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"Another day in paradise!" Jaune said as he was relaxing by his pool, a cold drink by his side. Ashley was not back yet, and everyone was off doing their own thing right now! Lillian was blasting music in her room, Beli and Kyanna were actually downstairs, doing yoga, and Aiko was out running a few errands. This gave him a few hours of respite where he didn't need to worry about anything!
"And another day for seduction!" Kyu said with equal joy. Ok, maybe there was one person whom he couldn't get rid of. "So, have you decided who you are going to aim for yet?"
"Kyu, it's been two days since we talked." He reminded her. "Pretty sure it takes time to develop such feelings and-"
"Yeah, yeah, I know. Your situation is not exactly allowing you to make moves; I get it. Still, you do need to work on your relationship with them. If you can connect with them on a deeper level, that is sure to boost the mana supply! Plus, I'd say Aiko has been doing a decent enough job at teaching you some stuff, too."
"Kyu…"
"Alright, Buster, no need to get aggressive. Here, how about this? I will relax here, on the armrest next to you, and you can doze off under the sun. What do you say?"
"You know what? Deal." Jaune replied, and so, slowly, he tried to catch some rest in the sun.
"Hey!" However, Lillian came out of her room and shouted, making him sigh. It's too good to be true when you have women living under your roof.
"What is it, Lillian?" He asked, lowering his shades to look at her.
"Can you go buy me some stuff?" She asked.
"Ok, first of all, congrats on asking instead of demanding, and second, why can't you go buy said stuff yourself?" Jaune asked.
"Because I am busy." She replied with her usual sass.
"Bullshit! I bet she just wants to rub it and doesn't know how to empty the house." Kyu stated.
"Busy with…"
"Busy with trying NOT to ruin my underwear with a certain red substance," Lillian replied, and Jaune's memories came flooding. His sisters…Oh shit…
"RED ALERT!" Kyu shouted, and she was not wrong about the red alert part at all. "Dude, this is not good…"
"So…You want me to go buy you some tampons, is that it? Again, why can't you go get some yourself?" Jaune asked, trying to push the issue a bit without causing Lillian to act on her current discomfort potentially.
"Because, Mister-Big-Money, I don't really know the island as well as you do." A bit of bullshit, considering he was not a local either. "Besides, you are the one with money! And I suggest you buy multiple packs, considering there are multiple of us living here."
"You do make a solid point…" It did happen once, only once, that his sisters all ran out of tampons. There wasn't a single one in the entire house, and he remembers how his father was held responsible for that. Well, it was his fault since those were clearly stated on the list of groceries his mother gave him once. Even his mother was in need of them, and she was very vocal about the number of MONTHS he would spend on the couch if he didn't return by tonight.
That day, Jaune made the sound decision to lock himself in his room and not come out until the next day. It was a good thing he had a box of cookies in his room to last him until then. Even then, the girls sat on chairs and the couch, leaving red stains all over, and did not care in their states what kind of mess they made. It was only afterward when their periods passed, that clarity struck, and they realized they had stained various spots in the house.
That day, he and his father were, luckily, out all day shopping.
"Alright, I will go out as soon as I get dressed."
"Good. Here." She threw an empty pack at him. "This is the mark Ashley and I use. See if they got it on the island, and if they don't, at least find something decent."
"Alright, alright." He replied, going to his room and preparing himself for an outing. Well, at least he was keeping busy.
"There," Jaune said as he and Kyu left the store, deciding to walk back to his place. "That should cover them for a few months."
"The clerk was definitely giving you some weird looks, dude. Not just them either." Kyu remarked. "Like, a guy buying this kind of stuff is not really common sight! The fact you knew your way around them even less so. But then again, you did grow up with a bunch of sisters."
"What can I say? I learned some stuff." He replied casually, the tampons he bought safely placed in a bag he was holding with his left hand. "Hopefully, once we get back, we can get back to relaxing." Using his right hand, he had his scroll to his ear, allowing him to talk with Kyu. People just thought he was talking on the phone. Why not speak mentally as they had been doing before? He just decided to change things a bit.
"Perhaps you should try working on Lillian," Kyu suggested. "You might be able to get into her pants."
"While she is all bloody?"
"Ewww! No!" Kyu recoiled at the suggestion, but as Jaune snickered, it was clear he was messing with her. "Fuck you, dude."
Placing his scroll away, he resumed mental talk. "Speaking of, do you think Aiko's lessons did me any good? Like, I didn't realize breasts were as sensitive as she said they were."
"They are, but some girls like it when you grab them roughly. It's tricky, really. Some girls like it when they are slammed around like a piece of meat, pounded as if a five-star chef is tenderizing them! Others, however, prefer to be treated like flowers. Gently, slow, and steady." Kyu said. "And for my life, I cannot figure out which one is Lillian. She looks like she likes it rough, but at the same time, considering her background, she might enjoy the more lovey-dovey approach."
"Well, I don't have any idea either, but I think we should talk about something else." He let out a breath, allowing cold air to come out. "My new semblance."
"What about it?" Kyu asked. "I find it cool! No pun intended. I mean, you can just blow cold air on stuff to freeze them solid! I'd like to see Eros get through that!"
"Kyu, the issue is that it's quite obviously a different semblance. Before, with Flash Strike, I could pass it as being an extension of my Aura Amplification. A stretch, but it's possible. But this? How am I supposed to explain this? I ate Ice Dust?" Jaune replied, making his worries more defined.
"I mean…"
"Kyu…"
"Look, I really don't see what the issue is here." She said.
"The issue is that Bella Dia has a bunch of laws tailored against Huntsmen, more or less." Jaune reminded her. "I don't know what they have so against them, but all in all, the island prospers not only thanks to a very low Grimm activity but also because of the lack of anything Huntsman-related! I mean, they even seem to be very careful with civilians that have an aura, and considering what we learned, I don't blame them. If a strong aura can really attract Grimm, then it makes sense they want to keep the number of people with aura under surveillance."
"You think they might do something extreme if too many people with aura appear on the island?" Kyu asked. "Like sending them to the mainland?"
"Doubt it. Bella Dia still has a pretty sizable population, and not everyone is bound to have the same amount of aura or a powerful semblance. Plus, it has the other effect of creating potential defenders for the island." Jaune argued back. "So, it's a double-edged sword."
"Huh. Okay, I think I understand your logic now, but I don't see how this is a major issue for you," Kyu said.
"I doubt they ever dealt with a person that holds more than one semblance," Jaune told her. "I mean, being able to do what Origin allows is already unheard of! What I worry about is less about what the island authorities might think and what the general public would think as a whole. Especially Huntsmen communities."
"Isn't it a good thing? I mean, surely there will be more than one Huntsman or Huntress who would want to take you in as an apprentice by that point. It sounds like a big leap to what you wanted, namely, to be a Huntsman!" Kyu stated.
"True, that is possible. But at the same time, people might get scared. Being able to copy semblances…Some might see it as me taking away a part of their individuality. Many people hold pride in their semblance being unique, and if they knew I could undo that uniqueness, they might develop some kind of fear toward me." Jaune argued back.
"That is IF they knew Origin existed in the first place and- Ok, wait, no, I see your point now. But power attracts benefits! Women, for one!"
"Isn't your purpose in helping people get women without using things like money, influence, or power?"
"You are right on the last two," Kyu stated. "But money is something you cannot do without. Seriously, like right now, you had to spend money to buy the women under your roof precious supplies for their monthly trials!"
"Fair point. Wait a minute, what about you? Don't you get calls from Mother Nature? I just remember that ever since we met, you didn't seem to have any episode."
"Love Fairies can't get their periods when they are in mana-saving mode," Kyu stated. "One of the few perks of being this tiny! Granted, at the same time, I cannot fuck anything bigger than a rat, so…" She sighed. "It all checks out."
"Still, any advice on how I can get closer to the girls? As for the way, I need to get closer since I need to get more mana. Trying to seduce them is just iffy for me."
"Well, you don't need to make them fall in love with you, but I guess as long as you manage to reach an intimate level in your relationship with them, it should work. And that doesn't always mean intimate, as in, you are in their pants kind of intimate. But rather, close enough that they share things with you. Things they keep close to their hearts. If they trust you and see you as a support pillar they can rely on, then that should do the trick."
"And how do I stop any of them from loving me?" Jaune asked suddenly, putting Kyu on the spot.
"You can't." She replied, realizing their predicament was only growing. "Fuck damn it! Ugh! I thought we had a solid plan! There is no way you can prevent them from falling for you; the chance will just be constantly present! Fuck…" The fairy slumped on his shoulder as Jaune stopped walking, the thought pressing on his mind.
"I don't want to hurt any of them, Kyu."
"I know."
"Could…Could we tell them the truth?"
"The truth? What- Oh no! No, no, no! Out of the question! Are you insane?! Didn't we talk about this before? Dude, there is no way you can tell them the truth straight-up! Not only would they think you're crazy, but they'd also think you are using them for the mana they can provide!" Kyu said, flying and speaking right in his face.
"Isn't that what we're doing already?"
"Exactly! They wouldn't even be wrong about it! There is no way to explain this in a light that makes you innocent! And even if they do believe the whole fairy gig, even if I do reveal myself to them, it remains a death sentence!" Kyu pressed on. "We can't say the truth, Jaune. I'm sorry."
"It's hard, Kyu…Before, if it was just going to be no-strings fun, with both sides being ok with it, I didn't see as many issues. But considering the corner we were backed into, things can quickly spiral out of control. This entire situation reminds me of my mistakes at Beacon." He recalled, his fist tightening. "I do not want to lie, Kyu."
Kyu sighed again. "I do not know what to do, either, Jaune. Let's just get back and see about thinking more on this later and-"
"JAUNE!"
"Who was that?!" Kyu asked, but Jaune had already turned around, eyes widening as he saw a very familiar ginger charging at him.
"Nora?!" He gasped, seeing her.
"Jaune!"
Nora Valkyrie leaped at her former leader, practically flying through the air and impacting right into him, knocking him to the ground. People on the street looked at them with puzzled looks, but Nora didn't care. She just hugged him tightly, getting back up and hoisting him in the air.
"Nora…Air!" Jaune asked, but to no avail.
"I found you! I cannot believe I actually found you. We've been walking around for HOURS asking around! Everyone said you were at your place, toward the outskirts of the island, but while making our way there, I saw your blonde hair from across the street! I just knew it had to be you, and then when I got closer, I confirmed it!"
"Nora!" Jaune, unable to resist anymore, decided to start glowing a bit, getting her attention. Flash Strike worked for more than flashy punches!
"What? Oh, sorry!" She let him go, allowing Jaune to land on his feet and draw in a long breath. "Wait, since when could you glow like that?!" She gasped. "Did you unlock your semblance?!"
"Hold on, I need a second…" He took one final breath of fresh air. "There. Now…What?!" He half-shouted at her. "Nora, what are you doing on Bella Dia?! You are supposed to be a quarter of the world away, at Beacon, training to be a Huntress!"
"I wanted to see you again! So, I came here with Renny to-"
"Wait…Ren's with you?" Jaune asked.
"I am." Looking past her, Jaune saw the man himself standing there, his expression as neutral as ever. If anything, he seemed to be a bit tense, which was a first, considering he had never seen Ren like that before. "It's…good to see you again, Jaune."
"I am officially lost." He said. "Is Pyrrha with you as well?"
"No!" Nora replied quickly. "She and your sister, Alice, are still at Beacon."
"Alice is at Beacon? Figures…She took my old spot." He said, piecing things together quickly. "But I return to my former line of questions. What are the two of you doing here?"
"More importantly…" Nora picked up his bag and a box that had spilled from it. "Umm. Fearless Leader? Is there something you are hiding from us?"
"Nora, please put those back," Jaune told her. She did as instructed, putting the box back and handing him the bag.
"Sorry, didn't realize you had a girlfriend." She said, a teasing smile on her lips. "What's her name?"
"I don't have a girlfriend, Nora. I am just doing some shopping for my housemates." He replied with honesty. "Apparently, their supply ran out."
"Sheesh," Nora said. "Yeah, I can imagine how that would suck. But more importantly-"
"As I kept asking you guys: What are you doing on Bella Dia?!" Jaune asked yet again, and this time, Ren came forth to answer.
"Nora wanted to come find you." He answered. "We saw your picture in a fashion magazine, and Nora has been asking a lot of questions."
"Such as the fact you might be possibly be dating a model!" Nora added quickly.
"That, and other things." Ren continued.
"But how did you guys get here? Bella Dia has laws that are not very friendly to Huntsmen, including trainees. Plus, I don't imagine Miss Goodwitch gave the two of you a free week to come here. Not to mention the price of tickets to get here!" Jaune said, listing all the reasons why they couldn't be on the island.
"I promise to answer every question, but first, can we move out of the streets? Maybe at your place?" Ren proposed, but Kyu interjected.
"Dude, you cannot bring them back to your house. This is a direct link to what happened at Beacon, and the girls are better off finding out the details from you than they are from them! Trust me."
Nodding his head, Jaune replied to Ren. "Unfortunately, I don't think I am comfortable with showing you guys to my place. So how about we get a taxi to a more private place where we can talk?"
"Fine by me," Ren replied.
"Jaune," Ren called out to him.
"Yes?" He answered, sipping a coffee that was brought to them earlier.
"When you said private, I thought you would take us to a secluded spot on the island, such as an empty spot on the beach. Not a private VIP booth in an expensive cafe." Ren said, rubbing his forehead. "How much does this place even cost?"
"Don't worry about it. I can afford it without a problem." Jaune replied.
"Can you also afford the literal mountain of pancakes Nora ordered?" Ren asked, his partner currently devouring a great mass of pancakes.
"This is heaven!" She claimed.
"Well, if it surprises you further, yes, I can." He replied.
"How? The Bella Dia lottery only nets you half a million Lien. Considering you have your own house, and you don't look like you got a job, that kind of money shouldn't allow you to just visit such places without worrying about your finances." Ren stated, and Jaune had to admit he had a point. The silent boy then sipped a bit of the tea he ordered but immediately put it down.
"Too hot?" He asked, curious as to why he reacted that way.
"This tea…Is too good to drink." Ren replied, feeling bad about drinking such divine tea. "But I return to my question."
"Look, Ren, I don't know what you want me to say: I got lucky. Very lucky. I am living the high life, and honestly? I couldn't ask for a better stroke of fortune." Jaune replied to him.
"Stroke…" Kyu giggled at the word, her little dirty mind turning it into all kinds of different strokes.
"To be fair, your luck has upset some people at Beacon," Ren told him, making even Nora stop eating.
"Renny…Don't." She warned him.
"What do you mean?" Jaune asked. "Ren, tell me."
"I am under no obligation to tell you. You are not my leader anymore, do you recall?" He replied, but Jaune was not about to let it slide like that.
"Maybe I am not. But answer my previous questions as well, starting with how you and Nora could afford a ticket to get to this place."
"We hid on a ship."
"Nora!" Ren turned to her, but the secret was out.
"You are lucky those walls are soundproof," Jaune stated. "I did the same to get here, but I have long since taken care of the legal issues related to that. I met a very good lawyer who has been a great help. But you two are also official trainees, and the authorities might not care much for a simple boy who came to the island more or less illegally, but two trainees? They will care about that."
Ren sighed, seeing the obvious trap they were in. "You got bolder."
"I have no reason to be nice to you, Ren." Jaune clarified, which seemed to strike the silent boy somewhat heavily. "After all, you were not kind to me when I was kicked out of Beacon either. But I understand why you'd act that way."
"You do?" Ren asked slowly.
"To some degree, yes. I had time to reflect." Jaune replied. "I don't blame anyone for what happened to me. I did it with my own hands in the end. What I do blame, however, is the actions you guys took when you found out. For Dust's sake, Yang wanted to assault me physically, and I am very sure most of you had similar thoughts in your mind!"
"I didn't!" Ren claimed strongly.
"Can you say the same for everyone else except for Nora and Ruby? I remember how they didn't want to see me leave. But you especially held Nora from coming to me." Jaune said, recalling the events back then.
"Jaune…" Nora called to him. "Are you mad at us for allowing you to be kicked out?"
"No. Nor am I mad about you hating me, Nora. If anything, I did betray you guys. Whatever resentment you have toward me, it is earned."
"That is not true!" Nora gasped, arguing Jaune's words. "Jaune, Ruby, and I never wanted to see you leave! You were more than just another trainee and team leader to us! You were our friend. And losing you over something as stupid as papers is just…Bullshit!"
"Nora, he lied to get into Beacon! An academy to train Huntsmen!" Ren argued. "Why can't you understand that his actions were reckless and could have endangered himself? Worst yet, given his position, he could have endangered us as well?!"
"Was he endangering us when he designed those strategies for us? Strategies we still use?!" Nora countered, but that drew Jaune's attention.
"You guys still use the strategies I designed?" He asked, surprised.
"We do! Lotus Hammer and Silent Thunder are some of our best moves! And you helped us develop them. You saw what we could do and thought about how we could mix our abilities best! We have been living together for years! We trained together! Yet, we never thought about such ways to combine our abilities before!" Nora replied to him.
"I admit…" Ren said slowly. "You had a way of thinking that did set you apart from others. You can see what we excelled in, and we further enhanced it by promoting teamwork and synergy. Unlike Alice, who more or less tries to mold us to be fighting like her, you listened and didn't force us to fight like you, but rather, you encouraged us to fight like ourselves and simply adapt to each other to achieve the best results."
"It is not hard to see," Jaune said. "Nora, you are strong, and your weapon packs a serious punch. Both at range and up close. But there are other ways to use that strong arm of yours. You are not very fast or agile, which is where Ren comes in. He is naturally agile and able to perform amazing stunts, running circles around the enemies. But, sorry to say, you do not pack as big of a punch as Nora here. The two of you combined, however, more than makeup for each other's downsides."
"Too bad things are not as easy anymore," Nora said, lamenting their present situation. "As Renny said, your sister is trying to mold us into copies of her."
"I heard some things, yes. Trust me, that mentality of hers goes deeper than you know, but for now, you shouldn't get deeply involved." He advised them. "Still, do not let her push you around. She is skilled but inflexible. When you go up against her in combat class, keep that in mind."
Nora smiled at the clear combat advice. "Roger that, Fearless Leader!"
"Nora…"
"Oh, shush it, Ren! For me, Jaune will always be my Fearless Leader."
"But back to a subject from before…" Jaune said. "You said my fortune has upset people at Beacon. Explain."
"Yang is a prime example of it." Nora began. "She seems to act like you don't deserve such a nice life for what you did."
"Which is a short-sighted and narrow-minded way to look at it, not to mention highly immature," Ren added. "But Alice and Pyrrha are not much better…Not to mention Weiss."
"What about Ruby and Blake?"
"Ruby is ecstatic that you are doing fine!" Nora replied. "She'd have come as well, but you know how Yang would get,"
"I do." He nodded his head.
"As for Blake? Honestly, I don't know. She doesn't seem to hate you like the others actively. Actively is the keyword here. Who knows what she is thinking?" Nora shrugged.
"Gods…is the thought of me being a millionaire that much upsetting?!"
Ren choked on his tea, and Nora's eyes widened greatly, staring right at him. "Smooth, Buster. You just let it slip you are loaded."
"M-millionarire?!" Ren gasped.
"How much is that in pancakes? Renny, tell me, how much is that in pancakes?!"
"A true mountain of pancakes," Jaune replied instead, making Nora stare at him with a very shocked expression. "But…Yeah, I am doing very well."
"How did you get so much?!" Ren asked, finally losing his composure. "This doesn't make sense! How did you…Why are you…"
"Ren…If you want to say something, say it." Jaune told him plainly. "I get it. I can practically read it on your face that you don't exactly like being here, in my presence, no less. You are doing this for Nora's sake. She is the one who wanted to come see me, not you, is it?"
Ren inhaled deeply. "That is correct. And I don't need to explain why I am like this. You betrayed our trust, Jaune. How could you just lie to get into Beacon the way you did? Surely, if you had actually trained when you were younger, you'd have-"
"I will stop you right there. I don't know what Alice told you, guys, about my training, but let me tell you right away: There was none."
"Because you never cared about being a Huntsman at the right time." Ren continued, stating the reason Alice told them. "It was a dream you got no less than a year or so ago, spontaneous. Being a Huntsman requires years of dedicated training, and it is not something you can just decide you want to become overnight!"
"That is not why I never trained!" Jaune raised his voice, spooking Ren at his sudden outburst. "She lied to you."
"What?" Ren gasped. "You are accusing your sister of lying?"
"Alice got all the training she ever wanted from our father while I got isolated from anything related to Huntsmen," Jaune told them, surprising them with his words. "I was kept away from everything! My father did his best to ensure I don't become a Huntsman, despite me literally begging him since I was six or so!"
"Wait, that doesn't make sense!" Ren stated. "Why would your father refuse to train you?"
"Said it was too dangerous for me, yet at the same age, he began to train Alice, my twin! We were both in first grade when our father began training her and left me to watch in secret." Jaune explained to them.
"Why train one sibling over the other and use such a-" Ren shook his head. "Your explanation makes no sense!"
"It doesn't, does it? Especially if you've heard their version before. I don't expect you to believe me, Ren, but at the very least, I trust you will believe someone else." Jaune brought his scroll out. "Coral Arc."
"One of your sisters?" Nora asked.
"Yes. She is training at Haven right now, but considering the time, she should be on her lunch break. If you do not believe me, someone disgraced from the Arc name. Then surely you will believe a trainee close to becoming a full-fledged Huntress." Jaune told them, and Ren reached for his scroll, the number already dialing.
And what Ren and Nora heard confirmed Jaune's words. Coral explained everything, including her experiences being raised in their house. The same story she told Jaune before, she had told them. When Ren put the scroll down and returned it to Jaune, he covered his face with his palm, trying to process everything.
"That lying bitch!" Nora shouted, slamming her hands hard on the table. "She kept telling lies about you, yet she is the one really lying!"
"Is no one from the Arc name able to tell the truth?" Ren asked.
"Ren, the issue is no longer who tells the truth. But who is living a lie." Jaune's words struck Ren hard. "I tried to be like them, and look what it did to me. I ended up fine, sure, but I just got lucky. Very lucky. But my father and sister have a mentality that…I don't know how even to describe it."
"Jaune…" Ren said slowly. "I'm sorry."
"For?" Jaune asked.
"Everything. You might lack the skill, but you have the mind and heart of a Huntsman. Knowing the truth now, I see that we lack the proper judgment to claim who can be a Huntsman. We were arrogant. And while I cannot apologize for everyone, I apologize for anything I might have said and thought of you at the time." Ren said, surprising even Jaune.
"There is no need to apologize for everything, Ren. With some things, you may have been right."
"I am ashamed." Ren continued. "She is trying to make us improve in the same way her father did her. She is unable to adapt and think flexibly. I overlooked this greatly in part to think she was the better alternative, that she was capable! But she is unfit to lead. She lacks your heart and compassion, Jaune."
"Thank you for saying that, Ren. But there is nothing we can do." Jaune pointed out the obvious.
"What?! What do you mean?! Surely, you can just buy out Beacon if you have so much money!" Nora suggested, making Jaune laugh slightly.
"Nora, there is no way to buy a Huntsman academy." Jaune pointed out.
"Then make your own!" She suggested further.
"Nora, opening an Academy requires more than just a rich visionary." Ren pointed out. "It needs the backing of an entire kingdom. And all four kingdoms have one already."
"As ambitious as that would be, Ren is right. Nothing I can do." Jaune added further. "Except live my life in paradise! Come on!" He smiled at them. "Look at me! I am rich, guys! And this money is all mine, and I get to choose what to do with it! So, now that we buried the hatchet, what do you guys say?"
"First!" Nora said, standing up. "What is your relationship with Ashley Rosemary, and how come you starred as a model in a well-known fashion magazine? Is that the secret to your fortune?"
"Umm. No?" Jaune replied. "I got my fortune through an alternative means of gaining money."
"Such as?" Nora pressed on.
"I gambled and won." He answered plainly.
"You gambled. As in, gambled at a casino." Ren said.
"Yeah. I was on a streak of hot luck, and I capitalized on it. Since then, I did investments, or rather, Aiko has been doing them for me since she knows more, but-"
"Who's Aiko?" Nora asked, curiosity growing inside her.
"She's…a friend," Jaune replied slowly. "I helped her out, and now she pretty much works for me as my investments agent."
"Is she the one for whom you bought so many tampons?" Nora asked.
"Nora, he used the plural before." Ren noticed.
"Yeah, I live with quite a few women." He rubbed his head awkwardly.
"Are any of them Ashley Rosemary?" Nora asked with a grin.
"Nora…" Ren called out to her to drop it, but then Jaune replied.
"Yes?"
"No way," Ren said, looking at him. "Wait, you are living with a model!"
"Well, not currently. She is off in Atlas with work." He replied.
"But still living with a model!" Nora stated loudly. "Oh, man! I can't imagine what it is like!"
"Actually, Ashley is very chill. Most of the girls are. Well, except Lillian." Jaune said.
"Whose that?" Ren asked.
"Ashley's cousin." He replied.
"She has a cousin?" Nora asked, surprised. "Man, you are drowning in babes!"
"I like this girl," Kyu said.
"Nora, I am sure the relationship Jaune has with those women is strictly platonic," Ren said, but at that moment, Jaune seemed to react awkwardly. "Jaune? Is there…A problem?"
"Why would you think that?"
"You are rubbing the back of your head. You do that when you are nervous or trying to hide something." Ren pointed out. "It's a big tell."
"Look, the girls and I are mostly just friends, that's all," Jaune stated, trying not to give himself away.
"Hmm." Nora, however, was not buying it. "Actually, something is different about you, Jaune. Not just your new style but something else. I ignored it before, but now that the subject has come up, something strikes me as being very different about you."
"How would you know?"
"Call it a woman's intuition," Nora replied with a coy smile.
"Playing that card, huh? Don't fall for it, Jaune, she is playing you. There is no such superpower as a woman's intuition. That is a lie we tell men to spook them!" Kyu said. "Still, you already gave yourself away."
"Look, nothing happened between me and any of the girls, ok?" Jaune replied.
"Sure it did. You are no longer a virgin." Nora said plainly.
"What?!" Jaune gasped. "How can you tell that?!"
"I couldn't! HA! I KNEW IT!" Nora said with triumph etched on her face. She smiled from ear to ear, and Ren simply sighed next to her.
"So…I do not assume you will tell us who it was," Ren said.
"No way," Jaune replied firmly. "So, can we please switch the subject away from my newly developed sex life?"
"Awww, but this is entertaining!" Nora whined.
"Should I ask about your relationship with Ren, then?" Jaune asked, which got Kyu into high gear.
"Oh! Now, that is a question! Let me just…" She started to fly around the two, seeing Nora blush, but Ren remained stoic. Kyu mainly just looked closely at the two of them, trying to find anything, but when she returned to Jaune, she looked disappointed. "No luck. Both of them still have that aura of purity virgins tend to have. I can tell not from some power but from experience. Though, there is a lot of tension between them."
"We are just friends! We talked about this before; we are together, but not together-together!" Nora began saying. "Plus, we never got THAT far when we did try! I…Well…"
"I think Jaune has a point, Nora," Ren said. "Let's drop the subject of his personal life. Especially the one about the women in his life."
"Alright!"
"Good," Jaune replied to them. "So, since we had a pretty long talk, and I assume Goodwitch ought to angrily call you two back to Beacon any minute now, how about this? It is the weekend, so classes in Beacon are on hold, but that is not to say your time is endless! But I do think we have enough time for a simple trip throughout the island. A shopping trip, anyone?"
Nora smiled widely at the proposal, then looked at Ren. "Are you paying?" Ren asked.
"Well, it is my treat! I do ask that you don't go over a certain limit, and be mindful it is my money you are spending."
"Best. Leader. Ever!" Nora declared, throwing her arms up.
Jaune simply laughed at her reaction. "Come on. You never know when those scrolls will start buzzing!"
Jaune did have to send the tampons back to his place, but luckily, Nicky was more than willing to do it for a fee. After he was free from any additional stuff he might have to do, he decided to take Ren and Nora out throughout the island. And oh boy, what a trip it was! He decided to take them to a clothing store first since they had to look like tourists instead of trainees. Too many eyes out for those.
After that, they visited all kinda places: Arcades and food stands, and Nora was even eyeing a few bathing suits as they strolled through some stores. Currently, they were walking through the same mall he was at with the girls some time ago, where he and Ren found a table while Nora was still browsing about.
"I still cannot believe you are a millionaire. How much money do you even have?" Ren asked, still in disbelief at Jaune's fortune.
"Well, I recently had a more expensive investment, but it has been paying back for some time now. I think I am near my first billion!" Jaune said, seeing Ren pinch the bridge of his nose. "Something the matter?"
"No, just…I imagine the reaction Weiss would have if she heard this." Ren replied. "You really have done well for yourself, Jaune."
"Yeah…Also, I know you might not like hearing this, but I haven't given up." Jaune said, confusing Ren. "Becoming a Huntsman, I mean."
"You haven't? But how? You were expelled from Beacon of all places, for forged papers no less." Ren stated the obvious, but he likely had little idea about the Trial by Fire.
"Trial by Fire," Jaune said, pointing it out.
"I-..." Ren's words died in his throat. "I see. That is certainly one way to do it. Alternatively, you could also take it now to recover your student spot. I doubt you have any issues paying private trainers and the like."
"No, I do not. However, I want to wait and develop on my own. I didn't exactly start combat training, and I am mostly working on my body, not to mention having other things on my plate, currently." Jaune replied. "Such as trying to navigate life on this island!"
"I do not know, Jaune. You don't seem that busy." Ren pointed out.
"Trust me, I am kept busy." He replied. "Today was just a rare day of peace."
"Oh, I see…I apologize if our surprise was not welcomed." Ren replied, but Jaune waved it off.
"It's alright. If anything, I was looking for something to do today."
"Well, who do we have here?"
The source of the voice had Jaune turn his head to see the person it belonged to, and sure enough, Lola, the owner of the Southern Sun clothing store. "Oh, how's it going, Lola?"
"Enjoying a day off, letting the part-timers do the work for once." She replied, and then she fixed her eyes on Ren. "Now, who's this? I don't think I recall seeing a Mistralian guy like you around before."
"My name is Lie Ren, I'm…A friend of Jaune's here." Ren replied, trying not to go into details. He was avoiding the subject of Beacon so as not to get discovered to be a trainee and illegal stowaway. "And you are…?"
"Where are my manners? Lola Rembrite. I am the owner of one of the stores in this mall." She replied, introducing herself. "As I said, I was enjoying a free day, then I saw Jaune here. How's Kyanna and her kid doing, by the way?"
"They are fine, Lola," Jaune replied.
"Has little Philip gotten in any more trouble?" Lola asked.
"No, thankfully. His mother has a lot on her plate as is." Jaune replied, but then he realized their talk must be confusing Ren. "Sorry, Ren, we were talking about another person we know. Her name's Kyanna, a young single mother who lives here on Bella Dia."
"I see…You certainly met quite a few personalities since we last saw each other."
"What is that supposed to mean?" Jaune replied, not catching on to what Ren meant, but Lola was not as dense, and she laughed a bit.
"Looks like we have a comedian on our hands!" She remarked.
"Actually, that was a rare moment," Ren told her, but Lola didn't seem to believe him and went closer.
"Really now? So, you don't have any more jokes?" She asked, getting quite close to his personal space and making Ren shuffle awkwardly.
"N-no, Miss, I-"
"Lola, that is not a good idea!" Jaune tried to warn her, but it was too late.
"HANDS OFF MY RENNY!" Nora came charging in like a mad Ursa, and Lola only managed to dodge the angry ginger because Jaune pulled her aside in time, making Lola land on his lap. Despite the awkward position, it worked to shelter Lola from Nora, who actually came at them with a hammer. WHERE DID SHE GET A HAMMER FROM?! It was not Magnhild, her weapon.
"Woah, easy there!" Lola said, getting up and putting a bit of distance between herself and Nora. "I didn't know he was spoken for. Calm down."
"Easy there, Nora. Lola is an acquaintance of mine." Jaune said, which seemed to have Nora lower her weapon, but the girl remained with her gaze fixed on Lola.
"I got my eyes on you, you chocolate temptress!" Nora declared, then promptly moved her seat so she was closer to Ren.
"Is she always this possessive of him?" Lola asked Jaune in a whisper.
"Oh yeah." And Jaune replied, not even hesitating to answer. "You messed around and nearly found out. This is Nora Valkyrie, another friend of mine. Nora, this is Lola Rembrite, and as I said, I know her. She is cool, so you can let go of the hammer!"
"You are lucky I don't have Magnhild on me…" She muttered angrily, clearly upset at Lola for flirting with Ren, even if it was for a bit.
"What was that about a Magazine?" Lola asked.
"Nothing, Nora is just asking me questions about the magazine I starred in," Jaune said, giving them a save.
"Ah, right! Forgot you modeled for them! Did you get any more gigs, by the way?" Lola asked.
"Nothing, and I am unsure if I will. That was supposed to be more or less a one-time deal." Jaune replied, but then Lola's scroll buzzed.
"Got to take this. Hold on." She went to the side to answer, leaving Jaune and the others alone to talk further.
"Nora…!" Jaune called her out, and the girl obviously knew what she did wrong, as she gave him an apologetic smile. Ren, too, looked somewhat stressed by the recent encounter, but soon, Lola was back with them.
"Sorry, I have to bolt. One of the part-timers caught a shoplifter, so I need to go there. See ya another time, Jaune!"
With that said, Lola left, allowing the three to essentially go back to what they were doing. Or, well, try anyway. Ren's scroll began buzzing, and the called ID was someone Jaune didn't want to see. It was Pyrrha. It was a video call as well. Ren looked at him, and Jaune knew he had to be quiet during this call.
Ren answered the call, and the upset visage of Pyrrha Nikos appeared on it. "Yes?"
"Ren, where are you and Nora? Alice wanted to organize a team training session but couldn't find either of you!" She stated. "Wait, WHERE are you? Are you at the mall?"
"We are in A mall, yes," Ren replied, looking at Jaune for any kind of aid.
"We are in Bella Dia!" Nora suddenly said, which shocked both Jaune and Ren with how straightforward they were.
"What?! But isn't that where Ja- You know what? Nevermind that. What are the two of you doing there, and how did you get there? I don't recall any of you asking me or Weiss for a loan." Pyrrha said, and she had a fair point. Out of everyone on their teams, only she and Weiss had the funds to afford a ticket to the island.
"We have our ways," Nora replied with a grin, but her happiness was making Pyrrha suspicious. "Besides, you won't believe the pancakes they have here!"
"Nora…I think what Pyrrha wants to know more than anything right now is when we will be back." Ren told his partner.
"That is indeed a question I've been meaning to ask, yes," Pyrrha confirmed. "So?"
"It may take a day or two to make the journey back, depending on the sea conditions. We also need to find a ride back via Bullhead in due time." Ren said, which seemed to ease Pyrrha's worries to some degree.
"Best get back soon. Wouldn't want Goodwitch learning that the two of you went to a tropical island mid-semester." Pyrrha said, and Ren nodded his head in agreement. "How's the island, though? I heard Bella Dia is a very lovely place, aside from its laws against Huntsmen."
"It is indeed a lovely place," Ren confirmed. "They especially know the difference in tea flavors, and this little cafe we found in the mall has some very interesting flavors you don't find outside of Vacuo."
"Perhaps…How about a vacation between semesters?" Pyrrha suggested, which seemed to get Jaune on edge. The poor guy was making all sorts of signs, trying to have Ren convince Pyrrha otherwise.
"A-actually, Pyrrha, don't you think we might have issues here?" Ren asked.
"Issues? What issues?" She asked.
"Well, Bella Dia does have quite the restrictive laws against Huntsmen, and we are only trainees. Getting in trouble here is quite easy."
"Ren, we are not Team RWBY. We can be responsible. Well... you will need to watch over Nora," Pyrrha replied.
"Hey, I am right here, you know!" Nora shouted, feeling offended by that sentence.
"Sorry, Nora, but…But…Ren?" Pyrrha suddenly changed her tone.
"Yes?"
"Who is that I am seeing in the reflection of the cafe window sitting at the same table as you? The reflection is unclear." Pyrrha sure had sharp eyes!
"Oh! Um, just a local." Ren replied.
"A local?" She asked.
"Yes. We were struggling to find an empty seat, but they were sitting alone and allowed us to sit with them."
"That is true!" Jaune replied, making sure to try to thicken his voice to sound like someone else. "This 'ere lad has been a mighty fine company. Him and his wee lass."
"Oh! Thank you for your kindness to them, Sir." Pyrrha replied. "But regardless, I think you should come back as soon as possible. Before Goodwitch finds out."
"On our way," Ren said. "Bye, Pyr."
"Bye, Pyrrha!" Nora said.
The call ended, and Jaune felt like he was released from the weight of a boulder that was set on his shoulders. "That was close!"
"Didn't know you could change your voice like that," Ren remarked.
"Seven sisters, Ren. I learned a few things to navigate that kind of life. Still, it looks like you guys need to go. There is a boat leaving in a few hours, so I could take you there and pay your tickets back." He offered.
"Thanks, we could use the aid for the travel," Ren replied.
"Also, hold your scroll out," Jaune said, and Ren did as asked. Jaune swiped his scroll over it, and sure enough, a ding came from Ren's scroll. When the boy looked, his eyes widened at the surprise.
"Jaune! This is- I cannot accept this!" Ren said.
"Hey now, I think five thousand Lien for you and Nora each is the least I can do in terms of giving you guys a nice farewell gift," Jaune replied. "Plus, at my fortune? That is chum change!"
"Damn, Fearless Leader, you really know how to throw your money around!" Nora giggled. "But at least it is good to see you are the same kind of guy we met in Beacon."
"I am also glad we got to talk face-to-face, guys. Managing to bury the hatchet like this feels liberating." Jaune admitted to them. "And who knows? Maybe I will be visiting you guys next time."
"That would be awesome!" Nora said.
"Well, assuming Yang doesn't assault him." Ren pointed out.
"Killjoy," Nora replied to Ren.
Jaune laughed at their exchange. "That is a very fair point of view, there. Come on, let's go."
And with that, Jaune led them to the boat back to the mainland, and from there, they were bound to find a Bullhead heading back to Vale. He left Nora with a hug and Ren with a firm handshake, but the two of them didn't realize Jaune had gifted them that money for another reason altogether.
"So, you are paying for semblances now?" Kyu asked him, and sure enough, Jaune took out a crystal of Lightning Dust he bought earlier. Crushing it, he felt the rush spreading through him as Nora's semblance activated. "Woah!"
The arcs of golden lightning that began to dance around him died down quickly as he calmed himself, letting the semblance fade. "I need everything I can get to face Eros' attempts at our lives, Kyu. At least, by giving them something substantial in return, I am not feeling as bad. Come. Let's go back home and see about getting shelter from the Red Alert."
"On your shoulder!"