Finding Beauty || Rei Ryugazaki

Part 4: Rei, The Lovesick Butterfly

A/n: Ahhh, the next part is the last part! Whoop, I am NEARLY there. I missed my deadline but oh well. As long as I finish it, I'll be fine!

Just look at that gif. He's admiring Akemi with that gaze of his <3

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Ryugazaki Rei's POV

I couldn't bring myself to look Nagisa in the eye the remaining days before the school festival. The overwhelming, crushing feeling engulfed me whole when I read that text message that day. It didn't help matters when the next day afterwards the blond ranted on and on about Akemi about how cute she was and how amazing she was and etcetera. A person would be blind to not notice how much he adores her.

If I had thought the jealousy from every time I see them together was bad, it didn't compare to what I felt now. Since I know that Nagisa has feelings for her as well, I couldn't help but feel like I already lost. I could see the chemistry between them. Akemi always has that angelic smile on her face whenever he was around and it wouldn't take too much to have her in a fit of giggles either in his presence. When have I ever done that? When did I ever cause her to laugh or bring a smile on her face?

Was I really so blinded by our friendly rivalry? So set on academics that I missed the opportunity of figuring out my crush sooner?

I was angry. Furious, not at him, but at myself. I realized my feelings for Tohsaka Akemi just recently, when it only took Nagisa a couple days to see how wonderful she is. And I couldn't blame him. While I could make it up with my unwavering confidence or intellect, Nagisa had always been more open to his feelings than I was.

Additional to everything, they had the possibility to be crowned cutest couple in the Couples' Contest, which could lead to a future relationship, carrying on the competition's lore.

The first day of the school festival commenced. As much the swim team wanted to participate, the school board voted against it because we only had five members, excluding Miho-san. We were informed that we'd need to have eight or more people to have our own room or booth to do something special. It's a shame it had come to that, but we decided to experience the festivities ourselves.

"Nagisa-kun, aren't you getting a little too much treats?"

"No, it's ok! I can finish them, don't worry, Mako-chan! Haru-chan, look, this one actually has mackerel in--"

"Haru!"

"It's good..."

"See, I knew you'd like it!"

I smiled at the three's ridiculous antics. Nagisa held an alarming amount of food from the booths in his arms, while as Makoto-senpai was trying to reason with him that eating all of it would be a poor choice. Nagisa succeeded in swaying Haruka-senpai's vote as he handed him a mackerel filled treat. I gagged at the thought of it. Was it as delicious as Haruka-senpai makes it out to be? I didn't want to find out.

At this point, I would've agreed with Makoto-senpai and mention what a horrible decision it was to buy all the treats he gotten, but I couldn't bring myself to talk to Nagisa right now. Nowadays when the two of us fall into conversation, it somehow leads to a particular, pink haired girl and that's something I'd rather avoid at all costs right now.

I began looking around the festival to keep my mind occupied with something else. There were plenty of food and games for anyone to try out. Music filled the air along with people's laughter. The environment was overall cheery. Why am I dwelling too much on my petty problems when I'm supposed to be having fun?