Pyrrha Nikos believed herself to be a calm and composed woman. Rarely does she lose her composer and showcase an emotional outburst—always keeping herself cool and collected, even when inwardly she was not.
For example, there was a time during the early start of Beacon when her teammate, leader, and secret crush were bullied by Cardin in various ways and times.
Such as Cardin childish spitting a paper ball at Jaune during lesson or having the teacher call on him when he clearly didn't know the answer—leaving her crush embarrassed and laughed at. Other times, there was a situation of physical bullying in combat class, cafeteria, or outside of those altogether.
However, despite inwardly feeling furious for her partner/crush, Pyrrha never shows signs of losing control of her emotions.
A temperament she'd cultivated from a young age and had continuously Ingrid itself to her bone.
Instead, she would opt for patiently persuading her partner if he had any issues so she could form an excuse to give that jerk a hard lesson for bullying others, especially Jaune. Unfortunately, Jaune, being as stubborn as he is, wouldn't reveal anything and if she tried to be straight with him about it, he would deny it, although it's one of the things she likes about him, she also felt quite helpless and did not know what to do to help him.
And she being who she is, wouldn't let emotion overtake her and let reason fly out in an outburst. No. She at most would vent those emotions in the most normal way... Such as making Cardin's entire team experience an utter defeat by her hands during combat class.
Allowing her to maintain her image and belief of being a calm and composed woman.
But…
Even she could not absolutely claim that she would never lose her composer!
In front of these numerous photos, one after another. Her years of carefully cultivating demeanor shatter as easily as glass.
''N-Nora are all these photos…. r-real?'' With a trembling voice, Pyrrha asked, sliding with her finger to glance at another photo showing Jaune and Blake being intimate during their date.
Her shaking voice suggests that despite seeing the evidence before her eyes, she couldn't bring herself to believe it, and desperately hoped for Nora to confirm and say these photos are just fake and that... the things on it were just photoshopped made by Nora to prank her.
However...
Obviously not getting her hint, Nora giggled and loudly said with a smile without noticing her current plight. ''Hah hah. Yep, these photos are all real with none being fake! I've followed them without them noticing from morning to dawn, taking so many photos along the way I can't even remember how many!
Wait! Now that I think about it, could I be considered a master at trailing someone? I never realized I had such talent until now. That is so cool! What do you guys think, aren't I, Nora, awesome!?''
With Nora confirming that the photos are all real, Pyrrha winces deeply, her shoulders slumping down as she sits on the bed with a gloomy look. An intense emotion overwhelmed her, the strange pain in her chest was so suffocating, it felt as though something was directly squeezing at her heart.
At that moment, Pyrrha realized what it's like to be heartbroken for the first time. It made her understand that compared to this level of unbearable pain… the physical pain from fighting and training were nothing!
''Nora, you should stop.''
As Nora was about to continue excitedly describing her experience and how awesome she was with Pyrrha, Ren, sitting further away on his bed, stopped her with a soft yet serious tone. And only after hearing him did Nora quiet down, finally noticing the gloomy look on Pyrrha.
Seeing the heart-wrenching sight of Pyrrha with her trembling shoulder slumping down, head bow, hand at the center of her chest; and a pained look plastered on her rosy face. Nora's excited smile froze, realizing her mistake almost immediately.
''W-Wait…! Pyrrha, I'm sure…''
''Stop…!''
When Nora realized that, in her excitement to share her adventure and the juicy secret she uncovered the other day with her closest teammate, she had momentarily forgotten there's someone in this room who had a hard crush on a certain blonde…
Understanding how insensitive she was when rambling endlessly about her friend's crush, happily dating and enjoying time with another woman, and even showing her those pictures as proof. Nora felt bad and immediately hurried to try to mend the situation somehow but was stopped with a single word from the red-head.
''T-thank you for telling me this but I think... I need a moment to myself. I'll step out for a bit.'' Pyrrha forced a weak smile while speaking, likely not wanting her friends to see her current state so right after saying that, she didn't wait for a response and directly stepped out of the room.
After Pyrrha abruptly left the room, the silence dominated the dorm for a long time as the two remaining people neither spoke nor looked at each other.
Eventually, Ren sighed, turning to look at his partner, and tried to shift the topic by asking. ''Nora, why did Ms. Goodwitch call you in for detention the other night? You were held up until past midnight so I imagine you must've done something quite significant.''
''Ah, err, um, that…'' Nora, slow to react, briefly stumbles through her words. ''Ms. Goodwitch gave me a detention because of a fight with Cardin and the goons always falling him.''
Ren, seeing that Nora responding back positively from the shift in topic, adopts a light smile and asks again. ''Was the incident before or after you've gone stalking the two?''
''It was before.''
''Did you at least win the fight?''
''Of course, I won the fight! Oh, Renny~ you should've seen how amazing I was! Hmph, the only thing I'm mad about when remembering the fight was not having Magnhild with me! If I did, it would be so easy to break those guys legs.''
Nora exclaimed immediately when Ren questioned if she had won the scuffle between Cardin's team and her, obviously not liking him doubting her ability.
''Mhm. I know,'' Ren responds monotonously.
However, despite the lack of interest in his tone; the light smile tugging at the corner of his lips didn't go away.
''Then don't ask questions like that next time, Renny. It sounded like you were doubting me.'' Nora puffs her cheek up, trying to look displeased.
Thereafter another humph for the last time, Nora calming down, a plaster of guilt and worried surface on her face once again, but thankfully it wasn't as intense as before.
Ren inwardly breathed in relief—being more used to Nora's hyperactive energetic self most of the time, seeing her in a rare somber mood didn't bud well with him.
''Pyrrha… She'll be okay right, Ren?'' Nora peered at the door Pyrrha had left from, and utter with a voice that was almost whisper-like.
With his keen hearing, Ren heard what she said clearly and softly responded. ''I'm sure Pyrrha would be fine Nora, she's strong.''
...
One swing. Two swings. Three swings.
Drip, drip-
Pyrrha didn't know how long she'd been repeating the same motion over and over, before readjusted her stance again, lifted her Akouo(shield) in front of her, and used her makeshift weapon, Milo, which she had changed the form into a xiphos; a double-edged, one-handing straight sword to slash down on nothing but air.
A practice routine she grew up following not only to hone her basics but also serve as a way to take her mind off things she didn't want to dwell on or escape to ease her mind.
Like now.
To get rid of the clouded gloomy emotion bottling up inside her due to what she had found out about her partner. When she had abruptly left the room, she immediately headed to her locker to retrieve her weapon and came to this isolated ground to calm her mood.
Not that the effect was working very well. Even after continuous practice for hours, Pyrrha barely felt any better.
Her mood was nowhere near getting better; with her thoughts still revolving around those pictures she had seen in Nora's scroll. And every time that happens, her mood only continues to worsen and dim further with murky thoughts.
Sweat trickled down Pyrrha's forehead, her clothes were drenched with sweat after the prolonged practice.
''Whew…''
Pyrrha stopped after swinging down her xiphos for the last time, lowering her shield, she released an exhausted breath and while looking toward the darkened sky and the moon becoming more clear and visible with the night.
Pyrrha realizes only now that she must have been doing this for quite a few hours when notices how late it has gotten. In the midst of such thought, she gently bit her soft rose lips, her firm and strong hand gripping down the handle of her sword. A bitter taste entered her mouth.
She swallowed with difficulty and couldn't help but think about the thing that she had been trying to avoid thinking about most.
When?
How did it first start?
There was no sign at all during their interaction, so how did they suddenly form a romantic relationship without them–No, without her knowing about it!?
These unanswered questions swarming Pyrrha's mind.
She didn't understand at all, how did those two start dating when they never showed signs of remotely interesting in prolonging conversation with each other except when their teams met up? So just like how it was a bitter pill to swallow knowing the boy she liked since the beginning of Beacon, suddenly dated one of her friends, it also completely baffled her how it could be Blake out of everyone.
If it was Ruby, Pyrrha could make some sense to it. After all, despite Ruby's claim of being uninterested in romance except...well, her weapon, Crescent Rose. With how close and clingy she and Jaune are most of the time, it wouldn't be that hard to believe they secretly like one another.
But Blake...! That was someone Pyrrha could never have anticipated or imagined being involved with her partner in a romantic way! In fact, she would have an easier time believing Weiss—the one who repeatedly rejected her partner, showing disdain at his affection, and the one her partner chose to firmly give up on during the Beacon Dance night, suddenly dating him!
So why her!?
Why not me!? I was always there for him!
First, it was Weiss, now Blake! Why is it never me!!?
''This isn't helping…'' Though her voice sounded low, a clear frustration could easily be noticed.
Once Pyrrha stopped, the emotion she had tried not to let out had acted up immediately. The emotion filled with intense jealousy and resentment toward a certain wavy black hair only intensifies more when her mind remembers the final picture taken by Nora… Of the two kissing under the moonlight.
The clear vivid image in her head—looking romantic in every way, seemingly straight out of a fairytale from a book she read as a child—made her feel an extreme bitterness she never felt before in her life until now,
However, behind the jealousy, resentment, and bitterness, there was also the feeling of guilt for feeling this way toward that particular friend.
Pyrrha Nikos was kind by nature.
Something she understands quite deeply about herself. So when she felt resentment towards someone who hadn't done anything wrong to her, it made her feel extremely guilty, even if said person technically stole(in her mind) the person she liked for a while.
It didn't change the fact that Pyrrha felt it was wrong of her to have these resentful thoughts about Blake. However, she couldn't help herself from feeling this way about Blake... even if it's wrong.
''I… should be headed back.'' Pyrrha shook her head to rid herself of these thoughts.
Normally, at this hour, the schedule for training with Jaune would've been at this time, in this location, but right now, she wasn't in the mood for it. Besides, the fact that Jaune still wasn't here made her believe he likely wouldn't show up for training today.
After all, in all the time since they established this training regimen, Jaune had never been late to their meet-up before and for him to be late now would be…
''He's probably with her…''
Pyrrha couldn't help but let her mind believe that was the case despite no evidence of it. Though, a small part of her hope was just her misassumption. And Jaune was late to their training due to something else and not because he was hanging out with Blake.
However, late or not coming for training, Pyrrha was also glad Jaune hadn't actually come because… she didn't know how she could calmly face him right now without leaking her current state to him.
...
Unfortunately, when you attended the same academy, became a partner and were assigned to live in the same dorm for the next four years, not meeting each other wasn't exactly an option.
''Oh, Pyrrha, you're drenched with sweat. Did you just come back from working out?''
Pyrrha stiffed up as she heard Jaune's casual question upon seeing her, while she was making her way back to the dorm after putting her weapon away in the locker room.
Taking a moment to respond, she offers a small but weak smile, hoping she wouldn't appear unnatural. ''Y-yeah. I was- I was working out alone for a while so quite a bit of sweat was accumulating.''
''Is that so...''
Pyrrha didn't know if Jaune noticed her oddity or not, but after she said that he rubbed the back of his head in an awkward apologetic manner. ''Oh right, tonight was also our practice hour wasn't it? S-sorry, I didn't show up for the training even though you're kind enough to train me.''
So that's why he was looking apologetic, Pyrrha thought, when realizing the reason why he was acting like that upon her mentioning she was working up. ''No, no, you don't have to apologize for something small like that Jaune. But I'm– I'm curious...''
''Hm?''
Pyrrha softly rubbed her left arm with her right hand, unsure if it was in her right to ask. But in the end, her desire to find out won over her. ''B-by the way, Jaune… where were you this afternoon?''
''Where was I…? Well…'' Jaune's expression turned flustered at her question. However, Pyrrha had a feeling it wasn't from the question itself.
Pyrrha didn't know how she instinctively knew that, but she just did.
She waited for his response while holding in her breath, her shoulders visibly trembling from the anticipation and nervousness from having her assumption confirmed.
''Heh heh, I was reading in the library with Blake. And because of that, I've forgotten the time for our training. Sorry Pyrrha, I promise this won't happen again.''
His voice sounded genuinely sorry for not showing up for their training, that, she was sure of but… Pyrrha couldn't focus on any of that as the pain from guessing the truth of where he had been made her heart hurt to the point of breathlessness. Moreover… The foolish grin plaster on his face, the gentleness and loving gaze contained in those eyes, and the touch of red embarrassment that could be noticed on both sides of his cheek, made Pyrrha immediately understand how much he was enjoying his time with her… with Blake.
When they were alone together, training, sparring, working up a sweat under that moonlight—she had seen many different sides of him.
The side of him that ranges from his stubbornness to improve himself so he could stand shoulder to shoulder with everyone, to his frustration from not growing fast enough and feeling dejected over the thought of never catching up with the rest. And finally, his joy from seeing his own improvement and believing that he would soon be able to catch up with everyone.
However, despite seeing all those different sides of him, Pyrrha didn't remember him ever making such a face before. Even when he was infatuated with Weiss, his expression would always show a boy in love when mentioning her but it was always accompanied by the despondent air from the repeated rejection.
To Pyrrha, this was the first time she saw him mention anything or anyone with a look so full of happiness and contentment.
The sight not only made Pyrrha breathless, but her eyes seem to lose all their spirit as her shoulders slump. With these signs visible through her expression and body, a person would have to truly be blind to not notice something was wrong with her.
And while Jaune didn't have the best awareness of people, he wasn't that far gone that he couldn't pick up his partner's oddity when it was so obvious.
Looking at the redhead, Jaune asks in a tone of concern. ''Uh, are you feeling well Pyrrha? Your shoulders are trembling a lot, and you seem to be breathless. Did you work up too much?''
''... I'm fine.''
Thereafter, without saying anything further Pyrrha turns her back to Jaune and begins walking toward the path leading to their dorm. Watching her back with concern, Jaune followed her and tried to strike up a conversation, even trying to tell a joke when he was unsuccessful. But unfortunately, it still didn't elicit any response from her.
Jaune couldn't understand why she would suddenly act like this when everything was fine a literal short moment ago. Was it something he had said that made her ignore him without warning? Jaune pondered in confusion, however, he couldn't think of anything he said or done wrong during the brief talk.
…
The walk back to the dorm was tense and awkward.
Pyrrha felt guilty and self-reproach for making the atmosphere become like this, especially towards Jaune. However, even those feelings weren't strong enough for her to overcome the inner chaotic turmoil going through her mind.
She could tell he was trying hard to somehow fix things by striking up a conversation despite not knowing what's going on. Her heart ached with guilt because of that, yet… her mind clouded with chaotic turmoil while her body continued to maintain silence, giving him the cold shoulders the entire way back to their dorm.
While it did take a few turns through the corridors, it didn't take them long to reach their dorm. Once they were at the dorm, despite Jaune persisting in trying to have her respond, Pyrrha wasn't in any mind to listen and briskly unlocked the door, entering the dorm.
Inside, Pyrrha was met with the silent yet concerned gaze of the other members of her team, Nora and Ren. However, before they could utter anything, noticing the obvious tense atmosphere and the confused and helpless expression on Jaune, she spoke first, ''I'll take a shower first.'' It was a quick and short line, and with her heading toward the washroom immediately after, it left no room for the two to speak.
With a 'bang,' the washroom door was directly shut-tight. Both Ren and Nora regard Jaune with a questioning look.
Jaune, finding himself at the center of attention from his two friends, shook his head in helpless confusion. ''I don't get it… she was fine when we were first talking but when she asked where I was and I told her… She suddenly became like this…''
Hearing that, both Nora and Ren instantly understand where the problem lies.
Nora on the other hand, felt an immediate burst of irritation from how dense their leader was and had the urge to directly tell him the truth. However, before Nora could Ren place his hand on her shoulder and shook his head at her.
His meaning was clear, Nora, no, it's not in our place to say anything.
Though Nora didn't understand the reason why he would prevent her from telling Jaune the truth, she still could guess through his gaze that he didn't want her to say anything. And while she heeded his words, she made sure to puff up her cheek, showing him an unhappy expression.
Ren's impassive expression threatened to twitch when seeing her making such a face. In the end, he'd just sigh, not bother to comment. He had his own thoughts on the troublesome matter involving his two teammates.
Jaune, noticing the strange action between the two, didn't understand what was going on. But a part of him felt the issue lies with him, however, he still couldn't figure out why or how a casual question would lead to this.
He peered over at the washroom with worries, hoping for things to go back to normal by tomorrow. And maybe then Pyrrha would tell him what was wrong and why she was suddenly giving him the cold and silent treatment.
Which in his mind, came completely out of nowhere!
Thankfully, the next day, Pyrrha began to act normally once more. And she even apologized for last night, shocking them further.
Jaune and the rest were quite surprised by the sudden change from last night, but more importantly, they were just grateful that their strongest and kindest teammate, Pyrrha Nikos, was back to normal.
Seeing that Pyrrha was back to her usual self, Jaune couldn't hold himself back from asking about last night—but when he asked, she showed him a forced smile and said. ''I-I'm sorry, but I don't want to talk about it.'' The sentence immediately made him shut up for good.
While he was curious about the reason for her to act like that, Jaune also wanted to respect his partner's privacy if she didn't want to talk about it. He didn't desire to come out as some annoying guy who couldn't take a hint.
There was that dark history with Weiss, of which he had desperately hoped he could forget the memory of.
...
That night.
Pyrrha, who was naturally kind, felt awful going to sleep that night, which mainly stemmed from the way she had acted toward her partner and her teammates.
Why?
Why did I act like that!?
Just because he confirmed what I'd already guess!
By the next morning, feeling guilty about the other night, Pyrrha made sure to express her apologies to her teammates right away.
Pyrrha couldn't help but feel warm inside after apologizing, instead of the questioning she expected to happen, her teammates only expressed their concern for her. It made her realize that despite her complicated relationship with Jaune due to her one-sided feeling for him, her teammates were still the best and very understanding.
She began to think, maybe it's better for things to continue to stay the same as it has always been. As that thought surfaces in her mind, a wave of bitter regret washed over Pyrrha.
She couldn't exactly pinpoint when or where she first fell in love with Jaune. Her initial interest in him was mostly due to the fact that unlike others, he was the first person she met who didn't know about her and her fame. Even till now, Pyrrha had to stifle a laugh every time she remembered how his only impression on her was from a cereal box she made for a commercial promotion.
And even after Jaune found out about her fame later on after they became partners and teammates with two other people—he didn't change the way he interacted with her unlike most others who would shower her with admiring gaze and sing praise about her.
Of course, those things weren't enough to make Pyrrha fall for him yet. It all started from when Jaune was bullied by Cardin and getting to observe the many qualities she found admirable. Only then did she fall for him.
However, despite the many chances given to her… She didn't confess.
When he was feeling down because of being rejected by Weiss after confessing, when they were alone together during training, when he tried to foolishly act strong despite being obviously depressed by Cardin's constant harassment, or after he chose to give up on Weiss during that Beacon Dance night...
Those were all an opportunity given to Pyrrha! If she just mustered a little more courage—being a bit braver instead of fearing rejection and their current relationship changing—she could've seized the opportunity and then… he and she would've been together.
But because she was too afraid, too fearful, and cowardly she let all those opportunities pass by her.
Who can I blame other than myself for being too cowardly... Pyrrha thought self-deprecatingly.
Even though many praise her as strong and courageous, she felt undeserving of them after realizing how she couldn't even seize an opportunity handed to her on a silver plate, simply because of the fear of being rejected.
…
Beacon Cafeteria.
As usual, during the lunch hour the cafeteria was bursting with noise as students chatted among themselves while enjoying their meals. At this time in a certain table, where two teams had mostly occupied the spot since the year started.
Pyrrha smiled and only listened silently as she saw a similar situation occurring between a certain long snow-white hair, pale skinned girl, heiress to the Schnee Dust Company, admonishing a younger girl with short-black hair with a sprinkle of red on top, while the younger girl try to defend herself against the heiress who always seem to somehow able to point out stuff about her.
''Ruby, I'd reminded you many times to not talk with food in your mouth!''
''I- I wasn't. And also, why are you observing me eating?''
''That's because it's extremely distracting with how loud you were chewing.''
''Ah! I don't chew loudly! Don't slander me, you big meanie!?''
''Why you…! Haven't I been telling you many times to not call people by name? It's completely uncouth and immature.''
''Hmph! I refuse to listen to a grumpy meanie like you.''
''You! Don't be so childish…!''
Weiss and Ruby.
The squabble between the two had become a constant source of entertainment for the two teams during almost every lunch period. And funnily enough, the back and forth would always begin with Ruby somehow doing something that the white-haired heiress believed needed correction, which always led them to the current state.
At the start of Beacon, when Pyrrha had first witnessed them suddenly squabble she had feared it might lead to a big argument or something. But after seeing them doing the same thing over and over, almost like a routine, she had long realized it was just a small squabble between two friends.
If it were back then before Pyrrha had attended Beacon, seeing such a sight would've made her quite jealous, but after getting to know and spending time with her own teammates. It didn't make her feel jealous or any sort, only the happiness from knowing everyone was getting along.
''Pyrrha, you're more quiet and lost than usual is there anything Important in mind?'' While Pyrrha was gazing at Weiss and Ruby squabble and was lost in thoughts about her own circumstance, a soft quiet reserved voice spoke to her, snapping her from the reverie. And knowing who the voice which spoke to her belonged to, Pyrrha stiffened up for a second but immediately hid it. Plastering a polite smile on her face, she looked at the wavy black-haired and amber eyes faunus and responded. ''N-No. I wasn't thinking about anything.''
''Hmm…'' Blake only hums without speaking any further.
Watching her going back to demolishing those well grilled fish on her plate, Pyrrha hung her head slightly low and also went quiet. Shuffling her fingers underneath the table in an awkward manner.
Although a few weeks had already passed since that incident, Pyrrha genuinely tried her best to not act odd or strange around anybody, which naturally included team RWBY. She could continue to interact normally with everyone despite obviously still being affected by her recent heartbreak. However, to her shame, when it comes to the one she believes had stolen her crush away, she still found it hard to maintain normality.
Emotion was always like that, while Pyrrha understood it was a selfish thought, it wasn't something she could completely control either.
Worse of all, during the last few weeks, the few times when her partner, Jaune, will tell her he was unable to make it to their training while all dressed up in neat clothing and putting on some special cologne to smell nice, made such thoughts only harder to suppress.
The thing that made her sour the most was that she knew the reason why he was doing all of that for—Blake—although she never personally saw them going out together(she didn't want to either) and only through the photo that Nora showed her. It was quite obvious to anyone who knew about them that they were out dating.
Pyrrha felt Blake had likely picked up on the way she stiffened up when speaking or looking at her. Thankfully, she was grateful the barely talkative girl didn't choose to point it out.
Besides these, there was another thing that confused and bothered her...
''Renny, Renny, they're at it again.'' On Pyrrha's side, she saw Nora nudge the impassive-looking boy and whisper to him. ''Haa… I saw it, Nora.''
Pyrrha subtly shifts her gaze to the thing Nora mentions, and there, she sees the same sight they did. Sitting across them to the further left were Jaune and Yang—joking and laughing while exchanging dialogues only they enjoy.
Naturally, such a sight wouldn't have been strange at all, with many who would think the two were just normal friends who clearly enjoy each other's company very much. If it wasn't for the fact that… to anyone's eyes, they were acting a little too close for normal friends.
''Jaune, try one of these nuggets with this sauce. The flavor's out of this world~'' With a toothly grin, Yang held a piece of nugget dipped in a reddish-white sauce toward the blonde boy. In return, staring at the nugget pressed close to his mouth, Jaune pursed his lips and pointed out. ''I do want to… but why are you letting me eat the piece that you already took a bite into?''
''C'mon now~ shouldn't you be happy a beautiful woman like me is personally feeding you something she took a bite into. How many would kill to be in your shoes right now loverboy?'' Yang confidently said.
Jaune chuckled at her confidence when calling herself 'beautiful', and couldn't help but crack a joke from it. ''Careful not to be too arrogant, it's possible for one hair to fall off from being too overconfident in their appearance.''
Given how much Yang treasures her hair, in Pyrrha's opinion, the remark naturally wouldn't have bud well with the girl.
That is if it was a normal scenario...
Contrary to expectation, Yang, who loved her hair very much and didn't like anyone cracking a joke about it, only rounded her cheek slightly and pouted at the boy. Something Pyrrha saw in Ruby many times but never from the older sister.
''Be careful with what you say loverboy, what if it actually falls off.'' Yang pouted, clearly disliking the topic related to her hair. Jaune chuckled again and said. ''I imagine even if it ends up falling, you'll still look amazing without it.''
''Eh…'' The remark seems to have taken Yang by surprise, as she was unable to react for a brief instant. A faint blush could be seen on both sides of her cheek, something which didn't go unnoticed by Pyrrha.
Yang cleared her throat, the faint blush gone without a trace, she then gently nudged Jaune and utter. ''Heh, it seems vomitboy here really is born ladykiller~ Anyhow, Just eat this nugget already. My hands are beginning to feel sore from raising it for too long.''
''Geez, why do you have so many nicknames for me?'' Despite complaining, Jaune still obediently ate the nugget given to him by Yang.
''No matter how many times I see this scene playing out, it still feels weird, Renny. Don't you think so too, Pyrrha?'' Nora quietly said to Ren on her left, then turned her head to the right to face Pyrrha.
Ren didn't respond to Nora and Pyrrha simply nodded with a 'hmm'. Ren's thoughts were hard to tell because his expression was almost always calm and impassive, while Pyrrha's expression didn't change, but her eyes reveal many different emotions.
…
Pyrrha found it strange and couldn't understand at all. Despite facing this bizarre scene, since the beginning, even before today—the only ones reacting were her, Nora, and Ren. While the rest of the people sitting on the table—mainly team RWBY—completely ignore the sight as if the way the two were interacting were something that is simply normal between them.
That was why none of them could bring up the topic. If those three weren't seeing any problem, then bringing it out would've felt kinda awkward. Of course, it didn't stop her from being curious.
How did those two become such good friends?
Since when…?
And most importantly, aren't they a little too close for a friend?
These questions continue to circulate through Pyrrha's mind, unable to leave her. She felt a headache forming, as well as the sense of déjà vu that came along with it.
For some reason, Pyrrha felt that everything that had happened when she found out about Jaune dating Blake was happening all over again, just this time… It's related to Jaune and Yang, not Blake.
The clock ticks by slowly but surely.
Lunch came to an end, and everyone prepared to leave the cafeteria. Jaune came over to his team and said. ''I won't be heading back with you guys, Yang and I are going to the gym to get some training done.''
''Wha...! Fearless Leader, didn't you say we'll be doing some team bonding today! You can't suddenly change your mind like that! That is so uncool…!'' Nora directly whined, and poofed up her cheek to show she wasn't happy with his decision.
''Sorry, Nora, but Yang was quite insistent on it so I couldn't refuse. We'll push the team bonded activity to tomorrow.'' Jaune said, rubbing the back of his head somewhat awkwardly.
Face still poofed up roundly, pouted unhappily. Nora nudged Ren with her elbow, complaining. ''Look Renny, see how our fearless leader has discarded us now that he's hanging out with team RWBY! Hmph, this must be their evil plot to slowly make him attached to them and steal our leader from us. We must do something!''
Ren sighed at Nora's antics, he then raised his eye at Jaune and said. ''Don't you already train with Pyrrha during the night, why'd the extra training with Yang?''
Pyrrha, who was beside them, perked up her ears when she heard Ren's question.
''Oh that, Yang is planning to provide me with a basic lesson on hand-to-hand combat. She says while my weapon mystery had improved a lot from when Beacon first started but since I mostly focus on that, my hand-to-hand is not really that great. heh heh, I guess she didn't want me to become like Ruby. According to her, Ruby is literally useless without her Crescent Rose.''
''I see. Make sense.'' Ren simply nodded in agreement.
Afterward, Jaune left to train with Yang but not before he told Pyrrha he'll still be there for their own training during the night.
Pyrrrha absentmindedly watched his figure leaving the cafeteria hall with Yang, her heart swelling with unease, as she suddenly felt anxious all over.
''Renny Renny! Why didn't you support me? Now look, our fearless leader is being taken away because of her!'' Nora exclaimed, pouted at Ren. Then touching her chin, as if thinking deeply about something, she proceeded to say. ''Other than that, don't you think he's acting a little too chummy with Yang? I mean… weren't they a little too…. close for just friends.''
''Please Nora, don't randomly start rumors. You know about Blake and Jaune since you were the one who told us about it.''
''Mmm. That's true.''
However, unbeknownst to the two, the conversation between them had sparked something within their red-headed teammates, who had already been deeply skeptical about the nature of those two relationships.
Doing something nobody would ever think someone like Pyrrha would be doing, she secretly followed both blondes to the training and happened upon a sight that made her gasp in disbelief. Even questioning reality for a moment.
The sight of Jaune and Yang lips touching in an obvious kiss—deeply imprinted the Image in her head.
—Click!
Pyrrha took out her scroll to open her camera, capturing the scene in her scroll.