Disclaimer - I don't own Stardew Valley or My Time At Sandirock. This was written for the second regular challenge for the Froday Flash Fiction Challenge for December 2021, but the word prompt is "confession".

Of course, I've my own confession to make in that I've not yet played My Time At Sandirock (it's still in Beta), but when I saw Mi-an's character, my thoughts were - that's the what Yuki looks like. Which, yes - I know Yuki is Japanese and Mi-an is not. It still does work, given the fact Yuki actually always tied into a childhood nickname more than her real name.

Also - categorized under the My Time At Portia category because they take place in the same universe, so I'm also hoping that instead of creating a new category that new worlds are simply added, such as Portia and Sandirock, which I'd gladly use.

Must Confess

"I must confess…." The words felt odd coming out of his mouth as he stood there with his hands jammed into the pockets of his black jeans. He didn't look at her as he spoke, his throat straining as he attempted to get some form of conversation out. "I didn't expect to ever see you again."

She looked at him with what Sebastian considered to be a dumbfounded look on her face, making him suddenly regret his choice of words. He glanced away, feeling almost as awkward as when she, of all people, managed to catch him smoking out there by the mountain lake. It made him feel…

Small.

"I can't blame you," she finally said.

Sebastian let out a huff. "Can't you, though? I mean…"

His words trailed off, unable to say anything to her regarding her sudden appearance there, in Stardew Valley of all places. At least, nothing beyond the fact he'd not expected it.

"I kind of lost touch."

"You kind of lost touch?" Sebastian sucked in a deep breath. "I'm the one who lost touch, Mi-an. Not you."

"Now, why would you say that?" Mi-an's lips pushed together, her sudden amusement not lost on him. Yet, he still remembered the sight of the dumbfounded look on her face when he'd brought up the fact he'd not expected ever to see her again.

"Because I didn't keep in touch with anybody in Portia."

"Well, I didn't know that. And…" She rocked back on her feet. "I wasn't from Portia. My family vacationed there, remember?"

Sebastian mused over what she said. "Sometimes that's a bit hard to remember when there are days I felt—"

"Felt what?"

"Like I wasn't from there. Anywhere really, given how I got shipped off to the university…." Sebastian trailed off. "Anyways, not that it matters. Not that it matters at all, given…."

"That the entire Alliance of Free Cities is now under the control of Duvos and is now called the Gotoro Empire?" She titled her head. "It does matter. Everything that we lost. But, you've not really talked to anyone about that, have you?"

"Why? Why bother when everyone…" Sebastian sighed. "It kind of feels like people forget the Gotoro Empire wasn't always the Gotoro Empire. To me, the enemy isn't Gotoro, but Duvos. I…"

"Yes. Let's change the subject," Mi-an nudged him in the ribs. "And you don't have to be so shy with me. After all, we're childhood friends, but I've never cared how awkward you were."

"I…what?" Sebastian turned his head to look at her, flabbergasted.

"I must confess, that I find your awkwardness quite endearing."

His face turned a vivid red.