BFDI AND II ONESHOT BOOK!

Tengolf: Read Your Mind

Golf Ball invents a mind-reading device, but when she turns to Tennis Ball as her usual test subject, he seems more reluctant than ever, what's holding him back?

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Golf Ball had finally completed her latest invention, a device capable of reading anyone's mind with pinpoint precision. At least, in theory. She hadn't yet conducted a proper field test. For weeks now she had spoken to Tennis Ball about it, detailing every technical specification and projected outcome, and he had always seemed interested enough to listen. But when it came down to actually testing the prototype, he was suddenly nowhere to be found.

Strange. Very strange. Normally, Tennis Ball was always at her side, reliable, compliant, and more than willing to assist her with experiments, no matter how tedious. Why then, on the exact day she needed him most, was he conspicuously absent?

Golf Ball paced, tapping one foot against the sleek casing of her invention. It wasn't as though she lacked other test subjects. If she wanted, she could grab someone like Nickel, his mind would hardly present much of a challenge. But no, that wouldn't do. To truly determine the machine's capabilities, she required a subject with depth, a mind worth probing. Tennis Ball's intellect, though not on her level of course, was structured and analytical enough to serve as a worthy benchmark.

And besides... it was unlike him to refuse her. He had never once declined to be her test subject before. So what made this invention different? Why was he dodging her now?

"Hrm... where is he?" Golf Ball muttered, scanning the hotel's lounge and corridors. No sign of him. The more she searched, the more curious she became. It wasn't avoidance born of laziness, she would have noticed that. No, there was purpose in his absence. Purpose implied fear, or perhaps secrecy. Both possibilities unsettled her.

She stopped where TV sat idly humming. "Have you seen Tennis Ball?" she demanded.

"Hmm... I think he's with Pen and Eraser," TV replied.

Golf Ball froze. Pen and Eraser? That was... illogical. Tennis Ball hardly ever spent time with them. Their conversations lacked substance, and he had always made it clear that their brand of nonsense exhausted him. So why, of all people, would he choose them over assisting her?

Her eyes narrowed. "Curious," she murmured. "Highly irregular."

Now her determination only sharpened. If Tennis Ball was deliberately choosing their company instead of hers, there had to be a reason. A reason Golf Ball would uncover. If he thought he could hide behind those two dimwits to avoid her experiment, he was mistaken. Whatever made him nervous about the device, she would drag it into the light, piece by piece, until she had her answer.

And then, whether he liked it or not, the test would proceed.

Golf Ball finally spotted him outside, lingering with Pen and Eraser of all people. The three of them huddled close, voices low, like conspirators whispering something forbidden. Golf Ball's eyes narrowed. This was no ordinary chat. Tennis Ball's posture was tense, his voice almost trembling.

"It's not that I don't want to help Golfie, I just... I can't. If she ever found out that I—"

The moment Tennis Ball's eyes met hers, his words cut off like a wire had snapped. He stiffened, turning away in a pitiful attempt at casual whistling, as though they hadn't just locked in direct eye contact.

Pen and Eraser exchanged uneasy glances, then leaned in to reassure him.

"Dude, relax," Pen muttered. "It's not even that serious. Just... when she tests it, think about something else. Math problems, random shapes, whatever."