As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Kazuya showed Himari to the living room, lounge, home library and kitchen. All of them were on the ground floor. Himari sheepishly smiled at Aunt Mayu when the housekeeper saw the two of them holdings hands right after they entered the kitchen.

The housekeeper's eyes were practically twinkling as if she had never seen such a scene before.

When Himari tried to retract her hand, Kazuya feigned ignorance as he firmly enclosed his wide palm over her hand. In the end, she waved the white flag.

"Aunt Mayu, please bring the snacks to the backyard. And please prepare the hot water and the teapot as well," Kazuya asked the housekeeper's help before leaving the kitchen.

"Alright, Mr. Hayashi," Aunt Mayu smiled, "It is okay if I bring them out in fifteen minutes?"

"Yes, you may. We're going upstairs first," Kazuya looked at Himari, "Let's go."

Himari quietly followed him.

"The siblings' rooms are upstairs. So do my room and my study," said Kazuya as he brought Himari to the staircase.

On the wall leading to the upstairs, several family photos were aligned side by side. Himari took a look at all of them as Kazuya slowed down to match her pace.

"These are..."

Her words trailed off once her eyes were trained on a family photo with four faces.

Kazuya smiled. A brief sadness flashed in his eyes, "It's their last family photo before my sister-in-law passed away."

Himari nodded quietly. She gently squeezed Kazuya's hand that was still holding hers.

Inside the photo, Izumi was standing beside a man who bore resemblance to Kazuya. This man who was smiling to the lens was his brother, the only elder brother he had.

Beside the man, a pretty young lady sat on a single couch with a toddler Chiharu on her lap. The little dumpling was laughing happily on her mother's lap with one hand pointing at the camera lens.

Everyone who saw this photo would only have one thought crossed their minds.

This was a happy family.

But, as the tragedies struck, these happy faces were just a memory of the past.

"It must have been hard on you," Himari said quietly. Her nose soured all of a sudden.

Kazuya retracted his gaze from the happy family photo. His eyes fell on the young lady beside him who had her head lowered. The usual soft smile on her face was replaced with a tight line of her lips.

"I can't deny it was hard but, the days are getting better," answered Kazuya solemnly.

Himari raised up her chin, turned to look at him and gave him a smile.

"I'm sure they would only get better and better."

A mellow light flickered in his eyes. Kazuya nodded and let out a soft 'En.'

"The first room is Izumi's while the second is Chiharu's room. Both of them have been trained to tidy up their own bed and other belongings even though the cheeky girl sometimes would be lazy."

Kazuya pointed to a room with the door painted dark blue before his finger drifted to another one in a pale pink color.

As the couple walked slowly outside the door, suddenly the pink door was opened from the inside, revealing a little head.

Chiharu poked her head out from the door. Even though her eyes displayed excitement, she funnily said, "Teacher Kato, Chiharu is sorry. Chiharu's room is messy~ Chiharu would show Teacher Kato the room next time, okay?"

Then, before either Himari or Kazuya could answer, the dumpling closed the door again, leaving both of them speechless.

"...What was that?" Himari blinked.

Kazuya groaned inwardly, "Don't ask. It's better if you don't know what the girl is planning."

While the couple was still perplexed by Chiharu's eccentricity, the dumpling was seriously staring at her big brother who was now sitting on her princess bed.

"Big Brother, Chiharu has done it!" She reported with one hand striking a pose like an officer.

Izumi nodded, "Good, Chiharu. Since this is the first time Teacher Kato comes to our home, we shouldn't disturb both Uncle and Teacher Kato. Let them cultivate feelings, okay?"

Chiharu blinked in confusion, "Big Brother, what's that? Cul... cultivate? Is that food?"

Izumi shut up. He sternly gave a reminder to Chiharu, "Don't ask. Just know that we shouldn't disturb them, okay? You can show your room to Teacher Kato next time. Big Brother is sure that Teacher Kato would come again."

"Aye aye, Sir!"

As the two siblings were embroiled in their own plan, Kazuya brought Himari to his study room next.

Once he opened the door, she could already see a big mahogany desk stood in the center of the room. Behind the desk and the swivel chair were the floor-to-ceiling windows. The curtains were drawn to the sides, showing the green yard and the vast blue sky outside.

"This is my brother's study actually. I just use it for the time being."

Kazuya finally let go of her hand as he walked closer to the desk to pick something up. He turned around, leaned against the desk and propped one hand on the edge of the surface.

"The first time I worked here was after my brother was declared comatose by the doctor. At that time, I didn't expect that I would continue using this room for three years already."

Although his face still carried the same easy smile he always showed her, Himari felt uncomfortable to hear him telling the story. 

On the outside, Kazuya appeared fine but, what about the inside?

For three years, he held the fort while waiting for his brother to recover but, the process might be a painfully slow one. Even though his shoulders were burdened with these hardships, he could still smile and even took good care of the siblings until now.

If Kazuya wasn't sincere in raising Izumi and Chiharu, he wouldn't keep doing this. No matter what he did, the siblings would always be important to him.

Himari wanted to ask more but, she was afraid to overstep her boundary.

Sure, they were a couple now but, with the true nature of their relationship, Himari was still at a loss on where should she put her fingers to.

To ask or not, to know about his past or just wait until he opened himself up.

Kazuya quietly looked at Himari who was now wearing a conflicted look on her face. He couldn't exactly know what was she thinking about but, considering her nature, this lady must be thinking about what he had just told her.

"Himari," He slowly called her name. His voice and eyes were brimming with tenderness.

Himari blinked, clearing her uneasy thoughts away then looked back at him.

"...Yes?"

She sounded so cautious, so vulnerable although she wasn't the one who experienced those hard times.

The corner of Kazuya's lips drooped although he wanted to continue smiling. He opened his mouth, letting the words flowed freely, "We have been a couple for two weeks, aren't we?"

"Ah, yes..." Himari nodded.

Why did he ask that kind of question?

Under Himari's confused look, Kazuya continued.

"I want to ask you first because, I don't want to make you uncomfortable but, could I hug you now?"

Her confusion turned into a surprise once he finished his words.

Like earlier and like always, he was smiling but, right now, his eyes weren't as bright as usual.

Himari took a step forward.

She walked and walked, shrinking the distance between them. Little by little, Kazuya's face magnified in front of her before the face disappeared from her view as she reached out both hands and embraced him.

There was no awkwardness like how she felt when they first holding hands.

Right now, she just wanted to hug this man.

His familiar minty scent enveloped her sense as their frames intertwined together.

Away from Himari's eyes, Kazuya's face stiffened before he slowly put both of his hands around her petite frame. 

"Can I say again that you've worked hard all this time?" Her voice sounded raspy beside his ear as if she was forcing herself to not cry.

Kazuya suppressed a bitter smile. He nodded as he rested his chin over her shoulder, "You can."

She smelled so good.

He couldn't recall how nice it was to be embraced by someone like how she did to him right now. This was the first time they were being so close to one another but, he just felt it was natural.

She was warm, like sunlight on a spring day.

"Hehe, I thought you'd reject my request," Kazuya said while laughing. The light in his eyes gradually returned to how it used to be, "We have held hands together and now, we have even hugged."

"En, I should be gracious to my own boyfriend, aren't I?" Himari answered in a self-righteous tone. One of her hands was gently rubbing his broad back, "It's nice to have someone to hug you when you're having a hard time. I often hug my mom whenever I feel down."

"Then," Kazuya slowly pulled her away. The distance was just enough for him to see her face. He said in a smiling voice, "If you're having a hard time, I'd hug you as well, okay?"

In this close distance where the tips of their noses could touch with just a brief movement, Himari felt heat spread from her neck to her entire face. But, she still kept a calm facade.

"You sure have to ah. If not, why do I have a boyfriend for?"

Her answer made him laughed. 

In front of her blushing face, Kazuya laughed freely. The sound of his laughter floated in the air, gently dispersing the gloomy air around him.