Around the time Max had disappeared to meet up with Ken for video games, a somewhat bothered but completely unsurprised Julianne Hunter remained in her dining room, sipping her coffee calmly.

Julianne: (sighs) (thinking: Max leaving the house out of nowhere. That's my boy...)

She calmly took another sip before sighing again.

Julianne: (thinking: Right after fighting giant robots yesterday, moreover.....) (sighs) (thinking: Where does that boy get his energy?)

She took a look at the picture of her husband on the wall.

Julianne: (thinking: Was it from you?)

Her eyes stayed on his face from a moment as she, for a brief moment, reminisced about her husband's own recklessness.

Julianne sighed once more before thinking, "Boys will be boys."

A short moment after that, her doorbell rang.

Odd. She wasn't expecting anyone.

Her mind rolled through all the potential visitors she could have at that time and came up with nothing.

There was the chance that it was an odd friend. But also, there was the chance that it was a paparazzi. The latter, of course, being a nuisance that wasn't necessarily a big deal, as she was well versed in dealing with all kinds of them.

She lazily picked herself up and prepared to think on her feet.

Could it be Max? That thought did occur to her, but no, that was unlikely. Knowing him, he wouldn't return so soon, and he'd never ring the doorbell because he had a key.

She walked to the door and opened the door.

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Had it been a paparazzi, what trick would she pull? Pretence, perhaps? What if an old friend? Who would it be? An enemy of some kind? She would find a way to deal with it. She was a Hunter, after all.

These were the thoughts that rushed through her as she walked to the door knob.

She turned it and was absolutely shocked to see who stood before her.

With a brimming smile and cheerful outlook, it was Rose.

Julianne: R... Rose?

Rose: Hi, Mrs Hunter!

Julianne: (thinking: What on earth is she doing here?!)

It wasn't like Julianne Hunter was unaware of how dubious her actions earlier that week were. Any normal person would have seriously questioned what had just happened.

And after that, the last thing she'd expected was for any of them to comfortably enter her house, as Rose was doing right then.

Just what on earth was going on in her mind, she thought.

For a second, she was completely stunned, not knowing what to think, but she quickly regained her composure somewhat.

Julianne: Wh... what.... what are you doing here?

Rose: I just wanted to come visit.

At that point, Rose looked at Max's mother's bothered face.

Rose: I.... Is something wrong? Is now a bad time?

Julianne: No, no, no. Nothing at all.

There was nothing for it. This girl was absolutely strange. Not a single sign of fear in her. She genuinely wasn't bothered by her at all. Could it be...?

Julianne: It's just that.... well... Max isn't around.

She immediately became somewhat upset.

Rose: Oh...

Her sorrow was so innocent and gentle that Julianne was taken aback. Could someone like her, at her age, be so... innocent?

Rose: I... It's ok. I'm guessing he's busy somewhere.

Julianne reminisced about her son. There was no way he was up to something serious. She knew that much.

Rose: But... C... could I still come in?

Julianne: Hmmm?

Rose: I mean... I just want to chat, is all. If that's ok with you, of course?

She gently smiled at the end of her sentence.

Julianne didn't know what to think of this.

This unassuming girl... wanted to talk to her? But why? She remained silent for a moment, trying to process it. A moment that began to bother Rose.

Rose: I mean.... if it's not too much trouble... then...

Julianne: Of course. Come in.

She let the girl in, and she gleefully entered the house.

Rose: Thank you, Mrs Hunter.

As she closed the door behind Rose and led her to the dining table, her mind slowly rushed with thoughts.

Just what on earth had just happened? Who was this girl, exactly? Could she trust her? Was she being tricked?

All in all, at the very least, this conversation would be interesting.