Summer 27, Year 2
Roundabout
I didn't spend a lot of time in that far eastern part of town, but there was a small pocket of greenery behind the sundry shop with some decent foraging. It used to be a bigger pocket of greenery, before that shop came along and took some space. Hmph.
On the way I passed the town square, where in a few days one of my animals would certainly be winning another crown. The square was a completely different place without the banners and the podium. And without the other important centerpiece that used to stand there so long ago... Now it was just a place for mindlessly hanging out, and I didn't belong there.
Still, that wasn't the place where I'd be met with any disruption. It was once I'd reached that clearing of public foraging land, and no sooner than I'd picked the first plant, that I heard a voice, unduly enthusiastic, calling out in my direction.
"Ah, so you've found some of this precious treasure too!"
It was the plant-hunter, gripping a handful of fresh Pink Cats by the stems. Why was he talking to me? I was busy.
"This village has never been more deserving of its name. Buds have been blooming all over! It must be because of the recent rain."
He probably didn't understand busy. Plant-hunting was hardly a job. I did that plus a lot more.
"Rain is truly a blessing from heaven." He dramatically raised his arms to the sky, as if catching raindrops that didn't exist. "Perhaps a gift from a gentle goddess, to the flowers and the people who admire them."
Actually, she hates the rain. You have no idea how things work. But I knew it would be useless to talk to him, so I just kept ignoring him.
"I've noticed," he rambled on, "that you like to collect flowers too. I'm certain you put them to good use."
Whatever. That's not for you to decide.
"...And, you see, I picked these specially for someone who I knew would also put them to good use." He tipped his tacky hat to me and, "Goodbye then!"
With that, he disappeared into the shop nearby.
I didn't particularly like him. It was one thing to appreciate nature, another thing to appreciate it for the right reasons.
After several more minutes of foraging, I heard the click of the shop door reopening. The plant-hunter was back out, now joined by the shopkeeper with the permanently painted smile.
"Basil, these flowers are really lovely~. I can't thank you enough."
I wasn't eavesdropping, because that would mean I cared what they were saying. They were just saying it too loud.
"It was no trouble at all, Lyla! I look forward to seeing how you arrange them."
"Mhmhm. ...Say, while we're out here, can I tell you a secret?"
I was standing right there. Not much of a secret.
"You saw Louis inside, right? I have a feeling...he was just about to ask me on a date~."
"Oho! Is that so?" The plant-hunter laughed. "You'll have to forgive my interruption. With any luck, he won't assume I've stolen your heart with this bouquet!"
That would be a stupid assumption. Accepting a gift from someone definitely didn't mean anything like that.
"Oh no, he's a smart one. I'm sure he understands." She cupped her cheek with one hand and giggled. "I think he's in there working up his courage at this very moment."
"Well then, I hope that your love blossoms as swiftly and beautifully as these flowers♪"
My eyes could have rolled out of my head.
The plant-hunter finally took his leave while the shopkeeper returned to shop, and I was spared of that nonsense -- for only a few seconds.
Then, another door-click.
"Please come to Starry Hill with me!!"
I turned to find another person, talking to himself.
"L-like that! It isn't so hard."
He sighed heavily, removing his glasses to rub his temple in frustration.
"But now I have a rival. How to compete with a gesture as romantic as those flowers..."
Starting a rivalry over something like this? What a waste!
"Ohhh... I-I'll figure it out!" and he ran clumsily off in the direction of the junk shop, tripping once before realizing he needed his glasses to see two steps in front of him.
It was so completely pathetic, I didn't even know what face to make in response. I just shook my head in contempt and went back to foraging.
...What, another click?
The last one to exit the shop was someone I didn't even know was in there -- but of course, she was always everywhere. That farmer.
She must have witnessed the same thing. Incredibly, even she had on an expression like she thought it was silly. To think, some things were silly even by her standards.
To think, this was the kind of roundabout nonsense so many people wasted their time with. People were really dumb.
Standing only a few meters away, she glanced over at me -- and her expression changed.
"...?"
It didn't take me long to grow annoyed with her needless staring.
"What!?" I finally snapped, and flung an arm forward to shoo her away.
Which was when I realized, in that hand, I was still holding the flowers I'd been foraging. A handful of fresh Pink Cats by the stems.
"Wh--" It only takes a split second for people to get the wrong idea. "Don’t misunderstand! These aren't for you!"
I stuffed them away as quickly as possible and spun my back to her, struck for some reason with a feeling of embarrassment.
"Hmph." What reason did I have to be embarrassed? I was only working. I was no part of that ridiculous scene.
Those other fools, they were the ones who should feel embarrassed.
Hmph. People were really dumb.
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