SxD: Weiss’s Realization (and Meltdown)

It started with denial. Weiss Schnee did not like Issei Hyoudou. She couldn’t. That was ridiculous. Utterly absurd. He was loud, immature, i

It started with denial.

Weiss Schnee did not like Issei Hyoudou. She couldn’t. That was ridiculous. Utterly absurd. He was loud, immature, inappropriate, and perhaps the most brazen idiot she had ever met.

She repeated those words like a mantra to herself as she crossed the courtyard of Beacon, arms crossed and jaw tight, trying to ignore the sound of his voice somewhere behind her.

Issei was laughing. Of course he was. Probably doing something moronic again. Perhaps flexing in front of girls or challenging a tree to a fight.

Weiss huffed, nose raised, chin high. But despite herself, she looked back, just in case he didn’t get in over his head.

There he was. Smiling—bright and unfiltered—as he chatted with Ruby and Nora about… whatever nonsense he’d gotten into that morning. He was animated, energetic, practically glowing with life.

And her stomach did a very inconvenient, completely irrational little flip.

She scowled and spun back around. “No,” she muttered. “No, no, no.”

—--------------------------------

The signs had crept in slowly, like cracks in a perfect ice sculpture.

It was in how her heart skipped a beat whenever he complimented her—not in the fake, flowery way most suitors did, but in that stupidly genuine, dumb-Issei way. “You looked cool today, Weiss! Like, elegant and scary. Like a sword made of diamonds!”

It was in how he never flinched when she raised her voice, never looked down on her, never backed away from her sharpness. He met it—with warmth, with light, absolute, infuriating honesty.

She enjoyed spending time with him. Even when he was being insufferable.

And the worst part? He listened to her. Really listened. He took her advice on technique seriously, even when she criticized him. He tried—earnestly tried—to improve. When was the last time anyone had done that?

—--------------------------------

It all came crashing down late one evening.

The dorm was quiet. Everyone else had gone to bed, and Weiss lay in her bunk, eyes fixed on the ceiling, covers pulled up to her chest.

She tried to read earlier, but the words blurred together on the page. Her mind was too full. Of memories. Of moments. Of Issei.

She remembered how he sat still and uncharacteristically quiet while she healed a bruise on his arm.

How he watched her—not with lust or sarcasm—but with a sort of quiet awe, like she was something precious.

And how her heart had ached in that moment.

“…Oh no,” she whispered into the darkness.

The realization hit like a tidal wave.

She was in trouble.

Big, emotional, utterly catastrophic trouble.

—-------------------------

The next morning was worse.

She stormed into the cafeteria, frost in her step and panic in her heart. She wasn’t blushing. She wasn’t! Her face was merely… warm from the walk over. Yes. That was all.

And then Yang smirked.

“Sleep well, Ice Queen?”

Weiss froze mid-step.

Blake looked up from her book. “She was up late. Pacing. Whispering to herself.”

Ruby perked up. “Wait, really? Weiss, were you—oh my gosh, were you thinking about—”

“NO.” Weiss snapped, louder than necessary. Her tray clattered as she slammed it down.

Yang leaned over, all faux innocence and evil glee. “You were, weren’t you?”

“I WAS NOT.”

“Oh, please,” Yang snorted. “You’ve got it so bad. I bet Issei doesn’t even know how whipped you are.”

“I AM NOT—” Weiss caught herself, glancing around. Too many heads had turned.

She took a deep breath, sat down with the grace of someone holding onto the last shreds of her composure, and hissed through clenched teeth, “I am not interested in Issei Hyoudou.”

Nora popped up from nowhere like a gremlin. “Oooooh, that sounded defensive.”

“I’M NOT DEFENSIVE, I’M JUST CORRECT!”

Ruby giggled. “You’re totally like him.”

“I am not—!”

Jaune, from across the table, blinked. “Wait. Weiss likes Issei?”

Yang didn’t even bother answering. She just leaned back, cackling.

Ren, sipping his tea, said quietly, “I told you all it would happen this week.”

Weiss buried her face in her hands, mortified. “Oh no,” she muttered again, lower this time.

Everyone knew. And the worst part?

She did like Issei.

She liked him more than she wanted to admit. More than she could explain. And that realization?

It terrified her.