As they walked home in the dark, Claire couldn't help but feel that there was something Ann was trying to figure out how to say. She could sense that she was stealing glances at her as she quickly moved her attention back down at the cobblestones, nervously rubbing her arm. There was a sense of tension in the air that had begun the moment they left the beach shack. A small frown adorned the young woman's face and she couldn't help but wonder if she had said or done something to hurt Ann's feelings.
"Hey, Claire?" Her voice was surprisingly soft.
Her words came as a great sense of relief; the silence had been more than uncomfortable, especially from someone who was normally so lively. "What's wrong, Ann?"
She looked around her nervously as if she was expecting someone to cross their path. "Ah, um… When we get to your place, do you mind if we talk for a while?" She looked down at her sneakers as she spoke.
Claire couldn't help but feel a little anxious at the notion – why was Ann not saying what was on her mind right now? It felt a little out of character for her. "Not at all; come on in for a while."
Thankfully, the trip wasn't much further. They walked through the night to the farm and Claire was a little grateful that a yawning Koro stretched in front of his doghouse to meet them. She knew Ann was fond of the puppy and having him around might help lighten the mood a bit.
"Hey, boy..." Ann gave him an absentminded pat on the head. "Are you all tired out from the long day?"
Koro responded with a squeaky yawn and padded behind Claire as she opened the door for them. Ann gave the two a smile, her stomach settling a bit as she followed them. There was something about the atmosphere of a farm that put her heart at ease. Perhaps it was the greenery and fresh air, or the wildlife around them. Maybe it was the trickle of the crystal blue stream that ran alongside the property, or the relaxing smell of earth that permeated the small farmhouse as she entered. She was reminded once again how much she wanted to be a part of it all.
"Would you like some barley tea? I made some before I went over to Kai's, so it's a fresh batch."
Ann mulled the options over in her head; she was starting to have second thoughts. Having tea would mean she would commit to staying for more than just a minute or two and telling Claire what was on her mind… While she knew it was highly unlikely she would judge her, and she was the one who asked to talk, Ann still felt rather timid. "Uh, yeah. Sounds good…" Her voice cracked and she hoped that her friend didn't notice. She plopped down on a floor cushion by the table and a little bit more of her anxiety faded when Koro curled up near her side of the table to nap.
"Alright." Claire retrieved a couple of glasses and the pitcher, walking over to the table.
"I had a great time tonight," Ann began with a nervous chuckle. "Who knew there'd be so many people there! You'd think it was a town festival."
Claire found herself nodding as she poured the drinks. "Yeah, it was nice seeing everyone." The thought of being in a crowded room had been easier to manage, despite everything that had happened.
Ann took a deep swig of tea and wrapped her fingers around the glass, staring at the honey colored liquid. It had a nice, toasty flavor and the cold temperature was a crisp contrast. "When you lived back in the city, you met all kinds of guys, huh?"
Claire was taken aback for a moment. "What do you mean?"
An apologetic smile spread across Ann's lips. "Uh, I mean… You said that you went… well, your friends set you up with some men in the city, and…"
Claire thought of their discussion during the slumber party. "Oh, do you mean my blind dates?"
Ann flinched at the word, her nod suggesting embarrassment.
While she had been on plenty of dates, she never really connected with anyone. Most of them were friendly enough, but it reminded her much of someone starting a conversation with her in an elevator – uncomfortable small talk and forced smiles, all while with her eye focused on the floor – or in rather – on the clock. "I can't remember most of their names," she confessed, biting her lip. "With a couple of exceptions, most of them went fine, but they just weren't memorable."
A small frown crossed her lips.
"Maybe I'm the reason they weren't. I mean, my mind was usually somewhere else, and it's not like I'm a very interesting person to begin with."
"Don't talk like that!" Ann kept a playful tone, but there were creases on her forehead as her smile quavered.
Claire wrung her hands, self-conscious, and Ann realized the uneasiness that had been created in the room. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Ann spoke up.
"Well… you ever go with someone who seems really nice but they end up being mean?"
"There were a couple of rude people, but really, most of them were really polite." Claire paused, realizing how much time Ann had spent with Harris that evening. Ann was usually much more direct when she spoke, and Claire couldn't help but feel her pulse begin to pound with worry. "Was someone mean to you?" Her eyebrows furrowed as she sat up straight, placing her hands flat on the tabletop.
Claire wasn't very good at hiding her expressions, but Ann couldn't claim to be any better. She shook her head in response, her face feeling unnaturally hot. The "someone" she had been thinking of was very kind to her and she had enjoyed herself quite a bit.
But that's what makes it so scary...
"Not at all. I was actually surprised at how well everyone got along. I mean, Rick didn't even start anything with Kai tonight."
Claire had a feeling that Ann wasn't the only one who felt that way; as Karen left with Rick, she had given him a playful ruffle of the hair and a proud smile. "Well, he had a few chaperones. I am glad that they didn't fight, though." Claire smiled wryly. "I was surprised at the amount of people in the older crowd," she admitted, returning the cup to her lips. Popuri and Karen were expected guests – Lillia and Sasha, not so much.
Ann twisted the end of her braid in her fingers and shrunk down in her seat. "I-I don't think ten years is that big of a difference at our age…" Her voice was uncharacteristically soft. She avoided Claire's gaze, staring at the wood grain on the table as if it was the most fascinating thing in the world.
"Ten years?" She tilted her head curiously. Claire set down her glass and realized with embarrassment that it wasn't likely Ann had asked to have a private word with her about whose mother attended Kai's party.
There was only one person there who's the age she's talking about...
"Harris…?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.
Ann nervously played with her fingers and bit her lip. "Well… I mean, I've known him for as long as I can remember. We never really talked all that much because he always seemed so busy and I figured he had more important things to do. When I was starting to take on more responsibilities at the inn when I was twelve, he was already graduating from the police academy."
"He seems like a really nice person," Claire supplied, certain that there was something Ann was trying to get out. When she didn't get a reply right away, she fell back to a safer topic. "That cheese he brought from Zephyr Town was really good."
"Goddess, yes!" Ann pounded her fists on the table and let out a whine as if she could still taste it. "He was telling me about all the awesome things they sell at the bazaar there. Fudge, popcorn, fresh bread…" She let out a sigh as she relaxed, leaning forward on the table. "I can't wait until the Fireworks Festival – it's pretty much a smorgasbord of carnival food!" There were stars in her eyes as she took a gulp of tea and looked up at the ceiling with a pleased smile.
Claire hadn't really given much thought into all the events that would be taking place that night as she had been so preoccupied with work. "Are you and your dad going to run a stall?"
She shook her head with a hearty laugh. "No way am I going to miss out on the treats! But I have to go back right after the fireworks show because we are booked with guests. We already are booked solid, including all the roll away beds and shiki futons we have in storage, and we're gonna have to cram all the guys into Dad's room again while he bunks with me. There are a lot of vendors from out of town that are gonna set up shop."
The young woman's enthusiasm for the event was renewed. "It sounds really exciting!" Claire bounced in her seat. "I can't wait!"
"Me, neither!" Ann's face cracked into a smile, forgetting how worried she was minutes ago. "Harris even said that some people from Zephyr Town will be at the festival to sell stuff. Actually, he's supposed to go there and get some contracts signed tomorrow for his dad. He's going to buy a few things there and the two of us are going on a picnic to pig out on all the goodies he buys! It'll be like a little preview of the festival!"
Gorging on sweets and gourmet food didn't sound like a bad time at all. "Sounds like a fun date," Claire replied with a grin.
Ann's breath hitched at her final word and she twiddled her thumbs, her cheeks turning rosy. Her friend was as observant as she had hoped and she wasn't forced to use the term herself. "Ah… I-I guess so… I'm a little afraid to tell Dad that, though…"
She was a little surprised that Ann hadn't immediately deflected her comment. "Well, you're not a child. Doesn't he get along well with Harris?" The constable was a regular at the inn, after all; Claire had always just assumed the two were on good terms.
She looked up at Ann and she was leaning over to pet an attention-seeking Koro. She looked grateful to be given a distraction. If she was truthful with herself, this was the very reason why she wanted to talk to Claire, but admitting so out loud made her embarrassed. "They get along great. It's just… using that word… It puts so much pressure on the whole thing. Dad's so afraid that I'm going to end up alone. It kinda makes me paranoid that I will, y'know?" She wasn't about to bring up her previous lament that Cliff wasn't interested in her as more than a friend, especially when her own feelings were faded and he and Claire seemed to be growing closer every day.
"Well, hey, there's a kind person who wants to spend some extra time with you," she reassured Ann.
"I-I know!" Ann whined; why did emotions have to be so difficult to deal with? "That makes it even scarier in a way," she remarked as she ran her fingers through the dog's butterscotch fur. "Spending an evening with a guy alone isn't too bad, is it?"
Claire was glad that her friend was looking at Koro as the less pleasant dates came to mind. She recalled a particularly unpleasant one including an attempt at an unwanted kiss and her slamming the door in his face. "It really depends on the person you are going out with," she answered honestly. "Spending a little more time together – a single date – doesn't have to mean anything if neither of you are interested in going further than that. But you and Harris seemed to have a lot of fun tonight. I don't see why a repeat of that would be bad, as long as you feel safe and comfortable around him."
Ann's face brightened up considerably. "Yeah, you're right… I'm not really sure how I feel about going out with a guy, but I guess I don't have to take it super seriously."
She was given a nod in response. "Exactly. I know it sounds cliché, but if you just be yourself, everything will go fine… but there's just one more thing!" she added, a smirk growing on her face.
Ann looked up and her braid whipped over her shoulder at the sudden movement. "Y-yeah?"
"If he brings any gourmet fudge, save a small piece for me." The grin on Claire's face was impossible to hide.
"Yeah, right!" Ann laughed, shaking her head.
Despite the fact that she had gone to bed rather late the night before, Claire awoke excitedly the next morning. She quickly got dressed and freshened up, brushing her hair enthusiastically before tying it back. She turned on the television and switched it to a station that was playing music, humming along as she reached into her refrigerator to serve breakfast. It was her first day with her new partner, and she was determined to start it off right.
Cracking a cold spa boiled egg into each bowl, the young woman poured a bit of cold broth over them and carefully sliced a few green onions on top. She eagerly set them at the table and looked at them in admiration. This was going to be the first sit-down meal she served a guest at her new home, she realized with a burst of excitement. A plate of sliced tomatoes was added to the offerings, and she poured a couple of glasses of herbal tea, admiring her handiwork. It was a little meager, but a modest breakfast for a farmer and a foraging fisherman. They'd be able to manage if Cliff didn't have anything to contribute this morning. Claire milled around the house for the next few minutes, alternating between humming, spinning on the ball of her foot to the music coming from the television, and fussing with her ponytail in front of her mirror.
Besides the fact that she had comforted Ann last night and she left with a smile on her face, Claire had a lot more energy now that she knew that she was going to have regular contact with a good friend, and meals to share. With the extra energy she'd have from better nutrition, she felt less daunted. Even if she wasn't sure how all the tomatoes were going to make it into her shipping bin by the end of the season, at least she'd get to see Cliff's smile every day. Something about that left her more motivated than anything else.
There was a soft knock at the door. "Good morning… Did you sleep well?"
She hadn't realized until now how much she had been aching to hear his voice utter those words. "Come on in~!" she sang, instinctively giving her hair one last glance in the mirror. She didn't hold back her huge grin as she ran to her friend, throwing her arms around him. "Good morning!"
Cliff stumbled a bit with a sharp intake of breath. He was pleasantly surprised by her greeting and absolutely elated that she remained as warmed up to him as she had been the night before. He was more than happy to return the embrace with his one free arm, wondering if all of their mornings together were going to be this marvelous. He didn't want to let go, but ended up doing so as his friend broke off the embrace.
"I don't know how well I slept, but I feel… inspired! Almost like this is the beginning of something new." Claire gave his back a pat before breaking off the hug with a sheepish giggle – she hadn't even realized he was carrying quite a few things in one arm.
"I know what you mean," he replied, his expression warm.
Sifting through his things, he handed her a stack of sealed containers.
She gave him a mock pout. "Hey, I thought we were both contributing. This is so much!" She tried to sniff through the paper takeout boxes. "What is all of this?"
"They're leftovers from last night. Kai was insistent and said he had more than enough for himself. I think it'll last us a bit."
"We'll have to stop by his place together sometime to thank him."
The fact that she had said that so naturally made Cliff's face feel warm. He set the containers on the table and Claire eagerly dug through them.
"Would it be strange to have melon bread with breakfast?"
She could hear the amusement in his voice without even needing to look up at him. "Only if you make it."
"I guess that's settled, then!" She promptly took a sweet bun and carried it in her mouth the way she had the night before. Cliff did the same thing, and Claire let out a muffled chuckle, her mouth full.
She plopped down on her seat cushion and grinned at him as he sat across from her. His cheeks were rosy and his blue eyes were dancing. He shyly looked down at the food and she could see the gratitude in his expression as he set the bread beside his bowl. "I really appreciate this."
"So do I," she breathed. "Time to fuel up!"
She eagerly dug into her food, oblivious to the young man watching her with a loving gaze. Her mind immediately turned to work, as it was wont to do this time of the morning. "I'm going to have to figure out a solution for those tomatoes. The corn can stay on the stalks for a while. Another good thing is that someone is coming to pick up the blemished and cracked ones, so I don't have to worry about them; I can skip right over them."
Cliff nodded as he spooned some egg and broth into his mouth. Just as Claire was focusing on preparing for the end of the season, he knew that he needed to do the sames, particularly in tracking animals. He let out a satisfied hum at the food – while simple, it was delicious. She didn't have many resources to cook food, and her resourcefulness didn't go unnoticed. "Did you cook these in the hot springs?" he asked, being sure to get some yolk in his next spoonful.
"Yeah. It's pretty convenient. I just drop them off and pick them up later," Claire explained, biting into a tomato slice. "I'm not much of a gourmet chef, but once I get my kitchen in here, I'll be able to cook all sorts of stuff. And… well, if you want… you're welcome to come over any time for a meal. It doesn't have to just be during this transitional time." Her emotions bubbled over with excitement as she said this. Having friends over more often would be really nice, and a kitchen would make her house feel more like a home. The dream of Cliff being her most frequent guest caused a giddy smile to overtake her face; she adored his company more and more every day. She made no attempts to hide this as she let out a delighted giggle.
"Well, maybe I'll find you something to cook out there in the woods." Her enthusiasm was contagious and he forgot for a moment about his concern of lack of wildlife he saw at Mother's Hill. As long as he saw that bright smile and those beautiful sapphire eyes, he could do anything.
Popuri bounded over to the fence and leaned over it, surprised to see that Cliff emerged from the farmhouse with Claire, giving her a quick hug and wave before heading off with his fishing spears. Her eyebrows rose with interest and she waited for Cliff to be off the property before waving her over.
"'Morning, Miss Farmer! You have an overnight guest?"
Claire turned crimson, dropping the basket she was carrying and nearly tripping over it. "Oh, w-wow… nothing like that! Cliff's going to be having breakfast with me… maybe lunches and dinners…"
Popuri's pink lips turned up into a smirk, and Claire found herself once again stammering.
"I-I've got a lot of blemished tomatoes and he's sharing his catches that he's unable to sell. We're just… sharing resources."
"Sharing… resources," Popuri repeated, a gleam in her eye.
"Y-yeah!" Claire cleared her throat. "Yeah. We decided it would make things easier for both of us in terms of getting enough to eat."
The traces of mischief left Popuri's face all at once. "Enough to eat?" she repeated slowly, shaking her head so that her curls bounced. "Come to think of it, Cliff's been looking… in need of a hearty meal." Her eyebrows knitted as she looked over at Claire. "You've lost weight, too." The whiplash from her delicate words straight into bluntness caught Claire off guard.
"Well, no one said that farming would be easy work." Claire hoped that her chuckle didn't sound as wry as it felt.
Popuri rolled her eyes. "I never hear the end of it from Rick for our own place. If he'd just show me how to do some of the things he's so overwhelmed with, he wouldn't have to live off of coffee and work himself to the bone."
"He'd probably get his work done faster if he was well-rested, too."
"Oooh, that's a good point! Maybe I can convince him yet. It's a lot like how you're having Cliff over and eating his meat."
Claire's face went pale. "Please don't word it that way."
Popuri smirked. "I couldn't resist a little teasing! I guess I've been spending too much time around Karen. At least someone in this household is." She cast a dark look over at the chicken coop.
As if on cue, the door flew open, releasing a flurry of feathers and a very focused Rick hefting a bag of feed on his shoulder.
"If Rick would let me help, then he'd have time to-"
He whirled around, the heavy burlap sack almost causing him to lose his balance. "What about me now?" he asked in a harassed voice.
Popuri was tired of beating around the bush. "You should let me help you more! I'm an able-bodied person, y'know! I can monitor the incubators-"
"Whoa, whoa!" He shook his head emphatically, nearly knocking his glasses askew. "You have to know what you're doing with those incubators or you can lose the whole clutch!"
"Then show me!" She groaned as she stamped her foot, exasperated. "You don't think I can do it?"
When he said nothing in reply, the frown on her face grew. Rick's eyes darted to the ground; he was unsure of how to answer her accusatory question. He had more pressing matters to attend to than teach Popuri the basics of what he did. Training was lost time, after all, when he could simply do it himself. Why couldn't she see that?
"I'm already behind on feeding. Have you checked on Mom?"
"What do you think I am—stupid?! Of course I took care of Mom! Made her some warm tea, cooked breakfast, got her set up in her favorite chair. She insisted that she could balance the books by herself this morning."
"Then see if she needs you to help with inventory." Rick had already headed off to his shed.
"Fine." Popuri's face suggested that she was anything but.
"That's really sweet of you to do for her," Claire commented softly, "taking care of your mum, I mean." She tried to remember the last time she had done something like that for her parents.
I don't know if they ever have… I mean, they've always been invincible…
"I don't do it to be sweet," Popuri's voice wasn't as honeyed as it typically was. "I take care of Mom because I love her and it's my duty as her daughter. We all have to look out for each other."
"No disrespect was intended," Claire assured her, slightly taken aback.
"Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out like that. I know you meant well. It's just… when you say it like that, it makes it sound like it's… not as important or something."
"It was... belittling, wasn't it?"
Popuri looked up at her with a small frown, giving a single shy nod.
"I'm really sorry."
"It's alright; I know you didn't mean it that way. I just… I get so frustrated that I have to fight just to be allowed to be useful around here. Especially when I know we're swamped. I can't wait until the Fireworks Festival. I'm going to help Kai at his stall." She peeked back at the barn. "Don't tell Rick – he'll try to stop me. I think I'd have way more fun at the festival helping Kai out than walking around the stalls anyway."
"Then you should do what makes you happy," Claire assured her with a smile.
"Thanks! It feels good to know I have some support. I've been helping come up with a menu, too."
"Oh? Are you taking requests?"
Popuri's brows rose with interest. "What did you have in mind?"
"Uh… something with smoked fish!" Claire could feel her cheeks blazing.
Popuri gave her a knowing wink. "I'll see what I can do. We'll keep Cliff busy – don't worry!"
"I appreciate it." Claire's heart warmed at the smile she received.
"We really do all have to look out for each other, huh?" Popuri's garnet eyes turned toward her home. "I guess I better see what Mom has for me to do. I hope your day goes well!"
"Thanks, you, too!" Claire waved goodbye to her neighbor and turned around on her heel, staring at the fields.
She felt a lump form in her throat as she gazed at the project before her.
Looks like we're all swamped.
Rolling up her sleeves, she grabbed her basket.
It's not like these tomatoes are going to pick themselves.
Claire could feel the sweat pouring into her eyes once more as she dumped yet another load of tomatoes into her shipping bin. Her handkerchief had long since been drenched in sweat from wiping her face, and she had taken to dipping it into the stream to get cool water on her skin. She tied it around her hair in a high ponytail, half-wishing it was as cute as the bow Ann wore regularly.
Being forced to drink extra water felt like a chore, but she knew it was vital if she wanted to avoid another visit to the clinic. She turned off her thoughts, working mechanically as she plucked the tomatoes as quickly as she could. Still, going full-steam was exhausting; she had to sit down for a few minutes a couple of times to catch her breath, and the breaks only increased as the sun rose and the real heat of the day kicked in.
She was panting under the shade of her apple tree when she spotted a familiar figure walking toward her. Cliff was carrying a full pack on his back. He wasn't wearing a his usual tunic, and his cotton undershirt had been removed and was currently being used as a sweat rag. Still, he managed a small smile for her as he emptied clusters of herbs and berries into a compartment of the shipping bin. He sat down beside her with a tired grunt and she could feel the heat radiating off of him.
Claire turned toward him with a weak wave in greeting. "It's hot."
Cliff wiped down his face once more. "Yeah… that feels like an understatement. We should go swimming together sometime."
"I'm willing to jump into the stream right now," Claire admitted with a chuckle. "But, we do have cold leftovers in the refrigerator. The bad news is that it's hotter inside the house than it is out here in the shade. I'm just going to grab a couple bowls of random stuff and bring it out, okay?"
Cliff pulled himself to his feet. "Do you need any help?"
"No need. I'll just be a few minutes. Just relax."
She turned toward the house and stopped, when she heard a whinny. Tucker was lying in the shade of the stable, but he stood up and pranced over to Cliff at the sight of him, his brown mane dancing in the late summer breeze.
"Aw, look at him," Claire cooed.
Cliff grinned at the horse as he approached him. "You handling the heat alright?"
The horse huffed, nuzzling his hands. While he was warm to the touch, he saw a large drinking vessel out in the shade for him, and his perkiness left behind any concern. Cliff picked a handful of overgrown grass and Tucker eagerly munched away at it, leaving Cliff laughing when the horse's lips tickled his fingers.
"You both get along so well."
Cliff forgot that he was being watched. "Your animals have good hearts, and like Papa used to say, you can tell when an animal is raised with love."
"I really do try." Claire's hand gravitated toward her chest as she watched Koro stretch and yawn from his nap in the shade. He approached them with a series of friendly barks, his tail wagging so hard that his whole body wriggled. "They really are the biggest sweethearts." When Tucker bunted his muzzle against her shoulder, she melted, bursting into giggles as he tickled her ear.
"Very friendly." Cliff's entire face was smiling. "We had dogs and horses back home, but none of them were as sweet as these two."
Claire laughed. "What's your angle?"
He tilted his head with a slight frown. "There is no angle. Everyone at this farm is really sweet."
Claire felt her cheeks burn
E-Everyone?! As in… me, too…?
Giggling nervously, she shook her head. "Y'all are making it hard for me to want to go inside to get lunch!" She gave both animals a quick pet before heading to the farmhouse. "Alright, time for food. Enjoy the cuties."
Tucker nuzzled Cliff's shoulder and he wrapped an arm around his neck in a loose embrace. "Don't think I didn't see what you were doing there, whispering into her ear. You didn't tell her my secret, now did you?" He looked into the horse's dark eyes earnestly before breaking out into a grin. "I'm counting on you, now. Don't let me down, buddy." He gave Tucker a pat on the back before looking back at the house.
Claire is inside.
The woman I'm in love with is inside.
Cliff turned around to see the young horse gazing at him curiously. "I know, I know. Keeping secrets is no fun, huh?" Tucker let out a snort and trotted over to Koro in response, chasing him around in the grass. He watched them play for a minute before turning back toward the shade, excited by a new concept that had invaded his mind – maybe someday it wouldn't have to be a secret. Tucker stopped back by him, curious that he wasn't joining in their game. Cliff cupped the horse's cheeks in his hands. "Promise me you won't tell, okay?" He rested his forehead against Tucker's and stood up straight as he felt the colt's ears perk forward. Cliff whirled around as he heard the sound as well, his hair swaying in the summer breeze, grazing his bare back.
A grandfather and grandson were making their way back to town from their weekly hike and meditation session in the mountains. Saibara shuffled toward his friend, a grin cracking across his face as he saw the young foal. He observed Cliff's bags and supplies in the shade. "Hey there, young man. It's good to see that you are helping a friend in need."
Gray's eyes flicked between the young man and the horse before focusing on Cliff with a threatening gaze.
"Oh! Uh, I'm not really doing any farm work or anything for her. We decided to help each other out by sharing foraged goods and resources so we both get enough to eat. I'm happy for the variety and she doesn't have to live completely off of tomatoes..." He gestured toward the fields of red.
Gray cleared his throat and tore his eyes away from Tucker. "L-looks like she's got quite a project ahead of her."
"With many little strokes, a large tree is felled," the old man replied sagely, tucking his hands into the folds of his yukata as he glanced at Cliff. He didn't say this in a scolding manner, and Gray was too distracted to mistakenly take offense. "And, of course, it's important to remember that two horses can pull more weight together than they ever possibly could on their own."
Cliff perked up. "I'm really hoping that the additions to Claire's diet will give her more energy." His catches from this morning were plentiful, and smoking on a makeshift rack over by the Kappa Lake, and he had been foraging at lightning speed all day. The thought of knowing that some of the food he was gathering would be shared with Claire was a great motivator. Perhaps part of this was because he was fantasizing that they were supporting each other as a couple…
Saibara ran a few fingers through his snowy beard, a smirk barely visible underneath. The dreamy look in Cliff's eyes wasn't hard to see. "He who treads the path of love walks a thousand meters as if it were only one, after all."
Cliff felt his face blaze, and he was sure his blush had gone all the way down his neck. He had nothing to say in reply, and he struggled to keep his jaw from dropping. He was met with a cackle and a slap on the back in response.
"Well, I won't keep you from your time with her. Give the young lady my regards." The old man nodded in farewell and headed up the path.
Gray didn't follow; he nervously wrung his hands as he gazed wistfully at Tucker and the tension only grew as the horse nuzzled Cliff's shoulder.
He debated offering Gray the opportunity to pet him, but a stern voice inside of him said not to.
Why bend over backward to make him happy? I don't even know if we're friends anymore.
Am I being cruel, though? Gray's had his heart set on training Tucker. I feel like saying anything about him would make things weird… And what if it caused Claire more trouble?
He had no doubt this would also reawaken the ugly jealousy that had grown dormant in his own heart. Cliff bit back a frown; after everything he had tried to understand about himself at the church and after striving to improve, he was still a selfish, terrible person.
Maybe I really haven't grown or changed at all from that arrogant, willful teenager...
Cliff felt as if the birds flying overhead were chirping more loudly than usual as the breeze blew a few stray hairs into his face. He impatiently brushed them away as they tried to stick to his lips. The last words he had spoken alone to Gray were at Kai's birthday party before they were forced into polite group conversation, and they remained fresh in his mind. The two hadn't spoken the night before when he returned with Kai bringing some leftovers to their room. Gray's nose had been stuck in a book, and whether he was actually reading or not was unclear, but his lack of excitement to see Cliff definitely was.
And now, standing before him with Tucker at his side, he felt so exposed. Cliff listened to the breeze blow through the trees and tomato fields for what felt like an eternity.
Gray finally cleared his throat once again, tugging on the bill of his cap. "W-well… I suppose I should head back." He gave Tucker one last reflective look. "Mary's waiting for me anyway…" His voice lacked emotion as he jogged at his uneven pace to catch up with his grandfather.
Cliff stopped himself from waving goodbye. He felt a strange sense of relief and wasn't sure if he should feel guilty about it or not. Tucker brushed his lips against his temple and the young man jumped with a startled laugh.
"Well, at least your feelings weren't hurt, huh, buddy?" he whispered, draping an arm around his neck.
The horse let out a snort and headed back to the fields to play with Koro. Perhaps he was over thinking the whole thing. Hadn't Claire accused him of doing that in the past? His thoughts were halted as he heard the farmhouse door close. Claire stepped outside, a tray in her arms and the afternoon sunshine playing at her golden hair. His heart caught in his throat; he would focus on the positives today. After all, he didn't want that kind, serene smile on Claire's face to ever fade.
"Take a seat – you look a little pink."
Cliff felt his face flush more deeply as he obeyed, reaching into his bag and setting his packages on the counter. Kai poured him a glass of water, which was gratefully accepted, before weighing the smoked fish on his food scale behind the counter.
"I can't thank you enough for this," Cliff muttered into his cup.
A jovial laugh filled the room, the low beats of instrumental reggae drowned out. "It's just water. That being said, I'm not about to gripe about some appreciation around here." While Gray was a frequenter of his shop and the business was much appreciated, he often was so consumed with his fatigue that he ate in silence, some afternoons not giving much more than a grunt and tip of the cap before heading back to their room at the inn.
"Well, not just for the drink-"
"It's tap water, dude. Don't sweat it."
Cliff tried again, biting his lip. "It's just... back when I lived at home, everyone had their assigned role – the foragers, the hunters, the..." His voice cracked as he shook his head, going pale. " Well... I-I guess what I'm trying to say is... I don't have one here."
"And what have I told you about that?" Kai didn't look up from weighing the fish.
"T-to... stop saying that..." The muttered reply died off as it left Cliff's mouth.
"There are plenty of things you're good at, and you fit in just fine." The way Kai maintained his confident tone while deftly focusing on his kitchen chores reminded him much like Ann. And just like her, he realized that Kai gave him far too much credit and seemed determined to take him on as a project that required fixing.
Cliff knew better than to point out how many times he had asked around town for jobs and been turned down. Gray in particular grew quickly annoyed at that kind of attitude, and Ann's cheeriness accompanied with her weak examples usually left him feeling worse.
There may have been things I was good at, but those don't even serve a purpose anymore...
"I mean, you're saving my skin here with the fish. I don't have time to babysit a meat smoker while I'm running the shop. My sources have told me that this Fireworks Festival is going to be a big one. Every year, the ones in this region are bigger. Last year, Thomas got a lot of vendors to sign up. I was hearing about Mineral Town's Fireworks Festival at the other towns I was staying at!"
"So Mineral Town is well-known for their festivals..." Cliff thoughtfully took a sip of his water. "Mayor Thomas must be really organized and have a lot of connections."
Kai shrugged. "I guess so, but he does lack a certain..." He paused, shooting Cliff a rueful look. "Charisma with the younger folk."
Cliff gave him a wry smile. "That's true... knowing how to throw a proper festival and getting others to attend are two different issues... Of course, when there's not much to do for entertainment, people will flock to a festival, regardless of who is in charge of planning it."
Surely, those compliments weren't really-
"Damn, I'd expect a comment like that from Gray, but... hey, man, are you feeling alright?" Kai's brows rose with concern.
Cliff realized the words he had dared to speak aloud. "I, uh... I meant for it to, well, not come out like that."
"It's all good. High strung? Just take a deep breath. Smell the delicious smoked fish." Kai closed his eyes, basking in the scent. "Dang, I can't thank you enough for this. Seriously."
"It's nothing," Cliff mumbled in response, biting his lip as he looked away, fussing with the frayed hem of his tunic.
Kai finished loading the packages of fish in the refrigerator and opened the cash register, the bell on it snapping Cliff to attention.
"Not nothing. Do you have any idea how much Doug would charge me for this?" Kai shook his head with a laugh. "It'd practically be extortion." He reached into the refrigerator and tossed him a wrapped bundle of food roughly the length of his index finger.
Cliff caught it in his surprise, the worry lines on his forehead only growing as Kai leaned forward dramatically, placing a tidy stack of coins in the other hand.
"Nice reflexes. Guess you gotta be with the way you fish, huh? Just a leftover nigiri. You like tamagoyaki, right?"
Cliff was reminded of early spring mornings, his feet dangling down from the bar stool as he watched Ann expertly flip the rolled omelette in the pan with an eager chuckle.
"This is going to be my house special, so be honest if it needs something!"
He wasn't aware he was frowning until he heard Kai's muffled voice echo in the pantry. "It's going in the garbage otherwise – sushi rice gets weird if I try to keep it overnight. Besides, it won't spoil your appetite for Claire."
Cliff opened his mouth to muster some kind of reply when a balled up bath towel flew at his face. He instinctively grabbed it with his free hand.
"Another nice catch!" Kai cheered, draping one over his own shoulder and grabbing a tote bag in the other. "C'mon, let's eat and walk." He locked up the register and spun his key ring on one finger, whistling along with the record player before turning it off.
"Where are we going?" Cliff looked at the towel in his hand and mentally face-palmed at how clueless he was being.
"We've both worked hard – I think we've earned a trip to the hot springs."
Cliff was suddenly aware how tightly he had been tensing his shoulders. "That does sound relaxing..."
"You don't have a set time to be over at the farm, do you?"
"No, but I don't want to keep her waiting too long..."
"Well, let's get you freshened up. Doesn't hurt to look nice when you're an invited guest."
Cheeks blazing, Cliff looked away. He decided he didn't like that knowing smirk playing at Kai's mouth.
Kai did enough talking for the both of them as they made their way up to the hot springs. Reviewing his planned menu for his stand at the Fireworks Festival, he was sure to shower Cliff with lots of praise for his catches.
"This year is definitely going to be the most lucrative. That smoked trout is always popular, and I'm going to whip out the old cotton candy machine. Lots of people come to the festival hungry, and I've got a lot of competition. If I can give out both savory and sweet dishes, I'll be raking it in."
"Aren't you going to miss checking out the other stalls?"
"Oh, I scope stuff out before the festival starts every year. I'm making my menu this year based on what sold well last year. Honestly, serving people during the mealtime rush is my favorite part of the festival, aside from the fireworks, of course. That adrenaline hits you, and it's different from working at the family restaurant – they want what I made, what I created…" He paused, a dreamy smile curling on his lips. "I have a lot of regulars that check in with me during the festival and part of it makes me want to rub it in Dad's face."
"I think he'd be proud if he understood," Cliff ventured.
"That's the whole thing – if. He refuses to see outside of his tiny box. And you know what? That's his loss." Kai scratched his cheek. "I, uh... I'm also going to have someone helping me sell this year, so it's going to give the night a whole other vibe."
"Popuri?"
Kai gave him a playful shove, laughing. "Well, maybe… C'mon, man, was it that hard to figure out?"
Nearly every time Cliff had dropped off his quota of fish, Popuri had either been seated at the counter or hanging around the beach. It wasn't hard to guess that she was eager to spend some time with Kai once he was finished working. On more than one occasion, Cliff had noticed the two of them part swiftly when he opened the door to the shop.
They approached the hot springs and Kai threw the door open for him, gesturing him ahead. Cliff thanked him with a nod, but his mind was still on Popuri.
"I know it's really none of my business, but are you two-?"
He was interrupted by the sound of someone clearing their throat. Looking away from Kai, Cliff felt the blood in his veins run cold.
Gray was standing by the edge of the hot spring, staring up at the summer sky, using a hand to shield his eyes from the sunset. His trusty cap, which usually took care of that task, was hung upon a hook on the wall, his other clothes in a bundled up heap on the wooden flooring beneath. A towel was wrapped around his waist, and when he turned around and removed his hand, they could see that he had already washed up, his wet hair standing on end from being pushed aside.
"Took you long enough, man. If I had hopped in already, I'd've passed out from the heat." The friendly tone from his voice faded as his gaze settled on Cliff. He narrowed his eyes, the pale blue such a stark contrast to his flushed cheeks.
"Hey, what gives?! You never told me that you were-"
Kai already sensed Cliff's flight response kicking in. He put a steady hand on his back and felt his heart sink when he could feel him trembling ever so slightly.
"You got a problem with this?" Kai wasn't even sure who he was asking at this point – perhaps both of them. "I just thought a relaxing soak would feel good after a long day, and Cliff's been working hard, too."
"I-I guess he can join us." Gray reached for the bill of his cap and forgot it was hung on a hook. His hand remained frozen in the air, trembling slightly. Whether it was from sheer rage, Cliff wasn't sure. "If he's cool with it, I mean."
Kai gave Cliff's back a gentle pat. "You're among friends, man."
Cliff didn't look up from the towel in his hands; he didn't want to know what Gray's reaction was to that comment. The anxiety in his face slowly faded until he wore a neutral expression, free of emotion. "Alright."
Gray listened to the sounds of the faucets being turned on as the other two prepared themselves for entering the hot springs. He set his towel on the edge of the bath and sunk down into the water, letting it graze his chin as he let out a sigh.
"It probably sounds weird that a hot bath feels good in the summer," Kai began filling a bucket with water and dumped it over his head.
"That's because the sun's going down," Gray murmured from the pool. "It's sweltering in that forge – you're not gonna catch me jumping in here during the heat of the day."
"And yet you practically live in those coveralls," Kai chided with a smirk.
Gray opened his mouth to reply, but his eyes drifted upward to see Cliff removing his undershirt and running his fingers through his hair as he loosened his ponytail. "Meh, I'm not the only one who doesn't dress for the weather."
He wasn't sure if either of them heard him, as the sounds of water and scrubbing accompanied the trickling water of the hot spring. Gray folded his arms across his chest, averting his eyes.
Kai plopped down next to him. "I'd ask how work went, but I have a feeling I already know based on your attitude."
"It was fine – you just have a knack for saying the right things to piss people off." The playful tone in Gray's voice betrayed his words.
"One of my many talents." Kai took the comment in stride, running a hand through his wet hair.
Cliff finished washing in silence, finding that he was dreading entering the hot springs.
"Oh, and your other talents?" A smirk played at the corner of Gray's mouth.
"Oh, you know – cooking, swimming, throwing awesome parties, making any piece of clothing look good, composing moving ballads…"
"Losing at arm-wrestling," Gray added with a snort.
"That's fair," Kai accepted with a jovial nod, "and if you're counting it as a talent, I guess I'll take it. You got any for me, Cliff?"
Cliff had just finished rinsing off and his feet automatically carried him to the edge of the hot spring. Towel in hand, he stood frozen in place.
These two are best friends.
And I'm... interrupting their time together.
Kai means well, but I'm still just... a bother... someone he feels he has to be kind to out of pity. And Gray… he's clearly uncomfortable with me here.
Unease hit him like a physical force, overwhelming him and nearly setting him off balance. He twisted the edges of the towel around his knuckles. There was one obvious spot available, but he couldn't help but wonder if he was actually welcome to it.
"Cliff, either cover up or get in already!" Gray had sunk so deeply into the water that only his head was visible. Cliff noted that his blush had traveled all the way to the tips of his ears.
"You can think of my other talents as you climb in. Come on in – the water's fine."
He entered the pool, his joints moving stiffly as he entered the steaming water. The words slipped out as soon as he sat down.
"You're very persuasive."
Gray emitted a genuine laugh that he promptly cut off, resulting in a snort.
Kai leaned back, propping his hands behind his head and closed his eyes. "I guess I am, aren't I?"
Gray spoke up. "Well, you managed to talk both of us into being here, didn't you?" His eyes locked onto Cliff's, but he continued to speak to Kai. "Look, neither of us are stupid, so just say what you wanna say."
Kai only bothered to open one of his eyes. "You know I hate drama. I don't wanna head off in the fall knowing my men aren't cool with each other. I can moderate, or you can even pretend I'm not even here. Whichever, just… work it out."
Cliff felt his heart ache. "Gray, I-"
"Look, I know you're pissed at me. A lot of people are. So how about you stop pretending you aren't? I shouldn't have to apologize for saying Claire is beautiful."
Kai sat up. "Whoa, whoa, you said that last night? In what context?"
"It was a simple observation!" Gray groaned.
"Mary's beautiful, too," Kai supplied.
"Hell yeah, she is. And that doesn't mean that Kai has a crush on her."
Cliff averted his eyes with an embarrassed blush, rubbing his arm.
"So do you finally get it? I. Am. Not. Interested. In. Claire." He rolled his eyes. "Never was, never will be. Even with her making those mushy eyes at me, how could I possibly return those feelings when I saw the way you looked at her?"
Cliff ignored the heat rising in his face. "And you were interested in Mary, too."
"Yeah, we've been through this. I picked Mary."
"It was selfish for you to string Claire along."
Kai watched with interest; he had never heard Cliff be so direct.
"It was. I knew I had to let her go. I felt bad about it for a long time, and it's not like I forgot what you said – by puttin' it off, I was hurting everyone. I…" Gray looked down at the water; it was easier than looking into those hurt eyes. "I never thought everything would get so out of control. It doesn't make me happy to make other people miserable, contrary to popular opinion. And I really didn't think you were hoping to catch her on the rebound – you're not like that at all. You actually think before you act, unlike me. I don't try to be reckless and selfish… it just… always comes out that way," he finished with a sigh. "I should'nt've called you selfish."
Cliff sat up straight, his water no longer floating on the surface. "I am selfish, though. I've screwed my life up more than you can imagine – trust me."
A slight smile worked its way on Gray's lips. "Oh, so is this a contest now?"
Cliff shook his head, the sadness not leaving his eyes. "No… I just want everyone to get along. I was being overprotective of her."
"It's only natural. I mean, you're defending someone you lo-… r-really care about, right?"
Cliff shyly nodded in reply.
The two were distracted by the sound of Kai tossing his towel around his neck, dressed and ready to leave. "Well, it looks like my work here is done. Don't keep Cliff too long, now." He waved cheekily as he pulled the door closed behind him.
There was a beat of silence before Gray leaned in, speaking lowly. "I know I keep messing things up. Well, I guess both of us do now, apparently." Gray's eyes searched his. "I-I… I don't wanna lose you," his voice cracked. "I don't wanna lose my best friend because I suck at interacting with people and I panic when people don't act the way I expect them to."
"Best friend?"
Gray went crimson at the deep blue eyes that had settled on him. "Well, yeah… I thought that was kinda obvious."
"I'm surprised… and honored you see me that way… Thank you."
"N-No prob… lem." He cleared his throat. "I mean, no problem."
Author's Note: A great big thank you once again to my readers and reviewers. I hope y'all are enjoying the story. I struggled a bit writing this chapter, as it has quite a bit of conflict in it. Ann's confusion about her changing emotions, Cliff's increased outward protectiveness toward Claire's feelings… I also missed Saibara so I made him pop up for a moment. :)
P.S. Culinary/Cultural Note! Onsen Tamago is a traditional dish served in Japan, also known as Hot Spring Eggs. They have a custardy texture and the yolks are soft, yet solidified. They are often served over rice or in a soy sauce broth. I learned about them from playing this game and was curious to see if you could make them at home in a pot. We gave it a shot at home and now my husband is nuts about them. We now have a permanent carton of eggs in our fridge with the hot springs/onsen symbol drawn on the carton, haha.