free! iwatobi swim club oneshots

isn't she lovely [rei ryugazaki]

(Y/N) (L/N) was a second year at Iwatobi Highschool, the same year as Rei and Nagisa. She was also a swimmer, but alike to Haru stopped doing it competitively. She found her peace in the water, but her family forced her to quit to focus on her studies. They always would badger her to go into the medical field.

"Swimming won't pay the bills, you have so much talent for other things," they would say. It made her resent them now as horrible as that was. She had this great pressure on her to attend a good university and get into the pre-med program and when at school she developed great anxiety. With that, (Y/N) ended up becoming less open and more quiet. Barely anyone heard her speak.

What no one knew, was that after their practices, she would indeed go to the pool the swim team at Iwatobi uses and just float around and look at the stars. It was the only time she felt at peace. Looking at the stars, feeling her fingers graze the water and her back lay against it. She didn't care how cold it was at night, she never did. (Y/N) felt accepted and complete there. The only place she found a home in.

However, one time at practice Nagisa and Rei decided to stay late for extra practice before their tournament the next day. That night happened to be a night (Y/N) got there early. When she saw them practicing, she didn't leave. She just watched.

She had always admired Rei and his ability to start at something he didn't know how to do and become good at it. He truly was a representation of "zero to 100 real quick". She wished her parents hadn't sucked all of her motivation away, like vultures.

(Y/N) watched Rei swim and for a moment, her anxiety was gone. A wave of serenity had washed over her body. Watching someone in the water was so relieving for her in every which way.

She decided to wait, as it was the only thing she could do. She couldn't say, "Sirs, hello, can you leave so I can float around in your pool and look at the sky?"

She patiently waited behind the fence, being careful not to make too much noise or totally reveal herself. After about thirty long minutes, they finally took off.

She didn't hesitate to go in as soon as they had left. She stripped down to her suit and dove in. Little did she know, she wasn't alone.

Rei had left his cap by the blocks and he had went to go retrieve it. By the time he got back, he saw something he didn't expect. A girl floating effortlessly in the water, doing a soft backstroke as she was slowly moving farther along the pool. It reminded him of the stream of a river, effortless, natural, and ethereal.

Rei had noticed this girl before. Quiet, smart, beautiful girl. He heard she used to swim, actually at the same club as Makoto, Haru, Nagisa, and Rin. However, apparently she had only befriended Rin.

Nagisa had went back to check on Rei, as he was taking long to retrieve his cap. Nagisa was about to ask until Rei held up his slender finger to his lips to silence his blonde friend.

"Isn't she lovely?" Rei smiled at the girl in the water. She hadn't noticed their presence.

"She's so anxious.. so quiet. It's actually quite unsettling.. but now.. look at her. Completely still, worry free. It's beautiful." Rei whispered to his friend beside him.

As they took off, the same thought echoed in his mind.

"Isn't she lovely?"