As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

After sending Granny Saichi home, Kazuya made a detour to Himari's childhood home. He drove the car by following her instructions. Her mother, Akemi was sitting in the backseat with Chobi who had come out of the carrier.

Akemi was given a crutch to help her moving around but, Himari still helped to support her mother until she sent her mother to the bedroom.

Even though Akemi wanted to sit in the living room, Himari nagged at her back and urged her to take another rest, saying she was still drowsy due to the medicine given by the doctor.

At the same time, Himari invited Kazuya in as the man brought in the cat carrier and her bag. His car was parked in front of the gate.

"Kazuya, sit down first," Himari rushed out of her mother's bedroom after making sure her mother was comfortably lying on the bed. She took her bag from the man's hand, "You should be thirsty. Let me pour you some drink."

Before Kazuya could say anything, Himari had disappeared into the kitchen.

Her movements were too quick. He just helplessly stared at her back.

Kazuya looked around him, slowly taking in the surroundings of where he currently was.

From the outside, this traditional house looked a bit old yet well-kept. He especially admired how well the yard was tended to. Various kinds of potted plants, as well as flowerbeds, adorned the yard, adding colors to the little home.

While inside, the house was still neat and tidy although some of the furniture was mismatched. To him, this place brought out a homely feeling even though he was an outsider.

On one wooden pillar, Kazuya found horizontal marks carved on the surface. He was amused to realize that the marks indicated Himari's height when she was still young.

Aye, he could imagine his little lady standing straight while excitedly waiting for her mother to measure her height. 

Kazuya walked to the nearby wooden shelf. The corners of his lips raised up the moment he saw the framed photographs lining on the surface. The photographs dated to as old as two decades ago. 

In some of the photos, Kazuya saw a cute-looking little bun smiling to the camera lens.

This little bun should be his young lady during her childhood.

Cute, as cute as the little dumpling at his home.

Or, even cuter?

Hurm, Chiharu would be mad if she knew about the comparison.

"Meow~"

Kazuya looked down to his feet. 

Chobi came rubbing his chin against the man's right leg as if he was claiming possession there. After a while, the chubby cat turned around, walked to the wooden veranda and vanished into the yard.

"Meow~"

Kazuya was amused by the feline. His feet followed where the furry cat went.

Did this cat want to show him something?

From the wooden veranda, the man was welcomed by the view of the courtyard.

"Kazuya? Have your drink."

Before Kazuya could properly enjoy the view, the sound of Himari's voice attracted him. He turned around and looked at his lady who returned with a glass of cold barley tea.

Both of them sat at the veranda. The coming breeze billowed past them while lifting the scattered leaves in the yard.

In one corner of the yard, Kazuya's eyes fell on an abandoned swing. 

"I've seen your childhood photos," Kazuya grinned with a hint of mischief in his eyes, "Hurm, you looked just like Chiharu in your younger days. A fluffy steamed bun."

Horrified, Himari stared at him in disbelief, "How could you! A steamed bun?"

Ugh...

He had just come here for the first time yet this man had already seen her childhood photos? Those must be the ones standing on the shelf!

Kazuya laughed heartily to see her blushing face. 

Hehe, even until now, she was still as adorable as the ones in the photos.

After finishing the drink, Himari led Kazuya to the unused guest room. She had aired out the room before that. Fortunately, her mother had always kept this room clean even though they never had a guest coming here. 

"Sorry, I don't have any man's clothes for you to change into," Himari plumped up the pillows and brought out a clean throw blanket from the wooden cabinet, "But, you really should have a rest. Ah, have you called home? Did the children worry about you coming here?"

Kazuya took off the denim jacket that he wore for their supposed date to the beach today. He folded the long sleeves of the white shirt on his body up to the elbows.

"Instead of worrying, I think they are partying right now," Kazuya rolled his eyes, "Chiharu told me to bring back any local specialty from your hometown. Did she actually think I came here for a short vacation?"

His words incited laughter from Himari.

That was so like Chiharu.

"Hehe, lie down first. I'll wake you up for late lunch, or an early dinner," Himari glanced at the clock. The time was already showing to a quarter to three o'clock, "My mom said she wants to have a short nap as well."

Kazuya let out a sigh. He walked closer to her and placed his palm on top of her head. His action made Himari raised up her chin, looking into the man's eyes.

"You should rest too," He lowered his palm from her head, leaving a warm sensation from his touch. Kazuya played with a strand of her long hair. He continued in a soft tone, "Today must have been exhausting for you. Your mother is safe, there's no need for you to keep on being fidgety like this."

Himari flinched. She couldn't refute him with anything.

Unknowing to her, this man had seen through past her facade.

Although Himari showed she was calm after finally making sure her mother was alright, the truth was, she was far from feeling calm and secure. Continuous what-ifs kept looming inside her mind, making her hard to accept that there was nothing more happening to her mother.

"Go and have a rest. Even a short one is fine. You're as tired as me," Kazuya gently urged her. Then, he deliberately joking, "Or, do you want me to accompany you? That can't do. What if your mother no longer has a good impression of me?"

Himari almost choked.

Sometimes, this man's way to coax her was really... something unordinary? 

Kazuya laughed quietly. He turned Himari around and pushed her to the door, "Alright. Don't think anything. Go and rest now. An hour nap won't make you late to start cooking."

"Okay..."

In the end, Himari had to admit defeat.

Kazuya watched her walking inside a room not far from the guest room. Once the door was closed by her, he let out a relieved sigh. Then, he did the same. Kazuya closed the door of the guest room. He was getting ready to have his rest.

He was indeed tired. He woke up early to prepare food for their supposed picnic date before he got ready to fetch Himari at her apartment. Kazuya never did expect to come to her childhood home on the same day.

But...

Kazuya let his sleepy gaze wandered to the ceiling above him after lying on the soft bed.

This was actually good. He could see for himself the place where she grew up.

Although there was some lacking in material ways, it was clear that Himari was happy with her mother.

In no time, the man was lured by his exhaustion. Kazuya fell asleep on the unfamiliar bed, enveloped by the unfamiliar yet comforting scent.

Inside another room, Akemi was smiling softly while resting on her bed. Chobi was curling into a ball beside her.

Although her mind was drowsy, Akemi could still hear the little bits of her daughter's conversation with the young man. This house wasn't especially soundproof. Because the guest room's door was opened, what they were talking about was clear to her.

This young man was a good one.

Akemi was glad to finally see who was the man her daughter claimed as her new companion after three years of being alone.

Although Akemi knew Himari and this young man had just known each other for a few months before getting into a relationship, Akemi could rest assured because Kazuya really looked like a responsible guy.

"Chobi, maybe your mama would really marry this young man?" Akemi nudged at her furry grandson.

If her daughter knew that she was already thinking of marriage, Himari's face might burst into embarrassment, telling her that she was thinking too far ahead in the future.

"Meow~~" Chobi yawned.

Akemi laughed in amusement. She properly lied down on the bed. Her head wasn't hurting but, she felt an urgent need to sleep.

While Kazuya and Akemi were sleeping, Himari had just changed into comfortable home clothes. She threw her body onto the bed. Her eyes were blankly staring at the closed door of her room.

Her mother was alright. The doctor said the sprain on her mother's ankle and wrist should heal within a week under the condition she didn't do any strenuous work.

Himari buried her face on the pillow. 

She didn't know how many times she chanted the same words inside her.

Fortunately, they were really light injuries.

Himari didn't dare to think if the circumstances were more dire than these ones.

As her consciousness slowly faded away, the image of her man gently persuading her was cemented in her mind.. It felt so warm until she felt she was enveloped by layers and layers of a comforting blanket on a winter night.