"It's nice of Marie to allow us to spend some time together" Sophia smiled as she walked with Mason to Inkopolis Sqaure.

"Yeah, I guess" Mason said quietly, but Sophia somehow heard him. She stopped walking and turned to Mason with a concerned expression on her face.

"I know you're going to struggle with working with me. Marie told me how you still can't get over the fact that you single handily defeated Octavio and saved Inkopolis"

"Yeah" Mason said with a small smile, "It's sometimes unbelievable when you think about it for that long..."

"I wouldn't be able to believe it either, whether I had help from someone or not" Sophia said, "it's honestly the craziest thing you could ever do"

"A once or never in a lifetime experience" Mason laughed.

"I guess it was a once for you... well, it'll be a double-in-a-lifetime soon when we both defeat Octavio" Sophia joked.

"And then a once in a lifetime for you" Mason laughed.

The next five seconds were then filled with silence until Sophia interrupted it by saying the only four words in the entire world that Mason dreaded to hear; "Wanna play Turf War?"

"Well.... I.... uh.... you see.... uh" Mason stuttered.

"I'm going to assume that either you haven't played Turf War in a very long time or you've never played Turf War before" Sophia guessed.

"Second one" Mason replied.

"Really?!" Sophia gasped, "You've never ever played Turf War before?!"

"Yeah...." Mason said, feeling a bit embarrassed. For all he knew, he could be talking to a Rank X player.

"Well, I haven't really played Turf War for the past few months" Sophia exclaimed, "since I had to finish off my final exams and get my own house, so I may probably be even worse than you" 

"Oh.... well.... I don't have a weapon" Mason said.

"Oh, not to worry!" Sophia replied, "There's a weapon shop that's nearby to the Lobby"

_____

"Hello, hello! What kind of weapon are you in the market for?" a high pitched voice said.

"Hi Sheldon" Sophia greeted with a smile.

"Oh, hello Agent 4!" Sheldon replied.

Sophia slapped her head while saying "Sheldon, you know that when we're in your shop and not at the NSS, you have to call me Sophia"

"Oh right, sorry about that" Sheldon apoligised, "it's just that I get so used to seeing you as Agent 4 and that I even get so used to calling you Agent 4, that I never remember that in real life you are called-"

"Ok Sheldon" Sophia interrupted. "Calm down, I didn't come into your shop to have a extremely long chat with you..."

"Then you must here to buy a new weapon" Sheldon exclaimed.

"Well, not me" Sophia replied, "my friend, Mason needs one"

"Very well, I'll see what there is" Sheldon said as he walked to the room behind the shop.

_____

"How does Sheldon know that you're Agent 4?" Mason asked.

"Oh, he helped me with my training" Sophia replied, "He even helped me with mastering how to use the charger"

"That does explain a bit, but he doesn't know me?"

"Did you train with him when you became Agent 3?" Sophia asked.

"Um.... no" Mason replied. "Callie and Marie trained me and helped me on each stage and challenge, up until I finally reached Octavio"

"Well, maybe he wasn't working for the NSS then" Sophia suggested. "I remember Sheldon telling me about how he was recruited by Marie about two weeks after the defeat of DJ Octavio"

"That does make sense..." Mason replied.

_____

Sheldon returned to the room five minutes later with a huge roller. Maso'n mouth instantly fell open in amazement.

"This is the original Splat Roller" Sheldon explained. "The sub is a Curling bomb and the special is the Splashdown. This roller now has the ability to make upper swings and not just usual forward rolls. What do you think?"

"Sounds like a weapon I'd use" Mason said with amazement.

"I'll pay, Sheldon" Sophia said.

"No, no" Sheldon replied. "Have it on me, Agent 4. You've been through lots of training sessions lately. Take a break and spend some time with your friend"

"Oh..." Sophia gasped. "Thanks, Sheldon"

"oh, and one more thing" Sheldon said.

"Yes Sheldon" Sophia asked.

"Is this the Agent 3 you were telling me about?" Sheldon asked.

Sophia looked at Mason with worry in her eyes. But Mason gave a reassuring nod, calming Sophia down.

"Can you keep a secret?" Sophia said with a smile.

"Of course" Sheldon replied, "Nice to finally meet you, Agent 3"

"Oh, it's just Mason" Mason replied with a laugh.

_____

"You ready for your first Turf War, Mason?" Sophia asked.

"Yeah, I guess" Mason replied, "What weapon are you using?"

"Charger, why?"

"Oh, just wondering" Mason replied.

Mason was silent for the rest of the journey with Sophia to The Lobby...