CHAPTER 1: 6:00am – 10:00am

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Friday, 14 of winter.

I stared at my calendar, literally beaming at the circle of that date today. It's my first year here in Mineral Town, and unlike all the farm work I have to carry out through the seasons, festivals caught my attention ultimately. It's like my limelight from the exceptionally dull routine I have to go through every day.

Frankly, harvesting crops and taking care of animals isn't really my forte and I had to admit, I'm not particularly good at it. But fortunately, all the villagers have been nothing but extremely kind to me. They accept me. That's the only thing that keeps me going every day, the entire pillar that I need to support myself to never give up. So now, I'm actually used to all the work. Minding the animals, especially.

"Look, Max. Today's the Winter Thanksgiving Festival!" hoisting up my now grown dog, I giggled as he licked on my cheek then backs away by the cold texture. I felt bad to let the poor thing outside, even if he has his own dog house. Snowy winter days are just too cold for anyone to be outside, or maybe it's just me and my sympathetic nature. Gray sneered at me when he came over for dinner on his birthday, founding Max inside the house he's been invited in, then mocked that my house smells like dog shit. It didn't take long for Max to pounce on the guy and a game of 'give-me-my-cap-back-you-damn-mutt' to take place. I have to admit, I owe this dog big time for granting me a long chain of amusement that night.

"Come on, Max! That's enough. I've got a pregnant cow that needs me," I whined after tossing the dog ball he nudged me with again. The auburn-furred dog looks disappointed after loosing to Hana on the annual Dog Race 4 days ago, thus started torturing me by doubling his training practice. When I got the ball back and opened the cabinet to store it, Max started whimpering – its usual demeanor before giving me his deadly puppy dog eyes. Noticing this, I hurried to exit the house as the master of sucking up started nibbling on the pants of my overalls. After successfully escaping the wrath of his adorable manner, I leaned on my closed door as I sighed; a cloud of water vapor escaped my mouth. A dog that smart should be illegal. Got to remember to tell Harris after this.

Just as I'm about to walk to the warmth of my barn, the corner of my eye caught someone about to enter the neighboring building. He shuffled at the doorstep, busy shedding the snow flakes off his shoulders. Glancing at that familiar form, with that large UMA print on his hat, I grinned, "Morning, Gray!"

The aforementioned person swings his head to my direction, his annoyed eyes meeting my waving arm before coldly replies, "Your mutt's spit is still dripping off my hat, damn it." I found my arm went limb as I shot him a rather apologetic grin, "You're still not over that?"

"It's freaking snowing and my hat's cold by the frosting of your demon's saliva! What do you think?!"

I blinked at him. My lips slanted, trying to hold back the laughter that's about to burst out by both his retort and the flashback of the look on his face when Max chewed his hat. Seeing I'm not about to apologize anytime soon, he turned the knob of the blacksmith door, and that's when I fall to the ground, laughing, "Okay, okay!! Hahaha!! I'm sor—HAHAH!! Sorry! I'm sorry!! Gyahahah!!! But it's just too funny seeing you suffer!"

That's the last straw for Gray. He slammed the door closed as hard as he can after he went it. I wiped off the tear leaking from my left eye with a cold hand, before clutching my sides and try to stagger up my feet. Massaging my hurting cheeks from that excessive laugh on the way to the barn, I feel partly grateful that blacksmith works right beside my farm. Annoying Gray is my daily routine perhaps. If not at Saibara's, the library is always good. Even Mary seems to enjoy Gray's irritation, despite how she countered me, trying to defend the young blacksmith.

Chuckling at the thought, I enter the double doors and instantly spot my favorite cow...or my only cow actually, "Hi Nessa! 10 more days to go! Hold on strongly, honey." Bringing out my brush, I gently brush the huge pregnant cow. My eyes instantly caught the bulging belly this cow burdened, picturing that soon it's going to be me who's the pregnant one. Shoulders dropping, my blonde hair slowly falls over my hanging face, covering a part of my darkened eyes. This cow amazingly noticed my change of mood as it mooed, snuggling its head to my arm. Nessa successfully delivered the exact message she wanted to; no matter what's going to happen to me, she's still going to be right here inside the barn, waiting for me. She planted a smile on my face too as she mooed when I stroke her head, "Oh, sorry honey, my hands are too cold, huh? At least I can't touch your udder now. Haha! Lucky you!"

Then, I move on to Aiden, my golden-wool sheep. Truth to be told, when I even see that fluffy wool on her, I remembered Doctor Trent. Probably because of my last gift to him was an armful of large wool. I still remembered what happened clearly on my head. The time when his straight face drastically changed into this strangely appealing expression; surprising me so greatly to the point of slipping backwards and knocking down some neatly stacked medical files down with me. I'm not a perfect blonde, I admit, that's why I spent an hour inside the hospital apologizing and fixing my mess, and thanking Elli for being kind enough to help me out. Truly, is being perceptive of how pale a doctor's skin lately to the point of giving him wool in consideration of knitting a decent scarf for his well-being so shocking?

Aiden brought me back to reality as she whined, showing off her golden wool, begging for me to sheer it off of her, probably. But alas, my sympathetic nature forbids me to, "It's too cold to NOT have wool, Aiden. ...And don't give me those eyes. You've been hanging out with Max a lot, huh? Well, it won't work on me, you silly sheep, it won't!"

Walking out of the barn with my rucksack containing golden wool, I dragged myself to the horse stable next. With a pout, I took my time complaining to the poor horse, "Honestly Frey, I don't get animals and their adorable eyes! And to think I don't generally like animals until you guys came stampeding in my life. ...And now I love all of you to no end. Strange how life works it way, changing us for the better like this, isn't it?" brushing the horse while chatting with him, he neighed in reply, probably bored of my selfish complaining, so I rolled my eyes and changed the topic…

"Remember last season, in autumn? The Fall Horse Race? And you remember Gray, right? Gray's there at the Fall Horse Race...it kind of surprised me 'cause in the Spring Horse Race, Zack told me he can't come because Saibara won't let him. Anyway, you know when I even step 10 meter radius near him, he'll be seething at me for stealing the air he breathes or something...but, Frey! He actually smiled at me there that time! Seriously, I totally forgot the biting sentence I reserved for him in my head. I don't know, he said something about there's no 'old man' around that day, and went on how excited he is to be there. And you know something?! He said something about you! I was so surprised he even know you exist here—"

A loud neigh.

"Shush, I'm not finished. I was hacking my brain to remember if I mentioned you in any of our debates and tongue wars--"

A louder neigh.

"Huh? What do you mean he met you?"

An acknowledging neigh.

"...You've got to be kidding me! When?! Did he beat you up?! Don't worry, I'll storm to him right now with my axe--"

An ear-busting neigh.

"Okay, okay!! Calm down, boy! Calm down... Did he, by any chance, give you carrots?"

No neigh at all.

"Aww, Frey!! Come on!! Now I have to THANK him! You know how much he hates my guts! Goddess!"

A nudge on the side of my face.

"...Max taught everyone his lethal tricks, does he?"

A rather innocent neigh.

"I have to strangle that dog one day..."

It's surprising to see just how amazing these animals are when you're living with them. Every word you said, they're ready to hear despite their blank look, and it almost seems like they understand what you're saying, especially when you look right in their eyes, those deep black understanding eyes. Everyone in the village are kind, sure, but the only creatures that I turn to when I need a listening ear...is the animals. MY animals. ...My family.

Frankly, being a farmer isn't so bad.

Heading towards the chicken coop, I rubbed both of my hands. Only 5 minutes being outside and winter's air is already working its way, stinging my skin. Now that I think about it, I don't have any other clothes besides this overall. No scarves, jackets, mittens! Especially mittens! Curse that wrecking ship...why don't my suitcase just magically reach Mineral Town beach, anyway... Ah well, good thing I got used living here. Entering the chicken coop, I grinned at all the 8 chickens clucking their way at my presence, "Miss me, everyone?!"

15 minutes passed, when suddenly the door of the chicken coop flung open and there stood a shivering spectacled young man outside with bags of sacks in his arms. I turned to the door, surprised to see him. He shot me the same look. A moment of silence descended...until the chickens' clucking brought both of us back.

"Claire?"

"Rick?"

"You're sitting inside a chicken coop...and your chickens are sitting all over you..."

"I was talking to them."

"You're talking...to chickens?"

"Hearing that coming out from you out of all people is very surprising, Rick."

"I meant that as a compliment, actually."

"Oh. Then, thanks...? Wait, what are you doing here anyway?"

"I forgot to send you the chicken feed you ordered yesterday, so uhm...sorry. Here, I got it right now."

"Oh, thanks Rick!! I was thinking to dig up some worms just now. That's what I was talking about with the chickens."

"I love you, Claire."

"Ha-ha, very funny. Now, come on. Give me a hand here."

I stood up after he lend a hand to help, and we both take our time sprinkling chicken feed inside the feed boxes then collect the eggs. When we're done using the Mayonnaise Maker and toss some large mayonnaises into the shipping bin there, I asked if he'd like a hot cup of drink inside my house, which he gratefully accepts. After stepping outside the sanctuary of the chicken coop, we were greeted by the sudden harsh gust of winter gale. Still not used with winter milieu, my muscles tightened by the extremely cold air, all my limbs twitched, and unintentionally elbowing poor Rick behind me also. As fate descended, the poor man tumbled down on the snow with a thud, startling me.

"Oh Goddess! Rick!! I'm so sorry!!" I instantly pull him up, so quickly that he ended up plummeting on top of me. While falling backwards, time seemed to stop as I suddenly caught the view so clearly in my head, so accurately, even the tiny flakes of snow that rains on us, but particularly how horrified Rick looked...since he's only about a few inches apart from my face. Some vapor escaped my mouth by his weight, and instead of whining in pain, I ended up snorting, stifling, then finally laughing as Rick, alarmed that he accidentally touched my bosom, startled in his continuous apology. Seeing him literally kneeling and bowing at me like I'm some divine goddess was hilarious as hell. It took me quite some time to calm him down, when I finally noticed something different about the chicken farmer, "Rick, where's your glasses?" He replied a dumbfounded, "Huh?" and we're both off hunting for his spectacles. After circling and spreading our arms on the snow near the area where we fall, I finally saw a shimmer of light near the bridge.

"Oh! There it is!" literally jumping over the kneeling Rick and satisfyingly picking up the glasses, I kneel in front of the chicken farmer as he lifts his head up towards me. I blinked at his slightly freckled face before smiling wide, "Rick, has anyone ever told you how cute you look without your glasses?"

That made his face colored to deep red. I giggled like a typical blonde should as I carefully place the glasses on him, smiling sincerely. He grows even redder at that, and I can't help but to burst into my signature laughter, "Aww! You have this amazing shade of red when you're like this, it's so funny!!" His expression plunged down as he stood up, "Congratulations for embarrassing me, Claire. Right in front of a girl, of all things."

"Aw, cheer up! At least it's a farmer girl!" I stood with a grin, secretly feeling rather taken aback by my own words. Though a bit bothered by it, I managed to keep myself balanced as Rick didn't seem to even notice my shadowed eyes. He still didn't look too happy though as he started to walk off, "Well, you just ultimately destroyed my masculinity, Claire. Just so you know." That answer didn't sound too funny as it's supposed to seem, so I ran passed him just to turn around and look at Rick right in the eyes, "I'm sorry, alright? Sorry for laughing at you. Please don't be angry, I don't need another Gray in my life."

"Pfft..."

"...Rick?"

"Ah-hahaha!!"

"Rick!!"

"Hahah!! Oh Claire, you should see your face just now!!"

"I can't believe you!"

"Hah! Well, now we're even!"

"...Fine! Come on, let's get some hot milk, I'm freezing."

Five minutes after that, I found myself tongue-tied sitting across Rick inside my house, sipping hot milk. Spots of snow were all over us now due to the fall we had earlier. It was worth a picture to laugh at actually, but the silence between us is just way too awkward. So, I was just about to start a conversation when the chicken farmer beats me to it, "Do you really mean it?" I blinked, "Um, you've...got to be more specific, Rick."

"Do you mean what you said?"

"Again, with the specific requirement."

"T-that thing you said without my glasses..."

I snickered, "You took that compliment to heart, did cha?"

His eyes frowned for his mouth.

Seeing that reaction, I quickly responded, "W-well! Of course I mean it! You have a pair of beautiful blue eyes, you know?"

Again that incredibly amusing shade of red returned, and I would've offended him again by bursting into a hysterical fit of laughter right at that moment if Max didn't save me from it by literally hopping on my lap and licked my cheek, making me laugh anyhow, but would give the wrong impression that I'm laughing because Max tickled me. And I should say this again; I owe this clever dog big time.

Rick tries to finish his drink quickly after that, probably to hide his flushing face, giving me plenty of time to compose myself to stop laughing. Max stared up at me with those meaningful black beads of his, doubtlessly trying to say something to me. I didn't quite catch what this smart dog is trying to say, as I'm desperately trying to stop my stifling laughter by clutching my sides. That attempt isn't successful, though Rick's reply did...

"Thanks. And right back at you, Claire."

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(A/N: THUS...ended Chapter 1~! And, no, this ain't a whole ClaireXRick thing...in fact, the pairing depends on how YOU look at it. ^____^ Will write further if I receive positive feedbacks. Constructive criticism is also needed. My writing's too simple, I know, but I'm trying. ^^; Please read and review!! THANK YOU~!!!)