Even Though I Loved You First

“…even now, I still feel kind of disappointed about how the author introduced another love interest… The progress was getting interesting too…” (Arisa)

“Well… most works do that. As much as I hate to admit it.” I commented, as I finished packing my things inside my bag.

After school, Arisa and I were in a cafe as we discussed a novel the two of us recently read. From giving our impressions to predicting future events along with evidence.

“Then, shall we call it a day then?” I asked Arisa, who was also getting up.

“Unn. Sounds good.” (Arisa)

We both got up, and once we paid our bill, we exited the cafe and said our farewells by the entrance.

“Well then, I’ll see you tomorrow?” (Kei)

“Yes, I’ll see you!” We lightly hug each other.

“Unn. See you, message me when you get home.” I lightly waved at her as she left my line of sight. I then turned around and headed home.

✕✕✕

As I walked along the streets, I could see a few adults in suits as well as a considerable amount of housewives. There were some students here and there but most of the population in the streets looked like adults. A little later, I saw a familiar figure a little ahead of me.

“Oi~ Shizuka~” I called out to her.

“?!” Her small body quivered and then she turned with a nervous-like expression on her face.

“K-Kei… It’s been a while.” (Shizuka)

A small body, which even though I called it small, is just about ten centimeters shorter than me. Semi-long black hair that reached to her shoulders, and cerulean eyes. Shizuka Sakurajima, was walking just a little ahead of me.

“Unn. It has. Grocery shopping, I see.”  pointed to the plastic bags on each of her hands.

“Eh? Ah, yeah. Mom and Dad are coming late so I’ll be cooking my dinner today.” (Shizuka)

“I see~” I didn’t think much of it, but something called my attention. “Areh? Shizuka, you cook?” (Kei)

“Unn. I do.” (Shizuka)

“That’s the first I’ve heard of it.” I replied.

As far as I was concerned. Shizuka never was a good cook. Rather, she was kind of clumsy during the cooking process. That’s why, she either joined our family for dinner, or I went to her house and cooked something for her.

“Going home now? Want me to hold those?” (Kei)

“I couldn’t possibly—” (Shizuka)

“It’s fine~ It’s fine~ Give me.” I gently took the bags out of Shizuka’s hands who looked a little apologetic. Brushing it off, we started walking.

“Still, that Shizuka cooking?” I snickered.

“Oi. What does ‘that Shizuka’ mean?” (Shizuka)

“Nothing much~ It’s just that I can’t imagine you cooking without mismeasuring the amount of spices needed~ Haha.” (Kei)

We stopped at an intersection, waiting for the traffic light to give us the go ahead. At this point, the sun was almost setting, and the crimson color started to change.

“Hah~ That’s rude. I started practicing around mid-August, I think?” She replied, with her hand on her chin.

“Eh?! mid-August?! How come I didn’t know anything about it?!” (Kei)

“Well, I was going to keep it a secret until I could invite you guys to a decent meal… But after everything with Hayato, I kinda forgot…” (Shizuka)

“My bad…” She apologized. Still, now I felt curious as to how her cooking tasted.

“Then, can you treat me to some of your cooking? If you have enough for two portions, that is.” I kindly asked her.

“H-huh? Uhm…” She looked pensative for a while, but then, “Sure, I actually bought enough for two so, I guess there’s no harm.” She looked at me with a calm expression. However, there was something off about her attitude.

I sent a message to my family, and went to my childhood friend’s house for the first time in a long while.

✕✕✕

Shizuka’s POV~

As I went back and forth inside the kitchen, I started cooking as if I have been doing these for years. Truth is, it hasn’t even been a year since I’ve started cooking.

My thoughts on the other hand, were somewhere else at the moment. Of course, I made sure not to get too distracted, as I didn’t want to mess up.

I should talk to him after we’ve finished eating. After the incident with Sachi, I’ve started thinking a bit and realized that it was indeed my fault. Of course, I felt like an irredeemable idiot, harming my childhood friend for such a long time.

For the record, it also seems that my boyfriend Hayato Hayasaka also knew about everything that was going on. That’s why, even if Kei doesn’t forgive me, I at least want to thoroughly talk with him.

I may not have been the best childhood friend but… Maybe, I can make things right between us. I picked up both plates and left the kitchen, placing the dishes on the table that Kei organized.