As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

At the same time, inside Himari's little apartment.

"Are you sure you don't want to take a nap, Chiharu?" Himari eyed the dumpling in concern.

"Yup! Chiharu already nap nap after lunch. Teacher Kato, let's make cakes! Lots of cakes!" 

The dumpling jumped up and down, showing how much she wanted to bake cakes with Himari. Her entire little body was energized at the thought of having delicious cakes this evening.

"Hehehe, okay. Let's make them," Himari laughed in amusement. She finally agreed with the dumpling's request, "We can make some for your uncle and big brother too."

"Yayy!"

"Meow meow~"

Earlier, Himari wanted to let Chiharu taking a nap inside her bedroom. The little one surely was tired after a day at school. Chobi could accompany the dumpling but, Chiharu asked if they could do activities together instead.

When Himari asked what the dumpling would love to do, Chiharu replied animatedly, saying she wanted to bake cakes with her. 

"We can eat cakes together!"

Those were her last exclamations before Chobi meowed next to the dumpling as if he agreed with her.

Himari changed into a long cotton T-shirt and gave Chiharu spare clothes as well. It was an adorable one-piece bunny dress in the color pink. She bought it not long ago at a thrift shop. Himari was reminded of how cute Chiharu was wearing the bunny onesie during her trip to the zoo a few months ago.

"I just bought it on a whim," Himari helped Chiharu to change out of her school uniform. She hung them on a hook, "Hehe, I'm glad you could wear it."

Chiharu grinned, "Teacher Kato has a bunny too! Look!"

The dumpling pointed at the printed white bunny on Himari's T-shirt.

"Then, should we make bunny pancakes?" Himari thought of the idea.

"Bunny pancakes?" 

The dumpling's eyes shone in awe. It was clear that she was thinking about how to shape the pancakes to resemble a bunny. Himari's heart melted at the sight of the adorable little dumpling.

Thus, Himari carried the little dumpling to the kitchen. She helped Chiharu to wear a child's apron before she did the same to her. Chobi followed from behind. He was busy rubbing his chubby body against one of the table's legs.

"Look, this is the mold," Himari showed Chiharu a stainless steel mold in the shape of a bunny face. 

"Cute! Cute! Make the pancakes, now!"

"Hahaha~ Okay!"

This one was bought on an impulse because Himari found the mold cute. Even though she rarely used it, she was pleased to see that Chiharu was happy due to her unnecessary purchase.

All of the ingredients and equipment were already prepared on the table. Himari and Chiharu worked side by side, although the dumpling's job was mostly giving cheers at Himari. 

Chobi was already sleeping under the kitchen table. From time to time, his pointy ears flicked.

"Can Chiharu try?" The dumpling asked as she was lured by the scent of sugar coming from the batter bowl.

"Not yet. You might get a stomachache," Himari gently refused her. She scooped a small bowl of chocolate chips and placed the bowl in front of Chiharu, "You can have these."

The raw eggs Himari used inside the batter wouldn't be good for Chiharu's stomach. It was better if she diverted the dumpling's attention with other things.

"Yummy! Thank you~"

Himari held back her laughter as Chiharu kept on behaving cutely. She let the dumpling eat the chocolate chips while she continued whisking the batter. 

Not long after, the delicious aroma of sugar, cinnamon and butter spread inside the little apartment.

Himari made four pancakes, one for both she and Chiharu while the others for Kazuya and Izumi. Since the mold was big, one pancake was enough for a person.

"Chiharu, do you want strawberries and blueberries on your bunny pancake?"

Himari had cut the fruits into slices. She also cut some bananas to be eaten together with the pancakes.

"Want it, want it~"

Their next task was decorating the pancakes. Himari let Chiharu decided and worked by herself even though the dumpling created a mess in the process. It was great to generate her own creativity.

Besides the used pots and pans, the kitchen table was stained with melted chocolate, milk that Chiharu accidentally knocked over from the glass and a few other things.

"Teacher Kato, Teacher Kato~"

"En? What is it? Do you need something else?" 

When Himari was loading the pots and pans inside the sink, Chiharu suddenly called her from the kitchen table.

The dumpling was looking at her with a slight caution and curiosity in her round eyes. It was the first time Himari saw such a look on the little girl's face.

"Chiharu?" Himari washed her hands, wiped them dry and quickly went back to Chiharu, "What's wrong? You don't look good?" 

Where did her bright smile go?

Chiharu grinned yet she appeared shy. Her soft and milky voice flowed out from her little mouth.

"Teacher Kato always makes cakes with Teacher Kato's mommy?"

Stunned, Himari nodded stiffly.

Somehow, she had a bad feeling. 

"Yes... Why did you ask?"

Chiharu tilted her head. She blinked a few times then spoke again, "How nice~ Chiharu wanna make cakes with Mommy too but Chiharu has no Mommy now."

The little girl's voice was so soft yet it felt so sharp against Himari's heart.

Without noticing the change in the young lady's expression, Chiharu continued in the same sweet voice.

"Koko said she always makes cakes with her mommy. Koko always gives Chiharu cakes, the ones her mommy makes."

The dumpling's eyes were still bright as if she was talking about something casual. Himari's eyes were the ones that got layered by unshed tears.

Never did she expect to hear this from this little girl.

How could she still smile while talking about her mother who had passed away?

Was it because she was still so small thus her perception was different than an adult's?

Himari held back her sobs. She raised up her hands and gently cupped the dumpling's face. The little girl's skin was so soft under her touch.

She was still so small. She needed all protection of this world.

Himari didn't know if Chiharu was hiding her sadness behind her smile but, she really hoped this small body that held a little heart inside could be happy forever. 

"Chiharu, if you want... Every time you want us to bake cakes or cook dishes together, just tell me, en?"

Himari's voice was shaky as she tried to offer comfort to the dumpling.

The little girl's eyes brightened as if stars were twinkling in her round eyes.

"Really? Chiharu can bake and cook with Teacher Kato? Like Koko and her mommy?"

"Yes, darling," Himari nodded.

As it was hard to control herself, Himari brought the little girl in her arms.

Chiharu was surprised by the sudden action but her face continued beaming in joy. Her small and chubby hands were awkwardly hugging Himari back.

"No matter what you wanna do, either playing together, going out together and anything else, you can just tell me. We can do so many things together, en, Chiharu?"

Although she didn't share a drop of blood with the soft little bun, at this moment, Himari really wanted to give all of the happiness in the world to her.

To this precious little girl.

"Hehehe~ Okay~ We can dress matchy matchy and leave Uncle and Big Brother at home! They are so boring ah. Chiharu wanna play girls' games but Uncle and Big Brother not suitable oh~"

Himari laughed as she listened to the dumpling's rambling. She quickly rubbed her eyes. Himari didn't want the dumpling to see that she was close to crying.

"Okay, let's do that," She patted the little girl's back.

Chiharu's head kept bobbing up and down after she finished her milk and bunny pancake. Himari carried the dumpling to her room and let her slept on the bed. Chobi trailed from behind before he curled up next to Chiharu.

"Take care of her, Chobi," Himari whispered to her furry son.

Chobi just quietly stared at her.

Himari wanted to smile but, her lips felt so stiff. 

From the moment she accompanied Chiharu to eat the pancake until now, her heart was uneasy. The little girl's words kept on lingering inside her mind, arousing many kinds of emotions within her.

They reminded Himari of what she had experienced growing up.

Although their situation was different, some of them were still similar.

Chiharu won't ever be able to reunite with her mother again in this life and, even the possibility of seeing her father be healthy was small.

And, not only that...

Even though she didn't want to, Himari was forced to be reminded of what she had lost three years ago.

Once again, her eyes reddened as her heart throbbed painfully.

Ding~ Dong~

Himari jolted in surprise. She rubbed her eyes before she stealthily ran out of the bedroom. She was surprised to see Kazuya at this hour. It was way earlier than the estimated time he told her last night.

She forced a smile on her face.

"Have you finished your work?" asked Himari after inviting the man in, "You're here early."

"I've finished the important ones," answered Kazuya as he followed her inside, "Where's the troublemaker? Is she sleeping?"

He didn't see anyone else except Himari.

"She has just eaten her pancake before napping," Himari lowered her head, keeping away from Kazuya's gaze. Even after trying, her eyes were still blurred by tears. As she spoke again, her voice grew shakier, "We made... pancakes together. Chiharu has even prepared you and Izumi's shares."

Kazuya frowned. He came closer to Himari, "You don't look good. What's wrong?"

"Nothing, I'm okay," Himari quickly ran into the kitchen.

Kazuya watched her in silence. 

It didn't escape his notice that from the moment Himari opened the door to him, she had been avoiding his eyes.

What happened?

A sense of helplessness shrouded his heart as he stared at her back. Somehow, she appeared smaller than before.

As if, there was something that was deeply troubling her. 

Kazuya's step got closer and closer to her.