"...Whoa, is that tomato from your farm? That's pretty awesome."

"It's for you!"

"Uh, are you sure? That's... really generous of you. Thanks."

- A few hours later -

"You wanna know what I did with the tomato? Oh, uh... I gave the leftovers to Lou."

"W-WHAT?!"

That's right - after Nami had given me such a generous birthday gift yesterday, I wanted to give her one of my newly harvested crops as a thank you. I mean, I was planning to give her one of my crops anyway in the first place to let her try it and to kind of, umm, show off! But... But... Looks like my precious tomato that I gave her is no good! Is the quality really that bad...? Then again, it was my first time growing crops too, but... Ohhhh, how embarrassing...!

What was also weird was when I found Nami to give her my tomato yesterday, she was standing around outside in front of that crazy scientist's house. I don't know why the heck she was there or if she's friends with him or something, but... I've tried saying hi to him before a few days ago when I was out running errands around the valley, and he freaking yelled at me to leave him alone! His black eyes all seemed so vein-y and bloodshot, and just so scarily red; he literally made me shriek and sprint away from him like I was running a freaking marathon or something! I believe his name was Daryl, but I'm unsure.

Anyway, moving on...

Today is the second day of summer and this morning to my surprise I was visited by the two elderly twins that specialize in fireworks. They reside in this valley and their names are Cole and Charlie. Honestly, I haven't really even had a full-blown conversation with them until today, but they had informed me that there will be a fireworks festival taking place at the beach tonight. It was kind of awkward though, considering Charlie kept asking me if I would be his date for it and he kept hitting on me over and over again, but luckily his brother Cole kept shutting him up. Then under his breath, Charlie mentioned how he was gonna ask Molly to be his date instead... Poor Molly.

I wonder if Nami is going to the festival?

I mean... It doesn't really seem like her thing, but I'm sure the whole town is going? I had no idea that this festival happened every year on this day though. I wonder what other festivals there will be this year...?

Oh yeah. Charlie told me to be at the beach at 6pm sharp for the festival, or else. Like, why the heck the 'or else' part?!

...

- Later that evening -

I had spent the majority of my day doing farm work and then going to the dig site for hours. I tried finding Nami along my way to the dig site but couldn't find her, so I suppose I'll find out if she's really going to the fireworks festival tonight or not.

Currently, I'm finally at the beach just as instructed; it's 6pm on the dot, and-

"Hey, lassie! There you are!" I heard Charlie's voice from behind, and I turned around to see both him and his brother walking up to me.

I looked around to see no one else but us on the beach. Where is everyone...? I thought this was a festival that happens every year on the beach?

"Well, now, since it's a festival and all... Ya know what that means, right?" Charlie asked me in a somewhat suggestive tone, and he flashed me wink.

Awkwardly, I stood there puzzled for a moment before shaking my head no.

Charlie seemed upset at my ignorance and jumped up while scoffing. "Bah! Whippersnappers today... No brains, I tell ya! It's yer chance to ask someone out on a date, see! Ya better not let it go zoomin' by!" he insisted angrily, but there was hidden passion in his voice.

I inwardly gasped in shock and instantly started blushing. Wait. This festival... is meant as a romantic one? How did I not realize that before?! Especially since Charlie kept asking me out on a date earlier!! Ughss! Usually I'm pretty good with figuring out this kind of stuff right away and I'm not this oblivious!

Cole grinned and quickly added, "Couldn't have said it better myself! Now's the time to cozy up to that special someone ya got yer eye on!"

An image of Nami instantly flashed in my mind and the color pink effortlessly infiltrated my cheeks. I'm so stupidddd! I should have made more of an effort to look for Nami earlier and should have asked her to watch the fireworks with me! Now I feel like I lost my chance! How did I not realize sooner this was a romantic thing?! Geez, I-

"Oh, hey Kayla."

It felt like my heart had jumped and then stopped for a tiny moment when that familiar alluring low voice smoothly eased its way into my ears. That voice was...

Breathlessly, I turned around to see... Nami.

My jaw dropped slightly, eyes widening in disbelief as Nami now stood in front of me, leaving me momentarily stunned as it felt like time stopped for a second. I swear it felt as it electricity was coursing through my entire body as sparks were flying in my heart; the wind gently rushing through both my brunette and her scarlet hair.

Feeling a bit caught off gaurd and flustered, I blushed insanely as we locked eyes.

Where the heck did she come from?!

"Ready for tonight's fireworks?" Nami asked me in a somewhat casual tone; her eyes not leaving mine for a second.

I inwardly gulped and gathered all the courage existing inside of me to next allow a certain question to exit my lips.

"Want to watch them together?" I shyly asked while blushing as I twiddled my fingers in a nervous manner.

Nami seemed taken aback by my question; her sapphire eyes grew slightly wide as she then was beginning to blush, hard. However, a somewhat annoyed yet embarassed expression was plastered all over her face. For a moment, she looked away from me, appearing beyond flustered, then seconds later she returned my gaze and flashed me a tiny grin; which honestly made my heart almost catapult and soar straight out of my chest.

"...You want to watch them with me? Sure, I don't mind."

Hehe, it seems Nami is trying to play it cool, but I bet she's just ecstatic on the inside that I asked her to watch them with me!

I then heard the two men standing behind us start to snicker, and then Charlie started whistling at me!

"Woo-hoo! That's more like it girly! Now look at you two! Heh heh!" he exclaimed playfully while winking, as him and his brother began to walk away to prepare to start up the fireworks.

My mouth hung open speechless as I was completely mortified and blushing. Hopefully, Nami will think nothing of it...

Nami was quiet for a moment before she turned towards me and urged nonchalantly, "Let's head over there, to get a better view."

And some more privacy, is what I wished she would have said too... Hehe.

I nodded and the two of us began to walk to the very center of the beach, standing right besides each other as we both stared up at the starry-night sky. Nami had one hand on her hip as an aloof expression remained on her face; which made her look beyond mysterious and I felt so silly that my heart couldn't stop fluttering because of it.

The fireworks display than began and I was completely mesmerized. So many dazzling colors, it just feels beyond ethereal to witness all of this, especially with Nami by my side, and I-

I froze for a moment when I noticed from the corner of my eye that Nami wasn't staring at the fireworks anymore, but at me.

She looked mesmerized.

Blushing, I asked her, "W-What, do I have something on my face?!"

Nami looked away from me while putting her hands in her pockets and the red head muttered with a slight grin adorning her lips, "Yeah, something like that..."

"H-HEY! It sounds like you're avoiding saying something!" I insisted flustered while clenching my fists.

"Nah..." she muttered while resuming looking back up at the fireworks.

I didn't know what to say back, so I just went back to watching the fireworks with her in silence. Although this time it was a bit hard to concentrate on them, considering my heart was pounding like mad and my cheeks were burning red, there was just this undeniable almost-tangible tension between us. I just want this moment to never end, I wish I could stay next to Nami like this forever...

"...Fireworks are always over before you know it, huh?' Nami suddenly spoke, her voice quiet as there was some lingering sadness residing in it.

It makes me wonder if she was thinking the same thing as me... that not only does she not want the fireworks to end, but also this moment with me.

...

Maybe, I'm getting ahead of myself. Sigh. I shouldn't get my hopes up, I still barely know her after all, so... I don't know if she's really into me for sure either, she could be straight for all I know, and it could be that I've just been delusional this whole time. Sighhhhh.

Feeling my heart sink a bit at that thought, I didn't say anything back to her and I just nodded in response while not removing my gaze from the fireworks.

Nami spoke once more.

"But you know, that's what I like about them. ... They're beautiful, aren't they?"

I froze for a moment when I heard her say the word beautiful and an idea immediately bombarded my mind, causing me to inwardly giggle. Maybe... Maybe if I say this thing I'm thinking of, my feelings for her will be clearer to her...

"Not as beautiful as you, though."

Nami's eyes widened at my sudden bold statement and I couldn't help but giggle out loud a bit; her face immediately burning the same color as cherries. She was immensely flustered and it was pretty cute to see her reaction to my rather straightforwardness.

Oh yeah. I'm one smooth operator. Hehe.

Nami then turned towards me.

"Were you even looking at the fireworks? Sheesh..." Nami muttered, her trying to appear annoyed as an attempt to conceal her blushing, but it obviously didn't work.

"H-Hey! I can say the same thing about you!" I firely retorted back while blushing.

The fireworks then finally stopped and my red-headed love interest was quiet for a moment before she spoke up again, her completely ignoring me calling her out previously...

"Anyway, we'd better head back. Catch you later, Kay- ... Actually, I better walk you home."

I stood there in shock at the very fact she changed her mind and insisted that she wants to walk me home instead.

"I-It's because that thief could still be out here tonight!" Nami insisted flustered and she let out a sigh. "Let's get going..."

Sureeeeeee. Hehe. If I'm not reading into this wrong, I'm sure Nami just wants to spend some extra time with me tonight...

"Okay, thank you..." I softly said under my breath to her as we began to walk toward my farm.

As we were passing by that crazy mad-scientist's lab, Nami abruptly spoke up once more. Wow, she sure is more chatty than usual tonight.

"...Your reactions were just as fun to watch as the fireworks, honestly. I had a really good time, so... I hope we can go together next year."

Nami admitted as she turned around to look at me and I was undoubtedly speechless as armies of butterflies began to naturally invade my stomach.

My heart couldn't stop fluttering. Next year...? Does that mean... Nami plans to stay in the valley for good...? Either way though, ahhhhh, she wants to watch them together with me next year. Ahhh, my heart.

Maybe she really does have feelings for me? Oh, I don't know why I feel so scared to believe that, I-

"By the way... That tomato you gave me... Bring me another one, and I'll be open to trying it again. I'm sure you'll just keep on improving with your crops."

Hearing Nami say those words meant more to me than she will ever know.

At this freaking rate, I feel like Nami will forever keep on making my cheeks flush redder than any tomatoe I will ever give her.

Author Note: Thanks for reading, hope you guys liked this chapter! I can't wait to write the rest! Especially the ending of this story, ahhhh. It'll take awhile though! Hehe. Please let me know what you guys think by reviewing. :) thanks so much!