As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Dinner ended peacefully.

Even though Kazuya wasn't able to prepare dinner as to how he had promised Himari, he was determined to fulfill it tomorrow.

The family of four and an orange tabby spent their time after dinner in the lounge. They simply played a board game before a certain dumpling kept nodding her head.

"You've napped for hours during the day yet you get sleepy already?" Kazuya marveled at Chiharu's ability to sleep.

"What to do... Chiharu's so sleepy oh," complained the dumpling.

"Okay, let's get you to bed."

Kazuya carried Chiharu in his arms. The dumpling let out a yawn before she nuzzled her tiny head on her uncle's chest.

"Teacher Kato~ Come together~"

Himari smiled. She followed the uncle and niece upstairs. Izumi stayed behind to tidy up the board game.

As they walked up the stairs, Himari was quiet as she assessed Kazuya and Chiharu.

She had seen their interactions for lots of time yet she would always be amazed by how at ease Kazuya handled the dumpling as well as how reliant Chiharu was to him.

It went the same way to Izumi.

"Teacher Kato, em... sleep together..."

After brushing her teeth, Chiharu lay on the bed, surrounded by her plush toys. Kazuya and Himari sat on the edge of her princess bed.

"You still think of that?" Kazuya laughed softly.

"En, en..." Chiharu smacked her lips, "Promise, sleep together..."

"Okay, I'll accompany you to sleep," Himari gently stroked the dumpling's head.

"Hehe... sleep together ah..."

After muttering a few more words, the drowsy Chiharu finally fell asleep.

"Let's sit in the backyard?" Kazuya suggested while tucking Chiharu in her fluffy blanket.

"Aren't you busy with work?"

Himari followed Kazuya out of the room.

"I've finished the important tasks."

"You won't secretly hole up inside the study just to work past midnight?"

"Only if I have my lady sleeping next to me."

"Hey, you wanna make Chiharu angry again?"

Both of them laughed together.

Kazuya put an arm around Himari's shoulders. Both of them walked downstairs.

Izumi was nowhere to be seen. He might have gone back to his room. They also didn't spot Chobi. Maybe he was on an adventure.

Himari brought out two cups of strawberry panna cotta from the fridge. She made them with Aunt Mayu this afternoon.

The chilled pudding was the best treat during a hot summer night. Kazuya brought along with him two empty glasses and a big bottle of mineral water.

"Ah! I didn't realize that there are fairy lights here!"

Himari exclaimed in wonder once she and Kazuya stepped into the backyard.

Fairy lights were hung from the tree to the tent, basking the area of the tent in a majestic orange glow.

Kazuya was proud of himself because it was his idea to put up the lights the other day, all thanks to the inspiration he got from the Internet.

Both of them sat inside the tent. Kazuya lit up a table lamp, further illuminating the space they were in.

"How do you feel so far?" asked Kazuya before he took a bite of the pudding.

En, sweet and delicious.

"En, I think it's nice. I have fun today. Chiharu and Izumi showed me around the villa then I got to chat with Aunt Mayu. She taught me a few cooking tips."

When she answered, even without looking at Himari, Kazuya could sense her happy smile.

The couple just chatted about random things but it was already enough for them. Bit by bit, the last bites of the panna cotta were swallowed down by them.

"Sweetheart, I actually wanna ask you a few things. That is... if you're comfortable with them."

Intrigued by what he said, Himari asked, "What are they?"

Kazuya put down the empty cup. He downed a glass of mineral water, cleansing his mouth from the sweet aftertaste of the pudding.

"It might be too early for us to talk about it but... I wanna ask things like; what do you expect from me as your husband, our external commitments, things about our future children, matters like that."

Himari got flustered.

"You... you wanna ask me that?"

"Can't I?"

"It's... it's not that you can't..."

Himari took a few sips of water. She was caught off guard because she never thought those were what Kazuya was curious about.

But...

Those questions weren't bad. 

They made her view him in a more positive light.

"First, you wanna know what I expect of you as a husband?" Himari cautiously worded out the words.

Kazuya nodded. He answered firmly, "Tell me whatever you wanna say."

A smile suddenly bloomed on Himari's face. 

Hehe, she really didn't expect they would start talking about these kinds of things tonight.

"Then, after I answer, why don't you tell me about yours?" suggested Himari.

"Okay, let's do that," Kazuya agreed.

Himari smiled again.

"Well, I want to be able to go to sleep and rise up in the morning with you beside me. Although maybe not every day, because I know we have our personal commitments but, at least I want to feel your presence often. En, what about you?"

Himari was bashful and a bit self-conscious before she started to speak yet, the words flowed out easily of her mouth.

"I want to feel the same thing too," Kazuya took one of Himari's hands then played with her fingers. He gently touched the ring that he gave her the other day, "I want both of us to be present in our marriage. If only one party tried to support the pillar while the other doesn't, there's no meaning in being married."

Himari sensed a deeper meaning behind Kazuya's words. She smiled bitterly as she recalled the little bits of what he had shared with her about his family.

Growing up in such a distant family, it was possible for Kazuya to know both of his parents didn't have any desire to carry the responsibilities that came along after their marriage; children. He might be unwilling to let his future children feel the same way.

"Seems like we have an understanding for the first question," said Himari in an attempt to cheer him up.

Kazuya chuckled, "Hehe, it's good to hear that."

"En, may I add something?"

Himari's thumb touched the center of Kazuya's palm. He enclosed their hands together.

"What is it?"

Himari was quiet for a moment, silently looking into his eyes.

"We might have arguments here and there in the future but, I want us to talk about them in the end instead of brushing them under a rug."

She didn't want any silent treatment.

Kazuya nodded. He brushed his lips on her forehead.

"As for me," He ran his other hand at the back of her head, stroking her long hair, "If you ever feel bad over something, you don't have to force yourself to tell me. I'll be with you regardless of you letting me in the matter or not."

Himari felt her eyes were watery.

"You must do the same too," She smiled, "And, don't pressure yourself to show that you're always strong. At the very least, I hope you'd feel safe to show your vulnerable side to me."

"Okay. Both of us will do that."

Another kiss met her forehead.

Himari thought of the second question. A question of her own crossed her mind before she verbally said it out, "Do you want me to resign from my job after getting married?"

"Huh? Why do you ask that?" Surprised, Kazuya asked her back.

"En, well... Some husbands want their wives to just stay at home so..."

Although Kazuya didn't seem to be that type of husband, Himari still needed to make certain of it.

"Well, I can safely say that I'm perfectly capable to provide for your and our little family even though you're not working, but..." Kazuya lifted up a hand, tracing her face with his fingertips. Lips smiling, he continued, "It doesn't mean that you need to resign."

"I can still work even when... I get pregnant?"

There were also cases when women simply resigned once they were pregnant. Some of them were their personal choices while some did it because their husbands requested them to.

Kazuya's smile deepened, "As long as you want to work, there's no one to hold you back."

"Really?"

"Hehe, can't you trust me?" Kazuya was amused to hear her asking for confirmation, "It's up to you either you wanna continue working or not."

"I'll trust you, honey," replied Himari, smiling sweetly.

The twinkling orange lights shone into the pool of her eyes, enchanting him without her doing anything.

Kazuya dipped his head in then left a kiss on her lips. Himari pecked back on his lips.

In a teasing voice, Kazuya asked, "Then, how many children do you want to have? One, two, or more than that?"

"I don't have any siblings, it's too lonely ah. Two or, maybe three?"

"Hehehe, I think of the same thing."

Kazuya inwardly sighed in relief as he didn't feel any sadness from Himari's voice.

The matter about her lost baby was a heavy one. He really hoped she could let go of her sorrow even though it was impossible to forget such a heartbreaking loss.

The couple stayed up until late, mapping out their future. They only got inside the villa once Himari fell asleep with her head nestled on Kazuya's chest.

Kazuya carefully carried Himari as he brought her upstairs. Instead of going to his room or the guest room, he entered Chiharu's bedroom.

"Since you've promised this girl, what to do ah," Kazuya laughed at himself. He put Himari down on the bed, next to Chiharu who slept with her arms and legs spread out, "Tomorrow, you have to accompany me."

Only Himari's steady breathing answered him.

Kazuya covered both Himari and Chiharu with the wide blanket. The sight of them nuzzling together made him feel both envious and funny.

"Sleep well, my lady and my little princess."

A kiss was dropped on Himari and Chiharu's foreheads, leaving a warm sensation.

Kazuya left the room. He quietly closed the door. A smile kept hanging on his lips.

The first day had come to the end.

He sincerely hoped in the second, third and the future days to come, she would remain here by his side.