The bell rang and the group got up and shuffled to the exit with the rest of the students, ready to head back to the dorms. However, Neo didn't want to waste any time in finding Neptune. "Hey, I'll catch up with you guys later," she said, looking through the crowd. "I need to go talk to Sun."
"Alright," Ruby answered. "We'll be over in the courtyard if you need us."
"Actually, I think I'll just head back to the room to review some notes," Weiss added.
Neo nodded and turned to begin her search. Unfortunately for her, team SSSN had left through the exit on the other side of the arena, making Neo's efforts to find Sun harder than expected. She worked her way through the crowd and reached the exit, scanning the pathways for any sign of the monkey Faunus. Luckily, his tail made him easy to distinguish. "Hey Sun!" she called out as she ran after him, catching his attention.
"Huh? Oh, hey Neo! What's up?"
"Do you know where Neptune is? I need to talk to him."
Sun thought a moment, "I think he said he was going to the library to be alone. He—"
"Perfect, thanks!"
She turned to leave, but Scarlet grabbed her arm to stop her, "Hey, just be careful. He's already angry enough, don't send him over the edge."
Neo nodded, "Got it."
She ran to the library, hoping to catch him if he hadn't already left. She arrived and looked around, but couldn't find him anywhere in the open, not that she had expected to. Figures, he's probably in one of the private study rooms, she thought. Guess I'll just have to start knocking. She got right to it, moving from room to room, but after almost twenty minutes she was starting to think he'd already left. With a sigh, she turned to leave, but something caught her eye across the way. She turned to see a blue-haired boy darting from the men's room and into a study lounge, slamming the door behind him. Without wasting any more time, she ran over and knocked on the door.
"Sorry, this room's taken," Neptune said from inside. Ignoring him, Neo turned the handle and walked in. "I said this... Oh..."
"Hey Neptune," Neo said calmly, shutting the door behind her. "Can we talk?"
He glared at her, "No, just get out."
"Please? We're all really worried about you, and—"
"I said get out! God damn, just fuck off!" he yelled, but Neo didn't flinch.
"I'm not leaving until we talk about this, whether you like it or not."
"I... Fine..." Neptune sighed and sat down, burying his face in his hands. Neo pulled up a chair next to him, and put a hand on his shoulder. She expected his response to be another angry comment, or even a physical reaction. Instead, he broke down and started to cry, catching Neo completely by surprise. He looked up at her in tears, "Happy now? Is this what you wanted, to see me like this?"
"Neptune, that's not why I'm here," Neo replied, pulling him into a hug. "I want to help you. You don't need to try to be cool here, I won't judge you. Whatever you say stays between us."
He wiped his eyes, "Alright, I guess. I just, I don't understand it. Weiss and I were a sure thing. I know I was a little too forward, but..."
"You need to let this go. It's not healthy to obsess over it."
"Easy for you to say! What if she'd gone for me and not you? You'd be the same way right now!" Neptune exclaimed. Neo went to respond, but couldn't think of what to say. "Exactly. I know you mean well, but you're not gonna be able to help me."
"Alright, I admit I wouldn't be doing any better. But, you know what? If it were me hiding it in here, and you came looking for me to try to cheer me up, I know I'd feel better knowing someone wanted to help."
He sighed, "You don't get it. I just... I've never felt like this about anyone before. She's... perfect. In every way. I'll never find someone like her again."
Neo chuckled, "You remind me of another boy who also had a crush on Weiss."
"Who, Jaune?"
"Yeah. He was so crazy about Weiss, he never even noticed Pyrrha. Oh, that's right! You missed it, they're a couple now!"
"Wait, really?" Neptune asked in surprise. "Damn, good for him!"
"Yeah, that seems to be everyone's reaction. But anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that maybe there's an even more perfect girl you've been overlooking. If you're hiding in here moping over Weiss, you'll never find her."
"Huh... That actually does kinda help," Neptune said with a faint smile. "Hey, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Do you love her?"
"W-What?" Neo asked, caught off guard by the question.
Neptune sighed, "She deserves to be happy, to be with someone that cares about her more than anything else in the world. I want that to be me, but if she would rather be with you, then I have no right to stand in the way of her happiness. I just have to know, do you love her?"
Love her? Neo thought. We've been together for a day, it's way too early for that, isn't it? I mean, I really like her, she's amazing, but... No, no buts. She is perfect, I don't think I could feel like this about anyone else. No, I couldn't, because there won't ever be a someone else .
She smiled, "Yeah... I do. I love her, more than anything."
Neptune smiled back, but Neo knew inside his heart was breaking. She hugged him again, harder than before, and he hugged back. "Then I wish you two nothing but the best," he said, his voice cracking as he tried to hold back from crying again.
"That means a lot from you, thank you. Now come on, let's get back to the dorms. I'm sure your team will be happy to see you're okay."
"You go ahead, I need another minute," he replied, wiping his eyes. Neo gave him a worried look, and he smiled. "Don't worry, I'm alright. I just want to pull myself together before I leave. Can't be seen crying like this, ya know?"
"Alright. I'll see you in class tomorrow?"
He nodded, "You bet."
Neo got up and walked to the door, and gave one last look back at the blue-haired boy before she left. He didn't look like he was back to his old self, and she didn't expect him to be, but he certainly looked better than he had when she walked in. She smiled, happy that she'd actually been able to help him.