"Are both of you ready?" Referee inquired after he explained the rules to them.

"Yes." Jaune and his opponent nodded.

"Then touch them up and good luck to both of you," He said, and they did as were told. Thereafter, both of them retreating to their respective corners.

Tai welcomed his athlete with a smirk. "I'll tell you this just one more time; stick to your own boxing and rest is just smoke and mirrors. Simple as that.''

Jaune waited a quiet, calming moment and then closed his eyes and nodded.

"Right."

He replayed simply as that, and then felt how she grabbed his arm. Turning his blue to her, he was expecting some words from her, perhaps a silly or even a stupid joke, yet she said nothing. Just offered him a trusting smile he came to know better day by day.

As well as appreciate it more and more. And…

He smiled back, and did so with trust, which certainly matched hers.

'Ting!'

"And there's the bell," Tai said, Jaune ever so slightly nodded, and she let go of his arm.

"Off I go." He quietly uttered, and stepped forward with something resembling a confidence.

A step forward into the unknown, uncharted and new, a situation which to him still felt a tad bit surreal, if perfectly honest.

I guess it just can't be helped.

He figured, and noted his opponent looked awfully eager to stir things up already.

This can't be helped either, I guess.

He was quick to realize, though dodged incoming punches even quicker. Be it hooks or uppercuts. His opponent rained them upon him from all angles and then some, but he dodged nimbly, and with machine like precision.

Crap!

Unfortunately, he was so focused on dodging and evading attacks, he didn't even realize he backed himself into a corner. Not until he felt a corner post behind him.

"Jaune!"

He managed to hear her voice. An incoming hook a mere inch away from his face.

Maybe, maybe this whole thing was too sudden, after all.

…

4 July, Tuesday

A step forward.

…

"Umm…what?" Jaune wasn't sure he heard Tai right, very much like her.

"You're free of practice today," He said so again, tad bit amused by their reaction.

"Why, exactly?" She was first one to ask. A sinking feeling she wouldn't like his answer creeping inside her.

"Because I've scheduled his first amateur fight, and it's tomorrow 05:00 pm." He explained to the pair ever so idly, yet their faces changed to be a fine contrast to his. Jaune was utterly stunned from the looks of it, while Yang face palmed and pointed a scolding glare to her dad.

"What?"

"What, what? Maybe you should have informed him about this sooner?" She started, though realized such complain was rather stupid and pointless in and on itself. How could he have informed Jaune about this much sooner, when blonde started boxing just yesterday? "Or hell, much more important, make sure he even wanted a fight this soon?" She intoned with clear, unmistakable intent and firmly set her hands above her hips.

"He doesn't?" He inquired so innocently, it was almost funny. Almost.

She breathed out in disbelief. "And now you're asking…" She wanted to punch him, but simply turned to her friend.

"I…I don't know," He said unsurely, rubbing his hand against the backside of his neck. "Am I even ready, yet?" He asked what he most wondered about.

"Of course you are. Look, I'm not throwing you into a championship fight or anything even remotely close to that. Your opponent's an amateur himself, he's nothing to shake them panties about."

"But I just started boxing…" He reasoned.

"Not exactly, kid. You did it in combat school as well, right?"

"I mean, sure, but it was quite some time ago."

"Yet your body still remembers," Tai said as he pressed his fist to Jaune's chest. "Everything you've learned is still in there, within you. And it's good. Besides, I firmly believe an amateur fight would be a great experience for you, maybe even serve as an eye opener. See, it's fastest and best way to find out; just how much you want to be involved with sports like boxing." Tai explained, retreating his hand back. "Wouldn't you agree?" He asked, yet it almost seemed like he did to her as that's where his gaze pointed to.

She averted her eyes from him, took a deep breath and sighed, scratching her head.

"What do you say, Blondey? You think you're up for it, after all?"

He shrugged, helplessly. "The fight's already scheduled anyways, right?"

She took his hand into hers and squeezed it.

He of course, knew what she meant.

"I guess I'm alright with it. Like Tai said, my opponents an amateur too, right?"

"Precisely so."

"I wanna know his record then," She said or perhaps insisted.

"It's decent." He answered with criminally perfect demeanor, but the vagueness of his answer certainly made her suspicious.

"Dad. The record. What is it?"

"36 fights, 33 wins with 28 of them being early stoppages."

…She wanted to punch him again.

"That's…pretty good, right?" He turned to her, snippets of worry clearly audible in his voice.

"Sure it is," She said slowly, a fine fire ablaze in her squinted eyes. "Right?...Dad?"

He looked away. "Come on, lil'dragon. There's no need to glare at me like that," He said half-jokingly, but giving her a glance, he quickly realized he only added more fuel to her ire.

"Oh, I'm perfectly calm, alright-" She stopped, and looked to her left. To his hand resting atop of her shoulder.

"It's alright, Yang. I'm okay with this," He said, but she wasn't sure who he tried to convince more, himself or her.

"I mean…" He started, and turned to her dad. "You chose this opponent because you believed I could compete with him evenly, right?"

"Yes, but it wasn't exactly me who chose your opponent. His name's Gisei, by the way. You see, he's actually preparing for 'Vale rookie king tournament' and wants to rack up some fights before it. He's part of a fellow gym, and they were looking for any worthy opponents. Long story short; I convinced them that you're one such worthy opponent." Tai explained. "But otherwise-yes-I really do believe you can fight with him evenly, or rather, win, Jaune." His words ringed sincere, his honest look bolstering truthfulness evident in tone.

"Well…" Jaune started slowly, and then inhaled a steady, braver breath. "I'm in." He turned to her, and she couldn't resist a helpless smile.

"Oh, what the hell, let's roll with it," She said and they turned to her dad.

"Awesome. Then this would be it for today. Go home, rest and relax or just have some fun. No drinking however. Or smoking," Tai ordered, though did so lightheartedly.

Jaune simply nodded.

Tai set his jaw firmly and gave a stern look. "No, seriously. No drinking or smoking."

"I don't do either."

His grimace relaxed. "Then Yang could learn a thing or two from you."

She rolled her eyes dismissively. "I've tried a cigarette once in my life. And don't mix me up with the likes of uncle Crow. I only take a sip every now and then."

"A sip too much still."

She didn't say anything and pulled on Jaune's arm. "Come on, Blondey, let's go before he starts to berate us for not drinking our own piss," She said, but he refused to budge for now.

"Wait a sec," He said, making her stop.

"Before we go, I'd like to ask something," He said, and Tai simply gestured him to go ahead.

"I know that fighters who don't have their aura unlocked are divided in weight classes. What about those who have? Like me?"

"Fighters like you are divided by how large your pool of aura is. They are still called weight classes-a form of respect to the origins of boxing-but they don't represent your approximate weight. Rather, how much aura you have."

Blonde pondered just briefly. "Then, well, I probably am in heavier weight class."

"You're a heavy-weight, Jaune," Tai said simply.

He gave him a dubious look.

"I'm quite familiar with Ozpin. The rest was just a matter of asking about your aura. Besides, you think I'd arrange a fight for you without even knowing your weight class?"

Well, can't argue with that, can I? Jaune figured, and came to know it made sense. One other thing didn't, however. No matter how he looked at it.

"You said I should rest for today and try and relax, right?"

Tai simply nodded.

His body visibly tensed. "But should I, really? I mean, the fight's tomorrow, I have so little time before it. Shouldn't I try my damnest to prepare for it? At least watch a few clips of…"

"Gisei"

"Yea."

Tai shook his head. "Absolutely not. It's because you have so little of time you shouldn't try and make any rushed adjustments. Instead, you'll simply use the boxing you have right now, and go from there."

Jaune pondered about it, but still wasn't convinced. Hence, he turned to her.

"On that, I actually agree," She said, and again, he contemplated.

"…I…Okay. Since both of you say so, I guess you're right," He said, yet his body still showed otherwise.

Tai got hold of his shoulder and squeezed it. "Trust me, kid, we are. It may seem weird or even wrong, but rushed adjustments would only worsen your game, not improve it. A fact," He said, and gave Jaune a push. A seemingly empty, pointless gesture, yet blonde felt a whole lot of weight behind it. Not in the push itself, but rather, that powerful glint in Tai's eyes. The way he refused to look anywhere else but the dead center of his blue, or just how he pursed his lips for a shortest of second.

What sort of meaning there was behind this all, he didn't know, but sure as hell knew it wasn't to be taken lightly.

"Have trust in yourself and your abilities, Jaune. You do that, and you'll discover something you've never had before. I give you my word on that. " He said, his lips curved into a smirk, and Jaune didn't feel so unsure anymore. If at least for this one, exact moment.

"Right." He nodded, and exchanged a firm handshake with him. A moment later, he and Yang being on their way to exit the gym.

"You are his great nephew, after all," Tai quietly said, and turned back to his duties.

…

"Soooo, what now?" She inquired, stretching her arms up and over her head.

He pondered just briefly and then wanted to say something, but suddenly felt how something incredibly light and wet hit his temple. Looking up, he immediately noted; the sky looked depressingly gray, massive, heavy looking clouds looming just about everywhere.

"It's even worse than it was before we entered the gym."

She looked up as well.

"You're right, yea."

"I say; we head back to the dorm before it's too late. Then we can think of something while lazing about."

She observed the cloudy sky for a moment longer, then simply nodded.

"Then hop on the bike," She said, he gave her a knowing look and she turned away while whistling innocently.

He didn't say anything, but helplessly sighed.

Fine, at least this one time, she'd have a good reason to hurry.

…

Few minutes later. JNPR room.

Unfortunately, they reached the dorm a few moments too late.

"I want a hot shower," She said, ever so slightly shivering as both of them were in his room, soaking wet.

"Me too." He agreed wholeheartedly.

She looked to her right, he to his left and they both nodded.

15 or so minutes later.

They were in his room again, but dry, warm and refreshed and each wearing a new set of clothes.

"With sugar?" He asked childlike, taking the hot, much appreciated mug of coffee she handed to him.

"Of course, you sugar cube," She said with a grin.

He didn't say anything back, instead, took a careful, first sip of his drink. The hot, sugary liquid traveled down his system and he let out a satisfied exhale.

She did the same; they both smiled to each other and turned their looks to the window beside them.

"It really is coming down hard," She said.

"Yea," He replied so simply, turning his mug this way and that, and then chuckled humorlessly. "I hope this isn't a bad sign."

She gave him a curious look.

"A rain this terrible just day before my first match. I don't like that."

She heard him say, and inched herself just a bit closer to him. Not saying a word for a moment or two, her lilac observing the terrible weather outside.

"Rain, do you dislike it?" She asked, taking a sip.

"Well, I can say for sure I'm not fond of it." He answered. "And you?"

"I think I kinda like it, the rain," She said, their eyes coming together. "It's calming."

He snickered. "Then I guess; even you can't be about fun, adventures and thrill all the time."

"Yea," She said, her smile empty.

"Would you want to, though? If you could, that is?"

"Nah." She shook her head. "I don't dislike those quiet moments. You know, when you're outside the heat of a battle or training, but simply enjoying some peace and quiet. Or maybe just peace if it rains outside as noisily as it does right now," She explained, pressing her head to the rattling glass.

"…"

There was a moment of silence between them, quiet breathing just barely audible over the heavy pouring outside. He quickly realized he'd never seen her this calm and relaxed. Or more like…To him, she even looked distant, perhaps even lonely.

"Everything's okay?"

"Hmm? Me? Yea, of course. Why?"

"It's just you looked…I dunno, too quiet?" He said, and just briefly, she looked down to the distorted, feeble reflection visible in the surface of her coffee.

A moment later, she got hold of his hand holding the mug and stole a sip.

He didn't mind much, but did make a pout for some lousy comedic affect.

"You can try mine if you want." She offered, and he decided to play along for now.

His face soured quickly thereafter, drinking his own coffee to wash away the utterly bitter taste.

She chuckled. "I don't add any sugar to mine, Blondey."

"I could tell, yea," He said, taking another mouthful of his own drink.

She managed to steal another sip when he lowered his mug.

He gave her a half-hearted glare, and most certainly refused when she offered her coffee again.

"I wasn't too quiet, just calm and relaxed," She said, and it took him a moment to realize what she was talking about. When he did though, he looked at his own reflection. Only the one visible in rattling glass window.

"I told you, remember? I find rain calm and relaxing."

"Yea, you did," He said, his tone a note lower than it should be.

She figured, he didn't completely buy into that, though also, thankfully, didn't want to admit he didn't. Instead, he weakly smiled, his blue back to her lilac, and he wasn't aware of the guilt in her eyes.

"…"

A somewhat awkward pause between them, he quietly exhaled through nostrils. Then took a fine sip, and just briefly listened to the relentless pouring outside. Contemplating, remembering someone who most certainly didn't enjoy such weather.

"My mom doesn't like rain at all," He said.

She blinked, and chugged down a mouthful and then some.

"Your mom. What she's like?"

"She's…" He started, paused for a moment and suddenly remembered something.

She heard him chuckle, and wholly appreciated the previous topic was brushed aside. That, and just sight of him happy was so pleasant to her.

"'She's an endless summer brimming with life and energy. Her heat may be scorching at times, but don't you falter or fear. Take a step back into the shadows, find a shelter if you must, but appreciate she's there. You'll learn to see, even during her coldest of nights, she'll offer a gentle, pleasant breeze. And her scorching heat…It'll come to be a telltale sign of her undying love. One, which you'll treasure deep within.'…Or so at least my dad would say."

She burst into a brief laughter. "Your dad's a poet, writer or something?"

He grinned cheekily, but then started to rub his forehead, an air of shame about him. "He definitely believes he is, but mom's not too fond of him citing his texts."

She laughed even harder. "You know what? I think I just like your family as a whole. You all seem like an interesting bunch, I swear."

"Trust me, we are." He didn't nor even cared to deny. "But my dad's probably the most entertaining one. He's a bad-ass huntsman when away on the missions, but a lousy romanticist, and a silly dad when with his family."

She poked his side teasingly. "Is he the one from whom you learned your wonderful wooing tactics and pick-up lines?"

He looked away, somewhat embarrassed. "Some of them, yea," He admitted sheepishly, but soon after laughed it off.

"You know, I'd really like to meet him someday. Or just your family in general."

"We could arrange that, sure," He said, and took a sip.

She did the same.

"What about Tai, your dad? What's he like?"

"You've met him, you know? Shouldn't you know what he's like?" She asked back, but was well aware what he meant. "He's…taireless grinder and an absolute fighting machine. Used to struggle with house chores, and then somehow had to figure out how to raise children properly…In the end though, he managed one and the other. Still sucks at cooking though," She said jokingly, but truly meant that.

He didn't miss her lousy pun by any means, but did his best to ignore it, and instead tried to find just the right words.

"Sounds good to me." He settled with a simple answer.

"Suppose so. And hey, his shitty attempts at being a mother as well, inspired me to develop a motherly side myself," She said, and saw him nod approvingly.

"From how you care about Ruby, it's easy to tell you'll make a great mother one day." He complimented sincerely, softly, his lips a gentle smile.

She smiled back, of course.

Thanks. But I do have a shitty habit I picked up from him, though. Words lingered behind half-opened lips, but then she closed them.

"Thanks," She only said that.

"You're welcome."

"Anyways, he's not a bad parent I guess. I mean, he raised me and Ruby just fine, even if I did help him with sis. I just, well, wish he'd be better at taking care of himself, you know?"

"I think I get that, yea," He said, paused, and then remembered something. "Speaking of taking care of oneself, do you…do you still have those complications? At all, I mean."

She figured quite quickly what he was talking about.

"You mean, pain in my chest and such?"

"…Yea…"

"No." She shook her head. "As far as I can tell, they're gone for good."

He exhaled the breath he was holding in, relief washing over his face.

"I'm so glad."

She smiled appreciatively, and wanted to take another sip, but then noted her mug was close to empty. With a mischievous, tiny grin curved in her lips, she simply had some of his.

He didn't even care enough to sigh at this point.

"I hope this isn't something that Tai taught you to do."

"Nope. This is my own, dirty little skill. Besides, you know that you can have some of mine if you want, so it's all fair in the end."

"Haha, very clever." He started humorlessly, but then chuckled and turned his blue to his right, or rather, the window.

"You know, I think parents are quite amazing."

"How exactly?"

"They just…are. I mean, no matter how busy they are with their own careers; they still try their earnest to raise us as well. No matter how tiring and time consuming it can be. That's why, even though I was mostly raised by my older sister and grandpa, I do have quite a few fond memories with my mum and dad as well. Despite them being so busy back then, I mean, my dad still is, but you get the point."

"I do." She ever so slightly nodded. "And I guess you're right. Parents are quite amazing."

"Totally."

"Would you want to be one? A parent, I mean."

"Definitely." He smiled wishfully, and she knew his expression to be truthful.

"Me too."

"Really?" He inquired, though wasn't all that surprised she said so.

"For sure. Being a kick-ass, but also a loving mum is actually one of my biggest goals in life."

"And I want to be an awesome, silly grandpa."

She arched her brow curiously.

He chuckled. "I know, I'm skipping a step or two, but like I said, I was mostly raised by my older sister and grandpa. That's why, when someone asks me about my parents, I actually first think of my grandpa before my mum and dad."

"I see."

"Yep. That's how it is, though that totally doesn't mean I don't want to be an awesome dad, cause I totally do," He said, a tiny shimmer in his blue as he seemed quite passionate about the parenthood.

A side of his she wasn't aware of, but immediately fell in love with, now that she was.

"Then it seems we both want to be great parents."

"Yea," He said simply, and then felt how she snuggled into his chest.

"Then how about it, Jaune?" She asked so softly, a faintest of blush on her cheeks.

"…What?" He whispered shyly, and felt he was getting nervous…Or excited. Whichever the case, he raised his mug to his lips, and wanted to drink away some of the tension.

"Wanna make some babies with me?"

He choked on his coffee immediately thereafter.

"Hahahahhaha!" Meanwhile, she laughed heartily and payed no mind he quite possibly was suffocating. His body jerking about and coughing relentlessly. When his face started to turn pale, or blue, or something in between, she figured she'd give him some help, after all.

"You'll be okay," She said with unsettling lack of concern, patting and rubbing his back.

He didn't bother to replay-couldn't-perhaps, and continued to fight for his life a few, but aggravatingly slow, seconds. Thankfully, he managed to overcome his near death experience and even did so relatively unharmed in the end. Wiping his lips clean, he glared down to her while she clearly refused to look up.

"…"

He continued to burn holes in her head with his glare, but then sighed and finished the rest of his drink without any accidents.

"I swear, one of those days your teasing will be the death of me," He said, and heard her giggle, which didn't even surprise him at all. That's just how she is. He thought to himself, his lips a wry smile. "And also, you really do like to play with a man's heart you sexy looking devil."

She giggled louder, and only now perked her lilac up to meet his blue. "What? Why? What do you mean?" She asked with exaggerated innocence, but was genuinely curios how'd he answer.

"Forget about it," He refused to elaborate, and she couldn't help but to feel disappointed. Instead, he briefly casted his eyes elsewhere, and then back to hers. His lips a tiny grin, he leveled her head evenly, and placed his empty mug atop of it. Leaving it there.

"And that's your punishment."

"For what?"

"For attempted murder, perhaps?" He started with that, paused, and thought back to what she said earlier. "And also…well, because you haven't wished me good luck on my first, amateur fight yet," He said, his increased heartbeats gradually slowing. He wanted to say something else, but figured this would do for now.

"I was just saving it for the right moment you dork," She said, making him smile sheepishly. "But fine, if you so wish," She said, and wanted to take off the mug from atop of her head, but he stopped her hand midway through.

"That's your punishment, remember?"

She half-parted her lips, but then shrugged indifferently and got hold of his hand, giving it an encouraging squeeze.

"Good luck, Blondey," She said such simple words, and he was slightly surprised about it.

"…Do you believe I can win?"

"Do you?"

"I don't know, honestly." He admitted, squeezing her hand back.

"I do. I do believe you can win. I'm just not hundred percent sure about it," She said, her tone a note quieter than usual. "But I sure as hell know that I want you to win," She said with a grin, making him smile.

His smile faded quickly, but hope and softness embellishing his blue lingered just a bit longer.

"I do too. Would be awesome, you know? To have a good start and then…well, I dunno, go from there to somewhere."

What that somewhere was, he didn't know. Most likely a place uncharted, uncertain and alien to him, yet somehow, he felt a connection to it. Or rather…He simply felt connection to her. She was the one to introduce him to boxing, after all.

"Something on your mind?" He barely managed to hear her say.

"Not anymore," He said, and true to his words, his blue was present.

"Did you achieve some sort of solution, conclusion then?"

He gave her a questioning look.

"You looked uncertain a moment ago. Now you don't. I was just wondering."

"Well, I…yea, I guess you could say so." He answered with a smile she couldn't quite recognize nor read. "I figured out what sort of promise I'll have you make once I'll win tomorrows fight."

She had absolutely no idea what he was talking about, her face showing exactly that.

"Let's make a deal. If I'll win tomorrows fight, you have to promise me something."

She pondered just briefly. "And if you don't?"

"Obviously, I'll have to promise you something." He explained, and a moment later, she idly shrugged.

"Sure, I guess. What sort of promise I'll have to make, though?"

"…"

"Jaune?"

"I'm not telling you," He said, and turned his head elsewhere.

She gave him an incredulous look.

"Are you serious?"

"Absolutely."

She planted her hands right above her hips.

"And you honestly believe I'll agree to this?" She asked sardonically.

He turned his look back to her, his blue brimming with hope.

"Of course. Why wouldn't you?" He said quite confident, but she could see a snippet of doubt in his minuscule smile. It would sometimes fade, and then come back.

Oh, what the hell…"Fine." She gave in, and noted his lips curved into a oh-so satisfying grin. "You cheeky dork," She said slowly, wryly, but wasn't upset at all. It'd be impossible to be from how his expression was a fine cocktail of bright emotions. "Just don't forget; you first have to win to have deal in your favor." She reminded him, yet his toothy grin didn't budge at all. If anything, it grew a bit wider, immense confidence backing it up.

Or hope. She thought. Or both. She corrected herself, but then noted her gut feeling hinted at something else as well. Whatever…"Just what sort of trouble did I get myself into this time?" She wasn't sure, but wasn't worried at all either.

She did it for him, after all.

"You know, you're not so easy to deal with," She said, got hold of his neck and pulled him lower. Once he was close enough, she gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Anyways, here's a good luck charm to you, you dork."

His grin shrunk to a smile. A tender, joyous and beautiful one.

"Can I take a picture of you? You know, another charm for me. Plus, it'd be a funny picture, I bet."

She glared at him.

He shut himself up.

She sighed, and gave him permission.

A few taps later, he stared at her picture.

He chuckled. "I'll treasure it," He said, and was very pleased he had two good luck charms now.

She kissed his other cheek too. "This day's special bonus."

Jaune had to correct himself.

Now he had three…Or rather, he simply had her.