Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction based on multiple existing anime/manga series. The characters and settings used in this story belong to their respective owners and creators, and no copyright infringement is intended. This story is purely for entertainment purposes and is not intended to infringe upon any existing intellectual property. I do not own any of the original works that inspired this fanfiction, and I fully support the original creators and their works.
-Story Start-
-Third Person POV-
Beacon Academy's Dining Hall was as extravagant and pompous as expected.
The dining room features four long tables running the length of the hall with benches to either side and walking areas located in between.
Serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner for the prospective Future Huntsmen and Huntresses the meals were most exquisite and cooked by esteemed chefs.
Vale Cuisune, Mistral Cuisune, Atlas Cuisine, and much more.
Every day was something different to keep the Students excited and eager for all meals of the day.
After all, good food motivates and brightens the mood as well as helps Teams bond under the positive influence of a good munch.
Of course, like all the buildings in Beacon, the Dining Hall maintains the somewhat gothic theme of architecture.
The rambunctious melody fit for such a place of dining reverberated through the hall itself.
Chatter, laughter, loud and rather uncouth chewing... The works.
For some, it was hard to even hear what those closest to them were saying.
Nevertheless, students enjoyed quality meal time with their respective teams and friends.
Now, our perspective shifts to one of the four long tables, to a specific group formed out of two 1st Year Teams.
Specifically Team RAWP & Team YRBN
...
"Pizza day, huh...?" Alex groaned loudly with a mix of bitterness and righteous fury.
His amber gaze pierced a hole through the slice of pizza on his plate.
The loud groan caught the attention of all present.
Clearly surprised that Alex Andrite himself of all people decided to open his mouth for anything other than yawning or eating.
Ruby, her cheeks stuffed with food mumbled out with a tilted head, "You dwont like pwizza?"
Nora giggled, pointing at the distraught Alex, she giggled, "Hehe~ it must have gotten him killed in a past life~!"
Ren quickly retorted, smiling sympathetically to his fellow much more severe introvert, "Ignore her, she's had a weird dream about each and every one of us."
...
'Are you feeding her information about me through dreams or something?' Alex shivered momentarily.
At that moment, Alex theorized that [System] was forcing Nora into a Normie Dream Cycle of his life or something dumb like that to torment him.
...Not a lot of enlightening or vibrant information she can glean from that, of that he's certain.
While the spreading of information about his Body Possessing and past life shenanigans don't really bother him whatsoever.
What bothers him is Nora having that kind of supernatural ability.
...
It scares him.
[...I am just as creeped out and perplexed as you are, Master.] The system replied with a slight hint of astonishment.
Alex, feeling generous today, graced the question with a response.
Albeit, a morbid one, "Got stabbed once when I ate Pizza, which led me to undesirable circumstances." He bluntly stated.
The teams got awfully and awkwardly silent, unsure of how to respond to such a morbid admission.
Luckily!
Yang was on the case, "That's rough buddy! Did you not have your Aura unlocked at the time?" She smiled.
Ruby frowned at Yang in a chastising glare.
Prompting a shrug from the blonde, "What? He's fine now! I'd probably laugh it off if it happened to me a couple of years back if no lasting damage was done-"
She cut herself off, stroking her chin in contemplation, "Did they stab your emotional part of the bra-"
"I am very much capable of emotions." He apathetically stated, only reinforcing Yang's point.
[Doubt.]
'Shut the fuck up.'
[...I stand corrected~!]
Pyrrha, having sat to Alex's left, shot him a look of concern, "I'm more worried what kind of place you found yourself at that you'd get stabbed just for eating pizza?"
"Yeah, sleep neighbor! Tell us where you're from!" His nemesis exclaimed, instigating and reinforcing the invasion of Alex's privacy.
Everyone on the table perked up at the prospect of learning about Alex's Origin and Story.
He bluntly admitted in an inquiry, "...Why are you guys so interested?" He proceeded to gulp a good amount of water from his cup.
Gotta stay hydrated!
[Your lack of a personality is being mixed up with "Cool and Mysterious~!"] System happily relayed.
Ruby perked up, answering Alex's question, "It's just... You're so amazing as a Huntsman! We're curious how we've never heard of you!"
'Mhm... I see. So it's Stick's fault.' Alex quickly redirected blame like the responsible adult he is.
He turned to Ruby and sighed, admitting with naught a hint of shame, "I wasn't always this powerful. I was pretty much weaker than all of you." He pointed at them.
Adding, "But it all changed when I recently unlocked my semblance... It doesn't help that I went into a half-assed prep school before I got accepted here."
"Swear jar!"
"Ass is a swear?"
"DON'T CORRUPT MY RUBY'S EARS!"
"Okay."
...
Ren this time broke through the Alex-induced silence, making the blonde man turn to him, "So what you're saying is... That you got lucky with your semblance? Excuse my bluntness." He added at the end of the statement.
Alex simply nodded in affirmation.
Weiss snorted at that, "Explains a lot." Glaring at him with a healthy dose of disdain.
'What's got her panties in a twist?' Alex couldn't help but wonder.
[Are you clueless, ignorant, or just plain stupid? Master?] System inquired.
'Yes.'
It was at that when Blake, the only one matching Alex in the silent and mysterious department voiced out her opinion, "...Normally, getting blessed with an extremely powerful semblance would have made you ecstatic. I know that's what I'd have felt if I had your semblance." There was a hint of clear envy and regret in her tone.
"I mean... I'd give it to you if I could." He shrugged.
That statement raised alarm bells in all their heads.
Weiss turned to Pyrrha, recalling the redhead's observation from earlier.
Ruby simply frowned at that, "Why... Why would you want to give it up?" Her voice quivered in dismay and frustration.
The atmosphere around the table turned melancholic, and even the tactless Alex started feeling slightly uncomfortable at the... Frustrated and genuinely saddened expression on Ruby's face.
While Ruby was most expressive about it, the thoughts of Team YRBN and RWP mirrored Ruby's own:
"What kind of Huntsman Trainee is he?"
Nevertheless, Alex's selective silence was the cue that their 10-question session was long overdue.
-----------------------------
[Why hadn't you eaten, Master? You know well that Hunger is the Enemy!]
'Do not quote my better seniors.'
Following the rather dramatic and invasive lunch - A complete waste of time given Alex hadn't even eaten anything; Alex had returned solo to Team RAWP's dorm, thirty minutes being left for the next lecture.
His purpose was simple...
There he stood, before his brand new Vale Ultra Coffee Machine MK 3000 to get his daily fix.
However...
An unfortunate and fundamental issue was swiftly noticed:
'Houston, we have a problem.' Alex deadpanned, ignoring the odd shouts sourcing from the hallway.
[Which is?]
'There's no beans...' He sighed in agony, clenching his fists.
It was at this moment, that the usually composed Zen Monk Alex was at his breaking point.
While his bizarre and quite frankly, unwanted situation did contribute majorly to the coming of his breaking point.
The true reason was...
Like a drug addict going through withdrawal, it took all his mental energy to NOT smash his head into the wall repeatedly at the lack of coffee.
[...What'd you expect, Master? The quest reward was the machine alone. If you want beans, you have to buy them yourself.] The system stated the cold hard facts.
...
[Oh! By the way!] The system called out suddenly with a cheerful tone.
And with it, a notification popped out in front of Alex's stoic yet troubled face.
[PING!]
[Sub Quest - "Troubled Leader" has been issued!]
-Sub Quests-
↓
[NEW!] Troubled Leader!↓
Requirements - The Young Team Leader of RAWP - Ruby Rose, is under great stress, having taken a great blow to her self-esteem at the hands of one of her dear teammates!
Find a way to encourage her!
Static Rewards - 800 Lien.
Peformance-Based Rewards - Ruby Rose Relationship Progress (#N/A) & Team WP Relationship Progress (#N/A) & Team YRBN Relationship Progress (#N/A)
Time Limit - Dawn Of Tomorrow.
Punishment For Failure - Significantly lowered Relationship Progress with members of Team RWP. Moderately lowered Relationship Progress with members of Team YRBN and afflicted with [Curse Of No Coffee] for 1 week.
[Curse Of No Coffee] - Any time Coffee arrives within the enclosures of The User's mouth, it will transform into Water. Should the User attempt to spit it out, it'll return to Coffee. Should the User taste or swallow it, it will be Water.
Difficulty - C-
"...Riveting."
[I'm always here to spice up your life, Master~!]
To Be Continued!
-Author Note Start-
I'm here with great news!
Since this chapter is short, I'll update it with another soon!
...However!
I need your help for it!
That's right!
If you can get this fic to 10 reviews for a rating, I'll even update it today!
That's right! (Not a sellout - Probably).
On that note...
Hope the chapter was to your enjoyment!
Love you guys and cya all later!
Bu Bye!