"That's not enough for a pink sheep."

"Whaaat?"

I whined at Takakura in disbelief as he handed me back the gold that I have given him moments ago and he walked away letting out one big-disappointed sigh.

Apparently, the price of sheep have gone up unexpectedly in the city...

I'm sure Takakura would pay half of the sheep for me if he knew the crazy night I had yesterday with Skye and Nami, and Matthew, and freaking Rock! ...Sigh.

Shortly after Skye had left us last night, Nami and I both were finally able to regain movement in our bodies. It was so awkward getting off of her, I could barely look her in the eyes because I was a total blushing and burning up mess! I even tried to help Nami up, but I almost lost my balance since I was so flustered, and Nami just sighed, getting up herself without any of my assistance. Nami barely said anything to me and she quietly walked away with her hands in her pockets when Vesta had arrived at the scene out of nowhere. Apparently she said she could sense there was a disturbance in the force and she hounded Matthew for allowing Skye to be successful at stealing their crops. What didn't help was that Rock started to blame Matthew for everything too, and that resulted in both of the two bachelor dudes to fight even more with each other. Apparently, Vesta said she was going to teach them a lesson as punishment, and so randomly she pulled out of her pocket a big long as heck sock, and tied it to each other's arms so they were both connected to each other, like as if they were both handcuffed to each other, and Vesta ordered them to spend an entire day together being connected. Rock profusely refused but Vesta was seething with flames in her eyes (I swear); so that resulted in both Matthew and Rock spending the night together, probably forced to sleep in the same bed and more, like using the bathroom together, and... Dear god.

I'd lose my gosh darn mind if I was forced to be connected to Rock by a sock 247 for a day! ...

The good part was though that Vesta didn't blame me at all, she said I was total angel in her eyes. What's weird though is that she didn't really acknowledge Nami at all though. Did she even see her, I wonder?

With a sigh, I entered into my house and rummaged through my fridge. Some of my crops have grown pretty fast this summer, so I definitely have more ingredients now, but my recipe book is still pretty empty. Sigh. I wish I knew more recipes to impress Nami with, I'm so tired of constantly making milky soup and egg soup for her and-

"MOOOO!"

My body jumped when I suddenly heard my cow named Love screech outrageously loud from outside. Why is she screaming so loud? I know it's about eight in the morning right now, but I literally just fed her! She can't be that hungry, can she...?

I rushed out my door to see...Daryl?!

He had his back turned to me, him not aware yet that I was watching him, and he was staring intently at my cow who was secured behind the fence outside of the barn.

"Heh, heh, heh. Ha, ha, ha, ha! Finally...I CAN CLONE YOU!"

Just like Vesta last night, the mad scientist had undoubtedly sensed a disturbance in the force, because he soon turned around to see me. I swear there was about a billion-trillion amount of red veins in his eyes, they were completely bloodshot to the point that it gave me a total fright and my body jumped.

He swiftly turned back around towards the fence and was quiet for a moment until he shouted...

"YOU SAW NOTHING!"

He then made a run for it and I chased after him, but lost him quickly. He somehow vanished once he ran behind a tree?! As if he...teleported?!

Was that maniac really talking about trying to clone my cow just now...?! What was he-

"Ow!" I suddenly cried when I had bumped into someone since I was so lost in my thoughts and I winced, closing my eyes while holding onto my left arm.

I opened my eyes to then see... Nami.

We were both on the forest path that lead to the Harvest Goddess Pond, and also standing in front of one of the entrances to my farm as well.

"...I see you're a morning person," Nami dryly commented to me.

"Yeah, I kinda have to be since I'm a F-A-R-M-E-R!" I immediately snapped back without thinking in a sassy tone while leaning forward and putting my hands on my hips as I glared at her. The whole Daryl situation already had me fired up, I guess!

Nami was quiet for a moment as she studied my expression intently it seemed and I began blushing, suddenly remembering being on top of her...last night.

"I-I... I mean..." I stammered, beyond flustered now as the memories of last night were flooding my mind and I felt pure shyness overtaking me.

Nami sighed. "...Why don't you walk with me?"

Taken aback, I froze at Nami's words, and she began to walk past me somewhat. We began to slowly walk side by side of each other in total silence as the two of us made our way to the Harvest Goddess Pond. My crush and I soon stood in front of the pond and I meekly looked at Nami, seeing that she was sternly staring out at the pond. I couldn't tell what she was thinking at all.

Nami sighed. "I've been to a lot of places, but nothing like here. This place calms me in a way none has before... It feels kind of... magical, I guess."

My eyes widened. Is Nami opening up to me...?

"I'd love to hear about your travels sometime-"

"I rather talk about last night." Nami coldly cut me off and she turned towards me, somewhat gazing fiercely at me. "Why didn't you tell me that you planned something with those loons to catch Skye last night?"

I looked down, somewhat feeling ashamed. "I... I wanted to. It's just, at the same time I didn't think of it, and everything happened so fast, and I ran by you so fast without thinking to tell you, and then I thought maybe it'd be better if I didn't involve you, because I didn't want you to get hurt somehow, and-"

"He could have hurt you." Nami stated firmly, her voice still rather cold and she seemed very annoyed. "Trust me, it takes a lot to hurt me. I can handle myself. But, you..."

I put my hands up slightly and let out a nervous laugh. "Look, I know Skye is...Skye, but... I don't think he'd ever physically hurt me in any way. He doesn't seem like that type, or it's just the vibe I get from him."

"But every time that creep tries to kiss you," Nami pointed out, hidden anger and (probably, hopefully) jealousy just oozing in her low voice, and she continued on, "Plus, he didn't hesitate to throw sand into those two numbskull's eyes. It could have caused permanent damage to their vision. Who's to say he wouldn't still hurt a woman, or do... you know."

I gulped as I began to hug myself and I nodded. "You're right... I'm sorry. Next time, I'll tell you... I just... I..."

"And speaking of kissing..." Nami mumbled.

My heart immediately almost lurched out of my chest when I heard her say that and I blushed furiously, my mind instantly flashing back to how last night we were so close enough to kiss when I was on top of her! W-What is she about to say?! Why is she bringing up the topic of kissing right now?! IS SHE GONNA SAY SHE WANTS TO KISS ME?! I-

"When he tried to kiss you last night... You said to him... Well..." Nami started as she averted her eyes from mine.

Puzzled, I blinked. "Huh?"

I then remembered what I had said to Skye previously last night:

'D-Don't kiss me! DON'T MOVE I'M GAY!'

"O-Oh... I think I remember now," I confessed sheepishly and began to play with my fingers, "That was embarrassing, I always say stuff without thinking, and... W-Well, I was in a panic, and..."

Nami sighed. "You don't have to justify it. I get it. You panicked." She then oh-so-mysteriously stared out at the pond again, her voice quiet as it trailed off, "It's just..."

She then resumed to looking at me once more, our eyes locking.

"...How can you be so open like that?"

I stood there completely confused and put a hand on my heart nervously. "Huh? ...You mean...? Like... About me liking girls romantically? Like, like... Like me being open about it?"

Nami sighed once more. "It's endearing, believe me...but, at the same time it makes my skin crawl." I was shocked by Nami's confession and she crossed her arms as she continued on while avoiding my gaze, "Revealing that so freely all the time, it's just..."

I put my hands on my hips, feeling a bit snappy. "Don't tell me you're homophob-"

"Trust me, I'm not." Nami insisted quickly in a rather firm-manner and we locked eyes. "It's just... Whoever you tell that to, you don't know how they're going to react, and you always run the risk of getting hurt somehow, either emotionally or physically, so... I'd just be more careful. People can be the worst."

I was quiet for a moment as I stood there in a whirlpool of confusion, but also of realization. I've never thought about it more deeply before, since everyone around me has always been so accepting, I forget often how awful people can be who are against it, but... If I'm correct about my little theory about Nami liking girls too, I wonder if people have treated her badly in the past for it?

Is that why she's bringing this up? Why-

"I don't want anything happening to you."

My cheeks flushed bright pink at hearing Nami's sudden mini confession that interrupted my thoughts.

"Skye could have taken that as a challenge to try even harder with you, to try to "change" you... if you know what I mean," Nami remarked quietly.

It felt like my mind was blanking as I stood there looking at her, it's just a lot to process.

"Just be careful... I can't promise that I'll always be nearby to help you when stuff like that happens."

I was speechless by Nami's words as I then watched her walk away from me with her hands in her pockets.

"O-Oh wait! You should know that Daryl guy was trying to clone my cow earlier just now!" I suddenly blurted out to her in the distance.

Nami stopped her in tracks, taken aback by the absurdity of what I had said.

"Uh... Alright."

- The Next Day -

Nami had told me to not worry about Daryl along with that she's known him for awhile, that he's pretty harmless, but she'll keep an eye on him just in case...

Geez! Just when she was just lecturing me about how dangerous this man Skye could be too! It's just hypocritical because Daryl seems just as much of a dangerous dude! Anyway... I did tell Takakura about what happened with Daryl too, but he said that that's pretty normal for Daryl, that he just kind of hallucinates and is delusional, he basically told me to ignore him, but still... I can't let anything happen to my precious cow!

Takakura also told me that I could forage and possibly find some more food/ingredients in the Harvest Goddess Pond area, so that's what I'm doing right now. I want to learn more recipes to impress Nami like I've been saying! And-

I paused as I noticed this huge mushroom on the ground in front of a humongous tree. I don't even like mushrooms at all, but... in a total out-of-character-for-me kind of way, I felt compelled to eat it, and so I did.

Taking a bite out of the mysterious yet weird mushroom, everything suddenly everything went black.

...

I found myself inside this unknown house with those Harvest Sprites that I saw before awhile ago! I asked them a bill-gillion-billion questions and they explained that this was their home, and that me eating the weird mushroom gives me access to visit them. They told me that if I visit everyday, that they could give me new recipes! I was completely overjoyed! I do recall them saying before that I can get new recipes from them, but I didn't know how to find them.

When I left their home, everything suddenly went black again.

...

Slowly, I opened my eyes, to see none other than Nami crouching down and staring down at me, my body completely lying down on the grass. In the forest of the Harvest Goddess pond that we were in, I could barely see anything because it was suddenly so misty.

"...Did you hit your head? Or are you not eating enough?" Nami asked quietly, mild concern lurking in her voice as she helped me up.

I felt beyond out of it as I stood up.

"Maybe... Maybe I fell asleep?" I questioned, trying to remember what had just happened and was struggling.

Nami let out a small chuckle that sounded somewhat full of affection and she smirked. "Weirdo, don't go sleeping outside like that. Especially after what I had just told you about that stupid pretty boy thief."

I could totally detect some jealousy in her voice when she said pretty boy.

The red-head sighed and was quiet for a moment before she spoke up again.

"Let's head back."

As the two of us began to slowly walk back towards the direction of my farm, the mist began to thicken in the forest. I felt myself growing dizzy and my vision even growing blurry. Suddenly, I felt myself trip on something, and I felt my body falling backwards. Nami instantly catches me from behind by putting her arm around my back while protectively gripping my left arm. I felt my heart skip a beat.

"Now I really wonder if you hit your head..." Nami muttered, as I noticed she held me a little closer with her arm around me and I blushed.

"Well, I'm remembering now... Earlier I ate this weird mushroom, then I talked to three tiny men, or they're called Harvest Sprites, or was it Nature Sprites-"

Nami interrupted me.

"Okay, you definitely hit your head... You better hold onto me."

Suddenly, Nami grabs my hand and holds it gently yet firmly at the same time somehow. My heart skipped a beat, almost literally exploding at feeling her touch. We began to slowly walk and my cheeks were now flushed of my favorite color (pink). She lead the way as we held hands the whole time, her not looking at me at all as she walked a bit ahead of me, her being completely alert it seems.

After a couple minutes, Nami sighs.

"I'm debating whether to take you to the town doctor or not..." she mutters.

"I-I'm fine!" I insisted.

I couldn't help but blush even harder.

I wonder if Nami is using this as an excuse to hold my hand...

Nami says she's not always going to be nearby to help me out, but yet somehow she's just always there when I'm in trouble somehow... Is she stalking me?!

My legs suddenly felt like jello and I fell to my knees, the dizziness starting to take over again. Concerned, Nami swiftly turned around and crouched down in front of me, her still holding onto my hand. "Hey, are you sick? ...Do you want me to carry you?"

I started to hysterically cry, due to just feeling overwhelmed from feeling dizzy and maybe the mushroom was having some weird affect on me, who knows. "I...I'm never eating a mushroom again! All I wanted was to cook more new food for you!" I sobbed, randomly confessing while sounding somewhat delirious, as if I was drunk.

Nami blushed and was in disbelief. "Uh... What?"

Sighing, she then wiped away some of my tears with her hand and my eyes widened in shock as I next watched her softly speak. "I'm not, uh... So good with this comforting stuff, but..."

Nami paused and it seemed she was struggling to think of what to say next.

My vision was gradually becoming blurry once more as as I felt my face heat up, my mind drifting off. I then innocently asked Nami a question I wouldn't have the courage to ask if I was in my right mind.

"Hey Nami... Do you like... Do you like girls too... Like me?"

"That's, uh..." Nami awkwardly responded caught off gaurd, her cheeks slightly turning as red as her hair, and she averted her eyes away from mine. She paused and I could tell she was heavily contemplating on what to say next.

I giggled, feeling somewhat loopy. "I... I hope you like a woman like me who likes cooking! Hehe! I loveeeeeee cooking! C-O-O-K-I-N-G! Especially for my N-A-M-I! Weeeeeeee!"

Blushing, Nami sighed as she suddenly lifted me in her arms and began to carry me bridal-style.

"Sheesh... What did that mushroom do to you?"

Author Note: I loved writing this chapter! I can't wait to write the rest! So many planned out ones! I write these as if they are episode's to an anime, haha. The scene where they are walking in the mist, is based on me walking with Nami for awhile in the mist at the spring in my game xD haha. Anyway, thank you for all reading and for those have reviewed! :) I'd love to hear your thoughts on this chapter if you review! Thank you. :3