Chapter Six

Lune had to admit, the assembly area being located outdoors might actually be a good decision on Signal Academy's part as most events these days tended to be held within the confines of a building. Graduations, assemblies, shows… you name it.

Sure, there was no air conditioning to stave off the heat, but then the breeze that blew against her was cool enough to be a good alternative; Patch wasn't a location with a hot climate to begin with. The domed roof from high above ensured that the sun wasn't going to be harassing anyone with its ultraviolet rays, and the surrounding greenery consisting of trees, grass, flowerbeds, and awesomely-shaped shrubberies (like, whoa, who was their gardener?) made for a pretty pleasant sight. They blended well with the white-gray-colored flooring and buildings.

In fact, she could almost say that being outdoors meant the atmosphere was leaning way more on relaxing rather than tense or foreboding. Kind of like a hospital room having a potted plant to make its patient feel more at ease—because that was exactly how everyone seemed to feel like. At ease.

Oh, of course there would still be a hint of excitement hanging over them. Of course nothing was more tense than waiting to see what will happen today, to gaze at an abyss and wonder what would be staring back (and all that jazz). But most people were just being chill anyway, chatting with either their old friends or new ones as they waited for the headmaster to come into the stage with the faculty in tow. There was still the occasional person who kept shifting from where they stood at or sat on, like Yang beside her, but seriously, Lune didn't find things to be as claustrophobic as being stuck inside some building with only the lights high above making sure nothing was in inky darkness.

"This is it," Yang said, whirling towards Lune. "I think I see some people finally coming. Your dad and my dad are some of them, and... Uncle Qrow's not there, obviously. He's watching Ruby today."

Lune definitely couldn't see the same thing, not when she was a head shorter than Yang. And apparently, most ten-year-olds here were taller than her. She could stand on her tiptoes and still fail to see what she hoped to find. "Is the headmaster there, too?"

Yang looked at the spot beside the platform again, her lilac eyes alert and on the lookout, and Lune noticed the pigtailed blonde's mouth make a small 'o' shape as she found what she was looking for.

"Actually," she then said slowly, turning back to her. "It's more like headmistress."

Lune decided that she definitely wanted to stand in a better spot, and before Yang could let out a sound of surprise, she moved and maneuvered her way to the front of the crowd. She might admit that, in the process, there were a few excuse me's and gentle nudges involved. And recently, a dirty look, which she returned with a stuck-out tongue.

She was sure that Yang had followed her, but right now she was too busy gazing at the platform to confirm her friend's presence.

"Whoa." Lune said after she emerged into the front of the crowd, now realizing why Yang looked so surprised.

Whoa, indeed.

The woman that stepped into the platform had the appearance of someone she wouldn't expect to be leading Signal Academy. And it wasn't just because of the fact that she resembled a rock star way more than a headmistress, thanks to the red, fur-lined coat, orange tube top, and black skirt she wore proudly and without shame (though, the boots were to die for).

Not because of the fact that she looked like someone in her mid twenties, either, with her maroon, spiky ponytail making her look so much younger.

(However, that guitar on her back was pretty badass, considering how it appeared to be her a weapon, too. Probably something like an axe after it was activated.)

No, it was because of the way she swaggered, the way she gazed over the Signal newbies with fiery eyes that alternated between interest and disinterest. The way she smirked at whatever conclusion she'd made afterward. She kind of… went against whatever stereotypes Lune knew when it came to school heads.

The woman fiddled with her headpiece, activated her microphone, and opened her mouth to speak.

"So." She began, and everyone's eyes were wide and attentive as they anticipated what was most likely a welcome speech. Silence. "Here stands before me the next generation of aspiring Huntsmen. People who might have what it takes to push back the Grimm once and for all, and people who will kick their asses to the next millennium and make sure they stay there. Heroes, fighters, defenders or what have you… they're what you all strive to become. I can see it in your eyes."

She paused and let the silence reign.

But several seconds later, she scoffed, ruining whatever atmosphere her presence had built up. "Sorry to say this, kids, but honestly? Y'all don't look like much. You have some of the others to thank for balancing things out, but for the most part, I'd have thought you kids are a bunch of spoiled brats who think wielding one shiny weapon is all you need to do to become Huntsmen."

Ouch. Some of the kids visibly winced, and some went slack-jawed. Some actually made a squawk of protest.

"Wow, she really knows how to get things all fired up," Yang commented as more affronted sounds and surprised chatters then escaped from some in the crowd. The blonde wasn't sporting a happy expression herself.

"Considering how fiery her clothes already look, I'm not surprised," Lune said.

She wasn't the least offended. Mostly because she was pretty sure this had all the makings of a the-reason-you-suck speech before it transitioned into a more acceptable one.

In fact, someone better answer the phone, because she definitely called it.

Shaking her head at the crowd, the headmistress gave her microphone stand one hard slam on the platform, making a sound loud and harsh enough to make everyone shut up at once and listen to her, for the love of God. While most of the students simply went still and stared at the platform with wide eyes, some faunus—because, yes, yahoo, she wasn't the only one this time—like Lune ended up clutching their sensitive animal ears, the appendages ringing from the sound.

The headmistress didn't even look apologetic as she cleared her throat and began her real speech.

"Sheesh, I wasn't even done talking. Now where was I—right, now I remember. I meant what I said earlier, but that doesn't mean Signal Academy's about to send you all home just because I, Idrisa Blackthorn, decided none of you appear to have what it takes to survive seven years of training. Hell no. Remember why Signal Academy exists, people, so training you inexperienced brats is exactly what my team and I are going to be doing from this day onward.

"So, with that said, welcome to Signal Academy. You'll find out soon enough that we mean serious business when we say one of our primary goals is to polish you kids into the into the shiny gems Beacon, Haven, Atlas, or Shade Academy will be glad to accept in the future. Hell, I would even say that you'll need our training.

"As you know, each Huntsman academy has their way of initiating you into their ranks. It varies from kingdom to kingdom, and if you do not end up prepared for it… I'll put this as bluntly as I can: you can die in the process. I'm not saying this so you can turn tail, run, and live the oh-so-dreary civilian life in one of the four kingdoms. I'm saying this because each and every one of you need to be aware that, what you're going to be doing? It will not be a game.

"You will learn. You will grow. And most importantly, you will change. If none of that happens, I'll eat one of my boots—and I'll even let you watch."

Idrisa smirked and winked at the stunned students. "So there. That's all I wanted to say. I can only do so much speechifying in one day. But as a last note, we'll be having an hour-long break. Please, feel free to familiarize yourself with Signal's facilities for the meantime. Or don't. Your free time is yours to spend. Just remember to return here once the time's up, and then we'll go through all the necessary hurdles that's usually associated with first days in a new school. Or something like that."

And just like that, whatever impressions everyone had of the headmistress was put aside as excited chatter about the test started anew, the crowd dispersing and taking whatever direction they wanted to take. Some started walking down the white road consisting of stone tiles, and some went on to sit against the trunk of a nearby tree, taking a breather and just… enjoying being here in Signal.

Lune, on the other hand, glanced back at the area where the remaining Signal faculty still stood. She caught her dad's eye and received a wink before the fox Faunus turned away to follow the other members of the faculty. She spotted Yang in her peripheral, sending her own dad a cheery wave before turning her head to Lune.

Plus side: Yang didn't appear to feel insulted anymore and looked just as excited as the others.

"So!" Yang said in an upbeat tone, turning to her and crossing her arms over her brown, sleeveless shirt. "Thoughts?"

"Our headmistress is one heckuva character?" Lune said, her answer being the first that came to mind. Yang's unimpressed reaction made Lune try again. "Okay, okay, so it's more like… Okay. We have one hour to tour Signal, and I can't spend half of it sleeping under some tree. Shame, because this weather right here is the ideal napping weather." She yawned. "I get it. You'll kick my ass otherwise. Also, I'm pretty sure all we're having today is an orientation. We'll probably be getting our class schedules arranged, too, and I'm pretty sure we also have our own living arrangements to be established here. Not everyone's from Vale, after all."

That had the blonde nodding approvingly. "Much better. Anyway, have you gotten your aura activated, too? You never wanted to talk about it whenever I put that question up in the air."

"I don't see what we'll need it for—"

"It doesn't look like we'll need it just yet, considering that some still don't have theirs switched on, but come on, it's, like, our first day in Signal. You can't avoid the aura topic forever." Yang said, not having heard Lune. "So, your answer?"

Crap.

CRAP.

"Well…" Nervousness suddenly bit at Lune and her mind began frantically shifting from one thought to another. She'd done her level best to block the memory and pretend it never happened, but with Yang here practically opening the floodgates… ugh. She didn't know what to think.

Calm down, she inwardly told herself. No pressure. You're known for maintaining composure, Lune, not for flipping the freak out the moment things don't go your way… whenever Aqua's not around, anyway. God, I think I miss the jerk already.

In any case, Yang was telling the truth when she mentioned Lune was doing her level best to avoid that particular conversation topic.

It wasn't because there was something that embarrassing about her aura, as it was the manifestation of her soul and she couldn't control what it would be like when activated. But… God, whenever she had to think about her aura, the words kept dying in her mouth and all she could do was stare at Yang, laugh, and pretend not to have heard what she'd asked, shifting the topic. This time, though, Yang wasn't letting Lune get her way. And she wasn't about to let her forget all about it, either.

Her aura was… a complicated topic, okay? As in, reincarnation levels of complicated. She'd gotten it activated just fine, all by herself, but—

"That's great, sweetie! Looks like I didn't have to do it for you, after all. And look at how bright it is—uh, Lune, sweetie? You don't look too good."

"Dad? I feel… weird."

"Weird? Huh, that's not supposed to happen—oh God. Lune? Lune!"

—she kind of… fainted when it happened.

No really, she did faint. For one moment, she'd felt so happy and strong and glowed blue-white like a firefly. She felt like she could take on anything, the adrenaline rush so awesome and memorable.

But the sensation had quickly come to pass, and she suddenly felt like an overloaded circuit.

Power. Too much power that it overwhelmed her, a tsunami that easily broke through a seawall. She was down and out before she could control a fraction of it. And by the time she came to, she was being checked up on by an aura specialist, her worried parents standing in the background.

"She appears to have double the aura reserves a normal person should have," he'd stated. She didn't the way he looked at her. "While I would marvel at this peculiarity and consider this a very good thing for an aspiring warrior like her, I can only assume that the downside will be the difficulty of manipulating it. Don't get me wrong, her aura is a very fine force field on its own. Very durable. But I would suggest that she learns, little by little, how to completely bend it to her will before she tries touching even the smallest amount of Dust."

He had a good point, she'd realized. When she'd gone to see if that statement rang true and ended up with a crater in the Beryl household's backyard, she hadn't bothered with handling Dust ever since. She wasn't harmed in anyway thanks to her aura, but merde that still hurt like a bitch. Très freakin' bien.

It occurred to her that that was apparently where her reincarnated aspect came in. She wasn't an expert with aura herself, but maybe, just maybe… when she'd died as Amelie, her old soul blended into the new one she had as Lune. One cup of water added into the already-filled bowl, then mixed with a whisk. Or something. It made her feel kind of special, admittedly, but she wasn't about to let that go into her head.

Oh, no, the last thing she wanted to do was live with the knowledge that she was just that different from the rest. Especially when she had to put into account the fact that she was a walking Dust detonator if her uncontrolled aura did so much as touch the stuff.

…At least until she finally pulled herself together and made her aura her bitch, anyway. She had yet to make any progress in that department.

(Thank goodness she hadn't met Weiss Schnee yet. Things would get pretty hairy if Lune ever got close to one of her Dust vials.)

"Remnant to Lune! Did you somehow discover a way to get into space? You look like you've just gone there." Yang said and interrupted Lune's thoughts.

The faunus blinked, realized that a hand was being waved in front of her face, and gently pushed it away with her own hand. For a moment, she might have found the statement strange. But then—oh, right, nobody in Remnant had discovered how to get into outer space yet. Dust didn't work beyond the atmosphere.

"Ahaha… oops? I do recommend a trip to the moon, though," Lune said smoothly (lamely), causing the other girl to raise an eyebrow at her. Lune grinned. "Anyway, yeah, I've got my aura activated, alright. But I think you need to know this…" The smile on her face was, crassly put, fake as shit. "I'm bad at controlling it. Bad, as in I-touch-Dust-and-it-explodes kind of bad. Until I learn how to completely tame this thing, my aura stays as my own personal force field. Nothing more."

"Seriously?"

"Yup. Meet your resident Dust detonator. So if anything, I kinda wish I was more like you. You're practically a pro already—you've even managed to discover your semblance!"

...She should call that the Lune Maneuver, from the way she'd shifted attention from her to the blonde. Apparently, it was effective, because the compliment made the blonde grin proudly.

"Well, I need to get hit a lot of times before I could use it properly, but yeah! Awesome, isn't it? I have a head start on most people." She grinned widely, but then concern filled her features as Lune's admission completely sunk in. "Sucks to hear about your aura, though. You're okay, right?"

"I'm fine, Yang. But I swear, this thing's so bothersome and all I could do is hope I get to fix this problem soon. Dad's willing to help me out on that one, but I'm thinking that, hey, maybe your dad or Qrow will be able to help me, too." Lune gave the campus a sidelong glance and shrugged. "We are in Signal, aren't we? We're here to learn how to be proper warriors, keep the world safe from the Grimm, and all that jazz. I might eat my own shoe, too, if I don't end up being someone decent by the time graduation comes around."

The blonde grinned and smacked a fist into her open palm. "Right! While I doubt I'd want to be in your shoes if that happened, we still have a tour to finish. I dunno about you, but I'm feeling kind of excited about what we could end up finding! So without further ado…" She quickly grabbed Lune's hand and pulled, dragging the faunus along with her as they headed towards the direction of Signal Academy's main building. The blonde ignored Lune's sounds of protest as she walked in her own (faster) pace. "We'll head into that building first and see what's in there. I hope you're ready for this, because the Yang-tastic tour is officially in progress!"

Signal Academy's layout was actually pretty simple to understand.

First, there was the main building where the classrooms, sparring areas, and offices were located. This would be where most of the day-to-day activities will be done and, if Lune were to picture the entire campus as one big square, this particularly building would be smack dab in the middle. At its front was the walkway leading towards the school's large gates and eventually the outside, and surrounding it were the other facilities existing in the campus.

Those, on the other hand, were positioned in such a way that they practically encircled the main building.

That's right, they were in the outline of a convex, starting from the assembly area east of the main building and followed by the library, which was to the northeast; the dorms, which were conveniently positioned directly to the north; the infirmary, which was north west; and the stadium, which was directly to the west of the main building.

From what Lune and Yang learned from an upperclassman hanging out there, the stadium was primarily used for inter-school events—and occasionally, tournaments for the graduating batch. The other buildings were self-explanatory.

All in all, Lune had no doubts that even the most directionally-challenged person was never going to end up lost here. Seriously, not only was there was a distinct lack of twist and turns, with all the buildings connected to each other by straightforward roads, but there were also many helpful signs dotting the area. With arrows. Big ones.

It made Lune wonder if she could have spent her free time napping under a tree because no doubt she could memorize the entire school in one day, but on the other hand, it was actually nice to be much more familiarized with Signal's layout.

"You know," Yang began as she and Lune slowly made their way back to the assembly area. They'd just recently finished touring the stadium, and the two friends were walking side-by-side down the white road. "Being here in Signal kind of brings me back."

"How so?"

Yang smiled, gazing up at the cloudy sky. "I dunno, but I remember having looked forward to coming here. Like, every time I had to think of Signal, I'd get super excited and think of all the equally exciting stuff I'll get to do. Seeing the world, being on a team like my parents did, getting into all sorts of adventures and getting to help people at the same time… it's one crazy ride I want in on."

"And… you're not as excited now?"

The blonde shook her head and let her lilac eyes rest on Lune's curious green ones. "Nah, nothing's changed in that department. I'm just saying, I remember that this isn't the first time I saw Signal up close—and it's not your first time either, remember? I just didn't think I'd get to go to Signal for the first time in that way."

"Ohhh," Lune said, the realization finally dawning on her. She didn't realize how distant the memory felt until she had to remember it now. "You meant the day when we first met."

"Yup." Yang nodded, making her pigtails bounce. "You know, you never did ask what happened that day. You just went on with being friends with me—and Ruby—without so much as a complaint. Now that I think about it, weren't you basically told by the adults to talk to me, anyway?"

"Basically, yeah. But considering that we're still friends, that should say a lot about what I think of you guys." Lune said, and honestly, the fact that she and Yang were still buddies should say a lot.

"Hah, that's true." Yang admitted with a grin. "But hey, we still have a long way to go before we're back to where we started this tour. Are you up for a little story telling? You might as well know now, rather than later."

"It's your call." Lune shrugged, but on the inside, she already knew the story itself. Or at least, she remembered bits and pieces of it. Key players, directly and indirectly. "This sounds pretty personal."

Accepting Lune's answer as a yes, Yang proceeded to tell Lune what the faunus already knew: that Yang had found out that Summer Rose wasn't her real mother and Raven Branwen—though Yang didn't know her name, just that Lune did and oh God should she tell her?—had left her shortly after she was born. Then she thought she had a lead on her mom's location, went to search with Ruby in tow, and got nearly got attacked by Grimm. Qrow had come to the rescue, contacted Taiyang by scroll, and brought the kids there because Signal was the closest location. She later met Lune, and here she was.

Like Lune said, she knew this tale already.

"I guess that means being a Huntress will maybe help you in your search for your real mom, too, then?" Lune decided to say anyway, forcing her thoughts to move away from whatever she knew of Yang's mother. She could probably do a rough sketch of Raven… but gosh, the complications that would bring.

Yang will find out in a later time and I shouldn't ruin that. For now, she needed to be the friend she actually was, even if this kind of knowledge wanted to pull her down the ocean like a pair of cement shoes.

"I thought of that throughout the years. But like I've promised to myself, I'm takin' it easy." Yang said. She grinned at Lune. "And even if that particular memory isn't a good one, I can still see the silver lining in it. I think I just ended up beating around the bush there, but basically, what I wanted to say is this: I'm glad I met you. And I'm even gladder we're in Signal together. Seriously, I could imagine all the things we could end up doing while we're here." She laughed. "And once Ruby's here, things will be twice as fun!"

"Let's not give our teachers a hard time, okay?" Lune said. And then, in a show of brief awkwardness, she ran a finger through her rabbit ear repeatedly. "And just so you know, I'm, ah, pretty glad I met you, too. Because, God, I can't say this enough, but my bullies made sure I don't have any friends in that stupid school."

Aqua, she thought, may or may not count as a bully anymore, though.

"Well, if you still have bullies now, I'm here to make sure they stay away. Nobody messes with a friend of mine." Yang said and gave Lune a one-armed hug.

"You do remember that I can handle them, right?"

Yang scoffed. "By handling, you mean either ignoring them until they go away or sprinkling itching powder on their backpacks when they're not looking. Or pretending that you accidentally bumped someone into a fountain. You're not exactly a direct person."

"Only because it's not worth the effort and I'm just that lazy," Lune shot back, gesturing with her hand at the same time. "But eh, if it comes to that and I can't get out of it, sure, I'll do some confronting."

"Right, and Beowolves actually talk," Yang said, sticking her tongue out at Lune. Lune, in response, lightly bumped her shoulder against the blonde's.

"Oh, whatever. You're not going to accept any answer other than 'oh, Yang, you're so right!'. So let's just go back to the assembly area." The faunus decided to say instead of pushing her case. "You do the upfront stuff, I'll deal with the stuff in the background."

"Deal." Yang said, but just as their conversation came to a close, her lilac eyes spotted something in the distance. She paused from her walk. "Hey, is that—"

"The headmistress?" Lune finished for her, staring at the direction Yang was looking at.

Indeed, there was Professor Blackthorn—and with her was a girl near Lune's age, wearing a purple sweater and a white skirt.

There shouldn't have been anything significant to note about the scene, not when the whole thing could be something as simple as a headmistress conversing with a student to show she was still very approachable. But when the air of familiarity between them had to be considered, both females were much more than that. What they appeared to be talking about was another thing entirely, though. Not exactly a positive kind of conversation…

And then the headmistress realized that someone else was present, looked Lune's way, gestured to her location with a small movement of her head.

"I think she wants to talk to me. For some reason." Lune said, blinking.

Yang stared at the headmistress and the girl before shrugging. "Well, it looks like she does. If that's the case, I think I'll go on ahead." At Lune's raised eyebrows, Yang explained, "Not because I'm dumping you in a shark tank, but I'm not sure how long you'll be there. I'm thinking of saving you a spot in the assembly area before it gets really crowded."

"Nice save. For a moment, I thought you really are ditching me after that heart-to-heart talk you just did with me," Lune said as a joke, making Yang roll her eyes in amusement. "Alright, then. Those better be front row seats you're saving—even if there technically aren't any seats in the first place."

"No problem." And Yang left, giving the faunus a casual wave before Lune set off towards the headmistress and the younger girl.

The girl, upon closer inspection, was actually a bit older than Lune. By a year or two, she thought, because she wasn't good at estimating a person's age. The only physical indication was the girl having all the signs of puberty effecting her body—or at least, she had the signs of the beginnings of one. And from the way the girl was uneasily—almost frantically—looking at the headmistress as Lune came closer, soft was definitely the first word that came to mind when she had to describe the girl. Softer, with that shy, delicate-looking face and those nervous, purple eyes behind a pair of glasses.

…And maybe cute, too, because of those braids her cream-colored hair sported.

"I was actually hoping your friend came along, too, but I can see why anyone your age isn't too keen on coming close to me." Idrisa—Professor Blackthorn, Lune reminded herself—said as the faunus stopped before them with a questioning look in her face. Lune had to admit, it was refreshing to be regarded without any kind of disdain. The headmistress smiled dryly. "Hey, I'm not a rock. I'm perfectly aware of the kind of image I'm projecting. It's, admittedly, a far cry from the kind I made when I did a few months of performing in a couple stages all across Vale. But, there we go. Doesn't help that I'm the one currently running this school here, either."

Well, that's one truth exposed, Lune idly thought. Rock star indeed. "So… ah, wait. How do I refer to you, ma'am?"

"Respectful. I think I like you, kid. Feel free to stick to either Professor or Headmistress. I'm not picky."

"Professor, then. Anything you need from me?"

"Actually, yeah, I do." Professor Blackthorn said, brightening up. As if on cue, she placed a hand behind the shy girl's back and gave her a firm push towards Lune. The girl nearly stumbled as a result. "I want you to keep Vanilla here company."

Blink, blink.

"W-what? Big sister!" the girl, Vanilla, protested in a squeaky voice, whirling towards the woman with wide eyes. "We've talked about this before… haven't you listened?"

Lune kind of thought she might want to have a pair of mini plates on her face, herself, because holy cheese sticks she did not expect the girl to be related to Idrisa Freakin' Blackthorn. Not that it was impossible to have an age gap like that as siblings, but even in Remnant, she was pretty sure that wasn't common.

...It just wasn't one of the things she didn't see coming, okay?

But as it was, all Lune could do was keep calm and tilt her head slightly in curiosity, the headmistress looking at her younger sister fondly.

"Vani, I'm just helping you out here, nudging you in the right direction. The first thing you did when you came here with me was to stick to me like super glue. Which was cute when you were six... but right now? Not so much." Idrisa reminded Vanilla, her tone a perfect blend of firmness and gentleness. "You know you can't rely on me forever, so this is me saying that you need friends, and I'll be damned if you don't make one today."

"I get your point… But did you have to force someone to stay with me?" Vanilla asked. "That's, um, rude and power-abusive… isn't it?"

The headmistress looked over Lune once, appearing to pass silent judgment over the faunus before shrugging dismissively. "She doesn't look like she minds at all."

For that one moment, Vanilla and Lune actually did make eye contact, suddenly thinking almost the same thing.

Well, gee, it's not like I could say no to Signal's freakin' headmistress.

"Y-you're the headmistress! You could… you could kick her out of Signal just because she said the wrong thing." Vanilla voiced some of her thoughts aloud. Lune guessed right, apparently. "Of course she's going to say yes!"

"Alas, such are the perks of being so high up in the food chain." Professor Blackthorn actually chuckled, unashamed of that admission. "But I digress, I'm not doing this as the headmistress. I'm doing this as a perfectly concerned older sister who only wants the best for her sweet, younger sister. And this girl right here looks perfectly respectable, don'tcha think?"

Lune swore she was being silently asked to back the headmistress up here. There was no mistaking that meaningful stare being thrown her way. No mistaking the subtle pressure made Lune think she should have sunk to the ground. Or melted.

But! Just like the actress she'd learned to become the moment she'd been reincarnated, Lune put on an easy smile and directed some of her positivity towards Vanilla. "Seriously, I don't mind at all. I don't know a lot of people here either, and I could use some company. It's not like anyone's clamoring to befriend a Faunus."

That might have sounded just a tad bitterer than she'd intended, but what the hell.

"Um…" Vanilla didn't know what to say to that.

Professor Blackthorn decided that her job here was done. Lune's acceptance of the headmistress' quiet request sealed the deal. Idrisa was having none of the helpless glances tossed at her by the younger girl. In fact, approval and victory both blended seamlessly on the woman's expression.

"See? It's all good." She said. "So there, conversation closed. Have fun with…"

"Lune, ma'am." The girl supplied.

"Lune, then. Have fun with her, Vani. I know good company when I see one. So if you'll excuse me, I need to finalize some things with the teachers. Remember to be back for the assembly in ten minutes; I'm not doing an encore for latecomers. This is no concert." The headmistress said with an air of finality. But before she turned away, she smiled at Lune. "Thanks for being a sweetie, by the way, Lune. She really has trouble making friends, so I'm glad you're giving me an assist. She's a sweet girl, you'll see." She then winked, her lips curling into a smirk. "But don't start thinking that this is going to make your stay in Signal any easier, you hear? I'm not about to show any biases for anyone—even my little sis."

Lune grinned and saluted. "Vanilla's in good hands."

"Glad to know. I'll see you kids later."

And off went Idrisa Blackthorn, right in the direction towards the main building. Lune guessed that the woman was probably going to go over the class schedules, dorm arrangements and the like, but really, who knew? What mattered now was the girl Idrisa left behind, and… okay, so Vanilla looked like she wanted to melt into a puddle just then, after realizing that she was, indeed, stuck where she was with no way out. The girl was looking anywhere but at Lune, her hands clutching the edges of her purple, hooded sweater.

"Hey," Lune gently said, tapping a finger over the girl's shoulder. Vanilla didn't exactly flinch away, but Lune felt her body jerk. "Look, you don't have to stick with me if you don't want to. I won't be offended. I've got a friend waiting for me back there, anyway."

The girl shyly looked at the faunus, readjusting her glasses. Determining that Lune was being genuinely nice, she sighed and said, "I-I'm sorry… that's not what I wanted you to think. It's just that, um, I'm really nervous about being here. Everyone's at least two years younger than me, and here I am, getting into Signal pretty late just because I thought I wasn't prepared until now. I just feel so out of place—and who knows what everyone will think after they realize I'm the headmistress' sister?"

Considering how Lune vaguely remembered being Amelie and delayed from graduation for three years, that kind of hit close to home. The out of place part, anyway.

"Eh, there's no denying you'll be placed in some sort of pedestal once they know, but other than that… are you really prepared to be here?" Lune said, maintaining her even tone of voice. Slow and steady, and just at the right level to keep the girl staying there and not running off, shrieking. Lune gave Vanilla a quick once-over. "You don't look like you want to be here. No offense."

Vanilla smiled hesitantly. "None taken. I'm not… being forced to attend Signal. I do want to become a Huntress someday, too. I just… get afraid of being a disappointment, you know? All I have for a family is my sister, and I don't w-want to fail her like our parents did. She's done so, so much for me already." She shook her head. "B-but you probably don't care about that, don't you? I'm just blabbering whatever comes to mind. I'm like that, sometimes... even in front of strangers."

Poor girl. While Lune felt a bit sorry for her, she kind of felt a bit protective at the same time. "Geez, I don't really know you or your history either, but I'm not an insensitive jerk. I'd sooner say the others are, considering what I am"—Lune gestured to her rabbit ears—"but… that's beside the point. So seriously, I'm not going to bite or treat you badly while your sister's not looking. I'm not like that."

"I see…"

"So, going back to what you've just said, if you're determined to spend the next seven years in Signal, maybe it's high time you decide to prove that, hmm? If there's a day you really should start changing, won't today be a good one?"

Vanilla blinked, surprise written all over her face. Lune had to admit, she did just give a pretty decent advice just then. The shy girl finally relaxed and gave a smile that was much warmer and less nervous than before. She took a deep breath and exhaled, her posture relaxing from its previously stiff state.

"…You're right. Sorry about that. I guess, now that I think about it… I am stressing myself for no reason." She bowed in apology. "Again, I-I'm sorry you had to see me that way. I mean it when I say this time that I want to stay with you for now, if that's okay. It's… not like I know anyone else, like my sister said."

"Hey, we all get the first day jitters. So come on, let's just go there and get this over with." Lune said, taking hold of Vanilla's arm. Feeling no resistance, she gave a gentle tug and began making her way back to Yang, at the same time ensuring that her pace was even enough for the other girl to match.

Vanilla did so without much problem, though her head was bowed the entire way. However, when Lune decided to glance back and check if the girl was following just fine, Vanilla slowly met her eyes and gave a small smile in return.

And so the rest of the orientation went off without a hitch. There was a brief discussion of the school regulations, as well as an introduction of the teachers present, and once that was done, all the students were directed towards the main building so they could get their room assignments and their schedules. The rest of the day would be theirs to spend after that, and as the headmistress put it, "Better enjoy the day while it last, kids. Tomorrow is when things start picking up."

She was right. Tomorrow will be the official start of Signal's newest term, and from what they've heard from the upperclassmen, the classes, while still easy, were nothing to be sneezed at. It would be exciting as it would be challenging. Lively as it would be tiring.

That actually made the students more nervous than anything. Y'know, the usual first day jitters. But on the plus side, the feeling didn't linger; excitement reigned among them once more as they decided on living in the present to the best of their ability. Lune found it all to be oh-so-typical, almost reminiscent of her first day in school back in her old world. Some things never changed, she supposed, but she knew that some differences could be subtle as hell.

In any case, Lune had just received her schedule and her room key. The thick piece of paper came with a folder that had her name in silver, cursive letters, and that one also contained a school map, a form detailing her personal information, and a flowchart of what subjects she would be taking in the years to come. It was all so… Earth-like, if it weren't for the combat classes included in her schedule. And the weapons-crafting requirement for those with two years left of combat school.

She could have easily mistaken today as her first day in high school or something. Almost.

"So," Yang said as Lune went to greet her; the blonde had received her own room assignment and schedule way before Lune did. "We're definitely having the same classes, that's for sure. All first years do. But for the room assignment… even though our house is, like, close to the school… are we sharing or not?"

Lune waved her keycard in front of Yang, a sleek, white object with three digits written on the lower left corner. Lune checked her room number, then Yang's, and…

"Unfortunately, we're not," Lune concluded in disappointment.

"Crap, that's too bad," Yang said, pocketing her own card. At an attempt at keeping the mood positive, she added, "Hey, at least we don't have to fight over who gets which bed. Or, God, fight over who uses the bathroom first when it's morning. And there's still the same schedule thing. And, besides, it's not like we have to be here twenty-four-seven. We live nearby."

"I guess so. But still, this means we're both getting new roommates." Lune said. A thought then occurred to her, making her stomach do a funny flip. "Oh, lord, what if we get roommates that end up being the last kind of person we'd want as one? Even worse, we don't even know who we're rooming with."

I'm not socially awkward, Lune had to tell herself inwardly. But there's always something awkward about sharing the same room with a total stranger.

"I-I believe there won't be such a problem—at least for you, Lune," a soft voice then interrupted from behind. The faunus turned to see a shyly smiling Vanilla, her own folder clutched to her chest. "Oh, and hello."

Right, there was still Vanilla to consider. As luck would have it, she was, indeed, Lune's roommate. Lune had just confirmed it and everything.

"Hey." Yang greeted with a wave. She and the older girl had introduced each other earlier in the assembly, though it was obvious that Vanilla couldn't keep up with the blonde. "Vanilla, right? Nice to see you again. I guess that means Lune's in good hands." Mischief sparked in her lilac eyes. "...Or not, considering that my friend here's suddenly in the headmistress' radar."

"…What."

"Um, it looks that way?" Vanilla said, more like asked, looking at Lune apologetically before mustering up her courage to look back at Yang. "So, um, are you two going to the dorms now? I can go by myself, but I think I'd like to be… not alone, for once."

Lune gave Yang a somewhat dirty look before she shrugged at the other girl. "I don't mind checking it out now. How 'bout you, Yang?"

"Not a problem for me, either. I ought to go meet my roommate sometime soon, anyway," Yang said with a grin.

"That's settled, then. Come on, you two. Let's get this over with," Lune said. Flashing Vanilla a reassuring smile, Lune turned away and head towards the dorms—

"Wrong way." Yang pointed out.

The faunus paused, realized that she was, indeed, going in the wrong direction, and turned around. Despite feeling embarrassed because she thought herself better than that, she managed to keep a serene expression on her face and ambled towards the two waiting girls. Vanilla had the decency to be embarrassed for her, at least.

"I knew that."

She only hoped she wouldn't make the same blunder tomorrow. She told herself that this was just a one time thing, and tomorrow… tomorrow, she was going to be at the top of her game.

She had the future to prepare for, after all.

A/N: I swear this chapter took a life on its own. I told myself I'll get the real first day of Signal started today, but some character introductions had to be dealt with before I get to that (Idrisa is based from Idris, Welsh for fiery lord, if I did my research right; I had to make it sound more feminine). Also, for the life of me, I have absolutely no idea what capitalization rules to go by when referring to another species (as I've mentioned to someone, we never covered that in my English class; yes, English is so not my first language). I hope it's done better this time.

That said, much interaction happening in this chapter. You guys be the judge of how decently I've done this, because lol, I have absolutely no idea. XD To be honest, I was seriously thinking about how I was going to deal with Lune's aura. Obviously, she won't be normal in that department because, whoo, reincarnation, but at the same time, I don't want her to be suddenly OP, either. I think learning to control her aura is a good starting point.

I also swear I did not mean to end up with this long a chapter, but you guys appear to be used to long chapters, anyway, which I'm super-super thankful for. I can only hope this isn't super boring. It's a miracle to have come up with something this long, when I'm dealing with my thesis for the meantime - gawsh, on the plus side, I'm nearly done with that one. Just the thesis defense left, and I'm golden.

And because PinwheelGrizzly so kindly gave my story a mention on his story, I'm going to repay the favor. Please, feel free to check out Generations (SYOC)! It's a lot more decently written compared to most OC stories you find in the fandom, and I do like the world being built up there because it starts out in a generation earlier than Team STRQ. Obviously, one shouldn't expect perfection, but he's well on his way to becoming really good. (Also, get well soon, Grizzly! It's unfortunate that had to happen to you.)

Admittedly, just like him, I'm still working to get better with my writing too. XD

Thanks, as usual, for the feedback, guys, and I'll see you all next chapter!