Rouka just stand there watching it all happen. Just like what she told him, Rouka have the handycam on his hand and records the whole thing. Rouka himself still not sure why Ria asked him to do this for her. After all this time, he still can’t read what is going on inside her head. For all he knows, Ria is a pretty awkward person who can’t really convey her feelings directly. Maybe this just her attempt to get closer with Rouka, but who knows.

“But still, she sure is amazing”
“Right~?”
“---!”

Rouka murmured to himself, but a reply suddenly came. It was Hazel, Ria’s friend and Chloe’s older sister.

“Ehehe, sorry to surprise you. Not sure if Maria talk about me, but my name is Hazel Lim. Her classmate.”
“Ah, yeah. I have heard about you. Pleased to meet you, I’m Rou-… Lucy”
“Pleased to meet you too, Lucy.”

Rouka almost spurted out his real name, but luckily, he managed to change it. Though, he feel a slight guilt as in truth Ria never actually say anything about Hazel, and he only know about her through the data he receive for Chloe’s case.

“Say, are you really Maria’s girlfriend?” asked Hazel mischievously.
“O-Of course not!”
“Ahaha, is that so~ She is a fun girl after all. So what is your relationship with her?”
“Aaaah, colleague I guess.”

Rouka himself still not really sure what kind of relationship he have with Ria. Just what Ria thinks of him, a teammate? Friend? Who knows.

“Colleague…?” asked Hazel dubiously.

[i]Ah, crap![/i] Thought Rouka. He accidentally slip his tongue there. No one should know they are working together.

“I mean friend! She and I once classmates and we met each other recently, so she invited me here to look at her!”
“Classmate? You mean in her previous school?”
“Yes, yes!”
“Hmmmm”
“………”

Hazel still appear to be doubting something. However, going any further in this direction is certainly dangerous, so Rouka decides to change the topic. 

“How about you, Hazel? How did you become friend with Ri-, I mean Maria?”
“Do we look like that? If so, then I’m glad.”
“Glad?”
“Well, you see, no matter how much I push myself into her, she never really open up to me.” Hazel answer with slightly dejected tone. 
“Ah, your question right. It is simple actually. When Maria first transfer in, our teacher ask me to be her guide. So naturally, I become the closest with her in class”

Without doubt, it must be the work of COIN, to make sure Ria can get close with Hazel. However, hearing from what Hazel says, it seems Ria herself is not really up to it and simply take the minimum approach to her.

“She never actually listen to me, but when I invited her to the swimming club, she agreed. So I figured we can be friend. I will be happy if she thinks the same way about me”

Hazel then continues to talk about Ria cheerfully, about how she is in class and other stuff. As Rouka thought, be it in school or in office, Ria still act the same. Cold, bossy, and egoistic. Rouka couldn’t help but to let out a sigh.

““UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!””

All of the sudden, a loud cheer can be heard from the neighbor pool.

“…What is that?”
“Ah, it’s the middle school division. The middle school division don’t have swimming pool, so they goes here for practice. I believe they’re cheering for Weiss.”
“Weiss?”
“Look, it is that girl.” says Hazel as she points at one girl.

Naturally, Rouka move his eyes to the direction where Hazel is pointing. There, he sees a white semi-long haired girl with a stern face. With collective manner, she climb out of the pool and quickly sit down to regulate her breathing. Right away, a girl come to approach her and try to hand her a towel, but the white girl didn’t take it and just walk away.

“Hm, is there something wrong over there?”
“Well, she is a pretty troubling girl after all.” answered Hazel with a dry laugh.