As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Although noon was approaching, the sound of children's happy laughter as they played together was still echoing in the nearby area. Soon, the cheeky rascals would be ushered to their respective homes by their mothers because lunchtime was nearer.

It was a sunny weekend.

Himari sprawled on the bed, lying on her front side. One of her hands was hugging the orange tabby plushie as she supported her chin while the other was staring right at the screen of her phone.

A photo was displayed on the screen, showing a white building resembling a cottage.

The area of the cottage was so peaceful as the yard was surrounded by lush trees and bushes as well as flowerbeds. A flock of birds flying in the sky was caught by the camera lens.

[Kazuya: Her studio]

[Kazuya: She and the siblings are busy making tiara for Chiharu]

After they ended the phone call, Kazuya sent this photo to her. 

Although he was still joking with her, it didn't escape her notice that the man was actually feeling uncomfortable.

Kazuya did say he actually was reluctant to come here.

Himari couldn't say much because she was unable to know the extent of Kazuya's estrangement with his own mother. She wasn't in his shoes thus, she didn't want to blindly say he just should face the woman without any feeling.

Ignoring strangers who disliked you was something tolerable but, if it involved your biological parents, no matter how distant they were, it won't be an easy matter.

Himari typed a few replies to him.

[Himari: Chiharu would be so happy, you should prepare a princess dress for her]

[Himari: She could wear it with the tiara]

Whether it was a good thing to divert his attention by bringing up Chiharu, Himari didn't know. She was only trying.

Himari buried her face into the pillow. She just let Chobi sitting like a loaf of bread on her back. The feline felt so warm. She could even feel the sensation when he purred in contentment.

As Himari was lying on the bed, the unpleasantness she felt when she was out with Teacher Masuda yesterday started to engulf her whole being again.

The feeling wasn't attributed to Teacher Masuda but...

Himari covered her face with her hands, obscuring how sullen her face was right now.

What she felt right now was more than mere unpleasantness. 

Neverending sorrow and loss enveloped her senses, making it hard for her to treat like nothing had happened to her.

No matter how cheerful she was in front of other people, only she knew the dark shadows looming at the deepest depth of her heart.

Himari had accepted her loss but, it didn't mean that she had truly been free from the demons haunting her mind. There were times her will lost against her own hidden past.

LINE~

Himari abruptly looked at the phone.

Another reply came from Kazuya.

Her finger moved, wanting to open the message when a sudden fear struck her heart.

Her phone fell on the bed.

Up until now, there was no one else who knew about what she had gone through, except for two people.

One of them was...

The lady in black while the other was her assistant.

What if, the day she disclosed it to Kazuya would be the last day of their relationship?

What if he could no longer accept her?

Would he really leave?

Himari's nose soured at the unwanted possibility.

Although she herself said they would just part ways with no hard feelings if one day, their relationship wouldn't work out and if he couldn't accept her past, Himari was suddenly afraid.

She had grown used to having him with her. Although they only tended to do mundane things together, she enjoyed every single moment with him.

No matter either it's just talking on the phone, going for a stroll or just sitting together on a bench in a park, there was no time she felt repulsive.

"What's wrong with me?"

Himari let out a sigh, the sound of it was heavily audible in the room.

Never did she expect she would be deeply affected when the thought of losing Kazuya surged up from the depth of her mind.

They only knew each other for a few months but, she didn't know her heart would lean on him this much.

Did she already fall in love with him without her realizing it? In just a short time?

It was different from her time together with Jun almost eight years ago.

At that time, her youthful heart fluttered every time they interacted before they got into a relationship but, the feeling gradually built up bit by bit. It took her a long time before she realized that she was in love with the honor student of her high school.

When Jun became the first one to confess, she was overjoyed.

Himari pushed the thoughts away. She didn't want to bring up her ex-boyfriend in this kind of situation.

Jun was Jun.

While Kazuya was Kazuya.

Both of them had different personalities, had gone through different experiences and reacted differently to every obstacle that hindered their paths.

LINE~

Himari abruptly lifted up her neck the moment the familiar ringtone chimed again.

"Meow~"

Chobi mewled in displeasure because Himari's sudden movement interrupted his nap. He jumped off his mama, walked on the bed before he found another spot to be a loaf of bread.

Himari ignored her son's discontentment. She quickly opened the new replies from Kazuya, unlike how hesitant she was earlier.

Without her noticing it, there was a gap of five minutes between his previous reply to the newest ones.

[Kazuya: Instead of her, I wanna see you in a princess dress and a tiara]

{Kazuya: Wait... You didn't reply to me because you found it too corny?]

{Kazuya: MoonBoySorry.png]

In an instant, laughter burst in the room, chasing away the initial gloominess.

Just because she didn't immediately reply to him, such a silly thought popped into his mind?

Did the man have so much free time to do this?

Himari bubbled a hearty chuckle. Her face brightened. Although she still felt stuffy inside, it was bearable compared to before.

[Himari: It really sound so corny, but because it came from my boyfriend, I'll take it as a compliment]

[Himari: Should I show you how gorgeous I look the moment I'm wearing a dress and a tiara?]

[Himari: But it would look weird to just dress up like that]

His replies came in an instant.

[Kazuya: If that so, I should suit up. You'd be surprised to see how dashing I am]

[Kazuya: We can have a candlelit dinner soon]

[Kazuya: Of course, I won't ever bring the two light bulbs. They would just pester us anyway]

[Kazuya: May I have your first dance?]

Once again Himari buried her face into the pillow.

This time, it wasn't because of her heartache.

It was due to this man's cheekiness.

A smile tugged on her lips, her eyes were slightly moistened.

[Himari: I'll wait for the day]

[Himari: Get ready to prepare a grand candlelit dinner, okay?]

[Himari: I have to make a new round of assessment for my boyfriend]

[Kazuya: You won't be disappointed]

[Kazuya: MoonBoySmirking.png]

Both of them exchanged a few more texts before Kazuya saying he should head inside the studio. Himari confirmed the time he would come to see her before she dragged herself out of the bed. A smile was still hanging on her lips.

The man asked if they could have lunch together, although it would be quite late than usual. She happily agreed as her suggestion to cook together was accepted by him. 

Himari rounded the bed as she was heading to the windows of her bedroom. From where she stood, she could see a few little radish heads playing on the roadside. They were laughing and bickering at the same time, radiating the nearby area with their joy.

The little ones' happy expression softened her heart, scattering the remains of her previous grimness into the air outside, carried away by the blowing wind.

Himari had to admit for the first time after long, her mind was terribly affected by just a simple trip to the mall yesterday. It might be because she had been suppressing her feelings over it.

The irksome sensation started to spread within her again, projecting countless tangles as if they wanted to embed sharp claws all over her heart. 

With her being pessimistic in the face of terrifying what-ifs that might happen in the future, her mood further got dragged down. 

Kazuya might leave her once she disclosed it.

Yet, there was also a possibility that he would continue staying with her.

Himari unconsciously gripped the curtain tight.

She still couldn't figure out the extent of her feelings toward the man, either it was still fondness or had it turned to love but, the thought of seeing his eyes glowered in disgust the moment she told him made her insides coiled into fear.

She didn't want to lose him.

But...

"No matter what, I have to tell him..."

If not, she thought that she was being unfair to him and her own self.

Her voice was a whisper in the quiet room.

The incident that happened three years ago was the only thing that tainted her.

It was undesirable yet, it was still a part of her.

Himari turned away from the windows.

As she was walking, something dawned on her.

Himari halted her step. Tilting her head, she was suddenly reminded of someone.

That woman, her benefactor, Madam Tokioka.

"Why did she say we'd meet again soon?" Himari murmured in confusion.

Who was she actually?