As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

For Jun to ask her that...

Himari was certain that he didn't just stay still after the confrontation at the island a few weeks ago. Her words might make him dig deeper into the matter.

Jun didn't only know about the lost baby.

He also knew the event that led to her losing the baby. 

Himari clenched her hands into fists. A sense of dread crept up from the deepest depth of her heart, sending discomfort all over her body. 

Because of what Jun finally found out, Himari was forced to remember the painful memories of the past.

Her panic-stricken voice begging for help, the sickening laughter of the disgusting men, the pain of her lower abdomen with blood flowing out between her thighs, the helpless despair that flooded her the moment she wanted to give up everything...

Until a savior in black stepped in front of her.

It finally had come to this.

But...

Was she really prepared to let it all out?

"...?"

An intense sweet floral scent diffused nearby, luring Himari to lift up her eyes unconsciously. What met her gaze was a bouquet of red, yellow and pink flowers. Two chubby hands were holding the stalks together.

"...Chiharu?"

The dumpling blinked slowly. A hint of caution gleamed in those bright and round eyes.

"Aunt, Chiharu will give flowers to Aunt. Don't be sad please?"

Chiharu and Izumi spent some time picking the brightest and loveliest flowers they had in the yard. As a result of their efforts, the flowers that were held by the dumpling were all blooming beautifully.

Without Himari wanting to, hot tears prickled her eyes.

Chiharu and Izumi were staring at her with concern.

"No, no, Aunt is not sad," Himari quickly shook her head. She forced a smile, eyes gleaming with unshed tears, "The flowers are pretty, Chiharu, Izumi. Thank you."

Himari carefully took the flowers from the little one. Her smile softened seeing the clumsily tied ribbon around the stalks.

These children had even thought of decorating the bouquet with a ribbon.

"Did you scratch your hands?"

Himari put down the flowers beside her. She reached out for Chiharu's little hands then looked at her palms. 

Even though the flowers here didn't have thorns, the thin twigs and splinters could hurt the children too. 

"Big Brother helped Chiharu."

The dumpling giggled. She felt ticklish when Himari's fingers touched her palms.

"My hands don't have any scratches either, Aunt."

Izumi spread out his palms, showing them to a worried Himari.

Another wave of sadness washed into her heart. Himari couldn't deny that she felt so touched because of these little ones' concerns over her.

"It's getting hot right now," Himari slowly rose up to her feet, both hands holding the bouquet. Lips smiling, she looked at Chiharu and Izumi, "Why don't we head inside? Sorry that Aunt didn't stay with you when you two were tidying the kitchen."

"It's okay ah~ Aunt has cooked for us," Chiharu smiled. Her chubby hands held Himari's skirt, "Chiharu can wipe the table and Big Brother can wash the dishes."

Izumi nodded a few times, affirming his little sister's words.

"Hehe, you guys are so good ah! Okay, Aunt will cook more delicious food for you tonight!"

Himari's promise was met with loud applause from Chiharu.

"Yayy~ Can Chiharu eat the honey hamburger?"

"Do you mean the hamburger steak with honey sauce?"

"Yup! Yup!"

"Okay. We'll go to the supermarket later. We don't have any beef left."

"Go together~ Go together~"

The three of them left the backyard. The flower petals fluttered, following Himari's movement.

She was frustrated to admit that her mood only got a little better. The heavy and dark clouds that loomed inside her mind were still there. Only faint rays of lights penetrated the dense layers. 

Now, she was performing an act to avoid worrying the children any further.

On that day, Himari didn't wait for Jun to say anything more. She fled right after she regained her senses.

The horrifying look on Jun's haggard face continued haunting Himari.

She knew that she was just running away but, she didn't have the courage to face Jun and answer whatever questions he had.

"...did my mother really... send people to... to... violate you?"

A sad smile hung on her lips.

Saying that the monsters tried to violate her would make it sound lighter.

In truth, they were hired by money to commit such a heinous act; to r**** her.

Damage her until she would be thoroughly ashamed to continue living.

Until now, Himari remembered the sickening order given by Mrs. Fujihara to those men.

Himari inwardly shook her head, refusing to ruin her mood further. 

Instead of watching the film that Chiharu wanted, all three of them gathered in the lounge. They played with the 500-piece jigsaw puzzle that Kazuya bought during their trip to the sunflower field. 

Himari put the flowers she received from the siblings inside a tall and clear vase. 

Ding dong~

Three heads looked up from the puzzle board. 

"Someone's here?" Himari was confused.

Aunt Mayu was on a break while either Shuichi and Taichi didn't say anything about coming to the villa. The twins said they would come after Kazuya returned to have nagashi soumen together. 

Ding dong~

"I'll go and look."

Izumi sprang up and ran to the entryway. He pushed on a button of the intercom to see who was the one outside the gate. The view captured by the surveillance camera was displayed on the screen. 

"There's a car outside..."

The tone of his voice faded.

Himari stood up, "A car?"

Who was it?

Seeing that Izumi was quiet, both Himari and Chiharu walked to him. The boy slowly turned around, his eyes appeared complicated.

"...it's Grandmother."

"What? Grandma's here?"

Unlike Chiharu who burst into unconcealable joy, Himari was stunned. 

"...your grandmother?"

Kazuya's estranged mother?

Why did she come?

Himari's gaze was the same as Izumi's. To suddenly face this kind of situation made her at a loss.

Should they allow her in?

Even though Kazuya didn't have a good relationship with both of his parents, the woman outside was still the sibling's grandmother.

And... Kazuya still let the siblings meet with their paternal grandmother despite his fear of them getting hurt.

Or, should she call him first? But, it was currently nighttime at where he was.

"Grandma's here! Quick. Big Brother! Open the door ah!"

Himari was unable to properly think because Chiharu had been urging Izumi to let their grandmother in. The dumpling was dancing around Izumi, her small hands clapping nonstop.

"Izumi, you should open the gate."

In the end, Himari had to choose the most rational thing she ought to do.

Izumi nodded quietly.

Since Aunt said that, what else should he do?

He also thought that it was inappropriate to continue letting his grandmother wait outside.

The tall gate opened automatically. Soon, a luxurious black car slowly entered the yard before it pulled up in front of the main entrance. 

Himari brought the two siblings outside, they stood under the eaves of the villa. Even though her heart was pounding erratically, Himari still kept a calm face.

No matter what, this was the first time she met Kazuya's mother face to face. Himari had to show a good first impression although Kazuya often said she didn't have to do so. 

"Hehe, Grandma's here ah~"

Chiharu kept giggling. Her eyes twinkled happily, both hands went from clapping then covering her little mouth then clapping again.

Himari had to admit that her tensed nerves loosened slightly because of the little one's joy. 

The chauffeur got out of the car, gave a bow to the three of them before he went to open the door of the backseat. 

Himari didn't realize how intently she was staring at the car.

Not long after, a pair of slender legs wearing black high-heels stepped on the ground. A woman in a black suit emerged out from the car. 

Even just from one look, Himari sensed a high pressure coming from the woman.

Her face was obscured by the black hat that she wore but, her style was neat and sophisticated from head to toe. 

"Grandma~ Grandma~ Grandma's here! Chiharu missed Grandma so much!"

The dumpling ran to the woman in black. Her chubby hands hugged the woman's legs.

Izumi didn't move away from Himari even though his little sister had gone ahead to greet their grandmother. When the two of them were closely approaching, his body tensed up. 

The boy sensed that his grandmother changed for the better even for a bit yet, he couldn't help but to still be wary.

"I'm sorry for not seeing you lately."

The woman's right hand gently stroked Chiharu's head. The delicate rings on her fingers glittered underneath the sunlight. 

"Hehe~ It's okay ah! Chiharu knew that Grandma was busy, right, right? Ah! Grandma, come! Let's meet Aunt!"

"Young lady, you are Kazuya's companion, aren't you?" The woman lifted up the brim of her hat, her eyes staring into Himari's eyes, "It's nice to meet you."

To see a very familiar face in front of her, Himari's eyes widened.

"...Madam?"

Madam Tokioka's red lips raised up slightly, showing a really faint smile.