I'm back, peoples! Sorry, I just haven't had the "spark" lately, but finally came up with something. Anyway, I think I know where this is going...

Ruby continued to stroke my back as Sierra said, "Well, I guess we could call today a successful day with Delta's 'W.'"

I glanced at her, lying on my stomach as she continued, "And aside from tomorrow's classes, I believe something of yours-," she turned to Hotel, "—has come in from Vale, so we're going to pick it up."

Hotel nodded as Yang said, "I can go with him if you have things to do on campus."

"Oh, thanks Yang," she replied, "as a matter of fact, there is something I need to do tomorrow. Lima."

The girl's ears perked as she glanced up from her knitting.

"I need you to help me with some things on campus," she said as the wolf-girl nodded, immediately turning back to her knitting. Sierra's glance suddenly fell on me and Ruby. Her face slowly, but surely, began to turn into a sinister smile as she said, "And you two…."

…I think I know where this is going….

"Just play nicely now, okay?"

I motioned to get up, only to feel Ruby pat my back. I sighed, relaxing as Sierra jumped off her bed and said, "ONWARD!"

"Wait a sec," I interjected, "aren't we doing these things tomorrow?"

Sierra looked at me, then fell back down onto her bed and said, "…point taken…."

"By the way, Sierra."

Sierra turned to face me.

"What are you doing that you took Lima instead of me?"

"Well," she began, "it's a small job. Someone lost something important to them, so I'm hoping that Lima's eyes can help me look for it."

"Hmm, I guess," I replied, stretching out after my morning run. Just then, Hotel began to stir, sitting up in bed and wiping his bangs out of his face.

Maybe he's in need of a haircut….

"Morning, Hotel," Sierra said to him. He let out a grunt, then stood up and headed for the bathroom. I turned around, seeing Lima already up and right back to her knitting.

Seriously, she's taken such a liking into it.

The girl's ears perked again as she looked up. Sierra walked over to her and put a hand on her shoulder, saying, "C'mon, Lima, let's go."

Lima blinked, nodding as she stood up, putting her project on the team desk. I followed them with my eyes as Sierra said, "This mission might take a while, so I'll see y'all whenever."

I nodded as Hotel finally came out of the bathroom. I turned to face him as he said, "I'll be spending the night in Vale as well, so don't expect me back tonight."

…Why does it seem like they planned this?

I sighed and replied, "Alright…see y'all tomorrow…I guess."

"And blah blah blah and blah blah blah…."

I stared into empty space through Prof. Port's stories, wondering how the others were doing. Yang was out with Hotel, so she wasn't present in class. Sierra and Lima were doing that small job, which honestly shouldn't take too long with Lima. Yet she said it was going to take a while. Wonder why.

*RRRRIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG*

I blinked, wiping the déjà vu out of my system as the class began filing out of the room. I stood up myself, turning to Ruby as she ran over to me.

"Del~ta!"

She practically tackled me as I swung her in the air. I seriously do wonder how she has so much energy despite sitting through one of Port's stories. She grinned sheepishly as I said, "I was just about to swing by the café; wanna come with?"

"Of course," she answered cheerfully. Before I knew it, it was me getting dragged to the café. I smiled hopelessly as Ruby pulled me along enthusiastically. My heart fluttered as I checked her out. She still had a small frame in the years I hadn't seen her. And despite it all, her body did manage to mature nicely.

I grinned to myself as she swung the doors to the café open. Quickly, she got us to the front of the line as people began filing in. We quickly grabbed our lunch, sitting down as Weiss and Blake made their way over to us. I smiled and said, "Hello, ladies."

"Good afternoon," Weiss replied.

"Hello," Blake said.

Kinda straight forward like Lima.

Ruby and I walked around the campus, mostly talking about our most recent missions, then onto equipment management, and finally onto yesterday's duels. And believe me, she basically tore me to shreds with equipment management. It was then that it occurred to me what she'd be doing in her pass time when she wasn't out on missions after graduation.

"Hey, Rubes."

"Hmm?"

"What're you going to be doing after graduation?"

"Huh? Shouldn't it be obvious? I'm going to be a huntress-."

"I meant," I interjected, "what're you going to be doing when you aren't out on missions. You know; second occupation?"

She cocked her head to the side as I clarified, "You can't just depend on mission money to get you through life, you know. Kinda like how your dad teaches, what're you going to be doing as your second job?"

She blinked in confusion, then raised her head in understanding. She smiled and looked away, saying, "Probably a mechanic."

I glanced at her as she said, "I really do like making things. Just look at Crescent Rose; I made it, so why not do something that I know how to do?"

Point taken.

I smiled as she continued, "But people are probably going to think I'm weird that I'm a mechanic when I'm a girl."

She stuck her tongue out, scratching the back of her head. I found myself captivated by the way she was playfully smiling at me. Her aura seemed to make her glow as I found myself holding her, catching her off-guard.

I don't wanna lose her…I don't wanna lose her…I don't wanna lose her….

"Ruby…."

I could feel her wrap her arms around me and ask, "What's up?"

"I…," I began, "I don't…wanna lose you."

I could feel her stiffen up, then hear her laugh. I pulled back with an eyebrow raised as she said, "Oh you…I'm not going anywhere, Delta."

With that, she smiled. Like a bee attracted to a flower, I felt my heart flutter as I grasped her cheek. Ruby opened her eyes as I blinked, lowering my face to hers. She closed her eyes as I did with mines, feeling my lips touch hers. I could feel her grip tighten on me as I pulled back and said, "I'm serious; I don't wanna lose you."

I could hear her sigh as she replied, "…I don't wanna lose you either…."

Her grip finally relaxed as she pulled herself away, taking my hands into hers. I blinked as she looked at me and said, "Umm…could we…go to…your room?"

I took a moment to process the information, suddenly growing hot. I turned away and replied, "S-sure."