As The Wind Blows Your Scent To Me

Himari didn't even think before she rushed to where the boy got carried away by the water. She felt the wind brushed against her as she ran and ran before the emptiness of the wind changed to the coolness of the water enveloping her entire body.

The swirls of water moved around her limbs, letting her moved and floated freely.

Under the sound of people screaming and the ongoing music of the festival, Himari dived into the water as the boy slowly submerged. His body appeared like a broken puppet being swayed by the flow of the water.

Himari dived, dived and dived until she finally reached the boy. She extended a hand, carried the boy up from the chest before she pushed both of them toward the water surface. The boy was quite heavy as they fought against the current.

Sunlight spilled in through the clear water surface, rippling under the movements. Little by little, Himari could see the anxious and joyful faces of the people waiting at the canalside.

"....Huargh!"

A gust of cool breeze immediately slapped her face the moment she breathed out. Himari brought the boy and swam nearer and nearer to the bank.

"THEY ARE SAFE!"

"Hey! Where're the paramedics?"

"Girl! Here! Here! Let us help!"

Himari managed to reach the bank. Two uncles reached out for the boy, lifting the unconscious boy from her hand. Once the weight left her, it was easier to float. While Himari tried to get on the land, a pair of hands grasped her arms.

Caught in surprise, she looked up.

"...Kazuya?"

The man was worriedly looked at her with his brows almost merged together and lips pursed. The strong grip over her arms propelled Himari to get on the bank. She almost fell knees first before Kazuya quickly supported her.

"Teacher Kato! Are you okay? Are you okay?"

"Teacher, do you need any emergency help?"

Chiharu's frantic voice and Izumi's concerned tone entered Himari's ears. She looked at the children who suddenly appeared by her side. She smiled at them.

"I'm okay. Don't worry, en?" Himari gave Chiharu a head pat, trying to soothe the little dumpling's feelings.

The three of them must have been so shocked by the stunt that she pulled earlier.

On the other side of the bank, the boy was being attended to by the paramedics. The

"Are you okay?" Kazuya asked again even though the two siblings had asked the same thing, voice tinged in deep concern. 

Himari gave him a weak laugh, "A swim is good. How could I not be okay?"

His taut expression softened. Kazuya laughed in helplessness, "You could still joke at this time. I really...!"

In an instant, his face changed again, garnering Himari's confusion.

"Kazuya? Why..."

Before she could talk more, Kazuya let go of her hands, took off his black jacket and draped it over her shoulders. Himari was surprised and wanted to push the jacket back at him but Kazuya swiftly fastened the first three buttons of the jacket, restricting her movement.

"Ah, why? I can't move..."

Then, Himari shut up as she realized why did he suddenly button the jacket over her.

Her white spring dress had drenched all over because of her jumping into the canal. Not only her long hair got plastered to her face and back, but even the dress also clung to her frame. Because of its color, the things that should be hidden from people's eyes could be seen.

The outlines of her pink undergarments were visible, wasn't it?

"..."

Himari really wanted to find a hole and bury herself in Q^Q

The remaining warmth from the jacket that he had just worn seeped into her skin, gradually spreading all over her.

It carried his smell.

"...Cough! You, you have to change your clothes, quick. Don't catch a cold!" Kazuya quickly tried to dispel the awkward moment. He carefully pushed her back to move.

"Ah... okay..." Himari dumbly nodded, her ears and cheeks reddened.

Yet, before the four of them could move, someone called Himari's name. When they looked in the direction, a group of people and Aunt Mio walked to her anxiously.

"Himari! I didn't know you have arrived! Girl, you're freezing ah! Go back home!" Aunt Mio looked so worriedly as her old eyes scanned Himari from head to toe.

Even though the temperature in spring wasn't as cold as the one in winter, it was enough to freeze someone if they stood drenched like this!

"Aunt Mio, I..."

Himari was interrupted when another person pulled her hands and tightly grasped them. Surprised, she looked at the person.

It was another woman.

"Thank you! Thank you ah! You saved my son! Really... thank you!"

It turned out it was the boy's mother.

She was only a little older than Himari. Even her son appeared to be around six to seven years old. The mother's face was pale and flushed in tears yet she repeatedly thanked Himari. Her words of gratitude had weight in them, signaling how heartwrenching she felt when she could only watch her son fell into the water.

"It's okay. The most important thing is your son is saved," Himari softened her voice, trying to ease the mother's agitation.

Suddenly, Himari thought of her mother she had just left a few hours back.

She would be left alone without any company. Even though her mother had good neighbors with her who she could depend on when needed, it was different from having a family so close to her.

Her nose felt soured. 

Soon, the four of them left, heading to Himari's apartment. One of the women with Aunt Mio and the boy's mother wanted to have Himari rest at the paramedic tent but, she politely refused.

Since her house was just nearby, she wanted to return as soon as possible. Himari even rejected when someone offered a lift to her.

With the way her dress was drenched all over, she didn't feel like sitting inside someone else's car.

In the end, Aunt Mio gave her a cup of hot tea to warm her up. She also got a blanket from the paramedic tent and handed it to Himari. Kazuya's jacket couldn't conceal her from the waist down. 

"Chiharu, Izumi, I'm sorry. We couldn't play much."

Himari said to the siblings as they walked back to the apartment.

The two children, especially Chiharu was so happy to enjoy today's Children's Day. Since it was the last day of the holiday, they should be able to enjoy it to their hearts' content but, something like this happened.

But, the siblings didn't look downhearted at all. 

"Teacher Kato, you're so awesome! You swam like a mermaid!" Chiharu pounced her fists into the air.

"Ha?"

"Really! Like the mermaid in the movie!" The dumpling repeated her words with a determined expression on her face

Himari blanked at the sudden praises from the little dumpling before she broke into laughter.

"Hehe, mermaids don't wear dresses," She teased the little girl, "Does Chiharu like mermaids?"

"Yes!" Chiharu nodded a few times, "So beautiful! Chiharu watched an anime, the mermaids transform into magical girls and sing!"

Then, the little dumpling spun on her heels and twirled her skirt, mimicking the magical girls' movement. She almost fell after stumbling. Izumi quickly reached out to his sister.

"Chiharu, it's dangerous," Izumi nagged.

"Hehehe~" The dumpling only grinned without having an ounce of guilt.

"You're great at swimming. I was shocked to see you running to the canal," Kazuya remarked after giving his niece a stern look. Chiharu only smiled at him, looking cute with her cheeks puffed up.

"Swimming lessons in school helped me. My village has a stream. I used to swim there when I was a child."

Himari looked up at him who was taller than her. She blushed as she realized their distance grew a bit closer as Kazuya tried to avoid the electric pole in front of him. 

"Ah, speaking about swimming, I didn't even remember the last time I went for one," Kazuya raised his brows. He gave her a playful smirk while glancing at the siblings, "Too busy for that."

"Ah, you enjoy it too?" Himari brightened up, "Where would you go swimming? The public pool? The river or somewhere else?"

The two of them continued chatting until they got closer to the apartment building. But, unknown to them, someone was waiting outside of the gate.

Truth to be said, that someone was waiting for Himari.

"Himari."

At the sound of the familiar voice, Himari stiffened. She slowly shifted her eyes from Kazuya to the man who stood a few meters in front of her. 

Her smile drooped.

"What are you doing here?" Himari asked with a cold voice.

At the moment she heard Jun's voice, Himari thought she was dreaming but, it was really him.

How could he be here?

How could he know where she lived?

While Himari was immersed in her own thoughts, she didn't notice Jun's eyes flared at the sight of Kazuya. He remembered this man was the one who came to Himari at the hotel the other day. He also the one in the photo of Nanako's social media post.

Jun clenched his fists hard, his jaw tightened as he tried to suppress the irritability from surging within him.

Did she really have a special relationship with this man?

Did she?