Hey would you look at that! New chapter update! I'll put up more soon. This chapter is practically the shortest compared to the others. But at least its still a good chapter! Wow, I'm on a roll! Blackwolf39 won't be making chapters for a while because he needs to focus on school right now, seeing that the end of the semester is almost here. But don't fret, he'll be back up and running probably during winter break. Hope you enjoy this chapter! Bad reviews means deletion!!!

Talking
Thinking/Memories
Important words/Emphasis

Chapter 5: Arrival of Summer

A couple weeks have passed and Koji's wounds have healed. When he woke up, he woke up to a sudden temperature change and a bright, sunny day. He went outside, took off his cap, wiped his head, and got to work. Once he saw the field, he noticed that there were more weeds than before. He kept working until all the weeds were gone, watered the plants, tended to his chickens, and went into town to start his day. As he went inside the inn, he noticed Popuri gossiping with Ann and Karen.

"Hey Popuri, what's up?"

"Didn't you hear? Kai's coming back!!!"

He tilted his head in confusion and searched Karen for answers.

"Kai's Popuri's crush. She had a crush on him since both of them met. Rick's not too happy about her having a crush on Kai. He thinks that Kai's just a total jerk. But he's not a jerk… I like him too… Now that I think about it, I even have a crush on him too…"

Koji's heart sank and just responded with a solemn "Oh…"

"Hmm? What's wrong?"

"Huh? Oh… um… it's nothing… I just didn't have my daily wine fix. How about I buy us a couple of drinks?"

"That'd be great!"

He went over to the counter to talk with Doug and Cliff, the one of the only men who can actually understand with where he's going.

"Here you go Koji, two cold ones."

"Thanks Doug…"

"Hey buddy, what's wrong?"

"It's nothing Cliff…"

He gave Koji a nice pat on the back.

"Come on! You can tell us!"

"…Okay, but do you swear not to tell Karen?"

"You have our word!"

So then he explained to them about Karen, his crush on her, and Kai. Doug gave him another bottle on the house to cheer him up and Cliff gave him a good pat.

"Hey don't worry Koji, it's just a crush on him! It doesn't mean that they're married or something!"

"Yeah…"

"You worry too much! Tell you what though, let me buy us some set meals to cheer you up! Food is one way to make a person happy!"

"Thanks man…"

So then Cliff ordered a couple of meals. As Koji took a bite out of Doug's cooking, he felt a little better. Before Koji left, he gave Karen a bottle of wine for her to drink and gave her a hug goodbye.

"Hey Karen, does Koji seem a little sad to you?"

"Yeah… he does…"

"I think it's because you have a crush on Kai. I thought you had a crush on Koji before…"

"Yeah I thought so too… It was a big one until Koji just told me that I'm just a true friend to him… I guess I thought that Koji wouldn't have a crush on me after he said that…"

"Poor guy… you should talk to him."

She left the inn and went out to find Koji, who was sitting at his usual spot near the waterfall.

"Hey Koji… you doing okay?"

"Huh? Oh I told you it's nothing… it's just the side effects of the wine."

"Are you sure that's the only problem?"

"…Well… yeah… I'm okay, no need to worry about me…"

He smiled and got up to walk with Karen to the beach.

"Hey Karen…"

"Hmm?"

"Do you ever think of me as just… you know…"

"What?"

"More than a friend?"

She blushed a little and turned away from Koji.

"I'm sorry… Koji… I think you're a great guy and all but… I don't really have that much attractions to you yet. I think that maybe we should just get to know each other more first… I hope you understand…"

"Oh… yeah… I guess…"

"I knew you would understand. Oh, there's Popuri! Kai must be arriving soon!"

Karen rushed over to Popuri to wait with her. Koji stayed behind for a bit until he was caught up with Cliff.

"Hey, don't worry… I'll walk with you…"

"…thanks man…"

Both of them arrived at the beach until they were suddenly attacked by a crowd of screaming girls. There was a small boat arriving upon shore. The crowd was greeted by a young man wearing a purple bandana, brown leather jacket, white shirt, and black jeans. His skin was tanner than Zack's and compared to all the other boys' scrawny arms, his arms were a bit bigger. He flashed a smile and all the girls melted at the sight of him. This was Kai. This was the guy that Karen has a crush on. Karen and Popuri waited behind the crowd. When the crowd died, Popuri glomped him and Karen gave him long hug. Koji felt a little jealous but Cliff was there to calm him down. Then, Koji saw that Karen, Popuri, and Kai were walking toward him up the steps.

"Hey Koji! What are you doing up there? Come on down!"

Koji started to go off in the opposite direction, but Cliff told him to just go along with it. He walked down the stairs with Cliff and greeted the handsomer looking guy than Koji.

"Koji, I want you to meet Kai. He only comes here during the summer."

"Oh… um… hey."

"So you're the guy that Popuri was talking about. I heard that you run that abandoned farm of yours."

"Yeah… it's um… mine now."

"Well, it was nice talking to you. Come on Popuri, let's go surprise your mother."

She clinged onto his arm while they were walking towards her house. Karen stayed behind with Koji and Cliff.

"Isn't he dreamy?"

Koji and Cliff coughed and looked all around the place.

"Koji, what's wrong?"

"Hmm? It's nothing…"

"Well, what about you Cliff? Don't you think he's awesome?"

"Well, let's see. I'm not gonna answer that question because of the fact that I'm a guy and that we guys try to keep our masculinity, thus not calling him awesome or 'dreamy'."

"(sigh) you just don't seem to understand women at all do you? Let's go to the waterfall Koji. We'll talk."

She took Koji's arm and dragged him to the waterfall.

"Do you mind telling me what's wrong?"

"I told you it's nothing…"

"Well, after seeing your behavior around Kai, I don't think it's nothing."

"Okay, you caught me… it's just… I don't know…"

She placed her hand on Koji's back and rubbed him gently while sitting close to him.

"Go on…"

"I just think… well… what if… you… really like this guy… and now that you're single… um… and you chose to go out with him… and…"

Karen blushed and hugged Koji for comfort.

"Aww… you're worried that I wouldn't need you anymore… is that it?"

"Well… I guess that's one way of putting it… I just don't want you getting hurt…"

"Don't worry… I won't forget about you… it'll be alright…"

"I just don't know…"

She stayed with Koji for a bit longer until dark. Once the sun came down, Karen gave Koji one big hug goodbye and went home. Koji walked all the way back home and collapsed in his bed, staring at the ceiling.

"…Maybe it's for the best…"

Meanwhile, Karen was about to arrive home and found Kai waiting at her door.

"Hey Karen, let's talk."

Koji opened his eyes suddenly and realized that worrying is not the way to go. So then he walked outside for a night stroll through town to calm his nerves. Meanwhile, Karen and Kai were just talking with each other down the shore of the beach.

"So how was city life?"

"It's alright… but I love the summer here than back where I used to live."

"I see… hey Kai."

"What is it?"

Karen blushed for a moment and took Kai's hands. Kai's face looked confused and blushed for a bit.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

"Umm… no. But why do you ask?"

"…kiss me…"

Kai's face was shocked by surprise and sweat came down on his face. Meanwhile, Koji walked out of the inn to get sober after drinking. He followed down a path through the Square and then collapsed for a minute or two. Karen closed her eyes and waited for Kai to kiss her.

"Karen, wait… I can't do this… I just can't! I mean you're a good girl and all, but…"

"But I wanna be with you…"

"No Karen, I'm sorry but- mmph!"

Karen lunged at Kai and planted her lips onto his. Kai panicked and tried so hard to get her off of her, but she just kept coming back for more. Suddenly, he turned his head towards the steps and noticed Koji just standing at the top. Koji's heart sank even deeper. Kai was shocked to see Koji up there. Koji's face was surprised to see Karen do this in front of him. His hands grew cold, his body was numb, and his heart was racing. He was devastated to see Karen, his one true love, making out with Kai, whom he just met. Karen saw Koji and got off of Kai. She ran after him, but Koji just ran back home without ever looking at her again. She turned back and saw Kai running back to his shack. Both of Koji and Kai were devastated. Koji just lost the girl of his dreams, Kai just lost his new friend, and Karen, poor Karen, had just lost the budding friendship with Koji. She was left alone in tears. Meanwhile Koji just collapsed back on his bed with his face buried in his pillow. He was so devastated that he lost her to Kai. He stayed in bed throughout the whole night in despair.