As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The next day came without any delay even though there were people facing problems or having the time of their lives the day before.

All of them went through the motion of their lives.

Kazuya was not in a good mood after coming back from bringing the children to meet his mother.

The thought of his mother would remain in the country longer than usual was enough to give him a headache.

Moreover, there was also a mention of her...

Yet, even though his spirit was low, Kazuya still remembered that he wanted to bring the children to the amusement park today. He had delayed it for a day. If he didn't fulfill it today, Chiharu would mope with him again.

But, instead of only went for a day trip, Kazuya booked a hotel room at the amusement park for two days and one night. He was lucky because the hotel still had a few vacant rooms left during the holiday season.

Let the children played to their hearts' content before the school reopened the next week.

While Kazuya was shrouded in sullen air, the same didn't happen to Himari who was brimming with joy.

Like how she had planned yesterday, Himari and her mother went to pick fresh strawberries again early in the morning. They would use the freshly picked ones for the dessert workshop later. Because of that, they picked more strawberries than yesterday.

"Let's make some jam, I want to give a jar to your Granny Saichi," said Akemi while picking the strawberries. Her movement was agile as she continuously filled the basket with the red and small fruits.

"Okay, I want to bring some back to the city too," Himari was quick to agree.

Nanako had reminded Himari that she wanted a jar of a homemade jam once the latter returned from the holidays. If Himari forgot about it, she would come and haunt her at night.

Since Nanako had asked for one, Himari thought to just make more. She wanted to give a jar each for Nanako, Aunt Mio, Teacher Ayase as well as Chiharu.

The little dumpling would surely love to have some strawberry jam with huge chunks of the fruits.

Perhaps, she should make some scones while giving the jam to the dumpling? 

Freshly baked scones paired with delicious strawberry jam.

They would be so tempting!

Well, let's decide later.

Their two nights and three days trip would end tomorrow. So, Himari and her mother decided to make full use of their time here today because when tomorrow came, they would have to get ready to pack their belongings and check out of the resort.

"Himari, do you remember a group of tourists we met during breakfast today?"

Akemi handed the basket full of strawberries to her daughter. Himari was being careful as she brought the basket to be weighed down.

"I do. Why, Mom?"

Today, they had breakfast in the restaurant instead of their own room. The breakfast was served buffet-style.

Because of that, they chanced a meeting with a group of elderlies who came here with a bus. Himari and Akemi joined them for breakfast.

"They invite us for a barbecue tonight. Let's have our dinner there?"

"Ah, but we didn't even give them the expenses for our shares."

Himari didn't mind joining them but, she and her mother had nothing to offer to the group. It was embarrassing if they just joined the barbecue party without paying for anything.

"Easy, ah. Let's make some desserts during the workshop and bring them there," Akemi didn't find her daughter's concern as a problem as she quickly offered a suggestion.

Himari thought of her mother's suggestion. It sounded plausible.

"Okay, Mom."

Thus, the mother and daughter went to the workshop. They paid a higher price than the others because they wanted to use more baking ingredients. 

Although it was still early, the workshop was already almost full with the participants.

There, the mother and daughter learned new tips in making homemade strawberry jam as well as other desserts. They also made new acquaintances with some participants. Before noon, they managed to make a few different strawberry-related sweets.

Their efficiency impressed the instructors that handled the workshop.

"They look so delectable and cute, ah. Both of you are so talented!" One of the instructors sincerely giving the mother and daughter praises, "Girl, you must have inherited your mother's skills!"

"It's our shared hobby, Teacher," Himari answered while smiling. She was in a good mood because all of the sweets turned out pretty, "My mother loves to cook and bake. I learned from her."

"It's good to learn cooking and baking, no matter you are a woman or a man. It's a basic survival skill especially cooking," The only male instructor gave his own views.

Himari and Akemi not only made strawberry jam, but they also baked a few bottles of strawberry and chocolate chip cookies and three roll cakes. 

The jam and the cookies would be brought back tomorrow while the roll cakes would be served at the barbecue party tonight.

"All done," Akemi was pleased to see the fruits of her and her daughter's efforts, "Let's go back to our room. Your mother is already sweating. I want to have a cold shower."

"Do we have lunch in our room, Mom?" Himari asked while taking photos of the sweets that were still placed on the kitchen island.

Kacha.

A few photos of the desserts were saved in the Gallery app. All of them looked tempting and drool-worthy enough.

"Let's just get some food from the cafe. I don't want to eat much."

"Okay, Mom."

With all the sweets packed properly, the two Kato ladies left the workshop after thanking the instructors. They made their way to the cafe nearby.

After making orders, they waited at the table.

While Himari was uploading the photos that she took earlier to her Timeline, she noticed that her mother was intently staring at her.

Himari quickly finished typing the caption and tapped on Submit.

[Who wants these?~]

"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you find your daughter to be more beautiful?" Himari asked while purposedly fluttering her eyelashes at her mother.

Akemi scoffed, "Heh, don't be too conceited. Who taught you to be shameless like this?"

"Mom, you're the one who told me to love myself more," Himari complained like a child. Her lips were quick to form a pout as if she was being wronged by her mother, "Praising my own self is self-love, ah."

Akemi laughed at her daughter's excuses. Then, her laughter died down as her facial expression changed.

"It's good if you could be this happy. Mom doesn't have to worry much about you," She said in a soft voice.

Himari was baffled. She stopped acting coy in front of her mother.

"What... I'm already this big, why do you still have to worry about me," Himari shrank her neck as a sense of guilt overcome her.

Akemi lightly shook her head, "No matter how old my darling daughter is, your mother here would always worry about you."

Himari pursed her lips. She lowered her eyes to the clean surface of the table.

The matter of Jun suddenly showed up at their family home still concerned her mother. Himari understood it was unavoidable because, despite all the words both she and her mother said to the man, it was thoroughly clear that Jun won't give up easily.

How could her mother be at ease with the thought she going back to the city once the holidays ended?

"Mom, don't worry. I won't get back with him," said Himari firmly.

As long as she didn't let herself be carried away by their old memories as well as reignited the sparks between her and Jun, Himari was certain she could keep her distance from him.

Moreover, there was still another reason...

"Although Jun wants you back, I know he wouldn't do anything untoward to you but, what if his mother hears about him pursuing you again?"

To Akemi, if not for his family's opposition, she would love to have a man who dearly cherished her daughter as her son-in-law but, the reality was far from it.

Throughout their lives together, there was no man in their family. It was alright for herself but, Akemi sincerely hoped her daughter would be able to experience a normal life of having a small family of her own.

"Mom, I'm an adult now. I could take care of myself," Himari answered in an attempt to ease her mother's worries. She smiled softly, "I won't stay quiet if it happens. Stop worrying, ah. Do you want your hair turning gray quickly?"

Seeing that her daughter insisted to stop talking about the matter, Akemi could only accept in defeat.

"Geez, if it's too hard, you should go and find a man to rent as your boyfriend! That way, Jun would be discouraged sooner or later!"

"Ha?" 

Himari was speechless. She almost choked to hear that.

Did her mother really tell her to rent a boyfriend?

What was she thinking??

"Mom, do you think this is a joke?" Himari inwardly facepalmed herself.

"It's true, ah," Akemi defended her proposal. She seriously looked at her daughter, "Look at the dramas I've been watching on TV. The heroines hired the male leads to be their boyfriends. In the end, they ended together. Don't you want to try it?"

"Mom~!"

Himari didn't know either to laugh or cry. How could her mother suggest something like that based on her favorite evening dramas? Did she think her daughter's life was like the scripted dramas on TV?