Finding Beauty || Rei Ryugazaki

Part 1: Akemi, The Hopeless Violist

A/n: I seriously don't mean to be starting a NEW story but this one is an exception. Honestly, I could've placed this in my oneshot series but I thought this needed its own thing. Plus, this is for my friend's birthday, which will be on Sept 17. Let's just hope she doesn't read this before her birthday XD

But here it is, a Rei Ryugazaki story with her OC, Akemi. I planned for it to only be five parts, first two chapters to be in Akemi's POV, the next two in Rei's POV, and then last I still have to decide if I want in in third person or separate first person's with the same scene. Maybe y'all let me know?

I hope you guys like this as well.

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Tohsaka Akemi's POV

Iwatobi High was your typical Japanese high school. Students getting into their designated classroom 8:30 in the morning, have their boring ole lessons, lunchtime, even more lessons, and then to straight to after school clubs if they have any. Teenagers drone on day after day on the same crucial routine with the stress of homework and exams hanging over their heads. But it's not all too bad. Friends and being in their desired clubs makes for a lighter environment. And who could forget the possibility of having a high school romance?

At least, that's what I wanted.

I couldn't help it, I'm a hopeless romantic! Being a second year, I've had my fair share of seeing couples around school, holding hands and hugging each other before they have to attend class. I wanted to be in a cute relationship... it's such a shame I became picky over the years. I've been told hundreds of times before that I had a cute appearance and that itself was enough to bring me admirers. But every time a boy confessed to me, I would kindly decline. There was only one boy I had my sights on.

Ryugazaki Rei.

The bespectacled, cobalt-haired boy who received an A in every subject. The very boy who could've been a track and field star if he stayed in that sports club but one who proved that he could be a magnificent butterfly swimmer, beating all the odds despite being inexperienced. The boy I realized my feelings for a little too late.

The first time I met Rei was during our first year of junior high when we managed to be in the same class together. We developed an interesting relationship when we realized that we were both fighting for the number one spot for the highest grade in our exams. Once pinpointing this fact, we became rivals, always working hard to be at the top. High graded tests, beautifully made projects, thought out worksheets, we did them all to the best of our abilities, always hoping to beat the other academically. We were never far off from the other and whenever we were praised for our work, it wasn't enough. We didn't want a tie when it came to the two of us. Only one of us could be number one.

I always thought it was a healthy, pleasant competition. Regardless how tough we were to ourselves to strive only for the best, I didn't hate Rei. Honestly, I deeply respected him for keeping up with me and never giving up no matter how hard the material got. As much as our classmates thought we had a flaring hatred for each other, it was never true. We may have shot teasing taunts but it never spiraled further than that.

Unfortunately, we were placed in different classrooms when we entered Iwatobi High. As we could still compete for the highest grade, it wasn't the same. I no longer was able to see him every single day like the years before. It wasn't as fun to have a rivalry with someone if I couldn't rub it in their faces directly. And sadly, it was at that point when I realized I had developed a crush on my supposed rival.

            It drives me absolutely nuts! Now that I was self-aware of my feelings, I couldn't bring myself to talk to Rei again. There have been times I'd see him in the mornings before classes and I would have the urge to strike up a conversation with my ex-rival to at least maintain a friendship with him. But every time he would walk in my direction or get a mere five feet close to me, I would panic and run the opposite direction.