Even Though I Loved You First

Lunch Break: Ichirou’s Decision

Leaving the arcade, the group headed to their lunch destination as they were guided by Ichirou. As they walked, they talked about their day.

“Segawa’s the first person I ever see beat Kei in something trivia related…” Sachi muttered in amusement.

Segawa achieving a final score of thirty-three in their little quiz game, led him to beat Kei, who’s final score was thirty-one. Below Kei being Sachi with thirty.

“I usually use Sunday nights to see trivia shows. I pop some corn, get some use and get comfy. They really are fun that way!” (Ichirou)

“Huh… Sounds fun… I should—” (Kei)

“If you say you will try with Arisa, then don’t flirt. You won’t enjoy it that way.” Ichirou rapidly interjected.

“Tch.” (Kei)

“Did you just click your tongue?!” (Ichirou)

↤⨳↦

“So, where are we eating?” Riku asked as he turned to Ichirou. The latter looked slightly at his phone. “Right here.” (Ichirou)

“A park?” (Sachi)

What Ichirou was pointing at was a park, to be more precise, a set of tables below the shade of a big tree. The place itself was kind, almost devoid of the presence of many people. Excluding his group, there were about seven other people. One of them was a family of five.

Ichirou observed them slightly before looking at his phone again.

“Yup, wait a second… should be here any minute now… Ah!” Noticing a car a little further from where they were, Ichirou seemed to be texting someone and after a little while, he motioned the other to take a seat on the set of tables. He then went over to the red car and slightly talked with the driver.

A little while after, he came with two bags. Holding both of them a little over his hips, he said in a smug voice. “Here’s our lunch~” (Ichirou)

Ichirou’s plan was eating outside after all. He took out of the bags a couple of recipients and placed them across the table along with two thermos. He opened them one by one,

“Oh! This looks delicious!” A great assortment of small dishes commonly taken to picnics graced Shizuka’s sight.

“I’ll take the cups right now. In the meantime, what are you guys waiting for? Eat up!” (Ichirou)

↤⨳↦

“Man! That was good! Definitely more comfortable than eating inside a restaurant!” (Riku)

“Eating outside really is lovely, isn’t it?” (Sachi)

After finishing their meal, they all just sat there in tranquility. “Ichirou, where did you get these?” Kei said as he oversaw all the empty containers that Ichirou was putting away.

“Oh… I woke up early in the morning and made them… However, I didn’t want them to get cold so I gave them to my uncle who has a place to keep them warm…” Ichirou shyly said.

““You made these yourself?! Teach me!”” For some reason, both Kei and Sachi stood up with sparkling eyes as they stared into Ichirou’s own obsidian eyes.

“H-huh? U-uh… S-sure…?” (Ichirou)

Too close… Ichirou felt a little uncomfortable and wanted to remind the two about what personal space meant for him. Things like sandwiches, fried chicken and simple salads, Ichirou thought that what he made was something simple but tasty, but it seems that both Sachi and Kei (who were enamored with cooking) thought otherwise.

↤⨳↦
Third Hang Out Spot: Riku’s Decision

“So next is a museum, huh?” (Kei)

“An art museum to be precise!” Riku excitedly said. As they were paying for their museum tickets, Riku excitedly explained to them the ultimate purpose of their visit.

“Some time ago I participated in a national art contest. According to the details of the contest, the first three places would have their pieces exhibited in this very museum! Yours truly finished second, of course!” (Riku)

“Now that I think about it, you were busy for a while.” Kei thought. To all these, Sachi kept silent, she knew the artwork Riku was talking about; after all, she was the model for the piece.

She felt happy that she helped Riku accomplish something big, but she also felt a bit shy because it felt embarrassing seeing her portrait displayed in public.

↤⨳↦

As they entered the museum, they decided to look first at some of the paintings on display before they went into the main event.

“What can you even make out of it? It’s just a bunch of lines…” (Hayato)

“I see… This clearly displays the passion the painter has for alcohol…” Ichirou looked deeply into the painting, stabbing it with his gaze.

“You can tell?!” (Hayato)

“Of course not, I’m just making sh*t up.” He said with a disgusted look on his face.

“H-hah…” (Hayato)

No one really knew how to interpret the vast amount of painting inside the museum. So for fun, they all gave their respective interpretations as they went from painting to painting.

As they did this, they eventually reached the area where three paintings were put on display. And as they walked up to Riku’s entry, they saw it.

“So this is it~ It’s so pretty!” (Shizuka)

“Riku acted so carefree that you would never think he was capable of such a thing.” (Kei)

“What does that mean?!” (Riku)

Just as she remembered it, the artwork Riku made that day was infront of her, this time hung up for all the world to see. “…It’s as beautiful as I remembered…” Sachi muttered.

She looked down to appreciate the nameplate with the text ‘2nd Place – Riku Ryouzaki’ written on it. She looked below the nameplate where another one lied and…

“E-eh…?” Her eyes widened and she could feel her face getting hotter.

“What’s wrong, Sachi— Hm? Wait… they never told me the prompt was going to be visible!” Below Riku’s name, another plate which read ‘Prompt: Something you love (Person, object, pet, etc.)’ was on full display.

“Oh~” As she read the plate, Shizuka’s smile grew even wider as she was prepared to tease the two of them. Both Ichirou and Hayato were only smiling warmly at them… well… at least Hayato was, as Ichirou was trying to hold his laugh.

Kei on the other hand, seemed to be oddly fixated in the first place. As the couple was busy getting embarrassed over the prompt; Hayato, who seemed to be curious about his fixation, asked him.

“…he’s the same as he always has…” (Kei)

“Is something wrong, Kei?” (Hayato)

“Oh? No, it’s nothing. It’s only that the first place is an acquaintance of mine from middle school. I only realized until I read the plate below.

‘1st Place – Aurora Izumi’ read the plate.

“I see…” (Hayato)

“I kind of have a hunch about his intention in this. It’s kind of a love letter. Not to an individual, but to a group of people… You see, he told me many times about them, to the point I grew tired…” (Kei)

“About who?” Hayato asked.

“About his childhood friends.” (Kei)

As Kei meticulously broke down the painting to Hayato, the couple seemed to have gained composure and the whole group gathered. When their tickets expired, Sachi looked incredibly nervous due to her being up next, this was the last place to visit before they were off to dinner.

Noticing his girlfriend’s awkward attitude, Riku secretly took a hold of her hand. Even though she was surprised at first, she calmed down to Riku’s warmth as he squeezed her hand with his.

The day was about to end.