As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Ding dong~

"Co... Coming!"

Himari rushed out of her bedroom. Chobi just watched at his mama with a pair of lazy eyes. He yawned and rolled his head on the carpet, resuming his nap.

Once Himari opened the door, a familiar figure of a man was standing out with an easy smile on his lips.

He looked just the same like on that night almost two weeks ago, on the night they had their first dinner date. Exhausted but still carrying a pleasant smile.

"You could just tell me you've arrived. No need to come upstairs," Himari laughed.

This man was really punctual. He said he would come at seven and here he was now, exactly on time.

Kazuya shrugged with the same smile on his face, "Chiharu has been asking me nonstop when would you come downstairs. It's better if I escape the car and go to find you. If not, my ears would hurt."

"What? Then, you just let Izumi deal with her?" asked Himari in disbelief.

Kazuya grinned without even an ounce of shame on his face.

Himari rolled her eyes. She could only silently pitying Izumi. Turning around, she beckoned at him to follow, "Wait for a bit ah. I just want to brush my hair."

"Okay," He hummed as he followed her inside.

Tonight, she wore a simple one-piece light blue dress with a navy ribbon around her front waist. The soft and flowy skirt twirled lightly as she walked.

Kazuya helped himself to some drinking water while Himari returned to her bedroom. He was treating the apartment as his own.

After picking up the children at school at half-past four o'clock, he brought them to the office. Chiharu took a nap there while Izumi played video games to let the time passed.

Since Kazuya had always kept the spares of the sibling's clothes in his office, the children took a quick shower in the washroom before coming to Himari's apartment.

Fortunately, as Kazuya had planned, he managed to finish all jobs without any loose ends. For the time being, he could be considered to be on a short break.

Kazuya brought the glass out of the kitchen. His eyes were quietly scanning the small yet neat living room.

His interest was piqued when his gaze caught of something interesting. Kazuya looked at the flower basket that was placed on a white bookshelf at one corner of the room. The white basket was filled with colorful balls shining under the light.

It was the wicker basket that came with the daffodils, the one he chose for her.

As for the daffodils, they wilted just after a few days.

But, instead of being discarded, the wilted yellow flowers were wrapped with a ribbon together and placed inside a slim and clear vase. The vase was put beside the flower basket, standing side by side on the bookshelf.

A pleasant feeling enveloped his heart as he imagined the young lady carefully taking care of the flowers.

"Meow~"

Kazuya lowered his head to the floor once a sensation of something warm clinging to his leg.

The man's eyes and the feline's gaze were locked together at the same moment.

"Hello, little fella. Are you trying to find my chubby niece?" Kazuya asked with a brow raised.

The friendship of Chiharu and Chobi that went beyond language comprehension as well as species had left a deep impression on him.

"Meow~" Chobi meowed, licked his right front paw then left, giving the man the view of his butt.

Kazuya let out a low laugh. While his eyes were trained on the tabby, a familiar sweet and fruity scent of someone drifted from behind.

He turned around and saw Himari walking out of the bedroom. Her head was lowered as one of her hands was holding a sling bag while the other rummaged inside the white-colored bag.

"Are you ready?" He asked before finishing the rest of the drink.

Himari gave him a sneaky smile, "Which restaurant did you choose? I want something delicious."

Even though Kazuya asked her to decide, Himari left it to the man himself. 

Kazuya's eyes curved as he laughed, "I don't expect that both my niece and my girlfriend would be foodies. Should I be wary of my money flying away?"

"You should be," Himari harrumphed, inciting more laughter from the man.

The two of them exited the apartment one by one. Himari locked the door, followed Kazuya downstairs then got inside the dark gray car.

"Teacher Kato~~ Chiharu missed you so much muaa~~" The dumpling sent flying kisses to Himari with her lips puckered.

Himari wasn't the only one baffled by the exaggerated greeting from Chiharu. The man sitting beside her also felt the same.

"Chiharu, behave," Kazuya sternly looking at the dumpling, "Why do you act like it has been years since the last time you saw Teacher Kato?"

The little girl blinked then naively said, "Uncle, people say a day no meet someone is like a year oh~ Don't you know?"

Kazuya was left speechless by the dumpling while Himari who recovered from her shock started to laugh. Even Izumi, who sat beside Chiharu masked his laugh with an awkward cough.

In the end, Kazuya ignored the cheeky dumpling. He started the car and slowly left the neighborhood.

Because of his own busyness in the past two weeks, Kazuya had to admit that he couldn't spend more time with the siblings like usual. For tonight's occasion, he brought the siblings and Himari to a garden restaurant.

The restaurant had a peaceful and exquisite view of a garden surrounding the compound. Besides the greenery that accompanied the patrons, there was an enclosed playground for the children to play. Various kinds of playing types of equipment were provided by the restaurant.

Chiharu was the happiest one among them.

She could have delicious food then played to her heart's content!

Because of her eagerness, she began to drag her big brother who had yet to finish the food to the playground. 

"Chiharu, be patience ah," Izumi poked the dumpling's cheek, "Big Brother wants to finish eating first."

"Hurry, hurry, Chiharu wanna play," The little girl whined.

Izumi paid his little sister no attention as he focused again on the food. He spent so much of his brainpower when playing the mobile game earlier. He had to replenish his energy.

In the end, the dumpling had to wait until her big brother cleaned up the food on his plate. She sat on the high chair with pouty lips, resembling an angry squirrel. The chubby-faced squirrel only brightened up once her big brother got up from his chair and brought her to play.

Before the two siblings left, Kazuya gave Izumi a stern reminder - to not let the incident involving the little tiger at the zoo happened again.

Izumi vowed to not allow such a thing. 

Himari couldn't resist laughing at their funny interaction.

"Finish your food," Kazuya's eyes were gentle on her, "What are you doing laughing at them?"

"Hehe, they are so cute," admitted Himari. She forked the last bit of chicken parmigiana and stuffed it inside her mouth. 

"Same old thing. Always give me a headache especially the young one."

Even though Kazuya said that but, Himari could see a helpless yet pampering look on his face. It was as clear as a flowing stream how much he treasured the siblings.

After dinner, both of them just sat at the table while occasionally looking in the direction of the playground. The playground was brightly lit by lights, helping the parents and guardians to easily spot their children.

"How's your week, really? Sorry, I couldn't contact you much."

Kazuya's words broke the silence between them. He appeared casual from the outside but, his voice was tinged with regret.

Himari tilted her head, staring back at him with a soft smile graced her face. She answered, "We're both busy. There's nothing to be sorry about."

"I told my friends about you. They want to meet you someday. Could they?" Kazuya asked once he remembered what Shuichi had told him in the afternoon.

"If you think you can introduce me to your friends, I'm okay with it," answered Himari truthfully. 

Both of them understood the true nature of their relationship.

If Kazuya said he wasn't ready to introduce her to his close friends, Himari didn't feel the need to be upset. But, since he already had the intention to do it, it still pleased her greatly.

It showed that he was being serious with her even though the length of their relationship was still short.

"Okay. I'll set the date. They are silly but harmless," Kazuya smiled. Then, he changed the topic, "Earlier, you said you want to talk to me about something? Would you tell me now?"

Himari blinked, thought back of the red roses she received for the past week until now and groaned inwardly. With a guilty smile, she looked at Kazuya. 

"Actually, since last week..."

When Himari was recounting what had been bothering her, Kazuya patiently listened to her without interrupting. It was a lie if he said he wasn't displeased but, he directed it toward the stubborn man instead of Himari.

Never did he expect that man had continued to disregard Himari's feelings by doing such a thing.

By sending a 99 red roses bouquet every day to Himari at school, it would certainly put her into the center of gossips by people with wicked tongues. Especially with the way that Himari dealt with the flowers. Some might even say she was playing hard to get with the sender.

"Sorry, I don't mean to hide it from you," Himari's gaze sank as the distressing events kept playing in her mind. Both of her shoulders drooped, she kept her head low, "If possible, I don't want to talk about him again. I'm with you now so, I'm afraid it sounds like I'm making light of your feelings."

No companion of a person liked to hear about his or her ex even though between the couple, there was still no deep love involved.

That was why Himari was so reluctant to tell Kazuya about the matter.