Even Though I Loved You First

Kei’s POV~

“Your parents… are quite unique…” (Kei)

“You don’t say…” (Arisa)

After parting ways with Arisa’s parents, we moved to a nearby playground within the vicinity. The two of us, for nostalgia’s sake, sat on two of the swings as we slightly motioned back and forth.

The stars were barely visible, well… to be expected of a spot that has multiple streetlights.

“It’s been a while since I last played on a swing…” (Kei)

“Is that so?” (Arisa)

“Unn. I believe last time was… in elementary school? I was with Karane… and… a friend of hers.” (Kei)

“Kei?” (Arisa)

“No, it’s nothing.” I said as I shook my head. After the events of middle school, those old times no longer seem like a happy memory I’ll like to recall.

“Ah, by the way.” As if remembering something, Arisa turned to me as she swung slightly.

“Hm?” (Kei)

“Mom said you had something to do. Something related to me, I presume?” Arisa asked.

“Haha… well… that’s true…” I sighed, “I didn’t really know what to get you… I gifted you a handkerchief a while back… along with the hairpin I gave you when I confess. So looking for something different and on budget was difficult, but…” (Kei)

I showed Arisa the paper bag I had in hand, “Uhm… god this feels embarrassing for some reason… uhm… Happy birthday, Arisa…” (Kei)

As Arisa received the paperbag, she looked lost in thought for a little, then as if she just realized something, with a shocked expression she said, “Wait… My birthday?!” (Arisa)

“April third is your birthday, right?” I tilted my head. I didn’t get the date wrong. We’ve been doing this for about four times now, so… I anxiously thought.

“It is… I completely forgot! I was nervous about you meeting my parents today so it totally flew past me…” She said in an exasperated tone.

As she took out a rectangular box from the paper bag, she proceeded to carefully untie the yellow ribbon before tearing the brown wrapping paper.

“A… photo frame…?” (Arisa)

“It may not be something expensive but… I thought that I’ll be nice to have a frame with a photo of the two of us…” (Kei)

“I see…” Arisa wordlessly stared at the photo frame which had one of the photos we took on one of our previous dates.

I could feel my face feel hotter as I heard her giggle beside me. This was the first year I’ll be giving a present to her as her boyfriend. Even if there were more years to come, there was something I could only say right now.

“Thank you, Arisa.” (Kei)

“Hm? For what? I don’t recall doing much, you know?” (Arisa)

“Well… for everything. Not only for taking me out to play when I was heartbroken, but understanding me… for appreciating my efforts. Back when we only were each other’s therapists… I really felt at ease, you know?” (Kei)

“Is that so?” (Arisa)

“Unn. Across my life classmates and grown-ups alike said that I was lucky to be born into such a family. They said that I had everything I could ever ask for. Yet no one recognized all the effort and tears behind it all.” (Kei)

“I mean, I’ve noticed Karane’s & Kotone’s efforts, I’ve also seen you around the school ground helping others before we became close to each other. So it was kinda natural… I didn’t really do anything.” (Arisa)

“Hmm-hmm,” I shook my head, “I felt much better about myself thanks to you, you know?” (Kei)

Of course, even if Shizuka was really dense back then, she was also one of the few people that recognized the effort I put into making a name for myself and got mad whenever someone belittled my efforts.

“Honestly… even now, the more you support me and treat me with kind words, the more I’m falling in love with you… Happy birthday Arisa and—” (Kei)

“Nhn?!” (Arisa)

“—thank you for being such a wonderful best friend and girlfriend.” I said as I parted my lips from hers.