As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Kazuya drove alongside the road heading to the neighborhood. Because it was still early, he didn't face any road jams throughout his way here.

The sun was dazzling and the air was cool.

His mood today was as bright as the sky outside, unlike how distressed he felt last night.

Kazuya woke up with an energized feeling as he was reminded of his date with Himari. He didn't even think further of the lonely and gloomy feeling that shrouded his heart before he fell asleep.

Aunt Mayu would stay with the children until this evening. Chiharu was happy because the housekeeper said they could have her favorite egg pudding for tea time today. Izumi was like usual, he spent the morning playing basketball in the backyard.

"I hope she'd be happy with my plan," Kazuya murmured quietly.

The reason why he asked her out for a date was that Kazuya wanted to cheer Himari up. He felt bad to see her crying yesterday. Even though Himari insisted she was already fine, he still wanted to do something for her.

Without her knowing, Kazuya planned to bring her on a trip to a beach. Although summer had yet to come, it was still great to spend their time walking on the sandy beach while only focusing on each other.

Ring~ Ring~

Kazuya glanced at the dashboard. In an instant, he smiled once he saw Himari's name. He pressed on a button, connecting the call with his phone. At the same time, Kazuya entered the road that led to the apartment building.

"Hello, did you miss me? I'm already..."

"...Kazuya. Sorry, I think... sobs... I can't..."

His words were left unfinished the moment her hoarse voice filled the car. 

She was crying.

"Himari? What happens? Wait... I'm already here!"

The call was ended abruptly from Himari's side, making him thoroughly uneasy.

Kazuya sped up the car before he pulled a stop in front of the apartment. Without thinking much, he rushed out and ran to Himari's apartment unit.

Why did she cry earlier?

Did something really happen?

Her door was still closed. It gave him an unfathomable feeling.

"Himari! Open the door!"

Kazuya repeatedly rang the doorbell. His hand kept on knocking on the door. Although the sounds might alert the neighbors, he didn't care.

He needed to see if she was fine.

"Himari, open the door! Are you okay? Himari?"

Creak...

The door was finally opened. 

"Himari! What..."

The rest of his words got stuck in his throat the moment Kazuya saw Himari's appearance. 

His lady was dressed in white. It was clear that she was ready to go out but, her current state sent alarm bells ringing in his mind.

Himari's face was ashen with tears running down her cheeks. Both of her eyes reddened, they were completely blurred by her tears.

The look in her eyes was heartbreaking.

"...Kazuya, my mom... She... Ah!"

Himari took a step forward before her legs suddenly weakened.

"...!"

Kazuya swiftly caught Himari the moment she stumbled. He supported her waist and let her leaned on him. She weakly fumbled to grasp his arms. Her entire body was shivering in fear.

"Hush, let me bring you inside first," Kazuya softened his voice in an attempt to calm her down.

Himari just nodded. She let him support her until they reached the living room. The man crouched down in front of her after he pushed her to sit on the couch.

"What's wrong? Did something happen to your mother?"

From the tiny bits of what he heard earlier, Kazuya roughly guessed Himari had received bad news regarding her mother. 

Himari was reminded of the call from Granny Saichi. In an instant, another stream of tears burst out from her eyes.

"Mom... She's in the hospital. Granny... Granny Saichi told me... She... almost got hit by a car..."

It was too unexpected for Himari to hear it but, it was the truth.

She had just called her mother last night but, this morning, danger almost befell on her mother when she was on her way to the morning market.

Kazuya gently wiped her face dry with a tissue. He held her fingers in his other hand. The tips of her fingers felt so cold against his warm touch.

"Kazuya... Sorry, I don't think... We can go out... I wanna go home..."

Himari forced the words out of her mouth. She looked at the man through her hazy eyes glistened with tears. 

In the blurred view, she saw him smiling faintly.

"Silly, you're worried about that? Let me send you home, en?" 

Kazuya rose up to his feet. He held both of her hands in his.

"No! You don't have to..." Himari quickly refused, "I can take a train there."

It would take a long time before they could reach her hometown. She couldn't possibly let Kazuya bring her all the way there. 

Kazuya sighed helplessly. He patiently coaxed her, "Do you think I can let you go home in your state right now?"

If he really did that, Kazuya knew he would be uneasy until he knew Himari had safely met her mother. It was better if he just sent her back and accompanied her at the same time.

Himari wanted to refuse but, her will weakened under his reassuring gaze. 

In the end, she just nodded.

Kazuya was relieved to see her agreeing to him. He patted her head, "Go and pack up your items. I'll wait here."

"...okay."

Himari stared at the man for a moment longer before she ran back inside her bedroom. Kazuya went to the kitchen. He poured a glass of water then brought it to the bedroom. His feet stopped in front of the open door.

Even until now, Kazuya still didn't dare to step inside. After all, it was her personal space.

"Himari, drink water first," He knocked on the door frame. His eyes fell on her busy figure.

"...put it on the table."

Granny Saichi said her mother's condition wasn't serious but Himari didn't think she would return back to the city right after seeing her mother. She had to take a few days of leave from school.

It was unbearable for Himari if she left her mother alone in their hometown at this crucial moment. 

She only had her mother as her only family. She could give up on everything just to make sure her mother was alive and well.

"Himari! Himari!"

Both Himari and Kazuya were distracted by the voice. Kazuya saw a middle-aged woman running inside the apartment, her face was looking so anxious.

The woman stopped short at the sight of Kazuya.

"Ah, you are..."

"Hello, madam," Kazuya gave the woman a polite bow, "Are you looking for Himari?"

"Yes, I..."

"Aunt Mio!"

Himari rushed out of the room as she heard the middle-aged woman's voice. Her appearance surprised Aunt Mio.

"Himari! What's wrong?"

Aunt Mio came here after she heard a man's urgent voice coming from Himari's apartment. Because she was afraid something unpleasant was happening, she quickly rushed to this apartment unit.

It seemed like something had indeed occurred. If not, why did this female teacher look terrible?

"Aunt Mio, my mom is hospitalized," Himari bit her lips, holding back her tears from running down her face again. She stared at her kind neighbor, "I'm going home... Can you please look after my place for a while?"

"What? You should head back now! Don't worry about your place ah! Then, this gentleman..."

Aunt Mio remembered she had seen this man with Himari before.

If she wasn't mistaken, she had seen this young man with Himari a few times before. This man was also with the young teacher when she dived into the canal to save the drowning boy more than a month ago.

"Hello, madam. I'm Himari's boyfriend, Hayashi Kazuya," Kazuya took the opportunity to introduce himself to Himari's neighbor, "I'll personally send Himari back to her hometown. Please rest assured."

To see this middle-aged lady coming to check on Himari just by listening to him knocking and calling for her earlier showed that she was a good and reliable neighbor. 

"Then, please take good care of her," Aunt Mio humbly requested.

She knew Himari was alone in this city. It was reassuring if she had a good man to take care of her especially in a much-needed time like this.

Himari just packed a few things. She put Chobi inside a carrier, made sure all the important plugs of the electrical appliances were taken off the sockets, gave the spare key to Aunt Mio then got inside Kazuya's car.

Kazuya had finished talking to Aunt Mayu on the phone, telling her that he had to be away from the city for a while. He also spoke to Izumi and reminded him to not say anything to Chiharu. The dumpling might cry worrying for her favorite Teacher Kato.

"Sorry... We've to change our plans and, thank you, really..."

If Kazuya wasn't here with her, Himari doubted she could calm down after receiving the bad news. She might even rush to the train station without properly sorting out the things at her apartment.

"If you continued crying, I bet your mom won't have a good first impression of me," Kazuya deliberately teased her while he rubbed her face. He chuckled softly, "Hey, it's my first time meeting your mom. Don't make me nervous, okay?"

Himari burst into laughter in the midst of her uneasiness.

To be truthful, Himari was glad to have Kazuya with her right now.

Really, really glad.

His presence alone helped to comfort her.