Chapter Text
You aren’t as sleep deprived or busy as your first year of Spring, on Coral Island, but you still have a lot to do. You now have a barn and coop with two cows and two chickens you’re raising. You completed the first altar at the Lake Temple at the end of the first year, and you’ve only got a few more critters and fish to catch before you complete the second.
You managed to upgrade your house to get a kitchen, and (with the wasabi you’ve been saving) you immediately started whipping up some sashimi for Rafael. You’d bring him a serving of the younger blacksmith’s favorite dish during his lunch break or whenever you run into him while you’re out and about in the morning.
No matter how many times you gifted him the sashimi, Rafael was always so grateful for it. So grateful, in fact, that he stumbled on his words and thanked the sashimi for you.
“The Tree Planting Festival?” you asked while reading the familiar letter as your (recently upgraded) sprinklers water your spring crops, your animals leaving the coop and barn to graze on the grass you planted at the beginning of the month.
Along with upgrading your farm a bit, you’ve also managed to buy a different outfit for the appropriate season. You plan on getting more, but only after you’ve gotten the next upgrades you want/need.
You also managed to clear out all the oil roots from the ocean and, with the help of the mermaids, you got rid of all the roots on the surface too. You remember how happy the townies were when they saw that Coral Island’s salty seas had returned to its former glory.
Nobody knows that you’re the one to thank for this, even after Ling hinted that it was you.
You smile softly as you remember playing in the water with everyone before rereading the letter. You wonder if more people will show up this year, and maybe Rafael will come help again.
“I can cook him some sashimi and sushi for his lunch,” you blush softly, “not that I don’t already do that… still,” you smile, “I like seeing his reaction every time.” you huff, “Better get to fishin’ then.”
~
Rafael stops tilling the soil to watch you move around on the other side of the fence. Since more people showed up to help with the reforestation, Connor decided to split everyone into two groups. This separated you and Rafael from one another, and you haven’t gotten the chance to talk to him all day.
It frustrated the younger blacksmith that he couldn’t talk to you while he worked—he’s never desired to talk to someone so badly before. It’s not because of the gifts you bring him either, it’s because you listen to him and see him for who he is. You allow him to say his peace and vent to you about anything that upsets him or anything he’s excited about. You notice whenever his mood’s been soured or if there’s something bothering him. You don’t just assume things for him, you take the time to understand him and help him work things out the way that would work best for him.
The one moment that made this whole thing start was during the middle of fall. He was beyond pissed that Pablo didn’t keep his promise to handle Rafael’s half of the work they had, and the younger Sanchez ended up staying up late trying to catch up before the shop opened the next day. You swung by to pay the brothers a visit and to upgrade one of your tools, and then you saw him. He was hammering away on metal, but the way he was holding the hammer was different than how he usually did. He gripped the handle of the mallet tightly and his muscles were flexed. You didn’t need to see his face to know that he’s glaring down at his current project like it just insulted his mother.
His infuriated expression softened the minute he noticed you standing on the other side of the anvil, shock taking over his features when you guided his hands to put the hammer down before you let him to the common area of the shop. You sat him down on the couch before doing the same next to him, patiently waiting for him to realize what you’re trying to do. He vented, putting a letting all of his frustrations and anger be known, half expecting you to cut in or cut him off. You didn’t—you allowed him to say his piece before offering a bit of friendly advice.
“I don’t think I’ve seen you look so upset before, little bro.” Pablo chimed while moving to stand next to his crouched business partner, “Crushing hard our local farmer, huh?”
“I-it’s not a crush!” Rafael blushes softly, “I’m just a little worried about y/n, that’s all. The last time he did this event; he ended up falling asleep because he was tired.”
“You could always go over there and check on him; the mayor didn’t say it was against the rules to hop teams for a little bit.” The older blacksmith grins, “Besides, I bet y/n’s been dying to talk to you!”
“You’re looking a little upset there, deary.” Betty muses while approaching you. You give her a weary smile, “The mayor wanted me to make sure people are planting the trees the right way. I told him that’ve only been on the island for two years, but he insisted that I’ve become an expert of planting.” You sigh, “Honestly… some of you guys have been doing this a lot longer than I have,” you blush softly, “and I was hoping to hang out with Rafael a little bit.”
Betty laughs softly while lifting her hand to cover her friendly smile, “Still haven’t asked him on a date, dear?”
You huff again with pout, “No. I’ve been busy, as usual, and now I’ve got to worry about growing and making products good enough to beat Bobby!” you growl while frowning deeply, “Fuckin’ Bobby….”
“You have an accent?”
Betty smiles cheekily as she turns to go back to what she was doing, your gaze moving to Rafael. Blush stains your cheeks, “A-ah…,” you timidly avert your gaze, “Wakuu noticed my accent, back when we first met, too….” You slip your hands into the pockets of your sweatpants, “I’ve been working on hiding it to the best of my abilities, but it just comes out sometimes.”
“I think it’s cute.”
You both blink once then twice before blush takes over both your faces. Rafael lifts his hands, “Cute? Did I say cute?! I meant to say-! I mean-! Yo-you’re from Pokyo,” his voice cracks, “right?!”
You look at him sheepishly while giving a small nod, an awkward silence replacing the conversation. Betty lightly taps your arm, “Y/N, dear, I was about to head over the shade for a little break when I noticed the bento box you’ve brought with you. It’s rather large for just one person.”
“Uh? Oh!” you clap your hands together, “Some of it’s for you too, Rafael!”
He watches you move to where your lunch is before following you curiously, “Really? You made me lunch for today?” he blushes softly, “You know, y/n, you don’t have to do that for me every day… e-even though your cooking’s really good, I’d hate to start getting upset on days where you can’t cook for me.”
You huff then look back at him, “I’ll be fine, Raf. Besides,” you turn to your bento box while you start to blush, “I like cooking for you.”
“Yo-you… do?”
“Yeah.” You sit down then start to open the lunchbox, “I’ve only ever cooked for myself since I moved here, so I’m used to the flavor of whatever I make. You’re… the first person I shared my cooking with and seeing your reaction to the sashimi I make you… makes me feel happy.” You smile softly, “My ma always said that cooking and food are meant to be shared, especially with someone special to you.”
“Special?” Rafael asked while sitting next to you, “I… am special to you?”
“Yea-.” You look at him, “No-no-not in the way you might be thinking! I meant, like, you special to me because you gave me the confidence to cook for more people!” you rushed out, obviously lying somewhat. You did end up making the townies their favorite dishes (after learning what they were), but it that’s not the reason why he’s special to you.
He can’t help but smile happily, “Being someone special to you is better than being disliked by you, so I’m more than okay with that!”
“I want some sashimi too,” Pablo huffs once he’s close enough to the both of you. You sneer at him while holding your bento box away from him, “This is mostly for your brother! Shoo!”
“Just a tiny piece!” the older Sanchez pleads, “Raf won’t mind!”
“Hm?” the younger brother hummed, already enjoying the lunch you made for him.