Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon... I probably never will...

10th Day of spring

Ah...last day before the summer comes, and it's raining outside. I can't believe how much rain can come and go and it just makes me sick. Well, on days like these, it's perfect to go to the pond. All the trees there make really good shelters and during the hottest times in the summer, it's still cool there. I thought I might go borrow a fishing rod and such, but then I decided against it, I just wanted to relax. The pond rippled every so often from the raindrops that managed to get past the tree leaves and I could see a few fish swimming about.
"Hey Nami!" Hatori cried, coming up the path to the pond.
"What is it?" I asked, looking down at the pond rather than at him.
"I have this for you," he said, and offered me a clay head statue.
"Can I really have it?" I asked and he nodded, so I took it and put it into my pocket. To my surprise, he sat down next to me.
"It's wonderful near the pond today. The rain is really terrible, and yet here it doesn't seem so bad," he said with a sigh.
"And your point is?" I asked wearily.
"Well, I don't feel much like working today...it's just to cruddy out, and besides, I already milked the cow and all the plants are being watered as we speak. I really don't have much else to do," he said.
"Why don't you go to the archeological site and dig for a couple of hours..." I suggested, and 'leave me alone' was what my thoughts followed with, although I wasn't about to say that out loud.
"That does sound like a good idea. Say, I have a question," he began.
"I hope I can provide you with an answer..." I said sarcastically.
"Do you like those crystal ores...?" he asked me slowly.
"No, not really, they remind me of my childhood, but I don't like them..." I said, at least he didn't ask me about the flower thing again.
"Really, why's that?" he pressed.
"I don't want to talk about that, so good day!" I said and stood, walking away from him as fast as I could.
"I'm sorry!" he called after me, and I smiled a bit... he had managed to screw up once after all!

"So he tried to press the issue?" Ruby asked, "What a guy. Even he should know better than that! When you want to tell him why, he should be patient enough to wait for that day, right?"
"Right!" I said, chewing on lunch, "I thought he wasn't the kind of guy that would press that kind of issue... but I was wrong..."
"Well, all men should learn from their mistakes..." Ruby began, "Don't give up on him just because of this one incident..."
"I'm not giving up on him!" I said, then realized what I had said, "I mean... it's not like I had started anything with him in the first place. He's just a city boy after all... he still has even more to learn before he's even in my league!"
"You never had a league..." she stated firmly, "And even though you have more experience than he does in the country, you were born in the city yourself, weren't you?"
"Yes I was, but I hate it now. I prefer to travel..." I said, "I need to get out of here..."
"Well, don't leave yet, don't you want to see what Hatori will do?" she asked.
"I'm a little curious..." I said, "But that doesn't mean I like him!"
"Then what's with the two hearts?" she asked.
"How in the world do you know about that?" I asked.
"I cleaned your room dear. I think you like him a little more than you're willing to admit..." she said firmly.
"Whatever," I replied and made my way back outside, "Thanks for lunch!"
"No problem Nami!" she called after me as I made my way outside once again. I thought about heading to the bar tonight. It was still raining, and the bar seemed like a good idea to me...

"Hatori is so wonderful!" Muffy said with a sigh.
"And why's that?" I asked.
"He catches really good fish! He managed to catch my favorite one too!" she said.
"Good for you!" I said sarcastically.
"Did he give you anything today?" she asked me.
"He gave me a clay head," I replied.
"Oh...that's right, you're the one who likes the interesting things..." she said, almost with a note of pity in her voice.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I asked.
"Nothing, really, it means nothing! Listen, do you like Hatori at all?" she asked.
"Why does it matter to you?" I asked.
"Well, I'm curious... although you don't have the looks to beat me...should you be my competition..." she said.
"Try asking Celia that," I said sarcastically, "And so what if I'm your competition...it doesn't mean anything to me..."
"Well, it does to me!" she said in a huff, "I think he likes me best!" As she turned to talk to another customer that had entered into the bar, I turned to leave. I didn't have to take this from her, I mean, so what if I liked him a little, I wasn't about to be the one to marry him! Muffy can have Hatori for all I care, why should I even think like that?

I sighed as I crawled into bed that night... I was dead tired. At least the rain had stopped and I could hear my own thoughts again. I had looked in my diary, and decided against changing it. Maybe he'd make up for what he did today tomorrow. I should listen to Ruby, things this year could get very interesting...

A/N: Like it? Hate it? Think this chapter was a little much? (I thought so...) Let me know what you think, but as always... keep flames rated G-PG!

I send my apologies to the Harvest Sprites; I didn't acknowledge them last chapter, so I am this one... Please, take these mushrooms as a sign of my apology, you guys are so cool!

And thanks to all of my reviewers! I love you all lots! Read and Review!