Even Though I Loved You First

December 25th

Leaning against a pillar outside a train station, there was a boy with blue eyes and brown hair, he was wearing a brown long-sleeved turtle neck and some jeans, a recommendation from one of his best friends. Judging by the boy’s situation, it looked like he was waiting for someone.

Riku Ryouzaki, currently a first-year, was about to meet up with a girl on a holiday for the first time in his life. Naturally, he felt nervous, he didn’t have any female acquaintances and even if he had he never reached the point of going out with one of them, at least not until today.

“D-did I make you wait long, Riku?” (Sachi)

“Hm? Oh, Sachi. No, not at all, don’t worry about it.” (Riku)

After a while, a girl with long black hair, eyes of the same color, a figure that all kinds of highschool girls will considered ideal (even though it was mostly covered by her dress and coat), complemented by her graceful stance and manners in general, Riku’s best friend and today’s date Sachi Sadataka appeared before him with a flushed expression on her tiny face.

“Anyways, what have you been up to? Any fun stuff happening over at your house? Or just the usual?” (Riku)

As of now, after meeting up, Riku and Sachi found themselves walking together side by side as they headed towards their first destination of today’s Christmas date.

“It may be due to the ‘festive spirit’, but my family seems even more cheerful than I’m used to. Even my little sisters are getting riled up most of the time.” (Sachi)

“Looks like you have it tough, huh? In my case, my family still acts like normal, well… they still get excited but they don’t go overboard, you know? My older brother is mostly the one that needs a leash.” (Riku)

“Don’t treat your brother like a dog…” (Sachi)

“Pffftt, he acts like one. What can I do?” (Riku)

Both of them laughed at each other and continued chit-chatting as they reached the cafe where they would eat breakfast.

“By the way, I haven’t said anything until now, but… Your clothes look good on you. You’re really pretty, you know?” (Riku)

“…huh?” (Sachi)

Sachi’s face turned scarlet as a result of Riku’s sudden strike. When it came to Riku, Sachi knew he wasn’t the kind of person to go on the offensive in most situations. Because he knew he wasn’t as outgoing as their best buddy, Kei Ichinose, who could get along with practically everyone. The explanation to Riku being aggressive dates back to a few days ago.

⧫

“Aren’t you exaggerating a bit?” (Hayato)

“Can’t you understand?! It’s my first date, you a**shole!” (Riku)

A really odd duo consisting of a blue-eyed-brown-haired boy Riku Ryouzaki and a green-eyed-brown-haired boy Hayato Hayasaka, where eating some fast food on the shopping mall’s food court after buying some clothes per Riku’s request.

“Just tell me! You have a girlfriend, so you know about this kind of thing!” (Riku)

Shizuka Sakurajima, was not only the name of Hayato’s current girlfriend, but also his friend Kei Ichinose’s unrequited love. Due to this, it was awkward at first. However, as of now, due to Kei’s character, the two of them grew close to the extent of privately helping in their respective affairs.

“Alright alright.” (Hayato)

Due to Riku’s insistence, Hayato had no choice but to give in.

⧫

Back to the present, some minutes have passed and Sachi was finally able to compose herself. Just when she gathered enough courage, she decided to counterattack.

“T-thank you, you look really good as well, Riku.” (Sachi)

At Sachi’s praise, Riku—

“That so? Thanks.” 

—Replied back with a nonchalant smile. From an outsider’s perspective, it seemed as if Riku was completely calm, however that couldn’t be so far from the truth.

Calm down. Calm down. Calm down. You initiated it! So it was normal for Sachi to give back the praise, don’t get too worked up or you might regret it.

“Number one. Praise her appearance, taking into consideration everything you told me about her, if she accepted the date, then she would at least make an effort be it on her make up or her clothes.” Said comment was one of Hayato’s pieces of advice.

“The place really looks lively, huh?” (Riku)

“Fufu, is Christmas after all~” (Sachi)

“Ah! The food’s here!” While glancing to all sorts of sides, Riku couldn’t help but notice the amount of couples that were seated in their places while enjoying both their meals and company together. To that, Riku thought.

I wonder if we also looked like a couple to the outsider’s eye.

⧫

Once they finished their meal, both of them left the cafe after chatting for a little more and decided to look around for a while.

“What do you usually do when you’re alone?” (Sachi)

“I usually like to draw. However, I also like to read. It bothered me for a bit on how I should divide my time for both… but, I found a way to do both at the same time!” (Riku)

He couldn’t help but give a proud smile. Noticing Riku’s childish gesture, Sachi couldn’t help but find that part of him adorable.

“What about you, Sachi?” (Riku)

“Me? Let me see.” (Sachi)

As she said that, Sachi grew deep in thought. After a few minutes of silence.

“In my case, probably reading historical novels. There’s just something that I find quite charming in those kinds of ancient stories, you know?” (Sachi)

“That sounds just like you. It suits you. Oh! Look at that over there!” (Riku)

Following Riku’s line of sight, what Sachi saw was a large painting being displayed in the outside of a store. The picture featured a couple sharing an umbrella on a wet autumn night; the lighting accentuated the orange leaves on the trees, and the puddles accumulating on the surface of the concrete reflected the lights, creating a lovely and romantic scenery.

“To be honest, at first I didn’t believe you were the art type of guy…” (Sachi)

“Why do I feel like I’m being made fun of?” (Riku)

“Don’t sulk. Here, let’s go check it out.” (Sachi)

“Uhm… S-Sachi your hand…” (Riku)

“Do you not like it?” (Sachi)

Sachi’s face lit up with a lovely, kind, and motherly smile. For the first time on their date, Riku felt a little shy because of her smile. The source of his shyness? In short, Sachi was grasping his hand and squeezing it strongly.

“It’s not that I don’t like it, it just took me by surprise, that’s all.” (Riku)

“I see, I’m glad then.” (Sachi)

They started walking towards the store Riku had previously indicated. However, the only thought that popped into his head was: “Isn’t Sachi acting differently than usual?” What Sachi said next, on the other hand, made him feel both humiliated and thrilled.

“It’s warm…” (Sachi)

Riku, contrary to Sachi’s belief, heard the mumble. As previously said, Riku felt a warmth spread over his chest once those words reached his ears.