Even Though I Loved You First

Story Arc 9 – Vows For Eternity

“Alright everyone, meeting dismissed. We will talk about the matter further tomorrow after class, so for now you can all go home since there’s not much to be done. Kei and I will close up here.”

A voice full of solemnity rang across the meeting room as she dismissed all the other people that were sitting across the rectangular table in the student council’s room.

It was the end of February, and it has been quite a few months since my sister Kotone was elected as the student council president for this year.

As the old and new members of the student council left the room, it was only me and Kotone left all to ourselves. As we cleaned up everything and finished the final preparations to close up the room for today, my sister seemed to have something to say as she softly spoke.

“There’s a little over three months left before my graduation.” She said this as he cleaned her desk.

“Time sure does fly, doesn’t it?” (Kei)

“Unn. It sure does.” I could still sense a hint of sadness from her, and even though I figured it was due to the sense of loneliness because she was about to leave this school, I still went over to her and wrapped my arms around her.

“I’m proud of you, sis. You’ve worked so hard ever since we were children, and look, all that hard work has paid off! You managed to get the title of student council president and even got a spot at your university of choice.” (Kei)

After taking the entrance exam a little earlier with the objective of saving up a spot, both my sisters managed to pass with some of the highest scores of all the ones taking the exams.

Two got a spot at the same university, so they could start college a little later after their graduation. “Well, of course I did. If anything, after teaching so much to Arisa, there was no way we could not pass.” (Kotone)

Not only my sisters, but even Arisa applied to the same college as them at the same time. To my surprise (not really), she also passed her entrance exam and has a spot reserved for her as well.

I pulled away from my sister and finished up, as we left the room my sister told me she was going to leave the key at the staff room. She told me I could go ahead without her so I did so.

↤⨳↦

“No, like I said! Aren’t you being a little to harsh on me?!” Riku said in a crying voice.

“No, I’m just being fair.” (Ichirou)

“For your information, I didn’t mess up on the fifth stage unlike you! If anything, I think I’m better suited for bomb diffusion unlike a certain someone.” (Riku)

“It ain’t my fault that you somehow need actual knowledge to diffuse it! I’m absolutely certain that less than one percent of it’s player base has actually bomb knowledge!” (Ichirou)

“…So, what are they fighting about this time?” I asked Riku’s girlfriend and my best friend Sachi a quick rundown on the current situation.

“I wonder. I lost track of their discussion when they started mentioning military knowledge.” (Sachi)

“…I see…” (Kei)

After a while the two seemed to calm down and stopped fighting. The two went over to us, who were engaged in a random conversation and joined in.

“The first years do seem really promising, the art club admitted two new members this time. With this, I don’t have to worry about the numbers since there’s still two second years without counting me!” Riku said excitedly.

“The cooking club has been busy during activities, most of the new members look really excited. It somehow reminds me of myself more than a year ago.” (Sachi)

With the new batch of first years, some of the clubs greatly benefitted as their numbers increased. Even the student council got a few more first years than the last batch.

“Is the student council busy?” (Sachi)

““Very busy.”” (Ichirou & Kei)

“We’re making preparations for the school festival on the second week of April, there’s a lot to organize so we’ve been a little tight for a while. Thankfully, the first years that came in seem to have promising skills.” (Ichirou)

“I’m also trying to take care of most of the things before my sister graduates. So I do have my hands full now.” (Kei)

““Sure…””

“What? Why are you all looking at me like that?!” (Kei)

“Nothing… nothing at all.” Sachi said with a smirk, I didn’t quite understand what she meant. If anything, I feel like many people around me have been teasing me as of late. Heck, even my own mother has been teasing me more than usual lately.

↤⨳↦

[Arisa: You finished everything?]

A message from my girlfriend Arisa was displayed on the screen of my phone. Involuntarily my face broke into a smile as I answered her text while walking over to the school gate.

[Kei: I just finished. Where are you?]

[Arisa: I came to a cafe the same as last time, remember?]

[Kei: Yes, I do. Will be right over!]

[Arisa: Alright~ I’ll be waiting!]

I passed by the school gate and within a ten minute walk, I ended up in front of the stylish cafe that Arisa said she was in. It wasn’t any normal cafe either.

“Now, where is she…?” I said as I scanned the place. A place brimming with four legged bundles of fluffiness, things that I’ve taken a big liking due to my frequent visitations with Arisa.

The place where Arisa told me she was, a cat cafe.

“Kept you waiting?” I said as I approached Arisa who was gently patting a cat resting on her lap. She looked up and soon enough a lovely smile formed on her face.

“Not at all! The kitties were keeping me company so I don’t really mind.” (Arisa)

I took a seat beside Arisa and soon enough, a cat with white fur slowly approached. I tried to pat her gently and it seems she didn’t mind, as she nuzzled her head against my palm and slowly climbed unto my lap. “There there,” (Kei)

“Female cats really seem to love you, huh? They’re usually the ones that let you pat them comfortably.” Arisa sulked with a judgemental stare.

“What, are you jealous?” I said this jokingly, there was no way that Arisa would be jealous of a cat—

“What if I was?” (Arisa)

—huh, what a weird turn of events. We came here to heal ourselves in between a bunch of kitties, didn’t we? We were outside, so I tried to be the most subtle possible, so as I played with the kitten, I placed my hand on top of Arisa’s briefly and said in a low voice.

“You’re cuter than a kitten, you know? At least to me.” Though she didn’t face me directly, I could see a hint of red on her ears and she playfully played with a kitten.

Everything was just a plan for me to call her cute, which was really cute in itself. No more incidents occured during out time of healing, we talked about many things and laughed at everything.

“How’s everything?” (Kei)

“You sound like an old man.” (Arisa)

“Huh, it’s been a while since the last time I heard that from you.” With a sense of nostalgia washing over me, I chuckled at Arisa who still played with now three kittens

“Kind of difficult. Kokoro and Seichiiro became even worse this year so I still have to take care of that. Seriously, even though your sisters and Hiyori are in different classes, why do I have to stay in the same space as those two?” (Arisa)

“It’s been almost seven months and you’re still with that?” (Kei)

“Can you blame me? Whenever they are together, this weird atmosphere is present that no one can get in between them, you know?!” (Arisa)

“Yes, yes. You did your best, Arisa.” I said as I patted her head with a free hand while the other one patted another cat that came up to me. A little over twenty minutes later we had our fill and left the cafe.

We walked side by side while holding hands as I escorted Arisa home, this school year is almost ending. Soon, it would be my turn to graduate, I was kind of looking forward to it but at the same time I also felt scared.

But well, it won’t be so bad. I think I have a pretty good head on my shoulder so I’m sure nothing will go horribly wrong. If anything, I would do everything in my power to make sure it stays that way.