As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"I know that you've always wanted it back. Sorry, it took me so long," said Ryuu to her with a regretful smile. His eyes were as warm as ever.

The house deed was presented to Yuina on the night Ryuu returned from his job abroad. The piece of paper signified that once again, the place belonged to her rather than some strangers. She was the sole owner of the house.

Ryuu didn't say how much he paid to get the house back from the elderly couple nor the ways he used to persuade them. He just said it was his gift for her.

Yuina remembered she broke down crying. Her loud cries echoed inside the spacious living room of their love nest.

Ryuu was startled to see her cried like that. He was anxiously coaxing her, saying everything that would sound nice to her to hear. 

"Don't... don't cry! You just get back what should be yours! My sweet wife, my pretty wife, don't cry... We'll go see the house tomorrow..."

After hours of crying until both of them slept late, the next day, Ryuu drove her to the old neighborhood. The car was driven down the familiar roads.

Yuina was nervous from the time she woke up until she stepped down from the car. She kept clenching and unclenching her hands in an attempt to calm her tensed nerves.

"My love."

Ryuu was ever so gently calling her name. His smiling face was so soft under the glow of the morning sun.

His hand reached out for hers, spreading her palms wide before he placed something on them.

Yuina was baffled to see a set of keys was given to her.

The silver-colored keys were cold to touch and they appeared so new, gleaming as the sunlight shone on them.

"I've changed all the locks in the house, including the bedrooms," Ryuu softly told her.

Then, with him by her side, Yuina opened the main door using the keys. 

Her heart was overwhelming with different kinds of emotions; anxiousness, sorrow, longing, joy and uncertainty. Yuina couldn't even pinpoint what exactly did she feel at that time.

She had expected it but, it was hard to avoid her own self from feeling disappointed after opening the main door.

Everything inside the house was changed throughout the short years the elderly couple lived there.

"I actually wanted to redesign this house to resemble what you remember but... I didn't want to make you felt suspicious before I could return this house to you."

Her foolish husband looked so dejected as he told her the excuses. Yuina bubbled into laughter. Her complex feelings from earlier dispersed along with the float of her laughter, vanishing into the air.

"Hehe, you're so silly to think like that," Yuina cupped his face. The tips of their noses met as she tiptoed to match his height. Her eyes were smiling, "No matter how different this house looks from the outside, it's still the place where I lived with my parents. Thank you, really, thank you, hubby."

Ryuu answered her with a kiss on her lips. 

Although the interior was different, it was still the same house she grew up in.

Yuina might not be able to transform this house to exactly resemble the one during the days she still lived here but, the little bits of memories that she kept dear to her heart were already enough. 

Since that day, little by little, the house was changed.

The walls were painted back to her late mother's favorite peach-colored paint. Her late father's teak wood furniture decorated the living room. Yuina's childhood favorite small bunny couch was placed next to the long couch.

On the walls and the surface of the cabinets, what were left of their family photos were put on them.  Everything was brand new with no memories attached to them yet, Yuina was already satisfied. 

Because the distance between the house and the Sakuya Residence was quite large, Yuina rarely went there. Especially because she was so busy during this time around with the previous examination week, the home visitation week and now, the school sports festival.

Yuina closed her eyes. She dispelled the memories of the past from her mind as she was lying on the bed, alone. 

"It seems like, I could only recall the memories now," she mumbled quietly.

With no one by her side, the only thing Yuina could do now was having the memories refreshed in her mind. That way, the fond memories remained important to her.

Before she was lured in by her sleepiness, Yuina cast one last look on the photo that was hung on the wall. It was a photo of her and Ryuu. Both of them were smiling happily in it.

Yuina unconsciously bit her lower lip. She placed both of her hands over her lower abdomen, trying to feel the little one inside her. 

There was no message that followed his previous one, the one that her husband promised to contact her back after his job was done today.

It's alright.

It had always been like this, wasn't it?

It's alright...

Without Yuina realizing it, a single tear trickled down her face, falling on the soft mattress. 

At the same time, inside Himari's little apartment.

The funny dream that terrified Chiharu was conveyed to Kazuya by Himari. He made a call to her when she was reading a book in the living room. From the noises echoed in the background, Himari deduced Kazuya was in a public place.

When she asked, he said he was attending a banquet. His business partner invited him there with the intention of him forming more networks in City R.

Kazuya stepped out of the banquet room for a moment to make a call to Himari.

"Heh, it's good that she's afraid of me even in her sleep. I've told Aunt Mayu to not be deceived by her teary eyes. Knowing her, she'd use this opportunity to have as many snacks as she could."

As her strict uncle wasn't at home, it would really be a waste if the dumpling didn't unleash her adorableness to trick Aunt Mayu, Izumi and Shuichi into giving her what she wanted.

This won't be the first time it happened anyway. 

"Hahaha, she made it as if you didn't give her enough food at all," Himari chuckled.

She curled like a ball on the strawberry couch, one hand was pressing the phone to her ear. The book that she read earlier was placed on the low table.

When Himari brought Chiharu to Shuichi later in the evening, Izumi was already waiting at the gate for them. The dumpling reported her dreams to the two men. Both Shuichi and Izumi laughed, finding her silly.

Annoyed, Chiharu ignored them.

"Let her do what she wants, it's not like she'd succeed. Stop talking about other people ah. Why don't you just focus on your boyfriend here?" Kazuya pushed the topic regarding Chiharu away.

"Hehe, aren't you tired? How's your day today?" Himari was all smiles as she changed the topic.

Well, since her man wanted her to focus on him, let's just do as he wanted.

"Not bad. Luckily so far, nothing goes astray from what we've discussed. I've to visit the lab where their IT technicians work tomorrow. I could learn something new there."

Even though the man's voice carried a hint of exhaustion, he seemed satisfied. It was evident that the first day of his business trip was a good one.

"Would the banquet end late? You know yourself that you haven't got a decent rest today," asked Himari, her question was imbued with concern.

This man got up early to send the children to school as usual before he rushed for the airport.

As far as Himari knew, Kazuya immediately went to meet his business partner once he and his assistant arrived at City R. He only checked in the hotel room after six in the evening before going out again to attend the banquet.

"It's nothing bad. If I could finish the matter here ahead of schedule, I could go back home sooner," answered Kazuya with a chuckle.

Himari hummed. She didn't know much about his job but, she found it admirable because until now, his dedication to his current job didn't lessen. Moreover when this field wasn't related to what he learned during his studying days.

The couple spoke a bit more before a voice calling for Kazuya sounded in the background. 

"It's my assistant," Kazuya sighed regretfully, "I have to go back inside."

"Don't stay there too late if you could," reminded Himari. She smiled faintly, "You might already get used to it but, don't force yourself too much if you feel tired."

Did this man think he was some kind of a superman? 

Yet, even though she was worried, Himari could only advise him.

After all, social events like the banquet he attended right now was important in building more networks for businessmen. Who knew, Kazuya might meet a potential partner for a future collaboration?

"Hehe, okay. I'll try to get as much rest as I could tonight," Kazuya laughed in a low tone. He was pleased to hear her worrying about him, "Bye, I'll contact you later. You too, don't stay up too late."

"En, bye-bye."

Kazuya hung up the call. Unknown to him, Himari kept staring at her phone even after the screen turned dark.

"He won't think that I'm being fussy, right?" She murmured quietly, her brows almost knitted together as she frowned.

Aye, she was just showing her concern to her man ah.

He should feel lucky there was a pretty lady like her who was concerned about him, if not, he would just be an old bachelor later.

Hehe.