Summary
Arai attended the same middle school as Haruhi, where he was known as a bright but shy individual who fit in rather normally. He was a member of the soccer team and harbored feelings for Haruhi, eventually confessing his love and asking her out. However, Haruhi misunderstood his confession, and Arai interpreted her confusion as a sign of rejection. Although he has largely moved on from his crush, he is happy to reconnect with her. During the summer, he works at Arai Grocery, a shop owned by his uncle in Karuizawa. He is a forgiving person, demonstrated by the fact that he is not bothered by Hikaru’s rude behavior.
