The midday sun hung high over Beacon Academy as Ash and Pikachu strolled through the courtyard. It had been an interesting few days since their arrival, filled with new experiences, new friends, and a lot of surprises. As they walked, a familiar voice called out to them.

"Ash! Pikachu!"

Turning toward the sound, Ash spotted Ruby and Yang approaching with bright smiles. Weiss and Blake followed behind them, looking curious but not as energetic as the sisters.

"Hey guys!" Ash greeted, waving at them as Pikachu gave an enthusiastic "Pika!"

Yang grinned, crossing her arms. "So, Ash, we were talking and—wait, hold up—doesn't anyone back home worry about you? Like, your parents?"

Ash blinked at the question and immediately flinched at the thought of his mom. "Uh... well, my mom is probably worried," he admitted, rubbing the back of his head. "She's always been supportive, but, y'know, she'd definitely freak out if she knew I was in another world."

Ruby giggled. "Moms tend to do that."

Ash gave a nervous chuckle before his expression turned thoughtful. "As for my dad, well... I don't really know. He left on his journey when I was little, and he doesn't really reach out much."

Yang and Ruby exchanged glances.

"So… he just left?" Yang asked.

Ash shrugged, trying to keep it casual. "Yeah, I guess. He's out there somewhere, but I haven't really heard from him."

Yang frowned. "Wow. Sounds like a total deadbeat."

Ash waved a hand dismissively. "Nah, it's fine. I've had Mom, and Professor Oak's kind of like a grandpa to me. I never really thought about it much."

Weiss raised an eyebrow. "You never thought about it?"

Ash simply shook his head. "I was too busy training, meeting new people, and traveling the world. I guess I just got used to it."

Yang's frown softened, and she suddenly threw her arms around Ash, pulling him into a tight hug. "Come here, you."

Ash's face turned bright red as his arms flailed slightly. "H-Hey! What's with the hugging?!"

Ruby laughed. "Aww, is someone getting shy?"

Pikachu tilted its head in amusement. "Pika pika."

Yang smirked, resting her chin on Ash's shoulder. "You're just too wholesome for your own good. Makes me wanna ruffle your hair."

Ash, still red-faced, managed to free himself. "Geez, warn me next time!"

Yang just winked. "No promises."

Still a little flustered, Ash decided to change the subject. He looked between Ruby and Yang, his curiosity piqued. "By the way, I've been wondering something… You two look kinda different from each other. Are you full sisters?"

Ruby and Yang glanced at each other, their expressions shifting slightly.

"Well," Ruby started, "we have the same dad, but different moms."

Ash blinked. "Oh, really?"

Yang nodded. "Yeah. My mom is Raven Branwen, but she left when I was little. I'm actually looking for her, but honestly? She's probably not worth it. Deadbeat mom and all that."

Ash frowned. "That sucks…"

Yang shrugged, but there was a hint of sadness in her expression. "It is what it is."

Ruby took over. "My mom was Summer Rose. She was amazing… but she went on a mission one day and never came back."

Ash's expression softened. "I'm sorry, Ruby."

Ruby smiled, but there was a tinge of sadness behind it. "It's okay. She was a great Huntress, and I want to be like her."

Ash nodded. "She sounds like an awesome person."

"She was," Yang said, before her smirk returned. "But hey, we do have someone who kinda stepped up to help raise us—our Uncle Qrow."

"Qrow?" Ash repeated.

"Yeah," Yang said, grinning. "He's a cool dude, even if he can be a little weird sometimes."

Ruby nodded excitedly. "He's super strong! You'd probably like him."

Ash smiled. "Sounds like my kinda guy."

Yang chuckled. "Just don't let him babysit you. He's got the whole 'drunken master' thing going on."

Ash laughed, shaking his head. "Sounds like a real character."

Weiss sighed. "That's putting it mildly."

Ash couldn't help but grin. "Well, now I kinda want to meet him."

Yang patted his shoulder. "Oh, you will. And when you do, be prepared for sarcasm, bad luck, and a whole lot of whiskey."

Ash chuckled. "Sounds like an adventure."

Then, all eyes naturally turned to Weiss. The usually poised heiress visibly tensed, her posture stiffening as she hesitated. She glanced away, as if weighing her words carefully.

Ash, sensing her discomfort, tilted his head. "Weiss?"

She sighed, crossing her arms. "It's… complicated."

Yang smirked. "C'mon, Ice Queen. We all shared. It's your turn."

Weiss shot her a glare but took a deep breath. "Fine. My family is… difficult."

Ruby and Blake exchanged knowing looks, while Ash listened intently.

"My father, Jacques Schnee, is a strict and controlling man. Everything is about the family name, the company, and making sure we uphold the Schnee reputation." Her voice was cold, with a hint of bitterness. "He was especially hard on me and my sister, Winter. She left home and joined the Atlas military to escape him, and honestly… I've always admired her for that. She's strong, disciplined, and everything I aspire to be."

Ash's expression softened. "She sounds really cool."

"She is," Weiss admitted, a small, fond smile forming before quickly disappearing. "Then there's my younger brother, Whitley. He… can be a little annoying at times, but he's still my brother."

Yang raised an eyebrow. "Annoying how?"

Weiss sighed. "He's a bit too comfortable in our father's shadow. While Winter and I pushed back, he… well, let's just say he's more willing to follow in our father's footsteps."

Ash frowned. "That sounds tough."

Weiss nodded. "It is. But there's one person who made life at home bearable—Klein, our butler." Her eyes softened as she spoke. "Honestly, he was more of a father to us than our father ever was. He practically raised me and my siblings. Always kind, always understanding… I owe him a lot."

Ash smiled. "He sounds like a great guy."

Weiss simply nodded.

With Weiss's story shared, the group's focus naturally shifted to Blake, who had been silent the entire time. She frowned, her ears twitching slightly as she hugged herself.

Yang, sensing her hesitation, nudged her playfully. "Alright, your turn, Blake. We all spilled our guts, so no backing out now."

Blake let out a reluctant sigh, clearly not thrilled about the attention. "Fine…"

Ash, noticing her discomfort, spoke gently. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

Blake shook her head. "No, it's okay." She took a deep breath before continuing. "My mom is… well, she's a very kind and caring woman. She always looked out for me, no matter what." Her lips curled into a small, nostalgic smile. "She was the one who kept things peaceful in our home."

"And your dad?" Ash asked.

Blake's smile faded slightly. "My dad is… rough around the edges. He's always been overprotective, sometimes too much. He means well, but he has strong opinions and isn't afraid to voice them. It made things… complicated."

Weiss folded her arms. "I can relate to that."

Blake glanced at her with a knowing expression before continuing. "He wanted me to follow in his footsteps, but I… I needed to find my own path."

Ash nodded in understanding. "That's fair. It sounds like both your parents care about you in their own way."

Blake hesitated before nodding. "Yeah. Even if my dad can be overbearing, I know he cares."

The group fell into a momentary silence, each of them reflecting on their own family struggles. Despite their differences, they all shared one thing in common—family wasn't always perfect, but it shaped them into who they were.

Yang, deciding to lighten the mood, stretched her arms behind her head. "Well, that got heavy. How about we focus on the present? Like, for example, what's for lunch?"

Ruby perked up. "Ooh! I was thinking of getting some cookies—"

Weiss groaned. "You can't just have cookies for lunch!"