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“That last turn cut things a little bit too close for me. So I'm thinking we should probably go back to letting the ladies pick out the items.” Looking cheerful as ever, Zack looked around the room with his eyes slightly narrowed. A short while later, a smile mushroomed across his face, suggesting that he'd chosen his next player. Snatching the hat from its place, Zack quickly made his way over to you and held out the makeshift container. “How about you, are you up to playing?”

“I'm most certainly up to playing. If I wasn't, trust me, I wouldn't be here.” Working fast, just in case the missing host did come back, you reached into the hat and pulled out a small, beaded necklace. “I can't remember who this belongs to, but I'm positive that I saw someone wearing it a little bit earlier.” As you stared at the item, it hit you. “Wait, wait, I know whose this is.” Excited that you'd managed to remember, you scurried out of your seat and rushed over to Bartz. “This is yours, isn't it?”

Bartz had been watching you from the start of your turn, and knew that you held his item, so he answered without any hesitation. “Yes, it is. I would have said something, but you looked determined to figure it out on your own. I'm glad you were able to figure it out without my help.” Now on his feet, Bartz took the necklace, clasped it back in place and started for the closet.

Once both you and Bartz were inside, Zack shut the door, starting your seven minutes together. “You know, this game seemed pretty simple in theory, but in practice, it's a little different.” Suddenly flustered and nervous, you sat down on the floor and placed your hands on your lap. “I'm honestly not sure what to do now that I'm here. Seven minutes is such a short time frame. No matter what we do, we're going to be stopped before we finish.”

Not at all worried about this, Bartz leaned against the wall and placed his hands behind his head in a carefree fashion. “As long as no one tries to go overboard, I think we should be fine.”

“I hadn't planned on going overboard, but I do want something to happen.” The fact that he was making absolutely no attempt at all to move the game along was just a bit frustrating, but you said nothing. You knew he was a laid-back person, so him not doing anything to help really didn't surprise you. “Are you even interested in playing? I hate to ask you something like that, but honestly, it's kind of hard for me to tell with you.”

Your question caused him to shift uncomfortably. “Since I'm here, it would only make sense.”

“Then you're going to have to help me out. I can't do anything with you lounging against the wall like that.” Your words had come out sounding a bit snippier than you'd meant for them too, but the fact that Bartz immediately pushed himself away from the wall and sat up straight meant you'd gotten through to him. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so sharp. I guess I don't do well under pressure.”

The fact that you were considering this game to be pressuring was amusing to Bartz, but he managed to keep an even expression. “It's okay, there's no reason for you to apologize to me.”

He was no longer leaning against the wall, and you now had his undivided attention. Still, nothing at all was happening. “S-so...” Unsure what to say or do at this point, you let the word hang in there air, hoping he would decide to take initiative.

Even without you saying so, Bartz knew what you were hoping. Despite this, he hesitated before taking action. “I suppose one kiss won't hurt anything. After all, that is in a way, why we're in here.” After moving to a more comfortable position, Bartz gently took your chin in his hand and softly kissed the corner of your mouth. “There, I think that's what you wanted.”

“Yes.” Blushing horribly from the simple, innocent kiss, it was all you could do to nod. You had expected much more to happen, but now you were actually glad that he'd kept it simple. Had he not, your cheeks might have burst into flames. Thankfully, the door opened seconds after the kiss, meaning you didn't have to endure the awkward atmosphere that, in part, you had created too long.

“Hey guys, I've got some really great news. Yuffie's back and ready to take over the game again. Sorry you two didn't have a chance to have her as your host.” Leaning down, Zack placed his hand next to his mouth and whispered as quietly as he could. “So please, even if it's an act, pretend to be happy. I can't have her questioning my hosting skills.”

Even though Zack had been whispering, Yuffie heard him loud and clear. “I heard that! Stop bribing the players already.” She snorted as she readied herself to be the games hostess once more. “It's beyond pathetic.”

Description
“That last turn cut things a little bit too close for me. So I'm thinking we should probably go back to letting the ladies pick out the items.” Looking cheerful as ever, Zack looked around the room with his eyes slightly narrowed. A short while later, a smile mushroomed across his face, suggesting that he'd chosen his next player. Snatching the hat from its place, Zack quickly made his way over to you and held out the makeshift container. “How about you, are you up to playing?”

“I'm most certainly up to playing. If I wasn't, trust me, I wouldn't be here.” Working fast, just in case the missing host did come back, you reached into the hat and pulled out a small, beaded necklace. “I can't remember who this belongs to, but I'm positive that I saw someone wearing it a little bit earlier.” As you stared at the item, it hit you. “Wait, wait, I know whose this is.” Excited that you'd managed to remember, you scurried out of your seat and rushed over to Bartz. “This is yours, isn't it?”

Bartz had been watching you from the start of your turn, and knew that you held his item, so he answered without any hesitation. “Yes, it is. I would have said something, but you looked determined to figure it out on your own. I'm glad you were able to figure it out without my help.” Now on his feet, Bartz took the necklace, clasped it back in place and started for the closet.

Once both you and Bartz were inside, Zack shut the door, starting your seven minutes together. “You know, this game seemed pretty simple in theory, but in practice, it's a little different.” Suddenly flustered and nervous, you sat down on the floor and placed your hands on your lap. “I'm honestly not sure what to do now that I'm here. Seven minutes is such a short time frame. No matter what we do, we're going to be stopped before we finish.”

Not at all worried about this, Bartz leaned against the wall and placed his hands behind his head in a carefree fashion. “As long as no one tries to go overboard, I think we should be fine.”

“I hadn't planned on going overboard, but I do want something to happen.” The fact that he was making absolutely no attempt at all to move the game along was just a bit frustrating, but you said nothing. You knew he was a laid-back person, so him not doing anything to help really didn't surprise you. “Are you even interested in playing? I hate to ask you something like that, but honestly, it's kind of hard for me to tell with you.”

Your question caused him to shift uncomfortably. “Since I'm here, it would only make sense.”

“Then you're going to have to help me out. I can't do anything with you lounging against the wall like that.” Your words had come out sounding a bit snippier than you'd meant for them too, but the fact that Bartz immediately pushed himself away from the wall and sat up straight meant you'd gotten through to him. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to sound so sharp. I guess I don't do well under pressure.”

The fact that you were considering this game to be pressuring was amusing to Bartz, but he managed to keep an even expression. “It's okay, there's no reason for you to apologize to me.”

He was no longer leaning against the wall, and you now had his undivided attention. Still, nothing at all was happening. “S-so...” Unsure what to say or do at this point, you let the word hang in there air, hoping he would decide to take initiative.

Even without you saying so, Bartz knew what you were hoping. Despite this, he hesitated before taking action. “I suppose one kiss won't hurt anything. After all, that is in a way, why we're in here.” After moving to a more comfortable position, Bartz gently took your chin in his hand and softly kissed the corner of your mouth. “There, I think that's what you wanted.”

“Yes.” Blushing horribly from the simple, innocent kiss, it was all you could do to nod. You had expected much more to happen, but now you were actually glad that he'd kept it simple. Had he not, your cheeks might have burst into flames. Thankfully, the door opened seconds after the kiss, meaning you didn't have to endure the awkward atmosphere that, in part, you had created too long.

“Hey guys, I've got some really great news. Yuffie's back and ready to take over the game again. Sorry you two didn't have a chance to have her as your host.” Leaning down, Zack placed his hand next to his mouth and whispered as quietly as he could. “So please, even if it's an act, pretend to be happy. I can't have her questioning my hosting skills.”

Even though Zack had been whispering, Yuffie heard him loud and clear. “I heard that! Stop bribing the players already.” She snorted as she readied herself to be the games hostess once more. “It's beyond pathetic.”