As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"Would you just stay at home today, Himari?"

Both Himari and Yuina finished breakfast before it was eight o'clock. Currently, they were sitting in the living room while having a cup of morning tea. An orange puddle was sprawling on the low table, looking so unsightly with his belly exposed.

Since Chobi already had his fill of breakfast, he went back to lazing around. 

"Do you have somewhere that you wanna go?" Himari asked her back, her lips hovered above the rim of the teacup.

"Ah, that's not what I meant," Yuina quickly shook her head. She put down the half-full cup on the table. Looking at Himari, she smiled, "I'm just asking if you actually have a date with your boyfriend today. Don't let me hinder you."

Last night, although Yuina was in such a messy state, she could still assume that Himari was actually on a date with her man. The English teacher dolled up in a lilac dress, perfectly fitting for a date night.

Because of her, Himari had to call it short. She felt guilty about it.

"We don't have any plan today," denied Himari with a laugh. In the next second, her eyes shone, "Rather than that, what if we go out and have fun today? Just us ladies?"

"Go out? Where to?" Yuina blinked.

"Hurm, going to a mall sounds boring. I heard there's a newly open attraction in the south of the city. Seems like it's a farm. It's better than just staying at home all day long?"

Himari came across the information during her leisure time browsing the Internet. The place caught her interest because it kind of reminded her of her hometown.

"Haha, are you saying you wanna go there with me instead of your boyfriend?" Yuina laughed, her facial features softened.

"I'm not that clingy with him," answered Himari with a brow raised up. She smiled cheekily, "Rather, he's the one who couldn't leave me alone."

The two of them burst into laughter. Unknown to them, tens of miles away from the apartment, a certain someone sneezed.

"Uncle, Uncle caught a cold?" 

A fluffy dumpling asked as her round eyes staring at the man.

"No ah. En, finish your veggies," Kazuya looked meaningfully at the greens that Chiharu purposely ignored.

The dumpling pouted, "Not tasty." 

She didn't like them! Where was Teacher Kato to restrain her uncle?!

On one side, Izumi was calmly finished his breakfast. His eyes darted from the man to the dumpling.

Thinking back, what if someone was badmouthing their uncle so that was the reason he sneezed?

Hurm, sounded plausible, right?

Izumi picked up the glass of milk and downed all of it. Then, he quietly watched the two of them who were still bickering over veggies.

At nine, Himari and Yuina were all dressed up to go out. The latter had to borrow clothes from Himari because Yuina didn't bring much with her.

"Luckily this dress is suitable for you. The design is kind of baggy-style so it doesn't look weird."

For their outing, Yuina wore a baggy linen dress in a light blue color. Because she was taller than Himari, the hem of the dress hung just below her knees. 

Himari also chose a sleeveless summer dress. The A-shape pastel yellow dress was paired with a matching bowknot around her waist.

All in all, the two ladies were set to have fun to their hearts' content.

"Are you okay to leave your cat at home?" asked Yuina from the passenger seat.

Himari answered while buckled the seatbelt. She took the task to be the driver today, "It's okay. I think he would just go out later today. My stupid son has a crush on my neighbor's white cat."

"Like mom, like son ah. Both of you are in a relationship," Yuina was amused as her mind pictured the image of Chobi being so close with a fluffy white cat.

Himari just laughed along.

By following the navigation system, Himari drove Yuina's car, heading to the farm. Agritourism was booming in recent years as the city dwellers used the opportunities to rejuvenate with mother nature.

Aside from having a change of scenery, Himari secretly hoped this trip could at least lift up Yuina's spirit.

The Mathematics teacher had been holed up alone in her duplex unit to recuperate for a week. Coupled with her marital problems right now, it was better to go out and have fun. It might help to cheer her up.

"Ah, so refreshing," remarked Yuina once they arrived at the farm.

"It doesn't feel like summer here," Himari agreed.

The wind billowed under the sun, gently rustling the dark green leaves of the sturdy trees. Countless people in summer outfits walked around the farm, either on the flat ground or the terrains nearby. 

The sun shone on the dancing leaves, carrying with it the brightness of early summer. Greenery surrounded the area as vast as the eye could see.

"I'm glad that today's weather is good," Taking a look at the azure sky, Yuina smiled in relief.

She was really glad that Himari invited her out on such a good day. The restlessness of her heart eased a little by enjoying what nature had to offer.

"Well, early summer's weather could be quite temperamental. I heard it'd start raining again tomorrow," Himari slipped the car key inside her bag before she beckoned Yuina to follow.

The two ladies went to get the brochures of the farm. Some many things could be enjoyed here. It was like when Himari visited the strawberry farm with her mother a few months ago.

"Wow~ We can milk the cows and make our own cheese. Wanna try?" Himari showed the farm's attractions to Yuina. Her finger pointed at the photos of the cows chewing the grass, "But, it might take us a long time to finish it. What do you think?"

Smiling, Yuina answered, "I don't mind with anything." 

Even though both of them only walked around the farm, it was already enough for Yuina. She just wanted to pull herself away from the anxiousness that she kept feeling for these past few weeks.

Thus, the two ladies went to see the shepherds herding the sheep, fed the animals food, tried cow milking and learned the process of making cheese. At certain intervals, they took a rest and tasted the fine delicacy that was offered by the farm.

After having evening tea, Himari and Yuina ventured to the orchard next. Walking under the rustling tree leaves felt quite mystical sometimes, especially when they saw how lights and shadows mingled together in the orchard.

To Yuina, she only felt calm at this moment.

With her eyes staring at the sky through the gaps of the leaves, her mind wandered to the events that happened to her recently.

Although Yuina was afraid and doubtful the first time she learned of her pregnancy, her love for the child grew over time. She had even begun to picture the future of their family together.

The miscarriage came as a nightmare to her. With the loss of the child, all of the grievances that she buried deep behind her smile surged up, leaving no chance for her to conceal them once again.

She became like this because she was so reluctant to let Ryuu know her true feelings. In her view, the sacrifices that Ryuu had done to her during the early years they got together were incomparable to what she was currently doing for him.

Every time Ryuu was busy, she would just smile at him and say that she understood his heavy responsibility.

She let her loneliness wrapped around her tightly, thinking that Ryuu was lonely too wherever he was because they weren't together.

They had to talk.

But, when?

Yuina's mind was still in a mess right now. She didn't want to let her emotions get to her head but...

Didn't she just keep prolonging this matter if she was so afraid to face him?

"...Yuina?"

The call drew Yuina away from her mind. Turning her head back, she looked at Himari who was playing with a broken twig. 

"Should we return now? You see, the sky's getting dark."

"Ah, you're right."

Both of them looked up to the sky.

The initially azure blue sky was now covered by looming dark clouds, concealing the bright light of the sun. The wind picked up, fluttering the hems of their dresses as well as blowing the fallen leaves and dust away.

Even though the early summer rain was forecasted to fall tomorrow, it was not impossible for it to come earlier. 

"Aye, early summer is so temperamental," Yuina laughed softly, letting the wind float her laughter, "Let's go back. I don't want to drench if it rains later."

"Hehe, alright~"

Yuina and Himari rushed to the car park alongside the other visitors. The staff of the farm was busy preparing for the incoming rains. The sheep were herded back inside the stables, followed by the other farm animals. 

The sky was gloomy but...

Yuina's mood was brighter.