As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

T/W: LOSS OF A DEAR ONE

The second day and last day of the sports festival came, marking another joyful day for the students of Amamiya School of Early Learning. There were only a few games left before the children were allowed to rest while waiting for the closing ceremony.

Unlike yesterday, the students and parents would dine early, taking their time before the ceremony. Once the ceremony was concluded, all of them could immediately go home. 

But, something was doomed to happen at the end of the day.

The closing ceremony had just ended when Himari was being anxious over something. She met the committee students of her team in the hallway of the third floor of the academic building, inquiring about something worrisome.

"What? You still can't find Teacher Masuda?"

Himari was shocked to hear what one of the students had to say to her. Her voice sounded frantic as she repeated the same question she had asked before.

A female student with short-bobbed hair nodded her head in regret, "Yes, Teacher Kato. We've tried looking everywhere but..."

"Teacher Masuda wasn't in any of the lounges, nor in the office. We've checked the classrooms as well... and the toilets but..."

Himari let out a sigh. She weakly waved her hands at the students, "It's okay. I'll try looking for her myself. Can I leave the rest to you guys?"

"Yes, we'll see that everything concludes properly," Another student replied.

"Thank you."

Himari was quiet as she watched the students left. Her brows lingered with worry as her mind was thinking of the disappearance of Teacher Masuda.

Himari met the Mathematics teacher this morning before the games started. At that time, she noticed that all of a sudden the latter appeared ghastly pale. Teacher Masuda's condition reminded Himari of the day she sent her home. 

When Himari told her to take it easy as they didn't have anything major to be done today, as usual, Teacher Masuda brushed her off, saying she was fine.

The woman's disappearance was just noticed by Himari when she tried calling her but the attempts were failed. When she asked if anyone had seen Teacher Masuda, all of them said they hadn't seen her apart from this morning.

The occurrence made Himari fearful.

If not, why did Teacher Masuda leave no traces?

"She didn't even pick up her phone..." Himari looked at the unanswered phone calls she made to Yuina an hour ago. 

Since the students and parents started leaving the school ground, this place would turn quiet soon. Teacher Goda would commence a meeting with all of the teachers later but, Himari was afraid if something bad had indeed fallen on Teacher Masuda.

What if she needed help?

Himari bit her lower lip, made a decision then called Teacher Goda.

The PE teacher didn't immediately answer her. She had to call him twice before he picked up the call.

"Hello, Teacher Goda. Actually, I want..."

Himari straightforwardly informed Teacher Goda of what was currently happening. Teacher Goda was surprised to hear that Teacher Masuda suddenly vanished without any other signs. 

"Do you need more help to find her?" asked Teacher Goda after Himari clearly told him of the situation.

"I'll look for her first myself. It's just that I can't attend the meeting after this," said Himari.

She started running down the hallway, looking at her left and right, afraid of accidentally missing Yuina if she was actually just nearby.

"Don't worry about that. The meeting's just a formality. Then, look for Teacher Masuda. Immediately tell me or other teachers if you need help. I'll inform the guards to check the CCTVs too."

"Thanks, Teacher Goda."

Himari reached the end of the hallway of the floor, slightly panting. Although she had expected it, she was still disappointed because Teacher Masuda was unable to be found.

Where was she, really?

From the third floor where she was, Himari went down to the second and first floors until she ran to the back of the building. At the same time, she kept trying her luck by continuously calling Yuina's number. 

Himari didn't leave a stone unturned. She even checked the rarely used rooms, the abandoned stores of the school and the broken toilets. Now, she was trying the area near the gymnasium.

Ring~

Himari halted her steps. Her bangs were sticking to her forehead because of sweat. She looked down at the phone with the hope that it was Yuina but...

It wasn't.

Himari panted, she lowered her body and crouched on the ground. Her legs felt quite sore because of her continuous running. She put the phone next to her ear.

"...Kazuya."

"Where are you? You sound off... What's wrong?" asked Kazuya.

Himari smiled faintly, "I'm working on something... You're going home now?"

"Yes. I can wait if you..."

"It's alright. Go home first. We'll meet tonight, aren't we?" Himari quickly cut him off before Kazuya could finish his sentence.

They met briefly this morning as well as Himari watched Kazuya played in a tug-of-war game with the other male students and their fathers. Then, all of them including Izumi and Chiharu ate together like yesterday before Himari first went to look for Yuina.

"Are you sure you're okay?" His voice was still ladened with concern, "Need my help?"

"It's nothing, really. I'll... Wait, I have an incoming call. Can I call you later? Just go home."

Her phone vibrated and rang, telling her that someone was calling her at this exact moment. 

"Okay. See you tonight."

Himari quickly ended the call. Her eyes widened to see that the incoming caller was Yuina, the one she had been searching for!

"Teacher Masuda! Where are..."

"...help."

Himari froze.

Her voice sounded so helpless and broken.

"Where are you? What happened?"

Himari abruptly stood up. She moved away from the gymnasium. Her heart pounded frantically at the thought something dangerous fell on Yuina.

"...at my car. Please, help..." Yuina choked, she sounded as if she was crying,

"The car park? Wait for me!"

Himari slapped her head as she realized she hadn't looked at the area.

She rarely stepped inside there because there was no need to. The roofed parking lot was located at the south of the school main building, hidden by the lush greenery of the surrounding garden.

"Teacher Masuda! Teacher Masuda!" 

Himari shouted the name the moment she reached the car park. Her eyes were desperately looking around her for fear of missing where the woman was.

"Teacher Masuda! Do you hear me? ...!"

Himari caught sight of Yuina's car at the end of the car park. Her heart lunged to her throat as the fear intensified. Her feet were quick to rush to the car.

"Teacher Masuda! What are... Teacher Masuda!"

Her vision was black for a split second before Himari returned to her senses.

"Teacher Masuda, I'm here, I'm here..." 

Himari sat with both knees on the ground, her hands were reaching for Yuina's shoulders. 

It was a situation that Himari didn't even dare to imagine.

Yuina was sitting on the ground with her back supported by the car. Her entire body was trembling. Her face lost its color as if she was drained from blood. Both of her hands were pressing on her stomach, signifying her pain came from there.

"Teacher Masuda, are you hurt? What happened? I'll call the doctor!"

Yuina exerted her energy as she reached out for Himari's hand, gripping it with all she had. She said in difficulty.

"...no! Cough! Please... bring me to the hospital..."

"But, can we just... Blood?"

Himari's eyes accidentally fell on the ground where Yuina sat. Against the neatly trimmed grass, a dark red-colored liquid spilled on it.

"...don't tell me, are you...."

Himari's lips trembled. Her face turned pale in an instant.

Please.

Please, not what she was thinking.

Yuina's eyes were red, a single tear trickled down her face, "...I've lost it. I have... lost my child..."

BOOM!

The words thundered in Himari's mind the moment they came out of Yuina's mouth.

What happened next ended with Himari driving Yuina to the nearby hospital. She didn't even remember the entire process.

What Himari did was, she immediately helped Yuina to sit in the backseat before she sat behind the wheels and drove the car out of the school ground. She didn't even tell anyone about what was happening, leaving the school without notifying a single soul. 

Himari was numb from the moment she heard Yuina's heartbreaking confession until she saw Yuina was wheeled inside one private treatment room of the emergency department. 

What happened?

Why so sudden?

Miscarried?

Did she really...

Please, not that, please.

Himari didn't realize she kept on walking backward until her back touched the cold walls of the hospital. Her eyes were looking straight at the closed door of the room but they were unclear as if she was in a daze.

Not that...

Both of her hands were shivering as she unconsciously lifted them up and placed her palms over her lower abdomen. Unable to bear the heart-throbbing pain inside her, Himari slid down until she crouched on the floor.

Her face turned another degree paler, her eyes reddened with tears.

Drip... Drip...

Please, be safe, please...

Himari felt as if she was drowning in never-ending darkness. Her mind was shrouded by her deepest fear as the image of Yuina's blood overlapped with the one in her memory.

It was so cold.

So, so cold.

She wanted to...

"Himari!"

Before she sank deeper, the anxious voice calling for her snapped her out of her messy thoughts.

The darkness suddenly shrank, being pulled back to the bottom of her heart, waiting to burst forth again.

Himari blinked.

What she saw next was a face so familiar to her.

"...Kazuya."