Lynn looked around, made her choice in a flash. "This cabinet."

  "Samurai Shodown! Nice!" Wu Dahai plopped onto the stool, itching to play.

  The seat was low; Lynn's long legs had nowhere to go. She simply slipped off her shoes, knelt on the stool with ankles tucked, chin resting on her knees. Forget the icy face— the posture was almost lazy-cute.

  "Played this before?" Wu asked.

  "Never." She held the stick, stared at the four buttons, utterly new to them. Coin in— she didn't even know how to pick a fighter.

  Wu was patient with this pretty girl: "That moves the cursor… yep, when you find one you like, hit A."

  Lynn didn't care; she picked the first slot.

  "Haohmaru, alright!" Wu grinned. "Then I'm Ukyo Tachibana!"

  Characters locked, the duel began.

  Wu's Ukyo dashed in— poke, slash, mini-combo— Haohmaru hit the dirt. The moment he rose, Ukyo was in his face again.

  "Tsubame Gaeshi!"

  "Secret Art— Snowfall!"

  Ukyo strung flashy hits together; Haohmaru's life bar evaporated. One howl, KO. Lynn hadn't landed a single move.

  Wu had scored a perfect, yet felt zero thrill.

  Best-of-three.

  Round 2: Wu delayed his assault, tutoring instead. "A does light slash. Try it."

  Lynn tapped A; Haohmaru flashed a quick cut, nicking Ukyo.

  "B is medium slash. Hit it."

  She did; a mid-speed swing knocked Ukyo back a step.

  "A + B is heavy slash."

  Lynn pressed both; the lumbering heavy chop floored Ukyo.

  "C is light kick, D heavy kick, C + D also heavy— same idea."

  For a total newbie she picked it up fast, running the set once more.

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  "Good! Let's go for real." Wu got serious.

  Ten seconds later Haohmaru lay dead again, but at least he'd scratched Ukyo— a tiny improvement.

  "Two-nil, you're done." Wu stood up.

  "Run it back," Lynn said.

  "Next month."

  "One more." Her eyes now blazed with fighting spirit.

  Wu hesitated, then shrugged. "Fine, one more."

  "Whoa, a special exception already?" Officer Huang couldn't decide whether to be glad or jealous. "I begged you so many times and you never bent the rules for me."

  "Duh. You're an old dude— what do I gain from indulging you?" Wu replied, then turned brazenly to Lynn. "I'll grant the rematch, but I get to hold your hand first."

  Lynn looked puzzled. "Why?"

  Wu chuckled. "Truth is, I've never held a human girl's hand— beasts don't count."

  "Is there a difference?" she asked.

  "Hell yes! If she's a beast I'm out! The gals in the org are stingy— won't even let me touch. C'mon, it's just skin!"

  Skyler had never met a lecher so righteous; he was momentarily speech-less.

  Lynn thought a beat and bargained: "One more set. If I lose, you get the hand."

  "Deal! You said it!" Wu hadn't expected her to agree so fast— and he was sure he'd win.

  "Let's start."

  Wu sat, dropped a coin; same matchup: Haohmaru vs. Ukyo.

  Feeling it unsporting to bully a rookie, he began explaining Ukyo's strings again: "Let me show you some Ukyo combos—"

  "No need. I'm good," Lynn cut him short.

  "Fine, but I'm not holding back." Wu went in harder than last round.

  Lynn didn't just stand there; she turtled.

  In a fighting game, defense is a science. If you block while standing, a crouching sweep will slip through; if you block while crouching, a jumping slash will crack your guard. You have to read the opponent's move and switch your guard instantly.

  That round Lynn did nothing but block.

  Her transitions between high- and low-guard were razor-sharp, yet pure turtling still chips away at the life bar, and once an opponent gets point-blank, grapple moves can crack any defense.

  Lynn turtled the whole round—and lost.

  She wasn't the least bit flustered.

  In the second round Lynn finally went on the offensive.

  No fancy inputs, no combos—she didn't know any. She simply stood her ground: block straightforward strikes; if the opponent stepped in, tap the A-button for a lightning-fast poke to push him back; if he leapt in with a slash, hit B for a medium swing to swat him out of the air.

  Timed right, those two moves neutralize almost every rush-down or jump-in; worst case, they trade hits for minimal damage.

  Yet Wu Dahai was a seasoned arcade shark; the moment he forced one opening, he cracked her guard with a point-blank starter and poured out a combo that shaved off most of her HP.

  As expected, Lynn lost again.

  "You're beaten!" Wu stood gleefully, eyes glued to Lynn. "Hand, please!"

  Lynn rose and extended her hand toward him.

  Wu was stunned— she was actually complying!

  His hand reached halfway, then recoiled.

  A lewd grin crept over his face. "Change of terms— skip the hand. One more chance if I can touch your chest first!"

  Skyler really couldn't stand it; if the guy had been flirting with his own sister like that, he would have slugged him right away. But this was Lynn's situation, and he had no right to interfere—so all he could do was try to persuade her.

  "Exactly—victory and defeat are part of any contest," Officer Huang added, trying to calm things down. "I've worked with at-risk girls for more than ten years; Lynn, in your case… there's really no need for this, honestly."

  Lynn's competitive streak was fully ignited; she ignored them both, turned to Wu Dahai, and said coldly, "Deal."