4 sparring sessions.

Not one, not two, not three, but four sparring sessions.

To say nothing of the fights he'd had by their side against Aloysius Wolfram and also the spider bots.

Ken: Maximillian Hunter is... many things. But of them, a coward he is not.

Tiffany nodded.

How could she disagree?

How many people in her life could she say could do what Max did?

In her mind, almost zero.

To stand up and fight a seemingly hopeless battle against an unknown opponent.

That was Maximillian Hunter.

Most people would have ducked and run.

And, even though she hated to admit it, that was a thing about Max that she was genuinely proud of, that she genuinely liked.

Ken: Fighting an opponent when your back's against the wall....

They both remembered it.

His fight with Wolfram, his fight against the spider bots, and then... their sparring sessions.

In his fights with Luke... and Tiffany and Ken themselves, he always, at some point, found himself cornered, trapped, or something of the sort.

But... this boy would not surrender.

Not in a single case, would he ever.

That was just his way.

Ken: ... is a truly commemorable thing.

Tiffany: Yeah....

She simply had to agree.

Max was something alright.

Ken: But.. that's not all.

Tiffany: Hmm?

At that point, Ken decided to take a few more pieces of jiaozi and chew them, almost as though for dramatic effect, and to make Tiffany wait.

Ken: His battle instinct.

Tiffany: Hmmm?

She didn't need to think too much of it. In fact, only a second right after, it all came together.

In all their fights, there was one thing more about him.

Ken: Maximillian Hunter.... is never a straightforward opponent.

Tiffany paused for a moment... and then shook her head in agreement.

What was Max's most dangerous trait?

His powers?

His ability to not give up?

Or... the way he thinks?

That was a good question.

And of the way he thought...

Memories of his battle against Luke came up.

That smile.... right before he pulled off the winning move.

Tiffany: Yeah...

But, it wasn't just that.

Even... if one could believe it, their own battles with Max.

But, even more... their own battles with Max in the generation warping game, Warring Dimensia 2.

Even there... even then... Max's true colors showed themselves.

As both Tiffany and Ken watched him play against themselves.

Tiffany and Ken: (thinking: He's just full of surprises.)

When Max, while playing Warring Dimensia 2, came up with the idea to steal weapons, when Max used his tongue to beat Tiffany, even his own usage of the Dextrous class.

It was obvious.

Max was... a monster.

His mind was something else.

Tiffany: Agreed.

With a finality, she spoke those words.

It was... true.

Of that much, she herself could agree.

Max was... a monster.

Ken simply sighed... and picked up yet another piece of jiaozi, chewing it.

It did taste really good.

And, on swallowing it...

Ken: Those are... just about my thoughts on Max.

Tiffany: Hmmm.

Ken: So, may I ask my gracious leader as to why my opinion was so necessary?

To the girl by the name of Tiffany Chang... the answer wasn't so obvious.

Tiffany: I just.....

She considered it for a moment.

Tiffany: ... needed to be sure.

And that answer, in spite of everything, was satisfactory for Ken.

Ken: Hmm. Alright then.

It was several moments later that...

Tiffany and Ken: Thank you, Bo.

Bo: My thanks to you as well.

Then, they all bowed, and the pair of teens left the eating establishment.

Once out...

Ken: Thanks for paying...

Tiffany: Don't mention it.

As the pair walked outside...

Ken: So....

Tiffany: Hmm?

Ken: When do you plan on having Max join the team?

To Tiffany, this was a truly troubling question.

The fact of the matter was that, in spite of all Max had been through with them, she still didn't know what exactly to make of him.

He was, to her, an enigma.

Tiffany: Later...

Ken: Hmph. Alright. (thinking: That much was to be expected from our ever mindful leader.)

The pair then quietly walked together down the street.

Maximillian Hunter.

Should he join the team?

That was the question running laps in her mind.

As for why she didn't feel comfortable doing it?

Even she didn't know.

At a certain point, ...

Tiffany: What do you think?

Ken: Hmm?

Tiffany: About him joining the team?

Ken: Hmmm... let me think about it.

Tiffany: (sighs) Alright...

At that point, they'd made it to a cross-point, a point from which Ken could go to his place, and Tiffany to hers.

Ken: This, my ever just leader, is where we take our leave.

Tiffany: Yeah...

There was just a tinge of uncertainty in her answer, one that Ken noticed quite well.

And, with a big smile on his face, ...

Ken: Hmph. And as for Max...

Tiffany: Hmmm?

Ken: .. I suggest that you don't worry too much about him. After all.... he has enough to worry about, wouldn't you agree?

For a moment, the two teens simply remained there... looking at each other.

Tiffany: I... see...

The teenage girl took one final deep breath.

Tiffany: Thanks... Ken...

Ken: Hmm?

Tiffany: I appreciate it.

And with that, the teenage girl left, and as for Ken, smiling, he took his leave as well.