After Doctor Oobleck's class, Tsutsumi, like normal, vanished before anyone could notice, leading Pyrrha to run around the campus searching for him. After spotting him sitting underneath a tree, reading a book about Semblance and Aura, she happily dragged him toward the dining hall.
"That… was not nice," she murmured. "That was a low blow."
He gave a simple shrug. "It wasn't my fault you slammed into a pole while dragging me."
"Hey," she said, sounding offended, "that was completely your fault for-"
"Oww! Oww!" A girl cried.
Pyrrha's words died as they both witnessed a somewhat common action that normally happens in school.
A Faunus in obvious pain cried out again. "That really hurts! Please, stop! Leave me alone!"
It didn't surprise Tsutsumi that Cardin Winchester had his hands on another girl, tugging on the girl's rabbit ears. A brunette with long hair and a pleasant face was currently trying to free herself.
What surprised him was how silent the hall was as all the students stood to the side waiting for a conclusion to the scene. Bystanders watched on as no one stood up to stop Cardin. Whether it was because no one wanted to be seen protecting a Faunus or catching Cardin's ire, everyone just turned their heads.
This display of apathy was pathetic.
Tsutsumi exhales before walking toward Cardin and the rabbit girl.
"Hey, mind if I join?"
His voice was almost deafening. The hall was so quiet that his voice echoed across the hall. Cardin, with the girl's ear still in his hand, dragged her as he turned around to face him.
"Huh?" His eyes widened in realization. "You! You're the asshole that got me in trouble with that nerd professor!"
The rabbit girl looks even more afraid now.
Cardin let the rabbit's girl's ear go. "I'll let you join, if you kneel and apolo-"
Before anyone could react, Tsutsumi's foot had already crashed into Cardin's face, his boot meeting the other boy's cheek, the blow sent Cardin bowling backwards into his team. They scrambled in confusion at how Cardin flew backwards with such speed. A collective gasp resounded throughout the hall.
They crashed into the other table, sending tables, chairs, and food falling on the ground. Some food even spilled on Cardin's head, which only seemed to anger him even more.
Tsutsumi stood there, hands in his pockets.
"W-What the fuck!" Cardin cursed, stumbling back as he scrambled to his feet. "Y-You kicked me!?" He wiped soup from his face with the back of his hand, clutching his jaw. "That's it! I'm gonna mess you up!"
"A small-time bully like you?" Tsutsumi smirked, arms spread in mock welcome. "What can you even do? You know, people who bully others are usually insecure about themselves. So what's your story? Mommy ran off with your Faunus stepdad, and now you push around other Faunus to feel better about yourself?"
The way he said it so casual, almost bored, made half the room struggle not to laugh. Chuckles and giggles slipped out, though everyone was still wary of drawing Cardin's wrath.
"You can try that threat," Tsutsumi added with a shrug. "Let's see who's really more afraid between us."
Just like that, the wind went out of Cardin's sails.
"B-Boss," whimpered the mohawk teen, "we should get outta here."
"Y-Yeah, boss, before the professors show up!"
"I-I don't wanna get in trouble!"
His team rallied together, all but begging him to back off.
Cardin's broad shoulders trembled as he sneered. He jabbed a finger at Tsutsumi, his voice low with forced menace.
"You. I'll make sure I match up with you in Combat Class. I'll embarrass you in front of the whole class for this! Mark my words, you purple-haired bastard!"
With that, he stormed out, his lackeys scrambling after him.
Tsutsumi glanced at the bunny-eared girl, who was still rubbing her sore ear. He picked up the bag one of Cardin's goons had kicked away and handed it over."Here. I think this belongs to you."
"T-Thank you," she said softly, hugging it close. "Y-You saved me."
"It was nothing," he replied flatly.
Her ears drooped to hide the blush coloring her cheeks. With her accent and gentle features, it was hard to imagine why anyone would ever want to bully her.
Without another word, Tsutsumi turned to leave.
"M-My name's Velvet, by the way," she quickly introduced, desperate to stop him before he slipped away. "Velvet Scarlatina."
"Tsutsumi. Tsutsumi Ryoko," he answered simply.
Velvet bit her lip, as if wanting to say more, but the whispers of the surrounding students stole her nerve. By the time she looked back, Tsutsumi was already gone.
"Wait a minute!" Pyrrha suddenly realized, eyes widening. "He's skipping lunch again!"
Worried, she rushed out in search of her elusive partner once more.
...
"Tsutsumi! I can't believe you kicked him!" Ruby exclaimed.
"Ruby, I can't believe you watched," Tsutsumi shot back.
The girl in red giggled nervously, scratching the back of her head.
By the time Combat Class rolled around, Tsutsumi was already being bombarded with questions. The dining hall incident with Cardin had spread like wildfire, and each retelling got more ridiculous than the last.
"Purple, holy crap!" Yang threw her hands up. "Honestly, I thought you were a pushover, all bark, no bite. But damn! You kicked him out like it was nothing!"
Tsutsumi turned toward Ruby. "Who is this lost blonde? Do we know her?"
Yang clutched her chest like she'd been mortally wounded. "Ow. Right in the heart." But she still smiled.
"Honestly, Tsutsumi," Weiss cut in, tone sharp. "I can't believe you devolved into violence. Resorting to physicality should be a last option as a huntsman-in-training!"
Tsutsumi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Princess, have you ever tried politely asking a brick wall to fall over for you? Do you kneel down and beg it to fall over?"
The group chuckled. Weiss glared daggers.
"W-What is that supposed to mean!?" she sputtered.
"Leader!" Nora suddenly shouted, raising her hand like she was in class. "If you need someone to crush his legs next time, Magnhild's got you covered! I can even give you tips on hitting with maximum power!"
"Thanks, but not now." Tsutsumi leaned back in his chair, wording it just enough to give her hope she might one day get her shot at breaking Cardin's bones.
Before Weiss could keep sputtering, Professor Goodwitch stepped onto the stage.
"Everyone, settle down." Her voice cut through the room like a whip. The class fell silent instantly. "Welcome to Combat Class. For our first week, you'll be sparring against one another. This will show us where you stand and where you need improvement."
She tapped her tablet, bringing up two holographic monitors that flanked her."These displays will show your Aura meters. I will be watching closely and will end matches if they get out of hand. Remember, we are here to hone your combat skills, not settle petty disputes."
Her eyes swept over the class like a steel ruler. "If you have personal issues, bring them to the faculty. If I catch anyone using this class to skirt authority, be prepared for the consequences."
The weight of her warning sank in. Then she nodded. "Good. Now, who would like to volunteer-"
"Me, ma'am."
All eyes turned to Cardin Winchester, standing tall.
"Hmm… Cardin Winchester, is that correct?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Very well. Let's find you an opponent-"
"If I may, could I choose?" he interrupted.
Professor Goodwitch narrowed her eyes, but then nodded. "By all means."
Cardin's grin spread wide as he pointed across the room. "Him."
"Tsutsumi Ryoko?"
Tsutsumi stood as his name was called.
"Very well. Both of you, gear up and step into the arena."
Yang cupped her hands. "Go get 'em, tiger!"
"Yeah! Kick his butt!" Ruby cheered.
"Crush your enemies, see them driven before you, hear their lamentations!" Nora bellowed.
The whispers of the class grew louder, rippling like a storm. Tsutsumi rolled his eyes, leaped on the seating railing, hopped down into the arena, and landed with a thud.
"Mister Ryoko?"
"Yeah?" He tossed aside his jacket and loosened his tie.
Cardin returned clad in full armor, mace hefted on his shoulder, emblem gleaming on his chestplate. His grin screamed overconfidence.
"Your weapon, Mister Ryoko?" Glynda asked.
Tsutsumi waved dismissively. "I don't need one. Fighting him is like dropkicking a toddler."
The entire class: "…"
Cardin's eyelid twitched violently.
Glynda pinched the bridge of her nose. "Very well. Combatants ready?"
They nodded. The professor stepped aside. "Begin!"
Cardin slammed his mace against the floor. "Now it's just you and me. I've got you for the whole round, buddy, and I'm gonna enjoy every second."
Tsutsumi tilted his head. "Ah, a masochist. Makes sense. Explains why you keep begging to get your ass kicked."
"Tsutsumi!" Pyrrha's voice rang out.
He glanced at her.
"Right here, right now, show me what you've got!" she shouted.
Tsutsumi smirked faintly, then flicked out a card. "Let's get this over with."
Attack Ride: Earphone Jack!
They charged at each other, both quickly closing the distance. Cardin swung his mace down, Tsutsumi slid under with ease, getting behind Cardin, he then spun behind him, and jabbed the earphone jack into Cardin's back.
Jiro's quirk doesn't need to be stabbed fully into an object to send the vibration; just pressing the tips against something is enough to send it. It's just stabbing that makes it more secure, and the vibration would be stronger.
Cardin froze, his eyes widened as the vibrations tore through him. His organs shuddered violently, bones rattling like breaking glass. Blood spurted from his mouth.
In an instant, Cardin's Aura plummeted from full to red. His mace slipped from numb fingers before he collapsed backward, eyes rolling up.
The earphone jack dissolved as Tsutsumi stood over him, unimpressed.
"Well... That lasted a few seconds longer than I expected."
The entire class was left speechless, quite literally. Glynda was the first to recover, quickly declaring Tsutsumi the winner before calling for the medic to haul Cardin away.
As the orange-haired bully was carried out, every gaze in the room shifted back toward the bored-looking purple-haired boy, standing there as if nothing had happened.
"So who's next?" he asked, arms spread wide, cockiness dripping from his voice. With a display like that, surely no one would be dumb enough to step up.
"Me!"
Everyone's head turned as Pyrrha leapt down into the arena, landing with an eager grin.
Tsutsumi: "…"
So the idiot is my own partner?
"Miss Nikos, are you sure about this?" Glynda asked, still wary of Tsutsumi's unknown ability.
"Yes," Pyrrha answered firmly, her green eyes locked on her partner.
"Very well…" Glynda relented as Pyrrha left to gather her gear.
After a few minutes, she returned clad in her bronze combat armor, spear and shield in hand.
Tsutsumi looked noticeably annoyed as Pyrrha stepped across from him. His earlier words had been meant to scare the class into not wanting to spar with him, but it seemed his plan had backfired spectacularly.
"You don't seem as excited as before, huh?" Pyrrha teased with a knowing smirk.
"You were supposed to back me up, not stand against me," Tsutsumi grumbled, pulling out a card.
"Begin!"
Glynda stepped aside, signaling the start. Pyrrha wasted no time, charging straight at him.
Form Ride: Pyrrha Nikos!
The sound of clashing metal rang out, and jaws across the stands dropped.
Two Pyrrhas now stood in the arena, same armor, same fiery red hair, same shield and spear.
"What?" The real Pyrrha faltered, stunned at the sight of herself staring back.
The copy twirled Miló with practiced grace before shifting it into sword mode. With casual ease, she dragged the blade across her palm, as if cleaning it.
"Tsutsumi? Is this… your semblance?" Pyrrha asked cautiously.
"You could say so," Tsutsumi replied, still in his own voice despite wearing her face. Then his tone shifted, perfectly mimicking hers: "So… do you still want to continue?"
Pyrrha tightened her grip on her weapons. "Always."
She charged forward. Tsutsumi mirrored her.
Their weapons collided, sparks flying, metal boots thundering against the floor. The two Pyrrhas moved in perfect rhythm, every swing, every step, every strike reflected like a dance of mirrored steel.