. With anyone. There was nothing he'd deserved but the opportunity to do what he was born to do.

He recalled his time before Beacon. Nothing but heartbreak and fear during his earlier years. The pairs of warm, soothing hands as they caressed his cheeks, wiping away any tears. They were far better than warm blankets out of the dryer. However, blankets didn't abandon you.

My heart belongs to only Ashlynn.

He was still stuck.

"No, I wouldn't have the gall to ask you out just like that." Jaune did his best to hide his distress. "I can poke fun at the Schnee, but not even I would be brave enough to try to have someone like you as a girlfriend on the third day we've known each other. You could do far better than me, despite how incompetent plenty of people have been apparently."

"I see..." She played with her cup a bit more. She fiddled with it as if it were a pet, with how she gently stroked it. "That's a relief... I... treasure what we have Jaune, if I may be so bold. I look forward to what you have to offer."

Her cheeks flushed again. Jaune felt... joy when he could tell how sincere she was. Pyrrha really was a special case. She was powerful, used her skills wisely, didn't put herself above others, and was genuinely a good person.

If only we had met years ago...

"Sorry, do you mind if we head to the auditorium early?" Pyrrha requested.

Jaune was about to ask why considering she hadn't even finished her breakfast. Then he noticed the murmurs within the crowd of people around them. Some went on about how the Pyrrha Nikos was right there, just a few feet away from them. He could barely make out a few conversations about him; how he used dirty tricks during his spars yesterday. Then there were a few speculating their relationship.

"The Invincible Girl dating that cowardly blonde...?"

"Bet he's only in it for her bod."

"He doesn't deserve to be near her..."

He stood up, hopped over the table and grabbed Pyrrha's wrist. She let out a weak, high-pitched cry when he pulled her up. He felt the urge to stare at her longer, now that he had the chance to get a closer look at her lovely features. He suppressed it as he pulled her away from the table and towards the exit.


Professor Goodwitch stepped into the arena with her riding crop in hand. Her other was occupied with a scroll pad. She pushed her glasses against the bridge of her nose and held the pad against her abdomen. Jaune felt Pyrrha brush up against him, not that he didn't mind. The seats were packed with the other applicants. The previous night ended with their spars. Jaune won his two matches after Cardin since his two opponents forfeited. They were smart enough to remember the types of tactics he'd use against them. Or maybe they were just afraid of the sorts of things he'd do to them. Either worked.

He heard the not-so-subtle insults in his direction. They called his tactics dirty and unprofessional. It was the talk of the pretentious ones that believed themselves to be far superior to their peers. It made him want to bring them down to Remnant. They needed to understand the world wasn't some game with rules banning the use of 'dirty' tactics. Kids like them needed a glimpse of what was out there at the very least.

You keep painting me as some fool... Just you wait...

Pyrrha managed to win her matches flawlessly. He had a much better understanding as to why people were either so intimidated by or adored her. The way she practically flew with all that armor on; her acrobatics were on par with another girl he knew. Only she was more of a devil than an entity that should be worshipped.

She hadn't used her semblance throughout it, which made sense. Keeping one's semblance a secret was practically the same as keeping a hidden gun on you. An effective tool requires skill, and is amplified through the element of surprise. She must've trusted him to a certain degree to spare him a lot more of a painful landing the other day if she was willing to reveal it to him.

He had to wonder how she had heightened her reflexes to that level. It must've been a sheer amount of pain and endurance. Everything she had at her disposal... Stamina, strength, quick-thinking, the ability to adapt, the skill to use her tools perfectly, and without having to resort to her greatest weapon was nothing less of top tier when it came to huntsmen. He couldn't imagine the training regimen she had to follow along with the discipline. She'd definitely earned herself a lower place on his list.

Still, every opponent she faced used their semblance. The one girl that could grow to match the height of a bullhead, the other that could turn pain into power as she laughed maniacally, and the one boy that could apparently predict the future. It made her victories all the more impressive. And further drove his point home about how most people relied on their powers.

Yet the biggest fish in that pond was right before him.

Just be patient...

Goodwitch explained how their teams would be decided based on the examinations during their spars. Pyrrha visibly tensed at that. Must be hard for the poor girl to greet people if the experiences she's had in the past were any indication. They'd likely pair him with her anyway, considering how he was a mockery to all huntsmen, according to his peers. They need to understand the world wasn't about fighting clean. You have to use any means necessary to survive, and becoming full of yourself was foolish.

Sadly, the faces on the screen went against his wishes.

"Next," Goodwitch announced. "We have Pyrrha Nikos, Ruby Rose, Lie Ren, and Nora Valkyrie. From here on out, the four of you comprise of Team RRNN. You will be led by Ruby Rose."

Pyrrha looked as though someone had shot a puppy in front of her. She clearly wasn't happy that the two of them weren't on the same team. And she was with individuals he didn't recognize, so she probably didn't know them either. So who was he teamed up with then?

"And finally," she went on. "Jaune Arc, Blake Belladonna, Yang Xiao-Long, and Weiss Schnee. Together, the four of you will be known as Team ABYS. Led by, Jaune Arc."

"What!?" a familiar voice shrieked. A few rows ahead of them, Weiss stood up with, he assumed, an indignant look on her face. She looked around herself when she realized people were staring before she sat back down, hands in her face. He noticed how the place was crowded, but the ones next to her had a good amount of space between Weiss and themselves.

He was teamed up with the stalker, Blondie, and Ice Bitch? He clenched his fists together. Sure, not being on the same team as Pyrrha was a disappointment. But he could see her everyday if he wanted to. Pyrrha was a joy to have around. With this team though?

It thrilled him.

Two of the girls were people he had an interest in. The quiet one was a mystery, but he'd have plenty of time to learn about her over the next four years. If they knew each other for that long, that is. He already had a profile on Weiss and Yang. Out of all the applicants he's interacted with, he couldn't be happier with them ensnared.

"You'll have the rest of today to settle in to your new dorms and get to know your team for the next four years," Goodwitch explained. "Classes will begin tomorrow. And remember! We will not tolerate any issues on the first day!"

He was going to cause issues.


"You..." Weiss seethed. Jaune could hear her teeth grinding together. "Of all people in all of Beacon... Why you..."

She retained some of that anger. She reacted to their first conversation with violent intention. Beneath that mask of the Schnee heiress was a bratty, immature girl that couldn't handle a situation very well. He'd managed to bring out her true colors, but now she put them on full display without holding back. She predictably had this whole persona of some perfect princess, which he managed to shatter. Perhaps he didn't think this through; unlike Pyrrha, she had nothing but animosity towards him.

He arrived at their dorm right after she did. She was sitting on the bed, already marking her territory when he stepped in. The other two weren't here yet, which gave Weiss plenty of time to grill him.

"Good to see you too, Weiss." Jaune forced an easy smile as he placed his weapon on the desk. He tossed his bag aside, refusing to take his eyes off her. "How've you been?"

"So you're just a complete moron," she put together. Insults along with assumptions. Textbook example. "Don't act like nothing has happened between us when you're well-aware of your inappropriate attitude towards me yesterday morning."

"Weiss, you misunderstand. I was simply trying to understand why you had such interest in my friend. In fact, I support your sexuality, despite how I'm not used to being acquainted with someone with those tastes." He held his hands up. "Again, I have no issues with your tastes. I actually admire how you're quite open about it."

"I will end you..." she vowed. "How you've befriended Pyrrha is beyond me, but mark my word..."

"Are we interrupting a lover's quarrel?" a voice teased.

Behind him was Yang. Both of her arms were bandaged and she wasn't carrying anything. The girl next to her, Blake, held a bag that was likely Yang's along with her own. Blake rolled her eyes as she set aside the luggage. Yang took the opportunity to give a first impression. One he could tell was just a front, although more bearable than Weiss' image of a perfect princess.

"Good to meet you both, the name's Yang." She winced when she tried jabbing her thumb at herself. "The silent one is Blake, but believe me, she's got fangs. Rawr..." She rolled that last bit off her tongue as she suggestively glanced at Blake.

Blake sighed and rolled her eyes again. "It's nice to properly meet you, Weiss. We didn't have much time for conversation yesterday."

"You three are already acquainted?" he asked. He knew they were, but decided to keep his presence at the altercation the other day a secret. Blake's eyes narrowed for some reason.

"Indeed," Weiss answered. "Yang and her sister, Ruby, got caught up in a tight situation. Blake and I happened to be nearby when the two were surrounded by some Beowolves."

"You got reckless," he deduced. He turned his attention towards Yang.

"Heh, yeah." That wasn't something to agree on so casually. He already found a small tic though. She was clearly disturbed by the implications. If Weiss and Blake hadn't interfered...

"And what do you think about that?" he pushed.

Yang blinked. "Eh? Well, it was looking rather bleak. Thankfully, Blake-"

"Specifically when you were in trouble. Before you knew these two were there to save you and your sister. Did you figure out what went wrong? It's not like two girls considered for Beacon Academy of all places would find themselves in trouble with some Beowolves. I'm fairly sure that wasn't the first time you've handled a pack of Beowolves at that volume."

"I... uh..." Yang struggled for an answer. For a normal person, that'd be an issue. Jaune however, could understand she's nervous. This sort of response from a normally confident girl means she was affected. It left an impact on her. He just needs to measure how much she'd changed from the experience. Will she be reckless again? Will she mellow out? Basically, the question was...

Is she going to die sooner or later?

"How does it feel to almost get your sister killed?"

Yang's eyes widened. Her face grew pale and he noticed he arms trembled a bit.

"I think Yang needs some space," Blake cut in. Another benefit to this was to gauge how the others would react to him bombarding Yang. "It's not exactly something to be badgering her about, Jaune."

She's defensive and tense. Suggests she's either protective or she's used to acting that way. Meaning she's got her own secrets to hide. He scanned her. No visible scars or marks, rather slender build to support her stealth tactics... And a bow that twitches...

Good to know.

"Sorry, but I just wanted to see if she learned from her mistakes. Clearly, she didn't read the situation properly if she got herself and her sister in a near-death situation." Jaune shrugged his shoulders and yawned. "This is Beacon Academy. We can't afford those sort of mistakes here. Better if you grow or die now than later after we've all gotten attached to each other."

"I doubt we'd miss you, Arc." Weiss fired.

He felt a buzz in his pocket. He held it out for Weiss to get a look at it.

"And there she is. I need to take this, probably has to do with a separate matter. I'll be right back." He winked at Weiss. "I'll put in a good word for you."

She didn't dignify the last words he sent with a response. He brushed past Yang, who was fixated on her boots.

He couldn't help but smile when he shut the door, walked down the hall, and heard Yang's muffled crying as he kept walking away.


I am very excited to start getting into the bonds Jaune will share with the others. JOY!

As some of you may have noticed, I take down the notes I leave in every chapter. I personally feel they interrupt the flow of the story, so I keep them up until the next chapter is posted. And I'll try to get a new chapter every four days, but note how it may not always happen.

For those of you wondering...

Team ABYS - Team Abyss

Team RRNN - Team Ruin