The Harvest Moon Tales Collection
REMEMBER
Kano Stogan watched glumly as the ocean rippled past before his eyes. His camera swung listlessly in the salty breeze, bumping against his chest occasionally. It was otherwise forgotten.
His fellow traveler, a tan young man clad in a purple bandana, glanced over at him, his head tilted slightly. "So... you're that Kenneth guy, right?"
The reply was curt: "It's Kano, Kai."
Kai chuckled anxiously, his face going red enough to be seen through his tan. "Whoops! Sorry, I guess you must remember me, but I honestly can't recall much of you." Upon seeing Kano's scowl darken, he quickly added, "Just a bad habit of mine, nothing personal."
Kano shook his head, glaring at Kai. "Save it. It's nothing Kano hasn't heard from the rest of the villagers before, anyway."
The younger man shrugged. "Suit yourself. So, that why you're on this boat? Just got sick of not being noticed?" He smirked. "And next to Mineral Town's most infamous outsider, I guess I can see how it'd sting..."
His traveling companion shifted uncomfortably. "Thank you, Kano wasn't well enough aware of all this as it was. You'd think at least the adults wouldn't forget the man who did their wedding photos! No, they remember the playboy, the absentee dad, the absentee mom, the vagabond, the con man - though Kano supposes he can understand that last one - but why the mayor's best friend over people who are barely there?"
Kai scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Hey, man, you want the spotlight? It's all yours! I can't even talk to my best friends without some jerkass butting in and telling me off. I can't even plead my case!"
"At least you're noticed," Kano grumbled. "If anyone notices Kano's left, who's going to talk about him? Who's going to say, 'Yes, this beautiful shot of my grandson was shot by Kano'? 'Yes, that magnificent spread of Mother's Hill in World Travels was all Kano'?"
"Who's going to say 'Thank god Kano's gone', 'Kano's nothing but trouble', 'Kano is a pervert who wants to destroy my family', 'Kano is lazy and has no work ethic', 'Isn't it time for Kano to leave for that hick town yet'?" Kai countered. "Because I doubt you're gonna have to put up with that. Look, you shoot some awesome photos, and I know it sucks that you're not bathing in constant praise over them, but at least you're not getting heaped with criticism from all sides for just existing. At least be glad for that."
The waves lapped against the boat in silence, Kai's words hanging in the air.
"So, why do you go back every year, then?" Kano finally asked, drumming his fingers on the railing. "If it's so bad there all the time, what's the point?"
Kai cleared his throat and murmured, "Compared to how bad things usually are, Mineral Town's pretty nice. It's easier dealing with that kind of hatred from people you can just dismiss, you know?"
"Hmm. I guess you have a point..." Kano shook his head. "But, no matter. I think... maybe it's time for Kano to move on from there anyway. You stay somewhere for twenty years, you photograph just about all there is to see... I wouldn't mind some new scenery to work with. And maybe I can get to know a woman who's actually single."
Kai grinned. "Let me guess, you're embarrassed about going back because you had a really melodramatic goodbye? Stormed off in a huff?" He leaned towards Kano and waggled his eyebrows. "Gave one of the housewives a little nine-month memento?"
It was Kano's turn to go red, now. "Nothing of the sort! Kano is no adulterer, I assure you! I simply left Thomas a letter." He sighed. "A very huffy, melodramatic letter."
A moment of silence passed before both men burst out laughing loudly. Once Kano got his laughter back under control, he waved his hand and chuckled. "Nonetheless, I suppose I could always return to visit. Maybe they'll ask Kano where he's been?" He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "That would be nice..."
"Look, I'll make you a deal," Kai said. "You promise to come back and visit during the summer, I bitch and moan till I'm blue in the face about how I miss having an awesome photographer to capture all the weddings and births, and the fireworks, and the chicken sumo stuff, and me cramming a tomato in Rick's face." He rubbed his hands together gleefully. "Man, I must have a hundred copies of that one stashed in my wallet."
Kano smiled. "Guilt-tripping them into missing me? Kano likes it." He stuck out his hand, and Kai shook it. "Deal. And don't forget..."
"Geno, right?"
Kano's frustrated scream and Kai's uproarious laughter crashed together above the sound of the waves.
Author's Notes: DAMN, GINA! It's been quite a while, hasn't it? Writer's block is cruel and cold, and life's a bit of a bitch when it feels like it. No matter. This one was hard to write - I wanted to give Kano the spotlight, and somehow worked in his leaving Mineral Town (as stated by Thomas in More Friends of Mineral Town), which segued into being joined by Kai leaving at the end of summer. Since Kano rarely interacts with anyone, and I love writing Kai, I figured I'd try my hand at helping the two bond.
I think it turned out okay, and hopefully everyone else likes it too. Feel free to leave a review, if you'd like. Next words, whenever I get to them, will be "music", "devil", and "snow". Thanks for reading and reviewing thus far!
