First things first. I am so sorry for the delay. Like super duper sorry. Like if you want me to I can write you a personal apology if you want. I got swamped with a lot of different things all at once and it was crazy. But I'm back. And with a new chapter that took was a pain too write even without all the other hazards I was working around. But you're here for the story, not my excuses. Enjoy!

"I'm pleased to see that all of you have returned." Ironwood started. Class had just begun. All the students had completed their first test, with varying levels of skill, and so the five students waited for their next task.

"The rest of this week I will lead lectures on basics and such. Next week you will begin to employ those basics against each other using this console." He moved over to the board and began writing. "Today's lesson will be on the effectiveness of guerilla tactics..."

As Jaune left class he felt good. But not just any kind of good, it was that kind of good he felt after a really successful training session with Pyrrha. He smiled as he went to the rest of his classes, even the boring history course he often slept though. His sunny disposition was not lost on his friends when they meet up at lunch.

"Don't take this the wrong way but, Jaune, why are you smiling?" Ren asked. "Because normally after history class you look terrible."

"I'm just having a really good day today." Jaune explained. "Where's Blake?"

"Library," Weiss answered coldly. "Don't tell me you're going to start hitting on her too."

"NO!" Jaune blushed. "She's normally with us at lunch and so I was just wondering..."

"If she was sick or something." Pyrrha stepped in. "She has been looking a bit under the weather recently."

"That's what I was thinking too." Ruby chimed in. "I just didn't want to upset her."

"So you were waiting for the PURRfect moment?" Yang joked. Everyone groaned and lunch continued as normal.

And so did the rest of the week. Class, lunch, class, training, homework, repeat. Until friday that is. As Ironwood finished his lecture he assigned the homework for the weekend. It was another combat scenario just like they had been doing all week.

"I will warn you now that this assignment is difficult when compared to the previous scenarios. But I do have confidence that the lot of you can complete it. You may leave now or stay around for a few minutes until class is officially over."

Everybody but Jaune left quickly. He packed slowly lost in thought about what he was going to do this weekend. His train of thought was interrupted by Ironwood.

"Do you have a moment Jaune?" The general asked in a way that made it sound like more of a command.

"Of course sir." Jaune said as he finished putting the last of his things together. "What is it?"

"How do you feel about this class? Are you enjoying it? Do you feel like you are learning?"

Jaune was caught off guard for a moment. He never really thought about whether he enjoyed his classes or not. He knew he was learning, or at least retaining knowledge from class, but he never gave these types of things a second thought.

"I simply ask to make sure that you do not feel overwhelmed. I know that you are a first year and the rest of the class is made up of students who are third years or have prior training in this field. Some even have both. So are you feeling up to the challenge?"

"So far yes." Jaune replied, "I just hope I can keep up with my classmates next week."

Ironwood seemed to be satisfied with Jaune's answer and let him leave. The day continued normally with Jaune ending his day in Professor Goodwitch's class. Towards the end of class Glynda stopped had an announcement.

"As you are aware the Vytal festival is coming up soon. To make sure that you are all getting the training from class you need for the tournament you will all be required to spar with tournament rules at least once a week. You learned the basics of the rules last term but now you must hone your skills and learn to fight by these standards so that you may excel in the tournament and be a good representative of Beacon academy. Also starting monday the training arena will be open after classes for sparring matches. You are excused."

"Finally!" Jaune thought to himself after returning to his room and crashing on his bed. "This week has been almost too much to handle."

"You liked it, don't complain." His inner voice teased.

"Yeah but it was stressful. I'm looking forward to doing nothing for a few days."

"Except you can't. You have homework and training."

"I hate you sometimes you know that right?"

"Someone has to look out for you." The voice sounded more like Pyrrha again.

"There really isn't any impressing you is there?"

"Jaune!" Nora called, snapping her leader out of his trace. "I'm taking Pyrrha into town!"

"Okay." Jaune replied, he felt like taking a nap before dinner. Nora was suddenly very close to his face.

"You should come too..." She whispered.

"Uh, you're a bit close..."

"If you come I can invite Ren."

"If I say yes will you back up?"

"Ren, Pyrrha, get ready to go!" She said jumping up and facing the team. "Let's go shopping!"

"How is your explosives class with Nora?" He nodded ahead to the two girls. They had been walking around town for an hour or so with Nora leading the way, all the while talking Pyrrha's ear off.

"It seems more useful than I originally thought. As it turns out the curriculum covers more than just explosive rounds. How is your tactics class?" Ren replied.

"I'm not sure yet. Next week we start facing each other in simulations. I haven't had problems facing the computer when doing homework but real people are different."

"We're here!" Nora called out in a sing song voice. Grabbing Ren by the arm she dragged him away to the restaurant. Jaune and Pyrrha simply followed sharing a smile.

The teens enjoyed their meal. The food at Beacon was good but it was still school food. While the team ate, Jaune thought about his homework for the weekend. He had given it a glance or two between classes and was having trouble getting more than 5 minutes in before losing.

"Jaune is something on your mind?" Pyrrha asked.

"Oh, it's nothing. Just some homework for Ironwood's class." He said putting on a smile and rejoined the conversation.

"Do you have a primary strategy?"

"No. Or I don't think so. The goal is to capture a flag from the enemies base. I normally hold the line and try to gauge the strength of my opponent then form a plan to hit them where they are weak." Jaune explained to his team mates.

"Is there a way you can practice? Not against AI but against other people?" Ren asked.

"I think so." Jaune said pulling out the scroll. "Yeah. Good call Ren."

"May I try?" Asked Pyrrha asked.

"Uh sure." Jaune handed the scroll over to Pyrrha. The table was quiet as Pyrrha was quickly pulled into full concentration. No one spoke. The restaurant also seemed to go quiet. Pyrrha's face was an open book. Jaune could tell when she was losing, when she was winning, if she got trapped, or if she was just planning her next move. She glanced up for a moment and their eyes met. Jaune suddenly became aware that he was in fact staring at Pyrrha. He blushed and looked away.

"Well I can see why this is an advanced course. That was challenging." She handed the scroll back to Jaune. "Being able to lead forces on a large scale is a valuable skill. It's pretty impressive that you picked it up this quickly."

Sunday night came too quickly. Jaune had just returned from training with Pyrrha and was ready for bed. Sadly, he could not crawl into bed just yet. He needed more practice. Not in combat but in leading forces. While he was able to complete the tactics homework he was still nervous about the upcoming week.

"What if I get absolutely destroyed?" He thought to himself for the umteenth time.

"You won't" The voice replied.

"How do you know? It's not like I can retry human opponents until I know when to strike and when to hold. I get one, maybe two, chances."

"Okay fine, You get destroyed and lose terribly. So what?"

"I will get kicked out of class."

"No. Ironwood didn't say that. He said if you disappoint him he will kick you out. Not if you lose. Everyone loses at some point. He would be disappointed if you didn't even try."

Jaune decided to lay down in bed before continuing to argue with himself.

"That makes sense. But what about my other problem?"

"Sparring? You practice with Pyrrha Nikos every night. Not everyone here is as good as she is."

"Fine. I'm wrong. I'm totally going to outsmart third years and then kick ass and everyone is going to love me. Yay."

"You never know."

"Just spar someone you know you can beat." The voice continued.

"Pfft, like who?"

"Cardin Winchester."

"What?!"

That's it for chapter 3. I'm hoping to have the next one up within two weeks. Oh god did I set a deadline for myself...