Even after all this time, Neo Politan still wasn’t quite sure what to make of Beacon Academy. A dastardly attack on the school had been foiled years prior, thanks to Neo herself turning in the woman responsible and convincing her uncle Roman Torchwick to turn sides with her. Now she and the other girls were seniors, just past their age of majority, and getting ready to take their first big steps in the world. She should have been preparing for life as a Huntress; everyone else was. Even if Beacon had stood firm, the Grimm threat had never really gone away.

But all she cared about was the boy of her dreams. Jaune Arc… the bumbling goofball had, over the years, blossomed into—well, he was still a bit of a bumbling goof, but he was also kind, forthright, hard-working, and a natural leader. Once he’d overcome that initial awkwardness, he’d become one of the most sought-after male students on campus. Neo could hardly blame her fellow girls. And on top of that great personality, he was handsome to boot.

But alas, he was also taken. The best guy in school got the best girl; Pyrrha Nikos and Jaune were a known item. And Neo certainly couldn’t blame him for it. Pyrrha complemented him perfectly: brave warrior, compassionate soul, breath-taking beauty. (Neo may have mostly swung towards the guys, but she knew a lovely girl when she saw her—and Pyrrha was nothing if not lovely.) They were made for each other, and all that Neo, savior of Beacon, could do was sigh from a distance.

She glanced around the academy’s courtyard. Impeccable stonework, verdant trees, lovely flowing water… in just under a year, all this would be gone as she entered another life. A new life. One that Jaune was going to spend with Pyrrha, most likely. And even if she couldn’t really begrudge either of them…