The weekend job had wrapped up earlier than usual. The sun was still hanging low in the sky, golden light spilling across the buildings. No rush. No threat. Just Max and Wolf walking side by side through the main high street, heading toward the train station.
It was one of those rare quiet moments, the kind where people let things slip without meaning to. And Wolf, as always, took the opportunity to pry.
"You've gotten a lot better at fighting," Wolf said, hands tucked behind his head like he didn't have a care in the world. "No, scratch that, that's not quite right. It's like you already knew how to fight, but your body couldn't keep up. Now it's starting to catch up."
This guy gets it, Max thought. His read is scary sharp. And honestly, he wasn't wrong.
"Maybe," Max said. "But according to you, I'm still C-rank. I was lucky to beat Dipter. And even now, if I had to fight him again, I'd lose, unless I pulled off some other trick."
He paused, letting the words hang for a second.
