SxD: Attempt #1: Lunch Date

The classroom was emptying out, the chatter of students trailing into the halls like a retreating tide. Weiss Schnee stood by the door, expr

The classroom was emptying out, the chatter of students trailing into the halls like a retreating tide. Weiss Schnee stood by the door, expression sharp, foot tapping.

She watched him.

Issei Hyoudou.

The boy who drove her absolutely insane without trying.

He was taking forever to pack up, still stuffing notes haphazardly into his bag, muttering to himself about “that one equation that looked like a Dust recipe” and completely oblivious to her staring.

‘Now,’ She told herself. ‘No more subtle smiles or hand brushes. It's time for direct action.’

A flick of her wrist. A Glyph spun into existence—blue-white and crisp—sealing the door behind him with quiet finality.

Issei froze, mid-zipper.

“Hyoudou,” Weiss said, voice cool but commanding, arms folded under her chest.

He turned, blinking. “Uh… hey? You okay?”

“I’m going into Vale for lunch,” she said, stepping forward so the light caught the silver in her hair just right. “You’re coming with me.”

Issei blinked. “Sure! Let me grab Ruby and maybe Jaune too—they’ve been wanting to try—”

“No!” She snapped, the word a little too sharp, a little too fast.

He tilted his head like a confused puppy. “Uh…”

“Just you,” she said more smoothly, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear with practiced grace. “I… need your input on something.”

“…On food?” he asked.

Weiss smiled, tight and controlled. “Something like that.”

—-------------------------------

To his credit, he did show up.

On time, no less.

She spotted him outside the café in Vale, standing awkwardly near the entrance, wearing a dark jacket that actually flattered his frame. It was nothing fancy—just clean, fitted, probably picked because he had nothing else unwrinkled. But still.

Weiss made sure to arrive just a minute after him, just enough to see him glancing around nervously, hands shoved in his pockets.

‘Good,’ She thought. ‘Let him be a little nervous.’

The restaurant was tucked on a quieter street, away from the buzz of the marketplace. It had quaint little windows with old brass handles, pale blue tablecloths, and the gentle aroma of cinnamon and ground coffee. A romantic little nook she’d scouted two days prior under the guise of needing new Dust cartridges.

They sat by the window, sunlight hitting her hair just right—again, not a coincidence. She leaned in just slightly more than usual, her posture elegant, precise. Her voice soft and low.

“So… how was sparring this morning?” she asked as the tea arrived.

He perked up instantly, like someone had just offered him extra dessert.

“Oh man, you wouldn’t believe what Nora did. I swear she’s got some kind of anti-gravity hammer—she launched me into a tree. I think there’s still bark in my hair.”

She smiled, sipping her tea. “You do have a unique talent for getting hit.”

“I’m like a magnet.” He said with a grin. “A magnet for pain.”

She found herself laughing before she could stop it. He always managed that—getting past her careful mask with just a grin and a few honest words.

“You know,” She said, tracing her finger along the edge of her teacup, “you’re surprisingly… open. Most people wouldn’t admit to being flattened by Nora. Twice.”

Issei chuckled, rubbing the back of his head. “Eh. What’s the point of pretending? If I’m dumb enough to charge into a hammer, I might as well own it.”

There was something in that. A kind of warmth. Honesty. He wasn’t pretending to be cool or smooth or perfect. And it made Weiss’s heart beat just a bit faster—more frustratingly so, because he had no idea.

The lunch went on. She asked about his favorite foods, nodded along with his stories, let her hand brush his on the table for half a second too long.

He didn’t pull away.

He didn’t notice.

Then the bill came.

Before she could move, Issei grabbed it. “No way. You dragged me out here, I’m at least gonna pay for dessert.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Excuse me?”

He grinned, trying to out-charm her. “Don’t worry, I’ll cover it with my vast fortune of pocket lint and expired coupons. Ozpin has been giving me an allowance.”

Weiss rolled her eyes, but let him hand the card over. It was oddly… endearing. Maybe this was it. The moment.

When the waitress returned and left them with their plates cleared and the café a little quieter, Issei looked oddly serious. He turned to her, sitting straighter than usual, no joking grin in sight.

Here it comes, she thought. Her heart fluttered once. Finally…

“Thanks for this, Weiss,” he said, voice low. “I know you don’t usually hang out like this. It means a lot.”

She nodded, barely breathing.

Come on. Come on. Say it. Ask me. You can do it, idiot.

Then he smiled.

Warm. Genuine. That same guileless boy she’d fallen for.

“You’re a really great friend.”

The word hit her like a kick to the stomach.

‘Friend.’

Her grip on the teacup tightened, porcelain creaking faintly under her fingers.

She masked it instantly, giving him a polite smile.

“Of course,” she said evenly. “What are friends for, right?”

He nodded cheerfully, completely oblivious to the internal carnage he’d just caused.

“Exactly! You always listen and help and don’t yell at me (anymore) when I’m being stupid.”

‘You are always being stupid,’ She thought bitterly. ‘And I still want you to kiss me, you absolute brick wall of a human.’

—------------------------------

As they left the café, the air was crisp and the skies over Vale had turned a pale blue-grey. A gentle winter breeze rustled the edge of her coat. Weiss walked beside him, arms folded, her expression neutral.

He kept talking. About any memories that recently came, about the new cafeteria menu, about a weird pigeon that chased him through the dorms yesterday.

She barely heard him.

Her mind was too busy calculating.

‘Okay. Clearly, hint-dropping doesn’t work. Proximity doesn’t work. What’s next? Seduction? I’ll kill him before I try to seduce him. I’m not Yang.’

He turned to her, grinning as they walked. “We should do this again sometime. It’s nice hanging out with you like this.”

Weiss stopped walking.

He blinked and turned. “Huh? Something wrong?”

She stared at him for a moment.

Debated her options.

Screamed internally.

Then smiled tightly. “Yes. We’ll do it again soon.”

“Awesome!” he said, as happy as if she’d offered him extra lunch rations.

‘One day,’ She vowed silently. ‘One day, I will make you see it. And when that day comes…’

Her cheeks warmed slightly as she glanced away.

‘…You’re paying for dinner.’