Time flashed forward to the Flower Dance the next day.
Indeedee woke up bright and early. Coming out of the empty cabin, it saw Bellossom clearing out the nearby Slimes.
It wasn't long before all the Slimes wandering near the farm were slain by Bellossom's sword.
"Indeedee?" Indeedee pointed to the warp totem nearby and asked, "Indee?" (Are we going back?)
"Bellossom?" Bellossom had absolutely no interest in returning to the farm. It waved its hand, remembering what Ron had said before he left, and confirmed, "Bellossom?" (Aren't we supposed to stay here?)
"Indeedee, in." Indeedee, on the other hand, pulled out the totem it had traded from the Ginger Island merchant: "Indeedee!" (I have my own totem!)
As long as it was sneaky about it, Ron would never know!
"——Bellossom?" Bellossom looked at Indeedee in confusion but ultimately didn't try to stop it. Carrying its sword, it headed toward the Volcano Dungeon.
"Indeedee." Seeing this, Indeedee sneakily touched the warp totem.
Meanwhile, at the Farm.
As usual for a major festival, everyone on the farm woke up early. They were currently bustling around the farm, trying to finish their chores as quickly as possible.
As soon as Serena and Bonnie got up, they saw everyone dashing around the farm. Bonnie paused, turning her head to look at Ron: "Should we help too?"
"——If you want to." Ron nodded.
Just as Bonnie rolled up her sleeves and was about to get to work, Haley arrived at the farm carrying two dresses.
"These are the formal dresses for the Flower Dance," Haley called out, stopping Bonnie right before she bolted into the barn. Haley then paused and asked, "What are you guys getting ready to do?"
"Help Ron out a bit," Serena replied. "Dresses, huh... Ah, you're already wearing yours. It's so pretty."
Hearing this, Haley did a spin on the spot. "Of course! I am the reigning Flower Dance Queen!"
Bonnie stopped in her tracks, then leaned over to Haley's clothes. "Do we have to wear them too?"
"Yeah." Haley nodded, then continued, "These are my old dresses. If you don't mind..."
"I love it!" Bonnie immediately took the smaller one. "It's so pretty! Did your sister make this one too?"
"Mhm." Haley said, holding the dress up against Bonnie. "Just as I imagined... but if you're going to do farm chores, you'd better wait until you're done to change."
Bonnie nodded vigorously. She took the dress into the house, then rushed frantically into the barn.
"Since I'm already in my dress, I won't be helping out today," Haley said, looking over at Ron.
Ron was actually already changed, wearing the suit Emily had made for him.
"Emily said this one was made specifically for you... it really suits you." Haley said, then changing her tone, she poked Ron's bulging pockets and asked a little uncertainly, "Is there something stuffed in your pockets?"
"Just some necessary items," Ron said, uncomfortably shoving the Rabbit's Foot deeper into his pocket.
"Oh, is that so?" Haley blinked. "Are there necessary items for the Flower Dance?"
Even though she asked, Haley didn't intend to dwell on it. After delivering the dresses, she turned around and left.
On the other side, Penny's house.
Penny stood in front of the mirror, repeatedly examining her reflection.
Even though she had dressed up as much as possible, she still didn't look very eye-catching.
Penny hung her head in discouragement.
"Haley came back, and she even brought a pretty girl with her..." Penny muttered, tugging at her clothes in the mirror. "If only I were a pretty girl too..."
Even so, she took a deep breath and refused to bring her bad mood out of the room. Forcing a smile, she pushed the door open.
Pam, who was making breakfast, poked her head out upon hearing the noise. Seeing Penny in her dress, she praised her, "So beautiful. Maybe you'll be the Flower Dance Queen today."
"That's not very likely." Penny suppressed her anxiety, chatted with Pam for a bit, and then sat down to eat breakfast with her.
Penny had never been this nervous before. The thought of finding out who Ron would choose in a little while made her feel vaguely anxious.
Would it be better if she took the initiative to invite him?
Penny hesitated, unknowingly stabbing her fried egg on the plate to pieces.
Probably guessing why Penny was worried at the moment, Pam ate quietly. After a long while, she asked, "In previous years, your dance partner was... Sam, right?"
She continued, "What about this year? What did Sam say?"
"Ah... I didn't ask." Penny shook her head.
When she went to the library, Sam seemed like he was about to confirm it with her, but because Penny was a bit distracted, she hadn't pursued it.
Maybe Sam had figured out something too, for all she knew.
Penny felt a little guilty towards Sam. After all, in previous years, he was the only one in town who looked out for her, a completely unremarkable girl.
Come to think of it, it was even a little strange.
Even though no one explicitly said so or ranked them, before Ron arrived, the cheerful and fun Sam was indeed considered top-notch among the boys.
Yet a guy like Sam was willing to look out for her, so she didn't have to huddle in the corner with Clint... She was incredibly grateful for that. But, even if Ron didn't dance with her this time, she had no intention of dancing with Sam either.
She used to wonder what Clint was thinking as he stood in the corner; this time, she could just—experience it firsthand.
Penny imagined this a bit pessimistically.
On the other side, at Emily's house, Haley returned home and greeted Emily, who was still getting ready.
"I spent so long braiding your hair, aren't you going to lend me a hand?" Emily asked.
"Hmm... but you don't need your hair braided." Haley sat on the sofa, holding her Sunkern, and recalled the suit Ron was wearing. "I saw Ron's outfit today... He looks really handsome, but don't you think you designed a bit too many pockets?"
"What do you know?" Emily said in dissatisfaction. "It's an art form! A decoration!"
It had never occurred to Emily that Ron might stuff those purely decorative pockets full of things, so she added somewhat indignantly, "The placement of every single pocket is perfect! Whether it's the cut or the shape!"
"Alright, alright."
It seemed Emily had intentionally designed those bulging pockets.
Thinking this, Haley turned her head and asked, "By the way, for the Flower Dance today, who are you planning to dance with?"
"Hmm, me?" Emily looked at her reflection in the mirror. "Sandy and I agreed to both invite Ron."
"Then I want to invite him too," Haley decided on the spot.
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