Chapter 4: Three's Company, Too

The Next day, after taking care of watering her newly-planted turnips, Farmer Claire decided to head to meet with her new friend, Mary, and maybe pick up some more farming tips from the library's vast resources after finding out the Blacksmith Shop momentarily close. In order to consummate their newfound friendship, she brought a fresh honey comb she found on a tree right by her house.

"It's a shame I couldn't meet with Gray again, today. I don't know if he's a sweet tooth, but I'd have figured that maybe trying out a sweet treat could help get him out of his slump. Oh well, I have a feeling Mary will like this more, anyway! Gray did tell me she doesn't get very many visitors, and it would be nice to have something to snack on while enjoying some quality reading! Yep, this should be just perfect to make that kindly librarian's day!" she reasoned to herself enthusiastically.

Once more, the lively blonde swung open the door leading to Mineral Town's primary source of knowledge.

"Hi, Mar--oh…"

Inside, she found a fairly attentive sitting by her desk as usually, but not too far away was a preoccupied Gray, who looked really focused on a book in his hands.

"Gray?!" she cried aloud.

The blacksmith's apprentice immediately lowered his book to exchange glances with the new arrival.

"Claire?" he uttered back.

"Oh, Claire! How nice of you to come by again! Gray and I were just talking about you!" Mary said.

Somehow, Claire noticed a subtle ounce of pep added to the librarian's usually shy demeanor, and again felt a tinge of awkwardness right before averting her eyes to Gray again.

"Um…yeah, nice to see you again, too…" Gray muttered before going back to his back.

"Oh, Gray, come on. We're all trying to be good friends here. The least we could do is spend this time together between the three of us." Mary reprimanded.

The observant Claire nodded to herself.

"Whoah… she certainly acts a differently with Gray around. They really must be close." She noted to herself.

A reluctantly, grumbling Gray decided to close his book and head off towards the direction of the young women.

"Alright, so I'm here. Now what?" Gray said.

Mary then put her attention back on the incoming farmer.

"Well, now that we're all gathered here, did you have some business with the library again? Or did you just want to talk?" she asked.

"Actually…"

Claire then pulled out the carefully preserved honey comb from a rucksack she wore on her back, and presented it to the duo.

"I wanted to share a snack with my new friends! And it was really convenient to reach you two in the same place!" she cheered.

The library duo gazed at the acquired comb with interest.

"…honey?" Mary uttered quietly.

"Honey?" Gray said with a hint of disgust.

"Yeah! Nothing better to get your taste buds jumping than with something sweet from Mother Nature, right?" Claire added.

"Wow… that is… pretty sweet of you! Ah…sorry fun the pun there." Mary replied in a very touched voice.

Claire's face lit up like a sun upon receiving approval.

"Thanks… but, uh, I don't really like sweet stuff…" Gray answered reluctantly.

"Oh come on! You're just afraid I pranked this comb with bees or something, huh? Really now! You gotta try the stuff before you start nay-saying it!" Claire grinned.

"No! Really! I--"

With dexterous hands quicker than the eye, Claire reached for a spoon hidden in a pocket of her rucksack, dug a good chunk of honey from within the comb, and spood-fed the massive portion into Gray's mouth before he said another word. After a few twitches, blinks, and a sudden gulp of sweetness, the dark deed was done. The ninja feeder's act of stealth and speed rewarded her with gags and retches. Suffice to say, Gray was not at all appeased.

"He was serious. Gray doesn't particularly like the taste of sweets…" Mary confirmed in an exasperated tone.

"Aw…. Really?!" Claire frowned.

After a few more rounds of gagging, Gray finally regained his composure.

"WHY WOULD I LIE TO YOU ABOUT SOMETHING LIKE THAT?!" Gray howled.

"Honestly, I thought were just nervous about trying something I brought over!" Claire argued.

"THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU A REASON TO SHOVE IT IN MY MOUTH!"

"Waahhh!! Soryyyy!!" Claire bawled.

In the midst of the panic, the curious librarian took a finger, and stuck it in a comb hole to sample it herself. The look on her face suggested that she was savoring the taste.

"Mmmm…. From the perspective of non-discriminating taste buds, I'd have to say this honey's actually good!" Mary smiled.

Both Claire and Gray dropped their panicky moods in reaction to Mary's offered opinion.

And once more, the female farmer's face lit up.

"So I did pick a winner! My taste buds aren't broken after all!" Claire cried with joy.

"Nature's sweets happen to among the best." Mary grinned.

"Yeah, but it still doesn't make it taste any better to me…" Gary complained.

Mary sat by, looking a bit disappointed at her friend.

"Still… it wouldn't hurt to show some appreciation for poor Claire. "she lectured, "She meant it all out of good will, Gray."

The blacksmith apprentice grumbled for a long while until two pairs of puppy dog eyes started ganging up on him. Eventually, the poor young man was forced to give into their whims.

"Okay! Alright, already! Geez! I'm sorry! I didn't think my distaste for sweets would be this much trouble… even though Claire did shove it in my mouth like that and-"

"Gray…"

"Fine, fine! You didn't do anything…wrong… at all!" Gray answered in a shaky tone. "And… t-thank you, Claire. It was really nice of you."

"Yay! I've been thanked by Gray!" Claire cheered, right before proceeding the guy a really big hug.

"Gah! Not so tight!" Gray cried.

Mary couldn't help but giggle at this touching scene, and yet, she also couldn't help get an idea of her own.

"That looks nice. You think there might be room for one more in there?" she asked.

"Oh, sure! One more couldn't hurt! Besides, they say three's company!" Claire encouraged.

"No! Wait! Mary!" Gray said while having a red face having a vague distinction between embarrassment and loss of air.

But it could not be stopped, as the raven-haired librarian was already immersed in the three-way hug.

"Is this supposed to be a good thing?" a flustered Gray wondered while feeling plenty of weight on his shoulder.

And so, all three parties involved were caught up in a random scene of mirth, somehow due to words of thanks and a jar of honey. Despite the considerable lack of time spent together, an uncanny, yet beautiful friendship was quickly forming under this particularly unique trio: Gray the blunt apprentice, Mary the shy librarian, and of course, Claire the kooky farmer. The tree of them somehow drew an aura of happiness whenever they together. And yet, it was the karma of hidden, yet sudden emotion that also drew some other force towards them.

Eventually, after what seemed like forever, the two ladies decided to detached themselves from the awkward young man to give him some breathing room.

"Man… took you girls long enough." Gray said in exasperated breath.

Both Claire and Mary turned to each other with flushed faces, and then looked at Gray in an apologetic matter.

"Sorry about that…" both uttered in unison.