Today was the first day of our journey at Beacon. Last night, we split our dorm in half with Sumire and Azu being on behind the curtain. Dan and I made bunk beds for our half of the room.
As I stepped out of the dorm, I spotted Yang leaning against the wall, her usual confident smile on her face. She noticed me approaching and straightened up, giving me a wave. "Hey there, Corey! How's it going?"

I nodded slightly, not sure how to answer. My mind was still full of everything that had happened yesterday, and the idea of striking up a conversation felt… overwhelming. But Yang didn’t seem to mind. She just kept smiling, her golden hair practically glowing in the morning light.

“First day as a team leader, huh?” she said, her tone friendly and easygoing. “That’s a pretty big deal. Bet you didn’t see that one coming!”

I shrugged, keeping my hands in my pockets and my eyes downcast. I could feel her studying me, probably trying to gauge my mood or figure out what I was thinking. I wasn’t giving her much to work with.

Yang, undeterred, continued. “I know it can be a lot at first, but you’ve got this. Everyone’s gotta start somewhere, right? Just take it one step at a time.” She leaned back against the wall again, her expression softening a bit. “I remember my first day at Signal. I was so excited but also kinda nervous. But having Ruby with me made it easier. Guess what I’m saying is, don’t be afraid to lean on your team. They’ve got your back.”

I glanced at her, then quickly looked away again. She was trying to be encouraging, but I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t used to people being this… open, this friendly. Most of the time, I just kept to myself, and people didn’t push me to talk. But Yang seemed different. She didn’t seem bothered by my silence.

She chuckled, breaking the silence. “You’re a quiet one, huh? That’s okay. Not everyone’s gotta be a chatterbox like me.” She nudged me playfully. “But if you ever need someone to talk to, or just wanna hang out, I’m around. And if you need advice on how to deal with the chaos that comes with being a leader, you know where to find me.”

I gave her a small nod, appreciating the offer, even if I wasn’t sure I’d take her up on it. Yang was easy to talk to—or rather, easy to listen to. She had a way of making you feel at ease, even when you were caught up in your thoughts.

After a moment, she pushed off the wall and stretched her arms above her head. “Well, I better go check on Ruby. She’s probably still freaking out about being team leader, even though she won’t admit it.” She paused, looking at me with a warm smile. “We’re all in this together, Corey. Don’t forget that.”

I watched as she walked away, her upbeat energy lingering in the air even after she was gone. I stood there for a moment, processing the conversation. Yang’s words had a way of sticking with you, even if you didn’t know how to respond.

As I turned to head back to the dorm, I found myself thinking about what she’d said. Lean on your team. We’re all in this together. Maybe I wasn’t ready to open up just yet, but it was good to know that people like Yang were there if I ever needed to. For now, though, I’d keep to myself, taking things one step at a time.

I saw a multicolor feather sitting on Dan's bunk. Maybe it was a Memento for him. I stared at the empty room.  Just sometimes it's easier to revise. I felt safe enough to take off my cloak. My cat ears were down. At least they were able to blend in with my hood.

A Gasp was heard. I slowly turn around to see Sumire alone. “Hm, a Faunus.” She looked at me.

“Yes,” I answered.

Sumire stood there, her violet eyes softening as she took in the sight of my cat ears. I was still getting used to the idea of being seen without my cloak, and her presence made me tense up. But she didn’t seem surprised—if anything, her expression was more understanding than anything else.

"I already knew," she said quietly, her voice gentle. "I’ve seen it in my dreams."

I frowned slightly, confused. "Your dreams?"

Sumire nodded, stepping further into the room. "My Semblance, Prophetic Dreaming. It lets me see glimpses of the future, sometimes vague, sometimes clear. And I saw you, Corey, with your cat ears out in the open."

Her calm demeanor took me by surprise. I’d spent so much of my life hiding my Faunus traits, thinking of them as a burden. But here she was, telling me she’d already seen them and didn’t seem to care at all.

"You’re not... bothered by it?" I asked, still unsure of how to feel.

She shook her head. "Why would I be? You’re still the same person, whether you’re hiding behind a cloak or not." She smiled softly, trying to reassure me. "I know it’s not easy, but you don’t have to hide from us, Corey. We’re your team, and we’ll accept you as you are."

Her words were simple, but they carried a weight that settled over me. I wasn’t used to this kind of acceptance, and I didn’t know how to respond. So, I just nodded, acknowledging what she said without really saying anything.

Sumire took a step closer, her expression still gentle. "I’ve seen a lot in my dreams, some things I wish I hadn’t, but one thing I know for sure is that you’re stronger than you think. We’ll figure this out together, okay?"

I looked away, feeling a strange mix of emotions. Part of me wanted to retreat into the safety of my cloak, to hide everything away again. But another part of me—a quieter, more uncertain part—wondered if maybe she was right. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad to let my team see me for who I was.

"Okay," I finally said, my voice barely above a whisper.

Sumire’s smile widened, and she reached out to touch my arm, a simple gesture of support. "We’ve got your back, Corey. Just remember that."

I forced my claws on Fated Hour to extend. “What else do you know?”

“Simple, that you aren't open to anyone and you'll die in the arms of someone close to you,” Sumire revealed her cryptic vision to me.

I'm going to die in the arms of my big bro Shadow? When and how? I swear if I die on someone else's Terms, I'll come back pissed off.

“Well let's say my Semblance could come in useful. Dan's let him just basically get stronger than what's hitting him. It would be interesting to see Dan and Yang fight. Oh wait, I already saw it.” Sumire hinted at her dream.

I put my cloak on, I felt more comfortable in it. My ears blended into the darkness of it.  I went silent again.

“I'll tell you about myself.” Sumire looked at my silver eyes. I forgot to put my contacts in. Her eyes darted to the sealing.

___________________

~Sumire’s Perspective~

Growing up in Vacuo wasn’t easy, but it made me who I am today. The harsh deserts, the relentless sun—it all toughened us up. Kasumi and I had to learn to fend for ourselves from a young age. Vacuo is a place where the strong survive and the weak… Well, they don’t last long.

My twin sister Kasumi and I were inseparable back then. We were always looking out for each other, always together. She was the fiery one, always ready to fight for what she believed in. I was the quieter one, more observant, always thinking two steps ahead. Maybe that’s why my Semblance manifested the way it did. Prophetic Dreaming—seeing things before they happen. It’s a blessing and a curse.

Kasumi and I made a promise to each other when we were little: no matter what happened, we’d stick together, and protect each other. But life in Vacuo doesn’t always let you keep your promises.

One day, we got caught up in a Grimm attack on our village. It was chaos—screams, dust flying everywhere, people running for their lives. We tried to fight, but we were just kids. Kasumi… she pushed me out of the way of a Beowolf. Took the hit herself. I still remember the look in her eyes as she fell. I couldn’t save her.

That night, I had the first of many dreams. I saw Kasumi lying there, lifeless. I saw myself crying over her, powerless to change anything. And then I saw myself alone, wandering the desert. That dream came true, just like all the others.

After that, I knew I had to leave Vacuo. There was nothing left for me there, nothing but painful memories. I wandered for a while, relying on my dreams to guide me. They showed me glimpses of the future, places to go, and people to meet. Eventually, those dreams led me to Beacon Academy.

Now, here I am, part of Team CASD, trying to make sense of it all. My dreams… they’re still there, still showing me things I’m not always ready to see. Like you, Corey. I saw you coming before we even met. I saw your struggles, your fears. And I saw something else too—something darker, something that I hope never comes to pass.

But I’ll keep that to myself, for now. What matters is that we’re here, together, fighting for something bigger than ourselves. And maybe, just maybe, we can rewrite the future that my dreams show me. I want an ending that fits me.