As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Cough! Cough!"

Himari bent down, covering her mouth with a tissue before coughing to ease the itchiness of her throat. The unpleasant intense feeling of drowsiness suddenly hit her once she got back to the teachers' room.

"Teacher Kato, are you having a fever? You do not look right," Teacher Ayase shifted her attention to Himari with concern written in between her brows, "It is because of what happened yesterday? The canal water must be cold."

"I'm okay. It's nothing," Himari brushed her off with a smile. She threw the tissue inside a small dustbin under her table, "I'd be fine after taking medicine."

"Do you think so? I think you should take a sick leave," Teacher Ayase was still worried even though Himari tried to lighten her own situation.

"I'm okay, really. Ah, don't you have any class?" Himari quickly changed the topic.

"I have one in fifteen minutes. Aye, if you think so, it's fine then but, if you feel sicker, you have to go home oh!" Teacher Ayase didn't let Himari go freely as she still put stress on the topic.

"Hehe, okay," Himari laughed in helplessness.

She reached out a hand, taking the thermos that Kazuya instructed Izumi to give to her. With a smile, she slowly uncapped the lid. Little by little, a warm stream of air rose from the inside of the thermos bottle, carrying along with it a citrusy scent.

"Yuzu tea?" Himari murmured faintly.

She poured some into a mug. A jet of pale yellow drink flowed from the bottle together with the thin slices of yuzu preserved with honey.

This hot yuzu tea was surely one great way to deal with her sore throat and fever.

Himari took two pills and drank the yuzu tea before she heaved a contented sigh.

This tea was good. Did he get the yuzu marmalade from the supermarket? 

Its warm and sweet taste spread all throughout her mouth, down to her throat, making the soreness of her throat felt bearable.

Himari put on a mask over her face to avoid spreading her cough in the air. Teacher Ayase had gone to the class. There were only a few teachers left inside the room. All of them were busy with their own task.

Himari took her phone, opened her LINE account then immediately tapped on her chat with Kazuya. After snapping a photo of her mug and the thermos bottle, she sent it to him.

[Himari: MugandThermos.jpg]

[Himari: The yuzu tea is delicious]

[Himari: OrangeCatThankYou.png]

[Himari: I haven't given your jacket back and now I got your thermos?]

Speaking of Kazuya's jacket that he lent to her yesterday, it was hung inside the small laundry room of her apartment. Himari wanted to wash it first before sending it back to him but, because of the sluggishness from yesterday, she hadn't got the chance to do it.

LINE~

In a few minutes, she received a reply from him.

Did he have free time? It was supposed to be his working hours.

[Kazuya: Do you have a fever? Feel good or not?]

[Himari: I'm okay, really]

[Himari: If not, I won't come to work]

[Himari: PinkStrawberryWinked.png]

Her eyelids slowly drooped. Himari yawned, feeling sleepy as the effect of the medicine kicked in. In just a few minutes, she felt so sleepy as if she didn't sleep at all last night.

LINE~

Himari read the new message. The words appeared to be in a blur. She blinked her eyes a few times, trying to keep herself awake.

[Kazuya: If you said so, it's alright then]

[Kazuya: But, call me or someone near you if you need it]

[Kazuya: Don't suffer in silence]

[Kazuya: Okay?]

Himari felt her nose soured.

Was it because of her cold?

Himari suppressed the bitter feeling from spreading in her heart. She quickly typed a reply.

[Himari: The yuzu tea has eased my sore throat ah]

[Himari: PinkStrawberryOK.png]

Before she could send him another message, the heaviness of her eyelids couldn't be contained anymore.

Himari slept with her head rolling on the desk, only to be supported by one of her elbows. Her phone fell from the grip of her hand as she lost consciousness, revealing two new messages from Kazuya on the screen.

[Kazuya: If you say so, it's alright.]

[Kazuya: Take a rest whenever you could]

In the end, all of Himari's senses were lost as she slept.

Time kept on ticking. The hour changed to another. 

As less than five teachers remained inside the room, Himari fell into a deep sleep. She didn't even realize the moment Teacher Ayase returned from her two-hour class.

The way the young English teacher slept with a mask on made Teacher Ayase frowned. She looked around before her eyes finally settled on Teacher Maekawa. The Japanese teacher's desk was among the closest to them.

"Excuse me, Teacher Maekawa? Since when Teacher Kato has slept?" Teacher Ayase asked in a low voice tinged with concern.

Teacher Maekawa lifted up his head from his lesson plan. He blinked once, trying to remember before answering, "Err... I think she started sleeping right after you went to your class, Teacher Ayase. Eh, hold on. It has been for two hours?"

Teacher Ayase focused back on Himari. She saw how uncomfortable the young teacher was in her sleep. Furthermore, sleeping with a mask would just disrupt the airflow.

Himari's brows were twisted, sometimes she coughed lightly yet, she still didn't wake up.

In a quiet movement, Teacher Ayase placed the back of her right hand over Himari's head. Her eyes widened once she discovered how hot it was.

She really had a fever!

"Teacher Kato, Teacher Kato," Teacher Ayase gently shook Himari's shoulders, trying to wake Himari up. She also pulled down the mask, revealing Himari's face.

Teacher Maekawa stood up from his desk, looking at the two of them.

"What's wrong? Does she really fall sick?"

Teacher Ayase nodded, "She kept on couching earlier. I have asked her to take a sick leave but she's reluctant."

Teacher Maekawa pursed his lips, understanding why Teacher Kato decided that.

They had just come back after a week of holidays. With work piling up, of course, the English teacher did not want to delay anything.

But, working in such a condition wouldn't bring good results either.

Himari only stirred from her deep slumber a few minutes later. She groggily looked at Teacher Ayase. Her eyelids still felt so heavy. 

"... What's wrong? It is time for my class?" 

Teacher Ayase was distressed while Teacher Maekawa felt amused by the question.

"Your condition has worsened yet you still think of teaching?"

Himari straightened up her posture. She grimaced as she felt her body felt more exhausted than before.

Did the medicine not working? 

Eh, since when did I pull down the mask?

"Take a sick leave ah. You can't teach your students in your current state," Teacher Ayase couldn't help but nag at Himari, "It's better if you go and get yourself check at the sickbay before going home."

Himari was quiet as the throbbing of her head made it hard for her to stay focus. Her throat was still itchy. The sound of her coughs echoed again in the room.

"Hurry! Drink a bit!"

Teacher Ayase grabbed the black thermos and poured the yuzu tea for Himari. Himari accepted her kind gesture with a weak smile.

"I'll ask for sick leave for you. It's better for you to rest at home properly before coming back to teach. Even though it's not flu, what if your students catch colds because of you?"

Although her words sounded a bit harsh, Himari understood Teacher Ayase was just worried. Her words of concern didn't differ much from how Himari's mother nagged at her every time she was stubborn even after getting sick.

"...Okay, I'll rest at home."

There was no point to keep on arguing. Himari looked at the watch. The time hadn't even reached noon.

Himari slowly stood up. She almost stumbled as her mind went blank for a second before the ache intensified. Her face winced in pain.

"Be careful! Aye, you can't go home alone like this. Let me find someone to accompany you," Teacher Ayase supported Himari with both of her hands while her eyes wandered in the room.

"It's okay ah. I'll just call a cab," Himari quickly refused.

While the two female teachers insisted on their own stances, a tall figure got closer to them. 

"Why don't I send Teacher Kato home? I drive my car to school and I have no class right now."

Himari, Teacher Ayase and Teacher Maekawa looked at the figure who suddenly approached them.

"Teacher Masuda, it's good that you offer to help! I want to send her myself but I only have a short break before my next class!"

Yuina smiled softly, "I'm happy to help."

While Teacher Ayase was elated by Yuina's assistance, Himari looked at her with a dazed look.

Yuina stifled a laugh, "Teacher Kato, it's better if we go now. You still need to rest."

Her words brought Himari out of her trance. She dumbly nodded while trying to endure her headache.

"Well... thank you, Teacher Masuda," Himari felt both awkward and touched with the lady's help.

Yuina just laughed. She extended a hand and took Himari's bag from the latter.

"A sick person should worry about nothing. Come, Teacher Ayase would help to inform the headteacher about you."

"Ah... Okay, Teacher Ayase, thank you. Teacher Maekawa, you too." Himari bowed at them.

Both of them showed their concerns to her, especially Teacher Ayase.

"Enough, go back now," Teacher Ayase smiled helplessly, "Take care. Don't worry about your class."

"Hehe, okay," Himari smiled.

Then, both Himari and Yuina walked out of the teacher's room.