Tiffany started.

Tiffany: Alright, team, let's get started.

Ken, Rose, and Luke: Hmph!

Max: (awkwardly) Ahhhh yeah!!!

Rose giggled, and Ken simply shrugged.

Ken: He'll get used to it.

Max: Yeah, yeah. Anyway, let's get to sparring.

Tiffany: Not yet.

Max: Huh?

Tiffany: Remember what I said the last time.

As he recalled, Tiffany said something about showing him their powers.

Max: Oh yeah.... You said you'd show me your powers today.

To Max, that wasn't a necessarily boring thing, but he'd still much rather just fight something.

Max: Sure.....

Tiffany: And I suppose the best way to do that.... is for you to fight each of us.

Max: Wh... what!?

That was the last thing he'd expected her to say.

Max: Really!?

Tiffany: Absolutely.

Max looked at the others.

Ken: She did the same thing with each of us on our first day.

Max: No way! So, I can....

Tiffany: Yeah. Absolutely. Only, since we've already fought... we won't be sparring again today.

Max: Alright!

He cracked his knuckles.

Max: So, who's up first?

Tiffany: Rose? Are you up for it?

Rose: M.... me?

And Tiffany asking Rose to be Max's first opponent was the last thing she'd expected. She turned towards a gung-ho looking Max.

Rose: S... sure.....

Tiffany: Alright then. It's settled. First match, Rose vs Max. Get over there to that open space.

Rose: Oh... ok.....

Max happily walked over there while an unsure Rose followed after.

Max: You ready, Rose?

Rose: Uhhhh.... yeah. Yeah. Sure.

He took notice of her red face and nervous disposition.

Max: You ok?

Rose: Y... yeah...

Back with the others...

Ken: Was it really a good idea to have Rose fight Max first?

Tiffany: (sighs) I want her to learn to stop being so nervous. And that lesson won't be learned if she's always playing it safe.

Ken: Right.....

The pair stood several feet from one another.

Max: Alright, Rose, let's do it!

Rose: Uh huh....

Tiffany: (thinking: Of all the ways to show people what you're made of, sparring is amongst the most effective. That's what my master taught me, and that's what I've learned to be true in my life.)

She walked towards the two, stopping only at a safe distance.

Tiffany: Alright, are you two ready?

Max: Hmph!

Rose: Uh huh!

Tiffany's eyes lingered just a bit at Rose as she lifted her hand.

Rose bowed, and Max, having seen her, also hurriedly bowed.

Tiffany: Ready....

Back with Luke and Ken.....

Luke: Whod'ya thinks gonna win?

Ken: Hmmm... Rose is a dangerous opponent. However, Max is tricky to beat.

Luke: Hmm?

Ken: I'll save my opinions on the subject for now.

As for Rose....

In her mind, all she could think about was Max.

The questions being....

What if she lost?

If she lost, Max would be disappointed in her and think she was weak.

She could already imagine him making fun of her, calling her a weakling.

But there was another question.

What if she won?

What if after she'd won, Max got upset with her and decided to stop talking to her?

That would be even worse.

Her mind ran a marathon with these thoughts.

Tiffany: (thinking: Be careful, Rose. Max can end a fight in an instant. If you don't have your wits about you, it could all be over before you know it.)

And as for Max....

Max: (thinking: Ok. Rose has psychic powers. Just gotta make sure I don't get caught.)

And then, her hand karate chopped in the air.

Tiffany: Begin!

Max: Ok, Rose, let's go.

However, Rose was too paralysed by fear to make an immediate move.

She raised her head to look at Max directly, but Max wasn't there.

She turned from left to right, wondering where he was, only to hear....

Max: Peekaboo!

Rose: Ahhhhhh!

She flinched.

And as for Max, he simply placed his hand on her shoulder and electrocuted her till she fell on her knees.

Tiffany, Ken, and Luke could only look on at the scene.

Rose: (thinking: Where... where did he come from? It was all so sudden.)

Max suddenly halted his electrocution.

Max: Yeah, I got you. Wait, does that mean I won?

The other three remained silent for a moment before....

Tiffany: Match, Max!

Ken: It's already over.

Luke: Hmmm. (thinking: Yeah... Max is no joke.)

Rose: I.... I lost.... just like that.

Her eyes shamefully turned to Tiffany.

Did she really just lose without even landing a blow?

Did she really just lose without even moving a muscle?

And as for Max, he seemed happy.

But still, she just lost.

Was something wrong with her?