Alright, this is Chapter 2 ^^

This chapter will tell how their preparation before the contest. A little bit conversation between Mikhail and Lilian also Reina and Kinsey (I still confused whether write about it or not. But, yes. I write it down.)

Hm... I've done talking about it. Please read the story!^^

Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest moon ToTT and it's characters

XXX

All the preparations were started as soon as possible. Cam was very busy stocking and placing flowers around the villages. The same thing can also be seen in Howard's café, and Yun's tea house. There will be a little banquet in front of Bluebell's town hall in the night. And as a cook, Howard and Laney wanted some special show to complete it.

"Come on, Mikhail," she persuaded him, "only you can play violin well. The juries must be stunned to hear your performance."

"I don't know, Laney," Mikhail thought doubtfully, "I just can't play my violin without enough preparation. The contest will start in two weeks, and I don't even know what to play at all."

"Come on, I know that you could do it," Laney begged him, "just one song, Mike. Please…"

"I'm not sure, but—"

"Yeah, thanks Mikhail!" Laney patted his shoulder gladly, "Don't worry! I knew you won't disappoint me. There. You could discuss how to perform it with Nori. She would play flute in that night either."

"Alright, alright," Mikhail shook his head, smiling, "I'll do it."

"Thanks, I'll see you soon," Laney ran to Kana and Hiro, who set the decorating for the café.

Mikhail walked toward Nori, and greeted her with smile, "So, how about it? Have any ideas what we should play for them?" He took seat besides her.

Nori laughed softly, "Just play as yourself and everything will be okay," she smiled to him, "You think we could do something to amaze the juries?"

"Well," Mikhail smiled, "At least we tried, right?"

Mikhail nodded understand, and looked around. Smiling gently, he felt like long time had passed since his last attendance in these villages. He realized that these villages and all the villagers had become his hometown and family.

But something was quite different here. He saw a large, tall building not far from where he sat. He never saw that building before, "Nori, what's that?"

Nori explained it, "Oh, that one? I think it was something like big freezer. Last summer was really unacceptable. The food was expired faster than normal, that's why Howard bought that to preserve their food. Georgia, Laney and I had entered that building before. That temperature inside was really freezing."

Mikhail chuckled, "I really hope that summer wasn't that deadly. I was getting enough though."

"You bet I hope that too," Nori smiled.

"Well, I think I could use some fresh air to refresh my mind," Mikhail standing from the seat, "mountain might be a great idea though."

Nori chuckled, "If you go to the mountain, you could stop in Oracle house. She and Serin was building some flower gate near her house. You think you could help them?"

"Sure," He nodded, "I beg your permission, Nori. Later."

XXX

"Okay, this should be enough," Oracle nodded satisfied, "I never think that making a flower gate was really tiring."

"But its worth it right?" Serin smiled and put off their tools lay in the ground and put them in large toolbox.

"It sure is," she looked at their result. They were making a big gate flower gate with wood and iron. With a little creativity and force, the gate was finally standing still. As final touch, they put flowers on it until the wood was fully covered with flowers. Now it looked very colorful and beautiful.

"Alright. I think we should be taking off now," Oracle nodded, "the sky was getting darker time by time."

"Sure," Serin lifted their toolbox. With the entire instrument inside, the weight was surprising enough for her. She might be fall on the ground, if there wasn't a hand holding her shoulder and kept her to stand up.

"You're not going to hurt yourself before the festival started, are you?" Mikhail's voice heard in her ears. That man took the toolbox and carried it without any trouble, "We don't want one of our precious guide hurt."

"Mikhail, thank you," Serin smiled with a little blushed on her cheek, "but I really didn't planned that you know." She lifted her eyebrow.

The guy just laughed softly, "I know that. Hi, Oracle," he greeted his friends with smile, "Anything that I could help for you two?"

"We already done it," Serin giggled, "how about it? You like it?"

Mikhail stared at the flower gate. It wasn't the best flower gate he was ever see, but the effort to finish it was the one that make it very beautiful for him, "Yes. Very pretty indeed."

Oracle and Serin smiled happily

Oracle shook her head, "Come on, we should be going. You could help to bring the toolbox to my house, Mikhail. Then you could accompany Serin to her house. It's already dark."

"Alright," Mikhail nodded, "Come on, Serin. We better go before its dark."

XXX

Kinsey walking down to his farm. He hasn't brush his cows and the day will dark soon. Hmm… He was talking to himself, guess I must work again tonight if I want to finish to weed my crops. The task to be a guide in next week festival really made him very busy. The briefing in evening and helping other villagers until night, doesn't give him much time to take care of his farm. The only chance to do it must be at the time like this. He wondered if Serin felt the same way as him.

...?

There is someone standing, leaned on his farm's fences. Is that…?

"Reina?" Kinsey ran into her.

The girl turned her head, looking to Kinsey, "Kinsey, Nori asked me to deliver the seed you bought yesterday," she handed down what she brought to Kinsey.

"Oh, thank you. But you didn't have to deliver it. I could get it tomorrow morning," Kinsey said. Reina whispered, "Don't bother it."

"Okay… say. Umm…," He felt nervous somehow. This often happen if he talks to her, "eng…care for some hot milk?"

Reina got quiet a while and mumbled, "That's not why I am here…"

"Oh, yes," Kinsey scratched his head nervously, "…sorry."

They stood in silence. The sun sank slowly. The sky glowed with orange-reddish color. The calm atmosphere was break by the sound from his barn. It seems his animals wanted to get their dinner on time.

"Looks like you've got some work to do," Reina said to him.

"Yes," Kinsey nodded, "I haven't taken care of them since afternoon."

"Hmm…would you mind if you get a little help?"

Kinsey looked at her, rather surprise himself. "Eng…no, no I wouldn't mind. But… Are you sure it's ok, Reina? It would be dark soon."

"I am sure uncle Mako will excuse me to come home late tonight," Reina nodded.

Kinsey didn't understand what Reina's purpose, but he smiled and nodded, "Alright, I get my tool first."

XXX

It's getting dark. The sun will set soon, and the sky was incredibly beautiful. Red, orange, yellow, and a little purple mixed in the sky perfectly.

"Oh, look. The sky. It's so beautiful." Serin pointed the wide atmosphere above her, "don't you think so, Mikhail?"

"Of course," Mikhail smiled and nodded, "but I preferred you to walk more carefully, Serin. The road was quite rocky."

"Well, I'll try," Serin laughed, but she do what he said and slow down her steps.

They reached the mountain top and enjoyed the scenery around. It's just so… soothing. All of the nature was warping them in calm atmosphere, very peaceful and calming to fell the way it is.

"Shall we take a rest here?" Mikhail offered to her.

"For ten minutes walks?" Serin nodded and smiled, "Sure. Guess I need it."

They sit on the bed of flowers. It's fall, but the flowers scent really is strong.

"So…how's your work progress?" Mikhail asked, "Any development so far?"

"About what?"

"Farm, of course. What else?" he look at her. Serin feels her heartbeat going faster. "Oh, um...yeah," She answered, trying to cover her nervousness, "I could handle it pretty well, but sometimes; I feel something need to take more attention."

"Like what?"

"Well, sometimes I feel that my farm work will take forever to finish. All the crops, cows, sheep, alpacas, and chicken," Serin laughed, "but I shouldn't complain. Many people help me to run this farm and I'm not going to give up yet. I'm sure my parents will agree with me though."

Mikhail heard her with smiled, "I'm sure they will. Besides, how many girls could ever run a farm herself and re-united two villages together?"

Serin blush a bit, "You're flattering me, Mikhail. I couldn't do it if Kinsey, you and the others were helping me all the time. It was me who should thank to all of you, and… I really mean it."

"Well," Mikhail laughed, "guess we should say thanks to each other then."

Serin nodded and giggled. They sat in silence.

"So, how it feel to be a guide for an important festival like this?" Mikhail asked friendly.

"Nervous, of course," answered Serin, "but seeing everybody get very excited about this festival, I should be prepared well. There isn't more room to nervous and afraid." She said likely to herself.

Mikhail smiled as he saw Serin's spirit to do her job. He took off something around his neck and put it on Serin's.

That action really surprised her. Her checks blushed, "Mi-Mikhail? What's this?" She looked at the thing around her neck. It's a…whistle?

"You could say it was an amulet."

"Amulet?" she stared at the things carefully. It's a wooden whistle with some carving around it. It looked rather old, and surely looked very precious, "for what?"

"Let's just say it could help you decrease your nervousness. Use it in case you really need it," Mikhail said, "It's a gift from someone important to me and now I lend it to you. I'm sure it will help you as it helps me before."

Someone important? Serin wanted to ask, but she couldn't say it. "Um… thanks…" she whispered, confused how she should react.

"Your welcome," Mikhail nodded with smile in his face, "well, we should walked home now. It's really late and I don't want people think that I kidnapped you tonight."

Serin laughed and follows his stepped to walk home.

XXX

There it is.

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Thanks for reading, hope you like it ^^