Estimated Reading Time: 20 Minutes

.

Melodic Discord

Ness, Leaf, and Tina strolled together down the hallway to the music hall, their footsteps echoing faintly on the polished floors. When they reached their destination, Tina pushed the door open, revealing a cozy, dimly lit private room. The walls were padded with thick, uneven panels designed to absorb every stray sound, giving the space an oddly textured, almost futuristic look.

A plush, slightly worn couch sat in the back, beckoning them to sit. Ness and Leaf sank into it, their eyes immediately drawn to the band already assembled and waiting to play.

Riley sat behind the drums, her sticks resting lightly against the snare. Kip was perched at the keyboard, his fingers tapping a few experimental notes. On bass stood another Inkling, this one with shimmering blonde tentacles cascading down like spun gold, tuning her bass with practiced ease.

And then there was Tina. She stood confidently at the front, holding a mic in one hand and swaying slightly in rhythm to an unheard beat. Her vibrant presence was magnetic—her hot pink hair glowing faintly under the overhead lights, her striking pink eyes glimmering with excitement. She shot the group a grin, then turned to her bandmates.

"All right, 1, 2, 3!" Tina called out, her voice ringing with energy.

The music burst to life. A thunderous, yet perfectly harmonized, rhythm filled the room as Riley's drumming set the tone. Kip's fingers danced over the keys, weaving vibrant chords, while the bassist's low, steady grooves anchored the melody. And then Tina began to sing.

Her voice soared like sunlight breaking through clouds—rich, clear, and utterly captivating. Ness was mesmerized. He leaned forward, his wide smile growing with every note. He couldn't tear his gaze away from Tina, her passion pouring into every word, every breath. She radiated an ethereal charm, her voice cascading through the room like a warm embrace. To Ness, it felt as if an angel had descended, her song lifting his spirits and wrapping his very soul in its heavenly beauty.

Leaf noticed the way Ness's eyes were locked onto Tina as she sang, his face glowing with admiration and delight. Her chest tightened at the sight, and a pang of jealousy crept into her thoughts. He wasn't just enjoying the music—his gaze lingered on Tina with a kind of awe that Leaf couldn't ignore. The softness in his expression, the way his smile grew every time Tina hit a high note, all pointed to one thing: he was captivated.

Does he have a crush on her? Leaf wondered, her hands clenching the fabric of her skirt. Her heart sank as she glanced at Tina, who seemed to shine effortlessly on stage. Tina's confidence, her radiant energy, and that incredible voice—it all felt so out of reach.

Leaf tried to push the thoughts aside, but a nagging sense of inferiority settled in her chest. Compared to Tina's natural charisma and talent, she felt small, unremarkable. She couldn't help but wonder if he would ever look at her with the same admiration he had for the Inkling standing under the lights.

As the final notes of the song faded, the room fell into a brief silence, before Ness sprang to his feet, his applause loud and enthusiastic. "That was amazing!" he exclaimed, his eyes still shining with excitement. His smile was wide and genuine, a reflection of how deeply the music—and Tina—had moved him.

Leaf, meanwhile, stayed seated, her clapping subdued but polite. Despite her lingering jealousy, she forced herself to maintain a neutral expression. Her palms stung faintly from her half-hearted effort, but the ache in her chest hurt more.

Tina, still holding the microphone, gave an elegant bow. "Thank you, thank you," she said with a warm grin, her voice light and cheerful. She glanced briefly at Ness, catching his enthusiastic reaction, and chuckled softly. "Glad you enjoyed the show."

Leaf kept her eyes on her lap for a moment before looking up at Tina. As much as she tried to suppress it, the Inkling's natural charm and poise made her feel invisible. The sting of jealousy lingered, but Leaf pushed it down, unwilling to let it show.

Riley: "Thanks, we worked hard."

Ness: "I can tell. You guys are my new favorite band."

Tina: "It's a great thing you're joinin' then, huh?"

Leaf: "Joining?"

Tina strode over to Ness with a confident sway, her eyes gleaming with mischief. Without hesitation, she reached out and clasped his arm, her grip firm yet playful, tugging him closer until the space between them vanished. Ness's cheeks flared a deep crimson, his breath catching as he tried to muster a response.

"He's part of the team~," she purred, her voice dripping with pride.

Leaf: "Wait, what?"

Ness: "I uh—yeah, I'm joining their band."

Leaf: "I didn't know you could play."

Tina: "He plays the electric guitar!"

Leaf: "You do?"

Ness: "Y-yeah."

Leaf: "How come you never told me this?"

Ness: "We only talk about Pokemon. I didn't think you'd be interested."

Leaf: "R-really?" (Do I come off as judgmental?)

Ness: "I also just didn't think about it haha…"

Tina: "He talks about different things depending on the person, cuz he don't talk to me about Pokemon. Only when Lucky pops up."

Ness: "Yeah! See? I don't talk to Lucas about music or Pokemon. We talk about tv shows and video games."

Leaf: "Ah, I see."

Tina: "You should totally play for her one day. He's pretty good."

Ness: "I-I'm not that good."

Tina: "Aww, quit beatin' yourself up. You're perfect."

Ness: "I wouldn't say that, haha~"

Leaf: "I would like to hear you play."

Ness: *Blushes* "Wait, no, I'm bad."

Tina: "Nah, don't let em lie to ya."

Leaf: "I'm sure you're not bad."

Riley: "I bet he ain't better than Darnell though."

Ness: (Wow, ok.)

Tina: "Ugh, Riley, please don't compare the two."

Leaf: "Who's Darnell?"

Tina: "My fuckin' terrible ass ex."

Riley: "He's hella good at the guitar."

Kip: "Hell yeah he was. I miss that dude."

Tina: "Shut up. Enough about Darnell. You guys know I fuckin' hate that dude."

Riley: "Sorry, Tina."

Kip: "Yeah, sorry."

Tina: "Stop bringin' him up."

Leaf: (This is awkward.)

Ness: (I'm glad he's not in the band anymore. I don't think I would've been able to join if he were still here.)

Tina: "Oh! By the way, Ness, I know you know most of us, but we got a guest today. I wanted to introduce ourselves."

Leaf: "Oh!"

Tina: "Orange Inkling is Riley."

Riley: "Sup."

Tina: "Blue dude is Kip."

Kip: "How'z it?"

Tina: "And blondie over here is Lin."

Lin: ["Hi."]

Tina: "She's shy."

Leaf: "Hi, everyone, I'm Leaf."

Ness: "Hi, Lin, I'm Ness. I'm the one that's going to play the electric guitar."

Lin nodded, her movements small and hesitant, her gaze flitting downward as if avoiding an unspoken weight in the air. Her eyes lingered on the floor, the faintest furrow in her brow betraying unease.

Tina: "Anyway, we got more practicin' to do. Ness, did'ya wanna c'mere tomorrow and practice with us?"

Ness: "A-already?"

Tina: "Yeah."

Ness: "B-but I'm not ready."

Tina: "I already heard you play and lemme tell ya, you're ready."

Ness: "Y-you think so?"

Tina: "I know so."

Ness: "Ok, I guess."

Tina: "Hell yeah!"

Ness: "Well, I'll see you tomorrow then."

Tina: "Can't wait~"

.

Leafstorm

Ness nodded, and together he and Leaf stepped out of the music hall, their footsteps echoing softly in the quiet corridor. They began making their way toward Leaf's room. Ness pulled out his phone, the screen glowing faintly in the dim light. His thumb hovered over the notifications, but the absence of any message from Lucas felt like a dull weight settling in his chest. He sighed, his shoulders sinking slightly.

Leaf glanced over, her sharp eyes catching the shift in his mood. The faint somberness radiating from him was hard to miss. "What's wrong?" she asked, her brows knitting together in a mixture of curiosity and concern.

Ness: "Huh? Nothing's wrong."

Leaf: "You sure? You seem upset."

Ness: "I'm ok."

Leaf: "You can tell me if something's wrong."

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

Leaf considered pressing him further but held back, deciding to respect his space. If Ness wanted to open up, he would do so in his own time. For now, her thoughts drifted to what they'd do once they reached her room. A nervous energy bubbled inside her—it wasn't every day Ness came over, and in truth, he'd never been there before.

Her mind betrayed her, pulling up a memory she wasn't eager to relive. The time Nate had visited flashed vividly in her head. She remembered the way they'd kissed, their lips meeting over and over in the privacy of her room. Her cheeks burned as the memory deepened, recalling how things had gone beyond just kissing. The thought made her heartbeat quicken, and her hands flew to her face in an effort to cool the blush spreading like wildfire across her skin.

The last thing she wanted was for Ness to notice her flustered state. If he did, he might jump to all the wrong conclusions and think she had ulterior motives for inviting him over. Leaf forced herself to take a steadying breath, desperately trying to focus on anything else.

Her thoughts continued to betray her, wandering into dangerous territory as she began to fantasize about what could happen in her room.

.

Leaf's Fantasy

As Leaf and Ness stepped into her room, she gestured around, offering a brief tour. "So, uh, this is it," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of pride and nervousness. The soft glow of fairy lights strung along the walls bathed the space in a warm, cozy light. Shelves filled with neatly arranged books, trinkets, and small plushies lined one side, while a bed with a pastel comforter and an assortment of pillows dominated the other.

Ness glanced around, his eyes wide with admiration. "Wow," he murmured, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Your room is... really cute."

Leaf felt a flicker of relief at his reaction, though her cheeks warmed at his choice of words. "Thanks," she said, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "I, uh, like to keep it cozy."

Ness nodded, taking in every detail. From the delicate floral patterns on her curtains to the soft rug beneath his feet, the room seemed to radiate her personality. He couldn't help but think it suited her perfectly.

The two settled onto her bed, the mattress dipping slightly beneath their weight. Leaf grabbed the remote and turned on the TV, its soft glow filling the room. She glanced at him, her fingers fidgeting lightly with the buttons. "Did you wanna watch something?" she asked, her voice casual, though she felt her heart beating just a little faster.

Ness shrugged, leaning back against the headboard. "Nothing in particular," he replied, his tone relaxed. His eyes drifted to the screen, but his attention seemed more focused on the comfortable atmosphere of the room than on picking a show.

Leaf nodded, scrolling through options. "Well, I'll just put something on. If it's boring, lemme know," she said, landing on a show she thought might be a safe bet. As the opening credits began to roll, she couldn't help but glance at him out of the corner of her eye, wondering if he felt as awkwardly aware of the proximity between them as she did.

Leaf: "Um, so…"

Ness: "Yes?"

Leaf: "Tina's band was pretty cool, huh?"

Ness: "Yeah, I'm happy to soon be apart of it."

Leaf: "I didn't know you played."

Ness: "Yeah."

Leaf: "And a guitar of all things."

Ness: "Hm?"

Leaf: "Sorry, I just really love the guitar."

Ness: "You play too?"

Leaf: "I don't. But I've always wanted my future boyfriend to serenade me with a guitar."

Ness: "Oh?"

Leaf: "Don't look at me like that. It's a romantic instrument."

Ness: "It is. Why do you think I learned it?"

Leaf: "Oh… To win Tina's heart probably."

Ness: "Tina? No, that's not why."

Leaf: "Wha? Oh! It must be for yourself."

Ness: "Nope."

Leaf: "I'm confused."

Ness: "For you~"

Leaf: "What?"

With a flick of his wrist, Ness summoned his guitar as if by magic, the instrument appearing effortlessly in his lap. The smooth wood gleamed faintly in the light, and he adjusted it with a practiced ease. Without hesitation, he began to strum, the familiar melody of a Pokémon theme flowing from his fingers. His expression softened, a serene happiness settling over him as he played.

Leaf's ears perked up at the tune, and despite herself, she began to hum along, the notes instinctively rising in sync with his rhythm. The sound filled the room, creating a warm, nostalgic atmosphere that seemed to dissolve any lingering tension. She smiled, swaying slightly to the music, unable to resist the charm of the moment.

Leaf: "Wow, Ness, this sounds amazing~"

Ness: "Haha~! T-thanks." *Blushes*

Leaf: "You learned this just for me?"

Ness: "Y-yeah…"

Leaf: "Why me in particular? I thought it was because you wanted to join Tina's band."

Ness: "I thought if I joined a band you would think I'm cool."

Leaf: "Oh Ness, I already think you're cool."

Ness: "I guess—more than just cool..."

Leaf: "What're you saying?"

Ness: "I-I like you, Leaf!"

Leaf: "What!"

Ness: "I've liked you for a while now."

Leaf: "Ness…"

Ness: "It's ok if you don't feel the same. I just needed to get it off my chest."

Leaf: "You like me?"

Ness: "Y-yes."

Leaf: "I-I like you too."

Ness's eyes widened, his expression frozen in disbelief. For a moment, he simply stared at her, his guitar forgotten as her words echoed in his mind. "Really?" he asked, his voice tinged with both hope and uncertainty. "You... You like me too?"

Leaf nodded, her cheeks flushed as she glanced down at her hands. "I've liked you for a long time," she admitted softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

The weight of her confession hung in the air, and Ness's heart raced as a warm, almost surreal happiness bubbled up inside him. He searched her face, looking for any hint of hesitation, but all he found was sincerity. A small, genuine smile began to spread across his face as he processed the moment.

"C-can I—kiss you?" Ness asked, his voice soft and shaky, the vulnerability in his tone sending a jolt through her chest.

Leaf's eyes widened, her breath catching as she stared at him. For a moment, she was too stunned to respond. This was it—what she had wanted for so long. Not a fleeting moment with a clone, an imitation, but him. The real Ness. Her Ness.

Her heart swelled at the realization, her pulse quickening with both nerves and excitement. Slowly, she nodded, a shy but eager smile forming on her lips. "Yes," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "I've waited for this... for you."

The air between them crackled with an almost tangible electricity as they leaned in, the distance between them shrinking until it vanished entirely. Their lips met in a soft but deliberate connection that quickly deepened. Ness's hands hesitated before settling gently on her waist, while Leaf's fingers brushed against his cheek, her touch featherlight yet grounding.

As their lips moved together, a wave of passion surged between them. Their breaths mingled, and instinct took over as they began exploring each other, the kiss growing more intense. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing in her ears like a drum. She felt as though time had stopped, the rest of the world dissolving into nothingness.

This wasn't just a kiss; it was a process of longing, unspoken feelings, and a connection she had only ever dared to dream of. Her head spun, overwhelmed by the intensity, but she didn't want the moment to end. It was everything she had hoped for—and more.

Ness: "Hey, uh, Leaf?"

Her eyes fluttered open, and in an instant, the illusion of her fantasy shattered, leaving her with a sudden, sharp reality.

End Of Leaf's Fantasy

.

She turned away, her cheeks flushed crimson, as if the warmth of the kiss had never quite left her. Her heart was still racing, but the weight of reality settled back in.

Ness, still close by, noticed the change. His eyes widened just a little as he took in the sight of her face, now a deep shade of red. He didn't say anything, but his expression softened with both surprise and a hint of concern.

"Are you okay?"