I'd like to give thanks to the reviewers in these past few days: supernae (as usual :D), StarrNight, Mase, and Cupcake Daydream!

Thanks for the assists! I wasn't really expecting it for a nutty story like this, but maybe I'll start taking this thing a little more seriously because of it. But I won't take away the fun out of it, I promse! ;)

StarrNight- Um... actually, I slipped Mary in the summary earlier to imply the chance that this ends up being a Mary X Gray fic instead of a Gray X Claire fic, which would then leave this as a Claire X Doctor fic, you know? That's what love triangles/squares are all about. So I decided to fix it to clear up the confusion in the summary thanks to your input on it, so thanks. But you've given me an interesting idea on this whole Mary-Sue thing... it'll come up in a future Chapter, rest assured. Mwahaha... -breathes a sigh of relief-

But let's move on:

Chapter 5: The Library Gang

After Mary partook few more spoonfuls of sweet, delectable honey, she gathered the odd threesome again at the desk with a new topic in hand.

"So, Claire… since we're in a library, and we happened to be surrounded by books, I just had to know: what is your favorite kind of stories, anyway?" Mary asked.

"Oh, wow… that's a really good question! And in the right kind of setting, too!" Claire replied.

At the side, Gray was drumming his fingers on the opposite arm.

"Well? Aren't you going to answer the question?" he asked rather bluntly.

"Gray…" Mary sighed.

Despite the rude tone, Claire shrugged the comment off completely.

"This may sound strange, but I really like children's books! Even right now! It's just all the nostalgia and the silliness that goes with them, you know? All the good stuff is already there without you having to overanalyze it! Just the kind of thing to look at without hurting your head!" Claire commented.

The librarian giggled.

"I see what you mean. All the big pictures, and the delightfully short, straight to the point sentences… it really does bring a good memory to look at those kind of books again after a good few years." She replied.

"I enjoy light reading in general, actually! With or without words… as long it's not too depressing. I know people keep telling me you that more of the really deep stuff is in depressing writing, but I just don't enjoy that sort of thing. That, and books with really confusing parts that make no sense whatsoever." Claire continued.

"So you read for happiness? That's a perfectly good reason." Mary noted.

"How about you, Mary?" Claire asked.

"Me? Well, um… personally, I myself like romance, fantasy, and mystery. Anything filled with a good amount of suspense in it except horror, really… unless it's on a really good night. It's usually so calm and peaceful around Mineral Town when there isn't a festival going on, so I use my reading as my source of excitement. It's a shame not so many people around here realize it, but literature holds many adventure for the eager reader!" Mary explained.

"Oh! So you're one of those romantic types, Mary? I guess that makes sense when you have that kind of imagination. All those thoughts of an epic love story that pits two against a world of evil… it must be hard for you to get bored!" Claire exclaimed.

"Ah…um… I don't think I'd quite put it THAT way…" a slightly flustered Mary replied.

"But… but that sounds so cool! You told me earlier you were working on a novel, right? I can't wait to see what it is like when it's finished!"

"H-honestly just an amateur's project. I doubt it'll be that good… I'm not even sure if it'll be worth publication upon it's completion… but if you really insist--"

"Say! That reminds me! Gray!"

The UMA hat man, who managed to keep himself out of the conversation for a long while, was finally forced to face the discussion at hand.

"…yes?" he uttered.

"How silly of me! We almost forgot about you! So… what's you're favorite kind of book, anyway?" Claire asked.

"What? My favorite book?" Gray said back.

"More specifically, your favorite variety of literature or story." Mary clarified.

"Oh, well that's better, because I'm not sure if I have any specific book I like." Gray replied.

After a long, hard thought, the grumpy cap-wearing wonder finally arrived at a conclusion.

"Well… I guess you could say I like mystery stories myself…

But usually the detective kind of mystery. I like more action-oriented, thriller-type stuff with well-timed suspense. Nothing too mushy, though. Romance and fluff in writing really rubs me the wrong way…" Gray confessed.

Mary instinctively reacted by turning her body slightly to the side and shaking a little.

"I… I don't mean to gripe at that sort of thing, it's just like how I don't like honey so much. It doesn't really fit my tastes." Gray argued.

"Understandable…" Mary squeaked.

"Oh, yeah. Speaking about books, that reminds me!" Gray suddenly said aloud.

Quickly, the UMA man took out a manila envelope and handed it back to the somewhat disheartened librarian.

"It… was really quite good. If I didn't know any better, I could've sworn w hat I just read was the work of a professional's." Gray mentioned. "Of course, I felt a little queasy with the hints of romance, but I did like how the relationship between the hero and heroine developed. A reader can really relate to them and feel for them." He commented.

"Really? That's…nice. I was worried it would've turned you off at first, that's why I warned you about it, but you were just so insistent upon looking at it."

"Hey, Gray… I thought you said… you liked more action-oriented suspense stuff…" Claire spoke aloud.

The pair turned to face the perplexed blonde.

"Well, yeah. Yeah I did. I was just about to get in to that. I just happen to like this part of it was written, that's all." Gray explained.

He then turned to Mary again to discuss her writing once more.

"So, yeah. The fight scenes were described very well, too. I felt like I was watching all those duels right in front of me. I didn't you had it in you." Gray continued.

"Ah, well… I've had plenty of inspiration to draw from for those chapters, so it just sort of flowed out, but I was worried sentence structure was too…awkward to accurately depict what I was going for. Thank you…" Mary replied.

As Claire watched the pair talk in earnest about Mary's manuscript, an immense

discomfort swelled from within her…

"Gray…and Mary…. Get along that well, huh? But of course they would! They've known each other longer than they've known me… and they're likely childhood friends, so…. They'd have to be really close." She thought to herself.

The blonde farmer continued to watch the two in their personal discussion, feeling increasingly disoriented as she remained.

"But they're both my new friends. I know they are. Gray may be a little rough around me, but he showed me some kindness… and Mary was actually quite kind to me from the beginning! I know that we're friends! The three of us! We shared that hug from earlier and everything! All…three of us…."

And yet, the farmer could not help but sink deeper and deeper in thought.

"No! I don't have any reason to be scared! This is silly…they're… they're my friends! We'll stick together like the Three Musketeers! That's how it will be from now on! I just know! I can't… I can't be scared! I don't even know why I feel this way, so it's too silly to be scared! So I…"

"Claire?" a voice called out.

She was suddenly brought back to reality by none other than Mary, who was looking back right alongside an equally curious Gray.

"Ah… sorry! I must've let my daydreams get the best of me again!" Claire answered with a hearty laugh.

"Oh, alright…" Mary replied.

"Word of advice: you probably shouldn't go spacing off like that during work. It might end up doing you some harm." Gray mentioned.

"Gray…" Mary sighed once more.

"What? I'm just giving her warning. If she's prone to that sort of thing in her work time, it could be dangerous!"

The UMA Hat lad then felt a hand on her shoulder.

"I really didn't mind at all. Thanks for your concern, Gray…" Claire said with a warm smile.

For some reason, the blonde farmer was emitting a softer aura at that point than she was as her usual self, leaving a fairly confused Gray. She then turned her head to face Mary.

"I meant what I said earlier. I really want to say your story sometime. And if I have to wait until you're done, then I'll wait."

"Sure. As soon I have everything ready, you'll be the first to know." Mary assured her.

Claire nodded. "Thanks, Mary. In the mean time, I think I'll find something to read that's available right now."

"Then might I suggest the second shelf to the left, third row? That should be where your kind of books should be." Mary suggested.

Claire simply gave a nod of thanks before heading off to follow Mary's directions. This left both Gray and Mary to do some heavy duty pondering.

"Did… she just do a complete 180 with her personality?" Gray asked aloud.

Mary, however, could not answer. Instead, she was left to ponder the twinge of guilt she realized in her heart.

"…Claire… I…"

Coming up next: TIME SKIP!! Nearly two weeks left, and Claire's made some money from her foraging and free crops! It's time for a purchase! And since Claire happens to be so fond a certain animal… It's a bit of a filler, but it's a necessary part of the Harvest Moon Experience! Find out Next Chapter just what animal she buys, and even what she names it! ;)