2nd Generation Flower Festival

In the 2nd Generation, you can meet each of the candidates for Romance consecutively to view the Cherry Blossoms on the occasion of the Flower Festival. I believe this may explain the odd anomaly in the 1st Generation whereby your character could ask three girls in succession to view the blossoms with him, but then could ask no others after that.

Here is the Event with each of the 'bachelors' and the dialogues of the girls:



As in the 1st Generation, speaking to every one on the day of any Festival raises heart levels. Speaking to any candidate for Romance raised both Love and Friendship levels.

Courtship in Rune Factory 2, 1st Generation

Courtship in Rune Factory 2 is fairly straightforward. As always, speaking to an individual on a daily basis will increase Friendship levels rapidly and characters will impart important details about themselves at specific levels.

Girls eligible for marriage have both Love and Friendship Levels as they did in the original Rune Factory. Some actions will raise both. Others will act only on Friendship levels.

At the very start of the game, Mana will instruct you on how to earn Friendship and Love.

Mana: If you want to make frie4nds with some one, try to talk to them every day. You can also give them presents. Taking part in the festivals will help, too.

The following shows some of the dialogue of each of the Eligible girls when you invite them to gaze at the cherry blossoms with you. Some of the opinions of other residents on the Flower Festival are included as an introduction.

It is interesting to discover that speaking to every one on the day of a Festival is more important perhaps than actually asking a girl to watch with you. Speaking to each of the Eligible Girls on the day of any Festival increases both Love and Friendship levels.



Courtship events can be linked to another individual, even a Rival in some cases. One of Alicia's Requests involves a 'date' with Mana, for example. One of Yue's Requests involves Julia. It appears that both Love and Friendship points can be earned with respect to all the participants in a Request event.

One point that needs to be notes with respect to items that are part of a Request Event. You cannnot keep the item for yourself iinstead of returning it to the rightful owner or dlivering it to the designated recipient. Whether the item is a jar of Honey or an Accessory, it will disappear from your inventory if you seek to keep it yourself. Yue's Request Event at 8 hearts involves an Accessory that she made for you but lost on Blessia Island. When you find it, you must return it to her so that she can give it to you directly.

I know I wrote about the Flower Festival previously, but I thought I would share the video I made of the Event.

1st Romantic Festival in Rune Factory 2

The first Romantic Festival that you will experience in Rune Factory 2 is the Flower Festival of Spring. It occurs on 13 Spring on the Holiday. You have the opportunity to ask any eligible girl to go 'flower-gazing' with you at Cherry Blossom Square.

You do not need to have any particular heart level with the girl in order to have your invitation accepted by her. All invitations will be accepted. In fact, a nice aspect of the interaction that leads to the invitation is the ability to avoid the invitation. In each case, you will be given two options:
1. to invite the girl to view the cherry blossoms with you;
2. to simply make a remark about the beauty of cherry blossoms in Spring.

If you avoid the issue, you will be able to invite the girl later if you wish. This gives you a chance to think about it. Of course, you can experience the event with each girl without saving the result as I do.

The invitations can be made as soon as you meet the girl in the morning of the Festival. After your invitation is accepted, simply walk to the middle of Cherry Blossom Square. The event will be initiated. It takes virtually no time, unlike many of the Festivals in Harvest Moon. Afterwards, you can continue your day as usual, although the only business that appears to be open is the Clinic. Other buildings are unlocked but empty as every one tends to go outside to enjoy the sunshine and the beauty of the ever-falling exquisite blossoms.

Here are a few of the events. Note that any dialogue in parentheses is intended to reflect thought rather than speech in this game. I have included these interchanges so that players can have some idea of the personalities of the different eligible girls in Rune Factory 2.

As with respect to Mist in the original Rune Factory, the 'natural' choice for partner in the sequel is Mana, the girl who made it possible for you to start a new life. This is apparent if you choose to invite Mana to the 'flower-gazing' event.


**********************************************

MANA:

Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)
Mana: Sorry, Frey. Were you waiting long?
Me: No, I just got here myself.
Mana: That’s good.

We walk together beneath the arch.

Mana: It’s pretty, isn’t it?
Me: Yes, it is.
Mana: This is the place where we first met.
Me: Yeah, it is.
Mana: Just think, if I hadn’t happened to come by at that very time…
Me: If I hadn’t wandered to this very town…
Mana: We never would have met.
Me: Yeah.
Mana: (I’m glad I came here that day.)
Me: Did you say something?
Mana: No, it’s nothing. Thanks for coming to look at the flowers with me today. See you around.
Me: Yeah, I had fun.

************************************
ALICIA

Note: You can see that Alicia definitely has 'set her cap' or rather her pointed witch hat' for you! She makes no secret of her romantic interest. If only she hadn't tried to cheat me out of 200G in her Request Event!

Me: Would you like to go flower-gazing with me?
Alicia: My reading was right after all. Yes, I would. Cherry Blossom Square is the best place to go for flowers.

At Cherry Blossom Square:

Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)

Alicia arrives.

Alicia: Sorry, Frey. Were you waiting long? According to my fortune, you should have just gotten here.
Me: You’re right. I haven’t been here long.
Alicia: I knew it! I’m a natural fortuneteller.

We walk together beneath the arch.

Alicia: The cherry blossoms are pretty, aren’t they?
Me: Yeah, they are.
Alicia: My fortune says that couples who go on a date here have a high chance of getting married.
Me: Really?
Alicia: It’s true! And my fortunes are never wrong!
Me (with tear): (I wonder if that’s true…)
Alicia: Thanks for inviting me out here today. I had a fun time.
Me: Me too.

*****************************************

JULIA

Julia is on the docks with Max near the ship.
Julia: I want to go see! Do you like flowers too, Freyr?
Me: Hm? Well, yes, I guess so.
Julia: Well, the Flower Festival’s really just a reason to hava a big party, but…
Me: Ahh, that sounds fun. By the way, Julia…

My choices now:
Want to go see the flowers with me?
Aren’t the blossoms pretty?

Me: Want to go see the flowers with me?

Julia: Oh, you’re inviting me? That sounds great! Okay, so let’s meet at Cherry Blossom Square.

Your character should go now to Cherry Blossom Square.

Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)

Julia arrives.

Julia: Sorry, Frey. Were you waiting long?
Me: No, I just got here myself.

Julia: That’s good. Let’s go under the cherry tree.
Me: All right.

We go together beneath the arch where I first met Mana.

Julia (with music) It’s pretty!
Me: Yes, it’s very pretty.
Julia: The cherry tree is always in full bloom this time of year.
Me: This tree is my first memory of this town. I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.
Julia: Really? I guess it stands out, doesn’t it?
Me: Yeah, it does.
Julia: Well, I should be getting home. See you later!
Me: All right. This was fun.

*******************************************

CECILIA

Me: I thought maybe you and me could go together.
Cecilia: Really?! That’d be great! Let’s meet up at Cherry Blossom Square, then.
Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)
Cecilia arrives.
Ceci: Sorry, Freyr. Were you waiting long?
No, I just got here myself.
Ceci: That’s good. Let’s go look at the flowers.
We walk together beneath the arch.
Ceci: The cherry blossoms are pretty, aren’t they? I love looking at them like this.
Me: I like this too.
Ceci: You mean… being here… with me?
Me: Oh, well, I was talking about the flowers.
Ceci: (with tear) Yes… Of course.
Me: N-No, don’t get me wrong. I like you too, Cecilia. Obviously.
Ceci: Really? Thanks.
Me: Yeah.
Ceci: Thanks for inviting me out here today. It was a lot of fun.
Me: I had fun, too. See you around.

*******************************************

Note: Sometimes I could kick my character in the head for being so maladroit! At least he did manage to say SOMETHING to mend the poor girl's feelings.

ROSALIND

Rosalind: The way the wind whips the cherry blossoms from the trees and sends the petals dancing through the air… It’s like a warm, fragrant snowstorm.
And I think the cherry blossoms are even more beautiful this year than they were last year.
Me: Hey, Rosalind…
Rosalind: Yes?
Want to go see the flowers with me?
Ever wonder how the flowers taste?
Ah, are you inviting me? Well, I have no reason to say no. I humbly accept your invitation. So, how about we meet at Cherry Blossom Square?

At the square:

Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)
Rosalind: Sorry, Freyr. Were you waiting long?
Me: Hello, Rosalind. I just arrived here myself. Shall we go look at the flowers?
Rosalind: yes, let’s do.
IN the garden:
Me: It’s beautiful. It’s so picturesque. When I heard that this town had a custom of looking at flowers… It’s not that I didn’t believe it, exactly, but I just didn’t understand what it was about. But now, standing under this tree, I think I understand now.
Rosalind: Ha ha ha!
Me: I couldn’t count how many times I must walk right past this very spot. And I’m sure that I see this tree every time. But only on the day of the Festival do I really see its beauty.
Rosalind: I wonder why that is?
Freyr: It’s because I’m with you.
Rosalind: Oh, Freyr.
Me: …
Rosalind: … Freyr?
Me: Yes?
Rosalind: I don’t think I’ll ever foreget being with you here today, Freyr.
Me: Me neither.
Rosalind: Ha ha ha!
Me: Well, we’d better get going.
Rosalind: All right. Freyr, you’ll ask me out again, won’t you?
Me: Of course!
Rosalind: Ha ha ha. Thank you. I’m going home now. Take care.

*******************************************

DOROTHY


Dorothy and Barrett stand together near the entrance to Trieste Forest.
Dorothy: G-Good… morning, Freyr. Today… we’re going to see all the flowers blooming… at the Flower Festival. I … I like flowers…
Me: Dorothy…
Want to go look at the flowers with me?
Do you like cherry blossoms too?
Me: Dorothy, would you care to go and look at the flowers with me?
Dorothy: Ah… that’s … that’s very sudden… What sh-should I say… Ah, well… yes… I would… Well, I think… the flowers in Cherry Blossom Square are meant to be … very beautiful. So… let’s meet up in Cherry Blossom Square, shall we…?
At the Square:
Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)
Dorothy: Sorry, Freyr. Did I make you wait long?
Me: No, I just got here myself.
Dorothy: O-Oh, really? That’s, um, good… Uh, do you want to go, you know, over to the cherry tree?
Me: Sure.
She follows me through the archway.
Dorothy: It’s so pretty…
Me: Yes, it is, isn’t it?
Dorothy: I love flowers… The, um, cherry blossoms, too…
Me: They really are breathtaking. Seeing them for the first time had a tremendous impact on me.
Dorothy: Yes, they, um, seem more… special than other flowers.
Me: I know what you mean.
Dorothy: There’s something about just looking at flowers that makes me feel so… peaceful… Well, I should be getting home…
Me; All right.
Dorothy: Thanks for inviting me out here… Goodbye, Freyr…
Me: See you later.


****************************************

Yue is by the pool above Cherry Blossom Square today.

Yue: Good morning! Today’s the Flower Festival. I like looking at the flowers when they are this pretty. What am I thinking? I don’t have time for this! I ashould be out selling food for the festival!
Ha ha ha. You never quit, do you? By the way, Yue…

Your options now:
Will you go flower watching with me?
What else do you sell for the festival?

If you choose the latter:

Yue; Well, I’ve got plenty of party favours for sale too! Why, do you want to buy any?

(But she won’t sell anything! A menu will not open, no matter how many times you speak to her.)

I ultimately asked:

Me: Yue, would you like to go look at the flowers with me?
Yue: You’re asking me? Yeah, that sounds nice. Let’s go! I think the cherry tree at the Cherry Blossom Square is the prettiest to look at. Why don’t we meet over at the Cherry Blossom Square?

At the Square:

Me: (We’re supposed to meet here.)
Yue: Sorry, Freyr. Were you waiting long?
Me. No, I just got here myself.
Yue: Good. All right, let’s go over to the cherry tree.
Me: All right.

We walk through the arch.

Yue: (with music) It’s pretty!
Me: it is, isn’t it?
Yue: Don’t you think the cherry blossoms have a special charm to them? They’re just not like any other flower.
Me: Yeah, I feel the same way. The first time I saw them, they took my breath away.
Yue: it’s almost like a painting.
Me: Yeah, it is.
Yue: Well, I’d better be getting back. Thanks for inviting me here, Freyr.
Me: Thanks for coming, Yue. I had fun.
Yue: See you!

********************************************

The tryst with Rosalind is the most romantic perhaps. For once, your character actually becomes quite articulate with a woman! Instead of monosyllabic responses, he actually speaks rather eloquently of his appreciation of the beauty of the tree.

When he takes Dorothy to the Festival, it is she who becomes rather articulate, losing some of her shyness in the presence of the beauty of the Cherry Trees.

I am rather drawn to Yue personally, as I think she is gorgeous, and I love the way she dresses. Her personality is sweet. Although I love Alicia's fashion sense, and find her very amusing, her emphasis on money is a little distressing. I rather like the 'wanderers' in these games. Yue is a wanderer... One would like to give her a home. On the other hand, there is Mana...

If you experience the Flower Festival with Julia, you may notice that your character speaks nostalgically of his first meeting with Mana. I believe that he is predisposed to fall in love with Mana, despite the way he behaves in Rosalind's presence. It makes sense, after all, that the woman who is responsible for his new life would be the one he should marry. I probably will marry ALL the girls at some point, but the natural choice would be Mana.

Almost every one will make reference to the Festival when you speak to him or her on the day. Among the interchanges, the most amusing may the conversations with Jake, Cammy and Tanya.

Jake: Don’t you ever give it a rest?
The Flower Festival is today. What’s the point of that, anyway? Can’t you look at flowers any day? I don’t undersand you humans.
Me: I think it’s because we like to do things together.
Jake: Isn’t it just an excuse for you all to get drunk in the afternoon?
Me: No, I don’t think that’s quite it… Ha ha ha.

Cammy: Oh, good morning. Hey, did you know? Today is the Flower Festival. I just want to climb up into one of those blossoming trees!
Me: Cammy, I think you’d rather climb trees than look at the flowers!
Cammy *giggles* Can you tell?

Cammy *giggles* Can you tell?

Tanya (at the docks): Hey, have you seen a big, sharp sword anywhere around here? I wonder where I left it…

Despite having spent the Festival with every eligible girl, I am not certain what the effect is in terms of Love Points. Simply by SPEAKING to all the girls about the Festival, I gained a Love Point with Dorothy and one with Yue. I did not have to invite either girl in order to gain the point. On the other hand, I gained nothing with some of the girls, even after speaking to them about the Festival a couple of times. If inviting a girl has any Point value, it is not a full point.

Two-timing is not encouraged for the most part. When I tried to ask Ceci to the Festival AFTER viewing the blossoms with another girl, she angrily responded (with cross hurt): 'What do you mean you havent' made any plans? You've already been with somebody else, haven't you?'

I would suspect that in Rune Factory 2 as in the original, the actions that raise heart levels will differ from girl to girl.