A Job Well Done Chapter Five
Title: A
Author: B
Fandom: Harvest Moon
Wordcount: 2974
Characters: Lillian, Mako
Pairing(s): Lillian/Mako
Genre: romance
Warning(s): age difference
Master post
First part
Previous part
Chapter 5
Lillian's words were spoken softly, but the impact they had was enormous. For several moments Mako was silent, staring into his cup of tea. Lillian glanced at his face, trying to read the expression. He was not pleased, she could tell that much, but beyond that...she wasn't sure.
Finally, Mako broke the silence. “Move to Bluebell? Whatever for? Are...are you not happy in Konohana?” His voice sounded strained.
“Well...I was thinking...You see in Bluebell, they have animal contests every month, instead of crop contests. This year is the cow festival and I think that Misty has a good chance of winning. But I can only enter if I live in Bluebell.”
Lillian glanced at Mako again. He said nothing. She went on
“I...I've been thinking about it for awhile now,” she said.“I'd miss you- and everyone in Konohana. It would only be for a month and I'll move back after the festival-” Lillian was speaking quickly, the words tumbling out of her mouth.
“Then...you must promise to enter the Summer Crop Contest,” Mako said at last.
Lillian sighed in relief. “You're not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“I don't know...”
“For my own selfish reasons, I wish you would stay in Konohana, but if this is something you feel you must do, then you should do it.”
“You're really not mad?”
“Of course not,” Mako replied. “But...I will miss you very much.”
Lillian's heart skipped a beat and she could feel her cheeks growing warm as a pink blush spread across her face. She was smiling, but she lowered her head so that Mako could not see. He reached out and gently touched her hand. His hand was much larger than her own, strong and roughened from his work in the orchards, but the touch was gentle. She looked up, hope flickering in her heart.
“I'll miss you too,” she murmured. “But it's only for a month and I'll come by often.”
And so, not long after that conversation, Lillian went to town hall to tell Ina she wanted to move. Ina seemed annoyed by Lillian's decision and was not much reassured by Lillian's promises that she would return in the spring. Nevertheless, Ina helped Lillian pack up her things. Mako, Reina, Kana and Rahi helped as well and working together they made short work of their task. Only Kana was cheerful about the move; he talked excitedly about the animals Lillian would see in Bluebell.
“Does anyone in Bluebell have an alpaca?” he asked as he loaded a large box into the wagon.
“An alpaca?” Lillian replied. “No...I don't think so.”
“Bummer, I was hoping to see one,” Kana said. “Hey, you should get one if you can.”
“I don't have room in my barn,” Lillian reminded him. “This is a temporary move, Kana”
“Right, right.”
Mako and Reina came out of the house, carrying more boxes. Ina and Rahi followed behind, empty-handed.
“These are the last of your things,” Mako said as he placed the boxes in the wagon.
“That's everything, then?” Kana said. “All right then. Lil, I'm going to take the animals ahead, if that's all right by you?”
“That's fine.”
Lillian turned to face the rest. Ina was standing with her hands on her hips and a stern, disapproving look on her face. Rahi stood next to her, looking a little confused. He glanced up at his mother, saw the expression on her face and tried to mimic it.
“Well, I hope you will be happy in the new life you've chosen,” Ina said with a sigh.
“It's really only temporary,” Lilian protested. “I love Konohana. I truly do!”
Ina's expression softened a bit and she gave Lillian a brief, but gentle hug. “I hope you return.” she said.
“You'd better come back,” Rahi said. “Ying was really unhappy that you were moving. N-not that I care if Ying is unhappy...”
“I'm going to come back next month and I'll visit often. Please tell Ying that I'll bring her a dessert from the cafe in Bluebell.”
“All right.”
“I must be going now,” Ina said. “I hope that your stay in Bluebell is a success.”
“Thank you.”
Only Reina and Mako were left now. Reina glanced at her uncle, then stepped forward.
“I'll see you soon,” she said simply, but her words and voice were sincere. Lillian smiled and hugged her friend. She thought that Reina would remain, but to her surprise, after the hug, Reina departed, leaving Lillian alone with Mako. She hadn't expected that.
“Well...” Mako said. He thought of himself as a well-spoken man, and yet, Lillian so often managed to put him at a loss for words. The only other person who had ever been able to do that was Ayame.
“It...it's only a few weeks...” Lillian reminded him.
“Of course,” he replied. “Lillian, I...ah, I wish you the best of luck in Bluebell.”
“Thank you.”
“It's getting late. If you're going to do this, then you should leave soon. Unless you've changed your mind?”
“No, you're right. I should be going. I'll see you soon.”
Mako helped her climb into the wagon, his strong hands providing a boost for her. She didn't really need the assistance, but Lillian relished any touch, however brief. Sitting in the wagon's seat, she was taller than Mako and for once it was he who had to crane his head to speak.
“Have a safe journey, Lillian,” he said.
“I will,” she said with a nod. She moved the reins and the horse began to pull the wagon. She waved one last goodbye to Mako and then set out over the mountain. Even pulling the heavy wagon, the horse moved faster than Lillian could walk, and she reached Bluebell before she knew it. Kana and Rutger had already put the animals in the barn by the time she arrived. Kana helped her unload the wagon, but by then it was late. Lillian decided the unpacking could wait till tomorrow.
The farmhouse in Bluebell was surprisingly similar to the house in Konohana, she noted, though the furnishings were in the Bluebell style. This was similar to the décor she had grown up with in her hometown and should have made her feel at home, but instead she suddenly felt very homesick for Konohana. Suddenly exhausted, Lillian curled up on the bed in her work clothes and slept soundly till morning.
The next day Georgia, Laney and Howard came over to help her unpack. Howard unloaded the heavy boxes from the wagon as easily as Mako and Kana had loaded then in, hefting heavy boxes inside with ease. Then he excitedly showed Lillian the frilly curtains he'd made for her; frilly curtains with a floral pattern, lovingly hand-stitched with fancy lace at the edge. The four of them working together got the house in apple pie order more quickly than Lillian had expected, but even so, it was after dark when they finished.
As things turned out, Lillian didn't have time to visit Konohana again until after New year's eve. The last few days of Winter had been busy, with Lillian adjusting to her new home and attending the festivals that heralded the end of the year. Lillian longed to return to Konohana for the New Year's Eve celebration, but things were clear on that point: as a resident of Bluebell, she could nto attend Konohana festivals.
The first few days of Spring were busy. There was some space for crops in Bluebell, so Lillian decided to plant some flowers. There was little room on the Bluebell farm for crops, but even so, it took time to plant them. The areas where she could plant were small, but she had difficulty focusing on her work, and in her distracted state, she ruined the trenches she was trying to make and had to start over many times, leaving her tired and hungry. Clearing the farm and planting the seeds should have taken just one day, but it took Lillian longer to finish her work.
Finally, a few days into Spring she hiked over the mountain. She had set out as early as she could, rushing through her chores on Bluebell in her eagerness to return. A year had passed since she had come to live in Konahana and the early spring mountain reminded her of her first days in the village, when everything was new and strange. Even the plants that grew on the mountain were different from the vegetation that grew near Lillian's hometown. But now, the flowers looked like familiar old friends. She slowed some to take in the beauty of the mountain, but Lillian never left the path to seek out any herbs or flowers to put in her bag.
Lillian wanted to see Mako first thing, but she knew she should work on her farm first. With a tiny sigh, she set to work. In the short time that she'd been living in Bluebell, most of her fields has reverted to grass. Lillian set to work cutting down the grass, grateful that she had upgraded it; it made things go so much faster that way. Working on the familiar Konahona farm, Lillian was less distracted than before and worked more quickly. Even so, by noon she knew that it would take a day or two to clear the grass and make the trenches. Although she had brought a big lunch, it did little for her hunger and by mid-afternoon, Lillian felt too tired to continue working.
She cleaned herself up as best she could, using water from the fountain to wash with. After quickly changing into a fresh dress she was ready to go into town. When she neared the tea shop, the aromas wafting out were very tempting, and she slowed in her walking. It was tempting, but Mako's house was not far from the tea shop, and tired and hungry as she was, Lillian wanted to see him more than anything else. With hardly a second thought, she walked past the tea shop.
As she crossed the wooden bridge, Lillian saw that things had changed. She stopped still and stared for a moment before hurrying over. Some of the tress at the edge of Mako's property had been cleared away, creating a small field. The cleared area was much smaller than the field on Lillian's Konahana farm, but somewhat larger than the space she had in Bluebell.
Mako was working there. He had dug a number of short trenches and was planting seeds. As she came closer, Lillian saw something at the end of each trench that resembled the fertilizer she bought from Gombe's shop. They were much smaller, and the color was different, a dark pine green, instead of the vivid green of the fertilizer she was familiar with.
“Mako!” she called out, waving one arm. In her excitement and curiosity, she forgot her shyness.
“Lillian!” he yelled back, his face breaking out in a big grin. He hurried over to meet her, and to Lillian's surprise, her swept her up in a big hug.
“It is good to see you!” he said.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you as well,” he replied, his tone gruff, but kind. He put one arm around her shoulders and lead her over to his new field. “Come, let me show you my work.”
“Is that your new fertilizer?” Lillian asked, pointing at one of the dark green containers..
“It is indeed!” Mako said, with another big grin. “I had Eileen clear the space for me and I've been preparing trenches. These are turnips here, those are potatoes and I have cabbages over there.” He pointed to each row as she spoke. “Tomorrow I will plant cucumbers and strawberries.
“The new fertilizer looks smaller?”
“It is very highly concentrated,” Mako explained. Before he could go on, his stomach growled loudly. He chuckled in an embarrassed way. “Are you hungry?”
Lillian nodded.
“Come, let us go to the tea house and we can discuss this over lunch. It will be my treat,”
“It's getting dark already,” Lillian said with a little laugh.
“Early dinner then! Just give me a few moments to clean myself up.”
Lillian waited outside while Mako cleaned himself up. She sat on the fence that surrounded the new vegetable garden. It was good to be back in Konohana. She'd been too busy to be homesick, but as she sat there, she realized just how much she had missed the town. Everything in Bluebell was different. Even the air had a different sound, somehow. Mako came out his house and saw her quietly sitting there, swinging her legs. She was dressed in the Bluebell style of clothing, a dress with a long full skirt, a big old-fashioned apron and sturdy little boots. It somehow suited her better than the Konohana clothing Ina had given her when she first came to town.
Mako took her arm and they walked to the tea shop. Mako placed a large order and told Lillian to order as whatever she wanted and as much as she wanted. Famished from her long day of work, Lillian placed an order almost as big as Mako's. He led her to his favorite table, near the back and they waited for Yun to bring the food.
“How do you like living in Bluebell?” Mako asked.
“It's nice, but I miss Konohana.”
Yun brought their food over then, setting steaming hot fragrant dishes in front of each them. Mako took a big bite, then went on.
“Then you will be coming back in the summer?”
“Yes,” Lillian said with a sweet smile. “You were saying that the new fertilizer is more concentrated?”
From there, Mako launched into a detailed explanation of his experiment. The new fertilizer was highly concentrated, so that much less was needed. Moreover, it would raise the quality of fruits and vegetables much higher than the old fertilizer and at a faster rate. Lillian was impressed and asked Mako for more derails. He was happy to answer. Aside from Reina, no one in Konohana was much interested in his work. They cared about the end results, but never about the details.
Mako spoke loudly as he explained his research, gesturing with his hands. Yun glanced his way, but since he and Lillian were the only guests in the tea house, Yun decided to let him be. She went over to collect the empty plates, but Mako stopped her
“I'm trying to explain something,” he told Yun. “This is my diagram-” he gestured to the plate, where he had carefully arranged some noodles and vegetables in a complex pattern. Yun nodded and smiled and had no idea what Mako was talking about, but she set the plate down and returned to the counter. After a few minutes, Mako's voice grew even louder. Yun turned and saw him pointing to his “diagram” excitedly. Lillian was nodding enthusiastic. Yun had overheard the entire conversation and hadn't understood a word of it, but Lillian seemed to understand what he was getting at.
“Mako, you're a genius!” Lillian exclaimed when he had finished with his explanation.
Mako looked pleased, but he waved his hand dismissively and said gruffly, “Unfounded compliments are unlucky. Now, if my theories prove correct, then you may praise me.”
“All right, then,” Lillian said with a giggle. “I'll take my compliment back until further notice.”
By the time they left the shop, it was already dark. The warm Spring day had become cool and Lillian shivered.
“Walk with me for a bit,” Mako said. His tone was strange, serious and yet somehow distracted.
They walked following the course of the river, heading towards Mako's house. Despite the chill, it was a beautiful night. The air was scented with the blossoms that grew along the river and in the trees. The only sounds were their won footsteps and the chirping of the tree frogs. They finally stopped near Gombe's fields, opposite Mako's orchard.
“I have missed you,” Mako said. “Much more than I expected.”
“I missed you too,” Lillian whispered. She could feel her cheeks turning pink and despite the darkness, she lowered her face so that Mako could not see. He reached up and touched Lillian's face, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. After a moment she closed her eyes and leaned into the caress.
“I'm not a young man-” Mako began, but he was interrupted.
“I don't care about that! I know there's a big gap in our ages, I know people will judge us and say things and I know that- that I'd be widowed young, but there are no guarantees in life! I- I could marry Kana be still be widowed young. I don't care! I just...I love you!” Lillian covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed by her outburst.
“I have also thought about those things,” Mako said. “...except the part about Kana...”
“And?”
“I thought about all those things and I, also, do not care. I love you, Lillian!”
“Oh, Mako!” Lillian jumped up and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Then, embarrassed by her actions, she hid her face against his chest. He gently stroked her hair, murmuring soothing words. After a few moments, she felt calmer and raised her to Mako. He bent down and kissed her.
Author: B
Fandom: Harvest Moon
Wordcount: 2974
Characters: Lillian, Mako
Pairing(s): Lillian/Mako
Genre: romance
Warning(s): age difference
Master post
First part
Previous part
Chapter 5
Lillian's words were spoken softly, but the impact they had was enormous. For several moments Mako was silent, staring into his cup of tea. Lillian glanced at his face, trying to read the expression. He was not pleased, she could tell that much, but beyond that...she wasn't sure.
Finally, Mako broke the silence. “Move to Bluebell? Whatever for? Are...are you not happy in Konohana?” His voice sounded strained.
“Well...I was thinking...You see in Bluebell, they have animal contests every month, instead of crop contests. This year is the cow festival and I think that Misty has a good chance of winning. But I can only enter if I live in Bluebell.”
Lillian glanced at Mako again. He said nothing. She went on
“I...I've been thinking about it for awhile now,” she said.“I'd miss you- and everyone in Konohana. It would only be for a month and I'll move back after the festival-” Lillian was speaking quickly, the words tumbling out of her mouth.
“Then...you must promise to enter the Summer Crop Contest,” Mako said at last.
Lillian sighed in relief. “You're not mad?”
“Why would I be mad?”
“I don't know...”
“For my own selfish reasons, I wish you would stay in Konohana, but if this is something you feel you must do, then you should do it.”
“You're really not mad?”
“Of course not,” Mako replied. “But...I will miss you very much.”
Lillian's heart skipped a beat and she could feel her cheeks growing warm as a pink blush spread across her face. She was smiling, but she lowered her head so that Mako could not see. He reached out and gently touched her hand. His hand was much larger than her own, strong and roughened from his work in the orchards, but the touch was gentle. She looked up, hope flickering in her heart.
“I'll miss you too,” she murmured. “But it's only for a month and I'll come by often.”
And so, not long after that conversation, Lillian went to town hall to tell Ina she wanted to move. Ina seemed annoyed by Lillian's decision and was not much reassured by Lillian's promises that she would return in the spring. Nevertheless, Ina helped Lillian pack up her things. Mako, Reina, Kana and Rahi helped as well and working together they made short work of their task. Only Kana was cheerful about the move; he talked excitedly about the animals Lillian would see in Bluebell.
“Does anyone in Bluebell have an alpaca?” he asked as he loaded a large box into the wagon.
“An alpaca?” Lillian replied. “No...I don't think so.”
“Bummer, I was hoping to see one,” Kana said. “Hey, you should get one if you can.”
“I don't have room in my barn,” Lillian reminded him. “This is a temporary move, Kana”
“Right, right.”
Mako and Reina came out of the house, carrying more boxes. Ina and Rahi followed behind, empty-handed.
“These are the last of your things,” Mako said as he placed the boxes in the wagon.
“That's everything, then?” Kana said. “All right then. Lil, I'm going to take the animals ahead, if that's all right by you?”
“That's fine.”
Lillian turned to face the rest. Ina was standing with her hands on her hips and a stern, disapproving look on her face. Rahi stood next to her, looking a little confused. He glanced up at his mother, saw the expression on her face and tried to mimic it.
“Well, I hope you will be happy in the new life you've chosen,” Ina said with a sigh.
“It's really only temporary,” Lilian protested. “I love Konohana. I truly do!”
Ina's expression softened a bit and she gave Lillian a brief, but gentle hug. “I hope you return.” she said.
“You'd better come back,” Rahi said. “Ying was really unhappy that you were moving. N-not that I care if Ying is unhappy...”
“I'm going to come back next month and I'll visit often. Please tell Ying that I'll bring her a dessert from the cafe in Bluebell.”
“All right.”
“I must be going now,” Ina said. “I hope that your stay in Bluebell is a success.”
“Thank you.”
Only Reina and Mako were left now. Reina glanced at her uncle, then stepped forward.
“I'll see you soon,” she said simply, but her words and voice were sincere. Lillian smiled and hugged her friend. She thought that Reina would remain, but to her surprise, after the hug, Reina departed, leaving Lillian alone with Mako. She hadn't expected that.
“Well...” Mako said. He thought of himself as a well-spoken man, and yet, Lillian so often managed to put him at a loss for words. The only other person who had ever been able to do that was Ayame.
“It...it's only a few weeks...” Lillian reminded him.
“Of course,” he replied. “Lillian, I...ah, I wish you the best of luck in Bluebell.”
“Thank you.”
“It's getting late. If you're going to do this, then you should leave soon. Unless you've changed your mind?”
“No, you're right. I should be going. I'll see you soon.”
Mako helped her climb into the wagon, his strong hands providing a boost for her. She didn't really need the assistance, but Lillian relished any touch, however brief. Sitting in the wagon's seat, she was taller than Mako and for once it was he who had to crane his head to speak.
“Have a safe journey, Lillian,” he said.
“I will,” she said with a nod. She moved the reins and the horse began to pull the wagon. She waved one last goodbye to Mako and then set out over the mountain. Even pulling the heavy wagon, the horse moved faster than Lillian could walk, and she reached Bluebell before she knew it. Kana and Rutger had already put the animals in the barn by the time she arrived. Kana helped her unload the wagon, but by then it was late. Lillian decided the unpacking could wait till tomorrow.
The farmhouse in Bluebell was surprisingly similar to the house in Konohana, she noted, though the furnishings were in the Bluebell style. This was similar to the décor she had grown up with in her hometown and should have made her feel at home, but instead she suddenly felt very homesick for Konohana. Suddenly exhausted, Lillian curled up on the bed in her work clothes and slept soundly till morning.
The next day Georgia, Laney and Howard came over to help her unpack. Howard unloaded the heavy boxes from the wagon as easily as Mako and Kana had loaded then in, hefting heavy boxes inside with ease. Then he excitedly showed Lillian the frilly curtains he'd made for her; frilly curtains with a floral pattern, lovingly hand-stitched with fancy lace at the edge. The four of them working together got the house in apple pie order more quickly than Lillian had expected, but even so, it was after dark when they finished.
As things turned out, Lillian didn't have time to visit Konohana again until after New year's eve. The last few days of Winter had been busy, with Lillian adjusting to her new home and attending the festivals that heralded the end of the year. Lillian longed to return to Konohana for the New Year's Eve celebration, but things were clear on that point: as a resident of Bluebell, she could nto attend Konohana festivals.
The first few days of Spring were busy. There was some space for crops in Bluebell, so Lillian decided to plant some flowers. There was little room on the Bluebell farm for crops, but even so, it took time to plant them. The areas where she could plant were small, but she had difficulty focusing on her work, and in her distracted state, she ruined the trenches she was trying to make and had to start over many times, leaving her tired and hungry. Clearing the farm and planting the seeds should have taken just one day, but it took Lillian longer to finish her work.
Finally, a few days into Spring she hiked over the mountain. She had set out as early as she could, rushing through her chores on Bluebell in her eagerness to return. A year had passed since she had come to live in Konahana and the early spring mountain reminded her of her first days in the village, when everything was new and strange. Even the plants that grew on the mountain were different from the vegetation that grew near Lillian's hometown. But now, the flowers looked like familiar old friends. She slowed some to take in the beauty of the mountain, but Lillian never left the path to seek out any herbs or flowers to put in her bag.
Lillian wanted to see Mako first thing, but she knew she should work on her farm first. With a tiny sigh, she set to work. In the short time that she'd been living in Bluebell, most of her fields has reverted to grass. Lillian set to work cutting down the grass, grateful that she had upgraded it; it made things go so much faster that way. Working on the familiar Konahona farm, Lillian was less distracted than before and worked more quickly. Even so, by noon she knew that it would take a day or two to clear the grass and make the trenches. Although she had brought a big lunch, it did little for her hunger and by mid-afternoon, Lillian felt too tired to continue working.
She cleaned herself up as best she could, using water from the fountain to wash with. After quickly changing into a fresh dress she was ready to go into town. When she neared the tea shop, the aromas wafting out were very tempting, and she slowed in her walking. It was tempting, but Mako's house was not far from the tea shop, and tired and hungry as she was, Lillian wanted to see him more than anything else. With hardly a second thought, she walked past the tea shop.
As she crossed the wooden bridge, Lillian saw that things had changed. She stopped still and stared for a moment before hurrying over. Some of the tress at the edge of Mako's property had been cleared away, creating a small field. The cleared area was much smaller than the field on Lillian's Konahana farm, but somewhat larger than the space she had in Bluebell.
Mako was working there. He had dug a number of short trenches and was planting seeds. As she came closer, Lillian saw something at the end of each trench that resembled the fertilizer she bought from Gombe's shop. They were much smaller, and the color was different, a dark pine green, instead of the vivid green of the fertilizer she was familiar with.
“Mako!” she called out, waving one arm. In her excitement and curiosity, she forgot her shyness.
“Lillian!” he yelled back, his face breaking out in a big grin. He hurried over to meet her, and to Lillian's surprise, her swept her up in a big hug.
“It is good to see you!” he said.
“I missed you.”
“I missed you as well,” he replied, his tone gruff, but kind. He put one arm around her shoulders and lead her over to his new field. “Come, let me show you my work.”
“Is that your new fertilizer?” Lillian asked, pointing at one of the dark green containers..
“It is indeed!” Mako said, with another big grin. “I had Eileen clear the space for me and I've been preparing trenches. These are turnips here, those are potatoes and I have cabbages over there.” He pointed to each row as she spoke. “Tomorrow I will plant cucumbers and strawberries.
“The new fertilizer looks smaller?”
“It is very highly concentrated,” Mako explained. Before he could go on, his stomach growled loudly. He chuckled in an embarrassed way. “Are you hungry?”
Lillian nodded.
“Come, let us go to the tea house and we can discuss this over lunch. It will be my treat,”
“It's getting dark already,” Lillian said with a little laugh.
“Early dinner then! Just give me a few moments to clean myself up.”
Lillian waited outside while Mako cleaned himself up. She sat on the fence that surrounded the new vegetable garden. It was good to be back in Konohana. She'd been too busy to be homesick, but as she sat there, she realized just how much she had missed the town. Everything in Bluebell was different. Even the air had a different sound, somehow. Mako came out his house and saw her quietly sitting there, swinging her legs. She was dressed in the Bluebell style of clothing, a dress with a long full skirt, a big old-fashioned apron and sturdy little boots. It somehow suited her better than the Konohana clothing Ina had given her when she first came to town.
Mako took her arm and they walked to the tea shop. Mako placed a large order and told Lillian to order as whatever she wanted and as much as she wanted. Famished from her long day of work, Lillian placed an order almost as big as Mako's. He led her to his favorite table, near the back and they waited for Yun to bring the food.
“How do you like living in Bluebell?” Mako asked.
“It's nice, but I miss Konohana.”
Yun brought their food over then, setting steaming hot fragrant dishes in front of each them. Mako took a big bite, then went on.
“Then you will be coming back in the summer?”
“Yes,” Lillian said with a sweet smile. “You were saying that the new fertilizer is more concentrated?”
From there, Mako launched into a detailed explanation of his experiment. The new fertilizer was highly concentrated, so that much less was needed. Moreover, it would raise the quality of fruits and vegetables much higher than the old fertilizer and at a faster rate. Lillian was impressed and asked Mako for more derails. He was happy to answer. Aside from Reina, no one in Konohana was much interested in his work. They cared about the end results, but never about the details.
Mako spoke loudly as he explained his research, gesturing with his hands. Yun glanced his way, but since he and Lillian were the only guests in the tea house, Yun decided to let him be. She went over to collect the empty plates, but Mako stopped her
“I'm trying to explain something,” he told Yun. “This is my diagram-” he gestured to the plate, where he had carefully arranged some noodles and vegetables in a complex pattern. Yun nodded and smiled and had no idea what Mako was talking about, but she set the plate down and returned to the counter. After a few minutes, Mako's voice grew even louder. Yun turned and saw him pointing to his “diagram” excitedly. Lillian was nodding enthusiastic. Yun had overheard the entire conversation and hadn't understood a word of it, but Lillian seemed to understand what he was getting at.
“Mako, you're a genius!” Lillian exclaimed when he had finished with his explanation.
Mako looked pleased, but he waved his hand dismissively and said gruffly, “Unfounded compliments are unlucky. Now, if my theories prove correct, then you may praise me.”
“All right, then,” Lillian said with a giggle. “I'll take my compliment back until further notice.”
By the time they left the shop, it was already dark. The warm Spring day had become cool and Lillian shivered.
“Walk with me for a bit,” Mako said. His tone was strange, serious and yet somehow distracted.
They walked following the course of the river, heading towards Mako's house. Despite the chill, it was a beautiful night. The air was scented with the blossoms that grew along the river and in the trees. The only sounds were their won footsteps and the chirping of the tree frogs. They finally stopped near Gombe's fields, opposite Mako's orchard.
“I have missed you,” Mako said. “Much more than I expected.”
“I missed you too,” Lillian whispered. She could feel her cheeks turning pink and despite the darkness, she lowered her face so that Mako could not see. He reached up and touched Lillian's face, gently stroking her cheek with his thumb. After a moment she closed her eyes and leaned into the caress.
“I'm not a young man-” Mako began, but he was interrupted.
“I don't care about that! I know there's a big gap in our ages, I know people will judge us and say things and I know that- that I'd be widowed young, but there are no guarantees in life! I- I could marry Kana be still be widowed young. I don't care! I just...I love you!” Lillian covered her face with her hands, overwhelmed by her outburst.
“I have also thought about those things,” Mako said. “...except the part about Kana...”
“And?”
“I thought about all those things and I, also, do not care. I love you, Lillian!”
“Oh, Mako!” Lillian jumped up and threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly. Then, embarrassed by her actions, she hid her face against his chest. He gently stroked her hair, murmuring soothing words. After a few moments, she felt calmer and raised her to Mako. He bent down and kissed her.