She Didn't Expect to Hear That Name

"Himari, is he seriously only your students' guardian?"

Nanako's excited voice from the phone prompted Himari to move the phone away from her ear. She could clearly hear her friend's voice even from this distance.

Chobi looked at his Mama who was sitting on the pink-colored couch.

Why does Mama look strange?

"Yes, he's the uncle of my students," Himari rolled her eyes, "So, are you okay or not? Going for the picnic with them?"

"Of course! I have to see for myself who is this guy!" Nanako laughed happily.

Himari squinted her eyes, "Don't think of anything weird. There's nothing between us."

"Yeah, yeah, there's nothing between you guys now but, who knows? Maybe, he's the one for you?"

Himari felt an urge to end the call. Nanako still hadn't changed.

Because Himari rarely associated herself with guys, Nanako would be excited if she did.

Once, Nanako paid attention to a Science young male teacher from Himari's previous school. They worked together once on a project. It was purely a professional relationship but, Nanako kept asking her if she planned to take the relationship further.

Next, it involved Nanako's own colleague. Himari met him when Nanako brought her to an exhibition. The colleague showed quite an interest in Himari which led Nanako to inquire about her opinions. Himari rejected as she wasn't ready for a new relationship.

"Enough with that. Since you don't mind, what about Ryota? He would join us too, right?" Himari shifted the subject to the upcoming picnic.

"He would come! Let's see what would I do if he gives the excuses of being busy again," Nanako answered in a threatening voice, "So, there would be you, me, Ryota, the students' uncle and two children, am I right?"

Himari glanced at Chobi who was busy chasing his own tail.

"Do you forget my son? Chobi would follow us too."

At the mention of his name, Chobi flicked his pointy ears.

"Okay~ Let that fat cat comes," Nanako answered nonchalantly, "I'd bring sandwiches and chicken karaage. Those are the only dishes I could make perfectly. So, what do you plan to bring?"

Himari recalled a message that Kazuya sent to her this morning. He asked about the same thing so Himari asked him back. She inquired about which food the children would love to have for the picnic.

Himari already had a list but, she still wanted to know about the children's preferences.

So, Izumi said he didn't mind while Chiharu...

The little dumplings wanted fruit sandwiches, riceballs, croquettes, Napolitan pasta and cupcakes.

The little girl surely could eat well.

"I'd bring some food. Don't worry about my side. I'll let you taste my culinary skills, humph!" Himari was proud as she boasted to Nanako.

"Hahaha, I won't say no to your food," Nanako was more than glad to hear it. Suddenly, her laugh stopped before her voice changed, "Ah, Himari. Actually, I have something to tell you."

"What it is?" Himari was a bit confused as she heard Nanako sounded hesitant all of a sudden.

"En, do you remember Teacher Takaki of our high school?"

"Ah, yes, the English teacher," Himari quickly recalled who it was because the female teacher was the one who helped her in English, "Why? Do you hear news from her?"

Teacher Takaki retired on the same year they graduated. Apparently, she returned to her hometown and lived with her son's family. Since then, she rarely came to the city.

"She would come to the city soon so, she asked our class monitor to arrange a reunion with us. I'm not sure if you want to go there or not," Nanako sighed.

"What's the matter? If I don't have any important plans, I could just go," Himari was already excited at the possibility of meeting the English teacher back.

If one asked her who was the most memorable teacher that helped to guide her in life, it was Teacher Takaki.

"The reunion itself isn't a problem but, he would be back at that time!"

"Who?" Himari got more confused. Why couldn't she understand what Nanako wanted to say?

Nanako sighed again. With a heavy voice, she murmured, "Jun. Jun's coming back soon."

Himari froze.

She didn't expect to hear that name.

"Teacher Takaki timely arranges this reunion because she knows Jun's return to the country. He has finished his studies abroad so, it's time for him to come back. He will be there too."

Himari took quite some time to register Nanako's words.

After graduation, Himari rarely took notice of their classroom interaction. Even while she was with Jun, she relied on both him and Nanako if there was some kind of announcement.

After the breakup, Himari completely didn't care about her classmates. She wasn't close to anyone in particular, they were just acquaintances at most. She only kept in touch with Nanako who was her best friend.

Since changing her phone number to a new one, the only classmate who had her number was Nanako.

"When is the reunion?" Himari asked after a long stretch of silence.

"The date hasn't been finalized but, it might be on the last weekend of this month. You know, before the Golden Week holiday," Nanako answered in guilt.

She didn't have a choice but to inform Himari about it because the class monitor contacted her specifically for this.

Teacher Takaki took care of Himari during the years she was at the high school. Both of them shared a great relationship. Even after years, the female teacher still remembered the high school student who had become an English teacher herself.

"I don't have anything on that weekend," Himari checked her planner before replying, "Tell me when it's finally decided. The time and venue, I mean."

"You would go?" Nanako was anxious even though she was not the one involved in this matter.

Himari scoffed, "Nanako, there's nothing between me and Jun since three years ago. I live my own life while he lives his. I shouldn't be a coward and not attend the reunion because of my ex-boyfriend, it is?"

"Well, I agree but... I got to know that Jun asked the class monitor whether you'd come or not. It's obvious he wants to use this reunion as a pretext to meet you!"

Nanako only knew about it after she threatened the soft-hearted class monitor.

"Let him be," Himari laughed coldly, "I don't want to trouble myself with his family anymore."

Nanako sighed again.

"Okay, just do what you want," Nanako didn't mind as long as Himari didn't feel unwilling, "I'll contact you again if there's any update. They asked me to add you to the group chat but I didn't give them your ID. Well, they only brag about their lives anyway."

"Good, I don't want to be bothered by them," Himari was pleased with Nanako's decision.

Some of them scorned her for being a country girl, moreover when she started dating Jun. While the rest just maintained a superficial relationship with her.

Himari didn't mind being nice to anyone, as long as the other party was nice to her as well. Since a few of them disliked her years ago, why must she exhaust herself to befriend the little group later?

Nanako hung up first, saying she was waiting for Ryota's call. Himari got up from the strawberry couch, heading to the kitchen. She wanted to warm a glass of milk for herself before going to bed.

In truth, Himari wasn't as unfeeling as she appeared to be. Her heart pounded hard the moment Nanako said Jun was coming back.

After three years, he would be in the same city with her again.

If they did meet later, how should she react?

Or, rather, how would she react?

Himari was fine all these years because he wasn't in her line of sight.

But, once he was here, she was afraid if her heart would beat for him again.

No! No! Let's not think about this. She should focus on not letting her heart waver.

LINE~

While Himari was waiting for her milk to be warmed in the microwave, the default notification for her LINE account echoed.

It was Kazuya.

[Kazuya: Sleep already?]

Himari's eyes brightened instantly. She quickly typed a reply.

[Himari: Waiting to drink my milk. What's up?]

Since the night they added each other as friends on LINE, they would exchange texts occasionally.

[Kazuya: When would you go buying the ingredients? The day after tomorrow?]

The day after tomorrow would be Saturday, one day before their picnic at the park.

[Himari: Yes, I planned to. Do you want to add anything else?]

[Kazuya: I'd pick Izumi from his training on that day. Let's go grocery shopping together.]

Before she could reply, her phone chimed because of his new message.

[Kazuya: It'd be hard for you to carry all the bags. Chiharu pesters me. She wants to join in choosing the ingredients]

[Kazuya: Well, it's for her own benefits anyway]

"Hahaha," Himari laughed at the mention of Chiharu. Her fingers typed a new reply.

[Himari: Alright. I'd appreciate having a helper, or three. It'd save me from the hassle]

Then, she added a sticker of a cartoon strawberry smiling.

[Kazuya: Okay. See you on that day. I'd text you the time later. Have to clarify with Izumi when would his training end.]

[Himari: Okay]

She sent a sticker after a second.

[Himari: LittleStrawberryGoodNight.jpg]

[Kazuya: MoonBoyGoodNight.jpg]

Himari laughed again.

She found that this man was fond of using the sticker pack of the Moon Boy. It was recently released by its creator. The boy who had the face of the moon wore a cute black suit.

That night, Himari slept well. She no longer thought about what Nanako had told her before.