Chapter 5

Fall has arrived in Forget-Me-Not Valley before anyone realizes it. The leaves have started falling, the air is cooler, and the valley is surrounded with smell of cinnamon and sweet potatoes. Everyone in the valley is bundling up for the colder seasons. Even Lumina has changed her clothing with a heavier blouse and skirt in dark green and olive colors. Hiro dresses lightly, but in darker colors like brown shirt instead of white, and green cargo pants instead of blue jeans. Everyone in the valley is smiling for the joy of fall.

In the farm, Hiro and Lumina still live together. The days are peaceful, and the nights are warm with a fireplace full of wood. As the village runs normally, everyone believes that the farm is peaceful. But the farm does has it’s moments. . .

“I don't have time for breakfast! I'm running late,” cried Hiro as he busts out of his house.

“But it's not a good idea to work on an empty stomach. At least take the food with you,” answered Lumina as she walks out of the house while carrying a small basket with food.

Hiro turns around and says, “listen, how many times do I have to tell you? You need to stop taking care of me so much, and worry about your search-” Hiro quickly notices the shocked look on Lumina’s face so suddenly. He now realizes that there is something behind him that he was not looking forward to. Something that he forgot about, because he has been dealing with Lumina and the farm. Slowly, he turns around, and finds that his farm has a sudden visitor. And this visitor does not look too happy to see him. The visitor is a young woman, about two or three years younger than Hiro. Her light brown hair is tied up in a ponytail. Orange and white T-shirt, a small apron over blue jeans, work shoes, red and black gloves, and a rucksack on her back. In short, a female farmer.

“Hey, who is that?” asks Lumina. But Hiro raises his hand, signaling her to not get involved. Obviously, they know one another, and this makes Lumina a little nervous. The last time Lumina learned about a girl from Hiro's past, she found out that she had a rival for his affection. Now comes another girl who obviously came looking for him. Lumina doesn't know Hiro's past very well, but she does knows that he has lived in at least two other places before the Valley. What sort of past does he have with this new girl?

Lumina folds her hands and prays, “please let this not be another rival, please let this not be another rival, please let this not be another rival, I don't think I can handle another one. Please let this not be another rival.”

Hiro walks up to the visitor to confront her. Lumina's heart pounds after every step he takes toward her. What will they say? What will they do? Where will this leave her? After walking up to the visitor, Hiro scratches the back of his head nervously and says, "hey there. Longtime no see. I meant to write sooner, but I-"

Before she allows him to finish talking, the visitor grunts angrily as she punches Hiro in the jaw. Lumina's skin suddenly turns white out of shock, never did she expect such a reaction from a girl. But the visitor isn’t done yet. She continues to throw punches and kicks at Hiro yelling, “so here is where you are!! I have been looking for you since Spring!! Do you have any idea what how much trouble it was to find you!?”

As soon as Lumina can regain her composure, she runs to them to attempt to stop the brawl. She wants to stop her, but she might get herself hurt if she gets too close. So she keeps her distance and yells, “stop it, you're hurting him!! Will you stop beating him up! Stop it!!”

“Stay out of this! This has nothing to do with-” as soon as she looks at Lumina's concerned face, she loses the will to fight. She then looks at Hiro who is nearly passed out from the thrashing. She takes a deep breath, and drops Hiro on the ground. Lumina rushes to his aid. Naturally, the visitor is curious as to who this girl is, and what sort of relationship does she have with Hiro.

Back in the house, Hiro is seated in the dining table. Lumina is trying to treat his injuries, but he resists. The visitor is sitting on the opposite side watching them angrily. “Ouch, that hurts! What did I just say about taking care of me? I can take care of myself,” said Hiro covering his bloody lip.

“But you're bleeding. I don't want that to get infected,” answered Lumina.

“A-hem,” grunted the visitor to gain their attention.

There is a moment of silence before Lumina asks, “ummm. . . Hiro? Who is our guest?”

Hiro sighs before he answers shamefully, “this is Pony, she is my sister.”

Lumina gasps, and she glows with excitement and yells, “your sister? I can't believe it, I didn't know you had a sister! I can't believe I'm actually meeting a member of your family!” But then she thinks for a moment and asks, “but wait. .. If she's your sister, why did she beat you up?”

Pony slams her fist on the table, scaring Lumina answering, “because my big brother ran away from home, and he is now living here in the middle of no-where. Do you have any idea how worried mom and dad are back in Flowerbud Village?”

“I didn't run away from home,” answered Hiro. “You know damn well that I decided to stay at grandfather's farm back in Leaf Valley.”

“But you don't live there anymore, do you?” asked Pony. “If you didn't want to live at grandfather's farm, you were supposed to come back home. Not live here where nobody would find you! What were you thinking?”

“It's my right to live where I please,” answered Hiro.

Pony stands up stamping a foot. Lumina jumps back, fearing that there will be another brawl soon. Pony then slowly walks toward her brother with an angry look on her face while explaining, “listen you little bastard. Since you left, mom and dad started to train me to run the family business. I never wanted to be a farmer, but you did. Then you wanted to take over GRANDFATHER'S farm, not ours for whatever reason. But you abandoned that farm, and refused to come home and take over the farm in my place.”

She then grabs Hiro by the collar and yells, “You are coming home right now, even if I have to drag your dead body back to Flowerbud Village!! Do you hear me!?”

“Please! No more fighting!” cried Lumina.

Pony releases Hiro and takes a look at Lumina, “oh yeah, I forgot. Who is she?”

Hiro sighs again and says, “her name is Lumina. She's my roommate.”

“Roommate?” asked Pony.

“Roommate. . .” said Lumina in a sad disappointed tone.

“But you're a farmer. What does a farmer want with a roommate?” asked Pony curiously.

“That's right, I'm a farmer! I'm so late,” yelled Hiro making up an excuse to leave so he doesn't have to explain the situation. He then grabs his tools and runs out. Just before leaving, he turns to Lumina and says, “take care of my sister while I'm gone. I might be home late!” And with that, the door slams shut.

Pony sighs, Then turns to Lumina to ask, “So what's your story? I don't buy the whole roommate excuse. Is my brother hiding something?”

Lumina then takes the time to explain the situation between them, and what her intentions are at the farm. Pony's eyes widen as she yells, “you want to marry my brother?!?!?” Lumina nods. Pony continues, “So, let me get this straight. You come from one of those rich families who live in a villa. Your grandma left you a whole bunch of money, but you must get married first. And instead of picking some rich fool, you want to marry my brother, a simple farmer?”

“Well, it's not that vulgar, but that's about right,” answered Lumina who is completely intimidated by Pony.

Pony sighs and explains, “listen sister, you're making a mistake. My brother is not the guy you want. He's irresponsible, thoughtless, a jerk, and only cares about himself. Not to mention that he's coming home with me. So if I were you, I would just pack up, and find another farm to nest in.”

“I'm not leaving,” demanded Lumina. Pony raises a brow in curiosity. “I know that you think poorly of Hiro, but that's because you're his sister. I have seen him in another light. Hiro is not irresponsible, he takes care of this farm all by himself and brought back some life to a dying home. He is not thoughtless; cause when I was about to leave and find another home, he opened his door for me so I would be safe. And he is not what you call a 'jerk', because everyone here knows he's caring, thoughtful, and a loving member of the village. I fell in love with him because he has a pure heart, he works hard; and even if he's a bit distant, he cares about me. I know that he won't leave Forget-Me-Not Valley willingly. And as long as he stays, I will be here for him. I am confident that he will feel the same way I do someday.”

Hearing Lumina touches her heart. Such sweet words from a wealthy young woman. She always believed that wealthy people were arrogant and conceited. But Lumina surprises her; she is calm, sweet, demure, and mature. But at the same time, she is brave. She knows what she wants, and she will fight for it in her own way.

Pony sighs and says in her mind, “I don't get it. She's cute, modest, strong willed, and is inheriting a lot of money from her dead grandma. You would think anyone would want her, but here she is living with my brother. I wonder how does he feel about her? If he likes her, I might have a hard time getting him to come back home. And I don't want to go home by myself. Mom and dad will make me a farmer for sure. If only there was another way.”

Then pony gets an idea. She looks at Lumina and thinks, “Wait a second! If my brother DOES marry her, then my brother technically owns half her fortune. Okay, let me think for a minute. . . Lumina marries my brother, we can then can hire a farmer to work at the farm back at home, then I don't have to work another day of my life!”

Pony glows with excitement. Lumina looks at her nervously wondering what Pony is thinking about. “Umm.. . Are you okay?”

Pony then takes Lumina's hands and announces, “Lumina, you pass!”

“Pass? What did I pass?”

“You have my permission to marry my brother!”

Lumina gasps, but laughs sheepishly saying, “I'm glad that you approve, but it won't matter. As long as Hiro doesn't approve, I cannot marry him.”

“Oh really? I can fix that,” said Pony.