Little Mermaid (Free! X Reader)

Ch.19: Alienation

"Y/N, are you sure you don't want Coach Sasabe's help in training?" Gou curiously questioned as the (H/C) pulled herself out of the pool.

Wrapping a towel over her head, Y/N glanced in the direction that the males were being shouted at by the former coach. "I'm sure." She calmly stated, a sweat drop on both hers and Gou's head.

"Yeah, that's understandable." The red head sighed. "Hey, you seem a bit different ever since the festival. Is everything ok?" Gou then questioned the female, surprising Y/N.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine!" Y/N awkwardly laughed as she rubbed the back of her neck. "I guess you can say that I'm missing home a bit." She explained.

"Oh, that's right." Gou smiled. "When are your parents coming back again?" She questioned, causing Y/N to instantly feel bad.

Before school ended, the others on the team had found out that Y/N had been living with Haru this whole time. This caused herself and Makoto to instantly have to come up with the story that her parents went out to sea for a trip and had left Y/N with Haru since they were actually childhood friends from when Y/N visited over summer breaks. It seemed to also make up for Y/N's constant lack in clothing, so it was almost instantly bought by the group.

Y/N felt completely horrid for having to lie to her friends, but if that kept them out of danger, then it would be worth it.

"Some time after Regionals, I hope." She said, shrugging her shoulders.

"Well, if you ever get tired of being around the boys all the time, you're more than welcome to spend the night at my place!" Gou cheered.

"Thanks." Y/N smiled softly.

___Quick Time Skip___

The team were taking a break for lunch, Nagisa and Makoto had gone with Gou and Miss Amakata to pick up some sandwiches and chips from a nearby grocery store, while Haru continued to swim laps.

Rei was sitting on one of the benches, slumped over with a towel covering his head as he stared down at his feet and the puddle of water that appeared on the ground from his damp swim trunks.

"Hey, Tako-kun," The purple haired male jerked back a bit when Y/N's face peeked at him from under the towel. Giggling, the female sat beside him. "The training is getting a bit harsh. It's not getting too difficult for you, is it?" She questioned, a hint of worry in her tone.

"No, not really." Rei sighed softly.

"Then what's the matter?" The megane looked shocked, before he smiled sadly at how well the female was able to read him.

"Is it that noticeable?" He asked.

"Well, when you're thinking about something that's bothering you, you get a crinkle near your eyes and your eyebrows do this." She explained, before pressing on her eyebrows to make them furrow together.

Rei chuckled, before he sighed once more and shook his head. "Sorry, it's just that...ever since we heard that Gou's brother will be participating in the race, all that the others are thinking about is beating Rin." He told her. "I just don't think I'll ever understand it. We should be training for Nationals, not settling old scores or trying to get over emotional baggage." He told her.

"Yeah, well..." Y/N rubbed the back of her neck and glanced up at the blue sky. "I understand what you mean, but you know how the others are with words. They speak through swimming, especially Haru and Rin. And if that's how they get through to him, then I guess it'll just have to work out at some point." She stated.

"Even you sound like you know what's going on, while I'm completely left in the dark." Rei muttered.

"That's not it at all." Y/N denied. "I know just as much as you." She insisted, causing Rei to sigh and scowl even more.