Things gradually began to settle down for the students at Beacon.
Team RWBY, after everything that had happened, seemed to be getting along a little better. Ruby was doing her best to keep the team together, Yang had returned to her usual laid-back confidence, and Weiss had calmed down considerably after the whole incident with Blake.
As for Blake herself, it was a little harder to tell.
She had returned to the team and was participating in their activities again, but there was still a quiet distance around her that hadn't fully disappeared yet. Whether that distance was slowly fading or simply being hidden better was something no one could say for certain.
Meanwhile, Team TNPR had returned to their usual routine of studying in the library.
At least, that had been the plan.
Tsutsumi had already memorized nearly every material in the library at this point, so the moment he sat down, his role in the "study session" somehow shifted into something completely different. Instead of reading alongside the others, he had ended up lying down with his head resting comfortably on Pyrrha's lap.
The redhead sat upright at the table with a book open in her hands, quietly studying while Tsutsumi slept peacefully across her thighs.
Pyrrha tried to keep her attention on the text in front of her, but every now and then her gaze would slowly drift downward.
Seeing the calm expression on Tsutsumi's sleeping face made it strangely difficult for her to focus.
She couldn't really explain it.
Every time she lowered her eyes and saw him sleeping there so quietly, her thoughts would wander away from the words on the page. It wasn't distracting in an unpleasant way, but it certainly made concentrating on studying much harder than usual.
Across from them, Ren was doing what he always did.
Helping Nora study, or at least attempting to.
"Okay Nora, if you multiply-"
Nora's eyes had already drifted off somewhere else, causing Ren to sigh softly and continue anyway.
Meanwhile, Team RWBY sat at another table nearby, enthusiastically playing a board game.
Their voices rose and fell in dramatic reactions as the game progressed, turning what should have been a quiet study environment into something far more lively.
"Sup losers."
A familiar blond boy suddenly appeared near their table, casually announcing his presence and immediately interrupting the intense emotional battle that Team RWBY was currently experiencing over their board game.
"Hey Sun, how goes it?" Ruby greeted him cheerfully.
Only then did she notice another boy standing beside him. He had blue hair and a pair of goggles resting on his head.
"This is Ruby, Yang, Blake, and Ice Queen," Sun said, casually introducing the four girls.
"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" Weiss complained immediately, her voice filled with irritation.
"I never got a chance to formally introduce you to my old friend, Neptune," Sun added while gesturing toward the boy next to him.
Neptune glanced around the room, his gaze lingering briefly on the different tables before speaking.
"I thought libraries were meant to be for learning?"
Hearing that comment, Ren quietly murmured an emotional "Thank you."
At the moment, he was the only one actually studying and trying to help someone else study.
Pyrrha technically was studying, but she kept getting distracted whenever she glanced down at Tsutsumi. That hadn't gone unnoticed by Ren or Nora, and Nora had already started giggling about it more than once.
As for their team leader, he had already read the entire library.
"So Neptune," Weiss said, shifting her attention back to the newcomer, "where are you from?"
"Haven," he replied before stepping a little closer toward her. "I don't believe I caught your name, Snow Angel."
Weiss's expression immediately stiffened.
Instead of answering right away, she briefly turned her head to glance toward the purple-haired boy currently resting comfortably on Pyrrha's strong thighs.
Tsutsumi hadn't reacted at all. He was still sleeping.
Seeing that lack of reaction for some reason made Weiss even more annoyed.
"I'm Weiss," she said sharply. "And don't call me that again."
"Uh… right," Neptune responded awkwardly, clearly taken aback by the hostility in her voice. "Pleasure to meet you."
Some time later, the so-called study session finally came to an end.
Team TNPR began heading back toward their dorm room, though Ren didn't make it very far before Nora grabbed him by the arm and dragged him away.
"Ren! Pancakes! I want pancakes!"
Watching this happen had become so normal that no one even questioned it anymore.
Seeing the two of them disappear down the hallway, Pyrrha turned back toward Tsutsumi.
Then she grabbed his hand and pulled him along with her.
"Let's go for a walk," she said.
The two of them stepped outside into the cool night air.
The academy grounds were mostly quiet at this hour, with only a few lights illuminating the pathways that stretched across the campus.
"Tonight is quite nice for a walk, isn't it?" Pyrrha said softly as she walked a few steps ahead of him.
The gentle night breeze caused her long red hair to sway lightly behind her.
"Yeah," Tsutsumi replied simply.
He followed along as she led him through the mostly empty school yard.
He didn't dislike moments like this. But somewhere in the back of his mind, he also understood something else.
When the day eventually came… moments like this would become memories. And memories like this often turned into something bittersweet.
Still, he didn't complain.
No matter what the future might bring, he would at least remember these moments clearly. Just like he always had.
Even if everything eventually ended in destruction, he would still cherish the meaningful memories he made along the way.
...
After class that day ended, Team RWBY hurriedly left the classroom together, their pace noticeably faster than usual as they disappeared down the hallway.
Meanwhile, the rest of Team TNPR walked back toward their dorm at a much calmer pace.
There was no rush, and the afternoon sunlight streaming through the academy windows gave the corridor a relaxed atmosphere that made the walk feel unhurried.
Nora stretched her arms above her head as she walked.
"So team, what should we do this weekend?" she asked cheerfully, clearly already excited about the idea of two full days without classes.
Ren considered the question for a moment before answering.
"I was planning on catching up with some target practice," he said calmly. "What about you?"
As he spoke, his gaze shifted naturally toward Pyrrha and Tsutsumi, expecting them to have their own plans.
"Boringggg!" Nora groaned dramatically, throwing her arms down. "C'mon Renny, let's do something fun!"
She suddenly brightened. "How about we hit the arcade?"
Ren looked slightly amused by her enthusiasm, though he didn't respond immediately.
Before he could say anything, another voice casually joined the conversation.
"I'm bored. Pyrrha, wanna go on that second date?"
The sudden question made the three walking beside Tsutsumi freeze for a moment.
Ren blinked. Nora's eyes widened. Even Pyrrha herself looked momentarily stunned.
All three of them knew very well how Tsutsumi normally viewed his relationship with Pyrrha. Because of that, hearing him casually invite her on a second date like it was the most natural thing in the world caught them completely off guard.
Ever since the two had started dating, Tsutsumi's reputation at Beacon had dropped dramatically.
After all, Pyrrha Nikos wasn't just another student.
She was practically an idol among aspiring Huntsmen and Huntresses. Many students admired her, respected her, or outright worshiped her as the "Goddess of Victory." The moment word spread that she was dating someone, countless hearts across the academy had shattered overnight.
And now that same guy was casually inviting her out again.
"Uh- Yes!" Pyrrha quickly snapped back to her senses and hurriedly agreed, afraid that even a second of hesitation might make him think she was declining.
A faint blush appeared on her cheeks as she spoke.
Tsutsumi, however, didn't react to the surrounding stares at all.
Several students in the hallway had clearly overheard his invitation, and the jealous glares directed at him could have burned holes through stone.
He ignored every single one of them.
"Then let's head back to the dorm and change," he said casually. "There's a place I've started to like."
With that, he simply continued walking as if nothing unusual had happened.
Behind him, Nora suddenly grabbed Ren by the arm.
"Renny! Let's hurry!" she said excitedly.
Ren looked confused. "Why?"
"Or else we'll miss our date too!"
Before he could even process what she meant, Nora had already started dragging him down the hallway.
Ren didn't resist, though his expression clearly showed he had absolutely no idea when their own "date" had been scheduled.
...
Once the bullhead landed in Vale, Team TNPR stepped off the aircraft together before naturally splitting up, each heading off in a different direction to spend the evening however they wished.
Unlike their usual academy uniforms, they had all changed into casual clothes for the outing.
Nora looked especially excited, bouncing on her heels the moment they stepped onto the street before grabbing Ren's arm with her usual boundless enthusiasm.
"Renny! The arcade's this way!" she declared, already dragging him off before he could even properly respond.
Ren gave Tsutsumi and Pyrrha a brief nod of acknowledgment as he was pulled away, his expression calm but slightly resigned, as though he had long accepted that resisting Nora's plans was a futile endeavor.
Meanwhile, Tsutsumi and Pyrrha walked in the opposite direction.
The evening air in Vale carried a comfortable warmth, and the streets were lively with people heading out to enjoy the night. Storefront lights glowed softly along the sidewalks, and distant chatter filled the air as the two walked side by side.
After several minutes, Tsutsumi eventually stopped in front of a modest-looking shop tucked between two larger buildings.
A small wooden sign hung above the door.
It was a quiet little book cafe.
When they stepped inside, the soft chime of the doorbell announced their arrival.
The interior was warm and peaceful, illuminated by soft yellow lighting. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with books of all kinds, while a few small tables were scattered throughout the room for customers who wanted to sit and read while enjoying a drink.
The faint aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air.
Behind the counter stood an elderly woman with gentle features and silver-gray hair neatly tied back. She looked up as the door chimed and smiled warmly the moment she saw who had entered.
"Evening, Mrs. Chloe," Tsutsumi greeted her calmly.
"Hello," the old woman replied, her smile widening. "It's wonderful seeing you again, dear."
After Tsutsumi had finished going through most of the academy library, he had eventually grown bored of staying inside Beacon all the time. During one of his walks through Vale, he had stumbled upon this quiet cafe by accident.
Since then, he had visited regularly.
It had become one of the few places outside the academy where he could sit quietly, drink coffee, and read without interruption.
Over time, he had also become acquainted with the cafe's owner.
Mrs. Chloe often shared small stories from her past while he sat there reading.
As someone whose existence involved recording the stories of others, Tsutsumi never minded listening to them. Even if they were ordinary stories that would never be significant enough to be recorded by his power, he still found value in hearing them.
Because of that, the two had gradually become familiar with each other.
"This is my fr-"
"Hello, I am Pyrrha, Tsutsumi's girlfriend," Pyrrha said quickly, cutting in before he could finish.
The sudden introduction made Mrs. Chloe pause for a moment before letting out a soft chuckle.
"Oh my," she said gently, covering her mouth with one hand as she laughed quietly. "I used to joke about you bringing your girlfriend here one day. I never actually expected you to do it."
Pyrrha's cheeks flushed faintly, though she kept a polite smile on her face.
Tsutsumi, on the other hand, simply looked mildly indifferent to the entire exchange.
"So, what would you two like to have, dears?" Mrs. Chloe asked warmly, her silver-gray eyes moving between them with a kind expression.
"I'll have the usual coffee," Tsutsumi said. "What would you like, Pyrrha?"
Pyrrha glanced briefly at the menu written on a small board behind the counter before answering.
"I'll have coffee as well," she said politely. "With some sugar, please."
"Right away," Mrs. Chloe replied before turning toward the coffee machine behind the counter.
The quiet sound of brewing coffee soon filled the room.
Meanwhile, Tsutsumi led Pyrrha over to a table near the window.
The table sat beside a tall shelf filled with various books, and the window beside it offered a view of the softly lit street outside.
Without hesitation, Tsutsumi reached over to the shelf and pulled out a random book before taking his seat.
Pyrrha sat down across from him, watching with mild curiosity.
"I didn't know you liked reading so much," she said.
"It's peaceful," he replied simply as he opened the book.
There was something about places like this that he found comforting.
Because of the role he was destined to play, Tsutsumi often found himself listening to or witnessing the stories of others. Many of those stories would eventually be recorded through his power because they carried enough weight to influence the world.
But not every story was important enough to be recorded.
Many lives passed quietly through the world without leaving marks significant enough for history to remember.
Even so, Tsutsumi still believed those lives had value.
Although he had no control over which stories his power recorded, he still had the freedom to choose which ones he personally remembered.
Listening to ordinary people, reading books written by individuals whose names might one day be forgotten, those quiet moments held their own kind of meaning.
A few minutes later, Mrs. Chloe returned with two cups of freshly brewed coffee.
Tsutsumi stood up to take them, placing one in front of Pyrrha before sitting back down.
"Thank you," Pyrrha said politely.
The steam from the coffee rose gently into the air as the two of them sat together.
Tsutsumi resumed reading his book while sipping from his cup occasionally.
Pyrrha held her own cup with both hands, enjoying the warmth before eventually reaching over to pull a book from the nearby shelf as well.
For a while, neither of them spoke. But the silence wasn't uncomfortable.
Outside the window, the city of Vale continued moving as usual, while inside the small cafe the quiet atmosphere remained undisturbed.
Pyrrha found herself smiling faintly as she read.
Moments like this, simple, calm, and peaceful, were something she had rarely experienced before coming to Beacon.
And sitting here beside Tsutsumi, sharing coffee and reading together in comfortable silence, she realized she was enjoying it far more than she had expected.