Even Though I Loved You First

Valentine’s Day

2nd Year’s Floor

“Mornin’” As he combed his black hair with his fingers, his obsidian-colored eyes closed slightly. Seichiiro Amagi sleepily greeted his classmates.

As he settled down on his seat, two figures approached him and greeted him.

“Mornin’”

“Good morning, Seichiiro.”

“Morning you two. Is Kokoro not here yet?” Two beautiful girls with hourglass figures and long violet hair, greeted Seichiiro casually. Karane and Kotone Ichinose, greeted their classmate and middle school friend.

“No, she hasn’t arrived. Speaking of which, you don’t look nervous at all…” (Karane)

“Nervous?” Seichiiro tilted his head, something made him look around the classroom, what he saw were multiple guys on the edge of their seats. Most of them looked really stiff.

“It’s Valentine’s after all.” Kotone answered.

“Ah… Now that I think about it, it is February, isn’t it?” (Sei)

“Well, as tradition goes. Here.” The twins handed Seichiiro something. Karane handed him a plastic bag and Kotone handed him a well-wrapped transparent bag with a cupcake inside.

“Why don’t you learn from Kotone?” Seichiiro said to Karane, as he grabbed both bags.

“Cooking’s difficult…” She turned away.

“Seichiiro. There are things that are better left hidden.” Kotone blankly stared at him.

“I-I see…?” Seichiiro hesitated when he replied.

Though I would’ve appreciated it if you could’ve given them to me outside the classroom… Seichiiro thought as he endured the piercing stares from most of the boys from his class.

“…morning…” An almost emotionless and tired voice pulled Seichiiro back from his trance.

“Mornin’ sleepy head.” (Karane)

“Good morning, Hiyori.” (Kotone)

“Morning, Tsugumi.” (Sei)

As she pushed aside her silver hair, hse took something from her bag and handed it to Seichiiro.

“Chocolates… are expensive… So have something bitter instead…” She handed him a canned coffee.

“Aren’t canned coffees like $1.50?” (Kotone)

“Unn.” (Hiyori)

“Aren’t the smallest chocolates only about $2.25?” (Karane)

“Chocolates… are expensive…” Hiyori repeated.

“Thanks, Tsugumi. Something bitter really comes nice with sweets.”

Seichiiro already knew why Hiyori couldn’t spare too much, he also knew that she never had the intention to come empty handed. So as a friend, he only nodded and thanked her.

Must be for her medication.

Then, the classroom door opened again. This time, the one who entered was another one of his friends. Arisa Kamihate.

“Good morning, you four.” Following her greeting, everyone greeted her, and she also greeted a few classmates as well. Not long after, Hiyori took advantage and settled on her desk to sleep away until homeroom started.

“Ah, Seichiiro.” Arisa called out, “I came here with Kokoro today, she had something else to do so she’s gonna take a while.” (Arisa)

“Oh, I see. Thanks.” (Sei)

“You look empty handed.” (Karane)

Karane, who was leaning against the window, said.

“Huh? Of course I’m empty handed… Wait… don’t tell me I should’ve brought a poster for homework?!” Arisa started to panic.

“It’s Valentine’s you idiot.” She facepalmed.

“Oh, that. It was a hassle to buy some black chocolate. Plus it was expensive, no thanks.” She visibly narrowed her eyes.

“The old Arisa is blooming again…” At Kotone’s comment, Arisa only shrugged her shoulders, making Kotone giggled.

Not too long after, Seichiiro’s lovely girlfriend finally entered the classroom and after long, the day started.

⧫

Student Council

“Being called in during lunch break… Only to attend a matter that we could’ve done after school… Not to mention, Prez didn’t even come himself!” A displeased voice rang inside the student council room.

“Now, now, Segawa. Let’s just think about this as President Tenjou’s deep trust in us…” A soft and feminine voice replied.

On one hand, the student council treasurer Kotone Ichinose worked on her computer while simultaneously trying to calm down her company.

On the other hand, a first year with neat black hair, angrily complained as his jet-black eyes gave him a look of pure hatred. Still, the boy wasn’t mad. Because at least, he could spend one on one time with his senior, Kotone.

“Sorry to show something like this, Kotone. It’s just that sometimes Prez makes my blood boil…” He said, as he poured down coffee on one cup and tea on the other.

He carefully placed the coffee in front of her and sat down opposite from her. “Anyhow, aren’t we growing busier lately?” He said.

The boy’s name was Ichirou Segawa, he was a first year in Kei’s class, he was also the intermediator of the student council. In other words, his job consisted of mediating talkies between different parties when needed.

“It ‘s okay. It’s an honor to see another side of Segawa.” She smiled. Ichirou on the other hand, blushed.

“I-I see.” (Ichirou)

“Oh, right! It’s a good chance now, isn’t it?” Kotone clapped her hands together and said in an excited voice. She got up and headed to where her bag was, she rummaged through it for a while and carefully took a neatly wrapped bag of sweets.

“Segawa. Here.” Kotone extended the bag to Ichirou, the latter looking confused.

“Huh? Eh?” (Ichirou)

“I made cookies for you, too! Here!” She once again, excitedly said. Ichirou nervously took the bag from her hands, he couldn’t help but feel happy. Happy by the fact that a beautiful girl like Kotone took the time to make something for him.

“May… I try some?” (Ichirou)

“Sure.” She smiled.

He carefully opened the bag, untying the lace around the top and took a cookie from the batch. It tasted… sweet to say the least. It felt like the type of sweet to go well with a cup of tea, it felt like something Ichirou Segawa himself would buy for his tea time.

“It’s… delicious…” He mutters, feeling a certain warmth spread across his chest.

“I’m glad.” Kotone smiled. A smile that vanished all his concerns, in an instant.

⧫

Out of Sight Staircase

“K-Kokoro…?” Currently, Seichiiro felt troubled. He felt… confused. Why? Well…

It’s because his girlfriend Kokoro Shiina was currently pinning him against a wall, in complete silence.

“Is some– nhn?!” Before he could finish his sentence, his lips were taken by no other than Kokoro. The kiss wasn’t just any light peck. Rather, it felt like the one they swore to never do outdoors.

As the kiss continued, he felt something entering his mouth.

It ‘s… sweet… A minute passed and Kokoro finally parted her lips from Seichiiro. He felt relieved, not only was he running out of air but he also felt like his legs were about to give in.

“Here.” She shyly looked away and in a slightly monotonous voice, pushed a box onto his chest.

“H-hah…?” He said, a little confused.

“What? It’s Valentine’s… so… you know… I thought that as your girlfriend I should give you something.” She said as she refused to meet her boyfriend’s eyes.

Seeing this cute behavior from her, Seichiiro felt in the mood for a little teasing, “Even though we’ve been flirting around ever since we started dating. You still get embarrassed when handing me gifts, huh?” (Sei)

“!” Her face grew red and not holding it anymore, Kokoro just ran off through the hallway. Once he thought he was alone,

thump

He fell into the floor blushing harder than Kokoro even, then opening the box he received. He gazed at the macarons and softly smiled.

“Now that I think about it… We ate macarons the first time we actually talked one on one, didn’t we?” He said to no one in particular.

“Why don’t you two just have s*x already?”

“?!” Startled, Seichiiro looked around and then met eyes with an unexpected someone.

“A-Arisa…?” (Sei)

“Sup.” Arisa saluted.

“Since when were you…?” (Sei)

“‘K-Kokoro…? Is some…’, you know the rest.” She grinned.

“Since the start?!” Seichiiro felt even more embarrassed. Kokoro and Seichiiro were always over each other. But deep down, the two were still quite innocent.

⧫

Afternoon [Way From School]

“…and that’s how my older brother was forgotten on a trip.”

“Sounds rough…”

“Right~?”

Riku and Sachi were both walking home together after they aligned on their day off from club activities. This time around, Kei wasn’t present due to his prior appointment with Arisa.

But that didn’t bother them. They felt like Kei would be kind of sad if he were to know about this but… for them, the time they spent alone together was getting more valuable after their Christmas date.

“What about Sachi? Do you have any stories with your family too?” (Riku)

“Almost everything’s about my suffering.” She uninterestedly stared at the horizon.

“I see… My bad…?” (Riku)

“It ‘s okay. It’s okay. By the way, Riku.” (Sachi)

“Hm? Whatsup?” (Riku)

“You seem… to be more popular as of late.” Sachi pointed at Riku’s paper bag, which contained some sweets he received.

“To be fair… I never thought I’d get some…” Riku received four packs of chocolate. Naturally, three of them were from girl classmates and another one from Shizuka.

“You must feel happy…” Sachi said, a little disappointed.

“Hm? I wonder… I know I should be happy but, it doesn’t really tingle that much of a feeling.” (Riku)

Riku may seem like an irresponsible and carefree person at first, but most of it was just to cope with the insecurities caused by his parents and their constant comparison with his brother.

However, he was quite serious when it came to relationships, something that was thanks to Shizuka.

“I see. Do you… have space for one more?” Sachi shyly asked.

“Huh?” They already arrived at the spot where they usually parted ways. Sachi opened her bag and took a little bag cutely wrapped in a cyan transparent wrapping with an indigo blue lace tied on top.

“I made this for you, so… Try them out when you get home.” Sachi bowed and quickly ran away as if to hide her embarrassment. Riku tried to call out to her but to no avail.

“Wai— S-Sachi…?” He gazed down at the little bag in his hands and couldn’t help but celebrate.

Sweets from the girl I love… It feels awesome! Even if it was for just a little while, Riku felt like he could understand Kei’s deep interest in romance.

That night, when Riku brewed himself a cup of coffee, he could clearly feel the taste of happiness.