As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

In thirty minutes, the car arrived at the neighborhood where the Hayashi family lived. 

Himari was a bit nervous because this was her first time going there. 

Most houses here were built into villa styles, the Hayashi family's home wasn't excluded. Even though the buildings here were not among the top-tier residence for the wealthiest, the houses and private yards were already good enough. 

Himari thought this neighborhood was a pretty good one, no matter in terms of security or surroundings. She especially liked the lush greenery of the area where the gardeners took good care of the flowers and trees.

"The villa here is bought by my brother. It's not mine," Kazuya gave her an introduction as the car drove past the main entrance of the community gate, "Well, since three years ago, I live here with the children."

Himari glanced at the man driving beside her. She gave him a small smile, "Where did you live before?"

So far, they didn't talk much about their own families. She had just mentioned having a single mother while Kazuya only spoke about him, the siblings and a few mentions of his brother. There was none regarding his parents thus, Himari didn't know either she should ask him or not.

"I used to live nearby to where I worked before. It's one of the high-rise condominiums in the city center," he answered briefly. 

It dawned on Himari that she had never known what did Kazuya do before taking over his elder brother's position in the company. She felt like it was natural for him to do what he was currently doing but, Kazuya was supposed to have his own dreams, wasn't he?

While Himari was thinking, the speed of the car slowed down as Kazuya drove inside the yard of the villa. She shifted her gaze to the outside of the window, looking at the tidily kept garden of the building that stood in the center of the yard.

"We're home~ Teacher Kato, it's Chiharu's home with Uncle and Big Brother!"

The little dumpling was so excited at the thought of having her favorite Goddess of Cooking at her home. She couldn't wait to show Teacher Kato around the villa!

The car was parked under a porch. With a glance, Kazuya smiled at Himari, "Welcome to our abode."

Himari returned him with a smile of her own. She grabbed her bag and followed the family of three out of the car.

The full view of the villa and its private yard fell into her eyes.

The villa was painted in light cream color. The dark gray roof was almost in the same shade as Kazuya's car. Several potted plants adorned the outside of the villa together with neatly trimmed bushes and a few flowerbeds.

"The backyard is even more beautiful," Kazuya stepped closer to her, his tall body towering above her petite figure, "I'll show you around. Aunt Mayu is waiting. Let's go inside."

"Go inside~ Go inside~" Chiharu happily tugged on Himari's blouse with her eyes blinking animatedly, "Teacher Kato, let's go and see Chiharu's room! Chiharu has a princess bed~"

Unable to refuse the little dumpling's enthusiasm, Himari took her small hand in hers and replied, "The princess bed must be cute, isn't it? Okay, Chiharu can show it to Teacher."

"Hehehehe~ Go inside!"

Chiharu pulled Himari to follow her to the door. Himari looked at Kazuya who was already laughing by her side.

Feeling helpless to see the man's joyful smile, Himari stifled a laugh.

While the two ladies, small and big entered the villa, Kazuya glanced to Izumi from over his shoulders. Under his nephew's surprised gaze, he winked.

Izumi, "..."

Sure enough, his uncle had already detected that they knew about him and Teacher Kato.

"Teacher Kato, Teacher Kato, wear these slippers," Chiharu was being a good host as she took out a pair of slippers from the shoe cupboard and placed them on the floor for her guest, "They are bigger ah. Uncle has to buy one in Teacher Kato's size."

Himari was feeling embarrassed to hear the dumpling even mentioning buying her home slippers in her own size as if the dumpling could tell that maybe she would visit here again.

"Thank you, Chiharu," Himari gave the dumpling a head pat, "The slippers are already okay for me."

"No, I have to buy a pair for you," Kazuya's voice came from behind as he entered the entryway. With a teasing smile, he looked at the big slippers under Himari's little feet, "You can't always wear bigger ones like these. What if you'd trip someday? Right, Chiharu?"

"En, en! Uncle's right ah!"

Chiharu grinned widely, showing her small white teeth.

Himari pursed her lips and glared at the man.

His underlying meaning was so obvious. He wanted her to come here again.

Izumi, who was quiet ever since he received his uncle's playful wink pretended he didn't hear the conversation.

Cough, cough, it was kind of baffling to really have his uncle being together with his homeroom teacher.

"Welcome home~ Aiya! We have a guest!"

Himari shifted her eyes from Kazuya to the middle-aged woman who suddenly appeared. The woman gave her a polite smile which Himari returned the same.

"A female guest, en. We have never had one before. Mr. Hayashi, is this..." Aunt Mayu had some kind of enlightenment in her eyes as she looked at the young lady beside her employer 

"My girlfriend," Kazuya announced proudly.

Himari almost choked. Her eyes were wide as she stared at Kazuya's smug face in horror before her gaze went to Izumi who stood near them. Chiharu was already giggling full of joy.

Izumi darted his eyes away, pretending that he didn't hear nor feel surprised over such an announcement.

Himari, "..."

Her student acted as if he wasn't shocked at all! Did she was foolish enough to not notice that Izumi had actually sniffed into her relationship with Kazuya all this time?

Well, Himari didn't actually want to conceal it but, she didn't know how to bring it up to the children. Kazuya himself didn't say anything.

"Hello, I'm the housekeeper here. You can call me Aunt Mayu."

The woman's introduction pulled Himari out of her thoughts. She smiled awkwardly and gave the middle-aged woman a respectful bow.

"Nice to meet you, Aunt Mayu. My name is Kato Himari."

Just let it be.

Instead of feeling embarrassed continuously, it was better if she accepted it.

Kazuya held back his laughter at the sight of Himari looking cutely awkward. He opened his mouth, "Himari is a teacher. She's Izumi's homeroom teacher."

"Ah, a teacher? It's a good job!" Aunt Mayu was obviously happy to meet her employer's girlfriend. She enthusiastically said, "Come in! Come in! I'll prepare good tea for you!"

"Ah, you don't have to..."

Himari's words were cut off by Kazuya, "It's okay, Aunt Mayu. Just bring the snacks out. I'll brew the tea myself."

"Okay," Aunt Mayu smiled as she caught the intention of her employer.

Once again, Himari blushed.

Aunt Mayu disappeared into the kitchen while the four of them were still walking past the hallway to the intersection leading to the living room and staircase.

"Uncle, Uncle~"

Kazuya lowered his gaze to the dumpling who looked so excited out of a sudden. He raised his brows, "En?"

"Then, then, could Chiharu call Teacher Kato auntie now? Teacher Kato is Uncle's girlfriend! Teacher Kato is Chiharu's auntie now! Right? Right?"

The dumpling was practically jumping in front of the two adults. 

She was so happy that she could finally ask that question! She had been so patient oh!

Izumi inwardly facepalmed himself.

Why couldn't his sister wait for a bit more ah? Didn't she see Teacher Kato's blushing face?

Kazuya coughed, trying to mask his urge to laugh out loud. Feeling sorry yet funny to see Himari's red face that looked like a cooked shrimp, he put up a stern look in front of his niece.

"Teacher Kato is still your teacher, Chiharu."

Chiharu blinked, "But, Teacher Kato is Uncle's girlfriend."

Why couldn't she call her aunt?

Himari really wanted to find a hole to bury herself into. This dumpling's question was so straightforward she couldn't refute her.

It was embarrassing to be asked like this when initially she was just a teacher figure to both Chiharu and Izumi.

But, right now, she was dating their uncle!

"Alright, enough Chiharu. Let's go upstairs."

"Ah! Chiharu wants to show Teacher Kato around."

"Come with Big Brother."

Izumi dragged his little sister with him as he was unable to watch more of the scene. The two siblings went upstairs, leaving the couple behind.

"Pfft! Hahaha!"

Himari frowned at Kazuya who was suddenly laughing. The man didn't stop. He laughed openly in front of her.

"Well, should I say to them that, if they wanted to call you as their aunt, you have to agree to marry me first?"

Himari had an urge to pull the smirk out of his face. As she didn't want to easily be defeated by this smug man, she answered, "Just tell me that you really want to marry me. Don't use them as your excuse."

Kazuya's smile deepened. He replied, "Oho? The Civil Affairs Bureau is still opened at this hour. We can drop by to get our certificate before going to meet that man. I could flaunt our marriage certificate in front of him."

Himari shut her mouth. 

Sometimes, she didn't know how to counterattack this man's shameless reply.

Kazuya laughed quietly. He really liked to tease her.

"Hehe, alright. It's your first time here. Let me show you around."

He reached out a hand and gently held one of her hands.

Himari nodded. Kazuya just smiled at her before he led her away from the entryway, their hands were linking together.