As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

While Kazuya was in a headache due to his little niece, Himari also got a headache when she recalled the problem she encountered as soon as she returned home.

After replying to the text from Kazuya, Himari got out of her bedroom. She had changed out of the dress that she wore this morning into a simple cotton home wear.

Himari expected herself to be all bubbly and happy because she could come home to be with her mother for the holidays but, what awaited her made her felt extremely unpleasant.

"Meow~"

Chobi came running then rubbing his furry head against his Mama's calf as if he understood the emotional turmoil that overcame his Mama.

Himari smiled bitterly. She bent down, picked Chobi up and scratched under his chin.

Chobi let out a continuous purr in satisfaction.

"Meow, meow~"

Himari had to admit that she felt a lot better after hugging her furry son.

Both of them went inside the kitchen. Himari let Chobi go as his attention was shifted to the food bowl beside the dining table.

At the sight of her daughter's downcast look, Akemi silently let out a sigh.

"Don't think about it anymore. He has gone," Akemi beckoned at her daughter to go to the dining table, "Mom has chased him away. He wouldn't dare to come again."

Himari quietly stared at her mother.

Akemi sighed again. Even she herself didn't believe what she said.

Himari washed her hands before sitting at the dining table. All of the food served on the table was her favorite dish but, her appetite was ruined by what happened earlier.

Her initially empty stomach felt strangely full yet uncomfortable.

"I just didn't expect that he came all the way here," Himari confessed with her eyes lowered to the rice bowl, "I have made myself clear to him last night."

Her mind recalled the unpleasant incident that welcomed her home.

An hour ago, before she met the unexpected occurrence. 

After getting off the train at the local town station, Himari hailed a cab because she didn't want to wait any longer for the bus. Her mood was light and joyful as she anticipated the moment she stepped inside her home.

No matter how lively and advanced the city was, Himari still loved the serenity that she could only experience in the countryside.

Soon, after the cab left the small town, it moved along the road with vast greenery at either side of the road.

From thick bundles of trees, the branches hovering above the ground until the view of the paddy fields spread until the horizon, she was only surrounded by the calming green.

It was a stark contrast from the city filled with gray skyscrapers.

"The weather is good, Chobi. We could go to the stream before sundown," Himari spoke to her cat as she took in the clear blue sky outside the cab.

"Meow, meow~"

The cab uncle laughed good-naturedly listening to the human and the cat's conversation.

"Miss, do you really live here? I thought you're visiting your relatives in the countryside."

The uncle looked at Himari who sat in the back seat through the rearview mirror.

"I currently work in the city so, I'm coming home because of the holidays," answered Himari cheerfully.

"Hahaha! Good, ah! No matter where we go, home is still the best place!" The uncle laughed, "My kids work in the city too. They always complain about going home, saying how they miss their mother's cooking. Aye, I hope they could return for this Golden Week as well. Two of them said they have urgent matters to be completed before coming back."

Himari was all smiles as she understood the feelings of the cab uncle's children.

Yes. No matter where our feet brought us, the home was still the dearest place to us as long as our presence was welcomed.

"Hehe, I'm sure they would come home. Just wait for them, Uncle."

In less than five minutes, the cab slowly pulled a stop in front of Himari's childhood home.

Her home was still the same.

The yard was neat and filled with the flowers and other plants that her mother grew fond of. The flowerbed bloomed with vibrant and colorful petals of a variety of flowers. The air around the small house was cool and carried the scent of the earth.

"Here, here, let me help you!"

The cab uncle got out of the taxi and brought Himari's small suitcase from the trunk. Himari smiled in helplessness because her suitcase wasn't too heavy to require his assistance.

But, she was still grateful for the middle-aged man's thoughtfulness.

"Thank you for sending me home safely," Himari took out a few notes from her purse and handed them to the uncle, "Have a nice Golden Week holidays!"

"Hehe, thank you for your wish too. Ah, this is too much!"

The uncle realized that he got more than he should. He quickly took out a few notes and wanted to return them to Himari.

"It's nothing. Bye-bye! Treat your wife to something good!"

Before the uncle could shove the money back to her, Himari swiftly took her suitcase, waved at him and ran inside the yard.

The uncle laughed while shaking his head, "Thank you, girl! Have a good holiday too!"

Soon, the sound of the cab engine roared down the road, leaving the tiny house behind.

"Mom~ I and Chobi are home! Mom!"

"Meow, meow~ Meow~"

Himari and Chobi cheerfully announced their arrival. She dragged the wheeled suitcase behind her then knocked on the door, she deliberately didn't use her own set of house keys.

Creak.

Her mother's figure appeared in front of her once the door was opened.

Himari brightened up, ran for a bit and pounced on her mother, "Mom! I'm home!"

"Meow!"

"Aiya! Behave ah! Don't suddenly hug your mother like that!" Akemi nagged as she received her daughter's enthusiastic hug, "Yes, yes. Welcome home."

"Hehehe~"

Himari rubbed her head against her mother's shoulder, slowly inhaling the familiar scent that accompanied her since her childhood days.

It was calming.

"Meow, meow~" Grandma, I missed you too!

After hugging her mother for a while, Himari finally let her go.

"Mom, I'm starving. I purposely didn't eat anything at the station because I want to eat your home-cooked meals."

Himari complained like a child while patting her stomach. She blinked her eyes cutely with a small pout on her lips.

"Haha, Mom has prepared the food. I know you'd be hungry as soon as you return home..."

Akemi laughed yet there was something in her eyes that showed that she was being uncomfortable.

Himari was quick to detect the small change of expression on her mother's face.

"Mom? What's wrong? Are you okay?"

Did her mother fell sick without her knowing?

That couldn't be, right?

Akemi pursed her lips, staring back at her daughter's inquiring gaze. She felt bad to see her daughter suddenly worrying about her.

"Himari, actually... We have a guest right now."

Akemi lightly grabbed one of Himari's wrists and moved her chin to the short entryway that connected the front doors and the living room.

Himari's gaze followed her mother's movement as she shifted her eyes to the arched doorway of the living room.

"...A guest?"

Who was it that made her mother looked worried like this?

While Himari was guessing, a tall silhouette came from the doorway, stretching on the floor until someone slowly came out and properly stood in front of her.

At the sight of the unexpected someone, Himari was thoroughly shocked.

"...Jun?"

Yes. It was him who made an appearance in her childhood home.

Jun quietly stared at Himari. Guilt and anxiousness spread all over his face as he loosely clenched and unclenched his hands a few times.

"Himari, hello," His voice was a bit hoarse as he greeted the surprised Himari, "Sorry, I suddenly came here without telling you..."

Himari's brows almost merged together as she shifted her gaze from Jun to her mother. She asked, "Mom, what's going on?"

Jun was still in the same clothes as he wore last night. His appearance was a bit unkempt and his countenance was a bit pale. It seemed like he had a rough night.

"Mom found him standing outside our yard early in the morning. To avoid our neighbors saw him, I have no choice but to invite him inside," Akemi slowly recounted the story.

"He didn't want to leave so that's why?" Himari sharply understood the meaning behind her mother's words.

Akemi nodded gravely.

At first, she wanted to have him leave before her daughter returned home but, this guy was so adamant. If she just let him be, Akemi was certain that Jun would continue loitering outside the yard until Himari came home.

The neighbors would surely feel weird to see such an unknown guy in their residence area.

"What are you doing here, Jun? Haven't I made myself clear for you? Two times. I have talked to you two times."

Himari vented her frustration to Jun instead of her mother. She kept her gaze straight on her, not bearing any warmth instead, only coldness.

And, he was hurt by how cold her gaze was to him.