Even Though I Loved You First

~Middle School [Year 2 – Semester 2]

“…How…?” (Sei)

“Amagi?” (Arisa)

“…my pride’s hurt…” (Sei)

“C-cheer up?” (Karane)

“Why was that a question?” (Kokoro)

As Seichiiro crouched while hugging his knees and Arisa acted as if nothing happened, both Karane Ichinose and Kokoro Shiina, looked both dumbfounded and pitiful.

The group of four were currently in an arcade after being forcefully dragged by Karane, who wanted them to do something together. 

Kotone was attending to some after school affairs and Hiyori left once the bell rang per her parents request, so naturally they were nowhere to be found.

“…Isn’t Arisa way too good at arcade games?” (Sei)

“Isn’t this normal?” Arisa tilted her head.

“You call a score of 15-0 ‘normal’?” Kokoro retorted. Karane, who was at her side, could only let out a weak laugh.

After a little more of a semester, Arisa’s formal and dignified demeanor remained almost the same as ever. The only change is that she spoke a little more with the others, the ones she spoke the most being Kotone and Kokoro.

“I come with my siblings every now and then.” She said, turning her back and looking for something else to play.

“You have siblings, Arisa?” Karane said following her. Arisa, without turning back, only nodded in response.

“Unn.” (Arisa)

Karane could only sigh at her response. She didn’t know Arisa as well as her twin sister, she also wanted to get closer to her. In essence, Arisa was the most difficult to get along with between the other four.

♡

“What should I do to get someone to open up to me?” (Karane)

“Huh? Now that’s surprising. A social butterfly like you asking for advice, I mean.” (Kei)

He was currently in the process of drying his black hair with a towel and once he heard his older sister’s question, his purple eyes widened in surprise. Kei Ichinose was only a grade below her, he was undergoing his first year in the same middle school the twins attend.

“What ‘s up?” He set the towel aside and sat down next to his sister.

“Actually, there’s this girl that started hanging out with us due to Kotone’s invitation. I don’t know her as well as her, so I want to get closer. However, she has this prim and proper appearance along with her behavior, that it makes me feel that I’m making no progress.” She said, hugging her knees.

“Hm~ She looks like a difficult person, huh~?” As of his first year, Kei only hung out with his childhood friend Shizuka and his new friend Riku.

Riku was more of an awkward boy, he didn’t know how to act when suddenly being approached with the intention of being befriended.

“Why don’t you ask Kotone first? She could give you a rundown on the kind of person that girl is. You can adapt accordingly to their personality.” He grabbed his phone from the table in front of him, “According to your description, that girl seems like the stubborn type. Maybe grabbing her hobbies could help!” (Kei)

“Hobbies, huh?” (Karane)

“Unn! There’s no such thing as someone unapproachable. Sure, there are some that absolutely hate people, but I doubt she’s that kind of person. All it takes is to find the right key to open her heart!” (Kei)

“That doesn’t sound like something someone your age would say. Where did you get that from?” Asked his sister with a gentle expression.

“I read that in a book!” Kei puffed his chest looking proud of himself.

Looking at this cute gesture from his little brother, Karane couldn’t help but extend her hand and caress Kei’s dark hair like a mother soothing a child.

“Then, I’ll ask Kotone tomorrow. I’ll be heading to bed now goodnight.” As she got up, she crouched down once again and planted a small kiss on Kei’s forehead, which the latter wholeheartedly accepted, looking happy himself.

She was about to leave the living room to head towards her bedroom, until Kei called out to her one last time.

“Also, sis.” (Kei)

“Hm?” (Karane)

“The girl you mention may sound stubborn, but… don’t be stubborn yourself. You should know when to pull back, you don’t want her to hate you, do you?” (Kei)

“That is true… Honestly, I don’t know who the older sibling is anymore…” Karane said exasperated.

Kei also said his farewells and once Karane landed on her bed, she thought. ‘All it takes is to find the right key to open her heart’, huh? At the time, little did she know that said key,

Was sitting right beside her at the time.