Chapter 2: The Start of the Book Club
"Hey Ren I noticed but these pass few days you seemed to be in a good mood" Nora said to her best friend causing Ren to look at her and getting a bit of a confuse look from not only from Ren but from Pyrrha as well.
"Really, but how can you exactly tell, Nora?" Pyrrha asked her friend and teammate.
Ren, Nora and Pyrrha were currently sitting down on their beds in their school uniforms talking with one another to pass the time as Jaune was taking a shower in order to get ready for when they have to go to class in a few hours. But during their first week of Beacon team JNPR and RWBY had decided to try to get up early so that they can try to have breakfast together before they go to their classes.
Ren felt like that was going to be a challenge for Yang and Ruby to achieve since he felt like the sisters weren't exactly earlier risers and he was proven correct. But the sisters had managed to push through this past week and managed to get up every morning this pass week in order to join everybody for breakfast and be on time for their classes.
"Oh I just know these, things Pyrrha after all Ren and I have been together for years but not like together together" Nora said putting more emphasis on how she and Ren were not really in a romantic relationship with each other.
"Oh I see" Pyrrha said figuring that it was just one of Nora's many quirks, being able to see and tell how Ren was feeling at the moment despite Ren's pretty much having a neutral expression on his face, so you can't even tell what he's really thinking. But that didn't mean Ren didn't have anything to say because whenever Pyrrha would talk to Ren or sometimes ask him for advice, he was very wise and thoughtful regarding those things especially for being so young. Pyrrha could honestly say out of everyone between her team she would probably go to Ren the most for advice.
"Oh it's nothing serious, I ran into Blake in the library this pass Wednesday and I think I found someone that shares my hobbies" Ren calmly said.
"Oh yeah, you and Blake were talking to each other a bit more these pass few days that's great to hear Ren!" Nora said as she smiled at her best friend.
"I agree it's nice to talk to someone that has the same interest as you" Pyrrha said.
Ren simply nodded and before anybody could say anything else the team heard Jaune turning off the water in the shower.
"It's seems like Jaune finish taking his shower come on Nora let's go outside so that we can give Jaune some privacy" Pyrrha said as she got up from her bed.
"Alrighty I guess we'll wait outside and probably check to see if Ruby and the others are ready" Nora said.
Ren gave Nora a small smile and nodded "ok, I guess Jaune and I will see you guys in a few minutes" Ren said.
"Ok we will see you until then" Pyrrha said as she and Nora had grabbed their book bags and they left their dorm room closing the door in the process. After that the shower door opened and Ren looked and saw Jaune coming out of the bathroom and he was only wearing a towel around his waist with his dirty clothes.
"Well I admit that was refreshing" Jaune said earning a chuckle from Ren.
"Are you still nervous about being here at Beacon and being leader Jaune?" Ren asked his friend and team leader.
Jaune had put his dirty clothes in the basket and started to change "honestly not as much but I still have a lot of pressure at least trying to be a team leader I don't want to screw everything up and let you guys down, I have a lot work to do if I want be a great huntsman especially since you guys are way better fighters then me" Jaune said.
That statement was true Ren knew that as far with combat experience Jaune was behind everybody else, he was no doubt a part of the weaker groups when it comes to fighting in the battlefield. But for Ren Jaune should have at least went to one of the combat school's here in Vale so that they can help him improve his fighting capabilities. But Ren guessed that maybe his family couldn't afford it and if he remembers Jaune did say his family did had a line of huntsman and his father was one. So Ren guessed that maybe unlike others Jaune gotten some training with his father.
But with Ren what Jaune lacks in skills as a fighter he makes it up with his charisma and leadership abilities he knows when to put himself and the rest of the team in spots where they can succeed in many situations. Ren could see why Ozpin choose him to be the leader of team JNPR, Jaune has the tools to be a great leader no...a great huntsman he just lacks confidence and he needs to put in the work in order to be a great fighter whenever they are out during some missions. But Jaune wasn't alone to help him in his development he has his team to help him to reach his full potential.
"You will get there Jaune, you already proven to us on how much of a great leader you are, for now you just need to learn and grow in order to be the huntsman you want to be" Ren calmly said as he smiled a little bit at his friend.
"Thanks Ren, you really know what to say in certain situations" Jaune said.
"Think nothing of it Jaune I'm only just giving advice to my fearless leader that's all" Ren said causing Jaune to laugh a bit at that.
"I guess that nickname is going to stick for awhile huh" Jaune said.
"Of since it was Nora who gave you the nickname" Ren said as he and Jaune shared another laugh.
After that moment Jaune finished getting dressed and he was also in his school uniform as well.
"Well Ren I guess we should go ahead and meet everybody" Jaune said as he grabbed his school bag and Ren stood up and grabbed his school bag.
After that the two teens left their dorm room and they were greeted to the sight of Nora and Pyhrra talking to team RWBY.
"Oh hey guys good morning!" Ruby cheerfully said.
"Hey Ruby good morning, you seem to be in better sprits this morning" Jaune said to his fellow leader.
"Eh I guess I'm getting use to getting up early in the morning hehe" Ruby said as she chuckled a bit.
"Speak for yourself sis I'm still tired ugh why do we have to get up early again" Yang said as she complained.
"So that way we won't be nearly as late for class like last time" Weiss said to the blonde member of team Ruby.
"But we weren't late Weiss cream we made it just in time" Yang said to the Schnee heiress said.
"That's not the point you, dolt we can't make a habit out of this being late would show our teachers that we aren't serious on trying to be huntsmen in fact that can also apply to almost any job" Weiss said.
Pyhrra nodded "Weiss does bring up a valid point, Yang it may seems small but having a presentable image can be a important fact in the long run" Pyhrra said as she would know as she had to keep up her image in being label the invincible girl when she was the four time Mistral region tournament champion.
"Ugh I guess you guys have a point doesn't mean I don't like though" Yang said.
"Can we skip the boring talk and get breakfast already I'm starving" Nora said as she rubbed her stomach.
"You're speaking my language Nora come on guys lets get going!" Yang said as she and Nora started to head straight towards the cafeteria.
"Honestly those two" Weiss said as Jaune walked up to her and was about to say something until Weiss stopped him.
"Don't even think about it arc" Weiss said as she started to walk away from Jaune.
Jaune sighed as Ruby patted him on the back out of sympathy and Pyhrra was right next to him.
"Come on Jaune maybe a little breakfast can cheer you up" Pyhrra said.
"Yeah ok" Jaune said as he was heading to the cafeteria with Ruby and Pyhrra leaving Blake and Ren alone to walk each other.
"I give Jaune some credit for trying but he should really take a hint" Blake said as she was walking with Ren.
"I agree he should definitely see what's in front of him" Ren said.
"So you noticed that Pyhrra is interested in him" Blake said as she looked at Ren.
"I have especially when you notice on how Pyhrra is trying to her best to get Jaune attention, but Jaune is too focus on trying to get with Weiss" Ren said as he looked at Blake.
"Then how come you haven't said anything to Jaune?" Blake asked.
"I prefer to let people learn and realize what they really have or haven't if Jaune really wants to ask me for advice, on this situation then I will help him as his friend but for now I would rather let Jaune learn from this on his own" Ren said.
"That makes sense" Blake said as she smiled at Ren she knew from the times she talked with Ren he wasn't one to intrude on people personal business and that's a huge plus for her . It's one of the reasons why Blake enjoys talking with Ren he doesn't like to get involved in too much conflict but he will help whenever somebody would ask him for something. In a way Ren reminds Blake of her father a bit.
Blake frowned a bit as she thought about her father and it didn't escape Ren's gazing eyes.
"Blake it's something the matter?" Ren said in a concern like tone.
"Oh...it's nothing Ren" Blake said as she forced a smile at Ren.
"Ok if you're sure" Ren said he knew something was up with Blake but Ren didn't want to intrude, as it was probably something personal and Blake if wasn't comfortable telling him what was wrong then that's fine everyone needs their personal space once in awhile and whenever Blake was ready to tell him her problems then he would be right their with her to listen and help her in anyway he can.
Ren decided to change the subject "were you able to finish The Rogue Samurai?" he asked Ren.
Blake smiled, as she was happy that Ren changed the subject "yeah I have I was able to finish it during the weekend and how about you with The Tale of the Two Princesses?"
"I have in fact I have the book with me in my bag" Ren said.
"I have my book in my bag as well..." Blake didn't say anything at first but she went ahead and asked Ren what she wanted to ask him.
"Would you...I guess like to go to the library with me after class?" Blake asked.
Ren smiled at Blake and nodded "of course I don't mind at all, maybe we can find some books that can interest us together". Ren replied.
"Yeah or maybe we can go to some bookstores in town during the weekend, and maybe we can go to that tea shop I told you about here in Vale" Blake said.
"Of course Blake that sounds like a plan" Ren said as he smiled at Blake.
"Cool" Blake said as she smiled a bit it really was great to find someone that has similar interests as her and doesn't help that Ren was a great person to talk to and not to mention he was handsome...
Blake felt her cheeks warmed up a bit as she thought that "no, no Blake you can't think about stuff like that besides Ren has Nora you shouldn't try to steal Ren away from her" Blake thought.
Blake calmed down a bit "so do you mind if we trade books" Blake asked as she took out The Rogue Samurai book from her bag and handed it to Ren.
"Not at all" Ren said as he took out The Tale of Two Princesses out from his bag, and once he did that both he and Blake had exchanged books.
"Ok whenever you finish it tell me what you think alright" Blake said.
"Ok I can probably finish it in a few days I want your thoughts as well Blake" Ren said.
"I will" Blake said after that Blake and Ren had started to make their way into the cafeteria and it wasn't long until both Ren and Blake were able to get their breakfast and sit with the rest of their team. Everything was fine for the most part everybody talked and chatted with one another as they ate their breakfast and once that was over with team RWBY and JNPR had went on ahead with their classes. Classes had gone by pretty smoothly even though for Ren in his opinion Beacon does have interesting teachers, even though Oobleck and Port had quirky personalities he knew that these two has a lot of knowledge and experience when it comes to being huntsman. The same could be said with professor Goodwitch her knowledge when it comes to seeing what the students need to improve on regarding their fighting capabilities was second to none. It really shows that Beacon was really the number one combat school out of the four kingdoms.
Once classes were finished it wasn't long until team JNPR was in their dorm room and they were out of their school uniforms.
"So Ren and Nora you guys have any plans?" Jaune asked.
"Yang and I were actually going to hang out and train a bit, you want to join us Ren?" Nora said as she looked at her best friend.
"Actually I was planning to go to the library and catch up on some reading" Ren said as he went and grabbed The Rogue Samurai book.
"Oh...alright that's cool guess it's just Yang and I what are you and Pyhrra going to do Jaune?" Nora said as she looked at her friends and teammates.
"Ah Pyhrra and I were actually get a head start on our homework with Ruby and Weiss" Juane said.
"I guess I better go, I'll see you guys in a few hours" Ren said as he stood up from his bed, grabbed the book and left the room and closed the door.
He looked across at team RWBY's door and was wondering if Blake was getting ready for their meet up at the library, he was wondering if he should wait but he also not sure if Blake went on ahead. After about a minute Ren decided to head out to the library as he was walking Ren had heard footsteps behind him and he had heard a voice called out to him.
"Hey, Ren wait up" Ren turned around and looked and saw that Blake was walking at a fast pace until she was right next to him.
"Oh Blake...I didn't realize you were still in your dorm room, I apologize I should have waited" Ren said to the former white fang member.
Blake shook her head and smiled at a bit "it's fine you didn't know come on we should get to the library I really want to you to read the rogue samurai I'm interested to hear your thoughts" the cat faunus said.
Ren nodded and after that he and Blake started to make their way to the library together and during that time the two had talked a bit mostly about their classes and about what other books they should pick up from the library. Once the two made their way into the library the two of them had went ahead and choose a few books that they recommended each other to read that was in the type of genre that they liked to read. After that both Ren and Blake went towards the same spot that they sat in last week when they were in the library.
"Blake do you mind if I ask you a question?" Ren said to the cat faunus.
"You just did, but go ahead" Blake jokingly said causing Ren to chuckle a bit.
"Fair enough, but I was wondering why do you like to read so much?" Ren asked.
Blake didn't really see the harm in answering the question "well I guess it started as a girl my parents use to read me the usual fairy tale stories when I was a little girl and my dad likes to read a lot as well, I guess you can say that I gotten the habit from him and over time I as I gotten older I grew to love reading, it also helps that it helps pass time" Blake said.
Ren nodded accepting the answer "seems like you and your father have some things in common".
Blake sighed "I guess...their are times we would disagree on certain issues and their would be times where I don't know that he would never forgive me regarding those issues" Blake said.
Blake didn't know why she was telling about some of her issues with her father, maybe it was the due to the fact she was letting her guard down around him. She knows she shouldn't but Ren has that calming presence around him that makes that you can pretty much talk to him with just about anything. To Blake Ren was really wise beyond his years.
"Blake, I'm sure that your father still loves you despite the differences you have with him because that's what a loving parent should do...have you been able to talk to him lately?" Ren asked.
"No I haven't recently" Blake said.
"If you want my advice I think you should try to talk to your dad...in our line of work you never know what could happen, the grimm could hurt us and our loves ones...or even worse" Ren said.
"Ren..." Blake said for the first time she could see a look of sadness on Ren's face and that made Blake wondered he and Nora never really explained or talk about their past that much, did something happened to them or their family.
Ren gathered himself and he gave Blake a small smile "it's nothing, Blake lets just get to reading I know that will calm ourselves" he said.
"Right" Blake said as she started to read the tale of two princesses, while Ren began reading the rough samurai.
Judging from what Ren said something must had happened to his family but it must be hard on him to talk about it, which is fine Blake doesn't want to force Ren to talk about something that's pretty personal, he will tell her whenever he feels comfortable to talk about it. It's been a couple of hours and Blake and Ren had began to read through their respective books. Blake has noticed that it was almost six p.m.
"Hey Ren it's almost six p.m." Blake said as she cast her book aside.
"I guess we were so absorbed into our reading time must have flown by pretty quickly" Ren said as he closed his book.
"We should head back, by the way how far did you get through the rough samurai?" Blake said as she stood up and started to get the books Ren recommended her.
"About almost half way I should finish it maybe in the next day or so, how are you doing with the tale of two princesses?" Ren asked.
"I'm almost half way done as well" Blake said.
"I see" Ren said as he nodded.
"Hey Ren do you mind if this can be our thing, I guess forming that book club?" Blake asked.
"I don't see why not, I'm fine with doing this on Wednesday or maybe twice a week" Ren said.
"Does Wednesdays and Friday's sound good to you?" Blake asked.
"That's fine now then you said that you were going to show me that tea shop soon?" Ren asked.
"Oh yeah, maybe we can go over there this weekend and we can check out the book stores they have here" Blake said.
"I would like that" Ren said as he gave Blake a small smile and Blake returned it back.
After that Ren and Blake had went to the front desk and checked out a few more books and once they did that they left left the library and started to head back to their dorm rooms. The two didn't say much on the way back to their dorm rooms preferring to enjoy the quite and tranquil sounds that is going on around Beacon. After about a couple of minutes it wasn't long until Blake and Ren were by their doors to their dorm.
"I guess I'll see you later" Blake said.
"Yeah" Ren said as he was about to turn and head straight to his dorm room.
"Ren!" Blake said causing the young huntsman in training to turn and look at her
"Yes, is something wrong Blake?" Ren asked.
"I...I just want you to know whenever you feel like you need someone to talk to...weather it's personal or otherwise I'm here if you need me" Blake said.
Ren widen his eyes a bit until he smiled at Blake "thank you, Blake I guess I can return that statement back to you" he said.
'"Yeah...thanks Ren I guess I'll see you later" Blake said with Ren nodding after that both of them went back to their dorm rooms knowing they were getting closer together as friends then they both realized.