As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

By the time Himari arrived at the cafeteria, Yuina and the female students were already there. They were sitting together with the cafeteria uncles and aunties, surrounded by various kinds of baked goods and a pot of hot tea.

"Teacher Kato, let's have some snacks first before started working," Yuina beckoned at her to quickly sit down.

Himari whistled, how carefree ah these people~

While the rest of the teachers, students and parents were sweating under the sun playing games, these people were leisurely sitting inside an air-conditioning room and enjoyed some sweets. 

Yet, she didn't even complain. 

Himari went to wash her hands, sat down next to Yuina and offered her greetings before started picking which cookies and tarts she wanted to try.

"Sorry, did I disturb you by calling you early?" Yuina glanced at Himari who had just pushed a chocolate chip cookie inside her mouth.

"It's okay. But, are we just here to eat?" Himari grinned cheekily.

Yuina laughed while picking a chocolate tartlet. She winked playfully at Himari, "No, we're just replenishing our energy before we start working."

After finishing one, her fingers didn't stay still. Yuina quickly picked another one before she nibbled a cookie next. Her action was so swift as if she was actually really hungry.

Her behavior didn't escape Himari's eyes. She discreetly lowered her eyes, falling on Yuina's lower abdomen.

It was flat as if nothing was inside but...

Himari inwardly shook her head, refusing to think further.

It was just an assumption. 

"Are you feeling alright today? Did you have a good night's sleep?" asked Himari in an attempt to distract herself.

Teacher Masuda's face was still pale but she looked better than yesterday.

"Fortunately, I feel good after waking up this morning," replied Yuina, her eyes were gentle, "Thank you for sending me home yesterday. Ah, how much was your cab fare? I'll pay it back to you."

Since Himari drove Yuina's car when sending her back to Sakuya Residence, she had to flag a cab if she wanted to go home. Yuina thought of the matter from the moment Himari went out of her house yesterday.

"There's no need. Really, it's not much," Himari quickly refused.

When Yuina insisted, Himari quickly talked to the aunties, ignoring her words. Yuina could only smile in gratitude seeing how the English teacher acted.

After finishing the baked goods, all of them began to work. It was only a few minutes more before the clock hit 10:30 AM. The cheers coming from the school field were as loud as ever.

Himari, Yuina and the students split up, heading to their allocated locations. Because it was still early, the food won't be served yet. They just wanted to ensure everything was placed accordingly as to how they had done before.

It might seem unnecessary but the principal encouraged them to always double-checks everything to avoid disruption, moreover when the parents who came to support their children came from higher backgrounds. 

"The food for anyone with allergies would be put here... together with the list... other than that..."

Yuina looked around the lounge. Everything was in order. The students and parents could dine in comfort after playing under the hot weather.

But, Yuina thought in regret, actually, it was more fun to have picnics under the shady trees at the school field. Although the weather was quite sultry, it was so enjoyable to eat and rest like that.

That was what Yuina remembered every time she had a sports day at school when her parents were still alive.

Her mother would prepare a bountiful lunch for them, packed inside a big three-tiered wooden box. Her father would often apply for a day off at those times.

Together with a picnic mat, they just sat under a tree to enjoy the lunchbox after being busy playing. The scrumptious lunchbox would be shared with Yuina's friends too. 

"Hehe, of course, they couldn't do it here," Yuina giggled.

Although not all parents would complain if they did how the public schools had done but, to just make everything easier, the school just forwent the option. The neighboring private school also just did the same.

"...!"

Yuina almost stumbled on her steps when a wave of dizziness hit her. She quickly supported herself, propping up her hand on the nearby desk. Yuina slowly sat down on the chair.

"...why must at this time?"

Yuina was only telling half-truth when she answered Himari earlier. Her body didn't feel as sluggish as yesterday but, it was tiring to keep forcing herself right now. 

Kanna had told her that every woman's pregnancy was different. What worked on others might not produce the same results as the others. It was the same thing in battling the change of hormones, that occurred during pregnancy.

"Baby, Mommy has work to do ah," Yuina playfully scolded the little one inside her womb. She placed her palm over her lower abdomen, "Just give me some cooperation, okay? Mommy promise I'll just rest this weekend."

Tomorrow would be the last day of school as well as the last day of the sports festival. The ending ceremony would be held at 11 AM in the school gymnasium, together with giving the medals and complementary gifts to the students.

Since the ceremony was scheduled to finish at 1 PM, it meant that all of them could go home earlier than usual. Of course, the students were greatly anticipated that after two days of the exhausting yet fun sports festival.

After sitting for a few minutes, Yuina sat up, getting ready to finish her inspection.

There was nothing she could do. Although Yuina perfectly understood that Teacher Kato and the students would help her if needed, she still wanted to do her job by herself. All of them already had their own shares of work to be done. 

Yuina quietly left the lounge, heading to the next one. While she was walking down the hallway, she was reminded of what she had been thinking before.

It sounded like a good idea if she just spent her weekend at her family home.

Although she would be alone as always, at least, she was in the place where she still had fond memories of her childhood. 

Because she was too used to it, Yuina didn't realize that she kept on depending on the happy memories she held dear to keep her away from her loneliness.

No matter they involved her late parents or her beloved husband, she was relying on such memories.

Yet, memories were just memories.

Over time, the feelings bore along with the memories might gradually fade, scattered into oblivion as to how a gentle breeze swept away the dandelions before they disappeared in the sky.

She didn't realize it.

The moment she did, it might be already too late.

At noon, the lounges and cafeteria began to be filled with the students together with their parents and guardians. The food prepared by the cafeteria was sufficient and was greatly enjoyed by them, especially the starving students.

After battling in races under the hot and sweltering sun, the students really welcomed the cool air-conditioned room as the place for them to eat. 

"Uncle, get the meatball for Chiharu ah."

A certain dumpling jutted out her lips, showing to the bite-sized meatballs lying on a plate.

Kazuya frowned. He poked the dumpling's pouty lips, "Munch your food properly. You've just eaten the chicken karaage."

"Aaa~ Okay..." Chiharu deflated like a balloon.

It was troublesome when she was unable to eat by herself!

Inside the lounge that was allocated for Class 3-3 and Class 3-4, Kazuya, Izumi and Chiharu sat at one table together with a few of Izumi's friends. Their plates were placed in front of them. Kazuya was busy feeding Chiharu whose hands hurt due to her fall this morning.

Although the kindergarteners were supposed to gather together during lunchtime, Chiharu was exempted because of Izumi. It wasn't only her that was excluded since a few of her classmates also had older siblings in the elementary section.

Soon, Himari entered the lounge.

A few of the mothers who remembered her from the home visitation sessions greeted her. She returned their greetings before Himari slowly walked to where the Hayashi siblings sat.

Earlier, when Himari asked Yuina about their own spot for lunch, the Mathematics teacher slyly grinned and said she should just go and sit with the students of Class 3-3. Himari's face flushed red after she saw Yuina's meaningful wink.

Teacher Masuda was implying that she should just have lunch together with her boyfriend, the guardian of her student in Class 3-3.

Ugh...

But, even though Himari was bashful, she was still happy to rush to the lounge. Kazuya had even told her that he would keep a seat for her if she could have lunch with them.

"Teacher Kato~ Sit here!"

Chiharu was quick to detect her favorite prospective aunt. She pointed at the vacant chair next to her. Her brother had told her to keep it empty for Teacher Kato to sit.

"Is the food delicious?" asked Himari once she sat down. 

The dumpling was sandwiched by Kazuya on her right while Himari sat on the left.

"Not as delicious as Teacher Kato's cookies and cakes," Chiharu grinned cheekily, revealing her white teeth.

Kazuya scoffed, "How could you compare a meal with sweets? They are different."

"Food is food. It's all the same ah," retorted Chiharu angrily at her uncle.

Himari laughed faintly. 

Aye, these two couldn't stop bickering even for a second.

As Himari began eating lunch while listening to the dumpling's witty remarks to counter Kazuya's words, she didn't notice that someone was secretly taking a photo of her. That someone quickly left once she got the photo.