GLARING PROBLEM
"Right!" Nora slammed her palms on the table and stood up, garnering everyone's attention on the table. "So, there's this thing happened… in the middle of the night, last night!"
"It was middle of the day…" Ren immediately retorted with the tone that bordered between calmness and tiredness. The lunch went on light atmosphere as Nora retold her apparent dream during her sleep on the other night, with Ren provided constant retort to water-down his partner's exaggerated tale.
Everyone's reaction varied: Pyrrha was listening out of courtesy, Ruby and Yang were listening while eating out of boredom and curiosity, while Blake and Weiss pretty much ignored the bubbly girl, listening every now and then just in case if there was actually anything interesting in Nora's 'epic adventure'.
During the whole affair, Pyrrha notice that Jaune had yet to utter a word, absentmindedly playing with his food.
"Jaune?" Pyrrha asked her partner. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" Jaune literally jump in his sit, looking spooked and blinks his eyes several times before he finally realized that someone else was talking to him. "Oh, Pyrrha. Err… Yeah, I'm good. Why do you ask?"
Jaune managed to smile, but it was obviously forced. Not to mention his reaction alone have drawn everyone attention.
"Jaune, Cardin's been picking on you since the first week of school!" Pyrrha said, sounding angry and annoyed by the said person act and her partner lack of act.
"Who? Cardin Winchester? Nah... He just likes to mess around! You know, practical jokes!" Jaune stutter as he continue to throw any words of denial that come to mind.
"He's a bully." Ruby said flatly, only for Jaune to scoff as he heard that.
"Oh, please! Name one time he's 'bullied' me." Jaune confidently said, causing everyone to stare at each other before starting their barrage of statement.
"He trips you to fall," Ren start with the obvious one.
"I just being reckless." Jaune immediately retort.
"He fills your locker with trash," Nora try to remember back.
"It's not that dirty." Jaune once again deflect.
"He locks you in a rocket and sent you flying." Yang said while snickering, remembering how, just a little, funny the scene was.
"I didn't land far from the school!" Jaune said, just attempting to laugh it off.
"Jaune, you know if you ever need help, you can just ask." Pyrrha place her hand on he partner shoulder, trying to convince him that he is not alone.
"Oooor!" Nora suddenly gets up from the table and presents her diabolical plan with a not-entirely-sane grin "We can break his legs!"
"Guys, really, it's fine! Besides, it's not like he's only a jerk to me; he's a jerk to everyone." They all looks over as the laughing grows louder, mixed in with cries of pain from the rabbit girl when one of her ears are tugged on by Cardin.
"Ow! That hurts! Please, stop..." The Faunus girl cry in plea.
Training Jaune Arc huh? Not gonna lie, training someone from the base up is hard. But it is gonna be harder if that kid has some misconception and bad habit he get while playing around. Not to mention I don't really know how to train someone. Those people become strong because of their own effort, their own struggle. I only watch them grow, not even give them any hand.
In a way, Jaune Arc does resemble his ancestor Jeanu D'Arc. Not only their name is quite similar, but their skill is also the same when I first met them. They are bad, really bad. But the difference between them is that Jaune Arc is a whiny kid, unlike his ancestor. Jeanu D'Ark he has a clear goal and will do anything he need to accomplice said goal. He has a strong determination and that is the first thing I need to confirm from the kid. Is he ready to face the hell I'll be lay in front of him?
There is several way I can approach him to get that answer. He is meek and need some self confidence but I don't want to raise his confidence by praise, he is obviously bad at almost everything. I can be hard at him from the start, pinning him to certain situation he has no choice but to face. I also have material to threaten him.
But now that I think about it, I kinda regret this deal with Ozpin. I have been keep my distance from the kids before, but now that I have to teach Jaune means that I will more interaction with him and his team. That will also spread to the other kids. I guess I can't do anything about that now, better enjoy it while doing it.
Now there is this kid? Their class is already over half an hour ago, so they must already left the classroom. It's actually lunch time right now, so maybe they are at the cafeteria. They also have a class in the afternoon so they must be having a break now. Alright, then let's head there.
When I arrive at the corridor next to the cafeteria, I could heard some laughing followed by a cry. I immediately walk inside the cafeteria only to found out that the Winchester kid is holding Velvet Scarlatina's rabbit ear. They are surrounded by his teammate laughing at the scene. These piece of shits.
"I told you it was real!" Cardin laughing happily as he continue to hold the girl ears.
"What a freak!" His other teammates comment.
I walk toward them and when I close enough, I hold Winchester hand who was holding Velvet ear. They show shock expression when they realize I was there. I use a plain expression toward them, looking at them one by one.
"Sup, kids. Looks like you enjoy too much of your time in Beacon, ey?"
"What the-"
"Where did yo-"
"You really should have stand up for yourself, Velvet." I ignore the four-idiot reaction, I look toward the bunny girl. "You're a senior to them for fuck sake. Show some pride and confidence. You're stronger than this idiots combine, even if you kill them, it will count as self-defense, you know?"
"S-sir Yussuf!" Velvet looks at me with a relief look in her eyes. She is another kid that need a confidence boost and no matter how much praise I and her other teammates have thrown her ways, it didn't work. I really need to think how to approach this kind of people. I tighten my grip around the boy arms causing him to let go of the faunus girl. Not that she is free, I can handle this more comfortably.
"Well, get going then, before your food get cold." I chase her away and she only nod and before she walks away. I shift my attention toward the boys. "So, I have met a lot of bunch of shits like you. Are we gonna do this the hard way or the painful way?"
I look at the four brats in front of me while Cardin try to pull his hand away from my grip. The three also try to run away, but since their leader still held by me they can't move as well, if they don't want problem with their leader later on.
"What? Cat got your tongue or something?" I tighten my grip further, causing him to groan in pain.
"Le-let go off my hand!" He protest, try to wiggle his way out, as if I'll let him.
"Why? I simply grip your hand. You did the same to her, remember? Or are you already forgot because of how shitty that head of yours is?"
"You- Ugh! Y-you are breaking my hand!" hand!" He scream, but the sound of cracking bones have yet to be heard.
"Oh, come on, stop being a whiny baby!" I pull his hand upward, making him lose his footing so his eyes on the same lever as mine. I stare right at his eyes and I can see fear, he is scared. Good. I then look at the crowd who have been watching us. "I have say this a year ago, but since there are new students here, I'll say it again."
I take a deep breath and announce to the kids.
"If I ever catch any of you do something like this shit ever again. I looking at you, you little shit!" I look at one of the kid called Lecrauski who a year ago do the same thing as Winchester to another kid. "You're lucky I only break your leg that time. Like I said, if I catch any of you do something like this, I'll do thing that even worse than this and trust me when I say that even Ozpin wouldn't able to stop me."
The cafeteria went silent. No one make a sound, no one move a muscle. Even the cafeteria staff stop their job. Looks like they get my point.
"You understand that?" I look back Cardin and ask him personally. He nods with my question, sweat flowing intensify from his face. I let go of his hand and he fall on his butt before frantically run away with his friends. I watch the four-idiots running away before turn toward the crowd, making some of them jump in fear.
"M-Mr. Yussuf." Velvet suddenly walk up to me, with her head low. "T-thank you, sir."
"You really need to start standing up for yourself, Velvet." I pet her head, feeling the fluffy feeling from her hair and ears. While are those guy try to destroy such nice plushie? ""Me and your teammates will not always here you know?"
"Yes, sir, but I just don't want to hurt them back." She said meekly, what a good kid.
"Where is Coco and rest anyway?"
"The rest is... sneaking out to but some clothes... I heard they can get some amazing discount."
"Ah, right. Today is sale day. I probably should sneak out as well."
"S-sir?"
"Nothing, nothing, you better get back to your food before the class start."
"Alright, thanks again, Mr. Yussuf." She bows slightly and run away out of the room. Now that's done, why am I here, again?
"Sirrrrrrrrr!" I hear a shout from one of the corner of the cafeteria and find Nora standing on the table, surrounded by her friends who try to tell her to get down from the table. That's right, the kid.
"Hey kid," I said when I arrive at their table.
"Sir! Sir! Did you really break someone leg before?" Nora immediately asks me, very excited for some reason, very alarming. I look around to her friends to find why she is like this, but no one seems to notice my silent question. I look back at Nora, and tell her what it is.
"Yeah, I want to teach him some lesson. Why you ask?" I carefully asked, trying to found out her reasoning to curios about such thing.
"That is sooooooo cooooooooool. To think that you break their leg, can I do it too?" She exclaim with full excitement. I look around in worry to her friends who seems to finally notice.
"Now, calm down." Ren said, his hand reaching up to his friend, only for her to grab it.
"I'm not gonna be calm, I wanna break legs!"
"Nora, please, get off the table..." Ren's tone was tired and annoyed.
"I'm not getting down from this table until somebody breaks a leg!" She continue, doesn't sound bothered. "Its okay, right?"
"Ehhhh..." I once again look around for an explanation why she is like this, but no one answer. "For a self-defense, sure..."
"Yeayyyyyy!" She jumps in place before jumping down the table. She immediately run out of the cafeteria while laughing crazily. I watch her disappear from the exit before I turn back toward her friends.
"Anyone care to capture her before she did anything...worrying." I point at the door where the girl out of my sight.
"I'll handle this." Ren sigh before runs away, chasing his partner also disappear out of the room.
"If I may sir, what bring you here today in cafeteria?" The heiress was the first to ask. Good, something normal to ask unlike before.
"Ah that's right, I have something to say to you first year..." I immediately turn around and remember not only Nora and Ren, but also CRDL teams that I drove off before. "You can just tell them later for me."
"What is it about, sir?" Pyrrha also asked while suggesting me the empty seat Nora and Ren left empty.
"Thanks." I sat in one of the chair before looking at the kids seriously. "There is actually some complain from few of the professor about your performance in class."
I can see the awkwardness in the kid expression, worried and scared what I'm about to say next. I even take out a piece of paper, making the thing looks more serious, enjoying their reaction.
"First is Nora, Cardin... ugh... and Ruby haven't collected 2 essay from Oobleck's class. Cardin... seriously? Russe, and Jaune, you three keep sleeping in Peter's class and while I agree that it was boring it will help you in the future as professional hunter. Sky, Yang, Bandon and Jaune you four haven't shown any progress in your fighting skill and Glynda think that you should put more effort in her class." I sigh and put the paper back to my pocket before shifting my attention back to them. "And... there is all. Is there any question?"
Ruby is looking down shyly while Yang only frowned at me mentioning their name. Their partner can only slap their forehead at their partners failure. I look the other way and found Jaune almost crying on his seat. His partner tries to cheer him up but only for no avail. That's an extreme reaction.
"Listen kid, I'm the one responsible of you, first years, so if you need help at anything like homework, you didn't understand a lesson or anything that you can think of, just talk to me. I'll help you the best I can." I said to the kids, causing their expression change, but mostly positive.
"But sir, it actually quite difficult to find you out of class." The red head talk after giving up to cheer up her partner. "I never saw you in the teacher room either."
"Yeah, I don't like to hang out there. But you can find me in the library in the afternoon if I don't have any class." I take a sip of my ice coffee which I ordered from the cafeteria. Flat, its not so good after all. "You are welcome to visit me anytime."
"Sir, may I ask?' The black-haired girl, who I though gonna stay silent and avoid me the whole time, ask. She even put her book aside, and fully focus on me.
"You know what, you can drop the formality and just call me Yussuf. I'm starting feeling old being called sir." I take a bite into the burger that I also ordered. Not gonna lie, I surprised by how much variant of food served in this cafeteria and this one not so bad as the coffee.
"Okay, Yussuf, why did you help that Faunus girl?"
"Em... why not?"
"I mean most of people would just ignore something like that." I put down the burger wrapper in front of me after I finish the burger. I take another sip of the coffee to clear my throat and answer her.
"You do realize she is my student, right? As a teacher, I have a duty to help my student. Not to mention I hate those kind of people, picking on someone they though below them just because of their circumstances." I look at them, their eyes still glued to me. "I don't see why you would ignore that. Either it will be other people I know nothing about instead of my student, Human or Faunus, I believe I will always stop that kinda act. Those kinda people need to be stop before they do any worse and believe me, they will. I've seen enough victim of those bullying and some are not so lucky to just walk away with embarrassment and a little bruises."
"I 100% agree, those kinda people are annoying and need to be teach a lesson." The blonde girl said with a passion in her voice.
"Yes, they are really bad person." The red hair also agreed.
"If you feel that you can't interfere at the act, try to contact adult or the authority." I said while clearing. "Those trash need to be put at their place and if others don't want to do it, I will. I just hope there are less people like that. Well, that's enough of that. So, how are things going for you kids at Beacon?"
"So far so good." Blake simply replied while she took her book back and focus on it, once again.
"Awesome!" Her partner replies simply with her little sister at the same time.
"Things are not the most ideal, but still acceptable." Weiss replied, garnering several flat looks from her teammates.
"I find them refreshing so far." Pyrrha smiled but suddenly turn serious as she look at her partner who sit beside her.
"Yeah… it's good." Jaune answered absentmindedly, less excited than the rest of them.
"Hey, I know that it had been hard here but try to hold up. Some people need more time to adapt and it's alright. You don't have to handle everything alone, that's why you have partner here. No one can survive alone in this world." Let's at least cheer him up a bit. My sudden shift of speech seems to caused Jaune to look at me. "While I won't deny that the comparing and everything in competitive environment can help motivating people to perform better, that's not exactly the main focus of a learning place like schools. Just focus on your own skill and a way to improve them. "
"That's right, you still have four years to improve Jaune, don't give up." The red head once again try to cheer up her partner, she really is a good kid who care to her surroundings. Or that she has feeling toward him, my guess is the later.
"Thats right, I did suck a lot until my uncle taught me how to fight, and even now, I'm still no good when it comes to hand-to-hand. You'll get better, everyone does." Ruby quipped at the comment. The blonde boy seems to cheer up a bit with his friends cheering, that's good. Well, that is all I can do for now; we have class after this as well. So, lets end this here, but before I could stand up, the leader of RWBY once again speaks but full of excitement. "Yussuf, Yussuf, where did you learn how to use a scythe? Our techniques are really similar? Did you know my uncle Qrow? I learn all my techniques to use scythe from him!"
"Chill kid, it's not I'll run away. I'll answer if I can." I commented at her excitement, a blush appears on her cheek. Just like her mother, if it comes to her passion and know you enough, she will turn from a shy and meek girl into a loud and cheerful one. But how should I answer this, telling her the truth is not an option. I actually have makes story in case someone ask, so let's use that one. "Where do I start? Yes, I do know your uncle Qrow, we actually learn using scythe from the same teacher, that's why we have the same techniques."
"Really!? That is so coooool!"
"Ruby! Please lower you voice." Her partner said with a finger on her mouth, shushing their leader. "Ehm, is that why Ruby said she feel like she has seen you somewhere?"
"That's right! Rubes actually said that!"
"Honestly, I don't know." I said genuinely. "While I have met your parent, I actually never met you two before."
"Then why don't you say hi to them?" Jaune actually ask the question, seems forgot about his depression before.
"It just doesn't feel right, I only met them several time before, three if I was correct." I empty my cup to dehydrate my throat and continue. "I don't want you kids to think I'm being too familiar with you guys. The other reason is because I hate your father, not that I want to kill him hate but the kind of he is annoying hate."
"But why our parent and uncle Qrow never talk about you before?" The blonde once again ask, seems not affected by what I just said about her father.
"Probably because you father also hates me, but for Qrow, we who work in that kind of line like Qrow did wouldn't want to talk about ourself and coworker much."
The kids nod in understanding, completely understand what I just saying. Good seems like the kid buy the bait.
"Yussuf! Yussuf! Where is your scythe? Is that sword you always carry have something special in it? Can you introduce me to your teacher?"
"Geez, Rubes, hold your horses there, you will scare boys if you ask that much." Her big sister said, obviously teasing her. She tries to ignore the blonde but a streak of red still could be seen on her cheek.
"Yes, there is something special about this sword but what it is a trade secret. About our teacher," Shit I actually never though they would ask me about this, what should I do? "He actually died a few years ago of old age, so yeah..."
"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to-"
"That's alright, it's not like you mean o mock or dishonor him, anyway." I then look at the clock in the room, 1:15 PM, Oobleck class will start in 15 minutes. "While I enjoy our talk, I think it's time for use to get back to class, your history class will start in 15 minutes so you better get ready. Remember kid you can find me in the library in the afternoon, if you need anything. See you kids at class."
I then stand up and walk out from the cafeteria. The kids say their goodbye as well followed by their own discussion behind me.
