As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Another week had passed yet Kazuya had yet to talk to Himari about Sayuri. He didn't even mention if when the two of them went out after she came back from Hiraya Falls.

The couple still met from time to time although briefly but, Kazuya was so reluctant to bring up about that woman. He didn't want to taint the little time they had together with such an undesirable topic.

Today was the day of the camping trip to Hiraya Falls. Kazuya woke up early to prepare the two siblings and made sure their bags were well-packed.

"Chiharu, you can't bring all these toys there!"

Kazuya had a headache right after he checked the dumpling's pink bag. Without him realizing it, Chiharu had secretly stuffed in more of her toys last night.

To minimize the bags that they have to bring, Kazuya packed Chiharu's clothes and other items with his. All of them were put inside his hiking bag.. Izumi was the only one who brought his clothes separately in his own backpack.

As for Chiharu's bag, it was only to put her water bottle, thin storybooks and toys.

A white bunny plushie, a princess doll and an orange tabby plushie were put inside.

"No~ They wanna follow Chiharu camping too!"

Annoyed, Chiharu pounced on top of the bag, trying to shield her treasures from being confiscated by her uncle.

Glaring at the soft little dumpling, Kazuya gave her a warning, "Either you pick one or you couldn't bring any at all. Choose. Or, Uncle can just leave you with Aunt Mayu."

Aggrieved, Chiharu had no choice but to pick one.

"Chiharu... choose Kitty-chan."

The dumpling put the bunny and princess doll back on her bed. Then, she tightly hugged the tabby plushie as if she was afraid her uncle would go back to his words thus not allowing her to bring any toy at all.

Kazuya raised up his brows to see Chiharu's pick of the toys.

"Aren't your favorite Usagi-chan?" asked Kazuya, referring to the bunny plushie.

As far as he remembered, Chiharu greatly treasured the particular soft-toy.

The dumpling's answer surprised Kazuya.

"Teacher Kato couldn't bring Chobi. Chiharu brings Kitty-chan for Teacher Kato."

Aye, she was thinking of her aunt-to-be ah.

At half-past seven, Kazuya and the two siblings arrived at school by cab. Their bags were all placed inside the trunk aside from the tabby plushie that Chiharu kept hugging.

The parents that could join the camping trip were all waiting for the arrival of the buses that would take them to Hiraya Falls. All of them were overflowing with joy as they thought of the two days and one-night trip.

It seemed like the parents and guardians were as excited as their children.

The students were busy chatting with their classmates, talking about what they wanted to do once they got there.

"I hope we can group together for the treasure hunt tomorrow."

"I heard there's a fireworks show tonight. Teacher Masuda told me."

"Let's go fishing together? We can grill the fish for dinner."

"Ah, there would be a campfire, right?"

In the midst of the conversations, Kazuya quietly looked around him, searching for a certain someone.

"Teacher Kato's there," said Izumi with one finger pointed in a direction.

Kazuya and Chiharu looked at where Izumi gestured. Not far from where they stood, they saw Himari talking to two teachers. One of her hands held a clipboard. From time to time, she lowered her head as she wrote on the papers.

Instinctively, a smile rose up on Kazuya's face.

Himari said that the only teachers that followed the trip were the homeroom teachers of Grade Three classes. A group of them went ahead in personal vehicles, waiting for the others to arrive there.

"She's busy. We'll go to her later," said Kazuya.

Chiharu obediently nodded her head. Izumi left a few words before he went to join his friends.

The temperature today was quite high already even though it was still early in the morning. Not long after, three buses that would accomodate all students and their accompanying parents arrived.

"Excuse me, Class-3-3 and 3-4, please line up here!"

The student representative called out to them with a megaphone. All students and the parents followed the instructions.

Kazuya shouldered a black hiking bag on his back while he held the straps of Chiharu's pink backpack in one hand. He followed Izumi as the boy led the way.

"Is everything okay?"

As the Hayashi family stood in the last row of the queue, someone approached them. Kazuya's face lit up with a smile even before he turned around to look at the person.

"So busy already?"

Himari grinned. She answered while patting Chiharu's head, "What to do ah. I'm the person-in-charge."

Kazuya let out a chuckle.

Today, his lady wore the same sportswear that she had worn during the previous sports festival a few weeks ago.

Maybe it was due to the sweltering heat, Himari tied up the jacket around her waist, showing the short-sleeved white T-shirt on her upper body. Her long hair was tied into a bun with a few loose strands framed her face.

"Talk to you later. I'm going over there," Himari gestured to one side. Kazuya just nodded.

As the sunlight poured on her running figure, he only saw her brilliance.

Soon, the students and parents boarded the buses. Their seating arrangements were decided freely as some students wanted to sit with their friends. A few parents grouped together as they enjoyed the relaxing trip.

After settling what should have been done, Himari got inside a bus. Yuina was in another while Teacher Ayase who Himari asked for help was in the third bus.

"Teacher Kato, everyone is already inside," reported the student committee. There was a clipboard in his hands.

"Thank you, Eiji," Himari took the clipboard and smiled at the boy, "You may sit now."

Eiji quickly left. He happily sat with his friends.

Himari scanned the clipboard. It seemed like every student in her class was accompanied by their family members; either their mother, father or older siblings. Well, most of them were mothers.

As the buses slowly left the schoolyard, Himari stood on the aisle with a hand holding to a seat. Her eyes swept across the inside of the bus, searching for a certain someone.

Then, their eyes met.

Kazuya sat with Chiharu on the right side of the bus. Their seats were in the middle of the aisle. Izumi sat with his friend. They had begun playing cards.

After exchanging smiles, Himari finally sat on her seat. Her place was right behind the driver's seat, next to the front door.

Himari took out her phone. She sent a text to Kazuya.

[Himari: Sorry that we can't sit together]

[Himari: :( ]

[Himari: I missed you oh]

In a few seconds, his replies came.

[Kazuya: My lady is the person-in-charge, so I can't do anything]

[Kazuya: At the very least, I anticipate a moonlight tryst with you]

[Kazuya: We should do that since I missed you too]

[Kazuya: ;) ]

Himari stifled a laugh. She turned around, looking at Kazuya from the gaps of the heads. She purposely threw him a glare then ignored him.

Even without looking at him, Himari could already see him laughing teasingly at her.

Happy chatters floated inside the bus. The sound came from both the students and the parents, especially the former since summer break would begin in just one week.

Himari silently contemplated what she had planned once summer break arrived.

Her initial plan of straightaway going home was forfeited because she had to attend Nanako and Ryota's engagement banquet first. The banquet would be held on the second weekend of the summer break. 

After that...

Usually, Himari would just go home because there was nothing else she could do in the city since the school was on vacation. But, she had things to think through right now.

Cough, one of the reasons was Kazuya that would just stay in the city.

Aside from that, her mother also had told Himari beforehand that she would be going on a short vacation with Uncle Yoshiro.

Granny Hori urged the couple to spend more time together.

The old lady insisted that even though Uncle Yoshiro was afraid to leave his mother alone at home. The friendly neighbors of the Hori family supported the old lady's ideas, saying that they would help to take care of Granny Hori.

Thus, the couple planned to go to a resort town in the mountains and stayed there for a few days.

Aye, even if Himari wanted to go back to her hometown, she could only do that after her mother returned.

Sigh.

After stopping at the rest areas once, the buses finally reached Hiraya Falls. The whispers of the rustling leaves and the lullabies of the chirping birds welcomed them to the retreat.

"Alright, everyone, you're free to set up your own tents or use the ones provided by the campground. We'll have lunch together at 12 PM before we start our activities. Is that clear?"

Himari gave the instructions to the students that were giddy with excitement. They kept looking around, so eager to explore the area.

"Okay~"

'Yeah!"

"Okay, Teacher Kato."

The students answered with enthusiasm before they dragged their parents or guardians to the campground. 

"Seems like they are more inclined to set up their own tents," remarked Yuina with laughter.

"They would be more energetic once they start playing after lunch," Himari laughed along with her.

In the past week, the scandal of the film emperor gradually died down without any new exposure.

As to how Yuina had said, the situation was suspicious but since she didn't want to focus on it thus distracted her attention, Himari respected her decision and no longer spoke about it unless Yuina was the one who mentioned it.

As the scorching heat poured on the summer leaves, the camping trip at Hiraya Falls began.