Ken: And so... let us begin.

The name of the game was simple.

As per Ken's own ideals...

Ken: A race.

Max, Rose, Tiffany and Luke: A race?

Ken: Yes. A race.

The idea of a race made no sense to anyone, of course, seeing that the motif of the game was to battle, fight, and die for glorious purpose.

So, Ken's idea....

Max: Really?

Ken: Yep.

Rose: B... but why?

Julianne would have said something, as she herself was shocked. However, she decided to let the kids handle their own affairs.

Ken: Simple. That way...

And he then turned to the T.V. screen...

Ken: We can more accurately test your hand eye coordination and reflexes without giving Max too much of an advantage.

It made sense. In fact, it made a lot of sense. Clearly, he had thought this through.

Max: Well... I guess....

Ken: Of course, because the tutorial maps are the same irregardless of the player, getting from point A to point B should take about the same time.

Yet another point that made sense.

If the maps were the same, then a race from one place to another would be a perfect way to test out who had the faster reflexes.

And as for Julianne Hunter...

Julianne: (thinking: So this isn't all fun and games. This young man thought this through. And quite a bit at that.)

She sipped her coffee once more.

Julianne: (thinking: This young man is a sharp one.)

And with that, she noted that more solidly than before.

Kenneth Stone is one heck of a thinker.

Max: Huh.... That actually kinda makes sense.

Ken: Of course it would.

Luke: Hold on.

Ken: Hmm?

Luke: That still isn't fair.

Ken: Hmm? Fair?

Luke: Yeah. Max is pretty amazing at that game. I'm pretty sure just making it all about running won't make it fair for Tiff.

Rose: Yeah. I think Luke's right.

And at that point, Julianne narrowed her gaze.

Julianne: (thinking: So, what do you have in mind, wise guy?)

Ken: Well, that is why I'll be giving Tiff a head start.

Max: A head start!?

Now, to be certain, Max was assuming this race would be fair.

Ken: Yes.

Max turned to Tiffany for a moment before...

Max: Wait! How big of a head start we talking about here?

Ken: Oh, right. Till she makes it to the halfway point.

Max's eyes widened, and his mouth remained closed.

Max: (thinking: The... halfway... point...?)

Julianne: (thinking: Not a bad idea, Ken. Not a bad idea at all.)

Now, for Max, beating Tiffany in a race would hardly be a problem.

However, beating Tiffany in a race in which she had a head start? Moreover, from the halfway point?

Now that could be devastatingly tough.

The teen turned to Tiffany. She was completely focused on the screen.

Max: (thinking: Dang it!)

Ken: Of course, if it's too much...

He said that entirely to mess with Max.

But, Max being Max...

Max: No way. (fakely proudly) I'll be fine. It's no big deal.

Except that a halfway lead could actually be a problem.

As for Tiffany, she simply accepted things the way they were.

It made sense for Tiffany to get as many advantages as she could.

Max not only had more experience with the controller... but also... with the game play, ins and outs, tricks, and manoeuvres.

But, even with all that said, skill alone would not be able to make up for that great of a lead.

Max and Ken both knew that well.

Ken: Good. For a second, I was concerned.

And with that, Ken took Max's controller and began to plot positions on the game map using the map feature.

Ken: (to Tiffany) So, Tiff. You are here.

Tiffany: Right.

Ken: And so...

And he proceeded to give her instructions... leading her to her final goal.

Meanwhile....

Luke: (thinking: I'm... actually curious about who's gonna win.)

Rose herself was forcing her mouth shut with her hands.

Rose: (thinking: Ooooooooh! Max or Tiff. Who should I root for?)

As for Julianne, in spite of her incredible sleepiness, she forced herself to stay wide awake.

There was no way she was going to miss this battle.

Maximillian Hunter vs. Tiffany Chang.

It was a video game, sure.

But, it was her son.

So, .... rather than head to her bed, she waited.

And as Ken finished up the explanation...

Ken: ... and that will be that. Verstanden?

Tiffany: Hmph. Got it.

Ken: Good. And Max?

Max: Hmm?

The pair looked at each other with an odd air of understanding.

Ken: Try not to lose so easily.

Max: Tch. Sure...

In an odd way, that was Ken's way of saying he wished Max the best, and the sentiment was not lost on Max, albeit somewhat bitter sweetly.

And Ken walked to his seat, completely reclining and sighing in a sense of relaxation.

It had been a long day, after all.

And at that point, it had just occured to him that it was way past midnight. But... that wasn't important at the moment.

Ken: Ok then. Ladies and gentlemen....

Max and Tiffany poised themselves on their controllers, both giving the other a quick glance before shifting their focus back to the screen.

Max: (thinking: No way am I gonna lose to you.)

Tiffany: (thinking: I'm gonna give it my all.)

Ken: (thinking: Ahhh... I can hardly wait.) .... may this match.....

Rose and Luke were on the edge of their seats.

The simple question being... who was going to win? Or rather, could Tiffany actually win?

They'd seen her do things that were absolutely incredible before. But this?

If she could win this, it would be official. Tiff would have officially entered a new level of "monsterhood."

A monster, you say?

Ken: ... begin!

And with that, Tiffany Chang began her race, while Max waited patiently.

As Ken did before while explaining things....

Ken: ... and this is the mid point.

Tiffany: Uh huh.

Ken: From the moment you cross this point, Max will start to chase after you.

Tiffany: Got it.

And so did Max, wait.

Wait... for his moment to strike.