Lenne: Okay in the past I've said I've been working on TOBT from time to time, but honestly, things came up, and I didn't actually feel like doing fanfiction. But my motivation is back, and here is a somewhat short chappie of TOBT.
We start off at the end of Ch12 of TOB.
Chapter 4: Ninten's Sadness
"Oh, that's easy!" Ninten exclaimed. He pointed his finger to me. "I like Clausy!"
He what.
He WHAT?
"WHAT?!" I slapped the back of his head as a response.
"Oww...but it's true!" Ninten attached himself to my arm and snuggled against it. Everyone was laughing. My face flushed a hot red as I tried to struggle Ninten off.
Why did he just do that?
Why did he have to tell everyone?
Why?
I pushed Ninten off one more time with as much gentle force, but I pushed too hard and he was knocked back. Ninten had a small grin as if he enjoyed it, but only I, with a very quick glance, saw a hint of sadness in his eyes after he saw my irritated expression. He turned back to the circle, acting as if nothing had happened.
Ness was next in the game. He chose dare, and read it out loud. He hummed, before stating "Kiss the person on your left."
Everyone watched as he pulled my brother closer to him for a kiss. Shocked gasps sounded, and mouths dropped open. Ninten smiled giddly.
After Ness pulled back, Lucas stared with wide eyes, unable to move. Ness let go, but my brother fell backwards onto the ground.
"Uh...Luke?" Ness questioned.
"Lucas?" I called to him.
Ninten crawled over and put two fingers on Lucas' wrist. "He's fine," he stated. "He just fainted."
He fainted? From kissing Ness?
"Oh, I guess he can't play anymore," Leila said.
"Gonna need to carry him out then," Ness stated. He put Lucas' arm and lifted him up. I helped him as well, putting his other arm around me.
"No, you stay—" Leila was about to intervene, but Ness cut her off.
"All right, let's take him to the quiet room upstairs," Ness stated. We walked off, carrying Lucas out into the hallway near the stairs, out of everyone's sight. When we began dragging Lucas up the stairs, Ness saw how his feet was left alone, being hit by the stairs.
"This isn't working," Ness said. He looked down at the Truth or Dare room, acknowledging that no one could see us. He put Lucas' arm around me for a moment, before taking Lucas' whole body back in his arms. He carried him like a bride. Though I was slightly against the idea, it was successful in bringing Lucas upstairs.
I watched for a moment, until I found Ninten slowly followed behind. He was looking down, eyes set to the carpet his feet touched, pondering mindlessly.
"Ninten?" I called to him.
He looked up at me, almost nervous. "Y-Yeah?"
"...Something wrong?" I asked.
"...N-No." Ninten continued walking up the stairs past me. I sighed, following behind him. I watched his back as we continued onto the second floor, and then onto the next set of stairs.
A frightening thing happened.
Ninten missed a step by half a foot, and before he realized it, he lifted himself up with his other foot, failing to step upwards. Instead, he fell backwards.
"Uwah!"
"Ninten!" I quickly reacted and caught him with both of my arms, holding him close to me again. I felt like I was going to fall too, but I held my ground and kept Ninten upwards. After he was safe in my arms, I stepped upwards to his level and helped him stand upright.
"You okay?" I asked him. Ninten made no answer. He looked scared to death. His body was mildly shaking, and he grasped my shoulder tightly.
"Guys?" Ness called. He was above us on the third floor. "You both okay?"
"O-Oh, uh, we're fine!" Ninten responded. He gave Ness a thumbs up, signaling him to continue forward. Ninten shrugged me off, hiding his face from me and continued onwards.
Something was definitely wrong with Ninten. I'd never seen him so...depressed.
We reached the relaxation room in the back of the third floor hallway. Ness gently laid Lucas down onto one of the chairs.
"Looks like he'll be okay now," Ness stated. He walked past me out the door. "I'm gonna go get some drinks, want anything?"
"Juice is fine," I answered.
"Same," Ninten said.
"Be right back then." Ness headed down the hallway back to the ground floor. Ninten began walking past me until I grabbed his shoulder.
"Ninten," I called to him. He didn't move his head to me.
"...What?" he mumbled.
"...What's wrong?" I asked him.
"Nothing."
"...Did I do something to make you mad?"
"...I'm not mad..."
I grew more concerned as time passed on. I shut the door and locked it, preventing Ninten from escaping just in case. Then, I faced him. "Ninten."
"...Clausy, do you hate me?" He lifted his head up, his face almost red and broken from wettened eyes.
I reacted quickly, "No, of course not. I could never hate you."
"R-Really?" Ninten said. "Aren't I annoying?"
"Well..." I mumbled. Honestly, he was annoying, but how can I tell him that without hurting his feelings?
Ninten looked down. "I see."
"W-Well, you're annoying, but not in a bad way...uh..."
Why did I say that?
Ninten chuckled. The moment was silent, until I broke it.
"Ninten...?"
"Yeah?"
"I-I'm sorry...if I did anything bad to you."
Ninten grinned, but only a small one. "It's okay." He walked over to Lucas, watching him in silence. I walked over to Ninten's side, unable to say anything.
"Clausy." Ninten began. I perked up and listened closely. "Thanks for saving me again."
I remembered the event back at the staircase. "Oh...it's no problem."
"How many times have you saved me?" Ninten asked. "Hm...you saved me at your pool, the pool here, and again at the stairs. So, three times..."
"Y-Yeah, I guess..."
"You're like my hero," Ninten stated.
"Am I?"
Ninten giggled and nodded. Then, he looked down, crossing his hands together behind his back, fiddling his feet together.
"I was serious when I told everyone I liked you..."
I felt my face blushing. "Oh."
At that point, I figured it out. When I pushed Ninten off, he must have thought I was serious about wanting to get away from him. That's why he had a sad look in his eyes, as if he couldn't believe his crush just pushed him away.
"Ninten," I said to him.
"Hm?" I grabbed his shoulders, causing him to face me. Our eyes made contact, though I shut them to help myself gain some confidence. It didn't help. I was still hanging my head, trying not to look at him directly.
I couldn't believe what i was gonna say.
"...I like you too," I whispered.
No sound. No body movement. No reaction. That is, until I lifted my head up. Ninten's face was now filled with a bright red, his mouth almost open, and eyes just pointing straight at me.
"Y-You...wh-wh-what?"
I didn't want to say it again. "You heard me," I replied.
"Actually...not clearly."
I sighed, mustering my courage once again. "I like you too, Ninten. But not like, like. Like, like-like, I mean...you know, the same way you feel...I guess, and..."
Ninten laughed, "Okay, stop, stop." I tried to hide my embarrassment, but Ninten hugged me.
"A-Ah?" I sounded.
"So, Clausy~" Ninten sang.
"Y-Yeah?"
"When did you start liking me?"
Where do I start? I don't even know. "I don't know...the feelings just came by, I guess."
"When did you start thinking I was cute?"
"W-What?" What was with these questions? "Where'd you hear that from?"
"Lucas."
"H-How did he know—"
"He said your dog told him."
"...Still, why would he tell you that? I oughta hit him." I glared at my brother's still head.
"Oh uh...Lucas has been telling stuff about you to me," he stated.
"...Why?"
"Because we agreed on giving each other advice, since I like you, and Lucas likes Ness."
"Wait, Lucas likes Ness?" My eyes widened. "He never told me that."
"He probably didn't want you to know, I guess."
"I see." I looked at Lucas, sleeping peacefully. How could he not tell me he liked Ness? I would've helped if I could.
I looked down at Ninten. He was happy with embracing me in his arms. It made me happy too, seeing him smile again. My insides fluttered with joy, compelling me to return the embrace.
"Nnn~" Ninten hummed. "You're so warm." He snuggled closer to me. He looked so adorable.
A sudden impulse took over me. I had to meet with his lips.
"N-Ninten?" I whispered.
"Yes, Clausy?"
"Could I kiss you?" The question was already too embarrassing.
"O-Oh?" Ninten pulled away with a curious look.
"I-It's not like I want to kiss you," I immediately said. "I mean I do, but I mean, I was wondering if you wanted to, so..."
Ninten closed his eyes and merely lifted himself up with his feet. I saw how eager he longed to kiss me too. I silently gulped, and began leaning in. I grew nearer to him, almost closing the distance between us...
...until I saw Lucas waking up, and backed off quickly.
Lenne: I would've continued on with Chapter 13 events, but I felt like it was redundant. You get more ClausXNinten in the future, though, and it'll be much more romantic.
