Even Though I Loved You First

Shizuka’s POV~

“Thank you very much! Now if you’ll excuse me!” The brown-haired boy that crossed my line of sight spoke as he closed the door to the teachers’ lounge.

I was heading to the main gate to meet up with Sachi until I saw one of my friends Riku Ryouzaki, leaving the teachers’ lounge with quite a happy expression.

“Hm? Riku?” (Shizuka)

“Hm?” He turned around, “Oh. Shizuka, it’s been a while.” (Riku)

“It indeed has~ What were you doing at the teachers’ lounge?” I glanced at the door which was now closed.

“Oh, that. I was just turning in a form. You see, with the seniors graduating in about a couple of months, the former president of our club chose me as the next president of the Art Club.” His blue eyes twinkled.

“Heh~ I see, I see! Congratulations!” (Shizuka)

“Thanks. What about y—” At that moment, I could hear a cheerful voice from behind.

“Oi, Riku~ Let’s go!” The vice came from a girl, probably a third year. She was accompanied by three other boys and one other girl.

“Coming!” He shouted, “Sorry, Shizuka. They invited me out to eat as a celebration and a farewell to the seniors so I’ll be leaving!” (Riku)

“See you!” He trotted right beside me.

I quietly stared at his back until he was out of sight. Then, a thought crossed my mind.

Many people have been changing as of recently, no? Well, that’s obvious~ I feigned ignorance and just started humming as I made my way to the school’s front gate.

✕✕✕

~Front Gate

“Sorry for the wait, Sachi~” (Shizuka)

I called out to my best friend who was leaning against the wall of the main gate. Her black hair swayed as she turned around once she heard my voice. 

Her eyes that looked as dark as the darkest of nights, had a feeling of genuinity and felt gentle, like that of a mother’s. However, I couldn’t help but notice that her prim and proper atmosphere was almost nowhere to be seen.

“What took you so long?” (Sachi)

“I encountered Riku on the way here, so I got held up. Sorry.” (Shizuka)

“It ‘s okay. Now then, come on.” She started walking. I followed her lead and positioned myself at her left.

“So~ What’s up? It’s been a while since we walked together like this.” (Shizuka)

“Aren’t we going home together like three times a month?” She looked at me with an exasperated expression.

“That’s… true but…” (Shizuka)

“Well, it’s considerably less time than before a certain someone popped up.” (Sachi)

“You’re still mad?!” (Shizuka)

“I’m not ma— Haah… Forget it. Anyway, how are things going for you and Hayasaka?” (Sachi)

Unn? Is it just me or… Does Sachi’s atmosphere feel sharper than usual? Without giving it much thought, I answered back, stretching my back.

“Smooth sailing~” (Shizuka)

I could somehow feel the side-eye Sachi gave me before she sighed and with a disinterested voice, muttered a faint ‘I see…’ I can somehow recall the first time I met her, which was precisely because Kei, being the person he is, probably reached out to her and befriended her. She really acted like a high-class lady back then.

“Fufu~” I couldn’t help but giggle.

“What’s so funny?” She asked.

“Hm? It’s nothing~ I just remembered how prim and proper you acted when we first met back in middle school~” (Shizuka)

“Please stop it. I forgot about such a phase…” She let out an exhausted sigh. I can now confirm that Sachi indeed has changed.

“You really changed~ Looks like I have to thank Riku for it~” (Shizuka)

“Huh? W-what does Riku have to do with anything…?” (Sachi)

“Unn? You love him, don’t you? It’s just a guess but, maybe you two progressed to the point that your speech has mellowed a bit?” (Shizuka)

“H-huh…?” Sachi stared at me wide-eyed, as if she was seeing someone she hasn’t seen in a long time.

“As I said~ It’s just a guess. I would love to hear more about this love story of yours but. I wanted some advice too.” (Shizuka)

Ignoring the shocked Sachi as I voiced out my current concern, which was mostly my relationship with my childhood friend Kei, along with my other friends Riku and Sachi herself.

“You see~ The distance between the four of us has somewhat increased. I know that it’s probably because I haven’t spend that much time with you guys, but I still want to somewhat shorten that distance to the former friendship we had back then~” (Shizuka)

“I know that this is partially my fault. To begin with, I hid my friendship with Hayato from the three of you. Not only that but, once I got into a relationship with him, the time I spent with you guys considerably decreased. However, I want to do something to make amends.” I finished.

Hm? Why does Sachi look… pained?

“I don’t get you, Shizuka. I really don’t…” She muttered quietly. Her eyes with a clear glimmer of denial.

“H-huh? I’m not following…?” (Shizuka)

The more the conversation progressed, the more saddened Sachi looked.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t noticed…” She spoke, with a bit of astonishment.

“Notice what?” (Shizuka)

At my words, Sachi took a deep breath. Clearly hesitating, she continued.

“I’ll apologize in advance. Sorry,” (Sachi)

“For… what?” (Shizuka)

“For telling you the raw truth.”  Before I knew it, we found ourselves in a small park clearly empty and with no soul in sight.

“You say it is ‘partially your fault’… However, that’s not true,” She took a brief pause, and for a moment, it looked like she was going to regret what she was about to say.

“Our distance is increasing and your friendship with Kei that’s falling apart. They are not ‘partially your fault’—” (Sachi)

“They are ‘completely your fault’.” (Sachi)