As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

The man didn't come closer or walk away from her. He stood at the same spot he was when handing Yuina her phone.

"...Thank you," Clueless about what should she do, Yuina could only thank him.

The man nodded. Still with the polite smile.

He looked to be around her age. Wearing a casual outfit, he appeared carefree and laidback like most visitors right now. With a good-looking face, it added charm to his whole appearance.

"It's nothing. Where are your companions? Or, are you alone here?" 

The man's smile was courteous but, there was something in his eyes that made Yuina turned vigilant. She unconsciously clenched her hands around the phone.

Even though Yuina didn't want to think as if this man was coveting her, the little parts of his behavior and the way he smiled reminded her of the men who had tried to hook up with her before.

It was better to be careful.

Yuina gave him a smile, "My husband asked me to come here to see the view. Since he couldn't follow me, he wanted me to enjoy the spring day here then tell him later."

With a few words, Yuina was telling the truth as well as bringing up Ryuu in the conversation. She kept her tone light and civil toward this man that made her wary of him.

His smile didn't droop at the mention of her husband. He just nodded his head and deepened his smile. His eyes fell on Yuina's wedding ring for a second before he looked back at her.

"Then, I shouldn't bother you here. You should get going," The man replied after a short moment of silence.

Yuina nodded, "Thank you again. I'll leave now."

With a turn of her heels, Yuina walked away from the man. She kept the pace of her feet steady as she didn't want to be seen as running away by him.

Even though Yuina kept getting farther and farther, unknown to her, the man still kept his eyes on her movement.

A sinister light glinted in his eyes as the curved of his lips turned into a smirk.

The man brought out a phone from the pocket of his pants. He dialed a number and spoke once the call was connected.

"I've met the target. Well, she seems to be wary of me. A quite vigilant one. What should we plan now?"

The man cast one last look on Yuina who had walked far from the place they met. His smirk remained on his face as he turned around and walked in the opposite direction of her.

As Yuina passed the place where some activities were being held, the matter about the man had already escaped her mind. She was attracted by what she saw right now.

The plaza was full of vendors setting up booths to sell their items. 

Some were selling spring outfits, a few offered beverages and food while the others had little trinkets and toys on the tables.

Yuina joined the crowd who roamed around the two rows of booths.

All of the sellers were cheerful as they tried to attract the customers. The bright-colored spring outfits harmonized with the lively atmosphere of the plaza.

"Get your cherry blossom gelato here!"

"Welcome~ Find the trendiest spring dresses at our shop!"

"Come! Come! We offer the sweetest honey waffle biscuits~"

People came and went from one booth to the next. Yuina was not excluded.

After getting a cup of cherry blossom with lychees sparkling drink, Yuina wandered around. All of the items got her attention but she still didn't know what else she should buy.

While Yuina was thinking of what should she get from here, a dessert booth fell in her line of sight.

Various kinds of small cakes and cookies were displayed inside the transparent pastry containers. Thinking that she had run out of sweets to be enjoyed while watching TV or just doing nothing, Yuina thought to get some from them.

"Welcome, dear customer," A sweet voice greeted her.

Yuina shifted her gaze to the seller. She was surprised to see it was a young girl. The girl looked around the age of her students in school.

Was she really an elementary school student?

Ah, she might be helping her parents here. It was not a rare occurrence.

"Please give me each of these cakes, please," Yuina smiled as she pointed at one of the pastry boxes.

"Right away, missus. Please wait for a while," The girl answered with a cheerful smile.

Even though she was young, she appeared to be nimble in doing her task. The girl carefully placed the cakes that Yuina chose inside the white pastry boxes before all of them were put into the brown paper bag.

While waiting for the girl to finish, Yuina scanned her eyes around the booth. Her eyes finally saw the placard that was stuck to one of the booth's thin poles.

She was slightly surprised to read them.

'Nozomi Orphanage - Sweets make all of us smile, let's be happy with our sweets, will you? (#^.^#)'

Under the colorful words, the brief introduction of the orphanage was printed. All of the words entered her mind. 

It turned out, this booth was actually an effort for the care home to raise funds.

"Ayako, sorry for leaving you alone."

At the same time, a woman in her late 30s came running to the booth. She greeted Yuina with a smile before focusing back on the girl she called Ayako. The woman quickly wore an apron and plastic gloves.

"Let me handle it. You can go and play with the other children. They are playing hopscotch right now."

"It's okay, Teacher Maki. Let me help you longer. The children are fine with Teacher Hano and Teacher Higashi," Ayako refused with a smile. She grabbed a paper bag from a storage box under the table.

"You come here to play. Hurry, go and play with them. It's rare for you guys to go out like this."

"Hehe, then, let me finish this one."

After making sure all of the pastry boxes were put inside the paper bag, Ayako carefully lifted up the bag and gave it to Yuina. With a bright smile, she mentioned the price.

Yuina felt a pang inside her heart at the sight of her smile.

The little girl looked so soft and well-behaved even though her early years were not the same as most children.

Some time ago, Yuina could be just like this girl, living under foster care after the death of her parents.

If not for her aunt taking her to live with her family, Yuina might already be in an orphanage.

Although Aunt Shigeko helped her by not giving her to foster care, living with her aunt came with a price that made her felt like she was living in hell. It was something that could cost the loss of her dignity.

Yuina quickly suppressed the bitter feelings from arising within her. She opened her purse, took out a few banknotes and gave them to the young girl. 

Ayako accepted the banknotes. She got a calculator to calculate the change, "Then, your change is..."

Yuina took the paper bag. She smiled at the girl, "You can keep the rest. Thank you for the cakes."

Startled, Ayako's mouth opened.

"No, miss. This is too much!"

Yuina just smiled, "Bye-bye. Live well, little girl."

She quickly left before the girl could stop her. Her high-heels clicked on the paved road before the sound was drowned by the merriment around her. 

Behind Yuina, Ayako stared at the money in her hands and at her teacher back and forth. 

"Teacher Maki, this money..."

This was really too much! This amount was something that they could have only after selling all the cakes they brought here!

Teacher Maki gently patted the astonished girl's head, "The customer wants to share her blessings with you and the other children. We should accept her kindness."

It was not unexpected to receive an amount that exceeded what they should get. 

Ayako quickly nodded. Her entire face was beaming, "Yes!"

To Teacher Maki who had been with the orphanage for a long time, she was already accustomed to meeting a benevolent person like the customer from earlier. There were times they got more than expected because of these kinds of events.

But, to a little girl like Ayako, she was amazed and deeply touched by such an act. 

Teacher Maki didn't make light of the girl's happiness. It was good for a girl like Ayako to be happy with such a kind act. 

"Remember, we have to keep the people who do us good in prayers," She generously instilled the thoughts into the little girl's mind.

Ayako nodded firmly, "Yes!"

The bits of their conversation were unknown to Yuina who was now sitting on a bench quite far from the plaza. She put down the paper bag beside her then sipped the sparkling drink that she bought.

It was so refreshing!

Yuina opened her phone. As expected, there was still no reply from Ryuu.

Nevermind. She could just bombard his chat with her texts.

Yuina took photos of the sparkling drink, the cakes as well as selfies of herself. She smiled at the camera, imagining he was right in front of her.

Kacha.

Kacha.

Kacha.

[Yuina: Aren't I a beauty in spring~ (#^v^#)

Her lips curved into a soft smile.