As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Himari and Kazuya spent the day only playing at the beach. They also played some watersports.

At noon, Kazuya brought Himari to one of the well-known seaside restaurants there, letting her choose whatever local specialty dishes that she wanted to try.

After eating and resting for a while, they returned to the beach again; fooling around together, applying more sunscreen to each other, strolling on the beach and lounging lazily on the benches under the parasol while feeling the see breeze.

It was so good to just lie down without doing anything.

When the clock struck three o'clock in the evening, Kazuya dragged the sleepy Himari back to the resort.

"Take your nap after showering, sleepyhead," He lightly flicked a finger on her forehead.

"I just wanna sleep right now," Himari rubbed her sleepy eyes. She felt as if little rocks were sitting on her eyelids.

Right after they entered the resort room, Himari quickly took a change of clothes and a towel. She was so tempted to lie on the bed right now but she disliked the sticky feeling on her skin because of playing in the seawater.

Soon, water began to hit the floor of the shower room.

At the same time, Kazuya checked his phone.

[Aunt Mayu: Izumi is good, no trouble at all]

[Aunt Mayu: But, Chiharu asked me to tell you to bring back pretty seashells for her]

Kazuya scoffed. 

That dumpling didn't forget to ask for compensation because she couldn't follow him here.

[Kazuya: Let's see about that. Her uncle is busy courting her prospective aunt now, might not have time for that]

[Kazuya: Either way, thank you for taking care of them, Aunt Mayu]

Kazuya was more than glad to have a capable and reliable housekeeper like Aunt Mayu. She was the one who eagerly told him to not worry about the children and just enjoyed his time at the beach with Himari.

Like Chiharu, it seemed like Aunt Mayu was keen on the idea of him getting closer to Himari.

"Aiya, this house really needs its lady ah. I wonder when would you bring one home soon."

Those were Aunt Mayu's words before Kazuya departed this morning. 

Kazuya's eyes bent in joy as he thought what he had meticulously prepared for his lady tonight. Even so, he was still nervous to see her reaction.

Creak...

At the sound of the door opening, Kazuya turned to look at Himari who had just finished showering. 

On her frame, Himari wore a cotton home dress, the hem falling above her knees. A white towel wrapped around her head. A few droplets of water trickled from her forehead, running down to her chin.

"Still so sleepy right now?" Kazuya chuckled seeing her half-opened eyes, "You still have to dry your hair before taking your nap."

"En..."

Kazuya gently pulled his sleepy lady to the couch. Pressing her shoulders, he asked her to sit down before he went to get a hairdryer.

"Let me dry your hair?" 

The tired Himari just nodded her head obediently.

Kazuya restrained himself from laughing more. He unwrapped the towel from her head, letting her long hair fall behind her back. The scent of her shampoo drifted in the air, making him smiled.

The sound of the hairdryer filled the room, buzzing softly. Kazuya properly did his job, parting her hair bit by bit and dried the dark locks. 

It was something simple, mundane yet, he enjoyed doing so.

"Okay, it's nap time. I'll wake you up before sunset."

Pulling Himari up, Kazuya laughed teasingly above her head.

"Your surprise?" Even in her current state of sleepiness, Himari still remembered.

Kazuya's smile softened, "Yes." 

After making sure Himari was comfortable in bed, Kazuya took his turn to wash up. He emerged out from the washroom in less than half an hour.

Wearing a new pair of mid-length shorts and a V-neck T-shirt, Kazuya got on the bed without hesitation. He was surprised to see Himari looking at him.

"You didn't sleep yet?" Pulling up the blanket, Kazuya draped it over his waist.

Although it was scorching hot outside, the air-conditioning system of the resort room helped to dispel the heat. It would be cold if they didn't use a blanket while sleeping.

"...it's weird but, not really to see you next to me... on the same bed," Himari murmured in her drowsiness. She yawned at the end of her sentence.

Kazuya laughed, sounding helpless yet doting at the same time.

"Do you need a new cuddly bear?" He asked with both brows raised up.

Himari looked at him, thought for a second then nodded.

"It's not bad to have one ah." 

Kazuya's lips broke into a wide grin. He scooted closer to Himari and hugged her. 

"Sleep. Don't be so cheeky right now." 

Himari mumbled incoherently. She nestled her head on his chest while both of her arms snaked around his waist.

After some time, her breathing turned low into a steady rhythm.

Kazuya pulled the blanket to cover up until her shoulders, one of his hands slowly stroked her head. His heart was dripping with honey.

Hehe, his lady could act defenseless when having a nap with him now but, won't she be shy when night arrived even though they didn't do anything? She might turn into a shivering rabbit in front of a wolf.

It would be fun to tease her later.

Cough.

Kazuya shook the useless thoughts away.

As his own exhaustion lured him to sleep, he slowly closed his eyes, falling into dreamland with his lady in his arms.

It was peaceful.

"...lo~ Hello~"

"...en."

"Hello~ Hello~ Wake up, wake up~"

Himari shut her eyes tight before she slowly opened them. The cute voice sounded as if it was squeaking when it continued singing beside her.

What was that?

Rolling over one side, Himari was confused the moment her sleepy eyes saw a small daisy flower clock sitting on the bedside table. The flower had a pair of big eyes and a smiling mouth.

"Hello~ Wake up, wake up~ Hello~"

Himari was completely awakened by now. She grabbed the daisy clock, switched off the alarm then put it back on the table. The digital clock showed 5:45 PM.

Throwing her gaze around, Himari found that the resort room was empty.

He wasn't here.

"En?"

When Himari turned around to get out of the bed, her eyes caught a note sitting next to the clock. Familiar handwriting was displayed on the note.

[Dear Ms. Kato,

Would you do me the honor of following the trails of cute flower lights? They would lead you to me.

If you don't come, I'd just wallow in self-pity later.

7:00 PM, can you make it?

Your man,

Kazuya]

"Hahaha, what's he playing now?"

Himari was in a good mood even after being woken up suddenly by the daisy clock. That cute clock must have been something that Kazuya prepared beforehand as well.

Under the note, another paper waiting for her, showing the trails that she had to follow on a hand-drawn map. They were easy to understand.

Afraid of delaying time, Himari jumped out of the bed and rushed to the washroom. Before that, she checked the closet. 

As Kazuya had written in the note, a flowy Grecian-style white dress was hung inside. The fabric felt so soft when Himari ran her fingers over the dress. 

Really, when did he get this dress for her?

Himari couldn't stop smiling. Her heart softened at the thought of what would her man show her tonight.

After dolling herself up, Himari walked out of the resort room at 6:40 PM. The long dress billowed like the sea waves at every sway of her hip, falling just above her ankles.

To save time, Himari simply braided a part of her hair and wrapped it over the top of her head. The rest of her locks fell freely behind her back, lightly tousled by the sea breeze.

"Excuse me, are you Ms. Kato?"

When Himari was analyzing the map, a resort staff greeted her.

Flustered, she smiled sheepishly, "Yes, that's me."

The young man gave her a polite smile, "Mr. Hayashi asked me to help you. The light trail won't begin here. Come, let me show you."

"Ah, thank you."

Himari nervously followed the staff. They walked under the eaves of the walkway that connected every resort room. After walking for five minutes, the staff stopped and showed to a direction.

"You may follow the trail from here, Ms. Kato," The staff pointed to rose-shaped lights that were scattered on a sandy pathway, leading somewhere Himari didn't know, "Hope you enjoy the surprise."

"Thank you."

That was all Himari could say as her heart started to pound with anticipation. She quickly followed the trail of rose lights, hoping her feet to quickly bring her to him.

Splashing of violet, pink, amber and turquoise hues colored the sunset sky. The golden rose lights perfectly fitted the ethereal sensation that enveloped Himari with each of her steps. 

Just a bit more, a bit more, right?

At the end of the trail, something was waiting for her.

Himari halted her steps the moment she saw the beginning of the red carpet that was laid out on the sand. A wooden hut that was adorned with flowy white curtains and fairy lights stood at the end of the carpet.

And...

Her man was there.

Kazuya was walking on the sandy beach with his head lowered. Occasionally, he would look at his wristwatch, looking a bit anxious. 

The moment Himari stepped on the red carpet, it was the exact moment Kazuya looked up and looked in her direction.

His anxious face softened in the next instant.

And, her face was beaming with a smile.