As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The train ride was a smooth one. The bullet train moving fast on the high-speed rail lines. Soon, the train left the gray city, heading to the lush greenery of the suburbs.

Himari sat comfortably in her seat next to the windows. She would arrive at the main station of the province in less than twenty minutes. After that, she had to take another train ride to go to the small town where she lived. In the end, she had to hail a cab or wait for a bus to bring her to the village.

It was possible to just took a cab directly from the main station but it would be costly. She might as well save it for the day she had to go back with the additional luggage later.

Her mother had been notified of her estimated arrival time.

Today would just be spent on recharging her energy at home. Both Himari and Akemi would go to the strawberry resort farm tomorrow.

"Ah, Chobi, I'm so bored," Himari stretched out her waist as she looked at Chobi who sat next to her.

While her suitcase was stored on the compartment above her head, Chobi's carrier was placed on a seat. Himari especially booked two seats just for her and her ungrateful fat cat.

"Meow~"

Chobi ignored his Mama as he lazily curled up in the carrier. He would rather save his energy by nursing his broken heart than entertaining his Mama.

Himari rolled her eyes. She adjusted her posture by properly leaning against the back seat.

There were a few unread messages from Nanako that she received early in the morning. But, because she was busy getting ready to go home, Himari hadn't had the opportunity to read them until now.

[Nanako: What happened last night???]

[Nanako: Jun ran out after you left! He did chase after you wasn't he?]

[Nanako: Did he say something gibberish to you? Did he have a fight with Mr. Hayashi?]

{Nanako: Answer meeeee!]

Himari was amused once she read the messages from her best friend.

Nanako's endurance was quite good since she didn't immediately bombard Himari with phone calls to ask the questions last night. Himari certainly had to give Nanako credits for thinking of allowing her to sleep well before shooting questions at her.

[Himari: To be honest with you, he asked me to get back with him but I refused]

[Himari: No fight with Kazuya, don't let your imagination runs wild]

[Himari: Enough talking about him. I'm on my way home right now. Talk to you later]

Himari threw her gaze to the outside of the windows. The scenery was quite a blur because the train traveled at high speed. The only constant was the blue sky above. In the end, she retracted her gaze and looked down at her phone.

No matter what Jun decided, that was his own decision. She wouldn't concern herself with everything related to him.

Who he wanted to be together with or who he wanted to marry, that person won't be her.

The sweetness of their youth together wasn't enough to lead her back to him.

As Himari grew up, she learned that there were times when she had to completely let go of something or someone.

There was no reason for her to exhaust herself by entangling herself with Jun and his family who didn't welcome her.

More and unexpected problems would arise.

As Himari tried to distract herself from the unpleasantness of meeting Jun again last night, she browsed the feed of her LINE. Photos of their reunion dinner last night had already been uploaded by Nanako.

Himari liked all of them and even left a comment.

[Himari: Happy holiday~ Don't just be a lazy bum!]

Her fingers scrolled to see the newest post in her feed.

There was nothing new except for the ads coming from a few public accounts that she followed.

"...!"

Himari suddenly was reminded of something. Her eyes fell on the time displayed by her phone.

Now, it was half-past eleven o'clock.

Kazuya and the children should already be in the zoo, right?

Himari tapped on his name and sent him a chat.

[Himari: Having fun in the zoo?]

[Himari: Or, are you still sleeping?]

[Himari: PinkStrawberrySnickered.jpg]

Ding! Dong!

At the sound of the bell-like music, Himari lifted up her eyes, looking at the digital announcement board.

"Good afternoon to our dearest guests. Attention, we would arrive..."

The soft voice of the attendant echoed inside every coach. Words of joy and surprise faintly sounded under the announcement. People were looking forward to arriving at their destination, the same as Himari.

"Hey! We're going to arrive soon, Chobi!"

Himari excitedly told the chubby cat next to her. Chobi meowed joyfully as if he understood what his Mama was saying.

Soon, it was time to alight the bullet train.

The passengers moved accordingly with the suitcases. Everyone walked at a steady pace without showing any urgency to bypass the other person. Himari patiently waited for the aisle to be quite vacant from the passengers before she began to walk out of the train.

The hustle and bustle of the train station greeted Himari and Chobi. The number of people here was higher than usual because today was the first day of the Golden Week holiday.

Either they were on their way home or they were here for vacation, everyone was filled with joy.

"The train would depart in thirty minutes. Let's go and wait now, Chobi," murmured Himari as she checked the train schedule using her phone.

"Meow~"

Himari was a bit hungry but she wanted to save some space for her mother's cooking. Her mother would often prepare a fest every time she came home. It would be a waste if she went somewhere to eat now.

But, Chobi had to eat.

Thus, Himari brought Chobi while wheeling her suitcase to the train platform. After that, she found a secluded spot to let Chobi out for a moment as he ate.

Her furry orange son might be stupid most of the time but, right now Chobi was obediently eating his food beside her.

Himari didn't have to worry about Chobi running around yet, as a precaution, she tied a leash to his neck collar, linking him to the carrier bag.

Ring, ring~

Himari's attention was shifted to her ringing phone. Her eyes curved as she saw the Caller ID.

"Hello, Kazuya?"

Kazuya's faint laugh drifted into her ears before he spoke, "Sorry, I've just noticed your message. Have you arrived home?"

Himari looked at her surrounding, "I just got off of the bullet train. Are you at the zoo right now? It is fun?"

"Heh, it's fun if I was a five years old girl who enjoys petting furry little animals," Kazuya scoffed in disdain.

Himari laughed to hear his witty remarks.

"Hehe, so, are you currently petting the furry little animals with Chiharu by your side?" Himari asked with a snicker.

There was happy laughter of children in his background. It was obvious that the petting zoo was filled with excited children and anxious parents who had to be mindful of the little ones' antics.

"Do you have eyes on me?" Kazuya pretended to be shocked, "Chiharu is beside me and yes, we are petting small animals. To be exact, we are petting guinea pigs."

"Guinea pigs are cute! They look silly but cute."

"Uncle! Uncle! Let Chiharu talk to Teacher Kato!"

Chiharu's cute voice faintly echoed from the end of the line. Himari laughed as Kazuya was chiding the little dumpling, "Don't press its head like that! Okay, okay, you can talk to her."

It seemed like Chiharu had accidentally put too much pressure while rubbing the guinea pig's head.

"She wants to talk to you. I'll pass the phone to her."

Kazuya remarked before the voice at the end of the line changed to a sweet voice of a little girl.

"Teacher Kato, you are going somewhere else to play?"

Himari smiled softly, "I'm on my way home. Your uncle said you're petting guinea pigs. Are they cute?"

"Yes! They are so cute and fluffy! Like Chiharu's toys! Teacher Kato, do you know, Uncle brought Chiharu and Big Brother to the zoo. We went to see the giraffes first. Their necks are so long! Then, Uncle..."

The little dumpling excitedly shared her experience with Himari. From time to time, Himari laughed listening to hear her adorable words.

"...Uncle took Chiharu and Big Brother's photos. Next time..."

"Enough! You've talked for so long."

It seemed like Kazuya had snatched his phone back from Chiharu as the little girl was complaining at him. Himari really wanted to laugh out loud.

Their bickering would never end no matter where did they go.

Ding! Dong!

Himari's eyes shifted to the platform. The board was announcing the arrival of her train in less than five minutes.

"What's that sound? Is that your train?"

"My train is coming," answered Himari with one hand urging Chobi to get inside the carrier again. The furry ball of orange meowed before walked inside.

"Oh, be careful then. The station must be packed with people," reminded Kazuya.

"It sure does," Himari hummed as she looked around here.

People were beginning to line up for the train.

"I'll send you their photos. Be careful when going home, okay?"

His other reminder incited a soft laugh from Himari.

"Yes, yes, I'll listen well to your reminder, Teacher Hayashi."

Kazuya scoffed before he laughed.

The call was hung up.

At the next moment, Himari received text messages from Kazuya. She was already queueing for the train as she opened them.

[Kazuya: Beware of the cuteness!]

Under the message, photos were attached together.

A smile spread on Himari's face as she looked at the photos.

The three of them were having fun, especially Chiharu who wore a pink bunny onesie.

Somehow, she felt bad not being able to join them.