Even Though I Loved You First

~Ichinose Household

Last Week Of January

“Trip you say?” (Kei)

“Unn. It’ll be a three-day, two-night stay in the neighboring prefecture.” (Karane)

“I see. Bring me something, will ya?” (Kei)

January was already coming to an end, the snow had long since melted away, and spring was already in full bloom. I was currently in the living room, as my older sister, Karane Ichinose, talked about an upcoming field trip for the second year.

“We already discussed this with mom and dad, everything is already settled so we thought we might as well talk to you as well.” (Kotone)

‘Though it was bound to happen at some point.’ My other sister, Kotone Ichinose, continued along with a wry smile plastered on her face. However, somehow I felt a weird sense of pressure, which I rapidly understood once my sisters continued.

“Don’t get lonely without us or Arisa~” (Karane)

“What does she have to do with anything?” (Kei)

“I mean. Don’t you two hang out mostly every day?” (Karane)

“I mean, yeah but…” (Kei)

She’s being weird and clingy all of a sudden… Was the first thing that came to mind as I watched my sister’s weird behavior with an amused expression.

I was no longer a kid, I won’t feel lonely that easily. Still, there was no way that I could say that as both Karane and Kotone liked doting on me, and often treated me as a child. It’s a little bit embarrassing to say but… I never actually minded being treated like this, it somehow feels nice… you know?

➹

Arisa Kamihate

[Kei: I heard you guys are going on a trip.]

[Arisa: Now that I think about it. I never told you, did I?]

[Kei: No, you never did.]

[Arisa: Haha, sorry about that. The trip will be from January 30th until February 1st.]

[Kei: Heh~ That sounds nice. I envy you guys. I should probably run away from home to feel the same type of freedom as you guys.]

[Arisa: What a weird way to put it…]

[Kei: I guess so.]

[Arisa: Well, I hope you don’t grow lonely without those two~]

Kei: Well… ‘Those two’, said the same thing.]

[Arisa: That’s so? Great minds think alike as they say~]

[Kei: Sure…]

[Arisa: What now?]

[Kei: No… nothing… Have a safe trip then!]

[Arisa: Unn.]

➹

~A Few Days Later

January 30th

“I’m boooooored~” (Kei)

Before I knew it, the day both Karane and Kotone had their school trip, arrived. I was currently strolling around the plaza, looking for some entertainment, for these boring times.

“I’m not a child anymore… and they still do such things…” (Kei)

I was currently looking at a picture my sister Karane sent me. A picture with the both of them snuggled up on my bed, she also followed it up with a ‘farewell’ message.

I ain’t dead you know!? Was my thought at the time, which I immediately dismissed since I already know how much those two liked to push my buttons.

➹

I was strolling through the variety of shops the mall had to offer. I wasn’t thinking of anything, my brain was shut off, disconnected in its entirety from reality.

That was until I saw a familiar figure from a distance.

And as I approached more and more and the figure came into clear view—

“Huh? Riku?” (Kei)

—My best friend Riku Ryouzaki, was standing in front of a sweet shop, deep in thought.

“Hm? Kei?” (Riku)

As if being led out of his trance, he turned to me as he spoke with his usual tone of voice.

 “Aren’t you going to enter?” (Kei)

“Ah… that’s… Oh! Actually, great timing!” (Riku)

“Huh?” (Kei)

“Are you free right now by any chance? I wanted to enter but… it’s kinda embarrassing being seen alone…” (Riku)

The blue-eyed boy said while scratching his cheek.

“Ah, I know that feeling.” (Kei)

“Sure, I have nothing to do so…” Was what I told him before we entered the sweet shop. Riku’s eyes seemed to be sparkling as he looked around, which somehow gave me the urge to take a picture and send it to Sachi, for her personal purposes.

➹

~Food Court

“So that’s why. It’s been a while since I last went on a trip.” (Riku)

“That so?” (Kei)

We were at one of the shopping complex’s food court tables, munching away some of the sweets we bought after entering the establishment.

I wasn’t exactly fond of sweets, it wasn’t that I hated them, it was simply that I rarely craved for some. Taking the opportunity, I bought some alongside Riku.

“How does it feel?” (Riku)

“To be honest, it feels a bit lonely. Even though it’s a weekend, I was planning on hitting up some new places with Arisa.” (Kei)

“I see…” (Riku)

“What type of places?” (Riku)

“A batting cage for starters.” (Kei)

I started to tell Riku some of the places I wanted to go with Arisa. Lately, I’ve been having an even more fun time as we ventured out.

A Bowling Alley.

A Bookstore.

An Amusement Park.

I was even planning on taking her to a restaurant that opened not too long ago.

“…” (Riku)

“What ‘s wrong?” (Kei)

“No… Forget it…” (Riku)

We continued chatting and playing around, we also walked around with some drinks we bought.

However, I wasn’t feeling fulfilled. The state of boredom, in which I found myself, just grew by the minute.

➹

Arisa’s POV~

“Karaneeee, slow doooown.” (Kotone)

“She’s even more energetic than usual…” (Hiyori)

“Of course, I am! After All, it isn’t every day when we can go around places like this!” (Karane)

“Haaah~ We should get Kokoro to stop her… Oi, Koko— huh?” (Arisa)

“Where the hell did she go!?” As I turned around to call out to my friend Kokoro, I realized that she was nowhere in sight.

“Oh, Kokoro? She left with Amagi a while ago, didn’t you notice?” (Hiyori)

“…” (Arisa)

That stupid couple!

As I realized that it wasn’t surprising at all, I couldn’t help but sigh. Seriously, that couple of lovebirds just bring trouble wherever they go.

“Anyways we should be fine…” (Arisa)

“Ah! Hiyori come here!” (Karane)

“Huh? Wait, Karane!?” (Hiyori)

“Or not…” (Arisa)

I decided to listlessly follow them along with Kotone, as I prayed for Karane to calm down.

➹

~Shared Room

Late Afternoon

“That was fun~!” (Karane)

“I’m exhausted… Hiyori really passed out, huh?” (Arisa)

“Was it that bad?” (Kokoro)

“Shut up! You left and flirted with Seichiiro somewhere! Do you know the mental pain I went through!?” (Arisa)

“Oh come on! Can you blame me? We had free time so, it was the perfect time for some alone time with my Sei~” (Kokoro)

“I swear couples are just…” (Arisa)

As we chatted away in the outside of the inn room the girls occupied. From the corner of my eyes, I found Kotone, looking at her phone.

“What are you doing, Kotone?” (Arisa)

“Hmm? I’m just sending Kei some of the photos I took today…” (Kotone)

She answered, together with her usual soft smile.

“You went all out on the photos, huh?” (Arisa)

I said as I sat down next to her.

“Taking photos is fun…” (Kotone)

She once again, softly smiled as she went through her photos, and continued.

“Being able to retain dear memories, to have something that can visually remind you of a special or fun event… to be able to remember people you were once associated with… In a sense… whether they are places or people, immortalizing such moments…” (Kotone)

“…just feel breathtaking, don’t they?” Kotone loves taking photos as far as I’m concerned. Thanks to this, she’s usually appointed for photo shootings at our class events. She loves to capture moments.

“And the batch was sent!” (Kotone)

“How many did you send?” (Arisa)

“About fifteen, I think.” (Kotone)

“Huh… Can I see them?” (Arisa)

“No can do! They are for Kei only! Well then, I’ll go and get ready, tomorrow is our second day so~” (Kotone)

“H-hah?” (Arisa)

As I stared at Kotone’s back as she left, a single thought just occupied my mind.

What was that about?

➹

~Ichinose Household

Kei’s POV~

I am currently very confused…

Why you may ask? 

It ‘s simple.

My sister Kotone sent me a batch of fifteen images of her school trip. Which isn’t odd…

But when five of the fifteen images sent are of Arisa, it turns odd…

Well… needless to say, after thinking of many ways to deal with them, a desire to keep all five of them slowly crept through my mind.

And so…

At the end… I saved all five, along with the other ten that belonged to my sisters.