As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

After such a beautiful and dreamy night the day before, Himari expected to greet a bright and sunny day but, her hope was dashed the moment she saw the cloudy sky pouring rain the next morning.

"Ah, I hope it would stop soon," Himari lamented. She stood in front of the closed windows, watching the rain trickled against the glass panel.

As the city was blanketed by rain, the thin mist obscured her eyes from seeing into a distance clearly. 

"Meow~"

Chobi bared his fangs as he yawned loudly. He was still so sleepy after being woke up by his mama's movements.

At first, when she had just woken up, Himari once again thought what happened last night was just a dream. While she was dazedly hugging the orange tabby plushie that she got a few weeks before, a message came from Kazuya.

[Kazuya: Good morning, my girlfriend]

[Kazuya: I hope you won't forget what we have talked about last night]

[Kazuya: Don't think that it's a dream]

{Kazuya: MoonBoySmirk.png]

His texts had successfully made Himari blushed red early in the morning.

Foul!

How could he guess what she was thinking?

Because Himari didn't want to admit defeat, she sent him a few texts as replies.

[Himari: It's the first day of you being my boyfriend]

[Himari: I know it's not a dream]

[Himari: I'm just afraid you're the one who wanna back away]

As she pressed on the Send icon, the heavy sound of the rain fell to the ground continued to echo from the outside. It was raining until now.

Himari had forgotten that the weather forecast had announced the probability of rain. Now, she had to book a cab unless she wanted to be late to arrive at the school. 

Even though the school wouldn't start until one hour and thirty minutes, she had to arrange one now to avoid getting none. In this kind of weather, it was hard to predict the traffic. 

The trains, subways, buses and cabs would surely be filled with passengers.

Ring~ Ring~

Himari rushed out of her bedroom the moment her phone rang. She left it on the table in the living room earlier. The ringing didn't stop until she picked it up.

It was Kazuya.

"Hello. It's raining. How are you going to school?" His voice sounded so gentle as it echoed from the end of the line.

Himari's eyes went to look at the sky again. The rain didn't get heavier but, the situation didn't appear as if it would stop raining soon.

"Book a cab," She answered gloomily, "There's no way I could walk like usual in this kind of rain."

The fifteen to twenty minutes journey to school on foot might become double. Himari also didn't want to risk getting spilled by the rainwater if there was a senseless driver who just drove through the puddle.

"You have me now. Why should you call for a cab? Wait for me, I'll pick you up before sending the children to school," Kazuya sounded a bit distress once he heard her decision.

"Ah, you would come?" Himari blinked.

Then, she heard him sighing as if her question was a silly one.

"Ms. Kato, you have a boyfriend now. Do you need me to remind you? Although this is just the first day, you should already use me to your heart's content. What's wrong with having your boyfriend sending you to work?"

Himari almost choked. 

This man...

Did his face was as thick as a wall?

"Alright, alright. I'll wait for you. Are you still at home?" Himari inwardly rolled her eyes.

"Waiting for Chiharu to come downstairs with Izumi. I'll call you once I've arrived. Just wait."

"Okay... Be careful when you're driving. The road is slippery at this time."

Himari could only agree. This arrangement was better than trying to book a cab.

Kazuya laughed heartily. As if he could see her confused look in front of him, he said, "En, it's good to have a girlfriend worrying about me. Okay. See you soon."

Tut.

Himari, "..."

Wait, wait...

This man was really brazen, was he?

She had already known that he was quite audacious even before dating him but, it seemed like after starting to date Kazuya, he revealed another level of shamelessness to her.

Himari dazedly staring at Chobi who was eyeing her with curiosity. The two slits of his eyes kept fixated on her face as if he was silently assessing her.

His mama looked weird again this morning.

Ah, just ignored her.

Meow~

Since she could only wait for Kazuya to arrive, Himari just sat on the strawberry couch with her eyes staring at the phone. She repeatedly read the messages that they exchanged this morning.

There was still a sense of surreal even after she kept on reading the texts. It was quite hard for Himari to accept the fact that she was currently in a relationship with someone after three years of being alone.

Her impressions of Kazuya were fairly good.

He was an excellent man. Besides, he held to his responsibilities well no matter in taking care of his elder brother's family matter or in other little things. Himari also knew he was considerate and gentle.

So far, these qualities were already enough to have her liking him.

But, as for love...

She had to wait and see.

As to how both of them agreed, let's take time to get to know each other more. If they were suitable, they could enter another phase in their relationship - getting married and forming a family of their own.

Even though there were still no feelings of love between them, Himari was grateful because both of them had the same way of thinking.

Instead of waiting for love to come, it was better if they just took the matters into their own hands. 

Sooner or later, as they got along more with a sense of ease, the feelings of love might shower upon them.

"I need to tell Mom and Nanako soon," Himari mumbled under her breath.

At the very least, she had to let her mother and best friend knew about this matter. 

Himari groaned as she could already picture the reactions coming from them, especially Nanako who had been teasing her about Kazuya. Even before, her best friend was enthusiastic about her and Kazuya.

Ding dong~

"...Coming!"

Himari snapped out of her daze before she ran to the door. She expected it was Aunt Mio but, the one who was standing outside her door was her new boyfriend.

Kazuya.

Himari didn't know what was wrong with her but, as she saw him standing with the backdrop of the rain, somehow, she thought he had become more pleasing to the eye.

It was hard for Kazuya to not laugh at the sight of a dazed Himari. 

"What are you thinking of? Do you find me more handsome today after becoming your boyfriend?" He asked while raising his brows.

"I don't realize that you're quite shameless," Himari rebutted him with a remark.

"It's my pleasure," Kazuya shrugged, his eyes carried a hint of teasing.

Himari still couldn't quite believe that this was the man who she intended to get married if their period of courtship was successful.

"Why did you come up? You could just tell me you've arrived," She asked as she turned around, walking back to the living room.

Kazuya kicked off his shoes and casually followed her, "Haven't I said before? Use..."

"Use my boyfriend to my heart's content. I get it," Himari quickly resumed what he actually wanted to say.

"Haha, bingo," Kazuya smirked.

He was glad to see that Himari didn't appear awkward in front of him. She was still as lively as usual. There were no traces of her uncertainties and fear in her bright eyes like last night.

The beginning of their new relationship was unconventional. He admitted to the fact.

People tended to start dating after falling in love but, just because the two of them had quite good feelings for each other, they decided to take on the route.

It was unusual but, it was not unprecedented. 

Himari put the strap of her tote bag over her right shoulder, took her phone and gave the sleepy Chobi a head pat.

"Don't go anywhere today. It's raining," She reminded her furry son.

"Meow~"

Chobi opened a slit of his eyes, stared at his mama and the man who he found familiar.

Inside the car, Chiharu and Izumi were patiently waiting for their uncle to pick Teacher Kato up. Especially the little dumpling who couldn't wait to see Himari.

"Big Brother, Uncle is so good to Teacher Kato," The dumpling said in a jovial tone, "Uncle go up up, go to pick Teacher Kato~"

"En, yes," Izumi hummed as he agreed with his little sister.

Ever since an idea was planted into his head, Izumi found it was not unlikely if there was something that indeed happened between his uncle and his homeroom teacher.

"Teacher Kato is nice. Chiharu likes Teacher Kato," Chiharu made a heart gesture using her tiny hands.

"Chiharu likes Teacher Kato so much?" Izumi asked.

"Yes! Teacher Kato is so so nice! She could cook many, many delicious foods! Chiharu likes going out with Teacher Kato too!"

Her little brain couldn't really see what her elder brother wanted to convey yet, Chiharu was still excited as she talked of her fondness toward Himari.

Izumi curled a faint smile, "Then, would Chiharu like if Teacher Kato becomes our auntie?"

"...Auntie? Our auntie? Chiharu's auntie?" The dumpling was shocked, "How? Could Teacher Kato be Chiharu's auntie?"

Izumi didn't answer his sister's question.

He suddenly recalled what he heard this morning. It happened when he was quietly walking down the stairs to the living room.

Unknown to his uncle, he managed to listen to what his uncle was talking to Teacher Kato on the phone.

It seemed like...

His uncle was together with his homeroom teacher in that sense.

It was shocking, too shocking but, Izumi didn't feel bad as he thought of it.

Uncle had been alone for so long. If Uncle really liked Teacher Kato, he would support him.