"Students, I know that this class seems boring and unimportant to some of you," Professor Oobleck announced, his eyes not-quite darting toward Weiss, "and you might be right. We can't learn about the intricacies of melee weapons only from books. So today we will take a more hands-on approach."
I looked around at the confused faces of my fellow students. It appeared this wasn't how Oobleck usually conducted his classes, judging by the raised eyebrows and exchanged glances.
"Umm, professor, does that mean that..." A meek voice belonging to a blond-haired boy barely managed to get the words out.
"Yes, Mr. Arc. You will be sparring," Oobleck confirmed, taking a sip from his thermos. Oh wait. It was a weapon disguised as a thermos. Huh. The more you know.
"Hell yes! New guy, come show me what you're made of!"
I felt my brain rattle a bit as a girl seated somewhere behind me called me out like cattle. Before I could respond with anything suitably witty, Oobleck intervened.
"Silence, please, Miss Xiao Long. I will pair you up based on your weapon specialties, and you WILL NOT USE anything else but your melee options." He pushed his glasses up, his movements sharp and precise despite his caffeinated energy. "I also ask that you refrain from using your semblances as much as you can and focus on technique. This isn't the combat class after all, and I don't want you all drained of aura. You should aim to learn from the expertise of someone using a weapon similar to yours in a way that wouldn't be so apparent in full-on combat. Any questions so far?"
The class responded with mixed reactions—mostly positive murmurs, a few groans, and the unmistakable sound of someone cracking their knuckles.
"Let us not waste anymore time then!" Oobleck's voice pitched higher in excitement as he bounced on his heels. "I will call out the pairs and you will go to the side. There are thirteen of you, so someone will spar with me. The classroom is big enough if you don't move around too much. Let's get to it."
He took another swig from his thermos before beginning to read off his scroll.
"Lie Ren and Russel Thrush." He paused at their confused expressions. "Why do you look at me like that? You are both dagger wielders, no?"
The two boys exchanged glances before reluctantly moving to a corner of the room.
"Miss Valkyrie and Cardin Winchester. A hammer isn't a mace but it's close enough." The orange-haired girl's face lit up with a smile that made her partner take an instinctive step back.
"Let's see... Sky Lark and Miss Rose. Dove Bronzewing and Jaune Arc." Oobleck's finger slid down his scroll as he continued pairing students.
"Miss Belladonna and... Where is Miss Belladonna?"
"Umm, I don't know, Professor!" Ruby squeaked while holding Crescent Rose, poor Sky Lark trembling a bit in front of her and the oversized scythe. Understandable, really.
"Hmm, at least you are now an even number, I suppose. Miss Nikos and Miss Xiao Long, I know your weapons are completely different but you can go ahead and—"
"Ughh, doc? You mean to pair up the new guy with Weiss?" Yang interrupted, looking at Oobleck with disbelief.
"Yes... is there a problem?" Oobleck paused mid-sip.
"Well, duh! He's a brawler like me! Why have fist vs spear and fist vs rapier? It doesn't make sense, doc."
Around us, the clashing of metal filled the air as the others began sparring in the wide open area of the room. All classrooms seemed to allow for combat exercises within, which was more or less expected.
I remained seated, considering my options. Should I say something?
Naah, let them figure it out.
Weiss was similarly silent beside me, though I felt her burning holes in my head with her eyes. I hadn't said anything to her besides lightly apologizing for "mistaking" her for her sister and calling meeting her an honor. I don't think I went overboard with the politeness. Hell, I even "fumbled' to make it more natural.
Why was she staring so much though? I had no idea, so I just watched the show.
"Miss Xiao Long, who told you Mr. Geas is a brawler?" Oobleck inquired, his head tilting slightly.
"HUH? I watched him punch Port in the snout 15 minutes ago! My eyes told me!" She gestured vividly toward her lilac eyes.
"I see... Mr. Geas, if you will, please?"
Both Oobleck and Yang turned toward me, one expectant and the other confused.
"What? He has weapons? Where are they?" Yang demanded, leaning forward to scrutinize me. "Is he hiding them in his—" Her voice was abruptly muffled as Weiss clamped a hand over her mouth.
Well, it's not like this one's a secret, so why not?
I willed my aura to move. The gray energy covering my palm began to glow blue, and before their widening eyes, a sword grew from my palm—a rapier, slender and elegant, with an intricate basket hilt and a dust chamber revolver near the guard, almost identical to Weiss's Myrtenaster save for its blue-tinted blade.
Silence fell over the nearby students. Even Pyrrha, who had seemed lost in her own thoughts until now, stared at me like I'd... well, created a sword out of thin air.
"I think my reasoning makes sense in hindsight, no?" Oobleck adjusted his glasses with a satisfied nod. "Anyway, you can decide amongst yourselves the last two pairs. I need to remind Miss Valkyrie that this is technical sparring." He blitzed away toward the hammer-wielder, who had Cardin pinned beneath her weapon with a maniacal grin.
"New guy, what is this bullshit?" Yang asked, and nobody bothered to cover her mouth this time because Weiss was too preoccupied pointing her own rapier directly at me. Her face was as expressionless as ice.
"En garde," she whispered, blue eyes narrowing with competitive fire.