Finifugal - a Free! fanfic - Nanase Haruka x Reader

Chapter 1 ~ Fighting the Current!

I finally escape, sweating hard. I shake my head to clear my vision, and it comes back to me. The smooth dive into the water, the slight waves pushing at me, created by her strokes slicing the water. I didn't need to look to know she was gradually falling behind. It has always been like this. Every time she pushes me into the water with her, I am pulled ahead by the thought of finishing, getting back to studying for my future.

"How dare you!" Her voice echoes in my mind.

"You don't even try, but you always win! Just...leave me alone! Go away and never come back!"

The voice fades as the gentle but persistent waves of sleep wash over me.

[TIME SKIP]

It's my first day at Iwatobi High. I transferred over for my second year because their testing program is excellent, and there are many notable students to learn from and to surpass. I begged my parents until it was really late in France to let me come here, pretending that it was because I wanted to swim again, but in reality, I just want to be the best in a new place. I will work my way to the top, if I'm not there already.

I enter the gates, suddenly immersed in a flurry of sound and chatter.

Since I'm a transfer student this year, I skip the opening ceremony and instead, the school day is full of placement tests I'm not quite sure how well I did on.

After it's all over, I let out a deep sigh and dig around in my bag for something to eat. I didn't even have time for lunch! Iwatobi is pretty intense.

I begin walking home, and then I remember I signed up for cram school, and abruptly turn around and start speed walking in the opposite direction. I move so fast that I don't have time to look up and I nearly crash into someone. I sigh, thinking of the delay it will be, and I'll be late to cram school on the first day. I look up, wanting to get this over with quickly, and my eyes are met with intelligent eyes framed with red glasses. I look him up and down and make note that he's an Iwatobi first year. Hmm.

He takes a glance at me, and pulls me up and continues walking towards the cram school, not bothering to look back. Efficient. I can appreciate that.

Our quick paces are nearly the same, but I notice he slows his long strides down just a little bit for me to catch up.

He even opens the door for me! We walk in together, barely on time.

[TIME SKIP]

After cram school is finally dismissed, I rub my temples, close my eyes, and lean back in the chair a little.

*clank*

A cold coffee, black, sweating from the heat, is set in front of me.

It's him again.

"What's your name? Mine's Ryugazaki Rei." This guy pushes up his glasses with his thumb and pointer finger. What a weirdo.

"Ito Izumi. Why do you want to know?"

Suddenly, his demeanor changes. Sparkles appear in his eyes. Is he on some sketchy drug or what?

"That's so beautiful! Ito-san! What a beautiful name!"

I don't even bother to tell him to drop the honorifics, I just slowly start collecting my stuff. Only the coffee is left. I pick it up, examine it, and look at him and give a small smile. He got it right.

He begins trembling, and the sparkles come back. "You're so kawaii, Izu-san!"

I pop open the can and finish it in one gulp, and throw it into the recycling on the way out. I can feel him following me out the door of the school. Only a few instructors are left, and they nod their silent approval at me. I nod back, pleased.

Once outside, I turn around and stare at him. Ryugazaki Rei. Noted.

I pick up my pace and walk home.

[TIME SKIP]

The next day at school I report before school begins to the office to get my test results.

"Ito Izumi. Here are your results," the headmistress states with an air of cold congratulations.

"You did well, Ito. You will be placed in Class A," she cracks a smile. "Work hard. I am expecting much out of you, Ito Izumi."

I nod, disappointed in myself that I didn't test well enough for the SA class, but I try to hold it in.

She stops me as I turn to walk out of the stuffy office. "Hold on. One more thing. You need some extra curriculars. Make sure you sign up for a couple activities to prove you're getting involved in student life here at Iwatobi. Dismissed." She waves me off, and I swear I glimpse a smirk.

Ugh. Now I have to pretend I like people? Was switching schools really a good idea? I shake myself out of it, thinking of what the academic program would do for my future. I must become the top of my class, and then graduate to the SA class. Then, I might have a shot at a decent college, like my sister.

Taking a deep breath, I walk down the hall, and around the corner. I purposefully sit down in the corner at the front of the room, opposite from the door, so that I can observe my fellow second-years as they enter.

I get bored of watching people, having already decided that I relate to none of them, I open a book of poems I heard we'll be memorizing later this year, when I feel someone staring at me. I look up, and it's her.

Akari.

Nakamura Akari.

~A/N~

SA Class: In the Japanese school system, you are placed in a class ranked from A to F, like grades, based on your test scores. The Special A class is for the select few top students of a school.

Aghhhhhh plot twists ER'RY WHERE yasss🎉

Go read Akari's POV by clicking on the external link down below

DO IT! I promise you won't be disappointed! This idea of writing two POV of the same story xReader style is so awesome I'm really glad fairy_tail198 (@//fairytail20 on ig) and I came up with it together! This is going to be so much funnnnn yesss~☺️✨

Vote and comment~ tysm for reading! Don't worry, it gets much MUCH better. 😏😉

//❤️Violet