A/N: Oh no... Not ANOTHER SoS game for me to write for! Yes, it's happening! I've decided to test the waters, and what better way than with our tropical Lulukoko hunk, Ludus? I love this man so much. His Hawaiian lines just kill me.

I split my file between him and Hinata, and I just last night got Ludus's reverse proposal aaaahh. Expect more of him until I get burnt out and decide to go with Hinata.

I've always wanted to do a series of connected one-shots like this, so here's my first attempt. I whipped up this chapter in like less than an hour so it's nothing impressive, but I'm just introducing their relationship and everything. I don't think I'll jump around too much, so this will really be more of a multi-chap that doesn't have filler chapters than anything. Err, what I mean by that is you'll see their relationship progress a little every chapter, but it won't be like one chapter they're dating, the next they're suddenly married, and then the next they're back to just dating. It'll be progressive!

Feedback is always appreciated, and I hope you enjoy it! I don't have an updating schedule or anything (tried that once), but stay tuned for more!

also made slight edits because some awkward phrasing and words made it seem like English wasn't my first language ehehe


"...lly."

A quiet groan escaped her lips as she turned over onto her other side. Not even half-awake yet, she didn't pay much mind to the next noise that sounded like a chuckle.

"Holly."

She felt her body being lightly shaken and groaned again, desperately trying to turn and avoid whatever the disruption was. The disruption was having none of it, though, so after another futile attempt she groggily opened her eyes. Blurry images of blue hair and tanned skin came into view.

"Mm... Ludus..."

She could never mistake his long hair and kind smile, not to mention his soft, soothing voice. And to think, he was here waking her up like this.

Ludus was waking her up.

Her eyes shot open, all sleepiness and feelings of ease dissipated. She looked up at him in horror, her wide-eyed gaze speaking every thought traveling through her mind.

Ludus looked more or less unconcerned, however. "Looks like you're finally awake, yeah?"

She whimpered softly and pulled the covers up over her face. "D-Don't look at me..."

He laughed heartily, and she just knew he wore that teasing grin of his. "I've been looking for a while now. And as much as I would like to continue, I need you to wake up."

"..."

Come to think of it, why was he here, anyway? She had no problems waking up by herself every morning after three seasons of disciplining herself, and usually if somebody came by her house at the crack of dawn, she would already be awake.

"You don't remember, do you?" Ludus's soft voice asked. She stayed silent under the blanket. "Yesterday was the Fruit Fiesta. It normally doesn't last that long, but the whole town celebrated... uh, us, remember?"

Hazy memories of the previous day flooded her mind until she did, in fact, remember.

Tototara brought it upon herself to announce the two's relationship, which was more or less public knowledge already after a week... But that didn't stop everybody from dragging out the ceremony and conversation, anyway.

Iluka in particular had bombarded Holly with personal questions, making sure that Ludus was actually the one she wanted and wondering if he was a real gentleman. She remembered how flustered she felt without Ludus by her side to deflect some of the questions, but luckily Siluka waltzed in before too long and dragged her twin away.

It lasted until at least nightfall, because she remembered hearing the crickets sing and Ludus walking her home and reminding her of how slender she was.

She also remembered feeling a little faint and having difficulty walking...

"Was I drinking last night?"

Holly removed the covers from her face and sat up in bed, staring directly at Ludus. He avoided her gaze, though, casting more suspicion on the situation.

"...Yeah, a bit."

"Hmm."

So that was why he was waking her up? What time was it? She glanced at her bedside alarm clock and saw it read seven-thirty.

"Ah! I overslept?!"

She made an immediate move to get out of bed, but Ludus's hand kept her firmly in place. She gazed at him questioningly, but a dull sensation in her head told her almost everything she needed to know already.

"Just rest for a little while, yeah? You outdid yourself last night."

His calm and caring expression made it just a bit easier to lie back down, though it did nothing to ease the worries which were now creeping up.

She sighed and rubbed at her head. "I can't just stay here all morning. I have to take care of the farm... and the animals..."

She couldn't believe she actually drank. Back home she would never even glance at alcohol or the like, but it was like ever since she moved out, this strange feeling of freedom overcame her and she felt like she could do anything. She was barely even old enough to drink, not to mention she wasn't too fond of most mixers and whatnot.

Ludus shook his head. "They'll just have to wait. You're in no shape to take care of anything but yourself."

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes at his overprotectiveness, but she had to admit, he had a point. She didn't need to collapse while watering her crops. If she really thought about it, she was extremely lucky to have him here right now...

"Um, I don't mean to be rude, but... why exactly did you come wake me up, anyway?" she inquired. "If you knew I was kind of, um, hungover, why not just let me sleep?"

"...Well, that's - "

He cut himself off and turned his head, seemingly not willing to answer her. That was unlike him. He was always straightforward and to the point, so why the hesitation?

"Ludus?"

"I was worried about you," he said suddenly, turning toward her with a gentle smile. His cheeks gradually heated up, causing her own to rise in temperature as well. "I saw Caolila and Zahau break out some wine after the kids went to bed, and then you asked them for some and... well, I couldn't exactly stop you."

That didn't really sound like her. Though it was a festival night, so anything went, she supposed.

Ludus sighed. "I walked you home and you leaned on me practically the whole way back, and I promised you I'd come check on you in the morning, yeah? Looks like you don't remember that, either."

Holly bit her lip, feeling both guilty and upset that she couldn't remember. After he was being so sweet, too... Dang it! Those moments were so few and far between, and she just had to get herself drunk on whatever so she didn't remember it.

"I'm sorry," she told him sheepishly, staring down at her feet. "I must have been a handful."

"No, not at all." He grabbed her hand and lightly began tracing circles on her knuckles with his thumb. "Actually, you were kind of the life of the party. You even managed to crack a smile out of Mithra with your energetic chatter." He chuckled.

She laughed with him. "Really? I wish I could remember."

"Mm... I don't."

"What?"

He took his hand back to rub his neck, glancing awkwardly around the room. "I mean... don't get me wrong, last night was fun and all, but... you were a little, uh, clingy."

"Wh-What?"

Clingy? What did that mean? And why was he getting so defensive? Did she miss something that made him flustered again?

"No, never mind," he said, brushing it off and deflating her curiosity. "I-If you don't remember, there's no point in telling you."

"No! Tell me!" she pleaded, grabbing his arm and forcing him to face her. He only lasted a second or two before turning away again.

He shook his head. "No way. It was embarrassing. I don't think the twins will let me live it down for a while."

Holly begged and pouted, but he wouldn't budge. "Fine," she conceded, crossing her arms defiantly.

He chuckled at her childish reaction. "If you really want to know, you can ask the twins. I'm sure they would just love to tell you all about it... but make sure I'm not with you, yeah?"

"...It's really embarrassing?"

Ludus nodded wordlessly.

"And can I talk to you about it later?"

He sighed. "If it'll make you happy."

She smiled a bit. "Okay. I'll be sure to pay Iluka a visit today and ask for some chai tea. That's always an invitation to talk, you know."

"...Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."

Ludus stood up and started walking towards the door. "Make sure to get some rest today. And lay off the drinks for a while, yeah? I have to get back to open the shop, but if you're feeling better, come and see me and I'll take some time off to hang out with you."

She nodded happily despite his big brotherly nagging. "Okay. I'll see you later. And, um, Ludus?"

One hand already on the doorknob, he turned back around to face her. "Hm?"

"Thanks for checking up on me." She fiddled with her fingers, trying to preoccupy herself so she wouldn't blush so much. She didn't dare look at him.

"Y-Yeah, no problem. See you, Holly."

Ludus shut the door behind him and left her to herself. She waited a minute or two to calm down, then decided to get up. Her head pounded slightly but that was nothing a quick breakfast couldn't fix.

She'd make sure to lay off the alcohol, but once she felt better she was definitely going to the seaside cafe and hear all about last night's embarrassing moments.


~CGA