As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Hehehe~"

Himari's eyes kept on curving into crescents as she read Kazuya's replies.

[Kazuya: Apologies]

[Kazuya: MoonBoySorry.jpg]

[Kazuya: I didn't even know that naughty girl sent you that kind of texts when I wasn't looking]

Himari burst into giggles. In helplessness, she shook her head while still looking at her phone.

The first time she read the texts sent by Kazuya's account, Himari was baffled because she found the texts as weird. Especially because Kazuya addressed her as 'Teacher Kato' instead of her own name.

After reading all of them, Himari finally realized that the sender was not Kazuya himself but his own niece!

[Himari: It's good to see she's so energetic]

[Himari: Chiharu must have so much fun there!]

"Meow, meow~"

Chobi jumped from the bed to where his Mama was sitting. He bent down, sneaked in through the gap of Himari's arm and her legs before he curled like a ball on her lap. The furry feline tapped his paws on her phone as if he wanted to play with it.

"Chobi, didn't you accompany your Grandma for a stroll?" Himari asked the cat.

Today was their last day at the resort. Both Himari and Akemi would check out at noon. All of their belongings had been packed accordingly together with the souvenirs they got from their stay in the strawberry farm resort.

A dozen packs of fresh strawberries as well as the dried ones, homemade jams and strawberry chocolate chip cookies. They also bought the pure butter sold by the ranch within the same compound of the resort. 

"Meow~" Chobi purred.

Himari raised her brows. She put her phone down on the coffee table, picked up her cat and walked to the yard outside their resort room.

Not far from where she stood, Himari saw her mother was sitting on a bench while talking to an old lady.

The old lady was called Madam Hori. She was among the group of elderly that invited Himari and Akemi for a barbecue party last night. She was the oldest member of the group.

According to one of the elders, Madam Hori had just lost her dearest husband three months ago. Since then, she withdrew herself from her circle. Her actions made her son worried because he knew how much his mother missed his late father.

With the persuasion from her friends in the group as well as her son, Madam Hori joined the trip to the strawberry farm resort. Even though the trip was a short one, it helped to cheer the old lady up.

Last night, Madam Hori suffered from bloating after eating. Akemi brewed the old lady some buckwheat tea to help. She also offered to massage the old lady's aching calves because of doing activities in the daytime. Even though Madam Hori refused because she didn't want to trouble Akemi, the latter still did it.

Because of the simple act of kindness, they got to know each other more.

"Whenever my legs ached before, my husband would often massage them for me," told the grieving old lady when Akemi massaged her feet.

Three months had passed but, to Madam Hori, it was like her husband had just departed yesterday.

"Granny Hori, Mom, what are you talking about?" Himari wore her slippers and went to where the two ladies sat.

Under Madam Hori's insistence, both Himari and Akemi changed the way they addressed the old lady.

"Himari," Madam Hori smiled at the young lady. Her wrinkly old face beamed with a soft smile, "Hehe, I just told your mother to come to visit me if she wanted. Our village has a beautiful flower plantation and unique tea there."

From the story that they exchanged last night, Himari and Akemi got to know that the elderly actually came from a village from the neighboring town as them. Both of them had heard of the village before. 

The village indeed had a flower plantation that bloomed beautifully in spring. Starting last year, the village became a hotspot for tourists in spring because the plantation was opened to the public at that time.

Unfortunately, both Himari and Akemi hadn't had the time to go visit the plantation yet because during Golden Holiday week last year, they took a trip to an island. Once the holidays ended, Himari immediately returned to the city.

"We'll take some time to visit you there later," Akemi accepted the old lady's invitation amicably. She smiled at Madam Hori, "The bloom is at its peak, isn't it? It'd be a waste if we didn't go there this year."

"Please come! Call me before it, so I can ask my son to prepare a place for you two to rest!" Madam Hori was enthusiastic as she asked the mother and daughter came for a visit.

"Don't worry, Granny Hori. We'll go there," Himari made a promise, "I want to see the flower spread with my own eyes too. We didn't have a chance to do so last year."

With that, Akemi saved Madam Hori's number in her contact list. The old lady did the same. 

They planned to meet each other again in two days, a day before Himari returned to the city.

At noon, the mother and daughter pair left the resort with new memories. Although it was a bit costly, Himari splurged by calling a cab to drive them all the way to their home. The three hours journey by changing buses could be reduced to half if they just directly took a cab.

It would be hard for the two of them, both ladies, to handle their suitcase as well as the big paper bags that held all of their souvenirs. 

"Granny Saichi has been calling me, asking when would we arrive," Akemi laughed softly as she read the messages sent by the old neighbor.

"She must have missed your cooking, Mom. I'll go and give her a share of souvenirs once we get home," Himari was already thinking of the souvenir distribution, "What should we cook for Granny Saichi tonight?"

Because Akemi was away from home for the trip, Granny Saichi had to search for someone to cook her meals. It was her old friend who lived at the house two units from her. Granny Saichi's friend would cook for her until lunch today.

Even though Granny Saichi no longer working, she still had a steady stream of income as well as plenty of retirement funds. The money allowed her to hire someone to cook for her daily. The constant back pain and rheumatism made it hard for her to do strenuous work.

"Let Mom ask her first. Ah, you can just ask her when you go to her house."

"Okay, Mom."

In two hours, they reached home. 

The weather was good and children could be seen playing in the fields. As it was still in the middle of the holidays, they played to their hearts' content. The sound of their laughter floated in the air, slowly dispersing to the nearby surroundings.

"Ah~ It's so good to be home," Himari announced after she emerged out of the car.

"It's a good time to do laundry," Akemi chimed in.

Her mother's words made Himari sighed. 

Aye! She had forgotten about it!

Coming home after a trip meant that she would have a full load of laundry to be washed. Even though they had just gone for a three days trip, the number of clothes they used was still high.

After settling the payment and thanking the cab driver, the mother and daughter entered the home. The myriad of colors of the blooming flowers welcomed them home.

"Meow, meow~"

Chobi quickly ran away once Himari let him out of the carrier. Two hours of being in the carrier made the tabby restless.

Freedom!

He regained his freedom!

Himari and Akemi rested for a while before they kept their feet busy. Both of them unpacked their luggage, sorted their laundry and the souvenirs. They had to put them into smaller bags before distributing them.

Himari washed the clothes while her mother was busy in the kitchen, storing the fresh strawberries inside the fridge. Chobi was busy frolicking on the floor, playing near his Grandma's legs. Akemi gave him kibbles to fill his stomach.

"Mom, I'll go to Granny Saichi now," Himari came out of the laundry room, searching for her mother, "Is Granny's share the one in the blue bag?"

"Ha? Yeah! Don't forget to ask her about her dinner," Akemi shouted from the kitchen.

"Okay~"

Himari made sure everything was inside the bag. She grabbed the bag, went out of the house and headed to Granny Saichi's home.

The environment around her childhood home was peaceful. Most people were inside their homes except for the children playing outside. The adults would spend their time basking under the sun in the evening.

"Granny Saichi, I'm back~"

Himari opened the unlocked gate of the old lady's home. Not long after, Granny Saichi's voice could be heard from the inside.

"Himari! Come in!"

The old lady was lying on an armchair while watching the view of her yard. Like Himari's home, Granny Saichi had lots of flowers and plants around her home, helping to cool down the surrounding areas.

"Granny, I brought you your share of souvenirs~" Himari proudly announced like a child. She sat on the floor next to the armchair, "Would you like to have strawberries? I have the dried ones and some cookies."

"En! Sounds good! Let me have some, the fresh ones," Granny Saichi was elated at the thought of having the fresh and juicy ruby fruits.

"Okay~"

Himari brought the bag to the kitchen. She washed one pack of strawberries and served them inside a bowl. She scooped some sour cream and brown sugar then placed both inside two separate small bowls.

"Himari!"

"Yes, Granny! Do you need something?" Himari replied from the kitchen.

"Someone sent you a parcel. I received it on your behalf. Don't forget to take it with you."

En?

Himari was confused. She hadn't ordered anything. Why did she get a parcel?

Soon, her confusion was answered.