Even Though I Loved You First

“Stargazing you say?” (Kei)

“Unn! Why don’t we change things up by meeting at night~ Plus, tomorrow’s not only perfect for stargazing, but it’s a Friday so we can stay up late!” Arisa excitedly said.

It was lunchtime and I was on a bench at the rooftop eating side by side with her. She started talking about an idea of hers, stargazing to be exact.

According to her, she found a spot where light pollution was at zero, the place itself was only open from ten at late night to three at early morning. It seems that she talked everything through with Ms. Akina and everything that was missing was my go ahead.

“Then, let me send a message real quick.” (Kei)

“Yessir’~” (Arisa)

↜♡↝

After School

I wonder why…

“Like… seriously… Don’t they have too much faith in us?!” I said as I put some one-litter iced tea bottles in a basket.

“Well, they probably hold us in a good light. They know we’re responsible enough to stay out after midnight.” (Arisa)

“Or they think we’re total cowards for anything to happen…” I said. After sending a message to my parents, it didn’t take them more than three seconds to reply with a ‘go ahead’ as if it wasn’t something major.

Uhm… mom… dad… your son will be out late at night you know? With his girlfriend, you know?! Sometimes I think that my parents are pretty lenient…

“So, along with this, do you have anything else in mind?” As we surfed through the corridors of the supermarket, I asked Arisa who was walking a little ahead of me.

She stopped to think for a while, and then turned around and said,

“To be fair, snacks aren’t that needed. We’re only taking small amounts because we don’t want to carry too much. As far as equipment goes, I took care of all that stuff beforehand… So I think we’ll be fine as we are now.” (Arisa)

“H-how reliable!” (Kei)

“Hehe,” She puffed her chest with clear pride, “I’m your senior afterall!” (Arisa)

She really is a cute one…

↜♡↝

“Nibble” (Arisa)

“It’s my first time stargazing, so I’m kind of looking forward to it~” (Kei)

“Is that so? Nibble nibble What about the day you confessed to me? Nibble,” (Arisa)

“Well… it was in a planetarium, so it wasn’t really the real thing… Or you wouldn’t say that ‘Stargazing for the first time with my girlfriend’ doesn’t sound romantic at all?” I teasingly squeezed her hand.

As we walked side by side, Arisa told me some stories of when she was little as she nibbled on a small sandwich we bought earlier. About how her obsession with the night sky started, and about everything she found fascinating at the time.

The Arisa from the stories… was cute. If she’s this cute right now, I wonder how her elementary-school self was…

“So, about the things we bought right now…” (Arisa)

“Oh, I’ll keep them. I have a little fridge in my room, so I can keep the drinks in there without worrying about thieves stealing them.” (Kei)

“Huh? You have a fridge? Last time I was there I didn’t see one.” She cocked her head.

Arisa and I have been dating for almost two months now. Around the latter half of April, I took Arisa to my house to introduce her to my parents, needless to say that they (especially my mother) liked her very much.

After that, the two of us went back and forth between each other’s room to hang out often. However, when we wanted true alone time, we went to Arisa’s room, since we hung out with my sisters two out of four times she’s there.

“I bought it recently, who would’ve thought that lacking any material desire would come this handy!” I proudly said.

“Is that really something you should sound so proud of?” Arisa shockingly asked.

“Arisa, Arisa~ You wouldn’t get it~!” (Kei)

“Are you looking for a fight?!” (Arisa)

As we both laughed at our stupid banter, we reached the spot where we parted ways, it was time to say goodbye from here.

“Alright then, looking forward to tomorrow. Ten-thirty , was it?” (Kei)

“Yup. Don’t be late.” She said, after kissing her one last time, I turned around and headed home. I felt energized despite the hectic day I had.

↜♡↝

Friday [10:30]

“Alrighty you two, since we managed to organize the schedule. I’ll come to pick you guys up a little before two in the early morning. Sounds good?” (Itsuki)

“Yes, thanks a lot, Mr. Itsuki.” (Kei)

“We’ll go ahead. Have a nice shift, bye~” (Arisa)

After we finished setting up everything we bought, from the snacks all the way to the telescope, we both layed down on the blanket we bought and gazed at the night sky.

Bringing chairs was an option, however, we decided against it. There was something about the two of us, laying on top of a blanket side by side that sounded… somehow appealing, romantic even.

“It’s beautiful…” I said in awe.

“Right? It’s the first time I’m here as well… But even then, the night sky looks all the more beautiful when there’s not a single light around…” Arisa had a unique expression on her face right now… how could I describe it? It was a faraway… yet cozy look.

It wasn’t lonely by any means, it was something full of affection. She seemed happy… extremely happy… Of course, as the awesome boyfriend I was, I wanted to continue seeing that smile.

I deeply wanted… to monopolize that smile.

As I let the momentum get the better of me, my body felt heavy, and as I prepared my landing zone… I could hear Arisa’s cute squealing.

“K-Kei–?!” She said, as my head landed on her lap.

“We’re better off this way… don’t you think?” I said, as I stared at her from below.

Before we went ahead and used the telescope, we thought that… maybe seeing stars with the naked eye, seeing them like we normally would, might be the best start to this stargazing date of ours.

Her shocked expression rapidly changed, this time, it was a really soft smile. That smile… really emphasized her mature charm. It made me fall for her all over again.

“I guess you’re right, we’re better off this way.” (Arisa)

As we both turned our gazes back at the sky, I started to hear Arisa’s soft voice, I could also see her hand pointed at the sky.

Just like she did back then, she was teaching me about the vast world beyond the earth… about… the sea full of stars that lay ahead… She explained everything with such passion, her eyes were like that of a child’s when they were given a lollipop.

As she continued, I asked her something that we never discussed and that neither of us knew about the other.

“Say… Arisa…” I said, still in her lap.

“Hmm?” (Arisa)

“What do you plan on doing? Career-wise?” I asked.

She looked lost in thought for a while, her soft hand… gently caressing my hair.

“I want to become a teacher…” She said as she looked up at the sky.

“Teacher, is it?” (Kei)

“Unn. Just like how my brother wants to be a lawyer… just like… how my sister wants to be a doctor. I also want to do something noteworthy… I know that… payment wise, teaching isn’t something that is sought after. Still… I want to enter the world as a teacher… I want to be the type of teacher that reaches out to those that are left unheard… to those that just like I once was… feel lost in this big world…” (Arisa)

She looked down at me, and with a self-deprecating smile, she finished. “Sorry, I know it doesn’t suit me… right?” (Arisa)

“It does… it suits you… very much.” (Kei)

“E-eh? I-is that so?” Arisa said in clear surprise.

“When you saw me, who was heartbroken, not only did you reach out to me… but you stayed with me every step of my recovery. You never asked for anything, you did it because we were friends, and because you understood me. Honestly… it would’ve been weird for me to not fall for you, you know?” I said.

She looked… surprised for a moment, but ultimately smiled. It looks like my words reached her without any inconvenience.

“I see… What about Kei?” She asked.

“I may end up as your brother’s coworker,” I joked.

“Eh? Does that mean?” (Arisa)

“I want to be a lawyer. I really admire my father, and from an early age, I’ve been really interested in everything I heard from him. Even when he talks about work to my mother… I can’t help but pay close attention to what he says…” (Kei)

Arisa nodded, it seems that she also understands that feeling. Maybe not with her parents… or maybe, even if she didn’t aspire to the same career as them, she found it intriguing.

Then, she changed the topic, as she looked up once again.

“You know… I always told myself… that the next time I came stargazing, I wanted to come with someone special to me… be it a best friend… or a family member again… It makes me extremely happy… that this time, it was with you, Kei.” (Arisa)

I couldn’t help but chuckle, “I feel honored then.” I said.

“Kei… Is it okay if I say something… a little cringey?” (Arisa)

“Would I die of embarrassment if you did?” I teasingly replied.

“Probably… but still…” As her hand stopped, she leaned and before I knew it… my lips were sealed.

Minutes passed and after our lips parted and her face was clearly visible to me, a gentle and lovable smile filled my line of sight.

Then… words that were as sweet as honey were whispered as we found ourselves enveloped by the night sky, which was filled with stars.

“Thank you, for being my brightest star.”

Story Arc 7: To You: Who I Love The Most [END]