Nora and Ren were lying in the gardens of Beacon, enjoying the warmth of the sun. It was one of the few times classes were cancelled for the day, letting them relax and hang out like they always did as kids.

"Isn't this nice Ren? Us hanging out like we used to as kids?" Nora sighed. "Always playing, always goofing off, always together- well, not together together, but you get what I mean!"

"I always do Nora." Ren smiled.

Nora looked over to Ren grinning, the sight of his smile causing her heart to beat faster than normal. Then again, it always did that whenever he gave her that kind of a smile. It was her smile after all. Only she could see her closest friend smile like that… but she wanted to be more than a close friend.

For as long as she could remember, Nora has had a huge crush on Ren, but she was never able to express it to him. She would always boop his nose instead. That was her secret way of telling him. That was the only way he could know how she felt, even if he didn't understand the actual meaning behind the words.

Nevertheless she would always say boop to him, from their childhood up until she had seen him kill a massive Grimm by himself, she always said it to him.

But she wanted more. And she wanted to know how he felt too.

"Ren," Nora sat up in the grass to look at her unrequited love curiously, her heart still beating fast. "What would you consider our friendship?"

Ren looked over to the orange haired girl in slight confusion. "A strong one from childhood, one that makes us such close friends. Why?"

"Oh… it's nothing. Just curious." She gave him a big smile before resting her elbow on her leg, head in hand as she looked into his fuchsia eyes.

How long had it been since she admitted to herself to falling in love with him? And how many times had she failed to tell him her feelings? She didn't know, but she didn't care either. All that mattered was that they were close and always together. That's what was important to her.

"Hey Ren-" She stopped herself. Ren looked at her confused in her silence while she sat in her own thoughts. "Do you think you could make some pancakes?" She grinned.

Ren gave a light chuckle as he stood up and held a hand out for her to take. "Sure, just don't eat all the syrup this time." He said kindly.

Nora took the hand with a grin and practically hopped up. "No promises!" She giggled as they began heading to their dorm, Nora skipping as they went. I want to tell him so much… She thought, her sadness hidden behind her smile.

Just as they reached the entrance to the dorm building Nora stopped and looked to Ren. "Hey Ren… there's something I want to tell you." Nora could feel a slight blush to her face as she spoke.

"Sure, go ahead. You can tell me anything." Ren nodded as he stopped at the door to look at her.

Nora felt her heart beat faster as she began to mentally talk to her lifelong friend and crush. I didn't know that I would fall in love with you. She thought. And what to do right now I haven't got a clue. Ren's face began to show concern at the length of his friend's silence. Was she okay? Was she not feeling well?

The orange haired girl bit her tongue. I just bite my tongue and when I want to say I love you I say-

"Boop!" Nora giggled as she lightly poked Ren's nose with her index finger. Ren smiled slightly at his friend's silliness. "Okay, let's go Nora. I'll make you a lot of pancakes if you want." He said as he headed in.

"Okay!" Nora grinned as she followed him inside, plopping on top of her bed to watch him start to make the pancakes, doing her best to not reach for the syrup not too far away. She sat in silence as he cooked thinking the only words she would never be able to vocalize to him: I love you.