Chapter 2:
Hiro walked way to slow for me. Maybe it's because my legs are longer than his, but man did he walk slow.
We left the town and were on the outskirts now. There was a large opening to a tunnel going into a mountain, a horse farm, and tunnel of trees with a small path leaving into them. I was staring into the darkness of the tunnel when Hiro called out my name.
"Hey Phil! Get over here! There's someone I want you to meet!"
I turned around and stared into two really dark brown eyes. This guy was buff. And I mean buff. He hand like two huge arm muscles with a wrap around tattoo. And to top it off, he ripped off his sweat shit sleeves. His hair was long and tied back into a ponytail.
"The name's Kana. I run the horse farm here in Konohana, I also sell pets too." I shook his hand, damn his grip was strong. But not as strong as mine.
"I heard about you. You're dating the other farmer right?"
He blushed and shoved his hands into his pants pockets looking down at the fence that separated him and us. "Yeah. Lillian's her name," But suddenly he looked up and glared at me. "I don't want you trying anything on her man. Got it?"
"Yeah. I'm not really looking for a girl right now. Just really trying to find myself first. You know?"
"Yeah…"
We were both quiet for some time till Hiro cough and said we had to get going. I still had a lot of things to do.
…
As we both rounded the corner of Kana's ranch we came to the tunnel of trees. There was a small red mailbox and a really faded sign. Hiro saw me staring at it and stopped.
"You can rename the farm if you want. That's were you write it. Oh and that's where your mail is delivered by Dirk. He lives just up the road with the really big mailbox in front of his house."
I nodded absentmindedly, as we both entered the tunnel trees.
It was dark and damp and there was a huge puddle of water that I stepped into causing water to shoot up my leg.
As we left the tunnel of trees, we were both throw into a vast field. It looked like it stretched for miles as a small path led to a little house that had a small straw roof. Next to it was a small pond and at the back and front of the vast empty field was two small water holes. Tucked into the corner of the right side was a medium size barn with an all right size field and pen.
By the time I had finished observing my new property Hiro was at my barn. I jogged over to him with my rucksack smacking against my ass.
"Phil would at least try to pay attention to me once and a while." Hiro pouted, I chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"You sound like my girlfriend."
"You have a girlfriend?"
"No. I dumped when I left college."
"I see." He was quiet for some time till, he turned and waved me to go into the barn with him. I followed.
…
It was surprisingly warm in there. In the middle of the room was a small trough that could hold about four portions. In the back was a small pen for chickens. I'd say five to ten at most could fit in there comfortably. Don't ask me how I can tell how many animals can fit where. When you work with my dad long enough you'll get the cense along with some other useful tricks. I smiled and walked out with Hiro.
As I stepped outside the sky pulled my eyes to it. Warm oranges and reds tinted the clouds as the sun set into the sky. It was truly beautiful.
Hiro coughed and looked up at me smiling. "You like it here?"
"Yeah. It's so peaceful."
"I know. I mean it's not like the valley isn't either, but there's something special about this place." We continued to stare at the sky till the oranges became blues and the reds became blacks. Hiro said he had to go, I nodded.
Just as he was about to go through the tunnel of trees he turned and called to me. "Phil!"
"What?"
"Think of a name and I'll come by tomorrow to paint it with you! Also I left some ramen in the cabinets!"
"Thanks man!"
Then he left. I slowly trudged to the house and looked inside.
The first floor was one solid room. There was a couch and coffee table facing a fireplace and a short table with pillows seated around it. There was a pet area with a stick for an owl, and cabinet with some other shit on it; like a radio, small box, and a cart. In the back of the house was a pretty good size kitchen, stove and sink included. The stairs leading to the upstairs had a small built-in bookshelf underneath it. Mostly farming and cooking books. Fun.
I climbed the stairs to the second floor and observed another huge space. It was all right with a twin bed in the middle of the room with a huge trunk at the foot. My boxes were stacked on the sides of the wall; Hiro must have put them there.
Everything was great, except one thing. Everything was coated in dust and cobwebs. Just like Hiro, he never finishes a job right. Always half assed. I sighed and threw down my back on the bed sending up a cloud of dust. Walking back down the stairs I trudged over to the kitchen. There lying on the counter was the ramen Hiro told me about. I grabbed it and opened the lid. I lit the burner and began to the voyage to fine my kettle. A little to late, I poured tape water into the kettle and basically threw it on the stove. The fire by that time was so hot that the water was boiling in a minute tops. I poured it in and closed the lid. I had to let the food sit for about five minutes, so I went back up stairs and began to search for my clothes.
They of course were on the bottom. Finally I got them out and placed them into the trunk. I got a few coats and placed them on top. That was done. No was to everything else. It wasn't like I had a lot to begin to begin with so I just unpacked the few things and carried them one by one down stairs. It wasn't anything more than other bed sheets, towels, toiletries, and other shit like that. When all the boxes where gone I found that they were hiding a small bathroom that held a toilet, sink, and shower.
Finally after that was done I walked back down the stairs and over to my ramen, which was quite cold. But I really didn't care it was so good since I was so hungry.
I munched on noodles and relaxed on the couch and watched the empty fireplace. Hiro had asked my to think of a name for my new farm, but what was I supposed to say. I mean how can I call it Konohana Farm. I mean what idiot would call it that. Well, other than my old man. For a good year he did name it till he called it Sunrise Ranch… Then it hit me like a brick. I loved the sunset right? Why not call it Sunset Ranch? Who's stopping me? That was a great idea. When I start shipping my products then I can add a red or orange sun to the package. Perfect.
I smirked and drowned my ramen. Then pulled out my packet of cigarettes I stole back earlier. Lighting one, I took a long drag.
…
The sun couldn't have risen earlier than ever. My cigarette was almost done and I couldn't find any paint in this whole stupid farm. It wasn't even eight and the sun was making me sweat buckets. The humidity was so high I felt like I couldn't even take another step, but I still had to properly greet the rest of residents. I sighed and walked back to my house.
Slowly I made my way upstairs and to my bed. Grabbing my rucksack, I threw in my wallet and cell-phone. Slinging the back to my back I walked over to my nightstand and lifted up my dad's old baseball hat. It was his old hat he used to wear when he first started out on the farm. He told me to wear it to bring luck to my farm as well. I ran a hand through my hair and pushed back my auburn hair under the cap.
…
I walked past Kana's ranch and nodded to the guy as I strolled into the town. I headed first to the town hall.
The tall box wood hedges just covered my view. I rounded the corner and entered the low Japanese style building. It was a split-level building with some rooms and a really tall staircase, probably going to the second floor. Behind the desk was a man with a really big turban on his head. Slowly I came up to the desk and rung the small bell. The man spun around hitting me in the process with his turban. Holding my cheek I looked up at the man who was actually a woman. She had somewhere dot in the middle of her brow and very bright red lipstick rubbed on her lips. She smiled and flashed some crooked teeth at me.
"Welcome to the Konohana town hall. Are you looking for a room or would you like a map of our lovely village?"
"Actually I'm the new farmer. My name's Philip Granger." I slapped on my best smile and stuck out my hand to her.
"Really!" She shrieked into my face, and grabbed my hand shacking forcefully up and down, "Hiro told me so much about you! How are you liking our lovely village? Is everything to your liking? Have you settled in nicely? I hope so! Have you met any of the other residents? They are all very nice if you get to know them! By the way my name is Ina!"
"…" She released my hand and I stared at her wide-eyed. "Um… yeah…"
"Great! Would you like to give you a tour?"
"Ah… that's fine Ina."
"Ok!" We were silent for some time and I cowered under her gaze as she grinned at me without blinking the whole time.
"Well… I better get going. You know, to meet everyone and stuff." Slowly I shuffled to the door as she waved and told me to stop by again.
…
Next I went to the closest house. There was a small field in front of it and a small wheel was spinning on the side of the house. I looked out over the field and met the gaze of a woman.
She had long black hair that draped down past her butt tied around her head was a cherry blossom headband. Her whole outfit revolved around the color pink from her cherry blossom necklace to her dark pink nail polish.
Slowly and very gracefully she stepped over her vegetables and flowers to me. When she came over she bowed and smiled up at me.
"Hello sir. You must be the new farmer Hiro was talking about the other day I presume."
"Uh… yeah. The name's Philip, Philip Granger."
"I see," She practically beamed in front of me. "My name is Nori. My grandfather and I live in this house. He runs the seed shop in the town. I hope, very much so, that you will buy our wonderful bountiful seeds for your many to come harvests."
"Yeah. Thanks, I guess." We stood there for a little bit, just looking out at her field when she suddenly asked if I smoked.
"Yes. How did you know?"
She pointed to my sleeve, where I had rolled my packet of cigarettes under my white t-shirt. I smirked and shrugged.
"Mr. Granger it is not good for your crops and future animals if you smoke."
"…" I stared at her, and then turned to go into her house. I'm done with these people.
The inside was really low. Like the ceilings were built for a hobbit. In the back there was a small old man with really long ears, kind of like a budda. Slowly I walked up to him.
"Excuse me?"
"Huh? Yes. Who are you?" He narrowed his eyes and bored into me.
"I'm Philip Granger, the new farmer in town. Nori said you sell seeds and I wanted to buy some."
"Ah! You met Nori I see. She must have told you already but my name is Gombe. And I do have a few here…"
He bent down and pulled out a bottle of fertilizer and radish and corn seeds. He placed them on the low counter and smiled at them.
"I just finished producing them this morning. They should be as fresh as they were when they came off the plant."
I gazed over the products as my mind switched on its internal calendar. I had about another three weeks to go before the season would fully switch to fall. "Gombe, I'll take twenty plots of radishes seeds and ten plots of corn seeds. And how much fertilizer do you think I'll need for these bad boys?" (1)
"I'd say about three bottles should do it nicely." He began to pour the seeds into two bags and hand those to me. I took the two bags and slipped them into my rucksack and placed the three bottles of fertilizer in also. I pulled out my wallet and placed the money on the counter and left the small store.
…
I slowly met every person in the town. There was Ayame, the doctor who loves to tease Hiro about everything. Then there was Raul, he looks like he makes burritos for a living but he just sells miscellanies items. Then there's Yun and Ying. Yun is the owner of the café/restaurant in town and Ying is her young granddaughter living with her due to health issues. Yun seemed nice enough but I think Ying looked like she liked me a little too much. Finally after that I went to the botanist's house, there was Mako. He has a huge orchard behind his house and he mentioned a niece that lived with him but I didn't see her around.
Slowly I made my way past the town hall and back to my farm, I still had about five hours till it was dark and there was lots to be done. Un folding my sleeve and taking out a cigarette from my packet I spotted my sort-of-friend Kana. There was some small girl standing next to him petting one of his horses. Slowly I walked over.
"Hey Phil. I want you to meet my girl." A smallish girl leaned against the wooden fence around Kana's property. She was high on her tiptoes just touching the horse's nose. There was a soft orange ribbon tied in her light brown hair. Her back was turned to me but slowly as I approached she lowed herself down and looked up at me with her really big purple eyes.
I left the cigarette in my mouth and smirked, she looked like she wasn't even seventeen yet. "My name's Philip. I've heard you're the old farmer who owned my property." I held out my hand as she hesitantly took it.
"Lillian. And yes I am!" She shook it vigorously and beamed up at me. "I hope there's enough room, I tried to expand it a lot while I owned the property!"
"Yes, and thanks."
She let go and began to tell me about how she had planed on planting some trees but decided to move to Bluebell before she could plant them. Only slowly as we didn't notice Kana had gone off and began to put away his horse back into their barn and had crept up on Lillian. Before I could warn her, Kana had grabbed her and thrown her high into the air.
"KAAANNNNNNAAA!" She screamed as Kana caught her and threw her up again.
" Yes buttercup?"
"BRING ME DOWN NOOOWWWW! EEEEEKKKK!"
"Alright. Alright." He caught her and lifted her up to his shoulders, where she sat comfortably on his shoulders and looked down at me mad.
"Kana! Why did you do that?"
"Can't a guy have some fun with his girlfriend?"
"Yes, but…"
"Really?! Lets go Lillian!" They ran off to the edge of town, only before they left my view Lillian waved to me and yelled that I could visit her anytime in Bluebell. I smirked at that weird couple and lit my cigarette, I had a lot of work to do and it was getting late.
…
I wiped the sweat from my brow and shoved the fertilizer into the moist soil. I stood and looked over my work. It was now seven in the PM and I just finished planted my crops. I sighed and walked over to my wheel barrel full of the freshly cut fodder that had covered the vast field. Lifting it up, I pushed it over to my barn and dumped it into the storage bin. I left the wheel barrel where it was and left the barn for the night, it would be in good prospect to get some animals so I could have a steady profit coming in while my crops grew.
I got to my house and threw open the door. I really didn't feel like eating so I walked to my bathroom on the second floor and stepped into the freezing cold water. Washing the sweat and dirt from my body, I changed quickly and headed for the restaurant.
The sky was so beautiful I walked into two trees on the way to the restaurant. By the time I got there, there were two new bruises not on my forehead that hadn't been there before.
Hi everyone i know some of you thought this was only a one shot but i decided that this needed to be longer. I hope you don't all kill me. Review!
(1): I know you have to buy the seeds one by one in the game and it was kind of hard to explain so i just made Gombe measure out the seeds and put them all in one bag. Philip plants at five-ten plants per trench. There is one fertilizer per row.
