As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

That night, Himari made grilled fish, fish soup and a few side dishes for her and the siblings. Izumi brought back quite a lot of catch. The boy was so proud as he handed the fish to Himari earlier.

"Aunt, please cook something delicious," requested Izumi with a blush on his cheeks, eyes twinkling, "I'll go fishing again tomorrow."

Of course, how could Himari say no to such a request?

There were times when Izumi acted shy with Himari but, there were also times when this boy was comfortable with her.

Himari didn't think too much about it. She understood that sometimes, Izumi was hesitant because she was still his homeroom teacher.

At dinner time, the scent of delicious food lingered in the dining room. 

They had a really fulfilling dinner.

Chobi also enjoyed the freshly caught fish. He meowed nonstop and played around Himari's feet when she was cooking. 

"Meow~"

Chobi meowed his gratitude when a plate of grilled fish was served in front of him.

Throughout the time Kazuya was abroad, Himari just followed the regular schedule. She didn't ask Aunt Mayu to stay the nights because there was no need to.

Tomorrow, there would be just the three of them at the villa because Aunt Mayu asked permission to go and visit her elderly mother. Kazuya had already agreed to it. 

"Your uncle won't be back until next Wednesday. He has to extend his trip."

After dinner, Himari and the siblings stayed in the lounge. She was telling the children what Kazuya had just texted her before.

Apparently, something propped up in the middle of the business trip. Either he liked it or not, Kazuya had to prolong the duration of the trip. It meant that he could only return to the country in four to five more days.

"Aunt, do you miss Uncle that much?" asked Izumi teasingly.

He was playing with the handheld game console at the opposite couch of where Himari sat with Chiharu.

Chobi curled up next to Izumi. His tail flicked here and there without a true purpose.

Himari deliberately glared at the boy, "Now, you've learned to poke fun at me?"

Izumi laughed, his shoulders shook. He focused back on the game.

Really, he didn't act too reserved with her now. 

"Aunt, it's great that Uncle won't come home soon," said Chiharu. She hugged Himari's arms then nuzzled her head against Himari's tummy.

"En, why?" Himari let the dumpling nestle comfortably on her lap. She placed her hand around the little one's shoulders.

Chiharu poked her head out from Himari's arms. She said in a happy voice, "Chiharu can sleep with Aunt ah! If Uncle comes back so soon, we can't sleep together!"

"Hahaha! Your uncle would be upset if he heard that!"

Himari tickled the dumpling's chin. Chiharu laughed in glee.

"Ah, Aunt, Uncle Taichi said that he would come with Uncle Shuichi next weekend," said Izumi. He paused the video game, "They said they wanna eat nagashi soumen1 here."

"Next week? When your uncle is back?"

"Yup! They'd bring the equipment. We just have to prepare the noodles and dipping."

"It's a good idea. En, let's do that."

They can have nagashi soumen in the weekend. Eating the cold noodles during a hot summer day was as tempting as having a chilled watermelon or a bowl of sweet shaved ice.

En, should she make shaved ice for the siblings tomorrow?

At half-past nine, Himari and the siblings went upstairs. All the lights downstairs were switched off saved for the small lamps at the entryway.

Tonight, Himari and Chiharu wore the matching nightgowns, bought by Himari when she brought the siblings out the other day.

The cotton nightgowns were in lilac color. Pink and white flowers bloomed at the hem of the gowns.

"Chiharu, what are you doing? Have you picked the storybook?"

Himari had just finished her skincare routine. She saw the dumpling standing in front of the shelves where most of her storybooks were placed at. 

"This one! And Chiharu wanna wear this tiara!"

Chiharu held a storybook in one hand while the other held a little tiara.

"Isn't that tiara... the one that your grandmother made for you?"

Chiharu had shown the tiara to Himari in the first week the latter started living here. The dumpling was so excited as she bragged about the little tiara that was personalized only for her.

"Chiharu miss miss Grandma so much ah!"

The dumpling pouted a little. Her eyes were sunken as she looked at the tiara in her hands.

Himari bent down and carried the little one. Both of them sat on the bed.

"Your grandma is busy, right?"

Kazuya didn't mention anything to Himari but, she heard it from Izumi. 

The other day, when Chiharu whined that she hadn't seen her grandmother for a long time, Izumi explained to Himari who looked confused.

"Grandmother is busy. She has to go abroad. En, the last time we met her... before the sports festival, the time Grandmother gave Chiharu the tiara."

Izumi appeared to be hesitant to talk about their grandmother yet he still did.

If Himari recalled correctly, it should be the time when Kazuya said he fought with his mother.

It had been more than a month since it happened. No wonder that Chiharu was dearly missing her grandmother.

"Chiharu wanna see Grandma," The dumpling continued pouting. She didn't stop staring at the tiara.

It couldn't be helped. 

She felt so comfortable with her grandmother unlike how her uncle and brother felt. 

"Your grandma would come to see you once she's not busy," Himari tried to appease the little one, "Ah! This storybook looks interesting! The princess wears a tiara like Chiharu's!"

"Hehehe! Yes! Lots of pink and red stones!" The little one's attention got diverted, "Aunt! Aunt! Read the story please?"

"Okay~ Anything for my little princess. Mua~"

"Hehehe~ It's ticklish ah! Hahaha~"

Chiharu giggled as Himari continued smooching on her chubby face. Her low mood was gone.

Halfway through the story, the dumpling fell asleep. Himari tucked Chiharu in the blanket then she reached out for her phone.

A new message was sent by Kazuya ten minutes ago.

[Kazuya: Are you asleep?]

[Kazuya: Sweetheart, I miss you]

A smile curled up, Himari's eyes gleamed softly.

[Himari: Have just read a storybook to Chiharu]

[Himari: Are you busy? Can we do a video call?]

At this time, it should be around two o'clock in the afternoon at where Kazuya was. He was mostly busy in the daytime thus Himari could only ask first.

A few minutes later, Kazuya sent a video call request. Himari quickly stepped out of Chiharu's room, she went to the balcony.

Kazuya's face was displayed on the screen. It seemed like he was sitting alone in a room. 

It was not that obvious but, Kazuya's face had faint traces of exhaustion.

"Honey, have you eaten?" Himari thought that the room resembled a private dining room. 

"Yes. Glad that I'm not that busy today," Kazuya smiled at the sight of his lady, "How are you doing today? Is everything fine at home?"

"You should rest ah whenever you have the time," Himari spoke to the screen. She sat down on the white rattan egg swing chair at the balcony, "Where would you go next later?"

"Ah, I have to go to..."

The couple couldn't talk for long but both of them cherished the time together. Kazuya mentioned his days abroad while Himari shared about what she and the siblings did.

There was no mention of Sayuri appearing or that Chiharu was missing her grandmother. Those matters might just ruin Kazuya's mood so it was better if she didn't tell him about them yet.

"Go to sleep, sweetheart," Kazuya smiled in helplessness, "You almost doze off."

"En, en, a bit sleepy," Himari covered her yawning mouth.

The gentle breeze at night was luring her to sleep. Although Himari didn't do anything much today, she felt like sleeping early.

"Good night," Kazuya waved at the camera, lips smiling gently, "Dream of me, okay?"

"Hehe, okay~" Himari squinted her eyes, purposely staring at him as if he would commit a crime later, "You, don't go around and get bewitched by some blue-eyed blond girls, okay?"

"I only have eyes on my lady," answered Kazuya amusingly.

Himari smiled sweetly. She waved her hand and blew him a kiss before ending the video call.

"The moon is pretty tonight."

Himari stayed at the balcony for a few more minutes before she headed inside. After locking the sliding doors, she made her way back to Chiharu's room.

"Hurm, what should I do tomorrow? Izumi would go out fishing again."

Himari pondered on tomorrow's activity before she decided to let Chiharu choose it. Maybe both of them could have some fun girls' time together.

For now, Himari just thought of living in the villa until summer break ended. It was more convenient if she stayed at her apartment once school started again but...

Himari had a feeling that she would miss the time she spent here.

Day by day, she had grown more accustomed to this villa.

That night, Himari slept hugging a soft and squishy dumpling.