As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The pleasant lunch picnic at the rooftop turned sour because of the phone call. While Ryuu tidied up the picnic basket, Yuina made a phone call to someone. Her brows almost merged together as she anxiously waited for the caller to pick up.

"Hello, Sister Yuina?" A young man's voice answered the call, sounding a bit happy.

"Hiro! You... Are you okay? Where are you now?"

Right after the caller answered, Yuina immediately asked a successive of questions to him.

"What... I'm with my colleagues. What's wrong?"

Yuina felt her tensed nerves gradually loosened. She let out a sigh of relief.

"Nothing... I haven't talked to you long. So, how's life?"

Ryuu quietly sat beside his wife. Even though Yuina didn't turn on the loudspeaker, he could still hear what Hiro was saying to Yuina.

"Sister, you're weird. Did something happen?" Hiro's voice came again, "Don't tell me... Did my mother contact you?"

Yuina pursed her lips. She took a glance at Ryuu. Her husband gave her a faint smile and nodded.

"Yes, she suddenly called me earlier," Yuina told Hiro the truth after seeing that Ryuu didn't object to it, "She said, you got into a fight and then the other party demanded the hospitalization fee from you. So..."

"What? She dared to lie to you using me?" Hiro was shocked.

What followed next was a string of curses coming from Hiro.

Although it was something that she should stop because Hiro was cursing his own mother, Yuina felt comforted instead when she heard that.

This was the only blood-related family that cared for her.

"Ignore her, Sister Yuina. That old man's good-for-nothing friends came and visited her the other day, promising a valuable investment. She wanted me to give her money but I refused. It seems like she plans to use you instead."

Hiro didn't specify who the old man was but both of them knew it was his father. Out of consideration for her, Hiro never mentioned him directly unless it was necessary.

He understood what terrible things his biological father had done to his cousin sister.

"No wonder she asked for money. It's good that you didn't give her any. It'd be a failed investment anyway," Yuina rubbed her temples. She felt exhausted all of a sudden.

"You should just block her number, Sister," Hiro suggested, "Keep your life away from her. Don't worry about me. Mother wouldn't dare to say anything because she's still loyal to the old man."

"I know," Yuina nodded even though she knew Hiro couldn't see her.

"Stop talking about her. Oh ya! Is Brother Ryuu with you? Or is he still abroad?" Hiro quickly changed the subject.

Yuina looked at Ryuu then gave the phone to him next.

"Hello?" Ryuu smiled at his wife while talking to the phone.

Yuina smiled back at him.

She was glad that he was here.

"Brother! How could you're back without meeting me? Am I not your esteemed brother-in-law?"

Hiro's complaint was met with amused laughter from Ryuu.

"I only have enough time to be with my wife. Why must I see you?" He openly chided the younger man.

Hiro was the son of Yuina's paternal aunt who brought her in after the death of her parents. If not for Hiro, Yuina didn't know how could she endure living in that house for three years.

Even after she left the family, Yuina still kept close contact with Hiro. Hiro was among the few who knew of her marriage to Ryuu. Truth be told, if not for Hiro, she wouldn't start a relationship with Ryuu.

Hiro was the one who convinced her to not be afraid of her own feelings.

Ryuu and Hiro spent quite some time talking on the phone. They talked about everything; from every day's work, holiday plans and things that recently caught their interest. After the call was hung up, Ryuu focused back on his wife.

"That brat is as energetic as ever," Ryuu chuckled in amusement, "You really don't have to worry about him."

"I really should not, but..." Yuina lowered her head, not finishing her words.

Ryuu felt bad seeing Yuina losing her joy from earlier. He understood, whenever that woman or that man entered the picture, they would only remind his wife of the hellish days of her past.

No matter how many years had passed, the scars were still there in her heart.

"Let's go home and play!"

"Ah?"

Her husband's sudden exclamation brought Yuina out of her messy thoughts. She blankly stared at Ryuu who was holding the picnic basket.

As he was standing in front of her with the sun backlighting his figure, Ryuu stretched out his free hand to Yuina, offering his palm.

Ryuu grinned, "I remember we have a Mathematics board game at home. Isn't that your expertise? Why don't you win over your husband?"

A peal of laughter suddenly erupted from Yuina's mouth. Her gloomy eyes lit up.

"Hahaha~ Are you serious to use that game to compete with me?"

"Well, as long as my wife is happy, I don't mind surrendering my victory," Ryuu answered with a lift of his brow.

Yuina laughed again. She took his palm, linking their hands together and jumped on her feet.

"Don't be disappointed when an elementary Maths teacher defeats a film emperor like you," Yuina replied cheekily.

Ryuu laughed out loud. He tugged her to follow him. Both of them returned home with the sun spilling its light on them.

The next day, Sunday.

"Chobi! Be obedient and get inside!"

"Meow, meow, meow~" Don't wanna!

Himari was exasperated as her fat cat was busy playing with his toy ball instead of following her. She wanted to put Chobi inside the cat bag carrier. The transparent carrier that resembled a backpack was big enough to accommodate Chobi with holes for ventilation.

"I'd just leave you behind," Himari continued nagging, "I won't give you your favorite wet food, is that clear? Humph!"

"Meow!" Mama, don't leave me!

While the human and the cat were bickering, the doorbell of Himari's apartment rang.

"Ah! They are here already!"

Sure enough, once she opened the door, a familiar face was standing opposite her.

"Good morning, Himari," Kazuya smiled at her, "Where's the picnic basket? Are there other items? I'll help you to bring them."

"Sure, come inside," Himari beckoned at him before turning around.

Kazuya entered the apartment and followed behind Himari. He silently looked at the young lady.

A pastel blue dress hung over her body. Small cherry blossom flowers adorned the dress, creating a pink dense mass at the hem of the skirt. Her long hair was let loose, cascading behind her back like a velvety black shawl.

Kazuya glanced at his own outfit.

He wore a simple light blue shirt with a dark-colored jacket. His long legs were encased in a pair of black denim pants.

If not for Chiharu, they wouldn't be wearing the same color like this.

"We just have to bring this basket and the drinks," Himari showed Kazuya the wicker picnic basket and the bag that containing the drinks they bought yesterday, "My friend would bring the mat for us."

Kazuya took both of them. They weighed quite a bit.

"Would you bring your cat with us?" He glanced at Chobi who was sniffing the carrier bag.

It was amusing when the cat circled around the bag and peered inside as if he was staring at something uncanny.

"I always bring him with me if I went for a picnic but that silly cat of mine always act haughty if I want to put him inside the carrier," Himari didn't have any qualms about badmouthing her own furry son.

Kazuya brought the basket and the bag to the short hallway connecting to the door. He watched Himari picking up the orange cat, bickering with him and then put him inside the transparent carrier bag.

"Be patient ah. It's not like you dislike going there anyway. You'd be the first one to chase after the falling cherry blossoms."

"Meow meow~ Meow!"

The teacher's words toward her cat sounded funny especially when the furry one retorted by patting his fleshy paws on the carrier. Kazuya coughed to stifle his laugh.

Himari put the straps over her shoulders, took her sling bag and stood up. She made sure to have switched off the electronic items before making her way to the door.

"Everything's here?" Kazuya asked while stepping out of the apartment.

"Yes," Himari wore her shoes. She locked the door and slipped the key inside the sling bag. Looking up, she smiled at the man, "Ready for the picnic!"

Kazuya burst into laughter.

At this time, she looked so soft with the morning sunlight sprinkled on her head and shoulders.

If not for his hands were occupied with carrying things, maybe he would lift up a hand and pat her head like how he always did to Chiharu.

"Let's go," Kazuya smiled back, "The two brats are so excited already. Chiharu wants to ride a boat at the park."

"Ah, yes, we could ride boats at the lake," Himari remembered seeing such a thing at her previous time visiting Kaiyo Park, "It'd be a great scenery with the petals floating on the lake."

The two people walked side by side, heading out of the apartment building.

As they walked, the early morning sun stretched out their shadows, intertwining them together into one.