11 All of These Cookies were Hers!

After her date with Nanako the other day, Himari grew busier. Aside from the usual day-to-day class, preparing the lesson plans and checking the progress of her students, she had started working on organizing the field trip with Teacher Masuda.

"We have gone to Hiraya Falls last two years. The place is scenic and the camping ground offers a wide range of equipment," Yuina showed Himari the file of the said field trip, "What do you think if we include this place in our options?"

Himari scanned the content of the file and nodded in agreement, "The students could build the tents and stay with their parents or guardians. As for the activities, we can refer to the other past ones."

They had conducted a survey from the students in third grade. Instead of touring a museum or going to the aquarium or the zoo, they wanted to go camping.

After weighing down the pros and cons, Himari and Yuina proposed a one-night and two-day camping trip to the headteacher. The headteacher that was blazing with fiery spirit quickly agreed.

The field trip would be held before the summer break. They had to start booking the camping ground and organizing the other necessary things such as transportation and activities as well.

"The budget for the trip has been finalized," Yuina showed a figure to Himari, "We don't have to worry about anything because it seems like most parents are happy to let their children enjoy nature more rather than coping in the classroom. As long as we need it, they would fulfill it."

Himari laughed awkwardly.

"What's so funny?" Yuina was confused yet she chuckled as well.

"Oh, hehe, I know this school is rich but, I don't expect the parents are so supportive of their children's activities," Himari scratched her cheek.

"It's better than they only know to stress on their children's education," Yuina smiled while agreeing.

Even though there were cases of parents got dissatisfied because cultural and sports activities would hinder their children's academic progress, the number was still small. The school principal knew to lure the parents with his eloquent words.

"That's it for now. We'll discuss it again in two days," Yuina gathered the file into one stack. She was getting ready to leave. The sun would set soon.

"Okay. Have a nice weekend, Teacher Masuda," Himari waved at the female teacher, "Be careful on your way home."

"You too," Yuina waved back, "Bye-bye."

After a busy week, it was finally the turn of the weekend again. Himari contemplated making something delicious tomorrow. As she was walking under the eaves of the main administration building, the corner of her eyes caught two figures of students.

"It's them again," She muttered.

Because Himari had been going home when the sun started to set as of late, she had frequently seen the pair of siblings who waited for their guardian to come to pick them up. According to the guards, it was their uncle, not their parents who usually came. At certain times, it was another man who was related to their uncle.

Although the siblings didn't go home late every day, it was still alarming to see them.

What surprised Himari was one of the siblings was her own student.

"Izumi," Himari softly called out to him.

The boy who wore the elementary school uniform turned his head. He froze for a second before he reacted, "Teacher Kato, hello."

Beside Izumi, a little girl with twin ponytails was looking at Himari with a pair of clear and round eyes.

She looked like a little dumpling, so cute and soft.

"Are you still waiting for your guardian to come?" Himari glanced at the watch around her wrist. It was already so late.

"En," Izumi answered after a moment of hesitation. Then, he added, "My uncle is a bit late today. He has work to do."

Himari didn't ask anything about his parents. From what she knew from the student's record, this little boy's father wasn't in the country while his mother had already passed away.

While Izumi was in the third grade of elementary, his sister was in the kindergarten section of the school.

"Is this your little sister?" Himari smiled at the little girl.

Izumi glanced at his sister, "Say hello."

The little dumpling broke into a grin, "Teacher Kato, hello, my name is Chiharu."

Himari had an urge to pat her head when she saw how cute and well-behaved this little girl was.

"Teacher, you don't have to worry about us. Our uncle is already on his way here," said Izumi guiltily as he thought he was hindering his teacher, "The uncle guard would watch over us."

"Then, wait for your uncle inside the gate, en?" Even though the school security was tight, Himari couldn't help but give him another reminder.

"Will do," answered Izumi seriously.

Himari patted inside her bag. She brought out a tin cookie jar with individual packets inside. She gave the siblings a packet of cookies each.

"Please have them. I made them last night," Himari smiled.

It was one of her habits. She had to keep a portion of her cookies inside the bag she brought to work. Another jar was stored inside the drawer of her working desk. Himari often divided them into three or four for each small paper packet.

"Ah..."

Izumi looked reluctant but his sister thought otherwise.

"Cookies! Thank you, Teacher Kato," Chiharu exclaimed in excitement.

Her antics made Himari laughed, "Alright. Bye-bye, see you on Monday."

"Bye-bye, Teacher," Izumi smiled bashfully.

"Hehe, bye-bye, Teacher Kato," Chiharu energetically waved her little hands to Himari.

Himari gave them one last look before she walked out of the school gate. The guard who saw their interaction reassured her that the siblings would be watched over carefully.

As Himari walked on the roadside, a dark gray car passed by her. Soon, it stopped in front of the school gate.

"Mr. Hayashi, good evening," The guard was familiar with the man coming out of the car.

"I'm sorry for troubling you again," The man smiled apologetically.

"Nah, it's my responsibility. Ah, your nephew and niece are here."

Once the words fell, Izumi and Chiharu had already run toward him.

"Uncle!" Chiharu pounced on the man.

"Be careful!" The man quickly caught the little dumpling, "Aye, do you want to scare your uncle?"

Chiharu laughed in glee. The man looked at Izumi, "Get inside the car."

"En," Izumi nodded.

The man put Chiharu in the child's seat while Izumi obediently wore the seatbelt by himself next to his sister.

While the man sat back on the driver's seat, his phone started ringing. He frowned when he saw the caller ID.

"Hello, Mother," His tone sounded distant and cold, unlike how soft he spoke to his nephew and niece.

"Kazuya, bring Izumi and Chiharu to my house," The woman who he called Mother demanded, "Since I'm back in the country, I think I should meet them."

Kazuya glanced at the backseat. Both of the children were eyeing him with curiosity.

"Not convenient. Izumi has a school activity tomorrow while Chiharu wants me to bring her to work," Under one breath, he gave her excuses.

"Bring them here," His mother stressed on the point, "Can't a grandmother see her grandchildren?"

"Not convenient, bye," Kazuya repeated and hung up the phone.

"Was that Grandmother?" Izumi asked cautiously.

Kazuya looked at him. He shrugged, "Don't mind about her. You really have an activity tomorrow, right?"

Izumi nodded, "The PE teacher wants to select a team for a friendly basketball match. I want to join them."

"Big Brother, could Chiharu follow you?" Chiharu looked at her elder brother with twinkling eyes, "Uncle would be busy again tomorrow. I don't want to stay at home."

"Chiharu, Aunt Mayu would accompany you tomorrow," Kazuya sighed softly.

"Don't wanna," Chiharu pouted, "Please, Uncle, Chiharu wants to follow Big Brother."

She wanted to see her new little friend at school tomorrow. Usually, he would appear in the morning.

Kazuya stretched out a hand to pat the little girl's head, "We'll talk about it again. Eh? What does Uncle see? You have cookies?"

He quickly used her favorite thing in the world to shift her attention.

Kazuya's attempt was a success as Chiharu started looking at the packet of cookies in her hands. She laughed, "Teacher Kato gave them to Chiharu and Big Brother. Ah, Chiharu wants to eat them now!"

Before Kazuya and Izumi could stop her, Chiharu had already opened the packet and tossed a cookie inside her mouth. Her chubby cheeks bulged like a hamster. Her eyes lit up.

"Delicious! Uncle, try it. Aaa~"

Kazuya had no choice but to comply. He leaned forward and let his niece put a cookie inside his mouth.

"It's delicious, right?" Chiharu clasped her hands.

Kazuya laughed, "Yes, it's delicious."

Chiharu was elated.

Because she had shared it with her uncle, all of these cookies were hers!

Kazuya turned around to face the steering wheel. He glanced at the two children in the backseat. While Chiharu was happily munching on the cookies, Izumi was looking outside of the window.

"What are you looking at, Izumi?" Kazuya slowly reversed the car.

"Teacher Kato," Izumi answered absent-mindedly, "She's walking home."

"The one who gave you cookies?" Kazuya's eyes fell on the side mirror.

At the far end of the intersection leading to the main road, a figure of a woman was walking to one corner. Because of the large distance between the car and her, Kazuya couldn't see her face properly.

The only thing he could see was the moment she turned to another way, the golden sunlight of the sunset fell on her.