Even Though I Loved You First

I recall how attached you were to your sisters when you were small. You three have essentially always been this way.

I am nevertheless overcome with pride. I am happy that you have developed into a remarkable man and that I can call you my son with pride.

Even if you have your flaws, even if you weren’t the Kei you’re now. You’re mother and I, along with your sisters, will always think of you as our pride and joy.

~Touya Ichinose

➹

[Dad: If you aren’t busy after school, mind spending the afternoon with your old man?]

➹

“Huh?” (Kei)

I couldn’t help but let out a surprised voice as I saw the incoming message my father sent me.

“Something wrong?” (Hayato)

“Oh, uh. Nothing wrong, just that my father said he wanted to spend the afternoon with me.” (Kei)

“That sounds like Mr. Touya…” (Shizuka)

“Guess so. Sorry everyone, even though I promised…” (Kei)

I apologized to the other four people that were currently eating lunch with me.

“It’s okay, don’t mind it.” (Riku)

“We can always arrange another date for the five of us to go out after school.” (Sachi)

It was lunchtime, and our group which now included Hayato was seated on three desks that were rearranged for the five of us.

Nowadays, Shizuka and I rarely ate lunch together and when we did, we were usually with the others, we didn’t hold actual conversations between the two of us either. 

Just some slight chit-chat. In other words, we rarely spoke with each other nowadays.

“Sorry…” (Kei)

Erasing said thoughts, I apologized once again and continued eating my lunch, while deciding with my dad the meet-up spot.

➹

~Afterschool

As I walked toward the place where my father and I decided to meet. I couldn’t help but feel sorry once again, due to the fact I had to cancel my plans with the other. 

Of course, since I already had plans with them, it meant I had no plans with Arisa today. Which benefitted me a bit.

My father said ‘If you aren’t busy after school.’ Which naturally meant that if I had a prior appointment, it was okay if I denied his request. 

However, it wasn’t every day that I could spend an afternoon with him, granted he was usually busy.

Due to the nature of it, I ended up accepting his offer and headed to the coffee shop he proposed for us to meet up.

➹

~Inside the Meeting Spot

“Welcome! Table for one?”

A waitress greeted me as I entered the place.

“Actually, I’m meeting up with someone who should be here already.” (Kei)

I decided to scan the place as I said that and in one corner of the place, I saw my dad, gently waving at me.

“I assume that gentleman is over there, no?”

“Yes, precisely.” (Kei)

“He already ordered, so I will head to the table to take your order in it.”

‘Please, take your time.’ Where the words she saw me off with. Then, I headed to the table where he was sitting already.

“Right on cue, son.” (Touya)

“It’s rare for you to invite me out like this. Are you sure you don’t want to spend the afternoon with Mom?” (Kei)

I teasingly pointed that out to him as I took a seat at the other side of the table. Which resulted in me facing my father.

“Don’t worry, I’ll keep my promise to your mother and take her out next weekend.” (Touya)

He slightly chuckled as he said so.

My father Touya was not only a doting father, but he also was a loving husband.

According to Haru, whenever she was with the two of them, she usually felt as if she was third-wheeling them, due to how loving they seemed.

Even now, they are still regarded as the perfect married couple. Due to how young the two of them looked despite their age.

“How’s work holding up?” (Kei)

“Exhausting, but at the same time, it somehow feels fulfilling.” (Touya)

I don’t get it…

“What about you, Kei? How’s school going?” (Touya)

“Normal. I guess? To be honest there isn’t anything grand happening. However due to Valentines coming up, there’s already quite an atmosphere building up.” (Kei)

Today’s date marks February the fourth, meaning that in a little more than a week or so (more precisely ten days) the renowned chocolate exchange event will be taking place.

“I see. Anyone in mind?” (Touya)

…

Anyone in mind, huh?

“No.” (Kei)

“Heh~” (Touya)

“W-what?” (Kei)

“No, it’s nothing. You just reminded me a little bit of when I was young, that’s all.” (Touya)

“What’s with that? I don’t wanna hear it.” (Kei)

“Come on now…” (Touya)

A short while later, the waitress arrived and took my order. My father and I then carried on talking. I never felt the need to be courteous with my father; I could be casual and he wouldn’t care.

After a little more chit-chat together, we left the coffee shop together per my father’s request.

➹

“Where are we going?” (Kei)

“You’ll see in a bit.” (Touya)

“I… see…?” (Kei)

Not understanding what my father wanted to show me, I quietly sat in the passenger’s seat of our car as we headed to a location that was unknown to me.

➹

~Nearby Dock

6:28 P.M.

“Wow…” (Kei)

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” (Touya)

Remember how I said ‘location that was unknown to me’? Yeah, in the end, it was none other than a dock attached to the nearby beach.

However, there was something special about this place.

And that was the absence of any living beings. Only my father and I were looking out at the endless ocean at this time. That extended as far as the eye could see.

“How did you find this place?” (Kei)

Somehow, it reminded me of the place Arisa took me the first time we went out.

“This was the same place I confessed to your mother back when we were students, as well as the place I proposed to her.” (Touya)

“Huh?” (Kei)

Wow, wow, wow… Isn’t this place super special then?!

I fixed my gaze on the ocean as I felt the wind caress my cheeks.

“Kei, is something troubling you?” (Touya)

“Huh?” (Kei)

I turned and faced my father as I heard said question leave his lips.

“N-no… not at all… I have no idea what you’re talking about.” (Kei)

“…” (Touya)

“…” (Kei)

He isn’t buying it, is he?

“Did Haru say something?” (Touya)

“Wait, how did you know?! Wait no… Rather, isn’t that an oddly specific question?!” (Kei)

I couldn’t help but raise my voice in shock, at my father’s terrific insight.

“Haha, sorry. You just had the same expression as Kaho when Haru ingrained some useless knowledge in her.” (Touya)

Haru, what were you teaching my mom?!

“S-she didn’t say anything unnecessary… she just kind of gave me an unwelcome realization…” (Kei)

“‘Unwelcomed realization’?” (Touya)

“The thing is… I’ve been feeling some sort of way towards a good friend of mine…” (Kei)

I didn’t want to accept this…

“Even if I’m already over Shizuka, I’m still scared to fall in love with someone, especially someone that already means so much to me…” (Kei)

This was how I felt…

“Ever since I started considering the fact that I probably fell in love with her, I’ve been in a constant state of denial…” (Kei)

I lost someone once and I thought that, if I didn’t fall in love once again, I could keep things as good as they are now…

“I see.” (Touya)

My father gave me a warm smile, which wasn’t unusual for him.

“One of the reasons I invited you today was simply to have some father-son bonding. However, that isn’t all.” (Touya)

As his raven hair swayed with the breeze, his purple eyes gazed back at the moon, which was a full one.

“I think that, for the sake of you making up your mind, I have to tell you a story…” (Touya)

“A story…?” (Kei)

“Yes. A story that took place a little before your mom and I got acquainted.” (Touya)

I immediately understood what he meant, in simple words… a story of how he met my mother, Kaho Ichinose.

Needless to say, I had a hunch that he would end the story with the phrase ‘…and that’s how I met your mother.’