As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

"...no! Not fair!"

Himari was drowsy when her ears picked up the familiar voice. The peaceful state of her mind got shattered a little.

Hurm, what happened?

"How could... Move away ah!"

Himari wanted to open her eyes but she felt as if heavy rocks were sitting on her eyelids. Her sleepiness tried to lure her back to dreamland.

...wait.

The rocks weren't just on her eyelids.

Himari felt something was amiss. 

Why did she feel her arms were holding a huge rock as well? The rock also felt hot.

"Chiharu, go back to sleep. It's still early."

Himari flinched. Eyes opened wide, she stared at the owner of the hoarse voice.

"Kazuya?!"

"En... Sleep."

The answer to her surprise was just a short one before the man tightened his arms around her body. She could feel their legs entangled under the blanket.

Wait... wait...

What had actually happened?

Didn't she sleep while hugging Chiharu? Since when did this man come inside this room?

"Kazuya, wake up! Hey, don't fall asleep again!"

Himari tried to push him away but Kazuya was so adamant to not let her go. He pressed her head on his chest, his breathing was steady. 

It seemed like he had gone back to sleep.

Behind Kazuya, a certain dumpling was looking at them in the dark, or rather at him.

The dim light outlined her face. Both of her chubby cheeks puffed up, making her look like an angry rabbit. 

"..."

No wonder Chiharu got angry so early in the morning.

Even though Himari didn't really know what had actually occurred last night, she could picture the scene of her man sneakily walking into this room before he moved Chiharu away from her.

Next?

This foxy-like man took Chiharu's place by sleeping right next to her. 

No wonder she woke up while feeling something was weird.

Chiharu was so soft. Of course, it couldn't be compared to Kazuya whose body was as hard as a rock.

Sigh.

Himari felt a headache coming.

"Teacher Kato, sobs sobs."

The dumpling was so aggrieved. 

Himari tilted up her head, trying to look at Chiharu clearly since her view was blocked by Kazuya's shoulders.

Aye, the dumpling would melt if she cried. 

"Chiharu, come here," She whispered. Himari patted on the vacant space next to her.

Chiharu quickly ran to her. She hopped over her uncle's feet then she lay beside Himari.

After much difficulty, Himari managed to turn around, letting Kazuya hug her from the back. She scooped Chiharu in her arms then gently patted her head.

"Your uncle played a prank on you again," Himari restrained herself from laughing.

Chiharu harrumphed, "Chiharu woke up and saw Uncle took Chiharu's place! So bad ah!"

Himari stifled a chuckle. 

Through the gaps of the curtains, the sky outside was still dark. Chiharu might notice it because she woke up to go to the toilet. Himari smelled the scent of the hand wash coming from the little girl.

"Hehe, yeah, your uncle is bad. Don't learn from him, okay?" Himari kissed her tiny forehead.

"Chiharu won't be as bad as Uncle!" The dumpling declared.

In the next moment, a claw pinched her waist, startling Himari.

Did this guy fake being asleep? 

Eyes narrowed suspiciously, Himari retracted a hand from Chiharu's soft body. Then, she quietly pinched Kazuya's arm that draped on her waist.

The man behind her tightened his embrace. Soft lips brushed against the nape of her neck.

Flustered, Himari didn't dare to move anymore. Even though Chiharu was with them, she won't be so foolish to assume that this sneaky man won't do anything to her.

Ugh...

How hateful!

Finally, the sun rose a few hours later, basking the sea and shore with its magnificent dazzling light.

In the other bedroom, a boy stirred from his sleep. After he regained clarity, he quietly looked at the spacious bed that was only occupied by him.

Hurm...

Needless to be said, Uncle really sneaked out of the room last night.

Izumi went to the bedroom to brush his teeth and wash his face.

The time was only a quarter to seven in the morning. The banquet would start at ten. There was still plenty of time before that.

After that, Izumi walked out of the bedroom to head to the living room. When he passed by his little sister's bedroom, he halted his steps.

Hurm...

With a phone in his hand, Izumi was so quiet as he opened the door.

Creak...

Well, his uncle was really here.

On the king-sized bed, his uncle was sleeping while hugging Teacher Kato from the back. His chubby sister slept next to Teacher Kato with both of the teacher's arms around Chiharu.

What a sight.

After getting a few pieces of evidence of the scene, Izumi stealthily went out of the room.

Let him savor this peaceful moment before he had to hear his little sister get angry and nag at his uncle.

It was an already predictable scene.

Then, as Izumi had expected, right after all three of them woke up, Chiharu kept whining at Kazuya since she couldn't do so last night.

"Uncle, sleep with Big Brother ah. Why did Uncle come to sleep with Chiharu and Teacher Kato?"

The dumpling looked at Kazuya with eyes full of accusations. The four of them were having breakfast at that time.

"Teacher Kato is your uncle's girlfriend. Of course, I have to sleep with her. You're the one who disturbed us," answered Kazuya without batting an eyelid.

Chiharu got angrier.

"Hey, enough you two. Finish your breakfast first. We have to get ready soon," Himari was helpless as she could only step on Kazuya's foot under the table.

As usual, Izumi was quiet as he ate breakfast. His mind was contemplating the photos that he took earlier.

Should he gain more pocket money by selling them to his uncle?

The idea sounded so tempting.

Chiharu brightened up after she was dolled up properly.

For the banquet, she wore a light yellow frilly dress with a pair of black shoes. Her hair was braided Dutch-style. Two yellow ribbons decorated her braids.

Himari's dress was also in light yellow.

A matching bow knot wrapped around her waist. The zig-zag pattern of the skirt hem created an irregular illusion every time the skirt swayed. Her long black hair was let loose, only to have a few pearls adorned her head.

"One is beautiful, one is cute," commented Kazuya after the two ladies stepped into the living room.

The two men's outfits almost resembled one another.

Black suits, light yellow shirts and black shoes. The only difference was Kazuya wore a black necktie while Izumi chose a black bowtie. 

The venue was in a private area. A huge villa of the family property was chosen. A chauffeur brought them there.

All of the guests had yet to arrive. The ones from Nanako's side were just her parents and her younger aunt's family.

Because Himari was the bride's best friend, she was allowed inside the changing room.

"Nanako, you're so pretty~ Ah, hello, Auntie."

Himari quickly gave a stylish middle-aged woman a bow.

Nanako's mother, Mrs. Hagihara was standing next to Nanako. 

The fiancee-to-be wore a champagne-colored long dress. One hairstylist was styling Nanako's silky long hair while one make-up artist was enhancing her beauty with makeup.

"Himari, it's been so long since the last time Auntie met you," Mrs. Hagihara strode to Himari. She gave her daughter's friend a hug, "It's good to see you here. Are you good? Nana told me about your new boyfriend."

Blushing, Himari laughed awkwardly, "Haha, yes, I'm good. I can trust Nanako to deliver news to you."

"Mom, you have to see Himari's boyfriend ah," Nanako began to gossip without turning her head around, "He's so handsome. Himari's luck finally prospers after three years!"

"Oh? Then I have to see him," Mrs. Hagihara deliberately joined in the fun. Eyes twinkling, she asked, "Where's your boyfriend? I heard you came here with him and his niece and nephew."

"Haha... He's outside with them. I'll introduce you to him, Auntie," Himari's tone softened at the end of her sentence.

Although Himari hadn't seen Mrs. Hagihara for quite a long time, the middle-aged lady was just the same. She still remembered how relieved Nanako's mother was when the lady knew that she had broken up with Jun.

"Auntie couldn't say much because he's the one you that you chose. But, if you couldn't feel secure with him, how would you continue being with him? Find a man that could make you both happy and safe, Himari."

Mrs. Hagihara's words were almost the same as her mother's. 

Himari chatted a little more with Mrs. Hagihara as the stylists had yet to finish with Nanako. From time to time, she would also talk with her friend.

Seeing how beautiful Nanako was in her dress made Himari both tearful and happy. 

"Nanako, you're finally going to be someone's bride ah," remarked Himari as she rubbed the corner of her right eye.

Nanako made a face, "Who's a bride? Not yet. Later, you have to be my bridesmaid if you don't want to have a wedding at the same time as mine."

"It's too early to talk about that," Himari blushed yet her smile was so soft, "I'll watch you getting married and having a baby first then I'd think about that."

"I think Mr. Hayashi would cry if he heard that," Nanako grinned.

Himari threw her friend a glare. Nanako just laughed.

When the time for Nanako to appear at the hall got nearer, Himari took the opportunity to return to Kazuya. He texted her, saying that he and the children had been ushered to the table.

The hallway was busy with the attendants coming and going. Some guests also wandered there.

Himari turned into a corner, heading to the hall. Before her figure vanished at the intersection, someone called out to her name.

"Himari."

Eyes chilled, she paused her steps.

Himari slowly turned around.

A familiar face was looking at her.

"Oh," Himari parted her lips, "It's you?"