Disclaimer: I do not own RWBY or Growing up with My Cute Neighbor by lake_samurai.

Parody: Growing up with My Cute Neighbor by lake_samurai.

[Age 10]

Beep! Beep! Beep!

A bump in the bed grumbled.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

It grumbled some more.

Beep! Beep! Bee-

Finally, a hand shot up from under the blankets and pressed the snooze button. It got up as the blankets fell off and revealed a figure. He had a small frame – suggesting it to be short or young – and wore lotus patterned pajamas. He had black hair with a pink streak to it.

He opened his protesting bleary eyes, annoyed at the sound of the alarm. He always hated school days. He used to love it though, but ever since they removed nap time – he still felt the betrayal in his heart – it was never the same.

Just as he got up, he looked at the window at the side of his room. That's right, not only was it a school day, it was a school day at the school he transferred in. His dad, Li Ren just got a promotion from a job and they had to move seeing as he's not old enough to be responsible for himself.

Looking at the window, he got curious. Was there someone who lived there? He opened the curtains and windows and looked. Huh, the window was also open, and there was clearly a room there belonging to someone, but where are they?

He looked at the room. From his perspective, he couldn't see much. But what he COULD see is a clock, a calendar below the clock, and on its left, a desk with a can filled with pens and a bag pack leaning on it. Above the desk was a shelf with a sloth plushie.

Seeing the bag, he inferred that the owner of the room was at the same grade as he, or at least in the same age range.

Suddenly, he heard rustling coming from the room. But he could not see anything clearly, and he leaned out the window to get better clearance. He saw some movement and got closer and close—

"Boo!"

Ren screamed and moved back so quick he could swear he felt whiplash. He then heard laughter at looked back at the window.

"Haha! I scared you, didn't I? I heard that a boy my age was moving next to me, so I thought I should give him a surprise." She laughed and then pointed at me.

"My name is Nora, Nora Valkyrie! From here on out; we're neighbors! And since we're neighbors, don't go peeking on this cute girl, understood?" She smiled at me but Ren could tell there was an underlying threat.

He nodded.

"Good!" Nora chirped. "Let's get to know each other better! Me? I like sloths, because sloths are…"

[Age 13]

Finally. Ren sighed in satisfaction. Classes are over, he's done all his homework, and it's also Friday, which means no school tomorrow and he can relax all day!

Ren has always loved sleeping. For as long as he could remember he always looked forward to sleeping. He doesn't know why though. All he knows is that means he's comfortable and can relax with no worries whatsoever.

Just as he was about to close his eyes though, he heard a knock. He sat up and looked to the curtains – it was a knock from the window.

He slid the window open and looked to see Nora. However, it's not the Nora he knows. She's pale and jittery – something Nora is NOT. She keeps looking to the side and when she finally meets his eyes…

"U-umm…" She stammered. Ren never heard her stammer before. Not when they introduced each other on the first day of classes, not when they first met, and not even from doing reports.

"I know it's late—but I wonder if we can talk…" She said nervously. While Ren would usually agree with Nora's antics, sleep time is sleep time. It's late at night, the wind is howling, and his blanket is becoming more tantalizing with the passing of time. So, he tried to refuse.

"Wait, you're heading to bed? Don't say that, just talk with me for a bit, okay?"

And failed. Ugh. Maybe it's the difference in behavior, but Nora's vulnerable side is pulling his heartstrings, and for the life of him, he could not understand why. What happened to her? Did something go wrong? He recalled his memories of today and found nothing of the sort.

However, he did hear the girl say that she was gonna watch a horror movie after being mocked that she was scared. Maybe that was the problem?

"Um… That's right. I just watched a horror show… yeah…"

Ren couldn't help it.

"Don't laugh! I'll head to bed right after we chat a bit! Please!" Nora pouted and begged with eyes upturned.

He could refuse—

Who was he kidding? Of course not.

…

Well, he didn't expect it to reach this far. It's two-thirty A.M. and he is dead tired. Who knew, huh? Anyway, just as he was about to bid Nora goodnight at finally, FINALLY sleep, she cried out.

"NO! Wait! Don't stop talking, it's not even three yet! Please? You're sleepy? Then, keep the window open! It's freezing? Just keep it open, stop being such a selfish neighbor, jeez!" the ginger begged.

He sighed. The things he does for…

For what, exactly?

[Age 15]

"It's going to be tomorrow soon, yknow? Today is going to be over" Nora stated.

Ren nodded. That was true, it's almost midnight, but why was she asking this?

"Aren't you forgetting something?" She sulked.

Ren shook his head. As far as he could remember – and he could remember a lot – nothing particularly interesting happened today. And besides, it's late, can't she ask, whatever this is, tomorrow?

"I'm sleepy too, but… are you sure you want to go to sleep?"

Uhh… sleep is literally the only thing he looks forward to whenever he wakes up.

Nora looked sad. "…Do you really not remember? Say something… anything…"

Okay. Maybe it's time to actually stop teasing her, she looks like she's gonna cry. Ren reached for his desk and brought out a red rectangular box. He then reached over the window to give it to Nora's hands.

For a moment, Nora was silent, gaping at the present.

Then she hugged it.

"Gosh, it's at the last minute," Nora giggled.

Ren nodded weakly.

"What? You were worried because it's cheap?" Nora laughed even more. "It's fine… I'm definitely, super happy, you know?"

O-Oh, so there was nothing to worry about. He was scared that she wouldn't like it.

After all, it's been five years since they met…

[Age 16]

Ren woke up early.

That usually meant one of two things; something is going to happen whether good or bad. Or, he gets to go back to sleep until the alarm came on.

Unfortunately, he needs to study for the upcoming tests today, and so, with a heavy heart, he bid farewell to his bed.

As he finished eating breakfast, showering, and getting dressed up, he moved on to the next part of his schedule; waking up Nora.

As he opened the curtains and windows, he failed to realize three things.

One, Nora forces herself to wake up early whenever test are up so she could try and study.

Two, since she's forcing herself, she's not very aware of the things around her. Including Ren.

Three, Nora has very cute underwear.

"Hya!" She yelped, and only then did Ren notice that he was gaping and staring. She immediately closed the curtains.

As Ren was left alone with silence to accompany him, he mulled over some things. Ever since puberty started happening to him, he'd been getting some… fantasies, let's say. Fantasies about an orange-haired hyperactive girl.

And now, seeing her in that. Just solidified his feelings even further. Yep, he's going to find a way to confess and claim that woman for his own. Ren swears.

"…Did you see?" Ren turned to the voice and saw Nora, glaring at him with tomato-colored cheeks. Face hot that it was almost steaming.

Fearing for his own safety, he nodded.

"I see, but just a bit, you say? Uh-huh… So you saw just a little bit, right?"

He nodded some more. Fear of this woman finding out overwhelmed his ability to lie.

"Then, take responsibility!" She shouted as she banged on the window sill.

Huh? Ren blinked. Does she mean-?

"Just take it!"

And so he said he'll take responsibility, whatever that meant.

[Age 17]

POP!

"Merry Christmas! Yay~~!" Nora pulled the party popper with a huge grin on her face. She was wearing a Christmas-themed outfit and with him, the reindeer antlers.

"Got any cake, Renny? Got any juice?"

While Nora loved pancakes to a fanatical degree, sometimes she craved food for the occasion or event. Which is why she asked (demanded) for cakes instead of the regular pancakes.

"I'm sooo proud of you! Last year's cake didn't turn out so well, but this one is soo delicious, right?!" She squealed.

She then paused and took a look at her long-time childhood friend. "Hm? Why so serious? The cake will taste stiff—"

She looked at the letter attached to the plate he gave her.

Will you go out with me?

"Eh?" she blushed.

"My—my ahh… my reply?" She looked down and fiddled with her hands.

"Um…uhh… I may be much, but please treat me well. I'll be your girlfriend! Treat me well! Ah! I already said that…"

And so, Ren got himself a girlfriend.

[Age 18]

Ren can't believe it! He's doing one of the things he's despised most in the world!

Staying up late at night instead of sleeping, the horror…

Stupid school, messing up his schedule and health…

As he was thinking this, he heard a knock on his side. It was the window, that must mean… He slid the window open and out came Nora, with a sweater – his sweater – and holding two mugs of a hot drink. She passed over one to him.

"I can't believe you're actually doing it, Renny! Staying up late at night?! But it's for your studies, right? Here, I've brought you cocoa," Nora smiled as she handed over one of the cups with a sloth logo printed on it.

She smirked. "Aren't you glad? It's made by your girlfriend after all!" But as she looked at him, she blushed hard.

"Se-s-seriously… Why do you look so happy over a cup of cocoa? It's just a stupid drink…" she stuttered, cheeks red.

Huh, he never realized that he was smiling so much, he took a peek at his mirror and saw his face.

It was… happy and content.

I have got to marry this woman.

[Age 20]

"I know it's a bit too late to say this, but…" Nora stared at her boyfriend.

"Isn't it weird that we keep having these window meetings?" If Ren was drinking something right now he would've spat it out. Nora, questioning that something is weird? Who is this girl?

"Hey! Don't look at me like that! I'm perfectly okay!" She pouted and crossed her arms.

"But like—we're going out now, right?" Nora questioned.

Ren nodded. Yes, they were. He doesn't see any reason why she would want to point that out. Even before it was official they were practically dating at that point.

"As lovers, we no longer have to do these window meetings right? We're no longer kids! It's like nothing has changed since we started dating!" Nora cried out.

Ren nodded, still confused. Did she expect something very different to happen once they went out with each other?

"Not much has changed, you know? Apart from that sloth plushie," Ah, yes. The sloth plushie has a new friend, another sloth plushie, but this time, it was orange. Now Nora has orange and green sloth plushies.

Huh.

"Anyway, we should… do what lovers do, right?"

Like what?

"Well… going on dates and stuff, doing this and that in general… and then…" Nora suddenly gulped and blushed.

She threw an embarrassed look at Ren's face. "And that too, right?"

Once again, Ren nodded his head. But, what did she mean by that? What could it possibly mea—

Oh—OHH…

For the rest of the day, neither of them could look at each other without turning their steaming heads away.

[Age 23]

"Ah, good work~" Nora huffed as she picked up a box. "It looks like you're done yourself, huh?"

"Ahh-me? Well, this is what I've done today!" The hyperactive girl showed off her room, or what's left of it.

Every piece of furniture was gone apart from the shelf. The plushies, no longer there, and even the clock. Ren could still see the markings and leftover dust frame from where the desk was placed.

Yep, you guessed it. Nora's moving out.

"Ahaha… Yeah, well… My house is getting old. Can't be helped, really." Nora laughed.

"I'll miss this place…" she smiled melancholically. "All the memories, so many memories we've made here."

"But… we won't get anymore meetings like this, huh…" She looked away. "It'll be really lonely…"

It was at this point that Ren knew he had to say something…

"Uhm…"

[Age 24]

Ren woke up and looked at the window.

But nothing was there.

He got ready for the day and looked again.

Yet nothing was there.

After work, he got ready for bed and looked again.

Still…

…nothing was there.

Ren stared.

And stared and stared until—

"Phew, I'm finally here—what the?" A voice exclaimed.

"Ugh… my house is completely gone, I can't even see it!" Nora walked to the window, trying to get a better look.

"Oh, why didn't I greet you?" Nora looked embarrassed and scratched the back of her head. "Well, I was so busy moving. I didn't really get to greet you properly."

"Well, let's start over, okay?" She cleared her throat.

"I may be much, but please take care of me."

A/N: A little Valentine's day chapter to cope that I'm alone this year.

Again.

Dammit.

And sorry for the short chapter, I guess? Trying to brush up my nonexistent writing skills so I get to write more uninteresting one-shots. Let's goooo