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Chapter 3: CFVY 'n' CRMM
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Team CFVY gathers in the amphitheater along with 60 other students. After Professor Mulberry's Weapon Crafting and Upkeep class, which was more of a review of what they had already learned in Combat School, they are finally attending Professor Goodwitch's Combat class. She is famous in her own right as the strongest known telekinetic Huntress in the Kingdom of Vale and as a long-time vice-principal of Beacon Academy, her time at the academy surpassing two headmaster changes. When Coco first heard of her, she wondered why Goodwitch never became the Headmistress in all her time at Beacon. Although Coco appreciates Ozpin's unorthodox ways, Professor Goodwitch is more the type of self-assured, no-nonsense authority that Coco wouldn't hesitate to follow. Case in point, her ability to command the room and have everyone listen attentively to every word.
"Attention, class," the professor calls. "This will be our first time truly meeting each other as professor and student. In order to get to know you and gauge your combat abilities a bit better, each student will have a 1-on-1 with me. Once your turn is finished, you may leave or stay and watch your fellow classmates. I'll go through teams alphabetically. Team AQUA and Team CFVY can get changed. I'll run through as many teams as possible, but know that you may not get your turn until the next class-unless you'd like to stay for lunch." Some murmurings among the crowd suggested that they would rather not. Professor Goodwitch doesn't seem amused. "I suggest you take notes on the strengths and weaknesses of each team, and your own, as you see fit. You may learn a thing or two. Opportunities to sit and observe won't come by often in my class going forward." As CFVY heads towards the locker rooms, Gooodwtich stops Coco and adds, "Miss Adel, your weapon and semblance will need an open space. Have your team wait in the fields behind the school."
"Of course. We'll get changed and be on standby at the field," Coco replies. Professor Goodwitch nods satisfactorily.
"Airing out the mascot? I bet it stinks down there." Velvet's ear twitches involuntarily as she picks up another slander too quiet for anyone else to hear. Only the snickers that followed can be heard clearly. Velvet sighs and tries to shake it off. Yatsuhashi glances at her worriedly before they split up into separate locker rooms.
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"I can't wait to finally see her in action in person," Coco says. She sounds giddy as she changes briskly out of her uniform and into her combat attire. She attaches a short, silver chain necklace over her neckline with practiced ease and snaps on a string of pearls criss-crossed over her sleeved forearm. Her black top compliments her light cocoa-coloured pants and high-heeled leather boots. It's a wonder to Velvet how she battles in that outfit. Coco hefts Gianduja over her shoulder and looks at Velvet. "Aren't you?"
"I guess?" Velvet fixes Anesidora to her hip and pats down her brown tracksuit and black track tights. She kicks her glove-like running shoes at the ground to drive her toes into place. For the Faunus, maneuverability was all that mattered on the battlefield. "I have no idea what to expect. I've never sparred with a telekinetic before."
"Me neither. It's a pretty rare semblance. I wonder if she can stop my bullets-well, I'm sure she can-but I wonder if there's a speed limit. What's the max speed she's able to stop telekinetically? I'll have to use my semblance from the start if I want to gain any ground."
"Coco… you're not going to try to blow up our professor on the first day, are you?" Velvet asks half-heartedly.
"She's gauging our capabilities, so she'll want us to go all out," Coco answers, looking happier than Velvet has seen her all day.
If she wasn't convinced by Coco's demonstration this morning, she sure is now-that girl doesn't just love a good performance, she's starved for battle. Velvet hugs her sides as they head out into the field, wondering how she is going to survive the next four years.
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Unfortunately for the team, it started drizzling outside as they caught up with Fox and Yatsuhashi. Fox waves to them in his blue puffer jacket and dark orange pants beside Yatsuhashi, who wears a light green and short-sleeved robe on top of navy pants. Looking at them gives Coco a headache. It didn't really bother her during initiation since her attention was fragmented by everything that was going on, but seeing them lined up like this makes it abundantly clear. If they don't get a makeover, the next four years will be tough. But, Coco tries to put it out of her mind. She will be relinquishing her leadership role soon anyways, then she won't be in any position to be dictating what they wear. Instead, she simply places a gloved finger to her temple gingerly and shakes her head twice. Yatsuhashi looks confused and Fox just keeps waving.
Are you waving back? Fox sent.
Yeah , Coco lies.
Professor Goodwitch is on her way , Yatsuhashi sent as he spots the professor a distance behind Coco and Velvet.
Already? Did she just wipe the floor with Team AQUA? Fox sent.
Let's hope we last a bit longer , Yatsuhashi sent. Velvet walks over to him and stands by his side, her shoulders relaxing visibly.
"Team CFVY," Professor Goodwitch says, announcing her presence. The four first-years straighten their backs. "Who would like to go first?"
Coco steps forward without hesitation and follows the professor deeper into the field.
"Miss Adel, how are you finding your team?"
"Good. They all seem like capable and independent people, who can think for themselves. To that end, I don't think we necessarily need an individual leader," Coco answers honestly. How they handled themselves during initiation was enough for Coco to determine that they weren't the type of people who drag their feet. Besides, in this day and age, do they really need one leader to bear all the burden and responsibility? As if Goodwitch read her mind, the professor remarks.
"The Headmaster is quite traditional, despite his young age, and I'm sure for good reason." Goodwitch clasps her hands behind her back and looks over her shoulder. "You may stay there, Miss Adel. I will take my position at the goal post. Your test will be to get either yourself or your weapon past the goal. You may use any method you wish."
Coco stops and watches the professor's back, feeling slightly perplexed. Clearly, Professor Goodwitch agrees with the Headmaster, but Coco can't figure out why. She's read about Ozpin, of course, being the youngest ever to become headmaster, but despite that success he doesn't seem to have done anything but stick to the status quo. It feels all wrong. He should be embracing new systems and not forcing his decision on a single person. Coco tightens her grip on Gianduja. It feels like imprisonment.
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The rest of Team CFVY jogged over to the bleachers to take shelter from the rain. Velvet sighs heavily as she sits down.
"Something the matter?" Yatsuhashi probes. Velvet shakes her head.
"It looks like it's starting." She points out instead. Yatsuhashi looks to the field and sees Professor Goodwitch standing by the goal post while Coco stood with Gianduja in its gatling form just outside the penalty area. "She's really going to blow up our professor on the first day…"
Why's that? Fox sent.
"She was talking about using her semblance right off the bat. And there isn't much distance between them. It's not going to end pretty…"
"I think the professor will be fine. Coco's more likely to get caught up in her own explosives," Yatsuhashi says. He recalls the way Coco didn't seem bothered when she put them in harm's way. It didn't sit well with him. "The demonstration this morning was too dangerous-"
"Excuse you ," a sheer voice shrills from behind them. The three of them turn around-Fox doing so just for the unison effect. He did notice a team had joined them on the bleachers, but didn't know who. He listens in to figure out if their Aura's are worth memorizing.
Velvet, on the other hand, recognizes them as the trio of girls from this morning. A little ways away from them is one guy busy patting the droplets off his outfit-he seems like he just got dragged along. Velvet pities him.
"Coco Adel would not do something that dumb," Girl A, as Velvet labeled her, says.
"I don't think you realize the incredible dexterity needed to control Hype ." Girl B chimes in.
"Yeah . Hype isn't just some willy-nilly firework show," Girl C, the one who made their presence known, says. "Didn't you see her this morning? If she didn't have such incredible control she probably could have blown up the west wing."
Velvet and Yatsuhashi glance at each other while Fox sent a quick, Yikes , into their chat.
"It just looks like she can turn her bullets into bombs to me," the boy comments, which triggers a whole new flurry of defenses.
"It is not that simple."
"But he's not wrong, you know?"
"M-maybe not, but he's making it sound so unrefined ."
Velvet had to roll her eyes at that. She doesn't think Coco cares about finesse with a weapon like that.
"He is wrong," Girl B counters. "It's not just turning bullets into bombs. She uses her Aura to enhance Dust!"
"So… she can turn other Dust-things into bombs."
"Yes!" Girl B says with no trace of self-awareness. "But what makes Coco so cool is that the explosive power is so destructive that she has to activate it only when it's in contact with a target-"
"So that it acts as a buffer," Girl A adds.
"-and the fact she can coordinate that at the speed those bullets are going?" The three girls looked at each other, clasped each other's hands and swoon. " So cool. "
One of Velvet's ears perks up slightly. This is new information. That would mean visual perception is paramount to using her semblance effectively. Curiosity gets the best of her and she asks,
"How do you guys know all of this?"
"Because we're her fans ." Girl C waves her hand as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Of course, we know. We read and watched every interview she had!"
"And we've been watching her practice since Pharos," Girl A claims proudly.
"We held so many meetings and this explanation was the only one that made sense based on all of our observations."
Interviews? Fox sent.
Yatsuhashi shrugs. We should probably ask Coco. It'd be helpful to know so we don't get caught in her line of fire.
Velvet gives the trio of girls a half-smile and turns to her team's chat. Yeah, I'd prefer not to become Swiss cheese. What they said is interesting though.
About how she can blow up the city ? Fox sent.
What? No. How'd you get that? Velvet swivels her head and sees Fox's snickering. He swivels his index finger around like a helicopter and goes on to explain almost deviously.
She can detonate Dust, right? Vehicles, stovetops, buildings-the cities are powered by Dust-
That's not going to happen, Yatsuhashi interjects. Clearly, she has limi-
A loud explosion brings all of their attention back to the field.
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Coco couldn't get a single bullet past the professor. She retracts her gatling gun defeatedly and tries her best to maintain her composure. The self-appointed star pupil has been exhausted of all her options but Professor Goodwitch didn't even seem to break a sweat. Coco must have looked horrible because the professor places a hand on her shoulder, forcing her to look up from the ground.
"An admirable attempt, Miss Adel. I appreciate the preparations you took. Your tactic to make a disadvantageous terrain work for you was impressive and noted. Call one of your team members over once you've made your way back."
Coco mentally shakes off her disappointment and puts on a practiced smile. She stretches out her hand first and, after a mysterious smile from Professor Goodwitch, they shake hands. "Thank you and yes, ma'am."
Although tired from exerting her Semblance, Coco picks up a jogging pace towards the bleachers where the rest of her team are. She still couldn't believe not a single bullet made it through Goodwitch's defenses. The first-year glances back at the disaster of a field that the professor is now "fixing"-the gaping pit Coco had blasted into the ground was slowly filling back up as chunks of the earth return to their original state. Using those chunks was her last diversion tactic. Coco thought she could overwhelm the professor's perceptual system by detonating rounds of bullets all around her to create a barrier of smoke and dirt. It did give her an opening to carry out an uppercut-although, now Coco can't tell if the professor had simply let her-which in turn should have given her yet another opening to blast a round right past Goodwitch and into the goal. Being in the smoke herself, Coco couldn't tell exactly what the professor did to deflect them but that didn't matter. All that matters is that her plan failed.
How was it? Fox sent her.
Coco replies, Try not to cry.
Ha ha ha , he sent. Fox gets up from beside Yatsuhashi and leaps down, tagging in as he passes Coco in the field.
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Yatsuhashi watches Coco slow down as she nears the foot of the bleachers. Immediately, her fans from Team CRMM-whose team name he learned from Max, the leader of the team-crowd her and offer her an umbrella. She takes the umbrella and exchanges some pleasantries.
"Thanks for coming by. How'd it go? A disaster. Professor Goodwitch is everything I expected and more. You guys better watch yourselves. Me? I need to get changed. This is a bit much even for me..." Her voice slowly dissolves into the sound of the rain pattering as she walks away towards the academy building. Candy, Rebecca and Maya trail behind her.
"She's not even going to watch?" Velvet mutters. Yatsuhashi nods with mutual feelings.
"Well, I'd better get going. They are still my teammates," Max says and waves goodbye to them. Yatsuhashi and Velvet return the gesture.
"Max seems like a chill guy. I feel bad for him," Velvet comments. "He has to lead those three girls who obviously would rather be led by Coco."
Yatsuhashi shakes his head, feeling a well of frustration bubbling up. This should be an opportunity for their leader to really observe their skills. He takes in a deep breath and exhales slowly.
"It's still the first day. There will be plenty of opportunities to get to know each other. Coco… seems to have other things to attend to." He reasons out loud, mostly trying to convince himself. This time, Velvet is the one who simply nods.
"Well… at least her fans are gone," Velvet says. "So, what's your plan against Professor Goodwitch?"
"To be honest, not much. I only have a melee weapon, so it doesn't seem useful against her telekinesis. I'll fight with my usual style and go from there."
"What about your Semblance? It sounds like it would be use-"
"No," Yatsuhashi replies shortly, cutting her off. "It's not much use in a fight."
"Oh, OK…"
Memory Wipe is the name of Yatsuhashi's Semblance. On the night of the welcoming ceremony when they introduced each other's Semblances, Velvet's first impression of it was that it was a rare ability much like her own and that it would be nice to bond over that. However, Yatsuhashi didn't seem so enthusiastic to talk about his Semblance.
"I'll go next. I'm going to head down to warm up."
"Good luck," Velvet calls out. She rests her chin on her palm, elbows propped on her thighs as she mentally prepares for her own test. Like she said, she has never fought a telekinetic before. Her Semblance, Photographic Memory , wouldn't be useful here since Professor Goodwitch relies entirely on her Semblance. Velvet would have to rely on what she has already stored in Anesidora, which isn't much as she hasn't had the time to take photos of new weapons other than her team members'. She wishes Coco could have at least stopped by and given them some tips. Isn't that what frontrunners do?
No dice , Fox sent. A few seconds later, he slumps down next to Velvet, pulling her out of her thoughts.
Good try , Velvet sent back. What was your test?
Making contact with her.
Any tips?
Nope, wouldn't want to spoil the fun for you , he sent and winks at her. Velvet makes a face at him then corrects herself.
Just so you know, I'm making a face at you.
What kind of face?
A flabbergasted face.
What's that?
A I-can't-believe-you'd-let-me-go-in-blind face! Velvet realizes what she said and covers her mouth.
Fox laughs out loud. Got you.
Velvet slaps his arm jokingly and stands up. I walked right into that one. Well, I'm gonna go warm up. Wish me luck.
Have fun , Fox sent instead and raises a thumb.
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A/N: This was a pretty conversation heavy chapter, but hopefully it was entertaining and informative enough. And yes, those fangirls were basically me trying to figure out how Hype actually works.
Next Chapter: Malice