As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

While Himari was sleeping sweetly with Chobi next to her, Kazuya was looking at the personal chat between him and the young female teacher earlier.

The entire villa was dark aside from the lamp poles of the garden. Kazuya was leaning his arms over the balcony railing with both hands holding the phone.

A soft smile spread on his lips.

In truth, Kazuya had only known her for less than a month but he found it easy to befriend her. Maybe, it was due to how uncanny their first encounter three years ago was.

"It seems like, she really doesn't remember me," He murmured faintly.

Kazuya shrugged. It was inevitable for her to not remember since they only met once. She might already have thrown his name card away as early as three years ago.

After spending more time at the balcony, Kazuya went to check both Izumi and Chiharu before he returned to his own room.

Izumi was sleeping soundly on his bed. Kazuya leaned sideways on the door frame. He couldn't help but think of their conversation a few days ago.

It happened the next day after the bullying incident.

Kazuya called the boy to his study. Izumi stood straight like he was waiting for punishment.

At that time.

"I believe this kind of matter has happened before. Why you didn't tell me?" Kazuya asked while looking at the boy opposite him.

Even though Kazuya understood the reason behind Izumi's actions because of what he heard during the meeting between the parents and teachers, he still wanted to hear Izumi saying it to him.

"That boy, Yuuto said... Uncle's project with his father would end if I didn't listen to him," Izumi obediently repeated what he had told his uncle, Yuuto's father and the teachers.

Kazuya suppressed a heavy sigh from escaping his mouth. His mood turned complicated in an instant.

"Silly boy," Kazuya stood up from the chair. He rounded the working desk and walked to the little boy, "Do you think it's easy to cancel an ongoing project? Even if President Kasai chose to listen to his son, your uncle could handle that much."

Kazuya didn't speak about contract breaching, penalty fees or the consequences that would fall on their growing company. It would only make Izumi worried as they were difficult to be understood by a young boy.

The penalty fee would be shouldered by Kasai Group but, his brother's company would be on the losing end as it lost the chance to cooperate with such a big conglomerate.

"I'm sorry, Uncle," Izumi could only say that.

He was totally ashamed because he blindly followed Yuuto even without clarifying the truth with his uncle. Fortunately, this matter had come to a stop.

Kazuya pursed his lips. He was annoyed with himself for allowing this matter to happen.

Looking at Izumi was the same as looking at his brother in childhood. He bore a great resemblance to his father after all while Chiharu took more of their mother's side.

"If this kind of thing happens again, tell me," Kazuya gave him a reminder, "You and your sister are more important than the affairs of the company. I'd only fail your father if I couldn't take good care of you two."

"That's not true!" Izumi quickly retorted. He looked straight at his uncle, "Uncle, I know you have worked hard for us and for Dad's company. If not for you, I and Chiharu would be separated and, and... Sorry, I just do not want to make you more tired because of us."

Izumi didn't know how much energy his uncle had exhausted for him and Chiharu as well as on managing the company but, he could sense his uncle was pushing himself too hard.

If not for them, Uncle could live his own life without having to worry about them.

If not for them, Uncle might have already married that woman.

If not for them, Uncle wouldn't leave his dreams.

As more and more depressing thoughts surged in his mind, Izumi began sobbing. He bit his lips hard, trying to muffle down his cries but in the end, he cried out loud.

"Izumi!"

Kazuya was perplexed the moment Izumi wailed. He quickly hugged the little boy.

"Cry, just cry if you want," Kazuya patted his head, "I know you've been holding for so long. I'm proud of you, Izumi."

The boy in his arms was not a crybaby. He didn't even cry when his father fell into a coma. While Chiharu cried and asked where their mother and father were, Izumi would coax her by her side. Not even once did he shed tears.

But, now, he cried. These days, he cried easily compared to before.

What if... he was slowly breaking down?

Kazuya snapped out of his daze. The image of that night in the study shattered in an instant. He closed his eyes and pressed on his forehead. After letting out a sigh, he stepped out of Izumi's room. The door was closed behind him.

It had been three years. The chance of his brother waking up again getting lower day by day.

Kazuya didn't know what should he tell the two siblings if, one day, it was determined that their father would follow their mother next.

In another part of the city, Sakuya Residence.

Two people were splayed on the bed with the messy quilt covering them. Yuina laid lazily on the soft mattress while enjoying Ryuu's massage on her limbs. With her eyelids half closed, she looked at her husband who was grinning at her.

"What?" Yuina suppressed an urge to yawn, "Go and prepare the bath. I want to clean myself first before sleeping."

There was no way she would directly go to sleep. This sleazy man of hers also had to change the bedsheet again.

"Hehe, you're so charming, my wife," Ryuu dropped a kiss on her nose. His voice sounded so languid and husky in the close distance between the two of them, "Hurm, let me pamper you more before I leave again."

Yuina froze for a second. She almost forgot about that.

Even though his global tour was initially postponed because of the scandal that involved the organizing company, Ryuu would soon embark on his tour because the film company had quickly found a replacement. But, because it was in a hurry, they had to cancel some of the places in the original schedule.

"But, didn't you say you'd shoot the early parts of the survival film first?" Yuina asked in a low voice.

Ryuu told her the other day that because he was available at this time, Director Aoyama wanted to shoot the early stages of the film with him. He didn't have to enter the dense forest yet as the parts would be shot in the city.

"It won't hinder the shooting," Ryuu let out a yawn. He continued applying pressure on his wife's waist, "Next Monday, I'd shoot with the crew for three days and then, on Friday I'd take the flight for the tour."

Yuina was confused all over again.

He said there would be a surprise waiting for her this Monday, but, he would be away on that day. Even though Ryuu didn't have to stay in the hotel because the filming location was just within the city, Yuina couldn't help but think about the surprise.

"You'd love it, my love~"

That would be his answer every time she asked him.

"Okay, okay. Go to the bathroom now," Yuina pushed him away, "I'm on duty tomorrow. I have to go to school earlier."

"Tsk," Ryuu clicked his tongue in dissatisfaction, "I thought we could go for another round."

Yuina narrowed her eyes, "Ha, in your dream."

Since he couldn't exhaust his energy on acting, he wanted to channel it to her? Did he think her stamina was as great as his?

Ryuu disappointedly got out of bed. Yuina ignored him when he turned around and showed an aggrieved look at her.

If she wavered, she would be the one who suffered next!

While Ryuu was filling the tub with water, Yuina wrapped the quilt around her as she made her way inside the built-in wardrobe. She chose a sleeveless nightgown to be worn after her bath.

Her gaze swept across the vanity table, especially at the bottommost drawer.

Yuina's heart trembled slightly.

She turned to look at the bathroom. Ryuu was still inside.

Should she eat the pills... or not?

Yuina clenched and unclenched her hands. Once again, she was in a dilemma.

When he was at home, she would freely imagine having a child running around the house.

But.

When he was away, she didn't dare to think so.

What should she do?

She hadn't talked to him about this.

"What are you doing?"

"Ah!"

Yuina's shoulders jolted up due to surprise. Before she could turn around, a pair of familiar arms already caught her.

"...Ryuu!"

"Why do you look so surprised?" Ryuu frowned. Then, a mischievous glint flashed in his eyes, "What? Are you planning to do something bad behind me?"

"...Haha, there's no way," Yuina laughed awkwardly, "Let go of me. I want to bathe."

"We're just wasting water if we bathe separately," Ryuu blatantly made up such an excuse, "So, let's bathe together?"

"Okay..."

Maybe, because of her guilty conscience, Yuina didn't retort when Ryuu made the suggestion. Her husband's eyes lit up.

Ryuu quickly picked her up and ran to the bathroom.