Even Though I Loved You First

~A Year and a Half Ago

“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)

Walking side by side, under the rain while sharing an umbrella, where two people. 

One of them was a young and good-looking boy, whose black hair and purple eyes gave him a look of dignity. Which was complemented with his gentle and kind demeanor.

The other one was a young lady with long brown hair and rose beige-colored eyes, which had a gentle aura, resembling that of an older sister’s.

Kei Ichinose & Arisa Kamihate, respectively.

Individuals who had nothing to do with each other, walked side by side talking, as they headed towards the former’s house.

“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)

Said the young boy, with a wry smile.

“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, who seemed to have hit ‘bullseye’, due to Kei’s reaction.

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

“Sure.” (Arisa)

Both of them didn’t know at the time. That in the near future the ‘them,’ that they would eventually become, will change drastically—

—all because of a single interaction.

Which triggered some sort of domino effect.

  ➹

~Present Time

Afterschool (1:50 P.M.)

School Gate

Kei’s POV~

Once I got out of the classroom, I headed towards the school gate, where Arisa was waiting for me.

“I thought you would be hanging out with my sisters– Areh…? Arisa, what’s the matter?” (Kei)

“A-ah… K-Kei, it ‘s nothing!” (Arisa)

Arisa, who seemed to be fidgeting, with her cheeks red, said to me in a shaky voice.

“You look red though.” (Kei)

“I told you, I’m fine! Anyway, *ahem* Let ‘s go!” (Arisa)

“Sure…?” (Kei)

Is it just my imagination, or is she looking really embarrassed? 

Wait… it possibly couldn’t be…?

A probably-accurate-thought popped into my mind. 

So I asked her something, which was probably the cause of her behavior.

 ➹

Arisa’s POV~

Is this some sort of hell!? How am I supposed to face him after what I told him yesterday!? 

Why did I even message him in the first place!? Also… ‘your’s truly’!? 

Why did I even write that part in the first place!? Aaauuu…

My mind was a mess. Because, even though I invited Kei on a so-called ‘after school adventure’, I still couldn’t get what I said to him yesterday night out of my head.

“Say… Arisa…” (Kei)

Suddenly, Kei spoke.

“W-what is it!?” (Arisa)

“Are you… perhaps feeling embarrassed because of yesterday…?” (Kei)

“Eeehhh!?” (Arisa)

Suddenly I felt my face heat up. Could you not mention that now!?

“Eeh~ So you really were, huh~?” (Kei)

“Geh—!?” (Arisa)

At Kei’s sudden teasing, I found myself almost on the verge of tears…

 ➹

Kei’s POV~

After I asked Arisa, who was walking beside me, about the reason as to why she was embarrassed. 

It actually seemed that I teased her too much… as she looked like she was about to cry.

“Sorry, sorry~ I couldn’t help it.” (Kei)

“Kei, you are kind of a sadist… huh.” (Arisa)

“Wait what!? I’m not! S-say let me treat you this time, as a token of how sorry I feel…” (Kei)

In my words, Arisa’s mood improved greatly.

“Then what are we waiting for!? Let’s get going! I have a place in mind! C’mon~” (Arisa)

What’s with the sudden attitude change!?

Honestly. Even as someone who has two older sisters, I still don’t get women’s mood shifts…

Well, anyway. As Arisa grabbed my hand and forcefully dragged me, I kept wondering as to where she would take me.

‘I have a place in mind!’ Huh… Why do I have a bad feeling about this?

 ➹

“Here is the premium dessert you ordered, please enjoy.”

“It looks so fluffy… Hmm!? It’s really delicious! Hey Kei! Try it!” (Arisa)

“…” (Kei)

“What’s up with that disappointed face!?” (Arisa)

“What’s up with that absurdly small cake for such a high prize!?” (Kei)

“Why are you sighing!? Hey, Kei!?” (Arisa)

“Nothing at all…” (Kei)

“It’s definitely something!” (Arisa)

It seems that my worries were wrong, as I was currently in a coffee shop which according to Arisa, was popular with sweets-loving people. The only downside is it’s ridiculous price their items had…

I mean, I’m good with money… Since I don’t have any expensive hobbies or anything, and most of it comes from my allowance, which I rarely use.

However, that doesn’t change the fact that such items were too expensive for regular highschool students.

“Kei~ Try it!” (Arisa)

“Haa~ Sure… give it here…” (Kei)

As Arisa urged me to try the cake ‘I’ bought, I took Arisa’s spoon and tucked it into the cake, then I sent the spoon to my mouth.

“!?” (Kei)

“So? How is it?” (Arisa)

Arisa asked, while tilting her head in curiosity. To be honest I’ve never been fond of sweets. Back then, whenever Shizuka craved sweets, I’d only buy enough for her, sometimes I’d buy for myself.

Even so, I rarely ate sweets. Still, when I tried this cake—

“…It’s… unexpectedly good…” (Kei)

—I was surprised.

“W-well… ‘good’ wouldn’t cut it… It’s delicious…” (Kei)

“Right!?” (Arisa)

The texture was really fluffy, just like its appearance, and the flavor was otherworldly… the way the sweetness made me crave for more surprised me…

I need to talk to Shizu and bring the— ah…

I unconsciously started thinking about bringing Shizu to such a place. Forgetting about the fact that she already had a boyfriend.

“Kei?” (Arisa)

“Ah… no it’s nothing… Rather, maybe I should order one for me too… this is no good…” (Kei)

“Pfff—” (Arisa)

“What’s up with that laugh!?” (Kei)

“Sorry, sorry~” (Arisa)

  Needless to say that after that, I ordered one for myself, and even though I rarely bought things, it still dealt quite the emotional damage…

 ➹

We were still in the coffee shop, and in front of us, there were many empty plates of different sweets we tried. Of course, Arisa went for the cheapest ones this time around, in consideration that I was paying.

“It still hurts…” (Kei)

“Oh come on~ I held myself back though~” (Arisa)

“You call that ‘holding back’?” (Kei)

“Fufu~” (Arisa)

As always, we were doing our usual back and forth, however I decided to turn the mood a little serious and spoke.

“Hey, Arisa.” (Kei)

Arisa, maybe sensing a change in my tone of voice, stopped playing around and responded.

“What’s up?” (Arisa)

Well… she half stopped…

“Can I ask you a question?” (Kei)

“Go ahead.” (Arisa)

“Say Arisa—” (Kei)

—What should I do from now on?

“What… should… you do?” (Arisa)

Arisa, who was tilting her head, confused due to my question, asked back.

So, I told her about the conversation I had with Riku and Sachi.

 ➹

~Earlier (During Lunch)

As I was eating with both of them, I finally remembered my purpose and spoke.

“Riku, Sachi. Can I ask you two something?” (Kei)

“Go ahead.” (Sachi)

“Ask away~” (Riku)

After they gave the go-ahead, I spoke.

“What am I supposed to do now?” (Kei)

“What do you mean by that?” (Sachi)

Sachi, who probably didn’t know about the meaning behind my question, asked.

“I mean. I know I have to move on, about Shizu, I mean. However, what do I have to do to move on?” (Kei)

Both Riku and Sachi, who realized the meaning behind the question, thought for a second, and then Riku asked.

“Say Kei, are you in any clubs?” (Riku)

“Clubs? No I’m not.” (Kei)

“That so? Then—” (Riku) 

“Stop trying to make him join your club.” (Sachi)

“You knew!?” (Riku)

“Dude…” (Kei)

“I swear it is not like that, Kei! I just—” (Riku)

“Still. Riku, has a point.” (Sachi)

Sachi interrupted the flustered Riku, then she proceeded to clean her throat and spoke.

“If I remembered correctly. You never joined either in middle school nor right now in highschool. All because you wanted to go home with Shizu. Right?” (Sachi)

“…” (Kei)

“I’ll take that as confirmation~” (Sachi)

Certainly, Shizu never joined any clubs. Simple because she used to find them as a pain.

Of course, back then, I also never thought of joining any clubs.

Because I didn’t find them amusing.

And because I wanted to spend time with Shizu.

However, now that Shizu had a boyfriend, it meant that it might become the norm for me to be alone afterschool.

“I never asked but… Riku, Sachi, in which clubs are you in?” (Kei)

“Cooking Club.” (Sachi)

“Art Club.” (Riku)

“”…eh…?”” (Kei & Sachi)

“What’s with that reaction!?” (Riku)

“No it’s just that… I never thought you would be in ‘that’ type of club.” (Kei)

“Kei… what exactly do you mean by ‘that’ type of club…?” (Riku)

“…nothing much…” (Kei)

“Then stop looking away!” (Riku)

Astonished. I suddenly learned something about my best friend. I mean, Riku looks like someone who would probably sleep while painting…. and have his whole face covered in paint by the time he wakes up…

“I feel like you are making fun of me in your thoughts…” (Riku)

“…no I’m not…” (Kei)

“Then as i said! Stop looking away! OI!?” (Riku)

“I mean… I can’t blame him. Riku doesn’t look like the type to paint.” (Sachi)

“Just what image do you have of me…?” (Riku)

“But still… a club huh…” I pondered for a while, as I had no idea what being in a club meant.

“Well, there’s also the option of looking for something outside of the school.” (Sachi)

“Outside? Like what?” (Kei)

“Dunno, maybe like the gym? I heard many people, who have been rejected or broke up with their partners, go there. To ‘improve themselves’.” (Riku)

Riku continued.

“Well i say that but, the main reason is because the gym can help get things out of your head. Not only you won’t have time to think about your problems, but by improving your body, it will also boost your self-confidence.” (Riku)

“I see…” (Kei)

“At least. That’s what I’ve heard.”

After that, I thought about it for a while, then I continued chatting with both of them until Lunch was over.

 ➹

~Present Time

Arisa’s POV~

After Kei finished talking, he asked me.

“So, what do you think?” (Kei)

Once he asked, I pondered for a while.

Certainly, school clubs were something that depending on the purpose and its members, it could turn into something fun.

And about outside school stuff… it also wasn’t a bad idea… 

As a highschooler, and considering Kei’s position, he has quite the free time now.

After thinking for a while, I spoke up—

“In that case, why don’t you—” (Arisa)

—and gave my opinion.