As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

After a fulfilling weekend, another brand new week arrived.

Starting this Monday, the teachers at Amamiya School of Early Learning would be immersed in grading their students' achievements for the previous week of the examination period. Not only that, but they were also busy arranging the schedule for the coming home visitation period.

The visitation would begin next week but the teachers had to start planning it with the parents.

The school had its own special way of conducting home visitation. 

For four days starting on Monday next week, the students were allowed to leave school as early as 1 PM after lunch hour. It was to allow the teachers going to meet their parents, either at home or where the parents had agreed to meet.

Because this school was only opened to kindergarten and elementary schools, the teachers won't emphasize the students' achievements. Instead, they would report and discuss the students' development until now.

Although this week would still be a busy one, Himari was happy because she no longer received the rose bouquets from Jun. There were a few teachers who teased her about the new change, saying did the man who wanted to pursue her had given up?

Himari just answered them with a smile. She didn't intend to give them any explanation. 

What matter the most was that Jun had stopped.

And, Himari hoped he would stop for good this time.

"Teacher Ayase, have some cookies."

Himari passed a jar of cookies to the older female teacher once Teacher Ayase sat down. The latter had just returned from her class.

At this time, only a few teachers were inside the room as the others were busy with their own lessons. 

"You baked strawberry cookies again?"

Teacher Ayase didn't even try to act politely as she immediately opened the jar and took a few cookies out. These ones were just the strawberry chocolate chip cookies that Himari gave her a few weeks ago.

En, so tasty!

"Hehe, I got more fresh strawberries," Himari admitted, "After giving some away to my neighbors, I still have a lot left. I just baked some but, if you want fresh strawberries, I've put a pack inside the fridge."

After the four of them returned from the farm yesterday, Chiharu cutely asked if she could stay at Himari's apartment for a while. As Himari was defeated by her round and blinking eyes, she suggested the three of them followed her home for some light snacks.

The dumpling was so happy when she could meet Chobi. Her happiness index soared up to another level when Himari said she would use some of the strawberries to baking some roll-cakes and cookies. 

Under Kazuya's meaningful gaze, Chiharu promised to only eat not more than half of them. Her promise made them laughed because it was not unprecedented for the little one to break her own words.

"Teacher Kato, make delicious cookies and cakes with Chiharu next time, okay?" The dumpling asked for a pinky promise before Kazuya brought the siblings home.

Himari quickly agreed. She said they should find some time to bake together. Himari was glad to see the dumpling's cheerful expression after both of them linked their pinkies.

"My kitchen is spacious. You can use it however you want."

That was Kazuya's words after the two ladies, big and small made the promise. His lips tugged into a smirk as he looked at Himari.

Himari threw the man a side-long glance as she understood too well the meaning of his words.

Kazuya wanted her to come to their home again.

In the end, Himari promised Chiharu that she would come to the villa sometime later this week. Maybe on this Tuesday or Wednesday to avoid the strawberries turned spoilt.

Himari didn't forget that she would still be relatively busy this week even though it wasn't going to be as intense as before but...

Life shouldn't be dedicated to working only! She had to do activities that made her happy!

Thus, she didn't feel an ounce of guilt when she made another pinky promise with the dumpling.

"When I brought the cookies you gave me before home, those rascals almost finished them! I have to keep this jar only at school."

Teacher Ayase's voice brought Himari back from the memory of yesterday. The latter laughed as she listened to Teacher Ayase's story about her children.

As the two teachers were chatting amicably, in another part of the room, Yuina was sitting at her desk. She was keying in her students' Mathematics marks inside the school grading system.

For the Mathematics subject, the examination was done in two different ways. The students were given questions on papers as well as playing games in a pair. 

The questions weren't too hard. Most of the students got good marks.

"Teacher Masuda, you've almost finished grading the papers?" One passing teacher made a remark.

Yuina shifted her eyes from the laptop in front of her to the teacher. She gave her a faint smile, "Yes. I didn't have much to do on weekend so, I graded all of them."

"So efficient ah. I've got so many to mark now," The teacher sighed before sitting down at her seat.

Yuina's smile drooped.

It wasn't like she wanted to be this efficient. But, if she didn't immerse herself in anything, she would only spend her time thinking of the little soybean growing inside her womb.

After she met Kanna the previous Saturday, her friend brought her home because Yuina didn't feel like going shopping anymore. Kanna was so understanding. Her friend stayed with her until it was late at night.

If not because of Yuina's insistence that Kanna should return to her parents' home, Kanna still wanted to be with her until the next day.

Kanna gave Yuina a few guides of pregnancy. She asked the latter to read them if Yuina was interested.

"I might be away but, if you need anything, just call me. But, the most important thing is you have to tell Ryuu soon. Don't keep it from anyone, okay? This is not a trivial matter."

"I understand."

While Kanna was being serious and firm, Yuina could only answer her feebly.

After Kanna left, Yuina took the opportunity to recount her memories. 

All this while, Yuina didn't pay too much for the exhaustion she felt because she was indeed busy for the last few weeks. She didn't feel any unusual craving nor she felt nauseated. The first time she had the impulse to vomit was when meeting Kanna at the cafe.

If not for her friend's persistency, Yuina wouldn't even dare to think that she was pregnant.

It might happen before Ryuu went on his global tour. Yuina still remembered that she hesitated on taking the pills.

At that time, she didn't think anything would happen because all this while, she didn't religiously consume the pills.

But, now, it had finally happened.

Yuina quietly closed her laptop after finishing her work. She wanted to have a bit of rest before going to the next lesson.

Until now, the feeling that she was going to become a mother still felt surreal to her.

How should she tell Ryuu?

She perfectly understood that Ryuu would be extremely joyful once he got the news but...

Was she herself ready?

Yuina pushed the chair back then stood up. She left her desk, heading to the pantry inside the lounge. 

This school really lived up to its standards. The management didn't mistreat the teachers although, by social standings, the students came from higher backgrounds than the educators.

The principal allocated many funds even for the teachers' pantry. The pantry would always be stocked up with various kinds of dry foods and drinks, coming from good brands. Sometimes, the parents themselves asked their children to pass some kind of food, especially desserts to the teachers.

As her eyes scanned the basket where the tea cans and instant coffee sachets were arranged neatly, Yuina inwardly let out a sigh of relief.

Apparently, she didn't have too much trouble eating. 

Yuina was worried about morning sickness, moreover, she was spooked by the stories of the mothers who experienced terrible morning sicknesses. 

Maybe, just maybe, their child understood that his father wasn't here to take care of his mother.

It would undoubtedly be hard for Yuina if she had intense morning sickness when Ryuu wasn't with her.

Yuina grabbed a teabag. She pressed on the button of the automatic water dispenser, letting a hot stream of water poured inside her mug. She let the tea leaves steeped inside the hot water while she opened the refrigerator, searching for food.

Yuina remembered storing the pudding she bought from the supermarket inside the fridge the other day. 

"En?"

A dazzling red-colored strawberries greeted her eyesight. The little fruits were packed inside a transparent plastic container. A note was pasted onto the lid.

'Just eat these little ones if you like :)'

There was no name written on the note but...

Yuina retracted her gaze away from the container. She glanced at the working area of the teachers. Her gaze fell on a certain female teacher.

If Yuina wasn't mistaken, it seemed like she heard Teacher Kato talking to Teacher Ayase about going to a strawberry farm yesterday.

These strawberries should be from her, right?

A soft peal of laughter escaped Yuina's lips.

Did the English teacher love strawberries so much?

Without a clear reason, Yuina's mood brightened.