After the Initiation and team assignments are over, Erik and Pyrrha stroll across the yard of Beacon Academy, each pulling a suitcase behind them.
"So, Pyrrha," Erik says, adjusting his collar, "where's our dorm? Please tell me it's not on the rooftop or some kind of joke."
"I don't think something like that will happen, Erik," she replies calmly.
"Who knows?" Erik shrugs. "Back at primary combat school, there was an accident where my dorm got destroyed during a fight on the first of the school. I ended up sleeping on the rooftop of the academy with a sleeping bag for a day because of it."
Pyrrha slows to a stop, eyes widening in disbelief.
"Are you serious?"
"I am," he nods. "That's why I'm worried it might happen again."
Pyrrha checks her scroll, scrolling through the campus map. Her finger pauses.
"Actually... you're going to want to see this."
Erik immediately gets a bad feeling. "Don't tell me I really jinxed it?"
She turns the screen toward him. Assigned Dormitory: Room 151.
Erik frowns. "Room 151? That can't be right. Isn't Dormitory One capped at thirty rooms?"
Pyrrha taps the interface again, revealing a new section of Beacon hidden at the edge of the map.
"There," she says, holding the scroll closer. "We assigned to Dormitory Five. It's a newly built section... unfortunately, it's located in a remote corner of the campus."
Erik lets out a long sigh. "As long as it's a proper dorm, I'll take it. A longer walk won't hurt."
Pyrrha turns to reply only to realize how close they're standing.
Too close.
Her lips accidentally brush his cheek.
Erik freezes, startled by the warmth of her breath, and instinctively turns toward her at the same moment she does.
Their lips meet.
It's soft. Brief. Completely unintentional yet undeniably real.
Neither of them moves. Neither of them breathes. Their faces burn red as the world seems to pause around them.
"Okay, I get it you two are dating. But do you really have to do this out in the open?"
Pyrrha yelps and jumps back. Erik nearly trips over his suitcase, his heart pounding.
Jaune Arc stands nearby, arms crossed, wearing an expression that's equal parts impressed and confused.
"Jaune, that was-!" Erik starts, then quickly clears his throat. "Anyway... what are you doing here?"
Pyrrha covers her face with both hands, too embarrassed to look at him.
"I think I got lost," Jaune admits awkwardly. "I saw you two and figured I'd ask for directions, but then..." He trails off, rubbing the back of his neck.
Erik sighs. "Alright, Jaune. I'll help you but you promise you won't tell anyone what you just saw. Deal?"
Jaune nods immediately. "Deal. I won't say a word."
Relief washes over Erik.
"So," Erik asks, "where are you headed?"
"My dorm," Jaune replies. "Room forty. Dormitory Two, I think. I got separated from my team after going to the bathroom."
Pyrrha lowers her hands, takes a steady breath, and steps forward.
"Just follow that path," she says gently while pointing a path. "When you see a fountain, turn right. Walk for another minute and you'll find your dorm."
Jaune smiles gratefully. "Thanks I'll be going right now. My teammates are probably worried about me."
Erik nods. "See you later."
Jaune heads off, gradually disappearing down the path.
Erik glances at Pyrrha. "Do you think he can really keep his mouth shut?"
At the mention of the kiss, Pyrrha's face turns red all over again.
"I... I don't know," she admits softly.
"Let's hope he does," Erik says lightly. "If not, we'll... have a talk with him."
Pyrrha tilts her head. "W-what kind of talk?"
"Don't worry about it," he replies with a small grin. "Just trust me."
She hesitates, then nods.
Erik and Pyrrha picked up their suitcases back which had fallen due to being surprised by Jaune's presence
"Come on, Pyrrha. Let's go find our room."
Dormitory Five is farther than expected. Its quiet, secluded, and surrounded by tall hedges. At the end of the path stands a sleek, newly constructed building.
Room 151 opens with a soft hiss.
The room is enormous. Two luxurious beds, a large bookshelf beneath a wide window, matching desks, a shared wardrobe, and cozy reading nooks in opposite corners. It feels more like a private suite than a student dorm.
"Whoa, this special treatment is really something. I think Professor Ozpin thinks highly of us."
Pyrrha giggles. "We should unpack now. It'll be harder later, especially since we're quite far from the classrooms."
"Sounds like a good plan."
They unpack together, falling into an easy rhythm clothes in the wardrobe, books on the shelves, toiletries neatly arranged. Every so often, their hands brush, neither pulling away too quickly.
By the time they finish, the sun has dipped low outside the window, casting warm light across their new room.
The Next Morning
Both of them already dressed in Beacon's pristine uniforms, ready for their first day of class.
As they leave the dorm, Erik tightens his tie. "So, Pyrrha. What're we starting with?"
"Grimm Studies," she says. "With Professor Peter Port."
They continue chatting as they make their way to the classroom.
Once they arrive, the room is already filling with students. The low murmur of conversation dies down as the imposing figure of Professor Port steps forward, resting a hand on his massive axe.
"Ah! Miss Nikos! And... Mister Lioren, yes?" he booms with dramatic flair. "Do come in, do come in! Take your seats, my young warriors. The world of Remnant awaits!"
Erik nudges Pyrrha lightly and whispers, "Our professor seems... energetic."
She chuckles softly. "He certainly does."
When they arrive at the lecture hall, most of the seats are still open. Professor Port stands at the front, puffed up like a proud rooster, resting one hand on a comically large axe.
Erik somehow feels a bad premonition when he look at professor Port mustache.
"Pyrrha," Erik whispers, "How about we sit at the back row?"
She glances at the empty front. "Shouldn't we sit closer? First impressions matter."
"The back row is VIP seat," Erik counters, mock-serious. "Out of Port's spotlight. It's very comfortable. Trust me, you'll thank me later."
Pyrrha hides a smile. "Erik..."
He waggles his eyebrows, and Pyrrha finally lets out a laugh.
"Fine. You convinced me."
They take their seats in the back and wait for class to begin at nine.
They settle into the back just as the clock strikes nine.
They take their seats in the back and wait for class to begin at nine.
At 9:05, the room grows quiet. Most students are in their seats-some alert, some already half-asleep.
Then the classroom door slams open with a loud CRACK!
"WAAAAAH-sorry! Sorry! We're late!"
Ruby skids into the room, nearly tripping, followed by Weiss, who walks in with an expression caught between shame and fury.
Blake slips in silently, nose still in her book. And Yang? Yang enters like nothing's wrong, grinning wide.
Right behind them, Team JNFR arrives-Jaune looking flustered, Nora bouncing with endless energy, Ren as composed as ever, and Frost bringing up the rear, breathing slightly heavier but with calm face.
Professor Port turns with flair, his cape flaring dramatically.
"Ahh... The final warriors, arriving as if slicing through time itself!" he proclaims. "Team RWBY and Team JNFR-or should I say, the masters of being fashionably late!"
Weiss sinks in her seat. Ruby raises a hand. "Sorry, Professor! One of us... forgot to set an alarm."
"One of you?" Port squints.
Yang chuckles. "Okay, that was me."
Professor port then turn his head toward team JNFR. Jaune show an awkward smile. "Sorry sir! We, uh, got... lost."
Port bursts into booming laughter. "Ha! What an Adventurous spirit! That kind of energy once saved me from a Nevermore swarm on a foggy mountain! But you have to remember, discipline is what got me down alive!"
The teams begin heading toward their usual seats, but Port raises a hand.
"No, no, no! As today's lesson-you all who arrived late, sit in the front!"
"What?! But the front-"
Ruby protests, then stops mid-sentence.
"-is the perfect place to absorb knowledge and get a touch of a teacher's passionate spittle!" Port declares, thumping his chest.
Nora cheers. "Yay! I love the front! We get the best view of his dramatic expressions!"
Ren facepalms.
Frost enters adjusting his uniform and give Jaune a smug thumbs-up as Port returns to the board.
"Now! Where was I-ah yes! Boarbatusks! Muscular, dangerous creatures... but not as dangerous as tardiness!"
The class laughs softly. The mood lightens as Port dives into a long-winded tale. Ruby starts doodling-turning Port into "Professor Poop"-and Yang snorts, Blake trying not to laugh while Weiss's eye twitches in annoyance. Nora is thrilled to be this close. Ren looks... resigned. Jaune and Frost looks half-asleep.
"I returned to the village with the beast caged and my head held high-hailed as a hero! The moral, my young hunters: a true Huntsman is honorable-"
Ruby balances an apple on a pencil. Weiss grits her teeth.
"-a true Huntsman is reliable-"
Now Ruby's dozing off.
"-strategic, educated, and wise-"
Ruby's picking her nose.
"So! Who among you embodies these traits?"
Weiss bolts up. "I do, sir!"
"Excellent. Then step forward and prove it."
Port strides to the cage at the front-where glowing red eyes shine from within.
"Face your opponent."
The creature inside growls, low and threatening.
Erik leans forward in his seat, muttering to Pyrrha, "This is going to be good."
To be continued...