Disclaimer: RWBY belongs to Rooster Teeth. I own nothing.

4. School Days 02

A ramen stall, at noon

Human or Grimm, big or small
Eyes, throat, belly, kidney, balls
At least one of these will be their weak point
It's not rocket science

-M&M's Yakuza lesson #24, to a whimpering Jaune Arc

"Today, we will learn of Grimm."

Jaune paused, noodles trailing down from his mouth. He turned to Melanie, a mistake as the ramen whipped around and splashed broth on his cheeks and t-shirt. Amidst Melanie's cackling laughter, he reached for napkins, taking more than necessary in his haste.

Jaune cringed, knowing what will come next.

Miltia slapped his hand, a punishment for his careless waste. She confiscated the stack of napkins, replaced them on the holder, then pivoted back with two sheets in hand. His teacher lightly dabbed his noodle-stricken face, shaking her head with an amused smile. She could tell he knew what he did wrong, but the principle must be reinforced. Jaune has been getting better at it, but still found himself slipping from time to time. Miltia took in a breath and prepared to fall into her lecture on the importance of recycling and the scarcity of trees. Before she could, Melanie shoved her way between the two.

"Enough about the stupid napkins! We're not here for that!" She banged thrice on the ramen stall's counter with both her hands for emphasis.

Jaune and Miltia quailed under her fierce glare.

The cook behind the counter hiccupped in fear.

Her baleful glare immobilized all present, until a quirk of an eyebrow spurred all three to furiously nod their heads in agreement. Satisfied that she will not be interrupted by any more drivels, Melanie smoothed out her white sundress and tried again.

"Today." She peeked at Jaune. He held himself completely still. "We will learn of Grimm."

Jaune burst into applause. Hearing nothing from Miltia, Jaune tried to subtly nudge the twin and met empty air. Glancing, he found that Miltia has joined her sister's side. She slyly waved at him from the safety of the winning team.

"To start, what do you know about the Grimm?"

Jaune rallied under his teachers' scrutiny.

"The Grimm are creatures of Darkness. It is unclear where they came from, but it is agreed that they are a threat to all humankind since time immemorial. Currently, they occupy over 70%-" Miltia interjected, rolling her eyes.

"Yeah, yeah yeah yeah. We get it, you're a nerd." Jaune promptly protested before the appellation could stick. No need to go through middle school again.

"I'm going to be a Huntsman! I'm gonna need to know about these things." Melanie stepped in to rebut.

"You have to ask yourself this, gopher. Will you, like, actually use this knowledge?"

"What did you just say, really? That the Grimm are creatures we can't explain, from somewhere we don't know of, they've hated us for a long time, and, like, there's a lot of them?"

Jaune huffed, but could not help but agree. The history of the Grimm is a fascinating subject, but it won't help him in the here and now. Or in the ever after, quite likely. Contrite, Jaune settled down once more, and focused all attention on the twins. Miltia curled her lips in satisfaction.

"The real question, disciple, is how do you hurt a Grimm?"

Ah yeah, this is what he's here for! Seeing Jaune perking up, Melanie fell into the same expression as her sister.

"Listen up. Killing a Grimm isn't hard, but I've seen idiots smack their fancy mechashift rods of overcompensation on a Grimm's bone plate, see it bounce off, and then did it again!"

Pfffft. Jaune joined Melanie and Miltia in derisive laughter. What's the line about the definition of insanity? It's a bit heartening to know that there are Huntsmen and Huntresses worse than him. Then that realization sank in, and Jaune's face became sickly pale. The safety of Vale suddenly seemed fragile, indeed.

Not noticing Jaune's newfound terror, Melanie continued the lesson. She scooted closer, her lips brushing Jaune's ear. Coquettishly, she whispered.

"Do you want to know the secret?"

Jaune nodded rapidly. Oum, he would've agreed to anything for that voice. And for the way the sunshine traced a faint outline of her figure under the thin sundress. Praying that his face would not reveal his thoughts, Jaune stiffened as Miltia pressed against his other side. Her shorts exposed smooth thighs that shyly touched his jean-clad legs. Jaune shamefully tore his eyes from the open neckline of her Bardot top. By the Brothers, how could he think such things of his teachers?

Softly, Miltia breathed into his neck.

"The key to hurting Grimm, disciple,-"

"-is to stab them in the vulnerables."

Jauney's not feeling so hot anymore.

"It's like hurting a man-"

"-Or a woman-"

"-The pain is different, but I heard either are excruciating."

"And it's proven to work on Grimm, it's science."

Jauney really don't want to be here anymore.

Forget the ramen. He'll leave the chicken dumplings and the brown-sugar Boba tea, too. He would've agreed to anything to never hear those words again.

"Later in the afternoon, after moving the inventory-"

"-There's this contest among the minions-"

"-where you can practice targeting weakpoints in the heat of battle." Their voices harmonized, sweet as honey.

""Do you best, 'kay?""

Jaune has heard enough. Left hand reached for his wallet, right hand pushed against table. Feet slapped against the ground decisively. Time for his escape. Jaune rose from his seat…and felt two pairs of dainty yet persistent hands tightened around his arms.

No. Nonononono.

He whirred to look at the cook. Not meeting his eyes, the old man cowardly lowered his head and shook it sadly. It was always a sorrowful day for a chef, to know a favorite customer will not come back.

Jaune hyperventilated, trying to recall words of wisdom that would get him through this day. Finding none and short of breath, Jaune gasped weakly as he falls to the floor.

As darkness took him, Jaune heard two exasperated sighs, identical in pitch and length.

~Haaaah~

~Haaaah~

"Weak of heart, he is."

"Really, sis?"

"Hey! It's the ultimate mentor voice. Change my mind."


Later in the day of judgment, 4:12 PM

It's called gang life for a reason
It's why we fight you two on one
This is a teaching moment, disciple
Victory, is a game of numbers

-M&M's Yakuza lesson #25, to a 'meep'-ing Jaune Arc

Hah! How he could've been scared of this, he'll never know!

Amidst the cheers and jeers, Jaune Arc, current top contender of the Tournament From Hell, threw his head back with arms spread wide and roared his triumph.

Aura is almighty.

His control of it may be nonexistent, but even at its most basic level, Aura boosted the speed and strength of its wielder. Jaune danced among the mooks, an untouchable falcon among the rabbits. He jumped over a stocky man in the usual black suit and red tie. His long right leg reached out for a tank-topped fighter's weakness, giving more of a shove than a kick.

Over the course of the afternoon, Jaune has learned to moderate his recently-found power. Currently, he was practicing in using the bare minimum force needed to eliminate his fellow contestants. His teachers were right, this tournament made for the perfect training ground. He'll have to thank them for this opportunity later.

And he'll have to remember to name his future son in honor of his first opponent, Nash. Since Nash might now not be able to.

It seemed an age ago that he was a part of this crowd. The camaraderie was palpable. He has missed this.

*Ah-hem*

Oh?

Melanie stood on a stack of crates. Her sister, on the same tower, was sitting with legs crossed. Melanie bounced on the balls of her feet as she announced into a megaphone.

*Well, well, well. Looks like none of you can stand against dear Jaune. I expected better of my subordinates.*

Oh, no.

Jaune surreptitiously observed the crowd of Uncle Hei's underlings. They did not appear offended at Melanie, no. Instead, their eyes are meeting his own blue gaze. He has forgotten. He has forgotten that these are not faceless men, here to boost his ego. Although they would cheer for him should he take the crown, each person before him hoped to be the champion, themselves. The hellion, knowing exactly what her words are doing to Jaune, gleefully shouted.

*So, new rule! A knockout, or a ring-out, for Jaune will net his victorious challenger 50 points. Almost an instant win! Aura is almighty, after all.

AND! AND! We're adding a challenger to the mix. He has heard of the young punk making waves. He may have missed the strutting contest, but he's in the club today! Perhaps, the two beasts' clash will give you the chance for victory. Put your hands together for our Club DJ!*

It didn't just make an entrance. It slinked. It slid. It spun and moonwalked to a rhythm of its own. The other men made a path for the bear-headed figure, grinning viciously at Jaune as the mascot passed them by. It gave one last spin ending in a deep, elegant bow to Jaune. Rising, the bear placed its hands on its hips, cocked its head, and waited for Jaune's response. Its suit was impeccable. Its head was round and adorable. It. Never. Blinked.

Okay, bring it on. If Melanie and Miltia wanted a show, then Jaune will prove to them what he is made of.

The blond boy shifted his body to minimize surface area, and put one foot forward. Jaune raised a loose fist, palm facing upwards. Making sure all eyes are on him, Jaune extended the index finger, and beckoned.

He very quickly came to the conclusion that he underestimated the bear. It could move with the speed of Aura. It could see, even with its helmet. Worse, it had the crowd on its side.

This was not a battle of two warriors, but a mad scramble of dozens of contestants. Even within the madness, factions formed. And the bear has by far the largest backing. It had been with Junior's gang for a long time. It curried favor, it bought rounds of drinks, it won and lost generous lien in card games. It was a sympathetic ear at the bar, a source of musical joy to many, and a friend to pretty much everyone. The crowd, in friendship and gratitude, chose to give aid to the bear.

Hands grabbed at Jaune to create openings, bodies cushioned the bear's impact as Jaune's kicks send it flying. A few brave men tried to lend Jaune support, but they were far too outnumbered to be effective.

Beyond all that, the bear was simply too strong, too experienced, too other.

Its movements defied common sense. Its arms blocked and countered with a slithering grace Jaune could not match. Its legs bent almost unnaturally, twisting like snakes around Jaune's defenses. Jaune only managed to stop its blows by a hair's breadth from reaching their target. A single mistake, and Jaune would taste agony.

It was unfair. No one can say otherwise. Jaune soon realized that this was the point. Glancing to his teachers, he noticed their intense gazes, their knuckles clenching the edges of their perch until they turned white. Melanie and Miltia have giftwrapped a lesson for him, a lesson in defeat. Arrogance may be a hallmark of a Yakuza, but Jaune has begun to allow it to overwhelm him. The crowd energized him in a way that made him act out. But they only cheered him in the spur of the moment, not for their loyalty to him. Jaune stood among them as a relative stranger. That changes after today, Jaune promised.

And while Aura may be almighty, Jaune was only one of its many wielders. To believe himself invincible could be the last mistake he will ever make. There was always someone a step above. Someone with a plan of action, or a secret weapon, or even an army at their back. To match their might, Jaune needed to even the field. By superior power, by exploiting every opening, by sheer confusion and oddity if he must.

In the future, his arrogance will be controlled and well-deserved. A tool for him, rather than him a slave to it.

All too soon, Jaune faltered before the mascot. He braced himself, yet he still screamed from the sharp, short punch that sent him off the stage. He dropped to the ground among the audience, and laid there cradling his treasures.

In the silence of his fall, a lone battlecry rang out.

"For my sons, I demand satisfactiiiiiiion!"

Nash's declaration opened the floodgates, and he led the stampede of Jaune's defeated foes towards the prone boy. At least, the ones from before Jaune managed to moderate his attacks. There were many.

In the resulting mob of mooks, Melanie and Miltia had to pull him to safety. Jaune later heard that the punishments the twins inflicted upon the (very) sore losers were legendary.

The pair of sisters even begged forgiveness from him for going too far, sniffling and in tears for nearly ending his life as a man.

Jaune knew that he had a part in the animosity against him. Aura-assisted kicks are no joke. But valuable lesson for him or not, Jaune reasoned, his teachers bore most of the responsibility for his pain by turning the contest into a madhouse. Thus, he stayed silent to teach Melanie and Miltia a lesson for once.

That is, he stayed silent for ten minutes. Unable to withstand his teachers' despondent faces, Jaune whipped up two bowls of sundae in a panic for the twins, to cheer them up.

They shared some with him, as a peace offering.


A quiet riverside café, late morning

Too much stress, and you'll go bald
Nobody respects an egghead
Smell the flowers, have a drink
Take life as it comes

-M&M's Yakuza lesson #36, to a lounging Jaune Arc

In the week following the Club's long, long night, the subordinates lucky enough to not be in the Club during Blondie Barbie's rampage had the unfortunate task of picking up the slack for every person out of commission.

From cleaning and repairing the Club, to purchasing (and/or stealing) new furniture and decor, to delivering care packages to the injured, they suffered without rest. The gangsters took it in good humor, though. They enjoyed doing honest work for once, they joked. 'Misplaced' TVs notwithstanding, of course.

Because, for all their hard days and long nights, these men and women saw themselves as blessed. We're not the ones who faced the monster that night, said one. We didn't have the job of bouncer and lost a fight, whispered another. At least we're not Jaune, exclaimed the rest.

Jaune, who took the worst damage that night, as the pictures of his pulped face in the aftermath attested.

Jaune, who has some sort of insane Aura healing power, and was on his feet the very next day. Hearty and hale enough to pick up a broom and start sweeping.

Part of the injured crew, and part of the cleanup crew.

Bleeeh. Aura wasn't worth it.

In sympathy, Junior's gang all agreed to let Jaune have a day off.

The fact that he will drag Junior, still crying over his lost booze, and the twins, irritated and snappy over their defeat, along with him was merely coincidental.

Rooftop cafe

Four people reclined at a table on a rooftop café above a bookstore. Their fifth, who appeared to have the head of a bear, stood nearby taking photos of the scenic river view across the street. One of the figure sipped on the straw of her banana-vanilla smoothie, with cinnamon and coffee jelly, and moaned.

"We should've done this earlier, Miltia. OhmiOum!"

Her sister Miltia, enjoying a simple latte, cinnamon-infused with extra espresso and a cute foam cat drawn on top, murmured in agreement.

Jaune merely took another gulp of his abomination of a chocolate frappe, with chocolate whipped cream, chocolate pirouette wafers, chocolate drizzle, a generous sprinkle of crushed chocolate on top, and a dash of cinnamon.

Uncle Hei, inspecting the younger crowd's choice of drink with disgust and suspicion, poured another shot of whiskey from a hidden flask into his Irish Coffee. He tasted the new blend, and grinned at the pleasant kick. Not many can make the alcoholic caffeine drink from the Valean region of Ire properly, and he had taken to bringing a small amount of whiskey to any café. He waved away Jaune's offer of the small jar of powdered cinnamon. Pheh, classless heretic.

They fell back into companionable silence, simply basking in the bright, beautiful day. The river breeze cooled the air. The sunlight beat softly. No fear, no pain, no troubles. The four happily sighed in unison.

There should be more days like this, they all thought.


Author's note: I boldly went where many RWBY fanfic authors feared to tread. Except God Emperor Penguin, where Ruby Shoots Jaune in the Nuts.

In the words of Nash the Named Mook, "Despite any possible evidence to the contrary, I do not hate Jaune with the planet-shattering force that broke our moon, and am in no ways murderously jealous of the amount of time he gets to spend with the Malachite twins."

School Days episodes are not chronological. Power levels are working as intended. This is not simply an excuse for me to humiliate Jaune.