As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Nanako kept rambling as she urged Himari to have dinner. She brought along a chicken and corn porridge together with fresh fruits. Aside from that, another thermos of hot yuzu tea was given to her by Kazuya.

That man dropped by to meet Nanako at her office. Nanako was delighted to receive such a task from him while Himari was totally surprised. She thought Nanako was just teasing her but, her friend didn't know about the yuzu tea that Kazuya told Izumi to give to her this morning.

Now, Himari had two different porridge for dinner. The beef one was bought by Teacher Masuda while the other was from Nanako.

In the end, she forced Nanako to help her finished both of the porridge.??

"Meow~"

As they ate at the low table in the living room, Chobi had his dinner too. He obediently ate the kibbles while his mama was sitting with the woman who always showed him a dissatisfied look.

Whatever, as long his mama was happy.

"So, you said... Kazuya called Ryota just to get your contact information then, he told you about me?"

"Yes," Nanako nodded.

She scooped some porridge and delivered it to her mouth. After she swallowed it down, Nanako continued, "He said he didn't know who should he ask for help. It would be inappropriate if he came by himself to your apartment so, he thought of telling me."

"Oh... That's why he asked for you from Ryota," Himari murmured in a dazed voice.

Well, it would indeed not looking good if he, a grownup man came to her apartment at night. If some people who had vicious tongues spotted him, it would just taint both of their names.

Even though more people nowadays viewed it as alright for a single man and a single woman to be together alone, even at night, Himari found it as unbecoming for a teacher like her. They had just friendship tying them, nothing more than that.

Unless he was not just a friend...

Himari quickly shook her head, shaking away her weird thoughts.??

Did her fever burn her brain and make her thought like that?

Nanako was still speaking as Himari picked on the beef inside the porridge.

"He also called your school to know about your state. Well, since your student, his nephew was the one who told him about it, he clarified it first."

"...He did that?"

Himari still found it hard to believe. Never did she expect he would go that far to ensure her well-being.??

He had even contacted the school to know more about her condition.

Then, her eyes fell on the cup of yuzu tea.

Himari pursed her lips. Without saying anything over the subject, she quietly ate her porridge.

Somehow, it felt tastier to her tongue. The new yuzu tea also got sweeter.

The unpleasantness of seeing Jun earlier got washed away from her mind.??

After dinner, Nanako pushed Himari to just sit on the strawberry couch before she went to cut some apples. As per Himari's request, she also took a pack of strawberries from the fridge.

"Take some home with you. Don't forget the jam and cookies too," Himari spoke from the living room.

"Aye, aye, ma'am!" Nanako yelled back.

Himari consumed another medicine and drank another cup of yuzu tea. Her throat felt slightly better after drinking the tea.??

While waiting for Nanako to come out of the kitchen with the fruits, Himari checked her phone. She was startled to find missed calls from Nanako, Teacher Masuda, Teacher Ayase and Kazuya. There were also unread texts from them.

She opened them one by one.

[Nanako: You've gotten sick? Mr. Hayashi told me]

[Nanako: I'll go to you now]

Himari drifted her gaze to Nanako's busy figure in the kitchen. She smiled softly. It felt good to have a good friend who cared for her.

Next, Himari opened the texts from Teacher Masuda.

[Teacher Masuda: Is everything alright with you, Teacher Kato?]

[Teacher Masuda: You're alone. Don't hesitate to contact me if you need anything]

Himari swiftly replied to the Mathematics teacher.

[Himari: I just woke up. My friend came to take care of me. Thank you for your concern]

[Himari: The beef porridge is delicious too, I enjoyed it a lot]

[Himari: OrangeCatThanksYou.png]

Himari opened Teacher Ayase's message after sending texts to Teacher Masuda.

[Teacher Ayase: The principal said to let you rest tomorrow as well]

[Teacher Ayase: Don't come to school! Rest properly for another day. Do you feel better now?]

[Teacher Ayase: Call me if you need my help]

Himari bubbled with laughter. Teacher Ayase's nagging could be heard clearly even through the texts. The older female teacher really acted as a sister and a mother to her sometimes.

To avoid making Teacher Ayase waited in worry, Himari tried to appease her through a few messages.

[Himari: Yes, yes, I'd just lazy around at home tomorrow]

[Himari: My friend is with me. Don't worry about me. I'd generously enjoy another day of the holiday tomorrow]

In the end, Himari finally read the texts sent by Kazuya.??

There was no sticker of the Moon Boy knocking like how he tended to do nowadays. His messages carried his concern for her, making Himari happy and conflicted at the same time.

[Kazuya: Izumi said you took sick leave. Have you seen a doctor?]

[Kazuya: I called your friend. I told her about you]

[Kazuya: It's okay if you don't want to go to the doctor but, make sure you take your time resting]

[Kazuya: Don't do anything like cooking! You really need to rest!]

[Kazuya: Call me if you could]

Unlike the messages from Nanako, Teacher Masuda and Teacher Ayase that came without a long delay between the other, Kazuya texted her from different time stamps.

The earliest was at noon. Maybe it was when she had just arrived home. Himari silenced her phone before sleeping as she didn't want to be disturbed thus, she missed his text and calls.

Himari read his last text for the second time. Then, she looked at the empty cup of yuzu tea that she finished earlier.

While she couldn't deny the warmth that spread from her heart to her entire body due to his thoughtful actions, there was a small part of uncertainty and fear within her.

Did he really do all these out of his consideration to her???

Or, was there something else?

Himari was no fool. She was an adult who could think. Even though she rarely interacted with people of the opposite gender, she could tell if something was amiss or out of place.??

It was really rare for a man to do such things to a girl if he didn't have the slightest interest in her. Especially when both of them only got to know each other properly for a short period of time.

Yet, Himari was afraid she was just misinterpreting things.??

Sure, she had helped him three years ago but, it was far-fetched to say that these were his ways to repay her.??

At this time, every little thing Kazuya did to her resurfaced in her mind.??

From the time they met at the accessory store, to meeting again because of Chiharu, going shopping together, the picnic, the conversations they tended to share with each other, when he came to pick her up, how worried he was when she jumped into the canal...

He always acted gentlemanly to her.

Argh!

Himari was so close to scratch her head. She blamed her feverish brain for making her thought deeply about this kind of matter.

He was just being nice. There was no other reason!

Forget it.

Just forget it.

Himari took a deep breath. After pondering for a moment, she tapped on the call button then slowly brought the phone close to her right ear.

In the next second, Kazuya's low voice echoed from the other end of the line, sounding cautious.

"Himari, do you feel better now? Is your friend with you?"

Himari bit her lower lip. She held herself back from feeling too sensitive the moment she heard his voice imbued with worry.

"...Nanako is with me. I feel better after sleeping," she answered softly, "Kazuya, thank you for the tea again."

"Since you said you like it, it's nothing," Kazuya replied, "My housekeeper gave it to me before and it helped to ease my sore throat at that time. I'm glad if you could benefit from it too."

"Well, not only that..." Himari hesitated, blinking twice then continued, "You also made the effort to tell Nanako about me. Thank you and... sorry. I've really troubled you."

"Hey, it's nothing, I've said it," He laughed, sounding so tender to her ears, "It's not good to be alone without anyone taking care of you. Ms. Hagihara is a good friend. She dropped everything and rushed to your side."

"Yes, she does," Himari's lips curled into a smile, "She's my dear friend."

"I'm sure you'd do the same to her," Kazuya added.

As usual, he spoke in a gentle tone, carrying the warmth of his heart. Listening to his voice made her be at ease.

Himari felt as if she could really see him smiling at her.

So soft, so tender.

Even though she did not want to, she got a feeling that the invisible wall she put up around her heart began to form cracks.??

Maybe...

Just maybe...

Would he walk past the wall and entered the enclosure of her heart?