I Haven't Said Two Things to You

After returning from the boat riding, Kazuya let Chiharu slept on the mat after Izumi placed a layer of a thin blanket on it. The little boy also brought out a small pillow to be used by his younger sister.

"Do you always bring that whenever you go out?" Himari asked in interest.

Izumi nodded, "Only when we go out for long. Chiharu tends to sleep after playing."

Himari gave him a head pat. This boy was really good to his little sister.

Kazuya and Himari ate some food while Izumi and Yuuya continued playing together. Chobi went to chase the falling petals. Himari just let him be as she had attached a tracking chip to him.

Their surroundings were filled with the visitors of the park. The sound of their chatting happily and even singing drifted over to their picnic spot.

"I haven't said two things to you," Kazuya said after swallowing a bite of the pasta.

"Two things?" Himari looked at him in confusion.

Kazuya stifled a laugh. He tilted the plate of the pasta up for a bit

"The food is delicious and..." He lowered his gaze to her, meeting her eyes. The sunlight that pierced through the leaves fell on his face, softening his smile, "Your dress is pretty. It perfectly matches with the cherry blossoms."

His words made Himari laughed.

The sound of her laughter reminded him of the gentle tinkling of a bell.

"Thank you. This dress is designed and gifted by Nanako," Himari accepted the compliments with a smile. Then, she gave him a questioning yet teasing look, "I wonder if you're adept in praising someone because you always have to coax Chiharu?"

"Hurm," Kazuya tilted his head, thinking for a second and smiled smugly at her, "Call it a sort of skills that I gain after becoming an uncle?"

Himari laughed again.

She was glad that she decided to join their family of three for the picnic. It might be only her thinking but, she thought that Kazuya was a nice friend.

"Ah~ I'm famished!"

Nanako came from out of nowhere, running toward them.

"Did you catch butterflies?" Himari looked at her friend then to Ryota who followed from behind. She gave Nanako a wet wipe.

"He's the one who wanted to catch them," Nanako scoffed at Ryota, "They are so pretty! How could we imprison them? I just dragged him around the garden."

"Just say it that you dragged me to get inspiration for your design," Ryota chided her back.

They finished the remaining food before getting ready to leave.

"We have to take another group photo before leaving!" exclaimed Nanako.

After clearing up the spot with their belongings and separating the trash, Nanako asked a visitor to help to take their photo. The young man easily agreed.

They had taken photos when they were eating and playing earlier but the photos were not a proper group shot.

"Smile to the camera!"

All of them stood in the same frame. The sleepy Chiharu was carried by Kazuya. Although she was still sleepy, the little dumpling didn't forget to smile at the lens.

Nanako stood beside Ryota with one arm hooking around him. Yuuya stood obediently in front of the couple.

Himari took the place beside Nanako. Kazuya was next to her with Chiharu in one arm. Izumi bashfully smiled at the camera as he stood next to his uncle. Chobi was carried by him.

"Smile~"

Kacha.

"Thank you!"

Nanako got her phone back and thanking the young man. The man waved at them and went back to his friends. Turning around, she yelled.

"Ah! Himari! Mr. Hayashi! Don't move! Izumi too!"

Himari blinked, "Why?"

"Hehe," Nanako smiled in mischief, "That's a group photo. We have to take separate photos next. I'll take your photos with Mr. Hayashi and the kids then help me to take one for me with Ryota and Yuuya."

"Ah, but..."

"No buts! All of you wear the same color, it's a waste to not have a group photo of yours!" Nanako cut her friend off before Himari could finish her sentence.

Himari glanced at Kazuya. The man smiled.

"Let's take one," He agreed.

Then, with Nanako, Ryota and Yuuya out of the frame, Himari and the family of three huddled together for the photo.

She smiled softly to the lens. Kazuya, Chiharu and Izumi did the same. The little dumpling waved her small hand toward Nanako.

With the sun passed through the clouds, the soft light gleamed on them.

Kacha.

"Yes! The photo's great!" Nanako gave them a thumbs-up.

Their serene and joyful expressions were clearly captured in the photo. With the blooming cherry blossoms as the background, it was undeniably a good photo.

Next, Himari helped to take Nanako, Ryota and Izumi's group shot.

"I'll send all the photos including the ones when we were eating to you," Nanako said to Himari, "Then, you can forward them to Mr. Hayashi. Ah, you guys can upload the photos to your LINE if you wanted. Can I do the same?"

If it was only Himari, Nanako wouldn't ask for permission because they often uploaded their photos together but, because the Hayashi family was here, Nanako asked first.

"There's no problem with us," Kazuya agreed, "Thank you for the photos too."

"No biggie," Nanako waved her hand. She proceeded to send all the photos to Himari's account.

A series of notifications rang from Himari's phone. She didn't look at them as she knew they were the photos sent by Nanako.

"I'll forward them to you later," She looked at the man beside her.

Kazuya nodded with a smile, "Okay. I'll send you the ones we took on the boat too."

"Okay!"

Himari didn't know that, once Nanako uploaded the photos to her Timeline with a happy caption of celebrating spring, they caused a stir among their high school classmates.

A few comments began to appear under the post before they gossiped inside the group chat.

[@Nanako That's... Himari, right?]

[Who's that man beside her? The one carrying a child?]

[Wait, is she married already? Is that her daughter?]

[Nonsense! The girl looks to be around five to six! And that boy should be around ten! Didn't she get dump by Jun three years ago?]

[Don't tell me... She married a widower of some sort and raised someone else's children?]

[Watch your mouth! Don't talk bad about other people!]

[Aye, but I have to admit that man looks better than Jun]

[Maybe because he carries a fatherly vibe to the children? Ladies love mature and affectionate family men]

[Hey! Do you want to say that Jun is not a family man type?]

It was already late when Nanako noticed them. By the time she opened the group chat, there were tens of unread messages in the span of 10 minutes. She had just wanted to say goodbye to Himari and co when she read them.

She immediately burst into fury.

[Nanako: Screw all of you! Don't mind what other people are doing! Get lost!]

"Urgh! They only know to talk bad!"

Nanako's infuriated voice caught Himari's attention.

"What's wrong?" Himari pulled the zipper of the carrier bag. Chobi patted the transparent surface with his paw.

Chiharu had already woken up. She crouched in front of the carrier and began to talk with Chobi.

Nanako glanced at Himari then to Kazuya next. She looked a bit guilty but she still reported the situation.

"You know that I uploaded our photos but those dimwits asked whether you..." Nanako sighed, "They asked if you and Mr. Hayashi are married..."

Himari and Kazuya were both stunned. They looked at one another.

Nanako gave her phone to Himari. Kazuya stood closer and leaned forward to read what Himari was reading.

They looked at the post uploaded by Nanako. The post was full of the photos taken today. The highlight was the group photo of all of them and the photo of just Himari, Kazuya and the two children.

They appeared so happy with smiles on their faces.

Well... They really looked like a family here, especially with their matching clothes.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Hayashi! I've dragged you and Himari to a mess! I'll delete the post and upload a new one!" Nanako repeatedly bowed her head in apology.

"Ah, it's nothing," Kazuya waved his hand, "They are the ones who misunderstood. If you delete the photos, it would be more suspicious."

"Then..."

"Just ignore them," replied Kazuya. Then, he suddenly thought of something. He looked at Himari, "It'd inconvenient you when you go to the reunion, isn't it? If that's so, Misa Hagihara can clarify it."

Himari was in a daze. A thought crossed her mind.

What if... She just let the assumptions be? It would help her to deter Jun if the possibility arose.

But...

Wouldn't it mean she was using Kazuya?

"What about you? Won't it inconvenient you as well?"

Kazuya heard the faint caution in her voice. His mind recalled the bits of her conversation with Nanako earlier.

His gaze carried an imperceptible look in it.

"I don't mind," One corner of his lips raised up as he stared at her, "If you think you need a shield against that kind of people, feel free to let their imagination wander without saying anything."

Himari blinked.

Kazuya laughed seeing her dazed look. He turned to Nanako, "Ignore them. None of us owe them any explanation."

"Ah... Okay..."

Nanako was dumbstruck. She didn't expect it would end up this way.

"Alright, then. I'd just ignore them," Nanako shook her head in helplessness, "Well, Himari, don't think about them. You should just eat and drink at the reunion. Leave the rest to me!"

"Hehe, thank you, Nanako," Himari's mood brightened up.

Yesterday, he was too rigid when he declined Chiharu's request to play the game but, now, he showed that he didn't mind that people mistook their relationship.

What made him changed in just a day?

Nevertheless, Himari was grateful as there was a tiny bit of selfishness sprouted in her heart.