Even Though I Loved You First

Sachi’s POV~

I remember that time during middle school, when Kei and I just became friends, I remember recommending this novel once when I suddenly got excited.

I was so embarrassed and apologized… I thought that they might find me annoying… But they didn’t, on the contrary, he read the book and even asked if they were more. So naturally, I brought him the second and final volume for this short story.

Talking about my passions with others… made me happy.

But, hmm… It’s weird isn’t it? Contrary to what people think, I never looked at Kei as my romantic interest. Sure, my heart fluttered every once in a while. But that was different…

After all, the fluttering was the same as the one I used to get during the early days of my friendship with Shizu… I was just happy that I finally had people to call friends.

Yes… That was all there was to it.

But recently… There was an exception.

He had light brown hair and blue eyes that were as blue as the sky, it reminded me… of jewels.

Fufu, I know it’s a cliche way to describe him, but… that was really how I saw his eyes. He had a carefree attitude, one which made it difficult for me to interact with him in the past.

Yes… in the past… Because before we knew it.

We were just fine talking and laughing… just the two of us. Shizu was nowhere to be found… Kei… was nowhere to be found… and yet, what I felt when I talked to Riku was something I couldn’t describe.

Of course… I’m not dense, I soon realized that what I felt was love… but I was afraid…

Afraid of being pushed away… Afraid of being an outcast, once again.

“That movie was great! Hey, Sachi! Do you have any books similar to it?!” Riku, who was sitting at the other side of the table, said with energy.

“I think I have; honestly, I have so many books that I might as well have at least three of each genre.” I giggled as I dug into my food.

Pasta… I don’t normally eat it. Simply because I don’t have the time to prepare for it… I have to do chores and most afterall… 

“But that’s weird, you aren’t really into literature right? If anything, you and Shizu are the only ones that do not really enjoy reading.” I continued,

Well… Shizu’s getting more into reading lately. Must be Hayato’s influence, huh?

Even Segawa, who joined us just recently, was kind of a bookworm on the same level as Kei.

“W-well… yeah… b-but…” Riku started to stutter. Areh? Where was his confidence just a few moments ago… He seems a little shy… Even though the sight in front of me was cute and all, I was worried that he wasn’t feeling well.

“Is everything okay, Riku?” I worriedly asked.

“Hm?! Eh… Y-yes, everything’s okay! Don’t… worry about it.” Riku shook his head. As he continued eating his food, he gave me his impressions about the movie. His reception was positive… way too positive.

The reason soon became way too apparent.

“Also, aren’t the visuals on the rejection way too good?! Good… When paired with the soundtrack it’s just such a sight to behold!” According to Riku, the visuals that the movie used, the way they played with the colors and the way they used symbolism, all that were what made him such a fan of the movie.

“Of course, if anything, I was glued to the screen the whole time.” (Sachi)

“Me too!” (Riku)

After, Riku asked me if there was any hidden meaning in anything the movie covered, since I told him I’ve read it before, he must’ve wanted to go deeply into the story.

Which honestly, made me happy. Sometimes, movies are only means to promote the original story, which results in the production of it being made half-heartedly.

However, due to how great the movie was, I was just so happy to know that Riku was interested in the source material.

↜※↝

At An Arcade

“Did you find anything that was to your liking?” Riku said to me as we went around the arcade near the movie theater.

After we finished eating, Riku asked me if there was anything I’d like to do or any place I’d like to go. Before I knew it I answered with the arcade. If anything, I’ve only been here a handful of times.

“Hm… I see.” Riku said as he looked around. The place was considerably crowded. If anything, it felt as if I could get separated easi—

“U-uh?” (Sachi)

“Hm? Something wrong?” (Riku)

“No… uh.” (Sachi)

You hand… Was what I wanted to say but I swallowed my words. Riku’s hand was warm and I really felt at ease. Haha… such a cliche line. But… It was true. Just like this, hand in hand, we went around the mall together from store to store.

At one of them, there was a necklace that caught my attention, but I refrained from saying anything unnecessary.

I’m… having fun.

I wonder how long it has been since the last time I had so much fun like this. Going from place to place with no objective. Talking about anything and everything as we carelessly strolled around a big place.

“Uhm, Riku.” I hesitantly called out to him.

“Yes? Something wrong, Sachi?” He gently said.

“Uhm… I have to go to the restroom for a bit.” (Sachi)

“Sure thing. I’ll be right here,” He pointed at a pillar. “If something happens, let me know, okay?” (Riku)

“Y-yes.” Just like that, I escaped to the bathroom.

↜※↝

Restroom

Calm down, Sachi. I thought as I took some deep breaths and took out my phone. Earlier, I noticed that I had received some messages on my phone, so not only did I want to calm down, but I also wanted to check them real quick.

[Shizuka: So~ How’s your date with Riku going?]

It was Shizu, my best friend.

[Sachi: I was okay just a while ago, but all of the sudden I feel strangely nervous!]

[Shizu: Hm~ Aren’t your feelings only overflowing~? I mean, surely you want to do way more than what you can do now, right?]

[Sachi: Way more?]

What felt off about Shizu’s message was the connotation of it. If anything, it didn’t feel like Shizu at all. But well, I doubt there’s a deeper meaning to it.

[Shizu: Yes! Don’t you want to flirt more with him?! If anything, you’re holding back because you aren’t even his girlfriend yet, right?]

[Sachi: Uh…]

[Shizu: Why don’t you confess already?! Tie the knot while you’re at it!]

Isn’t Shizu acting way too pushy right now?! I thought to myself. In the end, I told her that I wanted to do it when I felt ready… that I wanted to wait until my heart felt ready…

I left the bathroom.

↜※↝

Third Person POV~

“OI! You a**hole give my phone back!” Shizuka Sakurajima, who was being restrained from the back by her boyfriend, glared at the boy who had her phone with him.

“Eh~ I don’t wanna. We’re helping our best friend here, you know~?” Ichirou Segawa said as he sent the last message.

“Now then~ Let’s go even deeper~” (Ichirou)

“That’s an invasion of privacy!” Shizuka’s words seemed to stop Ichirou.

“Hm. Guess you’re right. I’m playing with you and all, but I shouldn’t cross the line. My bad~” Ichirou said with a carefree ‘smile’.

“Eh? Uh? O-okay?” Shizuka said as she received her phone from Ichirou.

“Ichirou’s surprisingly lenient.” Hayato Hayasaka said.

“Shut up.” (Ichirou)

↜※↝

Sachi’s POV~

I-Is he being hit on?! I flustered as I hid behind a pillar. Right now in front of me, there was my partner for today, Riku Ryouzaki—

—talking to what seemed to be a woman.

The woman itself seemed to be having quite the friendly conversation with Riku, so I deduced that maybe it was an acquaintance of his. Only two minutes after I arrived, the two said their farewells to each other via a handshake and the woman retired.

I waited for a second and then approached Riku.

“Is she someone you know?” I asked, feeling uneasiness in my heart.

“Oh, Sachi. Are you okay now?” He looked at me with a gentle smile.

“Somewhat. That woman is the manager of the hair salon where my older brother works. She seemed to notice me from afar and came to say hi. So we talked for a while.

“I see…” Even though Riku cleared up everything, I still felt uneasy.

What if…

What if she had been a random woman that took an interest in Riku?

What if… she’s Riku’s type?

So many scenarios crossed my mind. So many… ways I could lose him. I don’t want it…

I don’t want to lose him…

Riku Ryouzaki’s mine.

I thought. I know I’m selfish. After all, I don’t know if I could proudly stand by his side, still… I wanted him to only look at me.

“Sachi?” Riku seemed startled when I grabbed his hand.

“There’s a place I want to go. Could… you come with me?” (Sachi)

↜※↝

There was a space near the mall… it was… a garden. Of course, there were a lot of flowers from all different colors, the garden also had fountains and what not.

Everything a garden could have. The garden itself—

—was called the Garden of Myriad Flowers.

For an unsurprising reason due to the number of these flowers spread around. Sure, they were things like violets, tulips and roses here and there. But ultimately, these beautiful flowers dominated the land that made up the garden.

“It’s really nice here, huh?” Riku said.

“It is…” (Sachi)

“…” (Riku)

“…” (Sachi)

↜※↝

Riku’s POV~

Areh…? Isn’t this… the perfect mood for a confession?! For the last three or four hours, I’ve been trying to remain calm and appear as if nothing much is going on in my mind.

Bullsh*t.

For a while now, I felt my feelings overflowing. I wanted more but… what could I do? I wasn’t even Sachi’s boyfriend! Then, when she went to the restroom, I happened to meet Retsu’s manager by coincidence.

Before leaving, she whispered to me in a low voice, ‘Good luck’. She knew I was on a date, and she knew I had the intention of confessing. She really has been sharp ever since I knew her…

“Have… you noticed…?” Sachi suddenly said.

“Hm? Noticed? Noticed what?” (Riku)

“That… you’ve been getting way more attention lately…” She said in a low voice.

Now that I think about it… People have been talking with me way more frequently now… Wait, what am I saying? I already knew about this, right?!

“Same could be said about you…” (Riku)

↜※↝

↜Sachi’s POV~

“Same could be said about you…” (Riku)

“Is that how it seems?” I said.

Lately, I’ve been getting along with the girls from my class, but that’s about it. Could it be that Riku now’s something I don’t know?

Even if…

“You seem to be having fun…” (Sachi)

“Honestly, yeah.” He muttered.

“Even some girls have been trying to win your favor, you know?” (Sachi)

“Is that how it is? I don’t really pay attention to them, so…” (Riku)

“What if one of them confesses her love to you… and… you know… she’s your type?” I tried to ask.

“I doubt that’ll happen. Even if it did happen, I’ll probably reject her on the spot.” (Riku)

“Why? You probably want a girlfriend, right?” (Sachi)

“I do… but, there’s no fun if it isn’t from the person I like.” He said as… his face turned red.

I wasn’t sure… No…

Maybe… I could pick it up…

But I’m scared… What if I’m just mistaken and I’m not the one he’s talking about? What if… I’m not the one who has his heart…? Even then.. It’s fine, isn’t it? It’s fine if… I atleast make my feelings known.

“Riku, I—” Just as I was about to say something, I heard it…

The words that I wanted to hear the most.

“I like you, Sachi.” (Riku)

Even then… I froze.

↜※↝

Third Person POV~

I went ahead and said it… As Riku faced down, he could only hear the rustling of their clothes as the two changed positions.

Riku confessed.All his feelings that have been suppressed were left free. Yet, he hasn’t heard anything from her.

Riku lifted his head and turned it to face Sachi. As his eyes met hers, he saw it.

Sachi’s face that was as red as a tomato… had small tears falling down her cheeks.

“Sachi?!” Riku flusteredly said, which also made Sachi panicked as she hid her face.

“No… i-it’s nothing… I just… I..:” Her voice grew quiet. Riku wanted to think of it as a failure… for some reason. But not. It wasn’t time just yet.

“I’m happy.” She said as she laughed in between her small sobs.

“…’happy’?” He repeated.

“Of course, I am… Hearing those words from the boy I like, it feels like a dream.” Riku’s heart began to beat wildly.

“You… like me… too?” (Riku)

“I was worried… When I first saw you talking to that woman… I thought they were hitting on you… I was scared that maybe… someone like her was your type and that I was going to lose you… Even at school… just the thought of someone else having you… it felt…” (Sachi)

“Ugly?” Riku finished.

“Unn…” (Sachi)

“Same… you have gotten a lot cuter lately… so before I could react, some boys wanted to make advances on you. It felt disgusting, they never turned your heads at you before and all of the sudden they just…” (Riku)

“The thought of it was nauseating…” (Riku)

“…I…” Sachi muttered.

“Sachi?” (Riku)

“…I like you, too… Riku… Before I knew it, I saw myself falling for you, before I knew it, I began thinking about you… I began… wanting you to only look at me…” (Sachi)

Riku was over the moon, the girl he loves, the girl who understood him and accepted him just as he was… also liked him back… He didn’t want it to end in an unrequited love… he didn’t… want her to… be with someone else.

Smile… for someone else.

He had to make things official, it was not, or never.

“Sachi Sadataka.” (Riku)

Getting a grasp of the situation, the now calm Sachi, turned to him with a slight smile on her face. “Unn?” (Sachi)

So much happened…

Many things that ultimately got them together…

These two… were an item now… they were… inseparable…

“I like you. I really like you. I don’t want someone else to have you and… I know it’s selfish… I’m not wealthy nor am I clever. I’m not really that handsome even… However…” Though he was talking in a self-deprecating manner, there was a hint of courage in his eyes… a flame that reached its full potential.

“I know that I can make you happy with my own hands. I know better than anyone else that I, Riku Ryouzaki, am worthy enough to stand by your side. That’s why…” (Riku)

It’s over.

““Please, go out with me!”” The two finally said, in unison. Riku seemed shocked while Sachi was only smiling gently.

“It is my pleasure.” Finally… Sachi’s smile went into full bloom. A smile that for Riku… was even more beautiful than any flower he could ever get his hands on.

“Haha… Yes! It is a pleasure!” The two of them… as if influenced by the momentum, went closer to each other and finally wrapped their arms around each other.

These two were still innocent… way more innocent than the couple of Kamihate and Ichinose. However, for them, just being with each other and knowing their mutual feelings…

Was everything the two could ask for.

Story Arc 8: As The Moon, So Beautiful [END]