As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Hehe."

Bell-like laughter drifted along together with the night breeze, coming from a young lady who was walking beside a man.

"You're still laughing at me?"

Helpless, the man could only smile at her. 

Himari covered her mouth, looking up at Kazuya.

"Well, if I know I could get many of your black materials, I'd surely meet them sooner! Taichi is so reliable ah!"

"Don't be so cheeky."

Kazuya tapped a knuckle over her forehead. His action didn't fade her teasing smile, instead, it became brighter.

After dinner, Chiharu got bored with the play area inside the private dining room. She wanted to play at the outdoor playground thus the dumpling dragged all of them there. 

Kazuya dumped the task of looking after the children to the troublesome twins before he led Himari away from them, taking a stroll in the spacious garden of the restaurant.

The couple walked on the short bridge hanging above a stream. On the other side of the bridge, young couples were walking hand-in-hand, enjoying a good walk after dining such fine cuisine of the restaurant.

"I really wanna see your photos during high school," Himari eyed Kazuya in discontent, her lips forming a pout, "Why don't you allow me?"

Darting his gaze away, Kazuya rolled his throat, looking awkward, "You don't have anything to gain by looking at my photos. Aren't you supposed to appreciate my look right now?"

Himari clicked her tongue, "It's okay ah. Taichi said he would send me your photos tonight."

Kazuya made a mental note to give Taichi a lesson for running off his mouth without any stops.

"You seems like you'd be teachers' favorite," He pulled her hand toward him, tugging her to be even closer to him, "If we're studying at the same school, I don't think you'd look at me ah. I only knew to break school rules at that time."

"Of course I won't look at you. By the time I entered high school you've already graduated," answered Himari cheekily.

Kazuya was speechless, "...are you despising me for being older than you?"

"No. Didn't people say men aging like fine wine? You're older so, that's it."

"..."

He really didn't know how to refute her.

Laughing at him, Himari pulled Kazuya to go to a vacant bench. Both of them sat there, under a tree with tiny lights hanging from the branches. 

Himari took off her heels. She bent down and began to massage her calves. They ached a little because tonight, she chose to wear a pair of nude-colored high-heels. 

"Why do you wear those if your feet could hurt?" Kazuya sighed in helplessness.

"Beauty is pain," replied Himari without looking at him, "I haven't worn the heels for a long time. They wanna get fresh air too instead of being stored inside the cupboard."

A chuckle flowed out of Kazuya's mouth. Once again, he felt funny and helpless because of this lady.

Bending down his upper body, Kazuya whispered next to her right ear, "I might be a bad boy at school, but I could be a romantic boyfriend to you now."

"En... Kazuya?"

Himari was startled when the man lifted up her feet and placed them on his thighs. With his hand supporting her back, he adjusted her sitting posture to face him. Then, he gently pressed the tips of his fingers over her calves, trying to alleviate the achiness.

"Is this pressure alright?" He asked, his eyes were focused on his task.

"En," Himari smiled shyly.

Luckily most couples focused on their partners. She would be bashful if people around them looked at their interactions.

Both of them didn't meet much this week because Kazuya was busy. Himari heard he might have to go on another business trip later although it would just take a day. 

"Taichi said you studied designs together."

In the silence that engulfed them, her voice echoed softly.

"Yes," He paused, pursing his lips then continued, "We're supposed to build our firm together but... things happened."

Taichi shared the story when they were having dinner earlier. He happily gossiped of the one time Kazuya didn't sleep for almost four days because he wanted to finish his entry for an interior design competition.

His hard work paid off as Kazuya won second place, just three points lower than the defending champion for two years in a row.

Kazuya's movements slowed down before he stopped entirely when Himari placed both of her hands over his.

Raising up his eyes, he saw her smile. The yellow tiny lights dotted on her face, exuding an ethereal vibe around her. 

"Do you want to pursue your dreams again?" Once more, she asked.

Himari had to regretfully admit that there was still so much that she didn't know about this man.

She saw the edges of the man's lips curled up but, his eyes weren't smiling.

"If possible, yes, but... I don't know when."

As long as his elder brother was in that state, Kazuya couldn't bring himself to go after what he loved to do. Even after Brother Hiroki woke up, he needed time to restore his bodily functions back.

He might as well just forgot about his dreams.

"I haven't really asked you before but, do you wanna achieve something by learning designs?"

So far, Himari only knew that Kazuya majored in designs and he could draw well. 

But, was that everything?

Did he have something that drove him to dwell in the field?

Kazuya reached out for a heel, put it back on Himari's right foot before he did the same with the left. Then, he slowly lowered her feet to the ground. 

"I have a dream, it may seem funny and insignificant but, I really want to achieve it."

Himari perked up. She leaned forward, intently focusing on the man.

"Mind sharing it with me?"

Kazuya tilted his head. His eyes were soft.

"I want to design a house for my own small family, a place that can be called my home, where I live with my wife and children."

Himari froze, her eyelashes fluttered stiffly twice as her lips parted slightly. 

"...a home?"

"Yes," Kazuya smiled at the sight of her stiff face. He placed a palm over her face, stroking her cheek tenderly, "Does it sound childish to you? My dream is not that big."

"No, no, it's wonderful," Himari quickly shook her head, "Really, it's just..."

Did he hold on to the dream because of his unpleasant childhood?

She at least knew that Kazuya didn't have a memorable childhood, that was why he strived to give Izumi and Chiharu a happy one.

Himari's eyes were prickly yet she held herself back from crying.

Raising up one hand, Himari covered Kazuya's hand that was still caressing her cheek. She answered firmly, "I believe that you'd achieve it someday."

Her words stirred the lake of his heart, softly rippling on the surface, sending him a warm sensation.

Kazuya poked the tip of her nose with his free hand. He chuckled, "Of course, I'd ask for your opinions too before designing it. After all, it would be our home."

"Do you mean..."

Kazuya gave her a meaningful smile, "If I don't build a home with the one I'm courting right now, with who should I do it with?"

His intentions were clear.

She was there, in his future.

"Hehe, okay," Himari smiled sheepishly, "I want the house in white-and-pink theme, is that okay?"

"Whatever my wife says, goes," answered Kazuya with a shrug.

Himari bubbled into laughter. Her shoulders shook as she tried to hold back.

Ring~ Ring~

The sudden blast of ringtone burst the pink bubble that enveloped the couple. It sounded from Himari's bag. She looked down and swiftly fished out the phone.

"Hello, Yuina, are you..."

Himari trailed off the moment her ears were stabbed by the sound of cries coming from the end of the line.

"Himari, I'm... outside your apartment. Could I... Could I stay at your place tonight? Please..."

Himari unconsciously straightened up, alarms bell ringing in her mind.

"You're at my apartment? Yuina, calm down. What happened? You want to stay at my place?"

Seeing Himari's frantic look, Kazuya was affected by her anxiousness. He frowned, thinking that the name was familiar.

Wasn't that the female teacher that miscarried last week?

Another heavy sob came from the earpiece.

"...can I?"

If one could hear the sound of a heart broke into pieces, it was manifested by her voice right now.

Himari furrowed her brows, thinking that this wasn't the right time to ask Yuina's reason. 

"Okay, you can. Are you waiting outside the gate? I'm heading home now."

Himari ended the call after making arrangements with Yuina. She abruptly stood up, getting ready to leave.

"Himari, you need to go home?"

Kazuya pulled her hand, looking at her in concern.

"She said she needs a place to sleep. It seems like she's not in a good condition. Sorry, Kazuya. I have to go back now."

Himari didn't know what prompted Yuina to call her but, it was certain that the latter was in dire need of help.

"What you're sorry about?" Kazuya patted her head, trying to calm her, "Let's go. It's time for the children to go to bed anyway."

Nodded slightly, Himari smiled faintly.

Later, Chiharu and Izumi waved goodbye at the twin brothers before all of them got inside the car.

Before Kazuya drove the car away, Taichi leaned down at Himari's window and said, "It's really nice meeting you, Himari. Feel free to contact me whenever you wanna hear that guy's story."

"Thanks, Taichi," Himari shifted her eyes to Shuichi next, "You too, Shuichi. It's nice meeting you both."

Undeniably, Kazuya had a pair of best friends who he could rely on.

But...

How about Yuina?

While sitting in the car, Himari clenched her phone hard, silently praying that nothing more befell Yuina.