"Say, Roka..."
"Yes," Roka turned towards her as well. "What is it?"
"What do you think about Cero?"
"..." Roka frowned slightly, her gaze moving to the right, then to the left. "Huh?"
"Well, what do you think about him?"
"W-What do you mean what I think about him?"
"Exactly that." Liz said plainly. "What do you think about him?"
"What I think about him...? I think he's a powerful ally, and someone we owe a lot to. Without him, we would have already lost. Died. So..."
"I see." Liz nodded.
"Are you asking if I trust him?"
"Amongst other things."
"That's... I'm not sure what you're asking."
Liz turned away. Her right hand scratched her left arm.
"I'm not really sure either." She admitted. "Don't really know why I'm asking either. I suppose it would be easier if you said that you hated him or something. Haha!"
"Oh, that I do."
"Huh? Really?"
"Of course! He's a fucking bully. Annoying too. Always making... Snarky remarks and jokes. Very annoying. Very."
"Really? So you hate him?"
"Yes! Well, don't tell him that though..."
"Hm..." Liz stared for a bit. "Alright then." Her hands slowly moved towards one another. 'I guess that settles it then. If she hates him then... It can't be helped.' Liz sighed. 'That's a weight off my shoulders. Would've put me in an awkward situation... Since she is my Commander.' The Soldier pursed her lips a moment later. 'Though it wouldn't be any simpler if it was Raya or Rea...'
Liz frowned again, raising her gaze towards the clear sky above.
'What if it was Raya or Rea...? How would I react then?'
Kris approached.
"Commander, do we... Do we have to be here?"
"Did they convince you to come ask for them?"
"..." Kris preferred not to answer.
"It's better for all of us to be here." Roka sighed. "The more eyes we have, the better. It's not like we're in particularly dangerous territory now. We just need to keep our eyes open. The machines will do the work. We just have to make sure they're not disturbed."
"Yes, commander."
Kris nodded before walking back towards Al and Jay.
"I think we could be good friends." Kris whispered after a couple of silent seconds spent slowly spinning his cup. "Well, maybe I'm the only one who thinks that..."
Liz took a bite from her plate. While she wasn't looking their way, she was listening.
"I don't see it." Bak shrugged. "I mean... I can see that you like him and all, but it doesn't seem like he does... Particularely, you know? Sorry if this sounds bad... I just mean that, you know, you can't be friends with everyone."
"Yeah, I guess." Kris took a sip. "Still, it felt like... I don't know. Especially before his body changed, I guess. Though that was probably just in my head." He chuckled, almost apologetically.
"I think it was in your head." Liz said, still not looking up from her plate.
"Rude-"
Bak's words were interrupted.
"It was definitely in your head at the time. Still, I do think you can be friends with him." Liz nodded. "I'm pretty sure, actually."
"You think so?"
"Yeah, he's..." Liz buried her face in her cup before saying more. "Anyways, I don't think it's impossible."
"Well..." Kris scratched his head. "Alright."
Bak's gaze moved from Liz to Kris alternatively.
"Since when is Liz the reference on what Cero's like?"
The question almost made Liz spit out her water.
***
"You're pretty weird, aren't you? What's up with your skin, and hair? I mean... They're both blueish. That's pretty weird, isn't it? Though... I guess both our skin and hair are reddish so... It's not that weird. We do have some people with yellowish or pinkish hair and/or skin though." Rea explained as she nodded.
Lith tilted her head from right to left.
"You're actually not as bad as I thought. Yeah... Not as weird."
"..."
Rea could feel her throat drying up.
"Anyways... Lith, can I get some water?"
"...?"
Rea tilted her head towards the jug.
Lith did as she had been shown earlier. This time, Rea did drink from the cup.
"Thanks. You're actually pretty cool."
"Uwo!"
"Damn... I'm actually talking to you and enjoying your company..." Rea's eyes narrowed. "Looks like it's starting. I'll be tripping balls in a bit."
"Uwo!"
"Don't cheer for that!"