The news hit both groups like a surprise detonation of an emotional bomb, the fallout of which was far more chaotic and unpredictable than Kaelith had calculated.
They chose the courtyard after classes, the sun shined upon the space where their two teams had converged. The conversation had started as mundane chatter—the upcoming festival, Professor Port's latest tall tale, Ren's stoic observations on the meteorological conditions.
Then, Kaelith, with a complete disregard for dramatic build-up, simply stated the fact.
"Weiss and I are dating." Her voice was calm, like she hadn't set off a bomb in that one move. Weiss, standing beside the Saiyan girl, had her cheeks go red, going to to the tips of her ears.
The silence that followed was so profound it seemed to suck the very sound out of the bustling courtyard.
On Kaelith's side, the reactions were varied. Like her team, KNPR had various reactions.
Ren, who had been calmly sipping his tea, paused with the cup halfway to his lips. His eyes, usually serene and unreadable, widened for a microsecond before a slow, knowing smile spread across his face.
He nodded once, a subtle gesture of quiet approval. "I had considered the possibility. The friction between you two always seemed to generate a curious amount of heat."
Pyrrha, meanwhile, stood utterly still, like a statue carved from disbelief. Her hand, which had been resting on a stack of books, hung suspended in mid-air. Her mouth opened, then closed, then opened again, a silent, flustered expression of shock. The "unbreakable" heiress and the "unfathomable" warrior?
The notion was so antithetical to her perception of their dynamic that her mind had simply... rebooted.
Nora, on the other hand, reacted with the force of a tectonic shift.
"I knew it!" she shrieked, her voice echoing across the courtyard as she leaped into the air, excitedly. "The constant bickering, the insults, the secret trips to Vale! It was all just a cover for your secret love! They're like the angry robot and the icy princess from my favourite show, but they're real! This is the best thing that's ever happened!"
On Weiss's side, the chaos was equally palpable.
Ruby's jaw dropped so far it nearly hit the ground. Her silver eyes, usually so bright and full of innocent wonder, were wide with a profound, almost child-like confusion.
She began to mutter under her breath, a rapid-fire string of disconnected thoughts. "You and... Weiss? But you're so... you! And she's so... Weiss! How did you... when did you... but the sarcasm... and the glares..."
Yang, after her initial moment of stunned silence wore off, let out a low whistle. A slow, predatory grin bloomed across her face, promising endless teasing and a future filled with relentless puns. She held her hands up in a gesture of surrender, a playful glint in her lilac eyes, though, she held off for now.
Blake, predictably, had been reading a book. Her head was bowed, a look of serene concentration on her face.
As the news broke, the book slipped from her grasp, landing on the cobblestones with a soft thump. Funnily enough, the book was a trashy romance novel, and the page it was open to featured a dramatic illustration of two former rivals sharing a passionate, rain-soaked kiss.
She looked from Weiss's flustered face to Kaelith's stoic expression, genuine astonishment in her amber eyes.
She'd seen it in fiction, but never had she expected to witness such a trope in reality.
"Kaelith! You just had to go and say it now?" Weiss asked her partner, incredulously earning a giggle from the girl.
Kaelith, the Saiyan warrior who had single-handedly demolished her opponents and dismantled every logical argument with a straight face, giggled. It was a soft, genuine sound, a rare crack in her composed façade that was more startling to her teammates than the initial announcement. She gently squeezed Weiss's hand, a silent reassurance that seemed to calm the heiress's racing heart.
"What?" Kaelith's expression was a masterpiece of feigned innocence, though the twinkle in her eyes betrayed her. "It was the most efficient method of information dissemination. Why waste time on a drawn-out, melodramatic reveal when a single, decisive statement achieves the same outcome? Besides," she added, leaning in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper only Weiss could hear, "it's amusing to watch them all short-circuit."
Weiss's blush deepened, but a small, undeniable smile touched her lips. She shook her head, a silent acknowledgment that, for all of Kaelith's pragmatism, her new girlfriend did have a flair for the dramatic.
The courtyard, once a bastion of normalcy, had become a theatre of utter pandemonium. Nora was now attempting to physically hug both Kaelith and Weiss at the same time, her boundless energy a force of nature they were ill-equipped to handle.
"Oh, this is so romantic! You two are like a fanfic come to life! My heart is just bursting with... with feelings!" she declared, her arms a vice around them.
Kaelith, with the practiced ease of someone who had dealt with Nora's chaotic affection before, subtly shifted her weight, allowing Nora's hug to envelop her without actually restricting her movement.
Weiss, however, was not so fortunate. She was being squeezed mercilessly, her carefully styled hair becoming dishevelled as Nora bounced with joy.
"Nora, while I appreciate the enthusiasm, release us." Kaelith's voice, though calm, held authority that Nora instinctively obeyed.
She released them, but immediately began to bounce in place, her eyes sparkling with uncontained glee.
Pyrrha, who had finally recovered from her shock, stepped forward, a wide, genuine smile on her face.
"I... I'm so happy for you both," she said, her voice soft and warm. "I always knew there was something... special between you. The way you challenged each other, the way you pushed each other to be better..."
She trailed off, her gaze shifting from Kaelith's amused expression to Weiss's flustered but happy one. "It's a beautiful thing. The most beautiful kind of partnership."
Weiss, touched by Pyrrha's sincerity, offered a small, grateful smile. "Thank you, Pyrrha. I... I appreciate that."
Over on the other side of the courtyard, the RWBY contingent was still in various states of disarray. Ruby was still muttering, her brain clearly running a thousand miles a minute, trying to process the information.
Yang, meanwhile, had recovered from her shock and was now fully in "teasing big sister" mode. She sauntered over, her hands on her hips, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
"So, the Ice Queen finally found someone to melt her heart, huh? And it had to be the one person who could out-sass her on a daily basis. I'm almost proud of you, Weiss." She leaned in, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "But seriously, how did this even happen? You two were at each another's throats every two seconds."
"It was the most logical outcome," her voice a low hum that cut through Yang's teasing. "A process of observation, data collection, and eventual conclusion. The initial antagonism was merely a by-product of two distinct methodologies clashing. My approach, blunt and decisive, against her, refined and methodical."
She gestured to Weiss, who was now subtly straightening her uniform, a delicate pout on her face. "Our conflict was a crucible. It forced her to re-evaluate her own preconceived notions and methodologies, and it allowed me to observe her true character. Beneath the layers of societal expectation and performative arrogance, I discovered a tenacity and a desire for genuine growth. Something I found attractive."
Weiss's blush deepened, but she didn't refute Kaelith's clinical breakdown of their romance. She simply squeezed her hand, a silent acknowledgement of the bizarre, logical truth.
Ruby, who had finally stopped muttering, looked up, her silver eyes wide with an almost scientific fascination. "So… you saw that she was like… a puzzle that you wanted to solve? And then you… solved it? And now you're dating?"
Kaelith nodded sagely. "A fair, if slightly oversimplified, summary, Ruby. Think of it as a tactical simulation. The initial objective was to dismantle her emotional defences. The secondary objective was… companionship. The final objective was a successful partnership. All metrics were achieved with a surprisingly high degree of efficiency."
Weiss sighed, being used to Kalith's "Efficiency" focused mindset let her see past it. She knew damn well that this was Kaelith's way of saying she liked her and that Weiss liked her back.
Weiss sighed, being used to Kaelith's "Efficiency" focused mindset let her see past it. She knew damn well that this was Kaelith's way of saying she liked her and that Weiss liked her back. The clinical, almost detached, language was simply a shield, a verbal crutch for someone who struggled to express emotions in a conventional way. It was a language she was, surprisingly, coming to understand.
Blake, who had been silent up to this point, finally spoke, her voice quiet but with a keen edge of curiosity. She walked over, her amber eyes flicking from Kaelith's hand, still intertwined with Weiss's, to Kaelith's impassive face.
"So," she began, a faint, almost imperceptible smirk on her lips, "it's true. The romance novels were right. The most bitter rivals eventually become the most passionate lovers."
"I would not categorize our dynamic as 'passionate'," Kaelith corrected, her tone flat. "The term is overly emotional and lacks a precise definition within the context of our relationship. A more accurate term would be… mutually beneficial. Or perhaps, 'strategically compatible'."
Blake raised an eyebrow, her smirk widening. "Right. 'Strategically compatible.' You've certainly found a unique way to describe a relationship, Kaelith. One that, I'm sure, is filled with... meticulous planning and efficient displays of affection."
"Precisely," Kaelith replied, completely missing the sarcasm. "A relationship built on a foundation of mutual respect, intellectual stimulation, and a shared desire for personal growth is, by its very nature, more stable and enduring than one predicated on fleeting emotional whims."
Weiss squeezed Kaelith's hand again, a gentle, silent warning. "Kaelith, perhaps we don't need to over-analyze our relationship for everyone."
"I am merely providing a logical explanation for an otherwise statistically improbable outcome," Kaelith stated, though she did fall silent, her gaze shifting to the rest of the group.
The chaos, however, was far from over.
Ruby, who had been quiet, suddenly clapped her hands together, a new plan forming in her mind. "Okay! So since you're dating now, that means we're all a big family! So we should all go to the arcade! And then we can get ice cream! And maybe play that new team game where you fight the robot monsters!"
Yang's face lit up at the suggestion. "Now that's an idea I can get behind! First, we need to celebrate our new power couple! Who's ready to see Kaelith try to win a game that doesn't involve punching things?"
"I am statistically superior at all forms of competitive engagement, regardless of the methodology," Kaelith stated with an air of complete certainty. "Be it physical combat or a simulated light-gun shooting gallery, my hand-eye coordination and tactical prowess are without peer."
"We'll see about that," Yang said, a competitive glint in her lilac eyes. "I've been practising my high-scores on 'Whack-a-Grimm.' I'm a master."
"A master of inefficiently striking a simulated target," Kaelith retorted, a tiny, almost imperceptible smirk playing on her lips. "I, on the other hand, am a master of maximizing my points per second through the strategic targeting of high-value targets, while simultaneously minimizing collateral damage and ensuring a perfect shot-to-hit ratio. A far more elegant, and efficient, approach."
Pyrrha and Ren exchanged a look, a silent understanding passing between them. They had witnessed Kaelith's bizarrely impressive skills before, from her ability to cook with a level of precision that bordered on alchemy to her knack for winning card games with a completely straight face. They knew better than to bet against her.
Especially when they saw how well she fared in that board game. She went from total noob to professional player in less 40 minutes. Her growth rate was immense.
Nora, meanwhile, was already bouncing towards the exit, her energy level reaching critical mass.
"Come on, come on! Ice cream, arcade, then a sugar-fueled sparring session with Kaelith! This is the best day ever!" she declared, her arms flailing wildly.
Weiss, who had been listening to the chaotic exchange with a mix of exasperation and amusement, finally let out a long-suffering sigh. "Nora, there will be no 'sugar-fueled sparring session.' We are going to have a civilized afternoon in Vale, and that's it."
"You heard the lady," Kaelith said, her voice a low hum. "Civility is the order of the day. For now."
Kaelith gave Weiss a small, private smile that made the heiress's heart flutter.
As the two teams, now a single, chaotic group, began to make their way to the bullhead hangar, a new dynamic settled over them. The initial shock had worn off, replaced by a sense of bewildered acceptance. The "Kaelith and Weiss" pairing was an anomaly, an equation that didn't seem to have a solution, yet here it was, a tangible, undeniable reality.
Ren walked beside Pyrrha, his gaze thoughtful. "I've been observing their interactions for weeks. The insults, the arguments… they were never truly malicious. It was more like two opposing forces testing the limits of the other. It's a testament to their emotional maturity, in a strange, unconventional way, that they found a path through the conflict to… this."
Pyrrha nodded, her smile soft. "I'm just happy they're happy. Weiss has always had such a guarded heart. I think she needed someone like Kaelith to… well, to just break through it."
Meanwhile, Ruby, still processing, turned to Blake, who was now walking with a bemused expression on her face. "So… do you think Kaelith is going to try and apply a 'logical analysis' to everything we do now? Like, is she going to calculate the most efficient way to eat an ice cream cone?"
Blake chuckled, a rare, genuine sound. "I wouldn't put it past her. But I think… I think there's a part of her that enjoys the chaos, too. She just uses her logic as a shield. I think a part of her is a bit like a child on a playground, just watching the world and trying to figure out how to be a part of it."
This quiet observation was a profound one, a piece of insight that only Blake, with her own experiences of being an outsider, could have gleaned.
Yang, ever the boisterous one, bounded up ahead, already chattering about which arcade games they should play first. "Okay, so first, we'll hit up 'Dance Dance Revolution,' then maybe that new racing game. I've heard my scores are unbeatable."
Kaelith, hearing this, immediately responded. "An inefficient use of your kinetic energy. While the rhythmic motion is a passable form of cardiovascular exercise, it does not translate into a tactical advantage in a combat scenario. The racing game, however, offers an interesting simulation of spatial awareness and trajectory calculation. I will, of course, exceed your high score within three attempts."
Weiss let out a long-suffering sigh, but a small smile was playing on her lips. She looked at Kaelith, her heart swelling with a warmth that was both new and terrifying. This was their life now. A strange, beautiful, and utterly chaotic blend of clinical analysis and genuine affection. She wouldn't trade it for the world.
————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
"WHAT THE FUCK!" Yang screamed, seeing the newest high-score displayed on the device.
Kaelith had made her personal best and the former Number 1 spot look like child's play, worse yet, the girl was still going.
The game's screen then went black, a high-pitched electronic whine piercing the air before falling silent. The score display, a simple numeric counter, had glitched into a series of incomprehensible symbols, a digital monument to Kaelith's overwhelming superiority.
An arcade attendant rushed over, his face a mask of panicked confusion, pulling at wires and pressing buttons to no avail. Yang, her competitive fire completely extinguished by the sheer improbability of the event, just stared.
"How... what did you even do?!" she demanded, her voice a mix of disbelief and grudging respect.
Kaelith, her posture perfectly relaxed, offered a simple explanation. "The game's algorithm was designed for a standard range of human input. My speed and precision allowed for a higher frequency of successful actions than the system could compute. I merely exceeded its integer limit, causing a buffer overflow. A classic computational error, really."
Weiss let out a long-suffering sigh, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Of course. You didn't just win, you broke the game."
She gently squeezed Kaelith's hand, a silent acknowledgment that this was exactly the kind of chaos she had signed up for. Ruby, her eyes wide with childlike wonder, began peppering Kaelith with questions about the "buffer whatsit" and the "game's algorithm."
Nora, far from being disheartened, was invigorated. "We need to find another game! One you can't break! Or, even better, one we can all break together! Do you think we can make the claw machine spit out all the prizes if we all push the button at the same time?!"
Yang, still reeling, could only put her hands up in mock surrender. "I'm not even going to try and beat that. That's not even a high score, that's a new dimension of winning."
As Nora pulled them towards the prize machines, Kaelith gave Weiss's hand a squeeze, a quiet promise that even in this chaos, she had found her own perfect equilibrium.