Even Though I Loved You First

Riku’s POV~

There’s some things that I’ve started to notice, some things that have been on my mind for quite a while.

And those things are my surroundings. Lately, I’ve felt like I can socialize with people better than before. Before I knew it, I could hold a proper conversation with my classmates without Kei having to be present.

However, it seemed that I wasn’t the only one that could. Because such change was also noticeable in Sachi.

She began to open up to other girls in class, there were even times where she went and ate together with a group of girls. Of course, I was happy for her and all, but… She also began to be noticed by boys.

I hated it.

I don’t like the way I think, I don’t like these feelings at all, but I couldn’t help but feel uneasy. Some thought of her as an innocent and easy girl,

I hated that.

Some thought that she mustn’t have any worries and lives a carefree life just because her attitude has become more casual.

I hated that.

I couldn’t take it, I couldn’t take the way they started to think about Sachi. Didn’t some of them ignore her and think of her as weirdo? What changed?

What changed for them to have a sudden ‘change of heart’, huh?

↜※↝

It’s almost summer… I thought as I strolled around the busy streets.

It was a weekend, and Istrolled around the central park of the city listening to the major chatter from the streets that were rich in people. I headed down the stairs to the station and after scanning my student ID, I proceeded to get on the next train available after waiting a while.

The place where I was heading today was a certain spot I’ve only found until recently. It was said to be a place where the ocean breeze could be lazily enjoyed.

Of course, enjoying the sea breeze wasn’t the actual reason for my little trip. I’m heading there because I wanted to make a painting. The view from the space itself was simply inspiring.

As a wise man once said, ‘An artist isn’t an artist until they’ve drawn a sunset from the ocean.’ At least, I think that’s a real saying…

Before I knew it, I got off the train station and I couldn’t help but take a deep breath as a soothing sensation washed over me. The station was relatively close to a small country-side village. Five minutes from there was the place where my goal was.

There was a small convenience store so I stopped by there, and after succeeding in calling a taxi, I began my preparations for the sketching.

↜※↝

“It really is beautiful…” I muttered as my brush continued its movement across the canvas.

From my pencil drawings to my carbon art for the competition, I’ve been experimenting with many different kinds of styles. This time around, I started going on about traditional painting on a medium canvas.

The sunset was extremely beautiful, the tinge of vermillion in the sky gave the place a romantic vibe… Since the sun was obviously setting, the lanterns around the place began to light up one by one. It made for a really relaxing and seductive mood…

It was no wonder most of the people around here were couples, although there were also families here and there.

“Your painting really represents the sunset here in its entirety…” As my thoughts began to wander around, I heard a smooth and gentle voice behind me.

“?!” (Riku)

“Ah, sorry. I scared you, didn’t I?” As I turned towards the source of the voice. A guy, who’s black hair swayed with the wind, looked at me with his blue eyes, which were a few shades darker than mine.

“Uhm…” (Riku)

“Sorry about that, it’s no wonder you’ll be surprised when a stranger suddenly calls you out like that. I’m Noah Mizuhara, a first year at Irakawa High School. Pleasure to meet you” He said as he extended his hand, asking for a handshake.

↜※↝

The boy’s name was Noah Mizuhara, just like me, he was in his first year of high school. He had this gentle aura around him that seemed to be as if he was loved by nature itself.

“R-Riku Ryouzaki, first year at Naoko High School… N-nice to meet you.” I said as I shook his hand.

“Yeah, it’s nice to meet you too, Riku. Anyhow, sorry if I appeared too suddenly. I just saw you from a distance and you intrigue me. Especially once I took a glance at your canvas.” (Noah)

“I-Is that so? Is Noah interested in art?” (Riku)

“I’m more into literature than art. But I have a childhood friend who’s extremely devoted to art, so I have this lingering interest thanks to him, you see.” Noah said as he wryly smiled.

“Heh~” (Riku)

“You’re quite talented. My sense of judgement was dulled since my childhood friend draws as a deity. But your work is on par with his, so I took an interest in talking to you.” (Noah)

He said as he gently smiled. I reflexively looked away and into the horizon, as the sea which until recently seemed blue, had a tinge of red and orange as the waves came and went gently.

“I… just drew this with no effort. I came all the way here to let my thoughts wander and distract my mind.” I murmured.

Noah seemed to process my words for a while, “Something on your mind? We only met a few minutes ago but I can hear you out if you like.” He said.

I looked back at the ocean and as I poured a little more paint on my pallet, I started talking.

“There’s this girl I like… We met through our best friend and well… Who would’ve thought, before long I fell for her…” (Riku)

“I see. That’s not the main reason, right?” (Noah)
“Well… Lately, our surroundings have been changing. It feels as if… everything could fall apart if I’m not careful. I’ve been self-improving because I wanted to gain confidence… Confidence that I could stand by her side… confidence… that I could make her happy.” (Riku)

Noah stayed silent.

“But these ugly thoughts swirled through my mind constantly… thoughts that maybe I’m not enough… That maybe… there’s someone even more suitable for her…” (Riku)

It took him a while, but after collecting what he was about to say, he finished sending a text from his phone.

“You know… I experienced something similar with you… You see, I have five childhood friends. We met right now in highschool after five years of being apart.” Noah began to talk.

“After we all reunited, we wanted to make up for the time lost, so we went to many places together and did many things together. Before long, I fell in love with one of them, who’s currently my girlfriend. Her name is Myu.” (Noah)

Noah, as if he was talking about a distant memory, gazed into the ocean as he leaned on the handrail.

“I was hesitant, she was extremely beautiful, popular even… Not only that, but in the past years my surroundings have changed so much that I couldn’t keep up with them…” (Noah)

“I was being a coward and everything… all until another of my childhood friends gave me a wake up call… They made me feel like I could lose someone dear to me again… Well… I doubt I have to continue, after all I introduced her as my girlfriend,” He chuckled.

“Weren’t you still scared to tell her how you feel?” I asked.

“Of course I was, but more than everything… I realized how scared I was to think that she would smile for someone else… It’s… an ugly feeling, sure… But that’s life…” (Noah)

Though we were both the same age, Noah looked way more mature than I was. For a moment, he looked like my older brother… he looked reliable.

I finished the painting some time ago, I was currently waiting for the paint to dry… I didn’t really have any attachment to this painting… sure I poured my heart into it, but I had no place for it back at my house.

Then… maybe…

“What should I do?” (Riku)

“You now… I can’t exactly give you advice. I don’t know her, and I’ve only met you a little over an hour ago. However, when thinking about what you should do, I recommend you think about it carefully. Relationships are thin, that much I can tell you…” (Noah)

After that, we continued chatting for a while, eventually my painting was done and it was almost night.

I wish I could’ve continued this conversation. However, there was a little over twenty minutes left for my train to arrive.

“Thanks, for hearing me out. Say, Noah.” (Riku)

“Hm? Something up?” (Noah)

“Want it?” I said as I held up the painting, which I wanted to put in a plastic bag. The paint has already dried, and if anything, I think it served as a good souvenir.

“Huh?” Noah looked shocked, “I-I couldn’t! Didn’t you come here specifically to make that painting?! You wasted money on the canvas and paints! You also wasted your sweat to paint it! We only met a little while ago to boot!” (Noah)

“I mean, yeah… but even if I didn’t give it to you… I have nowhere to place this. This painting would end up in the attic of my house collecting dust. That’ll be even more of a waste, don’t you think?” (Riku)

“B-but… I don’t have any money and I’ll feel bad…” (Noah)

“It’s fine~ Take it as a memorabilia for a new friendship! Let’s exchange numbers, I’ll love to chat more with you.” To be fair, I can really notice the change Kei brought upon me.

If it was the past me, maybe I’d never propose these things. But I felt like gaining friends from different paths isn’t all that bad.

“Well, if you insist. My room has nothing but books all over the place, so a painting may make things livelier.” Noah said as he took out his phone.

Since it seems we live in two different cities, we may not see each other often, but I’ll gladly talk with you or even meet up when we have time.

Just like that, I made a new friend whose name now appeared on my contact list.

Mizuhara, Noah

↜※↝

Third Person POV~

Monday [Afterschool]

“Well, what are we studying this time? Aoi… I’ll appreciate it if you help me with biology… I’m not really good at those kinds of things…” (Noah)

Monday, Noah closed the door behind him as he let his childhood friends inside his room. They gathered in his room this time to study for their next exams.

“At least tell me you have grasped the basic concepts of this lesson… After the first study session we had, I’m still hesitant to teach you anything…” His childhood friend Aoi Izumi sighed.

As the others were accommodating their stuff, a white-haired girl seemed to notice something that wasn’t there last time she came.

“Hm? Noah…That painting. It wasn’t here last time, right?” The girl in question was his girlfriend, Myu Kanzaki.

Thanks to the keyword ‘painting’ another of a group, this time a handsome man, took interest in the topic.

“Oh?” He, Aurora Izumi, stood up and went in front of the painting itself. His golden eyes, analyzing each stroke that conformed it.

“Noah… Where did you get this?” (Aurora)

“Oh that, I met an interesting fellow on my trip with my family. He was painting it as we talked. I gave him some love advice and we became friends. He told me he did it on a whim and that he wanted me to have it, simply because he didn’t have a place for it. So I took it.” (Noah)

“I never thought I’d hear the words ‘Love advice’ from you,” Yae Ayasaki snarked.

“On a whim?” Aurora repeated his words on a mutter.

“Is something wrong?” The brown-haired Maki Fujisaki asked.

“No… it’s just… The strokes seem so gentle… It doesn’t seem like something you’ll do on a whim…” (Aurora)

“That so?” (Noah)

“Unn. How to put it… though it’s a sunset, which is something almost every artist has done once… The strokes make me feel something more… It is as if it was done to pour some overflowing emotions this friend of yours can’t publicly say…” (Aurora)

“Like what type of emotion?” (Yae)

“Love.” (Aurora)

How the hell did he deduce all that from a painting of a sunset?! The thoughts of everyone present, overlapped for once.