Hey new chapter update! I hope you like it. I just finished this one after the first chapter in the same day. This time, we'll see if Koji will win or will lose. Karen's starting to get into her friendship with Koji. So I hope you guys enjoy this exciting new chapter of Harvest Moon: Back To Nature Drama. Enjoy! Oh but first, let me lay down a couple of ground rules. Rule number one, bad reviews WILL get deleted. Good reviews are welcome. Rule number two, don't you ever accuse me as a girl. What kind of girl would have the username "ultimatemonkey32"? Yes people, I am a guy writing this story. It takes a real man to reveal his sensitive side in writing romance stories. And rule number three, ENJOY THE STORY!!!

Talking
Thinking/Memories
Important words/Emphasis

Chapter 2: Smell of Spring

It was the third day of spring. Koji had already finished his work and walked into town to talk with Karen. Upon arrival, he noticed Karen outside of the shop. So he went over to the bench and sat next to her.

"Hey."

Karen looked at Koji and doesn't seem to remember him.

"Hmm? Who are you?"

"Oh come on! You and I met yesterday? I stopped Duke from stealing? How could you not remember?!"

"I'm sorry, I don't know who you are. You must be mistaking me for someone else."

Koji drooped his head in disbelief.

"You have gotta be kidding me."

Then Karen smirked and pounced on top of Koji and gave him another small kiss on the cheek and winked at him like she did earlier.

"(giggle) Just kidding!"

"Heh… Don't scare me like that…"

She stared at him with big puppy eyes.

"Aww… I'm sorry I scared you…"

"Do you have a crush on boys like this?"

"What?! No way! I only like to flirt for fun!"

"How many boys have you done this to?"

"You're actually my first…"

Koji blushed for a little bit. Then Koji noticed a young man walking up to them. He had bright orange hair with a white headband around it. He wore a green outfit with a dark green apron. He wasn't the best looking amongst Koji and Karen. In fact, he was kind of nerdy and his glasses made him look even worse.

"Hi Karen!"

"Oh hi Rick!"

Then she got up and kissed him. Koji watched in disgust. After the kiss, Rick formed a large smile on his face.

"I'm the luckiest guy in the world!!!"

Koji couldn't help but think.

"Gross… what does she see in this guy?"

Then after a hug goodbye, Rick finally went into the store. Karen turned back and saw Koji's expression.

"Oh… you saw that?"

No answer. Koji was still in shock.

"I didn't think that you would actually see what was going on. It's just that Rick's my boyfriend and I can't just turn him down. I guess I should've told you that Rick and I are going out."

Finally, Koji shook the feeling away.

"Oh… um… it's no problem! Heheh… eh…"

"You look like you're about to throw up… Is something wrong?"

"What?! Pfft! No! Nothing's wrong!"

"Um… well, if you say so… I'll see ya then Koji."

She walked into the store and Koji looked up into the clouds.

"Looks like you lucked out this time Koji…"

He got up and went into the inn. He walked over to the bar and put his head down. Then Doug walked up to him and gave him a bottle of wine. Koji looked at it in confusion.

"Are you serious? You would actually let minors drink?"

"Well of course! And its on the house!"

Koji opened up the bottle and took a big drink out of it. After that, he felt better. He kept drinking until he finally felt much better. Then, Cliff walked over to Koji. He was a scruffy-looking dude with his hair tied back in a pony tail and he wore some clothes that almost looks like rags at first glance.

"Hey buddy."

"Huh? Oh hey Cliff."

"Wow, you don't look so good."

"Well, you know just drinking my grief away."

He sat at the stool next to Koji and ordered the same wine as Koji's. Koji kept drinking until he was greeted by Ann. She had orange hair tied into a cute looking braided ponytail held with a big white bow. She wore blue overalls, red sneakers, and a yellow shirt underneath with a cheerful expression on her face.

"Hi Koji! What's wrong?"

"Oh well, you know… girl troubles."

"Well, you can't get rid of them by drinking yourself silly. You should take a rest. You know, go to the waterfall and just sit next to the river. If its soothing for me, then it'll be great for you."

"…You know what? Thanks Ann."

He got off his stool and walked all they way over to the waterfall where he sat next to the river and skipped rocks.

"Maybe I'm just getting my hopes up too much. There's no way Karen would ever wanna go out with me now. Besides, I hardly even know her that much… And the whole kissing thing was just an act. She's just the type of girl who just wants to flirt for fun. You're worrying too much Koji."

He kept skipping rocks until Karen came over to see him. Koji looked back in surprise and moved over a bit for her.

"Hey Koji."

"Oh hey Karen. What are you doing here?"

"(sigh) I'm always here during the evenings. I think the sound of the river mellows me out."

She took off her shoes and put her feet into the water.

"(sigh) the water feels so nice…"

Koji saw her smile and couldn't help but melt at the sight of it. She was that beautiful.

"Oh Koji, the Spring Goddess Festival is tomorrow. Are you taking anyone?"

"Um… well, actually… no. I was kind of hoping to ask you."

Karen blushed and turned her head away from Koji.

"Oh I'm sorry Koji but… Rick already asked me to go with him. He's my boyfriend Koji, I can't let him down."

"…I know… I guess I was just hoping I would be able to go with you… I guess I just got my hopes up a little too much."

She placed her hand on his back and held him close to her.

"I'm sorry… we'll be able to see each other at the festival. Besides, there are more girls out there to take."

Koji looked at her and gave her a sad looking smile.

"No… I think I'd rather go alone than to go with someone else."

"Well… if you say so."

He got up and left. As he walked down the steps, he waved goodbye to Karen still with that sad smile on his face.

"I guess I'll see you at the festival tomorrow. Later."

"Later then…"

Karen looked at the water and left for home after a while. Upon arrival at her house, she talked with her mother.

"So Karen, your dress is ready."

"Oh, thanks Mom."

As a mother and as a woman of gossip, she couldn't help but interfere with Karen's business. So she went over to Karen at the kitchen table and talked to her.

"Karen, what's wrong? You're not usually this glum whenever your dress gets ready for the festival."

"I know, it's just that… today, Koji wanted to ask me to the festival when I already have plans with Rick. So…"

"…You turned him down…"

"Exactly. And when Koji left… he just looks so sad… It's like he really wanted to ask me…"

"Oh Karen, Koji's just lovesick… he only wanted to go out with you because he likes you."

"Mom, I don't even know the guy that well… we just met yesterday."

"But that doesn't mean for you to not make him feel better…"

Karen got up and went into her room.

"You're right. Maybe I should talk to him tomorrow."

Meanwhile, Koji was just laying in his bed with his dog on his chest.

"Hmm… go figure. I guess Karen really does like this Rick kid. Do you ever feel that way?"

Instead of answering, the dog just looked at him and licked his face. Then he jumped off and started to roll around on the floor.

"Yeah… I thought so."

He went back into bed and stared at the ceiling until his eyes got heavier. The next day, people were already coming out of their homes to go to the festival. Parents, couples, and family all came to the festival to see their grown daughters dance for the Spring Goddess. Girls ranging from the ages of 13 to 17 all came to the festival dressed up in pink with flowers in their hair and flower necklaces dangling from their necks. Rick waited in a bench for Karen while twiddling his thumbs like he's trying to be cool or something. Then, Karen arrived in a beautiful pink dress with a flower headband lined with Moondrops and pieces of jewels. She also chose to wear a different shade of mascara than her usual, a coral shimmering pink.

"Hey Rick."

"Hey… wow! You look awesome Karen!"

He held her face and kissed her. Karen blushed for a bit and started to look for someone special. She looked everywhere around her, but he wasn't there.

"Did he decide not to go? Oh Koji…"

Rick tried to find out what's wrong with her.

"Hey Karen, who're you looking for?"

"Huh? Oh umm… it's nothing…"

Then the mayor announced that the dance was already about to start, so Karen had to get her position ready. As she went up on stage, she looked around for one last time… still not there. Then, the music started. As Karen danced, she noticed a small flash of blue out of nowhere. As she stopped as a part of their dancing, it was gone. She kept dancing until it was over. Night had fell and people were already leaving. The dancers and their dates were already going off to somewhere to celebrate. Rick and Karen were the only ones left at the Town Square.

"Hey Karen! Wanna go to the inn to drink?"

"Um… no thanks. I think I'll just stay here for a while."

"Are you sure? I mean, what if you get hurt or kidnapped or raped or-"

"Rick, Mineral Town has never had a crime in its whole life. So stop worrying, I'll be fine."

"Are you sure? I could stay with you if you wa-"

"Just go home Rick. It's getting late anyway and your mom and Popuri must be sick."

"Um alright then. G'night."

Karen sat in Town Square with her dress in hand and stared at the clock. It was already 8:30 at night. Suddenly, when the street lights came on, Koji stepped out of the darkness and in front of Karen. Each having their own individual spotlight.

"Koji…"

"Thought I wouldn't come huh? Nah, I was watching you from behind the Square."

"Don't you think that's kind of scary? Just watching me from behind where I couldn't see you and then coming out of the darkness just to talk to me?"

They both laughed and Koji walked with her to the beach.

"You're a really great dancer Karen. You dance like a professional."

She blushed for a moment and smiled.

"Oh, thanks. Listen I wanna talk to you about yesterday and your offer."

A sudden shock came to Koji's face and his smile faded. His eyes suddenly turned sad.

"Oh, that… well…"

"The reason I couldn't go with you Koji is that… Rick's my boyfriend and I can't just ditch him. And besides, we just met only two days ago. I still need time to get to know you better. Do you know what I mean?"

"…Yeah… I guess…"

"Hey! Cheer up! I'm walking with you aren't I?"

Finally, a smile formed across Koji's face. After a quick drink with Karen at the inn, he walked her home.

"Thanks for being there for me Karen. I guess I gotta go home now."

But before he left, Karen took his arm and gave him a warm hug. Koji didn't feel shocked or surprised, but he felt comfortable.

"Her hug… it's so warm… what is this feeling? I feel… comfortable."

And in turn, he returned the hug. Karen smiled a bit and Koji did too. After Koji went home, Karen went into her bedroom to put her dress away. There, she found a bouquet of Moondrops on her bed with a card attached. As she opened the card, she felt a warm feeling in her heart.

"Dear Karen,

I don't know you, and you don't know me. But we both know one thing. We have someone that we care about. So I hope this bouquet will show you how much I care.

Your friend and always,

Koji."

She grabbed the bouquet and felt a warm feeling in her heart. She smiled a bit and placed the flowers in a vase next to her. Then she looked at a picture of Rick and remembered how he would always freak out at the flash of a camera. She laughed a bit and then smiled at the thought of Koji and her meeting each other for the first time and blushed at the flowers that he gave her.

"I know we only met a couple days ago… but…"

She looked at the picture with Rick and the Moondrops.

"I guess I'll just have to wait and see for a while…"