Talk about a slow burn, it took them NINETY CHAPTERS TO KISS! And TEN YEARS!

Also, just to make it clear since I’ve made it to chapter 90, I am VERY invested in this story. And kudos to you for picking up a work from years past and continuing it! I could have NEVER.

I started reading this because of the release of the remake of Friends of Mineral Town for the Switch (you’re playing that, right? If you aren’t, you should! Lots of quality of life improvements and fixes to dialogue and adding in 500 more cut scenes and a new bachelor and bachelorette!). I’m very excited to continue this, and even more excited to see it was updated last a month ago!

The first half of this chapter was great, with a lot of fun, punchy dialogue that kinda got me laughing, especially Ann's talking about corporal punishment and pretending to be some medieval king. She's such a riot to read about, and you portray her so well. The next part was more somber but just as nice, with Cliff offering to help Claire harvest her many tomatoes, and Claire finally accepting help. She ought to stop shouldering so much all by herself, and this was the perfect time to finally accept help from someone. I wonder how Kai's party is going to turn out? I'll just have to read more and see!

It's nice to see more of Manna, though I didn't expect her to try her hand at interpreting dreams of all things. But more Karen and Claire goodness is always a win for me, plus more Cliff! Yay! I can't wait to read more!

So that's why Pete's farm is called Swag Farm! That's funny! But yeah, this was another nice chapter. I loved Pete offering to help Claire and the two of them becoming friends. Fellow farmers should always stick together! Although it is kinda silly that Pete named his cow Moolah. I can just hear people groaning at the intentional pun. Anyway, this was a cute chapter! I hope to see more of these two hanging out and talking farm business!

Ah, the cameo parade. I like it! It was a great way for Claire to bond more with Popuri and Rick and learn about their circumstances. I do like how you had Rod from the actual A New Beginning game be their father and have those characters be older than the Mineral Town characters. I do have to admit, I was surprised to see Neil paired with Yuri of all people. I mean, I like Yuri, but I would never want to go anywhere near someone as sour as Neil. Then again, she is friends with Michelle in-game, so I have to wonder if she's used to being around toxic or abrasive people.

Speaking of cameos, Cheryl's a brat as usual, Ash is his nice self, Vaughn got to give Claire some advice, and Jamie...wow, didn't expect him to be such a douche. I haven't played Magical Melody, so I don't know if that's what his real personality is like in-game. I kinda forgot that Claire met Pete before. It has been a while since I read this, and that's what I get from being away from the story for so long. Oh, and I love the chapter title. Such a good pun! Good to know that Renee from AP got third place at least. She's so underrated, if a little bland.

I always like seeing Rick be a bit more humanized. He can be an overprotective dudebro at times, but he really is a nice person at heart and does mean well. He could stand to unwind, though. I actually married him in my second file in MFoMT in my GameBoy Advance copy. So worth it, as he does deserve more love. Anyway, another good chapter as always!

Poor Claire. She really didn't deserve to have Won get under her skin like that, even if he is technically right about Claire not having planned her farm in the best way possible. It was totally unnecessary of him to throw it back in her face like that. I could definitely relate to her on this part, along with not knowing how to comfort May. Being autistic and often not knowing what's appropriate to say or do and what isn't, I've always struggled to comfort people when they're sad, and oftentimes, my attempts at doing so made things worse, or I got admonished by somebody else for not doing it a certain way even when I had no way of knowing what was the right way to do so. Even Claire's awkward encounter with Mary had some meat to it, with the latter probably finding herself in similar situations but actually trying to make an effort to reach out and provide comfort, because doing something is better than nothing, even if she's not sure if she's doing it right either.

By the way, thanks for making Stu not a total brat. I definitely appreciated him comforting May alongside Cliff. Yeah, he's a little kid, so him being a brat is somewhat understandable, but children are more than just moving tornadoes that cause destruction everywhere they go. Or perpetual pranksters at that. I do kinda hope Claire and Mary can become friends in some way. Also, poor May. I wanna hug her, too!

Alright, I think it's high time I got back to this story! I gotta say, this one was real cute. Claire and Cliff bonding and being cute together, with Koro in the mix as well! The cloud part was really funny, and I especially liked Cliff talking to Tucker, opening up to the young horse rather than anyone else around him. Things like that tend to say a lot about someone's overall character. Another great chapter as always!

cliff finally got the letter, wonder if he will respond back

YAY! I was so worried about how he would react. I'm glad that it didn't completely ruin the moment. BUT ALSO am I the only one paranoid about that letter? I feel like it's a trap for something. I'm CONCERNED!

I hope you've been doing well!

Ahh, finally he has read the letter! I admit I've related to Claire and I've sort of had a sick feeling in my stomach when I knew it was time for him to read it. He reacted very in character, if he had handled it without any emotion it would have been out of character but you wrote it perfectly. He was emotional just as he should have been-confused, scared, sad, and angry-that's not easy to write! These are very complicated emotions to write and I think you've done a great job with this pivotal chapter. Man, I can't wait until he is healthy and out of the hospital so him and Claire can get close :) :) :) looking forward to the next chapter and the fluff piece!

On a personal note, we all appreciate anything you write for us so don't apologize! I hope that you and your loved ones are safe and healthy. Life has slowed down for me too since the pandemic began. I have a lot of ideas to write about, and of course I am inspired every time I read your work, but when I sit down to write I can't find "it" whatever it is that let's me write. Until then, I'll keep on reading and being inspired!

I can't even begin to describe to you how much I needed this chapter today. I'm so relieved that Claire finally gave him the letter and it didn't pry them apart. I quite liked how it all went and how they talked it out.

This was sooooo sweet! I'm a bit late, but I really liked the resolution you put into the chapter. I really missed the Claire and Cliff moments XD. I really like how this story is coming along. The same goes to you! Please take care of yourself :)

yes yes yess! Finally Cliff breaks through and tells us! I have been waiting so long... I feel like Claire while reading this lol! great chapter, thank you for continuing to write this lovely story!

I love your story! I must say I am still mad at gray for break Claire heart the way he did. If I was Mary I would not of started dating him and kicked him to the curb. I do hope he see what he could of had with Claire at some point. I love her and cliff he is a great guy she is with the right one.

i like hearing about cliff's hometown, it's refreshing. love cliffs new hairdo