Chapter 2
A week has passed since Jack and Claire first moved in together at the farm in Mineral Town. There haven't been any major problems between them, so they begin to think they might be able to get along and work together on the farm. Jack dives straight into clearing the field, preparing it for planting crops. Meanwhile, Claire spends most of the week visiting the residents of Mineral Town, getting to know her neighbors. Though the town isn't very large, Claire is pleased to find it's filled with good people, each with their own unique personalities. She hopes to make many friends and live a happy life here.
Jack mainly stays on the farm, so Claire ends up representing them both around town. Despite everyone's curiosity, she still knows very little about Jack and can only answer so many questions on his behalf. Nevertheless, the people of Mineral Town are welcoming and eager to share stories about the town's culture, festivals, and history. Many even give Claire housewarming gifts like flowers, sweets, and home-cooked meals. The warm reception makes Claire feel comfortable among so many new faces.
After another day of chatting with the neighbors, Claire returns to the farm to rest and relax. However, as she opens the door to her home, she finds a lot of boxes that weren't there when she left. There is also new furniture scattered around the house that she's never seen before. Curious, she opens one of the boxes to see where they might have come from. Inside, she finds books, magazines, old newspapers, and other reading material.
As she continues to sift through the contents, she hears Jack in the bedroom, seemingly moving things around. Intrigued, she peeks into the room and finds him folding shirts and sorting them neatly into piles. The room also has new furniture that wasn't there this morning. Watching Jack work so diligently, she realizes that he must have had his belongings delivered from his old home.
"Hey, what's all this stuff?" Claire asks, looking around at the boxes and furniture.
Jack looks up and greets her with a smile. "Oh, hello there. This is stuff from my apartment back in the city. I know it looks like a lot, but don't worry. I'm planning to send half of it into storage to make room for your things once they arrive. I just need a day to sort things out."
"Umm... Actually, I don't have anything coming. All my stuff was in my rucksack when I arrived last week," Claire admits, a bit sheepishly.
"Seriously?" Jack asks, surprised. "Where did you live before you moved here?"
"I lived on a farm back in Flowerbud Village. I didn't have much stuff there either."
"Is that so? Then you don't mind if I keep my furniture? I like to read, so I have a lot of bookcases and stuff like that."
"Sure, I don't mind," Claire replies, smiling.
Jack nods, then returns to unpacking. He then asks, "Are you busy right now? I could use some help."
Claire agrees to help, and they begin working together to unpack Jack's belongings and arrange the furniture around the house. Jack is impressed by how strong Claire is; she can lift almost as much as he can without breaking a sweat. As they move each bookcase, closet, chest of drawers, chair, and storage box into place, Jack directs Claire on what items go where. Claire notices that Jack's taste in books leans toward the classics; there's no manga or other material she might expect from a young man. His wardrobe consists mostly of practical, work-related gear, with nothing particularly casual or formal.
She also discovers that Jack has a sizable collection of classic movies, mostly on VHS and DVD from the 70s and 80s. There's nothing modern that she recognizes, nor any video games. She starts to realize that Jack might not go out much and that his interests are a bit old-fashioned.
Once they've arranged the furniture and unpacked the boxes, they set out Jack's collectibles—vases, statues, and artwork to hang on the walls. The decor gives the house a vintage feel, almost as if they were living in an older person's home. Despite this, the house feels cozy and comfortable, Jack's good taste really shines out.
However, as Claire walks around, she notices something odd: there isn't a single picture or album of Jack's family. He hasn't mentioned having parents or siblings, either. Despite this, she shrugs it off, telling herself it's none of her business.
As a thank-you for her help, Jack cooks dinner. Claire watches from the dining table as he moves confidently around the kitchen. His cooking skills don't surprise her, given what she's learned about him. When he finishes, he places two plates of egg fried rice on the table. The delicious aroma makes Claire's mouth water, and she eagerly digs in, shoveling food into her mouth with enthusiasm. Jack watches her with a mix of amusement and bemusement, struck by how different they are.
Once they finish eating, Jack decides it's a good time to discuss their living arrangements. "Since we're sharing the house, we should talk about some basic rules and split the chores," he suggests.
"I agree," Claire nods.
Jack thinks for a moment, then says, "How about we take turns cooking? I cooked today, so you could make something tomorrow." He notices Claire cringing uncomfortably at the suggestion. "What's wrong?"
Claire chuckles sheepishly, fidgeting with her fork. "Well, you see... I don't really know how to cook."
"Seriously?" Jack asks, surprised.
Claire then stands up, trying to appear confident. "But I'm pretty good at cleaning! If you handle the cooking, I can keep the house clean."
"Deal," Jack replies, relieved. Cleaning isn't his favorite chore, so he's happy to leave it to Claire in exchange for cooking duties. "Now, about the farm work... I can tell you're an animal person. How about I handle the crops, and you take care of the animals once we get some?"
"Sounds good to me," Claire agrees. They shake hands, sealing the arrangement. For a moment, Claire feels that living with Jack might not be as troublesome as she initially thought. They also discuss a few other minor rules, easily reaching an agreement.
And with that, their living arrangements is settled. Jack returns to work, while Claire takes another look at the coop, barn, and stable. She decides that her first order of business would be to clean up the buildings and be prepared to start filling them with animals. After the buildings are clean, the sun begins to set to let Jack and Claire rest for the day. Tomorrow will be another day filled with surprises in their new home.
The next morning, Claire wakes up as soon as the sun rises. She stretches her arms and yawns, noticing that Jack is already out of the room. He always wakes up early to start working on the farm, while Claire usually sleeps in a bit longer. After locking the door, she changes out of her pajamas and into her work clothes: a shirt and overalls. Ready to greet the day, she walks out of the bedroom, expecting breakfast to be ready. But she finds no food, and the house is quiet. Her stomach growls as she realizes the kitchen is empty. She sighs, feeling a bit annoyed that Jack seems to have broken their agreement already.
Claire heads to the bathroom to freshen up. She takes a warm bath, brushes her teeth, and puts on her shoes. As she brushes her long golden hair, her stomach growls again. "Where is that guy? I'm starving," she mutters to herself. As she steps out of the bathroom, she hears Jack's voice outside, talking to someone.
Curious and still hungry, Claire walks outside, scratching her head. "Hey Jack, I'm hungry. When are you going to start making—" She stops mid-sentence as she spots Jack near the chicken coop, chatting with a young woman named Popuri. They are giggling together, with Jack holding an egg. Claire remembers meeting Popuri at the chicken ranch, but she wasn't expecting to see her on the farm so early.
Claire quickly notices Popuri's flirtatious demeanor. Popuri giggles for no apparent reason, swaying her hips as her long red skirt swirls around her. Her corset, tighter than Claire remembered, accentuates her curves, and she even arches her back slightly, giving Jack a full view. Claire feels a pang of irritation, both from her hunger and the sight of Popuri's obvious flirting.
Watching Popuri flirt so openly with Jack makes Claire feel uncomfortable. She glances down at herself, feeling self-conscious. Compared to Popuri, she feels flat and plain, lacking the curves and feminine allure that Popuri seems to possess effortlessly. It's a sore point for Claire, one she's struggled with for a long time, and seeing Popuri only magnifies her insecurities.
Popuri notices Claire standing by the front door and waves cheerfully. "Good morning, Claire! How are you today?"
"I'm fine," Claire responds in a flat tone, trying to mask her discomfort.
Turning back to Jack, Popuri asks, "By the way, I was meaning to ask you something. Is Claire your younger sister?"
"No, we're not related," Jack replies, shaking his head.
Popuri tilts her head, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. "Oh, so does that mean she's your girlfriend or wife?"
Claire gasps in embarrassment, her cheeks flushing a deep red. She knew this question might come up eventually, given their living situation, but hearing it from Popuri makes it feel more awkward. Jack laughs sheepishly, scratching the back of his head. "No, we're not. We're more like business partners. We bought the farm together, and we share the work."
Popuri nods, her expression brightening. "I see! Well, I have to head back to the ranch to help my mom open the shop. Come by anytime, okay?"
She waves goodbye to Claire, but Claire barely acknowledges her, too flustered by the exchange. Jack approaches Claire, holding the egg Popuri gave him. "Did you call me earlier?"
Claire glares at Jack, her irritation bubbling up. She eyes the egg in his hands and says, "I hope that's our breakfast. I'm starving!"
"Actually, this egg is fertilized," Jack explains, holding the egg carefully. "Popuri gave it to us to help start our flock. Isn't she nice?" He heads into the house, adding, "I'll get breakfast started soon."
Claire follows him, still feeling unsettled. She takes her seat at the table, her thoughts swirling around Popuri's figure and whether Jack might be interested in someone like her. Popuri's long pink hair seems almost comically out of place in her imagination, and Claire wonders if it's dyed or just a wig to grab attention.
Breakfast is soon served, but Claire's mood hasn't improved. She eats in silence, her eyes occasionally darting towards Jack, who notices her demeanor.
"Is something the matter?" Jack finally asks, breaking the silence.
"No, not really," Claire replies, her tone clipped. "I just didn't think you'd be that kind of guy."
Jack raises an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"
"You know, into girls like Popuri," Claire continues, unable to hide her irritation. "I thought you'd prefer someone more 'normal,' like Karen or Ann. Or maybe someone like Mary, considering all the books you read. Not the chesty girl next door."
"Sounds like you're a bit jealous of Popuri," Jack says, a hint of sarcasm in his voice. "She's just a friend, that's all."
"And the fact that you're trying to change the subject tells me you're some kind of pervert," Claire shoots back, her voice tinged with angst.
"Pervert!? Why you little—" Jack's retort is cut off by a knock at the door. They both turn to look, curiosity piqued.
"I'll get it. It might be your little girlfriend again," Claire mutters, hopping off her chair.
She is glad for the interruption, which prevented an argument between them so quickly after they moved in together. Opening the door, Claire is met with a surprising sight: a crowd of men, each carrying gifts. She blinks in confusion, feeling a wave of intimidation at the unexpected gathering.
"Happy Spring Thanksgiving Day, Claire!" they chorus, piling their gifts into her hands until she is overwhelmed, collapsing under the weight of countless boxes filled with sweet treats. The men quickly depart, leaving Claire buried in a mountain of gift-wrapped boxes.
Jack stands over the pile, blinking in shock. He then chuckles in a mocking tone, "And you call me a pervert? Looks like you've got every guy in Mineral Town wrapped around your finger."
Claire's head pops out from the sea of boxes, her expression one of disbelief. "What is all this? Why did these guys drop off cookies all of a sudden?"
"It's the fourteenth day of Spring, so these are gifts for the Spring Thanksgiving Festival," Jack explains, picking up a few boxes to read the labels. "This one's from Harris, and this one's from Zack. Yep, every guy in town left a gift." He then picks up a few more boxes, his eyes widen with shock, "Here's one from someone named Skye, and another from... Kappa? Who are these people? Do these people even live around here?"
As Claire struggles to extricate herself from the pile, Jack continues to sort through the boxes. "This one's from Cliff," he notes, then turns to Claire with a grin. "Mind if I help myself to some these? This is a lot of cookies for one person."
Claire snatches the box from his hands, her voice firm as she opens the box and takes a bite of a chocolate chip cookie. "No. All of these cookies are mine, and I'm not sharing."
"Fine, whatever," Jack shrugs, unfazed. He then grabs his tools and heads out to work on the field, his mind lingering on the odd exchange. As he tills the soil, he asks himself, "What's Claire's problem with Popuri? Do they have bad blood already?" He continues to think about Popuri and how she acted the moment she came over that morning, "Popuri's been friendly enough. Then again, I don't really know much about Claire. Or Popuri for that matter. Maybe something Popuri said bothered her? Well, whatever is going on, I just hope this doesn't cause any problems down the road."
