Hamtaro entered the park and looked along the path. He spotted Boss coming the other way, and stopped. Boss obviously noticed him as well, as he stopped too.

"This is it, then." Thought Hamtaro, walking towards Boss. The pair soon came face to face, and an awkward silence descended on them. Hamtaro broke the silence.

"Hi, Boss." He said. Boss's reply was slightly strained.

"Hello, Hamtaro."

"Look, Boss, I feel really bad about the other day. I shouldn't have gone off at you like that." Boss looked back at him.

"Hamtaro, you had every right to be mad. I was being a real jerk."

"That still doesn't excuse my actions, Boss. I'm sorry." Hamtaro replied. Boss looked own at his feet for a second, then back to Hamtaro.

"Actually, Hamtaro, I'm the one who needs to be sorry. I've been totally selfish and made a fool of myself these past few days." He paused.

"But you were angry at me, Boss. I understand why." Boss looked back at him.

"Actually, I don't think you do. I didn't, until this morning. I felt that you had ruined everything, that it was your fault Bijou was in love with you. Truth be told, I was angry at myself. You were right yesterday. If I'd been braver, I'd have asked Bijou out long ago, and who knows were we'd be now. But one thing is clear, Hamtaro. She loves you, not me." He sighed. "That's something I'll have to deal with myself, but taking it out on you was not helpful at all. I behaved terribly. Hamtaro, I'm sorry as well, and I'll accept your apology if you'll take mine." Hamtaro grinned at him.

"Deal, Boss!" He said, sticking out his paw. Boss took it, and the pair shook hands warmly.

"I'll tell you one thing, Hamtaro. It's been too weird not having you at the clubhouse these past few days. It'll be nice to start getting back to normal." Hamtaro laughed.

"Well first there's the Ball tomorrow." He pointed out. "There's going to be ham-girls from all over the city there, Boss. There's bound to be some there without dates as well." He added. Boss looked at him.

"Hamtaro, I'm shocked you'd even think such things. I can see I'm going to need to come along." He paused slightly, then continued hurriedly. "Only to protect Bijou of course. Can't have you running off with some other attractive ham-girls, can we?" He glanced round. "You did say some of them would be available, right?" Hamtaro laughed.

……

Oxnard and the Ham-girls walked along the street and into the park. Pepper was chatting away to Pashmina, telling her about how life had been on the farm over the last few months. As they wandered along the path, Bijou looked around.

"I wonder where they are…" she said. "Hamtaro went looking for Boss quite a while back." Oxnard glanced round.

"I can't see anything, what about you, Pepper?" She shook her head. "And he said he was heading straight off to find Boss, right?"

"Oui, he promised me." Said Bijou firmly. Oxnard nodded. From Hamtaro, a promise was a promise.

"Ah, finally made it all the way here then!" Said Boss's voice behind them. Turning round, the Hams saw Hamtaro and Boss sat with the other Hams and another spread of food. Hamtaro smiled.

"Well, there was plenty of leftovers from yesterday," He said. "Seemed a shame to waste it. So we rounded up the others for another picnic." Bijou smiled.

"So you two are friends again?" She asked.

"The best of." Boss answered. Bijou sat down over by Hamtaro, and the others squeezed in around the circle. "Let's tuck in then?" Suggested Boss.

……

Once again, the day drew to a close, and he group began to depart for their own homes, the Ball being forefront in their minds. Boss waved and smiled as the hams set off home. Hamtaro started to walk Bijou back towards her house, but she stopped.

"Oh, one second, Hamtaro." She said. "I need to do something." She dashed back and caught up to Boss as he was about to disappear into the tunnels leading to the Clubhouse. "Boss!" She called. He turned round

"Oh, hello Bijou." He said. Bijou smiled at him.

"Look, Boss. I think you did a very noble thing today." She said.

"I'm not quite sure what you mean." He replied, going slightly red in the cheeks. Bijou looked at him.

"I know you have strong feelings for me, Boss. And although I do not feel the same way about you, I have always seen you as a good person. Being able to let me and Hamtaro be together, well, it certainly proves me right." She hugged him. "Thank you, Boss." She said, before turning round and running to catch up with Hamtaro.

"Thank you, Bijou." He replied, almost to himself. Wiping away a tear, he went down into the tunnels, knowing that, finally, he'd been able to do the right thing and let Bijou go.