Remember your training, Weiss. Head up, shoulders back, feet square, slow your breathing, visualize the motion, then strike…

Ping!

Weiss's ball flew well down the range, eclipsing her playing partner's.

"Excellent shot," Ren replied, shouldering his golf bag.

"Thank you. I told you I didn't have to play a handicap. My father made sure I was taught by the best."

As the pair trudged their way to Ren's ball, Weiss couldn't help but notice an air of resentment from Ren. She smiled inwardly, knowing that the perfectionist in him was battling with the chivalrous.

Ren squared his stance, determination evident in his eyes as he made his adjustments.

Thawck!

Ren's ball flew all the way to the green, landing within a foot of the hole. So he wasn't going to just let her win after all.

Weiss went through her pre-shot ritual, readying herself to deliver a stroke to rival Ren's.

Ping!

An excellent shot sailed through the air, landing almost on top of Ren's ball, but catching a poor bounce in the process, and rolled away from the hole.

"Uh, that's not fair! How come your ball didn't roll away?!" Weiss whined, stamping her foot at the injustice of it.

"I put backspin on my ball, and I wasn't as close to the hole as you. I didn't hit the ball that far on purpose."

Weiss realized that it wasn't resentment from Ren, it was calculated strategy. He wanted her to think that he was angry that she hit it further than him. Well, it worked, she thought. Her arrogance let her get sloppy with her fundamentals, something her coach would scold her for doing.

"You can't let feeling get in the way! Golf is not a game of passion! Internalize, don't let silly emotions get in the way! You are a Schnee! It is an honor to carry that last name, do not shame it with your petty feelings!"

"Weiss?"

"Hm, what?" she said, startled from her reverie.

"It's your putt. I made par."

"Oh, yes, very well," Weiss lined up her putt and made the difficult par.

The next 5 holes went by without much to them. Ren scored two birdies and a made par on the rest, while Weiss hit 3 birdies and a bogey, evening out their score.

As the duo approached the next hole, Weiss was struck with an idea.

"Ren, why don't we make a bet on this one?"

"A… bet? You must've been spending too much time with Yang," Ren said shaking his head with a smile.

"I'm serious. It's only a Par 2, so we both have the range to make a hole-in-one, so why don't we make a bet on the first to get one? What do you say?"

"I… guess we can do that. What are we betting?"

"Oh, I don't know. How about the loser has to get all the balls from the water hazard?"

"Hm, you really want to get your golf skirt wet?" Ren replied, a slight smile spreading across his face as he extended his hand.

"We'll see whose skirt gets wet," Weiss retorted, grasping his hand.

"Hey, this is ceremonial where I come from," Ren said with a laugh, "Although it is a bit long," he admitted with another smile.

As they teed up, Weiss couldn't help but observe how comfortable she was around Ren. Not like the butterfly feeling she had around Neptune, or the sisterly feeling with the rest of her team, but like she had a friend who didn't care about her last name. No, more than that. Like he understood her, and the pressure to be perfect.

"Ren?"

"Yes, Weiss?"

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"For coming out here with me. And… for being such a good friend."

"Absolutely. I enjoy spending time with you. That won't save you from the water though, after I hit this first try," Ren said, his sincerity in both statements very clear.

Weiss grinned and set up her shot.

Ping!

Thwack!

Plunk!

"Told you."

"You've got to be kidding me! How'd you do that?!"

"I come here and play here every other Saturday."

"Oh, so you hustled me!"

"You never asked if I'd played here before!"

"Well… grrr…" Weiss growled. He was right of course.

They arrived at the little pond, and Weiss removed her shoes and hiked up her skirt, preparing herself for the cold. She tested the water with her toes. Definitely cold. She steeled herself, and stepped in.

"Oh, cold cold cold cold cold. Ahhhh, here's one, there's another, oooohhh. AH!" Weiss exclaimed, tossing the golf balls out as she found them, often with her feet.

Ren chuckled quietly at his friend.