What made different towns interesting was the fact that they had their very own festivals that were regularly held. Bluebell had the Cooking Festival and Oak Tree Town had the Fashion Show. Everybody was sent a memo that informed today's theme: the color blue. As I was not familiar with how the competition went, I decided not to participate and simply enjoyed being the spectator. I was surprised to find a catwalk attached for the models to showcase their outfit. These people took it seriously.

Fashion was never much in my radar. I simply wore what I remembered my father did, the basic vest, shirt, and tie. Howard had more freedom to dress me when I was younger, there was even an occasion where he let me use his apron but once I passed a certain age, I chose my own outfit. Now that I was in a new town, I'd changed my style to be more presentable by wearing a formal jacket with a knitted sweater vest. Accompanied by my never changing theme: the color purple. The reason I picked that color was because of my surname. I was born to the name Siseli. When I started my interest in flowers, I read a book that mentioned the Latin word siseli translated to the meadow saxifrage flower. It had varieties of color but when I saw the vibrant purple one, I took a liking to it. It gave me a sense of belonging, a connection between my family that I never knew and my passion.

I snapped back to reality when the winner was announced. I wasn't surprised to hear that it was Marian, the pink-oriented doctor who seemed to know his ways around fashion. He, or she as she often referred herself as, took the reward from Veronica before gracefully accepting the congratulations given by all the other villagers. Soon, the stage was taken down and all of the out-of-towners left the Trade Depot while the locals spread into small groups to chat with one another. This was my least favorite part of any competitions. It had only been a few days since I came here so I hadn't the time to be closed with anyone yet. Leaving early was not an option either because I did not want to seem antisocial. In the end, I sighed in defeat as I made my way towards Klaus.

"A win is a win but I won't lose next time!" a confident voice rose from the group beside me. It belonged to Elise, the rich aristocrat farmer with a mansion for a house. Her thick blond hair bounced as she laughed gloatingly at her audience. During our first meeting, I was brought on a tour to admire her estate and it didn't take me long to realize that she wasn't really a farmer. Unlike Lillian, she never touched any of her produce since she had her servants do that for her. When I inquired about her soil and method of growing, she sent me to her gardener Nadi, the supposedly mean looking neighbor of mine, instead. Shame that the only girl farmer here didn't even cut close to how amazing Lillian was.

Nadi was standing nearby his boisterous master as she chatted with her fellow farmer. "It's simply because the room in my mansion couldn't house all of my beautiful outfit. I'll have you know that if it did, it would be an easy win for me. Ho ho ho ho!"

Ibuki simply laughed back and replied with a friendly, "I'm looking forward to see you win," before he turned to Nadi who welcomed his conversation. I avoided eye contact with the group as I passed by them. Chatting with Elise really drained my energy and so I only talked to her if I really had to.

The suit wearing man was in his own group of young adults, all four of them chatting about their different sense of fashion. Klaus, Iris and Mistel seemed to have a similar style that reminded me of people depicted in books of Old England. Not too surprising considering the siblings were in the antiquities business. Agate, on the other hand, simply looked like she was always ready to work with her safari outfit.

"…Hey," I awkwardly greeted as I shuffled myself between Mistel and Agate. Being around Iris made me quite nervous not just because of her looks but because of … well, her … mature … proportions. The outfit didn't help either and instead it was purposefully used to enhance the, uh, size. Probably like any man who first met her, I had a hard time maintaining eye contact.

"Hello there, Kamil. Were you inspired by the fashion we saw today?" Alas, the elegant lady turned her attention to me.

I tried to recall the whole event that I was vaguely following. "Um … well, I'm not quite sure." I involuntarily scratched my head as a nervous tick. "Can't say about the girl's fashion but I liked the last guy. I liked his checkered scarf."

"Oh, you mean the blue work clothes. I like it too. Plus, it's convenient to work in. Double points for fashion and action, am I right?" Agate, whom I've never seen wearing a skirt, swung her arm for added effect.

"I suppose so. I never really thought much on work clothes." I spread out my purple jacket for him to see. "I just replaced my purple vest with this jacket so it works for all seasons."

Klaus studied my outfit carefully. "But wouldn't you get hot during summer? I'm lucky my work allowed me to stay indoors but when I do have to leave, I immediately soak in these."

I had to agree with him. He seemed to be wearing double or even triple layers of outfit. Even looking at him made me sweat.

"I haven't had the chance to experience summer here but back in Bluebell, I rolled my sleeves and worked under the shade. Then again, we were pretty high up so summer was cool and breezy." I made a mental note to increase my indoor research time during summer. That way I wouldn't need to change.

"How envious. I've always wanted to experience the mountain, in a lodge house but I bet deliveries would be mortifying." Mistel, the shortest of us men, spoke with grand words. Something that he picked up from his novelist sister perhaps.

I voiced out my agreement stating the lack of traffic that came to our place and how our village had to rely on self-sustainment to survive in comparison to this town. It was settled that Oak Tree Town had the best prospect for our type business.

"And it's all thanks to our wonderful farmers who had been working hard in bringing new traders," Iris said, puffing out her chest slightly as she opened her arms in a grand gesture.

"Or one farmer in particular. I never seen our town grew this fast until Ibuki came along," Mistel somewhat sarcastically added.

At the mention of his name, Ibuki popped in beside Iris, unperturbed by their distance. My respect for him has increased.

"What's this? Talking about me behind my back, huh?" he said good-naturedly.

"And would you kill us if you do? Seek revenge and overtake our town?" This, surprisingly, came from Iris.

"Please don't give him ideas for the sake of your book," Klaus sighed disapprovingly while Agate and Ibuki laughed as if it was a joke. Which I really hope it was.

"Please excuse my sister," Mistel turned to me after sensing my discomfort, "she's currently in research mode for her new book."

"Oh?" I answered, unable to hide my surprise, "I thought she wrote period piece romance."

"Amongst others. But nothing gets your blood pumping than being kidnapped at a masquerade ball, forcing your lover to search for you as you two struggled to solve the mysteries that only love can conquer!" Iris started an intense monologue that forced Mistel to drag her with him.

"Well, nice knowing you all. You will see my sister after her deadline," he joked as the siblings excused themselves; Iris was still spewing out ideas aloud.

The crowd began to disperse soon after that and I found myself in my room writing a letter to Howard as promised.

"Dear Howard," I scribbled. The letter continued on to describe the fashion show and my opinion of it. It also mentioned my rejected request in applying for a flower field from Veronica. "She said it's only for the farmers. So I've been checking out Giorgio's flowers. His farm is like a flower haven. I'm thinking of buying them for my bouquet orders."

Not being able to sell my flowers here was horrible. I couldn't make as much money as I hoped. Thankfully I still received orders from other cities and occasional requests of potpourri from the women or flower arrangements for their houses here. The doctor was my best client as she—like Giorgio—enjoyed seeing a fresh beautiful flower.

After finishing my letter, I folded it inside an envelope. My hand reached out to the alpaca plushy that I got from Lillian. I never realized that plushies could be so comforting. There were times when I would sneak in Laney's room as a kid just to steal a hug from one of her bunnies but I thought I was over that age when, in fact, the little alpaca had often saved me from my low self-esteem attack. I quickly drafted another letter to thank Lillian and update her with my ventures. She didn't write back as often as I hoped, being busy with her farm work, and from the updates shared by Howard it sounded like she was expanding her farm both in Bluebell and Konohana. It made me wonder if she had time to spend with Mikhail. Would it cause some rift in their relationship? Of course, I wished her nothing but happiness yet …

'I'm still human,' I reasoned.

It was another week later when I heard a knock in my room.

"Post!" the voice said sounding very familiar. Lo and behold, it was Dirk!

"What are you doing here?" I happily shook his hand. Though we weren't that close, it was nice to see someone I knew from home.

"Had to deliver something at a nearby town so I thought I'd drop by. Been meaning to do it earlier but never really got the chance," he said, tipping his hat.

He quickly handed me my letters and, after being reminded of our hunger by our stomach, I invited him out for lunch.

"So is Reina here yet?" Dirk looked around once we got our orders from Raeger.

"Not yet but she should be here soon. It's almost summer," not that the season mattered but I mentioned it anyway.

"That's weird. She left almost a week before I did. Technically she should be here, at least since yesterday."

"Really?" I frowned. Reina did mention that she was ready to follow me in her last letter but I assumed that she'd arrive safely. Now I was starting to worry.

"She does tend to get distracted… Do you happen to know which route she took?"

"I believe she took the road past the valley. It does take longer but it had a scenic view so I suggested it."

My heart sank, fearing the worst. "Don't tell me, it had a flower view?" If my assumption was right, then Reina got lost because of her love for observation.

"Yeah! There's also small forest with a beautiful stream and flowers that only grow there. Did you go there too?"

'No, because I might get distracted,' I gritted my teeth, unsure who I was angry at. It really wasn't Dirk's fault. He didn't know that Reina had that habit.

"Can you show me where it is before you leave? I'll go and pick her up."

"Sure," Dirk took out a folded map that looked battered with age from his bag. He pointed at where Oak Tree Town was before dragging his finger down a road with green patches around it. "If she followed the road, she should be somewhere here. I'm sure she's okay. There's a traveling inn nearby that she's probably staying in."

Probably and should be weren't exactly calming me down. I quietly ate my lunch while thinking of a plan. I had to borrow a horse and the only person I knew that had one was Ibuki. Well, him and the great farmer Elise but did I mention I didn't like talking to her?

I apologized to Dirk for cutting our reunion short and immediately dashed to the farmer's house. Thankfully he was trotting on his way to the rice paddies.

"Huh. Quite rare to see you rush like that, Kamil," he commented when he saw me.

"Sorry, I've no time to explain but can I borrow your horse? It's really urgent."

Ibuki was halfway dismounting his horse when he stopped at my request. He raised his brow trying to read my expression. I wasn't sure what he saw but not soon after, he smiled and handed the reigns to me.

"Sure. Her name is Eda. Be gentle with her," he said, patting his horse lovingly. I'd seen those eyes from being friends with Georgia and Kana to know what it meant. I nodded my thanks before heading out to one of the town's exit.

It was almost dark when I reached the traveling inn that Dirk mentioned but when I inquired inside, no one by the name of Reina was lodging there. I asked if I could borrow a flashlight, explaining briefly that a friend might've been lost in the forest nearby. It didn't take long for my request to be met. After a few good lucks and reassurance, I left the inn on foot having left the horse in their stable right when the sun had set.

My heart was pounding. Every train of thought was imagining the worst. 'How long had she been lost? Did she have enough food? How did she sleep? Did she travel on foot or with a cart? Were there any wild animals here?'

"REINA!" I called out as I reached the edge of the forest. The only answer I got was the silent hum of the night. I tightened my hand on the flashlight and braved into the forest. There was no point in staying on the road if I wanted to search for her because she would have definitely wondered in. It felt like I had walked for a few kilometers without any signs of life and so I shouted her name once more. Not far from my position, I could hear a faint sound of flowing water.

'The river!' I recalled Dirk's information and immediately made my way towards the sound of water. There was no one by the river but if I wanted to find someone who was researching rare plants, I'd be looking by the riverbank. So I did. I ran upstream with my flashlight flying left and right until it accidentally shone on something that was caught in the water. It was a piece of cloth.

Noticing the spotted pattern, I jumped into the water causing my trousers to soak all the way up to my thighs. By just glancing I knew that it was Reina's headband, the one that she always wore in Konohana. 'But why was it in the water?' I dared to ask. My throat tightened and I choked out another scream.

"R-Reina! Can you hear me?" 'Please tell me you're alive,' I silently prayed as I wade to the other side of the river, having lost my sense of direction during that moment of panic. My shoes were soaked and my trousers were heavy but I didn't care. I was too busy glancing around for any other signs of my lost friend. That was when I noticed an orange light glowing deep within the forest.

'Fire!' I dashed towards it, scratching myself on a few sharp bushes in the process. The light was growing brighter as I grew closer and I could see that it was flickering so it could only mean that it was a bonfire of some sort. 'Please be okay. Please be okay. Please! Be okay!'

The sound of my heartbeat overpowered the sound of the rustling and snapping branches around me, and as I reached the clearing I was able to make out the bonfire before I felt a sudden pain at the back of my head.

THWACK!

Caught off guard, I lost my balance and would have lost my consciousness as well had they'd been someone stronger. Still, the force was enough to push me on the ground. I heard a woman's gasp and a sound of a heavy object being dropped. If I wasn't so dizzy and in pain, I would've laughed in relief after recognizing that voice. It was hers.

"I … I'm terribly sorry. I thought you were …" she paused before letting out another gasp, "Cam?!"

"You thought right," I managed a hoarse chuckle, trying to sit upright.

"Oh my goodness! Cam! Are you hurt anywhere?" Which was probably a foolish question since it was obvious where she had hit me but given both our surprised state, I let it pass.

"Just where you hit me. I think there's a bump now," I answered in a joking manner, feeling much more relieved to be able to do so. Reina, unfortunately, didn't get the hint.

"Really?" she reached out in a panic and actually found a bump there, "oh no! We'll need to put ice on it. And medicinal leaves! We might have to consider cutting your hair."

She was reaching for something in her pouch when I heard her comment. I immediately grabbed her hand effectively pulling it away from anything that could threaten my hair.

"No need to go to that extreme. I'll just sleep it off."

The botanist didn't answer right away, possibly caught off guard by my reaction. It was only when I saw her slight blush that I realized I was a bit too close for comfort. I let go of her hand and faked a cough as I stood up.

"I-in any case, I'm glad you're okay," I thought of offering my hand to help her up but thought better of it. Besides, she didn't really need my help just to stand up; she wasn't that weak!

'And yet you were in such a panic thinking that she needed your help to find her.'

"Why wouldn't I be okay?" Reina looked at me curiously, "it's not like this is my first time traveling. I told you about my trips with Uncle Mako, right?" She sat close by the fire and, with her hand protected by her skirt, took a metal pot that was left cooking there—something that I didn't see in the split second before my attack.

"Right…" I mumbled my answer, feeling pretty stupid. Of course she had mentioned that her uncle always tasked her to make camp. In my over-reaction, my brain wasn't able to analyze said information and instead went overboard with horror stories. I took my place across her, sprawling my legs out to dry them.

Reina noticed this and raised an eyebrow at me, "were there flood?"

"Funny. No, I got wet from crossing the stream," I sarcastically answered, switching my position to come closer to the fire without actually getting burned.

"There's a perfectly sturdy bridge you could've used," she stated.

"I couldn't see,"

"… forgot you had a flashlight?"

"… Maybe we can cross it later when we head to town," I avoided her curious stare. There was no way I would admit my uncool lack of judgment. In fact, this whole night was going be a secret from her. She didn't need to know my failed attempt at being a hero.

"We're heading there tonight?"

"You're thinking of spending the night here?" I asked in disbelief. Reina's answer was to look at her makeshift tent that she probably brought along with her and shrugged. She was definitely no damsel in distress. I had to say I admired her.

"I don't think we'd both fit in there,"

My sarcastic comment was met with a loud sound from her pot being dropped the ground. 'Now who was being over-reacting?' I mused. She quickly picked it up like nothing had happened and finished whatever was inside it.

"Then you'd have to help me pack," she ordered as she began to put her things in a cloth sack. I was smiling to myself when I was taking down her tent. I had this odd feeling of satisfaction knowing that her unchanging mask could be slightly removed by something I said or did.

With the two of us working together, Reina's small basecamp was no more and we soon crossed our way back to the edge of the forest. Strange how the return journey was always faster than when I started. I inquired her lack of horse cart on the way back and her answer was as scholarly as ever: to easily keep an eye on rare samples she'd found on the road. Based on her excited expression, she was sure to have found a lot.

Even though we avoided sleeping in a small tent side by side, there was no way to avoid riding the horse together. This time, she didn't comment on anything when I helped her up the horse saddle, and when I took my place behind her.

I quickly brought the horse to a gallop, pushing Reina off balance and into my arms before she quickly mumbled an apology and straightened back up. She was holding her cloth sack in front of her because there was nowhere else to put it so that left her back exposed for many other bumping that occurred on our journey back.

'She feels nice and warm,' I caught myself thinking before shaking those thoughts away. 'Must be the cold night air talking.'

My wet trouser didn't help with the cold either, and instead, made me shiver whenever I tried to go a little faster. When one of her braided hair reached my shoulder, I noticed that she wasn't wearing her usual bandana.

"Did you lose your bandana in the river?" I shouted over the galloping noise.

Reina managed to turned her face halfway before immediately snapping her head back in place. She shouted her answers as well. "Yes! When I refilled my water bottle yesterday!"

"Yesterday? How long have you been out there?"

"Not too long. It was going to be my third night today."

"That's pretty long for a woman to be alone in the forest. Why didn't you stay at the inn instead?"

"And lose the chance to observe the plant twentyfour-seven?" she scoffed and I could imagine her giving me one of her mocking stares.

"Or you could've arrived at the town first and brought me with you. I could be of use."

"The flowers might've been gone by then."

It was then that I learned that there was no arguing with a plant-loving botanist about research. I admitted my defeat and the two of us fell into silence. Somehow, it didn't feel as awkward as before. It almost felt comfortable. Just two people, enjoying the night travel. Accompanied silence.

About two hours had passed until we finally saw the gate of the town. There were no more open vendors and no one that guarded the trading post. I brought Reina straight to the inn to let her check in. I unmounted first and offered my hand to help her only to be given the sack bag.

"Thanks," she mumbled, and got down from the other side of the horse, way across from me.

"No problem," I answered somewhat dumbstruck.

Maurice had been sleeping already so I knocked on the door of his room. Thankfully, the man was a light sleeper and we soon had him assist Reina despite already wearing his pajamas. He even had a nightcap on. I informed him about the horse I borrowed from Ibuki and the man assured me that he'd be the one returning it to the farmer. After a short argument on who should do it, I admitted my second defeat—too tired from the night's event—and headed into my room.

When I passed by Reina's room, she opened her door and was already in her nightgown; it was an aquamarine gown that gently grazed her ankle. The shoulder was puffier than the others but I could see her shoulder as it was made of sheer fabric. The rest of her gown was made of two layers; the sheer fabric was covering a silky piece underneath. Seeing her like that: peeking through the crack of the door, her hair loose over her shoulder, black against the light aquamarine, made it hard for me to breathe.

"J-just want to say thanks …" she whispered nervously, "y'know, for picking me up."

Then, without waiting for my answer while masterfully avoiding my eyes, she closed the door leaving me glued to the floor for a good three minutes.

That night, I dreamt of the ocean.

It was aquamarine.

AN:

Yes, I know. I suck at updating. For many reasons, I've kept myself from finishing the chapters. Other than "oh I was busy", I also wanted to make sure that I was able to write their characters properly, that they'd react in a way that fits them, etc. Even now I still didn't think I did a good job with Reina but then it's mostly because she barely appear here. It's kind of hard finding balance between leading them for the plot and staying true to the characters. Especially since, supposedly, their characters has changed a bit in Oak Tree Town.

Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. I gave Cam a last name; something that I've prepared way before I started this story. (Seriously though, I've prepared my own backstory for both Cam and Reina with parents and all that! They live in my world now. MY WORLD!) I even have an explanation as to why Reina's name will change to Licorice in the next chapter.

This time, I will update a bit faster and won't keep you lovely readers waiting too long. If we're both lucky, fast means a week from now. If not, then I'll see on the next update!

PS: feel free to point at any grammatical errors or any weird sentence structure. I did not have a beta reader this time (or in my future chapters possibly) so there might be things I missed especially when it comes to the longer descriptions. I will update and change whenever I/someone notice these errors.

Thanks!