The atmosphere inside the opulent, sunlit sitting room of the Schnee mansion was thick with unspoken tension, radiating primarily from the two young women flanking Jaune.
Pearl Schnee had been bedridden since she was just a little girl, so she genuinely knew nothing about Pyrrha Nikos, the famous champion.
Pyrrha, equally famous but new to Beacon, didn't know about the sickly, powerful Schnee heiress. Yet, for some unspoken reason—perhaps the scent of a shared romantic destiny—they felt an instant, palpable rivalry, as if they were competitors from the beginning of time.
Pearl, moving with a delicate, ethereal grace, deliberately sat down right next to Jaune on the plush sofa, leaning in so their shoulders were almost touching.
Pyrrha was seated next to them.
"Ara, Jaune. Who is she? Why is she sitting so close to you? Perhaps... your mistress?"
Pearl asked sweetly, tilting her head and letting her voice carry a delicate sting of innocent malice.
Jaune blinked, completely missing the implication.
"Eh? No, she isn't my mistress. She is my partner, Pyrrha Nikos. We're also in the same team, Team JNPR."
"Yes, we are partners for the next... four years to come,"
Pyrrha replied, her voice smooth as silk but her eyes sharp as polished steel.
She took a slow, deliberate sip of her tea, a faint smirk touching her lips.
"We will share our best moments, our greatest struggles, and every milestone at the academy."
Round one to the Champion.
Pearl didn't back down. She placed a pale, cool hand on Jaune's forearm, the very picture of fragile elegance.
"That is good to hear. But Jaune, I miss you so much. You will visit me often, right? I want to buy so many things from you—exotic potions, protection gear. But my health is not good. Do you mind coming to sell things to me by yourself? I only trust you, Jaune, not some strange girl."
The last jab was pointed directly at Pyrrha.
Pearl was currently stronger than Pyrrha due to the power upgrade from the ice phoenix, but she would act as a weak woman to gain his sympathy.
"Jaune is very busy with his work and the academy. He can't be making house calls,"
Pyrrha countered, setting her teacup down with a soft clink that sounded like a final judgment.
"But worry not. I, as his dedicated partner, will lessen his burden. I will be the one who comes to your house for him, bringing your orders and ensuring his focus remains on his studies."
Both young women looked at each other, and a visible spark—not of electricity, but of fierce, competitive will—flew between them.
The butler, who was standing discreetly by the door, and the maids felt utterly overwhelmed by the intensity of their rivalry.
Jaune, the oblivious object of their affection, was sitting between them, fortunately dense enough to not realize they had feelings for him.
He clapped his hands together lightly.
"This is great! I didn't know you two would hit it off greatly and solve my sales problem so quickly! I am very happy."
Both of them stopped mid-stare and simultaneously looked at their goofy, completely clueless crush.
They looked back at each other and let out a single, synchronized sigh of exasperation.
Not only did they have each other to be wary of, but they also had to find a way to crack the emotional, hard shell of Jaune Arc.
Jaune finally shifted his attention to the original reason for the visit.
"Oh, Pearl. I have come here to speak with you about something important. Do you know Weiss Schnee? She said that you were her long-lost cousin and wanted to know where you are."
Pearl's ethereal composure fractured instantly, her eyes widening in profound shock.
"Weiss is here... At the academy... My Oum, my little Weissy..."
Pearl whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.
"She must have been through a lot to get this far."
Pearl knew her father had kept Weiss and her branch of the family at arm's length for years.
For Weiss to attend Beacon, she must have been desperate to escape Atlas and her own controlling father, Jacques Schnee.
The moment of rivalry was forgotten in the face of family concern.
"Please tell her my number. I want to see her immediately. This is my number."
Pearl grabbed her Scroll and quickly tapped in her contact information before handing the device to Jaune.
"Tell her where I live as well. Tell her she can come whenever she wants."
Jaune nodded, his expression softening.
"I will do that for you right away, Pearl."
"Thank you, Jaune. Thank you for everything."
The rest of the afternoon was spent in a truce. Pyrrha and Pearl, having realized their common interest in Jaune and their shared burden of dealing with his oblivious nature, actually found common ground.
They talked about fashion (Coco's influence) and the rigors of combat training, becoming strange, fast friends.
However, the truce was entirely professional.
Both women knew that when it came to the ultimate prize—Jaune Arc's heart—there would only be one winner in this unspoken race.
Pyrrha knew she had the advantage of proximity, but Pearl had the advantage of sympathy and the powerful loyalty of his first great deed.