Estimated Reading Time: 30 Minute

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Melodic Discord

Ness blinked rapidly, his eyes widening in surprise. "S-sleepover?! Like... like staying in my room? Sh-sharing the same b-bed?!" His voice cracked as the words tumbled out.

Tina: "Ya if you don't mind."

Ness: "I-I-I don't mind!"

Tina: "You sure? You seem distressed."

Ness: "Distressed? Who's distressed? N-not me! I'm just excited."

Tina: "Oh, excited, huh?" *Winks*

Ness: *Blushes* "N-no! Not like that! I'm just happy that a friend of mine wants to sleepover."

Tina: "Hell yeah!"

Ness: "Haha… Yup!"

Tina: "Do you have sleepovers often?"

Ness: "I mean kinda. Lucas and I often do it."

Tina: "What'd you guys usually do?"

Ness: "We play video games. That's about it."

Tina: "That sounds like fun!"

Ness: "Did you want to play games? Aren't you tired?"

Tina: "Yeah, but I don't mind playing a round with you. It'd be fun to kick your ass again."

Ness: "Oh-ho-ho. Alright, bring it on!"

Ness powered on his console, the familiar hum filling the air as the screen flickered to life. With a quick glance at Tina, he handed over a controller, trying to mask his nervous excitement.

The soft click of buttons and the rumble of the game starting was quickly swallowed by the competitive atmosphere that settled between them. As the characters loaded onto the screen, Ness adjusted his grip, determined to hold his own, but his palms were already starting to sweat.

The battle began with a flurry of button presses, each move more frantic than the last. Ness's fingers moved quickly, but he couldn't keep up with the inkling's precision—every dodge, every attack, every combo seemed perfectly timed. His character was sent flying again and again, the vibrant colors of the screen flashing as his health bar dwindled.

Tina: "Whoo! Good game~"

Ness: "Aww, what! H-how did you do that?"

Tina: "I dunno."

Ness: "Do you even practice?"

Tina: "Nope. Just too good~"

Ness: "Wow… I'd like to see you play against Lucas haha!"

Tina: "Sure, I'm down."

Ness: "I wonder who would win."

Tina: "Me for sure."

Ness: "I don't know, he's pretty good. He reaches diamond consistently."

Tina: "Is that like ranked or somethin'?"

Ness: "Yeah."

Tina: "Ok yeah, he'd kick my ass."

Ness: "Hahaha! It's ok, he beats me every time without fail."

Tina: "It's cuz you suck."

Ness: "Hey!"

Tina: "Hahaha~!"

He playfully pushed her arm.

Tina: "!"

Ness: "Huh?"

Tina: "My arm! You broke it!"

Ness: "Wwhat! I-I did? Oh my god! I'm so sorry! I can heal it for you!"

Tina: "Hahaha!"

Ness: "Why're you laughing?"

Tina: "You're so cute~"

Ness: "Huh?"

Tina: "I'm messin'. I'm fiiine."

Ness: "Oh, haha… I-I'm sorry."

She playfully elbowed him, a mischievous grin tugging at the corners of her lips.

Tina: "Don't be sorry."

Ness: "Ok, I'm sorry."

Tina: "Haha~ You're killin' me. Anyway I'm gettin' sleepy. Let's call it a night."

Ness: "Y-yeah ok."

He hopped off the bed with surprising speed, grabbing his pillow and a blanket in one swift motion. His actions were so sudden that she blinked, confusion knitting her brow as she watched him. "Uh... Ness?" she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. She tilted her head, her gaze flicking between him and the bed as he carefully spread the blanket out on the floor. The faint rustle of fabric was the only sound that filled the room for a moment.

Tina: "Ness!"

Ness: "Y-yeah?"

Tina: "What're ya doin'?"

Ness: "I'm setting up my bed."

Tina: "Why?"

Ness: "Oh because y'know…"

Tina: "Dude, I can sleep on the floor. It's your bed."

Ness: "No! I don't mind sleeping down here at all."

Tina: "I don't want you to sleep on the floor."

Ness: "Oh don't worry about me. I'll be fine."

Tina: "Why don't we just share the bed. It's a queen size, so it's big enough for the both of us."

Ness: "Y-you—m-me? S-sh-share?!"

Tina: "I would like to. I don't feel comfortable taking your bed alone."

Ness: "A-are you sure? You're ok with us sharing the same bed?"

Tina: "Why wouldn't I be?"

Ness: "Well, because, I-I'm a guy a-and you're a girl. I wanted to be respectful."

Tina: *Snickers* "Get up here already."

Ness: "I… Ok."

Ness hesitated for a moment, then awkwardly grabbed his pillow and blanket again. He glanced at her, his face flushed even more than before, and let out a nervous laugh as if trying to shake off the sudden awkwardness.

With a swift, somewhat clumsy motion, he climbed back onto the bed, dragging the blanket behind him. His legs tangled for a second, and he stumbled slightly, catching himself just in time. He shot her a quick, sheepish smile, trying to downplay the awkwardness that had settled in his chest.

Tina: "You good?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," he added, trying to sound nonchalant, but the words came out strained. He shifted around, adjusting the pillow. He pulled the extra blanket around him, clearly intent on keeping some distance, though the way he kept stealing glances at her told a different story.

She winked as she grabbed the other blanket that was available and snuggled into it, clearly settling in for the night. The quiet seemed to stretch between them for a moment before she finally spoke, her voice teasing but soft. "This is nice~"

Ness cleared his throat again, sinking deeper into the blanket, his hands awkwardly fidgeting as he tugged it up around his neck, as if it could somehow shield him from the growing heat in his cheeks. His gaze remained fixed on the ceiling, wide-eyed and unblinking.

Tina: "Your bed is so comfy."

Ness: "I'm glad you think so."

Tina: "So, Ness, I wanna get to know you more."

Ness: "What'd you want to know?"

Tina: "Lemme know if I'm pryin' but I'm curious."

Ness: "Curious about what?"

Tina: "Sooo, I saw Snake's post on Twitter."

Ness: (Oh god, here we go…) "Oh…"

Tina: "So like are you and Leaf a thing?"

Ness: "We're just friends! I promise nothing's happening between us."

Tina: "Mkay, I was just curious."

Ness: "But if y'know, we were dating, w-would you be jealous?"

Ness immediately regretted asking that question. As soon as the words left his mouth, he cringed inwardly, his stomach doing an uncomfortable flip. It sounds like I'm just desperate for her attention… The thought hit him like a ton of bricks. He groaned internally, face burning even hotter as he realized how dumb he must have sounded.

Tina: "Jealous? Hm~ Ness, are ya tryin' to get me jealous?" *Smirks*

Ness: "No! Forget I asked that haha… I was just kidding!"

Tina: "Hahaha! You're so silly. Nah, I'd totally respect your decision on whoever you wanted to be with."

Ness: "Oh… T-thanks."

Tina: "Ya dude. Don't worry, I'm not the jealous type."

Ness: "That's cool, I guess…"

Tina: "What about you? Do you get jealous easily?"

Ness: "Nope! I'm also uh—chill."

Tina: "That's rad, bro. I hate it when guys get all jealous and controllin'. Darnell was like that."

Ness: "Yep. Not me. I'm definitely not the jealous type haha…"

Tina: "See this is why we work so well."

Ness: "W-what'd you mean by that?"

Tina: "This is why we're such good friends. We both don't get jealous or angry at each other. We're so perfect, don't ya think?"

Ness: "Y-yeah, as friends…"

Tina: "You good? You didn't sound too thrilled."

Ness: "I'm good! I'm just happy that we're friends."

Tina: "I know right! I love us together."

Ness: "Me too."

Tina: "So, then is Leaf really pregnant?"

Ness: "Yeaaah…"

Tina: "With who?"

Ness: "It's… Complicated."

Tina: "I want the tea."

Ness: "Remember Nate?"

Tina: "Oh my god."

Ness: "Yeah, not me. Him."

Tina: "Damn…"

Ness: "Yeah."

Tina: "Are you pissed?"

Ness: "Yeah, but also, I understand his point of view."

Tina: "Ok, so like I'm not gonna lie, I don't really know much about what the fuck happened."

Ness: "It's a really long story."

Tina: "Just say the important parts."

Ness: "Ok, well, long story short Mario kidnapped and cloned me. During those eight months, I was in a cave while Nate was forced to take my place, so no one would suspect that I was missing."

Tina: "Damn, Mario's fuckin' crazy."

Ness: "He's a psychopath. Anyway, Nate did some really bad things. He lied and slept around."

Tina: "Yeah…"

Ness: "He's the one that got Leaf pregnant. *Sighs* I'm mad, but honestly, he kinda didn't know any better. I mean he's like what, almost a year old now?"

Tina: "This is fuckin' weird."

Ness: "This is my life."

Tina: "Damn. You can't make this shit up."

Ness: "Only me. Stuff like this only happens to me, I swear."

Tina: "So like, where's he now?"

Ness: "Nate?"

Tina: "Yeah."

Ness: "In Onett. He wanted a break from all this."

Tina: "I don't blame him."

Ness: "Yep."

Tina: "So are ya gonna be there for Leaf when she gives birth?"

Ness: "Ugh… So…"

Tina: "Sorry am I pryin' too much?"

Ness: "No, you're ok! Right now, I'm trying to convince her to get an abortion."

Tina: "Yikes…"

Ness: "I know it sounds bad, but she's not ready to be a parent. Neither am I. Also that's not my kid."

Tina: "That's fair."

Ness: "It'll be best for everybody, but she's against abortions."

Tina: "I get it."

Ness: "I do too, but also… *Sighs* Raising a kid is a lot."

Tina: "Oh I can imagine. That's why I'm never havin' a child."

Ness: "Really?"

Tina: "Hell nah. I'd be a terrible mom. What about you? In the future, do you see yourself havin' a kid?"

Ness: "I thought about it once, but honestly, no."

Tina: "Responsibility is too overwhelming."

Ness: "If I had a kid right now, I'd be a terrible parental figure."

Tina: "Facts."

Ness: "I can barely take care of Lucky."

Tina: "The cutiepie is worth it."

Ness: "I almost got rid of him."

Tina: "Whaaaa?"

Ness: "He wasn't listening and I got frustrated. Thank god I was able to patch things up."

Tina: "I guess that was your wake up call that you couldn't take care of a kid, huh?"

Ness: "Exactly. Having one Pokemon is enough for me. I don't know how Leaf does it."

Tina: "She gots a lot of patience."

Ness: "No kidding. I respect her for that."

Tina: "Saaame."

Ness: *Sighs* "I'm frustrated about this whole situation. Especially since Snake caused another rumor."

Tina: "I can imagine. I bet it's awkward for both of you."

Ness: "We're both not into each other, so yeah, it really is. I just hope this doesn't ruin our friendship."

Tina: "I'm sure it won't. She seems like a reasonable person."

Ness: "Oh, she can be a hard head at times."

Tina: *Snickers* "Really? She seems like a sweetheart."

Ness: "Hahaha! Nope. She has her stubborn moments. Believe me."

Tina: "Hahaha! I trust you."

Ness: "Yeah."

Tina: "Can I ask one more question? Then we'll go to bed."

Ness: "Of course."

Tina: "Do ya got a crush on anyone right now?"

Ness: "Uh…"

Ness's face heated up the moment she asked him that question, his heart pounding in his chest. He could feel his cheeks a deep shade of red, and for a second, it felt like the entire world was pressing in on him. His mind went blank, and he froze, unsure how to respond.

Of course, he had a crush on someone. It was obvious, wasn't it? It wasn't like he could hide it—it was her. The way she laughed, the way she could read him with just a glance, the way her smile made him feel like the world wasn't so bad.

But saying it out loud? That was a different story. His throat tightened at the thought of it. The words were heavy, too heavy, and they felt like they would get stuck somewhere between his chest. He desperately wanted to tell her—he wanted to confess everything, to spill out the way his heart raced when she was near, the way he couldn't stop thinking about her even when he tried to focus on something else.

But all of that felt too vulnerable, too raw. What if she didn't feel the same way? What if he ruined everything? The fear of rejection held him in place.

Ness: "N-no…"

Tina: "Oh damn."

Ness: "I'm not really looking for any of that. (Shut up me!) Just focusing on myself at the moment. (Stop talking.) I'm not sure relationships are my thing anyway." (Someone please kill me.)

Tina: "I respect that."

Ness's stomach twisted in on itself as soon as the words left his mouth. Dammit! he thought, mentally kicking himself. Why did I say that? He felt like he had just tripped over his own words and fallen flat on his face. It wasn't just the awkwardness—it was the way it came out, like he was pushing away the very thing he wanted most.

Now it sounds like I don't ever want to be in a relationship, he realized, his heart sinking. Great. I just completely ruined it. The weight of what he'd just said hit him all at once. The crushing certainty that he'd blown his chance with her felt like an anchor pulling him deeper into his own embarrassment.

Ness: "Y-yeah."

Tina: "Hey, nothin' wrong with that. Bein' single has its perks too. I mean I've been single for a while now. I love the freedom."

Ness: "So, you're not looking for a relationship either?"

Tina: "I mean I'm not gonna jump to one. Been there, done that."

Ness: "I see."

Tina: "But hey, if I find someone I'm interested in, I'll give it a try."

Ness: "Really?"

Tina: "Yeah, *yawns* I'm gonna go for it. Anyway, my eyes are gettin' heavy. I loved our chat. Goodnight~"

Ness: "I did too. Goodnight."

Ness lay perfectly still, his heart racing as Tina's breathing evened out beside him. The soft, rhythmic sound of her sleep was a relief, but at the same time, it made the weight of his own anxiety feel even heavier. He stared at the ceiling, feeling his body tense with every passing second. I can't risk it, he thought, panic starting to rise.

If it's true that he tends to cuddle people in his sleep—and he knew deep down it was—then it'd be a disaster. The last thing he wanted was to somehow pull her into his arms in his sleep, all while completely unaware of what was happening. God, if I do that, I'll never be able to look her in the eye again. That would be the end of our friendship. There's no way she'd ever let me live that down.

The more he thought about it, the more mortified he became. His hands fidgeted restlessly at his sides, his face flushed with embarrassment as he turned toward the edge of the bed. So, no way am I sleeping on this bed tonight, he decided firmly. I'm just gonna sleep on the floor. That's the safest way.

Without a second thought, he grabbed his pillow and blanket and hurriedly set up his makeshift bed on the floor. He spread the blanket out as evenly as he could, trying to make the space as comfortable as possible.

He stared at the floor for a while, then suddenly had another thought. Have I been doing this to Lucas this whole time? His chest tightened.

He rolled over onto his side, his face buried in his pillow, trying to block out the flood of embarrassing thoughts that kept invading his mind. Why did Lucas never say anything about it? The question lingered, and Ness winced, wondering if his friend had been too embarrassed to bring it up. No, it's probably because Lucas—liked it…

He shook his head vigorously. Nope, I'm not going to think about it. It's bedtime. Not think about Lucas and his obvious crush on me time.

Ness closed his eyes tightly, trying to will himself into sleep. But his mind refused to cooperate. Every time he thought he was about to drift off, his thoughts would spiral right back to her. Tina's right there, he couldn't help but think. On my bed... sleeping.

His heart skipped a beat, and suddenly the pressure in his chest intensified. He tried to push the thought away, but it stuck to him like glue, making his pulse quicken and his mind race. If only I was next to her…

In a blur of half-formed ideas, he imagined them lying together, his arm around her, her head resting against his chest. His breath hitched as the fantasy deepened, his body responding in ways he absolutely did not want it to. His heart hammered, and his thoughts spun further out of control. God, I can't think about this right now... he scolded himself, his hands gripping the pillow beneath him, trying to focus on something—anything—that would break the spiral.

But his imagination kept playing out those same scenarios: of them being intimate with each other. His chest tightened with a strange mixture of longing and guilt. He really shouldn't be thinking like this, especially now, of all times. It wasn't just a passing thought; it felt too real, too vivid, like his mind had taken him far beyond what was safe to think about.

But just as quickly as the fantasy settled in, another image intruded—a flash of Lucas's face. The sudden shift in thoughts left Ness dizzy, confused. Wait, what the hell? His mind had just pulled him into this deeply embarrassing fantasy about Tina, and now his best friend—Lucas—was barging in, uninvited.

Lucas's face seemed to appear in his mind, as clear as day, interrupting his fantasies with Tina. What's going on?! he thought, disoriented. Why am I thinking about Lucas now?!

He could feel his face growing hotter, his body feeling increasingly out of his control. He didn't want to be thinking about either of them in this way, but no matter how hard he tried to suppress the thoughts, they kept coming, like unwanted flashes of light that refused to turn off.

Ness, get it together, he mentally scolded himself, squeezing his eyes shut tighter as if that would somehow make the thoughts go away. But the more he fought, the more tangled everything became. He couldn't escape the tension, the pulsing warmth in his chest. His mind was a warzone, bouncing between the two most important people in his life.

As the minutes stretched on and sleep continued to elude him, he couldn't shake the gnawing embarrassment. Maybe I should just leave, he thought fleetingly. Yup, I'm leaving.

Ness couldn't stand it anymore. The silence in his room, the weight of his thoughts—everything felt like it was pressing in on him, suffocating him. With a frustrated sigh, he grabbed his guitar, the familiar weight of it comforting in his hands as he slung it over his shoulder. He didn't know where he was going, but he needed to get out. Away from the room, away from the chaos in his head.

He slipped out of the mansion's front door, stepping into the cool night air. The streetlights flickered overhead as he meandered. His feet carried him to the park, a quiet place just outside the mansion area that had always been a peaceful escape.

The faint sound of crickets chirping and the rustle of leaves in the breeze did little to drown out the buzz in his head, but the space itself felt calming. The moon hung low in the sky, casting its soft light over everything, and for the first time in hours, he felt like he could breathe again.

Ness found a quiet spot on the grass, away from the empty park benches, and sat down. He pulled the guitar onto his lap, feeling the cool metal strings against his fingertips. He took a deep breath, staring up at the moon. The peacefulness of the night sky settled over him.

He strummed the first few chords, almost instinctively. He had spent so much time learning to play for her that it almost felt like second nature now. But as the music filled the air around him, he realized something that took him by surprise.

Wow... I know I learned how to play for Tina, but playing for myself is really nice too.

He smiled faintly, his fingers finding their rhythm as the song came to life. He played a little longer, more freely now, letting his emotions flow through the strings.

No wonder Ninten loved instruments so much. This is fun, Ness thought, his mind drifting. He played a few more notes, his fingers moving more easily now.

For a brief moment, Ness allowed himself to be in the present, to just enjoy the peace he had found in the music. Whatever was going on inside his head could wait. For now, it was just him and the guitar—his own little sanctuary in the quiet of the world.

?: "Whoa, Ness?"

Ness: "!"

Ness whipped around at the sound of footsteps approaching, his eyes landing on Little Mac and Kirby, both in sleek athletic wear. Little Mac's tank top clung to his muscular frame, a light sheen of sweat reflecting under the streetlights. Kirby, in her own sporty attire, jogged alongside him. The two looked energized, like they'd been out for a long, refreshing run. As they jogged up to Ness, the cool evening breeze tousled their hair, and their faces shone with a mix of determination and friendly enthusiasm.

Little Mac: "How's it goin', buddy?"

Ness: "Oh, hey guys."

Kirby: "Whoa, is that a guitar?"

Ness: "Yeah, I play now."

Little Mac: "Play me somethin'."

Ness: "I-I'm a little rusty."

Little Mac: "So?"

Ness: "Uh—I'm not comfortable."

Kirby: "That's ok! We understand."

Little Mac: "Wha? But-

Kirby: "Little Mac, Ness isn't comfortable."

Little Mac: "Oh alright."

Ness: "Thank you, Kirby."

Kirby: "Are you here by yourself?"

Ness: "Yeah."

Kirby: "Why? What about your friends?"

Ness: "They're all sleeping. Besides, I wanted to be alone anyway."

Little Mac: "Alone? But bein' alone sucks. Why don't you come jog with us?"

Ness: "No, I'm ok. I don't want to bother you guys."

Kirby: "We would love for you to join us."

Ness: "No, I'm good. I kind of want to do my own thing, but thanks for the offer."

Little Mac: "Oh, well, if ya need anything you can always come knock at my door."

Kirby: "Our door."

Little Mac: "Oh, right. Our door haha!"

Ness chuckled, watching the pair in front of him—a happy couple who seemed to fit together so effortlessly. Little Mac and Kirby shared a quick, knowing smile, their hands brushing as they caught their breath. The sight tugged at something in Ness's heart. He couldn't help but wish he had a relationship as perfect and easygoing as theirs, someone to lean on and laugh with, someone who understood him as naturally as these two seemed to understand each other.

Ness: "Thank you, I appreciate it."

Kirby: "No worries. Bye."

Little Mac: "Be safe out there ok."

Ness: "Oh don't worry about me. I'm pretty tough."

Little Mac: "With your scrawny arms?"

"Little Mac!" Kirby huffed, shoving him with a bit more force this time. Her expression was a mix of irritation and exasperation as she looked up at him, arms crossed. Little Mac chuckled, raising his hands in defense. "Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean it," he said, though his grin suggested he wasn't entirely regretful. Kirby's eyes narrowed, but she shook her head, letting out an annoyed sigh.

The two waved goodbye, and Ness chuckled as he watched them disappear into the night. Those two are made for each other, he thought with a sweet smile. Turning back to his guitar, he began strumming softly, losing himself in the gentle melody. The quiet rhythms filled the air, calming him until his eyelids grew heavy. A thought drifted through his mind: I wonder if Tina's worried about me.

With some effort, he stood up, wincing as he felt the stiffness in his legs from sitting too long. He stretched, waiting for the prickling sensation in his legs to subside, and then slowly made his way back into the mansion. Inside, a few smashers were still lounging around. The moment they spotted him, their whispers started—faint, but unmistakable. He could feel their judgment seeping through the silence, their glances heavy with unspoken words.

Ness sighed, knowing he needed to have a word with Snake sooner or later. The thought made his jaw clench, but for now, he was too exhausted to get himself riled up again. He shuffled down the hallway, finally reaching his room. Pushing open the door, he was met with the gentle rise and fall of Tina's breathing, her form curled up on his bed, sound asleep. A small smile softened his face as he watched her sleep so peacefully, unaware of the night's troubles.

Ness lay down on the floor, sinking into the familiar spot he'd grown accustomed to. This time, the exhaustion tugged at him immediately, heavier than ever. Closing his eyes, he could feel the weight of the day melting away, his body finally surrendering to rest.