As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Your mother is still unconscious but, don't worry. The doctor said there's nothing wrong with her. She was just sleeping for now after being given treatments."

Granny Saichi sounded so calm at the end of the phone. The reassurance brought by her voice managed to disperse a part of Himari's uneasiness. 

"Please look after Mom, Granny Saichi. I think I'd arrive in two hours and a half," Himari breathed out in relief. She cast a look to the outside of the window, "I've just left the city."

"Be careful on your way here. Don't be too alarmed. Your mother would nag at you if you endanger yourself just because you want to get to her sooner."

"I will," Himari smiled faintly, "Thank you again, Granny Saichi."

Himari clenched the phone even after Granny Saichi hung up the call. Although the old lady's words helped to further calm her, Himari still felt her heart was heavy as if a rock was sitting inside it.

It was not a life and death situation but, she really wanted to arrive there as quickly as possible.

If only she had the ability to just fly over there.

"...!"

As if she was reminded by something, Himari glanced at the man who was steadily driving beside her.

"Kazuya, there's a rest stop in a few miles. You should rest for a while."

Kazuya had been driving nonstop ever since they left the city center more than an hour ago. The speed of his driving was faster than usual but, he still maneuvered the car safely on the road. 

When Himari offered to drive, the man refused. It was clear he didn't want her to do so when her emotions were unstable right now. 

Although Himari no longer cried, she was still fidgeting in anxiety. 

Kazuya looked at her for a moment before he focused back on the road ahead of him. With a hum, he agreed, "Okay, let's stop there."

He didn't tell her that it was alright for him to continue driving. He just thought since she had calmed down, it was better if they made a stop somewhere and let her breathed in the cool air outside. It might help to further lift up her mood before they reached her hometown.

In another thirty minutes, the dark gray car slowed its speed as Kazuya drove inside a rest area of the expressway.

Both of them got out of the car. Since neither wanted to go to the toilet, Kazuya beckoned at Himari to follow him to sit at a nearby bench. He brought out a basket from the car trunk.

"A picnic basket?" A realization dawned on Himari. She looked at the man in disbelief, "You planned for a picnic?"

Kazuya let out a throaty chuckle, "I actually wanted to bring you to the beach. Maybe some other time."

Both of them sat on the bench. Kazuya poured a cup of warm tea and gave it to Himari, "Drink it. And eat some food. I don't think you'd eat much after meeting your mother."

Himari was caught in a daze. 

He was really considerate of her.

"En," A soft smile bloomed shyly on her face.

Kazuya prepared a few foods for them; egg sandwich, pasta, salad and chicken karaage. 

After drinking and eating for a while, they returned to the car. Himari had to admit she felt much better now.

Instead of thinking of something pessimistic, now she was more focused on getting her mother back to health.

After all, Granny Saichi had reminded her that her mother's condition wasn't serious.

At half-past one o'clock, the car arrived at the town hospital where Himari's mother was hospitalized. Himari secretly thought she might arrive later in the evening if she tried booking a ticket during a weekend like this.

"Granny said Mom's at the third floor," Himari told Kazuya after he parked the car, "Let's go."

Maybe because she was finally here, Himari suddenly became anxious.

The urge to see her mother right in front of her grew unbearable to her.

The thought of seeing her mother lying on a hospital bed made her heart pounded furiously. Her face grew pale in the next second.

"Relax," Kazuya held her hand. He softened his voice and gave her a pat on her head, "Your mother would be fine. Don't rush."

Himari pursed her lips then nodded. She took a deep breath, trying to stabilize her feelings from wreaking havoc inside her mind.

The town hospital was considerably smaller than the ones in the city. It was not hard for Himari to find the ward where her mother currently was. Before that, she asked the guard to look after Chobi. She couldn't possibly leave him inside the car even though he would just obediently sat inside the carrier.

Kazuya followed her closely, making sure she was alright in every step she took.

"...hehe, you don't know that..."

"Aiya, Himari would be worried..."

"...that girl..."

Himari's ears perked up.

It was her mother's and Granny Saichi's voices!

She rushed to the ward, leaving Kazuya behind.

"Mom!"

Himari dashed inside the ward at the end of the hallway. Three pairs of eyes abruptly looked in her direction. Two of them appeared delighted to see her while the other one was stiffly stood beside the bed.

"Mom, you're awake! Are you alright? How's your injury? Ah, Granny Saichi and... Mr. Hori are here too?"

Himari stopped short at the sight of the slightly familiar middle-aged man. 

Even though they had only met once, she still remembered this skinny uncle who was the son of Granny Hori, the old lady they got acquainted with at the strawberry farm a few months ago.

Why did this uncle here?

"Himari, you're here already? Geez, you don't have to come back, you know? Mom just has my ankle sprained for a bit."

Akemi's voice dragged Himari from continued thinking of this middle-aged man's appearance. She quickly walked to her mother's bedside.

"Only an ankle sprain? Granny Saichi said you've injured your wrist too! Mom, how could you almost get hit by the car? Did the driver drive recklessly? Did he run away after injuring you?"

Besides looking a bit pale, her mother indeed appeared fine from the outside.

Akemi's right ankle was wrapped by a white bandage, so did her left wrist. There was also a plaster on the right side of her forehead, concealing any cut she got from the incident.

Thankfully, her mother didn't get any concussion. 

Himari's nose soured at the upsetting thought.

Although her mother just suffered from light injuries, she was still afraid if one day...

"Aiya! What are you doing, crying like a child? Hush, your mom here is fine."

Akemi pulled her daughter who was now sniffling. Himari collapsed on the bed. She hugged her mother tight as if she didn't want to let her go.

Granny Saichi chuckled, "Hehe, having a daughter who's so worried about you, you should be grateful ah! Don't nag at her. Himari came back as soon as she could!"

"I know, I know," Akemi sighed in helplessness. She rubbed her daughter's back, "But, I think she's the one who got injured instead of me. Look, who's crying now?"

"Mom, you could still joke like that?" Himari burst out in frustration.

"Hahaha!"

The ward was filled with Akemi and Granny Saichi's laughter. 

"Ah, who's this gentleman?" 

Granny Saichi was the one who noticed Kazuya who was standing outside the ward. 

Himari was stunned.

She had completely forgotten about him!

"Ah, he came with me," Himari let go of her mother then stood properly. She beckoned at Kazuya to enter, "He drove me here."

Kazuya walked inside the ward. He gave the elders a respectful bow, "Hello, madams. My name is Hayashi Kazuya. I'm..."

"Is this your new boyfriend, Himari?" Akemi beamed in joy, "Aha! I could see the resemblance from the photos! Hello! I'm Kato Akemi, the mother of this child. Hehe, you're more handsome than in the photos ah. Wait, are you sure you're not rented as a boyfriend by my daughter here?"

"...Mom," Himari blushed instantly.

How could her mother act like that?

Kazuya held back his laughter. He smiled at Akemi, "Maybe, I'm actually rented by her before she met a better one?"

Akemi, Granny Saichi and Kazuya laughed together while Mr. Hori just smiled.

Himari screeched internally.

They had just met for seconds but, these two had teamed up against her?

After meeting the doctor and listened by herself about her mother's condition, Himari went to fill in the discharge procedure and pay the bill. 

Her mother didn't want to stay in the hospital for a moment longer. Because Himari was here with her, the doctor gave her a couple of pieces of advice on what should she took care of regarding her mother's condition.

Throughout all these, Kazuya accompanied her.

"You must be tired," Himari held the medicine bag in her hands. She tilted up her head, staring at the man walking beside her, "Once we reach my home, you should take a nap and eat first before driving back to the city."

Kazuya planned to go back right after dropping Himari, her mother and Granny Saichi at home but, under his lady's insistence, he relented to her wishes.

"Okay," He smiled, "I should see for myself of your childhood home. After all, it seems like both your mother and the grandmother already like me."

Himari coughed awkwardly, "Hurm, it's more like they're deceived by you."

Kazuya flicked her forehead, thus earning a glare from her.

Without Himari knowing it, he actually felt totally helpless when he saw her crying in her mother's arms. 

Beyond doubt, her mother was so dear to Himari. 

They only had each other as a family, from Himari's childhood until now.

Unlike him, the terms of parents were a foreign concept to him.