" aaannnnnnnd...there….a little more color focused towards the center…there!"

"uh Lilian?"

'TA DAH!" Lilian whipped around, beaming a smile at the sound of her friends voice.

Hiro was the first of the village to see the final result of Lillian's five labored hours.
Piles of produce neatly and artfully arranged as if it was a bouquet of flowers flowing out of the back of a vintage handcart. you could almost see the bright colors and hunger reflecting in Hiro's dark eyes. "woah." he croaked mouth ajar.

"Konohana's very first farmers market! fresh spring produce, and crops! Raised with tender love and care!" Lilian beamed next to Hiro at her hard work. "OH! and I almost forgot! as well included.." she tipped toed over to her stand she had made to unveil a small baking pan filled with small warm and fresh pastry apricot tarts. "Buy a dozen apricots and you get a copy of my famous recipe!"

"Lilly this is amazing!" Hiro shouted enthusiastically grabbing one of the adorable little pastries and plopping it into his mouth. " you've really outdone yourself this time!" he said through mouthfuls.

"Thank you Hiro!... haha I know right? it would be even greater if my friend didn't eat all the merchandise!" Lilian joked.

""But-! what about best friend discount?"

" Well I don't remember the best friend discount applying at the clinic when I needed a flu shot." Lilian retorted. batting her eyes at him and swatting his hand away as it reached out for another baked good.

" You refused to get a influenza vaccination…" Hiro frowned wringing his hand to free the sting from where he had been caught thieving.

"paying customers only!" Lilian snapped sticking her lip out at him.

"Woah…" that smells great." Called a voice from up the path.

Tall, tan, strong, a love for animals. Long dark hair pulled messily. Golden the perfect pairing to a straight white smile...

"H- Hi Kana!"she sighed

"These are pretty neat, Can I have one?" he grinned at her. Lilian felt her knees wobbling and with no hesitation handed him one of her pies without breaking her gaze.

" Thanks this is great! thanks, did you make these?" He had such a lazy manly way of talking. it was so soft and laid back… but yet- still so strong!

"Yeah I did." Lilian blushed " It was nothing? just one of my little treats." she laughed nervously.

she saw Hiro rolling his eyes behind Kanas shoulder.

"You'll give Yun a run for her money, these are great!" Kana said biting back into his treat. Lilian bit her lip oooh there's something about the way he eats… she thought. "You're a great cook! thanks!"

" Yeah anytime!" Lilian chirped as she watched Kana walk away towards the tea house.

"...you were saying about paying customers only..? Hiro shot at her, arms folded across his chest.

"uggh i want to have his babies …" Lilian groaned folding her face together in her hands.

Hiro Laughed

"If you are so attracted to him, one would seem someone should be asking him on date?" Hiro suggested.

"Wahh?- nooooo" Lilian shook her head (the very thought of asking anyone out seemed too exhausting.) "I'll miss him though."

"Bluebell is not far from here … you are still planning on visiting me after all! Hiro said reaching his arm out for another pie before Lilian swatted his hand away again

"Ow!"
"Lilian!" called a booming voice.

"Ina! They both shouted in surprise

The town's mayor was a kind but intimidating woman Lilian both feared and respected. She tried to cover up her obviously nervous demeanor.

"What is this you have going on today?" Ina asked. a fair enough question that Lilian still found herself scrambling to answer.

"Uh- I… It's a Farmers Market! fresh spring produce grown with tender love and care!" Lilian presented.

Ina placed her hand on her hips rearing back in adoration. "What an excellent idea for our town! I knew it from the start Lillian you are the perfect addition to our little town family!" she beamed

" Oh you are far too kind Miss Mayor!" Lilian swallowed nervously.

"And what are these!" Ina pointed to Hiro who had now stuffed his third pastry into his face.

"Uh my famous Apricot Tart! b-buy a dozen and I'll give you my recipe!" Lillian shot Hiro a dirty look while Ina bent down to inspect them. Hiro response was mischievous look on his face as he licked his fingers clean in victory.

"I'll take it!" Ina bellowed!

"Great" Lilian smiled she was preparing Inas back when feeling finally in the clear whe Ina asked (as if she knew something was up.)

"What made you do this fabulous little Farmers Market?"

Lilian body tensed. "OH… well you know… just to get a few extra dollars nothing grand! nothing to be worried about- no reasons like I need money in a short amount of time no! n-nothing like that! that surrrre would be silly!"

Hiro raised his eyebrow. Ina shared an equally confused look for a terrifying moment before looking back towards the handcart and smiling agian.

"Well keep up the good work! and good luck!" she smiled after paying her and went back to town hall.

"Lilly… you are going to have to tell her sooner or later that you are moving! why do you continue to avoid it?" Hiro questioned

" It's scary!" LIlian shouted burying her head in her hands " she has that- that face! that always looks at you like you're a constant disappointment! and she will take it the wrong way!" Lilian shared frantically. she could have listed off a hundred other reasons why it was so terrifying to explain to the mayor why she was going.

"Well it's not like you are really moving anyway! it's just for the summer after all! surely she will understand. I mean, you own both farms! you need to attend to both!" Hiro said to her with reassurance.

"It's just stressful okay? besides I still have three days!" Lillian smiled.

"Always procrastinating." Hiro sighed rolling his eyes. "Speaking of which my break was over about fifteen minutes ago." he frowned looking down at his watch.

"I'll see you tomorrow Hiro! we have to do something fun for my last two days here!" Lillian grinned at him.

"Of course!" he laughed.

" Good Luck with all the sick people!" She waved at him before turning to help other customers.

Knowing she was distracted for awhile Hiro snuck to the other side of the stand and slipped quietly three apricot pies worth of money into her saddle bag. Walking back towards the clinic he placed the carefully decorated card of the recipe into his doctor's coat.