As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"You want to give me this?" Himari was both laughing and smiling once she was given the tabby cat toy by Kazuya.

Right now, all three of them were sitting on the carpet. The fruits were placed on the table, lying next to an empty glass of water.

Kazuya hooked up a smile on his lips, "Let it be another companion for you."

"Thank you," Himari hugged the soft tabby toy, eyes beaming at the man sitting in front of her, "It's so cute, much better than my silly son ah."

Kazuya burst into laughter. He was totally pleased by her clear acceptance.

"Ah, I haven't washed your jacket," Himari was suddenly reminded of his jacket, "I'll give it to you back later okay? But, I've washed the thermoses. Thank you for the tea yesterday."

Kazuya felt helpless. She was still thinking about that right now?

On another side, a little dumpling was giving an alive orange tabby a talk. Chiharu's little mouth was busy moving as she told Chobi of what happened at school today. She narrated as if the cat could understand her every word.

"Chobi, you know, Koko said..."

"Meow~"

"...we ran but the butterflies fly fly! Whoosh! Fly away from us!"

"Meow, meow~"

"Aye, Hikaru gave flowers to Chiharu. He said it's for our wedding but, shouldn't Chiharu get a ring?"

"Meow~~"

Kazuya almost choked hearing the dumpling's story while Himari laughed out loud. They didn't expect to hear such a thing!

"Chiharu, who's the boy giving you flowers?" Kazuya narrowed his eyes. He suddenly recalled the scene of the dumpling kissing a boy at the zoo a week ago.

Did it happen again?!

Himari, who was still laughing, rubbed salt on his wound as she asked Chiharu, "Chiharu, is Hikaru cute? Do you like him? Hehe~"

Chiharu was oblivious to why did her uncle look angry while Teacher Kato could laugh. She obediently answered them. Her eyes were animatedly sparkling as she dropped another bomb to her uncle.

"Hikaru is cute, but Kaito is strong strong! Kaito can stand on his hands! He's so awesome oh! Chiharu wants to marry Kaito!"

Kazuya, "...what... Marry who?"

How could a five-year-old girl think of marrying someone already?!

"Hahaha, Chiharu, play with Chobi. Let Teacher talk with your Uncle," Himari was still laughing as she tried to appease the poor man from being tormented by his niece's words.

"Okay, Teacher Kato," The cute dumpling was well-behaved as she nodded. 

Kazuya drifted a helpless gaze to Himari. Her lips bubbled into another laughter. Himari could only give him a sympathetic look.

"Wait for a little. I'll make drinks for you," Himari put the plush toy down, getting ready to rise to her feet. 

"You don't have to. Let me do it instead," Kazuya immediately reached out a hand, trying to make her stay, "My skills in brewing tea are quite good. Do you want to try it?"

Himari blinked before she nodded.

"Okay~ Ah, I've brought back a new tea from home. A kind grandmother gave it to me when I visited the flower field," She gave a suggestion.

"Let's try it," Kazuya agreed.

The man and the woman both headed to the kitchen. Himari just sat at the dining table while she watched Kazuya brewed a pot of tea. The man looked too tall in her small kitchen, making Himari amused by the sight.

Although this was his first time working in her kitchen, he looked completely at ease as if he had been here a few times already.

"The color is pretty and clear," Kazuya made a remark as he watched the dried petals floated and opened in the hot water, giving off a distinct pinkish color.

"The taste is good too," Himari was pleased to hear his words. She got up from the seat and walked to the cabinet next to her, "We should have the tea with the cookies I've brought back here."

Himari had set aside the souvenirs for Chiharu and Izumi but, because of what happened the day she came back to the city, the opportunity to give them to the children slipped away.

After taking out her own portion of the strawberry chocolate chip cookies, Himari opened the jar and served them on two small plates. She put one down on the dining table before she brought the other one to the living room. Himari didn't forget to pour a cold glass of milk for the little dumpling.

"Chiharu, eat some cookies," She ruffled the little girl's hair. With a smile, she added, "Teacher made them at the strawberry farm."

"Thank you, Teacher Kato~ Aaaa~"

Chiharu's chubby right hand quickly took one, put it inside her mouth and bit the cookie. Her eyes bent as she was delighted by the taste.

"Tasty~ Hehe~"

Himari swore her heart was melting because of this dumpling's adorable antics. She gave her little head another pat, "Before you leave, take some home, en? Share them with your brother."

"Okay~"

"Meow~" I want some too~

Kazuya watched the girls, big and small, interacted comfortably with each other. Another layer of tenderness gleamed in his eyes as he found the scene soul-uplifting. 

As Himari returned from where Chiharu and Chobi sat, he pushed the plate of cookies toward her.

"Who else knows about you getting sick? Have you told your mother?"

Himari shook her head, "It's better if she didn't know."

She just didn't want to give her mother unnecessary worry. Moreover, this was just a mild fever.

"You look fine, but, has your fever really go away?" He placed the rim on his lips, tilting the cup up and slowly savoring the taste. After he swallowed the tea, he asked again, "Is everything really alright with you? Has he created another trouble for you?"

Kazuya asked in a low voice. His eyes were cautiously looking at the lady sitting in front of him.

Himari blinked in confusion before it went away in the next second. 

"Hehe, you really do not mince your words, aren't you?" She teased him, a hand was picking up the cup of tea as she stared at him back, "The other day, you directly asked me like this too."

Dumbfounded, Kazuya was caught off guard. His mind was quick to push the exact event pointed by Himari.

...Yes, he had done so once.

After they got out of the hotel, heading to the lights show.

Himari laughed seeing the man's awkward look. The way she laughed brightened her countenance, making Kazuya slowly letting go of his little embarrassing moment.

"Well, first, I really am well now. I could go to work like usual tomorrow. And, about him, he came once yesterday, saying he knew I got sick," Himari lowered the cup and placed it on the table. Her eyes wandered around before they settled on Kazuya. With a faint smile, she resumed, "I just hope that would be the last time I saw him but, it might be not."

Kazuya appreciated the fact that Himari didn't feel repulsive to share her worries with him. It might be because he himself had even met the man who she used to love.

The private encounter between him and that man last night replayed by itself in his mind. Kazuya didn't know if the man called Jun left after he left first or he insisted on meeting Himari who was sick.

From the way the young lady in front of him appeared, Jun might leave her alone.

But, the question was, did that man give up for good just because of a few mere words from him?

Kazuya didn't think so.

"In his point of view, he's simply working hard just so the relationship between the two of you could rekindle after your previous breakup but," Kazuya shifted his gaze to where Chiharu sat with Chobi.

The little girl and orange tabby were still conversing despite the language barrier between them.

How nice. It was good if they would be able to return to their early years, like how children tended to worry less about everything around them.

Even the act of smearing their father's jacket with their sticky hands would make the naive children giggled happily.

Kazuya lowered his voice as his eyes returned to Himari's face, "...at the same time, as the party involved, you are uncomfortable with him pursuing you again. He has the right to chase after someone he's interested in and you have your right to deter his pursuits. There's no one who's totally wrong or right in this matter."

It was ironic but, unfortunately, that was the truth. A really unpleasant truth.

Even so, Kazuya would still stand with what Himari had decided. 

Because she had continuously rejected that man's efforts, that man should respect her decisions and stop wearing her down with these undesirable pursuits.

Did he plan to make Himari tired until she succumbed to his pressure?

Somehow, the thought of it irritated him.

Silence fell between them once Kazuya finished his words. He quietly stared at Himari who was now staring into her cup of tea. The sign of distress lingered in between her brows as she was contemplating on his opinions.

"You are right..."

Himari slowly lifting up her chin. She was smiling yet her eyes didn't carry the same smile on her face.

"But, this becomes complicated because we have a history between us. I don't want to focus on what I have put behind me but, if this continued... I don't know what should I do."

Once it ended, it had truly ended.

Maybe, just maybe if that thing didn't happen, she might be able to accept Jun back but...

Unfortunately, the darkest moment of her life, although it was just a fleeting one, the moment would forever haunt her life.

Even to love someone new, she needed absolute courage.