As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The drawing was left in the study even though Kazuya offered to bring it back to Himari's apartment. 

With her eyes shining softly at him, Himari said, "Since you said I can come here whenever I want, let it be a reason for me to come here often."

Her reasoning was met by laughter from Kazuya.

"Oho, the reason should be me, your boyfriend, not because of a drawing," he retorted.

Himari just laughed, earning a helpless yet doting look from him.

At half-past eight, both of them went down to the park. 

Chobi was busy looking out of the carrier. He couldn't see his mama's sweet smile as she was walking in the park with her man.

They were not the only ones there as some people were having a night run or simply walking with their loved ones. Some people even laid out a mat and ate their dinner sheltered by the night sky.

"When did you draw the painting?" asked Himari asked they walked hand-in-hand on the pedestrian lane.

It was undeniable that Himari was thoroughly touched the moment she saw the painting. Moreover when the man beside her saying such lovely words.

He said he felt so blessed to have her with him.

Didn't he know that she also felt the same?

Although, like him, she still couldn't bring herself to say the three words to him.

Kazuya pulled his lady closer. He let go of her hand then placed his arm over her shoulders. The faint sweet scent of hers gently drifted in the air as the distance between them further shrunk.

"I came here the previous Monday, in the evening," answered Kazuya with a smile.

To be exact, he came here after an unpleasant meeting with his mother.

After ending the call with Himari that night, Kazuya drove his way aimlessly. He wanted to return to the villa, to go back to the children but, the thought of seeing them smiling and laughing at him made him suffocated all of a sudden.

Chiharu would be as bubbly as ever while Izumi was still the quiet yet sensible boy.

Under those smiles, the hopes of seeing their father healthy again kept burning in their little hearts.

After seeing how lifeless his brother was, coupled with the fact that he was upset with his mother, Kazuya just wanted to have some time alone.

The moment he entered the condominium unit, he was reminded of the time he brought her here.

Himari had just been in his place for a few short hours but, it already left a deep impression on him.

When he spent some time inside the study room, looking at the paintings he finished long before, her words from during conversation earlier echoed in his mind.

"How good it is if we can go on a beach date as you've planned before?"

Thus, with her words served as the inspirations, he picked up the brush and the color pallet before each stroke of the brush danced gently over the white canvas.

"Do you like the drawing so much?" Kazuya asked again, letting the memories of that night dispersed from his mind.

Himari smiled shyly, "Yes! I can see that you drew the couple in the outfits we wore last Saturday."

"Hehe," His laughter floated gently in the close space between them. Kazuya hooked up a smile on his lips, "Then, should we ditch the children when we're on the island? Let's go on a date by ourselves. There should be skilled babysitters on such a private island for the riches."

"Hey, Chiharu would be mad if she heard that! Do you wanna hear her nagging at you nonstop?" 

Although she wanted to laugh because of his silly idea, Himari still wanted to chide him at the same time.

"Oh, if the siblings wanna have an aunt soon, they should let their uncle court their prospective aunt properly," answered Kazuya smugly.

Himari shut her mouth.

This man really knew how to counter her words.

Kazuya led Himari to the riverside. Both of them sat on a bench. Himari put down the carrier, she placed it next to the bench.

Because it was nighttime, Himari didn't dare to let Chobi out even though she had installed a digital positioning system chip for him.

"About this weekend, I have things to do. That's why I brought our date forward," said Kazuya as he was watching Himari tapping her finger on the carrier bag, playing with the orange tabby.

"Are you going to be busy working? Preparations for the business trip?" Himari stared back at him. She frowned slightly, "I don't know anything about your job but, it's not healthy to overwork yourself."

This man would go on a business trip next week and only returned before the school sports festival. Himari vaguely guessed the reason Kazuya was so busy right now was that he wanted to finish everything just so he could join the children.

"It's not that," Kazuya was actually pleased to hear her worrying about him. He played with a strand of her hair as he explained, "Actually, this weekend,  my mother wants me to bring Chiharu and Izumi to her studio. I have to accompany them."

Himari was slightly surprised to hear that.

This was the first time Kazuya mentioned his mother.

"Her studio? Does she want to show something to the siblings?" asked Himari in caution.

The questions just randomly came out of her mouth. She didn't even know which question or how should she respond to him.

Kazuya just smiled as he saw how careful Himari was the moment she asked him that. 

"My mother just returned from abroad. She mostly resides out of the country because she's based there."

Himari attentively listened to him when Kazuya briefly told her about his mother.

His mother was a jewelry designer who was often collaborated with international brands. But, recently she returned and started working in her old studio in the country. 

"She actually wanted to bring Chiharu to her studio this week but, I asked her to change it into the weekend. So, that's why I'd be busy this Saturday. I'll bring both Chiharu and Izumi to see her."

"Your mother must have missed her grandchildren," Himari tilted up her head, smiling at the man beside him, "You really should bring them to see her. It seems like Chiharu really likes her grandmother."

It wasn't abnormal for a grandmother wishing to meet her grandchildren but...

Himari still remembered the time when Kazuya received a phone call from his mother. It happened after Izumi and his teammates won the first basketball match a few weeks ago. 

Although Kazuya and Izumi's reactions were a bit weird, the little dumpling was enthusiastic as she talked to her grandmother on the phone.

Kazuya carefully took in the emotions in his lady's eyes. 

Somehow, looking at her calm gaze helped to settle down the uneasiness within him.

Her smile was soft, reminded him of the gentle wind in spring. 

"Himari, I hope you won't think that I purposely do not want to bring you to meet my mother."

"Huh?" Stunned, Himari blankly stared at him.

Kazuya leaned forward. He rested her head on his chest as one of his hands gently rubbed her back. Under the bright light of the lamp pole beside the bench where they sat, he saw her eyelashes fluttered like two small black fans.

"To be honest, my brother and I aren't close to our parents. Not even to our own mother."

The words flowed out of his mouth without any hesitancy. 

He just wanted to be truthful to her even though mentioning his estranged parents left a bitter taste to him.

He had met her mother and thankfully, her mother accepted him as the companion of her daughter.

When Kazuya brought up about going to see his mother, the mere thought that he might disappoint Himari was conjured in his mind. It struck him because it seemed like he didn't plan to introduce both of them even though on his part, he had personally met her mother.

"That's why it's only us three going there. It's not that I don't want you to meet my parents."

His lady had a loving mother even though both of them lived in hardships before. Their home was filled with warmth and love.

On another side, he and his brother were raised up without any financial difficulties but, the only warmth they got was from one another.

Himari was quiet as she listened to his confession. It was not easy for him to tell her something like that but, he still did.

Besides his words, the sound of his heart beating steadily under his chest also drifted into her ears. 

Both of them were alive.

Yet, their experiences were different.

Himari's nose soured as a faint ache throbbed her heart. She slowly raised up her hands before she gently wrapped them around her waist. She could feel his body stiffening the moment she hugged him. In a few seconds, the man gradually relaxed under her touch.

"I didn't even think about that but, thank you for telling me about it."

When Kazuya told her about going to meet his mother with only him and the siblings, Himari didn't assume that he wasn't willing to let her meet the woman. She just thought since it was a family reunion, it didn't matter either she was there or not.

Himari didn't expect that this man would even think like that.

She was both touched and distressed at the same time.

It warmed her heart because it was clear that this man treated her feelings well but, because he was afraid to disappoint her, he opened up about the scarred past of his life.

Himari wanted to know more about him, the man who was so used to conceal any hurt with just a smile on his lips.

While she was drowning in her own thoughts, a soft and warm kiss fell on top of her head, diffusing warmth into her heart.