As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Knock! Knock!

"Kazuya, you got a delivery," Shuichi walked inside the office after knocking on the door twice. He was holding a brown paper bag in his left hand, "You didn't tell me you order a meal. No wonder you rejected my offer."

Kazuya lifted up his head from kept burying over the stack of files in front of him. An easy laugh escaped his lips once he saw the paper bag.

"I didn't order it myself."

Kazuya said as he rose to his feet. He stretched out his waist. After sitting down for hours without moving much, his body felt stiff all over.

Shuichi brought the paper bag to the coffee table opposite his friend's working desk. With a frown, he asked, "Don't tell me this food comes here by itself."

Kazuya raised up one corner of his lips. Tenderness melted in between his brows as he thought of a certain someone, "My girlfriend ordered the food for me."

"Oh, your girlfriend who... What? What? Your girlfriend?"

Mouth hanging open in shock, Shuichi stared foolishly at Kazuya was who doing a neck stretch next.

"Yes, my girlfriend," Kazuya smirked.

He ignored his friend's shocked face. Kazuya went inside the small washroom within his office. After washing his hands, he took a seat on the couch. He reached out both hands and opened the paper bag.

"Hey! A girlfriend? Since when? Who? Do I know that girl?"

Shuichi immediately launched a series of questions. He was really surprised when he heard what this childhood friend of his had said.

Kazuya took out the disposable lunchbox from the inside of the paper bag. The menu was common for a lunch set. Some rice, honey garlic chicken bites, rolled omelet, cucumber salad and a bowl of miso soup.

The meal was still hot, freshly made by the restaurant. Although the outer appearance was simple, Kazuya could say this meal was the most decent one he had gotten for lunch nowadays.

"Hey! Answer me!" Shuichi slammed his palm on the coffee table. His eyes were still wide in shock, "Who's that girl? Do I know her? Since when did you two get together?"

Kazuya waved his hand, paying no attention to Shuichi, "Let me eat first. I'm starving."

Even though he said so, Kazuya opened the private chat of his LINE account first. He snapped a photo and sent it to Himari.

{Kazuya: Luncbox.jpg]

[Kazuya: The meal's here]

[Kazuya: Smells so delicious]

Himari didn't reply to his texts. She might be busy at this time.

When he exchanged texts with her before, she suddenly asked if it was alright if she wanted to order some food for him. Kazuya didn't refuse her good intention. He gave her his office address and just let her decide on the menu.

If not, he would just have some sandwiches for lunch.

While Kazuya was smilingly looking at the meal in front of him, someone was grumbling in displeasure.

Look at that smug smile!

He doesn't even tell me, his best friend, about he getting a girlfriend?

But, who's that girl ah???

Countless thoughts going inside Shuichi's mind. With a bitter feeling, he watched his friend enjoying the meal on the coffee table steadily without a hint of rushing.

Usually, Kazuya would devour the food in just a few minutes. He said he didn't have time to be wasted but, right now the same man was enjoying the food as if he had all the time of his life?

Shuichi was closed to erupt.??

Who's that girl ah???

"Don't brood by yourself. We have just started dating in less than two weeks," Kazuya said after he took a sip of the miso soup.

En, simply refreshing.

"Two weeks? So, you guys are still a new couple?" Shuichi immediately grasped the key point.

"You could say so," Kazuya picked a rolled omelet and ate with the rice. His head kept hanging low as he continued eating. He swallowed the omelet and rice, lifted up his head and stared at Shuichi, "You have met her once. Just briefly."

"I have met her?"

Shuichi got more surprising news!

Did he really know her?

Kazuya laughed faintly, "It's the female teacher. The one Chiharu troubled with at that time."

"What... WHAT??!"

Wait... Did his friend was being serious here?

"I remember that teacher! She's Izumi's homeroom teacher, isn't she? But, if it's her, don't you think you're being in a rush here? You just got to know her about... In less than three months!"

"Relax. I know what I'm doing," Kazuya shrugged. He finished the remaining food.

The taste was good. It was light yet pleasing. Kazuya inwardly praised Himari for choosing a good restaurant for him.??

The only time he could eat properly was dinner because Kazuya had made it into a habit of going home to eat with the children whenever he could. Even in the morning, he didn't pay much attention to his meal.

"Are you really?" Shuichi was still going on with the topic of Kazuya's new girlfriend, "I know you won't mess with any girl but, don't you think it's too early for you guys to be a couple? Can't you wait to get to know her more before deciding it?"

"Both of us have good feelings for each other," Kazuya properly stacked the lunchbox together with the empty bowl. He put them all inside the paper bag, "So, we're giving it a try. If we're suitable with each other, we'll get married."

"You have even thought that far?" Once again Shuichi threw his friend a question.

"So what? Do you think I'm just dating her casually?" Kazuya asked in annoyance.

"It's not that..."

Shuichi shrank his eyes once he detected Kazuya feeling annoyed with him. He coughed awkwardly before continued.

"But, to think about marriage with someone you just have known, don't you think it's a rash decision? Sure, you're just dating for now but, if you already say so, you must have really thought that you would marry her in the end, right?"

Kazuya deflated his lips. He shook his head, took the paper bag and put it aside. With a gaze cast on his friend, he answered slowly, "Stop talking about this. It's enough that you know I'm seeing someone right now."

"I'm just worried. I don't want what happened that year to happen again," Shuichi darted his eyes away, feeling guilty.

Kazuya smiled yet it didn't reach his eyes, "I won't think about it again. It won't be fair to my companion now."

The painful past had long been discarded by him.

Why should he let his heartbreak strayed him from the path of his life?

Since it was already in the past, he should put his gaze on the future.

And, in his future, he saw Himari.

It was just an illusion weaving inside his mind but, Kazuya hoped it would come true in the end.

Kazuya walked back to his working desk. It was his intention to finish all of his job today before he brought the children and Himari out to dinner. It had been days since the last time he met her.

He couldn't help but be intrigued by what would she want to tell him.

"Don't you have anything better to do?" He asked without looking at Shuichi who was still sitting on the couch.

Shuichi frowned. He forced the words out of his mouth, "Just one question. Does it mean you actually haven't loved your new girlfriend?"

Earlier, his friend said they just had good feelings for each other. Knowing Kazuya, Shuichi understood he wasn't the type who fell in love at first sight.??

Kazuya stopped working, raised up his chin and stared at Shuichi. He straightened up his waist, leaned back against the chair then slowly answered.

"I think only love is not enough to support a relationship. Since it might not be the sole factor for a successful one, why must I wait until I really fall in love with her? We already have good feelings that's why I asked if she wanted to try. She agreed so, we are a couple now."

Shuichi groaned inwardly. His friend just repeated the same things!

It sounded logical and illogical at the same time.

Even though he was afraid if Kazuya would just harming himself, it was still his under his own judgment. A decision made by a grown-up man.

Instead of worrying incessantly, he should put more trust in his friend's resolution.

"Well, okay," Shuichi shrugged in helplessness, "You must have thought things through before coming to this decision. And, I don't think that girl is bad if she could attract your attention. I won't criticize you but, bring her to meet me and my brother! We have to get to know our future sister-in-law too!"

Kazuya clicked his tongue, openly showing his disdain to his childhood friend.

Earlier, he was nagging at him nonstop and now, he cheekily asked to meet Himari?

Suddenly, Kazuya found Shuici was too displeasing in his eyes.

"If you don't want to be held accountable for me not finishing my work today, get lost," Kazuya tapped on the table with a finger, clearly threatening the stubborn man in front of him.

"Aye, aye sir!"

Shuichi quickly ran away.

He had finished his own job so why did he have to do so for another person? One had to know to balance between work and leisure oh!

Kazuya cast a helpless gaze on the disappearing figure of his friend.

It was within his understanding of why did Shuichi ask so many questions. His friend just didn't want him to be hurt again.

But, it was because he thought love should be passionate and fiery as described by the films and books.

That was why he had almost drowned in suffocation when his first love ended.

He put too many expectations on a person without sparing his own heart.

Now, he was searching for a love so warm as how the sun felt on a spring day.

A feeling that would make him felt comforted while still cherishing a part of his heart.??

He didn't dare to ask for more.