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Harvest Moon BTN for Girl

Copyright Natsume

Longing for The Goddess

Gray never knew this day would be a different day. He also never knew he would have another regret. Until now, his regret was only his incapability to pass Saibara in blacksmithing. However, today he found another regret. Gray should have asked her to be his date. She stood flawlessly there alone, without a date. It was like the Goddess itself had reincarnated into a beautiful blonde young lady with blue eyes. Again, she took Gray's wandering heart.

8th of Spring was a special day for ladies in Mineral Town. This day was just like another day for Gray, except he would not hear any Saibara's nags. On this day, ladies would dance for the Goddess. There was a saying that the event was to celebrate the Goddess's birthday. Usually, the ladies came with their date. Those ladies would represent the Goddess while the gentlemen became the Goddess's guardians. Some young ladies preferred to call them knights. It was uncommon for an unbetrothed lady to go alone by herself. Parents or relatives usually accompanied them. Nevertheless, the blonde lady who caught Gray's attention came alone.

The name was Claire. She was new here with no acquaintance and family. She was stranded in a small town that was unknown to her. She was found on the shore, or that was the townspeople knew. Initially, it was Gray who found her first on the dawn after the New Year Festival. He was not fond of dance with a stranger. Saibara forced him to go to the plaza for having a dance with some young ladies there. Even though he danced with some attractive ladies there, he did not stay there until the festival ended. He came to Doug's inn at midnight to get some wine since he knew that Saibara must have been already passed out from his sake. Still, Gray could not get too drunk because he had another work to do after the festival ends. He had to help Gotz and Zack to clean up the plaza.

He found her when he took some unburned woods from the bonfire to the beach. It was cold since it was not long ago since the snow melted. While recalling the dance earlier he caught a glimpse of shining gold threads near a big stone that was used for the finish mark of the summer swimming festival. He walked slowly to the dock while guessing what was he just saw.

"A treasure? A kingfish?" he thought.

As he walked further, he saw an unconscious woman with golden blonde hair. Gray jumped into the water right away without taking off his work jumpsuit, boots, and hat. He just hoped the woman was still alive.

Gray dragged the woman with him while swimming to the shore. He laid her on the shore then searched her pulses. Gray found it even though it was weak. A big lump filled his heart earlier vanished within a second when he found out that she was alive and breathing. However, another big lump filled in again as soon as he saw her pale face.

Deg

She was beautiful as a goddess. Alas, he had never met the Goddess, yet he knew she was the most lovely girl he had ever seen. When he heard footsteps, he rose and went back to Zack and Goth. After called Zack, he carried the woman to an old rustic farmhouse. Later, he heard from his grandfather that Mayor Thomas offered her to take care of the farm since the owner was dead some time ago.

Not long after that, he met her again. But now, it was her who found him walking aimlessly in front of the farm. He just argued with his grandfather, then Saibara kicked him out. She was unsure whether he should go back to the inn, to the blacksmith, or visit the woman he saved earlier.

"Shit... she is here..."

"Oh... hello..."

The blonde-haired farmer bowed her head and smiled toward Gray.

"Hello, I am Claire, I am new here and I live at this farm, nice to meet you.

Deg

The sensation he felt earlier came back, the fast heartbeat, fluttering heart, and cold sweat.

Gray averted his gaze while pinched his hat's bill. "Hi..., my name is Gray...," he said and turned his body and pointed his hand to Saibara's house. "The old man... I mean, my grandfather is the blacksmith." Before he gave a chance for Claire to speak, he coughed firmly. "I have to go. Bye!" he said while rushing to Saibara's house.

It was an awful first impression, but Claire still gave him a smile on their next meet. She even visited him every day, or maybe it was just her nature to greet everyone in Mineral Town. If he did not meet her in the blacksmith, he would meet her in the library, town plaza, and even in the inn. However, since she moved into the farmhouse next to Saibara's, Saibara scolded him more often than before because Gray lost in thought while gazing at the window, looking at the farm. There was something within Claire that attracted him, but he had not sure if that was a crush or he was only attracted to her cute face. Dates, crushes, and relationships were nothing new for Gray. Back in the city, he had several exes. He also admitted he ever had a crush on Popuri, but never made a move because she was only interested in Kai, the guy who only came in the summer.

Maybe it was true he was attracted to Claire's lovely face and her cheerful atmosphere. Or, her presence itself was the one that attracted Gray. It had not been a week since she became a part of Mineral Town, but she was already becoming a talk in town. Her attractive face, her hardworking ethic, friendly nature, and the fact she was alone and single. The topic of Claire became hotter because of the upcoming Harvest Goddess Festival. When the girl talked about who would become their date, the housewives talked about who was going to be Claire's date.

There were times when Gray thought of asking her for the festival, however, would she really participate in the festival?

Every woman who participated in the Harvest Goddess Festival must wear a special costume. It was a soft pink ancient Greek-style dress with flower ornaments. There was a saying that the color of the dress was gotten from the reflection of the moon in the lake, thus it was impossible to make a new one in a short time. Most of the ladies in Mineral Town got the dress from their mother or in-laws. So, there was a high possibility Claire could not participate in the festival since she did not have the dress.

"Do you know where to get the dress for the Goddess Festival?" Gray asked Ann who served dinner for him. Usually, Gray would eat in his room but right now he had a feeling he would gather more information about the dress if he ate in the restaurant.

"Eh? Why do you ask that? That is coming from nowhere!" The orange-haired girl answered. Ann hummed for a second then looked at her dad who tended the bar since Gray ignored her question. "I'm gonna ask dad if you are really curious. Maybe my father-"

"Don't ask him!"

Ann closed her mouth then titled her head. "Okay... but... do you need the dress?"

Gray ignored the waitress again and Ann laughed awkwardly while going to another table.

Earlier at lunchtime when he got back from the blacksmith, he found Claire was taking a break in the restaurant. She was talking with Ann while eating her lunch. They talked about the upcoming festival and how she got a letter from the Mayor about the festival. The Mayor said she was welcomed to participate but she was not sure because she did not have it. She left the restaurant with a sigh since she did get the answer where to get the clothes.

"Oh, by the way, Claire also searched for the dress," said Anna who sprang up nowhere and served a drink, making Gray choked on his food. "So-sorry Gray!"

"Ugh... fine..."

Anna sat across Gray after she patted his back. "But I guess it is hard to find a dress for now... since I heard Manna gave Aja's dress to Mary. Manna was the only one who had the dress."

Gray recalled what happened before he went to the restaurant. He went to the library to return some books. When he was about to go, Mary asked him whether he could go to the festival with her or not. He was dumbfounded since he never guessed a shy girl like Mary was brave enough to ask him to become her date. Mary was a shy and good girl. She was also new in the town as her family moved in the last Summer. However, they had just become an acquaintance for a while. Gray had not given her an answer but he also did not have the heart to reject her.

"Oh... do you... try to find the dress for Claire?" Ann asked and her face slowly became red.

"Wha-what are you talking about! No! I'm... just curious because people said that is a special dress..."

Ann averted her eyes from Gray while scratching her cheek with her index. "Well... indeed it is special... because we will represent the Goddess, hmm... more like Goddess's maid," she said but her voice was raised a bit like she was unsure.

Gray rolled his eyes then sipped his drink.

"Oh, do you have a date for tomorrow's festival?" Gray snickered.

Ann blushed again. She averted her gaze again while playing with her braid. "Tha-that is none of your business..."

As Ann rushed back to the kitchen, Gray continued his meal while thinking of how he should answer Mary.

What he thought was true. He could not see Claire anywhere in the town plaza. The bachelorettes had arrived not long after Thomas opened the plaza. They dressed up beautifully with their special dress and came with a date or relatives.

Every girl who participated in the festival really showed their own charm. Between them, Karen was the most stood out there with her confidence. Next to Karen, there was his old crush Popuri who was also cute. She looked so sweet and innocent at the same time. The nurse who usually dressed in a maid costume looked elegant. Even his best friend, the tomboy Ann turned into a beautiful cheerful Goddess. He also did not believe Mary who was his date could be so different in the Goddess dress. She usually wore blue but pink also suited her. Mary looked cuter in pink and her shy gestures made her looked like an innocent Goddess.

Usually, the festival would start around ten but Thomas had not started the festival.

"Let's wait for Claire..." Mayor Thomas said while looking at his watch. "This is going to be her first festival in Mineral Town. I'm sure Claire will be here!"

Gray also believed it. Even though she could not participate, she was still welcomed to the festival. Honestly, deep down Gray also wanted to see how Claire would be in the Goddess dress.

"Claire!"

When Thomas called her, eyes were on her.

Again, his heartbeat went crazy. He changed his mind. Claire was the most stood out here, at least for him.

"So cute..." he murmured but then closed his mouth when he realized Mary was right beside him.

Mary only smiled, but it was different from her usual shy smile. There was a hint of disappointment and Gray was the one who made it. Gray averted his eyes while scratching the back of his head. His eyes slowly wandered to Claire who walked to the center of the plaza.

She was alone. Somehow, Gray was happy that the new Goddess of his heart was alone. With her usually cheerful smile, Claire greeted everyone. Then, she stood next to Gotz and Carter.

She was more beautiful than before. Her pink dress really suited her. The flower ornaments on her hair turned her into an incarnation of the Greek Goddess. It was a pity for a beautiful young lady like her to go alone to the festival. Yet, she also looked like a real Goddess who did not need a human male for her partner. If she was really a Goddess, she did not need a man nor a lover. She was created to be worshipped and Gray would worship her unconditionally.

After some delay, the festival was finally begun. Gray's eyes were locked on the blonde-haired Goddess who danced clumsily as this was her first dance. However, she adapted fast even though she made some mistakes. Gray giggled several times when he realized Claire's mistakes. However, her mistakes did not turn him off. He even became more curious about her.

Today, he was sure he found something he wanted. Next year, he must ask Claire to go to this festival with him. Thus, his Goddess would not lonely anymore. He would become her guardian, her most loyal knight.

Fin

Hello minna! I come back with another ff for Harvermoon. So sorry I couldn't finish the other fic... (in case you also read my fics in another fandom)

Oh btw, I have written this around 3 months ago, but sadly my phone was broken so I only could write this much for this oneshot

Actually I'm going to make this into a kind of an anthology (that was the plan)

Anw, thanks for reading! Please kindly write a review and give me like and follow heheh (P.S please tell me if you find any mistake :')) thanks!)

Bye~