(Team JNPR's Dorm Room)

It was another late night and the three members of (J)NPR were in their dorm rooms currently with Nora jumping on her bed, Ren cleaning his weapon, and Pyrrha looking out the window.

"How come Jaune comes home so late?" Nora asked as she jumped on her bed.

"He's become rather scarce ever since he's been fraternizing with Cardin." Ren answered.

"That's weird, doesn't he know we have a field trip tomorrow?... We need our Rest!" Nora declared as she did a acrobatic move in the air and landed on her bed.

"I'm sure our leader knows exactly what he's doing." Pyrrha said with hidden anger in her voice.

"Hmmm.....I guess so." Nora said.

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Third Person POV

("Thoughts")

"Talking"

While the rest of team (J)NPR was conversing with one another, they didn't notice Jaune peeking a little into the door as he heard them talk, Jaune then sighed and closed the door before they can notice him.

"I'm making my team worry this much about me and I'm pretty sure Pyrrha is furious with me right now, I'm such a failure." Jaune said with depression in his voice.

"What made you think that?" A voice said.

"Huh?" Jaune said confused as he turned to see his teamless friend Kiyotaka who was standing a few feet away from him.

"Kiyotaka?.... What are you doing out here so late?.... shouldn't you be in your Dorm Room?" Jaune said as he didn't want his friend to see him in his depressive state.

"You'd be right about that, but I had stuff I needed to take care of at this time before I went to my Dorm Room, but I could also ask you the same question, I was on my way back to my dorm room and noticed you talking to yourself." Kiyotaka explained.

("Ooooh man now he's gonna think I'm crazy.") Jaune thought

"I'm just thinking about a lot of things." Jaune said.

"If I had to guess, one of them is obviously about your team right?" Kiyotaka asked.

"Sigh........yea you're right." Jaune said.

"I messed up." Jaune continued.

"What do you mean?" Kiyotaka asked.

"Kiyotaka............can you keep a secret?" Jaune asked as he was internally making a decision.

"Uh sure I can, I see no point in telling anybody's secret to people who they don't want to know. But are you sure you really wanna tell me and not somebody else or your team?" Kiyotaka asked.

"Yes I'm pretty sure about it, I'm sure I can tell Ruby about this but I don't think it's a good idea, I think she already has enough on her plate to be honest with her being a team leader and all and I don't wanna drop another bombshell on her. I can't tell Yang because I don't know how she'll react and quite honestly I can't take her seriously sometimes. I can't tell Blake either because we don't really talk that much and I don't know her that well, and I'm sure you know already why I can't tell Weiss." Jaune explained.

"I also can't tell my team right now because I feel now is not the best time for it right now." Jaune continued.

("Wow I guess Jaune's really thought this through, it must be weighing on him that he has no-one to tell this to".) Kiyotaka Thought.

"I see, but why do you want to tell me specifically?" Kiyotaka asked.

"I guess I just want to if that makes sense. It just feels right for me to tell you plus you seem like a trustworthy person to me. You always been a good friend to me and helped me out ever since we first met, you don't try to make jokes at me like our friends do sometimes even though I know they mean no harm by it, or ridicule me like other people do just because I'm not the best at fighting." Jaune explained.

Kiyotaka shrugged, "It's no big deal, I have no right to ridicule you when I see you're out there trying your best to get better." He said with a neutral tone.

Jaune smiled a little at his words. ("I guess Yang was right, you really are a humble person about things like this.") He thought.

"I don't really deserve to be here Kiyotaka, I had used some fake transcripts to get into the school, I just wanted to be a hero like my ancestors. Now Cardin's found out about it and he's got me on a leash and Pyrrha won't even talk to me. I'm starting to think coming to this school was a bad idea." Jaune continued as he slid down on the door and sat on the floor.

"I see." Kiyotaka said.

"That's It? You're not angry at all that I used fake transcripts to get here when other people who worked hard to get here did?" Jaune asked with surprise showing on his face.

"Why should I be angry, after all you're still here right?" Kiyotaka asked.

"What do you mean?" Jaune asked confused.

"You may have used fake transcripts to get into the school, but you managed to prove that you deserve to be here." Kiyotaka answered.

"How?....I'm not that good in combat at all, I'm failing most of my classes, and I'm a horrible team leader. Maybe it would've been better if Pyrrha was team leader instead of me." Jaune said.

"Even if you may not be that good in combat Jaune, you managed to survive initiation and managed to lead your team through it as well, I'm sure not anyone can do that, and the headmaster probably saw that and had his personal reasons for why he picked you instead of Pyrrha to be team leader." Kiyotaka explained.

Jaune depressive state now lessened a bit once he heard his friends explanation.

"I guess so, but what if I get my teammates or my friends hurt or killed one day because of my screw ups?" Jaune questioned.

"That's what your teammates and friends are here for right?..... to help you improve. You don't have to be hesitant to ask for any help Jaune, even the most successful people need help from time to time, You have the potential to be a great leader, and I'm sure your team probably knows it as well." Kiyotaka said.

Jaune was silent and stunned at his friends explanation, he couldn't stop himself from having a smile on his face.

("I knew I could trust you.") Jaune thought.

"It's pretty late now, I'm gonna back to my dorm room and get to bed. I'll see you tomorrow Jaune have a good night." Kiyotaka said as he started to walk to his dorm room.

"Wait!" Jaune called out to him.

"Hmmm....What is it?" Kiyotaka asked looking behind him.

Jaune walked up to him and put out his fist for a fist bump.

"Are we still cool with the leadership fist bump?" Jaune asked with his voice sounding a little nervous.

Kiyotaka looked at Jaune for a few seconds before turning around and reciprocating the fist bump.

"Yeah we are." Kiyotaka responded.

Jaune smiled brightly at the act and chuckled.

"See ya." Kiyotaka said as he went into his Dorm Room and closed the door.

After Kiyotaka was gone Jaune now felt better than what he did ever since incident with Cardin. He was really glad to such an accepting friend like Kiyotaka who didn't Judge him at all for what he did and understood why he did it. He really owes Kiyotaka and made an Arc's promise that he will pay him back for it one day.

Jaune was then cut out of his thoughts when he had heard his scroll ringing, he pulled out from his pocket and opened it and frowned when he saw that it was a voice message from Cardin.

He wondered what else Cardin wanted since he has to do both of their projects from Professor Oobleck. He sighed deeply at the thought of having to do anything else, so he pressed play on the voice message.

*Voice Message*

Cardin: Jaune about that assignment I told you to do with Professor Oobleck, just forget about it, I'll do it myself. Don't ask me why just forget about it that's all. Anyway all I want you to do is accompany my team and I on the field trip for tomorrow, that's all, later.

*Voice Message End*

After the voice message ended Jaune's eyes were wide open in shock at what he heard in the voice message. Jaune wondered why would Cardin suddenly change his mind after he had blackmailed him when he heard his secret. He knew Cardin wasn't a good person at all and wouldn't change his mind so fast after what happened on that day.

Jaune thought this was just a prank and that he had to be lying, but from the tone of Cardin's voice it really didn't sound like it, he then sighed as he was happy that it was less work for him to do and he didn't have to overwork himself.

Since he had nothing to do he decided to walk to another part of the school so he can be alone and gather his thoughts.

Unknown to the people who were in the hallway earlier failed to notice one of the dorm rooms doors slightly ajar, and then opened which revealed to be Ruby who appeared to be listening to the whole conversation the whole time, and currently had a bright smile on her face. She saw Jaune in the hallway earlier moping and was about to go out there and see what was wrong with him, but stopped herself when she noticed Kiyotaka stop in a few feet in front of Jaune and started to talk to him. She decided it was best to just listen to the conversation they were having and not interrupt them.

She was shocked at first when she heard Jaune's secret earlier, but when he told Kiyotaka about it and he didn't seem to not really care about it and listen to his reasons why and give him some advice instead, she couldn't help but smile at the act. She was glad she was one of the people Jaune would've told his secret to eventually, and didn't take offense at all and understood why he couldn't tell her sister or the rest of the team. She decided that whenever Jaune is ready to tell them, he could count on her to support him.

Her thoughts then lingered to Kiyotaka, She thought what he had said to Jaune was nice and really cool as well. Ever since she met Kiyotaka he always managed to surprise her somehow. She remembered he had helped her with some class assignments for Professor Ports class one day when she had bumped into him in the library when he was just leaving, and she apologized profusely but he didn't mind it, he noticed papers she had in her hand and asked her if she was working on class assignments, she nodded but said she was gonna do some research in the library because it was kind of difficult to understand.

He asked if she needed help but she shook her head no because she didn't want to bother him and he probably had his own work to do, but he insisted and said he didn't mind and she eventually let him help her. She was surprised when Kiyotaka explained how to do the assignment in a way that she can understand, and then it was no problem at all and she was happy when she had got an A on the assignment which shocked her teammates mostly Weiss who thought she had cheated to get that grade, and all of them didn't believe that she had actually studied. One day She thanked Kiyotaka profusely for helping her and he said it was no problem and told her to just ask him if she needed any help with homework again, which she made a mental note for.

Kiyotaka was one of the first friends she had ever made and he didn't treat her like a kid like the others do sometimes which was one of the things she admired about him, He was really a good friend to have.

Ruby's face was unconsciously turning red and getting bigger by each second when she was lost in her thoughts thinking of the brown haired boy, but then her eyes went wide when she noticed what she was doing and shook her head clearing her mind, she then closed the door quickly and got to her bed and put the covers over her as she tried to quickly go to sleep feeling extremely embarrassed at what she was doing.

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Third person POV

The next day had came by in a flash, and the forever fall field trip was the place where all the first years are to go today which would have Ms. Goodwitch there with them as well, when they had made it to their destination Kiyotaka was observing the forest that had nothing but red leaves and trees surrounding the area and thought it was a very pretty sight.

It also seems that Ms. Goodwitch had shared his thoughts as well when she had begun speaking to them.

"Yes students, the Forest of Forever Fall is indeed beautiful." Glynda announced.

"But we are not here to sight-see. Professor Peaches asked all of you to collect samples from the trees deep inside this forest. And I'm here to make sure that none of you die doing so." Glynda said.

During this moment Jaune was one of the last people following the group at a slow pace, but didn't watch where he was going and accidentally bumped into Cardin who was holding a box of jars in his hand and almost made him drop it which made him growl at him in response.

"Each of you is to gather one jar's worth of red sap. However this forest is full of the creatures of the Grimm. So be sure to stay by your teammates. We will rendezvous back here at four o'clock. Have Fun!" Glynda continued.

Jaune wanted so desperately to go with his teammates but Cardin had pulled him by the hood with one of his arms stopping his movement.

"Come on buddy let's go." Cardin said

Jaune then looked at his teammates who were walking away especially Pyrrha who had stopped walking and turned to look at him with a sad gaze. Jaune then sighed as he walk away to follow Cardin which made Pyrrha sigh in disappointment.

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Ayanokouji POV

As soon as Professor Goodwitch finished her announcement and explained to us what we had to do, I see teams RWBY and the three members of (J)NPR going their own way in the forest to collect the sap from trees, I take a glance at Jaune and noticed him walking away with Cardin and Pyrrha seemed to have a look of disappointment before leaving to follow her team. Hopefully Jaune will resolve things with Cardin and his team sooner or later.

I then started my own walk around the forest and just admired the scenery around me for a couple of minutes while at the same time looking for some trees to collect some sap from, which would take me quite a while since I am on a one man team.

As I walking a little deeper into the forest I came across teams RWBY and the remaining members of JNPR who were doing their assignment as well. I then see a tree untouched not to far from them and started to collect the sap from the tree.

After about 30 minutes I was finally done.

I filled about 10 jars worth of sap from the tree and just now closing the lid on the last jar as I now put it on the ground and wiped a little sweat from off my head as I was now glad I was done with the assignment.

I looked over at teams RWBY and (J)NPR and saw that they were just about done with the assignment as well, now that I was finished I decided to go and walk over to them, but stopped when a loud roar came from the forest.

Then two members of CRDL were running out of the forest who suddenly came from out of nowhere.

"Ursa! Ursa!" Russel yelled as he bumped into Yang who grabbed him before he ran away again.

"What? Where?" Yang asked.

"Back there! It's got Cardin!" Russel responded.

"Jaune!" Pyrrha called out as she dropped her jar of sap.

"Yang! You and Blake go and get Professor Goodwitch." Ruby called out.

"You two go with them, there could be more." Pyrrha told Nora and Ren who had nodded and went with them to find Professor Goodwitch.

Ruby, Weiss, and Pyrrha then finally noticed me when I had walked up to them.

"I'll help out as well, I'll come with you." I told them.

They all smiled and nodded as we then took off and ran to where Cardin and Jaune were.

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AN: Another Chapter done! Hey guys I hope your doing well, my online classes now started a few days ago so probably won't have much times to do chapters as quickly as I used to, but I'll try my best to get them out as fast as I can whenever I have some free time.

I hope you all liked this chapter! if you have any questions about this chapter or story leave a comment down below and I'll answer to the best of my ability.

See You Next Time!