As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The home team won as one of Izumi's teammates shot the final score. Loud cheers blasted inside the gym as both the players and spectators celebrated their winning. Although the rival team appeared a bit disappointed, they still joined in the fun.

While the two teams shook hands with each other, a certain dumpling couldn't contain her giddiness.

"Yayy! Won! Won! Big Brother won!"

Unlike before, Chiharu turned more energetic than ever as she danced and jumped on the bleachers.

"Chiharu, you'd fall!"

Kazuya quickly picked the dumpling and carried her before Chiharu could continue jumping recklessly. If she had indeed slipped and fallen down, she would be the one crying in pain. Just imagining the scene had given him a headache.

And, this won't be the first time it would happen anyway.

Sigh...

"Uncle, let Chiharu down," The dumpling stared at her uncle aggrievedly. Both of her chubby cheeks puffed up like a squirrel.

"And let you fall down?" Kazuya widened his eyes, deliberately giving his niece such a stern look, "No. Do you think your uncle here is free enough to entertain your crying later?"

"Humph!" Chiharu turned her small body around. She crossed her arms and answered righteously, "Uncle no love Chiharu anymore."

Kazuya squinted his eyes at the dumpling who was still carried by him. In the end, he just let out a deep sigh, sounding so helpless.

Just forget it, don't bicker with this dumpling.

Himari laughed at the sigh of Kazuya's funny expression. She slowly rose to her feet and looked at the pair, "It's a good game."

Kazuya quickly looked away from the angry squirrel. He smiled proudly, "They didn't practice hard for nothing."

Even though the school team had won, they would face their rivals again next Sunday at the other's school. The players bid farewell to each other, saying they would meet again soon and played another satisfying game.

It was good to see them smiling and waving their hands although they were not in the same school. 

Himari and Kazuya walked down from the bleachers, heading to where Izumi was currently now. They stopped at a spot while looking at the school players and Teacher Goda. The PE teacher was talking to them, praising their game and encouraging them to continue working hard. 

"This is the result of your efforts! Don't think that because you guys are elementary schoolers, you can't be proud of your achievements! Every achievement is important, do you understand?"

"Yes!" The students loudly answered their teacher's pep talk.

Teacher Goda stood with both of his hands on his hips. His usually laid-back nature was shed away at this moment as he actively motivated them.

"You guys should be tired by now. Go home. If you win again next week, I, your teacher here, would buy you meals, okay? Make sure we can celebrate our wins next Sunday!"

His promise was cheered on by the students.

"Okay!"

"Teacher, don't just buy us noodles!"

"Yes, yes, I want meat!"

Teacher Goda made a face, "You stinky kids! Only know to demand expensive food from your teacher! Go and tell the principal to raise my salary ah!"

"Hahaha!"

All of the children were happy. Their accomplishment today would add to another good memory of childhood for them. It won't be easy for them to not smile and laugh if they ever recalled this day later in the future. 

This was the period when their childhood was blooming. 

Soon, Teacher Goda dismissed all of the players. He noticed Himari who was waiting with Kazuya. The PE teacher gave her a meaningful smirk before he turned around and left to handle another matter. He was followed by a student who acted as his assistant.

Himari could only helplessly smile.

The students were celebrated by their parents and friends. Happy laughter continued to echo inside the gym as they bragged about how they played the game today. Their companions laughed joyfully before giving more compliments to them.

"Izumi, job well done," Kazuya openly praised his nephew once the boy came running to where they stood.

Izumi grinned. Although he was still sweating because of the game, his entire face was beaming.

"Our team won," He laughed. His eyes narrowed in joy.

Himari was all smiles as she took the opportunity to commend the boy, "You're so cool playing inside the court. Your sister couldn't stop cheering for you."

"Hehe, thank you, Teacher Kato," Izumi's face continued to shine. He looked at Chiharu who was carried by their uncle, "Chiharu, didn't you say you have a gift for Big Brother?"

"Hehehe~ Big Brother, so awesome! So cool ah!" The dumpling raised up both of her small thumbs. She laughed merrily, "Go home and see what Chiharu has for Big Brother oh!"

Izumi shot his sister a helpless look. Chiharu continued to laugh.

While the siblings were laughing together, Kazuya glanced at Himari who stood beside him. He asked with a smile, "It's already noon. Where should we eat?"

"Anywhere is fine," replied Himari.

"Eat! Food! Chiharu's hungry!" The dumpling's ears perked up the moment her uncle mentioned eating. She acted as if she had forgotten of her petty strife with her uncle. Chiharu patted on her stomach, "Uncle, go now. Chiharu's hungry. En, what should we eat?"

Kazuya sighed and rolled his eyes. He squeezed the dumpling's chubby cheeks and deliberately said in a stern voice, "You sound like you're the one playing hard earlier. Your big brother should be hungrier than you."

Chiharu blinked and answered innocently, "But, but, Chiharu worked hard too. Chiharu cheered at Big Brother ah!"

Cheering needed energy too!

Why didn't Uncle understand?

Uncle really wanted to fight with her ahhh?

Himari and Izumi laughed as Kazuya turned speechless because of the dumpling. Chiharu really knew how to make a counter-attack when needed.

Ring ring~

The sudden ringing sound mingled with their laughter. Kazuya fished out his phone from the pocket of his jacket and looked at the Caller ID. His face froze in an instant.

It was someone unpleasant to him. Nevertheless, he still picked up the call.

"...hello?"

Himari was quiet as she noticed how rigid Kazuya was when he answered the call. His calm voice also had turned a bit cold as if he didn't want to talk to the caller.

From what she remembered, this was the first time Himari heard Kazuya speaking in such a tone.

Who was the caller that made him sounded so frosty like this?

"Yes. Okay," After answering curtly to the caller, Kazuya lowered his gaze to Izumi who was watching him in curiosity. He didn't talk long on the phone. Kazuya handed the phone to his nephew, "Your grandmother wants to talk to you."

Like Kazuya, Izumi's expression froze for a second before he quickly regained his lost composure.

Himari didn't ask anything. She just looked at the boy when Izumi placed the phone next to his ear. Even so, she was curious about Kazuya's mother that he had never mentioned before.

It dawned on her that this man only ever talked about his comatose brother.

Was the caller his mother or the mother of his deceased sister-in-law?

If it was his own mother...

Himari pursed her lower lip. She subconsciously thought of something difficult to mention. 

No, no, let's not make any assumptions. 

"Hello, Grandmother," Izumi politely greeted the caller yet, as usual, his tone sounded distant, "...yes. I've just finished my game. Our team won this round... En, yes..."

From the start until now, the boy's voice didn't change. He didn't express anything, sounding so bland even.

Yet, in the next second, Izumi's eyes flickered in surprise before he awkwardly replied, "Yes, yes... Thank you, Grandmother. En, I'll work hard. Chiharu? Okay."

Izumi blinked, he retracted the phone away from his ear then stared at Chiharu who was still carried by their uncle. He mumbled dumbly, "Grandmother wants to talk to you."

"Eh? Yay! Lemme talk to Grandma!"

Unlike how rigid Kazuya and Izumi were when talking to the caller, Chiharu was twinkling with joy. The dumpling stretched out both of her hands and quickly put the phone next to her ear.

"Grandma! Is Grandma healthy? Hehe, Chiharu watched Big Brother, played basketball! Yes, yes, Big Brother is so awesome! Big Brother whoosh! Shot the ball so high!"

The dumpling's earlier excitement returned as she cheerfully described how her big brother played basketball. Her cute little mouth didn't stop singing praises.

"Hehehe~ Okay, Grandma~ Let's meet again, okay? Chiharu miss miss Grandma so much! Okay? Okay? Okay ah."

After a few minutes, Chiharu brought the phone away from her ear and gave the phone to her uncle. Her eyes were sparkling as she exclaimed, "Grandma said Big Brother played so so well! Grandma said congratulations to Big Brother!"

A surprise was evident in Kazuya's widened eyes. He blinked, stared at Izumi then frowned.

Izumi looked back at his uncle. He gave the man a nod.

"Grandmother did congratulate me," Izumi said without waiting for his uncle to ask.

It was not weird if his uncle was shocked to hear such words. Even Izumi was caught off guard the first moment he heard his paternal grandmother praised him for playing well in the game.

How did she know that he played in a basketball game today?

And, it was so surprising to have her congratulate him even though his grandmother still spoke in the usual cold tone.

"...good, it's good that your grandmother commended you," Kazuya said stiffly. The incredulity layered in his eyes dispersed in an instant. He glanced at Himari, "Let's go for lunch now?"

"Ah, okay," Himari quickly nodded.

She pretended that she didn't see how forceful the man's smile was.

Thus, the four of them walked out of the gym, heading to the car. The bright sun fell on their heads, basking them under its warmth.