Hey guys! So inspiration has blessed me, and you, with another chapter! Yay! I hope my inspirational juices keep flowing, and I keep this story alive.

Enjoy and review if you'd like!

"Here are the records from the last test Kotori."

Kotori looked up to see her co-worker, and one of her friends, Maika.

"Oh, thank you."

She took the papers and began looking through them. Maika sat down next to her as she read them.

"So, I heard about the farming situation with your sister." She giggled.

Kotori looked up from the papers.

"H-how did you hear about that?"

"Well… your sister phoned me a couple days ago."

Kotori smacked her forehead. She knew her sister would pull something like that.

"It's seemed like she wants me to change your mind-"

"Well that's not going to happen."

Kotori swiftly cut her off. A brief silence surrounded the two of them in the dimly lit office space.

Maika thought for a bit before asking her next question.

"If you don't mind, did something happen between you two?"

Kotori stared at Maika.

"It's my sister, what do you think?"

"Ahaha, I should have guessed."

She leaned in closer to Kotori.

"Wanna talk about it?"

Kotori merely shrugged her shoulders. Normally that would be taken as a sign that she was being brushed off, but Maika knew Kotori too well.

"3,2,1-"

"Well, if you really must know, then I'll tell you."

Maika giggled. Even though quiet and reserved, Kotori would never pass up the chance to rant about her sister.

Kotori swivelled her chair so she would be facing Maika.

"I guess I'll start at the beginning. You know already that she put down my name on that application without my permission. Well…"

One week ago…

"I can't believe you signed my name on that stupid application!"

Minori flinched.

"For one I told you specifically I wanted nothing to do with this, and what do you go and do? Exactly that!"

"B-but Kotoriiiii-"

"No! Don't you "B-but Kotoriiiii~" me! This is your entire fault. Now this town of nobodies' thinks I'm actually coming there to farm with you!"

Kotori let out a frustrated growl. Minori grew frightened; her sister could get pretty scary when angered.

"You're unbelievable, you know that? I think for once you can actually do something on your own, and then I find you've dragged me into it! You haven't gown up at all!"

Minori was on the verge of tears.

"B-but Koto-"

"What?!"

Minori flinched again, tears beginning to fall from her eyes.

"What, could be so important, that you need to interrupt me, while I'm scolding you?"

Minori whimpered.

"I-I… I just… I thought it'd be a good idea-"

"Why would you think this was a good idea?"

"Because I'm still worried about you Kotori!"

Within seconds all of Kotori's rage flooded out of her.

"It's just… even though things have gotten better for you… I still… I still think you're hurting."

Kotori didn't speak.

"And no one would blame you if you were! That way I thought, if you came with me, for a change of scenery, it could help you get over Jer-"

"Shut up."

Minori went quiet.

Kotori walked past her frightened sister towards her room.

"…Never bring that up again."

And just like that the argument, and the door, was opened and shut closed.

"…Kotori…"

Back to the present…

"And I've been giving her the cold shoulder ever since."

Maika nodded.

"…Do you know when she's leaving?"

"Yeah, tonight. She'll be gone before I get home."

A silence rose between the two once again. Kotori went back to flipping through the pages. Maika wanted to say something, but was hesitant because she knew Kotori wouldn't like it.

"Uh…"

Kotori looked up.

"Yes? You look uneasy Maika."

"W-well… I think your sister is right."

Kotori looked wide-eyed at her friend, angered and hurt.

"Maika!"

"Just hear me out alright!" She looked to her lap with her hands folded. "It just seems like ever since, well, that, you've been solely focused on your work. I don't think you do anything now a days but eat, sleep and work."

"That is untrue!"

"Is it? Just yesterday I asked you to get coffee during our break, but instead you worked right through it. And there was that time when Kourin and Lily asked you to got to that fundraising event, you told them you had to finish a paper."

"It was due soon."

"I remember that paper, and it wasn't due for another week. Besides, with your work ethic you could have finished it when you got home! Don't you see Kotori? You're burying yourself into your work, without realizing you're still sad! I mean, when was the last time you hung out with someone outside of work, or went to a movie or to dinner or something?"

Kotori just stared at Maika, speechless.

Realizing what a fuss she had made, Maika cleared her throat and stood up.

"Well, I need to get going. Speaking of dinner, I've got a reservation at 8:45. I would ask you to come, but I already know the answer." She bowed and turned to the door.

"See you later."

She closed the door, and it was once again silent in the dimly lit office.

Kotori soon went home after that, she couldn't concentrate.

As she walked along the paved sidewalk, city lights glowing around her and people walking alongside her, Maika and Minori's words rang through her head.

"It's just… even though things have gotten better for you… I still… I still think you're hurting."

Don't you see Kotori? You're burying yourself into your work, without realizing you're still sad!

"Are they right? Am I still hurting? Even though that happened almost 3 years ago- Oh stop it Kotori, you're letting them get to your head-"

A couple, laughing together as they shared a meal interrupted her thoughts. She looked over to see them, having a wonderful time. Then the man suddenly got down on one knee. Kotori's heart waivered. She immediately rushed home.

When she got to the apartment, she unlocked the door, and sure enough she was alone. Minori had left a note on the fridge, saying she had left already. Kotori stared at the note for a little while before opening the fridge and pulling out an apple.

"Am I really regretting not going with her? That's silly, I mean, I still have work to do here, and even if I did want to go, which I'm not saying I do, I have no way of knowing where to go-"

That's when she saw a piece of paper lying on their small kitchen table.

"Hm? What's this?"

She picked it up, and had to reread it twice.

"Wait, what is this?" She looked back to the note on the fridge, and flipped it over.

"Huh. Sometimes I don't give you enough credit Minori."

The next day…

"Wow!"

With luggage in hand and a bright smile on her face, Minori stared in awe as she looked up at the sign before her.

"I finally made it to Oak Tree Town!"

Disclaimer: I do not own Story of Seasons or any of its characters. Credits to their original owners.