As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Instead of a candlelit dinner, Himari and Kazuya had a casual dinner date. All in all, it was still the first dinner between them who had just entered a new phase of their relationship.

Although she was quite baffled by the sudden appearance of this man, Himari still asked Kazuya to come inside her little apartment.

"Why didn't you tell me that you would come here? Ah, you should just go home after the meeting. Even I can see how tired you look right now."

Himari couldn't help but nag as she walked past the hallway with Kazuya following behind her.

Kazuya suppressed a grin as he listened to her nagging. He quietly eyed her from behind. With a messy bun on her head, she looked so at ease in the comfort of her home.

Really, she didn't even have any qualms about having him alone inside her apartment. She's too trusting, Kazuya thought as he was reminded of that night three years ago.

As they passed the intersection between the living room and the kitchen area, Kazuya's eyes drifted to the low table. A white woven basket with yellow daffodils was placed at the center of the table, creating harmony with the surroundings.

"Didn't I say I shouldn't wrong you," Kazuya said teasingly. He put both paper bags on the kitchen table. With his eyes looking back at Himari, he continued smugly, "Your new boyfriend is being generous and considerate with you here."

Himari shot him a glare. 

With this man, she didn't even have the time to worry about dating game rules.

Since Kazuya had seen her in her helpless state a few times already, Himari thought she did not have to keep such a formal and cautious upfront with him, afraid of this or that matter would annoy him.

Himari could act as how she had usually done in front of Kazuya, like how he was at ease when he was teasing her.

The only thing different was how Kazuya had turned more shameless right now.

"En, if my new boyfriend is being considerate with me, he should still tell me first. Look! I'm only wearing a T-shirt. I should at least wear a dress for our dinner date even though the venue is my own apartment."

Himari spread her arms out, showing how she was dressed now. Her action made Kazuya laughed.

"Didn't I say it? My girlfriend is already pretty. Even when she wears a T-shirt with a cat face."

Himari shut up. Suddenly, she thought this man could be an opponent instead of a companion. She decided to focus on the paper bags brought by Kazuya.

"Oh? Aren't these from the restaurant that you ordered noodles for me the other day?"

Himari still remembered the logo.

"I want to buy steaks but, I'm afraid you've eaten much so, I decided on this," replied Kazuya.

While he brought out the dishes one by one from the paper bags, Himari went to get the plates and cutleries.

"Ah, why don't you take off your jacket?" Himari suggested, "Won't it be uncomfortable for you?"

Even though he had taken off his tie, it still appeared too formal to wear a complete suit inside a house.

"Okay."

Kazuya took off the black jacket. He handed it to Himari who had already stretched out a hand. She went to hang it over a hook.

"Are Chiharu and Izumi alone at your home now? Or, is there a caretaker with them?" Himari asked once she returned to the kitchen.

With Kazuya was still here at this hour, the two siblings should be alone right now. Unless once again his friend, Shuichi went to look after them. 

"Our housekeeper, Aunt Mayu stayed with them until eight o'clock tonight. Don't worry about them," His eyes were gentle as he looked at her, "Even though he is still small, Izumi is a responsible boy. He could easily take care of his sister and the place where we live have security guards."

Himari recalled how Izumi was in class. She nodded, "Yes. Izumi is one of the most diligent students in class. He's really good oh."

Kazuya stifled a laugh. He helplessly shook his head.

Chobi came frolicking once he smelled the food. Himari had no choice but to feed her fat son with some kibbles. Chobi was happily eating his food on the floor.

Both of them worked in harmony as if they had done so countless times already. And, even though this was not his home, Kazuya appeared at ease to work in the kitchen.

Finally, two small bowls of udon, a plate of chicken karaage, a bowl of cucumber salad and a few other side dishes were served on the small dining table. Himari sat on one side while Kazuya sat opposite her.

When Kazuya handed a pair of chopsticks to Himari, she bubbled into laughter, earning his confusion.

"Why did you laugh?"

Himari suppressed her grin, "Hehe, from the way we agreed to date until our first dinner together, they are kind of weird ah."

Her words burst another peal of laughter from Kazuya. With his eyes gently looking at her smiling face, he asked, "But, are you alright with them?"

Himari replied instantly, "I don't find it uncomfortable."

Kazuya's smile deepened.

That was good enough.

Thus, they began their simple dinner date. They chatted as usual, like how they often did even before they started dating.

When Kazuya asked how was her day, Himari just spoke about the good things. She did not even mention getting roses from Jun. Somehow, she thought it was inappropriate to say it in front of Kazuya.

Halfway through dinner, Himari changed the questions regarding his job now.

"Have the problem been solved? Or, are you going to be busy with another matter from now?"

Himari didn't see Izumi and Chiharu when she left the school earlier. Seeing how busy this man was today, the children might be picked up by someone else. 

"It's about a new project. I have to oversee it myself," Kazuya clipped a chicken karaage and placed it on a small plate in front of Himari, "But, I won't be as busy as before. Today is the exception. After this, most of it would be left to a team in the office."

Himari didn't understand much how the corporate world worked especially a startup like Kazuya's brother's company. Yet, she understood it was not an easy place to be in. With numerous startups that popped up every other day, if one was being idle, he would easily be pushed down by the other competitors.

After dinner, Kazuya insisted on doing the dishes. Himari just allowed him to do it. She wasn't going to be too diligent if someone else had offered to help. At the same time, Himari brewed some tea and brought the teapot and the cups to the living room.

Sometime later, Kazuya joined her at the low table. Both of them sat on the carpet side by side. There was still a space between them.

"So, how's my performance today? Do I pass your early evaluations?" Kazuya laughingly asking the question when Himari was pouring the tea into the cups.

Himari gave him an eye-roll, "Barely passable?"

Kazuya groaned. He sighed with his eyes staring at the ceiling, "It's always hard to please a girlfriend ah. I should work harder."

"En, work hard ah. If not, I'd find someone else to replace you," Himari laughed good-naturedly.

Her laughter turned louder at the sight of Kazuya glaring at her before he too, broke into laughter.

The two of them enjoyed the tea after dinner. Even though they didn't do anything too fanciful, to both of them, their first dinner date was a pleasant one.

"If it's too tiring for you, you could have Izumi and Chiharu come to my apartment before picking them up," Himari suddenly gave the idea, "If not, either you or your friend have to leave work halfway because you have to pick them up at the school."

Kazuya was quiet as he pondered on the suggestion. In the end, he shook his head. His reply surprised Himari.

Before she could ask, he answered, "I don't want to make you feel obligated to take care of them just because we're dating now. The siblings are my responsibility."

His words were almost the same when he refused Chiharu playing the game at the supermarket a few months ago.

Himari didn't know either to smile or be sympathetic with him.

Kazuya took on his responsibility regarding Chiharu and Izumi greatly. From how he appeared, if Shuichi wasn't his old friend, he wouldn't even depend on him.

And, Himari still didn't know why did he not hire someone to pick the children up. It won't cost too much for a man with a stable financial background like him.

Maybe, it had something to do with the children's preference?

Instead of being frustrated, Himari smiled, "Do you really think that way?"

In the face of her smiling lips, Kazuya suddenly was at a loss of words.

Somehow, he felt like they used to have this kind of conversation before. It didn't take him long to recall the scene at the supermarket, the one when Chiharu moped badly with him.

"Cough! Sorry... I don't mean that..." Kazuya drifted his eyes away from her face before he quickly looked again at Himari. He shrank his neck, his shoulders slumped down.

His awkward look incited laughter from Himari. In her eyes, he seemed like a teenage boy getting scolded for a funny reason.

Her eyes curved as she smiled softly at the face of this silly-looking man.

"I know it's hard to get used to something new. After all, you have been relying on yourself all this time. I won't press on this matter. But, if you ever need my help, no matter in what area, just say it, en? I'll help as much as I could."

Since both of them had decided to be on this route, they had to welcome the new changes. As time passing by, the changes might shroud them as if they had been getting used to them for long.