As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"You won't even allow me to step inside your house?"

Sayuri's words carried a bit of grievance as if she was being wronged by Kazuya. Yet, the man felt nothing.

"I'm the only adult there," answered Kazuya briefly.

Well, even if Aunt Mayu was here today, he still won't let Sayuri come inside the villa.

Kazuya didn't have any intention to invite her inside even though Sayuri showed that she had lots to talk about.

After parking his bicycle next to Izumi's, Kazuya led Sayuri to one of the pavilions that were built alongside the main road within the community.

Because each villa was built far apart from one another and high gates and fences surrounded the yards, the area was quiet without anyone else.

While Sayuri sat on the white bench, Kazuya stood with his back leaning against one of the pillars.. There was a distance between them.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone from the back, faint shadows obscured the irritation in his eyes as they were trained on the woman. 

After their previous meeting at the cafe, Kazuya thought Sayuri won't shove her appearance to him again. He assumed as such because even after weeks had passed, there was no sign of her anywhere.

It seemed like his assumption was incorrect.

"Why did you come here?"

Kazuya's tone was polite with a hint of alienation. It was so unlike how gentle he was during the time they were together.

"I want to see you," answered Sayuri honestly without missing a beat.

But, instead of feeling touched, Kazuya looked annoyed.

Sayuri was too busy during the early weeks she returned to the city. Only now did she was freed from her job. As she couldn't contain her longing anymore, she mustered up her courage to come here even though she knew Kazuya would be displeased.

Seeing that the man won't say anything, she spoke again.

"Yesterday, I went to your office. I actually waited for you but, I saw you walking out of the building with the children and a young woman," Sayuri swallowed the bitterness of the memory, "She's your new girlfriend."

The end of her sentence wasn't a question. Sayuri knew who that woman was. It was the same woman in the photo that her cousin sent to her before.

Yesterday, at six o'clock, Sayuri just loitered around outside the building where the company was set up. She held hope that she could finally see him as his car was still parked at the designated spot.

He was still working, she made a guess.

Who knew the scene that she saw after such a waiting surprised her.

At half-past six, the man that she was longing for finally got out of the building. 

He was carrying a sleepy child in his arms. A little boy walked behind Kazuya while the man's attention was focused on the young woman beside him. 

His eyes were soft, so soft as if his heart was melting by just being able to look at the woman. 

It was an expression that Sayuri was too familiar with.

Three years ago, that was how he looked at her. But now, the one that he gave such a gentle smile was not her anymore.

In the end, Sayuri could only watch the four of them got inside the same car, looking so much like a happy family.

Sayuri clenched her fists hard, feeling her painted nails dug into her palms.

Her gaze was fixated on the man standing in front of her. A deep frown marred his forehead.

"I don't have anything else to hear from you nor say to you," said Kazuya in the same distant voice, "You'd make it hard for me if you keep coming to me like this, Sayuri."

"Why? Don't tell me that you've really loved her?" Sayuri retorted.

She refused to believe that no matter how the scene that she saw yesterday was embedded painfully in her mind.

"I am in love with her," replied Kazuya earnestly, "And, even though she's not in the picture, we're never getting back together again."

Kazuya had stopped looking into the happy memories that he used to share together with Sayuri even before he met Himari.

The blissful feelings that he felt almost turned into resentment because of how Sayuri left. That was why he forced himself to no longer wishing for the past to return.

Once, Sayuri let him tasted how to love and be loved by someone and Kazuya was grateful for that. 

Once, she also was the one who he saw in his future and Kazuya anticipated the days to come.

Yet, everything had ended between them.

There was no longer any reason for him nor her to hold onto the memories.

Enough was enough.

Because of how straightforward Kazuya was when talking about his stance, Sayuri felt suffocated inside. 

A pang of immense guilt shrouded every inch of her heart, swelling uncomfortably within her.

Sayuri kept staring at Kazuya but the man's sullen gaze didn't soften at all. 

Eyes prickly with tears, she asked in a choked voice, "Kazuya, have you ever loved me before?"

If not, how could it be so easy to let her out of his heart?

If not, how could it be easy for him to love a woman that he had just met? 

In the face of the accusation,  Kazuya's gaze darkened.

How dared she to ask him that? 

Kazuya asked her back, his tone sounded so grave, "When you decided to leave, have you ever thought of my feelings for you?"

Sayuri flinched. Her face turned ghastly pale.

"You know that... I did that because..."

Cutting her off, Kazuya said in a colder voice, "You said it's for me, for my dreams. You wanted me to see that my decision at that time was wrong."

"Yes! Yes! I did that..."

Kazuya waved his hand, gesturing for Sayuri to stop talking, to stop spouting excuses.

"Stop doing this. You're just wasting your time and I also have to say the same thing as long as you don't give up."

If this was what they would often talk about whenever Sayuri appeared in front of him, won't it just seemed like they were repeating the same scene over and over again, going in circles?

It would be too exhausting for him, really.

"Go back," Kazuya turned around, giving Sayuri the view of his back. His indifferent voice drifted past his shoulders, "There's no place for you here." 

"...Kazuya, I..."

Sayuri abruptly stood up. Her eyes trembled as she tried to say something else but all of the words got clogged inside her throat.

Kazuya didn't stop to hear more of her excuses. He strode away from the pavilion, heading back to the villa.

Another pain stabbed into her heart at the view of his cold back.

Sayuri still remembered the early days when she fell in love with him. After getting together with Kazuya, she was the happiest woman.

But...

It was undeniable that she was the one who destroyed everything between them.

"I left because of you... for your own good."

Sayuri knew what were Kazuya's dreams. She didn't want him to abandon them just because he had to shoulder heavy responsibilities by taking care of his brother's children and the company.

Just why he couldn't understand her? 

Resentment brimmed in her eyes as Sayuri couldn't accept the outcome.

She was too blind to see that both of them were no longer walking on the same path. 

Clenching her hands into fists, Sayuri shook her head. 

It won't be too easy for her to give up.

She did not believe that Kazuya was really in love with that woman.

Compared to that female teacher, she knew him longer. Certainly, she would be able to win him back, wasn't she?

As Sayuri was too preoccupied with her way of thinking, she forgot that time wasn't crucial in developing one's relationship.

Especially for feelings that got lost as time kept passing by.

At the villa, Kazuya was troubled with more burdening thoughts. 

After changing his attire, he went to the kitchen with the intention to cook for dinner.

But, even after some time had passed, Kazuya still stood unmoving in front of the kitchen island. Fresh ingredients were lying on the surface, waiting to be prepared accordingly by him.

With Sayuri's reappearances, Kazuya felt it was a dire need to tell Himari before things escalated more but, how could he do it?

Himari wasn't an insensible woman but, Kazuya also didn't want to hurt her feelings by talking about his previous lover who attempted to get back with him.

"Is this what she felt before?" 

Although their relationship was still new at that time, Himari was still being thoughtful when bringing up her ex-boyfriend who wanted to return to her.

To receive such respect, Kazuya understood he ought to do the same.

But, how should he tell Himari about Sayuri?

"She said she would return tomorrow afternoon," Kazuya mumbled in a low voice, his eyes were staring blankly at the red tomatoes and green broccoli, "...should I ask her out for dinner and..."

Feeling helpless, Kazuya shook his head a few times. 

Tap tap tap.

"Uncle, Uncle~" 

Chiharu came running to the kitchen with a bunny plushie in her arms. Before Kazuya reacted, the dumpling swiftly climbed on the stool and sat while facing her uncle.

"What would Uncle cook?" Her cheerful eyes kept looking at the ingredients on the island, "Hurry ah. Chiharu's hungry." 

The dumpling obediently went to shower after being instructed by her big brother. She came downstairs with anticipation for dinner.

"How about honeyed chicken bites?" 

Smiling, Kazuya was reminded of the few times he cooked the dish for Himari before. She enjoyed it well, saying the dish was delicious.

His heavy mood was inevitably lightened up by the memories.

"Okay~" 

Chiharu grinned widely. 

Hehe, can't wait ah!