As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The darkness and ache were overwhelming. Yuina unconsciously gripped the blanket tightly, her fingers digging deep into the fabric, popping the veins at the back of her hands.

Pain...

It was so painful and cold...

Gradually, the acute pain in her lower abdomen pulled Yuina out from her deep slumber. She let out a breathless sigh as if her insides were choking her.

Although her body felt so weak, Yuina forced herself to open her eyes. What met her was the view of a dimly lit room. The familiar scent of disinfectant lingered at the tip of her nose, suddenly throwing her into alert.

This was a hospital room. She was lying on the bed, dressed in a patient's gown.

"What... happened... Cough!"

A cough burst forth her mouth, sending another sensation of pain to her lower body. Horrified, Yuina exerted herself to sit up, only to be met with more ache. Her body fell back to the mattress. 

"Ah... Ha, ha..."

As Yuina was agonizing with pain, the images of what had transpired today began to resurface to her mind, making her weak body trembled in fear.

This morning, she felt weaker than ever yet she still forced herself to fulfill her tasks for the sports festival. When she realized her lower abdomen cramped terribly, it was already too late.

Yuina grabbed her bag and immediately rushed to the car park. The only thought that was warring in her mind was to get to any hospital faster. She didn't even think to inform anyone or getting someone's help.

Until she fainted right on the time she reached her car. When she regained consciousness later, red blood had stained her pants and the ground.

Using all of her last strength, she pulled out her phone and saw the missed calls from Teacher Kato. 

In the end, she called her back and asked for help but...

Yuina was terrified by the realization. The fact that she was lying weakly in the hospital further cemented her ominous feeling.

Did she...

Really lost the child?

No!

Yuina frantically touched her lower abdomen. She could only feel gut-wrenching pain there. It was so excruciating as if something was prodding into her womb.

Although it wasn't confirmed verbally by any professional, her gut feeling was telling her that she was no longer carrying the child.

No!

No...

Just why?

Why?

Tears were prickling her eyes, rushing down her face as if a dam was broken. Her gaze began to be blurred by her tears 

Yuina bit her lower lip, trying to control her sobbing but the choking sound of it only amplified in the ward. Her shoulders shook as she was unable to stop herself. 

Creak...

"You're awake?"

Tap tap tap.

While Yuina was wallowing, the door of the ward was opened before someone rushed inside. The voice sounded so surprised and concerned. 

Yuina feebly lifted up her head. Shocked, her eyes widened.

"Teacher Kato..."

Himari pursed her lips as she slowly took in the appearance of the weak body on the hospital bed. Although the light was dimmed earlier to help Yuina to sleep peacefully, she could still see how bad the latter looked right now.

No, saying bad was an understatement.

Himari suppressed her own tumultuous feeling. Moving forward, she gently put one hand on Yuina's shoulder while the other pulled the blanket to cover her body.

"Aren't you thirsty? Want me to pour you a drink?"

"...yes."

Himari gave the dazed Yuina a faint smile. She reached out for the thermos that she borrowed from one of the nurses, poured the warm water inside a glass then handed it to Yuina.

Throughout her movements, Yuina was quiet as she silently staring at Himari.

"... you're here, Teacher Kato."

In a brief moment from the time she woke up, Yuina thought she was all alone, as always. 

But, someone was accompanying her, someone unexpected.

"Where else could I be?" answered Himari with a shrug. She said gently, "Drink first."

The English teacher was still in the same sportswear from this morning. It was clear that Himari had been here from the time Yuina was wheeled inside the treatment room.

Yuina nodded her head. She slowly drank the water. She was indeed thirsty. The moment the water ran down her throat, it felt bearable.

Himari quietly looked at Yuina. She pulled up a chair then sat down next to the bed.

No words could be offered to Yuina. All of them were useless in the face of such a heartbreaking incident.

"What time it is?" asked Yuina after drinking half of the water. Her voice still sounded hoarse.

"It's currently 7:20 PM. You've been unconscious since noon," replied Himari. With a worried expression, she said cautiously, "Teacher Masuda, that, you actually..."

Yuina swallowed the bitterness as she forced a smile, "I miscarried, didn't it?"

Himari lowered her head, feeling guilty all of a sudden.

When the doctor walked out of the treatment room and saying that the patient suffered a miscarriage, Himari's mind was once again struck by thunder. If not for Kazuya being with her, she might collapse to the floor.

"Is the patient in a relationship? Where's the father? She's currently in a vulnerable state. The patient needs all the support she could get from the ones closed to her."

Because of Yuina's circumstances, Himari could only vaguely answer the doctor. The doctor urged her to quickly call the patient's family before giving reminders on what should be paid attention to regarding Yuina.

With her shoulders squared, Himari raised up her chin and looked directly into Yuina's eyes.

"Yes."

To Yuina's question, there was only one bitter truth as the answer.

Both of them knew it.

Yuina darted her eyes away from Himari's concerned gaze. A layer of resentment shrouded her heart.

Suffocated, that's what she felt right now as her hand was weakly pressing on her lower abdomen.

If before Yuina was so happy every time she touched her tummy, now, only a sense of loss and despair overwhelmed her. The tips of her fingers felt so hot as if touching her tummy could scald her.

There was nothing inside her womb. Her joy and anticipation of the last few weeks were short-lived.

"He would be back in two weeks. I thought I'd be able to surprise him... He'd be happy if he knew but..."

Each of her sentence was left to trail off, incomplete.

Every time Ryuu contacted her, Yuina was swamped with happiness as she coerced herself to not break the news to him yet. She kept telling herself that since Ryuu would come home soon, she could surprise him with the news.

Time and again, she conjured the image of a happy Ryuu once he knew about her pregnancy.

But, her dreams shattered.

"I couldn't protect our child... I couldn't... I'm unfit to be a mother... I lost our child..."

Yuina's next words were drowned by her own wails. Her pitiful and heartwrenching echoed sadly in the ward.

Himari abruptly stood up. Yuina's sudden crying sent alarm bells ringing inside her. She carefully put her arms around the grieving lady. 

"You're a mother. Don't say something like that. Please, Teacher Masuda..."

Himari pressed her lips. A faint shadow flickered in her eyes as she felt totally helpless. 

She couldn't even find better words to console Teacher Masuda. The only thing she could offer was accompanying her inside this lonely ward. 

After Yuina's cries subsided, Himari called the doctor to check on her. Unlike before, Yuina was calm as she listened to what the doctor was telling her as if she wasn't the one who cried just now.

But, Himari knew, what was underlying behind the calm expression was something chaotic.

"You should go home now, Teacher Kato. Don't make me keep you here."

The doctor left the ward at half-past eight. Yuina spoke to Himari as she saw that the English teacher didn't have any intention to leave. 

Himari faltered, "I can accompany you tonight. You haven't eaten dinner yet as well."

"The nurses would help me," Yuina smiled, "They would send me dinner afterward."

"But..."

"Go home. I'm fine here," Yuina cut Himari off.

Seeing that Yuina was serious, there was nothing she could do. Himari faintly sensed that Yuina wanted to be alone.

She inwardly mocking herself.

What the pale-looking woman wanted was just the same as she felt back then.

But, Himari also knew it would be dangerous if Yuina continued shouldering everything without anyone with her.

Right now...

"Then, please rest well. I haven't told the school about you because I'm not sure how should I word it. Please contact me whenever you need me."

She had to take a step back and allow Yuina what she wanted.

Yuina gave Himari a grateful smile, "I've been troubling you. Thank you so much, Teacher Kato."

Himari just returned the smile. Her lips felt stiff as she was pushing herself to do so. 

After talking for a bit more, Himari compeled herself to take a step out of the ward. She waved at the woman sitting on the bed and said that she would come to visit tomorrow.

The moment she got out of the private ward, a tall shadow of a man fell on her.

Startled, Himari looked up.

"...you haven't gone home?"

Kazuya tugged up the corners of his lips yet his eyes were dull, "And haven't I said that I'd wait?"

Himari sullenly nodded her head. 

Noticing the fatigue in her eyes, Kazuya gently pulled her to him, enveloping her in an embrace.

"You've done well, Himari," He tenderly stroked the back of her head, "Let's go home and rest."

Himari just answered him with another nod before she nuzzled her head against his chest.