Sorry for my bad English.
Library
Blake did not take Ryan to the type of someone who enjoys books.
When she arrived in the library, she was surprised to see the gunslinger of the duo sitting in one of the tables with a book in his hand.
She wouldn't mind his presence at all if he was so similar to his partner. They are both good guys but judging by the way Jaune interact with Weiss, it would be somewhat challenging to have a normal conversation with Ryan.
But she was more surprise than see him in the library more than the fact for the first time since the school year began, Ryan was alone without Jaune with him.
She remembers about after the match was over that Jaune not seemed so happy about their victory.
While she was curious about their situation, she decides to let the duo's problems for the duo only. Whatever is the problem, she knows that is not something so bad to the point of putting them in some serious problem.
With that in mind, she got her books and went to read and later probably, only probably make some conversation with the gunslinger.
Corridors
He should be happy.
They went to the next phase.
He now has more time to get ready.
And yet, Jaune was not feeling alright about this, something Ruby and Chocolat notices.
Both team leaders went to the cafeteria to hang out a little, and it was when they found Jaune sitting alone while poking the sandwich in his tray with a fork. Seeing him alone they went to make him company, only if he wanted of course.
Seeing that something was bothering him and he did not know exactly why he was feeling like that, Chocolat suggested to Jaune have a word with Mr. Minuano, with Ruby agreeing after hearing that the blind samurai sometimes acts as a counselor for the students.
With nothing to lose, he decides to give a try and speak with Mr. Minuano.
Knocking the wood, Jaune notices the door was open and sitting not in a chair but in his own desk was Minuano, completely unmoving.
-Mr. Minuano? –Jaune asked but received no answer. –Mr. Minuano, are you alright?
Jaune approached the blind man and wave his hand in front of his sunglasses, but no response come from the blind man.
He touches his sunglass slightly and Fernando raise his head, scaring Jaune.
-Hmm. I fell asleep again. -He got of his glasses and rubs his eyes. -Good that Glynda didn't see me sleeping or else. Do you need something Arc?
Jaune's eyes widened.
-How did you know it was me?
-They served chicken nuggets on the breakfast. –Fernando pointed out. –Your breath is smelling.
Jaune chuckled nervously before speak.
-I'm… having a problem…
-What kind of problem?
Taking a deep breath, Jaune started from the beginning.
-Yesterday, after Ryan and I won the first match of the Challenge, I've been feeling a little down.
-Feeling down? Why?
-I don't know exactly why. It just… seeing my partner win both fights start to make me feel… you know… useless… -Fernando said nothing, allowing Jaune to continue. –I mean… more useless. –Jaune said with his head down. – We both decided to accept the Challenge together, but he did not even need my help.
-And this is making you doubt if you will be useful for him if you both fight together?
-No, it is not that.
-So what it is?
-I don't know, that's why I'm here.
Fernando remained silent for a couple of seconds, thinking about what could possibly make Jaune feel bad after win the first match of the Challenge.
-Arc, tell to me a little about Ryan.
- About Ryan? Why are you asking me that?
-To be sure about whatever is bothering you.
Jaune still did not understood where the samurai was going with that but decide to go along.
-Well, he is my friend and my partner, he is seventeen years old. He has many brothers. He appears to be socially awkward. He seems to have difficulty maintaining his own balance...
-That's enough. Now tell me about what you think of Ryan.
-What do I think? He very good at fighting, I mean, win two matches in a roll against students of Beacon. That is impressive, right? During the initiation he saved me by flying in the forest, but I don't know how he did that. When we were in the Danger Zone, he was able to deal with every grimm we meet, even when he forgot to reload his revolvers. He still did not lose a single match Ms. Goodwitch put him to fight and…
From the way Jaune is talking about his partner, he truly respects Ryan.
-Okay Arc, now tell me a little about you.
-Okay. I'm seventeen. I have many siblings. I am a little socially awkward. Some actually say that I have difficulty to maintaining balance…
-That's enough, Arc. –Fernando interrupted him. –Now tell me, who I asked you to talk about?
-Why are you asking me this? Of course I was talking about Ryan. –Jaune answered, completely sure about his answer. Fernando waited a couple of seconds to Jaune notices his answer. Once Jaune notices, his eyes widened. –No, wait. I mean, I was talking about Ryan-I mean! I was talking about myself, right?
-It seems that you two are somewhat similar to each other.
-Yeah, totally. –Jaune said scratching the back of his head. –I was a little surprise myself.
-Do you often compare yourself with him?
-W-what? I'm not comparing myself with Ryan.
-Are you sure? -Jaune did not know how to respond, not knowing where the blind man was going with this. –Let's put like that. How do you think you would do in the match?
-Well, I don't think I would do any better than my partner.
-Even being so similar? –The question made Jaune go silent. It is not like he is not training hard for the Challenge, but still seems that he got ways to go to compare to Ryan. –Arc, do you think the reason that you are feeling down like that is because despite being so similar to each other, Ryan is more skilled than you?
Jaune went silent for a moment, trying to fully realize the meaning behind the blind man's words.
-Y-you think?
Fernando scratches the back of his head as he answer.
-I mean no disrespect to you Arc, but from what I understood the fact he is a fighter better than you, even being almost like you, is making you feel useless. You are unconsciously comparing yourself with him and seeing that you did not reach his level of skill is making you feel sad about yourself.
The revelation crashed in Jaune as a ton of bricks. Perhaps he already figured that out, but did not wanted to admit.
He actually was jealous of Ryan. How come not be? They are so alike but at the same time so different.
They have a lot of similarities.
They both have a lot of siblings. They both would be considered the goofballs of their group of friends. They both are afraid to face the grimms. They both scream in a high pitched tone when scared.
They also have a world of differences.
While Jaune has only sisters, Ryan had some brothers. While they both are goofballs, Ryan shows to be more mature than Jaune. Even afraid of grimms, Ryan show to be able to handle them in combat, different from Jaune. Ryan only screams in high pitched tone when he is dodging an attack.
And of course, while Jaune is aiming to live up to his father's name, Ryan seems to want nothing to do with his father's name.
Different but equals.
This made Jaune start to think how come Ryan can be like he is and yet be so strong while fighting, but quickly dismissed the thought. He will gain nothing trying to think how he failed where Ryan succeed.
-I'm just jealous. –Jaune muttered, but Fernando still was able to hear.
-With that in mind, what you plan to do?
-I was hoping that you could tell me the answer for that.
Fernando thought for moment before answer.
-Everyone evolve when the find a reason to do it. You just need to do the same.
-But what kind reason I can find to become stronger?
-How about this? Don't see Ryan just as your partner, but also someone you must defeat.
-Someone I must defeat?
-Yes. Just think a little about it and you may find your answer.
Was all Fernando said to him. With their conversation done, Jaune left his office and start to walk without a destination, thinking about his suggestion.
-Someone I must defeat? Why would I want to defeat Ryan in anything?
-Because you can let him outshine you? –Asked the voice of Ruby, surprising Jaune.
He turns around and sees both team leaders standing, as if they were waiting for him to finish his conversation with Fernando.
-I take that this was his advice? –Chocolat asked after.
-Pretty much. –Jaune shrugged before turn to Ruby. –But what do you mean by outshine me?
-Oh c'mon Jaune! You can let Ryan be the one doing everything. The more he do, more unnoticed you will appear to others.
-I can't? –Was all he could think to say.
-Yes. I mean, I may be allowed to study in Beacon earlier but I still younger and inexperienced compared to the others. I can't just low my head and accept they are better than me. So that's because I need to improve, to get better and not lose to them when it comes to leadership and being a huntress.
-You… can't lose? –Jaune asked.
-The same goes for me. –Chocolat spoke next. –I can see she is improving but I can't be lazing around while she improves. I need to keep getting better and better for that not happen.
They can't lose to each other? That is what Fernando meant by see Ryan as someone he must defeat?
-If this is the case, why did he not told me that from the beginning? –Jaune asked.
-I guess he wanted you to figure out this yourself. –Chocolat answered.
-And with that I give you my 'oops'. –Ruby said.
-It is okay, because you girls are right. I can't be mopping around while my own partner gets stronger. I can't let him be the best forever, right? –Jaune spoke and both girls could see by his tone that something was different from a second ago. –Thank you ladies. You both were a great help.
-Any time you ask. –Chocolat said.
And with that, Jaune said good bye to the leaders walked away. He will need to work even harder from now on.
Now Ryan was not only his partner, he was a rival, and also someone Jaune would look up to. Someone Jaune admires and needed to surpass if he ever wanted to the type of huntsman he wants to be. He recognizes Ryan's skills enough to see the distance between they both. First of all, Jaune needed to become his equal, someone Ryan would look not from above, but straight on the eyes. His partner may not see Jaune like that, but Jaune will. This is one more reason for him to improve.
He just hopes to be able to keep it friendly. He did not wanted to be like Russell.
-Now that I'm thinking about it, where is Ryan?
Library
-I see what you mean but I don't know about it. –Ryan said holding in his hand the book Blake was reading. It was about ninjas and love. –They both have a good relationship but I don't see it becoming something more than just a friendship. With that said I think that they relationship will be nothing more than a bromance.
For some reason, Ryan's opinion made Blake draw her katana and point the tip of the blade against Ryan's nose.
-You take that back. –Blake said in a low, menacing tone.
There was only one word Ryan thought in say in that situation.
-POLICE!
End of the chapter.
For the next chapter, I will add another of my OCs for this story and make some troubles happen. Like I mentioned before, the battles will not happen only with the Challenge. A friedly rivalry is not something I did before so I wanted to give a try. Who there did not have a best friend and wanted to show that is better than him in something?
That's all folks! See you next time.