As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Because of the change of plan, Chiharu was the happiest as the four of them drove to the villa. She kept singing while being strapped to the child's car seat, showing how joyful she was. Her little feet moved up and down, following the rhythm of her singing.

"Teacher Kato~ Cookies, cookies!"

"Could we make them into heart-shaped cookies?"

"Yums! Chiharu wanna give them to Seiichi tomorrow!"

Himari was amused by the energetic little dumpling. She asked while laughing, "Oh, another boy's name? Who's Seiichi? I think you mentioned Hikaru and Kaito the other day."

Aye, this girl... Himari could already imagine how black Kazuya's face would be.

"Seiichi just comes from another school. He's our new friend! And, and, guess what, Seiichi was the tiger who gave the tiger cookie for Chiharu! We met again!"

Kazuya's ears were prickly from the moment his bubbly niece began to sing but, all of a sudden, the last sentences coming from the dumpling's mouth alerted him.

"Seiichi? Tiger? Don't tell me it's the same boy that you kissed at the zoo?" Kazuya stared at Chiharu from the rearview mirror, "It is really him, Chiharu?"

"Seiichi is shy, shy ah! Chiharu remembers him but he said he didn't. Then Chiharu made him remember Chiharu~"

The little dumpling was totally obvious to the change of expression of her uncle's face. Even Izumi who just sat silently beside her looked suspiciously at the little girl.

Both men didn't expect to hear such a thing from Chiharu.

"...How did you make him remember you?"

Somehow, Kazuya felt his scalp tingled as he was dreading to hear the answer.

"Chiharu mua~ Seiichi's cheeks! But, but, he became shy again like at the zoo!"

Himari swore she could see how tightly Kazuya was holding the steering wheel as if he was afraid of accidentally changing the lane because of shock.

"Haha... haha... Chiharu, you're so... Open ah," She laughed awkwardly.

"Chiharu likes Seiichi!" The dumpling proudly exclaimed.

Both of the men, especially Kazuya almost choked in anger. He didn't know why did his only niece could turn to be so blatant like this? 

Was there any fault in the way of her upbringing?

The small episode ended with Izumi sternly reminded Chiharu to not easily kiss someone's cheeks. The boy, who was always calm and composed, almost scratched his head in frustration when the dumpling naively asked why couldn't she kiss someone she liked.

They had to ban all the princesses saved by the princes' stories from her!

Himari silently thought that while Chiharu got to meet the cute little tiger again, she also had unexpectedly bumped into the madam again today.

At the villa, Aunt Mayu was exhilarated to see Himari coming home with the three of them. The kind-looking housekeeper urged the female teacher to come inside.

Himari blinked as she looked at a pair of pink home slippers placed on the entryway. Red strawberry prints adorned the slippers, making them looked cute and fluffy.

"After you came the other day, Mr. Hayashi brought back these slippers for you to use," Aunt Mayu laughed good-naturedly.

Himari drifted her eyes from the slippers to the man who had just entered the door. Under her meaningful gaze, Kazuya coughed once before darted his eyes away as if he didn't see anything.

Himari resisted laughing. She wore the strawberry slippers. The soles were soft, they felt bouncy under her feet. 

After wiggling her toes covered by the slippers, Himari said, "En, these slippers are cute and a perfect fit for me."

When the couple exchanged another look again, Himari saw a smug smile plastered on the man's face. Their exchange made Aunt Mayu smiled broadly.

Even though Kazuya insisted for her to rest first, Himari politely refused his kind intention. She immediately followed Aunt Mayu to the kitchen while Chiharu happily trailed from behind. The dumpling resumed singing happy tunes as she was expecting to bake cookies together with Himari later.

"Uncle, are you busy?"

Izumi's voice stopped Kazuya from his tracks. He glanced at the little boy.

"No. Why?"

"Play basketball with me," responded Izumi.

Teacher Goda didn't make them stayed for a practice today because he had an urgent matter to do.

Starting from tomorrow Tuesday until Friday, Teacher Goda would have them practiced for three hours before going home. This might be a friendly match between two elementary schools but all of them still wanted to deliver the best results this coming Sunday.

Kazuya didn't say that he too wanted to tag along in the kitchen with the three ladies. He swiftly agreed to Izumi's request.

"Change our clothes first."

"Hehe, okay," Izumi laughed.

While the two men, big and small, headed upstairs to change into sportswear, the three ladies had started busying in the kitchen.

Aunt Mayu was happy to join Himari and Chiharu made the cookies. At the same time, the middle-aged lady had a pleasant conversation with the English teacher.

"I've only started working here three years ago. At that time, I'm really in need of a job. Aye, luckily I found Mr. Hayashi's advertisement, looking for a housekeeper."

Aunt Mayu was telling Himari of her experience working in the villa as the three of them started working on the dough. On one side, Chiharu was playing with a piece of small dough that Himari gave her.

Her cute little face was beaming with happiness.

"Then, Aunt Mayu, you didn't get to meet.." Himari paused, lowered her voice and asked in a whisper, "...the sibling's father?"

Aunt Mayu blinked then she smiled regretfully, "Ah, my mistake. I mean, their father, Mr. Hayashi Hiroki who hired me after... you know, the passing of their mother. After that, his brother, Mr. Hayashi Kazuya continued to hire me."

Himari nodded in understanding. 

It seemed like, Kazuya's elder brother found Aunt Mayu and hired her before he was met with the unfortunate incident. Since then, this middle-aged lady had integrated herself as a part of their family.

"En, what's that sound?" 

Himari lifted up her eyes from the dough as her ears caught a continuous hitting sound from the outside.

"I think Mr. Hayashi is playing basketball with Izumi," Aunt Mayu answered from where the oven was placed. She was checking on the temperature, "Nowadays, whenever he's free, he would help Izumi practice."

Ah, right. The tournament would be held the next Sunday. Like an upright and diligent boy he always was, slacking would never be in Izumi's life dictionary. 

While...

Himari's eyes fell on a certain dumpling who was messing with the dough. She stifled a laugh as Kazuya's concern came true.

Hehe, Chiharu made a mess alright. But, this dumpling could still be trusted when baking together. Chiharu followed both Himari and Aunt Mayu's instructions well when they were just preparing the dough just now.

"Chiharu, let's shape the cookies now?" Himari tried to attract the dumpling's attention, "We can have these freshly baked cookies for tea time. Wanna have some?"

"Let's!" Chiharu righteously exclaimed her agreement.

Thus, the little dumpling sat next to Himari on the high stool. Her little hands worked nonstop as she pressed the heart-shaped cutter on the dough.

At the same time, Himari looked out of the windows. She saw one man and one boy were seriously dribbling and shooting the basketball into a hoop. The sturdy pole of the basketball hoop stood tall on the neatly trimmed lawn.

En, somehow, Himari found Kazuya more attractive as he nimbly ran from one side to the other while dribbling the ball.

Himari, "..."

Let's just focus on baking.

With blushing cheeks, Himari shifted her gaze to Chiharu who was diligently cut the dough into heart-shaped cookies

In an hour, the sugary and sweet scent of the cookies permeated throughout the entire kitchen. Because the kitchen windows were opened, the breeze carried the scent of the sweet strawberries, slightly burnt yet tasty chocolate chip and sugar out of the windows.

"It seems like the boys have finished with their game," Aunt Mayu said as she looked in the backyard, "The weather is good. We should have tea in the backyard. Teacher Kato, why don't you go upstairs and call for the boys?"

"Eh, me?" Himari pointed at herself.

Aunt Mayu laughed, "Don't be shy, ah! Go now. The cookies still need to be cooled down a little. Chiharu, bring your teacher upstairs. Go and call your uncle and big brother."

"Okay~" Chiharu was excited to receive such a task.

In the end, under the dumpling's persistency, Himari was dragged upstairs. An inkling formed in her head as she thought Aunt Mayu was deliberately asked her to call both Kazuya and Izumi personally.

"Teacher Kato, go and call Uncle! Chiharu would call Big Brother!"

Before Himari could say anything, the dumpling had run to Izumi's room.

"...Let's just do it."

When she came here the other day, Kazuya did show her where was his bedroom but, neither of them got inside. It was kind of baffling for Himari to go to his bedroom even though just for calling him.

Soon, her feet stopped in front of a room. The wooden door was painted in dark gray.

"Kazuya? Aunt Mayu asked me to call you," Himari called as she knocked on the door twice, "We're having tea in the backyard."

This... he won't suddenly appear by not wearing any shirt, did he?

Himari inwardly blamed herself for watching too many dramas.

Creak...

As Himari was thinking, a shadow of a man fell on her before her eyes caught the sight of the familiar face. Beads of water dripped from his hair and face. A white towel was hanging over his bare shoulders.

"Ah, it's tea time? Wait a moment."

Kazuya took a glance at Himari. A smirk was drawn on his lips. He turned around, leaving the door open. The view of his back was visible in her eyes.

Himari stood stiff on the ground.

He really... didn't wear a shirt?

And...

This man had tattoos?!