As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

It was a bright and sunny Saturday morning.

Himari spent the entire morning doing her laundry, cleaning the toilet and the living room. She pulled open the curtains wide, letting the fresh air drifted inside the apartment. Himari could clearly see the peaceful scenery of the area around the building.

Her favorite music blasted in the air. She hummed to the song while wiping the surfaces of the cabinet and rearranged the books and ornaments that decorated her tiny home. As she passed by the bedroom, Himari's feet stopped. Her eyes fell on the empty bedside table next to the white bed frame.

Aye, she couldn't stop thinking of the rose quartz crystal lamp she saw the other day.

Himari tied the garbage bag and put it aside. It was still early, a little past eleven o'clock. After getting a cup of cold water, she plopped on the single-seater couch resembling a strawberry. Its pair stood next to her.

"En, I would get my pay next week... Should I go and buy it?"

Himari flipped open the catalog. There were creases everywhere as she had been opening and closing the same page over and over again. Himari had even marked the lamp with a bold red marker.

Even though her heart hurt a bit because of the price tag, when she thought her dream would be haunted by this crystal lamp, Himari decided to bare her teeth and just buy it.

If her mother heard about her dilemma, for sure her mother would laugh at her.

"Don't be too stingy for yourself. As long as it doesn't exceed your capacity, just buy anything you want."

That was what her mother always said to her.

Well, if it was food, she would have no qualms about buying it.

"Ah, it's okay to treat my own self. Let's just buy it," Himari chanted the same words to strengthen her resolve.

"Meow~"

Himari's ears quickly detected the faint sound of meowing. She glanced in a direction and saw a chubby tabby cat lazily cat-walking from the hallway to the living room.

"You only know to come back at this time?" Himari gave a side-eyed glance to her cat, "Geez, Chobi, you've been out since this morning. Did you go to see your girlfriend?"

"Meow~"

Chobi flicked its tail, encircled Himari's legs and rubbed its chin against her right calf. To avoid his Mama banned him from having his favorite wet food today, he had to appease her.

"Heh, now you're acting all docile with me?" Himari scoffed. She picked Chobi up and began tickling his chin. His soft fur felt ticklish on her fingertip.

"Meow, meow~"

"What? Do you want to eat now?"

"Meow~~~"

"Oh, you said you don't want any wet food? Okay. I hear you."

"Meow~!"

Chobi felt so wrong but he didn't know how to make his shoveling officer understood.

While the human and the cat bickered, a faint knock echoed from the door.

Knock!

"En?"

Knock! Knock! Knock!

Himari thought she heard it wrong but, someone kept knocking on the door.

"Who it is?"

With Chobi in one arm, Himari got off of the couch and walked to the main door. She peeped through the cat's eye but there was no one standing outside.

Knock! Knock!

She couldn't see anyone but there are still knocks?

"Ah, Chobi!"

Himari was startled when Chobi suddenly leaped from her and sneaked outside through the pet flap. While she was baffled, the sound of the knocks weaved together with Chobi's mewling.

What's happening?

Himari unlatched the door, twisted the doorknob and pulled the door to reveal the outside. She was dumbfounded because aside from Chobi who was frolicking on the floor, there was another one beside him.

It's not a cat, but rather, a human girl.

"Aren't you... Chiharu?"

Izumi's little sister, who she had just seen yesterday, was standing in front of her door.

Chiharu's eyes widened in glee, "Teacher Kato!"

Himari stood frozen in front of her doorstep. Her brain couldn't comprehend the sudden and unexpected arrival of this little girl.

"What are you doing here?" Himari rubbed her eyes, she still couldn't believe what she saw.

"Chiharu followed Little Orange home. Is Teacher Kato the mommy of Little Orange?"

While the little girl spoke, Chobi kept meowing nonstop.

Little Orange?

Himari cast a look at Chobi.

Did her cat befriend Chiharu without her knowing?

But, how?!

Even though she was still confused, Himari invited Chiharu inside. Chobi encircled Chiharu before running ahead of her.

"Chiharu is sorry for intruding," said the little dumpling politely. She bent down, took off her cute shoes and neatly placed them aside.

Himari was amused by how the little girl acted. She was still so small yet her manners were good.

"Chiharu, how did you end up here? Where's your brother?" Himari asked after the little girl took a seat on the strawberry couch.

"Big Brother is playing basketball with his friends. Chiharu was bored so Chiharu followed Little Orange," replied the girl obediently. Chiharu looked around her, "Wow! Is this really Little Orange's home?"

Himari narrowed her eyes at Chobi. With an innocent face, Chobi stared at her back.

This brat, I thought he would really kidnap a girl home but... Why must it be a human girl?

"Meow~" Don't look at me, I'm innocent.

Himari suppressed her sigh. She focused back on Chiharu.

"Wait here. You must have been thirsty, right? Does apple juice okay for you?"

Chiharu smiled, showing her pearly white teeth, "Chiharu is okay with everything. Teacher Kato, do you still have the cookies? Chiharu loves them."

Himari laughed because of how cute and frank she was, "Instead of that, I have something better."

Himari poured a glass of apple juice and cut a slice of fresh cream fruits roll cake for Chiharu. She made it last night. Then, she filled Chobi's bowl with kibbles.

At the sound of the kibbles hitting the base of the bowl, Chobi quickly ran to have his fill. He ignored both Himari and Chiharu.

Chiharu was looking at the catalog that Himari left opened on the low-table. The cute decorations might have attracted the little girl's attention.

"Chiharu, have some snacks," Himari placed down the plate and glass on the table, "Sorry. I haven't cooked anything for lunch yet."

"Wow~ A cake! Oh, there are strawberries and peaches inside," Chiharu's eyes twinkled again.

The cream was so white! The strawberries and peaches were so vibrant in color red and orange! Ah, she could smell its sweet scent~

"Wipe your hands and face first," Himari handed her a clean wipe.

Chiharu took it and began wiping her small hands and face.

"Chiharu, since when did you know Chobi?" Himari started asking while Chiharu was eating.

"Chobi?" Chiharu blinked, "Ah, is that Little Orange's real name? It sounds cute. En, Chiharu first saw Little... Ah, Chobi last two weeks. Chobi would always play around Chiharu's class but he would often disappear by noon."

"You mean... you saw Chobi in school?"

Chiharu nodded. She licked the cream that was smeared on her lips.

Himari felt so helpless. She knew Chobi would wander outside while she was away but, he had even stepped into the school? It was a huge distance!

As if sensing his Mama's death stare, Chobi shrank his fluffy neck and continued eating the kibbles in silence.

Himari rubbed her face and sighed, "Then, did you meet Chobi at school again? Today is the weekend. Did you follow your brother to school?"

"Chiharu followed Big Brother so Chiharu could play with Chobi!"

Her answer sounded so righteous until Himari didn't know how should she react.

Ah, forget it... Since Chiharu was already here, she should call Izumi.

It was a good thing that Himari kept all of her students' numbers on a list. She quickly found Izumi's personal number and called him.

"Hello?" A slightly panting voice came from the end of the line.

"Hello, Izumi, this is Teacher Kato."

"Teacher Kato? Yes, do you need anything? I'm quite busy here."

This child, he must already be trying to find his little sister. Himari could hear the faint sound of cars passing from his end.

Himari glanced at Chiharu who was enjoying the cake, "En, actually, your sister is with me."

"What?" Izumi sounded so surprised, "Ah! I know she's missing but... she's with you?"

"Yes, a few things happened and she ended up here, at my house," Himari chose to explain the real situation by meeting him face-to-face, "Are you still in school? I would bring her to you."

"No need, no need, Teacher," Izumi refused, "I have Chiharu's coordination. It's just, I didn't expect her to be in Teacher's house. I'll go and pick her up right now!"

"Don't be in a rush. You could finish your training first. I'm not going anywhere. Chiharu could rest here in the meantime."

It was not a distance that should be walked by a little girl. Himari could only sigh in relief because Chiharu was able to follow Chobi without encountering any danger. Even though this neighborhood was safe, what should she do if the little girl met a stray dog or a bad guy?

"Ah, okay, Teacher Kato, thank you, thank you so much," Izumi repeatedly thanked her. His voice sounded so hoarse as if he was close to crying.

"No biggie. Your sister is safe," Himari gently persuaded him.

"En, thank you, thank you..."

Himari looked again at Chiharu.

The little dumpling blinked her round eyes and looked back at her. Then, she broke into a grin.

"Hehe~ This cake is delicious~"

Himari felt sorry for Izumi.. While he was frantically looking for her, Chiharu was leisurely eating desserts.