Even Though I Loved You First

“…” (Kei)

“…” (Arisa)

After everything that happened, they took a detour to a nearby park and settled down on one of the benches. The two of them were holding hands, with their fingers interlocked, as Arisa leaned her head on Kei’s shoulder with a happy expression on her face.

Sometime later, something came to Arisa’s mind, she opened her previously closed eyes and asked Kei, with an awkward expression.

“B-by the way…How do we tell your sisters…? You know… about us…” (Arisa)

“Hm? Didn’t they already know that we were going on a date today?” Kei tilted his head.

“Huh?” (Arisa)

“Eh?” (Kei)

The two of them were confused, dropping silent, Kei asked something to his now-girlfriend.

“Weren’t you… the one who told them…?” (Kei)

“No no,” She shook her head, “It’s embarrassing to tell them that I’ll be going on a date with their younger brother, you know? It’ll be even more embarrassing to tell them we’re dating now…” Arisa reasoned.

“Wait… Karane told me you were the one that told them…” (Kei)

“As far as I’m concerned, the only ones I actually spoke about it with, are Sachi, Riku and Hiyori…” (Arisa)

After all… Kokoro has quite the loose tongue…

“…” Kei dropped dead silent, he stopped to think for a second. His sisters had a wide network of information, however, the matter of his confession to Arisa was only known inside his circle of friends (the usual group of five).

Karane and Kotone couldn’t really have a reason to reach out to Shizuka, Kei’s childhood friend. Even if they reached out to her, Kei asked his friends beforehand to keep it a secret from everyone.

So that only left…

That guy really did snitch!

Seichiiro Amagi, a friend of his sisters and the person he asked for advice a few days ago.

“Sigh… looks like someone we know snitched… hint: married.” (Kei)

“Ah…” Arisa already knew who Kei was talking about.

“Anyhow… Telling them shouldn’t be too difficult…” (Kei)

“Oh! I have an idea!” Arisa leaned closer to Kei, eyes visibly sparkling.

“Why don’t we just throw them a paper plane and have a little drawing of the two of us that reads ‘Hey! We’re dating now!’” (Arisa)

“Ain’t that way too complicated?!” Kei retorted.

“It’s fun though~ It’s also kind of creative, y’know?” Arisa puffed her chest with a smug expression.

Kei chuckled at his girlfriend’s childish behavior.

“Any other ideas, Ms. Arisa?” (Kei)

“Hm~ Let me see…” Arisa brought her hand to her chin, and went deep in thought for a second. At the same time, Kei took out his phone and familiarly operated it.

“Oh! Let’s sneak two plushies with a note that says, ‘We’re dating now!’” (Arisa)

“That’s the same as the last one, isn’t it?” Kei said, still looking at his phone.

“I mean… sure, it’s almost the same. But this one is a cuter way of telling them!” Arisa’s eyes kept sparkling, as she brainstormed new ideas. Kei’s sisters knew that it was guaranteed that once Kei came back home, he would be dating Arisa. Such a thing was a given.

Not to mention, they didn’t really have the time to execute any of these plans, Kei knew that Arisa was mostly aware. Still, they used it as an excuse to spend a little more time together before parting ways. Now that these two were finally going out, they didn’t feel like leaving each other yet.

Sadly, their curfews were approaching.

As Arisa excitedly explain many of her plans, Kei asked for her attention and,

“Alright, this should be good enough.” (Kei)

“Eh?” (Arisa)

“Look,” Kei showed his screen to Arisa, giving a quick read, Arisa froze. On screen, Kei’s chat, involving his sister Kotone, was displayed on screen.

Kei: And so, Arisa and I are dating.

Kotone: Congrats, you two! I feel happy for you! Our Kei has grown… Big sis feels like she’s gonna cry…

Kei felt a little embarrassed to show Arisa how Kotone tended to baby him. However, he still showed her that they now knew.

“Y-you…” She muttered, Kei could clearly see how her face grew redder by the second.

“How embarrassing…” Arisa meekly said, as she buried her red face on Kei’s chest while she wrapped her arms around him. Kei chuckled as he patted Arisa.

“I mean, isn’t it fine to tell them straight away? The sooner they know, the sooner you will get used to it.” (Kei)

“You have a point there… sigh… There’s no helping it.” She separated from Kei and properly sat. Kei chuckled.

“Though, you know. I never expected you to act so… needy…” He wondered.

“Let me tell you this, Kei. Ever since I realized I was in love with you I’ve been holding back on many things.” Arisa answered immediately with a straight face.

“Oh? Is that so?” (Kei)

“Unn. And now that I’m your girlfriend,” Arisa leaned closer, and whispered, “I’m not holding back.” (Arisa)

“!” As Arisa retreated, Kei covered his ear with one of his hands, his face clearly flushed.

“Don’t worry~ I’ll leave it at minimum when we’re in public. I don’t want to end up like a certain couple, y’know?” Arisa finished, with a devilish smile, “At least… not yet…” (Arisa)

“I-I see…” (Kei)

Arisa took out her phone and looked at the time. It was almost nine o’clock.

“It’s almost nine… I should get home now…” (Arisa)

“I see… So it’s time to part ways, huh?” Kei said. Of course, Arisa noticed the sad connotation in his voice, so she came up with an idea.

“Oh~ What should I do~” She said, fakely worried.

“Arisa?” (Kei)

“It’s already this late~ Not to mention… it should also be dangerous for a girl to walk alone at night…” She helplessly side-eyed her boyfriend.

“If only I had a handsome boyfriend that’ll escort me home to get safe and sound…” She once again glanced at Kei.

The latter seemed to pick up on what Arisa wanted, he chuckled and stood up. He then proceeded to extend his hand to Arisa.

“Then. Shall I walk you home?” He softly smiled.

“Seems like I’ll have to take you up on your offer.” (Arisa)

She stood up and grasped Kei’s hand, interlocking her fingers with his. The two of them proceeded to walk down the shimmering moon closer than ever before.

In about ten minutes, they reached Arisa’s house and then parted ways. Of course, after locking lips for the second time, that is.

⧫

After taking a bath and changing clothes, Arisa laid down on her bed and stared at the ceiling for a while. Her mind was trying to process everything. She was trying to make sure that it wasn’t a dream.

I… have a boyfriend…She thought.

Arisa immediately felt her face heat up and squirmed around her bed, embarrassed.

“Just thinking about it makes me so happy…” She muttered to no one in particular.

She felt a grand amount of joy along with thoughts that maybe it was a dream after all. “No, it can’t be a dream… That kiss… feels real…” Arisa touched her lips and recalled the soft sensation along with the sweet taste of her first kiss.

Once again, she squirmed around before coming to a stop and thinking to herself.

I can’t wait to wake up tomorrow… I can’t wait… to go to school on Monday…

She eventually relaxed and before long, she fell asleep with a smile on her face. She was extremely happy to have Kei by her side. She was extremely happy… to know that Kei belonged to her.

Of course, ‘belonged’ felt wrong to Arisa, but she couldn’t help it… after all. Kei Ichinose, the guy who was able to open her heart, had a special place for her inside his.