As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Inside a luxurious unit in Sakuya Residence, a peal of pleasant laughter echoed from the living room. A woman was sitting on a couch with a phone in front of her, talking happily with the person displayed on the screen.

"Hahaha, so you just ignored it? How could you do that? Won't the interviewer felt as if you have looked down on him?"

Yuina laughed as she looked at her husband's face. Ryuu was in his pajamas while she already wore her day wear. 

They were not only separated by thousands of miles. Their timezones were also different.

"He was just being prejudiced. Just because I'm not an actor from Western countries, he thought he could underestimate me. Wifey, his brain didn't function with efficiency, right? How could he not see my awesomeness?"

Ryuu's voice came from the speaker. His brows wrinkled as he thought back to the unpleasant interview.

"Yes, ah. How dare he belittled my dearest husband! You really should strike him like that! Let him know he shouldn't underestimate the actors coming from Asian countries!"

They hadn't talked on the phone like this for days because whenever Ryuu ended his schedule for the day, he would already be too tired to focus on their conversation. Although he would always insist to continue talking, Yuina would just plainly reject him and urge him to go to sleep.

This was the third week Ryuu was away at home. He might only return in another six weeks. Yuina could only comfort herself with the occasional video calls and texts that they exchanged together.

"Ah, I found a beautiful dress at the traditional market. The one that I visited yesterday. I'll have Riku post it together with the other gifts."

Ryuu adjusted the position of the camera at his end, showing a pile of wrapped boxes and paper bags at one corner of his hotel room. The gifts were accumulated since the first day he was on travel.

"How many more would you buy? Enough ah. You don't have to buy everything you find interesting during your tour," Yuina was both happy and distressed at the sight of the gifts.

She was happy because Ryuu never failed to remember her in the little moments.

She was distressed because she hadn't even opened all the gifts that Ryuu got for her before he went on the global tour.

And, Yuina understood these ones were just the first batch of gifts he would deliver to her. There would be more in the span of the coming six weeks. 

"The dress is beautiful! It's handmade from the old seamstresses at the market. The seamstress granny said the design is specially reserved for someone's wife. It's a tradition in their local community."

Ryuu was excited as he told his wife of his encounter with the seamstress. He didn't look sleepy even though the time on his side was already late.

"Usually, the design of the dress is only worn during celebrations! You have to try it, my love. I picked the red-colored one. It would suit you very much."

His love of showering her with gifts was due to the early days they were together.

Yuina still remembered the first gift she got from him after they began their relationship. She still kept it until now, storing it inside a small yet beautiful wooden box.

It was a silver ring that he got from a capsule toy machine in their old neighborhood.

They had just returned from school. Hiro didn't follow them around as usual on that day. When they walked past a toy shop handled by an old grandfather, Ryuu stopped and pulled her to one of the capsule toy machines.

It was in the middle of autumn.

At that time.

"What are you trying to win? Don't waste money like that."

A young Yuina in a high school uniform stared at Ryuu who was busy playing with the capsule toy machine. She didn't understand why did he suddenly get fixated on such a thing.

"Something... I want to get something," Ryuu said without averting his eyes from the machine.

It was not like Ryuu to waste even coins for a game like this one.

He already got two small figurines, a crystal ball and a keychain. 

What did he try to get?

Gacha!

Ryuu kept his mouth shut as he retrieved the fifth capsule toy from the machine. His brows almost merged together when he opened the yellow capsule. 

"...! Yuina!"

His eyes widened with surprise, Ryuu immediately turned around, startling Yuina. From a sad look, his whole face brimmed with joy and anxiousness. The two feelings conflicted with each other as he opened and closed his mouth a few times.

"What? What are you looking at me like that?" Yuina tilted her head.

Ryuu pursed his lips tight. He cupped his wide and rough palms around the capsule, stretching out both hands toward Yuina and showed her the capsule.

In the open capsule, a cheap silver ring with a blue plastic jewel laid quietly inside.

Surprised, Yuina kept looking at the ring and Ryuu's face back and forth while her brain turned blank.

Did she... misunderstand something?

"Ryuu... This, what do you mean?" With disbelief ladened in her eyes, she stared at the teenager unblinking. 

The skinny teenager in front of her had a determined look on his face as he opened his mouth.

"Yuina, one day, I would change this ring to one with a genuine diamond. Would you be my girlfriend?"

On a spring night, he saved her as she wandered aimlessly with a blank mind.

In summer, they grew closer with Hiro be the bridge between them.

On a rainy night in autumn, one month before his confession, once again he saved her from having herself tarnished by the world.

As the sun fell on their heads, softening the look on his face, Yuina found her eyes turned blurry as unspeakable emotions surged within her.

"How could you want me?" She choked on her sobs.

How could someone like him want her in his life?

Ryuu's eyes turned downcast with his lips deflated. Then, he announced firmly, "The world might wrong you but, I won't. Let me take care of you, Yuina."

He was an awkward young man the first time they met. Even though he appeared rough from the outside, she gradually got to know how protective and soft he was to the ones he cherished.

In her life that was full of uncertainties, he presented himself as someone she could rely on, someone that would always guide her until she could extract herself from the dark.

"...Yes, yes... I'll be with you...If you can accept someone like me..." Yuina finally cried.

Instead of panicking, Ryuu laughed good-naturedly. He took a step forward, further decreasing the distance between them and brushed his rough palm against her cheek.

It was as if he was brushing her heart, making her felt both sweet and touched.

"Silly," He smiled, his eyes softening as if he was looking at the most precious treasure in the world, "You're able to accept someone like me. How could I not love you?"

From that moment on, she only had him in her heart.

Even when she was always in loneliness because he had to be away due to his career, the time of separation was not enough to fade her love and affection for him.

"Yuina? Yuina? Are you okay?"

"...Ah?"

Yuina blinked, shattering the image of that autumn day inside her mind. She blankly stared at Ryuu who looked nervously at her. He looked as if he wanted to jump out of the screen if it was possible.

"Are you okay? Why did you space out? Did something happen again at home?"

One by one, questions were projected from his mouth. She had just spaced out for a few minutes but he seemed like he became too worried.

"Nothing, ah. I'm okay," Yuina shook her head, tried to reassure Ryuu that it was just a moment of daydreaming for her, "Isn't it already too late at your side. Go to sleep now. It's already 2 AM over there."

Yuina always kept track of the time at where Ryuu was staying. Even though she always had to change the international clock that she set on her phone, she never sighed over it.

"Are you sure? You seem like..."

"Mr. Ishizaki, go to sleep, alright?" Yuina cut him off. She giggled, revealing her teeth, "Your wife here wants to enjoy her time watching a new weekend drama. Can't you show your consideration for your wife?"

Ryuu sighed with a helpless look on his face. Before he could retort her, a long yawn escaped his mouth, making Yuina laughed again.

"Look, you are so sleepy now!" Yuina pointed out.

"Okay, okay," Ryuu held both hands up, surrendering to his wife, "I will go to bed now. But, wife, it's cold without you hugging me here."

Yuina sighed. He still had time to complain.

"Just hug one of the pillows and imagine it is me. Alright, time for bed. Go to sleep now."

Yuina didn't give her husband any chance of playing cute anymore with her. She shooed at him, saying good night and immediately hung up the video call in a swift move.

On the other side, Ryuu was surprised by how decisive his wife was. He could only nurse his lonely heart by grabbing one pillow and laid on the bed.

Huhu, am I out of favor already? (X^X)

Yuina put the phone away. Her eyes fell on a cookie jar placed on the coffee table. Her hand moved to pick the jar and opened the lid.

It was the cookies that Teacher Kato gave to her the other day. 

The taste was delicious so, Yuina was reluctant to finish it in one sitting. She wondered if she could buy more from the English teacher?

Another week had passed which meant the test period would be held after this coming week. Since there was nothing unusual happening at school or around her, Yuina thought it was a peaceful week.

But, she didn't realize there were eyes staring at her.