As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Kazuya! You're daydreaming?"

The familiar voice sounded so surprised yet, Kazuya still found it pleasing.

He blinked, staring back at Himari who was intently looking at him with question marks all over her face. She was holding a soup ladle in her hand while the other hand was resting on her hip.

Her image right now reminded Kazuya of a cute nagging housewife. 

"Cough, I'm not daydreaming," He won't ever tell Himari what he had spoken with her mother about. Kazuya quickly changed the subject, "I'm hungry. Won't the dish be finished cooking soon?"

Himari threw him a helpless look.

"I thought I could get a diligent helper today but, sigh, you're just standing there thinking about something else."

Kazuya awkwardly scratched the back of his neck. He couldn't deny that he was too immersed in the conversation between him and Himari's mother.

Thus, to regain his lost points, Kazuya didn't dare to slack off anymore as he helped Himari cooking.

The couple didn't realize the bits of their playful conversation were heard by Akemi. She covered her mouth in an attempt to not let any laughter slipped out.

It seemed like her baby daughter was really comfortable with this young man. There was nothing for Akemi to worry about.

Both of them were a pair of grown-ups. They could handle their matters well without interference from the elders unless it was necessary to do so.

But...

Akemi was silent as she recalled that she deliberately didn't ask Kazuya about his family.

Himari had briefed her regarding the young man's background. He was currently taking care of his comatose elder brother's children as well as the company.

As an older person with numerous experiences, Akemi found it weird that there was no active parent figure helping Kazuya in handling the two children. There was no mention of his parents as well as his deceased sister-in-law's family.

Akemi could only earnestly hope that once again, her daughter won't have to deal with the fussy and troublesome parents of her partner like how Himari had to face Jun's mother and father before.

While her eyes were looking out of the yard, Akemi let her wishes to be carried away by the gentle blow of the wind.

As time continued turning without stopping, she would only get older day by day.

Before she breathed her last, Akemi sincerely prayed to see her daughter be cherished by a man who wholeheartedly treasured her.

Even though both Himari and Kazuya were still in the early phase of their courtship, her old heart believed there would be flowers blossoming soon.

After an hour and a half of battling in the kitchen, Himari finished cooking five side dishes with the help of her meticulous helper.

All three of them ate together at the dining table. Chobi was not excluded as the feline suddenly appeared from only he knew where he went earlier. 

After eating the late lunch, Himari brought Kazuya for a stroll in the yard.

Akemi retreated to her bedroom, letting both of them spent more time together before Kazuya had to go back to the city.

"Was this where you played swing when you were little?"

Kazuya pointed to the old swing nearby.

"Yeah. I still can't forget how I bruised my right knee because I tried standing on the swing," Himari laughed at the memory of her childhood.

At times, there was no special feeling whenever Himari laid her eyes on the old swing but, there were also times when a hint of nostalgia was invoked within her.

Both of them stood in front of the swing that was hanging from a sturdy tree trunk. The leaves above them rustled as the wind billowed around them, scattering lights and shadows on the two people.

"Kazuya."

Her voice was so soft. The sound of it was blown away by the wind.

Kazuya lowered his gaze to the young lady next to him. A tender smile curled on his lips, his eyes were imbued with warmth and fondness in them.

"I am so glad to have you here today," Himari took her eyes away from the swing. Her chin tilted up until she met the man's gaze. She smiled at him, "Really, really glad."

Earlier, she only kept those words inside her heart but, as they were standing together right now, Himari suddenly wanted him to know her heartfelt gratitude to him.

Although the incident that fell on her mother was not a grave one, Himari won't overestimate her ability to stay calm in facing such a situation. She won't be able to do that as this matter involved her one and only mother.

The light in Kazuya's eyes softened in the face of her confession.

She didn't have to say more. 

He thoroughly understood what else was underlying behind those words of gratitude.

Kazuya lifted up a hand. Under her quiet gaze, he gently placed his palm over her head. His fingers stroked the strand of her long hair until the end locks fell through his fingertips.

"Whenever you need me, I'd always be there with you," He let the words softly flowed out of his mouth, "I just hope you won't think of keeping everything to yourself."

Kazuya still remembered the first time Himari told him about her mother this morning. Tears continuously streaming down her face as she rejected his offer to bring her back to her hometown.

Only after a few persuadings from him did she yield.

Kazuya was so relieved because she didn't continue to be stubborn with him.

Himari pursed her lips as she pondered over his words. 

In the end, she just smiled without verbally expressing anything.

At seven o'clock, Kazuya prepared to depart back to the city. Himari prepared him a thermos of black tea and some snacks to help him stay awake. Even though the estimated time of his arrival was before midnight, the lonely journey might bore him.

"Remember to take a short rest if you feel sleepy. Stop at a safe place, okay?"

Kazuya let out a helpless chuckle as Himari kept reminding him of the same thing. Yet, he didn't feel annoyed by it.

"I'll call you once I've arrived," He promised.

Then, the dark gray car left the country road of the village, leaving only the back view of its steely body. Himari didn't leave the gate until she saw the car completely vanished from her sight.

After that, Himari locked the gate and returned inside the house.

Since this house only resided by women, Akemi and Himari would keep the entire yard illuminated with the bright lights of the garden lamps until morning. Although this village was relatively peaceful, it was better to be on the safe side.

"Are you already missing him even though he has just left?"

Akemi purposedly teased her daughter once she saw Himari walking inside the living room.

Himari pouted. She sat on the floor, next to her mother's recliner chair. Chobi was sitting on the TV cabinet. He was intently watching the comedy film that was played on the screen.

"You've really scared me, Mom," She stared at her mother's bandaged ankle in regret, "Luckily, it's nothing serious."

Akemi's heart was soft inside as she listened to how aggrieved her daughter was right now. She reached out her uninjured hand to Himari's head before her palm went down to stroke her back.

"Don't be a cry baby," Akemi laughed, "Your mom here would live long. Hush, don't cry."

"Mom~" Himari whined in frustration. She tried hard to hold back her tears.

Even though she was relatively alright now, Himari still couldn't shake off the lingering fear from rooting into her heart. Especially when she was alone with her mother right now.

It was as if she returned to the time when she was a young and ignorant child, the child who cried out loud after finding out that her mother accidentally cut her finger when cooking.

At that time, she really thought her mother could die from the shallow cut on her thumb.

"Aye, my daughter would always be a baby," The sound of Akemi's laughter continued to float pleasantly in the living room. She gently gave Himari a head pat as if she was still a young child, "The doctor said my ankle and wrist would heal in a few days. You should worry about going to work now."

"I've applied for a few days of leave," Himari jutted out her lower lip. A thought suddenly struck her. She eyed her mother suspiciously, "Mom, I forgot to ask you. Why did Mr. Hori at the hospital too?"

It was really unlikely for her mother to suddenly meet the kind uncle. 

Akemi darted her gaze away. Guilt flickered in her eyes as she tried to give excuses, "He's just there. You know, a friend visiting a sick friend. Yeah, that is..."

A faint blush began to creep into her cheeks, signifying something.

Himari gasped.

"Mom, don't tell me there's a thing between you guys?"

Throughout her life, this was the first time Himari saw her mother looking anxious like this. Her face also started to redden as if she was talking about some embarrassing secret. 

"Cough! How could you talk like that to your mother?" Akemi burst out.

Himari narrowed her eyes, "Mom, I know you. I've lived until I'm 26 years old now but, I haven't seen you act like this before. Do you remember when I was in the fifth grade? I asked if Uncle Hikaru liked you but you just cooly said I was saying nonsense. You didn't even blush like this! And the same thing happened to all the uncles who were interested in you!"

Akemi was suddenly having a headache.

How could her daughter be so observant right now? Himari had even remembered the event of her past admirer more than a decade ago.

Seeing that her mother couldn't refute her, Himari was certain there was indeed something between her mother and Mr. Hori. 

Did her mother get enlightened because her own daughter was dating someone right now?

Hurm, she had more secrets to pry into during her stay at home.