The screen vanished, leaving only a stunned, riotous echo in the Beacon cafeteria.
For some, it was the best entertainment since the Vytal Festival. For others, it was an emotional ambush. For Ruby Rose, it was the beginning of her long, slow descent into legendary embarrassment.
She remained frozen on the bench, jaw slack, eyes wild. "It was a music video. Of me. Singing. About Weiss."
Weiss sat beside her, equally rigid. "And me. In a field. Wearing—what even was I wearing?!"
"A Dust-infused fantasy gown," Blake offered calmly. "It shimmered."
Yang was beside herself with laughter. "You guys are seriously freaking out about the best PR moment you've ever had."
"You call that PR?" Ruby snapped. "It looked like a wedding invitation!"
She pointed furiously at the empty space where the screen had hung.
"I don't sing in flower crowns!"
Weiss muttered, "I don't frolic in fields."
"You twirled."
"I did not twirl!"
"You definitely twirled."
Before the argument could escalate further, a familiar voice called out.
"Well, someone's got a secret crush!"
The girls turned to see Team JNPR approaching—led, of course, by the grinning and hopelessly nosy Nora Valkyrie.
"I knew it!" she sang, pointing dramatically at Ruby. "I knew you were sweet on someone! But I thought it was a cute weaponsmith or something! Not Weiss Schnee!"
"I—It's not—That's not—" Ruby stammered.
Nora turned to Weiss. "And you! You totally had romantic background energy!"
Weiss sputtered. "I did not—I wasn't even there!"
"That's what makes it romantic!"
Jaune Arc scratched his head. "So… that was a music video?"
"Very convincing acting," Ren said, sipping tea beside him.
Pyrrha gave Ruby a warm, understanding look. "It was… beautiful. Honestly."
Ruby looked like she wanted to crawl under the table again. "Et tu, Pyrrha?"
"It showed your heart," she said with a kind smile. "There's nothing to be ashamed of."
Meanwhile, Team SSSN had gathered at a neighboring table, watching the aftermath with the enthusiasm of front-row fans.
"Dude," Sun Wukong said, leaning on the table and flashing a wide grin. "That was adorable."
"Little Red's got a voice on her," added Neptune, clearly impressed. "And a serious case of the blushes."
Scarlet David raised an eyebrow. "Is it just me, or did they have amazing cinematography?"
Sage Ayana nodded once. "Professionally done."
Ruby, still flushed, groaned. "Why is everyone complimenting the editing?!"
"You should be proud," Sun teased. "You basically just debuted as Beacon's next pop idol."
"She sang about me," Weiss muttered, still in shock. "To music. With sparkles."
"That's real dedication," Scarlet observed.
Then, from across the hall, a slow, deliberate clap echoed.
All heads turned.
Team CFVY had arrived.
Leading the applause was none other than Coco Adel, fashion icon and Beacon's coolest upperclassman.
"Well, well, Rosebud," she drawled, adjusting her sunglasses. "I had no idea you were such a romantic."
Velvet Scarlatina peeked out from behind her camera, cheeks rosy. "It was sweet!"
"You had a whole aesthetic," Coco continued. "Matching themes. Soft lighting. Petals. Iconic."
Beside her, Fox signed something with his hands.
Yatsuhashi translated with a grin. "He says it was better than half the indie films at the Vale Cinema Festival."
Blake nodded in agreement. "Thematically strong. Cohesive visuals."
Ruby slumped again. "I just wanted to sing to the stars. Not get turned into a star…"
Coco smirked and leaned down to whisper. "Ruby Schnee. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"
Weiss choked.
"Nope. Nope-nope-nope-nope-nope," Ruby blurted.
"Oh, you're so red right now," Yang said, grinning as she took pictures. "This is going on the team board."
"Please don't," Ruby whispered. "Please just let me fade into the void…"
Then—
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
The rhythmic sound of heels.
The entire room straightened.
Professor Glynda Goodwitch had entered the chaos.
Her expression was unreadable, eyes sharp behind her glasses as she surveyed the students. She walked to the center of the cafeteria, arms behind her back.
The room fell silent.
"Would the origin of the recent screen activity like to step forward?" she asked, coolly.
Students exchanged nervous glances.
Ruby whimpered.
Goodwitch's gaze swept the room.
When no one spoke, she continued, "I see. Then I will assume this was an anomaly of Beacon's security systems…"
Professor Peter Port stepped forward beside her, booming jovially, "Ah, but what fine taste! Romance! Music! Blossoming youth!" He pressed a hand to his chest. "I remember when I once composed a ballad to a faunus warrior maiden—"
"Peter," Glynda snapped, eyes narrowing.
Port cleared his throat. "Right. Of course."
From the back of the room, a faint clinking sounded—Professor Oobleck, furiously scribbling in a notebook, eyes darting from Ruby to Weiss.
"Incredible. Public projection with unknown source, possibly supernatural AI or Dust-based projection. Recorded emotional data? Self-generating narrative format? Fascinating!"
"Fascinatingly illegal, if it's interfering with student privacy," Glynda replied, eyeing him pointedly.
Then—last, and calmest of all—came Professor Ozpin.
He took a final sip from his coffee mug, eyes half-lidded behind round glasses.
"I must say," he began, "while I don't condone mysterious visual broadcasts that override our systems…"
He looked directly at Ruby.
"…I do appreciate artistry when I see it."
Ruby squeaked.
Ozpin turned away, speaking to no one in particular. "It seems our students are capable of expressing themselves in ways far beyond combat or academics. A lesson in vulnerability… creativity… and perhaps connection."
He paused. "The screen is gone. But perhaps the message remains."
Then he walked off.
The silence he left in his wake was deafening.
Ruby stared into space. "Was that… approval?!"
Yang nudged her. "I think you just got emotional validation from the headmaster."
Ruby covered her face with both hands. "Oh Dust, it's official. Everyone's seen it. Everyone liked it."
"I didn't like it," Weiss snapped.
Everyone turned.
Weiss stood, arms crossed, trying to look composed. "I didn't like it. I didn't authorize it. I didn't expect it."
She paused.
Her cheeks turned pink.
"But… I didn't hate it either."
Dead silence.
Ruby slowly lowered her hands. "Wait… what?"
Weiss sighed, brushing hair behind her ear. "It was… sweet. In a ridiculous, overproduced, embarrassing kind of way."
Ruby blinked.
"You… liked it?"
"I said I didn't hate it."
"Oh."
Weiss glanced at her. "But if you ever do sing about me again… kindly let me know beforehand."
Ruby smiled. "So I should write a second verse?"
"NO!"
Around them, the crowd began to thin, students reluctantly returning to their meals and conversations, though the buzz never really faded. The legend of the Rooftop Ballad would live on for weeks, maybe months. Probably years.
Ruby exhaled and finally slumped back into her seat.
"Well," she mumbled, "there goes anonymity."
Yang grinned. "You're welcome."
Blake leaned in. "Next time you want to serenade someone, maybe lock the door?"
Coco passed by again with Velvet in tow, offering a two-fingered salute. "Great debut, kid."
Ruby offered a tiny wave in return. "I didn't mean to debut."
Weiss rolled her eyes, but the corners of her lips twitched.
And above them all, the space where the screen once hovered remained empty.
Still.
Waiting.
As if it had more secrets left to reveal.
But for now?
It was quiet.
