Another World Again

"This situation is a bit…"

Rio stood outside of a dorm room, waiting.

He wasn't waiting for a key, or even for the room to be fully furnished for him. No, he was waiting for those inside to tell him it was okay to come in, as they were… as they were currently in the midst of changing.

Normally, Rio's behavior would be thought of as weird.

After all, why would a male need to give his fellow male roommates so much privacy?

But that was already a misconception.

He didn't have male roommates.

Not a single one.

You see, the white haired boy agreed to stay in this academy, and in doing so, he had to be put up with a room and naturally attend classes. However…

Rio's smile cramped just remembering what Ozpin told him.

—"I'm glad to have you with us, Mr. Rio. I'll have Glynda tell you which dorm room is yours and she'll stop by later to give you all of your essentials. Oh, in the meantime, you can stay in…"

And with that, Rio was given the room number.

However, the man didn't see it fit to inform him of one crucial detail.

And that led to him opening the door to his room immediately upon finding the correct one. Suffice it to say, it was occupied, and not in the way he was imagining.

"Ah, hello. I didn't… realize…"

Rio trailed off.

Because as he opened the door, those inside froze at the sight of him, as did Rio in turn. But as soon as he saw them, understood the situation, he immediately performed his action with every last drop of his spiritually enhanced movements.

SLAM!

"Ahh!"

"Kyaaa!"

He had bolted out of the room and slammed the door, of course, not before hearing the startled yelps of two of the occupants, his imagination already overlapping those voices with their appearances, one's construed of bare skin he had absolutely no right seeing. 

Rio shook his head violently.

The words left him immediately. 

"I-I am deeply sorry. I know this is probably of no comfort, but I was not informed by Ozpin that this room would be occupied, much less housing—... No, that's just an excuse. I still could have knocked. It's only common courtesy that I do so. Again, I am very sorry. For someone as lowly as I to—... Anyway, you can make a claim of harassment to the professors if you wish. I absolutely won't object."

In the wake of Rio's flustered apologies, for a moment, no sound could be heard beyond the door, just the oppressive silence that continued to linger. 

But, finally...

"That's... well, y-you sound sincere enough, I suppose..."

Such a sentence could be heard trickling out of Weiss' mouth, but with a still lingering discomfort that was more than deserved. 

"Y-Yeah, it's okay, Rio. It was just an accident..."

Ruby's voice said next, although a bit fainter than her friend.

They both still sounded a little shaken up, and for a moment Rio just stood there, wondering why they were being so generous. No, he dismissed such thoughts. Accident or not, there were certain things you couldn't waive off as inconsequential.

This was definitely one of them.

"...I'm sorry, but I can't accept that. Rather, you shouldn't let me off so easily. If you ask anything of me, I'll see it done to the best of my ability."

Rio's words were not mere pleasantries or even as an obligation. He wanted to do something resolve this, if only because it would remain at the back of his mind if he didn't.

"Oh? In that case, just make it even."

Rio blinked, as a new voice, one coming from Yang, entered his ears.

"Yang, surely you don't mean…" Then, Belladonna spoke, Rio still unsure of her given name.

She sounded quite put off by the girl's comment.

Of course, Rio was no different, except he was surrounded by confusion rather than disquiet. "...Miss Yang? Make it even? I'm sorry, but I don't understand."

"It's simple. Come inside. Ah, we're all decent now by the way."

"Al— …Alright then," he replied, sounding incredibly wary despite the girl's assurance. That said, he still waited a good five seconds before coming in.

"Excuse me."

Entering the room, he was met with the varied degrees of bashfulness from the four girls.

Ruby was bright red avoiding his eyes, Weiss was sending him furtive glances with obvious embarrassment, and Belladonna was already reading her book in silence, however he noticed her cheeks were dyed slightly crimson.

Rio swallowed. 

This... likely meant that they all had been in various states of undress, not that he had even had the chance to notice with how quickly he made his exit.

And then there was Yang.

Being the sole exception, she stared at him completely unabashed. Actually, her cheeks were red, however it didn't look to be from embarrassment or shame, especially with that subtle smile of hers. 

Yeah, Rio was very uncomfortable right now.

Regardless, before anyone got a chance to speak, the white haired youth was already dipping his head.

"Allow me to apologize again. Name anything and I'll compensate in any way I can..."

Even from his bowed posture, the girls could now see the grimace of self-derision on his face, so much so that even Yang's mischievous smile faltered slightly.

"H-Hey Rio, don't worry about it. …Man, now I feel kind of guilty for what I was about to suggest…" the blonde muttered quietly.

But Rio heard it and looked straight at Yang. "Pay that feeling no heed Miss Yang. Please ask anything of me."

Rio's serious disposition must have caught Yang off guard as she stiffened up slightly.

It definitely wasn't the expression of a boy who was secretly glad they just got a peek.

Thus, Yang's cheeks awkwardly reddened. Although, perhaps that was because of the request now drifting back to the forefront of her mind.

"O-Oh, okay, then…" The girl paused; however, still decided to speak the words she had been holding back.

"Make it even and take off your shirt. It's only fair right?"

Silence permeated throughout the room after Yang's proposal.

.

. .

. . .

Take... Take off?

Rio just stood there, unrealistically still, very slowly trying to comprehend the words he just heard, and whether or not he wasn't somehow misunderstanding them; through a language barrier, otherworldly slang, or whatever else.

"Y-Yang, you can't ask something like that!" Weiss retorted with a red face.

"Y-Yeah, after all, Rio only s-s-s-saw us on accident. It's not fair for—"

"Um... is that... really all you want?"

Upon the latter outcry from Ruby, the male voice that cut her off caused each and everyone of them to turn Rio's way with various degrees of shock.

"Huh...?! Really, you don't have a problem with it?" Yang asked with incredulity, and if he wasn't mistaken, something else too, not that Rio could readily place what it was.

"...Of course not," the boy replied slowly. "While it's not something I expected to hear, if it's just this, I can do it. If anything, my punishment should be far greater. Are you… Are you sure this is sufficient?"

Rio's question lingered as he performed one simple action.

He had reached for the hem of his black undershirt.

All four girls blinked, right before their faces immediately turned a bright shade of red, Yang being no exception.

Of course, what went unsaid was the weird feeling that came along with it, oddly similar to the budding static of electricity.

"J-Just like chapter six…" Blake muttered something strange that Rio couldn't understand, and upon everyone looking at her, she turned away with a mortifying expression of embarrassment on her face.

"Er, I'll continue, then?" Uncertain but resolved in the most resigned of ways—it was very odd situation—Rio slightly pulled the hem of his black undershirt, beginning to raise it upwards, exposing a surprisingly toned stomach—

Except, the girl's suddenly froze.

Ruby even released a sharp inhale.

Yes; because upon gazing at that small portion of Rio's unclothed body, their embarrassment unanimously died down all at once.

And their frantically beating hearts, they beat not with nervous excitement or the like, but with rippling horror instead.

It was just a thin stretch of the boy's abdominal muscles and surrounding waist, but even such a sparse view wasn't enough to hide what they saw.

Large almost faded colorings ran every which way on the boy's slightly exposed stomach.

And there were not just one or two.

"..."

Blake and Weiss stared, eyes rounder than usual.

Even with such a small surface area, Rio's lower torso was covered, no… riddled with scars. Some small, some large. There were faded bruises too. However, there was one thing in common with all of them. They were all clearly caused by weapons, or tools so sharp they might as well have been.

But, wouldn't that have to mean...

That at a young age, when he likely didn't have his aura unlocked...

"Rio, you…"

Yang trailed off, unable to properly voice the sinking feeling that was currently churning her stomach.

"Yes?"

Rio, by now, noticed the shift in atmosphere, and he stopped his movements slightly, but it was only to look at the girls with confusion.

Perhaps, he would have gotten an answer if he asked what was wrong. 

No such chance provided itself. 

The slightly ajar door at the far end of the room suddenly opened. 

"Mr. Amakawa, I have secured your uniform, scroll, and…"

Ms. Glynda Goodwitch froze up on entering, expression unreadable as she took in the sight in front of her, that is, the sole boy currently holding his shirt up in a room full of girls.

At least, that was until she saw the scars. 

"..."

It was barely noticeable, but her emerald eyes widened a fraction. 

Still, the woman immediately schooled her features, like it never even happened. 

"...Rio Amakawa," Glynda began, "May I ask why you are engaging in such shameless behavior? Surely, you don't want to be expelled on your first day."

"Um, despite what the situation looks like, I'm actually being punished right now."

"Punished," Glynda dully echoed back.

"That's right."

A beat passed as she processed Rio and his serious reply, one that came without any shame. Then she turned to the girls, who were quick to look away with awkward expressions.

Some looked guiltier than others.

More or less, it was enough for Glynda to understand the situation.

"I see what happened. I can only assume that you saw something you weren't supposed to and someone suggested something even more inappropriate?"

Glynda said this while looking at a blonde girl.

Yang immediately started whistling innocently.

"Well, it is rather odd, I admit, but my mistake was by no means light. But Miss Yang was kind enough to allow me to pay recompense this way," Rio articulated to the teacher, but with the kind of grave over the top formality that suggested he was dead serious.

"..."

Glynda just sighed.

Even if Rio was a male and social customs did deem it differently, as a teacher, she couldn't allow Rio to continue having one particular misconception.

"Did it not occur to you, Mr. Amakawa, that a female would want to see your body for any other reason?"

Rio blinked.

Without fail, Ruby, Yang, Weiss, and Blake looked down at such an embarrassing comment. Furthermore, no one met Rio's eyes, and as such, tilting his head a bit, he slowly began to come to a certain understanding.

"Oh, um. I see..."

Glynda closed her eyes, glad she didn't have to explain any further than that.

But Rio's next words stumped her.

"…But, I'm not that pleasant to look at though?"

Rio's comment erased any shyness Blake might have felt with her reclusive nature. Her mutter was thusly heard by everyone. "H-How can you say that with such a dignified face and ripped body…?"

…

…

…

After much of the earlier events, the hours of the day naturally dwindled, making the need for sleep desirable for those who had experienced quite an interesting day.

Darkness had transcended over a certain dorm room of Beacon Academy and it was quiet.

The only sound that could be heard in the room scant of artificial light were the rhythmic breathing of those who were lost in slumber.

At least, that should have been the case.

A certain girl had found sleep too difficult to maintain and lay wide awake, unable to decipher if she had just woken up or had been staring blankly at the ceiling above her the entire time.

Of course, the ceiling was all the closer considering she was residing on the top bunk, right above the blonde girl snoring softly below her.

Blake sighed as she checked her scroll for the time, surprised to find it was five in the morning.

Three hours until I have to get up, might as well…

With no sound at all, Blake lightly touched the floor and made her way to the bathroom, closing it gently. She brushed her teeth and splashed water on her face, trying to wash away the slight grogginess that still consumed her.

It was on her way out of the bathroom and in the midst of opening the room's door to the hallway did she notice something odd, something she had just realized.

There were three people in beds and fast asleep, however that was already a contradiction as there should have been four—not counting herself.

Along Ruby and Weiss' side of the room existed a bundle of bedding and sheets that was supposed to belong to their fifth roommate, however it was completely unoccupied.

That bed of course belonged to the sole male of the group.

Naturally, Blake had mixed feelings about sleeping in the same room as a guy, much less her being not the only girl.

As a teenager, of course she would find the thought of four girls sleeping in proximity to a man a little weird.

She had nothing against Rio, and she even already slightly respected him for the almost obsessive way he observed manners and social etiquette.

Although...

There was the fact that he had killed someone.

But as much as that frightened Blake to death, she also knew why he had done it. Plus, it was not as if she had any right to judge Rio, not with the the group she used to be a part of.

Not only that, but apparently, he had known Blake was a faunas from the very beginning, something that still mollified her.

Yet even so, his attitude hadn't changed in the slightest.

She couldn't yet tell if Rio felt no resentment and discomfort towards faunas, but, he had treated her like everyone else so far.

And wasn't that the equality they—the faunas—were searching for?

But all of that was beside the point.

It was early in the morning and here was Rio, well, not here.

Did he wake up early like me? He should know that he has a long day of classes.

Blake had this thought as she exited the room, curiosity getting the better of her.

Rio was new here, so maybe he didn't quite understand some things yet. It wouldn't be too weird of her to seek him out and ask right? He might even be lost after taking a walk. 

The her from before wouldn't have bothered.

A new student?

Truly, she wouldn't have batted a glance.

Blake would have just kept to herself, as she had tried to do since day one. And yet, Ruby hadn't let that happen. No, they all didn't. Little by little, Blake began to open up, and against all odds, achieved a sense of normal that felt... good.

Perhaps more good than she deserved, but still... good.

She was no longer the White-Fang runaway who slept with Gambol Shroud under her pillow, the girl who eyed every stranger, every shadow with a critical eye, waiting for an attack.

She was just... Blake of Team RWBY.

With those thoughts in mind, Blake set out to find their missing male roommate, and it was after a good twenty minutes of scouring the many rooms of the academy that Blake finally made her way outside.

The sun was just rising, and it cast the outside pavilion in an orange reddish hue.

She stopped to observe the beautiful sight before her, covering her eyes against the rays of the sun, only...

Oh.

In the distance she could see a lone figure, moving about.

They moved in quick successive movements, never staying in one place for long. Dancing, pivoting, dashing back and forth, as if guided by a never-ending spiral of energy.

And even from where Blake was standing, she could hear it.

Swings and lunges beat the air audibly.

Blake approached such a sight, slightly captivated by the elegant moves.

Still, the white haired boy continued swinging his blade, a shimmering silver, glinting each time its swift cuts reflected off the morning sun.

So, he was practicing...

For Rio to being do so, it wasn't strange, not when combat was this school's aim.

But still...

Training so early in the morning, and with the kind of intensity that looked not only well-practiced, but maybe even desperate? Well, Blake found herself the slightest bit distracted by the sight. 

And, before she even knew it, she just silently continued to watch. 

The un-flawed fluidity of his sword play, as if he was actually battling some unseen opponent, or, there was a battle playing out in his mind that just made it look like that.

It...

Blake frowned, ever so slightly.

It reminded her of how 'he' used to train.

"...Isn't it rather boring to watch, Miss Belladonna?"

To Blake's surprise, Rio suddenly turned around to face her, an odd little smile on his face. And even as far apart as they were, his unstressed voice carried through the atmosphere that was completely still of sound. No, she focused back on that face.

Rather, the delicate politeness of it. 

Like, he had long since noticed her staring and didn't know how else to broach the subject.

All at once, Blake flushed red.

"Oh, um… I was just…"

It was very unfair, the girl felt, that in that moment, she couldn't think of single thing to say, nor a justification she could give as to why she had been staring at the boy from afar and for who knows how long.

And, extra unhelpfully, her teenage mind chose precisely that moment to realize Rio was wearing, not the black cloak he was had on yesterday, but a very form-fitting black tank top, revealing the same toned muscles she had gotten a glimpse of the day before, but now accompanied with a thin veil of sweat.

it was only natural that Blake's blush continued to spread.

I... I wasn't staring at him for that reason, but really, how else does this look?

Blake had that vaguely irritated but mortifying thought, even as she promptly averted her gaze. Then, after coughing once, maybe to even clear her throat, "...S-Sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you while you were training."

"Oh. Please don't trouble yourself with that. I was just finishing up."

Rio sent a smile her way before turning around to snatch a white towel from the ground.

Blake didn't stare when he started cleaning off the sweat.

She didn't.

"Miss Belladonna?"

When Rio finally approached, it was with a tilt to his head. Not impatient, not uncertain, just curious. Regardless, the boy was now closer, and it was irritating how her eyes dipped without her say so.

Still, her brows furrowed slightly at something else. 

"Blake," she said.

"Huh?"

She gave him a look.

"My first name. It's Blake. You didn't know it, right? Besides, Belladonna feels weird to hear from someone my age."

"Oh." Rio's eyes widened slightly, before giving a slight nod and a nervous laugh. "Ah, my mistake then. And that helps a lot. Thank you for telling me."

"...Right. Well... do you always train so early in the morning? I was surprised to find you not in the room...." She asked Rio that, her tone returning to its normal calm and collected.

"Yes, it's become something of a habit." Then, as if remembering something, he dipped his head. "I apologize for not informing you beforehand."

Formal as always...

"It's fine," Blake said with a shrug. "You have the right to do whatever you want with your time, so..."

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him nod, but still with that polite smile on his face.

Inwardly, Blake had to wonder how much of it was his true feelings, force of habit, or just an act...

Blake decided to probe a bit.

"Hey, Rio..."

Rio, in the midst of putting his sword back in the belt-like sheath around his waist, turned to face her with full attention, and the action wordlessly beckoned her to continue.

"...When we met, you immediately noticed I was a faunas, right?"

The boy paused for a beat. "That's correct," he then replied with nod.

"Well, can I ask you not to spread that around? I'm sorry if I'm being too pushy, but there would be various issues if people knew about my heritage and I'm really not ready for—w-what?"

Blake's nervous tangent, one she was worried about more than she wanted to admit, suddenly lost all of its momentum.

This was because of Rio, who she had looked up to see, staring at her with a peculiar little smile on his face.

But it looked different from his usual.

He looked amused.

It immediately made her self-conscious.

"W-What?" Blake repeated, now a little annoyed.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to offend you. It's just, can I share something with you, Miss Blake?"

"...Sure," Blake agreed, although with the kind of begrudging reluctance that did nothing to hide her feelings.

"I... have a little sister," Rio revealed, that same smile present, even if it was no longer being directed her way. No, he was now looking off into the distance.

"She's not related to me by blood, or even half-related, but... I still consider her my precious little sister. She's immature and way too reckless at times, but she's also sweet and kind. Even so... people still decided there was something wrong with her. They still decided they didn't like her. And it was for something she couldn't even do a thing about. Do you know why that is?"

Blake's brows furrowed for the briefest of moments, but then they widened, and a soft look of understanding appeared on her face. 

"...Oh."

"Even if she has fox ears on her head, I still love her, no matter what people say or think. She will always be my sister, even if we were to both part from this world..."

Rio's words, suddenly took on a certain shift, although Blake didn't focus on that.

She couldn't.

Not when he chose that moment to look back to her, eyes kind.

"So, naturally, I wouldn't dare speak of secrets that aren't mine to tell, especially if it's for a girl like you, Miss Blake."

"…"

Blake didn't say a word.

She barely even realized she was just staring at him, eyes wide. Nor was she particularly aware of the scrawl of red that began to creep up her neck and face.

And this kind of silence, and with that kind of look on her face, only continued. 

So much so, that Rio had to tilt his head. 

Then he suddenly went stiff.

"A-Ah, wait, that wasn't..."

A faint hue of red began to touch the boy's cheeks as well.

"Just now, I, uh, didn't mean for that to sound like I was trying to, um... hit on you."

With those words uttered extremely delicately, but amusedly lacking in his usual formality, Rio's face twisted, amber eyes travelling upward.

"I'm, uh, really sorry..."

All at once, Blake promptly snapped out of her stupor, looking away herself, but still with plenty of the embarrassment she started with. "I-...I-It's fine," she somehow got out.

The air very much turned awkward.

"S-So, your sister, you said, I-I see..." Blake said somewhat obviously after a while, not only in an attempt to dispel the ridiculously strange atmosphere that formed, but also to confirm where Rio's true feelings lay, and how it connected to her... situation. 

His sister was a faunas.

While she originally had the vaguest sense that Rio wouldn't share in the bigoted views of some of her schoolmates, Blake had been secretly worried about him, whether intentionally or not, revealing her identity.

That worry was completely baseless now.

Not after sharing something that personal, and when catching a glimpse of her anxiety, trying to comfort her as well.

Blake's cheeks darkened once more. 

But then, she thought of something else, and she had to stifle the urge to laugh. 

So... because he loves his little sister, huh?

"...Miss Blake?"

With a faint smile now on her face, Blake shook her head. "It's nothing. I believe you Rio. Thank you. Oh, and for telling me about your sister. She... She sounds like a good girl."

Yes, with her tone turning softer even without her realizing, those were undoubted her true feelings. 

Rio stared at her, before smiling himself. "That's... yes, I think so as well. I'm sure you two would get along quite well."

A comfortable silence passed over them.

Only Blake suddenly flinched. "That's right. I came to get you. We, uh, should probably head back before the others realize we're gone. We don't want Yang to start saying weird things..."

The white haired boy chuckled, before gesturing forward. "Of course, after you."

Thus, they began their walk back.

The rising sun was in clear view, now casting a warm glow that Blake couldn't help but bask in. She savored it, releasing a breath that was closer to a contented sigh.

Yang might have even made a joke about cats, windows, and lazy days.

Still, her attention soon drifted elsewhere. 

Blake paused for a beat, but still decided ask something she had been wondering.

"Rio... who taught you how to use the sword…?"

It was only natural she would be curious.

As a sword user herself, his graceful movements, one's that boasted confidence that she would expect to see in a veteran Huntsman, had left a deep impression on her. 

Blake wondered who the creator of such a beautiful fighting style was.

"I'm self-taught."

In the silence that followed, Blake kept walking with him. But then, as if his response finally registered in her head, she whirled towards him all at once, wide eyed. She even completely stopped moving.

"S-... Self-taught?"

Rio nodded once.

Looking forward, his face, still, remained impassive.

It was truly as if he didn't think there was anything of note concerning what he had just said. 

"There was a time when I needed to learn how to fight if I wanted to survive, and… and to accomplish my goal."

"…Your goal?"

"Yes, I plan to murder someone."

The words were spoken so casually, so devoid of any meaning that Blake initially thought she had gone and misheard him. Then she got a good look of Rio's face. The impassivity was there, as it had been, but now, there was not a trace of tranquility.

It also wasn't the expression of someone who had just told a joke.

So.

Blake froze on the spot.

She didn't speak.

Tongue suddenly feeling like lead and her pulse quickening, she didn't even know if she could. The only thing she could do was replay Rio's words in her head, the ones he said now, but also... in that interrogation room. 

Doubts began to rise in her mind, and with them, memories of someone she simply could not forget.

"..."

Blake swallowed.

Still, she had to ask.

She had to ask the question she hadn't ever worked up the courage to ask Adam.

"…Why?" Blake's voice was small, no louder than a whisper. "Why do you want them dead…?"

At that question, Rio turned to face her properly, and what she saw on his face dashed any fears she began to have.

Because, it was not the stone-cold look of someone who had lost themselves in dealing cruelty to others. Rio smiled. He smiled a small, tired, unbearably sad smile, with not an ounce of happiness to be found.

It was the face of someone who they were wrong. 

So, with that expression that realized his own folly, Rio slowly uttered the words that had long since become his reason for existing.

"… I know it's wrong. I know it's not right. Still. I want to kill him. I want to kill the bastard who killed my mother and father." Rio's fists tightened. "The thought of that guy still breathing somewhere... enjoying himself... doing who knows what... it fills me with more anger than I know what to do with."

The words weren't subtle at all.

They were laced with anger.

No, not just anger.

Hatred.

But a hatred that had long since cooled over, having time to become razor sharp. 

That was the kind of icy calm Rio had in his eyes.

Blake had heard what Rio had said before, that his parents were no longer alive. But she hadn't thought there would be something like this behind that story.

"..."

Killing was wrong. 

It could even be considered the ultimate evil. 

And yet, Rio already knew this.

He just wants to avenge them, because that's all he can do…

Tension receding, Blake's expression softened ever so slightly.

Yes, it wasn't justice, and anyone would agree that it was revenge that Rio sought, but it was his own parents he was talking about. Who had the right to tell him it wasn't worth it? Who had the right to imply his parents weren't?

Could Blake really say that she would be feeling any different in his situation?

If it was her...?

If it was her Mom or Dad that...?

Throat tightening, Blake quickly buried the thoughts. 

She didn't want to think about that.

But... Rio's revenge.

Whether he realized it or not, it didn't seem to transcend what he wanted out of it. He wasn't using it as a crutch to distance himself and mistrust others, and he also wasn't using it as an excuse to be cruel to anyone he met.

Yes.

Someone else had done that.

It's not the same. Rio isn't the same as him.

Blake had this thought, and even though it made her horrible, it relieved her from the bottom of her heart.

The road Adam had gone down was one filled with nothing but self-convenience and hatred for hatred's sake. The violence he had dealt… he was convinced that there were meaning and justification in it, and that he was doing the right thing, doing right by all faunas.

"I must apologize, Miss Blake."

Rio's voice snapped Blake out of her thoughts, and when she managed to look at him again, she got to see that face twisted with self-scorn try to smile at her. 

"Even if it's not something I have any intention to hide from others, bringing such a thing up in casual conversation is..." The boy paused, then shook his head faintly. "Regardless, again, I apologize if I unsettled you. If you or the others wouldn't like to see my face anymore, I'll ask Ozpin for new accommodations immediately."

"..."

A silence stretched. 

And for a while, Blake didn't say anything. But then, all of a sudden, she dragged a hand across her face and let out a long sigh.

"You really are... so different from him."

"...Him?"

"It's nothing," Blake said, a faint smile curving her lips. "Hey, has anyone ever told you you're way too formal?"

The boy across from her blinked, and the fact that he seemed to be genuinely caught off guard by the question almost had her letting out a laugh then and there. 

"Um. Yes," Rio replied slowly. "That... may have left people's mouth a few times. But more importantly, regarding that other matter—"

"Was there one? Anyway, we should really hurry. Yang probably has a week full of ammunition by now."

Rio just stared at her, at a loss. 

Eventually though, it was his turn to give a light sigh. It turned into a smile halfway through. It was small, yes, tired, definitely, but this time, it was undoubtedly a real one.

"...I think, Miss Blake is being far too kind."

"I wonder. Now come on. Oh, and if you call me 'Miss' Blake one more time, I'm telling Goodwitch you peeked on us again."

A ripple of horror flashed across the white haired boy's face for the briefest of moments before it disappeared.

"It would be preferred... if you didn't do that, Miss B—"

Blake arched one eyebrow. 

Flinching, Rio swallowed. "...What I of course meant to say, was, please don't do that, Blake."

"Hm."

Blake walked back, a drained looking boy in tow. 

Also. 

She was unaware she was smiling.