Even Though I Loved You First

“A council meeting at lunch time… no matter how many times I experience it, I still can’t get used to it.”

“Fufu, there’s no help in it, though. The president is about to graduate, after all.”

Walking side by side, Seichiiro Amagi and Kotone Ichinose walked towards their classroom, as they talked about the council meeting that was abruptly scheduled for their break time.

“By the way, I heard about it from President Tenjou, Kei got an offer for the student council, right?” (Sei)

“Hm? Unn. General Affairs Officer it seems.” (Kotone)

“Heh.” He said, “But, are you okay with that?” (Sei)

Turning his head, Seichiiro addressed something he has been wondering about.

“Of course, I am. Having my younger brother be acknowledged by the council’s president and knowing that such a position will surely benefit him in the future is one of my many prides as his older sister.” Kotone said gently.

“No, that’s not what I meant.” (Sei)

“Not what you meant?” (Kotone)

“I meant that, once Kei accepts and enters the council, it may be difficult to interact with Ichirou~” Seichiiro teased.

“Hah~ Once again, I have no such relationship with Segawa…” (Kotone)

You two get along so well, though…

“If you say so— bzzz —unn?” Stopping on his tracks, Seichiiro took out his phone from his pocket, he noticed a notification from someone he didn’t expect.

[Kei: Are you free after school?]

[Kei: I need advice on something. Don’t tell my sisters, though.]

“Seichiiro?” (Kotone)

“Hm? Oh, nothing. Something just came up.” He waved his hand dismissively. 

“It’s everything okay?” Kotone asked with worry.

“Unn. Everything ‘s okay. Just some last-minute errand.” (Sei)

[Sei: Yes, I’m free. However, can I tell Kokoro if she asks?]

[Sei: I can’t bring myself to lie to my girlfriend, you know?]

[Kei: As long as she keeps quiet for now, then do as you see fit.]

[Sei: Then, sure.]

[Kei: I’ll give you the details later. Thanks in advance.]

“Lunch break’s about to end, let’s go.” (Sei)

“Eh? U-hm.” Kotone quietly nodded and followed Seichiiro.

What do you have for me this time, purple guy? Seichiiro chuckled to himself and kept walking. He wasn’t as close to Kei as Arisa was, but even he knew that Kei was an odd one. Since he knew both twins, he couldn’t help but see the resemblance in them.

♡

~Family Restaurant [2:10 p.m.]

As Seichiiro arrived at the meeting place Kei arranged. He entered the family restaurant located across the station both Hiyori and Seichiiro used to commute to school from.

“Welcome, table for one?” A waitress greeted him, but he shook his head.

“No, I’m meeting up with someone— ah, there.” (Sei)

“With that young man over there?” Asked the waitress.

“Unn.” He nodded, and headed to the table where Kei was waiting.

Noticing a presence, Kei looked up from his phone and saw Seichiiro waving at him.

“Sup, purple guy.” (Sei)

“Ah, Seichiiro.” Kei stood up, “Thanks for coming… and sorry for shortening your time with Kokoro.” (Kei)

“Nah, it ‘s okay.” He reassured him and sat down across from him.

♡

Kei’s POV~

It’s been five minutes since Seichiiro and I met up and after receiving our orders (which only consisted of coffee, tea and a set of four sandwiches), I went on to the main topic.

“Anyhow, the reason why I could you here.” (Kei)

“Hm?” He nodded.

“How did you and Kokoro got together?” (Kei)

“Gufu?!” (Sei)

“S-Seichiiro…?” Taken aback by his sudden choking, I asked him if he was okay.

“My apologies… you caught me by surprise.” He lifted a napkin to his lips.

“A-anyhow… K-Kokoro and I, was it?” (Sei)

He pondered for a moment, maybe if I could take reference from their confession I could plan the perfect route.

“If anything, Kokoro confessed first, you see.” (Seichiiro)

“She did?” I asked.

“Unn. Though she caught me completely off guard, but it made me happy nonetheless—” (Sei)

According to Seichiiro, it wasn’t completely an outing with the two of them. They were hanging out as normal. However, when it was time to call it a day, Kokoro asked him to take a stroll with just the two of them.

Initially, the stroll would’ve only been to Kokoro’s house. They just made idle chatter all the way through, but before they knew it they took a detour and ended up at a park. It was then that Kokoro confessed to Seichiiro, he accepted and then they became a couple.

“I see, I see.” Truly one of the romances of all time.

“A-anyhow, that’s how it went.” He took a sip of his tea, “I want to know something though, why so interested all of the sudden?” (Sei)

“I want a reference.” I said. The coffee here is surprisingly good… I thought.

“Reference?” Seichiiro tilted his head.

“I’m planning on confessing to Arisa this weekend.” (Kei)

“Hoh~ I knew you wouldn’t disappoint me, purple guy!” (Sei)

I could only drink my coffee in silence, I was clearly embarrassed. Back when I was after Shizuka, I never actually confessed, nor did I ever thought of it at the time. However, I don’t want to make the same mistake twice.

“Do you have some advice?” I asked.

“Love hotels are pri—” (Sei)

“Not that kind of advice!” (Kei)

“—you didn’t have to cut me off…” (Sei)

“Sorry about that.” I apologized.

“Nah, I’m good.” He replied.

He seemed to be thinking for a moment, before I knew it minutes passed, and he finally spoke up.

“I know that confessing can be nerve wracking, but don’t let it show on your face. You don’t want to ruin anything now, do you?” (Sei)

“No…” (Kei)

“This depends on the person’s economic status but… why don’t you take the opportunity to buy new clothes for the special day? If you’re going to confess to her at the end of the date, then you might as well dress up a little.” (Sei)

“I think I have enough for new clothes, yes.” (Kei)

The confession itself will be at the end of the day, at least I plan to. That’s why, I want to make the date as fun as possible. However, I haven’t actually thought of buying a new set of clothes for myself…

“I can’t think of any other advice… Kokoro and I just go with the flow, you know?” He said, “However, why did you ask me? I believe you have other friends you can count on.” (Sei)

That was true, contrary to Arisa, Seichiiro and I only had a Senior-Junior relationship, it wasn’t like we were best friends, we were at the very least, acquaintances.

If anything, I talk more with Kokoro than with him, though it was only thanks to Alyssa that I was able to interact normally with her when it came down to class representative tasks.

“I wanted to get advice from a married man, you see. My dad was normally a no-go.” Because it was embarrassing.

“I see, I see.” (Sei)

“Not even trying to deny it, huh?” (Kei)

“Nope.” I didn’t want to take much of his time so, after I asked him to let me pay the bill, we parted ways. Only thing I can say is that I learn quite a lot…

♡

As I walked under the streets that were illuminated by the setting sun, I sent a message to a certain someone.

“There’s no going back now…” I stared at my phone, accepting my fate.

♡

~Train [3:00 p.m.]

Third Person POV~

As he stepped into the train, Seichiiro took a seat and almost instantly, covered his face with his hands.

I’m sorry for lying, boy… I needed to keep my pride as a man somehow…

The story of how Seichiiro Amagi got together with his current girlfriend Kokoro Shiina, was a little bit different. Yes, Kokoro was the one who confessed first, there was no doubt about that.

However, she didn’t confess to him at a park like he said earlier. Instead, Kokoro was bold enough to confess to him as she pinned him down in Seichiiro’s own room, after they met up to study together.

I still don’t know what kind of expression I was making back then…

The only thing he could remember was that after Seichiiro accepted her confession, Kokoro boldly took his lips, sharing their first kiss as a couple.

“…but it made me happy nonetheless…”

“~” He could feel his face heat up once again. Flusteredly taking out his phone, he sent a message to the culprit behind his massive embarrassment.

[Sei: Have I ever told you that you’re no good for my heart?]

Instantly, a reply came in.

[Kokoro: I should say the same. Being as handsome as you are should be no good, you know?]

[Sei: Is that so?]

[Kokoro: Unn! Sometimes I worry someone will take you away from me, you know?]

She’s really good at playing with my heart… Well… I love her for that, though… The two of them didn’t know yet, but years later they will be widely known as a married couple still in the honeymoon phase.