The afternoon in Vale was just as busy as anyone would expect, with how many people are coming for their daily surplus of food and clothes. And right now, their priority is food.

The bell rang again inside a medium-small bakery, with bread you can smell for miles and coffee as rich as its tastes. There were not that many people here as one would expect but it still kept on gaining more customers as time went by.

The classic combo of bread and coffee instantly made everyone a fan of this bakery and the owner/founder of this establishment couldn't be happier about it.

Ms. Belle was a 60-year-old Deer Faunus whos passion is to fill the stomachs of her many customers, whom she all considered her children. Her will to bake and brew inspired many to find their meaning in life and to savor the life you have. It was her that made all these pastries that many have eaten as well as the coffee many loved.

All in all, she's your everyday granny who only wants to give you love and affection.

And right now, one of her children is helping her in the kitchen.

"Y/N, another croissant for table 4!"

"I got it!"

The patrons in this bakery all looked at Ms. Belle's assistant as he dashed through the many orders and fulfilled them expertly. The young man was likely in his teen years with how young he is, and a Huntsman-In-Training as well. He weaved through the many tables and chairs to give the customer's orders to Ms. Belle and took out bread and coffee to those who want it.

All in all, it looks like the teen is in love with his job.

"Youngsters these days can be reliable for us, huh?" A group of old men was at a table nearby as they watched the young man work to the bone.

"Yeah, if only my grandson and daughter would show the same vigor as he has."

"There's nothing we can do about it. They all have the same dream of becoming a Huntsman and Huntresses and to be a hero. So to ask them for help is not up to us."

"Your right... I still worry about them. Who knows if they will perish on one of their missions? Beacon will only offer money and condolences but they can't bring them back from the dead."

"...I still miss her."

The mood they brought upon themselves darkened considerably as the topic was somber and heavy.

The deaths of young Hunters and Huntresses weren't that uncommon when the school allows them to shadow a professional in the field. The death ratio to these missions depends on what kind; whether it be a subjugation of Grimm, helping the local village, suppress a horde of them, etc. These kinds of missions gradually get harder with each year and the risk of them dying in the hands of Grimm increases.

If one were to simplify;

1st-Year: 8:2

2nd-Year: 8:3

3rd-Year: 7:5

4th-Year: 6:8

And for better or worse, it would seem that 1st Years had the most deaths than the others since so many want to prove their worth and rush in without any plans none whatsoever.

It was in these moments the lead to the conclusion, that this war with the Grimm will only worsen the population.

One of them sighed as he looked at the employee effortlessly lift the tray filled with dirty dishes that needed to be clean and walked to the sink. His smiles were ever-present on his face and he honestly looked like he enjoyed it. "If only these generations of kids could follow his example. You don't need to fight to earn an honest pay worth."

"Agreed." They all acknowledge it with a nod.

They could only eat their orders and drink the flavored drink before them as they respected the hard-working teen before them.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The lunch rush has finally ended inside Monty's as Y/N wiped the tables with a rag as he heard the several dishes being washed right now by Ms. Belle.

It was another day like any other since Y/N doesn't have any plans right now. So he went to Monty's to work the day off.

As he cleaned another table, the bell on top of the door rang loudly. He put down the rag and greeted the customer. "Welcome to Monty's, how may we be of help?"

"...Y/N?" When he took a closer look at who it was, his eyes bulged as he knew who she was.

"Penny! Hey, how are you?" He was genuinely surprised to see her again as Y/N didn't know where she was at any given time.

"I am doing well, thank you for asking." She cheerily replied with her signature smile. "How are you?"

"Me? Well, I'm working right now."

"Oh, then I will excuse myself."

"No, wait." He grabbed her arm before she left as he smiled at her. "Why don't you order something while you are here? My treat."

"Really?" Her emerald eyes glimmered with joy. "Then I will gladly take your offer."

He nodded and guided Penny to a vacant and clean table nearby.

As she sat on one of their chairs, Y/N went into the kitchen and came back with a tray filled with some of the delectable goods on sale.

He sat down on the table as well and served her a plate. "So, what brings you here?"

"Oh, I just wanted to walk around Vale and saw this place was recommended by so many people. So, waited till the people were gone, and... here I am."

"I see... But why are you here?"

"What do you mean?" Penny tilted her head cutely at him.

'Does everybody have a tendency to break their necks?' Y/N inwardly sighed but replied back to her. "I'm sure there's more than just coincidentallly meeting here. So, what is it that brought you here in the first place?"

That seemed to strike a chord on Penny as she looked sad and stared off the side. "It's... nothing."

*HIC*

She then hiccuped and covered her mouth.

"Penny, do you want to say something to me?"

"I-I swear, it is nothing!" *HIC* "I-I-It's probably a malfunction." *HIC-HIC* "I-I should go now."

Penny was about to leave already but Y/N caught her before she could run. Even when she tried to move once more, his grip on her was strong. Strong enough to break her body.

"Look, I know it's not my place to say... But I want to know why you are like this. I want to help, as a friend."

The ginger seemed to linger the option for a bit before stopping her advances. Y/N sighed in relief as Penny took her seat again.

She then picked up the bread before her and started eating it. Comfort food like bread does its trick as she calmed down once more.

Y/N didn't budge from his seat and waited patiently for Penny to get comfortable. She found it likable and heartwarming as Y/N wasn't the type to misunderstand things.

Like what Ruby said, whether it's intentional or not, big or small, Y/N will help or apologize to her and that seemed to only make her heart race a bit.

"Umm... Y/N?" Penny finished some bread as she looked at him with downcast eyes.

"Yeah? What is it?"

"... Do you hate me?"

Y/N was thrown into a loop for a moment as the thought of ever hating someone without reasons seemed to make his blood boil in anger at himself. There were times when he would just act without repercussions from around him and that would make people misunderstand things.

And those misunderstandings only made enemies and helpless situations.

"Of course, I don't."

She smiled sweetly as the thought was now drifting away. But the root was still there. "Oh... Thank goodness for that."

"But why do you say that?"

Penny looked to the side as this was what she wanted if ever she meets Y/N again and now, she can have this chance to talk about it.

"Do you remember that first time we met? At the docks?"

"Of course... Then what are you-"

Then it clicked to him. The reason why Penny would ask a bizarre question out of the blue like that.

The argument between Weiss and Blake, and his emotional burst.

"Oh..."

"Yeah..." She grabbed the hems of her skirt tightly and failed to meet his gaze. "It was my first argument apart from my father and uncle Ironwood and I didn't know what to do then. I wasn't sure if you were angry at friend Weiss or friend Blake and I didn't know if it was from me. So wanted to know if you hated me, distrusted me or... or..."

"Penny..." His voice stopped her rambling from continuing as he grabbed her hands. "I was never mad at you. And I would never be, no matter how angry I was. I am so sorry if I made you cry. I'm sorry."

Penny didn't expect to hear such a heartfelt apology from him but from what Ruby had said, it seemed that she anticipated it. So to see it happen right now, all she can feel was how sincere he was.

And that made her heart race faster.

"That is OK. I forgive you."

They both smiled at each other as the matter was now settled with and Penny couldn't be more glad it was now cleared up. It was plaguing her mind for a few weeks after they met and Penny couldn't find the courage to ask him about since he might hate her for it. She was glad that wasn't the case and now, they can be friends again.

"Well, now that the matter is cleared up. Wanna go somewhere?" Y/N suggested it to the android.

"Are you sure? What about your job?" Penny pouted at how generous Y/N was but felt a bit bad for ditching his shift for her.

"Eh, I'm almost done anyway. There are not that many customers after 12. So, you wanna go?"

"Of course! Let's go!"

With that, Penny grabbed Y/N's hand and bolted to the door. Ms. Belle hearing all from the kitchen only chuckled at Y/N's situation and sighed.

"Kids these days... always getting themselves into an adventure."

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

It wasn't long before the duo would find some entertainment in Vale as a street performer was doing a few card tricks to the crowd before him.

While Y/N was enjoying the tricks and illusions the performer was doing, Penny became confused. "Y/N?"

"Yeah?"

"Why is that man deceiving people? All he does to trick them."

"It's not that he's deceiving them, but rather entertaining them. People like magic tricks since it surprises them and that makes them crave more tricks."

"So... If you were to suddenly disappear and reappear behind me, would that be considered entertainment?"

"In a way. You just have to announce it first before doing a surprise like that. Wouldn't want to give them a heart attack."

"I see... I will store this in my memory."

"Sure..."

The performer was now ending his performance with a curtly bow as the people took that to leave, but not before giving the man some Lien for that amazing show.

Y/N also gave him some money as the duo continued to walk around Vale. Penny thought it was a good idea to hold hands with him and make it look like a date.

He wasn't complaining, so she saw no reason to back out.

The performer saw it and made a flower bloom from his hat. He then gave it to Penny with a bow and walked away.

"Oh..." The gesture made Penny confused as to why he gave her a dandelion.

"That guy..." Y/N laughed at how the performer saw his situation and can only look away.

"Do you know him?"

"No... It's just that. That guy thought we were on a date."

Penny stopped right there when Y/N said the word 'date' as her mind raced endlessly. Y/N stopped and looked at the blushing Penny as he kneeled in front of her. "Penny?"

"Y-Yeah?" Her face was flushed from embarrassment and shyness that when she looked at Y/N's face, it only reddened her face.

"You alright?"

"Uh...uh... I-I-I..." She stuttered to find an answer, only to see that she cannot speak clearly. Right now, all she had on her mind was the boy in front of her.

And that only makes her heart race faster and faster.

Until she short-circuited.

"PENNY?!"

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Emerald eyes fluttered open as the setting sun gave an orange hue to the sky. Penny was now awake and confused as to what is happening right now since she felt her head being rested on something warm. Not only that but also felt a hand combing her hair, it was comforting and warm as well.

When she turned to the side, Penny saw who it was she was sleeping on and immediately blushed on recognition.

Y/N was fully immersed in the sunset before him as he brushed the hair on the sleeping Penny. He was fully relaxed and felt a bit lazy right now.

When Penny fainted in front of him, Y/N carried her all the way to the nearest clinic to have her checked out.

The doctor there explained to him that she was just tired and should take her home. Likely from stress.

With no way of contacting Ironwood or using magic to draw attention to himself, he just layed her on a bench at the park and stayed there until she wake's up.

He didn't know how they got into this position but... he ain't complaining right now.

Y/N felt someone staring at him and turned towards Penny with a small smile. "Afternoon."

"..." She didn't reply afterward since she was still in a daze from this wake-up call. "Umm..."

"If your wondering, No. I didn't do anything weird to you while you slept and stayed here until you got up."

"Thank you, Y/N." She curtly replied as she stood up from her position. Now the two were sitting next to each other whilst watching the sunset. "...What do we do now?"

"I guess like normal teens, we go home. I'll take you straight to your room if you want."

Penny merely shook her head in regards to that and leaned at his shoulder. She was clearly blushing like crazy and Y/N was the same but it seems like neither wants to move at all.

"Can we just... stay for a while longer? Please?" She then used the infamous puppy eyes effect on him.

Y/N saw no reason to cancel the moment and nodded, a wordless agreement to Penny.

So, they stayed like that. Not moving from one another, just enjoying the company and relaxing at the sunset.

Penny wasn't quite sure of this feeling she felt but... it was warm... it was ticklish... it gave her metaphorical butterflies in her stomach.

"Hey, Y/N?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you know what I'm feeling right now?"

"...No. What is it?"

"...I don't know as well. But I'm glad you're my bestie."

"Me too."

It ended with a smile on their faces whilst moving closer to one another.

Penny was now sure of what she is about to do and is fully prepared for what Y/N will say to her. It might be harsh, but it's the right thing to do.

She jumped off the bench she sat on as Penny had her back at Y/N.

"Penny, what's wrong?"

"...Y/N, there's something I want to show you. Do you think I'm a normal girl?"

"Uh, I guess. I mean, you look normal to me."

"...Then can you explain this?"

Her back, literally opened up, as a backpack filled with her swords emerged fully. No matter how dimwitted you are, there is no way to say it in front of Y/N.

Penny was fearful for this moment as Y/N's reaction might be different than Ruby's. But she wanted to show no lies to him. Penny trusted Y/N enough to learn her secret.

A secret that might push him away from her.

Penny was a robot.

Y/N was at a loss for words for her. Even when she dismissed her weapons, it seems the Y/N was in shock right now. "Your... a robot?"

"...Yes." Before Penny could go away, Y/N once again grabbed her shoulder and faced him.

"...So, what?"

Penny got confused by Y/N's demeanor as she thought that he would get weirded out by her. "I thought that..."

"That I would hate you? No. Just because you aren't a human doesn't mean you can act like one. I've seen my fair share of weirdness in my time, but seeing you act and live like a real girl is one of the most humane things I ever saw."

"Y/N..."

"Don't let others judge your appearance. You choose if you want to be a girl or an android. Cause I will be there for you, always."

"Oh, Y/N!" She then hugged him tightly with all of her strength she can summon as some bones were now slowly breaking.

'I wonder if I can cast {Samerecarm} on myself?' Y/N hurriedly tried to call out the spell but Penny stopped her assault on him.

"Oh, this is great! Now we can do stuff that besties do as well!" She then checked the time her system was showing which made her a bit worried. "Oh, but I gotta go. See you around, bestie!"

With that, Penny sped off on her own. Leaving Y/N in the dust.

With a smile gracing his face, he turned to the sunset and just relaxed once more.

It was almost time for him. Now that everything is done for Arc 2, it was time...

To start his mission.