As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

A certain someone was indeed thinking of Himari at the same time she did.

Kazuya closed a file then tossed it on the table. He propped both hands on the armrest before he leaned his back against the comfy cushion. His gaze went up to the ceiling yet his mind was drifting off somewhere.

"What's she doing now?" Kazuya mumbled under his breath.

He had just returned back to the office after dropping the children off at home after school. Chiharu kept asking him about Himari. The dumpling wasn't satisfied with the short video call they made last night. Kazuya promised to make another one after dinner.

Even though both of them shared a few texts in the morning, Kazuya couldn't help but be reminded of his lady. He let out a chuckle as Himari's words about her mother's potential love interest popped into his mind.

"It's true! I think I might get a stepfather soon! This is the first time I see my mom with someone! Before, she didn't even care about any men who came for her."

What made Kazuya laughed was the fact that Himari acted as if she was a gossip journalist, talking about her own mother like that.

"Kazuya!"

His thoughts shattered in an instant. Kazuya threw a displeased look at Shuichi who suddenly barged into the office.

"What?" 

Shuichi rolled his eyes. With both hands on his hips, he complained, "My brother wants me to remind you, when would you bring us to meet your new girlfriend. It's been weeks, man!"

Shuichi had been waiting for more than a month but, a certain someone had yet to bring his girlfriend out to meet them. He had even accepted the babysitting task when Kazuya brought the young lady to go on a hike.

When would the promise be fulfilled?!

Kazuya smirked, "Himari's not in the city right now."

"What? Why?" Shuichi gasped.

Why did it be so hard to meet his childhood friend's girlfriend?

"Her mother's injured. So, she's taking care of her mother. She won't be back soon," answered Kazuya without going into details.

Shuichi made a face, "Are you serious? Or, are you actually do not want us to meet? What? Do you think we're going to blackmail you in front of her? Dig up your embarrassing childhood?"

Kazuya shot his friend a glare. He lowered his gaze to the laptop screen, "Don't make a drama here. Right, about the business trip to City R next week, it's enough to just have me going there. You hold the fort when I'm not here."

The swift change of topic made Shuichi forgotten about his dissatisfaction.

"Then, take Iwata with you. At least, you should have someone to accompany you," Shuichi named the assistant of Kazuya, "You said Aunt Mayu would stay with the children, right? I'd visit them as well. Don't worry about them."

"Okay," Kazuya agreed, "Thanks, buddy." 

This was not the first time Kazuya was away due to a business trip. Although he was reluctant to leave the siblings behind, he understood sometimes he had to do so. Fortunately, he had Aunt Mayu and Shuichi to help him.

"Ah," Kazuya was suddenly reminded of something. He pursed his lips, his eyes grew dull, "I have to make a trip to the hospital."

"What's wrong? Did something happen to Brother Hiroki?" Alarmed, Shuichi asked anxiously.

"He's the same as usual," Kazuya shook his head, "I just feel like I have to go see him."

Shuichi closed his mouth. He nodded with a solemn gaze, "It's good that nothing happened to him."

Kazuya didn't answer to his friend's words. He could only silently agree.

That evening, the dark gray car sped on the expressway as it was heading to the hospital. By the time Kazuya arrived there, the time was showing at half-past five. He steadily made his way to his brother's ward.

For the past three years, Kazuya had been coming and going from the same place with the same hope lingering in his heart. Even though there were times when the hope almost got diminished, the crackling embers around burned again, stronger than ever.

"Mr. Hayashi."

One of the caretakers that Kazuya hired to take care of his brother greeted him. This man would change his shift later with another caretaker.

"Thank you for your hard work today, Mr. Shimoda," Kazuya was grateful for this man's neat job. He quietly closed the door of the private ward, "How's my brother?"

"The doctor came for his routine round earlier. There's nothing significant happened," Mr. Shimoda replied regretfully.

He had been assigned to take care of Mr. Hayashi Hiroki for the past three years until now. Every time his younger brother came to visit, he would ask the same question with hope underlying behind his words.

Unfortunately, the man remained to lie unconscious on the bed with no signs of waking up sooner.

"It's fine. As long as my brother's condition doesn't deteriorate," replied Kazuya with a stiff smile. He glanced at the man, "You should get off work now. I'd stay here until Mr. Okuma comes."

Mr. Okuma was the other caretaker. 

"It's alright, Mr. Hayashi," Mr. Shimoda refused with a shake of his head, "My job here hasn't been complete yet. I'd go home when my shift ends."

Kazuya smiled ruefully, "Just treat it as I wanna have some alone time with my brother."

Mr. Shimoda kept quiet. Unable to refute his employer, he finally agreed. The man left after giving Kazuya a respectful bow. Kazuya thanked him again. 

"Brother, you're still like this."

Kazuya walked closer to the bed. His gaze fell on the skinny man lying on the mattress.

An oxygen mask was placed on his face, helping the man to breath. The mechanical sound of the machines next to the bed accompanied the lonely man in the ward.

The image of his strong elder brother couldn't be complement by this currently weak man. His usual cheery face was now looking so wan. His cheekbones protruded, showing how skinny he had become.

"Brother, I haven't told you that Izumi won the basketball match yesterday again," Kazuya opened his mouth to speak. His voice was exceptionally low in this quiet ward, "Your son has indeed inherited your skills in playing basketball. I won't say no if someday Izumi said he wants to join a professional team. As long as he works hard, he could do it."

Kazuya took off his black jacket and draped it over a chair. He slowly folded the sleeves of his white shirt until they reached his elbows. With a skilled movement, he began to massage his brother's calves.

To slow down the deterioration of his brother's muscles, the doctor suggested Kazuya and the caretakers to often massage his limbs. The man also had to be frequently lied on his side to avoid him getting bedsores.

"I don't remember the last time I brought the siblings to visit you. Whenever I did, Chiharu would cry and, even though Izumi didn't, I know he'd cry alone in his room later. Sorry, Brother. I can't bring myself to let them be that sad again."

It was not Kazuya's intention to conceal his brother's condition from the siblings but, his heart would break all over again at the sight of the sibling's tearful expressions.

They were still so young yet, they already had to face such gruesome fate.

Creak...

Kazuya was alerted by the sudden sound of the door sliding open. He turned around only to be met with the sight of someone unexpected. 

His brows furrowed as he rigidly called out, "Mother."

Like yesterday and any other time they met, his mother who was dressed in a black formal suit stood with a cold expression remained on her face.

"You're here, Kazuya," Madam Tokioka quietly scanned her youngest son up and down.

Her words sounded as if it was normal to meet him here, in this very ward where her eldest son was.

Kazuya nodded awkwardly, "I see that you're also here."

Why did she be here?

To visit his brother?

Kazuya clenched and unclenched his fists. He didn't realize how rigid his jaw was as he kept pressing his lips tight. All of a sudden, Kazuya wasn't sure how should he react.

While the man was ladened with confusion, Madam Tokioka silently walked inside the ward. By no time, she stood beside her youngest son. Her indifferent eyes didn't show any trace of emotions as she lowered her gaze to her son lying on the hospital bed. 

"Until when would you stay here? What about the children?" She asked in a dull tone.

Kazuya glanced at his mother. He replied quietly, "I'll wait until the next caretaker comes. The children are with the housekeeper."

Although he responded to his mother timely, his brain was in chaos at this time. Countless thoughts bursting into his mind, almost erupting to the surface.

Yesterday, his mother was there at the school gymnasium, saying she came to watch Izumi's basketball match.

Today, they met again at the hospital. She even came to see her comatose eldest son, something that she rarely did three years ago.

Veins popped onto Kazuya's forehead.

He disliked this feeling. 

He loathed it as he felt he was being played by this woman right now.

Was she seriously showing concern to the children as well as his brother after years of indifference?

"Mother."

Madam Tokioka averted her gaze from her son Hiroki. She tilted up her head, staring back at her other son, Kazuya.

"You look as if you have something to talk to me," She calmly pointed out the obvious questions displayed on Kazuya's face.

"Yes," Kazuya didn't back away. He frowned, "I think we really need to talk."

No matter what would her answers be, Kazuya didn't want to feel like this again.

He had to end this complicated feeling from shrouding him in fear and uncertainty.