/ Hygiene and Kindness /
In one peaceful afternoon, Giorgio decided to invite Fritz and Annie to a simple lunch at his farm. He had quite the fresh produce and was excited to cook some of it. It wouldn't hurt his profit, and it was a good chance to get to know the new farmer around the highland farm.
Although when it was noon, Annie was the first to arrive. The farmer was quite punctual, and was there on the exact time. She must've finished her farming routine quite quickly, but Giorgio was interested on how she earned her first 20000 G at her first spring in the town. It was quite the impressive feat for a new farmer like her.
"Good day dearie! How about you take a seat? I have prepared a very great turnip salad with some fresh carrots and cabbage! It's sure to revitalize your stamina really well, and your skin would be thanking you very well for that, hohoho!" Giorgio proudly presented the dish, and Annie took a bite to the appetizer. The young girl was delighted on how delicious it was.
After six minutes though, Fritz arrived, quite in low spirits.
"Oh, dear neighbor, what has quite got you down? If you need any help don't be afraid to ask old Giorgio, I'm just one farm away after all!" Fritz was looking quite down, but quickly replied with a forced grin.
"I'm fine… it's just that… um…" Fritz inhaled a bit and mustered the courage to ask.
"Do I smell like cow, and do I look dirty?" Annie and Giorgio stopped munching their own portions of the salad, and quite the silence was heard between them.
"Um, dearie boy, you must be kidding right?" Giorgio retorted.
"N-n-no! I'm serious!" Fritz replied; face planted with the desire for an answer.
"Um, Fritz, dear, let me be honest to you, I don't know what hygiene routine you do, but I get dirtier after farm work more than you after you do your routine. But the peculiar thing is I'm pretty sure I'm more meticulous than you! Wait who even told you that?"
"Elise…" Just then, the two farmers got enraged in an instant the name Elise was mentioned.
"That spoiled rich brat! How dare she?!" Giorgio shouted.
"That was very disrespectful of her!" Annie said.
"Like c'mon, Fritz, I use more conditioner than you, but your hair is straighter than mine!" Giorgio pointed out to the maple-haired boy.
Annie continued, "When we're both done with our farm, your skin still shines like the sun even after your farm work, and I had to shower before going here to get rid of the putrid smell of Hanako's poo that I had to clean!" (A/N: Hanako is the default name of your first cow in-game.)
Starting with Giorgio, he and Annie started a stream of comments on Fritz' hygiene.
"You're so hygienic, that I sometimes wonder how you stay that way when your bathroom is so small in your house!"
"You're so hygienic, I sometimes wonder what kind of skincare routine you do, that I'm not doing so that my skin could stay smooth after I farm!"
"You're so hygienic, I feel ashamed by my beautiful lifestyle!"
"You're so hygienic, you're a direct contrast to how dirty and disorganized your farm is!"
"You're so hygienic, I wonder if the reason you're broke every month is because of shampoo, soap, and conditioner!"
"You're so hygienic, I wonder if you're even taking of your cows because you clearly don't smell like one even after you go out of your barn!"
"You're so hygienic- "Fritz interrupted them with a loud voice, "OKAY, I KNOW, PLEASE STOP!" He sighed and replied, "Look are you trying to compliment me, bare your insecurities, or attack me because of how clean I can get?"
"O-o-oh… sorry." The two farmers replied.
"Anyways, I'm glad that you think like that to me! Haha!" Fritz's signature optimism finally came back, and the three laughed at what just ensued.
"Um, I think though let's just understand Elise, and be the best farmer to show her humility. She must've been living the rich life for so long; she thinks so lowly of us." Fritz said.
"You know sweetheart? You're too kind sometimes." Giorgio replied to the farmer, "But, it's one of the things that I hope won't change from you. I'm always proud to have a neighbor this kind y'know?"
"Hehe, awww, stop making me blush neighbor haha! Thanks!" Fritz replied.
"Fritz is too pure for this world, isn't he?" Annie thought as they finished their salads. They would want to talk more, but it seems Giorgio has a meeting with Veronica in the afternoon about business.
"Sorry, but I'll have to cut it short, I have important matters to tend to. I'll invite you some time else though! Thanks for being a dearie, both you and Annie!" Giorgio then escorted them to the doors of his house.
"Oh, and Annie, can you please bring this turnip salad to Ms. Eda? I would've wanted to invite her, but she might be too tired from walking down to pay us a visit. Tell her I said hi! And Fritz!" Giorgio looked at the boy, "Be a gentleman and escort her home, okay?"
"Y-yes!" Fritz answered energetically, and Giorgio giggled at the young boy's enthusiasm.
"Okay then, off you go you two." Giorgio said as he waved goodbye to the two of them. Annie on the other hand, kept the Tupperware with salad in her bag.
On their way to the Highland Farm, the two decided to talk a bit about farm matters. Fritz was a natural comedian, and Annie was delighted with the boy.
"Um, Fritz, weren't you really angry with Elise? I mean, some of the villagers, even me can find her a bit too much sometimes."
"I was angry! I was a bit mad, and I didn't like her insults at all!" Fritz said, which shocked Annie a bit. But Fritz was human, and she got why the boy just decided to shake it off.
"But you know, sometimes I feel pity with Elise. Maybe she's just too lonely, or too used in getting people away from her. I'm pretty sure she is kind, and she can show gratitude too, it's just that she's scared to do so." Fritz said calmly.
The wind blew in the mountains and the pair were surrounded in calmness. The boy looked at Annie and gave her a smile, "I think Elise just needs kindness after all."
-/-
"Look at Annie, omg, isn't she to prude! Like c'mon who wears that nowadays!"
"I-I'm sorry Annie, but I just went out with you to pass High School. But it's because you're such a nerd, and you should be lucky since I dated you!"
"I don't really like Annie, she's too cold… Why does she always do that?"
"We can't keep you in the company if you're unwilling to cooperate with others Annie."
-/-
Annie stopped walking which got Fritz's attention. Tears were flowing out of her eyes. The boy quickly rushed to the girl.
"A-A-Annie, are you okay? I'm sorry, what did I do?" Annie was wiping her tears, and nodded a no to the boy who was completely confused about her sudden outburst.
"N-n-no, you didn't do anything wrong Fritz, it's just that… this isn't a dream right Fritz?" The boy quickly pinched his right cheek the strongest he can.
"That stung a lot so…" With a thumbs up, he smiled at Annie, "Yep, this 'ere is really real!"
Annie giggled a bit which confused Fritz quite a bit more, but he rode along and they started walking back to the farm.
Once they reached the highland farm, Annie went ahead and looked behind at Fritz, "I'll take it from here, you can go back now!" Fritz nodded and waved goodbye to the girl, but before he went Annie ran down to him.
One tiptoe up, and one sweet kiss to the cheek, the result, a maple-haired boy going red, flustered as heck.
The lass softly, "Thank you, for being different Fritz. Hihi!" She then ran off to Eda's house and the boy was left there completely processing the moment.
"Y-y-you're welcome?" He softly chuckled while scratching the back of his head, and started heading back down to Greenhill farm.
Author's Note:
So you might be wondering why I'm updating so fast. I'm also wondering myself AHAHAHAHA!
Well main reason is, I kinda have some time in my hands, and I'm not stressed since these things are just drabbles, but I'm starting to see where I should take this story. Actually, I started this with no destination, just a fun little collection story I made where I can just reset whenever I want, but it seems that I could take this thing somewhere.
Anyways leave a fav and review! It's really much much, appreciated.