Rose remained on her knees, feeling dejected and horrid.

And as for Max, he was too busy jubilating to notice.

Max: Woohoo! Two wins in a row. Who's next?

Tiffany walked over to Rose and lay her her hand.

Tiffany: You ok?

Rose: Err... yes. Absolutely.

A fake smile came up on her face.

Max, at that point, turned towards her.

Tiffany: Are you sure?

Rose: Yes. Absolutely.

She turned ever so slightly to Max, before turning away from him once again.

Rose: I just.... (wincing) need some water.

She immediately dropped Tiffany's hand and ran off to go upstairs, all the while shielding her face, just as Tiffany expected, and much to Max's surprise.

Max: Hmmm. Is she ok?

Tiffany: Yeah... I just.... I'll go check on her. Luke?

He immediately knew what she wanted him to do, and so he started cracking his knuckles.

Luke: Yeah?

Tiffany: Since Max isn't all that worn out from his first match, I want you to be his next opponent immediately.

Max: Luke, huh?

Luke: Hmm. You got it.

The two teen boys looked each other directly in the eye, and then smiled.

This is gonna be fun, they both thought.

Tiffany: Ken? Can I leave you in charge of this match?

Ken: Sure. No biggie.

He'd known Tiffany long enough to know how this story would unfold. As for Tiffany, she went upstairs, going after Rose.

As she walked upstairs, she'd half expected to find Julianne Hunter somewhere, but no, she was nowhere to be seen.

But, focusing on her objective, she, using her knowledge of the house from her last visit, went into the bathroom.

And there she found a silently sobbing Rose, curled up in a corner, with tissues in her hands.

Tiffany: Rose....

The pink haired girl's eyes rose to look at Tiffany.

It was a rare sight to hold indeed. Tiffany seemed to actually be quite sad to see her like this. Much unlike her usual incessantly serious countenance.

Tiffany: Rose, are you ok?

Rose: Yeah...

But she continued to sob.

Tiffany walked towards her, but not before closing the door and locking it.

Tiffany: There there....

She grabbed Rose and held her in her arms, gently stroking her back.

Tiffany: Its ok, Rose. Its ok.

Rose: I'm sorry, Tiff.

Tiffany: Hmm?

Rose: I'm sorry Im so weak.

Tiffany: Rose.... I....

To Rose, her loss made her a disappointment to Tiffany.

Tiffany: I don't think youre weak.

Rose: But I.... I lost without even moving....

Tiffany: Shhhhhhh... there there....it's ok.

Her voice was as silent and comforting as one could expect, although one would never expect such a tone from Tiffany.

Rose: I... I couldn't even do anything..... it all.... it all just ended so fast...

Tiffany: Rose.... you're not weak.....

Rose: .... he probably....

This statement made her sob even more loudly.

Rose: He probably thinks I'm weak.

Tiffany: Rose....

Rose: I couldn't even see him. I couldn't even put up a fight.

Tiffany's hand rose, only to then gently pat her head.

Tiffany: Rose. Don't worry about it. Max is just really tough. And also, you just need to relax.

Rose simply continued sobbing.

In her mind, Tiffany looked for something to calm Rose down, and an answer suddenly hit her.

Tiffany: Do you remember what had happened with the spider bots?

Rose: (wince) Y... yeah....

Tiffany: Do you remember that time you made the giant spider bot trip over itself?

Rose: Y... yeah.....

Tiffany: If it wasn't for you, we wouldn't have gotten out of there in one piece.

In this moment of anxiety, one could say, that Rose had forgotten all of her achievements. But in this case, Rose remembered that one scenario. A scenario in which she was not only useful, but also necessary. Someone without whom the team likely would have died.

But even more, there was another thing that came to mind.

That being... the remark a certain someone made to her right after she'd done it.

Voice: No way! That was awesome.

As to whether that voice was more responsible for this or her own achievement, who was to say, but... Rose begun to calm down.

And as a result, she stopped sobbing.

Tiffany: See.... you're not weak. You just need more battle experience, ok?

Rose turned to look at Tiffany.

Rose: Ok.... Tiff. Ok.

Tiffany: Good.

She got up and lay her hand out again.

Rose: I'm ok now. I just... need to wash up.

Her face was wet with tears.

Tiffany: Oh.... I understand. Alright. I'll be with the others.

Rose: Hmph.

She nodded slightly, with a smileon her face.

Rose: And Tiff?

Tiffany: Hmm?

Rose: Thanks a bunch.

Tiffany: Don't mention it.

She walked out of the bathroom, leaving Rose behind.

At the very least, one massive weight was off her shoulder and Rose was ok.