It had started before he'd really noticed: a fleeting glance, thoughts swirling through his mind.
He'd never expected it either, not when he pushed himself hard to learn to swim, and focused on being the best teammate that he could be for his newfound team, finding the beautiful array of friendship.
She'd snuck up on him like a criminal though a far more beautiful one with no real crime to her name; he'd been suckered in by her confidence, the level of comfort that she had with what she liked and who she was.
It both broke his heart in the way that she blatantly admired any muscular men on their team or on other teams and lifted his spirits when she turned down guy after guy especially that Momo kid that kept trying to ask her out.
She wasn't coldhearted either, just a little unsure of how to handle his enthusiasm.
Rei could easily admire her red hair and the way that ponytail dusted her back, and he could so easily admire the twinkle in her eyes that usually were followed by her admiration of muscles.
He'd pose for her all day if she'd look at him like that; he knew that he was a beautiful specimen and so she should enjoy looking though a part of himself tugged gently at his heart, nervously.
Rei adored the way she moved, so gracefully yet naturally, and loved the way she always listened to them though could stand her ground whenever Nagisa or someone else called her Gou.
He smiled at the thought.
Rei just longed to gently tug red hair back, so that he could easily claim a kiss or two and thrilled over the thought of pulling her close, feeling perfectly soft and beautiful skin brush his own and longed to just feel the gentle pressure of a first kiss with Gou.
She was beautiful even to the way she laughed or how strong she was; she was everything that Rei had always wanted, but never dared to dream was real.
He just hoped that her brother would approve, that he wouldn't yank Rei away as they never really did get along all that well.
Rei could try for her sake, could build a life up however beautiful with all of his effort and his love for her.
He watched her now, saw her enthusiasm, knew that she cared for the team as much as anyone else here did, and that she was another part of their team no matter her lack of actual swimming experience; she understood all of the struggle that they went through, knew what it took to be a great swimmer despite the fact that she couldn't swim.
She smiled back at whatever Haru had said, and Rei had to catch his breath again; she was truly beautiful.
Rei pulled back, felt jealousy pool in his belly before deflating again, as he smiled at her, hoping that she'd always have that brilliant smile of hers and that they'd always be close in one way or another.
He hoped that she'd notice one day, the way that he stared at her, and hoped that she meet his stare head on with all of the spunk, all of the strength within her, and that she'd fall for him just as strongly as he'd already fallen for her.
Rei couldn't help the fact that his smile remained as practice began and couldn't help the fact that hope burned through his chest for another day whenever one of them would speak up, admit to the feelings coursing through his veins, and then everything would truly be more beautiful than before.