Even Though I Loved You First

Story Arc 5: One Step Away From Being Too Late

~Roughly Ten Years Ago

“Mama, who were they?”

As a young woman, also a mother, closed the front door after bidding farewell to the guest that arrived a few minutes later, her son Kei Ichinose, who at the time was six years old, peeked from the doorway leading to the living room as he asked his mother about the unknown visitor.

“She’s our new neighbor, Kei. She lives in the house you can see from here.” She picked up her son and together they peeked at the window from their kitchen, then she pointed. “See over there? She’s the mother of a family that now lives there.”

The woman, Kaho Ichinose, said as she carefully placed her son on the floor.

“Why they come here?” (Kei)

“They did it out of courtesy, Kei. I told you to greet people you meet for the first time, didn’t I? Well, that person did the same.” (Kaho)

“I see.” (Kei)

“By the way, she told me she has a daughter the same age as you. What do you think if we greet them later? Maybe you could meet her!” (Kaho)

“Can we?!” Kei’s eyes sparkled due to his excitement.

“Sure we can. What do you say if we go tomorrow?” (Kaho)

She patted his son on the head and headed to the kitchen.

“It’s almost time for lunch, I’ll cook you something. Come with me and wash your hands.” (Kaho)

“Yes!” The kid followed his mother and waited excitedly until the time for their greetings arrived. What would’ve usually been a one-time meeting, would’ve quickly developed into a friendship that changed the entire future of Kei Ichinose’s life.

✕✕✕

~The Next Day

“Nice to meet you! I’m Kei!” The little boy extended his hand, and his sisters did the same. However, the person he was extending it to (which was a little girl), quickly hid behind her mother’s back.

“I’m really sorry, my little Shizu is just a bit shy.” The mother quickly apologized.

“It’s okay, kids can be like that when they are little.” (Kaho)

“Come on, Shizuka. Introduce yourself, just as I taught you.” The mother placed her hand on her daughter’s head. The little girl, whose name was Shizuka, slowly showed herself and timidly grabbed Kei’s hand.

“S-Shizuka… Nice… to meet… you…” (Shizuka)

Her small hand slowly gripped the boy’s as she introduced herself. Though in a small voice conveying her shyness. However, that wasn’t everything.

“Shizuka. Why don’t you play in the backyard with him?”

The mother, Sena Sakurajima, suggested as she crouched down towards her daughter.

“We just came to greet you, we couldn’t impose on you any longer.” Said Kaho.

“No no, it’s okay. Maybe we can use this as an opportunity for her to warm up to Kei.” She proceeded to pat Kei on the head too. Anyhow, Kaho had to agree with her. She also wanted Kei to make a new friend.

“U-uhm…” (Shizuka)

Looking nervous, she turned towards her mother. However, she gave her a pat on the head, as if to reassure her.

“This is your opportunity to make some friends, Honey.” (Sena)

Feeling a little bit at ease, Shizuka went to the backyard with Kei and the twins, they played together as their mothers conversed with each other. Little by little, she started growing familiar with the three siblings, and as a consequence, the Ichinose and Sakurajima household became close friends in no time. 

✕✕✕

~Two Years Later

“Kei! Shizuka ‘s here!” (Kaho)

“Coming!” (Kei)

Answering his mother’s call, Kei Ichinose, who was now eight years old and could verbalize a lot better, ran down the stairs to meet up with his friend and next-door neighbor Shizuka.

“Don’t run.” (Kaho)

“Morning, Shizu!” (Kei)

“Kei! Morning!” (Shizuka)

The little girl, who at the time had semi-long black hair, returned her friend’s greeting with a smile that would make anyone doubt that she was extremely shy not too long ago.

“Now, let’s get going. You two will be late for school.” (Kaho)

Two years after their first meeting, both houses reached a level of trust in which it was completely normal for either Kaho or Sena to take the other’s children to school when the other couldn’t. Thanks to this, seeing Kei, Shizuka and the twins go to school together, was a completely normal scene.

Not only that, but Shizuka and Kei grew close enough for them to hold hands while walking to school together, which was completely normal to do between such close friends.

Given that they were children at the time, their conversations usually contained things like what they had for dinner last night, the cartoons they usually watch and sometimes even the new toys they received. 

“Alright, kids. Take care and behave yourselves.” (Kaho)

With a ‘see you later’ she waved at the kids as they entered their primary school, where a day filled with fun awaited them.

✕✕✕

“What are you drawing, Kei, Shizuka?”

“It ‘s Shizu and me!” (Kei)

“I-I drew the same!” (Shizuka)

They excitedly lifted their papers, showing their teacher their respective drawings.

“Those drawings are really nice, you two surely do get along.” She patted both Kei and Shizuka on the head.

“Of course! Shizu’s my friend!” (Kei)

“Unn. Kei’s also my friend!” (Shizuka)

“I see, I see.” Nothing big passed through the teacher’s mind, she only thought that seeing how innocent children could be, and how precious they could be, she thought that it was one of the few reasons as to why life can be so beautiful.

✕✕✕

~Three Years Later

Ichinose Household [Kei’s Room]

“H-hey! T-that’s cheating!” (Shizuka)

“No it’s not! It’s fairly legal!” (Kei)

“What does that m- whoa?! Hey! Stop using difficult words as a distraction!” (Shizuka)

Now in fifth grade, both Kei and Shizuka formed a habit of spending their Fridays in Kei’s room playing video games. Additionally, Shizuka usually stayed and joined Kei’s family for dinner.

“Kei, you don’t know how to hold back, do you?” (Karane)

Sitting at the table behind the duo, Kei’s older sister Karane, pointed out such a competitive trait to him.

“Papa said I shouldn’t hold back if I wanted victory!” (Kei)

Focused on his game, he replied. To which his sister couldn’t help but sigh.

“Now now, Karane. Those two look like they’re really having fun.” (Kotone)

Kotone Ichinose, Karane’s twin, replied as she munched on some of the snacks that were laid out on the table.

“Geez… I will have my revenge next time!” (Shizuka)

Putting the controller down, the girl who just lost in a racing game also indulged herself in some of the snacks they prepared.

“Don’t worry, Shizu. Is completely normal for the master to surpass his disciple!” (Kei)

“As I told you! Stop using weird vocabulary already!” (Shizuka)

“Haha! Anyways~ Sis, want to give it a go?” (Kei)

He grinned ear to ear as he handed the controller Shizuka just left on the cushion at his right to his sister Karane.

“If you wanna taste defeat then sure!” She sat down, took the controller and commenced her objective to bring her little brother down.

Friday nights when the four of them (though in most occasions the two of them) played games together, were moments that were the norm between the children of these two families. They were also moments that both Kei and Shizuka—

—took for granted.