As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The surprised look in her eyes was what he had anticipated.

The cool wind rushed past them, dispersing his words into the air yet, the lady standing in front of him still wore a stunned look on her face.

Kazuya's lips curled up into a smile as a hint of tenderness melted between his eyebrows.

"Himari, what if I tell you that I want to court you?" Once again he repeated the question.

Kazuya was not too oblivious to his own thoughts and ideas about her that kept forming in his mind. They were only known to him. 

He really had that kind of intention to Himari.

But, as she was the first one to bring up the subject, he didn't object to getting along with the flow.

He had only been in love once but, he was certain of his feelings.

Although what he felt to Himari right now hadn't surpassed the boundary leading to love, Kazuya understood he was getting interested in her as a woman.

Before, she was the teacher of his nephew and niece.

Then, she was his new friend.

And, now, he was interested in deepening their relationship as the one between a man and a woman.

This was the first time his attention was caught by another young lady after the sorrowful episode of his first love. 

"Kazuya, what... Did you just say that..."

Himari suddenly felt dizzy. 

She was just taking a gamble when she voiced out what was hidden in her heart just now but, never did she expect to hear such a question from him.

Kazuya pressed down the impulse to softly stroking her head. He patiently replied, "You asked if I have other thoughts on our friendship and yes, I do. If you assent to it, I want to go beyond friendship with you."

It didn't go unnoticed by his own self of the things that he was willing to do for her. Kazuya also won't deny that he was actually pleased to receive her messages and even talked to her. Although they were just talking about mundane and silly things, all of the conversations helped to cheer him up.

Himari pressed her lips. Her eyes didn't shift away from the man's tender look.

"You want to take a step forward with me?" She asked faintly.

Kazuya nodded. He sounded as firm as ever, "Yes."

Slowly, he reached out a hand and touched her right wrist. Kazuya felt Himari trembled under his touch yet, seeing that she didn't back away, he mustered up some courage to gently clasped their hands together.

Her palm was so soft, so warm.

It was like how he remembered the first time he accidentally held hands with her the other day.

Kazuya didn't saw how his eyes were dripping with honey as he stared at Himari's flustered look.

Once again, he opened his mouth.

"Truthfully, I can't say that I have fallen in love with you but, if you're willing, would you want to try to be in a relationship with me? With the intention of getting married in the end, living together for the rest of our life?"

Himari unconsciously held her breath for a moment.

She really didn't expect this kind of development!

Although the first half of his sentence was unpleasant to listen to, Himari understood from where it came. She wasn't as ignorant like how she was during her youthful days, the days when she had her own fantasy for love and romance.

Before, Himari thought she would marry Jun and live happily ever after with him until their hair turned gray.

Unfortunately, life wasn't as simple as that.

People would meet once their paths intersected yet, there would be times when they have to part ways due to circumstances that came in between them.

"Kazuya, you... Are you serious?" Himari stuttered.

She still thought she was dreaming.

In her earlier anticipation, Himari expected her to be left embarrassed when Kazuya rejected her but, suddenly he said he had the same views as her.

Kazuya nodded, firmly showing his own stance.

"We are getting older day by day, Himari. Time won't come back to us. I'm a conservative kind of a man who wants a good marriage, to have someone to accompany me as well as someone who I could take care of. Since you have the same thoughts on me, I hope you're willing to see me as a man who might be your husband."

As he grew older and had experiences thrown into his way, Kazuya didn't want to waste much time in this chasing after a girl route. 

His original intention was to know more about Himari in half a year. If his interest was still on her and she wasn't tied to anyone, he planned to confess to her about his desire.

Never did he expect the chance would be presented to him this soon.

"I really want to court you," He smiled.

Himari felt as if her heart was crushed painfully. It seemed like, Kazuya only had favorable views on her as if she was the best one he could find.

But...

Could she accept it?

"Why are you interested in me? And, what if... I'm not how I appear in your eyes?"

It took almost all of her courage for Himari to force the words out of her mouth. 

She was not ready yet to tell Kazuya of her darkest horror but, at the very least she wanted to warn him. 

She was not all that he had seen.

Kazuya just smiled at her anxious look. He traced the inside of her palm with one of his fingers.

With his eyes were still on her face, he answered, "I'm also not how I appear in front of you and everyone else. And, I don't mind about your relationship with that man before. Even though he still wants to get back to you, it's not your fault. Instead, I'd shield you from him."

Every person had their own skeleton in the closet. He was not excluded.

If he couldn't accept her past, how could he say he was willing to be with her?

If she came to disdain his demons, he had no choice but to let her go.

But, he still wanted to try.

He wanted to try to be with her.

After years had passed, this was the first time his heart recognized the feeling of wanting to be in love and be loved again.

"You don't have to answer me right away," Kazuya patiently worded it one by one as he saw Himari still looked uneasy, "Now, you already know that I want to take our relationship into one step further. Take your time and think."

He was hoping for her to accept it but, if she refused, he would still respect her decision.

Himari was quiet as she pondered on his suggestion.

So many things popped into her mind, either in positive or negative ways. Either way, she was the one who had to make the end decision.

After a long stretch of silence, Himari nodded.

Her gaze was unwavering as she stared directly into his eyes.

"Let's try it. If we're suitable, we should go along with the flow and get married. If not, we would part our ways."

Himari was lying to herself if she said she wasn't touched by Nanako's story the other day. 

As her dear friend would soon marry the love of her life in the near future, from time to time, the thought of settling down with someone would sneak into her mind.

The problem was, Himari was afraid to think about it further. There were so many things she had to weigh down before she embarked on that path.

And...

Kazuya was the only one that she could view under that light.

"Like you, I haven't truly loved you yet but, I hope if our new relationship is good for both of us, I'd pledge my heart to you."

I won't love another man aside from you.

Her last sentence made Kazuya frowned. He shook his head.

"Himari," He lifted up his hand that was holding hers. One by one, he let his words filled the short distance between them, "You don't have to rushly vow your heart to me. Your heart is yours to keep. Only if you do that, you won't be hurt terribly. I just ask for your affection and care like how I would do to you if it's possible for you."

The matter regarding the hearts was complicated. Kazuya was realistic about it.

Giving your heart entirely to someone might destroy you in the end.

"En, I understand," Himari nodded.

Kazuya didn't promise her with stars and the moon. He also didn't say something sweetly without basis. But, Himari was comforted to see how rationale he was in this matter.

Kazuya was pleased to see that she had the same understanding as him. 

Meeting her tonight at the clubhouse was purely a coincidence but, he really welcomed the change that came along for their relationship.

"Have you been here at night like this?" Kazuya asked as they started to walk at the canalside. With his hand still holding hers, he glanced at Himari, "Looking at its beauty?"

Himari shook her head. Her eyes fell on the twinkling surface of the canal, "Even though this neighborhood is safe, I'm not brave enough to come here alone at night."

Most parts of this canal were brightly lit by the lamp poles but, it was still eerie to be here without anyone else. Knowing that danger might come at the most unexpected times, Himari didn't dare to do it.

Kazuya nodded gladly.

As he thought back to how his brother fell into the coma, he didn't want the same thing to happen to anyone he knew. 

If his elder brother wasn't alone in the park that night, would he still be attacked by the thugs and left to barely survive? 

Kazuya swallowed the bitterness of what-ifs. 

It had happened. 

There was no turning back now.

"If you want, in the future," Kazuya lowered his gaze to her, his eyes were smiling as his lips, "I will accompany you to walk at this canal at night."

Himari blinked.. She just answered him with a shy smile.