Even Though I Loved You First

We are going out.

After their date finished, such a message was sent to the group chat that the group of six used. Is no wonder that shortly after, they were showered with congratulations.

Not long after they sent the message, they finished setting up everything and finally, the group call that they previously arranged came.

“Hel—” 

“Uwah! Congratulations!” An energetic voice that sent shivers down Sachi’s spine came from the other side of the phone.

“Pipe down, you idiot! It’s too late for you to be screaming your lungs out!” Kei Ichinose annoyingly reprimanded his childhood friend Shizuka Sakurajima for her loud voice.

“T-thanks… haha…” Sachi wryly smiled.

“Damn~ If only I’d been with you guys much sooner! I could’ve witnessed every detail in the flesh!” The disappointed tone in Ichirou Segawa’s voice was clearly notable.

“Well, you get used to it eventually.” Hayato Hayasaka said with a chuckle.

They really seem energetic… even though it’s almost seven…

“…Aren’t you guys a little too excited…?” After a period of silence, the other star of the show Riku Ryouzaki finally spoke up through the phone.

Sachi still couldn’t believe what was happening, but Riku’s voice seemed to make her realize it wasn’t a dream and that indeed, they were boyfriend and girlfriend now.

↜※↝

Ryouzaki Household

“…Aren’t you guys a little too excited…?” (Riku)

“Of course we would! Do you have any idea how long I’ve been wanting you to get together?!” (Shizuka)

“Didn’t you realize it just this year…?” (Kei)

“Well, can you blame me?! Back then these two didn’t show it at all! It wasn’t only after winter break was over that I noticed a change in them!” (Shizuka)

Well… it was during our Christmas date that I realized my feelings for her after all…

“Now you two, how about we talk about the reason we’re here reunited today?” (Hayato)

“You talk like we’re some sort of old friends that reunited for a friend’s funeral…” (Riku)

“T-that’s oddly specific…” He could hear his now-girlfriend Sachi’s voice.

“So~ Tell us the details! Since I’m the newest one amongst us, I’m eager to know everything!” (Ichirou)

Though the two were somehow embarrassed, they proceeded to talk about their day in detail. The date was composed of quite a lot of places even though Riku and Sachi were both the indoor types.

But as they finished, they could hear an unexpected voice from a certain boy’s phone.

↜※↝

Kamihate Household

“That’s unexpectedly romantic, huh? It really looks like you two had so much fun.”

“Eh? Kei… are you perhaps with Arisa right now?” As Shizuka quickly deduced that the unexpected female voice that she knew didn’t belong to Sachi, she asked Kei who was taking part in the call.

“Hm? Yeah, I’m at the Kamihate’s, after all.” Kei answered.

“Sup, everyone.” Arisa said.

“Eh? Is that so? As expected of you two, huh.” (Shizuka)

“Quit trying to change the topic, Sakurajima~ I still have things that I’d like to ask Sachi, so I’ll be taking over for a while. That alright, Kei?” (Arisa)

“Your wish is my command.” Kei chuckled.

“I don’t know why, but I’m starting to get pissed…” Ichirou talked, clearly annoyed.

“Haha~ I get you~” (Hayato)

“Anyways! Sachi, what do you like about Riku?” Arisa mischievously asked as her boyfriend leaned his back against her, planning to overhear the following conversation.

“Eh? Uhm…” (Sachi)

↜※↝

Segawa Household

She grew quiet… is she really that embarrassed? Ichirou thought as he made himself some coffee. As the slight bitterness fell down his throat, he placed down the mug and searched through the kitchen cabinets for any tea cakes left from one’s he previously bought.

Just as he found some of them behind a cardboard box, a feminine voice reached his ears through the speaker.

“W-well… it may seem cliche but… he’s really nice and attentive… He’s also really energetic which is completely different from me… I-I also admire his talent for art and before I knew it… My eyes naturally searched for him…” (Sachi)

Ichirou’s eyes naturally widened as he attentively listened to everything Sachi had to say; however, it seemed like she wasn’t done, as she continued to talk about other things.

“W-whenever I saw Riku’s profile while he studied or whenever he drew… I couldn’t help but gaze at it and think… h-he looked cool with that serious gaze of his…” (Sachi)

“Pffu?! Cough cough.” Sachi’s following words took him by surprise, which in consequence made him choke on his coffee and cough repeatedly.

↜※↝

Sakurajima Household

H-has Sachi always been that direct?! Uwaah… Even I am getting embarrassed. Shizuka felt her cheeks heat up even though it had nothing to do with her.

“Pffu?! Cough cough.” She suddenly heard choking sounds from one of the members.

“Segawa?! You okay over there?!” She only realized after her boyfriend Hayato pointed it out, the one who was heard choking was indeed Ichirou Segawa.

“I-I’m okay… Sadataka only took me by surprise, that’s all…” Ichirou said.

“Hm~ That’s interesting~ How sweet! Now, now~ Next up on the stage is the husband! So, Riku. Tell us, what do you like about Sachi?” (Arisa)

Arisa seems like she’s having fun… Shizuka said while letting out a small chuckle.

↜※↝

Hayasaka Household

As he was sitting on his bed with his computer on the small tea table, Hayato Hayasaka took a sip of his cup of water as he looked at the screen with a big grin.

“U-uh… What I… l-like about Sachi, huh?” (Riku)

He sounds so nervous.

Hayato has known Riku for a good while now, their friendship went to a point where he no longer felt reserved around him. Naturally, this induced his desire to tease him at every possible chance.

“Well… Uhm…” Contrary to what Hayato thought would happen, Riku composed himself and started listing every single aspect he liked about Sachi.

When he ended, there was a long silence.

“““………”””

↜※↝

Ryouzaki Household

What’s with the long silence?! Didn’t they ask for it?!

Riku felt himself growing more and more impatient as the awkward atmosphere inside the call didn’t dispel. He was pressured by Arisa, his best friend’s girlfriend, to talk about everything he liked about his girlfriend.

Manning up, Riku did as requested, but in exchange all he received was silence. At least for a while; then, the culprit of everything spoke.

“That’s… uhm… sweet, I guess? Oh god… it’s really embarrassing isn’t it, Riku? Even Kei is laying on the floor over here covering his face…” (Arisa)

“He’s blushing~ How cute!” Were the final words of Arisa as she left the phone to Kei.

“I brewed myself some coffee because I was bored… Yeah, bad idea… it’s sweet…” (Ichirou)

“I’m starting to lament the fact that Hayato isn’t here with me…” (Shizuka)

“Same here…” (Hayato)

“Aww~” Marvelled Shizuka.

To all this, there was someone that hadn’t spoken for a while, which made Riku doubt if she even was still on the call…

“U-uhm… Sachi…?” Riku tried and called out.

“…me…” A faint reached him.

“Huh?” (Riku)

“Riku’s bullying me…” Sachi’s voice was finally heard. It was a low, meek voice that carried an incredible amount of sweetness that without him knowing, almost knocked all the others to their knees.

“Eh?! I-it wasn’t intentional! I truly meant what I said!” (Riku)

“Q-quiet!” (Sachi)

As Riku and Sachi unexpectedly continued their exhibitionism play (flirting session?), almost twenty minutes passed in a blink of an eye until the two finally calmed down.

“You two done?” Kei asked.

“Unn…” Riku answered.

“This really is a new sight, huh~? Well, everything seems going well! So I have no worries! I leave her to you, Riku! Congrats, once again!” Shizuka energetically said.

“You traitor!” Ichirou sulked.

“Congrats.” Hayato gently congratulated the two..

“Good for you, Riku, Sachi. Summer’s near so you two can now go and have fun as lovers!” Kei said.

“Oh~ Speaking of summer! We have to make some plans between the si– no, it’ll be seven, right?” (Shizuka)

“Sakurajima’s sharp!” Arisa’s voice could be heard in the background.

As the group was making their plans via their voice call, Riku received a text from a personal chat. The text was, of course, from his girlfriend Sachi.

[Sachi: About what you said earlier…]

[Riku: Please, forget about it!]

[Sachi: No, uhm. Thank you, it made me really happy!]

[Sachi: Once again, I look forward to going out with you!]

That was the last private message as Riku watched Sachi excitedly discussing her plans with the rest on the group chat. He reread the messages over and over praying for it not to be a dream.

This seems to be the best summer I’ll have until now.

He looked forward to it more than before, as he sent a message that read “Same here.” and proceeded to join the others in the planifications on what will seem to be his best summer yet.