As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Are we not there yet, Uncle?"

A soft whiny voice came from the backseat. 

Kazuya raised up his eyes, looking at the rearview mirror. A dumpling dressed in a soft pink one-piece dress was pouting at him with her eyes blinking cutely. Two buns tied with red ribbons popped on the dumpling's head.

"We've almost arrived. Be patient, ah. Teacher Kato hasn't come out from the station yet," replied Kazuya with a laugh.

Thirty minutes ago, Himari texted him, saying it would take her another forty minutes to arrive at the station. Kazuya brought the children out after having them changed their clothes. He himself quickly wore a shirt and a black jacket.

Chiharu had been giddy with anticipation since last night. He didn't have to nag her twice before the dumpling went to wear her new dress.

In the hustle and bustle of the area around the train station, Kazuya finally managed to find an empty parking spot at the roadside opposite the main building of the station. The spot was still quite far from the building.

People kept coming and going inside the station, either with large suitcases or small bags. The vehicles also didn't stop coming as some were waiting for people to arrive or let the passengers off.

Two officers were guiding the traffic at the entrance.

"Both of you stay inside the car," Kazuya glanced at the backseat, looking at Izumi and Chiharu, "Uncle would go inside. It'd be hard for Teacher Kato to be alone if she has large luggage."

"Okay, Uncle," Izumi swiftly nodded, "I'll stay here with Chiharu."

"Okay~" The dumpling nodded her little head a few times.

Kazuya grabbed his wallet and phone before he opened the car door. Izumi quickly locked the car.

After waiting for a few minutes, Kazuya ran toward the station. He only slowed down once he reached under the eaves of the building.

Kazuya lowered his head, looking at the screen of his phone.

[Kazuya: Are you still inside the train?]

[Kazuya: I'm already at the station]

Clear and loud announcements came blaring from the speakers all around the station. Kazuya focused on them, waiting if one has announced the arrival from Himari's hometown. Since she hadn't replied to him, Kazuya tried to find her train from the arrival board.

LINE~

[Himari: Just got out of the train]

[Himari: Where did you park the car?]

This time, Kazuya didn't type any reply. He directly called her. 

"I'm at the arrival court," Kazuya's eyes darted from the left and right, searching for a glimpse of Himari, "Where are you? You did say you bring back many bags with you."

Her clear laugh answered him first before she spoke, "I'm at Gate 9, just passing through it."

"Wait over there. I'm coming," Kazuya said before ending the call.

Gate 9 was in the direction of his right side. Kazuya spun on his heels and walked briskly toward the direction while minding his distance with the people around him. The longer he walked, he saw a heavy stream of passengers coming from the opposite way.

All of them came out from Gate 9. Himari should be around here.

In the mass of people, his eyes pierced through the crowd before his gaze fell on a lady in a white spring dress.

Kazuya stopped in his tracks, silently staring at her. He didn't realize how soft his smile currently was.

She was standing next to a big pillar, eyes moving from one side to the other before finally, they met his.

Kazuya smiled at her. He resumed his speed. In a moment, he stopped in front of her.

"Wait long enough?" His lips curled into a smile.

Himari shook her head, "No, it's only for a few minutes. Thank you for coming."

Kazuya drew a corner of his lips up into a smirk, "Well, I'm being a gentleman here."

Himari laughed at him.

"Your wound has healed already?"

"Ah, yes," Perplexed, Himari blinked blankly.

She almost forgot about the wound because it had been days since the scabs were worn off. She didn't anticipate him asking about it again.

Beside Himari stood a big suitcase with another big duffle bag on top of it. The duffle bag was strapped to the handle of the wheeled suitcase. Chobi was busy looking at his surroundings from the inside of the carrier she wore at her back.

Although the number of bags was just three, two of them were big. It would certainly hard to move around with these especially in a crowded place like the station.

"Let's go. I park at the other side of the road," Kazuya extended a hand, taking the handle of the suitcase, "The children are waiting inside the car."

"I could bring the other bag," Himari said.

She had just wanted to take the duffle bag before Kazuya stopped her with a light smack on her hand.

"Hey, haven't I say it? Let me be a gentleman and help you, okay?" He said wittily.

Himari blinked. She burst into a giggle, "Hehe, thanks for your offer, gentleman."

Both of them quickly left the station. The cars hadn't stopped passing in front of the station. Kazuya looked at the road, eyeing the speed of the cars.

Some were slow while some were fast. They had to be careful when crossing it even though the officers still handled the traffic.

"It's surely crowded here," Himari muttered.

The Golden Week holiday ended today. Tomorrow was the usual working and schooling day for most people in the city.

Without having to say it, it was obvious the roads and the public transportations were overflowed by the people who had just come back from their hometowns or trip outside of the city.

"The cars have slowed down," Kazuya pointed out.

Without him realizing it, he grabbed Himari's hand and tugged at her to follow him. The baffled Himari just followed his movement as they ran to cross the road. 

It was... bewildered to have him suddenly held her hand like this.

Once they reached the familiar dark gray car, Kazuya blanked for a moment at the sight of their hands linking together.

"...! Sorry!" He quickly let go of her hand. Panic welled out from his face, "Sorry... It's a habit of mine..."

How could he be stupid enough to not realize it?

"...It's okay," Himari laughed awkwardly, trying to brush it off. She glanced at the car, "Well, you must have held Izumi or Chiharu's hands often when crossing the roads, right, hehe..."

Two little heads were looking in their direction. 

Kazuya admitted with an embarrassing nod, "Yes... I have even held Shuichi's hand at one time... because of it."

He got goosebumps when he remembered that particular event.

Shuichi's hand was so coarse! How could it feel good to be held?

Unlike Chiharu's and...

Kazuya's eyes fell on the hand that he held a few minutes earlier.

...!

Kazuya pursed his lips hard. Afraid of saying something that would make him more embarrassed. 

"Teacher Kato! Uncle! What are you doing? Get inside the car!"

Chiharu's voice broke the awkward silence once the window was wounded down. She was excitedly grinning at Himari.

"Teacher Kato, Teacher Kato, let's go! Going home!"

The little dumpling announced it as if she was the one who had just gotten here from a long trip.

"Ah, hehe, wait ah, Chiharu."

Himari darted her eyes from the man. She brushed her side bangs away, trying to ease the pounding of her heart. She couldn't see how red the tips of her ears were.

Kazuya didn't say anything too. He quietly helped Himari to put her luggage inside the trunk. The carrier that held Chobi was placed beside Chiharu's child's car seat. The dumpling and the cat happily greeted each other.

"...You can let him out if you want. It must be stuffy for your cat to keep staying inside the carrier," said Kazuya once both of them got inside the car.

"Can I?" Himari asked.

Although so far, Chobi was fine staying inside the carrier backpack for hours, Himari still felt uncomfortable to do so. Her silly orange son was used to roam freely whenever he wasn't being lazy so, Himari would try to find the opportunities to let him out as early as she could.

"Yes," Kazuya nodded. He slowly drove the car out of the parking space. To Izumi, he said, "Izumi, please help."

"Okay, Uncle," Izumi replied obediently.

The boy pulled down the zipper, opening the space for Chobi to go out. The fluffy ball jumped out of the bag, meowed at Izumi then he went to sit beside Chiharu's child's car seat.

"Chobi! I missed you so much! How's your trip? Fun? You ate delicious strawberries or not? My uncle only made strawberry pancakes for me! Not fair ah!"

"Meow, meow~ Meow! Meow~"

It was unfathomable how did these two could chat as if they understood each other. 

Kazuya looked at the backseat through the rearview mirror while Himari glanced at the back of her shoulders. The dumpling and the cat were still talking to each other.

"Sigh, I wanted to stay longer at the park but Uncle was so stingy. He dragged me back so early oh! I want to play again!"

"Meow! Meow, meow~ Meow!"

As Kazuya retracted his gaze and Himari turned her head back to the front, their gaze met each other.

"...Pff!"

"Hehehe."

Both of them burst into laughter. The awkwardness that stemmed from them accidentally holding hands dispersed from the air.

"Well, welcome back, Teacher Kato," Kazuya said with a faint laugh.

Himari's eyes curled as she joined his laughter, "It's good to come back."

The weather was fine.. She hoped today would end with a good note.