Pyrrha chapter. I felt...inspired and just had to write this. Not sure if this should count as an omake or part of the main story, though. So far I'm leaning towards the latter since it gives Pyrrha more focus without just having her reacting to Denji.

Also, I'm leaning towards Ruby being Yoru's host in the main chapters. The main difference is her psychosis is heavily downplayed so she only makes weapons out of Grimm and items rather than people. That and maybe trying to graft weapons onto herself due to Hybrid healing factor. Still puts Yoru in the Sunken Place every time she misbehaves, though.

Pyrrha Nikos walked with a purpose as she strode down the secret hall underneath Beacon. It was a part of the building only a select few were aware of, and that included even the staff. Outside of Headmaster Ozpin and Professor Goodwitch, this location wasn't known to anyone near as she could tell. The only reason she even knew was because of the grave choice she'd been offered just a week prior.

Maidens. Women who controlled the elements not with their Semblances but outright magic. She'd almost laughed when the headmaster first told her, but the seriousness in his words convinced her that it wasn't some poorly thought out prank. Magic existed and one of these Maidens, one Amber Brown, was attacked with her very soul damaged...and they'd wanted to transplant what was left to Pyrrha herself.

Pyrrha had agonized over the decision. What effect would transference have to her mind and soul? Would she still be Pyrrha at the end of it all or would she become someone wholly different?

And then the choice was taken out of her hands when Amber awoke a week prior with absolutely no idea on where she was and how she'd gotten there. According to her the last thing she remembered was being attacked on the road by three assailants and then suddenly waking up in that table with her soul once again instact and the full powers of the Maiden returned to her.

Pyrrha had been relieved that she was no longer at risk of losing herself, but it had left the headmaster at the awkward position of letting her in on a secret he couldn't take back. He'd told her of Salem and of his own past as an immortal - the only way he could convince her was if he laid out all the risks she'd be undertaking. Now that Amber was awake, Pyrrha still had the knowledge and yet nothing to do with it.

For now she was simply sworn to secrecy and given the offer to join in this secret war. That one she had far less turmoil in deciding. If this Salem was real - and people from Professor Goodwitch to General Ironwood seemed to think so - then how could she not offer her assistance?

But that was neither here nor there. The point was that she had knowledge, and that led her down the unfamiliar halls.

Pyrrha took a deep breath as she stopped in front of the heavily sealed door. Only a select few could open it and her biometrics were added to that short list. She pressed her palm against the scanner and stood back as the steel door opened with a light hiss and turrets jutted out of the sides. It was a formality; the guest inside had no desire to leave his home.

The champion heard it as soon as she stepped inside. The sounds of someone - something - humming a loud beat, which was quickly followed by an oversized eye peering at her from the darkness. What would've been normally terrifying sight was undercut by the voice breaking out into a weirdly catchy tune, "The future rules! The future rules! Yeah, yeah! The future rules!"

The figure that stepped out of the darkness was as alien as any Grimm. It could best be described as a tree given life and a humanoid shape with antlers on its eyeless head and a single, unblinking eye in the hole that made up its chest. Instinct told her to prepare herself for combat, but she remembered the headmaster's warnings: it was no danger to anyone that didn't ask for anything.

"Come on, you say it too! The future rules!"

"Th-The future rules!" Pyrrha shouted back.

"That's it!" It pumped both its fists and did a little dance. In any other situation she would've found it funny, "Oh, it's so nice to see someone who's willing to sing along! Ozpin and Glynda just ruin the mood!" It finally stopped dancing and spread its arms, "So, you're here to make a contract, right? Or do you just want to chat?"

"A c-contract, please." She gulped. This was a devil. Apparently different from the devils some religions used, but similar enough in a lot of ways. A deal with the devil was a phrase she sometimes used to describe the fame she'd received, but this was a literal one.

"Alrighty, show me your future! I come up with the details of a contract depending on the future of the one one I'm contracting." He pointed to the eye staring at her through his chest, "Hurry up and stick your face in there!"

Pyrrha did so. The devil leaned forward and Pyrrha suddenly found herself enveloped in darkness. The Future Devil, as he called himself, allowed his contractors to be gifted with foresight. They could see seconds if not minutes into the future. An invaluable ability regardless if you wanted to use it in combat or everyday life, and Pyrrha wanted it for a specific purpose.

To find out if Jaune would accept her confession.

...

It sounded petty if she put it that way, but it was more important than anything. She'd never been in a relationship before and Jaune was her best friend. If she confessed and it ruined their friendship...no, she couldn't take it. She wanted...she needed to know how he would respond. If she knew he'd say no then she would keep her love hidden, or at least bide her time until she could find a way to guarantee the future she desired. That was why she needed this power.

What would he ask for in return, she wondered. Her Semblance, perhaps? It was valuable, certainly, but she could live without it. She was more than just her powers, after all. Her training and skill came from dedication and hard work.

The darkness receded in just a few seconds and the Future Devil crossed his arms, "Alright, here's the terms of our contract: if you wanna use my powers then I wanna see your face in a dozen more cereal boxes!"

...

What?"

"What?" Pyrrha rasped.

"Cereal boxes! I wanna see your face in them!" He threw his hands up, "Come on, you've done it before with Pumpkin Pete's!" Much to her regret to this day. At least Jaune liked it, "So just plaster your face in twelve more boxes and I'll let you see the future!"

"But...don't you want anything else?" she asked desperately. Anyone else would've considered the contract a bargain given what she stood to gain, but this...she would have to go crawling to her agent Cecily begging to be put in more things. Cecily would've been ecstatic, certainly, but that would also mean having to waste her precious free time not with her friends but rather cultivating a fame she'd already grown sick of.

"Nope! Twelve cereal boxes or you get nothing!" It paused, "Of course, you could always just confess to that boy!"

"W-Will he say yes?"

"Who knows?" He shrugged, "That's on you to find out, isn't it?"

Pyrrha bit her lip and nodded, "I'll do it..." She couldn't...she had to be sure, "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"You go do that, and remember: the future rules!"

"The future rules..." Pyrrha stumbled her way out and locked the door behind her. She had to call her agent and set up appointments. Cecily would be surprised at her for being so proactive in spreading her name, but Pyrrha also knew she wouldn't question. She didn't care. So long as Pyrrha played ball she wouldn't care.

"Hey, Pyrrha!" Jaune greeted her as soon as she arrived at their shared room. Her heart warmed at the greeting and at the sight of her three closest friends on Remnant relaxing. This was why she had to do this. She couldn't ruin what she had with them.

The next few days were spent talking to her agent and coming in and out of Beacon. As soon as classes had finished or the weekend began she'd leave and return only when curfew made her go back. Her friends thought her behavior was odd, but they'd all simply assumed that she was just busy with the Vytal Tournament coming up. She didn't have the heart to correct them and simply let the assumptions lie.

It was a week in when Jaune had confronted her, "Pyr, are you alright?" the blonde asked worriedly. Her heart ached at the thought that she was causing him grief, but she told herself that it would be all worth it in the end.

"I'm fine, Jaune." She forced herself to smile for him.

"It's just that you've been running yourself ragged the whole week." She looked away, "Hey, why don't we go out to Vale tomorrow? Just the two of us?"

In any other situation she would've been jumping for joy at the thought. Instead she shook her head, "I'm sorry, Jaune. Maybe next time?"

"Oh...sure."

Two more weeks passed. Her agent was over the moon at how eager she was to spread her name and her friends continued to worry. They often asked her to take a break or come hang out with them, but she'd always refused them. So close. She was so close, she'd tell herself. It was full tunnel vision and she counted each and every box of cereal she'd plastered her face onto as the days passed.

It hurt her to see her friends so worried, but eventually they understood that it was simply something that would pass. Yang had taken to hanging around their room more and more frequently, likely as a way to avoid Denji given how fond Ruby was of him. It was a good thing. The brawler's presence kept the rest of JNPR distracted from their worries of her.

After almost a whole month, she'd finished. Pyrrha dragged all of the dozen test products they'd given her down to the tunnels and dumped them on the Future Devil's room.

"Woah, it's the invincible girl!" He cheered, "You actually did it!"

"Yes..." Pyrrha panted. She hadn't slept since the night prior and there were dark rings under her eyes, but she didn't care. This was all going to be worth it, "Now...give me the power."

"Alrighty!" He snapped his fingers and she felt a surge of something course through her, "You should be able to see a few seconds into the future now. As a bonus, I can talk to you whenever I want! Don't worry, I won't blab too much!" He pumped his fists, "The future rules!"

"The future rules..." Pyrrha walked back to the school proper and tried to find Jaune. He told her he'd be hanging out with Yang in the courtyard and that she could join them if she wanted. She bit her lip as the elevator took her up. She'd prepare herself to confess and use her new power to see how he'd respond. This was the end result of four weeks of effort and it was all worth it.

She found Yang and Jaune sitting under a tree in a slightly isolated corner. Pyrrha's mouth curled in a smile and she raised her hand to greet them when...

Yang leaned forward and kissed Jaune. Pyrrha's greeting died in her throat and she could only watch with rising horror as Jaune reciprocated the gesture with an ease that made it obvious it wasn't the first time they'd done this.

Her hand fell and she was torn between running away or screaming when Yang caught her eye, "Yo! What's up, Cereal Girl?" she greeted as soon as their lips separated. She didn't miss how they held hands.

"Hey, Pyr!" Jaune said brightly.

"H-Hello." Her voice was weak and brittle, "You two, um...the kiss?"

"Huh? Well, yeah. That's kinda what couples do." Yang replied casually. Pyrrha felt something break at the response, "We couldn't exactly do it in my room. Weiss cream gets pissy cause she thinks PDA is 'so shameful'." She rolled her eyes.

"Nora's the opposite. She gushes about how cute it is." Jaune laughed and rubbed the back of his head.

"S-Since when did you two...start dating?"

"About a couple weeks ago, I think?" Yang turned to Jaune who nodded, "Jaune and I've been hanging out since you were so busy and, well, we just kinda clicked, I guess? Though I'll admit it really helps that he gives killer massaages." She grinned. Pyrrha wanted to scream again. Yang was so light and carefree and she didn't mean it in any insulting way, but Pyrrha almost wished she had Miló with her so she could throw it right at her face.

She didn't need foresight to know what would happen if she confessed to him now.

In the end she didn't say another word and simply walked away. They'd both asked if she wanted to hang out tomorrow, but she didn't respond. Pointless. All of it was pointless. All those weeks of pushing away her friends and begging her agent for whatever product placement she could get...and it all led to this.

Pyrrha stopped when she was sure she was alone and collapsed onto her knees, "That didn't work out too well," The Future Devil's voice rang in her mind, "Guess the foresight ended up not being that useful."

"You knew this would happen..."

"Yep." She could practically see him shrug his shoulders, "You were so busy putting your face on cereal boxes that your crush had to spend his time with someone else. Never really thought of myself as a matchmaker, but I guess it turned out alright in the end!" Alrght? How was any of this alright?! "I mean...I did tell you that you could've just confessed, but you just had to make sure!" His voice sounded downright gleeful at that.

"B-But..."

"He would've said yes." Pyrrha's breath stopped at the casual declaration, "But it's too late now, I guess. Hindsight's always twenty-twenty." A pause, "Do you wanna know if their relationship will last? Cause I can tell you. All you need is another contract." He laughed, "The future rules!"

And then he was gone. Pyrrha was left to ponder his next offer as she gripped her hair and screamed.

Man, poor Pyrrha, but honestly she sort of brought it on herself. Rather than facing uncertainty and shooting her shot she obsesses over making sure she loses nothing...so she loses everything. On the bright side she still has all her friends and the power of foresight, so really she just has to learn to move on from her first crush.

I know some of you think it's mean-spirited, but really it's a whole lot less awful than Kobeni's chapter and people dug that. That and characters going through shit is a Chainsaw Man staple. Pyrrha will survive.

Next chapter will likely be the Coco/Weiss/Yang meetup where they discuss Velvet/Winter/Ruby hanging around Denji. After that we can have the chapter where Denji confesses to selling his left nut.