As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

While Yuina was still familiarizing herself with the inconveniences of living inside a forest, Himari had adjusted to living in the villa well. In a blink of an eye, one week had passed since the first day she came here.

As predicted by Kazuya, his lady was willing to continue living with him.

Himari learned a lot of things about the Hayashi family in the short span of one week.

Chiharu was like any other girl her age.

She really loved playing and often argued with her uncle. There were also times when the dumpling acted naughtily but she acted cute to avoid being scolded.

Izumi was a diligent boy as to how he carried himself at school.

Even though there were just a few summer homework, he finished them all without procrastinating. His reason was that he wanted to enjoy playing mobile games without thinking any more about his work.

As for Kazuya, he was always perfect in Himari's eyes except for...

His bad habit came whenever night arrived.

Himari often slept with Chiharu but she would find herself waking up on Kazuya's bed the next morning. There were also times she woke up in the middle when Kazuya carried her away from Chiharu's room.

"You really won't give up, wouldn't you?" asked Himari sleepily one night.

She could already see the scene of Chiharu bickering with Kazuya again tomorrow morning. 

Kazuya's laughter echoed from above her head.

"Sleep, sweetheart."

Himari just let him be. She nestled closer to him as Kazuya stroked her head.

In the morning, Himari would help Aunt Mayu in the kitchen. Although the housekeeper protested, Himari felt bad for just doing nothing. Finally, they reached a consensus.

In the afternoon, Himari always accompanied Chiharu playing or taking a stroll in the yard. The dumpling had lots to tell her no matter which topics. Sometimes, Himari let Chiharu help her making desserts.

Before sundown, Himari, Chiharu, Izumi and Chobi spent their time in the backyard, either playing or napping. At certain times, she would go grocery shopping with Kazuya if the man returned earlier.

As the sky darkened, Himari and Kazuya worked together in preparing dinner. The position of the head chef was often exchanged between them.

Simply put, although what Himari did was just mundane things of everyday life, she had to admit that she felt more fulfilled than before. 

"Aiya, you really dyed your hair brown ah. I really hoped to see it's a flaming red hair," Himari clicked her tongue, voicing out her dissatisfaction.

Taken aback, Kazuya asked in disbelief, "What? You're still not letting that one go?"

It was a weekend night.

After putting Chiharu to sleep and seeing Izumi at the door of his room, Kazuya and Himari went to his study. Chobi was nowhere to be seen. He had grown accustomed to following Izumi nowadays. 

The couple sat on the carpet. Himari was intently looking at an old album of Kazuya's high school days.

As to how he had always insisted, Kazuya's hair was indeed brown and it was quite long, enough for him to tie his hair into a low ponytail. 

"Oh~ Look at how you posed! You're really the school tyrant!"

Himari pointed at a photo of Kazuya sitting on a car roof with a messy-looking school uniform. A few other students were looking up to him, their expressions were a mixture of respect and fear. 

"...Taichi's the one who took this photo. The boys were complaining about gangsters from another school."

Kazuya scratched his neck with an awkward expression. He still didn't know if it was a good decision to let Himari see the old photos or not.

"Then, did you go to claim your sovereignty from those gangsters? Did you injure yourself when fighting? What else happened? Fighting for justice with devious actions?"

Himari's excited tone made Kazuya speechless.

"Sweetheart, enough about me," In a helpless tone, Kazuya took the album from Himari and placed it aside. 

"I haven't done seeing everything," Himari pouted.

"You can see the rest next time," Kazuya laughed. He scooted closer to Himari, eyes looking into hers, "Why don't we talk about your time in high school? I think my sweetheart was a teacher's pet ah, a good student."

Himari shrank, feeling ticklish when Kazuya pulled her down. Both of them lay on the carpet.

"Nothing much happened when I was in high school," answered Himari vaguely, "I just studied and... my only genuine friend was Nanako, until now."

Kazuya almost slapped himself on the forehead. 

Didn't he just dig a pit for himself? She would be forced to remember that man.

Even though weeks had passed, Kazuya still couldn't forgive that man for causing distress to Himari. 

How could he accuse her of... aborting the child?

How could he be so cruel to say gruesome things like that to the woman that he claimed he still loved?

From Himari's reaction that day, Kazuya vaguely guessed more things happened to her but, since she was hesitant and fearful to bring the matter up, he forbade himself from mentioning anything.

"How about your elementary and middle school eras? Did you tie your hair into ponytails and carry a red square backpack before going to school?"

The change of question incited laughter from Himari. Kazuya inwardly sighed in relief.

"Mom opened a stationery store to support me," Himari was smiling as she recalled those days, "I always rushed to the store after school hours to help Mom. We didn't earn much but it's already enough for us."

Although some people in the village disliked them especially children who called Himari fatherless, there were still good people like Granny Saichi and their close neighbors.

Kazuya patiently listened to Himari's story. His lips continued smiling whenever he imagined the little girl in her memories.

"...climbed the tree but, I got unlucky that time. Fortunately, the injury didn't leave any scars."

Himari was telling Kazuya the same thing she had told Chiharu before. Her smug expression made Kazuya laugh.

"I didn't expect you were that naughty," Kazuya's shoulders shook. He covered his mouth, eyes bent in joy, "You were such a headache to your mom ah! I have to applaud her for keeping up with you."

"Humph! At least I was a good student at school, unlike someone~" Himari threw Kazuya a meaningful glance.

"Did you just snide at me?" 

This girl... She only knew to make fun of him since looking at the album.

"En, did I? ...! Hahaha! Don't! Stop ah!"

Himari's smug expression fell right the moment Kazuya began tickling her. She laughed and yelled at him, telling him to stop but the man's hands kept tickling her waist.

"Stop! Ah... hahaha! Kazuya stop!"

"Dare to be smug like that again?" Kazuya raised up his brows. He held both of Himari's wrists, pressing her down on the carpet.

Himari quickly shook her head, mouth clamped shut.

Really... She almost died by laughing ah.

"It's getting late. Time to sleep."

Kazuya steadily carried Himari. She wrapped both arms around his neck by reflex.

"I can walk," Himari complained.

"If I let you walk by yourself, you'd run to Chiharu's room," answered Kazuya calmly.

Himari shut her mouth. She indeed had done it before only to be caught back by him.

Aye, the guest room that was supposed to be her room was only a decoration. Her toothbrush, skincare items and clothes were all being transferred to Kazuya's room.

"Sleep. We have to get up early."

Kazuya put his phone away after Himari came out of the washroom. He patted the space next to him before pulling up the blanket.

"Hehe, a trip to a sunflower field, I can't wait!" Himari laughed in excitement.

Kazuya's smile softened.

Tomorrow, all four of them would head to a sunflower field outside the city. Because the trip would take four to five hours, they decided to go there by bullet train instead of driving. Kazuya had arranged to rent a car there.

As for Chobi, Himari asked for Aunt Mio's help because she was afraid Chobi would be uncomfortable if he had to stay at a cat boarding. They had to make a trip to her apartment first before going to the train station.

Luckily, Aunt Mio was happy to help. Himari promised to bring souvenirs back to the middle-aged lady.

Aye, her stupid furry son won't miss her a bit since he would be reunited with his girlfriend.

The couple slept together throughout the night, simply sleeping. 

At dawn break, the door of Kazuya's room was pushed open by a pair of tiny hands.

A dumpling in a yellow nightgown ran inside the room, climbed the bed then stood with both hands on her hips, looking down at the couple.

"Geez, Uncle steals Aunt again ah! Can't be forgiven!" Chiharu scoffed.

That's right.

Chiharu and Izumi had started calling Himari 'Aunt' instead of 'Teacher Kato'. The change inevitably came during the early days of Himari living here. 

While Chiharu swiftly changed the way she addressed Himari, Izumi had a little bit of difficulty because she was initially his homeroom teacher. Yet, in the end, he no longer stuttered.

The angry Chiharu squeezed in between her uncle and her aunt. She smiled satisfyingly as she kicked Kazuya's hands away. She ignored the sound of muffled grunt by her uncle.

Aunt is Chiharu's oh!

The little one's mood soared up every time she got to sleep with Himari. She loved the feeling of being hugged by Himari. It was different from when her uncle hugged her.

It was like comparing soft clouds to hard rocks!

Well...

If she still got her mom here, she should feel like this, wasn't she? Big Brother always said that Mom smelled great, hugging Mom was like lying on a soft and fluffy bed.

Her little brain couldn't remember that anymore.