I opened the box again and grabbed a random piece of paper. This time, it read:

Spring 20

Why hello there piece of paper, we meet again. Hath thou missed me?

So today, I went to Neil's stall and gave him yak's milk! I smiled like a crazy goofball as he said "Mhm, great." EEEK! I still remember those two words (I don't even know if I should consider "mhm" a word) because the memory is as fresh as a newly laid egg!

I'm really going crazy for that Neil guy, right piece of paper? Oh jeez "piece of paper" is a handful to write. If I were really talking to you it'd be a mouthful. From now on, I'll just call you "POP". that sound good?

Of course it sounds good, I came up with it! HAH!

You know what, Pop? I think I might have the teensiest crush on that animal dealer….

Oh…. So she did have a crush on me! She kept on denying it every time I would tease her about it and tried had a tsundere attitude like in one of those anime shows that has a main character who's flat chested (not that I'm saying Rio is a loli but she does have a small and underwhelming bust size) and always denies her affection towards another human being in a way like "N-no I don't like him". And have you noticed that stutter? Well, it annoys me as far as I could tell. But at the same time I'm guilty of stuttering because I do that all the time whenever I'm flustered or embarrassed. Oh, the irony.

Anyway, I still haven't had enough of these letters so I'm going to read some more.

I got another one and this time, there wasn't a date. It said:

Hi Pop….

So the day after tomorrow is the Starry Night Festival, and I wanted to ask Neil out.

BUT I DIDN'T HAVE THE GUTS, POP! I JUST DIDN'T OKAY? And I blew it off….

I literally stuttered in front of him. I hate it when I do that! It makes me feel like ten times the coward I already am. Oh Goddess…. If I really wanted to go with him so badly, I'd ask him out again tomorrow, right? Oh gosh I'm insane. Woohoo look at Rio writing on a piece of paper and muttering dumb words.

I guess I just really needed someone to talk to. Or rather, something to write on.

Well, that wraps it up I guess. I swear I will ask Neil out again! Maybe in a more casual way….

I remember this. Yep, I remember it like it was only seconds ago. There's nothing much to elaborate in this event because all she did was ask me out while stuttering. Deep inside me, I didn't answer her in the first place because I wanted her to be strong and not choke in her words. Guess I didn't do a great job at trying to be a good friend who wanted his friend to not stutter. Maybe that's just how she is. Like me. Stuttering and blowing off the whole thing. I said yes to her the next day, though.

Then I noticed that there were still writing at the back of the paper. I flipped the paper and saw this:

Hi again, Pop!

YES! Neil finally said yes!

…. And I can't express my feelings in words. I'm just so…. HAPPY! I'm going to give him Shrimp Chili tomorrow.

And there were scribbles of smileys everywhere on the piece of paper. When you don't have words to say about how happy you are, just doodle smileys on a paper.

Still not satisfied, I picked another piece of paper from the box.

Winter 9

Hello Pop!

Today is Neil's birthday and sadly, there was a storm on that very special day. And that special day is today, obviously.

I still made a pot of Shrimp Chili, though. But heck no I would eat all this alone….

Being crazy enough, I took the pot of Neil's favorite food and put on the thickest, warmest clothing on myself. Yes, I'm going to his house despite the storm. See how head over heels I am for him? It was getting out of hand, I know. But who cares anyway? So I went out on my way to his place, and GOSH! The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside….

But I arrived there in one piece anyway! Why'd you think I'd write this letter?

Luckily enough, despite the anger and annoyance in Neil's eyes, he let me into his home. It was all

And then the note ended. It was continued on the back portion, though.

It was all worth the effort of almost getting killed in the storm! Although Neil didn't take it lightly…

He yapped at me at how "pathetic" and "stupid" I was for going to his house in the midst of a calamity. Well how can I help it? I can't let him celebrate his birthday all alone. If he even celebrated it. Oh and mind you it was his 20th birthday. I'm still glad that he let me in and we both ate the Shrimp Chili and for some reason…. It tasted even better. I'm also happy that he let me sleep in his, uh,bed. OH! I don't know how to describe it. But at the time I was writing this, I was in his dining room.

And it made my heart melt when he actually gave me a genuine smile that day.

That's where the letter ends.

Right, I did smile at her for the first time in forever. But the kind of smile that I've never smiled before…. What was the word she used? Oh right. It was genuine.

And to clear up that part where she messed up, I did make her sleep in my bed. It was the least I could do after she made the effort of running to my house in the middle of a snowstorm and giving me a memorable dinner. Yes, a memorable one. I never thought I'd say this, but that very day, I actually accepted the fact that I'm falling in love with her because all the time I've thought about Rio, I always denied my feelings for her. Great, now I'm the tsundere here.

I suddenly snapped out of my thoughts when I heard the door open and Rio stepped in.

Pooooooooop. I sat still and stared at her. I didn't even bother to put the papers back in the box and seal it close before she sees me. Guess my adrenaline rush didn't come in a rush.

She stared at me quizzically.

"Neil, what're you doing?" Rio questioned. "In other words, what are you reading?"

Still gaping at her, I opened my mouth to say something but she cut me off with "OH MY GOSH! Neil, why were you reading those?!" while waves of guilt washed over me as I covered my mouth to prevent any laughter from coming out.

She came closer and took the box and the pieces of paper I just read in her arms. She sat beside me, squinting with a glum look on her face.

Unable to control my laughter any longer, I didn't exactly burst out laughing but instead gave out a small chuckle and said "What? I thought it was cute."

Rio blushed at my statement. What? It was true anyway.

She lowered her head some more and I, on the other hand, grabbed her by the shoulders and pulled her tight to my chest. She returned the hug by wrapping her arms around my back as she buried her face deeper. I heard her mumble something, but I couldn't make out the words so I asked "what was that?"

She looked up and said "why'd you do that?" in a very small and cute voice.

"Do what?"

"You know what you did." She countered while glaring at me.

"Well, I just found it under the bed as I was cleaning and, well…. I got carried away with all the cuteness." I explained while burying my face into her golden hair.

Even when her face is snuggled to my chest, I could tell she's blushing like mad because her ears were red as a tomato.

"Hey…. Wanna read the rest of those together?" I asked with a smirk on my face. "NO! You'll just tease me and be a big bully!" she retorted as her head bolted upward.

"No I won't." I countered.

"Yes you would!"

"Nope."

"Hmph. You'd still do it anyway."

"What if I won't?"

She looked into my eyes and said, "Then I'd reward you with this," then she held both my cheeks and kissed me hard, forcing me to kiss back. Then unknowingly, her tongue made its way to mine, and I tongue-wrestled with her in a gentle way. Goddess, it felt good.

We remained like that for a few moments and we both pulled away slowly, and this time it was my turn to blush furiously.

Rio giggled. "You know, you look cute when you get embarrassed." She whispered as she rested her head into my shoulder, snuggling into my neck.

I leaned down and made sure my mouth was close to her ear and said "you know, we could just clean the bathroom tomorrow."

"Yeah, I see you haven't even finished cleaning the bedroom."

"Like I said, I got carried away with the cuteness." I retorted while running my hands down to her waist.

Well, spring reading was better than spring cleaning.

With that, Rio had fallen asleep and I had to drag the both of us to the head of the bed where the pillows were. Somehow, I managed to rest my back on one of the pillows and let Rio snuggle into my arms.

Recollecting about what just happened earlier, I dozed off to sleep as well.

AYE it's done! :D

disclaimer: the snowstorm event wasn't purely my idea but it was based off of supermanisawesome's story "A Lonely Birthday". i just really loved the fluff :3 y'all shoud check her fic out. i also don't own harvest moon or any of its characters.

bai nao~