Estimated Reading Time: 27 Minutes

.

Leafstorm

"Are you okay?" he asked quietly, his voice careful, as though unsure of how to navigate the sudden shift in the air.

Leaf: "Y-yes! I'm fine. Why do you ask?"

Ness: "Well, you kinda went quiet all of a sudden. And, uh, we're at the end of the hall. I honestly thought you were going to keep walking and end up running straight into the wall."

Leaf: "Oh my god. I'm such a ditz."

Ness: "You're good. I'm just a little worried."

Leaf: "Sorry, I spaced out. I daydream a lot."

Ness: "What were you daydreaming about?"

Leaf's mind raced back to her fantasy—the image of them kissing, replaying in her thoughts. Her face flushed even deeper as the memory flooded her. In a frantic attempt to shake it off, she violently shook her head, her hands flying up as if to physically push the thought away.

"Something weird!" she blurted out, her voice a little too high-pitched, as if to distract herself from the whirlwind of emotions now crashing inside her.

Ness: "Oh?"

Leaf: "I don't wanna say."

Ness: "Well now I want to know."

Leaf: "No, I can't tell you."

Ness: "Judging by your flustered face it has to do something about romance, right?"

Leaf: "!"

Ness: "Wait, really?"

Leaf: "N…Yes ok."

Ness: "Whaaaat? You daydream about romance?"

Leaf: "I do…"

Ness couldn't help but wear a cheeky smile as he watched Leaf flail about, her obvious discomfort amusing him. Leaf's fantasizing about romance... with me around? He thought with a small chuckle. That's a little weird. Never figured she'd do something like that.

He paused, the realization slowly sinking in. Maybe I don't know her as well as I thought. The thought lingered for a moment before his mischievous side took over. Actually, this is kinda fun. I can totally tease her about this. A playful glint sparkled in his eyes as he imagined the teasing to come, knowing it would make her even more flustered. This is her payback for calling me a perv in the past.

Ness: "Wow, and you call me the pervy one~"

Leaf: *Scoffs* "I-I'm not pervy!"

Ness: "You're fantasizing while I was trying to talk to you about Pokemon."

Leaf: "You were talking to me?"

Ness: *Snickers* "Leaf? I thought I knew you~"

Leaf: "Stop!"

Ness: "Hahaha!"

Leaf: "It wasn't that bad."

Ness: "Then why's your face red?"

Leaf: "Because…"

Ness: "It must have been an intense one."

Leaf: "S-stop!"

Ness: "Ok, I want to know. What was it about?"

Leaf: "I'm not telling you!"

Ness: "It was a smasher, wasn't it?"

Leaf: *Blushes harder* "No! It wasn't… Hgghhh."

Ness: "I think I already know who~"

Leaf: "What!"

Ness: "Robin. Don't worry. I won't tell him."

Leaf: "R-Robin?"

Ness: "He seems like your type."

Leaf: "W-what?"

Ness: "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me."

Leaf: "You think Robin is my type?"

Ness: "Is he? I just assumed."

Leaf: "You thought about my type?"

Now it was his turn to blush. Heat surged to his face, spreading from his cheeks to the tips of his ears. He could feel it, the unmistakable warmth that gave away every ounce of his embarrassment. Great, just great. Now she's definitely going to think I was thinking about her in some weird, creepy way. The thought coiled in his stomach, tying itself into a knot of regret. He mentally slammed his fist into his own forehead, over and over again.

This is why I suck at teasing people, he berated himself, the words practically dripping with frustration in his head. I'm done. Never again. He let out a breath, shoulders sagging slightly, vowing to leave the art of playful banter to people who actually knew what they were doing. How does Sonic do it?

Leaf's eyes caught the crimson creeping up his cheeks, and a sly grin tugged at her lips. Now it was her turn to smirk. "Ness? Are you hiding something from me?" She teased, her tone laced with mock suspicion.

Ness stiffened, crossing his arms and stubbornly avoiding her gaze. His eyes darted to the side, searching for an escape. "I… So what's the best moveset for an Espeon?" He blurted out, the words tumbling awkwardly from his mouth like a clumsy retreat.

Leaf threw her head back, laughter spilling out in unrestrained waves. "Nope, you can't change the subject~" she sang, her voice light and mischievous.

Ness: "Can we not talk about this in public?"

Leaf: "Ok, ok. But I won't this go~"

Ness: "Hhhgnnn…"

The two stepped into her room, and he immediately froze, his eyes widening as he took in the scene before him. Shelves lined the walls, brimming with an assortment of plushies and Pokémon figurines, each one carefully arranged as though part of a cherished collection. The soft glow of string lights draped across the ceiling cast a warm, golden hue, wrapping the room in a cozy, welcoming atmosphere.

His gaze shifted to her bed, piled high with an assortment of blankets and pillows. She overstocks on blankets too? He thought, a pang of realization hitting him as he pictured his own bed setup.

The room's color scheme tied it all together: cream, white, and the faintest touch of pink, creating a space that felt gentle, almost dreamlike.

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

Leaf's heart skipped a beat when those words left his lips. They echoed in her mind exactly the way they had in her daydreams—same tone, same sincerity. For a moment, it felt like her fantasy was bleeding into reality, and she couldn't help the pink hue that crept up her cheeks.

No, it's just a coincidence! she told herself firmly, clutching onto logic like a lifeline. There's no way we're going to end up kissing or anything. That's just… ridiculous. But even as she tried to ground herself in reality, the thought lingered, making her stomach flutter in a way she wasn't ready to confront.

He gestured toward her bed, his voice soft but hesitant. "Is it okay if I sit there?"

She blinked, startled by the question, and felt a tiny jolt of surprise course through her. Quickly, she nodded, her tone a touch too eager. "Of course!"

He sat down carefully, as though afraid to disrupt the perfectly arranged blankets and pillows. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight, and for a moment, he seemed to pause, taking in the cozy space around him. She followed soon after, perching herself beside him.

She reached for the remote, fingers brushing over the buttons as she held it up. "So, what'd you wanna watch?" she asked, her voice casual, though a hint of nervous energy lingered beneath her words.

He tilted his head slightly, raising a brow and letting a small smile tug at his lips. "Uh—weren't you going to show me your scrapbook?"

Her eyes widened, the realization hitting her like a jolt. Duh! That was the whole point of inviting him here! The remote almost slipped from her grasp as her mind raced. I totally forgot about the scrapbook. Was I… Was I trying to recreate the fantasy without even realizing it?

Her cheeks flushed as the thought lingered, but she quickly pushed it aside, scrambling to recover her composure. "Oh, right!" she said with a laugh, masking her embarrassment as she reached for the scrapbook.

She carefully opened the book, the pages rustling softly as she laid it across her lap. He leaned in, scooting closer to get a better look. Her breath hitched, and a flurry of butterflies erupted in her stomach. He moved closer! Our shoulders are touching!

Her heart raced, each beat louder than the last. Does he not realize what he's doing to me right now? She wondered, feeling her cheeks grow impossibly warm. From the corner of her eye, she sneaked a glance at him. His expression was calm, his focus entirely on the scrapbook, eyes scanning the photos and handwritten notes with quiet interest.

He didn't even seem to notice the contact, the way their shoulders lightly brushed with every movement. Of course, he doesn't, she thought, trying to keep her composure, though the electric tension was impossible to ignore.

Ness: "Whoa, you drew all this?"

Leaf: "I did."

Ness: "That's pretty good!"

Leaf: "Y-yeah? You think so?" (He complimented me!)

Ness: "Yeah! It's so detailed. I love the style."

Leaf: "T-thank you."

Ness: "And your handwriting is neat. Waaaay better than mine, haha!"

Leaf: "I'd like to see yours."

Ness: "You wouldn't be able to read it."

Leaf walked over to her desk, the soft shuffle of her steps barely audible against the cozy hum of the room. She picked up a notebook, its edges slightly worn, and began flipping through the pages with deliberate care. Her fingers paused when she found a blank sheet, and she turned back to him with a small, inviting smile.

Reaching for a fountain pen from the pen holder, she walked back to him and held it out, the polished metal glinting faintly under the warm light. "Write a sentence," she said, her tone light but curious, as if she was presenting a secret challenge.

Ness: "N-no you don't want to see it."

Leaf: "C'mon, write something."

Ness: "I don't even know what to write."

Leaf: "Anything!"

Ness: "Well now I'm in the spot…"

Leaf: "Ok fine, write the sentence 'always look ahead'."

Ness: "That's random."

Leaf: "It's an inspirational quote. It's not that weird."

Ness took the fountain pen with a casual grip, the smooth nib gliding across the paper as he wrote. His hand moved with practiced ease, but as the ink filled the page, it became clear. The words flowed in an elegant, almost too intricate script.

It wasn't bad, not at all. In fact, it was beautiful. Too beautiful. The curves and loops of his handwriting were so precise, so deliberate, it almost looked like it belonged to someone with years of practice—like a doctor's handwriting, the kind that was more art than legible text.

Leaf squinted at the page, trying to make sense of the flowing letters. She gave up, her brow furrowing slightly. It wasn't that she couldn't read it, it was just that it felt like deciphering a code.

Ness: "I told you my handwriting is bad."

Leaf: "It's really not."

Ness: "Seriously?"

Leaf: "It's just too fancy. Do you only write in cursive?"

Ness: "Pretty much yeah."

Leaf: "It's honestly beautiful."

Ness: "I wouldn't say beautiful haha~!"

Leaf: "I think it is."

Ness: "Then you'd be the first."

Leaf: "Really?"

Ness: "Everyone complains about my handwriting."

Leaf: "Lucas too?"

Ness: "Oh yeah."

Leaf: "That's not nice."

Ness: "He does it in a teasing way."

Leaf: "He likes to tease, doesn't he?"

Ness: "He constantly bullies me."

Leaf: "Hahaha! Now you get another friend who's gonna bully you."

Ness: "Great."

She gently nudged him, a playful grin tugging at her lips. The force of the push was enough to make him stumble slightly, and the two of them burst into laughter, the sound light and carefree. The joy lingered in the air, but as their laughter faded, something else took its place. They found themselves still gazing at each other, their smiles softening into something quieter, something deeper.

The atmosphere shifted in that brief, suspended moment. Their eyes locked, and a sudden awareness washed over both of them—how close they were, how intimate the moment felt. The realization hit them both at the same time, and their smiles faltered, the weight of the silence pressing in.

Ness quickly turned his gaze down to the scrapbook in a flurry of movement, flipping through the pages with a little more urgency than before. His fingers brushed over the pictures, searching. Finally, he found what he was looking for. He pointed to the page with a relieved smile. "Look, there's Lucky."

He began talking about his Espeon, the familiar comfort of talking about his Pokémon helping to break the tension that lingered in the air.

Ness: "So, Espeons are considered the most challenging to manage due to their exceptional intelligence, correct?"

Leaf: (He was so quick to pull back…) "Yeah. Most psychic types are the difficult ones. They're extremely intelligent. Especially an Alakazam."

Ness: "Are they the smartest?"

Leaf: "One of for sure."

Ness: "Wow, I love the Espeon you drew."

Leaf: "Isn't it weird that you got an Espeon of all things? I mean you're a psychic too. That's crazy!"

Ness: "It was Fate."

Leaf: "Like my Umbreon."

Ness: "That's honestly wild."

Leaf: "I have a question."

Ness: "Yeah?"

Leaf: "Do you guys play psychic tug-of-war?"

Ness: "We doooo."

Leaf: "Oh my god! That's so cool! So were you born with psychic abilities or were they given to you?"

Ness: "Born."

Leaf: "What about Lucas?"

Ness: "Given."

Leaf: "Whaaaat! How'd he get them? I want those powers."

Ness: "Uh… Honestly I asked him the same question and he didn't really give me an answer. He said it was traumatic."

Leaf: "What the fuck? What happened to him?"

Ness: "No clue. I didn't push it."

Leaf: "Weird."

Ness: "Yeaaaah."

Leaf: "I've seen you used your psychic powers in tournaments all the time, but I never see you use it on the daily. Why's that?"

Ness: "I used to all the time. Believe me. All the time. I would never pick things up for myself. I used to be super lazy. Remember my awkward looking phase?"

Leaf: "You mean back in Brawl?"

Ness: "Yeah."

Leaf: "You were so chubby back then~"

Ness: "Unfortunately."

Leaf: "And that bowl haircut. Say, why did you choose that?"

Ness: "I didn't. My hairstylist messed up and my hair just refused to grow."

Leaf: "Wow, that sucks."

Ness: "I know. And go figure, now my hair grows fast."

Leaf: "That's funny. Anyway, go on."

Ness: "During brawl, that's when I used my powers the most. It was… Bad."

Leaf: "I don't blame you. I'd do the same. I'd still do it all the time."

Ness: "I became too reliant. Also life back then was numb. Everything was boring."

Leaf: "This sounds like depression."

Ness: "Still on it."

Leaf: "I feel that."

Ness: "But I'm better. A lot better actually. I stopped being lazy since ultimate."

Leaf: "What made you change?"

Ness: "Uh…" (Tina did. But I can't tell her that. I don't want anyone to know I have a crush on her. What if Leaf tells Tina! I would die from embarrassment.) "I don't know, I guess I finally woke up."

Leaf: "At least you finally got there."

Ness: "Yep! I try not to rely on my powers. Besides, I like a good challenge. Even if it sucks in the moment, it's rewarding later; like cleaning Sonic's shoes for example."

Leaf: "What?"

Ness: "He's disgusting."

Leaf: "Why'd you clean his shoes?"

Ness: "I had to."

Leaf: "Were they gross?"

Ness: "Very much so."

Leaf: "And you didn't use your powers?"

Ness: "No. I like the challenge."

Leaf: "Are you some kind of masochist?"

Ness: "I'm starting to think I am."

Leaf: "You need help."

Ness: "I know."

Leaf: "You talk about Sonic a lot. Is he the new Lucas?"

Ness: "No, of course not! No one could replace Lucas."

Leaf: "I dunno, sounds like Sonic's becoming your new BFF."

Ness: "Gross."

Leaf: "Just somethin' I've been noticing."

Ness: "Eww. I do talk about him often, don't I? He needs to leave me alone."

Leaf: "Look at you finally making friends."

She nudged him again with a playful grin. He rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the smile that tugged at his lips. "Yeah, yeah," he muttered, the warmth in his voice betraying his amusement.

She giggled softly, her eyes darting over to her desk. With a mischievous glint in her gaze, she pointed at the scattered items that were on their laps—a notebook, fountain pen, and scrapbook. "Hey, could you use your psychic powers to put all this stuff away?"

Her tone was light, teasing, as though the idea of him tidying up with telekinesis was an everyday request.

Ness: "You just want to see it, don't you?"

Leaf: "I doooo."

He let out an amused sigh, his lips curling into a slight grin as he raised his hand with a casual flourish. The items around him—pen, notebook, scrapbook—lifted into the air, suspended by the force of his focus. With a smooth flick of his wrist, he guided them toward the desk, his hand moving fluidly as though directing a symphony. The objects drifted effortlessly, aligning themselves neatly atop the desk with a soft thud.

Leaf's eyes widened in awe, her face lighting up as she clapped her hands together in genuine excitement. "Oh my god! That was soooo cool!" she exclaimed, her voice tinged with amazement. "I wish I could do that!"

Her enthusiasm was infectious, she admired his effortless display of power. He scratched the back of his head, a nervous laugh escaping his lips. Despite trying to appear nonchalant, he couldn't hide the warmth spreading across his face. He really liked the positive feedback—he wasn't used to it, especially not from a cute girl.

A soft blush crept up his neck, and his heart thudded faster than usual. Why is this making me feel like this? He thought, trying to shake off the sensation. But it was impossible to ignore. He knew he shouldn't be feeling this way. They're just friends. Still, at the end of the day, he was just a guy who rarely got compliments, and even less so from a girl.

Leaf: "Could you pick me up?"

Ness: "I… Could."

Leaf: "Do it!"

Ness: "Uh—haha… I uh… S-sure."

He focused his energy, his brow furrowing slightly as he concentrated. Slowly, with a subtle flick of his wrist, Leaf began to rise off the bed, her body gently lifted into the air. It wasn't high—just enough to demonstrate his control, to prove that he could do it. The moment she felt herself rise, her eyes widened in excitement, and she gasped, the sound almost a squeal of delight.

Her laughter bubbled up from her chest, light and carefree. "I've never been picked up like this before!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine amusement. The way she laughed made him feel a little less nervous, though the warmth still lingered on his cheeks.

He gently lowered her back down, his energy easing as her butt touch the bed once again. A nervous chuckle escaped him. "Was it fun?" he asked, his voice a little more uncertain than he meant it to be.

She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "It was amazing!" she said, her smile wide and genuine, her delight clear in every word. The sound of her joy made him feel a little lighter, his nerves easing just a bit as her positive reaction washed over him.

Leaf: "You're so cool, Ness."

Ness: "Haha… I'm not that cool."

Leaf: "Oh! Also I didn't forget but you gotta play guitar for me one day."

Ness: "Do I have to?"

Leaf: "You're about to join a band. I'm sure playing in front of a person isn't nearly as bad as a whole audience."

Ness: "True. But the audience is such a bunch of strangers."

Leaf: "Aww, am I special or somethin'~?"

Ness: "It's worse when you know someone."

Leaf: "Hahaha~"

Ness: "I'm not the best honestly."

Leaf: "You always say that."

Ness: "Because it's true."

Leaf: "No, you're just doubting yourself. I'm sure you're great. I mean Tina said so."

Ness: "Tina's really nice."

Leaf: "I'm sure she wouldn't let someone bad be in her band."

Ness: "Fair."

Leaf: "Can't wait to hear it~ Oh! And your drawings too."

Ness: "Right…"

Leaf: "Don't be nervous. I showed you my scrapbook. I've never shown anyone before. Well, besides Red."

Ness: "I feel special~"

Leaf: "You are to me."

Ness: "!"

Leaf: "S-sorry, was that weird?"

Ness: "No. Just caught me off guard a little."

Leaf: "I didn't mean it in a weird way. I'm just happy that you and I are good friends. It's hard for me to make friends, so I'm just glad that you decided to put up with me."

Ness: "I don't get why it's difficult for you to make friends. You're a fun person to be around."

Leaf: "I get waaaay into Pokemon. Not a lot of people are into that."

Ness: "Honestly, you and I don't always talk about Pokemon. You seem curious about other things too."

Leaf: "I do?"

Ness: "Yeah like music. Also art. Plus, I'm sure there's other things you're into."

Leaf: "I do like to bake, but only poffins for my Pokemon. Everything always comes back to Pokemon."

Ness: "That's fine."

Leaf: "Is it though?"

Ness: "I'm sure you're down to do other things too."

Leaf: "Like what?"

Ness: "Well, I'm kind of into cooking. Would you like to cook with me one day?"

Leaf: "Sure!"

Ness: "See! Like that. Oh! What about video games?"

Leaf: "Not really, but I'd watch you."

Ness: "Do you like to read?"

Leaf: "I do!"

Ness: "We could play a dating simulator. Lots of reading in those."

Leaf: "You would be into dating sims."

Ness: "Haha…"

Leaf: *Giggles* "I'm so down!"

Ness: "Really?"

Leaf: "Yeah! It actually sounds like fun."

Ness: "Next time I come over I got a game we could play."

Leaf: "Ok! Can't wait~"

Ness: "Anyway, it's getting late. I'm going to head back to my place, but it was fun hanging out with you."

Leaf: "I had a good time too!"

He walked over to the door, his hand resting on the knob as he turned it slightly. The door creaked open just a fraction before he paused, lingering there as if caught by a sudden thought.

She tilted her head, her brow arching in curiosity. "What's up?"

He glanced back at her, a small, almost sheepish smile playing on his lips. "You know," he began, his tone softer now, "it's kind of weird. I never thought we'd end up hanging out like this."

Her confusion gave way to intrigue as she leaned forward slightly, listening.

"I mean, we started off as… What? Sort of enemies?" He continued, chuckling under his breath. "But now, here I am, actually looking forward to coming over again. I can't wait to show you this game I like. Isn't it crazy how things turned out?"

He met her gaze then, his expression warm, as if he couldn't quite believe the shift himself. The unspoken sincerity hung in the air, a quiet acknowledgment of how far they'd come.

Her eyes sparkled at his words, a warmth spreading through her chest that left her momentarily speechless. She wanted to tell him how much his sentiment meant to her, but no words came. Instead, she just gawked, her heart full in a way that felt almost overwhelming.

He noticed the subtle shift in her expression, the way her emotions played so clearly on her face. His own smile softened, and he added with a light chuckle, "I'm glad we turned out like this. It can only get better from here, right?"

Before she could respond, he turned back to the door, fully opening it this time. He stepped out, leaving the room with a wave over his shoulder.

Leaf stayed where she was, her gaze fixed on the door long after it had closed behind him. Her heart was racing, each beat pounding in her ears before slowly settling back to its usual rhythm.

It can only get better from here.

The words echoed in her mind, refusing to fade. What did he mean by that? Was he just talking about their friendship—or could it be something more? Her thoughts tumbled over one another, a mix of hope and uncertainty. Was that a hint? Could he… Could he have a crush on me?

Her cheeks burned at the thought, and she let herself fall back onto the bed with a soft sigh, staring up at the ceiling as the question lingered, unanswered but thrilling.