Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon!
Reine
Apparently that Forrester guy, Neil Forrester, has made a name for himself as a troublemaker, constantly getting into fights outside the school. Despite the injuries sometimes he has appeared with in the mornings, I have never seen him being in a fight except for sparring sessions in karate club. And I have to admit that he's good.
"Aren't you the new girl?"
I turn to the voice and find a guy with clear blue eyes is smiling at me. His hair is blond, but of a darker shade than Neil. "Rod Braxton, I'm the male captain for this club."
"Reine Kreiss," I introduce myself.
He smiles, "Ms Swann told me about you, saying that your pink hair is nice."
Ms Swann has happily accepted me as a member, especially after I told her I'm not totally new to karate, having attained my black belt last year. She, like Forrester, leans in to me.
"Your eyelashes are pink," she remarked. "I heard about that silly misunderstanding on your first day."
With that, I'm officially a member of karate club while Gwen joins the art club to further her passion for drawing.
It's raining cats and dogs when the training is over, and since there is no art club meeting today, I'll be going home on my own. Thank God I've brought my umbrella.
On my way back, I can hear sound of fighting. My heart races as I run to the source of the noise and can see a glimpse of golden hair a few metres away.
True enough, it's Neil Forrester. He's fighting three guys all alone.
So the rumours are true, after all.
He manages to fend them off rather effortlessly despite his disadvantage at number. After those people run away, he turns around and crouches down. What's he doing?
I take a few more steps to notice a small dog that is lying on the road. Neil takes off his blazer and wraps it around the dog, before lifting it gently into his arms. He doesn't bother the rain that falls to his head; all of his attention is focused on the dog.
Don't tell me...
He is about to leave when suddenly I have the courage to call him. "Forrester!"
He turns and seems to be shocked to see me.
I quickly run over to him and place the umbrella over his head. "You're gonna catch cold that way!"
His eyes widened in surprise. Why? I'm just doing any sensible person would, right?
Neil
After two days, the dog seems to regain his stamina and his injuries are healing well. Not having the heart to throw him away to the streets, I decide to take him in and give him a name Pochi. Living alone has its own benefits, so it seems.
"Well, I can't afford expensive dog food," I tell him as I pat his head. "I'll share you whatever I eat, okay?"
He lets out his tongue in excitement. Okay, I take it as an agreement.
Since my first day, I was labelled as troublemakers, and that word spread to troublemakers from other schools, who then looked for me to create real troubles. Up until now, I fight back so that I won't end up in hospital, but that just keeps the rumour spreading around.
Oh, well. As long as I'm still alive.
Ms Swann, unlike most teachers, believed in my words. She had accepted me into karate club (although I don't feel like joining at first after getting my 3rd Dan) and saved me from expulsion once.
"You don't have the eyes of a jerk." She had told me when we met for the first time as she leaned in, "and besides, your eyelashes are blond."
"Huh?"
"What kind of person bothers to dye their eyelashes?"
My head then finds its way to Reine Kreiss, the strange pink-haired girl who put her umbrella over my head that day and walked with me back to my place to ensure that I wouldn't be soaked in rain.
Hasn't she heard what they said about me? Why isn't she repulsed by it?
Reine
I'm wandering aimlessly around the neighbourhood eating my potato chips when suddenly a dog comes up to me and sticks out its tongue, staring at my potato chips.
"You want some?" I ask, offering him one piece of chips.
The dog immediately jumps and snatch the chips.
I pet his head, "Aren't you smart?" I coo gently.
The dog wags its tail in excitement.
"Pochi!"
Huh? That voice?
I look up and see him runs up towards us. Oh, yeah, he lives around here.
"Forrester?"
"Kreiss?" He seems to be equally surprised. I look again at the dog he calls Pochi who is now licking my leg as if asking for another chip: does this mean...
"Is this the dog from the other time?"
He nods.
Whoa, so he has a soft spot for animal? I should've guessed, shouldn't I?
I smile, "Animal lover, aren't you?"
"Shut up." He says, "It appears he takes a liking on you."
"It was only a potato chip."
"Cheapskate," he murmurs as he gazes at his dog.
I take Pochi into my arms and he licks my cheeks. I can't suppress my laugh by this time, "It tickles."
I walk over and hand Pochi back to Forrester, but it seems to be reluctant to leave me. Forrester looks at Pochi with I-knew-it look.
"Oh well, might as well have a little walk with you guys."
Again, Forrester seems to be surprised at my course of action. Why? His dog won't leave me, so I'll just walk with them until Pochi is content to return to his master. Isn't it the most sensible thing to do?
Neil
Her actions never cease to surprise me. She can just lightly say she would walk with me (darn you, Pochi) as she carries Pochi as if he is her child.
Pochi is a male, after all: a potato chip and a cute girl are all it takes to steal his heart.
Wait, did I just say she's cute?
Oh well, she is cute... in a strange way. I mean, I've never seen someone with pink hair and is fiercely proud of it like she does.
Now that we're walking side by side, I can smell her cherry blossom perfume. I guess it fits nicely to her appearance.
Wait, why am I complimenting her?
No, no, no—wait, I lost track of my own mind.
Shit. What's going on with me?
"Oh, that escalates quickly, Neil!"
I look up and see Rod and Yuri walking from opposite side. "We're not on a date. Besides, you're the one to talk, Rod," I reply, glancing at his companion.
Rod laughs, "No, no, no, this is just a favour for a childhood friend. You see, she needs to buy her art supplies."
Yeah, sure Rod. I know you've liked her for God-knows-how-long.
"Are you Reine?" Yuri asks curiously.
"Huh? How do you know about me?"
Yuri smiles warmly. "Gwen talks a bit about you." She then introduces herself, "I'm Yuri Hasegawa. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you, too!" Reine replies cheerfully as she takes her hand.
"You are in the same club with these guys, I presume?"
"Yup!" she replies, "I'm made from quite a different material from my sister."
Yuri smiles, "Both of you have good eyes, though."
"What do you mean?"
"Gwen has an eye to discern good artworks. You, on the other hand..." she glances at me, "have a good eye to discern people's hearts."
What is she talking about?
Don't you think Pochi is kind of a good matchmaker? :p