Even Though I Loved You First

~December 27th

“…and that’s basically it…” (Arisa)

Precisely four days after her date with Kei, Arisa found herself in a coffee shop, asking for some advice from one of her best friends, Kokoro Shiina.

“I see…” (Kokoro)

As the young lady sipped her warm cup of coffee, she faced her friend and said.

“Took you long enough, idiot.” (Kokoro)

“Wha-!? Kokoro!?” (Arisa)

Long and glossy white hair, along with a pair of beautiful golden eyes, Arisa’s best friend Kokoro Shiina nonchalantly retorted at Arisa’s confession.

“What are you so surprised about?” (Kokoro)

Confused at Arisa’s reaction, Kokoro couldn’t help but tilt her head in wonder.

“First. Why do you look so calm? Second. Don’t call me an idiot so suddenly!” (Arisa)

Arisa didn’t get it. She thought that surely telling her that she fell in love with the younger brother of two of their best friends, will slightly shake her.

“To answer your first question. It’s simple. I already knew it. Rather I think you are the only one who wasn’t aware.” (Kokoro)

“What!?” (Arisa)

Kokoro carefully explained to the shocked Arisa the way things went down.

From Arisa’s side, the trigger was the day that she got caught up in the rain on the way to the Ichinose household, the same day she got picked up by Kei.

From the other side, it started a bit after that when they saw how well Arisa and Kei were getting along, reaching the point where they naturally bantered.

Not long after that, they started to see changes in Arisa as a whole. Not only was her persona slowly crumbling, but she seemed to unconsciously gather interest in Kei as a person.

Of course, the former never realized her feelings until some days ago.

“That ‘s embarrassing… huh? Wait… K-Kokoro…” (Arisa)

“Hm? Yes?” (Kokoro)

 “You said ‘the only one that wasn’t aware’. Does that mean…” (Arisa)

She asked, a bit scared, to which Kokoro softly smiled and said.

“Don’t worry, Karane and Kotone know! Same with Hiyori and Sei!” (Kokoro)

“That ain’t the problem!” (Arisa)

Arisa slumped on the table, as she covered her face with her arms, then shyly said.

“What do Karane and Kotone even think about it? You know… about me liking their younger brother…” (Arisa)

“Hm? They are fine with it. Rather, if it wasn’t for the fact that the ‘Kei’ from before only saw his childhood friend, they would’ve acted as wing women. Heck, they could be the entire air force!” (Kokoro)

“I see…” (Arisa)

They accept it, huh? Hehe~ Sounds good!

As Arisa entered a world of her own, Kokoro spoke again.

“Still… Kei, huh?” (Kokoro)

“Kokoro?” (Arisa)

Hearing Kokoro mutter Kei’s name, she couldn’t help but reflexively turn to her.

“It’s just that. It reminds me of how much of a natural lady-killer that guy is.” (Kokoro)

She expressed, as she sipped the remaining coffee.

“I can get what you me—” (Arisa)

“However, recently he started to pick up the heat around girls, you know?” (Kokoro)

“—huh?” (Arisa)

“Objectively speaking, he’s good looking. On top of that, he is the best ranked among the first years, boosted by the fact that he’s the younger brother of two beauties such as Karane & Kotone.” (Kokoro)

In the first semester of the school year, Kei Ichinose was the person standing above every other first-year academically, as well as both of his sisters, Karane and Kotone Ichinose, albeit in their respective years.

His looks further raised his reputation, to the point where he even received a few confessions from upper-classmen

“I see…” (Arisa)

“So? What are you going to do? Give up?” (Kokoro)

“Like hell, I would. I’m the closest to Kei right now… so… as long as I don’t lose this place… I’m good…” (Arisa)

She said, as she shyly answered.

“So even Arisa can be cute, huh?” (Kokoro)

“What does that mean!?” (Arisa)

The only thing Arisa wouldn’t accept was to give up on Kei. This made her realize just how genuine her love was for him.

It probably had to do with a piece of advice she heard from her older sister.

‘Don’t mix up ‘Like’ and ‘Love’. They are two different things.’

According to her, someone could say he or she was in love with someone, however, when the time called, said emotions were either fake or weak enough.

She knew that she loved Kei, and that wouldn’t change. She didn’t like him just for his appearance; rather, because of who he was.

The shy Kei.

The devilish Kei.

The insensitive Kei.

Such sides caught her attention, and before she knew it, she fell in love with them.

Even if Kei was a run-of-the-mill student, as long as Kei’s personality was still intact, she would’ve likely still fallen in love with him.

This was what the entity known as ‘Kei Ichinose’ truly was.

An irreplaceable existence.