Chapter 21: Mysterious Fruit!

"I think I gathered more flowers than before, Pete!"

"You could probably tie them together as a gift."

After their foraging, Pete and Claire left the forests, walking back to the shipment box on the farm. They shipped their efforts for the day and drew their attention to the fields.

"Whew, I'm feeling pumped up!" Claire raised her arm and squeezed her bicep.

"You're awfully energetic today." Pete raised a brow.

"Of course. Why wouldn't I be?" She grinned. "This is the change of pace I needed from my boring part-time jobs back in the city."

"It does feel refreshing." Pete agreed. While it was much more exciting for Claire, the farm certainly introduced them both to new experiences.

"So!" Claire clapped her hands. "What's next, Pete?"

"I think you know what I'm thinking." Pete grabbed the watering can from his rucksack.

"Hehe!" Claire followed, taking her watering can from her rucksack. She walked over to the plot of land she made, which was right next to Pete's. "It's time to water the plants!"

The two farmers got to work, watering their plots which consisted of 3 by 3 squares of turnip seeds. Since they made only two seed packets' worth of plots, watering the fields took very little time.

"Nicely done." Pete set his watering can aside. "I think we're getting the hang of this."

"I feel like watering more!" Claire pumped her fist up. "We should make other fields, Pete! Let's head to the General Store and buy more seeds!"

"Let's take it one step at a time, shall we?" He waved his hand. Her enthusiasm was infectious and it strangely motivated him. I'd like to try my hand at more, too. "Let's see if we can handle these—…"

"Woof, woof!"

"… Oh?" Pete and Claire turned to the barks, seeing a familiar puppy running towards them.

"Woof!"

"Hey there, buddy!" Pete crouched and drew his hand to it. "You seem in a good mood today."

"Hiya, Koro!" Claire kneeled beside him. Right, I almost forgot we had a puppy running around here!

"Woof, woof!" Koro ran in circles around the two farmers, its ears flopping around erratically.

"What is it, Koro?" Pete asked.

"Maybe he's trying to tell us something!" Claire exclaimed, trying to pet the puppy to no avail.

"Woof, woof!" Koro ran towards the fields, hopping around in one spot beside their planted seeds.

"Do you want us to follow you, Koro?" Pete stood up and walked to the puppy, with Claire following behind.

Koro spun around in place before bowing its head, its nose sniffing the ground with great interest.

Pete stared at the ground, tilting his head at a confused angle. "Do you smell something, Koro?"

"Do you think there's treasure buried under the farm, Pete?" She asked with a wide smile. "What if Koro can smell treasure?!"

"I highly doubt that." He chuckled. Treasure-hunting sounded like a fun activity. But I don't think such valuable treasure would even exist on—…

"Woof!" Koro began pressing its paws, trying to dig the soil beneath it. "Woof, woof!"

"Do you smell treasure, Koro?" Claire's eyes sparked with delight. "I think you do!"

"Woof!" His paws tapped the soil repeatedly. As if he wanted to draw their attention to it.

"Here, let me help you!" She drew out her hoe to till the soil. "Whatever treasure it is, I'll find it!"

"Claire…" he sighed, scratching his cheek. "Seriously, I don't think there's any—…"

"Hiyah!" She swung her hoe onto the soil, digging the tool into it. Something red flew out of the soil. It sparkled intensely, sparkling under the sunlight.

"Pete!" Claire's eyes widened. She pointed at the shiny item. "I think something popped out of the ground!"

"… Wait, really?" Pete raised his brows. His eyes caught the redness of a shiny item. Wait, there is something there?! He thought Claire was too excited, but maybe she was right! He took a closer look and noticed not one, but two items sparkling back at him!

"Woof, woof." Koro sat down calmly.

"What's that?" Claire set her hoe aside.

Pete picked up the two round items. His fingers felt smooth and soft textures as if he was holding… a fruit. The red skins covering them looked unnaturally saturated.

"What… is this?" Pete blinked a few times.

"That's what I'm asking." Claire stared at the items in his hands. "That doesn't look like treasure. That looks awfully like…"

"… Fruits," is what came to both of their minds.

"What're fruits like these doing under the field?" Pete scratched his cheek. "They look… very fresh and ripe."

"They don't look like any fruit I've seen before. They remind me of… strawberries." Claire grabbed one, feeling it in her hand. Strangely enough, there was a powerful weight to holding it. She couldn't quite describe this mysterious sensation flowing through her arm.

"No idea what fruit this is, but I suppose we could ship it. It looks like it'd fetch a high value." Pete bounced it in his hand, unsure. "What do you thi—… Claire?"

"… Mhmm?" Claire tilted her head innocently, already chomping down on the red fruit.

"A-Are you seriously eating it?!"

Claire swallowed and rubbed her lips. "It tastes… pretty sweet!" She continued chomping on it to her heart's content, oblivious to his shock.

Pete's jaw comically dropped to the floor. Her first instinct is to eat it?! Where is her sense of self-preservation? It literally came out of the ground! Jeez, I sure hope it isn't poisonous!

"Woah…!" After finishing the fruit, an intense sensation burst surged through her body. She stared at her hands as a wave of renewed energy washed over her. What is this sensation brimming deep inside?

"Do you feel all right, Claire?" Pete asked, concerned. "I don't think that was a smart—…"

"I feel so…!" Claire pumped a fist towards the skies, excitement coursing through her veins. "So powered up!"

"C-Claire?"

"You should eat it, Pete!" she exclaimed, her eyes dilating repeatedly. "I don't think it's any regular fruit!"

"That gives me a greater reason to avoid eating it, doesn't it?" He scoffed, staring at the red fruit. She seems to be fine. Was it a good idea?

"Woof, woof!" Koro stood on his hind legs, placing his paws on Pete's leg.

He rubbed the back of his head. "… You think I should eat it, Koro?"

"Woof!" Koro bobbed his head.

"Huh…" His eyes switched from the puppy, to Claire, then to the fruit. Here goes nothing, then.

Pete drew the mysterious fruit to his lips. His teeth sunk into the soft red flesh, letting a juicy and sweet taste fill his tongue. It… tastes good, actually? But the moment he swallowed it, a raging sensation pooled in his chest, his heart thumping loudly against his ribcage. W-What the…?!

"How is it?" Claire drew her hands behind her back. "Tastes pretty good, right?"

"It does…" He placed a hand on his chest. What is this feeling…? The strong sensation coursing through his nerves soon dissipated from his body, leaving him refreshed and renewed with more energy, as it did with Claire. W-What kind of fruit is this? He's never had any fruit that left him feeling like he could take on the world! There aren't any side effects to this, are there?

"Good boy, Koro!" Claire crouched, patting the little puppy's head. "I wouldn't mind if you found more of these on the farm!"

I have a feeling we won't be finding any more so soon. Pete crossed his arms. What a peculiar start to their day. Finding and eating strange fruits buried under the fields. This farm keeps getting more and more eventful. How endearing that Claire was taking it in stride.

With their newfound energy, they were eager to explore Mineral Town.