They walked side by side down the path, the moonlight spilling across Beacon's courtyard. Ruby was swinging Crescent Rose in her folded form, the way a child might swing a stick while wandering.
She broke the silence with an absent hum. "Oh! That reminds me—I almost forgot to tell you."
Hyunwoo glanced at her. "What's that?"
Ruby adjusted her grip on Crescent Rose and frowned, like she was still trying to puzzle it out herself. "Earlier today, when I was heading back from the library, I bumped into some new students. A girl named Emerald Sustrai, a boy with silver hair—Mercury Black, I think?—and this woman, Cinder Fall."
Hyunwoo's steps slowed. His eyes narrowed slightly. "...Cinder Fall."
Ruby nodded, not noticing the shift in his tone. "Yeah. She said they were from Haven Academy. I figured they were here early for the Vytal Festival, y'know? Since students from the other kingdoms are already starting to arrive."
Hyunwoo said nothing at first, his expression unreadable in the dim light. Ruby tilted her head, curious. "Why? Do you know them?"
"...Not personally." His voice was calm, but his gaze had sharpened, distant, as though he was already piecing things together in his head. "But... remember this, Ruby. If you see them again, be careful. Don't take them at face value."
Ruby blinked, tilting her head. "You think they're trouble?"
Hyunwoo looked up at the moon, his hands tightening at his sides. "I think... they're more important than they want us to believe."
Ruby frowned softly at his answer but didn't push further. She had learned enough about Hyunwoo to know when his tone carried weight.
After a few steps, she gave him a small smile. "Then I'll trust you on that."
Hyunwoo finally looked at her, the corner of his mouth twitching in the faintest ghost of a smile. "...Good."
The two walked on in silence again, but the mood had shifted. Ruby thought she'd simply shared a harmless encounter—new faces at Beacon, here for a festival. But Hyunwoo's reaction... it told her there was more to the story.
And for the first time that night, Ruby wondered if she should've kept it to herself.
___
Ruby gave him one last wave before jogging off toward the dorms, Crescent Rose bouncing lightly against her back. Hyunwoo lingered where he stood, watching her disappear into the shadows of the courtyard until he was alone again.
The silence pressed in. Only the faint hum of the airships above and the distant chirping of crickets filled the night.
Hyunwoo lowered his gaze, his jaw tightening.
So... they've finally arrived.
Cinder Fall. Emerald Sustrai. Mercury Black.
Names he knew. Faces he recognized. But names and faces weren't enough.
He clenched his fist. And yet... I can't do anything. Not without proof. Not without someone else to witness it. If I move too soon, I'll only be dismissed as paranoid—or worse, compromise everything.
The weight of it settled on his chest like stone. He had come so far, learned so much, but still he was shackled by timing and evidence.
Hyunwoo exhaled through his nose, eyes narrowing toward the horizon.
"...Tomorrow," he muttered under his breath. "Tomorrow I'll see Roman again. If anyone can give me the crack I need to open Ozpin's eyes—it'll be him."
His hand flexed, the faintest flicker of red light tracing along his palm before fading into nothing.
"Just a little longer," he whispered, turning back toward the shadows. "I'll find the proof. No matter what."
____
Tomorrow arrives in the blink of an eyes.
Weiss Schnee's eyes remained fixed on the holographic clock flickering above the classroom wall. One minute. Just one agonizing minute. Professor Port's booming voice carried on in the background, his story about "bravely single-handedly wrestling a pack of Beowolves" winding further and further from its original point.
At her side, Jaune Arc leaned closer, whispering like a child desperate for attention.
"Hey, Weiss... want to grab something to eat after class?"
Weiss didn't blink.
"...Movie?" he tried again, hopeful.
The second hand ticked.
"...Maybe a walk in the gardens?"
The bell chimed, merciful and sharp. Weiss stood, gathering her things with practiced elegance. "No. To all of it." She brushed past him without a backward glance, her heels clicking against the floor as Ruby, Blake, and Yang trailed after her. Jaune slumped forward in his chair, defeated.
⸻
Later, back in the cozy mess of their dorm room, Team RWBY busied themselves with their new outfits. Zippers tugged, belts adjusted, capes swished, and boots thudded against the floorboards as each girl checked her reflection in the mirror.
Ruby fastened her new cloak, her silver eyes shining with determination. "Alright! So, here's the plan. Weiss and I are going to check the Cross Continental Transmit tower. If there's anything weird about the robberies, the Schnee Dust Company records should show it."
Weiss nodded, arms crossed. "At least if you don't accidentally trip every alarm on campus."
Ruby pouted, but Blake cut in, lacing her boots. "I'll attend the White Fang faction meeting tonight. If they're moving on something, I'll hear it straight from their orders."
Yang punched a fist into her open palm, grinning. "And I'll pay Junior a little visit. If anyone's got gossip from the shady side of Vale, it's him. He owes me."
"Then we meet up near your spot to compare notes," Ruby concluded.
As if on cue, a voice rang from outside their window.
"Sounds like a plan!"
The girls whirled around. Outside, clinging casually to the window ledge, Sun Wukong beamed at them, his tail flicking behind him. Neptune Vasilias stood just below, waving awkwardly.
Ruby's face went pale. "Were you—have you been listening this whole time?!"
Sun hopped into the room with an effortless leap, grinning ear to ear. "Of course! You guys are plotting an investigation. How could I not be curious?"
Ruby flailed, panicked. "We can't involve our friends in this! It's already dangerous enough—"
"Which is why you should involve us," Sun countered, folding his arms confidently. "Friends stick together."
Ruby opened her mouth, ready to argue, but the resolve in Sun's voice gave her pause. She sighed. "...Fine."
Yang stretched her arms behind her head. "So, who's going where?"
"I'll go with Blake," Sun said quickly, eyes flicking toward her before he could stop himself.
Neptune shoved his hands in his pockets. "Guess that leaves me with Yang."
Yang smirked, giving him a wink. "Don't worry, Neptune. I'll keep you safe."
Across the room, Weiss froze mid-step, her eye twitching as she processed this outcome. "I—I was supposed to work with Neptune..." she muttered under her breath, cheeks heating ever so slightly.
Ruby glanced between them all, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. "Okay, then it's settled. Everyone knows what to do."
Weiss tugged on her gloves with a huff, finishing her new uniform's adjustments. "Roman Torchwick may be in custody, but the White Fang are still out there. If we sit idle, Vale will pay for it."
Ruby nodded, serious for once. "Exactly. Even if Roman's plans are stalled, the Fang won't stop. That's why we need to move tonight ."
Yang rolled her shoulders, her smirk sharp. "Which means it's time for us to dig."
From outside the cracked dorm door came the faint creak of footsteps — more than one pair. Ruby frowned, padding over to check. When she opened it, three figures stood in the hall, guilty looks written across their faces.
Jaemin was the first to admit it, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Okay, okay, you caught us. We might've been... listening a little."
Jisoo shrugged, unapologetic. "Not like you were exactly quiet. Half the floor could've heard you."
Behind them, Jiwon leaned casually against the wall, his calm expression betraying nothing. "Point is... if you're planning something risky, it's better we know. Don't expect us to sit back."
Ruby blinked, caught between flustered and relieved. "Wait, so you three... want to help?"
Jaemin nodded. "Hyunwoo's already caught up in this whole mess with Roman. If he's handling his part, then it's only fair we back you up too."
Jisoo added, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully, "White Fang activity isn't just your problem. It's everyone's. And if we're walking into the Vytal Festival with threats lurking, better we fight together."
Weiss raised an eyebrow. "You do realize this isn't a game? These are criminals. Dangerous ones."
Jiwon's voice was calm, steady. "We're not treating it like a game. That's exactly why we're standing here."
The room grew quiet, the weight of their words settling over Team RWBY. Ruby glanced at her team, then back at Team NOVA. Despite her natural instinct to keep her friends out of danger, she couldn't deny the truth — the White Fang wasn't just an isolated threat anymore.
"...Alright," Ruby said softly, her silver eyes firm. "But if you're in, you follow the plan. No rushing off on your own. Deal?"
Jaemin gave her a thumbs-up. "Deal."
Jisoo smirked faintly. "As long as you don't slow us down."
Jiwon gave a quiet nod. "We'll watch each other's backs."
Inside the dorm, Yang whistled low, crossing her arms. "Well, guess our investigation just doubled in size."
Weiss groaned, rubbing her temple. "This is going to be chaos..."
But beneath her exasperation, even she couldn't deny it — their chances were stronger together.
____
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