The ballroom was bathed in the soft glow of the evening moonlight streaming through its tall windows, illuminating the makeshift campsite set up by the first-year students. Sleeping bags were scattered across the polished floor, and the gentle hum of chatter and ughter filled the air. Students, dressed in pajamas, huddled in groups as they wound down from the day's excitement.

  Ruby, Weiss, Bke, and Yang had cimed a cozy spot near the windows in one corner of the room. Their sleeping bags were lined up neatly in a row, and the four girls were nestled close together, chatting animatedly.

  Ruby was dressed in bright red pajamas adorned with little crescent moon patterns, perfectly matching her energetic and cheerful personality. Her legs were crossed as she gestured enthusiastically, recounting a childhood story with her usual animated charm. Beside her, Yang lounged comfortably in an orange tank top with her emblem boldly printed in red on the front, paired with bck boy shorts. The outfit reflected her confident and carefree attitude, as casual and striking as she was.

  Bke sat with her usual poise, a book resting in her p. She wore a bck, long-sleeved Yukata-style shirt with white edging over a purple undershirt and a matching skirt. A neatly tied bck obi completed the look, adding refined elegance to her attire. Her signature bow remained in pce as she read, a quiet reminder of her composed and reserved nature.

  Weiss, however, effortlessly stood out despite the simplicity of her attire. She wore a faded blue nightgown with short sleeves and white trim, the Schnee Crest delicately dispyed on the upper-right chest. Though modest, the nightgown hugged her figure in just the right ways, accentuating her natural elegance. Her silver hair, now loose and flowing, framed her face like a shimmering cascade of moonlight, enhancing her fwless complexion. Even in something as unassuming as sleepwear, Weiss exuded an almost ethereal beauty that seemed to captivate everyone around her.

  Ruby, Bke, and Yang were all trying to focus on the conversation, but their gazes drifted toward Weiss.

  Ruby's face was already red as she tried to keep her eyes on Weiss's face instead of letting them wander. 'Why does she look so pretty?' she thought, clutching the edge of her sleeping bag tightly.

  Yang, usually confident, found herself at a rare loss for words. Her lic eyes darted between Weiss and the floor as she tried not to stare too long. 'Seriously, how does she look like that in just pajamas?'

  Bke, calm as ever, wasn't completely immune either. Though she kept her face neutral, her amber eyes betrayed her internal struggle as she quickly flipped a page in her book, trying to distract herself. But even as she read, she found herself sneaking gnces at Weiss, her mind betraying her composed exterior.

  Seeing the sudden silence in their conversation, Weiss gnced at the three of them with a curious look. She tilted her head slightly, a knowing smile pying at her lips.

  "Oh my... is there something I can help you with?" she asked in a soft, melodic voice, her tone ced with a teasing undertone. Her icy blue eyes sparkled as she leaned slightly toward them, her posture elegant yet rexed.

  Ruby, Bke, and Yang all stiffened, their cheeks turning red. Ruby's eyes widened as she tried to respond, her words coming out as incoherent squeaks. Yang coughed into her hand, trying to regain her composure, while Bke simply froze, her book lowering slightly as her ears twitched.

  "Fufufu," Weiss chuckled softly, her smile widening into a seductive grin. "You've all been staring at me for quite some time. Do you need something from me?"

  Her voice was smooth and warm, and her teasing words made Ruby's heart race even faster. "N-no!" Ruby squeaked, waving her hands frantically. "We weren't—uh, I mean—uh, we weren't staring!"

  Yang ughed nervously, scratching the back of her head. "Yeah! Just, uh... admiring the view? No, wait, not like that!"

  Bke, the calmest until now, couldn't stop herself from blurting out, "You're beautiful."

  The words hung in the air for a moment, and the silence followed was deafening. Ruby and Yang turned to Bke with wide eyes while Weiss's smile grew even more amused. Bke's composure cracked as her cheeks flushed a deep red. She quickly raised her book to cover her face, pretending to read as if nothing had happened.

  Weiss chuckled softly, a melodic sound that made Bke's ears twitch again. "Thank you, Bke," she said warmly, her voice carrying a note of genuine appreciation. "That's very sweet of you."

  Bke didn't respond, her face still hidden behind her book. Weiss leaned in slightly, her blue eyes glinting mischievously. "And your pajamas suit you quite well. They're... elegant. Just like you."

  Bke's ears fttened against her head as her cheeks grew even redder. She mumbled something incoherent behind her book, earning another soft ugh from Weiss.

  "Cute," Weiss muttered under her breath, just loud enough for Bke to hear, though she didn't press further.

  Weiss then turned her attention to Ruby and Yang, her smile softening. "And I must say, your pajamas are adorable as well," she said, gesturing toward Ruby's bright red set and Yang's dragon-patterned ones.

  Ruby's blush deepened as she fidgeted with the hem of her sleeve. "R-really? You think so?" she asked, her voice shy but hopeful.

  "Of course," Weiss replied, her tone sincere. "They suit you both perfectly."

  Yang, for once, was at a loss for words. She rubbed the back of her neck, trying to suppress the grin threatening to spread across her face. "Well, uh... thanks, Weiss. That means a lot," she said, her voice softer than usual.

  Ruby, meanwhile, was practically glowing with happiness, her silver eyes shining. "Thank you, Weiss! That's so nice of you to say!"

  Trying to break the awkward yet oddly pleasant tension, Yang cleared her throat and gnced around the room. "So, uh... anyone have any idea how the teams are gonna be formed tomorrow?" she asked, shifting the conversation.

  Weiss, of course, already knew how the process worked, but she decided to py along. She pced a finger to her chin, pretending to think. "Hmm... perhaps it's determined by the first people you make contact with during the initiation?"

  Yang burst out ughing, shaking her head. "Seriously? That's your guess? What if someone trips and falls on someone else? Instant teammates?"

  Bke smirked, closing her book and setting it aside. "That does seem a little... ridiculous," she agreed, her tone amused.

  Ruby pouted, crossing her arms. "That would be so dumb! There's no way they'd decide something as important as teams like that!"

  Weiss chuckled softly, her voice light and amused. "I suppose you're right, Ruby. It was just a guess, after all. But wouldn't it be nice if we ended up on the same team?"

  Ruby's pout disappeared, repced by a bright, hopeful smile. "Yeah! That would be amazing!"

  Bke nodded in agreement, her expression softening. "I think we'd work well together."

  Yang grinned, her confidence returning. "Heck yeah! Team Awesome, right here!"

  Weiss smiled warmly, her heart feeling a rare sense of contentment. "Then let's hope for the best tomorrow."

  With that, the girls settled into their sleeping bags, the day's excitement catching up. The chatter in the ballroom gradually quieted as students drifted off to sleep, and the room was soon filled with the soft sounds of breathing and the occasional rustle of fabric.

  Ruby y on her back, staring at the ceiling with a dreamy smile. Beside her, Yang snored softly, while Bke was already fast asleep, her book resting on her chest.

  Laying on her side, Weiss gnced at her new companions with a fond smile. For the first time in a long while, she felt a genuine sense of connection and camaraderie—a feeling she hadn't realized she'd been missing.

  As the moonlight bathed the room in a soft, ethereal glow, Weiss closed her eyes, allowing herself to rex. Tomorrow would bring new challenges, but she felt at peace for now.

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