And what did Julianne Hunter say?

Julianne: We need to continue your training.

Max: Wh... wha.....!?!

In order for one to understand as to why that shocked Max so much, one would have to understand this.

Max Hunter had not seriously trained for a very long time.

Max: But.... but...... for real!?

Julianne: Yes. Absolutely.

She got up and walked towards his seat.

Julianne: It's a bit long over due, don't you think?

Max: Hmm?

Julianne: After all... you'll need to get even stronger if you want to keep fighting alongside your teammates.

Max: Well... yeah.... I guess so.

For a moment, Max simply paused.

Max: Yeah....

There was one thing bothering the child. One thing his mother was well aware of. That fact being, that the last time he'd trained, or done anything approximating training, his father had been around.

A sad look then filled his countenance.

Julianne: I know sweetie.

She placed her hand on his shoulder.

Julianne: I know.

They both missed him dearly.

Had he been around, there'd be no need for Julianne to do this.

The pair remained silent for a moment.

Julianne: But... you know?

Max: Hmm?

Julianne: I'm sure... he would be happy to see you the way you are now.

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Max: R... really?

His eyes widened, with some sort of ecstatic expectation.

Julianne: Absolutely.

That mere statement brought a smile to his face. To be told that his father would have been happy to see this of him. To Max, that was an honour above any other honour anyone could guve him.

She herself paused, finding herself remembering quite fondly all of the better memories she'd had with him.

Julianne: I know that for certain.

For yet another moment, the pair remained silent.

Max: Thanks... mom.

Julianne: No problem, sweetie.

The pair smiled at each other.

Julianne: Ok then...

What she was about to say, and she knew this well, would set up a chain reaction. One she was not happy to or ready to start, but that she knew was necessary.

And so, she braced herself and her body for emotional impact. It was going to be a challenge to keep herself together and to pretend to not be upset, both now and at this point.

Julianne: So it's settled. We'll be starting tomorrow.

Max: Tomorrow? But I have training with the others tomorrow

Julianne: We'll....

Theses statements...

The first part of what she'd dreaded was having a conversation with her son about training. The other....

Julianne: ... how about you invite them over here?

... was telling Max to ask his friends over.

Max: No way! Really?!

Julianne: Uh huh. After all, you said they had a hard time travelling back home late at night. Training from here could give them a chance to get back home earlier.

Saying that stung.

Max: Really!?

Julianne: Absolutely. After all, you are a team. It only makes sense that training alongside them will make your fighting more efficient.

Crazy as it may have sounded, that was only one of her reasons for this. There were yet other reasons...

The first one being completely true.

But the other two were a bit more complex.

First off, Julianne knew instinctively that, the way things were going, they were going to become more involved with one another sooner or later. And so, making sure to get to know them, was a way to make sure that Max's relationship with them would grow unhindered, and therefore, making Max's life easier.

But there was yet a darker reason for this. Julianne wanted to get more information about them. Or rather, as per her own philosophy, one can never be too safe. After all, it was her son's life on the line. And she would never take bets on that.

And what would make this difficult?

Well... she was well aware of the fact that her actions perhaps left a nasty aftertaste in their mouths. And of that, she needed to be cautious.

Max: That's.... thats great! Thanks mom!

Even he was in shock.

Max: I'm gonna tell them.

Julianne: Sure do...

Max: It's gonna be so cool!

Julianne could only smile as her son smiled.

And that joy, albeit not completely, calmed the fiery pain in her heart. The pain that told her that she was making a big mistake not keeping her son safe.

The pain that wanted nothing to do with this.

But... to her chagrin, she knew something had to be done.

Julianne: Ok... ok.....

She quietened him down.

Julianne: Now. You need to go to bed, alright?

Max: Ok. Good night mom!

He super sped dashed to his bedroom as his mother sighed.

Julianne: (thinking: That boy.... ah well.....)

Preparations would have to be made.

As, of course, the next day, they would very likely be having guests.