Original A/N: Hey guys, so this is my first fanfiction! I'm extremely excited and nervous to share this story with y'all; I really hope y'all like it! This story was one I had actually posted before on my YouTube channel, but then I took it down because I wasn't really certain I wanted to continue on with it. Anyway, I hope to update relatively often, but honestly, I don't know at this point. Anyway, enough blabbering from me. Enjoy!

E/N: Hello! Wow has it been a long time since I wrote this chapter. I'm definitely much happier with the product now, and hopefully it's more enjoyable to read.

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Lillia sighed at the checkout counter, rousing the concern of both Rick and Popuri as they sat around chatting at the dining table. Rick's eyes flicked over to his mother as his brows furrowed worriedly. "Is everything alright, Mom?"

"Hmm? Oh, it's nothing. I'm just thinking about how glad I am that winter is over," Lillia replied sweetly, although Rick and Popuri weren't entirely convinced that those thoughts were the reason for her sigh.

A moment of silence passed as the trio all racked their minds for a way to continue the conversation. Popuri's eyes lit up as she jumped in. "Well, we do have summer to look forward to!"

"I thought that you hated summer. You always complain about how hot it is," Rick said. He eyed his sister suspiciously, carefully studying her expressions as she paled slightly and glanced toward her mother for help.

"I-I think th-the flowers are the p-prettiest in the summer," she stuttered. Rick gave her a look of skepticism that only a sibling could give as he folded his arms.

"You're thinking about someone," he stated. Popuri grew red as she grew flustered.

"I…I am not Rick!"

"Popuri, you are giving me all the red flags that you're lying right now," Rick told her.

"So, what if I'm excited to see someone? It's not like it has anything to do with you," Popuri replied with a childish huff.

"What I want to know is why you're so excited for summer to come to see this person. We're usually at our busiest during that time," Rick said with a tilt of his head. Popuri glanced over at him for a split second before diverting her eyes quickly, desperately attempting to come up with a response.

Suddenly, Rick's eyes widened as he came upon a realization.

"Don't tell me…"

"Rick, it's not what you think…" Popuri said, looking at her brother with wide eyes.

"It's Kai isn't it?!" Rick cried in an infuriated tone. "Popuri, we've been over this!"

"Yes, we have Rick! I don't care what you think, Kai is a wonderful guy, but you wouldn't know that because you couldn't be bothered to get to know him!" Popuri shouted back as she lost her composure.

"Rick, Popuri…" Lillia began in a warning tone, but neither of the siblings heard her, too engrossed in their argument to notice.

"I know enough about Kai to know he's a bad influence and a terrible person! Popuri, all he's going to do is toss you away when you don't please him anymore!" Rick cried. "Do you even remember what he did to me?"

"YOU ARE JUST JEALOUS THAT I LIKE SPENDING TIME WITH KAI MORE THAN I DO WITH YOU!" Popuri screamed irrationally. Rick shot up from his chair, preparing to yell back, when Lillia intervened.

"ENOUGH!" Lillia yelled, causing the siblings to look at her in absolute shock. Lillia stumbled backward, and Rick flew to her side, carefully helping her to a rocking chair nearby.

"M-Mom?" Popuri asked, rushing up to her.

Lillia sighed. "I'm tired of hearing you two fight about this," she said simply. Rick and Popuri looked down sheepishly. "You're both young adults now; you should know how to handle this better. I won't always be around to intervene."

"Don't say that, Mom," Popuri admonished softly. Lillia shook her head as she brought up a hand to rub her temples.

Rick brought over a rag soaked in water to dab over his mother's forehead. Lillia smiled gently and leaned back in the rocking chair to relax.

"I'll take care of the chickens. Popuri, could you make breakfast?" Rick asked. Popuri nodded, avoiding eye contact with her brother. Rick sighed as he left the house through the front door. Popuri lingered by her mother's side before carefully shuffling toward to the kitchen to begin preparing fried eggs.

She carefully pulled out a pan and the eggs that were stored in the fridge, cracking them over the pan once the pan reached a substantial temperature. Within minutes, the eggs were done, and Popuri proudly placed two plates of fried eggs on the table before bringing one over to her mother.

"Here you go Mom," she said quietly. Lillia smiled and began to eat the eggs immediately. As Popuri walked to go sit at the table, the bell on the door chimed as it opened.

"Rick what are you—oh hello!" Popuri greeted in surprise as an unfamiliar girl entered the house.

"Hello," the girl replied. She appeared to be dressed in blue overalls with a plaid shirt underneath. Her straight, luminous blond hair bounced wildly with her movements, adding an exaggerated appeal to her appearance. "I apologize for intruding so early in the morning. I know your shop isn't open yet—"

"You're not intruding at all," Lillia interrupted. "It's always nice to have visitors." The girl smiled appreciatively.

"Well, I unfortunately won't be able to visit for long. My name is Claire. I'm the new farmer in town," the girl introduced as she smiled brilliantly.

"New farmer? You don't mean that you bought the farm nearby did you?" Popuri asked in disbelief.

Claire blushed slightly as she nodded, causing Popuri to gasp. "That's amazing. I couldn't imagine buying that farm myself!"

Lillia coughed politely, giving her daughter a warning look before returning her attention to Claire. "It's going to be quite a lot of work for you. I wish you the best of luck," Lillia told her wisely. Claire smiled and nodded in acknowledgement.

"Oh, where are my manners! The name's Popuri, and that over there is my mother, Lillia," Popuri greeted. Claire smiled. "My brother is taking care of the chickens right now, but you'll probably see him around soon."

"Hopefully I will, but I can't guarantee I'll have the time. There's lots to prepare for right now since it's spring," Claire commented, earning a nod of understanding from Popuri and Lillia.

"Well, if you ever want to talk about chickens with somebody, my brother's the person to talk to. He's obsessed with them."

"Oh?" Claire asked with a raise of her eyebrow. Popuri found Claire's response to be peculiar as she noticed a strange expression form in the depths of Claire's eyes.

"Really, he is. He could talk your ear off about them. Definitely don't bring them up if you don't want to sit there for hours hearing about them. You know, when Dad was still here, he'd sometimes go with Dad on remotes. When some farmers were having problems with their chickens, they'd sometimes call our Dad up to come down and figure what was wrong. I think the longest time he was gone was about 2 ? months once," Popuri explained. A look of shock slammed over Claire's features as she gulped nervously.

"Oh, really now? Well, I'll have to keep that in mind," Claire said quickly. "Well, it uh was very nice to meet you both Popuri and Lillia, but I uh, really have to go now!" Claire excused herself before rushing toward the door. Popuri tilted her head to the side in confusion as Claire made a bee line for the door.

But, when Claire reached to open the door, someone else swung it open, and the two individuals collided.

"Oh, I'm so sorr—" Claire began as she scrambled to stand up from the ground as the other person reached over and took hold of her arm to help her up. Her voice caught as she looked up into the face of the person she collided into, the both of them freezing when flickers of recognition befell both of their eyes.

"R-Rick?" Claire stammered out.

"Claire?"