Even Though I Loved You First

~Monologue [Arisa]

Why was it that back then I had the urge to put up a fake persona? As I recall, those days were nothing but constant monotony in my daily life.

Ever since I was little, I was never good at making friends, I was always the weird kid even through the eyes of adults. This mask, which was made for the sole purpose of protecting myself, did nothing but harm me.

The more I used it, the more I lied to myself. Eventually, I reached the point when I didn’t even care if I needed to wear it for the rest of my life.  As I grew up, I also felt myself getting lonelier by the day. Once the friends I had parted ways, all that welcomed me home was an empty living room, complemented with the total silence around the house.

Ever since then, I thought that I was okay with being alone.

At least, that’s what I thought.

Ever since they reached out, little by little, that facade I built for myself has crumbled until not even ashes remained.

Thanks to this people… and thanks to that boy who gave me a place to belong, the old Arisa Kamihate—

—is nowhere to be found.

~♡~

Kei’s POV~

“Oya? Arisa, fancy meeting you here, we came by to visit since we have some time off from college. The one beside you is… huh? Kei?”

“…Aiku?” (Kei)

Standing in front of me, a young man with neatly groomed brown hair, a healthy and tall figure, and wearing a perplexed expression as his rose-beige eyes blinked a few times, was Aiku (who I met last year). However, not more than a few seconds later—

“Aiku, you a**hole! Why did you leave— Huh? Arisa? And the boy who’s next to you is…?”

A woman with long black hair, lively cyan eyes which complimented her well proportioned face, along with a mature and well-proportioned body, ran towards Aiku with an angry expression.

“Geh— Big brother… Big sis…” (Arisa)

“Huh? Aiku, are you perhaps…?” (Kei)

“Haha, to think that you get along with Arisa! Anyway, Asahi and you don’t know each other yet, right? Come on, let’s go somewhere we can talk.” (Aiku)

“Actually we have somethings to do~ Right, Kei—” (Arisa)

“Sure, I don’t mind.” (Kei)

“Kei?!” (Arisa)

For some reason Arisa, who stood at my left, let out a dumbfounded voice. Not to mention that she also looked panicked.

“sigh…” (Arisa)

~♡~

~Inside a Coffee Shop [Again]

“Even though we finally escaped the cat hell…” (Arisa)

“‘Cat hell’? Weren’t you so into it?” (Kei)

“I wasn’t! You’re just dreaming!” (Arisa)

“If you say so~” (Kei)

As we bantered back and forth as always, we heard a small laugh along with a serious mutter.

“Interesting…” (Aiku)

“It’s the first time in a while since I saw Arisa like this…” (Asahi)

Aiku and the woman with black hair gave Arisa approving eyes.

“Anyway, for the sake of introductions. Once again, I’m Kei Ichinose. Nice to meet you.” (Kei)

 I bowed down and introduced myself.

“I got interrupted back then, so I’ll give you my full name now. Aiku Kamihate, nice to see you again, Kei.” (Aiku)

“As for me, I believe this is the first time we met each other. Asahi Kamihate, these two idiots’ older sister.” (Asahi)

Older sister, huh? Now that I properly think about it, they do look alike in some way. As I was thinking of this—

“I have to say, it’s the first time I’ve actually seen you hanging out with a boy, Arisa. Usually, it’s only Karane and the others.” (Asahi)

—the woman whose name is Asahi, turned over to Arisa, who was sitting next to me. I glanced at Arisa and saw her sipping her tea with a red face, showing her embarrassment.

Embarrassed Arisa is also cute… I thought. However, hearing my sister’s name, I couldn’t help but feel curious.

“Uhm, perhaps you already met both my sisters before?” (Kei)

“Sister?” (Aiku)

“He means Karane and Kotone.” (Arisa)

Arisa said, as she leaned over the table.

“Oh! So you’re their ‘little treasure’! I knew that I heard that surname somewhere before!” (Aiku)

“‘Little treasure’?” (Kei)

Fearing for my life, I gathered the courage to ask what this ‘little treasure’ thing meant.

“Karane and Kotone describe you as their little treasure. They say you’re cute, somewhat shy and pretty adorable when you try to act like a grown up. By that, I thought you were an elementary schooler or a middle schooler…” (Asahi)

She said, as she pulled her left hair over her ear and laid back on her seat.

“Same here, haha.” (Aiku)

Aiku simply laughed it off, but somewhere in my head.

“I think I need to have a ‘little talk’ with them once I get home…” (Kei)

“That doesn’t seem like a ‘little talk’ kind of aura…” (Kei)

~♡~

~An Hour Later

As I continued to talk with both Asahi and Aiku, I learnt quite a lot from them.

Aiku was currently going through his second year of college as he went through the process of getting a ‘law degree’, which checked out with something I heard the day I met him. In particular, when he said he knew my father due an interview he did to him for one of his assignments.

As for Asahi, she was in her third year of med school. As the oldest, she’s been taking care of Arisa and Aiku, even though Aiku was only a year younger than her. And as of now, Aiku and Asahi are sharing a place in the next city where their college is located.

“I ran out of tea…” (Arisa)

“Again? Isn’t that your third cup?” (Kei)

“Guess so… I’ll be right back, let me fill this up.” (Arisa)

She stood up and headed to the drink bar, once she was far enough Asahi spoke up.

“Is Arisa doing well?” (Asahi)

“Arisa? Of course she is. She’s really lively everytime I see her.” (Kei)

“I see… I’m glad. We can be at ease, right Aiku?” (Asahi)

“Unn. At least she doesn’t feel alone anymore.” (Aiku)

“Huh?” (Kei)

The words that came out of both of them confused me and perhaps sensing that same emotion from me, Asahi once again turned to me.

“Since I have the time, I’ll tell you a bit about Arisa. In essence, what she used to be.” (Asahi)

She paused for a moment.

“In a way, Arisa never really clicked with any children, she wasn’t good at making friends. Of course, she had us at the time so the loneliness was less. However, she also wanted to have actual friends, and she just kept trying,” (Asahi)

She looked at Aiku, and then he continued.

“As time went on, her personality slightly distanced itself from the lively Arisa she was in the past.” (Aiku)

“Princess Arisa, huh?” (Kei)

““…huh?”” (Asahi & Aiku)

“Ah sorry, that’s the nickname I had for her back then.” (Kei)

They stared at me dumbfounded for a while.

“Hahaha, what’s with that… Anyway, as our entrance exams got closer, Arisa was also alone more often, due to our parents usually working until late. But…” (Asahi)

A gentle smile spread across her.

“One time she told us she made some friends, the smile on her face and the sparkle on her eyes as she said that eased me and made me happy…” (Asahi)

My sisters and the others… That’s everything I could think about.

“Yet, somehow lately every time we talk over the phone she seems even happier, it’s probably thanks to you…” (Aiku)

“I’m not doing much… but if Arisa feels happy by hanging out with us, then I’m glad.” (Kei)

Knowing that the girl I fell in love with not too long ago, is even happier just by our company, made a pleasant warmth spread across me.

“So, Kei—” (Asahi)

Just as she was about to tell me something, Arisa came back.

“Sorry I took so long. I bumped into Hiyori and I got held back talking to her. What were you talking about?” (Arisa)

Her beautiful eyes looked at me with curiosity.

“Nothing much, just some slight chit-chat.” (Kei)

“Huh? I-I see…?” (Arisa)

Asahi looked at me, as if asking to keep what she told me a secret.

We spoke for more than fifteen minutes more before the three siblings and I parted ways. I also exchanged contact information with both Asahi and Aiku.

And as I walked home under the bright moon, I couldn’t help but mull over what she told me. Still, I felt glad that I could learn more about her, and I looked forward to knowing even more.