As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Seeing Ryuu's troubled expression, Yuina flinched. She quickly shook her head, waving both hands. She had just realized that she was saying things that she shouldn't.

Not in this kind of situation.

"Sorry, just forget it. I didn't mean anything," assured Yuina firmly, eyes darting everywhere, "I'll go and get more hot water."

Before her husband could say anything, Yuina grabbed the thermos flask from the bedside table and ran out of the ward, only leaving her fleeing figure to be seen. 

Ryuu was dumbfounded, speechless even.

It seemed like his wife was still mistrusting herself, thinking that her position was beneath his.

True, it wasn't an easy task to regain one's confidence and shed all of their uncertainties. 

Ryuu lowered his gaze, looking at the hands that were clenching the blanket covering his legs. Faint scratches marred his skin as they were slowly getting healed.

Just because he was a renowned figure in the entertainment industry and also was the one who brought financial comfort in their little home of two, it didn't mean that what he did was greater than hers.

Yuina had always been silently supporting him, even during the times he doubted himself; doubting his ability to make her feel safe.

The memories from his youth surged up from the depths of his mind, bringing back the scent of cherry blossoms falling in spring.

At that time, Ryuu had heard that there was a new girl in school.

The high school in the neighborhood was attended by students from different neighborhoods as well but, they were lively to know that a girl transferred here from the big city.

The poor girl started living with her aunt's family after the death of her parents. Because he rarely paid attention to what happened in school, Ryuu just learned the news in passing.

His attendance record was not great because Ryuu often played truant. He had been listening to the teachers' scolding for years thus he was already adept at it.

One day, he was called to the teachers' office during a self-study session. The next period was recess. 

By standing stiffly in front of a teacher, Ryuu had to reluctantly open his ears to hear another nagging.

"You should think of your future! The school will help you if you need financial assistance. Go to class and learn well. You don't have much time left before finals. You're a good student. Don't waste your good brain."

Those words came from Ryuu's third-year homeroom teacher. The teacher who would retire in just a few years was worried about his situation but Ryuu's answer next made the teacher speechless as always. 

"Teacher, you want me to further my study, don't you? Will the school continue providing financial assistance after I graduate from high school and enter college? I'm too lazy to fight for a scholarship."

The teacher's face wrinkled in concern. He still tried to persuade Ryuu. His tone softened. 

"If you put up a little more effort, you can secure a scholarship. We even have scholarships that cover tuition fees and accommodation for the students nowadays."

Ryuu's grade was fairly good for a student that always skipped class. Because of his family situation, the school was being tolerant by not harshly punishing him.

Only a few knew about it but, Ryuu was living with his sick grandaunt. Both of his parents were missing ever since he was a child.

People said his father left to find a job abroad and was unwilling to return after having a taste of money.

People also said his beautiful mother ran to be a mistress for a rich old man, treating her son as non-existent.

The young child relied on his grandmother's younger sister who took pity on him. 

As Ryuu grew up, his grandaunt kept falling sick. Now, he was the one who took care of her.

"I don't have any intention to further my study," answered Ryuu without missing a beat. He bluntly said, "Teacher, I just want to graduate from high school then start earning money without restrictions."

Ryuu left the teachers' office after giving a bow to his homeroom teacher. His walking pace was quickened as if he wanted to swiftly escape from the place.

"Hurry! I wanna grab yakisoba pan1! It's limited to one hundred!"

"Don't run! Do you wanna be reprimanded again?"

"Hey, let's go and eat our bento at the yard?"

"Sit on the bleachers, shall we? I heard the boys of Class 3-5 would play basketball now."

School recess had just begun when Ryuu was walking down the hallway from the teachers' office. Students began heading to wherever they wanted; whether the school cafeteria, yard or even the library.

Ryuu abandoned the idea of going back to class. He felt like getting a nap under sunlight today. He didn't get enough sleep last night because he finished his job at a warehouse late. 

His feet brought him to the rooftop. Ryuu ignored a few students that ate their lunch there. He walked further from them, heading to his favorite hidden spot just behind the rooftop small storage room.

"...?!"

Ryuu was surprised to see someone else was occupying the space. The 'intruder' seemed to notice him as she lifted up her head, staring back at him.

The girl's face was unrecognizable to him but he saw the red lines on her collar, indicating she was a third-year student. Even so, her uniform appeared to be a bit worn-out as if it was a second-hand.

Still, it was better than his own uniform that had lost its pristine white color.

Was she the new girl people were talking about?

Did she eat here alone without any new friends to accompany her?

The girl sprang up from the floor, still looking at Ryuu. Her hands were fidgeting with a plastic bag containing packets of bread and milk.

"...is this your place?"

The girl's quiet voice snapped Ryuu back from his fleeting daydream. He broke into a forced smile.

"Well... every student can come here if they want to," replied Ryuu. He brushed the tip of his nose with his finger, "Just continue sitting here. Don't mind me. I just wanna take some nap."

Without waiting for the girl to answer, Ryuu walked past her to the end of the store then lay down on the floor. He quickly closed his eyes, his ears caught the sound of her moving.

It seemed like the girl didn't leave. He heard her open the plastic packaging of her bread.

Gosh, he felt so hungry just by listening to that. 

Ryuu silently calculated the money he had in his pockets.

Because he worked overtime last night, the supervisor gave him more pay. After setting aside some money for his grandaunt's next treatment fee, he should be able to get a bowl of ramen with it. 

Great. Let's settle lunch and dinner by having some ramen.

Ryuu hoped his grandaunt had woken up and eaten the chicken and corn porridge that he stored inside the thermal flask. She was still sleeping when he left the flat this morning.

Hurm... He should head to the construction site this evening. 

Brother Takashi said a new task would be introduced there. They could earn more bucks than usual. 

Sore limbs and terrible exhaustion had to be expected.

If that happened, he might as well rest tomorrow instead of going to school. He also could straight away go to the warehouse at noon tomorrow. 

While Ryuu was thinking of his part-time job, all of a sudden, his stomach growled.

Ryuu, "..."

The sound was so loud.

He swore that the new girl was able to hear it.

Just why did his stomach grumble at this exact moment? Usually, he could go on for hours before his tummy sang any song.

Ryuu feigned ignorance of the embarrassing sound that originated from his stomach. He kept his eyes closed, pretending to have already fallen asleep.

Should he start counting sheep?

One sheep, two sheep, three sheep...

But...

Why did those flock of sheep turn into racks of roasted lamb? 

Ryuu resisted the urge to salivate. He really forced himself to sleep. 

Sleep was the best way to lessen his hunger.

In the end, Ryuu really entered the dreamland. The faint sound of voices and footsteps receded over time. 

He was alone on the rooftop. The sunlight poured down on him, highlighting his youthful features.

Ryuu was so deep into his nap. He only woke up when the bell chimed, signaling the end of the school hours.

"Crap! What time's now?"

Ryuu abruptly sat up, rubbing his eyes with one hand. From the countless sound of students' voices and footsteps heading to the gate, he finally realized that he had been here for hours.

"Gosh, thank God no teachers came checking," Ryuu mumbled while he twisted his neck and straightened his stiff limbs. 

At certain times, the discipline teacher or the dean of teaching would come to the rooftop to find any students who skipped classes. Ryuu had been caught by them a few times already. 

The punishment?

He had to stay at school and clean the students' toilets for a week straight.

"Have to head home first... Change my clothes then go to work," Ryuu kept muttering to himself.

When he turned around to leave his favorite napping spot, Ryuu's eyes fell on something.

Not far from where the new girl sat earlier, a sealed packet of bread and a small carton of milk sat silently there.