Even Though I Loved You First

~Summer [Middle School Year 3]

*drip* *drip* *drip*

The time was a little past five in the afternoon, the sky was completely engulfed by gray clouds and heavy rain poured down, the could be clearly heard, especially from the outside.

At the time, a single girl took refuge at the entrance of a nearby supermarket. Her brown hair was slightly wet, she had a dignified appearance with a slim medium build, as she extended her hand while her rose-beige eyes looked disappointed at the sky, she muttered,

“Even though I told them I would be arriving soon…”

The girl in question was Arisa Kamihate; she would become a first-year high school student next spring. In the past year, she was finally able to sort of open up to the others, and she didn’t respond to them as coldly as she used to do.

The weather forecast didn’t say anything about rain, did it? Arisa thought. I don’t think I’ll be able to make it…

“Maybe I should call them real quick.” (Arisa)

I will probably call dad after to have him pick me up… or maybe I can ask him to take me. Arisa reached for her phone and as she looked for one of their friend’s contacts, she heard the door behind her open.

She would’ve naturally ignored it, at least if it wasn’t for a certain someone.

“Arisa, right? Got caught up in the rain?” Standing behind her, with an umbrella in hand, was an extremely handsome boy with black hair, along with violet eyes that were a little darker than a certain duo Arisa knew.

Though the two never interacted with each other, Arisa knew who that boy was.

“You were… Kei… right? Karane and Kotone’s younger brother?” (Arisa)

There stood Kei Ichinose, the younger brother of her best friends, who she only saw from afar, and undoubtedly,

The one who will eventually change her life.

♡

“You were… Kei… right? Karane and Kotone’s younger brother?” (Arisa)

“Oya? Looks like you know me. I’m flattered. Yes, I am. Once again, Kei Ichinose, I’ll be a third year student this spring.” Kei gave a little bow, after introducing himself.

“Anyhow, back to my question. Got caught up in the rain?” (Kei)

“Oh, yes. I was actually heading to your place right now–” (Arisa)

“To hang out with my sisters, right?” Kei interrupted.

“—eh? Ah, yes.” (Arisa)

“Shiina is already there, so I figured that was the case for you too. Then, want to come with? My umbrella is big enough for two people. It also looks like you were about to cancel on them.” (Kei)

“How did you…?” (Arisa)

“Intuition.” Kei rapidly replied.

“I see…?” (Arisa)

He’s sharp… As expected of the Ichinose’s… After accepting Kei’s proposal, Arisa walked side by side with him, taking the umbrella enabling Kei to properly handle the grocery bags he had on both hands.

Arisa was a little taller than Kei, which made it easy for Kei to hand the umbrella to her.

They walked in silence for a while, with only the raindrops falling into the umbrella and their footsteps on the wet asphalt being heard. Then, Kei broke the silence.

“Now that I think about it. It’s the first time we directly thought, right?” (Kei)

“Huh? Yes, it is.” She nodded, “Now that I think about it. How did you know my name?” (Arisa)

“Though we never spoke, I’ve seen you hanging around my sisters. I once heard them calling out your name, somehow, your face stuck to me.” (Kei)

“‘Stuck to you’?” (Arisa)

“Unn. You have this dignified appearance all the time, but sometime told me that she wasn’t your true self. So it kinda stuck to me. A friend of mine’s also like that, you see. So I kinda paid you a little more attention than the other three.” (Kei)

Arisa’s eyes widened, she knew Kei was bound to be sharp, because both the Ichinose twins and Kei himself were initially famous throughout the school for being good at reading the atmosphere and were also good mood makers.

However, she didn’t expect him to be this sharp.

“How did you—” (Arisa)

“Intuition”.” Kei shrugged.

Arisa shivered, she was indeed a little scared of the Ichinose bloodline.

“Isn’t it tiring?” He initiated.

“Well, it kind of is. I wasn’t exactly able to fit in with other kids, so at one point, this personality just took control and never let go.” Before she knew it, Arisa opened up to him on their first meeting.

“Isn’t a distant persona defying the whole purpose?” Tilting his head, he asked. If someone wanted to fit in, they couldn’t just treat everyone else with such a distance, it just didn’t make sense.

“I kind of gave up, you see… Then, Kotone started talking to me and took me out to play… Well, thanks to her I have at least five friends…” Arisa chuckled to herself.

With some difficulty from the weight of the bags, Kei brought his left hand to his chin after pausing for a moment to think. Then, he said,

“All right then. Let ‘s make it six. Can I have your phone for a moment?” (Kei)

“Eh? Ah…?” Not understanding anything about the current situation, Arisa obediently handed her phone to Kei, and after taking his own with a little difficulty, he fiddled with both of them, and after a while, he returned the phone to Arisa.

On her contact list, she saw a new name.

Ichinose, Kei

“There may be things you can’t talk about with my sisters or the others. I know I may be meddling too much so feel free to decline but… If there’s something you have to get off your chest, call me, you can vent all you like. Of course, If you also want to hang out like normal then that’s also fine, we’re friends now so don’t hold back.” (Kei)

Someone may see this as a flirting attempt, but for Kei, this was just normal. All his classmates relied on him, he also lent an ear to some girls who wanted to vent about either their friends or boyfriends, so for him it was natural.

“Your pushiness reminds me of Kotone…” After a little while, Arisa was able to go back to her princess-like behavior.

“I apologize if my idiotic sisters have been causing trouble.” (Kei)

“Please rest assured. It’s the opposite, thanks to them, I’m enjoying my school life.” (Arisa)

“Fumu. I see…” (Kei)

Though Kei called them ‘idiotic’ he was pretty much fond of them. They shared many different experiences due to being closer than normal siblings.

“I heard from Kotone. You plan on enrolling in our highschool next year right?” (Arisa)

“That’s the plan. Me, my childhood friend and both of my best friends, are all planning on going to high school together. Although my childhood friend is having problems with her studies, haha. That’s why I’m helping her study until my last breath…” (Kei)

Kei wryly smiled, rearranging the bags in his hands. The rain continued to pour down heavily, so Arisa was still holding the umbrella.

“You have a childhood friend?” (Arisa)

“Ah, yes! Her name is Shizuka Sakurajima. We’ve known each other since elementary school.” (Kei)

“Hee~” (Arisa)

Arisa gave a kind smile as she stared at the boy by her side.

“You must like her a lot, for you to go to such lengths, huh?” (Arisa)

“E-eeeh!? N-n-no I-I wouldn’t say that…” (Kei)

Oh… he’s blushing, fufu. Arisa giggled seeing Kei, who was walking beside her, turn bright red. Reaching their destination, Kei saw this as an opportunity to escape,

“A-anyway. We are already here and my sisters must be waiting for you, so let’s head inside, shall we?” (Kei)

“Sure.” (Arisa)

At the time, they were nothing more than strangers that just became friends, they meant nothing to each other. However it was just a matter of time for it to change.