As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

When Himari and Kazuya walked side by side along the hallway to go downstairs, the former couldn't help but look at the latter with a confused yet bewildered look in her eyes. It was obvious that she was thinking of something.

Kazuya couldn't resist laughing. He asked with a grin, "Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think my figure is good? Did you feel shy earlier?"

Himari couldn't deny that she was feeling shy when suddenly Kazuya appeared in front of her shirtless but, because she was shocked by another discovery, the bashfulness was replaced by another shocking feeling.

The image of this man's tattoo kept flashing in her mind.

Kazuya had a tattoo on the left side of his shoulders, stretching until the tips reached his lower back. The tattoo was dyed in jet black ink in the shape of a half of fallen angel wings.

But, why just half?

Where was the other half?

And, did the tattoo had any meaning?

"Mr. Hayashi Kazuya, I didn't expect that you have a tattoo," Himari said straightforwardly while narrowing her eyes, "I really, really didn't expect that."

Her tone right now sounded like a teacher disciplining her naughty student.

"Cough! It's a matter of the past," Kazuya answered in a righteous tone, trying to defend himself. He then asked seriously, "Why? Would you give me a demerit because of my tattoo?"

"Hehe, let's see about that," Himari gave a response. She lifted her eyes playfully, "En, I've never thought that you're quite rebellious when you're younger."

"I was being artistic instead of rebellious," Kazuya was still firm on his stance. 

His answer incited laughter from Himari before both of them laughed together.

When Kazuya thought of the elaborate tattoo that he had, he somehow wanted to go back to his past and scold his silly and brainless younger self to not do it. But, as he looked at how the young lady beside him just laughed and teased him, the thoughts gradually died down.

She accepted what was lying on his exterior.

But, would she accept the matters he had hidden inside him?

The bubbly laughter of Chiharu came from the backyard. The little girl, Izumi and Aunt Mayu were sitting at the pavilion.

Even though Aunt Mayu was a housekeeper, she didn't feel awkward having tea time together with her employer and the children. It was the habit that she got after Kazuya frequently asked the middle-aged lady to join them whenever she could.

"Are the cookies delicious, Chiharu?" Himari asked the dumpling who had crumbs on her lips.

"Delicious! So delicious!" Chiharu took one and raised up her small hand at Himari, "Teacher Kato, aa~ Open your mouth."

"Chiharu is so good, ah. Thank you~"

Himari bent down and took a bite of the cookie given by the dumpling. Chiharu burst into another peal of giggles.

"Mr. Hayashi, Teacher Kato, come and have some tea," Aunt Mayu poured the tea inside two teacups, "I used the tea leaves that Teacher Kato gave before."

"Thank you, Aunt Mayu," Himari smiled.

Even though she had asked the kind housekeeper to just call her by name, Aunt Mayu refused. The older lady didn't mind addressing the siblings by name but, she didn't feel it was right to call either Kazuya or Himari by their names.

Himari just listened when Chiharu and Izumi shared their stories.

Izumi was no longer awkward with her, something that she noticed the more time she got to know this student of hers. At times, Aunt Mayu chimed in as she told the siblings the stories when she was young.

No wonder Chiharu and Izumi could still be happy despite the setbacks in their lives. They not only had an uncle who did everything to ensure them having a happy home but, Aunt Mayu also played a pivotal role in making the children feel safe and blessed.

While they were immersed in their chatters, someone didn't really listen to the two children's ramblings.

Himari sneaked a look at Kazuya who sat beside her. 

It was just a feeling but, since the moment she met him in the hospital earlier, there were times this man looked lost in thoughts. Although Kazuya tried to mask it with a smile, he couldn't conceal all of it well.

Did something was bothering him?

At a quarter to six, Kazuya and Himari excused themselves. Aunt Mayu asked if Himari could stay for dinner but she politely refused, saying she had a job to attend to. Then, the housekeeper told Himari to come again and taste her dishes.

Himari was glad to promised Aunt Mayu that.

The vehicles on the roads moved steadily despite a bit slower because it was the peak hour. Himari glanced at Kazuya who was driving beside her. 

After much consideration, she opened her mouth to ask.

"Kazuya, is something troubling you?"

It was better if she asked rather than orchestrating countless assumptions in her mind. Either he answered her or not, the decision was up to him.

Himari still remembered that this man acted as if he could tell that she was hiding something from him but, Kazuya didn't force her to reveal it.

Although it would be painful... maybe, just maybe, she would unveil everything if they agreed to marry in the end.

The lady's voice imbued with concern pulled Kazuya from the claws that were trying to tug at his mind.

She asked because she took notice of him. 

Instead of keeping quiet about it, he should tell her, didn't he?

Kazuya glanced at Himari for a moment before he replied cautiously, "I was just thinking... I haven't really talked to you about my brother, aren't I?"

Taken aback, Himari unconsciously nodded.

His question came as a surprise. 

Himari couldn't deny that she was actually curious about Chiharu and Izumi's father but, since this was a sensitive topic, she didn't dare to ask Kazuya about his elder brother. She only knew a bit from what Aunt Mayu told her earlier.

What made him suddenly thought about it?

Kazuya let out a sigh as he saw her baffled look.

"Do you fancy a walk with me at a park?" He asked quietly, "Just us two?"

The curves of Himari's eyes softened.

"I'd love to," She smiled.

Kazuya changed the direction of the car. Instead of passing the traffic lights ahead of them, he put on the signal and steered the car to enter the intersection on the left. Himari just followed where he wanted to bring her.

In the end, the car slowed down once the two of them reach Kaiyo River Park.

"This place is as beautiful as ever even though the cherry blossoms have stopped blooming," Himari made a remark after she emerged out of the car, "En, summer would come soon."

The evening breeze blew past her, tousling the end of her dark locks. Kazuya looked at Himari over the roof of the car, a smile curled up on his lips as he saw the lady looked pleased.

"The other day, we came here as friends," Kazuya rounded the car, stood opposite Himari and enclosed their hands together, "Now, we're already a couple? En, such good progress."

Amused by his words, Himari bubbled into laughter. The sweet sound gently chimed next to Kazuya's ears before the breeze carried her laughter away.

The cherry blossoms had long wilted. 

But, the buds of affections in their hearts had just started to sprout.

"Should we go boat riding again?" Himari raised up her brows.

The cherry blossoms season might have ended but there were still many people, mostly couples, who went boat riding. As the sun had yet to go down, more than a dozen white boats floated on the stream with couples having a pleasant time with each other.

Kazuya chuckled, "It seems like we'd have a short date between us today. Then, should we just cancel our hiking trip this weekend?"

"You can, if you want me to go there alone and meet another man to accompany me," Himari jokingly threatened the man beside her.

"No can do," Kazuya shook his head. He frowned and added in a serious tone, "It's hard for me to have a girlfriend. How could I let some other rotten men chase after you?"

Himari deliberately let out a helpless sigh. Kazuya just smiled.

The couple took a stroll on the cobbled pathways. Neither of them spoke but the silence between them didn't feel oppressing. With their hands linked together, they just resembled any other couple who walked past them, so full of love and joy.

Himari didn't pressure Kazuya to speak about whatever he wanted. She just let him took his time. Even though he still didn't open up in the end, it was fine with her.

At least, she could still have a good walk in the park with her man.

"That student... The one that you accompanied at the hospital earlier, has she got better?"

Himari blinked. Although she was surprised, she still answered.

"My colleague said the student has been brought home. The doctor advised her to stay at home for two days."

Kazuya's smile was tinged in bitterness, "Fortunately, she could still walk out of the hospital while my brother... I don't even know if he would ever wake up in the future."

Himari stopped in her tracks. Kazuya unconsciously followed suit. Both of them stood under a shady tree. The leaves rustled above them as the wind howled.

The sunlight sneaked in between the leaves, falling on the back of the man in front of her. As his face was obscured by faint shadows, Himari saw his usual easy smile drooped.

"Himari," Kazuya let out a heavy breath. He gently pressed his thumb over her palm, "My brother... He's in the hospital. The same hospital you went to earlier."

All this while, he was there.